[OVERVIEW]
Sealeo functions as a premier specially offensive threat in the PU tier, having a combination of strong dual STAB coverage and respectable bulk. Sealeo's strong STAB Ice-type moves allows it to deal heavy damage to the Grass-types that would otherwise resist its Water-type moves. Access to Encore allows it to take advantage of slower, more passive Pokemon, while options like Roar and Yawn can be used to shuffle the opposing team around and punish more offensive counterplay. Unfortunately, Sealeo is quite slow, and while Water/Ice is a great offensive typing in PU, it does suffer defensively by being weak to Electric, Rock, and Grass, some of the most common coverage types in the tier.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid
evs: 236 SpA / 48 SpD / 224 Spe
ivs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Sealeo's STAB coverage is fantastic for breaking through the PU tier and Hidden Power Grass rounds out its coverage perfectly, allowing it to hit every Pokemon for at least neutral damage. Substitute lets Sealeo take advantage of switches and get a big hit on an opponent's initial response to it, while Encore gives Sealeo a much easier time against Lickitung. The given EV spread allows Sealeo to outspeed Pokemon like Marshtomp and Mawile while also having enough Special Defense to live a Minun's Thunderbolt from full HP.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic and Protect can be used alongside a specially defensive EV spread to use Sealeo's decent defensive profile to stall Pokemon that may otherwise be able to check it like Wigglytuff and opposing Sealeo. Roar can be used to phase out set up sweepers like Swords Dance Mawile or Kingler and Yawn can achieve a similar result while also threatening to put the foe to sleep.
Checks and Counters
===================
Minun outspeeds and threatens Sealeo with heavy damage, or even an OHKO if it is not at full HP. Other strong fast attackers like Arbok, Furret, and Abra threaten Sealeo with big damage though none of them can take it out from full. Sunny Day Tangela can take out Sealeo with Solar Beam but sun must already be up, as it also faints to Ice Beam.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sergiorules.265399/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Sealeo functions as a premier specially offensive threat in the PU tier, having a combination of strong dual STAB coverage and respectable bulk. Sealeo's strong STAB Ice-type moves allows it to deal heavy damage to the Grass-types that would otherwise resist its Water-type moves. Access to Encore allows it to take advantage of slower, more passive Pokemon, while options like Roar and Yawn can be used to shuffle the opposing team around and punish more offensive counterplay. Unfortunately, Sealeo is quite slow, and while Water/Ice is a great offensive typing in PU, it does suffer defensively by being weak to Electric, Rock, and Grass, some of the most common coverage types in the tier.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid
evs: 236 SpA / 48 SpD / 224 Spe
ivs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Sealeo's STAB coverage is fantastic for breaking through the PU tier and Hidden Power Grass rounds out its coverage perfectly, allowing it to hit every Pokemon for at least neutral damage. Substitute lets Sealeo take advantage of switches and get a big hit on an opponent's initial response to it, while Encore gives Sealeo a much easier time against Lickitung. The given EV spread allows Sealeo to outspeed Pokemon like Marshtomp and Mawile while also having enough Special Defense to live a Minun's Thunderbolt from full HP.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic and Protect can be used alongside a specially defensive EV spread to use Sealeo's decent defensive profile to stall Pokemon that may otherwise be able to check it like Wigglytuff and opposing Sealeo. Roar can be used to phase out set up sweepers like Swords Dance Mawile or Kingler and Yawn can achieve a similar result while also threatening to put the foe to sleep.
Checks and Counters
===================
Minun outspeeds and threatens Sealeo with heavy damage, or even an OHKO if it is not at full HP. Other strong fast attackers like Arbok, Furret, and Abra threaten Sealeo with big damage though none of them can take it out from full. Sunny Day Tangela can take out Sealeo with Solar Beam but sun must already be up, as it also faints to Ice Beam.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sergiorules.265399/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: