note: i didn't add the recycle iapapa curse set as a full set because it really sucks compared to z belly drum, i hope you guys agree with me
[OVERVIEW]
Snorlax is one of the best abusers of Sleep in the metagame. The combination of Snorlax's natural bulk, particularly on the special side, and Thick Fat allow it to survive most hits and and fire off a Yawn to put the opponent to sleep. Snorlax's massive special defense stat makes it a premier pick versus specially offensive Pokemon like Charizard-Mega-Y and Porygon Z, unless Porygon-Z has Z-Conversion into Ghost. Snorlax also has a good base 110 Attack stat that allows it to power through its checks when boosted. Snorlax's Mono-Normal typing isn't weak to much, and is only resisted by Rock, Steel, and Ghost carries an immunity. Rock- and Ghost-types are somewhat uncommon picks in the 1v1 metagame, and many Steel-types can be muscled through with Z Belly Drum. However, Snorlax is heavily reliant on sleep turns versus Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon, as they often need a few hits to be defeated. Snorlax has trouble with powerful physical attackers which can force their way through Snorlax. It also struggles with surprise Substitute users, which block Yawn and often make it impossible for Snorlax to win.
[SET]
name: Z Belly Drum
move 1: Yawn
move 2: Protect
move 3: Belly Drum
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Normalium Z
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Yawn puts the opposing Pokemon to sleep after 1 turn, and is extremely useful as in 1v1 the opponent cannot switch to prevent the sleep from taking effect. Protect makes it so Snorlax only has to take a maximum of 1 turn of damage to put the opposing Pokemon to sleep, as well as easing prediction versus Z move abusers. Belly Drum maximizes Snorlax's Attack at the cost of half of its HP, but with Normalium Z this can be activated from any amount of health remaining, which is perfect to abuse while the foe is asleep. Double-Edge is Snorlax's most powerful consistent damage option, and with Normalium Z it can also be upgraded to a powerful Breakneck Blitz to alow Snorlax to immediately break through its frailer and more offensive foes.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature allow Snorlax to hit as hard as possible. 252 Defense EVs help compensate for Snorlax's comparatively lacking physical defense. Thick Fat halves the power of Fire- and Ice-type moves, being useful against Pokemon like Charizard and Heatran. Normalium Z is multi-purpose, as it can guarantee maximized attack when used with Belly Drum, provide a powerful Breakneck Blitz when used with Double-Edge, and in rare situations raise Snorlax's speed by 1 stage when used with Yawn, while at the same time avoiding Taunt.
Usage Tips
========
Snorlax is completely walled by Ghost-types, if you see one at team preview it is generally not recommended to use Snorlax unless you are positive that your opponent will not use their Ghost-type. Snorlax's general plan is as follows: Use Yawn as you hopefully survive the first hit and the opponent doesn't use Substitute, Protect on the next turn to prevent further damage, and then Z Belly Drum up to hopefully OHKO your opponent the following turn. However, there are various situations where it is safer to do other things. Versus relatively frail Pokemon like Greninja, Tapu Lele, Charizard, and others, it is often best to scout for a Z move first with Protect or immediately fire off a Breakneck Blitz to prevent risking Sleep-turns or potential setup. It should only be scouted in case where the Z move can OHKO Snorlax, such as the case is with Tapu Lele. Versus weaker offensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Magearna, or Primarina, it is advised to use Belly Drum immediately following the use of Yawn to maximize the attacks fired off while the opposing Pokemon is asleep. This is recommended against any Pokemon that cannot possibly 2HKO Snorlax. Versus particularly bulky Pokemon like Slowbro, it is often best to Belly Drum and then Breakneck Blitz for maximum damage. Against Pokemon that use Uproar, such as Meloetta and Porygon Z, it is often best to send off a Breakneck Blitz followed by repeated Double-Edges and not risk being beaten by wasting turns attempting to put them to sleep. When facing a Pokemon with Sturdy, it is advised to Double Edge right after Yawn or Protect, but before using Z Belly Drum, as it will be more efficient overall.
Team Options
========
Snorlax absolutely needs teammates that can beat Ghost-types like Gengar and Aegislash, as it is completely walled by them. Some good options would be Mega Gyarados, which is one of Snorlax's best teammates, and some variants of Mimikyu. Snorlax appreciates Pokemon like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Gyarados, as they are all able to effectively beat Steel-types that Snorlax cannot consistently beat. Mega Gyarados, Water Shruiken Greninja, and Will-o-Wisp Charizard X are particularly useful for their abilities to beat many common Sturdy Pokemon which Snorlax doesn't beat 100% of the time. Snorlax also beats the Special Attackers that these Pokemon have trouble with, like Tapu Lele and Primarina.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Snorlax can opt to run a Curse set with Gluttony, Recycle, Chip Away, Amnesia, and a Iapapa Berry, but this set is generally not as good as the Belly Drum set and prone to getting beaten more easily. Chip Away allows Snorlax to beat other Pokemon that are boosting its stats, and is good against things like Magearna and Zygarde. Frustration can be used over Double-Edge for no recoil, but is overall less powerful. Earthquake can be used over Protect to allow Snorlax to have better matchups versus Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-type foes, but then Snorlax loses to everything that is able to 2HKO it. Counter in an interesting option that can be used to surprise some Physical attackers, but is vastly in superior to anything else and is merely a matchup pick.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types absolutely wall Snorlax if it is not carrying the inferior Earthquake or Crunch, as they are immune to Snorlax's only attacking move.
**Bulky Steel- and Rock-types**: Some bulky Steel- and Rock-types like Mega Metagross, Ferrothorn, and Crustle are not easily KOed and require more luck when it comes to sleep turns.
**Sturdy**: Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem reduce Snorlax's reliability, as it often has to burn another turn of sleep to break the Sturdy.
**Powerful Physical Attackers, especially Fighting-types**: Powerful Physical attackers like Z move Kartana, Sawk, Mega Heracross, and Mega Blaziken can break through Snorlax's relatively low defensive stats with super-effective or neutral hits.
**Substitute users**: Pokemon that run Substitute can outplay Snorlax's Yawn and beat it 1v1 with a free Substitute and no risk of sleep.
[OVERVIEW]
Snorlax is one of the best abusers of Sleep in the metagame. The combination of Snorlax's natural bulk, particularly on the special side, and Thick Fat allow it to survive most hits and and fire off a Yawn to put the opponent to sleep. Snorlax's massive special defense stat makes it a premier pick versus specially offensive Pokemon like Charizard-Mega-Y and Porygon Z, unless Porygon-Z has Z-Conversion into Ghost. Snorlax also has a good base 110 Attack stat that allows it to power through its checks when boosted. Snorlax's Mono-Normal typing isn't weak to much, and is only resisted by Rock, Steel, and Ghost carries an immunity. Rock- and Ghost-types are somewhat uncommon picks in the 1v1 metagame, and many Steel-types can be muscled through with Z Belly Drum. However, Snorlax is heavily reliant on sleep turns versus Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon, as they often need a few hits to be defeated. Snorlax has trouble with powerful physical attackers which can force their way through Snorlax. It also struggles with surprise Substitute users, which block Yawn and often make it impossible for Snorlax to win.
[SET]
name: Z Belly Drum
move 1: Yawn
move 2: Protect
move 3: Belly Drum
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Normalium Z
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Yawn puts the opposing Pokemon to sleep after 1 turn, and is extremely useful as in 1v1 the opponent cannot switch to prevent the sleep from taking effect. Protect makes it so Snorlax only has to take a maximum of 1 turn of damage to put the opposing Pokemon to sleep, as well as easing prediction versus Z move abusers. Belly Drum maximizes Snorlax's Attack at the cost of half of its HP, but with Normalium Z this can be activated from any amount of health remaining, which is perfect to abuse while the foe is asleep. Double-Edge is Snorlax's most powerful consistent damage option, and with Normalium Z it can also be upgraded to a powerful Breakneck Blitz to alow Snorlax to immediately break through its frailer and more offensive foes.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature allow Snorlax to hit as hard as possible. 252 Defense EVs help compensate for Snorlax's comparatively lacking physical defense. Thick Fat halves the power of Fire- and Ice-type moves, being useful against Pokemon like Charizard and Heatran. Normalium Z is multi-purpose, as it can guarantee maximized attack when used with Belly Drum, provide a powerful Breakneck Blitz when used with Double-Edge, and in rare situations raise Snorlax's speed by 1 stage when used with Yawn, while at the same time avoiding Taunt.
Usage Tips
========
Snorlax is completely walled by Ghost-types, if you see one at team preview it is generally not recommended to use Snorlax unless you are positive that your opponent will not use their Ghost-type. Snorlax's general plan is as follows: Use Yawn as you hopefully survive the first hit and the opponent doesn't use Substitute, Protect on the next turn to prevent further damage, and then Z Belly Drum up to hopefully OHKO your opponent the following turn. However, there are various situations where it is safer to do other things. Versus relatively frail Pokemon like Greninja, Tapu Lele, Charizard, and others, it is often best to scout for a Z move first with Protect or immediately fire off a Breakneck Blitz to prevent risking Sleep-turns or potential setup. It should only be scouted in case where the Z move can OHKO Snorlax, such as the case is with Tapu Lele. Versus weaker offensive Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Magearna, or Primarina, it is advised to use Belly Drum immediately following the use of Yawn to maximize the attacks fired off while the opposing Pokemon is asleep. This is recommended against any Pokemon that cannot possibly 2HKO Snorlax. Versus particularly bulky Pokemon like Slowbro, it is often best to Belly Drum and then Breakneck Blitz for maximum damage. Against Pokemon that use Uproar, such as Meloetta and Porygon Z, it is often best to send off a Breakneck Blitz followed by repeated Double-Edges and not risk being beaten by wasting turns attempting to put them to sleep. When facing a Pokemon with Sturdy, it is advised to Double Edge right after Yawn or Protect, but before using Z Belly Drum, as it will be more efficient overall.
Team Options
========
Snorlax absolutely needs teammates that can beat Ghost-types like Gengar and Aegislash, as it is completely walled by them. Some good options would be Mega Gyarados, which is one of Snorlax's best teammates, and some variants of Mimikyu. Snorlax appreciates Pokemon like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Gyarados, as they are all able to effectively beat Steel-types that Snorlax cannot consistently beat. Mega Gyarados, Water Shruiken Greninja, and Will-o-Wisp Charizard X are particularly useful for their abilities to beat many common Sturdy Pokemon which Snorlax doesn't beat 100% of the time. Snorlax also beats the Special Attackers that these Pokemon have trouble with, like Tapu Lele and Primarina.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Snorlax can opt to run a Curse set with Gluttony, Recycle, Chip Away, Amnesia, and a Iapapa Berry, but this set is generally not as good as the Belly Drum set and prone to getting beaten more easily. Chip Away allows Snorlax to beat other Pokemon that are boosting its stats, and is good against things like Magearna and Zygarde. Frustration can be used over Double-Edge for no recoil, but is overall less powerful. Earthquake can be used over Protect to allow Snorlax to have better matchups versus Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-type foes, but then Snorlax loses to everything that is able to 2HKO it. Counter in an interesting option that can be used to surprise some Physical attackers, but is vastly in superior to anything else and is merely a matchup pick.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types absolutely wall Snorlax if it is not carrying the inferior Earthquake or Crunch, as they are immune to Snorlax's only attacking move.
**Bulky Steel- and Rock-types**: Some bulky Steel- and Rock-types like Mega Metagross, Ferrothorn, and Crustle are not easily KOed and require more luck when it comes to sleep turns.
**Sturdy**: Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem reduce Snorlax's reliability, as it often has to burn another turn of sleep to break the Sturdy.
**Powerful Physical Attackers, especially Fighting-types**: Powerful Physical attackers like Z move Kartana, Sawk, Mega Heracross, and Mega Blaziken can break through Snorlax's relatively low defensive stats with super-effective or neutral hits.
**Substitute users**: Pokemon that run Substitute can outplay Snorlax's Yawn and beat it 1v1 with a free Substitute and no risk of sleep.
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