bigtalk
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
- Seismitoad is a niche Stealth Rock setter that can blanket check a variety of top threats including Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Rotom-W.
- Its lack of weakness to Hidden Power Ice and other coverage moves found on Electric-types lets it easily come in on them and block Volt Switch.
- It's a good fit for offensive teams that appreciate the role compression it provides.
- The combination of Scald, Toxic, and Earthquake can make Seismitoad annoying to pivot into for teams that lack a good status sponge.
- However, Seismitoad is fairly passive and relies mostly on status to punish foes, so it can struggle a lot versus bulkier teams with Toxic-immune Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Tapu Fini.
- It lacks any recovery outside of Leftovers, so it's prone to getting worn down and cannot repeatedly sponge strong hits from Pokemon like Battle Bond Greninja. It's also crippled by Knock Off and status conditions such as Toxic from Heatran.
- It competes with a lot of other Ground-types to secure its spot on a team. Garchomp and Mamoswine can also set Stealth Rock but have greater offensive presences; Gliscor has access to reliable recovery, and can act as a status absorber allowing it to take on the likes of Heatran and Toxapex better; Gastrodon shares Seismitoad's typing and Water immunity, but also has better bulk and access to reliable recovery.
[SET]
name: Defensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Scald
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Sassy
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Seismitoad is a decent Stealth Rock setter since it has a good matchup against certain Defoggers like Rotom-W and Zapdos.
- Earthquake is used over Earth Power because it does more damage to specially defensive Pokemon such as Heatran, Assault Vest Magearna, and Toxapex.
- Toxic puts pressure on Defoggers like Tornadus-T and Zapdos that Seismitoad has trouble damaging directly and punishes Pokemon like Tangrowth and Mega Latias that would otherwise switch in freely.
- Refresh can be used over Toxic to remove status from Pokemon like Heatran and Rotom-W and completely shut down Scald + Toxic Toxapex, but it leaves Seismitoad unable to pressure said Defoggers.
- Knock Off can be considered over Earthquake to remove items like Leftovers from Ferrothorn and Tapu Fini and Assault Vest from Tangrowth. This can be beneficial for teammates like Ash-Greninja and Mega Alakazam.
Set Details
========
- 8 Defense EVs ensure that Seismitoad lives Mega Mawile's Play Rough from full health.
- Maximum HP and Special Defense investment lets Seismitoad comfortably switch into special attackers like Heatran and Tapu Koko.
- A Sassy nature is used since Seismitoad is already very slow and doesn't want to compromise the damage output of Scald or Earthquake.
Usage Tips
========
- Seismitoad can find opportunities to set Stealth Rock against Pokemon that it forces out like Heatran and Electric-types.
- Be wary of lures such as Grassium Z Heatran. If not using Refresh, Seismitoad should also watch out for status moves from Pokemon like Heatran and Rotom-W.
- Toxic should be used to pressure Defoggers like Tornadus-T and Zapdos that attempt to remove Seismitoad's Stealth Rock.
- Seismitoad will have trouble setting Stealth Rock against teams that employ Defoggers like Tapu Fini and Gliscor, since they are immune to status. Remove these Pokemon before setting Stealth Rock if possible, or set Stealth Rock in order to ensure a safe switch to a teammate like Kartana as the opponent uses Defog.
- Ferrothorn can easily switch into Seismitoad and trade Spikes if Seismitoad decides to use Stealth Rock. If you're not willing to make this trade or if you have already set Stealth Rock, then it's a good idea to double switch to a teammate that can pressure Ferrothorn to avoid giving it free turns.
- Try to avoid letting Seismitoad take Knock Off or get afflicted by status; it's easily worn down once its passive recovery has been removed. Heatran, Toxapex, and Gliscor are common status inducers that Seismitoad needs to watch out for, and Pokemon like Tornadus-T and Mega Scizor commonly run Knock Off.
- Switching Seismitoad into U-turn users like Tapu Koko and Victini can be risky, since the opponent can use the opportunity to bring in a wallbreaker like Mega Medicham.
- Seismitoad's only decent bulk means that it's rather dependent on its resistances to function as a wall, so it can't repeatedly sponge strong neutral hits. Think carefully before switching it into Pokemon like Ash-Greninja and Blacephalon that can hit it hard with their secondary STAB moves.
- In some matchups, it can be useful to conserve Seismitoad even if its HP is very low. Just by virtue of being alive, Seismitoad will make rain sweepers like Ash-Greninja and Kingdra think twice before using their Water-type attacks; a misprediction from the opponent will not only cost them momentum, but also restore Seismitoad's health thanks to Water Absorb.
Team Options
========
- Seismitoad fits best on bulky offensive teams that appreciate the role compression it provides as a Stealth Rock setter, Volt Switch immunity, and check to numerous threats.
- Teammates such as Mega Scizor, Celesteela, Rocky Helmet Tornadus-T, and Zapdos are appreciated for their ability to reliably deal with Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Kartana. In return, these Pokemon appreciate Seismitoad's ability to deal with Heatran and Electric-types.
- Fire-types like Heatran and Mega Charizard X can immensely pressure Grass-types for Seismitoad and weaken Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Toxapex that annoy it.
- It's a good idea to pair a Dark-resistant Pokemon with Seismitoad since it can easily get overwhelmed by Dark Pulse from Battle Bond Greninja. Heart Swap Magearna can help to check Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Mega Alakazam, which tend to overwhelm Seismitoad, and steal Calm Mind boosts from Reuniclus and Clefable should they attempt to use Seismitoad as setup fodder. Tapu Bulu is free to run a more offensive set with Seismitoad acting as the primary check to Water- and Electric-types; Grassy Terrain makes Seismitoad much harder to wear down and lets it switch into additional threats like Mega Swampert and Landorus-T.
- Wallbreakers like Mega Medicham and Hoopa-U put a lot of pressure on the defensive teams that Seismitoad struggles with.
- Fast, offensive partners like Mega Lopunny and Choice Scarf Kartana help to compensate for Seismitoad's passivity and middling Speed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- If Seismitoad is paired with Tapu Bulu, Stomping Tantrum should be used over Earthquake since its power isn't weakened by Grassy Terrain.
- Poison Jab 2HKOes Tapu Bulu, but it doesn't do much damage to anything else.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon and Grass-type Coverage**: Offensive Pokemon like Tapu Bulu, Kartana, and Serperior and defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss take very little from Seismitoad's STAB moves and can either OHKO it with their attacks or take advantage of it. However, they're annoyed by Scald burns and Toxic. Heatran can lure in Seismitoad and OHKO it with Bloom Doom.
**Status-immune Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Gliscor, Clefable, Reuniclus, and Chansey are immune to status from Scald and Toxic and don't mind Earthquake. Tapu Fini can use Defog to remove Seismitoad's Stealth Rock and Nature's Madness to whittle it down; Swords Dance Gliscor, Calm Mind Clefable, and Reuniclus can use it as setup fodder; Chansey can put Seismitoad on a timer with Toxic.
**Offensive Pressure**: Wallbreakers like Mega Medicham, Choice Band Hoopa-U, and Choice Specs Tapu Lele can deal lethal amounts of damage to Seismitoad with their attacks. Sweepers like Hawlucha and Mega Gyarados can easily tank a hit from Seismitoad and use the opportunity to set up, although they must be wary of Scald burns and Toxic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[bigtalk, 466663]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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