OU Sableye

[Martin]

I'd say physically defensive as, like you said before, the main purpose of using Sableye (outside of Prankster Taunt vs Baton Pass teams) is to cripple physical attackers with Prankster Will-O-Wisp, but in order to do that you do actually need to switch into them. Furthermore, most Fairy-types are special attackers as it is so the specially defensive spread further "nerfed" (if that's the right word)

 

[veteranpython]

I'd say physically defensive as, like you said before, the main purpose of using Sableye (outside of Prankster Taunt vs Baton Pass teams) is to cripple physical attackers with Prankster Will-O-Wisp, but in order to do that you do actually need to switch into them. Furthermore, most Fairy-types are special attackers as it is so the specially defensive spread further "nerfed" (if that's the right word)

One of the nice things of being a Ghost/Dark is having three immunities. Combine it with Prankster Recover, and I would say Sableye should be ok unless it's a hard hitting Fire type.

 

[Ash Borer]

sdef pls. also dice and tehy like knoc off so ill trust them. Foul play is rly only good for zard, knock off does enough.

 

[tehy]

It's true that Sableye has trouble switching into Pokemon, but that's exactly why it should be specially defensive. Physically Defensive Sableye still can't switch into many physical Pokemon without taking advantage of immunities, and Specially Defensive Sableye can take most of them if it's already burned them.

Yes, Sableye has to knock off some stuff on the switch-in, but only the hardest-hitting special threats force Sableye to do that. Lesser special attackers wielding Life Orbs, such as Thundurus or even Greninja, can't damage you enough to prevent you from knocking them off and then recovering. So many of these Deo-s/D HO teams that exist have nothing stronger than them or maybe Specs keldeo to stop you from stalling them out, preventing hazards all the way while crippling a physical threat or two.

Meanwhile, over on the stallbreaking end (another specialty of Sableye's;) you now have much more trouble taking special attacks, which is problematic since that's one of stall's only ways to really get you. Mega Venusaur, for example, can much more easily beat you.

Overall, you're sacrificing the ability to stay in for the ability to switch in and, it must be said, better take on physical threats. However, what does that matter when they'll just switch out anyways? And since you've so kindly made sableye unable to take just about any special attack, you can just get forced out over and over again, all while recovering off the damage you took since, well, sableye isn't that bulky. You can break this cycle to an extent with a free switch, but so can SpD sableye.

 

[Srn]

Well tehy, you've convinced me that both spreads have just as much merit. It's a matter of which is better at switching in and which is better at staying in, and both certainly have their good points about them.
Is there any way to slash both spreads in main? Because I think the SDef spread deserves more than a mention in set details.

 

[qways]

I play sableeye and i find his full defensive set way better. Full defensive it can counter all non fire and/or fairy type physical attacking threads + tanks, and if the opponent switches out, just knock off. I tried both and for me being able to switch into physical attackers was way better than being able to handle special threads. Actually the speciallly defense Sableeye was a disaster in my hands, while the physically defensive is often the mvp of a game.
Maybe you can just say that you can play both variants in aspects what the player needs.

Oh and

"It's only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type"

Why don't you mention the Normal, fighting and Psycho immunity?

 

[BurningMan]

252+ Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 160-189 (52.6 - 62.1%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Mold Breaker burned Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 80-94 (26.3 - 30.9%) -- 6.1% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sableye: 234-276 (76.9 - 90.7%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

This is why i really think full def should be the main spread, Sableye is often used as a Spinblocker on Stall teams and being able to actualy defeat the most common spinner in the game is really really important especially because stall often has other better answers to special threats. Yes it is nice to be able to defeat them, but it only works if they switch into knock off/WoW and even then Keldeo can burn you and Thundurus can Taunt/NP/T-Wave you so it is often still a gamble.

 

[Srn]

Oh and

"It's only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type"

Why don't you mention the Normal, fighting and Psycho immunity?

Oh good point, i should talk about its immunities derp

 

[Ash Borer]

After a lot of discussion it seems a lot of users are divided as to which spread to use sdef or phys def.

I think there's some good arguments for both but phys def has the best, so it should be listed first, with sdef in the set details.

 

[BKC]

yea if im using a pokemon with willowisp i like when it doesnt die to physical attacks from burned pokemon

 

[Srn]

yeesh this is finally written up, and ready for the last QC check!

I actually forgot to address all this, but I remembered while I was writing this up

Remove Embargo, Confuse Ray, Imprison, Metal Burst, and Confide from other options.

Spirit

I'm mainly confused that you told me to remove Confide while keeping Snarl. I'm fine with everything else going, but if you want Confide gone and you want to keep Snarl, can you clarify why?
Knock Off is already pretty annoying to special attackers on the switch and Confide is priority, so I see basically no reason to really keep Snarl.

 

[Unowninator]

Well, I quit QC a while ago, but I'll explain I guess. Snarl isn't that bad in that Sableye could at least harass special attackers and deal a decent chunk of damage, making it a bit more annoying for them. Personally, I don't care for the move either way, it just didn't seem as bad as the others I asked you to remove, and tbh, it's really not worth getting worked up over that section anyway. Do with it as you see fit.

Wouldn't Confide be better since it triggers Prankster?

 

[CyclicCompound]

Alright, here's some things I'd like to see:

First of all, in the overview, I'd like you to stress Sableye's downsides a little bit more. I think most important is that it's a free switch-in to many attackers, most prominently Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y (essentially the two Pokemon in OU you don't want to give a free switch-in to the most). Defensive counters like Heatran and Clefable are super annoying too—Heatran does admittedly dislike Knock Off, but it's not like Sableye really does any better against Heatran either way.

And that kind of leads into my second point: it seems a little like you're selling Sableye as a catch-all to every defensive Pokemon and physical attacker, which isn't the case. The aforementioned Pokemon along with things like Guts Conkeldurr and Lum Berry Garchomp put intense pressure on Sableye to actually be effective. Although there's nothing particularly wrong with the content and detail of your overview, I don't think there's enough emphasis on the fact that Sableye's downsides make it a bit of a gambit to bring into battle.

Other than that, Whimsicott's been rejected, so remove it from the overview.

Moving onto moves:

It stops almost any sweeper in its tracks and can cripple physical attackers

Again, I'm just a little unhappy with the way this is phrased. Sableye is not the anti-sweeper it's being portrayed as.

However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more.

The main downside of using Night Shade is not this, it's the fact that it's much less useful than both Knock Off and Foul Play.

I personally think both Confide and Snarl can occupy a sentence of OO.

Add Lum Berry to checks and counters since the most common users (Garchomp and Dragonite) can easily lure in and obliterate Sableye.

Fix these things and I'll give you stamp.

 

[Srn]

Well, I quit QC a while ago, but I'll explain I guess. Snarl isn't that bad in that Sableye could at least harass special attackers and deal a decent chunk of damage, making it a bit more annoying for them. Personally, I don't care for the move either way, it just didn't seem as bad as the others I asked you to remove, and tbh, it's really not worth getting worked up over that section anyway. Do with it as you see fit.

Aight sorry for dragging you out of retirement, but I personally think Confide>Snarl and Knock Off>Snarl. I added in a sentence talking about both of them in OO.

Alright, here's some things I'd like to see:

First of all, in the overview, I'd like you to stress Sableye's downsides a little bit more. I think most important is that it's a free switch-in to many attackers, most prominently Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y (essentially the two Pokemon in OU you don't want to give a free switch-in to the most). Defensive counters like Heatran and Clefable are super annoying too—Heatran does admittedly dislike Knock Off, but it's not like Sableye really does any better against Heatran either way.

And that kind of leads into my second point: it seems a little like you're selling Sableye as a catch-all to every defensive Pokemon and physical attacker, which isn't the case. The aforementioned Pokemon along with things like Guts Conkeldurr and Lum Berry Garchomp put intense pressure on Sableye to actually be effective. Although there's nothing particularly wrong with the content and detail of your overview, I don't think there's enough emphasis on the fact that Sableye's downsides make it a bit of a gambit to bring into battle.

Yeah I overhyped it a bit in the overview. I'll be adding all of that.

Other than that, Whimsicott's been rejected, so remove it from the overview.

Done

Moving onto moves:

Again, I'm just a little unhappy with the way this is phrased. Sableye is not the anti-sweeper it's being portrayed as.

Ok, I made that a little more specific

The main downside of using Night Shade is not this, it's the fact that it's much less useful than both Knock Off and Foul Play.

Added another sentence about that

I personally think both Confide and Snarl can occupy a sentence of OO.

Add Lum Berry to checks and counters since the most common users (Garchomp and Dragonite) can easily lure in and obliterate Sableye.

Done

 

[CyclicCompound]

Looks a lot better.

One last nitpick:

Despite these flaws, if you want a pokemon to check almost any physical attacker, Sableye fits the bill perfectly.

If you could change that to say something like "Overall, despite these flaws, Sableye can be a thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon," that would be much better. "Almost any physical attacker" is a bit of a stretch.

QC 4/4

 

[Srn]

Looks a lot better.

One last nitpick:

If you could change that to say something like "Overall, despite these flaws, Sableye can be a thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon," that would be much better. "Almost any physical attacker" is a bit of a stretch.

QC 4/4

Ah yes, I will change that.
Thanks for the check!
This is (finally) ready for GP.

 

[horyzhnz]

Srn9130
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dun

Overview
########

Sableye is well-known to for stopping physical sweepers in their tracks with its fabled famous Prankster Will-O-Wisp. Almost any non-Fire-type physical attacker without a Lum Berry or godly priority is shut down by Sableye, and that's a significant amount of Pokemon that go home crying thanks to this gem-encrusted Pokemon. But that's only one way Prankster is (ab)used abused on Sableye; Prankster Taunt can shut down a large majority of defensive Pokemon and stall teams, while Prankster Recover reliably heals Sableye after taking hits. Sableye also boasts 3 immunities, giving it ample switch-in opportunities on Fighting-, Normal-, and Psychic-type moves.

However, despite this seemingly unbeatable combination of movepool and ability, Sableye has several flaws that hinder its performance. It's Its pathetic base stats leave it extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp, which only has 85% accuracy. For the same reason, Sableye cannot stomach a strong special attack either. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X can often freely switch in to into Sableye, only needing to fearing the occasional Foul Play, and Sableye can only annoy Heatran and Fairy-types (pretty sure you can still burn em) with Knock Off. It's Its only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type, and it even gained a new weakness in Fairy. Sableye is fairly predictable as well,(RC) and can be totally shut down by even faster Taunts from Thundurus. Sableye also struggles with physical attackers that can avoid or take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, such as Guts Conkeldurr or Dragonite and Garchomp holding a Lum Berry. Despite these flaws, Sableye can be a huge thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon.


Prankster Utility
########
name: Prankster Utility
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Recover
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
ability: Prankster
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Will-O-Wisp is Sableye's main source of passive damage and way of lessening damage taken. It can stop physical sweepers and wallbreakers as long as they aren't holding a Lum Berry or are immune to burns, all while providing useful passive damage to walls and tanks. Recover offers reliable recovery, and thanks to Prankster, Recover has priority. Unless you get hit with faster priority, this means that you can use Recover before your opponent even has a chance to attack. Prankster Taunt is very useful in shutting down defensive walls and halting any kind of setup. Since Prankster Taunt goes before Baton Pass, the opponent will not be able to Baton Pass into Espeon to bounce the Taunt back, so it can even be used against Baton Pass teams and stop their momentum. For an attacking option, Foul Play offers the most consistent and reliable damage output. Foul Play is especially useful for nailing the physical Fire-type attackers looking to absorb a Will-O-Wisp, such as Talonflame or Mega Charizard X. Knock Off, however, can cripple several special attackers on the switch in that won't mind the burn, such as Keldeo, Latios, and Landorus. While the edge on special attackers is nice, Knock Off offers the least amount of offensive presence for Sableye. Night Shade provides the most consistent and reliable damage, and can be useful against Pokemon with low HP,(RC) such as Rotom-W. However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more. Night Shade also lacks the utility that Knock Off brings, and some sweepers such as Mega Charizard X can just Roost off the damage from Night Shade.


Set Details
========

Full investment in HP and Defense lets Sableye handle physical attackers with ease, before and after the burn. Sableye will often be switching into physical threats to scare them off with the threat of a Will-O-Wisp, and full defensive investment is needed for that. However, a specially defensive spread works very well on Sableye. With full investment in HP and Special Defense instead, Sableye can handle many prominent special attackers once it removes their items with Knock Off from the switch in, such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and even Landorus. However, Sableye will not be able to defeat specially oriented Mega Evolutions with this set, such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers is used for mandatory passive recovery, as Sableye needs all the bulk it can get. Prankster is also mandatory as Sableye loses much of its viability without priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover.

Usage Tips
========

Will-O-Wisp is your main method of damage and your main method of reducing damage taken, so use it often. If a Pokemon such as Mandibuzz can Roost off all the damage you do, use Taunt to stop it. Do not use Taunt on a Pokemon that can threaten Sableye, unless you wish to sacrifice Sableye to make the switch-in easier. Recover can help scout damage and moves, so time it well. Try not to use Will-O-Wisp when a Fire-type is on the opposing side, especially Heatran,(RC) which grabs a Flash Fire boost. Users of Guts,(RC) such as Conkeldurr, can also benefit from your Will-O-Wisp. If you can predict these Pokemon switching in, try to use Knock Off or Foul Play instead.

Team Options
========

Sableye is a fairly independent Pokemon,(RC) but it has low Special Defense, so a partner to take powerful special attacks is recommended. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Mega Charizard Y for Sableye, and in return Sableye can burn Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scizor which annoy Tyranitar. Sableye will be spreading burns frequently, so it's a good idea to have a Pokemon such as Gyarados or Azumarill to handle the Fire-types in the tier. Sableye is helpless against Fairy-types, so partners that can take them on,(RC) like Heatran, Scizor, Aegislash, or Ferrothorn,(RC) is are recommended.

Other Options
========

Sableye has a wide movepool filled to the brim with cool,(AC) albeit situational moves to play with. Sableye can use Toxic to catch the common Fire-types on the switch, but that still doesn't let Sableye beat Heatran,(RC) and other Fire-types such as Talonflame don't mind it too much. Substitute can be used to ease prediction,(RC) and it allows Sableye to beat Latios and Latias. Trick can be used with Iron Ball to cripple a fast threat,(RC) such as Thundurus or Greninja, but the loss of Leftovers recovery is undesirable. Spite can be used to burn the PP of moves with very low PP such as Hydro Pump or Stone Edge. Gravity can be used to ground all Pokemon and increase the accuracy of all moves 1.66 times. Rain Dance and Sunny Day allow Sableye to serve as a back-up weather setter for rain or sun teams. Confide and Snarl lower the Special Attack of the foe by one stage, but Confide has priority and Snarl can do damage.

Checks and Counters
========

**Fire-types**: Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y can absorb the Will-O-Wisp and hit back with strong Fire Blasts. Mega Charizard-X and Talonflame also switch in on Will-O-Wisp, but must also be more careful of Foul Play.

**Prankster Taunt**: Faster Pranksters with Taunt,(RC) like Thundurus or Whimsicott (rejected), can completely shut Sableye down. However, Thundurus is 2HKOed by Foul Play.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker,(RC) that doesn't mind the burn too much,(RC) usually does well, like Latios or Greninja. Fairy-type special attackers also beat Sableye with ease.

**Toxic**: Toxic completely cripples Sableye, although it has to be caught on the switch as Sableye can just Taunt otherwise.

**Entry Hazards**: Sableye is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially the rare Toxic Spikes. The residual damage forces Sableye to use Recover much more often.

**Powerful Priority**: Powerful priority moves can strike before Sableye gets a chance to use Recover or Will-O-Wisp.

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir OHKO Sableye, but Mega Gardevoir must watch out for Foul Play. Unaware Clefable may not enjoy the Will-O-Wisp, but Magic Guard variants can freely switch in and 2HKO with Moonblast.

**Guts**: Guts users,(RC) like Conkeldurr, can switch in on Will-O-Wisp and proceed to hit back with powerful boosted attacks.

**Lum Berry**: Physical attackers holding a Lum Berry beat Sableye if they can 2HKO it on the switch in or just OHKO it.

done by request, good job.

GP 1/2

 

[Srn]

Srn9130
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dun

Overview
########

Sableye is well-known to for stopping physical sweepers in their tracks with its fabled famous Prankster Will-O-Wisp. Almost any non-Fire-type physical attacker without a Lum Berry or godly priority is shut down by Sableye, and that's a significant amount of Pokemon that go home crying thanks to this gem-encrusted Pokemon. But that's only one way Prankster is (ab)used abused on Sableye; Prankster Taunt can shut down a large majority of defensive Pokemon and stall teams, while Prankster Recover reliably heals Sableye after taking hits. Sableye also boasts 3 immunities, giving it ample switch-in opportunities on Fighting-, Normal-, and Psychic-type moves.

However, despite this seemingly unbeatable combination of movepool and ability, Sableye has several flaws that hinder its performance. It's Its pathetic base stats leave it extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp, which only has 85% accuracy. For the same reason, Sableye cannot stomach a strong special attack either. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X can often freely switch in to into Sableye, only needing to fearing the occasional Foul Play, and Sableye can only annoy Heatran and Fairy-types (pretty sure you can still burn em) with Knock Off. It's Its only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type, and it even gained a new weakness in Fairy. Sableye is fairly predictable as well,(RC) and can be totally shut down by even faster Taunts from Thundurus. Sableye also struggles with physical attackers that can avoid or take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, such as Guts Conkeldurr or Dragonite and Garchomp holding a Lum Berry. Despite these flaws, Sableye can be a huge thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon.


Prankster Utility
########
name: Prankster Utility
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Recover
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
ability: Prankster
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Will-O-Wisp is Sableye's main source of passive damage and way of lessening damage taken. It can stop physical sweepers and wallbreakers as long as they aren't holding a Lum Berry or are immune to burns, all while providing useful passive damage to walls and tanks. Recover offers reliable recovery, and thanks to Prankster, Recover has priority. Unless you get hit with faster priority, this means that you can use Recover before your opponent even has a chance to attack. Prankster Taunt is very useful in shutting down defensive walls and halting any kind of setup. Since Prankster Taunt goes before Baton Pass, the opponent will not be able to Baton Pass into Espeon to bounce the Taunt back, so it can even be used against Baton Pass teams and stop their momentum. For an attacking option, Foul Play offers the most consistent and reliable damage output. Foul Play is especially useful for nailing the physical Fire-type attackers looking to absorb a Will-O-Wisp, such as Talonflame or Mega Charizard X. Knock Off, however, can cripple several special attackers on the switch in that won't mind the burn, such as Keldeo, Latios, and Landorus. While the edge on special attackers is nice, Knock Off offers the least amount of offensive presence for Sableye. Night Shade provides the most consistent and reliable damage, and can be useful against Pokemon with low HP,(RC) such as Rotom-W. However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more. Night Shade also lacks the utility that Knock Off brings, and some sweepers such as Mega Charizard X can just Roost off the damage from Night Shade.


Set Details
========

Full investment in HP and Defense lets Sableye handle physical attackers with ease, before and after the burn. Sableye will often be switching into physical threats to scare them off with the threat of a Will-O-Wisp, and full defensive investment is needed for that. However, a specially defensive spread works very well on Sableye. With full investment in HP and Special Defense instead, Sableye can handle many prominent special attackers once it removes their items with Knock Off from the switch in, such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and even Landorus. However, Sableye will not be able to defeat specially oriented Mega Evolutions with this set, such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers is used for mandatory passive recovery, as Sableye needs all the bulk it can get. Prankster is also mandatory as Sableye loses much of its viability without priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover.

Usage Tips
========

Will-O-Wisp is your main method of damage and your main method of reducing damage taken, so use it often. If a Pokemon such as Mandibuzz can Roost off all the damage you do, use Taunt to stop it. Do not use Taunt on a Pokemon that can threaten Sableye, unless you wish to sacrifice Sableye to make the switch-in easier. Recover can help scout damage and moves, so time it well. Try not to use Will-O-Wisp when a Fire-type is on the opposing side, especially Heatran,(RC) which grabs a Flash Fire boost. Users of Guts,(RC) such as Conkeldurr, can also benefit from your Will-O-Wisp. If you can predict these Pokemon switching in, try to use Knock Off or Foul Play instead.

Team Options
========

Sableye is a fairly independent Pokemon,(RC) but it has low Special Defense, so a partner to take powerful special attacks is recommended. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Mega Charizard Y for Sableye, and in return Sableye can burn Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scizor which annoy Tyranitar. Sableye will be spreading burns frequently, so it's a good idea to have a Pokemon such as Gyarados or Azumarill to handle the Fire-types in the tier. Sableye is helpless against Fairy-types, so partners that can take them on,(RC) like Heatran, Scizor, Aegislash, or Ferrothorn,(RC) is are recommended.

Other Options
========

Sableye has a wide movepool filled to the brim with cool,(AC) albeit situational moves to play with. Sableye can use Toxic to catch the common Fire-types on the switch, but that still doesn't let Sableye beat Heatran,(RC) and other Fire-types such as Talonflame don't mind it too much. Substitute can be used to ease prediction,(RC) and it allows Sableye to beat Latios and Latias. Trick can be used with Iron Ball to cripple a fast threat,(RC) such as Thundurus or Greninja, but the loss of Leftovers recovery is undesirable. Spite can be used to burn the PP of moves with very low PP such as Hydro Pump or Stone Edge. Gravity can be used to ground all Pokemon and increase the accuracy of all moves 1.66 times. Rain Dance and Sunny Day allow Sableye to serve as a back-up weather setter for rain or sun teams. Confide and Snarl lower the Special Attack of the foe by one stage, but Confide has priority and Snarl can do damage.

Checks and Counters
========

**Fire-types**: Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y can absorb the Will-O-Wisp and hit back with strong Fire Blasts. Mega Charizard-X and Talonflame also switch in on Will-O-Wisp, but must also be more careful of Foul Play.

**Prankster Taunt**: Faster Pranksters with Taunt,(RC) like Thundurus or Whimsicott (rejected), can completely shut Sableye down. However, Thundurus is 2HKOed by Foul Play.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker,(RC) that doesn't mind the burn too much,(RC) usually does well, like Latios or Greninja. Fairy-type special attackers also beat Sableye with ease.

**Toxic**: Toxic completely cripples Sableye, although it has to be caught on the switch as Sableye can just Taunt otherwise.

**Entry Hazards**: Sableye is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially the rare Toxic Spikes. The residual damage forces Sableye to use Recover much more often.

**Powerful Priority**: Powerful priority moves can strike before Sableye gets a chance to use Recover or Will-O-Wisp.

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir OHKO Sableye, but Mega Gardevoir must watch out for Foul Play. Unaware Clefable may not enjoy the Will-O-Wisp, but Magic Guard variants can freely switch in and 2HKO with Moonblast.

**Guts**: Guts users,(RC) like Conkeldurr, can switch in on Will-O-Wisp and proceed to hit back with powerful boosted attacks.

**Lum Berry**: Physical attackers holding a Lum Berry beat Sableye if they can 2HKO it on the switch in or just OHKO it.

done by request, good job.

GP 1/2

Implemented, and thanks!!

 

[Legitimate Username]

You're weclome.
Additions
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Changes

Overview
########

Sableye is well-known for stopping physical sweepers in their tracks with its famous Prankster Will-O-Wisp. Almost any non-Fire-type physical attacker without a Lum Berry or priority is shut down by Sableye, and that's a significant amount number of Pokemon threats that go home crying thanks to this gem-encrusted Pokemon. But that's only one way Prankster is abused on Sableye; Prankster Taunt can shut down a large majority of defensive Pokemon and stall teams, while Prankster Recover can reliably heals heal Sableye after taking hits. Sableye also boasts 3 immunities, giving it ample switch-in opportunities on Fighting-, Normal-, and Psychic-type moves.

However, despite this seemingly unbeatable combination of movepool and ability, Sableye has several flaws that hinder its performance. Its pathetic base stats leave it extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp, which only has 85% accuracy. For the same reason, Sableye cannot stomach a strong special attack either. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X can often freely switch into Sableye, only fearing the occasional Foul Play, and Sableye can only annoy Heatran with Knock Off. Its only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type, and it even gained a new weakness in Fairy. Sableye is fairly predictable as well and it can be totally shut down by even faster Taunts from Thundurus. Sableye also struggles with against physical attackers that can avoid or take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, such as Guts Conkeldurr or Dragonite and Garchomp holding a Lum Berry. Despite these flaws, Sableye can be a huge thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon.


Prankster Utility
########
name: Prankster Utility
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Recover
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
ability: Prankster
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Will-O-Wisp is Sableye's main source of passive damage and way of lessening damage taken. It can stop physical sweepers and wallbreakers as long as they aren't holding a Lum Berry or are immune to burns, all while providing useful passive damage to walls and tanks. Recover offers reliable recovery, and thanks to Prankster, Recover it has priority. Unless you get hit with faster priority, this means that you can use Recover before your opponent even has a chance to attack. Prankster Taunt is very useful in for shutting down defensive walls and halting any kind of setup. Since Prankster Taunt goes before Baton Pass, the opponent will not be able to Baton Pass into Espeon to bounce the Taunt back, so it can even be used against Baton Pass teams and stop their momentum. For an attacking option, Foul Play offers the most consistent and reliable damage output. Foul Play is especially useful for nailing the physical Fire-type attackers looking to absorb a Will-O-Wisp, such as Talonflame or Mega Charizard X. Knock Off, however, can cripple several special attackers on the switch in that won't mind the a burn, such as Keldeo, Latios, and Landorus. While the edge on against special attackers is nice, Knock Off offers the least amount of offensive presence for Sableye. Night Shade provides the most consistent and reliable damage, and can be useful against Pokemon with low HP such as Rotom-W. However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more. Night Shade also lacks the utility that Knock Off brings, and some sweepers such as Mega Charizard X can just Roost off the damage from Night Shade.


Set Details
========

Full investment in HP and Defense lets Sableye handle physical attackers with ease, before and after the burn burning them. Sableye will often be switching into in on physical threats in order to scare them off with the threat of a Will-O-Wisp, and full defensive investment is needed for that. However, a specially defensive spread works very well on Sableye. With full investment in HP and Special Defense instead, Sableye can handle many prominent special attackers once it removes their items with a Knock Off from on the switch in, such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and even Landorus. However, Sableye will not be able to defeat specially oriented Mega Evolutions with this set, such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers is used for mandatory passive recovery, as Sableye needs all the bulk it can get. Prankster is also mandatory, as Sableye loses much of its viability without priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover.

Usage Tips
========

Will-O-Wisp is your main method of dealing damage and your main method of reducing the damage taken, so use it often. If a Pokemon such as like Mandibuzz can Roost off all the damage you can do, use Taunt to stop it. Do not use Taunt on a Pokemon that can threaten Sableye, unless you wish to sacrifice Sableye to make the switch-in easier. Recover can help scout damage and moves, so time it well. Try not to use Will-O-Wisp when a Fire-type is on the opposing side, especially Heatran, which grabs can grab a Flash Fire boost. Users of Guts, such as Conkeldurr, can also benefit from your Will-O-Wisp. If you can predict these Pokemon switching in, try to use Knock Off or Foul Play instead.

Team Options
========

Sableye is a fairly independent Pokemon, but it has low Special Defense, so a partner to take for taking powerful special attacks is recommended. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Mega Charizard Y for Sableye, and in return Sableye can burn Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scizor, which annoy Tyranitar. Sableye will be spreading burns frequently, so it's a good idea to have a Pokemon such as Gyarados or Azumarill to handle the Fire-types in the tier. Sableye is helpless against Fairy-types, so partners that can take them on, such as like Heatran, Scizor, Aegislash, or Ferrothorn, are recommended.

Other Options
========########

Sableye has a wide (eh, seems somewhat redundant) movepool filled to the brim with cool, albeit situational, moves to play with. Sableye can use Toxic to catch the common Fire-types on the switch, but that it still doesn't let Sableye beat Heatran and other Fire-types such as Talonflame don't mind it too much. Substitute can be used to ease prediction and it allows Sableye to beat Latios and Latias. Trick can be used with an Iron Ball to cripple a fast threat such as Thundurus or Greninja, but the loss of Leftovers recovery is undesirable. Spite can be used to burn the PP of moves with very low PP such as Hydro Pump or Stone Edge. Gravity can be used to ground all Pokemon and increase the accuracy of all moves 1.66 times. Rain Dance and Sunny Day allow Sableye to serve as a back-up backup weather setter for rain or sun teams. Confide and Snarl lower the Special Attack of the foe by one stage, but with Confide has having priority and Snarl can being able to do damage.

Checks and Counters
========########

**Fire-types**: Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y can absorb the a Will-O-Wisp and hit back with strong Fire Blasts. Mega Charizard-X and Talonflame can also switch in on Will-O-Wisp, but they must also be more careful of Foul Play.

**Prankster Taunt**: Faster Pranksters with Taunt, such as like Thundurus, can completely shut Sableye down. However, Thundurus is 2HKOed by Foul Play.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker that doesn't mind the a burn too much, like Latios or Greninja, usually does well, like Latios or Greninja against Sableye. Fairy-type special attackers also beat Sableye with ease.

**Toxic**: Toxic completely cripples Sableye, although it has to be caught on the switch as Sableye can just use Taunt otherwise.

**Entry Hazards**: Sableye is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially the rare Toxic Spikes. The residual damage forces Sableye to use Recover much more often.

**Powerful Priority**: Powerful priority moves can strike before Sableye gets a chance to use Recover or Will-O-Wisp.

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can OHKO Sableye, but Mega Gardevoir must watch out for Foul Play. Unaware Clefable may not enjoy the Will-O-Wisp, but Magic Guard variants can freely switch in and 2HKO with Moonblast.

**Guts**: Guts users like such as Conkeldurr, can switch in on Will-O-Wisp and proceed to hit back with powerful boosted attacks.

**Lum Berry**: Physical attackers that are holding a Lum Berry can beat Sableye if they can 2HKO it on the switch in or just outright OHKO it.

Copypaste

Overview
########

Sableye is well-known for stopping physical sweepers in their tracks with its famous Prankster Will-O-Wisp. Almost any non-Fire-type physical attacker without a Lum Berry or priority is shut down by Sableye, and that's a significant number of threats that go home crying thanks to this gem-encrusted Pokemon. But that's only one way Prankster is abused on Sableye; Prankster Taunt can shut down a large majority of defensive Pokemon and stall teams, while Prankster Recover can reliably heal Sableye after taking hits. Sableye also boasts 3 immunities, giving it ample switch-in opportunities on Fighting-, Normal-, and Psychic-type moves.

However, despite this seemingly unbeatable combination of movepool and ability, Sableye has several flaws that hinder its performance. Its pathetic base stats leave it extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp, which only has 85% accuracy. For the same reason, Sableye cannot stomach a strong special attack either. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X can often freely switch into Sableye, only fearing the occasional Foul Play, and Sableye can only annoy Heatran with Knock Off. Its only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type, and it even gained a new weakness in Fairy. Sableye is fairly predictable as well and it can be totally shut down by even faster Taunts from Thundurus. Sableye also struggles against physical attackers that can avoid or take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, such as Guts Conkeldurr or Dragonite and Garchomp holding a Lum Berry. Despite these flaws, Sableye can be a huge thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon.


Prankster Utility
########
name: Prankster Utility
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Recover
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
ability: Prankster
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Will-O-Wisp is Sableye's main source of passive damage and way of lessening damage taken. It can stop physical sweepers and wallbreakers as long as they aren't holding a Lum Berry or are immune to burns, all while providing useful passive damage to walls and tanks. Recover offers reliable recovery, and thanks to Prankster, it has priority. Unless you get hit with faster priority, this means that you can use Recover before your opponent even has a chance to attack. Prankster Taunt is very useful for shutting down defensive walls and halting any kind of setup. Since Prankster Taunt goes before Baton Pass, the opponent will not be able to Baton Pass into Espeon to bounce the Taunt back, so it can even be used against Baton Pass teams and stop their momentum. For an attacking option, Foul Play offers the most consistent and reliable damage output. Foul Play is especially useful for nailing the physical Fire-type attackers looking to absorb a Will-O-Wisp, such as Talonflame or Mega Charizard X. Knock Off, however, can cripple several special attackers on the switch that won't mind a burn, such as Keldeo, Latios, and Landorus. While the edge against special attackers is nice, Knock Off offers the least amount of offensive presence for Sableye. Night Shade provides the most consistent and reliable damage, and can be useful against Pokemon with low HP such as Rotom-W. However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more. Night Shade also lacks the utility that Knock Off brings, and some sweepers such as Mega Charizard X can just Roost off the damage from Night Shade.


Set Details
========

Full investment in HP and Defense lets Sableye handle physical attackers with ease, before and after burning them. Sableye will often be switching in on physical threats in order to scare them off with the threat of a Will-O-Wisp, and full defensive investment is needed for that. However, a specially defensive spread works very well on Sableye. With full investment in HP and Special Defense instead, Sableye can handle many prominent special attackers once it removes their items with a Knock Off on the switch , such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and even Landorus. However, Sableye will not be able to defeat specially oriented Mega Evolutions with this set, such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers is used for mandatory passive recovery, as Sableye needs all the bulk it can get. Prankster is also mandatory, as Sableye loses much of its viability without priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover.

Usage Tips
========

Will-O-Wisp is your main method of dealing damage and reducing the damage taken, so use it often. If a Pokemon like Mandibuzz can Roost off all the damage you can do, use Taunt to stop it. Do not use Taunt on a Pokemon that can threaten Sableye, unless you wish to sacrifice Sableye to make the switch-in easier. Recover can help scout damage and moves, so time it well. Try not to use Will-O-Wisp when a Fire-type is on the opposing side, especially Heatran, which can grab a Flash Fire boost. Users of Guts, such as Conkeldurr, can also benefit from your Will-O-Wisp. If you can predict these Pokemon switching in, try to use Knock Off or Foul Play instead.

Team Options
========

Sableye is a fairly independent Pokemon, but it has low Special Defense, so a partner for taking powerful special attacks is recommended. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Mega Charizard Y for Sableye, and in return Sableye can burn Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scizor, which annoy Tyranitar. Sableye will be spreading burns frequently, so it's a good idea to have a Pokemon such as Gyarados or Azumarill to handle the Fire-types in the tier. Sableye is helpless against Fairy-types, so partners that can take them on, such as Heatran, Scizor, Aegislash, or Ferrothorn, are recommended.

Other Options
########

Sableye has a movepool filled to the brim with cool, albeit situational, moves to play with. Sableye can use Toxic to catch common Fire-types on the switch, but it still doesn't let Sableye beat Heatran and other Fire-types such as Talonflame don't mind it too much. Substitute can be used to ease prediction and allows Sableye to beat Latios and Latias. Trick can be used with an Iron Ball to cripple a fast threat such as Thundurus or Greninja, but the loss of Leftovers recovery is undesirable. Spite can be used to burn the PP of moves with very low PP such as Hydro Pump or Stone Edge. Gravity can be used to ground all Pokemon and increase the accuracy of all moves 1.66 times. Rain Dance and Sunny Day allow Sableye to serve as a backup weather setter for rain or sun teams. Confide and Snarl lower the Special Attack of the foe by one stage, with Confide having priority and Snarl being able to do damage.

Checks and Counters
########

**Fire-types**: Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y can absorb a Will-O-Wisp and hit back with strong Fire Blasts. Mega Charizard-X and Talonflame can also switch in on Will-O-Wisp, but they must also be more careful of Foul Play.

**Prankster Taunt**: Faster Pranksters with Taunt, such as Thundurus, can completely shut Sableye down. However, Thundurus is 2HKOed by Foul Play.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker that doesn't mind a burn too much, like Latios or Greninja, usually does well against Sableye. Fairy-type special attackers also beat Sableye with ease.

**Toxic**: Toxic completely cripples Sableye, although it has to be caught on the switch as Sableye can just use Taunt otherwise.

**Entry Hazards**: Sableye is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially the rare Toxic Spikes. The residual damage forces Sableye to use Recover much more often.

**Powerful Priority**: Powerful priority moves can strike before Sableye gets a chance to use Recover or Will-O-Wisp.

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can OHKO Sableye, but Mega Gardevoir must watch out for Foul Play. Unaware Clefable may not enjoy Will-O-Wisp, but Magic Guard variants can freely switch in and 2HKO with Moonblast.

**Guts**: Guts users such as Conkeldurr can switch in on Will-O-Wisp and proceed to hit back with powerful boosted attacks.

**Lum Berry**: Physical attackers that are holding a Lum Berry can beat Sableye if they can 2HKO it on the switch or just outright OHKO.

GP approved 2/2

 

[Srn]

You're weclome.
Additions
Removals
(Comments)

Changes

Overview
########

Sableye is well-known for stopping physical sweepers in their tracks with its famous Prankster Will-O-Wisp. Almost any non-Fire-type physical attacker without a Lum Berry or priority is shut down by Sableye, and that's a significant amount number of Pokemon threats that go home crying thanks to this gem-encrusted Pokemon. But that's only one way Prankster is abused on Sableye; Prankster Taunt can shut down a large majority of defensive Pokemon and stall teams, while Prankster Recover can reliably heals heal Sableye after taking hits. Sableye also boasts 3 immunities, giving it ample switch-in opportunities on Fighting-, Normal-, and Psychic-type moves.

However, despite this seemingly unbeatable combination of movepool and ability, Sableye has several flaws that hinder its performance. Its pathetic base stats leave it extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp, which only has 85% accuracy. For the same reason, Sableye cannot stomach a strong special attack either. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X can often freely switch into Sableye, only fearing the occasional Foul Play, and Sableye can only annoy Heatran with Knock Off. Its only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type, and it even gained a new weakness in Fairy. Sableye is fairly predictable as well and it can be totally shut down by even faster Taunts from Thundurus. Sableye also struggles with against physical attackers that can avoid or take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, such as Guts Conkeldurr or Dragonite and Garchomp holding a Lum Berry. Despite these flaws, Sableye can be a huge thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon.


Prankster Utility
########
name: Prankster Utility
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Recover
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
ability: Prankster
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Will-O-Wisp is Sableye's main source of passive damage and way of lessening damage taken. It can stop physical sweepers and wallbreakers as long as they aren't holding a Lum Berry or are immune to burns, all while providing useful passive damage to walls and tanks. Recover offers reliable recovery, and thanks to Prankster, Recover it has priority. Unless you get hit with faster priority, this means that you can use Recover before your opponent even has a chance to attack. Prankster Taunt is very useful in for shutting down defensive walls and halting any kind of setup. Since Prankster Taunt goes before Baton Pass, the opponent will not be able to Baton Pass into Espeon to bounce the Taunt back, so it can even be used against Baton Pass teams and stop their momentum. For an attacking option, Foul Play offers the most consistent and reliable damage output. Foul Play is especially useful for nailing the physical Fire-type attackers looking to absorb a Will-O-Wisp, such as Talonflame or Mega Charizard X. Knock Off, however, can cripple several special attackers on the switch in that won't mind the a burn, such as Keldeo, Latios, and Landorus. While the edge on against special attackers is nice, Knock Off offers the least amount of offensive presence for Sableye. Night Shade provides the most consistent and reliable damage, and can be useful against Pokemon with low HP such as Rotom-W. However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more. Night Shade also lacks the utility that Knock Off brings, and some sweepers such as Mega Charizard X can just Roost off the damage from Night Shade.


Set Details
========

Full investment in HP and Defense lets Sableye handle physical attackers with ease, before and after the burn burning them. Sableye will often be switching into in on physical threats in order to scare them off with the threat of a Will-O-Wisp, and full defensive investment is needed for that. However, a specially defensive spread works very well on Sableye. With full investment in HP and Special Defense instead, Sableye can handle many prominent special attackers once it removes their items with a Knock Off from on the switch in, such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and even Landorus. However, Sableye will not be able to defeat specially oriented Mega Evolutions with this set, such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers is used for mandatory passive recovery, as Sableye needs all the bulk it can get. Prankster is also mandatory, as Sableye loses much of its viability without priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover.

Usage Tips
========

Will-O-Wisp is your main method of dealing damage and your main method of reducing the damage taken, so use it often. If a Pokemon such as like Mandibuzz can Roost off all the damage you can do, use Taunt to stop it. Do not use Taunt on a Pokemon that can threaten Sableye, unless you wish to sacrifice Sableye to make the switch-in easier. Recover can help scout damage and moves, so time it well. Try not to use Will-O-Wisp when a Fire-type is on the opposing side, especially Heatran, which grabs can grab a Flash Fire boost. Users of Guts, such as Conkeldurr, can also benefit from your Will-O-Wisp. If you can predict these Pokemon switching in, try to use Knock Off or Foul Play instead.

Team Options
========

Sableye is a fairly independent Pokemon, but it has low Special Defense, so a partner to take for taking powerful special attacks is recommended. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Mega Charizard Y for Sableye, and in return Sableye can burn Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scizor, which annoy Tyranitar. Sableye will be spreading burns frequently, so it's a good idea to have a Pokemon such as Gyarados or Azumarill to handle the Fire-types in the tier. Sableye is helpless against Fairy-types, so partners that can take them on, such as like Heatran, Scizor, Aegislash, or Ferrothorn, are recommended.

Other Options
========########

Sableye has a wide (eh, seems somewhat redundant) movepool filled to the brim with cool, albeit situational, moves to play with. Sableye can use Toxic to catch the common Fire-types on the switch, but that it still doesn't let Sableye beat Heatran and other Fire-types such as Talonflame don't mind it too much. Substitute can be used to ease prediction and it allows Sableye to beat Latios and Latias. Trick can be used with an Iron Ball to cripple a fast threat such as Thundurus or Greninja, but the loss of Leftovers recovery is undesirable. Spite can be used to burn the PP of moves with very low PP such as Hydro Pump or Stone Edge. Gravity can be used to ground all Pokemon and increase the accuracy of all moves 1.66 times. Rain Dance and Sunny Day allow Sableye to serve as a back-up backup weather setter for rain or sun teams. Confide and Snarl lower the Special Attack of the foe by one stage, but with Confide has having priority and Snarl can being able to do damage.

Checks and Counters
========########

**Fire-types**: Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y can absorb the a Will-O-Wisp and hit back with strong Fire Blasts. Mega Charizard-X and Talonflame can also switch in on Will-O-Wisp, but they must also be more careful of Foul Play.

**Prankster Taunt**: Faster Pranksters with Taunt, such as like Thundurus, can completely shut Sableye down. However, Thundurus is 2HKOed by Foul Play.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker that doesn't mind the a burn too much, like Latios or Greninja, usually does well, like Latios or Greninja against Sableye. Fairy-type special attackers also beat Sableye with ease.

**Toxic**: Toxic completely cripples Sableye, although it has to be caught on the switch as Sableye can just use Taunt otherwise.

**Entry Hazards**: Sableye is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially the rare Toxic Spikes. The residual damage forces Sableye to use Recover much more often.

**Powerful Priority**: Powerful priority moves can strike before Sableye gets a chance to use Recover or Will-O-Wisp.

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can OHKO Sableye, but Mega Gardevoir must watch out for Foul Play. Unaware Clefable may not enjoy the Will-O-Wisp, but Magic Guard variants can freely switch in and 2HKO with Moonblast.

**Guts**: Guts users like such as Conkeldurr, can switch in on Will-O-Wisp and proceed to hit back with powerful boosted attacks.

**Lum Berry**: Physical attackers that are holding a Lum Berry can beat Sableye if they can 2HKO it on the switch in or just outright OHKO it.

Copypaste

Overview
########

Sableye is well-known for stopping physical sweepers in their tracks with its famous Prankster Will-O-Wisp. Almost any non-Fire-type physical attacker without a Lum Berry or priority is shut down by Sableye, and that's a significant number of threats that go home crying thanks to this gem-encrusted Pokemon. But that's only one way Prankster is abused on Sableye; Prankster Taunt can shut down a large majority of defensive Pokemon and stall teams, while Prankster Recover can reliably heal Sableye after taking hits. Sableye also boasts 3 immunities, giving it ample switch-in opportunities on Fighting-, Normal-, and Psychic-type moves.

However, despite this seemingly unbeatable combination of movepool and ability, Sableye has several flaws that hinder its performance. Its pathetic base stats leave it extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp, which only has 85% accuracy. For the same reason, Sableye cannot stomach a strong special attack either. Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X can often freely switch into Sableye, only fearing the occasional Foul Play, and Sableye can only annoy Heatran with Knock Off. Its only resistance is the rarely used Poison-type, and it even gained a new weakness in Fairy. Sableye is fairly predictable as well and it can be totally shut down by even faster Taunts from Thundurus. Sableye also struggles against physical attackers that can avoid or take advantage of Will-O-Wisp, such as Guts Conkeldurr or Dragonite and Garchomp holding a Lum Berry. Despite these flaws, Sableye can be a huge thorn in the side to both physical attackers and support Pokemon.


Prankster Utility
########
name: Prankster Utility
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Recover
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
ability: Prankster
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish

Moves
========

Will-O-Wisp is Sableye's main source of passive damage and way of lessening damage taken. It can stop physical sweepers and wallbreakers as long as they aren't holding a Lum Berry or are immune to burns, all while providing useful passive damage to walls and tanks. Recover offers reliable recovery, and thanks to Prankster, it has priority. Unless you get hit with faster priority, this means that you can use Recover before your opponent even has a chance to attack. Prankster Taunt is very useful for shutting down defensive walls and halting any kind of setup. Since Prankster Taunt goes before Baton Pass, the opponent will not be able to Baton Pass into Espeon to bounce the Taunt back, so it can even be used against Baton Pass teams and stop their momentum. For an attacking option, Foul Play offers the most consistent and reliable damage output. Foul Play is especially useful for nailing the physical Fire-type attackers looking to absorb a Will-O-Wisp, such as Talonflame or Mega Charizard X. Knock Off, however, can cripple several special attackers on the switch that won't mind a burn, such as Keldeo, Latios, and Landorus. While the edge against special attackers is nice, Knock Off offers the least amount of offensive presence for Sableye. Night Shade provides the most consistent and reliable damage, and can be useful against Pokemon with low HP such as Rotom-W. However, keep in mind that Night Shade will not break an opposing Substitute if the user has 404 HP or more. Night Shade also lacks the utility that Knock Off brings, and some sweepers such as Mega Charizard X can just Roost off the damage from Night Shade.


Set Details
========

Full investment in HP and Defense lets Sableye handle physical attackers with ease, before and after burning them. Sableye will often be switching in on physical threats in order to scare them off with the threat of a Will-O-Wisp, and full defensive investment is needed for that. However, a specially defensive spread works very well on Sableye. With full investment in HP and Special Defense instead, Sableye can handle many prominent special attackers once it removes their items with a Knock Off on the switch , such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and even Landorus. However, Sableye will not be able to defeat specially oriented Mega Evolutions with this set, such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers is used for mandatory passive recovery, as Sableye needs all the bulk it can get. Prankster is also mandatory, as Sableye loses much of its viability without priority Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover.

Usage Tips
========

Will-O-Wisp is your main method of dealing damage and reducing the damage taken, so use it often. If a Pokemon like Mandibuzz can Roost off all the damage you can do, use Taunt to stop it. Do not use Taunt on a Pokemon that can threaten Sableye, unless you wish to sacrifice Sableye to make the switch-in easier. Recover can help scout damage and moves, so time it well. Try not to use Will-O-Wisp when a Fire-type is on the opposing side, especially Heatran, which can grab a Flash Fire boost. Users of Guts, such as Conkeldurr, can also benefit from your Will-O-Wisp. If you can predict these Pokemon switching in, try to use Knock Off or Foul Play instead.

Team Options
========

Sableye is a fairly independent Pokemon, but it has low Special Defense, so a partner for taking powerful special attacks is recommended. Tyranitar can beat Latios and Mega Charizard Y for Sableye, and in return Sableye can burn Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scizor, which annoy Tyranitar. Sableye will be spreading burns frequently, so it's a good idea to have a Pokemon such as Gyarados or Azumarill to handle the Fire-types in the tier. Sableye is helpless against Fairy-types, so partners that can take them on, such as Heatran, Scizor, Aegislash, or Ferrothorn, are recommended.

Other Options
########

Sableye has a movepool filled to the brim with cool, albeit situational, moves to play with. Sableye can use Toxic to catch common Fire-types on the switch, but it still doesn't let Sableye beat Heatran and other Fire-types such as Talonflame don't mind it too much. Substitute can be used to ease prediction and allows Sableye to beat Latios and Latias. Trick can be used with an Iron Ball to cripple a fast threat such as Thundurus or Greninja, but the loss of Leftovers recovery is undesirable. Spite can be used to burn the PP of moves with very low PP such as Hydro Pump or Stone Edge. Gravity can be used to ground all Pokemon and increase the accuracy of all moves 1.66 times. Rain Dance and Sunny Day allow Sableye to serve as a backup weather setter for rain or sun teams. Confide and Snarl lower the Special Attack of the foe by one stage, with Confide having priority and Snarl being able to do damage.

Checks and Counters
########

**Fire-types**: Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y can absorb a Will-O-Wisp and hit back with strong Fire Blasts. Mega Charizard-X and Talonflame can also switch in on Will-O-Wisp, but they must also be more careful of Foul Play.

**Prankster Taunt**: Faster Pranksters with Taunt, such as Thundurus, can completely shut Sableye down. However, Thundurus is 2HKOed by Foul Play.

**Special Attackers**: Any powerful special attacker that doesn't mind a burn too much, like Latios or Greninja, usually does well against Sableye. Fairy-type special attackers also beat Sableye with ease.

**Toxic**: Toxic completely cripples Sableye, although it has to be caught on the switch as Sableye can just use Taunt otherwise.

**Entry Hazards**: Sableye is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially the rare Toxic Spikes. The residual damage forces Sableye to use Recover much more often.

**Powerful Priority**: Powerful priority moves can strike before Sableye gets a chance to use Recover or Will-O-Wisp.

**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can OHKO Sableye, but Mega Gardevoir must watch out for Foul Play. Unaware Clefable may not enjoy Will-O-Wisp, but Magic Guard variants can freely switch in and 2HKO with Moonblast.

**Guts**: Guts users such as Conkeldurr can switch in on Will-O-Wisp and proceed to hit back with powerful boosted attacks.

**Lum Berry**: Physical attackers that are holding a Lum Berry can beat Sableye if they can 2HKO it on the switch or just outright OHKO.

GP approved 2/2

Thanks!!
Alrighty, this is done!