[OVERVIEW]
There are no Pokemon that posses the incredible revenge killing and Pursuit trapping capabilities that Sneasel does in RU. This places it at the top if its class for the invaluable utility it brings to nearly every team archetype. As a unique offensive Dark- and Ice-type attacker, Sneasel's ability to force switches on Pokemon that wouldn't normally be concerned about Pursuit, such as Flygon and Venusaur, puts it a step ahead of other Pursuit users in RU due to its ability to eliminate a wider range of targets, all of which it possesses a natural Speed advantage against that makes Pursuit trapping them safer. Furthermore, Sneasel's Speed tier and access to STAB Knock Off, among other good coverage moves, allow it to consistently revenge kill slower offensive threats or Dark-weak Pokemon, such as Mega Glalie, Sigilyph, and Jellicent, and hold its own against defensive teams, respectively. While good offensively, its typing and paltry bulk prevent Sneasel from switching into much, make it susceptible to being worn down by entry hazards in tandem with Life Orb recoil, and prevent it from withstanding any moderately powerful neutral attack, thus inhibiting its overall performance and preventing it from excelling as a Pursuit user.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Icicle Crash
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Low Kick / Ice Shard
item: Life Orb
ability: Pickpocket
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Sneasel's best STAB move due to its secondary effect and high Base Power, making it useful in nearly any situation by stripping Leftovers from defensive targets and taking out various Psychic-types such as Slowking and Meloetta. Icicle Crash lets Sneasel rip into various Fighting-, Dark-, and Fairy-types resistant to Knock Off and allows it to take out Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin users such as Druddigon and Garbodor without incurring contact recoil. In addition, Icicle Crash's useful 30% flinch rate has the potential to let Sneasel come out of a sticky situation. With its high base Speed and secondary Ice typing, Sneasel makes a fantastic Pursuit user capable of disposing of a wide variety of Pokemon such as Meloetta, Rotom, Flygon, and Venusaur. Low Kick lets Sneasel take out Steel-types such as Registeel, Aggron, and Steelix while dealing significant damage to would-be checks such as Emboar and opposing Ice-types such as Mega Glalie and Piloswine. Ice Shard allows Sneasel to pick off Dugtrio, Choice Scarf Flygon, Aerodactyl, and Quiver Dance Vivillon and gives Sneasel the upper hand against weakened priority users such as Hitmonlee and Absol. Iron Tail may be used so that Sneasel can destroy various Fairy-types such as Diancie, Granbull, and Mega Audino, in addition to targeting opposing Ice-types like Low Kick.
Set Details
========
Sneasel thrives on its ability to switch moves due to its great coverage, so using Life Orb is imperative to make the best use out of its offensive capabilities. Sneasel can, however, use Choice Band instead of Life Orb to give it a fair boost in power that allows it to OHKO Gallade, Bronzong, and Choice Specs Magneton after a layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock while preventing Sneasel from being worn down by Life Orb recoil. Sneasel's abilities tend to be useless in most situations, but Pickpocket has the potential to be useful in very specific scenarios should Sneasel switch into or take a weak Knock Off from a defensive Pokemon.
Usage Tips
========
Sneasel should be brought in with Volt Switch users such as Magneton and Rotom or slow Baton Pass users such as Mawile and Musharna in order for it to get in safely, as its frailty prevents it from switching in on much of anything. Use Sneasel to Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Hoopa and Meloetta. Sneasel's Ice typing also allows it to force out Grass- and Dragon-types, so it is capable of slicing a significant chunk of damage off of Venusaur and Flygon with Pursuit too. Sneasel is also good to use as a revenge killer, as it can take out several troublesome threats such as Virizion, Manectric, and Houndoom.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate Pursuit support generally go very well with Sneasel. Virizion is capable of taking out bulky Water-types that Sneasel detests, while Sneasel gets rid of Sigilyph, Hoopa, and Delphox and weakens Venusaur for Virizion. Sigilyph appreciates Pursuit support too, as the removal of Meloetta and Hoopa lets it pull its weight more easily, and in exchange, Sigilyph can check the Fighting-types Sneasel is forced out by. Finding a way to bring Sneasel in safely on the foe is recommended when running it. Volt Switch users such as Magneton, Rotom, and Rotom-C can help get Sneasel in safely, while Sneasel can dispatch Grass-types for Rotom-C and weaken Ground-types for Magneton, and Magneton has the added benefit of being able to deal with Fairy-types. Slow Baton Pass users such as Musharna and Mawile pair very well with Sneasel by dealing with Fighting-types in the case of Musharna or weakening Steel- and Fairy-types with Super Fang in the case of Mawile. Entry hazard removal is recommended when running Sneasel due to its propensity to being worn down quickly. Blastoise and Flygon are the best at this job; however, Blastoise has better synergy with Sneasel due to the fact that it's not pressured by Fairy-types and opposing bulky Waters while Sneasel can provide Pursuit support to let it get off a Rapid Spin more easily. Sneasel also likes entry hazard support on its side of the field to make its job as a late-game cleaner and revenge killer go off more smoothly. Mesprit and Uxie provide Stealth Rock support and check Fighting-types for Sneasel. Mesprit can also provide Sneasel with invaluable Healing Wish support, while Uxie can make use of its U-turn to get Sneasel in safely. Both Mesprit and Uxie benefit from Sneasel's ability to deal with opposing Psychic-types. Qwilfish can check physical Fighting- and Fire-types for Sneasel and provide it with Spikes support, while Sneasel can wear down Rapid Spin users with Knock Off, take out Psychic-types, and keep Defog users such as Flygon from easily removing the entry hazards Qwilfish sets.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Swords Dance set with either Eviolite or Life Orb may be used, but Sneasel either has difficulty setting up or is still not strong enough after doing so. Counter + Focus Sash can be used on Sneasel to get a surprise KO on the likes of Emboar and Mawile and can catch Choice Scarf users such as Medicham off guard. Toxic is an option on the main set, as it can cripple bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and make them easier to break.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Diancie, Mawile, Granbull, Mega Audino, and Aromatisse can all switch into Sneasel at least twice and KO it. In the case of Mawile, it can hard wall Sneasel while setting up Stealth Rock to further trouble it in the long term. Mega Audino is the most notable of the Fairy-type checks, as it is not phased by Knock Off.
**Fighting-types**: Gurdurr, Poliwrath, and Emboar can revenge kill or wall Sneasel while switching into its STAB moves without much concern; however, aside from Poliwrath, they don't fair too well against Sneasel in the long term, as they all can be worn down quickly.
**Water-types**: Alomomola, Blastoise, Qwilfish, and Seismitoad can all switch in at least twice on Sneasel and threaten it with Scald, set up entry hazards, or pass Wishes in the case of Alomomola. None of them like getting their items removed, though.
**Psychic-types Carrying Colbur Berry**: Psychic-types carrying Colbur Berry should not be used as your primary Sneasel checks; however, they can lessen your team's weakness to Sneasel due to the fact that many, including Meloetta, Mesprit, and Slowking, can sponge its primary STAB moves and either KO back with the appropriate coverage move or cripple Sneasel with Thunder Wave.
