1v1 Snorlax (1v1) [QC 1/2] [GP 0/1]

Murm

Murm

gmurm
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[SET]
Physical Reflect (Snorlax)
- Body Slam
- Hyper Beam
- Reflect
- Earthquake / Counter

[SET COMMENTS]
* Hyper Beam is useful against Tauros and opposing Snorlax to give them less opportunities to get a critical hit.
* Reflect helps against physical attackers like Tauros, Rhydon, and opposing Snorlax.
* Counter further improves your Tauros and Snorlax matchups if you are confident they will be using a Normal-type attack.
* Earthquake hits Rhydon and Gengar who otherwise wall your Normal-type attacks, improves the odds into Jolteon, and gives Snorlax a strong attack to use that doesn't proc Counter from Pokemon like Alakazam.
* Other viable move options are Blizzard for Rhydon and Zapdos odds and Rock Slide for Articuno.
* Hyper Beam should only be used when it guarantees a KO that Body Slam cannot, or if you need to get a strong critical hit against Reflect users like Chansey.
* Against physical attackers, Reflect should always be used first to stay out of range of future attacks and to cover for moves such as Leer or Tail Whip on a predicted Counter.
* Pokemon like Jolteon and Thunderbolt Chansey appreciate Reflect Snorlax's ability to take on Tauros, and they can take on Articuno and Starmie for Snorlax.
* Alakazam and Starmie are great partners for Snorlax to deal with Leech Seed users like Exeggutor and Venusaur, and in return Snorlax can handle problematic matchups like Jolteon and opposing Alakazam.
* Exeggutor and Venusaur are great partners for Snorlax, as they deal with Reflect Chansey and opposing Snorlax for it, and in return it can deal with Alakazam and Jolteon.

[SET]
Physical Amnesia (Snorlax)
- Body Slam
- Hyper Beam
- Amnesia
- Blizzard / Thunderbolt

[SET COMMENTS]
* Hyper Beam is useful against Tauros and opposing Snorlax to give them less opportunities to get a critical hit.
* Amnesia gives Snorlax both the bulk to survive strong hits from Pokemon like Zapdos and Articuno, but also the power to threaten the back with its Special coverage.
* Blizzard hits Zapdos and Rhydon super-effectively.
* Thunderbolt threatens Articuno, Lapras, and non-Toxic Starmie.
* Hyper Beam should only be used when it guarantees a KO that Body Slam cannot, or if you need to get a strong critical hit against Reflect users like Chansey.
* Against Toxic Alakazam without Counter, Body Slam should be used to not let them stall you out with Toxic, Substitute, and Recover. If you think they will use Counter, Hyper Beam can be used to OHKO sets lowering their defensive stats. Otherwise, Blizzard or Thunderbolt can be used to chip them into range of another attack.
* Amnesia Snorlax appreciates help from Pokemon like Articuno and Thunder Wave or Counter Chansey to deal with Tauros, and in return Snorlax can handle Pokemon like Alakazam and Jolteon for them.
* Alakazam and Starmie are great partners for Snorlax to deal with Leech Seed users like Exeggutor and Venusaur, and in return Snorlax can handle problematic matchups like Jolteon and opposing Alakazam.
* Blizzard Snorlax struggles with Pokemon like Starmie and Articuno, so Electric-types like Zapdos and Jolteon pair well with it, and Snorlax can beat Rhydon for them.
* Thunderbolt Snorlax appreciates Chansey to deal with Rhydon and Zapdos, and in exchange Snorlax can cover non-Toxic Starmie and it opens up Chansey to run Counter or Thunder Wave for a better Tauros matchup.
* Exeggutor and Venusaur are great partners for Snorlax, as they deal with Reflect Chansey and opposing Snorlax for it, and in return it can deal with Alakazam and Jolteon.

[SET]
Special Amnesia (Snorlax)
- Body Slam
- Amnesia
- Thunderbolt / Counter
- Blizzard / Counter

[SET COMMENTS]
* Amnesia gives Snorlax both the bulk to survive strong hits from Pokemon like Zapdos and Articuno, but also the power to threaten the back with its Special coverage.
* Thunderbolt threatens Articuno, Lapras, and non-Toxic Starmie.
* Blizzard hits Zapdos and Rhydon super-effectively.
* Counter can catch Tauros and opposing Snorlax off guard if you predict that they will use a Normal-type attack.
* Against Toxic Alakazam, Body Slam should be used to not let them stall you out with Toxic, Substitute, and Recover. If you think they will use Counter, you can use Thunderbolt or Blizzard to chip them into range of Body Slam.
* Amnesia Snorlax appreciates help from Pokemon like Articuno and Thunder Wave or Counter Chansey to deal with Tauros, especially since this set forgoes Hyper Beam for more coverage. With both of its coverage moves, it can help its partners by beating Pokemon like Zapdos, Starmie, and opposing Articuno, alongside other problematic Pokemon like Alakazam and Jolteon.
* Alakazam and Starmie are great partners for Snorlax to deal with Leech Seed users like Exeggutor and Venusaur, and in return Snorlax can handle problematic matchups like Jolteon and opposing Alakazam.
* Exeggutor and Venusaur are great partners for Snorlax, as they deal with Reflect Chansey and opposing Snorlax for it, and in return it can deal with Alakazam and Jolteon.

[SET CREDITS]
Set(s) by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/murm.520168/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/elo-bandit.298753/

Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/murm.520168/

Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/volk.530877/


Grammar checked by:
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Last edited:
Murm said:
[OVERVIEW]

Snorlax is far and away the best Pokemon in this metagame, present on most teams. Snorlax's HP stat is massive, making it impossible to even 2HKO for most Pokemon without critical hits. It's normal typing helps with this, giving it only one weakness to the rare Fighting-type, while giving it STAB Body Slam and Hyper Beam off of its great 110 Attack stat. While Snorlax has a mediocre Special stat, it often utilizes Amnesia to become almost unkillable on the special side while boosting its wide array of Special coverage. The only thing close to a weakness Snorlax has is its atrocious 30 base Speed stat, but even this can be a blessing sometimes, giving you better odds to not crit through any after boosting Special with Amnesia boosts. No Very few Pokemon hasve a reliable Snorlax matchup, between the large variety of sets and large possibility of Snorlax getting a key Body Slam paralysis.

[SET]
name: Mixed Hyper Beam
move 1: Body Slam
move 2: Hyper Beam
move 3: Amnesia
move 4: Thunderbolt / Blizzard / Ice Beam

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Snorlax uses its strong STAB Body Slam to threaten many of the common faster frailer Pokemon like Alakazam and Jolteon. Hyper Beam is a useful tool against bulkier threats like opposing Snorlax and non-Leer Tauros to secure the KO. Amnesia boosting Snorlax's Special stat allows it to take on the special attackers in the tier, along with boosting your coverage move of choice. Thunderbolt is the primary option, hitting Articuno and the Water types that would otherwise wall you with Reflect. Similarly, Blizzard helps Snorlax beat Zapdos, which can use Reflect well, but also allows Snorlax to hit Rhydon and Sandslash. Ice Beam is another option, which severely weakens both of those the Zapdos and Articuno matchups in exchange for higher accuracy, and higher PP, and odds to permanently freeze.

Since this set can only fit one coverage move, Snorlax wants partners that can handle the matchups it misses running specific attacks moves. Chansey is a great partner, handling Zapdos and Rhydon with Ice Beam if Snorlax is running Thunderbolt, and even being able to help with or beating Starmie and Articuno by slotting in Thunderbolt if Snorlax doesn't have it. If running Thunder Wave, Chansey is running Thunder Wave, can also handle Leer Tauros for Snorlax, and it appreciates Snorlax's ability to handle Alakazam. Alakazam itself also makes for a great partner, appreciating Blizzard Snorlax's great Rhydon and Thunder Wave Zapdos matchup and while being able to handle Articuno and Starmie for Snorlax. Lastly, Starmie can use Reflect to help with Leer Tauros, and can run Ice Beam or Thunderbolt to cover Snorlax's lost matchups.

[SET]
name: Reflect
move 1: Body Slam
move 2: Hyper Beam
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Earthquake / Ice Beam / Blizzard

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Reflect is a very useful tool to help Snorlax boost its mediocre base Defense stat, and alongside its base 160 base HP stat, no physical attacker can break through it. Body Slam of course is Snorlax's main STAB move, threatening anything that doesn't resist it. Hyper Beam is a very useful move on Reflect sets, as it helps a lot in the mirror matchup, along with giving Tauros one less fewer turn to get a critical hit against you. Rhydon can take its Normal-type attacks, but cannot do enough damage through Reflect to outdamage Snorlax's coverage move of choice. Earthquake is a great option for not only hitting Rhydon, but also Gengar and Kabutops that would otherwise wall Snorlax. Ice Beam is another great option, since Reflect gives Ice Beam Snorlax enough turns to beat Rhydon. It also allows Snorlax to beat Sandslash reliably, and with the extra physical defense from Hyper Beam, Snorlax has a lot of chances to fish for a freeze against problematic Pokemon. Blizzard's extra damage is not necessarily needed with Reflect, since you have enough turns to KO Rhydon and Sandslash, but it can still be a useful tool in improving the Zapdos matchup.

Reflect Snorlax wants to pair with Pokemon that can handle the Special attackers it loses out on due to not running Amnesia. Electric-type Pokemon like Jolteon and Zapdos make great partners, as they can handle Starmie, Slowbro, Articuno, and Exeggutor for Snorlax, while Snorlax helps them with their problematic physical attacking matchups. Chansey similarly can handle Starmie and Articuno with Thunderbolt, and doesn't have to run Thunder Wave to have a better Tauros matchup, since Snorlax defeats even Leer Tauros with Reflect can handle that.

[SET]
name: BlizzBolt
move 1: Body Slam
move 2: Blizzard
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Amnesia

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

This Snorlax set aims to beat the Pokemon that assume that it only has one coverage move. Blizzard hits Zapdos and Rhydon that would otherwise wall Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt hits Starmie, Articuno, and Slowbro, which would otherwise wall Blizzard. Body Slam is a useful tool for securing matchups against Pokemon that aren't weak to your coverage, like Alakazam and Jolteon. Amnesia is needed on this set to boost the power of Blizzard and Thunderbolt, allowing Snorlax to break through the high Special Pokemon that it hits super effectively.

Since this set lacks Hyper Beam, it struggles with Tauros and opposing Snorlax, so Chansey is an excellent partner for it, especially since it appreciates not needing to run Thunderbolt for Starmie and Articuno. Chansey and Exeggutor are also problematic Pokemon for this Snorlax set, so Alakazam works well alongside it. Alakazam also likes that Snorlax can take care of Rhydon and Thunder Wave Zapdos for it.

[SET]
name: Anti-Chansey
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Amnesia
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Body Slam

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Snorlax can utilize Substitute and Amnesia to get around the problematic Chansey matchup. While behind a Substitute, Snorlax cannot get frozen by Chansey's Ice Beam, and with Amnesia, it can both make Chansey do barely any damage, and threaten Chansey back with very strong Ice Beams, forcing it to Soft-boiled to heal and be vulnerable to freeze from Snorlax. Amnesia together with Ice Beam is generally a strong option, improving Snorlax's matchup into Zapdos and Slowbro. Body Slam is the last move here, giving Snorlax the crucial Alakazam and Jolteon matchups. You also can run coverage moves like Thunderbolt in this last moveslot, but it is generally not recommended to drop Body Slam.

This Snorlax set gives up important matchups into Starmie, Articuno, Tauros, Rhydon, and opposing Snorlax, so it appreciates partners that can handle these threats. Zapdos is a great partner, since it struggles with Chansey and Jolteon, while handling Starmie, Articuno, and have a decent matchup into either Tauros or Snorlax depending on its last move. Chansey also appreciates not having to deal with the mirror matchup, and can handle many of its Substitute Snorlax's problematic matchups.

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

Snorlax has an extremely large movepool, so it can viably run many other moves not mentioned above. Counter is a solid option to help against Normal-types like Tauros and opposing Snorlax, along with Fighting-types that otherwise beat Snorlax like Hitmonlee and Machamp. Unfortunately, Counter can be outplayed by many common moves, like Leer, Substitute, and other attacks like Earthquake, since Counter only works on Normal- and Fighting-type attacks.

Bubblebeam is an option that sets lacking Amnesia can run, allowing Snorlax to beat Rhydon while improving the Snorlax mirror. If you don't get high rolls or critical hits on the first two Body Slams, you can use Bubblebeam to fish for the Speed drop into a Hyper Beam.

Rest can help Snorlax heal against more passive Pokemon like Chansey. However, Rest often leaves Snorlax vulnerable to Critical hits, so it is rarely run.

Toxic can help Snorlax beat Chansey sets lacking Rest, but it does not help against many other Pokemon.

Reflect and Amnesia can be run on one set, helping Snorlax beat both Physical and Special attackers. However, this limits Snorlax's attacking moves, which limits the matchups running both moves gains.

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

**Normal-types**: Pokemon like Chansey and Tauros are immune to Body Slam's paralysis effect, allowing them to handle a lot of Snorlax sets by abusing Snorlax's low speed.

**Leech Seed**: Exeggutor and Venusaur can abuse Snorlax's Speed stat by setting up Toxic and Leech Seed, keeping them healthy while beating down Snorlax.

**Reflect**: Specially bulky Pokemon like Starmie, Articuno, and Chansey can use Reflect to take Snorlax's physical hits and hit it hard on the special side, or potentially freeze Snorlax with their Ice-type moves, as long as Snorlax does not have the coverage move to hit them.

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonlee and Machamp are favored to beat any Snorlax without Counter with their strong Fighting-type attacks. Hitmonlee especially can reliably 2HKO Snorlax with High Jump Kick.

[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/murm.520168/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/elo-bandit.298753/
Grammar checked by:
Click to expand...
QC 1/2
 
RBY 1v1 time. Fun fact: this is (approximately) my fiftieth analysis contribution.

* Counter further improves your Tauros and Snorlax matchups if you are confident they will be using a Normal-type attack.
So I'm a bit puzzled here. I feel like Counter is rather anti-synergistic with Reflect. If you have Counter, ostensibly Snorlax and Tauros are at least somewhat covered, so wouldn't it make sense to complement Counter with Bubble Beam (or Surf) instead to cover Rhydon more properly? I guess this loses to Gengar, but like, you're not going to win them all.

* Other viable move options are Blizzard for Rhydon and Zapdos odds, Bubble Beam for Rhydon and opposing Snorlax, Rock Slide for Articuno, and Toxic for Seismic Toss Chansey.
I'm not really sure if Bubble Beam appreciably makes the Snorlax matchup better. Yes, the Speed drop can get you going first, but Body Slam, Body Slam, Hyper Beam is already a roll to KO so you're giving up a potentially crucial tempo.

* Hyper Beam should only be used when it guarantees a KO that Body Slam cannot.
It should also be used liberally if you have no other shot at winning. For example, if Reflect Thunder Wave Chansey is just dancing all over you, Hyper Beam quickly becomes your best click because a critical hit, even if unlikely, will be your best odds to win.

* Thunderbolt threatens Articuno, Lapras, and non-Toxic Starmie.
I'm not sure what Toxic has to do with anything here. Can't Snorlax just get to +4 and win against it regardless?

* Hyper Beam should only be used when it guarantees a KO that Body Slam cannot.
See above.

* Against Toxic Alakazam, Body Slam should be used to not let them stall you out with Toxic, Substitute, and Recover.
If you know it's Toxic, then sure, but there is probably some merit to clicking Amnesia first to scout for Counter.

* Amnesia Snorlax appreciates help from Pokemon like Articuno and Counter Chansey to deal with Tauros, and in return Snorlax can handle Pokemon like Alakazam and Jolteon for them.
As discussed a while ago, it can be your call if you want to throw Reflect / Thunder Wave Chansey in too. Mixed odds, but I think ultimately they are slightly in Chansey's favor.
Also, especially because this set explicitly limits you to one Special Attack, it might make sense to call out partners for each one. For example, running Blizzard may call for you to run something that can better answer Lapras, Slowbro, and Cloyster while running Thunderbolt may call for you to run something that can better answer Rhydon (and maybe Gengar).

* Thunderbolt threatens Articuno, Lapras, and non-Toxic Starmie.
See above.

* Amnesia Snorlax appreciates help from Pokemon like Articuno and Counter Chansey to deal with Tauros, especially since this set forgoes Hyper Beam for more coverage. With both of its coverage moves, it can help its partners by beating Pokemon like Zapdos, Starmie, and opposing Articuno, alongside other problematic Pokemon like Alakazam and Jolteon.
I didn't run the scenarios, but I think this set wants extra help against Chansey as well.

I'm not sure but I think Surf might have some utility on Amnesia sets? Rest and/or Toxic also may have small merit as tech options (on any set), especially against Chansey, and maybe some Snorlax variants. It's probably only be worth it in a hard call out though these days. I've also seen Substitute way back in the day, but I think that's probably a dead set given how rare strict freeze wars are and how much offensive pressure running Substitute and Rest gives up.

That's probably fine. Just ping me after any updates or discussion and we're good to QC.
 
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