[Overview]
<p>Once the King of GSC OU, Snorlax took quite a bunch of hits with
every new each subsequent generation, finally dropping to UU along with its long-time fellow Zapdos in BW. With the rising popularity of Fighting-types, it struggles to maintain a big presence on the battlefield. Furthermore, lack of reliable recovery really hurts its durability—especially with the BW sleep mechanics. However, its amazing HP stat and great special bulk make it one of the few able to reliably check a complete offensive spectrum, taking on
powehouses powerhouses such as Nidoking or Zapdos. Snorlax is also the most trustworthy answer to Chandelure, one of the biggest threats in the metagame. With its good base 110 Attack stat, it can keep offensive pressure with ease, be it with a Choice Band or by setting up with its old Curse set.</p>
<p>
Taking everything previously stated into account, Snorlax continues to be a great addition to any team,
capable of performing really well at very capably countering
specific prominent threats, such as OTR Cofagrigus or SubCM Raikou. Even though it's much less metagame-defining
as than it once was, it
can take credit for being is a staple of the Underused metagame and one of the most used Pokemon overall.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Return / Body Slam
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Crunch / Fire Punch
item: Choice Band / Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 52 Def / 200 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Offensive Snorlax is very useful on offensive teams, being able to switch into many special attackers and hit
ting back hard thanks to its fully invested base 110 Attack stat. Return is the main option for a STAB move,
being able to hit stuff such as doing a lot to Shaymin and Zapdos
hard , and the like; Body Slam is an alternative due to the added paralysis chance, but its damage output makes it the lesser choice. Pursuit is arguably the draw of the set, allowing Snorlax to remove the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon—Chandelure being the most notable target, since it fears Earthquake—that it forces out
to possibly open up a path possibly opening up a path for a partner to sweep. Earthquake lets Snorlax hit Rhyperior and Cobalion, both of which would otherwise get in nearly unscathed to set up on it. For the last slot, the best options are Crunch and Fire Punch: the former hits Cofagrigus hard—allowing Snorlax to counter the Offensive Trick Room version—,
while hitting Slowbro and Mew harder than anything else, and does more to Slowbro and Mew than any of the other three moves. and the The latter allows Snorlax to get past Bronzong and Escavalier, and at the same time beating Abomasnow more easily. Fire Punch also
does best against Shaymin if one uses Body Slam over Return. hits Shaymin hard in case one opted to run Body Slam over Return.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread maximizes Snorlax's offensive presence while allowing it to avoid the OHKO from a +1 Kingdra's Outrage after Stealth Rock
, ; the 52 Defense EVs also let it survive two Outrages from Jolly Choice Scarf Flygon around 85% of the time without Stealth Rock on the field. The rest of the EVs go into Special Defense to make better use of its great special bulk, with 4 Speed EVs to get the jump on opposing base 30s such as Slowbro and Cofagrigus. Choice Band is the main item due to the added
amount of damage, but Leftovers allow Snorlax to last longer and
let it be able to lets it switch moves. While the listed spread is arguably the most effective, an alternat
ive
one of 252 Atk / 88 Def / 172 SpD Adamant can be used with Leftovers to ensure Snorlax isn't 2HKOed by
non-Choice Band Crobat's Brave Bird after Stealth Rock damage. Thick fat is the only ability worth using, since it
lets makes Snorlax
be the best answer to Chandelure, one of the hardest hitting Pokemon in the tier; it also allows it to be a last-minute check to physical Fire- and Ice-type Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Victini and Choice Band Weavile.</p>
<p>Double-Edge is another option for a STAB move, being more powerful than a super effective Crunch, and working decently alongside Snorlax's massive bulk. Without Leftovers though,
it'll make Snorlax less able to check special attackers such as Zapdos and Raikou Snorlax can't check special attackers such as Zapdos and Raikou as well, therefore Return is usually a better option. Ice Punch can be used in the last slot to beat Gligar, though the FlyScorpion Pokemon is faster and can therefore Roost in Snorlax's face. It can work when combined with Leftovers and Body Slam paralysis, though. Seed Bomb is also an alternative to hit Rhyperior harder and beat Swampert one on one. Protect is a great option with Leftovers, giving it extra recovery and scouting for Choice users, especially notable for Fighting-types such as Heracross and Mienshao. Finally, Selfdestruct
could be an option due to it being is an option since it is a 200 Base Power STAB move, OHKOing Slowbro. However,
it faces legality issues it can't legally be used alongside Pursuit, the crux of this set.</p>
<p>When looking for partners, Fighting-types such as Heracross and Mienshao deserve a mention, since they appreciate the removal or weakening of Ghost- and Psychic-types. As Snorlax's only weakness is Fighting, a Pokemon that can absorb those moves with ease also works well. The best examples are Choice Specs Slowbro and Offensive Trick Room Cofagrigus, since they make good switches into Fighting-types and are good on offensive teams. Finally, to guarantee Snorlax will be able to tank hits for most of the match, Rapid Spin support is recommended. Hitmontop and Blastoise are the best for the job, but they are hard to fit into offensive teams, so Magic Bounce Xatu is an
d option to prevent hazards from being set and keeping the momentum.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive CurseLax
move 1: Curse
move 2: Return
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Earthquake / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 80 HP / 176 Atk / 96 Def / 156 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>
Being a A staple of the GSC era of Snorlax dominance, Curse Snorlax continues to be a threat. Taking a more offensive approach to the classic set, this set forfeits Rest in order to get three-move coverage. As such, it shouldn't be seen as a last-Pokemon sweeper but as an early wallbreaker by setting up on the special attackers it easily checks, mainly Chandelure, Zapdos, and Raikou. Curse boosts Snorlax's great Attack and passable Defense stats at the cost of its already low Speed stat. Return is the STAB move of choice, with Crunch to hit Ghost-types
—and hitting Mew and Slowbro harder—and , Mew and Slowbro harder. tThe last move
is for specific Pokemon: Earthquake hits Cobalion and Rhyperior harder, while Fire Punch helps against Bronzong and Escavalier, still hitting Cobalion super-effectively.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs allow Snorlax to always survive Choice Scarf Mienshao's Hi Jump Kick and Choice Scarf Heracross's Close Combat
at +1 with one defense boost, at the same time avoiding the 2HKO from Choice Band Flygon
's Outrage,
while being able to and always take two Thunderbolts from Choice Specs Zapdos. The rest goes into Snorlax's Attack stat to grant it more offensive presence. Adamant is the preferred nature for more power,
being able to hit hitting hard with Return even without
needing to set up. Double-Edge is an alternative
for a STAB move, but the recoil makes it less able to tank special hits. Seed Bomb can be used to beat Rhyperior more reliably, since the latter avoids being 2HKOed by +1 Earthquake
without needing to invest into its Defense stat, even without Defense investment. while also disposing of It also disposes of Blastoise or Swampert that could try to Toxic or Roar Snorlax out. Selfdestruct can
be used to get a kill on stuff that prevent a teammate
form from sweeping, hitting incredibly hard at +1: to get a frame of reference, it deals roughly the same amount of damage to Rhyperior
as than Earthquake, it has a
big good chance of beating max Defense Blastoise before the latter can Roar it out, and
it can even OHKO Slowbro with Spikes support.</p>
<p>Depending
on what Snorlax runs in the its last moveslot,
Snorlax it will struggle with specific threats. If it goes for Earthquake, Bronzong and Escavalier will wall it, so Fire-types like Chandelure or Rotom-H are good partners to deal with those walls; whereas if it chooses Fire Punch, it won't stand a chance against Rhyperior and defensive Empoleon—offensive variants dislike boosted Returns—, so Shaymin or Choice Specs Slowbro with Trick will be good teammates; the latter will also be able to deal with the Fighting-types that force Snorlax out, specifically Mienshao and Cobalion. Since this set's purpose is to smash things after a boost, having a secondary special tank is a good idea. Rhyperior is excellent there, as it can bait Zapdos and Raikou into using Hidden Power, letting Snorlax switch in more safely. Nidoqueen
is also apt for the job, doing a similar job while at the same time switching into Heracross and Scrafty with ease. can do the same job and also switch into Heracross and Scrafty with ease. Finally, Spikes support
can help helps Snorlax greatly. Froslass and Roserade are the best for that position, the former acting as a spinblocker and the latter absorbing Scalds from bulky Water-types,
just as Shaymin as Shaymin does.</p>
[SET]
name: Classic CurseLax
move 1: Curse
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: Earthquake / Crunch
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Careful
evs: 144 HP / 188 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This acts as the old Curse Snorlax that dominated
a huge part of GSC OU, taking a more defensive approach. This Snorlax has been renowned as one of the most resilient last-Pokemon sweepers,
due to only having one weakness that could force a critical hit. (Your meaning here isn't clear, please clarify.) While it isn't as good as it once was, considering the offensive nature of the metagame, it can still prove to be a threat. Body Slam is the STAB of choice for the paralysis chance, helping Snorlax boost more reliably. Earthquake
or andd Crunch are the options for coverage
moves, the former hitting Rhyperior and Cobalion, and the latter helping against Cofagrigus and Slowbro. Rest allows Snorlax to set up without fear on Zapdos and Raikou, since Snorlax can survive three hits before having to use Rest.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread turns Snorlax into an amazing special tank, avoiding the 3HKO from Life Orb Modest Zapdos and Timid Choice Specs Raikou, while also taking two Surfs from Life Orb Kingdra in Rain. Additionally, the 188 Defense EVs allow it to survive two V-Creates from Jolly Choice Band Victini after Stealth Rock damage. Snorlax can also survive a Hi Jump Kick from Reckless Choice Scarf Mienshao at +1. If running Crunch, an alternate spread of 144 HP / 76 Atk / 112 Def / 176 SpD Careful can be used to guarantee the OHKO at +1 on 120/0 Chandelure, after a switch into Stealth Rock. Chesto Berry is an option over Leftovers to get instant recovery with Rest, although Leftovers are generally better in the long-run. Double-Edge can work over Body Slam with a more offensive spread,
since Rest allows Snorlax to not care much about the recoil since with Rest, Snorlax doesn't care too much about the recoil. Sleep Talk can be used to act as a mono-attacker, provided Snorlax has heavy Pursuit support to take care of Ghost-types. Fire Punch hits all Steel-types, while also beating Shaymin and Abomasnow more reliably; however, Snorlax would
then be completely walled by Chandelure.</p>
<p>Since this set struggles with Cobalion and Rhyperior—the former setting up on Snorlax and the latter
being able to phaze phazing it with Dragon Tail—
, especially if it isn't running Earthquake
,. Slowbro makes for a good partner,
taking little from their moves and maybe setting as it takes little from their moves and can set up a Calm Mind on the switch. Cleric support can be used if Snorlax is forced to Rest early and can't stay in, giving it a second chance to set up. Roserade and Togekiss are good options, the former forcing Rhyperior out and being able to set up Spikes or put a Pokemon to sleep, and the latter taking advantage of the removal or weakening of Electric-types. Finally, if not running Crunch, a Pursuit user is help
fhul to damage Ghost-types that don't mind Earthquake: Guts Heracross and Houndoom are the best options, absorbing Will-O-Wisps due to their abilities.</p>
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Body Slam
move 4: Whirlwind
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Careful
evs: 144 HP / 188 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This was at one point the premier special wall of the Underused metagame, and continues to be useful. Even with the revised sleep mechanics, Snorlax is a viable Rest + Sleep Talk user due to its great natural bulk and access to Whirlwind to phaze away things trying to set up on it. Body Slam is the only attacking move needed, possibly spreading paralysis even while asleep. Whirlwind forces Pokemon out to rack up hazard damage; it works great alongside Body Slam and Sleep Talk, since
it can bypass the Sleep Talk bypasses the negative priority
of Whirlwind, which helps when Snorlax is up against a paralyzed opponent if Snorlax is up against a paralyzed opponent. Rest gives it a way
of recovery to recover, while Sleep Talk means it won't be a sitting duck while asleep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread allows Snorlax to survive two V-creates from Choice Band Victini, while also not being 3HKOed by Modest Life Orb Zapdos's and Choice Specs Raikou's Thunderbolt. If you dislike the idea of a mono-attacking set, Crunch can be used instead of Sleep Talk or Whirlwind to hit Ghost-types such as Chandelure, while also dealing decent damage to Slowbro and Cofagrigus.</p>
<p>Since this set is amazing at racking up residual damage, hazard setters are mandatory. Roserade and Froslass are good partners,
being able to lay laying Spikes reliably while also resisting
or and being immune to Fighting-type moves. Roserade also learns Aromatherapy, which can be helpful should Snorlax forgo Sleep Talk.
Due to the fact that Since neither can switch into coverage moves from Fighting-types, a main answer to them as well as Rhyperior is of need. Slowbro and Cofagrigus are both great physical walls to take those on, while having
enough offensive presence to not become setup fodder. Slowbro can even take advantage of the paralysis spreading to get a late-game sweep with Calm Mind.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Outside of the moves listed, Snorlax has other options it can run. It can use Rest + three attacks with Chesto Berry for instant recovery, or Belly Drum to mimick its old offensive set from GSC with two attacking moves and Rest, although neither option help
s it much, and the huge boost isn't worth losing half its health—especially considering Snorlax usually takes two hits before moving. Every set can run either one of Double-Edge, Return, or Body Slam as a STAB move, but each has one that goes better with Snorlax's purpose. As coverage options, it learns Seed Bomb, Zen Headbutt, Ice Punch, Wild Charge, and Superpower, each nailing a different Pokemon. Snorlax also has a good special movepool, with Fire Blast, Thunderbolt, and Blizzard, for example, but its low Special Attack means it's unable to put them to good use. Finally, it has borderline-viable support moves in Toxic, Counter, Yawn, and Stockpile to aid its teammates.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>While straight-out countering Snorlax isn't an easy task, Rhyperior is the closest to that position as long as Snorlax isn't running Seed Bomb, since Rhyperior doesn't mind the paralysis and doesn't take much from unboosted Earthquakes, hitting back hard with its own STAB Earthquakes. Rhyperior can also phaze Curse variants, although
that can't be relied on for this is not reliable in the lategame. Fighting-types such as Cobalion and Heracross can switch in on some sets, but neither enjoy being paralyzed and they are hit hard by the offensive set.
(General note, when saying "offensive", there is some ambiguity about whether it is Offensive or Offensive CurseLax. Perhaps you could rework this. One way to do it is to say "offensive sets" instead of "the offensive set". Think about it) Shed Skin Scrafty doesn't mind paralysis and can set up on Snorlax, but it doesn't enjoy taking STAB Returns and it can't beat Snorlax if Scrafty switched in while the former used Curse.</p>
<p>Tricking
Snorlax a Choice Specs or a Choice Scarf is generally a good way of dealing with
Snorlax it, since it doesn't enjoy being locked into a move if it isn't the offensive set.
(More "offensive" ambiguity.) Rotom-H and Chandelure are good lures for it,
however though the latter needs to worry about Pursuit on the way out. Those two can also lure Snorlax and use Will-O-Wisp, which can mean the end for Snorlax if it doesn't have Rest. Stallbreakers such as Mew, Crobat, and Mismagius can make short work of non-Offensive Snorlax with Taunt, preventing it from using Rest and Curse. However, Crobat fears Return and the other two fear
Crunch if they don't know the set the possibility of Crunch, unless they're running Will-O-Wisp too.</p>
<p>Finally, submitting Snorlax to much offensive pressure is generally a good option, since non-Rest variants become unable to stop Zapdos and Raikou, and Rest variants can be taken advantage of while
it's is asleep. Strong special attackers like Nidoking or Choice Specs Yanmega usually do a great job of wearing Snorlax down. Incoming switches need to be wary of Sleep Talk, though.</p>
