Snorlax (Minor Changes + Offensive Set) +

Bass

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Not much really needs to be updated for Snorlax, most of them being minor as a result of Platinum metagame changes:

-Rotom-A needs to be added to the counters section. Although Snorlax can sponge all of its attacks with ease, Snorlax can't really hurt it in anyway without Crunch, and even then, Will-O-Wisp, Reflect, and Rest allow Rotom-A to outstall Snorlax most of the time.

-The increased prevalence of Trick needs to be mentioned in the counters section as well. This is particularly true for the Curse set, as it is effectively shut down by Trick, not to mention that several Pokemon that it would normally be a fairly good switch-in to have gotten Trick, such as Gengar, Azelf, Jirachi, and of course, Rotom-A.

-Note that Pursuit is no longer illegal with the Elemental Punches, but it is still illegal with Selfdestruct. (Thanks maddog for pointing this out!)

-I am also going to add an additional offensive set. I am surprised that the only real offensive set in the analysis is the Choice Band set, but a similar set with Leftovers instead is quite useful, as not being stuck on a single move allows Snorlax to be an effective switch-in for things like Heatran. It is also useful for being able to hurt and paralyze several potential switch-ins like Machamp with Body Slam. I have actually used such a set on both my Suspect and Standard ladder teams to great success, so I think it deserves its own mention.
 
I am also going to add an additional offensive set. I am surprised that the only real offensive set in the analysis is the Choice Band set, but a similar set with Leftovers instead is quite useful, as not being stuck on a single move allows Snorlax to be an effective switch-in for things like Heatran. It is also useful for being able to hurt and paralyze several potential switch-ins like Machamp with Body Slam. I have actually used such a set on both my Suspect and Standard ladder teams to great success, so I think it deserves its own mention.
Please do bass. I have used a silimar set before and it is very good. Also, I would give more of a mention to Immunity as an ability, as it is very good and can help make your team more Toxic Spikes proof. Also, alot of things (see Heatran, bulky Waters) that Snorlax is trying to switch into runs Toxic to screw over the Choice Bander, so Immunity is a great choice in ability on the sets that don't run Rest, and it should be mentioned in Other Options.

Also, Pursuit is no longer illegal with the Elemental Punches, but it is still illegal with Selfdestruct.
 
Choice Band should be first, followed by Curse and Restalk then whatever new set you want to do. Choice Band is more common and much better than Curse.
 
I think it may be worth adding that celebi can thunder wave and then stall out with recover against the cb set (gaining a free turn each time it's paralyzed).
On the CB set I preferred return; it very often KOs unsuspecting incoming sweepers. Someone would need to run damage calculations to confirm it's statistical usefulness, but back when I ran CB snorlax it quite regularly KOed incoming fighters like machamp (but I can't remember how much residual damage it had), infernape, and heracross. It seems somewhat contradictory to run a move over an alternative with the same accuracy and 20% more power on a CB set. Then again, that is what damage calculators are for, to confirm that this difference really makes an impact; otherwise I'm wrong, and the 30% paralyzation chance is more beneficial. It would reduce the aforementioned celebi-stalling related problems, as a paralyzed celebi would probably prefer to switch out and take advantage of natural cure rather then risk getting fully paralyzed a couple of turns in a row and therefore getting KOed.
I'm not to sure how well a non-cb offensive set would work; most things coming in should be able to force it to flee, as snorlax would almost certainly be slower (unless you're counting on paralyzasis on the way in from body slam).
 
I think it may be worth adding that celebi can thunder wave and then stall out with recover against the cb set (gaining a free turn each time it's paralyzed).
On the CB set I preferred return; it very often KOs unsuspecting incoming sweepers. Someone would need to run damage calculations to confirm it's statistical usefulness, but back when I ran CB snorlax it quite regularly KOed incoming fighters like machamp (but I can't remember how much residual damage it had), infernape, and heracross. It seems somewhat contradictory to run a move over an alternative with the same accuracy and 20% more power on a CB set. Then again, that is what damage calculators are for, to confirm that this difference really makes an impact; otherwise I'm wrong, and the 30% paralyzation chance is more beneficial. It would reduce the aforementioned celebi-stalling related problems, as a paralyzed celebi would probably prefer to switch out and take advantage of natural cure rather then risk getting fully paralyzed a couple of turns in a row and therefore getting KOed.
I'm not to sure how well a non-cb offensive set would work; most things coming in should be able to force it to flee, as snorlax would almost certainly be slower (unless you're counting on paralyzasis on the way in from body slam).
Returrn doesn't KO Breloom or Machamp from experience, and Body Slam's paralysis rate is normally too good to pass up.

I've used a non-CB offensive set, and it is very good. It's a more defensive setup with the same hard hit, plus it allows you to go boom when you want. Most things that switch into the CB set switch in because they predict the more Lax is going to use X move, not necessary because they are good switches into Lax. In fact, most things that try to switch into Snorlax can't actually kill it, but they can force it out. Consider a Rotom-a switching into a predicted Body Slam from a CB lax. Even though Rotom-a can't do much to Lax except Will-O-Wisp or Trick, Lax is forced out be virture of immunity. A non-CB offensive set solves this problem.
 
Sorry this took so long, I was a bit busy for the past few days, but here is take one:

http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/snorlax

[SET]
name: Curselax
move 1: Curse
move 2: Body Slam / Return
move 3: Rest / Selfdestruct
move 4: Earthquake / Crunch / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Careful
evs: 168 HP / 120 Def / 220 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Curselax has historically been the epitome of power and durability, it has become far less stable in the highly offensive D/P metagame; however, it still poses a significant threat to unprepared individuals. As expected, Curse is the crux of this set; it boosts Snorlax's mediocre Defense and good Attack while dropping its useless Speed, so that Snorlax is reasonably good at taking attacks from both ends of the offensive spectrum, and deal decent damage itself. Whether to use Body Slam or Return for its Normal STAB is sheerly a matter of power or paralysis. Generally, the paralysis is more useful for Snorlax, but if one feels that a bit more power is favorable, Return is available for 20% greater force. One may note that Double-edge is sadly absent from this set; unlike as in previous generations, Snorlax can't afford to squander as much of its HP on recoil damage.</p>

<p>The next choice is whether to attempt to remain alive longer with Rest and risk the opponent setting up while Snorlax is asleep, or to shirk longevity and destroy something on the way out with a STAB Selfdestruct. Prior to D/P, Rest was overwhelmingly more useful, but in D/P, Selfdestruct has risen to a level plane with it, as sleeping for two turns is a significantly greater liability, whereas Selfdestruct is the emergency resource so many teams need in order to combat an unexpected reversal. The last move is also quite variable. Earthquake is often the preferred option to hit Tyranitar, Metagross, and others, but leaves Snorlax completely vulnerable to Mismagius, and to some extent, Gengar (note that without Focus Blast or Perish Song, Gengar will be stalled out of PP by Snorlax if the latter has Rest). Crunch hurts the Ghosts at the expense of being futile against the first group. Fire Punch is the compromise option, which deals well with both the Ghosts and Metagross; Tyranitar still switches in with impunity, however.</p>

<p>The EVs on this Snorlax are configured for optimal defensive efficiency; while displacing 4 EVs from Special Defense to HP would provide a slight amount more of overall defenses, that course has not been taken because if it were, Snorlax would have 504 HP, which is divisible by 8 and therefore would make it more susceptible to residual damage than if the current 503 HP spread was utilized. This spread focuses primarily on improving its special defensive capabilities, but also maintains a solidity in its physically defensive sector to make switching in and taking attacks after few Curses easier. While investing some EVs into Attack may seem tempting, the fact is that Snorlax simply can't afford to do so in D/P; even with this spread, Snorlax can take up to 54% from a Choice Specs Modest Salamence's Draco Meteor, 60% from a Life Orb Timid Azelf's Nasty Plotted Psychic, and 83% from a Life Orb Modest Porygon-Z's Nasty Plotted Adaptability Tri Attack.</p>

<p>Thick Fat is the more useful trait, as Rest will rid Snorlax of any poisoning it suffers, and Thick Fat grants an effective resistance to Ice and Fire, two of the most common special attacks. Additionally, it is pivotal to countering Heatran, especially when Snorlax doesn't have Earthquake to OHKO it, and is an excellent buffer for a predicted switch-in on Weavile's Ice Punch and such. However, if one selects Selfdestruct over Rest, Immunity still has some utility, especially against Toxic Spikes.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Body Slam / Return
move 2: Earthquake / Superpower
move 3: Crunch / Selfdestruct
move 4: Fire Punch / Selfdestruct
item: Choice Band
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>As a wall, Snorlax is a bit lackluster in D/P, but as a Choice Bander, it is as stable as Choice Banders come. Instead of fretting over which Pokémon will stop it, Choice Band Snorlax is equipped to handle anything Curselax might not. Body Slam still supersedes Return on this set, as Choice Band Snorlax, being one of the slowest Pokémon available, prefers 30% paralysis over immediate power, unlike many of its Choice brethren. Earthquake is standard fare for Metagross and Jirachi. Superpower is also a decent option to consider for the ability to OHKO Tyranitar and still does more then enough to most Steel-type Pokemon. Crunch is for Ghost-types and Fire Punch is the compromise move that hits both Levitating Ghosts like Gengar and Steels. Either may be replaced by Selfdestruct, which, due to STAB, is one of the most powerful attacks in the Pokémon franchise; Selfdestruct even has a small chance of OHKOing the standard Skarmory.</p>

<p>Snorlax is outrunning little if anything, so instead of Speed, EVs have been invested in its Special Defense. This way, Snorlax maintains a reasonable degree of special survivability with which to switch in against special attackers; Thick Fat furthers that goal.</p>

[SET]
name: Offensive Lax
move 1: Body Slam / Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Selfdestruct / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>One of the issues that Choice Band Snorlax faces is that several Pokemon can easily come in on their resists and immunities to one of its moves and force it out while they set up. Even Pokemon that Snorlax can normally wall like Heatran, Gengar, or Zapdos can be quite bothersome if they manage to leave you locked into a move that would be unable to damage them. This set remedies that problem by giving Snorlax the freedom to use any of its moves, while still having a good amount of offensive power.</p>

<p>As with the other sets, Body Slam is the preferred option for STAB. Return is more powerful, but generally, the 30% chance of Paralysis offered by Body Slam is simply too good to pass up, especially against Scizor or Salamence. Earthquake hits many of the Pokemon who resist your STAB, easily OHKOing Heatran and Magnezone while doing decent damage to Tyranitar. It is also useful against Zapdos, as it can potentially outstall you with Roost. Crunch hits those Ghost-types that are immune to most of your other moves, most notably Gengar and the Rotom appliance formes. With STAB and 200 base power, Selfdestruct can even OHKO several Pokemon that resist it, most notably Scizor and Minimum HP Tyranitar (with Stealth Rock factored in), so it can be used as a last resort or just to deal serious damage to anything that isn't immune to it. Fire Punch is also a good alternative over Selfdestruct, as it still OHKOes Scizor and 2HKOes Forretress. However, the sheer damage output of Selfdestruct generally makes it the better option.</p>

<p>Thick Fat is your ability of choice as it allows you to take repeated beatings from Heatran. Immunity can be helpful when your opponent has several layers of Toxic Spikes in play, but since you will generally use Selfdestruct before you are KOed, it is often unnecessary.</p>

<p>As with the Choice Band set, 252 EVs are allocated to Special Defense because it allows Snorlax to sufficiently take hits from most special attackers.</p>

[Other Options]
<p>Pursuit is a very good move to essentially trap Gengar, Mismagius, and many Psychics, who have good reason to fear Snorlax, but is unfortunately illegal with both Selfdestruct. Ice Punch significantly hurts Garchomp and Salamence, and ThunderPunch annihilates Gyarados, but neither is extremely useful on Snorlax. Zen Headbutt is super effective on Gengar and Weezing, but will not OHKO the latter before it uses Haze and is merely a less accurate Crunch replacement for the former. Focus Punch and Superpower can deliver a very powerful hit on Rhyperior and Bronzong, and both OHKO Tyranitar, but generally they are outclassed by Earthquake or Fire Punch. Instead of attacking Metagross and Tyranitar directly, Snorlax can also make them faint through its massive HP and Counter; Snorlax will usually survive any physical hit that isn't Fighting-type or boosted more than once.</p>

<p>Snorlax gets Whirlwind in D/P, but as an offensive wall, it is usually much better suited to killing its opposition than blowing their boosts away. Amnesia and Charm can lighten the hits Snorlax receives, but Snorlax would much rather Curse against physical hits and just attack special attackers; Charm can force a few switches to gain Stealth Rock and Spikes damage, though. Belly Drum is an explosive alternative to Curse, but unfortunately Snorlax is, as already noted several times, extremely slow, and its Defense is just passable. However, along with Block, a timely Belly Drum can be deadly for the opposition once all Ghosts have been murdered by Pursuit. Yawn is another move that can force switches and works well with Belly Drum.</p>

<p>As expected for a Normal-type, Snorlax receives a host of special attacks to use off its pitiful base 65 Special Attack. Other than Fire Blast, Ice Beam and Surf are the only ones that would possibly have any practical application. Ice Beam can score an unexpected KO on Gliscor and Garchomp, but Surf hits Rhyperior decently even in Sandstorm conditions and thoroughly guts it if such conditions are nonexistent. However, it does at maximum, assuming Snorlax has no Special Attack EVs, a pathetic 23% on Tyranitar.</p>

[SET]
name: Sleep Talk
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Body Slam
move 4: Earthquake / Crunch / Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Careful / Sassy
evs: 244 HP / 28 Def / 236 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sleep Talk Snorlax sacrifices the sweeping potential of Curselax in exchange for improved durability, as it is no longer switch-in bait while it is Resting. Indeed, Snorlax is excellent for absorbing sleep for the rest of its team, as it trumps many sleepers, such as Gengar and Milotic. As this set will likely remain at the 256 Attack it starts out with unless one intends to Baton Pass Attack boosts to it, Body Slam's paralysis chance becomes a greater deterrent to set-up Pokémon than Return's straightforward damage, and consequently it becomes significantly more favored. Earthquake and Crunch still work the same way as on Curselax, but Fire Blast has replaced Fire Punch for hitting Steel-types. As most Steel-types have higher Defense than Special Defense, Fire Punch's lower base power will ultimately do less damage than Fire Blast, despite Snorlax's higher Attack. For example, assuming a Sassy nature in the case of Fire Blast, Fire Punch does a measly 26% at maximum to Skarmory, whereas Fire Blast can do up to 58%.</p>

<p>As this Snorlax is used exclusively for walling special attacks and shouldn't be taking any strong physical attacks, it is even more special defensively oriented than Curselax. However, a small dash of Defense is available, feeding off the "just because" philosophy, for taking the occasional weaker physical attack. Sassy nature is required on sets with Fire Blast for the guaranteed OHKO on the standard Forretress; Snorlax isn't going to use its Speed for much anyways.</p>

[EVs]
<p>Snorlax should generally focus on buffering its HP and Special Defense, and sprinkle a little bit in Defense on the Curse and Sleep Talk sets. Note that unlike most others, Snorlax doesn't derive its best defensive combination by maximizing HP, as its HP is titanic compared to its Defense and Special Defense. However, the Choice Band and Offensive sets should also maximize Attack, whereas offensive EVs are unnecessary on other sets. If you are more concerned about taking hits from Physical attacks, then you can move some Special Defense EVs into Defense. 44 Defense EVs will allow you to survive a Choice Banded Tyranitar's Stone Edge 100% of the time at full health, even when taking the residual damage from Sandstorm taken into account. 252 EVs in Defense will even allow you to survive an unboosted Superpower (assuming no Swords Dance boosts) from a max attack Scizor with Life Orb.</p>

[Opinion]
<p>Snorlax, once among the most dominant Pokémon in the entire game, has taken a dramatic fall from grace in D/P, with the advent of extremely powerful special attackers like Azelf and Porygon-Z that essentially necessitate the use of sturdier special walls like Blissey. Focus Blast or Aura Sphere from competent special attackers Snorlax could previously wall, such as Gengar and Alakazam, has taken it down another notch. With the release of Platinum, a plethora of special attackers also gained access to Trick, which is the final nail in the coffin to nearly every viable Snorlax set. Strong physical attacks responsible for the renewed popularity of Machamp, Heracross, and others have also limited the pool of Pokémon Snorlax can switch in on safely.</p>

<p>However, Snorlax still has a place in many teams, as when it is the last Pokémon, it becomes incredibly difficult for stall teams to take down. Paralysis from Body Slam incapacitates many opponents as always, and Thick Fat allows Snorlax to become among the most reliable counters to Fire and Ice-types, especially Heatran. STAB Selfdestruct behind a high Attack stat is also a great asset.</p>

[Counters]
<p>Snorlax is nowhere as impregnable as it was during previous generations, and therefore has many potential counters; note that whatever counters Curselax tends to counter the Sleep Talk set as well. Strong Fighting-types that can survive a Body Slam tend to work excellently. Choice Band Heracross, Machamp, and Gallade's Close Combat will always OHKO the standard Curselax even after one Curse. Hariyama has Cross Chop, which might get a critical hit and strike through Curse; if Hariyama doesn't want to push its luck, it can also Whirlwind Snorlax out. If Curselax doesn't have Crunch or Fire Punch, Gengar, Mismagius, and the Rotom appliance formes are absolutely impervious to its assaults and can Focus Blast, Charge Beam, or Calm Mind up, respectively. If it doesn't have Earthquake or Fire Punch, Metagross can switch in on a Body Slam (beware of paralysis) or Crunch and 2HKO with Choice Banded Meteor Mash, assuming Snorlax uses Curse immediately after the first Meteor Mash. The same follows for Choice Band Tyranitar regarding sets without Earthquake. Rhyperior's high Defense and Solid Rock reduces even unboosted Earthquake damage to less than 20%, allowing it to strike back safely with Earthquake. Regirock doesn't have as much initial power, but doesn't care about Earthquake either, and can match Snorlax with Psych Up or can Curse on its own.</p>

<p>Snorlax can also be beaten by special attackers other than Ghosts. If it doesn't have Earthquake or Fire Punch, even Curselax falls to Calm Mind Jirachi, whose high Defense and Steel typing shield it from Crunch. Suicune with Roar can stat up alongside Snorlax and Roar it out whenever it gets too many boosts. Both physical and special Lucario will triumph against Snorlax that elect to have Crunch as the auxiliary move; the physical versions will often OHKO with Close Combat assuming Snorlax doesn't have any Curses, and the special versions with Choice Specs easily 2HKO with Aura Sphere regardless.</p>

<p>Tangrowth and Celebi have high Defense with which to take Body Slam and Fire Punch, and can land a Leech Seed on Snorlax. Although neither is capable of doing much direct damage to Snorlax, Leech Seed will sap Snorlax's high HP, which will help whichever counter comes in next. For example, the standard Snorlax will give 62 HP to the opponent if it is seeded; the residual damage also helps very much.</p>

<p>Skarmory's high Defense lets it take on any Snorlax with ease except those carrying Fire Blast while it lays down Spikes or Stealth Rock and Whirlwinds Snorlax out when it becomes uncomfortably laden with Curses, but can't do any real damage against it and therefore loses if Snorlax is the last Pokémon. Weezing, on the other hand, trades reliable healing and field-affecting moves for Haze, which wipes out Snorlax's Curses at any time, and disregard for Fire Blast. Gliscor can Taunt to stop Snorlax from Cursing in the short term; if it has Swords Dance, it can set up and Baton Pass to a more powerful attacker.</p>

<p>Trick pretty much shuts down just about every Snorlax set. As such, Snorlax needs to tread much more carefully as several Pokemon it can normally safely switch into, including Gengar, Jirachi, Azelf, and the Rotom appliance formes.</p>
 
Even if you are trying to maximize Snorlax overall durability you are still better off splitting the EVs and not investing them solely in HP. I suggest using X-Acts defense EVs calculator in his sig for that since maxing HP is not optimal on Snorlax.
 
I ran Snorlax through the applet and found that for equal defenses, you would just pour everything into Defense. However, assuming you're switching into SpAttacks most of the time, a Spread like

72 HP / 76 Def / 108 SpD (70% SpD bias) or
36 HP / 220 SpD (80% SpD bias)

would work. It would probably be best just to run some damage calcs to find out how many times you can switch into Heatran's Fire Blast etc. with the best spread.

btw: both of those Spreads are considering 252 Atk EVs with an Adamant nature.
 
Alright, I used X-Act's defense EVs applet, and got the following spread as "most optimal":

4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def

When I originally wrote this analysis, I was actually considering this spread, as I did learn some interesting things about it through damage calculations. For example, it can survive a +0 Superpower from the standard LO Scizor. This could be useful as you are able to guarantee that KO on Scizor whether he stays in and SD's or attempts to use Superpower, using either Fire Punch or Selfdestruct of course.

However, in battle, I primarily use this set to switch-in against special attackers like Heatran and Magnezone, and with less HP, Thunderbolts will be taking their toll pretty quickly. That, and the fact that you don't want to be anywhere near Scizor anyway unless he is paralyzed, means that 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD might be the better choice. I am still undecided, though.
 
I'm going to propose a 36 HP / 252 Atk / 220 SpD Adamant Spread for retaining some Physical durability while still easily switching into Special Attackers.
 
I like 252 Atk / 44 Def / 212 SpD. The Defense EVs are a little arbitrary, but it ensures that Sandstorm + CBTar's Stone Edge will never OHKO Snorlax.
 
altough minor, it should be noted that silk scarf gives a somewhat useful boost that makes snorlax's return ohko azelf after stealth rock damages; with silk scarf featured in, you also have a pretty nice chance at ohko 176 hp evs ttar (standard cbtar), and you always ohko facturing stealth rock; maybe set comments are worth it.
 
altough minor, it should be noted that silk scarf gives a somewhat useful boost that makes snorlax's return ohko azelf after stealth rock damages; with silk scarf featured in, you also have a pretty nice chance at ohko 176 hp evs ttar (standard cbtar), and you always ohko facturing stealth rock; maybe set comments are worth it.

How does Silk Scarf help against Tyranitar? Silk Scarf only boosts the power of Normal moves.
 
Alright, I am just going to make the default spread 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD. I'll add some of the other spreads that were mentioned in the set comments for now.

I would appreciate if someone checked the actual analysis for grammar.
 
44 Defense EVs will allow you to survive a Choice Banded Tyranitar's Stone Edge 100% of the time at full health.

Not only does he survive the Stone Edge, but he survives the Sandstorm afterwards (meaning Stone Edge does a max of 93.75%)
 
I would appreciate if someone checked the actual analysis for grammar.
Fine, because you asked so nicely :)


[SET]
name: Offensive Lax
move 1: Body Slam / Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Selfdestruct / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>One of the issues that Choice Band Snorlax faces are that several Pokemon can easily come in on their resists and immunities to one of its moves and force it out while they set up. Even Pokemon that Snorlax normally wall like Heatran, Gengar, or Zapdos, can be quite bothersome if they manage to outpredict you while you are locked into a Normal, Fire or Ground move, and you are left without a way to damage them. This set remedies that problem by giving Snorlax the freedom to use any of its moves, while still having a good amount of offensive power.</p>

<p>As with the other sets, Body Slam is the preferred option for STAB. Return is more powerful, but generally, the 30% chance of Paralysis offered by Body Slam is simply too good to pass up, especially against Scizor or Salamence (omitted). Earthquake hits many of the Pokemon who resist your STAB, easily OHKOing Heatran and Magnezone while doing decent damage to Tyranitar. It is also useful against Zapdos, as it can potentially outstall you with Roost (you can break Zap's subs with Body Slam, so I took out that part). Crunch hits those Ghost-types that are immune to most of your other moves, most notably Gengar and the Rotom appliance formes. (I went ahead and changed this part alot because it sounds more clear) With STAB and 200 Base Power, (ommitted the "defense" part) Selfdestruct can even OHKO several Pokemon that resist it, most notably Scizor and Minimum HP Tyranitar (with Stealth Rock factored in), so it can be used as a last resort or just to deal serious damage to anything that isn't immune to it. Fire Punch is also a good alternative over Selfdestruct, as it still OHKOes Scizor and 2HKOes Forretress. However, the sheer damage output of Selfdestruct, and the possibility of a Heatran switch-in to Fire Punch generally makes Selfdestruct the better option.</p>

<p>Thick Fat is your ability of choice as it allows you to take repeated beatings from Heatran. Immunity is also useful against opponents that have several layers of Toxic Spikes in play, or against some Special sweepers that will try and cripple Snorlax with Poison. Overall though, Thick Fat is a better option, as Snorlax can always Selfdestruct if Toxic damage starts to take its toll.</p>

<p>252 EVs are allocated to Special Defense because it allows Snorlax to sufficiently take hits from most special attackers. However, if you are more concerned about taking hits from Physical attacks as well, then you can move some of these EVs into Defense. 44 Defense EVs will allow you to survive a Choice Banded Tyranitar's Stone Edge 100% of the time at full health, even when taking the residual damage from Sandstorm taken into account. 252 EVs in Defense will even allow you to survive an unboosted Super Power (assuming no Swords Dance boosts) from a max attack Scizor with Life Orb. (this part can also go in the EV section, its your choice. It might be better there, as these spread ideas can work on most Lax sets)</p>
I went ahead and make alot of nickpicky changes, and because my changes often changed the tense of the sentence, I had to change that as well. Take what you want from this; its the way I would write it, but honestly with a few expections, your writeup was great too.
 
nitpicking maddog's nitpicks:

First paragraph:
"One of the issues that Choice Band Snorlax faces is ..."

one is a singular noun, not plural. saying 'one of the issues ... are' is subject-verb disagreement.


Second paragraph:
"With STAB and 200 base power, Selfdestruct can even ..."

shouldn't be capitalized.


I found what Bass had originally written about abilities to be better. ("Thick Fat is your ability of choice as it allows you to take repeated beatings from Heatran. Immunity can be helpful when your opponent has several layers of Toxic Spikes in play, but since you will generally use Selfdestruct before you are KOed, it is often unnecessary.")

"However, if you are more concerned about taking hits from Physical attacks as well, then you can move some of these EVs into Defense."

remove either more or as well. together it just sounds weird.

last paragraph:
"252 EVs in Defense will even allow you to survive an unboosted Superpower (assuming no Swords Dance boosts) from a max attack Scizor with Life Orb."
 
maddog, thanks a lot for the comments, I actually liked most, if not all of your changes, so I will be editing them in shortly.

EDIT: And thanks for the help as well, darkie.

As for the EVs, I also agree that the alternative spreads might as well be mentioned in the EVs section of the entire analysis, as they would work just as well on the CB set.
 
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