Nothing in particular, just leftover EVs which I didn't put in SDef (176 SDef + boosting nature gives a bonus point, iirc). I wanted "some" Defense to help take on Infernape somewhat, help take random Bullet Punches from Scizor, and other NVE attacks.
-
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Tentacruel (Analysis)
- Thread starter Limewire
- Start date
The current offensive set is outclassed by Starmie, due to lower SpA and speed, as well as worse coverage. I propose a set like this:
name: Offensive Rapid Spin
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
This set has an advantage over Starmie in being able to achieve perfect neutral coverage without sacrificing it's spinning capabilities or recovery. 29 HP IVs make a Life Orb number, giving it 11 attacks outside of hazards/sandstorm etc. 252 SpA hits as hard as possible, while 252 Spe with a Timid nature ties with positive base 100s such as Urugamosu and Manaphy. It also outruns slower dragons such as Sazandora & Ononokusu. The 4 left over are put into SDef to take special hits better.
name: Offensive Rapid Spin
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SDef / 252 Spe
This set has an advantage over Starmie in being able to achieve perfect neutral coverage without sacrificing it's spinning capabilities or recovery. 29 HP IVs make a Life Orb number, giving it 11 attacks outside of hazards/sandstorm etc. 252 SpA hits as hard as possible, while 252 Spe with a Timid nature ties with positive base 100s such as Urugamosu and Manaphy. It also outruns slower dragons such as Sazandora & Ononokusu. The 4 left over are put into SDef to take special hits better.
Tested this set out, seems good. I'm tempted to put HP Electric over Giga Drain since Swampert isn't that common. Will update ASAP.
To be honest i think in gen 5 you either need to be really bulky or having a phazing move to pull of resttalk succesfully, and there's a lot that can switch in and wreck tentacruel in 1 or 2 turns so I'm in favour of dropping the resttalk set. Otherwise this looks good, QC approved 2/2
2/3 actually :)
I've tried out the RestTalk set again and didn't go so well, so I dropped it off.
I just need one more QC check and I promise I'll stop harassing you guys (until I start to work on my Gorebyss analysis).
Read the announcements on the Index thread. He's right, he needs 3
Does Tentacruel even need THAT much Special Defense? I feel like he could get away with more physical Defense investment, since Tentacruel will take less from things like Blaziken. Something like 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD, Calm seems more efficient to me.
A physical defensive spread vs a special defensive spread seems like a personal choice. IMO, I'd rather have Tentacruel be 3HKO or 4HKOd by something special like Togekiss's Air Slash than be 2HKOd by nearly every physical attack in the game, but that's just me.
I'll put a mention of Snunch's spread in the AC though.
I'll put a mention of Snunch's spread in the AC though.
Proofread
Bold is changes/additions
Red is deletions
Bold is changes/additions
Red is deletions
[Overview]
<p>"Support" is the first word that pops in the head of many players when they see Tentacruel. They are correct, as Tentacruel has a huge movepool to help support its teammates, including laying down Toxic Spikes and destroying entry hazards. Tentacruel also possess a base speed of 100, an acceptable Special Attack stat and a wide offensive movepool, allowing it to fit on offensive and balanced teams just as well as on stall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tentacruel has an awfully low Defense stat for a supportive Pokemon. Being weak to the ever-common Earthquake makes this fact even more painfully clear. Despite this, Tentacruel is a wonderful supportive Pokemon and should always be considered if you are in need of a defensive (or even offensive) Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Boiling Water
move 4: Venom Shock / Evil Eye
item: Leftovers
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 176 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Tentacruel's ability to lay down Toxic Spikes and spin other hazards away, making it a nice addition to stall, semi-stall and even balanced teams. As an additional bonus, Tentacruel can destroy absorb Toxic Spikes on your side of the field simply by switching in. It's Water / Poison typing, along with Liquid Ooze, also enables it to switch into a variety of attacks and set up hazards or spin them away. Surf is a strong, reliable STAB option, but Boiling Water's 30% burn rate may makes it appealing, especially factoring in Tentacruel's horrid Defense stat. Venom Shock is the primary option for the last slot, since its base power doubles if the opponent is poisoned. Evil Eye, however, allows you to take on Jellicent, Dusclops and other spinblockers with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Using Speed EVs may seem unorthodox for a defensive Pokemon, but 16 EVs in Speed allow Tentacruel to outspeed Adamant Breloom, who is a dangerous threat to the jellyfish. The rest of the EVs are allocated in such a way that Tentacruel will almost always survive neutral and NVE physical attacks while retaining its special bulk. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe may be used to ensure that Adamant Blaziken never OHKOs with +2 LO-boosted High Jump Kick. Liquid Ooze allows Tentacruel to switch into the likes of Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, Virizion's Giga Drain and Whimsicott's Leech Seed (although the latter may attempt to Taunt or status Tentacruel), making it a fine abilitiy to use. Rain Dish, however, is a viable option if Tentacruel is on a rain team, as it will heal 12.5% of its health every turn.</p>
<p>Tentacruel has a variety of options to use in the fourth slot, especially considering that Venom Shock and Evil Eye are worthless against Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes. Magic Coat is a nasty surprise against Pokemon who try to Taunt and/or cripple Tentacruel with status, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott. Slime Wave is another option considering many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. On a final note, Tentacruel can run Toxic on the last slot. This may seem redundant in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, but running Toxic allows it to hit Flying-types and levitating switch-ins.</p>
<p>First and foremost, a spinblocker is required so your precious entry hazards are not blown away. Avoid using Jellicient, given its similar typing to Tentacruel. Dusclops and Spiritomb make ideal partners and both have excellent defenses, and a low HP to abuse Pain Split with. Tentacruel also appreciates physical walls. Nattorei deserves a special mention, as it can set up Spikes and Leech Seed, and has excellent synergy with Tentacruel. Nattorei also fits in a wide variety of teams, making it a universal partner to Tentacruel. Hippowdon and Skarmory are some stall-oriented walls, and both of them can set up additional entry hazards. Balanced teams may find Gliscor as a wonderful teammate, since it easily switches into the Ground- and Electric-type attacks that plague Tentacruel.</p>
[SET]
(No Space)
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a base Speed of 100, Tentacruel is unusually fast for a defensive Pokemon. This set attempts to take advantage of that speed and surprise the opponent. Tentacruel can also utilize supportive moves in an offensive set, enabling it to be a team supporter and a threat at the same time. Hydro Pump is a powerful STAB move and can easily dent Pokemon who do not resist it. Giga Drain works well in conjunction with Hydro Pump by hitting most Water-types for super effective damage. In addition, the attack heals Tentacruel, easing off any Life Orb recoil. If opposing Water-types are of no concern, you may opt to use Toxic Spikes instead to help out team members. Ice Beam allows Tentacruel to severly damage Gliscor and Dragonite, who are outsped, and nail any Garchomp and Landorus switch-ins. Ice Beam also hits Grass-type Pokemon trying to come in on Hydro Pump. Finally, Rapid Spin in the last slot allows Tentacruel to spin away any entry hazards from the field. to destroy nasty entry hazards for good.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed in this set are fairly straightforward. Maximum Speed and Special Attack, along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb, enables Tentacruel to outspeed many Pokemon and hit them hard. Liquid Ooze is a fantastic ability on this set as it enables Tentacruel to switch into Conkeldurr, Virizion, Whimsicott and other Pokemon who commonly use HP-draining moves. It may seem strange that this set is not running any Poison-type moves for STAB, but the reality is that Poison is a woefully horrible offensive typing. The only Pokemon who are hit for super-effective damage are already dampered by Ice Beam, which hits more threats than Poison-type moves. However, Acid Bomb is a notable exception, as its ability to sharply decrease the foe's Special Defense enables Tentacruel to be a pHazer and a more efficient sweeper.</p>
<p>When choosing teammates for Tentacruel, keep in mind that this set plays differently from other offenisve rapid spinners, such as Starmie and Excadrill. This set uses its ability to switch into special attacks with ease, as well as destroying Toxic Spikes immediately, to the fullest extent. Good teammates should take advantage of that. One such example would be Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion enjoys the lack of Toxic Spikes and can easily take on the Ground and Electric-type moves that plague Tentacruel. Pokemon who enjoy a lack of Stealth Rock on their side, such as Salamence and Ulgamoth, also make nice teammates. The biggest threats to Tentacruel are those that can outspeed it and KO with a super-effective move. Garchomp, Landorus and Pokemon wielding a Choice Scarf (such as Haxorus) can deal with it easily. For this reason, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Skarmory make wonderful teammates. If not running Giga Drain, bulky Water-types can pose a problem if Toxic Spikes are not out. Virizion, Ferrothorn and Celebi can easily set up against those Pokemon. Ferrothorn itself can be a huge problem for Tentacruel to face, but there are many Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Conkeldurr, Scizor and Hidden Power Fire Latios.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>First and foremost, Tentacruel greatly misses a lack of an HP-replenishing move, making Wishpassers a great teammate for it. With her enormous HP stat, Chansey makes a great teammate, as Wish can restore up to 96% percent of Tentacruel's health! Another candidate would be Jirachi, who, unlike Chansey, can make use of its offensive stat. Vaporeon may seem like a poor partner due to similar typing, but she can be useful if you run Tentacruel on a rain-stall team. Leech Seed is another way to patch Tentacruel up. The best Pokemon to do this are Shaymin, Celebi and Ferrothorn, all of whom have decent defensive synergy with it. On rain-stall teams, Parasect is a viable option.</p>
<p>Tentacruel's shoddy Defensive stat leaves much to be desired, so it is best paired up with physical walls. Ferrothorn is a must-have partner for Tentacruel- not only does it have a high Defense stat and amazing synergy with Tentacruel, it can also launch Spikes and Leech Seed at the foe. Gliscor and Gyarados are other viable options who also appreciate the lack of bulky waters caused by Toxic Spikes. Foretress may seem completely outclassed by Ferrothorn, but its ability to learn both Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin frees up an extra moveslot for both Pokemon. In addition to physical walls, Tentacruel appreciates having spin blockers prevent its precious entry hazards from being destroyed. Spiritomb, Coffagorus and Evolution Stone Dusclops are among the best spinblockers in OU, and should be considered. As a bonus, all three Pokemon can use Will-O-Wisp to burn the foe and enable Tentacruel to take physical hits better. Offensive teammates should take advantage of the lack of Stealth Rock on their side and eliminate the special walls that plague Tentacruel. Salamence, for example, enjoys not losing 25% of its HP, and is immune to Earthquake and easily sets up on specially defensive Pokemon with Dragon Dance.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Tentacruel has a huge amount of supportive moves to choose from. Hidden Power Fire can be useful for hitting Ferrothorn, but has poor coverage with its other STAB moves. Confuse Ray and Mirror Coat can be useful for causing additional damage, but Tentacruel usually has better options to run. Besides, a majority of attacks aimed at Tentacruel are usually physical. Haze is useful for annoying sweepers, however, given Tentacruel's mediocre HP and Defense stat, you should not be switching into sweepers in the first place. Magic Coat is a decent option if Tentacruel has an open moveslot, as it punishes Pokemon trying to Taunt it.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Simply put, any Pokemon who is immune to Toxic Spikes and commonly carries Earthquake (or some othe super-effective move) can be listed as a counter to Tentacruel. Examples of these Pokemon include Gyarados, Metagross, Reuiniclus, and Latios. Some Pokemon, such as Gliscor and Landorus, will have to be aware of Ice Beam and Surf/Hydro Pump, but once these Pokemon switch in, they can easily wreak havoc. Tentacruel also has trouble will specially defensive walls. Ferrothorn and Jirachi, for example, can easily take on its attacks with their bulk and proceed to cripple it or set up entry hazards. In addition, Pokemon who either are immune to Toxic Spikes or have a way of removing the status love to set up on it. Cobalon, Gyarados and ChestoRest Kingdra are a few examples.</p>
<p>"Support" is the first word that pops in the head of many players when they see Tentacruel. They are correct, as Tentacruel has a huge movepool to help support its teammates, including laying down Toxic Spikes and destroying entry hazards. Tentacruel also possess a base speed of 100, an acceptable Special Attack stat and a wide offensive movepool, allowing it to fit on offensive and balanced teams just as well as on stall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tentacruel has an awfully low Defense stat for a supportive Pokemon. Being weak to the ever-common Earthquake makes this fact even more painfully clear. Despite this, Tentacruel is a wonderful supportive Pokemon and should always be considered if you are in need of a defensive (or even offensive) Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Boiling Water
move 4: Venom Shock / Evil Eye
item: Leftovers
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 176 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Tentacruel's ability to lay down Toxic Spikes and spin other hazards away, making it a nice addition to stall, semi-stall and even balanced teams. As an additional bonus, Tentacruel can destroy absorb Toxic Spikes on your side of the field simply by switching in. It's Water / Poison typing, along with Liquid Ooze, also enables it to switch into a variety of attacks and set up hazards or spin them away. Surf is a strong, reliable STAB option, but Boiling Water's 30% burn rate may makes it appealing, especially factoring in Tentacruel's horrid Defense stat. Venom Shock is the primary option for the last slot, since its base power doubles if the opponent is poisoned. Evil Eye, however, allows you to take on Jellicent, Dusclops and other spinblockers with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Using Speed EVs may seem unorthodox for a defensive Pokemon, but 16 EVs in Speed allow Tentacruel to outspeed Adamant Breloom, who is a dangerous threat to the jellyfish. The rest of the EVs are allocated in such a way that Tentacruel will almost always survive neutral and NVE physical attacks while retaining its special bulk. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe may be used to ensure that Adamant Blaziken never OHKOs with +2 LO-boosted High Jump Kick. Liquid Ooze allows Tentacruel to switch into the likes of Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, Virizion's Giga Drain and Whimsicott's Leech Seed (although the latter may attempt to Taunt or status Tentacruel), making it a fine abilitiy to use. Rain Dish, however, is a viable option if Tentacruel is on a rain team, as it will heal 12.5% of its health every turn.</p>
<p>Tentacruel has a variety of options to use in the fourth slot, especially considering that Venom Shock and Evil Eye are worthless against Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes. Magic Coat is a nasty surprise against Pokemon who try to Taunt and/or cripple Tentacruel with status, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott. Slime Wave is another option considering many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. On a final note, Tentacruel can run Toxic on the last slot. This may seem redundant in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, but running Toxic allows it to hit Flying-types and levitating switch-ins.</p>
<p>First and foremost, a spinblocker is required so your precious entry hazards are not blown away. Avoid using Jellicient, given its similar typing to Tentacruel. Dusclops and Spiritomb make ideal partners and both have excellent defenses, and a low HP to abuse Pain Split with. Tentacruel also appreciates physical walls. Nattorei deserves a special mention, as it can set up Spikes and Leech Seed, and has excellent synergy with Tentacruel. Nattorei also fits in a wide variety of teams, making it a universal partner to Tentacruel. Hippowdon and Skarmory are some stall-oriented walls, and both of them can set up additional entry hazards. Balanced teams may find Gliscor as a wonderful teammate, since it easily switches into the Ground- and Electric-type attacks that plague Tentacruel.</p>
[SET]
(No Space)
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a base Speed of 100, Tentacruel is unusually fast for a defensive Pokemon. This set attempts to take advantage of that speed and surprise the opponent. Tentacruel can also utilize supportive moves in an offensive set, enabling it to be a team supporter and a threat at the same time. Hydro Pump is a powerful STAB move and can easily dent Pokemon who do not resist it. Giga Drain works well in conjunction with Hydro Pump by hitting most Water-types for super effective damage. In addition, the attack heals Tentacruel, easing off any Life Orb recoil. If opposing Water-types are of no concern, you may opt to use Toxic Spikes instead to help out team members. Ice Beam allows Tentacruel to severly damage Gliscor and Dragonite, who are outsped, and nail any Garchomp and Landorus switch-ins. Ice Beam also hits Grass-type Pokemon trying to come in on Hydro Pump. Finally, Rapid Spin in the last slot allows Tentacruel to spin away any entry hazards from the field. to destroy nasty entry hazards for good.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed in this set are fairly straightforward. Maximum Speed and Special Attack, along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb, enables Tentacruel to outspeed many Pokemon and hit them hard. Liquid Ooze is a fantastic ability on this set as it enables Tentacruel to switch into Conkeldurr, Virizion, Whimsicott and other Pokemon who commonly use HP-draining moves. It may seem strange that this set is not running any Poison-type moves for STAB, but the reality is that Poison is a woefully horrible offensive typing. The only Pokemon who are hit for super-effective damage are already dampered by Ice Beam, which hits more threats than Poison-type moves. However, Acid Bomb is a notable exception, as its ability to sharply decrease the foe's Special Defense enables Tentacruel to be a pHazer and a more efficient sweeper.</p>
<p>When choosing teammates for Tentacruel, keep in mind that this set plays differently from other offenisve rapid spinners, such as Starmie and Excadrill. This set uses its ability to switch into special attacks with ease, as well as destroying Toxic Spikes immediately, to the fullest extent. Good teammates should take advantage of that. One such example would be Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion enjoys the lack of Toxic Spikes and can easily take on the Ground and Electric-type moves that plague Tentacruel. Pokemon who enjoy a lack of Stealth Rock on their side, such as Salamence and Ulgamoth, also make nice teammates. The biggest threats to Tentacruel are those that can outspeed it and KO with a super-effective move. Garchomp, Landorus and Pokemon wielding a Choice Scarf (such as Haxorus) can deal with it easily. For this reason, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Skarmory make wonderful teammates. If not running Giga Drain, bulky Water-types can pose a problem if Toxic Spikes are not out. Virizion, Ferrothorn and Celebi can easily set up against those Pokemon. Ferrothorn itself can be a huge problem for Tentacruel to face, but there are many Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Conkeldurr, Scizor and Hidden Power Fire Latios.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>First and foremost, Tentacruel greatly misses a lack of an HP-replenishing move, making Wishpassers a great teammate for it. With her enormous HP stat, Chansey makes a great teammate, as Wish can restore up to 96% percent of Tentacruel's health! Another candidate would be Jirachi, who, unlike Chansey, can make use of its offensive stat. Vaporeon may seem like a poor partner due to similar typing, but she can be useful if you run Tentacruel on a rain-stall team. Leech Seed is another way to patch Tentacruel up. The best Pokemon to do this are Shaymin, Celebi and Ferrothorn, all of whom have decent defensive synergy with it. On rain-stall teams, Parasect is a viable option.</p>
<p>Tentacruel's shoddy Defensive stat leaves much to be desired, so it is best paired up with physical walls. Ferrothorn is a must-have partner for Tentacruel- not only does it have a high Defense stat and amazing synergy with Tentacruel, it can also launch Spikes and Leech Seed at the foe. Gliscor and Gyarados are other viable options who also appreciate the lack of bulky waters caused by Toxic Spikes. Foretress may seem completely outclassed by Ferrothorn, but its ability to learn both Toxic Spikes and Rapid Spin frees up an extra moveslot for both Pokemon. In addition to physical walls, Tentacruel appreciates having spin blockers prevent its precious entry hazards from being destroyed. Spiritomb, Coffagorus and Evolution Stone Dusclops are among the best spinblockers in OU, and should be considered. As a bonus, all three Pokemon can use Will-O-Wisp to burn the foe and enable Tentacruel to take physical hits better. Offensive teammates should take advantage of the lack of Stealth Rock on their side and eliminate the special walls that plague Tentacruel. Salamence, for example, enjoys not losing 25% of its HP, and is immune to Earthquake and easily sets up on specially defensive Pokemon with Dragon Dance.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Tentacruel has a huge amount of supportive moves to choose from. Hidden Power Fire can be useful for hitting Ferrothorn, but has poor coverage with its other STAB moves. Confuse Ray and Mirror Coat can be useful for causing additional damage, but Tentacruel usually has better options to run. Besides, a majority of attacks aimed at Tentacruel are usually physical. Haze is useful for annoying sweepers, however, given Tentacruel's mediocre HP and Defense stat, you should not be switching into sweepers in the first place. Magic Coat is a decent option if Tentacruel has an open moveslot, as it punishes Pokemon trying to Taunt it.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Simply put, any Pokemon who is immune to Toxic Spikes and commonly carries Earthquake (or some othe super-effective move) can be listed as a counter to Tentacruel. Examples of these Pokemon include Gyarados, Metagross, Reuiniclus, and Latios. Some Pokemon, such as Gliscor and Landorus, will have to be aware of Ice Beam and Surf/Hydro Pump, but once these Pokemon switch in, they can easily wreak havoc. Tentacruel also has trouble will specially defensive walls. Ferrothorn and Jirachi, for example, can easily take on its attacks with their bulk and proceed to cripple it or set up entry hazards. In addition, Pokemon who either are immune to Toxic Spikes or have a way of removing the status love to set up on it. Cobalon, Gyarados and ChestoRest Kingdra are a few examples.</p>
Change/Add
Remove
You hardly needed me
GP 1/2
Remove
[Overview]
<p>"Support" is the first word that pops in the head of many players when they see Tentacruel. They are correct, as Tentacruel has a huge movepool to help support its teammates is very able in a variety of support roles, including laying down Toxic Spikes and destroying entry hazards. Tentacruel also possess a base Speed of 100, an acceptable Special Attack stat and a wide offensive movepool, allowing it to fit on offensive and balanced teams just as well as on stall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tentacruel has an awfully low Defense stat for a supportive Pokemon. Being weak to the ever-common Earthquake makes this fact even more painfully clear. Despite this, Tentacruel is a wonderful supportive Pokemon and should always be considered if you are in need of a defensive (or even offensive) Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Boiling Water
move 4: Venom Shock / Evil Eye
item: Leftovers
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 176 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Tentacruel's ability to lay down Toxic Spikes and spin other hazards away, making it a nice addition to stall, semi-stall and even balanced teams. As an additional bonus, Tentacruel can absorb Toxic Spikes on your side of the field simply by switching in. It's Water / Poison typing, along with Liquid Ooze, enables it to switch into a variety of attacks and set up hazards or spin them away. Surf is a strong, reliable STAB option, but Boiling Water's 30% burn rate makes it appealing, especially factoring in Tentacruel's horrid Defense stat. Venom Shock is the primary option for the last slot, since its base power doubles if the opponent is poisoned. Evil Eye, however, allows you to take on Jellicent, Dusclops and other spinblockers with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Using Speed EVs may seem unorthodox for a defensive Pokemon, but 16 EVs in Speed allow Tentacruel to outspeed Adamant Breloom, who is a dangerous threat to the jellyfish. The rest of the EVs are allocated in such a way that Tentacruel will almost always survive neutral and NVE physical attacks while retaining its special bulk. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe may be used to ensure that Adamant Blaziken never OHKOs with +2 LO-boosted High Jump Kick. Liquid Ooze allows Tentacruel to switch into the likes of Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, Virizion's Giga Drain and Whimsicott's Leech Seed (although the latter may attempt to Taunt or status Tentacruel), making it a fine abilitiy to use. Rain Dish, however, is a viable option if Tentacruel is on a rain team, as it will heal 12.5% of its health every turn.</p>
<p>Tentacruel has a variety of options to use in the fourth slot, especially considering that Venom Shock and Evil Eye are worthless against Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes. Magic Coat is a nasty surprise against Pokemon who try to Taunt and/or cripple Tentacruel with status, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott. Slime Wave is another option considering many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. On a final note, Tentacruel can run Toxic on the last slot. This may seem redundant in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, but running Toxic allows it to hit Flying-types and levitating switch-ins.</p>
<p>First and foremost, a spinblocker is required so your precious entry hazards are not blown away. Avoid using Jellicient, given its similar typing to Tentacruel. Dusclops and Spiritomb make ideal partners and both have excellent defenses, and a low HP to abuse Pain Split with. Tentacruel also appreciates physical walls. Nattorei deserves a special mention, as it can set up Spikes and Leech Seed, and has excellent synergy with Tentacruel. Nattorei also fits in a wide variety of teams, making it a universal partner to Tentacruel. Hippowdon and Skarmory are some stall-oriented walls, and both of them can set up additional entry hazards. Balanced teams may find Gliscor as a wonderful teammate, since it easily switches into the Ground- and Electric-type attacks that plague Tentacruel.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a base Speed of 100, Tentacruel is unusually fast for a defensive Pokemon. This set attempts to take advantage of that speed and surprise the opponent. Tentacruel can also utilize supportive moves in an offensive set, enabling it to be a team supporter and a threat at the same time. Hydro Pump is a powerful STAB move and can easily dent Pokemon who do not resist it. Giga Drain works well in conjunction with Hydro Pump by hitting most Water-types for super effective damage. In addition, the attack heals Tentacruel, easing off any Life Orb recoil. If opposing Water-types are of no concern, you may opt to use Toxic Spikes instead to help out team members. Ice Beam allows Tentacruel to severly damage Gliscor and Dragonite, who are outsped, and nail any Garchomp and Landorus switch-ins. Ice Beam also hits Grass-type Pokemon trying to come in on Hydro Pump. Finally, Rapid Spin in the last slot allows Tentacruel to spin away any entry hazards from the field.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed in this set are fairly straightforward. Maximum Speed and Special Attack, along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb, enables Tentacruel to outspeed many Pokemon and hit them hard. Liquid Ooze is a fantastic ability on this set as it enables Tentacruel to switch into Conkeldurr, Virizion, Whimsicott and other Pokemon who commonly use HP-draining moves. It may seem strange that this set is not running any Poison-type moves for STAB, but the reality is that Poison is a woefully horrible offensive typing. The only Pokemon who are hit for super effective damage are already dampered battered by Ice Beam, which hits more threats than Poison-type moves. However, Acid Bomb is a notable exception, as its ability to sharply decrease the foe's Special Defense enables Tentacruel to be a phazer and a more efficient sweeper.</p>
<p>When choosing teammates for Tentacruel, keep in mind that this set plays differently from other offensive rapid spinners, such as Starmie and Excadrill. This set uses its ability to switch into special attacks with ease, as well as destroying Toxic Spikes immediately, to the fullest extent. Good teammates should take advantage of that. One such example would be For instance, consider Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion enjoys the lack of Toxic Spikes and can easily take on the Ground and Electric-type moves that plague Tentacruel. Pokemon who enjoy a lack of Stealth Rock on their side, such as Salamence and Ulgamoth, also make nice teammates. The biggest threats to Tentacruel are those that can outspeed it and KO with a super-effective move. Garchomp, Landorus and Pokemon wielding a Choice Scarf (such as Haxorus) can deal with it easily. For this reason, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Skarmory make wonderful teammates. If not running Giga Drain, bulky Water-types can pose a problem if Toxic Spikes are not out. Virizion, Ferrothorn and Celebi can easily set up against those Pokemon. Ferrothorn itself can be a huge problem for Tentacruel to face, but there are many Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Conkeldurr, Scizor and Hidden Power Fire Latios.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Tentacruel has a huge amount wide variety of supportive moves to choose from. Hidden Power Fire can be useful for hitting Ferrothorn, but has poor coverage with its other STAB moves. Confuse Ray and Mirror Coat can be useful for causing additional damage, but Tentacruel usually has better options to run. Besides, a majority of attacks aimed at Tentacruel are usually physical. Haze is useful for annoying sweepers, however, given Tentacruel's mediocre HP and Defense stats, you should not be switching into sweepers in the first place. You will likely be dispatched before getting the chance to use Haze. Magic Coat is a decent option if Tentacruel has an open moveslot, as it punishes Pokemon trying to Taunt it.</p>
[Checks & Counters]
<p>Simply put, any Pokemon who is immune to Toxic Spikes and commonly carries Earthquake (or some other super-effective move) can be listed as a counter to Tentacruel. Examples of these Pokemon include Gyarados, Metagross, Reuiniclus, and Latios. Some Pokemon, such as Gliscor and Landorus, will have to be aware of Ice Beam and Surf/Hydro Pump, but once these Pokemon switch in, they can easily wreak havoc. Tentacruel also has trouble will specially defensive walls. Ferrothorn and Jirachi, for example, can easily take on its attacks with their bulk and proceed to cripple it or set up entry hazards. In addition, Pokemon who either are immune to Toxic Spikes or have a way of removing the status love to set up on it. Cobalon, Gyarados and ChestoRest Kingdra are a few examples.</p>
<p>"Support" is the first word that pops in the head of many players when they see Tentacruel. They are correct, as Tentacruel has a huge movepool to help support its teammates is very able in a variety of support roles, including laying down Toxic Spikes and destroying entry hazards. Tentacruel also possess a base Speed of 100, an acceptable Special Attack stat and a wide offensive movepool, allowing it to fit on offensive and balanced teams just as well as on stall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tentacruel has an awfully low Defense stat for a supportive Pokemon. Being weak to the ever-common Earthquake makes this fact even more painfully clear. Despite this, Tentacruel is a wonderful supportive Pokemon and should always be considered if you are in need of a defensive (or even offensive) Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Boiling Water
move 4: Venom Shock / Evil Eye
item: Leftovers
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 176 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Tentacruel's ability to lay down Toxic Spikes and spin other hazards away, making it a nice addition to stall, semi-stall and even balanced teams. As an additional bonus, Tentacruel can absorb Toxic Spikes on your side of the field simply by switching in. It's Water / Poison typing, along with Liquid Ooze, enables it to switch into a variety of attacks and set up hazards or spin them away. Surf is a strong, reliable STAB option, but Boiling Water's 30% burn rate makes it appealing, especially factoring in Tentacruel's horrid Defense stat. Venom Shock is the primary option for the last slot, since its base power doubles if the opponent is poisoned. Evil Eye, however, allows you to take on Jellicent, Dusclops and other spinblockers with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Using Speed EVs may seem unorthodox for a defensive Pokemon, but 16 EVs in Speed allow Tentacruel to outspeed Adamant Breloom, who is a dangerous threat to the jellyfish. The rest of the EVs are allocated in such a way that Tentacruel will almost always survive neutral and NVE physical attacks while retaining its special bulk. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe may be used to ensure that Adamant Blaziken never OHKOs with +2 LO-boosted High Jump Kick. Liquid Ooze allows Tentacruel to switch into the likes of Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, Virizion's Giga Drain and Whimsicott's Leech Seed (although the latter may attempt to Taunt or status Tentacruel), making it a fine abilitiy to use. Rain Dish, however, is a viable option if Tentacruel is on a rain team, as it will heal 12.5% of its health every turn.</p>
<p>Tentacruel has a variety of options to use in the fourth slot, especially considering that Venom Shock and Evil Eye are worthless against Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes. Magic Coat is a nasty surprise against Pokemon who try to Taunt and/or cripple Tentacruel with status, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott. Slime Wave is another option considering many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. On a final note, Tentacruel can run Toxic on the last slot. This may seem redundant in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, but running Toxic allows it to hit Flying-types and levitating switch-ins.</p>
<p>First and foremost, a spinblocker is required so your precious entry hazards are not blown away. Avoid using Jellicient, given its similar typing to Tentacruel. Dusclops and Spiritomb make ideal partners and both have excellent defenses, and a low HP to abuse Pain Split with. Tentacruel also appreciates physical walls. Nattorei deserves a special mention, as it can set up Spikes and Leech Seed, and has excellent synergy with Tentacruel. Nattorei also fits in a wide variety of teams, making it a universal partner to Tentacruel. Hippowdon and Skarmory are some stall-oriented walls, and both of them can set up additional entry hazards. Balanced teams may find Gliscor as a wonderful teammate, since it easily switches into the Ground- and Electric-type attacks that plague Tentacruel.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a base Speed of 100, Tentacruel is unusually fast for a defensive Pokemon. This set attempts to take advantage of that speed and surprise the opponent. Tentacruel can also utilize supportive moves in an offensive set, enabling it to be a team supporter and a threat at the same time. Hydro Pump is a powerful STAB move and can easily dent Pokemon who do not resist it. Giga Drain works well in conjunction with Hydro Pump by hitting most Water-types for super effective damage. In addition, the attack heals Tentacruel, easing off any Life Orb recoil. If opposing Water-types are of no concern, you may opt to use Toxic Spikes instead to help out team members. Ice Beam allows Tentacruel to severly damage Gliscor and Dragonite, who are outsped, and nail any Garchomp and Landorus switch-ins. Ice Beam also hits Grass-type Pokemon trying to come in on Hydro Pump. Finally, Rapid Spin in the last slot allows Tentacruel to spin away any entry hazards from the field.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed in this set are fairly straightforward. Maximum Speed and Special Attack, along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb, enables Tentacruel to outspeed many Pokemon and hit them hard. Liquid Ooze is a fantastic ability on this set as it enables Tentacruel to switch into Conkeldurr, Virizion, Whimsicott and other Pokemon who commonly use HP-draining moves. It may seem strange that this set is not running any Poison-type moves for STAB, but the reality is that Poison is a woefully horrible offensive typing. The only Pokemon who are hit for super effective damage are already dampered battered by Ice Beam, which hits more threats than Poison-type moves. However, Acid Bomb is a notable exception, as its ability to sharply decrease the foe's Special Defense enables Tentacruel to be a phazer and a more efficient sweeper.</p>
<p>When choosing teammates for Tentacruel, keep in mind that this set plays differently from other offensive rapid spinners, such as Starmie and Excadrill. This set uses its ability to switch into special attacks with ease, as well as destroying Toxic Spikes immediately, to the fullest extent. Good teammates should take advantage of that. One such example would be For instance, consider Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion enjoys the lack of Toxic Spikes and can easily take on the Ground and Electric-type moves that plague Tentacruel. Pokemon who enjoy a lack of Stealth Rock on their side, such as Salamence and Ulgamoth, also make nice teammates. The biggest threats to Tentacruel are those that can outspeed it and KO with a super-effective move. Garchomp, Landorus and Pokemon wielding a Choice Scarf (such as Haxorus) can deal with it easily. For this reason, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Skarmory make wonderful teammates. If not running Giga Drain, bulky Water-types can pose a problem if Toxic Spikes are not out. Virizion, Ferrothorn and Celebi can easily set up against those Pokemon. Ferrothorn itself can be a huge problem for Tentacruel to face, but there are many Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Conkeldurr, Scizor and Hidden Power Fire Latios.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Tentacruel has a huge amount wide variety of supportive moves to choose from. Hidden Power Fire can be useful for hitting Ferrothorn, but has poor coverage with its other STAB moves. Confuse Ray and Mirror Coat can be useful for causing additional damage, but Tentacruel usually has better options to run. Besides, a majority of attacks aimed at Tentacruel are usually physical. Haze is useful for annoying sweepers, however, given Tentacruel's mediocre HP and Defense stats, you should not be switching into sweepers in the first place. You will likely be dispatched before getting the chance to use Haze. Magic Coat is a decent option if Tentacruel has an open moveslot, as it punishes Pokemon trying to Taunt it.</p>
[Checks & Counters]
<p>Simply put, any Pokemon who is immune to Toxic Spikes and commonly carries Earthquake (or some other super-effective move) can be listed as a counter to Tentacruel. Examples of these Pokemon include Gyarados, Metagross, Reuiniclus, and Latios. Some Pokemon, such as Gliscor and Landorus, will have to be aware of Ice Beam and Surf/Hydro Pump, but once these Pokemon switch in, they can easily wreak havoc. Tentacruel also has trouble will specially defensive walls. Ferrothorn and Jirachi, for example, can easily take on its attacks with their bulk and proceed to cripple it or set up entry hazards. In addition, Pokemon who either are immune to Toxic Spikes or have a way of removing the status love to set up on it. Cobalon, Gyarados and ChestoRest Kingdra are a few examples.</p>
You hardly needed me
GP 1/2
IMO, a mention of Air Balloon should be listed in other options. It allows Tentacruel to handle sand teams and random EQs a lot better.
It is not just bolding, formatting should never be used anywhere in an analysis.
Removing the extra spaces between the AC of Set 1 and Set 2 would also be appropriate, unless I am mistaken.
Removing the extra spaces between the AC of Set 1 and Set 2 would also be appropriate, unless I am mistaken.
Took a crack at this one. Started with English translation, serial comma, and typos, got into some word repetition and some rewriting for clarity. Take or leave as you like.
Also, some rogue formatting and whitespace disappeared without notation, per Somalia and CPM. It just makes life easier anyway.
Additions in blue.
Deletions in red.
Also, some rogue formatting and whitespace disappeared without notation, per Somalia and CPM. It just makes life easier anyway.
Additions in blue.
Deletions in red.
[Overview]
<p>"Support" is the first word that pops in the head of many players when they see Tentacruel. They are correct, as TentacruelisTentacruel is very capable in a variety of support roles, including laying down Toxic Spikes and destroying entry hazards. Tentacruel also possesses a base Speed of 100, an acceptable Special Attack stat and a wide offensive movepool, allowing it to fit on offensive and balanced teams just as well as on stall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tentacruel has an awfully low Defense stat for a support Pokemon. Being weak to the ever-common Earthquake makes this fact even more painfully clear.This is compounded by a weakness to the ever-common move Earthquake. Despite this, Tentacruel is a wonderful support Pokemon and should always be considered if you are in need of a defensive (or even offensive) Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Boiling WaterScald
move 4: Venom ShockVenoshock / Evil EyeHex
item: Leftovers
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 176 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Tentacruel's ability to lay down Toxic Spikes and spin other hazards away, making it a nice addition to stall, semi-stall, and even balanced teams. As an additional bonus, Tentacruel can absorb Toxic Spikes on your side of the field simply by switching in. Its Water /and Poison typing, along with Liquid Ooze, enables it to switch into a variety of attacks andin order to set up hazards or spin them away. Surf is a strong, reliable STAB option. Alternately, Scald's 30% burn rate makes it appealing, in order to offset Tentacruel's poor Defense stat., but Boiling Water's 30% burn rate makes it appealing, especially factoring in Tentacruel's horrid Defense stat. Venom ShockVenoshock is the primary option for the last slot, since its base power doubles if the opponent is poisoned. Evil EyeHex, however, allows you to take on Jellicent, Dusclops and other spinblockers with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Using Speed EVs may seem unorthodox for a defensive Pokemon, but adding 16 EVs in Speed allows Tentacruel to outspeed Adamant Breloom, who iswould otherwise pose a dangerous threat to the jellyfish. The rest of the EVs are allocated in such a way that Tentacruel will bestalmost always survive neutral and NVEresisted physical attacks while retaining its special bulk. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe may be used to ensure that Adamant Blaziken never OHKOs with +2 LO-boosted High Jump Kick. Liquid Ooze allows Tentacruel to switch into the likes of Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, Virizion's Giga Drain, and Whimsicott's Leech Seed (although the latterlast may attempt to Taunt or status Tentacruel). Rain Dish, however, is a viable option if Tentacruel is on a rain team, as it will heal 12.5% of its health every turn.</p>
<p>Tentacruel has a variety of options to use in the fourth slot, especially considering that Venom ShockVenoshock and Evil EyeHex are worthless against Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes. Magic Coat is a nasty surprise against Pokemon who try to Taunt and/or cripple Tentacruel with status, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott. Slime Wave is another option considering many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. On a final note, Tentacruel can run Toxic on the last slot. This may seem redundant in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, but running Toxic allows it to hit Flying-types and levitating switch-ins.Many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. For Flying-types and levitating switch-ins, Slime Wave can be used to attack, or Toxic can be used to spread poison in conjunction with Toxic Spikes.</p>
<p>When considering teammates, fFirst and foremost a spinblocker is required so your precious entry hazards are not blown away. Avoid using Jellicient, given its similar typing to Tentacruel. Dusclops and Spiritomb make ideal partners. Both have excellentstrong defenses and low HP to abuse Pain Split withfor Pain Split abuse. Tentacruel also appreciates physical walls. NattoreiFerrothorn deserves special mention, as it can set up Spikes and Leech Seed, and has excellent synergy with Tentacruel. NattoreiFerrothorn also fits onto a wide variety of teams, making it a universal partner to Tentacruel. Hippowdon and Skarmory are some stall-oriented walls, and both of them can set up additional entry hazards. Balanced teams may find Gliscor as a wonderful teammate, since it easily switches into the Ground- and Electric-type attacks that plague Tentacruel.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a base Speed of 100, Tentacruel is unusually fast for a defensive Pokemon. This set attempts to take advantage of that speed and surprise the opponent. Tentacruel can also utilize supportive moves in an offensive set, enabling it to be a team supporter and an offensive threat at the same time. Hydro Pump is a powerful STAB move and can easily dent Pokemon who do not resist it. Giga Drain works well in conjunction with Hydro Pump by hitting most Water-types for super effective damage. In addition, the attack heals Tentacruel, easing offthe impact of Life Orb recoil. If opposing Water-types are of no concern, you may opt to use Toxic Spikes instead to help out team members. Ice Beam allows Tentacruel to severly damage Gliscor and Dragonite, who are outsped,With Ice Beam, Tentacruel can outspeed and severely damage Gliscor and Dragonite, and nail any Garchomp and Landorus switch-ins. Ice Beam also hits Grass-type Pokemon trying to come in on Hydro Pump. Finally, Rapid Spin in the last slot allows Tentacruel to spin away anyclear entry hazards from the field.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed in this set are fairly straightforward. Maximum Speed and Special Attack, along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb, enables Tentacruel to outspeed many Pokemon and hit them hard. Liquid Ooze is a fantastic ability on this set as it enables Tentacruel to switch into Conkeldurr, Virizion, Whimsicott, and other Pokemon who commonly use HP-draining moves. It may seem strange that this set is not running any Poison-type moves for STAB, but the reality is that Poison is a woefully horrible offensive typing. The only Pokemon who are hit for super effective damage are already battered by Ice Beam, which hits more threats than Poison-type moves. However, Acid Bomb is a notable exception, as its ability to sharply decrease the foe's Special Defense enables Tentacruel to be a phazer and a more efficient sweeper.</p>
<p>When choosing teammates for Tentacruel, keep in mind that this set plays differently from other offensive rapid spinners, such as Starmie and Excadrill. This set uses its ability to switch into special attacks with ease, as well as destroying Toxic Spikes immediately, to the fullest extent.This set exploits its twin abilities to switch into special attacks and absorb Toxic Spikes. Good teammates should take advantage of thatthese. For instance, consider Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion enjoys the lackabsence of Toxic Spikes and can easily take on the Ground and Electric-type moves that plague Tentacruel will attract. Pokemon who enjoy a lack of Stealth Rock on their side, such as Salamence and UlgamothVolcarona, also make nice teammates. The biggest threats to Tentacruel are those that can foes which outspeed it and KO with a super-effective move. Garchomp, Landorus, and Pokemon wieldingholding a Choice Scarf (such as Haxorus) can deal with it easily. For this reason, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Skarmory make wonderful teammates. If not running Giga Drain, bulky Water-types can pose a challenge if Toxic Spikes are not out. Virizion, Ferrothorn, and Celebi can easily set up against those Pokemon. Ferrothorn itself can be a huge problem for Tentacruel to face, but there are many Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Conkeldurr, Scizor, and Hidden Power Fire Latios.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Tentacruel has a wide varietyofvariety of supportive moves to choose from. Hidden Power Fire can be useful for hitting Ferrothorn, but has poor coverage with its other STAB moves. Confuse Ray and Mirror Coat can be useful for causing additional damage, but Tentacruel usually has better options to run. Besides, most attacks aimed at Tentacruel are physical. Haze may appear useful, but given Tentacruel's mediocre HP and Defense stats, you probably won't get to use it before being knocked out. Magic Coat is a decent option if Tentacruel has an open moveslot, as it punishes Pokemon trying to Taunt it.</p>
[Checks & Counters]
<p>Simply put, any Pokemon who is immune to Toxic Spikes and carries Earthquake (or some other super-effective move) can be listed as a counter to Tentacruel. Examples of these Pokemon include Gyarados, Metagross, Reuiniclus, and Latios. Some Pokemon, such as Gliscor and Landorus, will have to be aware of Ice Beam and Surf/Hydro Pump, but once these Pokemon switch in, they can easily wreak havoc. Tentacruel also has trouble willwith specially defensive walls. Ferrothorn and Jirachi, for example, can easily take on its attacks with their bulk and proceed to cripple it or set up entry hazards. In addition, Pokemon who either are immune to Toxic Spikes or have a way of removing the statuswho are unconcerned about being poisoned love to set up on it. Cobalion, Gyarados, and ChestoRest Kingdra are a few examples.</p>
<p>"Support" is the first word that pops in the head of many players when they see Tentacruel. They are correct, as TentacruelisTentacruel is very capable in a variety of support roles, including laying down Toxic Spikes and destroying entry hazards. Tentacruel also possesses a base Speed of 100, an acceptable Special Attack stat and a wide offensive movepool, allowing it to fit on offensive and balanced teams just as well as on stall.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Tentacruel has an awfully low Defense stat for a support Pokemon. Being weak to the ever-common Earthquake makes this fact even more painfully clear.This is compounded by a weakness to the ever-common move Earthquake. Despite this, Tentacruel is a wonderful support Pokemon and should always be considered if you are in need of a defensive (or even offensive) Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Spikes
move 1: Toxic Spikes
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Surf / Boiling WaterScald
move 4: Venom ShockVenoshock / Evil EyeHex
item: Leftovers
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 176 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Tentacruel's ability to lay down Toxic Spikes and spin other hazards away, making it a nice addition to stall, semi-stall, and even balanced teams. As an additional bonus, Tentacruel can absorb Toxic Spikes on your side of the field simply by switching in. Its Water /and Poison typing, along with Liquid Ooze, enables it to switch into a variety of attacks andin order to set up hazards or spin them away. Surf is a strong, reliable STAB option. Alternately, Scald's 30% burn rate makes it appealing, in order to offset Tentacruel's poor Defense stat., but Boiling Water's 30% burn rate makes it appealing, especially factoring in Tentacruel's horrid Defense stat. Venom ShockVenoshock is the primary option for the last slot, since its base power doubles if the opponent is poisoned. Evil EyeHex, however, allows you to take on Jellicent, Dusclops and other spinblockers with ease.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Using Speed EVs may seem unorthodox for a defensive Pokemon, but adding 16 EVs in Speed allows Tentacruel to outspeed Adamant Breloom, who iswould otherwise pose a dangerous threat to the jellyfish. The rest of the EVs are allocated in such a way that Tentacruel will bestalmost always survive neutral and NVEresisted physical attacks while retaining its special bulk. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe may be used to ensure that Adamant Blaziken never OHKOs with +2 LO-boosted High Jump Kick. Liquid Ooze allows Tentacruel to switch into the likes of Conkeldurr's Drain Punch, Virizion's Giga Drain, and Whimsicott's Leech Seed (although the latterlast may attempt to Taunt or status Tentacruel). Rain Dish, however, is a viable option if Tentacruel is on a rain team, as it will heal 12.5% of its health every turn.</p>
<p>Tentacruel has a variety of options to use in the fourth slot, especially considering that Venom ShockVenoshock and Evil EyeHex are worthless against Pokemon who are immune to Toxic Spikes. Magic Coat is a nasty surprise against Pokemon who try to Taunt and/or cripple Tentacruel with status, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott. Slime Wave is another option considering many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. On a final note, Tentacruel can run Toxic on the last slot. This may seem redundant in conjunction with Toxic Spikes, but running Toxic allows it to hit Flying-types and levitating switch-ins.Many common switch-ins to Tentacruel are not affected by Toxic Spikes. For Flying-types and levitating switch-ins, Slime Wave can be used to attack, or Toxic can be used to spread poison in conjunction with Toxic Spikes.</p>
<p>When considering teammates, fFirst and foremost a spinblocker is required so your precious entry hazards are not blown away. Avoid using Jellicient, given its similar typing to Tentacruel. Dusclops and Spiritomb make ideal partners. Both have excellentstrong defenses and low HP to abuse Pain Split withfor Pain Split abuse. Tentacruel also appreciates physical walls. NattoreiFerrothorn deserves special mention, as it can set up Spikes and Leech Seed, and has excellent synergy with Tentacruel. NattoreiFerrothorn also fits onto a wide variety of teams, making it a universal partner to Tentacruel. Hippowdon and Skarmory are some stall-oriented walls, and both of them can set up additional entry hazards. Balanced teams may find Gliscor as a wonderful teammate, since it easily switches into the Ground- and Electric-type attacks that plague Tentacruel.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb
ability: Liquid Ooze
ivs: 29 HP
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a base Speed of 100, Tentacruel is unusually fast for a defensive Pokemon. This set attempts to take advantage of that speed and surprise the opponent. Tentacruel can also utilize supportive moves in an offensive set, enabling it to be a team supporter and an offensive threat at the same time. Hydro Pump is a powerful STAB move and can easily dent Pokemon who do not resist it. Giga Drain works well in conjunction with Hydro Pump by hitting most Water-types for super effective damage. In addition, the attack heals Tentacruel, easing offthe impact of Life Orb recoil. If opposing Water-types are of no concern, you may opt to use Toxic Spikes instead to help out team members. Ice Beam allows Tentacruel to severly damage Gliscor and Dragonite, who are outsped,With Ice Beam, Tentacruel can outspeed and severely damage Gliscor and Dragonite, and nail any Garchomp and Landorus switch-ins. Ice Beam also hits Grass-type Pokemon trying to come in on Hydro Pump. Finally, Rapid Spin in the last slot allows Tentacruel to spin away anyclear entry hazards from the field.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs listed in this set are fairly straightforward. Maximum Speed and Special Attack, along with a Timid nature and a Life Orb, enables Tentacruel to outspeed many Pokemon and hit them hard. Liquid Ooze is a fantastic ability on this set as it enables Tentacruel to switch into Conkeldurr, Virizion, Whimsicott, and other Pokemon who commonly use HP-draining moves. It may seem strange that this set is not running any Poison-type moves for STAB, but the reality is that Poison is a woefully horrible offensive typing. The only Pokemon who are hit for super effective damage are already battered by Ice Beam, which hits more threats than Poison-type moves. However, Acid Bomb is a notable exception, as its ability to sharply decrease the foe's Special Defense enables Tentacruel to be a phazer and a more efficient sweeper.</p>
<p>When choosing teammates for Tentacruel, keep in mind that this set plays differently from other offensive rapid spinners, such as Starmie and Excadrill. This set uses its ability to switch into special attacks with ease, as well as destroying Toxic Spikes immediately, to the fullest extent.This set exploits its twin abilities to switch into special attacks and absorb Toxic Spikes. Good teammates should take advantage of thatthese. For instance, consider Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion enjoys the lackabsence of Toxic Spikes and can easily take on the Ground and Electric-type moves that plague Tentacruel will attract. Pokemon who enjoy a lack of Stealth Rock on their side, such as Salamence and UlgamothVolcarona, also make nice teammates. The biggest threats to Tentacruel are those that can foes which outspeed it and KO with a super-effective move. Garchomp, Landorus, and Pokemon wieldingholding a Choice Scarf (such as Haxorus) can deal with it easily. For this reason, physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor and Skarmory make wonderful teammates. If not running Giga Drain, bulky Water-types can pose a challenge if Toxic Spikes are not out. Virizion, Ferrothorn, and Celebi can easily set up against those Pokemon. Ferrothorn itself can be a huge problem for Tentacruel to face, but there are many Pokemon who can deal with it, such as Conkeldurr, Scizor, and Hidden Power Fire Latios.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Tentacruel has a wide varietyofvariety of supportive moves to choose from. Hidden Power Fire can be useful for hitting Ferrothorn, but has poor coverage with its other STAB moves. Confuse Ray and Mirror Coat can be useful for causing additional damage, but Tentacruel usually has better options to run. Besides, most attacks aimed at Tentacruel are physical. Haze may appear useful, but given Tentacruel's mediocre HP and Defense stats, you probably won't get to use it before being knocked out. Magic Coat is a decent option if Tentacruel has an open moveslot, as it punishes Pokemon trying to Taunt it.</p>
[Checks & Counters]
<p>Simply put, any Pokemon who is immune to Toxic Spikes and carries Earthquake (or some other super-effective move) can be listed as a counter to Tentacruel. Examples of these Pokemon include Gyarados, Metagross, Reuiniclus, and Latios. Some Pokemon, such as Gliscor and Landorus, will have to be aware of Ice Beam and Surf/Hydro Pump, but once these Pokemon switch in, they can easily wreak havoc. Tentacruel also has trouble willwith specially defensive walls. Ferrothorn and Jirachi, for example, can easily take on its attacks with their bulk and proceed to cripple it or set up entry hazards. In addition, Pokemon who either are immune to Toxic Spikes or have a way of removing the statuswho are unconcerned about being poisoned love to set up on it. Cobalion, Gyarados, and ChestoRest Kingdra are a few examples.</p>
A quick note:
The intended edit was:
I know it's kind of hard to read with the diff machine formatting in there.
Some other minor spot edits and random thoughts, while I'm here...
Just a wordiness issue here. You'll only ever do one or the other, never both in any reasonable situation.
May want to mention the poor ground type synergy, though.
Or specially defensive tanks which can take anything it can dish out and set up in its face. I don't see what it can do to Reuniclus or CMRachi, and neither of these are mentioned in the analysis. Certainly not an insurmountable obstacle, but the Offensive set seems to be focused entirely on offensive counters while omitting defensive counters entirely.