[OVERVIEW]
After two and a half decades, Kingler has returned to its OverUsed roots on Galarian shores as a dangerous Swords Dance user that can cleave through unsuspecting teams. Its coverage options in Knock Off, High Horsepower and Superpower allow it to muscle past checks like Slowbro, Toxapex, and Ferrothorn, while its Speed tier enables it to outspeed a number of Pokemon that its main competitor Crawdaunt hopelessly lags behind, such as Volcanion, defensive Zapdos, and Tank Buzzwole. While its nonexistent special bulk, inability to fit all of its coverage moves, and lack of priority moves like Aqua Jet can limit it significantly in some situations, the Kantonian crab will liquidate teams that attempt to dismiss its royal claim as an OverUsed threat at their own peril.
[SET]
Kingler @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Liquidation
- Knock Off / High Horsepower
- High Horsepower / Superpower
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The combination of Swords Dance and Sheer Force + Life Orb makes Kingler a deadly wallbreaker that can liquidate defensive cores after setting up. Liquidation is its STAB move of choice, synergizing with Sheer Force and Life Orb to exceed to power of Crabhammer while not taking any recoil. Kingler's coverage moves depend on what its team requires it to break past. Knock Off destroys Slowbro and Slowking while providing good utility by removing items from checks, and High Horsepower enables Kingler to OHKO Toxapex after a Swords Dance boost. Superpower is an alternative that allows Kingler to muscle through Ferrothorn and Rotom-W, while X-Scissor can be considered if Kingler desires to hit Tangrowth while still retaining the ability to break through the aforementioned Slowbro and Slowking. An adamant nature guarantees the OHKO on Slowbro with Knock Off and Toxapex with High Horsepower after a Swords Dance boost, but a Jolly nature allows Kingler to outspeed threats like Timid Volcanion, Adamant Buzzwole, and Modest Heatran.
Team Options
========
Kingler fits best on bulky offense teams that appreciate its wallbreaking capabilities while possessing the defensive backbone to get it in safely on the field and speed control to handle faster threats. Zapdos and Tornadus-T are near-mandatory partners as they can check Grass-types like Rillaboom and Kartana that can threaten to OHKO Kingler while bringing it on the field safely with Volt Switch and U-turn respectively. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Assault Vest Galarian Slowking, and Blissey can help sponge special attacks such as Moonblast from Tapu Lele, Volt Switch from Rotom-Wash and Zapdos, and Hurricane from Tornadus-T that Kingler folds to. Landorus-T and Blissey hold the distinction of being able to switch into the dangerous Dragapult while providing pivoting support via U-turn and Teleport respectively, and Galarian Slowking can help Kingler break through checks like Rotom-W, Dragonite, and Tangrowth with Future Sight. Ground-types that can reliably block Volt Switch from the likes of Zapdos, Rotom-W, and Tapu Koko are appreciated, making Garchomp and Landorus-T good teammates. Weavile is a fantastic offensive partner for Kingler due to its ability to threaten checks to the former like Zapdos, Tornadus-T, Dragonite, and Tangrowth while providing reliable speed control with its fantastic speed tier and access to Ice Shard. It can also wear down common checks such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, and Choice Band Buzzwole, forming a potent offensive core.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Agility can be considered if Kingler wants to possess sweeping potential in certain gamestates, but it is generally a suboptimal choice due to Kingler already struggling to fit coverage moves and requiring the power boost of Swords Dance to wallbreak properly. Due to a number of Grass-types in the tier being rather frail on the special side, Kingler can run Ice Beam or Blizzard to surprise the likes of Kartana and Tangrowth despite having an abysmal Special Attack stat. However, this is very niche as Kingler is strapped for moveslots to begin with, and it does not benefit from running such moves outside of being able to nail the aforementioned Grass-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Rotom-W can survive even boosted Liquidations from Kingler. Slowbro can use Teleport to bring in a faster teammate that threatens Kingler after taking a hit, Toxapex can put Kingler on a timer with Toxic while using Haze to remove Swords Dance boosts, Tapu Fini can deal significant damage to Kingler with its Fairy STAB while Rotom-W OHKOes Kingler outright with Volt Switch or Discharge. However, Slowbro fears Knock Off, Toxapex gets flattened by +2 High Horsepower, Tapu Fini struggles to stave off boosted Liquidations, and Rotom-W can be surprised by Superpower.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Ferrothorn, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Tangrowth can comfortably take Liquidation while threatening Kingler with their Grass-type STAB moves. But it should be noted that Kingler can make progress against these Pokemon with Knock Off and threaten KOs on Ferrothorn and Kartana with Superpower. Rillaboom can also get worn down from switching in repeatedly due to its lack of reliable recovery and average physical bulk.
**Electric-types**: Zapdos, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora can all OHKO Kingler with their Electric-type STAB moves. But Tapu Koko and Zeraora do not possess the bulk to switch into Kingler, and defensive variants of Zapdos are susceptible to getting outsped and KOed by a boosted Liquidation.
**Dragon-types**: Dragapult, Dragonite, and Hydreigon can all survive Liquidation, with Dragapult and Hydreigon being able to immediately force out Kingler with their STAB moves due to latter's atrocious Special Defense. But Dragapult and Hydreigon have to be wary of switching into Knock Off and Superpower respectively, while Dragonite can be overpowered by boosted Liquidations as it tries to set up or recover on Kingler.
**Faster threats**: Tornadus-T can stomach an unboosted Liquidation from Kingler and OHKO it with Hurricane. More offensive variants of Buzzwole with significant Speed investment can outspeed and deal significant damage to Kingler, with Choice Band sets threatening a OHKO. Special attackers such as Tapu Lele, Blacephalon, and Nidoking can outspeed and OHKO Kingler due to the latter's abysmal special bulk.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
After two and a half decades, Kingler has returned to its OverUsed roots on Galarian shores as a dangerous Swords Dance user that can cleave through unsuspecting teams. Its coverage options in Knock Off, High Horsepower and Superpower allow it to muscle past checks like Slowbro, Toxapex, and Ferrothorn, while its Speed tier enables it to outspeed a number of Pokemon that its main competitor Crawdaunt hopelessly lags behind, such as Volcanion, defensive Zapdos, and Tank Buzzwole. While its nonexistent special bulk, inability to fit all of its coverage moves, and lack of priority moves like Aqua Jet can limit it significantly in some situations, the Kantonian crab will liquidate teams that attempt to dismiss its royal claim as an OverUsed threat at their own peril.
[SET]
Kingler @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Liquidation
- Knock Off / High Horsepower
- High Horsepower / Superpower
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
The combination of Swords Dance and Sheer Force + Life Orb makes Kingler a deadly wallbreaker that can liquidate defensive cores after setting up. Liquidation is its STAB move of choice, synergizing with Sheer Force and Life Orb to exceed to power of Crabhammer while not taking any recoil. Kingler's coverage moves depend on what its team requires it to break past. Knock Off destroys Slowbro and Slowking while providing good utility by removing items from checks, and High Horsepower enables Kingler to OHKO Toxapex after a Swords Dance boost. Superpower is an alternative that allows Kingler to muscle through Ferrothorn and Rotom-W, while X-Scissor can be considered if Kingler desires to hit Tangrowth while still retaining the ability to break through the aforementioned Slowbro and Slowking. An adamant nature guarantees the OHKO on Slowbro with Knock Off and Toxapex with High Horsepower after a Swords Dance boost, but a Jolly nature allows Kingler to outspeed threats like Timid Volcanion, Adamant Buzzwole, and Modest Heatran.
Team Options
========
Kingler fits best on bulky offense teams that appreciate its wallbreaking capabilities while possessing the defensive backbone to get it in safely on the field and speed control to handle faster threats. Zapdos and Tornadus-T are near-mandatory partners as they can check Grass-types like Rillaboom and Kartana that can threaten to OHKO Kingler while bringing it on the field safely with Volt Switch and U-turn respectively. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Assault Vest Galarian Slowking, and Blissey can help sponge special attacks such as Moonblast from Tapu Lele, Volt Switch from Rotom-Wash and Zapdos, and Hurricane from Tornadus-T that Kingler folds to. Landorus-T and Blissey hold the distinction of being able to switch into the dangerous Dragapult while providing pivoting support via U-turn and Teleport respectively, and Galarian Slowking can help Kingler break through checks like Rotom-W, Dragonite, and Tangrowth with Future Sight. Ground-types that can reliably block Volt Switch from the likes of Zapdos, Rotom-W, and Tapu Koko are appreciated, making Garchomp and Landorus-T good teammates. Weavile is a fantastic offensive partner for Kingler due to its ability to threaten checks to the former like Zapdos, Tornadus-T, Dragonite, and Tangrowth while providing reliable speed control with its fantastic speed tier and access to Ice Shard. It can also wear down common checks such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, and Choice Band Buzzwole, forming a potent offensive core.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Agility can be considered if Kingler wants to possess sweeping potential in certain gamestates, but it is generally a suboptimal choice due to Kingler already struggling to fit coverage moves and requiring the power boost of Swords Dance to wallbreak properly. Due to a number of Grass-types in the tier being rather frail on the special side, Kingler can run Ice Beam or Blizzard to surprise the likes of Kartana and Tangrowth despite having an abysmal Special Attack stat. However, this is very niche as Kingler is strapped for moveslots to begin with, and it does not benefit from running such moves outside of being able to nail the aforementioned Grass-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Slowbro, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Rotom-W can survive even boosted Liquidations from Kingler. Slowbro can use Teleport to bring in a faster teammate that threatens Kingler after taking a hit, Toxapex can put Kingler on a timer with Toxic while using Haze to remove Swords Dance boosts, Tapu Fini can deal significant damage to Kingler with its Fairy STAB while Rotom-W OHKOes Kingler outright with Volt Switch or Discharge. However, Slowbro fears Knock Off, Toxapex gets flattened by +2 High Horsepower, Tapu Fini struggles to stave off boosted Liquidations, and Rotom-W can be surprised by Superpower.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Ferrothorn, Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Tangrowth can comfortably take Liquidation while threatening Kingler with their Grass-type STAB moves. But it should be noted that Kingler can make progress against these Pokemon with Knock Off and threaten KOs on Ferrothorn and Kartana with Superpower. Rillaboom can also get worn down from switching in repeatedly due to its lack of reliable recovery and average physical bulk.
**Electric-types**: Zapdos, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora can all OHKO Kingler with their Electric-type STAB moves. But Tapu Koko and Zeraora do not possess the bulk to switch into Kingler, and defensive variants of Zapdos are susceptible to getting outsped and KOed by a boosted Liquidation.
**Dragon-types**: Dragapult, Dragonite, and Hydreigon can all survive Liquidation, with Dragapult and Hydreigon being able to immediately force out Kingler with their STAB moves due to latter's atrocious Special Defense. But Dragapult and Hydreigon have to be wary of switching into Knock Off and Superpower respectively, while Dragonite can be overpowered by boosted Liquidations as it tries to set up or recover on Kingler.
**Faster threats**: Tornadus-T can stomach an unboosted Liquidation from Kingler and OHKO it with Hurricane. More offensive variants of Buzzwole with significant Speed investment can outspeed and deal significant damage to Kingler, with Choice Band sets threatening a OHKO. Special attackers such as Tapu Lele, Blacephalon, and Nidoking can outspeed and OHKO Kingler due to the latter's abysmal special bulk.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/