[OVERVIEW]
Rock
========
Shuckle is an incredible asset to Rock teams due to its access to a helpful utility in Sticky Web, bolstering Terrakion and Mega Diancie's effectiveness against faster teams. Its Bug typing grants it neutralities to Grass-, Ground-, and Fighting-type attacks, allowing it to easily fit onto any Rock team. This, in tandem with its incredible bulk, allows it to set up entry hazards reliably and switch into Grass- and Fighting-types like Breloom and Infernape. Sturdy allows Shuckle to take a hit from wallbreakers like Stakataka and Keldeo, allowing it to set up Sticky Web against them. Access to Knock Off allows it to remove Eviolite from Chansey and Porygon2, as well as Choice Scarf from Pokemon like Heracross and Landorus-T. This allows Terrakion, Mega Diancie, and Nihilego to deal with these threats with greater ease. With Encore, Shuckle is capable of disrupting setup sweepers like Mega Scizor, Terrakion, and Mega Gallade. Encore also helps against passive Pokemon like Mantine and Toxapex, since locking them into status moves can allow an offensive threat to switch in safely. Locking enemies into an attack also ensures that they cannot recover any health. However, Shuckle is held back by its non-existent offensive presence, leaving it susceptible to Pokemon with Taunt such as Gliscor, Mew, and Heatran after its Mental Herb has been consumed and by Magic Bounce users like Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye, which can prevent Shuckle from setting up entry hazards. Shuckle's typing leaves it vulnerable to Stealth Rock, which can severely limit its ability to switch in. This, when combined with lack of reliable sustainability, results in Shuckle being worn down very quickly.
[SET]
name: Utility (Rock)
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Encore
move 4: Knock Off
item: Mental Herb
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web reduces the foe's Speed stat by one stage upon them switching in, which is advantageous for teammates such as Terrakion and Nihilego. Stealth Rock wears the foe down each time they switch in, which is especially helpful in matchups such as Bug and Steel, breaking Sturdy on Pokemon such as Forretress and Skarmory. Encore allows Shuckle to disrupt setup sweepers like Mega Scizor, Terrakion, and Mega Gallade as well as bulky Pokemon like Toxapex and Hippowdon. Knock Off is used to remove Chansey and Porygon2's Eviolites as well as Choice Scarf from Greninja and Keldeo.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in HP and Defense with an Impish nature makes Shuckle as physically bulky as possible while minimizing Stealth Rock damage. Mental Herb allows Shuckle to bypass Taunt from Pokemon such as Cobalion and Deoxys-S for a single turn. Sturdy ensures that Shuckle always survives a hit from full health, allowing it to set up Sticky Web against wallbreakers like Keldeo and Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
========
In most matchups, it is important that Shuckle be led with immediately in order to set up Stealth Rock and Sticky Web, allowing offensive threats like Mega Diancie and Terrakion to sweep more effectively. Predicting when the foe will use a status move allows you to shut it down with Encore and switch an offensive threat in safely. Encore can also be useful for locking offensive Pokemon into a certain move. Examples include locking Mew into Psychic to safely allow Tyranitar to switch in and locking Latios into Draco Meteor so that Mega Diancie can safely come in. Due to Shuckle's Stealth Rock weakness and lack of recovery, it is also a good idea to switch in as the foe sets up Stealth Rock to avoid taking unnecessary damage. If Shuckle's Mental Herb is still intact, feel free to set up Stealth Rock or Sticky Web immediately against Taunt users like Cobalion, Heatran, and Gliscor. If the Mental Herb has already been used, it is a good idea to predict when your foe will Taunt and proceed to use Knock Off to remove their item. However, against Taunt users like Heatran and Cobalion, it is better to switch out on a predicted Taunt because Shuckle cannot severely damage them and they are more easily taken out by Terrakion or Mega Diancie. In matchups like Ground, Steel, and Psychic, it is best to prioritize setting up Sticky Web immediately as a means of outspeeding important threats like Excadrill, Mega Scizor, and Mega Gallade. However, in matchups where Sticky Web isn't as helpful, such as Flying and Poison, it is better to set up Stealth Rock first. Many entry hazard removers like Mantine and Armaldo will capitalize on how passive Shuckle is, so try predicting when they will come in and double switch into an offensive threat like Tyranitar or Mega Diancie. Avoid poison as much as possible, since it will wear down Shuckle very fast and leave it unable to take hits and set up entry hazards.
Team Options
========
Mega Diancie can bounce back entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, both of which can wear down Shuckle rather quickly. In return, Shuckle's Sticky Web can allow Mega Diancie to outspeed Choice Scarf Pokemon like Terrakion and Heracross, making it a prime asset in the Fighting matchup. Tyranitar can set up sand for Shuckle with Sand Stream, allowing Shuckle to take more special hits. Tyranitar can also beat common Defoggers like Zapdos, Mantine, and Latios, which helps Shuckle keep up its hazards. In return, Sticky Web allows Tyranitar to outspeed and KO Pokemon like Nidoking, Diggersby, and Mew; the hazard also allows Choice Scarf Terrakion to outspeed Excadrill in sand as well as Choice Scarf users like Greninja and Gengar. Terrakion can also beat Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran, which threaten Shuckle. Sticky Web can also give it the option to run Choice Band to function as an effective wallbreaker. Nihilego can beat Pokemon with Taunt such as Gliscor as well as physical walls like Skarmory and Mega Slowbro. It also benefits from Shuckle's Sticky Web to outspeed and remove Pokemon like Keldeo and Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu. Omastar is a powerful setup sweeper that can beat Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp after a Shell Smash, both of which can severely threaten Shuckle by setting up and breaking through it with a Z-Move. Sticky Web allows Omastar to outspeed Choice Scarf users like Keldeo after a Shell Smash. Rhyperior and Alolan Golem are both able to beat Mega Scizor, a huge threat to Shuckle. Rhyperior can also blanket check other threats to Shuckle such as Terrakion and Excadrill, and Alolan Golem can trap Steel-types like Skarmory and Ferrothorn, both of which very easily wear down Shuckle. Cradily offers a Water immunity for Shuckle thanks to Storm Drain. In return, Shuckle can switch into Fighting-type attacks from Breloom and Infernape for Cradily. Shuckle providing Stealth Rock can also grant Cradily a free moveslot, and Cradily can do the same for Shuckle.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock
--------
Infestation can be paired with Encore as a means of trapping and wearing down certain Pokemon, as well as granting a safe switch into an offensive threat. However, Knock Off is more valuable, as it grants the ability to remove Choice Scarf and Eviolite. Toxic is an option for wearing down walls such as Hippowdon, Zapdos, and Mantine. However, this would come at the cost of disrupting setup sweepers with Encore. A specially defensive spread can be used to survive hits from threatening special attackers like Landorus and Nidoking. However, a physically defensive spread is more effective for switching into common physical attackers like Landorus-T and Heracross.
Checks and Counters
===================
Rock
--------
**Water-types**: Water-types like Keldeo, Mega Swampert, Gyarados, and Manaphy can threaten to KO Shuckle with their STAB moves. Gyarados and Manaphy also do not fear Encore because of their Z-Moves.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Excadrill, Mega Scizor, and Magnezone can KO Shuckle with their STAB moves. Mega Scizor will not mind the Knock Off, but it will have to be careful about using Swords Dance, since Shuckle may Encore it.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types like Mega Diancie, Terrakion, and Tyranitar can threaten to KO Shuckle with their STAB moves. Mega Diancie in particular can additionally bounce back any entry hazards that Shuckle tries to set up.
**Stallbreakers**: After Shuckle's Mental Herb has been used, its non-existent offensive presence makes it vulnerable to stallbreakers such as Gliscor, Mew, and Heatran. However, Gliscor will risk getting its Toxic Orb removed from Knock Off.
**Residual Damage**: Due to having no reliable sustainability and being susceptible to Stealth Rock, Shuckle gets worn down extremely quickly. Status conditions like poison also add to this, since they can rack up damage against Shuckle over time.
**Magic Bounce**: Magic Bounce Pokemon like Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie are unaffected by any of Shuckle's utility moves and can bounce back its entry hazards. They also take little to no damage from Knock Off.
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