[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Triple Axel
move 3: Ice Shard
move 4: Low Kick
item: Choice Band
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sneasel's excellent Speed tier, great offensive typing, and access to high-powered STAB moves in Knock Off and Triple Axel make it an extremely threatening wallbreaker, capable of OHKOing the likes of Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro, Dragalge, and Goodra. It can be difficult to bring Sneasel in due to its Stealth Rock weakness and terrible bulk, but once it's on the field, it's very hard to switch into. Ice Shard is a useful tool for Sneasel that allows it to revenge kill weakened faster threats like Choice Scarf Gardevoir and Lycanroc in sand. Low Kick rounds out Sneasel's coverage and smacks Pokemon like Copperajah and Steelix, OHKOing the former and 2HKOing the latter. Icicle Crash can be used over Triple Axel for its better accuracy and ability to 2HKO Bewear; the power drop is noticeable, though, notably failing to 2HKO Bulk Up Scrafty. Inner Focus is used over Pickpocket to ensure that Sneasel is not impeded by Intimidate from Arcanine and Scrafty.
Sneasel's ability to break through even the sturdiest of walls is appreciated by late-game cleaners like Barraskewda, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Inteleon. The latter two can also break through Bewear and Steelix, which are massive problems for Sneasel otherwise. Other teammates that can threaten these Pokemon like Exploud and Salazzle are greatly appreciated. In return, Sneasel can threaten specially defense walls like Copperajah and Dragalge. Alternatively, Spikes users such as Golisopod and Klefki can lay their entry hazards to put Bewear and Steelix in range of a 2HKO from Triple Axel. It's important to pair Sneasel with good defensive pivots, since its atrocious bulk means that it really can't take many hits. Pokemon like Galarian Slowbro, Xatu, and Milotic are all excellent choices for this role; the former two can check annoying Fighting-types like Passimian, while the latter two can bring Sneasel in safely via Teleport and Flip Turn. Xatu can also help to ensure that opposing Pokemon can't set up Stealth Rock, giving Sneasel more opportunities to come in during a game. Sneasel also appreciates its own Stealth Rock support, allowing it to more reliably 2HKO Pokemon like Seismitoad and Umbreon. Setters like Rhyperior and Gigalith are good options; both of these Pokemon can also check Salazzle, which can easily revenge kill Sneasel.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Triple Axel
move 4: Low Kick / Ice Shard
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
While Sneasel can struggle to set up with Swords Dance due to its middling bulk, there really isn't a lot that can stop it once it gets going. Its STAB moves are extremely difficult to reliably switch into, and its good offensive typing means that it can force out Pokemon like Virizion and Xatu for setup opportunities. Icicle Crash can be used over Triple Axel; its better accuracy makes it more reliable, and it does significantly more damage to Bewear, but the drop in power is noticeable on other targets like Dragalge. Low Kick is preferred in Sneasel's last slot, breaking through the likes of Copperajah and Steelix a lot more easily and also being Sneasel's strongest option against Bewear if it doesn't run Icicle Crash. Ice Shard is an alternative option, preventing Pokemon like Ribombee or a weakened Choice Scarf Gardevoir from revenge killing Sneasel; it's generally less useful though, due to faster Pokemon like Barraskewda, Salazzle, and Inteleon being resistant to it.
Swords Dance Sneasel is good at luring in and weakening or removing otherwise decent checks to its more common Choice Band set, like Milotic, Arcanine, and Steelix. Pokemon that can take advantage of these threats being gone, like Barraskewda, Copperajah, and Gardevoir all pair well with Sneasel. Entry hazard support is paramount to ensure Sneasel gets OHKOs or 2HKOs on the likes of Milotic and Snorlax after a boost. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Copperajah synergize well with Sneasel, being able to check revenge killers like Salazzle and Choice Scarf Gardevoir, respectively. They also benefit from Sneasel's ability to lure in and remove bulky Water-types like Milotic and Mantine. Other wallbreakers like Bewear and Dragalge are good partners too; they can weaken foes like Steelix into range of Sneasel's attacks, which can allow it to occasionally sweep late-game thanks to its high Speed. Dragalge can also bring Sneasel in safely on Pokemon like Galarian Slowbro. Defensive pivots like Galarian Slowbro and Xatu are also important, being able to stomach hits from Pokemon like Choice Scarf Passimian that Sneasel can't handle. Finally, Sneasel can often struggle with Golisopod, which easily revenge kills Sneasel with First Impression. Thus, partners that can handle Golisopod such as Milotic and Mantine are helpful; they both can also check Steelix, which can otherwise wall Sneasel easily.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lilburr, 481709]]
- Quality checked by: [[Averardo, 409096], [Juno, 444224]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Triple Axel
move 3: Ice Shard
move 4: Low Kick
item: Choice Band
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sneasel's excellent Speed tier, great offensive typing, and access to high-powered STAB moves in Knock Off and Triple Axel make it an extremely threatening wallbreaker, capable of OHKOing the likes of Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro, Dragalge, and Goodra. It can be difficult to bring Sneasel in due to its Stealth Rock weakness and terrible bulk, but once it's on the field, it's very hard to switch into. Ice Shard is a useful tool for Sneasel that allows it to revenge kill weakened faster threats like Choice Scarf Gardevoir and Lycanroc in sand. Low Kick rounds out Sneasel's coverage and smacks Pokemon like Copperajah and Steelix, OHKOing the former and 2HKOing the latter. Icicle Crash can be used over Triple Axel for its better accuracy and ability to 2HKO Bewear; the power drop is noticeable, though, notably failing to 2HKO Bulk Up Scrafty. Inner Focus is used over Pickpocket to ensure that Sneasel is not impeded by Intimidate from Arcanine and Scrafty.
Sneasel's ability to break through even the sturdiest of walls is appreciated by late-game cleaners like Barraskewda, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Inteleon. The latter two can also break through Bewear and Steelix, which are massive problems for Sneasel otherwise. Other teammates that can threaten these Pokemon like Exploud and Salazzle are greatly appreciated. In return, Sneasel can threaten specially defense walls like Copperajah and Dragalge. Alternatively, Spikes users such as Golisopod and Klefki can lay their entry hazards to put Bewear and Steelix in range of a 2HKO from Triple Axel. It's important to pair Sneasel with good defensive pivots, since its atrocious bulk means that it really can't take many hits. Pokemon like Galarian Slowbro, Xatu, and Milotic are all excellent choices for this role; the former two can check annoying Fighting-types like Passimian, while the latter two can bring Sneasel in safely via Teleport and Flip Turn. Xatu can also help to ensure that opposing Pokemon can't set up Stealth Rock, giving Sneasel more opportunities to come in during a game. Sneasel also appreciates its own Stealth Rock support, allowing it to more reliably 2HKO Pokemon like Seismitoad and Umbreon. Setters like Rhyperior and Gigalith are good options; both of these Pokemon can also check Salazzle, which can easily revenge kill Sneasel.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Triple Axel
move 4: Low Kick / Ice Shard
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
While Sneasel can struggle to set up with Swords Dance due to its middling bulk, there really isn't a lot that can stop it once it gets going. Its STAB moves are extremely difficult to reliably switch into, and its good offensive typing means that it can force out Pokemon like Virizion and Xatu for setup opportunities. Icicle Crash can be used over Triple Axel; its better accuracy makes it more reliable, and it does significantly more damage to Bewear, but the drop in power is noticeable on other targets like Dragalge. Low Kick is preferred in Sneasel's last slot, breaking through the likes of Copperajah and Steelix a lot more easily and also being Sneasel's strongest option against Bewear if it doesn't run Icicle Crash. Ice Shard is an alternative option, preventing Pokemon like Ribombee or a weakened Choice Scarf Gardevoir from revenge killing Sneasel; it's generally less useful though, due to faster Pokemon like Barraskewda, Salazzle, and Inteleon being resistant to it.
Swords Dance Sneasel is good at luring in and weakening or removing otherwise decent checks to its more common Choice Band set, like Milotic, Arcanine, and Steelix. Pokemon that can take advantage of these threats being gone, like Barraskewda, Copperajah, and Gardevoir all pair well with Sneasel. Entry hazard support is paramount to ensure Sneasel gets OHKOs or 2HKOs on the likes of Milotic and Snorlax after a boost. Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior and Copperajah synergize well with Sneasel, being able to check revenge killers like Salazzle and Choice Scarf Gardevoir, respectively. They also benefit from Sneasel's ability to lure in and remove bulky Water-types like Milotic and Mantine. Other wallbreakers like Bewear and Dragalge are good partners too; they can weaken foes like Steelix into range of Sneasel's attacks, which can allow it to occasionally sweep late-game thanks to its high Speed. Dragalge can also bring Sneasel in safely on Pokemon like Galarian Slowbro. Defensive pivots like Galarian Slowbro and Xatu are also important, being able to stomach hits from Pokemon like Choice Scarf Passimian that Sneasel can't handle. Finally, Sneasel can often struggle with Golisopod, which easily revenge kills Sneasel with First Impression. Thus, partners that can handle Golisopod such as Milotic and Mantine are helpful; they both can also check Steelix, which can otherwise wall Sneasel easily.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lilburr, 481709]]
- Quality checked by: [[Averardo, 409096], [Juno, 444224]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
Last edited:
