[OVERVIEW]
Stoutland faces stiff competition from the abundance of Normal-types in the tier such as Zangoose, Kangaskhan, and Tauros, which all almost completely outclass it, but Stoutland finds its niche in Sand Rush, which doubles its Speed in sand. Stoutland also has good Attack and surprisingly decent bulk. Unfortunately, it is dependent on sand being up for it to outspeed threats, and because of this, Hippopotas is a mandatory teammate.
[SET]
name: Sand Wallbreaker
move 1: Return
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Pursuit / Facade
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is a powerful STAB attack and Stoutland's main attacking move. Crunch is a good coverage move to hit Ghost-types. Superpower can hit very hard on Pokemon that resist Return such as Klinklang, Carracosta, Rhydon, Regirock, and Ferroseed. Pursuit is a good option to trap Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Kadabra, Haunter, and Rotom. Trapping Ghost-types helps Stoutland spam Return late-game, although it risks being burned if the target isn't in KO range of Pursuit. Facade is another option, allowing Stoutland to ignore burns and get powered up by status.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature along with maximum Attack investment and the Choice Band allows Stoutland to hit as hard as possible. A Jolly nature can be used to outpace Adamant Kangaskhan, Zangoose, and Sawk when sand isn't up, but Stoutland shouldn't be sweeping outside of sand anyway and the extra power is appreciated. Maximum Speed investment allows Stoutland to outpace the entire unboosted NU metagame, and most boosted threats as well. Sand Rush doubles Stoutland's Speed under sand.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Stoutland being slow outside of sand, try to only bring it in under sand to avoid it getting outsped and taking hits. In order to keep sand up, keep Hippopotas healthy throughout the battle. Try to predict Normal-type checks such as Klinklang, Rotom, Steelix, Rhydon, and Regirock on the switch and hit them hard with Crunch or Superpower to avoid wasting sand turns using an ineffective move. Stoutland can be used as a wallbreaker or a late-game cleaner.
Team Options
========
Hippopotas is mandatory, as it is the only automatic sand setter in the NU tier, supplying the sand necessary for Stoutland to get its Speed boost. Sandslash is another Sand Rush wallbreaker that can break past Rock- and Steel-types, which stop Stoutland from just spamming Return. Stoutland forces a lot of switches and thus appreciates entry hazard stackers on top of Hippopotas like Garbodor and Cacturne to help secure KOs, such as a 2HKO on defensive Rhydon after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes. Stoutland fits best on offensively oriented teams so it can perform its role as a late-game sweeper or strong wallbreaker. Pokemon that have good offensive synergy with Stoutland, such as Magmortar and Samurott, are good options. Double Dance Rhydon, Sawk, and Lilligant appreciate Stoutland's wallbreaking and open up a hole for a sweep late-game. Sawk, Lilligant, and Samurott can help break down Rock- and Steel-types alongside Sandslash for Stoutland to spam Return.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sleep Talk can allow Stoutland to switch in to absorb sleep moves. A Scrappy or Intimidate Stoutland set is an option, but it isn't worthwhile because it is overshadowed by immediate Normal-type attackers like Tauros, Kangaskhan, and Zangoose. Another option is Play Rough, but it isn't really worth it because it only hits Gurdurr and Hariyama and doesn't hit much harder than Return. Life Orb is an option, but the power drop is noticeable. Life Orb also cuts into Stoutland's bulk, taking away HP after every attack. A Silk Scarf set with Rain Dance or Sunny Day can be used to help a teammate sweep when Stoutland fails to.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Lack of Sand**: Outside of sand, Stoutland is slow and easier to KO. Common offensive Pokemon can revenge kill it outside of sand such as Sawk, Primeape, Tauros, and Archeops.
**Other Weather**: Opposing weather teams take away Stoutland's sand and usually have a favorable matchup because rain and sun rely on two setters and can usually overwhelm sand.
**Priority**: Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Skuntank, Shiftry, and Zangoose can pick off Stoutland when it is low on health, although its fair bulk allows it to survive a priority attack if it's healthy enough. Kangaskhan is particularly noteworthy because of its combination of Fake Out and Sucker Punch. Liepard can neuter Stoutland with Prankster Thunder Wave. Poliwrath can hit Stoutland with super effective priority.
**Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types**: Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types such as Rhydon, Klinklang, Steelix, and Rotom prevent Stoutland from just spamming Return, but they don't appreciate taking a coverage move on the predicted switch. Regirock can take even a Superpower and cripple Stoutland with Thunder Wave. Klinklang and Rhydon can easily take advantage of Stoutland locked into Return for free setup opportunities.
**Gurdurr**: Although Gurdurr cannot switch in, it can beat Stoutland one-on-one with the combination of Drain Punch and Mach Punch.
**Phyiscal Walls**: Physical walls such as Weezing and Garbodor can take a hit and cripple or wear Stoutland down in return.
**Toxic Spikes**: Toxic Spikes users such as Weezing, Garbodor, and Roselia lay down entry hazards that wear down Stoutland and its teammates quickly throughout the battle.
Stoutland faces stiff competition from the abundance of Normal-types in the tier such as Zangoose, Kangaskhan, and Tauros, which all almost completely outclass it, but Stoutland finds its niche in Sand Rush, which doubles its Speed in sand. Stoutland also has good Attack and surprisingly decent bulk. Unfortunately, it is dependent on sand being up for it to outspeed threats, and because of this, Hippopotas is a mandatory teammate.
[SET]
name: Sand Wallbreaker
move 1: Return
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Pursuit / Facade
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is a powerful STAB attack and Stoutland's main attacking move. Crunch is a good coverage move to hit Ghost-types. Superpower can hit very hard on Pokemon that resist Return such as Klinklang, Carracosta, Rhydon, Regirock, and Ferroseed. Pursuit is a good option to trap Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Kadabra, Haunter, and Rotom. Trapping Ghost-types helps Stoutland spam Return late-game, although it risks being burned if the target isn't in KO range of Pursuit. Facade is another option, allowing Stoutland to ignore burns and get powered up by status.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature along with maximum Attack investment and the Choice Band allows Stoutland to hit as hard as possible. A Jolly nature can be used to outpace Adamant Kangaskhan, Zangoose, and Sawk when sand isn't up, but Stoutland shouldn't be sweeping outside of sand anyway and the extra power is appreciated. Maximum Speed investment allows Stoutland to outpace the entire unboosted NU metagame, and most boosted threats as well. Sand Rush doubles Stoutland's Speed under sand.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Stoutland being slow outside of sand, try to only bring it in under sand to avoid it getting outsped and taking hits. In order to keep sand up, keep Hippopotas healthy throughout the battle. Try to predict Normal-type checks such as Klinklang, Rotom, Steelix, Rhydon, and Regirock on the switch and hit them hard with Crunch or Superpower to avoid wasting sand turns using an ineffective move. Stoutland can be used as a wallbreaker or a late-game cleaner.
Team Options
========
Hippopotas is mandatory, as it is the only automatic sand setter in the NU tier, supplying the sand necessary for Stoutland to get its Speed boost. Sandslash is another Sand Rush wallbreaker that can break past Rock- and Steel-types, which stop Stoutland from just spamming Return. Stoutland forces a lot of switches and thus appreciates entry hazard stackers on top of Hippopotas like Garbodor and Cacturne to help secure KOs, such as a 2HKO on defensive Rhydon after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes. Stoutland fits best on offensively oriented teams so it can perform its role as a late-game sweeper or strong wallbreaker. Pokemon that have good offensive synergy with Stoutland, such as Magmortar and Samurott, are good options. Double Dance Rhydon, Sawk, and Lilligant appreciate Stoutland's wallbreaking and open up a hole for a sweep late-game. Sawk, Lilligant, and Samurott can help break down Rock- and Steel-types alongside Sandslash for Stoutland to spam Return.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sleep Talk can allow Stoutland to switch in to absorb sleep moves. A Scrappy or Intimidate Stoutland set is an option, but it isn't worthwhile because it is overshadowed by immediate Normal-type attackers like Tauros, Kangaskhan, and Zangoose. Another option is Play Rough, but it isn't really worth it because it only hits Gurdurr and Hariyama and doesn't hit much harder than Return. Life Orb is an option, but the power drop is noticeable. Life Orb also cuts into Stoutland's bulk, taking away HP after every attack. A Silk Scarf set with Rain Dance or Sunny Day can be used to help a teammate sweep when Stoutland fails to.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Lack of Sand**: Outside of sand, Stoutland is slow and easier to KO. Common offensive Pokemon can revenge kill it outside of sand such as Sawk, Primeape, Tauros, and Archeops.
**Other Weather**: Opposing weather teams take away Stoutland's sand and usually have a favorable matchup because rain and sun rely on two setters and can usually overwhelm sand.
**Priority**: Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Skuntank, Shiftry, and Zangoose can pick off Stoutland when it is low on health, although its fair bulk allows it to survive a priority attack if it's healthy enough. Kangaskhan is particularly noteworthy because of its combination of Fake Out and Sucker Punch. Liepard can neuter Stoutland with Prankster Thunder Wave. Poliwrath can hit Stoutland with super effective priority.
**Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types**: Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types such as Rhydon, Klinklang, Steelix, and Rotom prevent Stoutland from just spamming Return, but they don't appreciate taking a coverage move on the predicted switch. Regirock can take even a Superpower and cripple Stoutland with Thunder Wave. Klinklang and Rhydon can easily take advantage of Stoutland locked into Return for free setup opportunities.
**Gurdurr**: Although Gurdurr cannot switch in, it can beat Stoutland one-on-one with the combination of Drain Punch and Mach Punch.
**Phyiscal Walls**: Physical walls such as Weezing and Garbodor can take a hit and cripple or wear Stoutland down in return.
**Toxic Spikes**: Toxic Spikes users such as Weezing, Garbodor, and Roselia lay down entry hazards that wear down Stoutland and its teammates quickly throughout the battle.
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