[OVERVIEW]
Poison
========
Tentacruel is a surprising option on Poison teams, as Toxapex's incredible bulk and longevity completely outclasses it as a defensive wall in a majority of situations. However, Tentacruel has enough unique tools such that it could be worth considering over Toxapex should a more proactive Water-type threat be needed.
[SET]
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Name: Real Squid [Rapid Spin] (Poison)
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe or 252 HP / 16 SpD / 240 Spe
Timid / Calm Nature
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Flip Turn
- Knock Off / Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
Tentacruel finds a niche on Poison teams thanks to a flurry of unique traits over its competition in Toxapex such as a vastly superior Speed stat and tools such as Rapid Spin, which makes Tentacruel the only form of entry hazard removal on Poison teams not weak to Steel-type attacks, (AC) allowing it to comfortably spin against foes such as Corviknight and Empoleon. Flip Turn allows Tentacruel to easily pivot out on foes such as Hisuian Samurott, Terapagos, and Gliscor. Knock Off is used in the final slot as a solid progress-making option, removing items from foes such as Skarmory and Gholdengo. However, Protect can be used to gain Black Sludge recovery and scout moves from foes. The defensive EVs for each spread provide different defensive benefits; the physically defensive spread with a Timid nature allows Tentacruel to survive an Earthquake from Gliscor and Dragonite, while the specially defensive spread with a Calm nature allows it to beat offensive Heatran and Iron Moth with Surf along with being able to reliably use Knock Off against Flutter Mane. The Speed EVs for both spreads allow Tentacruel to outspeed fully invested Pokemon with base 85 Speed such as Ceruledge, Terapagos, and Kleavor, allowing Tentacruel to reliably pivot out against them or threaten them with Surf and Knock Off.
Amoonguss serves a solid defensive complement to Tentacruel, being able to handle Ground- and Electric-types such as Great Tusk, Sandy Shocks, and Rotom-W along with putting foes to sleep with Spore, allowing Tentacruel to come in safely and use Rapid Spin. Pecharunt provides solid defensive support by taking on powerful physical attackers like Azumarill, Gouging Fire, and Hisuain Arcanine. Overqwil enjoys Tentacruel's entry hazard removal not taking away Overqwil's hazards, and it supports Tentacruel by taking on threats such as Iron Boulder and Gallade. Alolan Muk handles special attackers such as Espathra, Flutter Mane, and Terapagos. Galarian Slowking can handle high-power special threats such as Zapdos, Latios, and Choice Specs Iron Moth. Iron Moth appreciates Tentacruel removing entry hazards and pivoting it in with Flip Turn; in response, can handle threats such as Alolan Ninetales, Gholdengo, and Articuno. Galarian Weezing appreciates Tentacruel's Rapid Spin allowing it to drop Defog, and in return, it provides a proper Ground immunity with Levitate and can take on threats such as Garchomp, Dragonite, and Iron Hands with Will-O-Wisp and Strange Steam. Okidogi and Sneasler can threaten Steel- and Dark-types like Hisuian Goodra, Empoleon, Hisuian Samurott, and Hydreigon; Sneasler can pivot Tentacruel in safely via U-turn along with handling targets like Hoopa-U and Ogerpon-H, while Okidogi can use Bulk Up and beat threats such as Archaludon and Cloyster.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison
-----------
Ice Beam can be used over Knock Off and Protect to give Tentacruel more offensive pressure, allowing it to check threats like Adamant Dragonite after chip damage and Gliscor. Toxic can be used with Tentacruel's Speed to spread poison before going down.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pengairxan.622813/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Poison
========
Tentacruel is a surprising option on Poison teams, as Toxapex's incredible bulk and longevity completely outclasses it as a defensive wall in a majority of situations. However, Tentacruel has enough unique tools such that it could be worth considering over Toxapex should a more proactive Water-type threat be needed.
[SET]
Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Name: Real Squid [Rapid Spin] (Poison)
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe or 252 HP / 16 SpD / 240 Spe
Timid / Calm Nature
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Flip Turn
- Knock Off / Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
Tentacruel finds a niche on Poison teams thanks to a flurry of unique traits over its competition in Toxapex such as a vastly superior Speed stat and tools such as Rapid Spin, which makes Tentacruel the only form of entry hazard removal on Poison teams not weak to Steel-type attacks, (AC) allowing it to comfortably spin against foes such as Corviknight and Empoleon. Flip Turn allows Tentacruel to easily pivot out on foes such as Hisuian Samurott, Terapagos, and Gliscor. Knock Off is used in the final slot as a solid progress-making option, removing items from foes such as Skarmory and Gholdengo. However, Protect can be used to gain Black Sludge recovery and scout moves from foes. The defensive EVs for each spread provide different defensive benefits; the physically defensive spread with a Timid nature allows Tentacruel to survive an Earthquake from Gliscor and Dragonite, while the specially defensive spread with a Calm nature allows it to beat offensive Heatran and Iron Moth with Surf along with being able to reliably use Knock Off against Flutter Mane. The Speed EVs for both spreads allow Tentacruel to outspeed fully invested Pokemon with base 85 Speed such as Ceruledge, Terapagos, and Kleavor, allowing Tentacruel to reliably pivot out against them or threaten them with Surf and Knock Off.
Amoonguss serves a solid defensive complement to Tentacruel, being able to handle Ground- and Electric-types such as Great Tusk, Sandy Shocks, and Rotom-W along with putting foes to sleep with Spore, allowing Tentacruel to come in safely and use Rapid Spin. Pecharunt provides solid defensive support by taking on powerful physical attackers like Azumarill, Gouging Fire, and Hisuain Arcanine. Overqwil enjoys Tentacruel's entry hazard removal not taking away Overqwil's hazards, and it supports Tentacruel by taking on threats such as Iron Boulder and Gallade. Alolan Muk handles special attackers such as Espathra, Flutter Mane, and Terapagos. Galarian Slowking can handle high-power special threats such as Zapdos, Latios, and Choice Specs Iron Moth. Iron Moth appreciates Tentacruel removing entry hazards and pivoting it in with Flip Turn; in response, can handle threats such as Alolan Ninetales, Gholdengo, and Articuno. Galarian Weezing appreciates Tentacruel's Rapid Spin allowing it to drop Defog, and in return, it provides a proper Ground immunity with Levitate and can take on threats such as Garchomp, Dragonite, and Iron Hands with Will-O-Wisp and Strange Steam. Okidogi and Sneasler can threaten Steel- and Dark-types like Hisuian Goodra, Empoleon, Hisuian Samurott, and Hydreigon; Sneasler can pivot Tentacruel in safely via U-turn along with handling targets like Hoopa-U and Ogerpon-H, while Okidogi can use Bulk Up and beat threats such as Archaludon and Cloyster.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison
-----------
Ice Beam can be used over Knock Off and Protect to give Tentacruel more offensive pressure, allowing it to check threats like Adamant Dragonite after chip damage and Gliscor. Toxic can be used with Tentacruel's Speed to spread poison before going down.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pengairxan.622813/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
