[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Phenomenal bulk, solid setup options, reliable recovery, and excellent coverage moves make Snorlax a powerful mid-tier threat that can overwhelm unprepared teams with ease. It also can utilize its enormous HP stat and good Special Defense stat to sponge hits in a pinch and support its teammates. However, Snorlax is vulnerable to one of the most common moves in Knock Off as well as powerful physical attackers due to its lackluster physical bulk. Furthermore, Snorlax doesn't offer any real utility or role compression, resulting in it being a luxury pick that only fits on specific archetypes.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Snorlax's bread-and-butter set utilizes the ever-reliable Curse + Recycle combination that can threaten to sweep teams outright if it gets going. With the boost in Defense from Curse paired with its strong special bulk, Snorlax is able to shrug off hits on both fronts and keep itself healthy with pinch Berries in conjunction with Gluttony and Recycle. It often runs a STAB move—Return for more immediate power or Body Slam to fish for paralysis—along with a coverage move. In matchups where it is vulnerable to Knock Off or status conditions, it can trade Recycle for the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk.
**Bulky Pivot**: Snorlax's massive HP stat, solid Special Defense stat, and only one weakness enable it to check strong special attackers. Snorlax also can choose its recovery method based on the matchup, as it can do its role with Rest, Recycle, or just Leftovers. Access to Whirlwind and Toxic as well as the threat of Body Slam paralysis ensures it is not passive either. Snorlax can also use Thick Fat in niche scenarios to shore up a team's Fire- or Ice-type weakness.
**Tank**: With a formidable Attack stat, plenty of coverage options, and serviceable bulk, Snorlax has the ability to sponge hits while dishing out massive damage to foes, potentially resulting in favorable trades. This set usually runs four attacks or three attacks + Recycle. Popular items include Choice Band, pinch Berries, and resistance Berries.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Body Slam, Return, Double-Edge, Facade
**Setup Moves**: Curse, Belly Drum
**Utility Moves**: Recycle, Rest, Toxic, Whirlwind, Yawn, Pursuit, Brick Break, Protect
**Coverage**: Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, Superpower, Heavy Slam, Crunch, Gunk Shot, Seed Bomb, Zen Headbutt, Rock Slide
Niche Moves
========
**Self-Destruct**: Self-Destruct can be used as a last-ditch attempt to gain massive damage on an opposing Pokemon. This can be paired with a Custap Berry for a potential surprise KO.
**Chip Away**: Chip Away can be used in niche scenarios against opposing setup threats to deal more damage. This is usually run against targets that are boosting their Defense stat against Snorlax.
**Seismic Toss**: On bulkier Snorlax sets with little to no Attack investment and no setup moves, Seismic Toss can be used to deal consistent damage to avoid being passive.
**Power-Up Punch**: Power-Up Punch can be used when paired with an Assault Vest to give Snorlax a way to boost its Attack.
Common Items
========
**Pinch Berries**: Pinch Berries are the preferred item on most Snorlax sets, as thanks to Gluttony, the Berries are used up as soon as Snorlax falls below 50% of its health. When you pair that with Recycle, it enables Snorlax to have reliable recovery, enabling it to survive longer.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band makes the most out of Snorlax's solid Attack stat, powerful STAB moves in Double-Edge and Return, and a solid arsenal of coverage moves to dish out massive damage.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest further boosts Snorlax's excellent special bulk, enabling it to live powerful special attacks more easily.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers can be used on sets that run RestTalk or Protect, as the passive recovery is greatly appreciated.
Niche Items
========
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry can be run in combination with Rest to fully heal Snorlax. This is often run when Snorlax needs the moveslot to run a coverage move instead of Sleep Talk.
**Custap Berry**: When paired with Belly Drum and Gluttony, Custap Berry enables Snorlax to potentially take down an opposing Pokemon.
**Chople Berry**: Snorlax's Defense stat is poor, and powerful Fighting-type attacks can still threaten to KO it. Chople Berry can help mitigate that and allow Snorlax to pick off the attackers instead.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is sometimes run in conjunction with Thick Fat to punish physical Fire- and Ice-type attackers.
Draft Strategy
========
Snorlax is usually a late addition to a draft. As it offers no real utility or role compression, it is highly recommended that important roles are covered before Snorlax is considered. Snorlax fits best on teams that need a Pokemon that serves as both a complementary offensive piece and a blanket switch-in to several common attacks.
**Knock Off Switch-ins**: As Snorlax is quite obnoxious to take down with its pinch Berry intact, opposing teams will usually try to remove the Berry with Knock Off. As such, Pokemon that can switch into Knock Off reliably like Mega Evolutions, Z-Captains, and Pokemon like Krookodile and Cobalion make for excellent partners.
**Fighting-type Checks**: As Snorlax is only weak to Fighting-types, Pokemon that reliably resist them like Uxie, Mesprit, and Primarina make for excellent partners. Mesprit is an exceptionally good teammate, as it can enable Snorlax with dual screens support, Trick Room, and Healing Wish.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Snorlax appreciates hazard support from Pokemon like Mesprit, Garchomp, and Qwilfish, as they wear down opposing switch-ins, making them struggle to stick around to check Snorlax over time. Similarly, it appreciates hazard removal from Pokemon like Zapdos and Mega Blastoise, as Stealth Rock and Spikes severely cut into its ability to serve as a blanket check.
Checks and Counters
========
**Knock Off**: Knock Off from Pokemon such as Tapu Fini and Serperior is Snorlax's biggest vulnerability, as without a pinch Berry, it loses its ability to heal off attacks, which severely hinders its defensive profile.
**Physical Fighting-type Pokemon**: Strong physical Fighting-types like Mega Gallade, Mega Medicham, and Infernape can blow past Snorlax with their STAB moves. However, they cannot switch in safely against Snorlax.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Ghost-type Pokemon like Jellicent and Cofagrigus are able to switch into Snorlax and cripple it with status ailments as well as disrupt it with Taunt or Haze.
**Pokemon with Taunt**: Snorlax gets shut down by Taunt from Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Hydreigon, as it is unable to set up or heal.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/professor-shuckle.530941/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Phenomenal bulk, solid setup options, reliable recovery, and excellent coverage moves make Snorlax a powerful mid-tier threat that can overwhelm unprepared teams with ease. It also can utilize its enormous HP stat and good Special Defense stat to sponge hits in a pinch and support its teammates. However, Snorlax is vulnerable to one of the most common moves in Knock Off as well as powerful physical attackers due to its lackluster physical bulk. Furthermore, Snorlax doesn't offer any real utility or role compression, resulting in it being a luxury pick that only fits on specific archetypes.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Snorlax's bread-and-butter set utilizes the ever-reliable Curse + Recycle combination that can threaten to sweep teams outright if it gets going. With the boost in Defense from Curse paired with its strong special bulk, Snorlax is able to shrug off hits on both fronts and keep itself healthy with pinch Berries in conjunction with Gluttony and Recycle. It often runs a STAB move—Return for more immediate power or Body Slam to fish for paralysis—along with a coverage move. In matchups where it is vulnerable to Knock Off or status conditions, it can trade Recycle for the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk.
**Bulky Pivot**: Snorlax's massive HP stat, solid Special Defense stat, and only one weakness enable it to check strong special attackers. Snorlax also can choose its recovery method based on the matchup, as it can do its role with Rest, Recycle, or just Leftovers. Access to Whirlwind and Toxic as well as the threat of Body Slam paralysis ensures it is not passive either. Snorlax can also use Thick Fat in niche scenarios to shore up a team's Fire- or Ice-type weakness.
**Tank**: With a formidable Attack stat, plenty of coverage options, and serviceable bulk, Snorlax has the ability to sponge hits while dishing out massive damage to foes, potentially resulting in favorable trades. This set usually runs four attacks or three attacks + Recycle. Popular items include Choice Band, pinch Berries, and resistance Berries.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Body Slam, Return, Double-Edge, Facade
**Setup Moves**: Curse, Belly Drum
**Utility Moves**: Recycle, Rest, Toxic, Whirlwind, Yawn, Pursuit, Brick Break, Protect
**Coverage**: Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Earthquake, Superpower, Heavy Slam, Crunch, Gunk Shot, Seed Bomb, Zen Headbutt, Rock Slide
Niche Moves
========
**Self-Destruct**: Self-Destruct can be used as a last-ditch attempt to gain massive damage on an opposing Pokemon. This can be paired with a Custap Berry for a potential surprise KO.
**Chip Away**: Chip Away can be used in niche scenarios against opposing setup threats to deal more damage. This is usually run against targets that are boosting their Defense stat against Snorlax.
**Seismic Toss**: On bulkier Snorlax sets with little to no Attack investment and no setup moves, Seismic Toss can be used to deal consistent damage to avoid being passive.
**Power-Up Punch**: Power-Up Punch can be used when paired with an Assault Vest to give Snorlax a way to boost its Attack.
Common Items
========
**Pinch Berries**: Pinch Berries are the preferred item on most Snorlax sets, as thanks to Gluttony, the Berries are used up as soon as Snorlax falls below 50% of its health. When you pair that with Recycle, it enables Snorlax to have reliable recovery, enabling it to survive longer.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band makes the most out of Snorlax's solid Attack stat, powerful STAB moves in Double-Edge and Return, and a solid arsenal of coverage moves to dish out massive damage.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest further boosts Snorlax's excellent special bulk, enabling it to live powerful special attacks more easily.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers can be used on sets that run RestTalk or Protect, as the passive recovery is greatly appreciated.
Niche Items
========
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry can be run in combination with Rest to fully heal Snorlax. This is often run when Snorlax needs the moveslot to run a coverage move instead of Sleep Talk.
**Custap Berry**: When paired with Belly Drum and Gluttony, Custap Berry enables Snorlax to potentially take down an opposing Pokemon.
**Chople Berry**: Snorlax's Defense stat is poor, and powerful Fighting-type attacks can still threaten to KO it. Chople Berry can help mitigate that and allow Snorlax to pick off the attackers instead.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is sometimes run in conjunction with Thick Fat to punish physical Fire- and Ice-type attackers.
Draft Strategy
========
Snorlax is usually a late addition to a draft. As it offers no real utility or role compression, it is highly recommended that important roles are covered before Snorlax is considered. Snorlax fits best on teams that need a Pokemon that serves as both a complementary offensive piece and a blanket switch-in to several common attacks.
**Knock Off Switch-ins**: As Snorlax is quite obnoxious to take down with its pinch Berry intact, opposing teams will usually try to remove the Berry with Knock Off. As such, Pokemon that can switch into Knock Off reliably like Mega Evolutions, Z-Captains, and Pokemon like Krookodile and Cobalion make for excellent partners.
**Fighting-type Checks**: As Snorlax is only weak to Fighting-types, Pokemon that reliably resist them like Uxie, Mesprit, and Primarina make for excellent partners. Mesprit is an exceptionally good teammate, as it can enable Snorlax with dual screens support, Trick Room, and Healing Wish.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Snorlax appreciates hazard support from Pokemon like Mesprit, Garchomp, and Qwilfish, as they wear down opposing switch-ins, making them struggle to stick around to check Snorlax over time. Similarly, it appreciates hazard removal from Pokemon like Zapdos and Mega Blastoise, as Stealth Rock and Spikes severely cut into its ability to serve as a blanket check.
Checks and Counters
========
**Knock Off**: Knock Off from Pokemon such as Tapu Fini and Serperior is Snorlax's biggest vulnerability, as without a pinch Berry, it loses its ability to heal off attacks, which severely hinders its defensive profile.
**Physical Fighting-type Pokemon**: Strong physical Fighting-types like Mega Gallade, Mega Medicham, and Infernape can blow past Snorlax with their STAB moves. However, they cannot switch in safely against Snorlax.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Ghost-type Pokemon like Jellicent and Cofagrigus are able to switch into Snorlax and cripple it with status ailments as well as disrupt it with Taunt or Haze.
**Pokemon with Taunt**: Snorlax gets shut down by Taunt from Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Hydreigon, as it is unable to set up or heal.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/professor-shuckle.530941/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
