[OVERVIEW]
Toxicroak stands out for having the rare combination of Dry Skin and a great typing both offensively and defensively, which makes it the premier switch-in to Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, Paldean Tauros-W, Basculegion, and Inteleon. Toxicroak is also less susceptible to being revenge killed after it has set up; its access to priority moves makes it a lot harder to revenge kill despite its middling Speed. However, Toxicroak's biggest problem is its frailty; if it switches into any non-Water-type attack from these threats, it gets easily 2HKOed, but Toxicroak's good defensive typing gives it more opportunities to set up against foes like Vileplume, Choice Scarf Mienshao, and Tsareena. Toxicroak also struggles against physically defensive Ground- and Poison-types like Palossand, Galarian Slowbro, and Dragalge, as they can take both of its STAB attacks and proceed to threaten Toxicroak back with their own STAB moves. Additionally, Toxicroak also faces Fighting-type competition with Mienshao and Breloom, which are both stronger, making them more consistent at times.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat / Drain Punch
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Close Combat is the preferred STAB option, allowing Toxicroak to 2HKO defensive walls like Alolan Muk and Klefki with Stealth Rock. Alternatively, Drain Punch helps provide more longevity against foes like Alolan Muk and Swampert, and it can counteract Life Orb chip if needed. Sucker Punch helps Toxicroak pick off revenge killers and weakened threats alike such as Munkidori and Flygon; Tera Dark allows Toxicroak to OHKO foes like Inteleon and Kilowattrel after a Swords Dance boost. Both Knock Off and Earthquake can be run in the last moveslot to hit checks like Palossand, Galarian Slowbro, and Dragalge harder, but Toxicroak's low Speed makes it prefer a priority move in most situations. A Jolly nature lets Toxicroak to outspeed foes like Heracross and Chandelure, but an Adamant nature provides it a bit more wallbreaking power. Leftovers is the preferred item for Toxicroak, providing it needed recovery and letting it continually cone in and check bulky Water-types. However, Life Orb provides Toxicroak a bit more extra wallbreaking power.
Toxicroak best pairs with Pokemon that lure in bulkier Water-types such as Vaporeon and Milotic, so good partners would be Water-types like Inteleon and Basculegion and Fire-types like Incineroar and Talonflame, as all of them are able to pivot and give it a free switch into the aforementioned bulky Water-types. Inteleon is a noteworthy partner, as it checks the common Ground- and Fire-types like Flygon, Gligar, and Chandelure, and it can actually pivot on Water-immune Pokemon thanks to its access to U-turn, helping Inteleon keep up momentum. In return, Toxicroak can take advantage of bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Vaporeon, Tentacruel, and Tsareena. Toxicroak gets threatened by Psychic-types such as Indeedee-M, Meloetta, and Munkidori, so it pairs well with Dark- and Steel-types like Umbreon, Incineroar, and Bronzong that check the aforementioned Psychic-types. Poison-types like Dragalge and Galarian Slowbro can cause many problems for Toxicroak, making Psychic- and Ground-types like Meloetta, Flygon, and Swampert great partners. Ground-immune Pokemon like Talonflame, Rotom-C, and Bronzong are great partners for Toxicroak, as they are able to check Ground-types such as Flygon and Swampert. Toxicroak also appreciates Water- and Rock-types like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Diancie to consistently switch into Fire-types like Chandelure, Infernape, and Hisuian Typhlosion.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Dark Pulse / Vacuum Wave
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark / Fighting
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Dark Pulse hits Psychic- and Ghost-types like Galarian Slowbro, Chandelure, and Basculegion that would resist or be immune to its STAB attacks. Vacuum Wave can be used over Dark Pulse, allowing Toxicroak to KO revenge killers like Porygon-Z, Flygon, and Inteleon. A Timid nature allows Toxicroak to outspeed foes like non-Choice Scarf Chandelure and Basculegion, but a Modest nature allows it to OHKO foes like Swampert with a +2 Focus Blast. Life Orb is preferred for its immediate power, allowing Toxicroak to always 2HKO foes like Swampert and Sylveon, but Leftovers can provide Toxicroak needed recovery over a course of the battle. Tera Dark boosts the power of Dark Pulse while giving Toxicroak an immunity to Psychic-type attacks from Meloetta and Munkidori. Tera Fighting gives both Toxicroak's Focus Blast and Vacuum Wave a extra power boost, allowing it to 2HKO foes like Alolan Muk, Registeel, and Diancie and pick foes off from higher health.
Toxicroak pairs well with pivots like Inteleon, Flygon, and Incineroar, as they can bring in foes like Vaporeon, Vileplume, and Alolan Muk and give Toxicroak a free opportunity to set up. Faster Pokemon like Talonflame, Flygon, and Munkidori outspeed and destroy Toxicroak. Thus, it pairs with defensive walls like Vaporeon, Tsareena, and Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro to handle the aforementioned Pokemon. Toxicroak synergies best with Steel- and Dark-types like Bronzong, Umbreon, and Incineroar, as they can check Psychic-types such as Munkidori, Indeedee-M, and Meloetta. In return, Toxicroak can pressure and take advantage of the Fighting- and Fairy-types like Sylveon, Florges, and Mienshao that give these Pokemon trouble. Ground-types like Flygon, Swampert, and Palossand can tank Toxicroak's unboosted attacks and OHKO it with their Ground-type STAB moves. Therefore, Toxicroak partners well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Vaporeon, Tsareena, and Vileplume, as they can check the aforementioned Ground-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Scarf Toxicroak can outspeed common threats like Chandelure, Infernape, and Flygon. However, its moves are quite exploitable if locked into, as Pokemon that resist or are immune to its attacks are common. Air Balloon gives Toxicroak a useful immunity to Ground-type attacks, giving it more opportunities to set up. Alternatively, Shuca Berry lets Toxicroak better lure in and damage Flygon and Swampert, as it's discreet; however, the majority of the time, Toxicroak prefers to run other items. Ice Punch allows Toxicroak to hit Ground- and Dragon-types like Gligar, Flygon, and Dragalge, but Toxicroak struggles to fit it. Encore allows Toxicroak to take advantage of bulky setup sweepers and hazard leads like Cresselia, Swampert, and Sylveon by giving it a free opportunity to set up either Swords Dance or Nasty Plot.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Flygon, Swampert, and Gastrodon threaten Toxicroak with their STAB Ground-type attacks, but none of them want to switch into a boosted Close Combat or Focus Blast. Quagsire can shut down Toxicroak's sweeping attempts with Unaware and destroy it with a STAB Earthquake. However, Quagsire fares a bit worse against Nasty Plot Toxicroak. Gligar resists both of Toxicroak's STAB attacks and uses it to set up entry hazards or hits it back with Earthquake. Palossand is especially noteworthy, though, as it blanks Fighting-type attacks, resists Poison-type moves, and doesn't take too much from Sucker Punch.
**Poison-types**: Galarian Slowbro and Dragalge resist both of Toxicroak's STAB attacks, and they can either set up or hit it back with their own STAB attacks.
**Psychic-types**: Munkidori and Meloetta destroy Toxicroak with their powerful STAB attacks. However, none of them want to switch into a boosted Dark Pulse and they can also be picked off by Sucker Punch. Indeedee-M will always win in a one-on-one against Toxicroak due to Psychic Terrain, but it can't switch in.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stories.400664/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Toxicroak stands out for having the rare combination of Dry Skin and a great typing both offensively and defensively, which makes it the premier switch-in to Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, Paldean Tauros-W, Basculegion, and Inteleon. Toxicroak is also less susceptible to being revenge killed after it has set up; its access to priority moves makes it a lot harder to revenge kill despite its middling Speed. However, Toxicroak's biggest problem is its frailty; if it switches into any non-Water-type attack from these threats, it gets easily 2HKOed, but Toxicroak's good defensive typing gives it more opportunities to set up against foes like Vileplume, Choice Scarf Mienshao, and Tsareena. Toxicroak also struggles against physically defensive Ground- and Poison-types like Palossand, Galarian Slowbro, and Dragalge, as they can take both of its STAB attacks and proceed to threaten Toxicroak back with their own STAB moves. Additionally, Toxicroak also faces Fighting-type competition with Mienshao and Breloom, which are both stronger, making them more consistent at times.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat / Drain Punch
move 3: Gunk Shot
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Close Combat is the preferred STAB option, allowing Toxicroak to 2HKO defensive walls like Alolan Muk and Klefki with Stealth Rock. Alternatively, Drain Punch helps provide more longevity against foes like Alolan Muk and Swampert, and it can counteract Life Orb chip if needed. Sucker Punch helps Toxicroak pick off revenge killers and weakened threats alike such as Munkidori and Flygon; Tera Dark allows Toxicroak to OHKO foes like Inteleon and Kilowattrel after a Swords Dance boost. Both Knock Off and Earthquake can be run in the last moveslot to hit checks like Palossand, Galarian Slowbro, and Dragalge harder, but Toxicroak's low Speed makes it prefer a priority move in most situations. A Jolly nature lets Toxicroak to outspeed foes like Heracross and Chandelure, but an Adamant nature provides it a bit more wallbreaking power. Leftovers is the preferred item for Toxicroak, providing it needed recovery and letting it continually cone in and check bulky Water-types. However, Life Orb provides Toxicroak a bit more extra wallbreaking power.
Toxicroak best pairs with Pokemon that lure in bulkier Water-types such as Vaporeon and Milotic, so good partners would be Water-types like Inteleon and Basculegion and Fire-types like Incineroar and Talonflame, as all of them are able to pivot and give it a free switch into the aforementioned bulky Water-types. Inteleon is a noteworthy partner, as it checks the common Ground- and Fire-types like Flygon, Gligar, and Chandelure, and it can actually pivot on Water-immune Pokemon thanks to its access to U-turn, helping Inteleon keep up momentum. In return, Toxicroak can take advantage of bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Vaporeon, Tentacruel, and Tsareena. Toxicroak gets threatened by Psychic-types such as Indeedee-M, Meloetta, and Munkidori, so it pairs well with Dark- and Steel-types like Umbreon, Incineroar, and Bronzong that check the aforementioned Psychic-types. Poison-types like Dragalge and Galarian Slowbro can cause many problems for Toxicroak, making Psychic- and Ground-types like Meloetta, Flygon, and Swampert great partners. Ground-immune Pokemon like Talonflame, Rotom-C, and Bronzong are great partners for Toxicroak, as they are able to check Ground-types such as Flygon and Swampert. Toxicroak also appreciates Water- and Rock-types like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Diancie to consistently switch into Fire-types like Chandelure, Infernape, and Hisuian Typhlosion.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Sludge Wave
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Dark Pulse / Vacuum Wave
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark / Fighting
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Dark Pulse hits Psychic- and Ghost-types like Galarian Slowbro, Chandelure, and Basculegion that would resist or be immune to its STAB attacks. Vacuum Wave can be used over Dark Pulse, allowing Toxicroak to KO revenge killers like Porygon-Z, Flygon, and Inteleon. A Timid nature allows Toxicroak to outspeed foes like non-Choice Scarf Chandelure and Basculegion, but a Modest nature allows it to OHKO foes like Swampert with a +2 Focus Blast. Life Orb is preferred for its immediate power, allowing Toxicroak to always 2HKO foes like Swampert and Sylveon, but Leftovers can provide Toxicroak needed recovery over a course of the battle. Tera Dark boosts the power of Dark Pulse while giving Toxicroak an immunity to Psychic-type attacks from Meloetta and Munkidori. Tera Fighting gives both Toxicroak's Focus Blast and Vacuum Wave a extra power boost, allowing it to 2HKO foes like Alolan Muk, Registeel, and Diancie and pick foes off from higher health.
Toxicroak pairs well with pivots like Inteleon, Flygon, and Incineroar, as they can bring in foes like Vaporeon, Vileplume, and Alolan Muk and give Toxicroak a free opportunity to set up. Faster Pokemon like Talonflame, Flygon, and Munkidori outspeed and destroy Toxicroak. Thus, it pairs with defensive walls like Vaporeon, Tsareena, and Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro to handle the aforementioned Pokemon. Toxicroak synergies best with Steel- and Dark-types like Bronzong, Umbreon, and Incineroar, as they can check Psychic-types such as Munkidori, Indeedee-M, and Meloetta. In return, Toxicroak can pressure and take advantage of the Fighting- and Fairy-types like Sylveon, Florges, and Mienshao that give these Pokemon trouble. Ground-types like Flygon, Swampert, and Palossand can tank Toxicroak's unboosted attacks and OHKO it with their Ground-type STAB moves. Therefore, Toxicroak partners well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Vaporeon, Tsareena, and Vileplume, as they can check the aforementioned Ground-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Scarf Toxicroak can outspeed common threats like Chandelure, Infernape, and Flygon. However, its moves are quite exploitable if locked into, as Pokemon that resist or are immune to its attacks are common. Air Balloon gives Toxicroak a useful immunity to Ground-type attacks, giving it more opportunities to set up. Alternatively, Shuca Berry lets Toxicroak better lure in and damage Flygon and Swampert, as it's discreet; however, the majority of the time, Toxicroak prefers to run other items. Ice Punch allows Toxicroak to hit Ground- and Dragon-types like Gligar, Flygon, and Dragalge, but Toxicroak struggles to fit it. Encore allows Toxicroak to take advantage of bulky setup sweepers and hazard leads like Cresselia, Swampert, and Sylveon by giving it a free opportunity to set up either Swords Dance or Nasty Plot.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Flygon, Swampert, and Gastrodon threaten Toxicroak with their STAB Ground-type attacks, but none of them want to switch into a boosted Close Combat or Focus Blast. Quagsire can shut down Toxicroak's sweeping attempts with Unaware and destroy it with a STAB Earthquake. However, Quagsire fares a bit worse against Nasty Plot Toxicroak. Gligar resists both of Toxicroak's STAB attacks and uses it to set up entry hazards or hits it back with Earthquake. Palossand is especially noteworthy, though, as it blanks Fighting-type attacks, resists Poison-type moves, and doesn't take too much from Sucker Punch.
**Poison-types**: Galarian Slowbro and Dragalge resist both of Toxicroak's STAB attacks, and they can either set up or hit it back with their own STAB attacks.
**Psychic-types**: Munkidori and Meloetta destroy Toxicroak with their powerful STAB attacks. However, none of them want to switch into a boosted Dark Pulse and they can also be picked off by Sucker Punch. Indeedee-M will always win in a one-on-one against Toxicroak due to Psychic Terrain, but it can't switch in.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stories.400664/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
