SET]
name: Physically defensive
move 1: Spore
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Strength Sap
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4spdf
Shiinotic has a very small niche in the metagame as a defensive Grass-type, however Shiinotic faces stiff competition from the likes of Vileplume who has superior Physical bulk, a Toxic immunity, Corrosive Gas and more. Shiinotic has a few advantages over Vileplume. lack of a psychic weakness helps versus Barreskewda's Psychic Fangs, Dragon Dance Necrozma, and Raikou's Extrasensory, Dark resistance is useful versus Sharpedo handling all non Ice Beam variants, while the Ground resistance and Dragon immunity allow it to counter Flygon and Regidrago. Strength Sap is Shiinotics primary form of recovery that also lowers the opponents attack stat. Spore being a reliable Sleep move over Sleep Powder is useful in thwarting set up sweepers like Toxtricity and Dragon Dance Necrozma. Heavy-Duty Boots are the preferable item to relive Shiinotic of hazard pressure especially important as it invites in Roserade who lays Spikes.
Shiinotic is helpless versus Poison-types like Roserade and Vileplume, to answer them Crobat, Chandelure, and Registeel can fill this role. Shiinotic is especially vulnerable to Chandelure making Incineroar, Porygon2, Umbreon, and Snorlax good teammates. In return Shiinotic is able to check Fighting-types like Mienshao and Pangoro. Rhyperior, Diancie, and Gastrodon can check other Fire-types like Darmanitan and Salazzle for Shiinotic. Shiinotic being able to reliably check Barreskewda is appreciated by Pokemon such as Rhyperior, Steelix, and Diancie. In return these Pokemon answer Flying-types like Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern for Shiinotic. Shiinotic's weakness to Steel-types such as Metagross and Steelix making Bulky Water-type Pokemon like Milotic and Gastrodon effective teammates, and in return they appreciate the check to Xurkitree and Zarude. Shiinotic is easily crippled by Toxic from Raikou and Seismitoad making Heal bell and Aromatherapy users such as Diancie, Togekiss, and Umbreon recommended. Shiinotic often absorbs Knock Off making it hazard vulnerable, Defog support Flygon, Crobat, and Talonflame can help with this vulnerability.
252 Atk Life Orb Mienshao Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Shiinotic: 116-136 (35.8 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Necrozma Photon Geyser vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Shiinotic: 237-280 (73.1 - 86.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Necrozma Photon Geyser vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Shiinotic: 237-280 (73.1 - 86.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
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