[OVERVIEW]
Salandit can make for a relatively good wallbreaker with its high Speed, good offensive typing, and good Special Attack. Its hidden ability, Oblivious, lets it set up Nasty Plot without needing to worry about being Taunted; getting Taunted is not a big problem for most set up sweepers in the first place, but it can be useful useful a problemthis sentence seems to be talking about Taunt and not about Oblivious, so Taunt is a problem to avoid it in certain situations. However, Salandit's huge weakness to trappers largely holds it back from its full potential. It also has paper-thin defenses, being OHKOed by almost every super effective hit. But, despite its weaknesses, Salandit can shine through in the right scenarios.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb
ability: Oblivious
nature: Timid
evs: 36 Def / 192 SpA / 40 SpD / 220 Spe
ivs: 3 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot is used to set up for a sweep. Sludge Bomb is Salandit's main Poison-type STAB move; its 100% accuracy can be very useful for guaranteed damage. Fire Blast is Salandit's Fire-type STAB move and is an extremely powerful move in general used to defeat many common Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard. Hidden Power Ground covers the Rock-types that Fire Blast and Sludge Bomb can't hit and deals with other Pokemon such as Mareanie.
Set Details
========
Life Orb is Salandit's main item to boost its attacking moves, and the 3 IVs in HP are used to minimize damage done by Life Orb each turn. A Timid nature maximizes Salandit's Speed so that it can reach 18 Speed to outpace some of LC's most common attackers, such as Mienfoo, Snivy, and Drilbur. Salandit's Oblivious ability lets it guarantee the set up of a Nasty Plot against Taunt users if it can avoid being KOed long enough to do so. Most of Salandit's EVs are put into Special Attack and Speed to maximize damage output, while the rest of the EVs are put into Defense and Special Defense to help it potentially endure an attack while it is setting up.
Usage Tips
========
Conserving Salandit until the late-game is usually the best option, but if your opponent has many ways to stop Salandit from sweeping, it can be used to make a dent in their team before they can deal with it. If you think Sludge Bomb will knock out your foe, it is always good to use it over Fire Blast, as risking a miss can result in an immediate stop to Salandit's sweep. Be sure to eliminate all opposing threats before attempting to sweep, as sweeps can be stopped very easily by one of Salandit's many counters. Only use Nasty Plot when you're confident you can pull off a sweep and when all threats are gone, as a poorly timed Nasty Plot can result in a KOed Salandit.
Team Options
========
Dark-types, namely Vullaby, Pawniard, and Stunky, surprisingly make for the best partners for Salandit, as they can stop Gothita in its tracks. Vullaby and Stunky can be useful for removing hazards, and Pawniard can set them up. Bulky Grass-types such as Foongus, Ferroseed, and Morelull can check many Water- and Ground-types such as Diglett and Chinchou for Salandit, while Salandit can break through Steel-types that wall them and Ice-types that KO them. Salandit helps Fairy-types immensely by removing troublesome Steel-types, while many Fairy-types such as Spritzee and Snubbull can use utility moves to keep Salandit healthy. Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock to break opposing Sturdy Pokemon are extremely useful for Salandit to have on its side, as many of them can stop it in its tracks. Honedge can check Abra and sometimes even Gothita, making it useful to have. Scraggy and Snivy can take advantage of Diglett and set up on it, making them ideal partners for beating it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Using Flamethrower over Fire Blast could work, but it doesn't provide the necessary amount of power to justify using it for accuracy alongside Sludge Bomb. Knock Off can help Salandit wallbreak much more easily and is probably its best option not listed on the set above, but giving up a moveslot to use it isn't recommended. A set utilizing Salandit's signature ability, Corrosion, to poison all opponents would could work if stall was more viable in Little Cup, but since it isn't a common archetype, there is no need to counter it. Similarly, a set using Venoshock in conjunction with Toxic may be used to do extra damage to all targets, but the ever-present Steel-types completely shut it down. Flame Charge can be used to help Salandit get around trappers and other fast Pokemon, but Salandit can't make room on its moveset to use it. Hidden Power Grass instead of Hidden Power Ground could work to more easily beat Water-types, but it doesn't check as many threats as Hidden Power Ground does. Salandit's high Speed stat could warrant a Taunt set, but it is easily OHKOed by many common Stealth Rock users such as Onix.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Trappers**: Gothita and Diglett are two of the most common Pokemon in Little Cup, and sadly, each of them obliterates Salandit in its own way. First of all, Diglett traps and outspeeds Salandit, and since Salandit has no priority, Diglett can easily KO it. In a similar vein, Gothita commonly runs Choice Scarf, allowing it to outspeed and KO Salandit. These two Pokemon are what significantly lowers Salandit's viability and are very important to note.
**Faster Pokemon**: Although they cannot trap Salandit, many common Choice Scarf users and naturally fast Pokemon can stop Salandit with ease, the most notable and common of these being Choice Scarf Chinchou, Abra, and Carvanha.
**Sturdy + Berry Juice Users**: Onix, Dwebble, and even Magnemite commonly carry options to OHKO Salandit, namely Earthquake, Rock Blast, and Hidden Power Ground. In return, Salandit can do almost nothing unless Stealth Rock or Spikes are set up on the opponent's side.
**Ground- and Water-types** Although they usually can't safely switch in, many bulky Ground- and Water-types such as Numel and Staryu can take one hit and KO Salandit. Many Water-types also carry Aqua Jet, a priority move that will usually knock it out.
**Munchlax** Munchlax's incredible special bulk and high Attack can let it simultaneously wall and KO Salandit with a STAB Body Slam.
Salandit can make for a relatively good wallbreaker with its high Speed, good offensive typing, and good Special Attack. Its hidden ability, Oblivious, lets it set up Nasty Plot without needing to worry about being Taunted; getting Taunted is not a big problem for most set up sweepers in the first place, but it can be useful useful a problemthis sentence seems to be talking about Taunt and not about Oblivious, so Taunt is a problem to avoid it in certain situations. However, Salandit's huge weakness to trappers largely holds it back from its full potential. It also has paper-thin defenses, being OHKOed by almost every super effective hit. But, despite its weaknesses, Salandit can shine through in the right scenarios.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ground
item: Life Orb
ability: Oblivious
nature: Timid
evs: 36 Def / 192 SpA / 40 SpD / 220 Spe
ivs: 3 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot is used to set up for a sweep. Sludge Bomb is Salandit's main Poison-type STAB move; its 100% accuracy can be very useful for guaranteed damage. Fire Blast is Salandit's Fire-type STAB move and is an extremely powerful move in general used to defeat many common Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Pawniard. Hidden Power Ground covers the Rock-types that Fire Blast and Sludge Bomb can't hit and deals with other Pokemon such as Mareanie.
Set Details
========
Life Orb is Salandit's main item to boost its attacking moves, and the 3 IVs in HP are used to minimize damage done by Life Orb each turn. A Timid nature maximizes Salandit's Speed so that it can reach 18 Speed to outpace some of LC's most common attackers, such as Mienfoo, Snivy, and Drilbur. Salandit's Oblivious ability lets it guarantee the set up of a Nasty Plot against Taunt users if it can avoid being KOed long enough to do so. Most of Salandit's EVs are put into Special Attack and Speed to maximize damage output, while the rest of the EVs are put into Defense and Special Defense to help it potentially endure an attack while it is setting up.
Usage Tips
========
Conserving Salandit until the late-game is usually the best option, but if your opponent has many ways to stop Salandit from sweeping, it can be used to make a dent in their team before they can deal with it. If you think Sludge Bomb will knock out your foe, it is always good to use it over Fire Blast, as risking a miss can result in an immediate stop to Salandit's sweep. Be sure to eliminate all opposing threats before attempting to sweep, as sweeps can be stopped very easily by one of Salandit's many counters. Only use Nasty Plot when you're confident you can pull off a sweep and when all threats are gone, as a poorly timed Nasty Plot can result in a KOed Salandit.
Team Options
========
Dark-types, namely Vullaby, Pawniard, and Stunky, surprisingly make for the best partners for Salandit, as they can stop Gothita in its tracks. Vullaby and Stunky can be useful for removing hazards, and Pawniard can set them up. Bulky Grass-types such as Foongus, Ferroseed, and Morelull can check many Water- and Ground-types such as Diglett and Chinchou for Salandit, while Salandit can break through Steel-types that wall them and Ice-types that KO them. Salandit helps Fairy-types immensely by removing troublesome Steel-types, while many Fairy-types such as Spritzee and Snubbull can use utility moves to keep Salandit healthy. Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock to break opposing Sturdy Pokemon are extremely useful for Salandit to have on its side, as many of them can stop it in its tracks. Honedge can check Abra and sometimes even Gothita, making it useful to have. Scraggy and Snivy can take advantage of Diglett and set up on it, making them ideal partners for beating it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Using Flamethrower over Fire Blast could work, but it doesn't provide the necessary amount of power to justify using it for accuracy alongside Sludge Bomb. Knock Off can help Salandit wallbreak much more easily and is probably its best option not listed on the set above, but giving up a moveslot to use it isn't recommended. A set utilizing Salandit's signature ability, Corrosion, to poison all opponents would could work if stall was more viable in Little Cup, but since it isn't a common archetype, there is no need to counter it. Similarly, a set using Venoshock in conjunction with Toxic may be used to do extra damage to all targets, but the ever-present Steel-types completely shut it down. Flame Charge can be used to help Salandit get around trappers and other fast Pokemon, but Salandit can't make room on its moveset to use it. Hidden Power Grass instead of Hidden Power Ground could work to more easily beat Water-types, but it doesn't check as many threats as Hidden Power Ground does. Salandit's high Speed stat could warrant a Taunt set, but it is easily OHKOed by many common Stealth Rock users such as Onix.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Trappers**: Gothita and Diglett are two of the most common Pokemon in Little Cup, and sadly, each of them obliterates Salandit in its own way. First of all, Diglett traps and outspeeds Salandit, and since Salandit has no priority, Diglett can easily KO it. In a similar vein, Gothita commonly runs Choice Scarf, allowing it to outspeed and KO Salandit. These two Pokemon are what significantly lowers Salandit's viability and are very important to note.
**Faster Pokemon**: Although they cannot trap Salandit, many common Choice Scarf users and naturally fast Pokemon can stop Salandit with ease, the most notable and common of these being Choice Scarf Chinchou, Abra, and Carvanha.
**Sturdy + Berry Juice Users**: Onix, Dwebble, and even Magnemite commonly carry options to OHKO Salandit, namely Earthquake, Rock Blast, and Hidden Power Ground. In return, Salandit can do almost nothing unless Stealth Rock or Spikes are set up on the opponent's side.
**Ground- and Water-types** Although they usually can't safely switch in, many bulky Ground- and Water-types such as Numel and Staryu can take one hit and KO Salandit. Many Water-types also carry Aqua Jet, a priority move that will usually knock it out.
**Munchlax** Munchlax's incredible special bulk and high Attack can let it simultaneously wall and KO Salandit with a STAB Body Slam.
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