Seismitoad
[Overview]
<p>Seismitoad has always lurked in the shadows, overshadowed
(might want to use something like 'eclipsed', 'outshined', 'surpassed', or another word you prefer here; 'lurked in the shadows, overshadowed' seems a bit redundant to me, but it's up to you) by it
s Water-type brethren. Thankfully, Seismitoad’s new
ly released Dream World ability, Water Absorb, along with the BW2 tutors, gives the tadpole a new lease on life. Prior to the BW2 changes, Seismitoad had Leftovers and the unreliable Res
tTalk for recovery. Now Seismitoad has Water Absorb, which grants it 25% recovery when hit by a Water-type attack,
and it is further healed by Leftovers.
The Other notable
BW2 changes improvements that
were rewarded to BW2 awarded Seismitoad include: Stealth Rock, Ice Punch, Knock Off, and Drain Punch.</P>
<p>Seismitoad is a unique Swift Swim sweeper and bulky Water-type, who occupies a niche which is shared with only Cradily; an immunity to Water-type attacks and access to Stealth Rock
s. On a rain team, Seismitoad can be a support Pokemon with Stealth Rock and a sweeper with Swift Swim. In addition, Seismitoad can be an excellent pivot with
its 105 / 75 / 75 defenses, Water Absorb
ability, and
its Water / Ground
-typing. However, all is not well for the grown toad. Its 4x weakness to Grass-type attacks can be easily exploited in NU, where there is a plethora of Grass-type Pokemon. Not only
does is Seismitoad
’s weakness hinder its tanking ability hindered defensively by this weakness, it
also isn’t the strongest Water-type sweeper
(this may seem like an unnecessary rewording, but you want 'it' in the second half of the sentence to refer to Seismitoad, but before it referred to Seismitoad's weakness; you can do that differently if you want however, if you think my phrasing is awkward or doesn't say what you were trying to say). For example, Gorebyss and Ludicolo are more powerful standalone Swift Swim sweepers. However, play to Seismitoad’s strengths and use
(maybe 'take advantage of' instead of 'use'; up to you really) its immunities
, (comma) and you won’t be disappointed.</p>
[SET]
name: Swift Swim Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Stealth Rock / Sludge Wave
item: Life Orb / Damp Rock
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 96 HP / 252 SpA / 160 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes advantage of Swift Swim
, (remove comma) and is Seismitoad’s best chance at sweeping. Courtesy of its typing, Seismitoad is immune to Electric-type attacks, notably Volt Switch and Thunder Wave, which gives it a niche as a sweeper. In addition, when used
with on a full rain team,
having an its electric immunity is invaluable. Rain Dance doubles Seismitoad’s speed
, (remove comma) and powers up its STAB Water-type attacks.
With Rain Dance, Seismitoad can support the team and itself. (removing this sentence because it doesn't really say anything) The debate between Hydro Pump and Surf
is comes down to the age old question of power versus reliability. Since Seismitoad lacks the sheer power of other Water-type sweepers,
it appreciates Hydro Pump
allows allowing it to hit as hard as it can; however, if the accuracy is an issue
, (comma) then Surf can be used. Earth Power
utilizes allows Seismitoad
's to use its other STAB
, (remove comma) and hits
many of the Pokemon who resist its Water-type attacks
(it doesn't hit all of them; Pure grass-types resist both Water and Ground for instance). In addition
('notably' might be better since you're pointing out one of the specific things that resist water and are hit hard by earth power, not something new), Earth Power allows Seismitoad to hit the many Grass / Poison
type Pokemon in the NU tier neutrally. The last moveslot
is decided by the depends on your team
's requirements. If using Stealth Rock, Seismitoad can
fulfill its unique niche
of being as both a sweeper and supporter. Furthermore, Stealth Rock helps to break down common rain checks such as Mantine. Be that as it may, if Stealth Rock is already set by another Pokemon, then Sludge Wave can be used. With Sludge Wave, Seismitoad can damage
pure/many (maybe, probably not an essential change) Grass-types more effectively.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given nature and EV spread allow Seismitoad to hit as hard as possible. With 160 Speed EVs, Seismitoad can outspeed Choice Scarf Rotom-S
in rain. Life Orb is the preferred option because Seismitoad wants to do as much damage as it can.
However, Damp Rock is a viable choice to lengthen the duration of Rain Dance, which allows Seismitoad to be an excellent support sweeper on a Rain Dance team. Seismitoad can also utilize Hidden Power Ice to hit Altaria, who otherwise walls this set. Grass
- and / Poison
-type Pokemon are the biggest counters to Seismitoad, as they are hit neutrally with Earth Power and Sludge Wave. Amoonguss is a superb counter to Seismitoad because it takes little damage from any of Seismitoad's attacks and has Giga Drain to OHKO Seismitoad while healing itself. Also, the
threat prospect (or another word you think is better; this is just to avoid redundancy) of Spore threatens Seismitoad and fellow teammates. Besides Grass-types, Seismitoad has a hard time taking down bulky Water-types as well as dedicated special walls that can tank Seismitoad’s onslaught and cripple it. Lickilicky easily absorbs attacks and can respond by setting up a Wish, phazing with Dragon Tail, or using Swords Dance. In addition, Audino can switch into any attack, set a Wish up, and cripple Seismitoad with Toxic. Articuno is an excellent partner
with for Seismitoad because it resists Grass-types attacks
, (remove comma) and
moreover can wreak havoc with STAB Ice Beam and Hurricane, which has perfect accuracy in the rain. Ludicolo is an excellent rain partner for Seismitoad
, (remove comma) because it has a way to hit the Grass-types who are trouble for Seismitoad. In general, Seismitoad has excellent synergy with Grass-types, since they resist Seismitoad’s only weakness. Amoonguss is an exceptional partner for Seismitoad, especially in the rain. With Rain Dance in effect, Amoonguss’s Fire-type weakness is neutralized, and
, (comma) with Spore and Regenerator
, (comma) Amoonguss can switch in
and out many times. Additionally, Amoonguss’s Poison-type STAB helps to deal with troublesome Grass-types. Fellow Water-type sweepers, such as Gorebyss and Samurott,
also work well with Seismitoad as they appreciate
Seismitoad it weakening the opponent’s team.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Toad
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Scald
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Knock Off / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Rindo Berry
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With the newly acquired Water Absorb and Stealth Rock, Seismitoad
is can now
be a decent tank. A useful Water / Ground typing allows Seismitoad to tank special attacks
well, rather than physical ones. Seismitoad can also be a good lead because of its access to Stealth Rock
, and can and ability to attack opposing lead with Scald if needed. Earth Power takes advantage of STAB and allows Seismitoad to hit
many of the Pokemon who resist Scald. Knock Off serves to destabilize
the opposing Pokemon, ridding them of
their essential items, such as Evolite, Leftovers, and Choice items. Sei
smitoad can also utilize Toxic to cripple bulky Pokemon; however, Grass / Poison type Pokemon are immune to Toxic and will often be the ones that will switch
into in on Seismitoad.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>An alternate EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with a Bold nature can be used for physically defensive variants. Leftovers is the recommended item because the passive recovery helps maintain Seismitoad’s bulk.
However, Rindo Berry is also a viable option, as it allows Seismitoad to survive non-STAB Grass-type attacks, such as Grass Knot from Samurott and Eelektross as well as Hidden Power Grass from Charizard. Seismitoad is also a good check to opposing
water Water-type sweepers that lack a Grass-type attack; however, Seismitoad cannot do much damage back. Courtesy of its typing, Seismitoad is a good counter to Volt Switch users that lack a Grass-type attack, such as Zebstrika, Probopass, and Rotom-S. If using the physically defensive EV spread, then Seismitoad can check Samurott and Carracosta as long as they lack a Grass-type attack,
but again, that can be mitigated with or even if they do if using Rindo Berry
(you can use different phrasing if you don't like mine, but this clears up that Rindo berry doesn't mitigate Seismitoad's ability to check these threats). The preferred partners to Seismitoad should obviously resist or be immune to Grass-type attacks, especially if Seismitoad is using Leftovers rather than Rindo Berry. Again, Articuno is a great partner because the offensive and defensive synergy between the two is
great substantial (another change I made to avoid redundancy where you can use a different word if you don't like my choice). Articuno can take Grass-type attacks all day
, (remove comma) and threaten
s opposing Pokemon with STAB Ice Beam and Hurricane. Pokemon with the Sap Sipper ability are also great partners
, (remove comma) because of their immunity to
any Grass-type attack
s. On a more offensive team, Sawsbuck is an excellent choice because it can threaten the opposing team with a +1 Attack boost. On a more defensive team, Miltank is a great choice; it can switch in and start attacking at +1, or support the team with Heal Bell. Seismitoad has trouble with status, predominately poison; therefore, a cleric would be most beneficial. The aforementioned Miltank works well,
and as does Vileplume
has a with its 4x resistance to Grass-type attacks. Physically defensive Amoonguss has access to Spore and is an excellent partner for Seismitoad because of the synergy between the two. Even with Water Absorb and Leftovers Seismitoad lacks reliable recovery, so a Wish user is recommended. Flareon is an excellent partner in this regard as it also threatens every Grass-type Pokemon
(what about Ludicolo? not saying Flareon doesn't have ways to beat it, but it does have dat Water-STAB if its already in) in the tier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Seismitoad can utilize Res
tTalk, but
, due to BW with the new (in my opinion, it's been fifth gen too long to call them new) sleep mechanics
, (comma) it
becomes is a risky choice. Seismitoad also has access to the Poison Touch ability, which has a chance to poison the enemy on contact; however, it is not as helpful as Swift Swim or Water Absorb.
The option of using Grass Knot is available
as an option to hit opposing Water-types, but it won't see much use other than that. Seismitoad has an extensive physical movepool, but a physical set doesn't have many hard-hitting options and lacks Water-type moves, while a mixed set doesn't hit quite hard enough, even with Earthquake. Alternatively, Seismitoad has Ice Punch to hit Altaria and opposing Grass-types super effectively. In addition, Drain Punch deserves a mention because it hits the various Normal-type Pokemon in NU
, (remove comma) and is a method to recover health.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>As mentioned previously, Grass-type Pokemon are excellent counters to Seismitoad because they resist Seismitoad’s STABs
, (remove comma) and can retaliate with a STAB Grass-type attack. Even with Rindo Berry, a STAB Grass-type attack will heavily damage Seismitoad, although pure Grass-types need to be wary of
(you accidently have two spaces between of and Sludge) Sludge Wave. Amoonguss is the best counter to Seismitoad, because it can use Spore
, (remove comma) or OHKO through Rindo Berry with Giga Drain, while Seismitoad’s attacks won’t be denting the mushroom. Despite the fact that Seismitoad can hit Ludicolo with Sludge Wave or Toxic, Ludicolo is an adept counter
(wouldn't that make it more of a check, since it has trouble switching in?) to Seismitoad, in or out of rain. In rain, Ludicolo can outspeed and OHKO with a STAB Grass-type attack. Outside of rain, Ludicolo can switch in
, and set up a Substitute,
and either use Leech Seed
, (remove comma) or simply OHKO with Giga Drain. If Cradily avoids
Sludge Wave or (Cradily is neutral to Poison due to its Rock typing) Toxic, then it can boost its Special Attack with Storm Drain or KO with its STAB Grass-type attacks. With immunity to Water-type attacks, Parasect with Dry Skin can switch in on Seismitoad and threaten with a Spore or STAB Grass-type attack
(still has to watch out for Sludge Wave). Special walls, such as Lickilicky, Audino, and Musharna can come in on Seismitoad and tank
the its hits while wearing Seismitoad down. Altaria resists Seismitoad’s Water-type STAB and is immune to Earth Power
, but
Altaria has to watch out for Hidden Power Ice
or and (has to watch out for both) Ice Punch. In a similar vein, Dragonair is a good counter because of its bulk and typing, even Hidden Power Ice and Ice Punch won’t be doing much damage because of Dragonair’s Eviolite-boosted defenses. Barring Knock Off
(which would remove Eviolite), Seismitoad has no way to stop Dragonair. Faster Taunt users are a nuisance because they disrupt Seismitoad’s job, either to set up Rain Dance or Stealth Rock, but nothing with Taunt will appreciate taking a Hydro Pump to the face or getting burned by Scald.</p>