Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Oh My!

[DittoCrow]

Hazards

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Introduction:

Hazards are some of the most important pieces of a team in RU. With Pokemon such as Moltres, Scyther, and Entei flying (or running) around, hazards become extremely important in dealing with these threats. Additionally, Stealth Rock coupled with a few layers of Spikes makes it so that Pokemon such as Lilligant can easily dispose of what would usually be 100% counters. This brought about the rise in the Dual Ghost + Hazards combo as well as the increase in usage of Ghost-types in general. Seeing how powerful hazards can really be, Pokemon such as Cryogonal and Sandslash have risen in usage due to their ability to Rapid Spin. However, this usually leads to a fierce battle between Cryogonal and the opposing team, which further leads to Cryogonal's demise. With your spinner down and Stealth Rock and three layers of Spikes on your field, what will you do next?

Stealth Rock

Stealth Rock is a staple on RU teams, as otherwise, Fire-types would run rampant in the tier. It also weakens strong walls such as Cryogonal and Mandibuzz, turning some 2HKOs into OHKOs. Let's take a closer look at Stealth Rock:

Users of Stealth Rock

Steelix

• 
  With a HUGE base 200 Defense and great defensive typing, Steelix is one of the most reliable Pokemon that sets up Stealth Rock. By walling nearly every physical attacker in RU, Steelix will have multiple opportunities to set up Stealth Rock throughout the match. Additionally, with some Special Defense investment, Steelix beats one of the most common spinners, Cryogonal, with Gyro Ball, so Cryogonal can't switch in to spin. One of the downsides to Steelix is its low speed, so Taunt users such as Aerodactyl, Drapion, and Mandibuzz can prevent it from setting up, although the former two fear Steelix's STAB moves. Overall, Steelix is one of the best, most reliable users of Stealth Rock in the tier.

Sandslash

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  With mediocre base 75 HP and great base 110 Defense, Sandslash makes for a solid user of Stealth Rock. Resistances to Rock- and Electric-type attacks and being able to check many physical attackers gives Sandslash many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock. Sandslash is also one of the only RU Pokemon with both Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, which makes it a great team supporter. However, Sandslash doesn't do much outside of these two things, making it outclassed by other Pokemon such as Kabutops. Nevertheless, if you need a solid physical wall with Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, Sandslash should not be overlooked. It can run moves like Knock Off, Swords Dance, and Toxic to become a better teammate.

• 
  What are other good Stealth Rock users you've experienced?

Spikes and Toxic Spikes

Spikes-stacking is a very common strategy, and a very effective one at that. With only a few reliable spinners in RU, Spikes can easily dismantle any team with grounded Pokemon. Toxic Spikes, on the other hand, are less effective. There are many Pokemon with the Levitate ability in RU, as well as a few Poison-types. Both Drapion and Roselia are pretty common, so they can immediately remove Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Let's take a closer look at Spikes and Toxic Spikes:

Users of Spikes

Accelgor

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  Accelgor is the fastest RU Pokemon, which gives it the opportunity to set up Spikes before the opponent can do anything. Accelgor also has a decent base 100 Special Attack stat and strong coverage with Bug Buzz, Focus Blast, and Hidden Power Rock, making it a great Spikes user on offensive teams. Accelgor can also play the "suicide lead" role with Final Gambit, setting up a few layers of Spikes and then sacrificing itself to kill a spinner. Accelgor is the choice to consider whenever making an offensive Spikes-stacking team.

• 
  What are some other good Spikes users?

Users of Spikes AND Toxic Spikes

Roselia

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  Roselia should almost always use Spikes instead of Toxic Spikes for reasons mentioned above. With Eviolite and good base 80 Special Defense (for an NFE Pokemon), Roselia can wall most special attackers in the tier, giving it many opportunities to set up hazards. With good Special Attack, the Natural Cure ability, and good support moves in Sleep Powder and Leech Seed, Roselia is one of the best hazards users in RU. Just keep in mind that Sleep Powder and Spikes are illegal on the same set, so you will have to use Toxic Spikes. Roselia should always be considered for a hazards user on defensive teams.

• What do you think about Toxic Spikes?

Pokemon with all Hazards

Omastar

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  Support Omastar is always overlooked by Shell Smash Omastar, but this should not happen any longer! Omastar has a huge base 125 Defense and decent typing—perfect for a hazard user. Omastar can take hits from the likes of Entei, Aggron, Sandslash, and Steelix and threaten them out due to its base 115 Special Attack and super effective STAB, resulting in a free turn to use Stealth Rock or Spikes. Support Omastar should not be forgotten, as it is a very reliable user of any hazard.

• 
  Smeargle also gets all hazards. What Smeargle sets are you using?

"Countering" Hazards

Now that we know how dangerous hazards can be, let's take a look at how to remove them.

Rapid Spin

Rapid Spin is the most common way of removing entry hazards; in fact, it's a move designated for removing hazards! Here are some good Rapid Spin users in RU:

Sandslash

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  Sandslash is infamous for being the "new Claydol," or, a crappy support Pokemon. However, Sandslash still has its merits, and has a way of getting around spinblockers: Swords Dance. Sandslash has a good base 100 Attack, and with Swords Dance further boosting it, Sandslash can overcome almost every Ghost-type. It also has Night Slash to hit Ghost-types such as Rotom and Misdreavus super effectively. Couple that will a Lum Berry so Sandslash does not get burned and Ghosts will be eliminated in no time, allowing for a free use of Rapid Spin. It can also use Knock Off to hamper the abilities of Ghost-types. Sandslash should not be overlooked as a spinner >:O.

• What are some other good spinners that you've used?

Taunt

Taunt is an unreliable method of dealing with hazards, because, of course, you have to have the Taunt user on the field. Nevertheless, most hazard users are sent out first, so you can counter them by leading with a Taunt user.

Aerodactyl

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  Aerodactyl has one of the fastest Taunts in RU due to its base 130 Speed. As a "lead," it will almost always prevent the opposing lead from setting up hazards, while Aerodactyl can then do so itself.

• Are there any other good Taunt users besides Aerodactyl?

Other

Smeargle

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  Smeargle appears again, for two reasons. One is due to the move Magic Coat. With this, Smeargle can bounce back entry hazards set by faster "leads" such as Uxie, Mesprit, and Aerodactyl. This is also useful when facing Taunt users, and it will allow Smeargle to set up its own hazards without worrying about being Taunted. The second way that Smeargle can do well with hazards is by using Rapid Spin. At the time of this thread, Rapid Spin Smeargle is almost never seen and very unexpected. You can catch your opponent off guard by using this. Like Natu, having another spinner on the same team as Smeargle is a good idea. Two spinners, such as having both Kabutops and Cryogonal on the same team, almost always guarantees the removal of Stealth Rock and Spikes, which is always appreciated on every team.

• How else do you prevent hazards?

Keeping Hazards on the Field

Now that we know all the ways to prevent hazards, let's find out how to prevent the prevention of hazards :o. Oh wait, most of us already know that: Ghost-types.

Cofagrigus

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  Cofagrigus is also one of the best spinblockers in RU. It has amazing bulk with 48 / 145 / 105 Defenses. Access to Will-O-Wisp and Haze allows it to beat most of the common spinners in RU, bar Cryogonal. Additionally, decent base 95 Special Attack and base 30 Speed make it an ideal Trick Room sweeper. This allows Cofagrigus to function as a pivotal member on offensive Spikes-stacking teams, as it keeps momentum and can sweep late-game with Spikes on the field. Despite people over-preparing for it, Cofagrigus is still great at its job.

• What are some other good spinblockers?

So, what is your input on entry hazards. Are they overpowered? How do you use and remove them? What are some other good users of Stealth Rock / Spikes / Toxic Spikes? What are some cool strategies you use that involve hazards? Hazards are a prominent force in RU, so I'm eager to get your take on them.

 

[Sound]

Stealth Rocks are a near neccesity in this metagame, unless you have a reliable way to defeat the hard hitting pokemon that suffer from them. I, personally, think Mesprit is the best option to set them up. While she suffers from 4MMS, it really isn't hard to find the moves to fit on your team. Spikes on the other hand? In my opinion, in order to get the most out of a spike stacking team, you have to know exactly how many layers you need to turn a 3HKO into a 2HKO, or a 2HKO into a 1HKO because you can't always get 3 layers up.

I.E. You're aiming for a sweep with SubDD-Crawdaunt, but your opponent has a Tangrowth. This Tangrowth is the only thing on your opponents team that can survive a +1 anything without being 1HKOed. You also have Offensive SD Drapion you use to soften up any of your opponents dark resists. On this Drapion, you decided a secondary STAB (Poison Jab) was more important than another coverage move (Aqua Tail) since you had Crawdaunt. Continuing on, your opponent also has what you know from facing him in a previous battle where it swept you effortlessly, an Unburden Sceptile. If this Sceptile gets two free turns to set up (And it needs them both in order to sweep the team), you lose. In other words, while getting your spikes up, you need know how many layers you need to beat that Tangrowth so Sub-DD Crawdaunt can get said Sub, a DD, and run down the opponent's team, without giving Sceptile too many oppurtunities to set up (since your primary counter to it (a phazer) can only phaze it twice before it loses, and there's a small chance it will only be able to take one assault). In other words, three layers aren't an option. Two layers are risky. Will one layer be able to do it?

A +2 Adamant 252 Atk Drapion won't be able to gurantee a KO with Poison Jab on 252/+252 Tangrowth without a layer of spikes. Knowing this, you can get a layer up, which only gives Sceptile one free turn to attempt to set up, which means it won't win in the long run. If you had attempted two layers, you could have lost. You handle Sceptile, then switch in Drapion and SD. Your opponent (not knowing you carry Poison Jab), switches in Tangrowth to wall you. You OHKO it, and Crawdaunt goes on to sweep the rest of his team.

Sorry if this is sort of convoluted, but if you read all that, you can see my point. A good spike-stacking team should be able to have a back-up plan for sweeping if three layers is impossible.

 

[Explorer]

Quick note, you left out Scolipede entirely.

 

[Not Jacky]

Quick note, you left out Scolipede entirely.

as well as Ferroseed, Crustle, Qwilfish (probably the best Spiker in the tier) among others.

Cryogonal also deserves a mention for obvious reasons.

 

[DittoCrow]

as well as Ferroseed, Crustle, Qwilfish (probably the best Spiker in the tier) among others.

Cryogonal also deserves a mention for obvious reasons.

If you read the thread it asks you what you think the other good hazard users/spinners/spinblockers are. And if I left them out, why not discuss it yourself? This isn't an article like it used to be. So... discuss :D

 

[Hooker Punch]

Hazards, outside of Stealth Rock are really weak in RU at the moment. Lots of flying, levitation, and poison types. Especially with Cryogonal existing, being able to come in on any type of spikes and just spin them out with impunity.