[OVERVIEW]
<p>In spite of its shallow movepool and average Attack stat, Stoutland stands unabashed amidst the powerhouses of OU, like a shaggy terrier in the company of foxhounds. A well-distributed stat spread and access to the excellent ability Sand Rush allow it to function as an incredibly fast and reasonably bulky revenge killer. Unfortunately, it doesn't have access to any powerful Fighting- or Ground-type attacks, and as such will often struggle to break through bulky Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon. Thankfully, that will rarely hinder its admirable revenge killing capabilities.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return
move 2: Crunch / Pursuit
move 3: Fire Fang
move 4: Ice Fang / Wild Charge
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
item: Choice Band
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While under the effects of a sandstorm, Stoutland hits an impressive 492 Attack and 518 Speed. STAB Return is your main attack here - not only is it useful for revenge killing threats such as Dragon Dance Salamence and Quiver Dance Volcarona, but also serves as a powerful, reliable attack to clean up with late-game. Crunch hits Ghost-types hard, but should your team be in dire need of a Pursuit user, Stoutland's combination of blistering Speed and immunity to Ghost-type attacks makes it a respectable candidate. Fire Fang, although weak, is your best option against Steel-types. Fire Fang most notably maims Ferrothorn, who loses up to 91% of its health, assuming the standard spread. Ice Fang deals heavy damage to Gliscor, whilst Wild Charge provides the 2HKO on Skarmory and allows you to reliably revenge kill bulky variants of Dragon Dance Gyarados.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given Speed EVs allow Stoutland to outspeed max Speed Deoxys-S, while an Adamant nature is used to get the most out of Stoutland's average Attack stat. A Jolly nature is not as effective as most Pokemon that can hit 518 Speed will most likely be looking to outspeed max Speed Sand Rush Excadrill, meaning that, even with a Jolly nature, they will be out of Stoutland's reach. Life Orb can be used in place of Choice Band if you're not a huge fan of Choice items; however, the drop in power is really noticeable and the 10% recoil from the Life Orb hampers Stoutland's decent defenses.</p>
<p>Since Sand Rush is needed for Stoutland to function at all, sandstorm support is absolutely essential. Hippowdon and Tyranitar can both provide an infinite sandstorm, but be careful if you choose Tyranitar as you'll be doubling up on Fighting-type weaknesses. Like most attackers, Stoutland also appreciates entry hazard support, especially in the form of Stealth Rock. Without Stealth Rock, Return falls short of an outright OHKO on Dragon Dance Salamence, maxing out at 98%. Sandstorm teams usually have no trouble finding room for Stealth Rock, especially if they choose to use Hippowdon. Other options include Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Swampert.</p>
<p>Should you be looking for Stoutland to secure a late-game sweep with Return, it's important to eliminate the opponent's Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types. Stoutland can use Pursuit to eliminate frail Ghost-types itself, but it will need team support to deal with the bulkier variants. Conkeldurr makes an ideal partner in this regard as, between its Fighting-type STAB and Payback, it can deal hefty damage to Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types. While few things will outspeed Stoutland, its Normal typing leaves it vulnerable to Mach Punch users such as Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Hitmontop. Physical walls such as Hippowdon and Skarmory will have no problems dealing with these, but a more offensively inclined team might prefer to use a Choice Specs Latios or a mixed Salamence.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>You may choose to opt for Retaliate to assist Stoutland in its revenge killing duties. If Stoutland comes in after a teammate has fainted, Retaliate becomes a 140 BP STAB attack. This allows it to OHKO even bulky sweepers such as Mew, as well as dealing up to 93% to 252 HP Conkeldurr. Stoutland can boost its Attack with Work Up or Howl. However, there are generally better options out there if you want a set-up sweeper, most notably Excadrill, who has higher Attack and Speed and a wider movepool. If you're not using a Choice item, you may consider Charm, Yawn, or Thunder Wave, as they can all be quite annoying to your opponent coming from such a fast Pokemon. Sand Rush grants Stoutland immunity to sandstorm damage. Unfortunately, the popularity of priority attacks makes it very difficult to sweep with such a set. Intimidate is a good ability, but once again there are better options for that so it's probably best to stick with Sand Rush.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Like most Choice Banders, the best counters to Stoutland are incredibly bulky physical walls or just good ol' fashioned prediction. Skarmory can easily come in on Stoutland and proceed to set up entry hazards but needs to be cautious of Wild Charge. Ferrothorn finds itself in a similar situation with Fire Fang. Other physical walls like Hippowdon and Suicune make for good initial switch-ins, but they are often 3HKOed by Return and won't be able to take down Stoutland before they themselves are taken down. Tyranitar is a good offensive counter as its Rock-typing and excellent physical Defense allow it to shrug off anything Stoutland throws at it. The same can be said of Rhyperior and, to a lesser extent, Terrakion. Like all Choice Banders, it can be used as set-up fodder if it finds itself locked into the wrong attack. An example would be Excadrill setting up on a Stoutland locked into Crunch, Pursuit, or Wild Charge. Just try to make sure that the Pokemon that's setting up won't be vulnerable to a Stoutland revenge kill two turns later.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Stoutland gets Scrappy as its Dream World ability. Like Intimidate, Scrappy is a generally sought-after ability that Stoutland can use to good effect, but it just isn't worth the loss of Sand Rush. Scrappy Stoutland will likely live in the shadow of Kangaskhan, who is a slightly better user of the ability due to her higher Speed and access to Fighting-type attacks.</p>
<p>In spite of its shallow movepool and average Attack stat, Stoutland stands unabashed amidst the powerhouses of OU, like a shaggy terrier in the company of foxhounds. A well-distributed stat spread and access to the excellent ability Sand Rush allow it to function as an incredibly fast and reasonably bulky revenge killer. Unfortunately, it doesn't have access to any powerful Fighting- or Ground-type attacks, and as such will often struggle to break through bulky Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon. Thankfully, that will rarely hinder its admirable revenge killing capabilities.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return
move 2: Crunch / Pursuit
move 3: Fire Fang
move 4: Ice Fang / Wild Charge
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
item: Choice Band
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While under the effects of a sandstorm, Stoutland hits an impressive 492 Attack and 518 Speed. STAB Return is your main attack here - not only is it useful for revenge killing threats such as Dragon Dance Salamence and Quiver Dance Volcarona, but also serves as a powerful, reliable attack to clean up with late-game. Crunch hits Ghost-types hard, but should your team be in dire need of a Pursuit user, Stoutland's combination of blistering Speed and immunity to Ghost-type attacks makes it a respectable candidate. Fire Fang, although weak, is your best option against Steel-types. Fire Fang most notably maims Ferrothorn, who loses up to 91% of its health, assuming the standard spread. Ice Fang deals heavy damage to Gliscor, whilst Wild Charge provides the 2HKO on Skarmory and allows you to reliably revenge kill bulky variants of Dragon Dance Gyarados.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given Speed EVs allow Stoutland to outspeed max Speed Deoxys-S, while an Adamant nature is used to get the most out of Stoutland's average Attack stat. A Jolly nature is not as effective as most Pokemon that can hit 518 Speed will most likely be looking to outspeed max Speed Sand Rush Excadrill, meaning that, even with a Jolly nature, they will be out of Stoutland's reach. Life Orb can be used in place of Choice Band if you're not a huge fan of Choice items; however, the drop in power is really noticeable and the 10% recoil from the Life Orb hampers Stoutland's decent defenses.</p>
<p>Since Sand Rush is needed for Stoutland to function at all, sandstorm support is absolutely essential. Hippowdon and Tyranitar can both provide an infinite sandstorm, but be careful if you choose Tyranitar as you'll be doubling up on Fighting-type weaknesses. Like most attackers, Stoutland also appreciates entry hazard support, especially in the form of Stealth Rock. Without Stealth Rock, Return falls short of an outright OHKO on Dragon Dance Salamence, maxing out at 98%. Sandstorm teams usually have no trouble finding room for Stealth Rock, especially if they choose to use Hippowdon. Other options include Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Swampert.</p>
<p>Should you be looking for Stoutland to secure a late-game sweep with Return, it's important to eliminate the opponent's Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types. Stoutland can use Pursuit to eliminate frail Ghost-types itself, but it will need team support to deal with the bulkier variants. Conkeldurr makes an ideal partner in this regard as, between its Fighting-type STAB and Payback, it can deal hefty damage to Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types. While few things will outspeed Stoutland, its Normal typing leaves it vulnerable to Mach Punch users such as Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Hitmontop. Physical walls such as Hippowdon and Skarmory will have no problems dealing with these, but a more offensively inclined team might prefer to use a Choice Specs Latios or a mixed Salamence.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>You may choose to opt for Retaliate to assist Stoutland in its revenge killing duties. If Stoutland comes in after a teammate has fainted, Retaliate becomes a 140 BP STAB attack. This allows it to OHKO even bulky sweepers such as Mew, as well as dealing up to 93% to 252 HP Conkeldurr. Stoutland can boost its Attack with Work Up or Howl. However, there are generally better options out there if you want a set-up sweeper, most notably Excadrill, who has higher Attack and Speed and a wider movepool. If you're not using a Choice item, you may consider Charm, Yawn, or Thunder Wave, as they can all be quite annoying to your opponent coming from such a fast Pokemon. Sand Rush grants Stoutland immunity to sandstorm damage. Unfortunately, the popularity of priority attacks makes it very difficult to sweep with such a set. Intimidate is a good ability, but once again there are better options for that so it's probably best to stick with Sand Rush.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Like most Choice Banders, the best counters to Stoutland are incredibly bulky physical walls or just good ol' fashioned prediction. Skarmory can easily come in on Stoutland and proceed to set up entry hazards but needs to be cautious of Wild Charge. Ferrothorn finds itself in a similar situation with Fire Fang. Other physical walls like Hippowdon and Suicune make for good initial switch-ins, but they are often 3HKOed by Return and won't be able to take down Stoutland before they themselves are taken down. Tyranitar is a good offensive counter as its Rock-typing and excellent physical Defense allow it to shrug off anything Stoutland throws at it. The same can be said of Rhyperior and, to a lesser extent, Terrakion. Like all Choice Banders, it can be used as set-up fodder if it finds itself locked into the wrong attack. An example would be Excadrill setting up on a Stoutland locked into Crunch, Pursuit, or Wild Charge. Just try to make sure that the Pokemon that's setting up won't be vulnerable to a Stoutland revenge kill two turns later.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Stoutland gets Scrappy as its Dream World ability. Like Intimidate, Scrappy is a generally sought-after ability that Stoutland can use to good effect, but it just isn't worth the loss of Sand Rush. Scrappy Stoutland will likely live in the shadow of Kangaskhan, who is a slightly better user of the ability due to her higher Speed and access to Fighting-type attacks.</p>
