[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-9 points
**Overview**: Suicune is a wall that can act as a late-game wincon by setting up with Calm Mind. It is also able to blanket check a variety of different attackers by making use of its great mixed bulk and good defensive typing while also being able to effectively drain the PP of common strong attacks through Pressure. However, Suicune can be very passive due to its low immediate power, and its sets tend to be very linear and predictable, making it easier for opponents to prepare for it. In addition to that, its lack of reliable recovery outside of Rest greatly hurts its longevity and ability to be a long-term check to threats.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Suicune's great natural bulk allows it to have many opportunities to set up with Calm Mind and attempt to sweep. Due to its lack of reliable recovery options and general vulnerability to status, these sets usually require moves such as RestTalk or SubTect with Leftovers in order to handle these weaknesses. This generally makes Suicune very predictable and particularly prone to disruption when attempting a sweep.
**Defensive**: Suicune has the bulk to be able to check the majority of attackers that do not have super effective STAB attacks and either hit them with one of its attacking moves or phaze them with Roar. Due to Pressure, it can also be a very effective check to attackers that use common moves with low PP such as Close Combat, Draco Meteor, and Stone Edge. Its lack of reliable recovery options unfortunately means that it cannot act as a long-term check to these attackers unless it is running Rest, which can be taken advantage of by foes.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump, Liquidation
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Roar, Substitute, Rest, Sleep Talk, Body Slam
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Blizzard, Air Slash, Shadow Ball, Extrasensory, Crunch, Iron Head, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Chilling Water / Icy Wind / Snarl**: All of these moves can act as ways to punish foes attempting to set up in front of Suicune in situations where Roar isn't a viable option. Both Chilling Water and Snarl can also be used to allow Suicune to better tank hits from foes and potentially give it the opportunity to set up Calm Mind, use Rest safely, or stall out the PP of foes' moves through Pressure.
**Mirror Coat**: With the proper EV investment, Suicune has the bulk to be able to avoid an OHKO from the vast majority of attacks, including some boosted super effective hits. Mirror Coat can then be used as a way to lure in and eliminate powerful special attackers.
**Whirlpool**: Whirlpool can be used to get chip damage against bulkier foes or those that resist Water-type attacks while also preventing double switches. Against more passive foes, Whirlpool can be used as a way to trap them and allow you to set up multiple times with Calm Mind, though it remains a very weak attack even when at maximum boosts.
**Extreme Speed**: Can potentially be used to pick off weakened, frail attackers, but due to Suicune's low Attack without investment, this generally requires them to be on very low HP.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Due to Suicune's lack of recovery options, it tends to be very reliant on the passive recovery from Leftovers for its sets.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: When Suicune is needed to check a threat and isn't expected to survive for too long in a match, Heavy-Duty Boots are a viable alternative to Leftovers to minimize chip damage from entry hazards.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: These can be used to allow Suicune to check a particular threat or potentially lure a powerful special attacker and eliminate it with Mirror Coat.
**Rocky Helmet**: Can be used to get additional chip damage on most physical attackers. However, this leaves Suicune particularly prone to chip damage and entry hazards, making Rest much more necessary for any sort of long-term longevity.
**Assault Vest**: Against teams that are heavily biased towards special attackers or in order to check a specific foe, Assault Vest can be used to improve Suicune's already great Special Defense and also possibly allow it to invest EVs into Special Attack so it is not as passive.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry can be useful to allow Suicune to avoid the 2HKO from attackers it is meant to check and can be a viable alternative over Leftovers if Suicune is not expected to survive through many turns in a match.
Tera
========
Suicune is a solid choice for your secondary Tera Captain. While Suicune's natural defensive type is already great, Tera can allow it to adjust its defensive profile to better check specific threats. Tera is most useful for Calm Mind sets to allow it to tank hits from attackers that would otherwise break through it despite the boosts from Calm Mind or to give it a better coverage option against the opposing draft. Good Tera types for Suicune are generally strong defensive typings or ones that have valuable attributes, such as Tera Fairy, Poison, Steel, Electric or Ghost.
Draft Strategy
========
Suicune can be drafted to round out a team's bulk, but it is generally most effective when it has the freedom to run its setup set, especially if it's your secondary Tera Captain. While your draft should not be built around Suicune, these are some things that help maximize its effectiveness:
**Reliable Entry Hazard Removal**: Suicune is very reliant on Leftovers for recovery, so having strong options for entry hazard removal is greatly appreciated. Pokemon such as Great Tusk, Iron Treads, and Cyclizar can fill in this role while also covering for some of Suicune's weaknesses.
**Utility Options**: Pokemon that can cover for Suicune's lack of utility moves besides Roar are good partners for it and generally required in a draft. Pokemon such as Ting-Lu, Uxie, and Garchomp that can set entry hazards, spread status, pivot, and remove foes' items all fit this role.
**Speed Control**: Having fast Pokemon such as Iron Valiant, Roaring Moon, and Meowscarada that can act as revenge killers helps prevent your draft from being overwhelmed by fast attackers that can try to use Suicune as setup fodder.
**Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Urshifu-S, Raging Bolt, and Enamorus all help in weakening the opposing team so that Suicune can attempt a sweep late-game.
**Anti-setup Pokemon**: Despite Suicune having Roar, it can still be exploited to give many Pokemon an opportunity to set up in front of it, so having other answers to setup sweepers is mandatory.
Checks and Counters
========
**Disruption Moves**: Moves such as Taunt, Encore, and Roar are all extremely disruptive to most Suicune sets, especially Calm Mind sets. Due to Suicune's general lack of flexibility in terms of sets, opponents are very likely to bring these moves to counter it.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Urshifu-S, Ogerpon-W, and Raging Bolt can all hit Suicune for massive damage or use it as an opportunity to set up due to its limited options for dealing with them.
**Water-resistant Pokemon**: Suicune is extremely reliant on its Water-type moves for damage and utility through Scald burns. Though it is able to break through Water-resistant Pokemon when given enough time to set up, this still gives the opponent plenty of turns to deal with Suicune. Water-immune foes in particular put a hard stop to most Suicune sets and can make it deadweight in a matchup if it does not plan on utilizing Tera to gain another primary STAB type.
**Poison**: Getting poisoned is extremely crippling for Suicune, as it outdamages its main source of recovery in Leftovers and quickly makes it unable to perform its role. Suicune is vulnerable to Toxic Spikes in particular, as it rarely wants to run Heavy-Duty Boots.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-9 points
**Overview**: Suicune is a wall that can act as a late-game wincon by setting up with Calm Mind. It is also able to blanket check a variety of different attackers by making use of its great mixed bulk and good defensive typing while also being able to effectively drain the PP of common strong attacks through Pressure. However, Suicune can be very passive due to its low immediate power, and its sets tend to be very linear and predictable, making it easier for opponents to prepare for it. In addition to that, its lack of reliable recovery outside of Rest greatly hurts its longevity and ability to be a long-term check to threats.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Sweeper**: Suicune's great natural bulk allows it to have many opportunities to set up with Calm Mind and attempt to sweep. Due to its lack of reliable recovery options and general vulnerability to status, these sets usually require moves such as RestTalk or SubTect with Leftovers in order to handle these weaknesses. This generally makes Suicune very predictable and particularly prone to disruption when attempting a sweep.
**Defensive**: Suicune has the bulk to be able to check the majority of attackers that do not have super effective STAB attacks and either hit them with one of its attacking moves or phaze them with Roar. Due to Pressure, it can also be a very effective check to attackers that use common moves with low PP such as Close Combat, Draco Meteor, and Stone Edge. Its lack of reliable recovery options unfortunately means that it cannot act as a long-term check to these attackers unless it is running Rest, which can be taken advantage of by foes.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump, Liquidation
**Setup Moves**: Calm Mind, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Roar, Substitute, Rest, Sleep Talk, Body Slam
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Blizzard, Air Slash, Shadow Ball, Extrasensory, Crunch, Iron Head, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Chilling Water / Icy Wind / Snarl**: All of these moves can act as ways to punish foes attempting to set up in front of Suicune in situations where Roar isn't a viable option. Both Chilling Water and Snarl can also be used to allow Suicune to better tank hits from foes and potentially give it the opportunity to set up Calm Mind, use Rest safely, or stall out the PP of foes' moves through Pressure.
**Mirror Coat**: With the proper EV investment, Suicune has the bulk to be able to avoid an OHKO from the vast majority of attacks, including some boosted super effective hits. Mirror Coat can then be used as a way to lure in and eliminate powerful special attackers.
**Whirlpool**: Whirlpool can be used to get chip damage against bulkier foes or those that resist Water-type attacks while also preventing double switches. Against more passive foes, Whirlpool can be used as a way to trap them and allow you to set up multiple times with Calm Mind, though it remains a very weak attack even when at maximum boosts.
**Extreme Speed**: Can potentially be used to pick off weakened, frail attackers, but due to Suicune's low Attack without investment, this generally requires them to be on very low HP.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Due to Suicune's lack of recovery options, it tends to be very reliant on the passive recovery from Leftovers for its sets.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: When Suicune is needed to check a threat and isn't expected to survive for too long in a match, Heavy-Duty Boots are a viable alternative to Leftovers to minimize chip damage from entry hazards.
Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: These can be used to allow Suicune to check a particular threat or potentially lure a powerful special attacker and eliminate it with Mirror Coat.
**Rocky Helmet**: Can be used to get additional chip damage on most physical attackers. However, this leaves Suicune particularly prone to chip damage and entry hazards, making Rest much more necessary for any sort of long-term longevity.
**Assault Vest**: Against teams that are heavily biased towards special attackers or in order to check a specific foe, Assault Vest can be used to improve Suicune's already great Special Defense and also possibly allow it to invest EVs into Special Attack so it is not as passive.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry can be useful to allow Suicune to avoid the 2HKO from attackers it is meant to check and can be a viable alternative over Leftovers if Suicune is not expected to survive through many turns in a match.
Tera
========
Suicune is a solid choice for your secondary Tera Captain. While Suicune's natural defensive type is already great, Tera can allow it to adjust its defensive profile to better check specific threats. Tera is most useful for Calm Mind sets to allow it to tank hits from attackers that would otherwise break through it despite the boosts from Calm Mind or to give it a better coverage option against the opposing draft. Good Tera types for Suicune are generally strong defensive typings or ones that have valuable attributes, such as Tera Fairy, Poison, Steel, Electric or Ghost.
Draft Strategy
========
Suicune can be drafted to round out a team's bulk, but it is generally most effective when it has the freedom to run its setup set, especially if it's your secondary Tera Captain. While your draft should not be built around Suicune, these are some things that help maximize its effectiveness:
**Reliable Entry Hazard Removal**: Suicune is very reliant on Leftovers for recovery, so having strong options for entry hazard removal is greatly appreciated. Pokemon such as Great Tusk, Iron Treads, and Cyclizar can fill in this role while also covering for some of Suicune's weaknesses.
**Utility Options**: Pokemon that can cover for Suicune's lack of utility moves besides Roar are good partners for it and generally required in a draft. Pokemon such as Ting-Lu, Uxie, and Garchomp that can set entry hazards, spread status, pivot, and remove foes' items all fit this role.
**Speed Control**: Having fast Pokemon such as Iron Valiant, Roaring Moon, and Meowscarada that can act as revenge killers helps prevent your draft from being overwhelmed by fast attackers that can try to use Suicune as setup fodder.
**Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Urshifu-S, Raging Bolt, and Enamorus all help in weakening the opposing team so that Suicune can attempt a sweep late-game.
**Anti-setup Pokemon**: Despite Suicune having Roar, it can still be exploited to give many Pokemon an opportunity to set up in front of it, so having other answers to setup sweepers is mandatory.
Checks and Counters
========
**Disruption Moves**: Moves such as Taunt, Encore, and Roar are all extremely disruptive to most Suicune sets, especially Calm Mind sets. Due to Suicune's general lack of flexibility in terms of sets, opponents are very likely to bring these moves to counter it.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Urshifu-S, Ogerpon-W, and Raging Bolt can all hit Suicune for massive damage or use it as an opportunity to set up due to its limited options for dealing with them.
**Water-resistant Pokemon**: Suicune is extremely reliant on its Water-type moves for damage and utility through Scald burns. Though it is able to break through Water-resistant Pokemon when given enough time to set up, this still gives the opponent plenty of turns to deal with Suicune. Water-immune foes in particular put a hard stop to most Suicune sets and can make it deadweight in a matchup if it does not plan on utilizing Tera to gain another primary STAB type.
**Poison**: Getting poisoned is extremely crippling for Suicune, as it outdamages its main source of recovery in Leftovers and quickly makes it unable to perform its role. Suicune is vulnerable to Toxic Spikes in particular, as it rarely wants to run Heavy-Duty Boots.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
