[OVERVIEW]
Shellder is an elite setup sweeper in LC, as using Shell Smash provides it power, and Skill Link helps fire off consistent multi-hit moves with Icicle Spear and Rock Blast. Having great physical bulk gives it enough opportunities to set up. Once boosted, it can outspeed and break through most of the metagame. However, its poor Special Defense, reliance on setup, and weakness to priority make it dependent on correct positioning.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Icicle Spear
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Liquidation / Protect / Substitute
move 4: Shell Smash
item: Eviolite
ability: Skill Link
nature: Adamant
tera type: Water / Rock / Ghost
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Icicle Spear and Rock Blast are non-negotiable, as they are the hardest-hitting moves in its arsenal. The third moveslot depends on what the team needs: Liquidation adds Water-type coverage, Protect scouts for Fake Out and Terastallizations from foes, and Substitute can punish Sucker Punch or a passive play by giving Shellder a free setup turn. An Adamant nature is chosen for the extra power, since at +2, Shellder already outspeeds every relevant Choice Scarf user. For its Tera type choices, Tera Water boosts Liquidation's damage, Tera Rock provides a Fake Out resistance while boosting Rock Blast's damage, and Tera Ghost blocks Mienfoo's High Jump Kick to allow for setup oppurtunites. This array of possibilities makes it tough for the opponent to plan the optimal pathing to deal with Shellder.
Shellder fits easily on many team styles. It appreciates Mienfoo and Vullaby, as they can strip Eviolite from bulky checks such as opposing Mienfoo, Mareanie, and Chinchou with Knock Off, as well as providing pivot support with U-turn to bring it in safely. Teammates like Mudbray and Chinchou handle Electric-types that threaten Shellder. Shellder also appreciates Stealth Rock and Spikes support from teammates like Mudbray, Glimmet, and Toedscool to chip foes like Mienfoo to get them into KO range of its attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tera Blast Grass and Ground are options that can surprise foes that Terastallize into a Water- or Steel-type to wall Shellder, but this is inconsistent and often comes down to uncomfortable guesses. A Jolly nature can be used for insurance versus rare Speed ties in a mirror matchup, but the power drop compared to Adamant is significant. Ice Shard is a viable option to outplay Sucker Punch or get the KO when Shellder cannot outspeed a foe. Shellder also has the option of running a special set with Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Tera Blast.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Electric-types**: Chinchou and Elekid can KO an unboosted Shellder or force it to Terastallize early.
**Defensive Terastallizations**: Niche picks like Tera Water Chespin with Bulletproof wall Shellder completely, while staples like Mienfoo and Foongus often use Tera Water or Steel to survive a hit and recover health with Regenerator.
**Priority**: Grassy Glide from Grookey and Sucker Punch from Stunky or Alolan Diglett can KO Shellder after chip damage.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rahul_3301.537035/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flou.605215/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Shellder is an elite setup sweeper in LC, as using Shell Smash provides it power, and Skill Link helps fire off consistent multi-hit moves with Icicle Spear and Rock Blast. Having great physical bulk gives it enough opportunities to set up. Once boosted, it can outspeed and break through most of the metagame. However, its poor Special Defense, reliance on setup, and weakness to priority make it dependent on correct positioning.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Icicle Spear
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Liquidation / Protect / Substitute
move 4: Shell Smash
item: Eviolite
ability: Skill Link
nature: Adamant
tera type: Water / Rock / Ghost
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 36 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Icicle Spear and Rock Blast are non-negotiable, as they are the hardest-hitting moves in its arsenal. The third moveslot depends on what the team needs: Liquidation adds Water-type coverage, Protect scouts for Fake Out and Terastallizations from foes, and Substitute can punish Sucker Punch or a passive play by giving Shellder a free setup turn. An Adamant nature is chosen for the extra power, since at +2, Shellder already outspeeds every relevant Choice Scarf user. For its Tera type choices, Tera Water boosts Liquidation's damage, Tera Rock provides a Fake Out resistance while boosting Rock Blast's damage, and Tera Ghost blocks Mienfoo's High Jump Kick to allow for setup oppurtunites. This array of possibilities makes it tough for the opponent to plan the optimal pathing to deal with Shellder.
Shellder fits easily on many team styles. It appreciates Mienfoo and Vullaby, as they can strip Eviolite from bulky checks such as opposing Mienfoo, Mareanie, and Chinchou with Knock Off, as well as providing pivot support with U-turn to bring it in safely. Teammates like Mudbray and Chinchou handle Electric-types that threaten Shellder. Shellder also appreciates Stealth Rock and Spikes support from teammates like Mudbray, Glimmet, and Toedscool to chip foes like Mienfoo to get them into KO range of its attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tera Blast Grass and Ground are options that can surprise foes that Terastallize into a Water- or Steel-type to wall Shellder, but this is inconsistent and often comes down to uncomfortable guesses. A Jolly nature can be used for insurance versus rare Speed ties in a mirror matchup, but the power drop compared to Adamant is significant. Ice Shard is a viable option to outplay Sucker Punch or get the KO when Shellder cannot outspeed a foe. Shellder also has the option of running a special set with Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Tera Blast.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Electric-types**: Chinchou and Elekid can KO an unboosted Shellder or force it to Terastallize early.
**Defensive Terastallizations**: Niche picks like Tera Water Chespin with Bulletproof wall Shellder completely, while staples like Mienfoo and Foongus often use Tera Water or Steel to survive a hit and recover health with Regenerator.
**Priority**: Grassy Glide from Grookey and Sucker Punch from Stunky or Alolan Diglett can KO Shellder after chip damage.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rahul_3301.537035/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flou.605215/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
