[Overview]
Swampert carves out a niche in OU as a blanket special wall with diverse forms of utility that can tank hits from the likes of Dragapult, Galarian Slowking, and Hydreigon. Flip Turn allows it to function as a slow pivot that can directly pressure Defoggers while clawing back momentum. Swampert's good defensive typing lets it switch into common special attackers such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, Heatran, and Volcarona and use the opportunity to set Stealth Rock or generate momentum on forced switches. Swampert can offer additional utility by punishing common entry hazard removers like Mandibuzz, Rotom-W, and Zapdos with Toxic. However, Swampert's lack of reliable recovery makes it susceptible to being worn down from repeatedly switching into attacks and entry hazards. Due to its narrow niche, Swampert faces competition from other bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Slowking, Toxapex, and Gastrodon, which boast more longevity with reliable recovery moves and Regenerator in the former three's case. While Swampert boasts access to Flip Turn compared to other traditional bulky offensive Ground-types like Garchomp, it lacks the utility of Landorus-T, which is able to remove a Defogger's Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Damp
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Stealth Rock is used to capitalize on Swampert's ability to force switches against Tapu Koko, Magnezone, Heatran, and Volcarona. Flip Turn generates momentum against Grass- and Water-type switch-ins and can safely bring in teammates that threaten out Defoggers such as Corviknight. Toxic is used to punish Defoggers and bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Slowking, as well as common Grass-type switch-ins such as Rillaboom and Tangrowth. High Horsepower may be used over Earthquake to avoid Grassy Terrain's damage reduction, but it may result in Swampert taking more chip damage from Rocky Helmet, Rough Skin, Iron Barbs, and Flame Body. Damp prevents the use of Explosion on hyper offense lead Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Regieleki.
Swampert fits very well on bulky offense and balance teams, where it can be used as a Stealth Rock setter and pivot that can chip opposing teams and generate momentum. Swampert can use its slow Flip Turn against bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Tangrowth and Toxapex to safely bring in powerful wallbreakers like Choice Specs Blacephalon, Choice Specs Tapu Lele, and Choice Band Rillaboom. Corviknight is an excellent partner since it appreciates Swampert's ability to switch into Fire- and Electric-type moves such as Magma Storm, Flamethrower, Volt Switch, and Thunderbolt, while Corviknight can be used to switch into many Grass-types that threaten Swampert and forms a pivoting core with it that is great at maintaining momentum. Other Flying-types like Zapdos can also be used to offensively threaten Grass- and Water-types, which may be a nuisance for Swampert. Grass-type Knock Off users such as Rillaboom and Kartana appreciate the Stealth Rock and Toxic chip damage Swampert provides against Flying-type Defoggers that usually switch into them. Swampert also benefits from Rillaboom's Grassy Surge providing it with an extra round of recovery per turn, though it is important to run High Horsepower over Earthquake to prevent damage reduction.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Protect may be used over Toxic to increase Swampert's longevity by providing extra Leftovers and Grassy Terrain recovery and to scout common Choice item Pokemon such as Rillaboom, Kartana, Dragapult, and Tapu Lele. Yawn can be used as a disrupting move to deny setup sweepers or prevent opposing Defoggers from removing entry hazards. It can also be used in conjunction with Flip Turn to gain momentum if the opponent decides to switch out to prevent sleep.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Common offensive Pokemon such as Rillaboom and Kartana can switch into and either outright KO Swampert or use it as setup fodder. Defensive Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Ferrothorn can also punish Swampert's Flip Turn with Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs damage. However, Swampert can punish Rillaboom and Tangrowth with Toxic and deny Kartana setup opportunities with Yawn or Flip Turn.
**Specific Wallbreakers**: Swampert is unable to reliably switch into unresisted attacks from wallbreakers and often relies on other team members to switch into Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, Dragapult, and Urshifu-R.
**Residual Damage and Entry Hazards**: Swampert's lack of reliable recovery makes it very susceptible to entry hazards and contact punishment from Rocky Helmet, Rough Skin, and Iron Barbs. Poison and burn damage are also extremely detrimental to Swampert, crippling its ability to check special attackers for the long term.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Anvil Head, 440741]]
- Quality checked by: [[Abhi, 526987], [ausma, 360720], [airfare, 513717]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Astra, 240732], [dex, 277988]]
Swampert carves out a niche in OU as a blanket special wall with diverse forms of utility that can tank hits from the likes of Dragapult, Galarian Slowking, and Hydreigon. Flip Turn allows it to function as a slow pivot that can directly pressure Defoggers while clawing back momentum. Swampert's good defensive typing lets it switch into common special attackers such as Tapu Koko, Magnezone, Heatran, and Volcarona and use the opportunity to set Stealth Rock or generate momentum on forced switches. Swampert can offer additional utility by punishing common entry hazard removers like Mandibuzz, Rotom-W, and Zapdos with Toxic. However, Swampert's lack of reliable recovery makes it susceptible to being worn down from repeatedly switching into attacks and entry hazards. Due to its narrow niche, Swampert faces competition from other bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Slowking, Toxapex, and Gastrodon, which boast more longevity with reliable recovery moves and Regenerator in the former three's case. While Swampert boasts access to Flip Turn compared to other traditional bulky offensive Ground-types like Garchomp, it lacks the utility of Landorus-T, which is able to remove a Defogger's Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Damp
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Stealth Rock is used to capitalize on Swampert's ability to force switches against Tapu Koko, Magnezone, Heatran, and Volcarona. Flip Turn generates momentum against Grass- and Water-type switch-ins and can safely bring in teammates that threaten out Defoggers such as Corviknight. Toxic is used to punish Defoggers and bulky Water-types such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Slowking, as well as common Grass-type switch-ins such as Rillaboom and Tangrowth. High Horsepower may be used over Earthquake to avoid Grassy Terrain's damage reduction, but it may result in Swampert taking more chip damage from Rocky Helmet, Rough Skin, Iron Barbs, and Flame Body. Damp prevents the use of Explosion on hyper offense lead Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Regieleki.
Swampert fits very well on bulky offense and balance teams, where it can be used as a Stealth Rock setter and pivot that can chip opposing teams and generate momentum. Swampert can use its slow Flip Turn against bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Tangrowth and Toxapex to safely bring in powerful wallbreakers like Choice Specs Blacephalon, Choice Specs Tapu Lele, and Choice Band Rillaboom. Corviknight is an excellent partner since it appreciates Swampert's ability to switch into Fire- and Electric-type moves such as Magma Storm, Flamethrower, Volt Switch, and Thunderbolt, while Corviknight can be used to switch into many Grass-types that threaten Swampert and forms a pivoting core with it that is great at maintaining momentum. Other Flying-types like Zapdos can also be used to offensively threaten Grass- and Water-types, which may be a nuisance for Swampert. Grass-type Knock Off users such as Rillaboom and Kartana appreciate the Stealth Rock and Toxic chip damage Swampert provides against Flying-type Defoggers that usually switch into them. Swampert also benefits from Rillaboom's Grassy Surge providing it with an extra round of recovery per turn, though it is important to run High Horsepower over Earthquake to prevent damage reduction.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Protect may be used over Toxic to increase Swampert's longevity by providing extra Leftovers and Grassy Terrain recovery and to scout common Choice item Pokemon such as Rillaboom, Kartana, Dragapult, and Tapu Lele. Yawn can be used as a disrupting move to deny setup sweepers or prevent opposing Defoggers from removing entry hazards. It can also be used in conjunction with Flip Turn to gain momentum if the opponent decides to switch out to prevent sleep.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Common offensive Pokemon such as Rillaboom and Kartana can switch into and either outright KO Swampert or use it as setup fodder. Defensive Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Ferrothorn can also punish Swampert's Flip Turn with Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs damage. However, Swampert can punish Rillaboom and Tangrowth with Toxic and deny Kartana setup opportunities with Yawn or Flip Turn.
**Specific Wallbreakers**: Swampert is unable to reliably switch into unresisted attacks from wallbreakers and often relies on other team members to switch into Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, Dragapult, and Urshifu-R.
**Residual Damage and Entry Hazards**: Swampert's lack of reliable recovery makes it very susceptible to entry hazards and contact punishment from Rocky Helmet, Rough Skin, and Iron Barbs. Poison and burn damage are also extremely detrimental to Swampert, crippling its ability to check special attackers for the long term.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Anvil Head, 440741]]
- Quality checked by: [[Abhi, 526987], [ausma, 360720], [airfare, 513717]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Astra, 240732], [dex, 277988]]
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