[OVERVIEW]
Sableye is primarily used for its ability to spinblock Claydol and wall Snorlax. While Dusclops can fill the same roles, Sableye’s Dark typing and access to Recover make it much harder to trap. Dusclops often has to rely on Rest, which leaves it exposed to Dugtrio, and it also takes super-effective damage from Pursuit. Sableye avoids these issues and its neutrality to ghost type attacks makes it a decent check to most fighting type pokemon (excluding heracross and the rare blaziken). Furthermore, it also has access to knock off, allowing it to make long term progress by removing leftovers.
Despite these advantages, Sableye’s poor stats make it vulnerable to critical hits and limit its ability to consistently wall its intended targets. Against offensive teams, it can easily become dead weight due to its narrow defensive profile.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Recover
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Seismic Toss
move 4: Psych up
item: Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Sableye’s poor overall stats require full physical investment to function as a reliable claydol and Snorlax check. With maximum physical bulk, Sableye can survive two Earthquakes from Dugtrio after removing its Choice Band with Knock Off, preventing the trap. Sableye should prioritize using Recover unless it is at or near full HP; attempting to Knock Off too aggressively can allow Claydol to switch out and return with multiple chances to score a critical hit Earthquake. Sableye does its job just by keeping itself healthy with Recover. Seismic Toss provides consistent damage once Leftovers are removed.
Psych Up is included specifically to handle Curse Snorlax. It should only be used after the second Curse to avoid wasting turns. Once snorlax uses rest going into a phaser is required to prevent losing to a critical hit.
Team Options
========
A Spiker is mandatory for Sableye to function as an effective spinblocker, making Skarmory and Forretress natural partners. A Rapid Spinner is also required, as Sableye can struggle to maintain spinblock pressure if it becomes too worn down by Spikes; Claydol and Starmie are primary candidates. Dugtrio provides important support by removing Pursuit Tyranitar, which can otherwise repeatedly weaken Sableye with pursuit. Cleric support from Blissey can help Sableye stay healthy and enables it to safely use knock off against Toxic Skarmory, although this reduces Sableye’s advantages over Dusclops if Aromatherapy or Heal Bell are already available.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sableye does not have room on its set for much else. Toxic can be considered over Psych up to give it a useful move against the likes of Tyranitar, Salamence, and various special threats. But this means sableye can no longer reliably check snorlax, one of its best features. Counter can also be used over psych up for similar reasons.
Checks and Counters
===================
Critical Hits: Snorlax can ignore the defense boosts and OHKO sableye after curse boosts with a critical hit, claydol can also find multiple opportunities to crit earthquake if sableye is forced to switch in to prevent rapid spin. On a similar note fighters such as machamp, medicham, and hariyama can repeatedly use rockslide in an attempt to flinch sableye down.
Spikes: Unlike Gengar or Misdreavus, Sableye is vulnerable to spikes damage. Well timed double switches can allow claydol to 2hko sableye with earthquake. Sand from tyrantitar further exacerbates this issue.
Pursuit: Even though Sableye does not take super effective damage, its low special bulk means it will take over half from Tyranitar's or Houndoom’s boosted pursuit. Be mindful of dugtrio as it is often paired with Sableye.
Strong Attacks: Sableye only walls a handful of pokemon in the tier; most others pokemon are able to heavily damage it.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/johnald.496154/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Sableye is primarily used for its ability to spinblock Claydol and wall Snorlax. While Dusclops can fill the same roles, Sableye’s Dark typing and access to Recover make it much harder to trap. Dusclops often has to rely on Rest, which leaves it exposed to Dugtrio, and it also takes super-effective damage from Pursuit. Sableye avoids these issues and its neutrality to ghost type attacks makes it a decent check to most fighting type pokemon (excluding heracross and the rare blaziken). Furthermore, it also has access to knock off, allowing it to make long term progress by removing leftovers.
Despite these advantages, Sableye’s poor stats make it vulnerable to critical hits and limit its ability to consistently wall its intended targets. Against offensive teams, it can easily become dead weight due to its narrow defensive profile.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Recover
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Seismic Toss
move 4: Psych up
item: Leftovers
ability: Keen Eye
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Sableye’s poor overall stats require full physical investment to function as a reliable claydol and Snorlax check. With maximum physical bulk, Sableye can survive two Earthquakes from Dugtrio after removing its Choice Band with Knock Off, preventing the trap. Sableye should prioritize using Recover unless it is at or near full HP; attempting to Knock Off too aggressively can allow Claydol to switch out and return with multiple chances to score a critical hit Earthquake. Sableye does its job just by keeping itself healthy with Recover. Seismic Toss provides consistent damage once Leftovers are removed.
Psych Up is included specifically to handle Curse Snorlax. It should only be used after the second Curse to avoid wasting turns. Once snorlax uses rest going into a phaser is required to prevent losing to a critical hit.
Team Options
========
A Spiker is mandatory for Sableye to function as an effective spinblocker, making Skarmory and Forretress natural partners. A Rapid Spinner is also required, as Sableye can struggle to maintain spinblock pressure if it becomes too worn down by Spikes; Claydol and Starmie are primary candidates. Dugtrio provides important support by removing Pursuit Tyranitar, which can otherwise repeatedly weaken Sableye with pursuit. Cleric support from Blissey can help Sableye stay healthy and enables it to safely use knock off against Toxic Skarmory, although this reduces Sableye’s advantages over Dusclops if Aromatherapy or Heal Bell are already available.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sableye does not have room on its set for much else. Toxic can be considered over Psych up to give it a useful move against the likes of Tyranitar, Salamence, and various special threats. But this means sableye can no longer reliably check snorlax, one of its best features. Counter can also be used over psych up for similar reasons.
Checks and Counters
===================
Critical Hits: Snorlax can ignore the defense boosts and OHKO sableye after curse boosts with a critical hit, claydol can also find multiple opportunities to crit earthquake if sableye is forced to switch in to prevent rapid spin. On a similar note fighters such as machamp, medicham, and hariyama can repeatedly use rockslide in an attempt to flinch sableye down.
Spikes: Unlike Gengar or Misdreavus, Sableye is vulnerable to spikes damage. Well timed double switches can allow claydol to 2hko sableye with earthquake. Sand from tyrantitar further exacerbates this issue.
Pursuit: Even though Sableye does not take super effective damage, its low special bulk means it will take over half from Tyranitar's or Houndoom’s boosted pursuit. Be mindful of dugtrio as it is often paired with Sableye.
Strong Attacks: Sableye only walls a handful of pokemon in the tier; most others pokemon are able to heavily damage it.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/johnald.496154/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by: