GP:Fireflame479/Kris
[OVERVIEW]
Sandile's high Attack and decent Speed make it a decent Choice Scarf sweeper, especially when combined with its unique Dark / Ground typing, which very few Pokemon resist, and its fantastic ability, Moxie, which boosts its Attack each time it scores a KO. It also has good coverage moves, such as Fire Fang, that allow it to surprise slower would-be counters, hitting them even harder after Moxie boosts its Attack. However, Sandile is weak to several common offensive types such as Water, Grass, and Fighting, as well as to common priority moves such as Mach Punch, Vacuum Wave, and Aqua Jet, which is further compounded by its terrible bulk. Its mediocre Speed also means that it's reliant on a Choice Scarf in order to not get outsped and OHKOed, which means that it can be very difficult for Sandile to get going, as the opponent can just switch in a Pokemon that resists the move Sandile is locked into. Its lack of Knock Off and recovery moves also means that it faces stiff competition as an offensive Dark-type from Pawniard and Vullaby and as an offensive Ground-type from Diglett, which is faster and hits harder before Moxie.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Fire Fang / Stone Edge
move 4: Pursuit / Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 180 Atk / 76 Def / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Earthquake is a powerful STAB move that does huge damage after one or two Moxie boosts, especially to common Pokemon such as Onix and Mareanie that are weak to it. Crunch is a great secondary STAB option to hit Flying-types or anything weak to it. Fire Fang is a great way to heavily damage Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Cottonee, which resist Sandile's STAB moves. Pursuit is a good option to trap Abra and Gastly as they try to switch out, while Stone Edge does decent damage to Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo as they try to switch in.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Sandile to hit as hard and fast as possible. This is augmented by a fantastic sweeping ability in Moxie, boosting Sandile's Attack each time it scores a KO. The remaining EVs are used to boost Sandile's Defense by one point and help Sandile better take physical priority hits; however, they still hit Sandile hard due to its poor bulk. Adamant is the preferred nature to hit as hard as possible, but Jolly can be used to outpace other 16 Speed Choice Scarf users like Pawniard and Rufflet. Choice Scarf raises Sandile's Speed to a very good 24 with an Adamant nature at the cost of being locked into a move; however, Choice Scarf is necessary for Sandile to do its job.
Usage Tips
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Choice Scarf Sandile is best used as a cleaner later in the match when Pokemon that can wall it have been eliminated, especially after any Flying-types or Pokemon such as Cottonee and Vullaby that resist both of Sandile's STAB moves have been eliminated. Sandile is also very weak to a number of priority moves such as Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, so it's good to clear out Pokemon such as Timburr and Croagunk that often have priority moves. The biggest difficulty with this set is beginning its sweep; Sandile is a nightmare for anything that doesn't resist it once Moxie activates, but before that happens, it's very difficult to score a KO on anything to activate Moxie. As a result, Sandile should be brought in on a weakened Pokemon or one that it can hit super effectively to score a quick KO. Sandile can also be used as either a revenge killer with its excellent Speed from Choice Scarf or a Pursuit trapper for Pokemon such as Abra and Gastly. However, if you're using Sandile as a revenge killer, keep in mind that its Attack is rather low before Moxie activates. Avoid switching Sandile into an attack, as its awful bulk means that it cannot take a hit from anything that it does not resist, and when predicting a switch-in that is resistant or immune to Sandile's STAB attacks, always use super effective or neutral coverage. Avoid using Fire Fang unless you are expecting the opponent to switch into a Pokemon such as Ferroseed that would wall Sandile's STAB moves.
Team Options
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Counters to Fighting-types, such as Spritzee or Snubbull, are necessary for Sandile to do its job, as both have the bulk to deal with a Mach Punch or Vacuum Wave. It's a good idea to have Knock Off support from Pokemon such as Pawniard or Mienfoo to remove Eviolite from foes, as Sandile benefits greatly from foes having reduced bulk. Knock Off can also be used to remove Choice Scarfs from foes such as Mienfoo and Doduo, both of which outspeed Sandile and often carry Choice Scarf. Poison-types such as Foongus are good partners with this set, as they check Sandile's Fighting, Grass, and Fairy weaknesses and in turn can use Sandile to check their Psychic weakness. Stealth Rock support from Dwebble or Archen is also good to have, as it helps wear down Flying-types hoping to switch into an Earthquake. Magnemite is a good partner to Sandile, as it deals with Fairy-types and can serve as a second check to Water-types. Croagunk can also be useful as a Fairy check.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Thunder Fang is an option to remove Water-types and Vullaby, but it's inadvisable to get locked into, and having a Ground-type as your answer to Water-types is generally a bad idea. Life Orb is also an option, but the boost in Speed from a Choice Scarf is more appreciated, as Sandile can boost its own Attack with Moxie. Life Orb also tends to wear it down quickly. Iron Tail can be used, but it's extremely inaccurate, and, outside of removing Fairy-types, it has horrible coverage. Sandile can also run Aqua Tail, but it provides no coverage outside of hitting Mudbray and Archen, both of which are already hit hard by Sandile's STAB moves. Sandile can also be run with Intimidate and an Eviolite as a bulky utility Pokemon, but it tends to be better when used as a sweeper, as it has no recovery and is very frail even after EV investment.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types:** Fairy-types resist Crunch and usually have the bulk to tank Sandile's other moves. Cottonee functions especially well at this, as it resists both Earthquake and Crunch.
**Flying-types:** Flying-types are immune to Earthquake and can set up easily on a Choice-locked Sandile. Vullaby also resists Crunch, making it an even larger problem.
**Fighting-types:** Pokemon such as Timburr and Mienfoo generally have the bulk to take an Earthquake and can OHKO Sandile. Sandile also cannot take a Mach Punch or Vacuum Wave, which some Fighting-types carry, rendering its Choice Scarf useless.
**Grass-types:** Most Grass-types such as Snivy and Pumpkaboo-XL have the bulk to take an Earthquake and retaliate with a super effective STAB move.
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