[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-8 points
**Overview**: Toxtricity can be a potent wallbreaker and sweeper thanks to its access to Boomburst and its signature move, Overdrive. Its offensive capabilities and price point make it a great option for a secondary Tera Captain. It also has a surprisingly deep support movepool, allowing it to support its teammates with moves such as Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and Nuzzle on occasion. It is held back by its awkward Speed tier, poor bulk, and relative lack of power when using moves not boosted by Punk Rock. Additionally, its typing gives it a 4x weakness to Ground, making it often reliant on Tera to find space to set up.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: When boosted by Punk Rock, Toxtricity's Boomburst becomes devastatingly powerful, allowing it to punch through teams that struggle resisting it. Its good offensive STAB combination and access to Volt Switch makes it extremely difficult for foes to switch into, even for teams with a solid Boomburst answer. These sets are usually paired with a damage-boosting item, but they can also use a Choice Scarf to patch up Toxtricity's Speed tier and find more entry points at the expense of some damage.
**Setup Sweeper**: With Shift Gear, Toxtricity can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and clean up once its checks have been weakened. However, its poor bulk makes it extremely difficult to find opportunities to set up, and the damage it takes while setting up often leaves it in range of priority attacks. Since it lacks a move to boost its Special Attack, these sets commonly use Throat Spray to gain a boost after attacking with Boomburst or Overdrive.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Overdrive, Volt Switch, Sludge Wave, Discharge, Sludge Bomb, Gunk Shot
**Setup Moves**: Shift Gear
**Utility Moves**: Toxic Spikes, Taunt, Encore, Nuzzle, Substitute
**Coverage**: Boomburst, Psychic Noise, Snarl, Hex, Stored Power
Niche Moves
========
**Physical Coverage**: With a workable base Attack stat and Shift Gear boosting it further, setup sets can use physical attacks such as Drain Punch and Fire Punch to break through specially defensive checks and Pokemon weak to its physical coverage.
**Metal Sound / Acid Spray**: Metal Sound and Acid Spray can be used to break through checks by halving their Special Defense. Additionally, Metal Sound works well with Throat Spray as another way to boost Toxtricity's Special Attack.
**Thunderbolt**: While usually outclassed by Overdrive, Thunderbolt is occasionally useful to hit Pokemon with the ability Soundproof.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs gives Toxtricity immediate wallbreaking power, letting it score OHKOs and 2HKOs on anything but Ghost-types and particularly bulky Normal-resistant Pokemon, even without Tera.
**Choice Scarf**: Toxtricity's awkward Speed tier often makes it difficult to position versus offensive teams, so Choice Scarf can be used to give it more entry points (RC) while also allowing it to function as a revenge killer and cleaner.
**Throat Spray**: Throat Spray is often the item of choice on setup sets, as it can give Toxtricity the power it needs to sweep while simultaneously attacking.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Air Balloon temporarily turns Toxtricity's 4x Ground weakness into an immunity, granting it a crucial turn to set up or attack.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Toxtricity can use damage-boosting items such as Silk Scarf, Magnet, and Life Orb on both all-out attacking and setup sets to hit certain damage benchmarks.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: While Toxtricity usually prefers a damage-boosting item, Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on pivot sets to stay healthy when entry hazards are up.
**Assault Vest**: Although Toxtricity has poor natural bulk, its resistances combined with an Assault Vest can let it check some special attackers and support its teammates with Volt Switch and Nuzzle.
**Focus Sash**: If Toxtricity is used as a lead or if the field is kept clear of entry hazards, Focus Sash can be used to guarantee a turn to set Toxic Spikes, cripple a foe with Nuzzle or Endeavor, or potentially set up.
Tera
========
Toxtricity is a good choice for a secondary Tera Captain, as it benefits significantly from the ability to Terastallize, and its price allows it to be paired with a top-tier Tera Captain. Tera Normal is a common choice on both wallbreaking and setup sets, as it boosts Boomburst to nuclear levels in addition to shedding its crippling 4x weakness to Ground. Wallbreaking sets may also opt for Tera Electric to boost Overdrive and Volt Switch, while setup sets can use Tera types such as Tera Water and Ghost to improve its defensive typingor and gain access to new coverage.
Draft Strategy
========
Toxtricity can function well as a wallbreaker and sweeper, but its poor bulk, awkward Speed tier, and unfortunate defensive typing mean it needs heavy support to perform. In particular, it appreciates pivots to get it on the field and a defensive core to fall back on. It should also be paired with other options for wallbreaking and sweeping so it can be flexible in its sets.
**Bulky Pivots**: Due to its lack of bulk, Toxtricity is reliant on its teammates to get it on the field safely. It is also easily forced out by faster foes, so it needs teammates that can take attacks aimed at it. Bulky pivots like Landorus-T, Corviknight, and Alomomola make excellent partners.
**Speed Control**: Toxtricity excels at breaking down bulkier foes, but it often gets KOed by most faster offensive Pokemon. It should therefore be paired with fast teammates of its own such as Meowscarada, Greninja, and Tornadus-T, which in turn appreciate Toxtricity's wallbreaking power.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Toxtricity appreciates being paired with teammates that can help break through specially defensive walls or soften up the opposing team so that it can sweep. Strong physical attackers like Urshifu-S, Iron Hands, and Ogerpon-W pressure the Pokemon that can handle Toxtricity, making them excellent partners for it.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Tanks / Assault Vest**: While Toxtricity can 2HKO many Pokemon that try to switch in, its frailty means it is easily KOed by specially defensive Pokemon or Assault Vest users that can stay in and stomach a hit.
**Faster Pokemon**: Toxtricity is often slower than and threatened offensively by the majority of the opposing team, making it difficult to position. Even when holding a Choice Scarf, it is slower than most other Choice Scarf and Booster Energy users.
**Throat Chop / Soundproof**: Toxtricity is reliant on its sound moves to do damage, so any way of ignoring them renders it useless. Throat Chop is widely distributed, so faster Pokemon like Zarude, Hisuian Samurott, and Sneasler can adjust their typical Dark-type coverage to neuter Toxtricity before it has the chance to attack.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wughead.622647
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 7-8 points
**Overview**: Toxtricity can be a potent wallbreaker and sweeper thanks to its access to Boomburst and its signature move, Overdrive. Its offensive capabilities and price point make it a great option for a secondary Tera Captain. It also has a surprisingly deep support movepool, allowing it to support its teammates with moves such as Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and Nuzzle on occasion. It is held back by its awkward Speed tier, poor bulk, and relative lack of power when using moves not boosted by Punk Rock. Additionally, its typing gives it a 4x weakness to Ground, making it often reliant on Tera to find space to set up.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: When boosted by Punk Rock, Toxtricity's Boomburst becomes devastatingly powerful, allowing it to punch through teams that struggle resisting it. Its good offensive STAB combination and access to Volt Switch makes it extremely difficult for foes to switch into, even for teams with a solid Boomburst answer. These sets are usually paired with a damage-boosting item, but they can also use a Choice Scarf to patch up Toxtricity's Speed tier and find more entry points at the expense of some damage.
**Setup Sweeper**: With Shift Gear, Toxtricity can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and clean up once its checks have been weakened. However, its poor bulk makes it extremely difficult to find opportunities to set up, and the damage it takes while setting up often leaves it in range of priority attacks. Since it lacks a move to boost its Special Attack, these sets commonly use Throat Spray to gain a boost after attacking with Boomburst or Overdrive.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Overdrive, Volt Switch, Sludge Wave, Discharge, Sludge Bomb, Gunk Shot
**Setup Moves**: Shift Gear
**Utility Moves**: Toxic Spikes, Taunt, Encore, Nuzzle, Substitute
**Coverage**: Boomburst, Psychic Noise, Snarl, Hex, Stored Power
Niche Moves
========
**Physical Coverage**: With a workable base Attack stat and Shift Gear boosting it further, setup sets can use physical attacks such as Drain Punch and Fire Punch to break through specially defensive checks and Pokemon weak to its physical coverage.
**Metal Sound / Acid Spray**: Metal Sound and Acid Spray can be used to break through checks by halving their Special Defense. Additionally, Metal Sound works well with Throat Spray as another way to boost Toxtricity's Special Attack.
**Thunderbolt**: While usually outclassed by Overdrive, Thunderbolt is occasionally useful to hit Pokemon with the ability Soundproof.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs gives Toxtricity immediate wallbreaking power, letting it score OHKOs and 2HKOs on anything but Ghost-types and particularly bulky Normal-resistant Pokemon, even without Tera.
**Choice Scarf**: Toxtricity's awkward Speed tier often makes it difficult to position versus offensive teams, so Choice Scarf can be used to give it more entry points (RC) while also allowing it to function as a revenge killer and cleaner.
**Throat Spray**: Throat Spray is often the item of choice on setup sets, as it can give Toxtricity the power it needs to sweep while simultaneously attacking.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Air Balloon temporarily turns Toxtricity's 4x Ground weakness into an immunity, granting it a crucial turn to set up or attack.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Toxtricity can use damage-boosting items such as Silk Scarf, Magnet, and Life Orb on both all-out attacking and setup sets to hit certain damage benchmarks.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: While Toxtricity usually prefers a damage-boosting item, Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on pivot sets to stay healthy when entry hazards are up.
**Assault Vest**: Although Toxtricity has poor natural bulk, its resistances combined with an Assault Vest can let it check some special attackers and support its teammates with Volt Switch and Nuzzle.
**Focus Sash**: If Toxtricity is used as a lead or if the field is kept clear of entry hazards, Focus Sash can be used to guarantee a turn to set Toxic Spikes, cripple a foe with Nuzzle or Endeavor, or potentially set up.
Tera
========
Toxtricity is a good choice for a secondary Tera Captain, as it benefits significantly from the ability to Terastallize, and its price allows it to be paired with a top-tier Tera Captain. Tera Normal is a common choice on both wallbreaking and setup sets, as it boosts Boomburst to nuclear levels in addition to shedding its crippling 4x weakness to Ground. Wallbreaking sets may also opt for Tera Electric to boost Overdrive and Volt Switch, while setup sets can use Tera types such as Tera Water and Ghost to improve its defensive typing
Draft Strategy
========
Toxtricity can function well as a wallbreaker and sweeper, but its poor bulk, awkward Speed tier, and unfortunate defensive typing mean it needs heavy support to perform. In particular, it appreciates pivots to get it on the field and a defensive core to fall back on. It should also be paired with other options for wallbreaking and sweeping so it can be flexible in its sets.
**Bulky Pivots**: Due to its lack of bulk, Toxtricity is reliant on its teammates to get it on the field safely. It is also easily forced out by faster foes, so it needs teammates that can take attacks aimed at it. Bulky pivots like Landorus-T, Corviknight, and Alomomola make excellent partners.
**Speed Control**: Toxtricity excels at breaking down bulkier foes, but it often gets KOed by most faster offensive Pokemon. It should therefore be paired with fast teammates of its own such as Meowscarada, Greninja, and Tornadus-T, which in turn appreciate Toxtricity's wallbreaking power.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Toxtricity appreciates being paired with teammates that can help break through specially defensive walls or soften up the opposing team so that it can sweep. Strong physical attackers like Urshifu-S, Iron Hands, and Ogerpon-W pressure the Pokemon that can handle Toxtricity, making them excellent partners for it.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Tanks / Assault Vest**: While Toxtricity can 2HKO many Pokemon that try to switch in, its frailty means it is easily KOed by specially defensive Pokemon or Assault Vest users that can stay in and stomach a hit.
**Faster Pokemon**: Toxtricity is often slower than and threatened offensively by the majority of the opposing team, making it difficult to position. Even when holding a Choice Scarf, it is slower than most other Choice Scarf and Booster Energy users.
**Throat Chop / Soundproof**: Toxtricity is reliant on its sound moves to do damage, so any way of ignoring them renders it useless. Throat Chop is widely distributed, so faster Pokemon like Zarude, Hisuian Samurott, and Sneasler can adjust their typical Dark-type coverage to neuter Toxtricity before it has the chance to attack.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wughead.622647
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
