This analysis was QCed by ReeceHughes externally prior to being posted here.
[SET]
name: Rollout
move 1: Defense Curl
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Rollout
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Shuckle is by far the bulkiest Pokemon available in GSC NU and offers its team a crucial resistance to Normal. Its amazing defenses allow it to act as an answer to virtually any Pokemon that can't boost or hit it super effectively, including major threats like Xatu, Fearow, Weezing, and Stantler. With Defense Curl-boosted Rollout, it can also pose a legitimate threat despite its abysmal Attack. As Rollout locks Shuckle in and prevents it from switching out, it is important to make sure that foes are unable to take it down with STAB Water attacks, so Toxic can be used to force a situation where the foe will need to use Rest or switch out, which can allow Shuckle the opportunity to get rolling. Defense Curl is chosen over Curse because of its high PP count, which allows Shuckle to reliably PP stall Normal-type foes without having to lock itself into Rollout.
One should not bring in Shuckle expecting to be able to immediately sweep, however. Almost all teams have significant threats to it, and in the absence of a measure to eliminate them, Water-types such as Octillery and Dewgong with Rest will be a major long-term pain for Shuckle. Indeed, in some circumstances, Shuckle should expect never to be able to sweep. Nevertheless, Shuckle is exceptionally good at taking attacks for the purpose of PP stalling. To allow it to do this for as long as possible, having a spinner is very helpful, and Spikes will also help Shuckle's team by preventing foes from simply switching to conserve PP. Therefore, Pineco is an excellent partner, and it can even use Explosion to remove Water-types. Rock-types such as Sudowoodo, Graveler, and Pupitar pose a threat to Shuckle with their STAB Rock attacks, especially if they have Curse to boost their Attack. Additionally, Fire-types with Sunny Day or Growth, such as Magmar and Flareon, can boost the power of Fire Blast to a level that can 3HKO Shuckle. To address these threats, it is crucial to pair Shuckle with a Water-type; some examples of good choices include Octillery, Azumarill, and Chinchou. When paired with Reflect and Light Screen users such as Pineco and Azumarill, it should be noted that a Shuckle with maximum defensive stats will have its defenses roll over behind screens, leaving it incredibly vulnerable. Ninetales is useful as a teammate for dealing with Fire-types, and it can also deal with powerful special attackers such as Xatu and Magnemite decently if Shuckle is not in a position to do so. Fighting-types with Meditate such as Primeape and Hitmonlee threaten Shuckle if they catch it at a lower health point without Defense boosts. Pokemon that resist Fighting, such as Xatu, Gloom, Exeggcute, Weezing, and Arbok, make for useful partners to deal with these threats.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Encore
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
With this set, Shuckle is able to generate opportunities for teammates by locking foes into moves with Encore and spreading poison with Toxic. It retains its ability to switch into a wide variety of threats, and it can better deal with certain foes that set up boosts, such as Kingler and Primeape, thanks to Encore, although it still isn't entirely safe from them. Rest and Sleep Talk allow Shuckle to continue to dissuade foes from setting up or taking advantage of it, with minimal downtime.
Water-types such as Octillery and Chinchou are crucial teammates for Shuckle, as they can handle the majority of foes that threaten it, including Octillery, Sudowoodo, and Sunny Day Magmar. It is important to control entry hazards as much as possible when using this set to prevent the opponent from switching to stop Shuckle from being effective. Teammates that work best when they have free turns, such as Kingler, Primeape, Flareon, Magnemite, and Graveler, make for good partners for Encore Shuckle.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[ReeceHughes, 508601], [cherryb0ng, 421511]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Muk, 33374]]
[SET]
name: Rollout
move 1: Defense Curl
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Rollout
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Shuckle is by far the bulkiest Pokemon available in GSC NU and offers its team a crucial resistance to Normal. Its amazing defenses allow it to act as an answer to virtually any Pokemon that can't boost or hit it super effectively, including major threats like Xatu, Fearow, Weezing, and Stantler. With Defense Curl-boosted Rollout, it can also pose a legitimate threat despite its abysmal Attack. As Rollout locks Shuckle in and prevents it from switching out, it is important to make sure that foes are unable to take it down with STAB Water attacks, so Toxic can be used to force a situation where the foe will need to use Rest or switch out, which can allow Shuckle the opportunity to get rolling. Defense Curl is chosen over Curse because of its high PP count, which allows Shuckle to reliably PP stall Normal-type foes without having to lock itself into Rollout.
One should not bring in Shuckle expecting to be able to immediately sweep, however. Almost all teams have significant threats to it, and in the absence of a measure to eliminate them, Water-types such as Octillery and Dewgong with Rest will be a major long-term pain for Shuckle. Indeed, in some circumstances, Shuckle should expect never to be able to sweep. Nevertheless, Shuckle is exceptionally good at taking attacks for the purpose of PP stalling. To allow it to do this for as long as possible, having a spinner is very helpful, and Spikes will also help Shuckle's team by preventing foes from simply switching to conserve PP. Therefore, Pineco is an excellent partner, and it can even use Explosion to remove Water-types. Rock-types such as Sudowoodo, Graveler, and Pupitar pose a threat to Shuckle with their STAB Rock attacks, especially if they have Curse to boost their Attack. Additionally, Fire-types with Sunny Day or Growth, such as Magmar and Flareon, can boost the power of Fire Blast to a level that can 3HKO Shuckle. To address these threats, it is crucial to pair Shuckle with a Water-type; some examples of good choices include Octillery, Azumarill, and Chinchou. When paired with Reflect and Light Screen users such as Pineco and Azumarill, it should be noted that a Shuckle with maximum defensive stats will have its defenses roll over behind screens, leaving it incredibly vulnerable. Ninetales is useful as a teammate for dealing with Fire-types, and it can also deal with powerful special attackers such as Xatu and Magnemite decently if Shuckle is not in a position to do so. Fighting-types with Meditate such as Primeape and Hitmonlee threaten Shuckle if they catch it at a lower health point without Defense boosts. Pokemon that resist Fighting, such as Xatu, Gloom, Exeggcute, Weezing, and Arbok, make for useful partners to deal with these threats.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Encore
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
With this set, Shuckle is able to generate opportunities for teammates by locking foes into moves with Encore and spreading poison with Toxic. It retains its ability to switch into a wide variety of threats, and it can better deal with certain foes that set up boosts, such as Kingler and Primeape, thanks to Encore, although it still isn't entirely safe from them. Rest and Sleep Talk allow Shuckle to continue to dissuade foes from setting up or taking advantage of it, with minimal downtime.
Water-types such as Octillery and Chinchou are crucial teammates for Shuckle, as they can handle the majority of foes that threaten it, including Octillery, Sudowoodo, and Sunny Day Magmar. It is important to control entry hazards as much as possible when using this set to prevent the opponent from switching to stop Shuckle from being effective. Teammates that work best when they have free turns, such as Kingler, Primeape, Flareon, Magnemite, and Graveler, make for good partners for Encore Shuckle.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Earthworm, 15210]]
- Quality checked by: [[ReeceHughes, 508601], [cherryb0ng, 421511]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Muk, 33374]]
Last edited: