[OVERVIEW]
Skrelp is a powerful wallbreaker in the LC metagame due to its good typing, which gives it excellent coverage with just its STAB moves, and Adaptability, which boosts the power of these STAB moves. With those traits coupled with a solid Special Attack stat, Skrelp becomes very difficult to switch into. Defensively, Skrelp has eight resistances, most notably to the common Fighting and Fairy types, which gives it the ability to switch in on common Pokemon and pressure them out with its offensive potential. However, Skrelp is held back offensively by poor Speed, a shallow movepool that leaves it reliant on Hidden Power to hit the Pokemon that otherwise wall it, and a lack of recovery outside of Rest. Defensively, Skrelp faces competition from Mareanie, which has the same typing and comparable defensive stats but can check the same Pokemon more reliably thanks to its ability Regenerator, which forces Skrelp into an offensive role. It is also held back by weaknesses to common Ground- and Electric-type attacks and to Diglett, which can revenge kill it with no possibility of Skrelp switching out.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Psychic
move 4: Toxic Spikes / Scald
item: Eviolite
ability: Adaptability
nature: Calm
evs: 116 HP / 116 Def / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave and Hydro Pump are powerful STAB attacks that hit especially hard when boosted by Adaptability. Together they give Skrelp nearly perfect neutral coverage in the LC metagame. Skrelp has a choice of a Hidden Power to deal significant damage to one of the Pokemon that resist its STAB attacks. Hidden Power Fire is useful for Ferroseed, while Hidden Power Psychic is useful for Croagunk, as well as for other Poison-type Pokemon, including Mareanie, Tentacool, and other Skrelp. Thunderbolt is another option in this slot that hits the latter three for greater damage than Hidden Power Psychic. Toxic Spikes gives Skrelp a way to take advantage of the switches it forces by stacking Toxic Spikes to pressure opposing teams. Alternatively, Scald can be run as a Water-type STAB move that doesn't miss and can burn switch-ins to wear them down.
Set Details
========
Skrelp's EV spread maximizes its Special Attack while giving it enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from Drilbur or Focus Sash Diglett, or a Psychic from Focus Sash Abra. Adaptability allows Skrelp to hit as hard as possible with its STAB moves, especially with Special Attack investment. An Eviolite improves Skrelp's defenses, allowing it to take as many hits as possible while dealing damage.
Usage Tips
========
Skrelp can easily come in on the attacks that it resists, especially against Pokemon such as Spritzee and Timburr that cannot significantly damage it, and then begin to dish out damage against whatever comes in. Early-game, Skrelp can use Toxic Spikes or Scald to spread status and wear down the opposing team's checks and counters. Mid- or late-game, Skrelp can come in and break down the opposing team with powerful attacks. Be cautious when playing against teams using trappers, as these can easily come in after Skrelp gets a KO and remove it from the match. Also be careful about letting Skrelp take super effective, or even powerful neutral attacks, as despite its good defenses it is prone to getting worn down. Skrelp's Hidden Power should usually not be used except against Pokemon that resist both of Skrelp's STAB attacks because Adaptability gives Skrelp such a power boost on its STAB moves.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from the likes of Dwebble and Onix enhances Skrelp's wallbreaking potential and helps it take advantage of the switches it forces. Fighting-types, including Mienfoo and Timburr, appreciate Skrelp's ability to check Fairy-type Pokemon, can Knock Off opposing Pokemon's items to help Skrelp deal more damage, and can handle Ferroseed easily. Checks to Ground-type Pokemon are essential, making Grass-types such as Snivy, Pumpkaboo, and Ferroseed good partners. Flying-type Pokemon, including Vullaby and Archen, also work in this role to a degree. Pokemon that can take advantage of the fact that Skrelp brings in Diglett work well, including Snivy and Z-Trick-or-Treat Pumpkaboo. Pokemon that appreciate Skrelp's ability to come in on and pressure Fighting-type Pokemon are also good partners, including Normal-type attackers such as Aipom and Bunnelby and Steel- and Rock-type attackers such as Omanyte and Pawniard. Lastly, Skrelp forms a solid defensive core with both Lickitung and Spritzee, both of which can also use Wish to pass Skrelp HP boosts, giving it longevity it would not otherwise have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A physical set with Waterfall and Gunk Shot is a possibility, as Skrelp has decent Attack, but forces Skrelp to rely on less reliable STAB moves. This set is effective at luring in specially defensive Pokemon, however. A RestTalk set can be run to increase Skrelp's ability to check key Pokemon throughout the course of a match. However, Mareanie is generally a more reliable defensive answer to the Pokemon Skrelp checks. Berry Juice can be used over Eviolite if Skrelp isn't being used to check Fighting-types (and therefore, often subjected to Knock Off), to give it more longevity at the expense of bulk. Sludge Bomb is an option over Sludge Wave due to its higher chance of inflicting poison, but Skrelp generally appreciates the slightly better damage rolls that Sludge Wave gets. Skrelp can run an EV spread that maximizes its Speed with a Modest nature in order to outspeed Timburr, Croagunk, and Snubbull at the expense of bulk, or an EV spread with maximum Speed and Timid to outrun defensive Mudbray variants and take them out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Diglett**: Skrelp is extremely prone to being trapped by Diglett, which KOes it with Earthquake without allowing it to switch out. Diglett cannot switch into Skrelp, however.
**Pokemon That Resist Skrelp's STAB Moves**: Though Skrelp's STAB moves have excellent coverage, several Pokemon can wall it completely. Ferroseed walls Skrelp variants without Hidden Power Fire, and Croagunk walls variants without Hidden Power Psychic. Other Water-types, including Mareanie and Tentacool, do little damage to Skrelp but also take little damage from its attacks.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon with high Special Defense stats take Skrelp's attacks fairly easily, especially Munchlax and the seldom seen Mantyke.
**Super Effective Attacks**: Although it has decent defensive stats, Skrelp is prone to being taken out by strong super effective attacks, especially because it is easy to outspeed. Electric-types such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Elekid; Ground-types such as Mudbray and Drilbur; and Psychic-types such as Abra are all able to outspeed and either KO or nearly KO Skrelp.
Skrelp is a powerful wallbreaker in the LC metagame due to its good typing, which gives it excellent coverage with just its STAB moves, and Adaptability, which boosts the power of these STAB moves. With those traits coupled with a solid Special Attack stat, Skrelp becomes very difficult to switch into. Defensively, Skrelp has eight resistances, most notably to the common Fighting and Fairy types, which gives it the ability to switch in on common Pokemon and pressure them out with its offensive potential. However, Skrelp is held back offensively by poor Speed, a shallow movepool that leaves it reliant on Hidden Power to hit the Pokemon that otherwise wall it, and a lack of recovery outside of Rest. Defensively, Skrelp faces competition from Mareanie, which has the same typing and comparable defensive stats but can check the same Pokemon more reliably thanks to its ability Regenerator, which forces Skrelp into an offensive role. It is also held back by weaknesses to common Ground- and Electric-type attacks and to Diglett, which can revenge kill it with no possibility of Skrelp switching out.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Psychic
move 4: Toxic Spikes / Scald
item: Eviolite
ability: Adaptability
nature: Calm
evs: 116 HP / 116 Def / 200 SpA / 36 SpD / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave and Hydro Pump are powerful STAB attacks that hit especially hard when boosted by Adaptability. Together they give Skrelp nearly perfect neutral coverage in the LC metagame. Skrelp has a choice of a Hidden Power to deal significant damage to one of the Pokemon that resist its STAB attacks. Hidden Power Fire is useful for Ferroseed, while Hidden Power Psychic is useful for Croagunk, as well as for other Poison-type Pokemon, including Mareanie, Tentacool, and other Skrelp. Thunderbolt is another option in this slot that hits the latter three for greater damage than Hidden Power Psychic. Toxic Spikes gives Skrelp a way to take advantage of the switches it forces by stacking Toxic Spikes to pressure opposing teams. Alternatively, Scald can be run as a Water-type STAB move that doesn't miss and can burn switch-ins to wear them down.
Set Details
========
Skrelp's EV spread maximizes its Special Attack while giving it enough bulk to survive an Earthquake from Drilbur or Focus Sash Diglett, or a Psychic from Focus Sash Abra. Adaptability allows Skrelp to hit as hard as possible with its STAB moves, especially with Special Attack investment. An Eviolite improves Skrelp's defenses, allowing it to take as many hits as possible while dealing damage.
Usage Tips
========
Skrelp can easily come in on the attacks that it resists, especially against Pokemon such as Spritzee and Timburr that cannot significantly damage it, and then begin to dish out damage against whatever comes in. Early-game, Skrelp can use Toxic Spikes or Scald to spread status and wear down the opposing team's checks and counters. Mid- or late-game, Skrelp can come in and break down the opposing team with powerful attacks. Be cautious when playing against teams using trappers, as these can easily come in after Skrelp gets a KO and remove it from the match. Also be careful about letting Skrelp take super effective, or even powerful neutral attacks, as despite its good defenses it is prone to getting worn down. Skrelp's Hidden Power should usually not be used except against Pokemon that resist both of Skrelp's STAB attacks because Adaptability gives Skrelp such a power boost on its STAB moves.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from the likes of Dwebble and Onix enhances Skrelp's wallbreaking potential and helps it take advantage of the switches it forces. Fighting-types, including Mienfoo and Timburr, appreciate Skrelp's ability to check Fairy-type Pokemon, can Knock Off opposing Pokemon's items to help Skrelp deal more damage, and can handle Ferroseed easily. Checks to Ground-type Pokemon are essential, making Grass-types such as Snivy, Pumpkaboo, and Ferroseed good partners. Flying-type Pokemon, including Vullaby and Archen, also work in this role to a degree. Pokemon that can take advantage of the fact that Skrelp brings in Diglett work well, including Snivy and Z-Trick-or-Treat Pumpkaboo. Pokemon that appreciate Skrelp's ability to come in on and pressure Fighting-type Pokemon are also good partners, including Normal-type attackers such as Aipom and Bunnelby and Steel- and Rock-type attackers such as Omanyte and Pawniard. Lastly, Skrelp forms a solid defensive core with both Lickitung and Spritzee, both of which can also use Wish to pass Skrelp HP boosts, giving it longevity it would not otherwise have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A physical set with Waterfall and Gunk Shot is a possibility, as Skrelp has decent Attack, but forces Skrelp to rely on less reliable STAB moves. This set is effective at luring in specially defensive Pokemon, however. A RestTalk set can be run to increase Skrelp's ability to check key Pokemon throughout the course of a match. However, Mareanie is generally a more reliable defensive answer to the Pokemon Skrelp checks. Berry Juice can be used over Eviolite if Skrelp isn't being used to check Fighting-types (and therefore, often subjected to Knock Off), to give it more longevity at the expense of bulk. Sludge Bomb is an option over Sludge Wave due to its higher chance of inflicting poison, but Skrelp generally appreciates the slightly better damage rolls that Sludge Wave gets. Skrelp can run an EV spread that maximizes its Speed with a Modest nature in order to outspeed Timburr, Croagunk, and Snubbull at the expense of bulk, or an EV spread with maximum Speed and Timid to outrun defensive Mudbray variants and take them out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Diglett**: Skrelp is extremely prone to being trapped by Diglett, which KOes it with Earthquake without allowing it to switch out. Diglett cannot switch into Skrelp, however.
**Pokemon That Resist Skrelp's STAB Moves**: Though Skrelp's STAB moves have excellent coverage, several Pokemon can wall it completely. Ferroseed walls Skrelp variants without Hidden Power Fire, and Croagunk walls variants without Hidden Power Psychic. Other Water-types, including Mareanie and Tentacool, do little damage to Skrelp but also take little damage from its attacks.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon with high Special Defense stats take Skrelp's attacks fairly easily, especially Munchlax and the seldom seen Mantyke.
**Super Effective Attacks**: Although it has decent defensive stats, Skrelp is prone to being taken out by strong super effective attacks, especially because it is easy to outspeed. Electric-types such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Elekid; Ground-types such as Mudbray and Drilbur; and Psychic-types such as Abra are all able to outspeed and either KO or nearly KO Skrelp.
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