Smeargle [1/3]

vivalospride

been up all year my third eye aint even blinkin’
is a Community Contributoris a Top Tiering Contributoris a Top Team Rater Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Staff Alumnus
[OVERVIEW]

*Smeargle's niche in the metagame is it's ability to be a Sticky Web setter with access to Spore and Stealth Rock, while also being faster then every other Sticky Web setter bar Ribombee and Galvantula.
*Smeargle is often ran as a suicide lead on offensive teams that appreciate Sticky Web support.
*Since Smeargle often runs no offensive moves, and because of this, this pokemon is major Taunt bait and could wind up being deadweight.
*While having Spore and a decent speed tier is great, Araquanid's ability to set Sticky Web throughout the game and be a wallbreaker simultaneously means it often outclasses Smeargle.


[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Spore
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Sticky Web
move 4: Magic Coat / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

*Spore is really useful for setting Sticky Web, because alongside Smeargle's decent speed, it can get a free Spore off on a lot of the popular rockers in the tier such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Mega Aggron.
*Stealth Rock chip away at the pokemon that threaten Smeargle's teammates.
*Sticky Web is valuable because applies a -1 Speed debuff to the opponent's pokemon on switch in. This is helpful for pokemon that may hit hard but have mediocre speed tiers such as Nidoking, Bewear, and Breloom.
*Magic Coat bounces back things like Taunt, Stealth Rock, and Spikes. This is valuable because Smeargle is major Taunt bait, and being able to bounce it back means you can freely set up your hazards.
*Taunt helps Smeargle with slower Taunt users, and also prevents opposing pokemon such as Breloom setup.


Set Details
========

*The suggested EVs on Smeargle are 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe, maximizing your EV investment into Speed is important to outspeed threats such as Scizor, Crawdaunt, and Primarina. While HP is maximized due to Smeargle not having a use for any offensive investment.
*Due to Smeargle being somewhat frail, it often relies on Focus Sash to tank a hit and get a Spore off.

Usage Tips
========

*You should always lead off with Spore so you can safely get your hazards on the field.
*When using Smeargle, you should primarily focus on getting your hazards up, in some cases one hazard will be more important than the other, and setting that first is important in case of a premature wake up or switch out.
*Always be very careful of Taunt, specifically faster Taunt users such as Gliscor and Crobat, because if you are successfully afflicted by Taunt, you cannot reliably get your hazards up. This is especially the case if your not running Magic Coat.
*If the lead matchup is less than desirable, you may opt to not lead with Smeargle and safely get it in later to setup hazards.

Team Options
========

*Slower wallbreakers that appreciate Sticky Web and Stealth Rock support are necessary with Smeargle. Pokemon such as Volcanion and Crawdaunt can thrive when Sticky Web is up because of their ability to outspeed most of the metagame at -1 and their hard hitting power.
*Spinblockers are recommended on a team with a suicide lead, Pokemon such as Chandelure and Doublade can hit hard while abusing Sticky Web and also provide spinblocking support to make sure your hazards stay on the field.
*Pokemon that can abuse Defog to their advantage such as Tornadus and Serperior are valuable to abuse pokemon that try to Defog your Sticky Web away.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

*Nuzzle is also a viable option because it can provide a guaranteed paralysis and chip damage to break other Focus Sash leads.
*Explosion can be an option on Smeargle because it provides chip damage and gives you momentum.
*Encore keeps the target Pokemon repeating it's last move for 3 turns, which Smeargle can take advantage of those turns to set up hazards.
*Memento is good to provide one of Smeargle's teammates free setup oppotunities to sweep.
*Toxic Spikes is helpful if your team has a weak stall matchup and needs pokemon like Blissey and Alomomola crippled in order to KO.
*Whirlwind forces the opponent out, allowing you to get chip damage with your hazards.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Taunt Users**: Pokemon like Gliscor, Krookodile, Azelf, among others can taunt Smeargle very easily and keep it from placing hazards if not prepared with Magic Coat.

**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Smeargle can prevent it can setting both hazards up by attacking, getting put to sleep, switching out and finishing Smeargle off.

**Magic Bounce**: Pokemon with the ability Magic Bounce such as Xatu can prevent this pokemon from setting up hazards.

**Hazard Removal**: Pokemon with Defog or Rapid Spin can easily remove the hazards that Smeargle placed after Smeargle is KOed.

**Priority Users**: Pokemon with priority such as Scizor and Breloom can also limit Smeargle to only having one hazard up by using a priority move after breaking Smeargle's Focus Sash.

**Breloom**: Breloom is immune to Spore, has Mach Punch, Spore, and Bullet Seed which are all good ways of dealing with Smeargle. Bullet Seed stands out because it can potentially OHKO Smeargle through its Focus Sash.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Wob

Eyan

sleep is the cousin of death
is a Top Tutor Alumnusis a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
Before anything, I'd just like to say that you should really be more specific with examples and what's needed in each section. Also, be sure to clean all this up GP wise by the time it gets 3 QC checks. It's pretty subpar in that area right now.

Overview
  • Let's not kid ourselves with Smeargle's Speed. Base 75 isn't "fast", it's just not horribly slow. Another niche is the fact that it can have both Stealth Rock and Sticky Web (and Spikes w/e but you'd almost never run those), with its only competition there being Shuckle. Spore is the biggest one, though.
  • I'd shift the third point to link up with the first point, since they're very related.
  • The second point is redundant with the fourth point there; just use "Smeargle is often ran as a suicide lead on offensive teams <...>"
  • Remove the points on it being a utility Pokemon. All the viable utility of this Pokemon has to do with it being a suicide lead, which you already talked about. The part about it being Taunt bait is fine, though, so expand on that; it has pretty much zero offensive presence so it's not doing anything bar being a suicide lead and with Taunt users around, it can wind up deadweight.
  • Remove the part about hazard removal being super common. That's a jab at the state of the tier as a whole with regards to suicide lead, which is part of why HO is so annoying to use right now. No need to specifically mention it in the overview here.
Moves
  • "Spore is a 100% accurate move that puts the target to sleep for 1-3 turns" bit of a GP note here, but this is complete fluff and dex knowledge. You can start off by immediately saying "Spore is useful for..." Seismitoad is not that relevant of an example anymore, and I'm not sure why Freeze-Dry Mamoswine is specifically mentioned. I get that it was sort of a thing when Rotom-W was around, but even then, I'd never run Freeze-Dry with Stealth Rock, since you're giving up an actual good Ice-type STAB move. Just mention something else like Empoleon and Hippowdon.
  • If I could have it my way, I wouldn't even mention Stealth Rock considering how obvious it is, but say that it chips down checks to Smeargle's teammates. I say this because right now all your descriptions are dex descriptions that anyone can look up on bulbapedia or on PS using /dt.
  • Same thing with Sticky Web; if you're going to talk about it lowering the Speed of foes upon switching in, might as well give some examples of teammates that you're supporting, such as mediocre Speed ones like Nidoking or Bewear.
  • Be more specific with the examples that Magic Coat can be used for. Taunt is the biggest thing you're bouncing back, though, since the foe can infinitely use Stealth Rock if you bounce those back initially. Also, preventing Pokemon from setting up on it sounds like set up in terms of boosting stats, not setting up entry hazards.
  • Just to clarify, if a move is slashed on the set, it should be talked about here. If it's talked about in other options, it shouldn't be slashed. However, a move that's not that bad to be in other options but not good enough to be slashed can be talked about anyway here. I'm a little confused because you slashed Taunt and Encore but only talked about them in Other Options. For the record, I think the slashes should just be Magic Coat / Taunt and talk about Taunt here, so remove Encore.
Set Details
  • "*The suggested EVs on Smeargle are 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe, this is a good spread because maximizing your HP can help you take hits you wouldn't be able to otherwise, and having max Speed gives you a total of 273 Speed, which allows you to outspeed any pokemon below base 75 Speed, which includes threats like Scizor, Crawdaunt, and Primarina." Redundant details. Smeargle is base 75 Speed, so obviously running max Speed would let you outrun any Pokemon below base 75. Go straight into the important parts. "Maximum EV investment in Speed with a Timid nature allows Smeargle to outspeed threats like Scizor, Crawdaunt, and Primarina." Yes, the suggested EVs on Smeargle are those, since that's what's written on the set itself. Are there any specific hits that Smeargle survives that it wouldn't otherwise without the max HP? If so, you might as well mention them to give the sentence actual meaning. Otherwise, don't include that statement. In fact, the biggest factor as to why it's invested into HP is that Smeargle has literally no use for offensive investment.
  • For Focus Sash, mention that Smeargle is somewhat frail and as such is somewhat reliant on that.
  • With what I said in the first point, the last point becomes redundant.
Usage Tips
  • To the second point, add in the part where you should figure out which entry hazard you need more in the event of the foe prematurely waking up or you being forced out by another switch-in.
  • Don't just be careful of Taunt; be careful of faster Taunt users, and especially so if you're not running Magic Coat. This is something that should be done even in Team Preview.
  • The part about Sleep Clause is not necessary. We're here to teach people about the Pokemon, not mechanics on the simulator.
  • I don't think the last part is needed either. Not only is this obvious, it doesn't help the reader.
  • Mention that if the lead matchup is looking undesirable, you may opt to not lead with Smeargle and find an opportunity to bring it in safely afterwards.
Team Options
  • Specifically, slower wallbreakers are the good partners. Your examples aren't that great, though. Mienshao isn't really a common Pokemon, and Mega Altaria isn't exactly the best example of a wallbreaker. Just use something like Volcanion and Crawdaunt.
  • Don't bother with mentioning spinners. I mean, you're going to be running Smeargle on HO, a playstyle that relies so much on keeping momentum. Entry hazard removal is basically the biggest momentum sink possible for those teams, since you're relying on winning as fast as possible by pressuring foes and weakening respective checks.
  • Mention Defog deterrents such as Tornadus and especially Serperior that can easily take advantage of the opponent using Defog.
Other Options
  • Remove Taunt and Endeavor here.
  • Mention Toxic Spikes, Explosion, Memento, and Whirlwind. I'm sure there are others, but those are the "not good but still usable" filler moves I can think of.
Checks and Counters
  • For the hazard removal point, mention that this is mainly applicable after Smeargle has been KOed.
  • Just say Taunt user to be honest. Every viable Taunt user should probably be faster than Smeargle.
  • Gliscor isn't really something that deserves a special mention. You already mention it as a Taunt user, and considering you'd be leading with Smeargle 90% of the time, Gliscor's Toxic Orb wouldn't have activated yet, so the point about it not being able to be put to sleep is null and void.
  • For Grass-types, I'd say "Faster Pokemon" would be the way to go here. Amoonguss doesn't really fit here since Smeargle could just Taunt Amoonguss and still get up 2 layers of entry hazards. Faster Pokemon as a whole function the same way as faster Grass-types. For faster Grass-types, they attack and Smeargle sets up 1 layer of hazards; the end. For non Grass-types, they attack, you put them to sleep, and they switch out as you set up a layer of hazards and they finish you off.
  • Mention Priority Users. They do the same as the above, limiting Smeargle to one layer of hazards. Breloom should get a special mention, though, since it doesn't get put to sleep by Spore either. Also, considering it has Spore to put it to sleep itself, Bullet Seed to straight up KO it potentially, and Mach Punch for priority, it has three possible ways to take care of Smeargle, making playing around Breloom fairly annoying.
QC 1/3
 

autumn

only i will remain
is a Site Content Manageris a Member of Senior Staffis a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis an Administrator Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
C&C Leader
hey there, amcheck here, so feel free to wait for qc input before implementing anything :)
[OVERVIEW]

*Smeargle's niche in the metagame is it's ability to be a Sticky Web setter with access to Spore and Stealth Rock (emphasise that this almost ensures that webs go up at least once which is why it would be considered over araquanid really), while also being faster then every other Sticky Web setter bar Ribombee and Galvantula. (neither of these examples are ranked on the vr, so emphasising them isn't the best idea. you could change it to "one of the fastest" setters instead)
*Smeargle is often ran as a suicide lead on offensive teams that appreciate Sticky Web support. (and is very team dependent as a result)
*Since Smeargle often runs no offensive moves, and because of this, this pokemon is major Taunt bait and could wind up being deadweight. (give at least one example of a taunt lead here)
*While having Spore and a decent speed tier is great, Araquanid's ability to set Sticky Web throughout the game and be a wallbreaker simultaneously means it often outclasses Smeargle. (focus more on smeargle here instead of araquanid by saing it faces competition from araquanid due to its ability to set webs more consistently and wallbreaking potential but has spore and a better speed tier so it can outspeed pokemon like scizor and primarina)

[SET]
name: Sticky Web (sticky web is the set name so put the move first or change the name)
move 1: Spore
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Sticky Web
move 4: Magic Coat / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

*Spore is really useful for setting Sticky Web, because alongside Smeargle's decent speed, it can get a free Spore off on a lot of the popular rockers in the tier such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Mega Aggron. (you don't actually mention sleep here or how it actually benefits smeargle. mention how it renders a pokemon useless, allowing smeargle to set up hazards afterwards)
*Stealth Rock chip away at the pokemon that threaten Smeargle's teammates. (give examples here)
*Sticky Web is valuable because applies a -1 Speed debuff to the opponent's (grounded pokemon if you're going for dex info) pokemon on switch in. This is helpful for pokemon that may hit hard but have mediocre speed tiers such as Nidoking, Bewear, and Breloom.
*Magic Coat bounces back things like Taunt, Stealth Rock, and Spikes. This is valuable because Smeargle is major Taunt bait, and being able to bounce it back means you can freely set up your hazards.
*Taunt helps Smeargle with slower Taunt users, and also prevents opposing pokemon such as Breloom setup.


Set Details
========

*The suggested EVs on Smeargle are 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe, maximizing your EV investment into Speed is important to outspeed threats such as Scizor, Crawdaunt, and Primarina. (important so they can be put to sleep) While HP is maximized due to Smeargle not having a use for any offensive investment.
*Due to Smeargle being somewhat frail, it often relies on Focus Sash to tank a hit and get a Spore off.
mention its ability here even though it's useless

Usage Tips
========

*You should always lead off with Spore so you can safely get your hazards on the field. (mention that smeargle is generally used as a suicide lead here, then move the last point up)
*When using Smeargle, you should primarily focus on getting your hazards up, in some cases one hazard will be more important than the other, and setting that first is important in case of a premature wake up or switch out.
*Always be very careful of Taunt, specifically faster Taunt users such as Gliscor and Crobat, because if you are successfully afflicted by Taunt, you cannot reliably get your hazards up. This is especially the case if your not running Magic Coat.
add what eyan said in his check about not spamming magic coat vs rocks/spikes users because they have more pp
*If the lead matchup is less than desirable, you may opt to not lead with Smeargle and safely get it in later to setup hazards.
say not to preserve smeargle after it has done its job unless mecessary

Team Options
========

*Slower wallbreakers that appreciate Sticky Web and Stealth Rock support are necessary with Smeargle. Pokemon such as Volcanion and Crawdaunt can thrive when Sticky Web is up because of their ability to outspeed most of the metagame at -1 and their hard hitting power.
*Spinblockers are recommended on a team with a suicide lead, Pokemon such as Chandelure and Doublade can hit hard while abusing Sticky Web and also provide spinblocking support to make sure your hazards stay on the field.
*Pokemon that can abuse Defog (they actually deter it instead of abuse it which is what 1/3 was going for) to their advantage such as Tornadus and Serperior are valuable to abuse pokemon that try to Defog your Sticky Web away.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

*Nuzzle is also a viable option because it can provide a guaranteed paralysis and chip damage to break other Focus Sash leads.
*Explosion can be an option on Smeargle because it provides chip damage and gives you momentum. (say it's not as useful due to smeargle's poor offenses)
*Encore keeps the target Pokemon repeating it's last move for 3 turns, which Smeargle can take advantage of those turns (or when they're forced out) to set up hazards.
*Memento is good to provide one of Smeargle's teammates free setup oppotunities to sweep.
*Toxic Spikes is helpful if your team has a weak stall matchup and needs pokemon like Blissey and Alomomola crippled in order to KO. (but less utility over webs/rocks overall)
*Whirlwind forces the opponent out, allowing you to get chip damage with your hazards.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Taunt Users**: Pokemon like Gliscor, Krookodile, Azelf, among others can taunt Smeargle very easily and keep it from placing hazards if not prepared with Magic Coat.

**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Smeargle can prevent it can setting both hazards up by attacking, getting put to sleep, switching out and (having an ally finish it off bc it doesn't make sense otherwise) finishing Smeargle off.

**Magic Bounce**: Pokemon with the ability Magic Bounce such as Xatu (and mega absol which threatens smeargle more) can prevent this pokemon from setting up hazards. (and using spore)

**Hazard Removal**: Pokemon with Defog or Rapid Spin can easily remove the hazards that Smeargle placed after Smeargle is KOed.

**Priority Users**: Pokemon with priority such as Scizor and Breloom can also limit Smeargle to only having one hazard up by using a priority move after breaking Smeargle's Focus Sash. (cut breloom because it has its own point, replace with mamoswine/azumarill then say they must be wary of spore)

**Breloom**: Breloom is immune to Spore, has Mach Punch, Spore, and Bullet Seed which are all good ways of dealing with Smeargle. Bullet Seed stands out because it can potentially OHKO Smeargle through its Focus Sash.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top