Edit: I forgot moltres, no set given but for arguements case I'll assume it's one with u-turn here.
I agree with
Twilight here in that the clear definition of a check/counter here needs clarifying. My logic behind my own nomination of blastoise as a check was to define it as,
Check: Doesn't prevent hazards, but can kill froslass without fear of willo or destiny bond, while minimising the amount of spikes froslass can get up. The possibility to rapid spin / defog on whatever comes in after being just a bonus, but they can't actually do it on froslass itself, and it's MU dependent if they actually can after too since the enemy may have something that could 1 shot it after.
Counter: Actively prevents hazards, through a faster taunt, magic bounce, magic coat etc.
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Under those definitions, I would personally have grouped the nominations like this,
Checks: Blastoise, Doublade, AV Slowbro, Infernape, Moltres
Counters: Houndoom, Araquanid, Krookodile
- Personally don't feel that infernape is the best option here since if they see life orb and you leading with it they could highly suspect a slack off and actually taunt you. Scarf infernape would make far more sense siince you'd outspeed the destiny bond unless they icy wind on first turn, in which case you switch as they destiny bond and have max 1 spike again (0 you have another faster mon). So scarf infernape definitely puts a lot more pressure on, and has the option of you just breaking sash with u-turn in general, unlike the 50/50s induced by slack off nape if they suspect it.
- Doublade is an interesting option in that it doesn't fear destiny bond, but the fact froslass could chose to cripple you with willo is worth noting. You will still get the kill from a gyro into a shadow sneak even if burned, and at the same time have prevented hazards, but froslass could actually swap after burning you and try get a spike up later if it wanted, so pursuit on doublade might have been a better choice here possibly?
- The reason I wouldn't call doublade a counter here is that it either gets crippled by burn or allows spikes up, it can't stop both.
- AV Slowbro is more reliable than both of these, since it can play around with future sight and grass knot/ice beam to try and avoid destiny bonds. The problem here is that it technically could still lose out because you are inducing 50/50s here. It is technically possibly for froslass to still come out on top here, by guessing that you future sight, as it gets up a second spike, guessing you do it again as it gets up a 3rd, then killing whatever you stay or swap in to. Of course the option for froslass to actually get 3 spikes exists here, which isn't amazing though.
- Moltres as the best option here is simply to u-turn on turn 1 to break sash and go into something faster to kill or something like scizor with priority. Simple in that it limits it to 1 spike, and takes no collateral damage. Other sets don't have this luxury though, since they induce 50/50s to avoid destiny bond.
- Houndoom is an amazing counter to froslass here, since it outspeeds and taunts, and takes very little damage from icy wind. Nothing more to really say here.
- Araqaunid is also a great option here, since it can just keep magic coat'ing to bounce back taunts, or even better spikes, and if it bounces back a taunt can actually get it's own webs up. I personally will be voting for this over houndoom as it has the option to actually profit from froslass as opposed to just shutting it down.
- I've chosen to put krook as counter here as this froslass is typically designed to be a suicide lead. So yes while it might not like swapping in on an icy wind later, if you have managed to force it to wait a while it's not exactly doing it's job as an HO lead. Also since beat up is very rare it's quite possible the enemy won't suspect it. Outspeeding, going through sash means it satisfies all the criteria I defined at start, since it'll kill froslass before it can get any spikes up or burn you etc.
Under this categorisation, I would personally be voting for Araquanid as counter, and if krook is put as check then krook, if moltres is a u-turning set then Moltres, otherwise AV slowbro as the 50/50s are in your favour massively, more like a 25/75, while doublade would essentially need a cleric on team too to actually not care about that possible burn.
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