[OVERVIEW]
At first glance, Snubbull seems to have nothing more than average stats and a common typing. However, its bulk, typing, and access to Thunder Wave make it a great utility Pokemon on many teams. Intimidate allows it to switch into and paralyze or KO physical threats that other walls cannot, and it has very high Attack and good coverage that allow it to apply pressure where its generally passive contemporaries often cannot. Its mono-Normal typing is excellent due to the lack of consistent Fighting-type Pokemon and moves in the metagame. Despite this, Snubbull will often struggle to switch in a second time when its Sitrus Berry is removed or out of range to be eaten, which usually happens after its first time switching in. Its low Speed and reliance on Intimidate to act as a physical tank can also make it a prime target for revenge killers, including the ever-present Doduo that it tries to check.
[SET]
Utility (Snubbull) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Shadow Ball
- Thunder Wave / Earthquake
- Thief
[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Ball hits the Ghost-types that Snubbull’s other moves cannot, OHKOing Gastly and dealing serious damage to Duskull. Thunder Wave offers extremely powerful speed control and team support to slower teams, but it can be eschewed in favor of Earthquake, which allows it to hit Rock- and Electric-types like Larvitar, Chinchou, and Voltorb. Perhaps just as importantly, Earthquake lets it deal chip damage to Porygon and Wailmer that doesn’t knock them into range of eating their Sitrus Berry. Shadow Ball can do the same to just Wailmer, only less consistently. Thief lets Snubbull stay healthy with some consistency and punish anything trying to switch into it by making them much more easily KOed through depriving them of their Sitrus Berry healing, and in Porygon’s case, Thief removes its ability to repeatedly heal using Recycle. 116 HP EVs and 36 Defense EVs are enough to comfortably switch into plenty of physically attacking threats like Diglett, Larvitar, Anorith, and, most importantly, Doduo. Specifically, it lets Snubbull live all but one roll of +1 Larvitar and Diglett’s Earthquake and -1 Choice Band Doduo’s Double-Edge. 196 Attack EVs on top of its high base 80 Attack allow it to directly threaten most of the tier with its STAB Return and do major damage to Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types with its coverage options. 36 Speed EVs mostly just cannot be reallocated anywhere more useful, but they do allow it to outspeed common Porygon sets as well as Duskull.
Snubbull has two main strengths that lead to easy synergies: its ability to beat major offensive threats like Doduo and Abra, and its ability to spam Thunder Wave. With a reliable Doduo counter in Snubbull on the team, Porygon, for instance, can afford to run Special Defense EVs to improve the team’s matchup against special attackers such as Abra, Staryu, and even Horsea. Stacking multiple Doduo counters on a team like Snubbull and Duskull is another option that can create a situation where the opponent’s Doduo becomes merely a momentum sink for them, giving teammates that are checked by Doduo, like offensive Wailmer, chances to fire off attacks uninhibited. Slower offensive threats like Cubone and Trapinch, as well as really any Pokemon that makes use of Substitute, can also benefit greatly from Snubbull’s presence as a Thunder Wave spammer Paralyzing a Pokemon with extremely high Speed, like Elekid or Abra, can even flip crucial matchups for fast, but not quite fast enough teammates like Doduo, Houndour, Anorith, and the aforementioned offensive Wailmer.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
One viable other option for Snubbull is using it as a lead. Lead Snubbull forces leads like Anorith into situations where they cannot simply get off strong attacks freely like they would want. Spikes users don’t struggle much against it, though, and the common lead Wailmer can simply win one-on-one, so it’s not flawless. Key moveset variations include Double-Edge and Heal Bell. Double-Edge is usually run in place of Return to do more damage: for instance, it deals enough damage to consistently pick off chipped Porygon, whereas Return just knocks it into Sitrus Berry range. The recoil damage can even activate Snubbull’s own Sitrus Berry when it’s taken minor damage, but it can also put Snubbull in range of attacks it could otherwise take. Heal Bell improves the Snubbull user’s matchup against common and powerful paralysis spam teams that make use of heavy hitters like Cubone that make quick work of Snubbull, but it’s often not easy to find the turns to use Heal Bell because of the tier’s generally fast pace. Shadow Ball can also be foregone, though it means that Thief will be Snubbull’s only way to deal damage to the tier’s Ghost-types because both Gastly and Duskull have Levitate. A SubPunch set is another more niche option which can surprise KO Porygon 50% of the time; it can even guarantee the KO after minor chip damage from, for instance, a single layer of Spikes. A Choice Band set can similarly surprise an opponent and score KOes Snubbull otherwise could not get on Pokemon like Bagon, Trapinch, and, crucially, Wailmer. Bulk Up is another option to take advantage of Pokemon switching out of Snubbull to get free setup opportunities. These alternate sets do mean that Snubbull loses out on most of its usual utility, however, and its abysmal Speed lets it get revenge killed all too easily.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Walls**: Physically defensive Pokemon like Koffing and Duskull can safely switch into the otherwise dangerously powerful attacks that Snubbull likes to shoot off and cripple it back with Will-O-Wisp, Memento, and Thief. Duskull does take significant damage from Shadow Ball, but Koffing is capable of simply outspeeding and outdamaging Snubbull to win one-on-one.
**Cubone**: Despite being a physical attacker, Cubone still can defeat Snubbull. It not only outspeeds Snubbull, but it cannot be paralyzed by nature of being a Ground-type, and it also isn’t immediately threatened by the damage Snubbull can do to it. Cubone’s presence alone turns Snubbull’s Thunder Wave into a much riskier option because it may allow a free point of entry for such a dangerous Pokemon as Cubone. Cubone’s Bonemerang is also likely to KO Snubbull with minor chip even at -1 Attack.
**Doduo**: Snubbull is one of the best Doduo switch-ins; however, Doduo is ironically one of the best ways to deal with Snubbull, if it switches in safely. Because Snubbull relies on Intimidate for its physical bulk, it can pretty easily let in Doduo after it makes progress with a KO, which puts Snubbull’s user into an awkward situation where, unless Snubbull is paired with a second Doduo counter, Doduo will likely score a KO. Additionally, any amount of chip damage, such as from Doduo’s strategic Quick Attack on the switch, can put Snubbull in range of Doduo’s Double-Edge even through the Intimidate drop.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: On a free switch in and with minor chip damage, Snubbull becomes easy pickings for many fast revenge killers, both special, like offensive Wailmer and Abra, and physical, like Choice Band Diglett and Anorith. This can be problematic because many of these threats are ones that, in better condition, Snubbull expects to counter, excepting offensive Wailmer. The opponent can get Snubbull into range of these attacks with Spikes or tactically low-Base Power moves to put Snubbull out of commission defensively.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/weterpete.645476/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
At first glance, Snubbull seems to have nothing more than average stats and a common typing. However, its bulk, typing, and access to Thunder Wave make it a great utility Pokemon on many teams. Intimidate allows it to switch into and paralyze or KO physical threats that other walls cannot, and it has very high Attack and good coverage that allow it to apply pressure where its generally passive contemporaries often cannot. Its mono-Normal typing is excellent due to the lack of consistent Fighting-type Pokemon and moves in the metagame. Despite this, Snubbull will often struggle to switch in a second time when its Sitrus Berry is removed or out of range to be eaten, which usually happens after its first time switching in. Its low Speed and reliance on Intimidate to act as a physical tank can also make it a prime target for revenge killers, including the ever-present Doduo that it tries to check.
[SET]
Utility (Snubbull) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 36 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Shadow Ball
- Thunder Wave / Earthquake
- Thief
[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Ball hits the Ghost-types that Snubbull’s other moves cannot, OHKOing Gastly and dealing serious damage to Duskull. Thunder Wave offers extremely powerful speed control and team support to slower teams, but it can be eschewed in favor of Earthquake, which allows it to hit Rock- and Electric-types like Larvitar, Chinchou, and Voltorb. Perhaps just as importantly, Earthquake lets it deal chip damage to Porygon and Wailmer that doesn’t knock them into range of eating their Sitrus Berry. Shadow Ball can do the same to just Wailmer, only less consistently. Thief lets Snubbull stay healthy with some consistency and punish anything trying to switch into it by making them much more easily KOed through depriving them of their Sitrus Berry healing, and in Porygon’s case, Thief removes its ability to repeatedly heal using Recycle. 116 HP EVs and 36 Defense EVs are enough to comfortably switch into plenty of physically attacking threats like Diglett, Larvitar, Anorith, and, most importantly, Doduo. Specifically, it lets Snubbull live all but one roll of +1 Larvitar and Diglett’s Earthquake and -1 Choice Band Doduo’s Double-Edge. 196 Attack EVs on top of its high base 80 Attack allow it to directly threaten most of the tier with its STAB Return and do major damage to Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types with its coverage options. 36 Speed EVs mostly just cannot be reallocated anywhere more useful, but they do allow it to outspeed common Porygon sets as well as Duskull.
Snubbull has two main strengths that lead to easy synergies: its ability to beat major offensive threats like Doduo and Abra, and its ability to spam Thunder Wave. With a reliable Doduo counter in Snubbull on the team, Porygon, for instance, can afford to run Special Defense EVs to improve the team’s matchup against special attackers such as Abra, Staryu, and even Horsea. Stacking multiple Doduo counters on a team like Snubbull and Duskull is another option that can create a situation where the opponent’s Doduo becomes merely a momentum sink for them, giving teammates that are checked by Doduo, like offensive Wailmer, chances to fire off attacks uninhibited. Slower offensive threats like Cubone and Trapinch, as well as really any Pokemon that makes use of Substitute, can also benefit greatly from Snubbull’s presence as a Thunder Wave spammer Paralyzing a Pokemon with extremely high Speed, like Elekid or Abra, can even flip crucial matchups for fast, but not quite fast enough teammates like Doduo, Houndour, Anorith, and the aforementioned offensive Wailmer.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
One viable other option for Snubbull is using it as a lead. Lead Snubbull forces leads like Anorith into situations where they cannot simply get off strong attacks freely like they would want. Spikes users don’t struggle much against it, though, and the common lead Wailmer can simply win one-on-one, so it’s not flawless. Key moveset variations include Double-Edge and Heal Bell. Double-Edge is usually run in place of Return to do more damage: for instance, it deals enough damage to consistently pick off chipped Porygon, whereas Return just knocks it into Sitrus Berry range. The recoil damage can even activate Snubbull’s own Sitrus Berry when it’s taken minor damage, but it can also put Snubbull in range of attacks it could otherwise take. Heal Bell improves the Snubbull user’s matchup against common and powerful paralysis spam teams that make use of heavy hitters like Cubone that make quick work of Snubbull, but it’s often not easy to find the turns to use Heal Bell because of the tier’s generally fast pace. Shadow Ball can also be foregone, though it means that Thief will be Snubbull’s only way to deal damage to the tier’s Ghost-types because both Gastly and Duskull have Levitate. A SubPunch set is another more niche option which can surprise KO Porygon 50% of the time; it can even guarantee the KO after minor chip damage from, for instance, a single layer of Spikes. A Choice Band set can similarly surprise an opponent and score KOes Snubbull otherwise could not get on Pokemon like Bagon, Trapinch, and, crucially, Wailmer. Bulk Up is another option to take advantage of Pokemon switching out of Snubbull to get free setup opportunities. These alternate sets do mean that Snubbull loses out on most of its usual utility, however, and its abysmal Speed lets it get revenge killed all too easily.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Walls**: Physically defensive Pokemon like Koffing and Duskull can safely switch into the otherwise dangerously powerful attacks that Snubbull likes to shoot off and cripple it back with Will-O-Wisp, Memento, and Thief. Duskull does take significant damage from Shadow Ball, but Koffing is capable of simply outspeeding and outdamaging Snubbull to win one-on-one.
**Cubone**: Despite being a physical attacker, Cubone still can defeat Snubbull. It not only outspeeds Snubbull, but it cannot be paralyzed by nature of being a Ground-type, and it also isn’t immediately threatened by the damage Snubbull can do to it. Cubone’s presence alone turns Snubbull’s Thunder Wave into a much riskier option because it may allow a free point of entry for such a dangerous Pokemon as Cubone. Cubone’s Bonemerang is also likely to KO Snubbull with minor chip even at -1 Attack.
**Doduo**: Snubbull is one of the best Doduo switch-ins; however, Doduo is ironically one of the best ways to deal with Snubbull, if it switches in safely. Because Snubbull relies on Intimidate for its physical bulk, it can pretty easily let in Doduo after it makes progress with a KO, which puts Snubbull’s user into an awkward situation where, unless Snubbull is paired with a second Doduo counter, Doduo will likely score a KO. Additionally, any amount of chip damage, such as from Doduo’s strategic Quick Attack on the switch, can put Snubbull in range of Doduo’s Double-Edge even through the Intimidate drop.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: On a free switch in and with minor chip damage, Snubbull becomes easy pickings for many fast revenge killers, both special, like offensive Wailmer and Abra, and physical, like Choice Band Diglett and Anorith. This can be problematic because many of these threats are ones that, in better condition, Snubbull expects to counter, excepting offensive Wailmer. The opponent can get Snubbull into range of these attacks with Spikes or tactically low-Base Power moves to put Snubbull out of commission defensively.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/weterpete.645476/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Last edited:
