Below is an analysis of a Pokemon that is durable enough to fall from 2000+ feet a countless number of times and still remain unscratched for years
[OVERVIEW]
* Instead of using Shadow Tag to trap and revenge kill or PP stall a foe like Mega Gengar, Gothitelle, and Gothorita do, Wobbuffet takes advantage of its superior bulk to retaliate against certain threats after stomaching a heavy hit or leave a foe in an exploitable state by locking it into a move with Encore.
* Wobbuffet's bulk is also noteworthy for being able to ensure that Geomancy Xerneas will be dealt with before it proceeds to annihilate offensive teams, as it survives any boosted attack from full health to retaliate with Mirror Coat or lock Xerneas into any status move it carries.
* Access to Encore also serves as one of the crucial elements to Wobbuffet's viability, as Wobbuffet won't be easily taken advantage of by its checks the same way as Gothitelle and Gothorita, which can be left completely helpless against certain foes. This means Wobbuffet will not be left useless even if weakened and be able to prevent setup or potentially even reverse momentum by locking a foe into a setup move.
* Due to its tiny movepool, horrendous defensive typing, and lack of recovery moves, Wobbuffet's effectiveness is quite limited as a bulky trapper. Wobbuffet is almost impossible to viably fit in teams other than offense, an archetype that prefers Wobbuffet's ability to generate setup opportunities and check out-of-control foes in emergency over its longevity.
[SET]
name: Please Free Custap (Trapper)
move 1: Encore
move 2: Counter
move 3: Mirror Coat
move 4: Safeguard
item: Sitrus Berry / Wiki Berry
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Trapped foes afflicted by Encore will be easily taken advantage of by Wobbuffet's teammates. Using Encore when Wobbuffet is no longer needed also prevents it from being set up on.
* Counter and Mirror Coat prevent Wobbuffet from being completely passive, returning doubled damage if Wobbuffet made a correct prediction. An attacking foe locked into Encore can be taken out by Wobbuffet itself if the attack isn't strong enough to take out Wobbuffet in a few hits. Note that Counter will not affect Ghost-types nor will Mirror Coat hit Dark-types.
* While Safeguard may not seem like the most sensible utility move due to Wobbuffet's slow Speed leaving it vulnerable to most status ailment users, it can be used to prevent a foe locked into status moves like Toxic or Thunder Wave from statusing incoming teammates.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Calm nature allows Wobbuffet to survive any attack from +2 Xerneas and minimize the chance it falls to +2 Moonblast after taking Stealth Rock damage. Specially defensive investment also helps with Wobbuffet's ability to stomach Judgment from support Arceus formes that it typically attempts to take advantage of.
* Sitrus Berry heals a quarter of Wobbuffet's HP when its HP decreases below 50%, enabling it to take another hit against support Primal Groudon after Precipice Blades or Overheat and avoid other potential 2HKOs. Sitrus Berry also enables Wobbuffet to check mixed Rock Polish Primal Groudon from full health, as it can avoid a 2HKO from Fire Blast or Precipice Blades with Sitrus Berry recovery, lock Primal Groudon into a move, and KO back the next turn using Counter or Mirror Coat.
* Wiki Berry heals half of Wobbuffet's HP when its HP decreases below 25%, but this is much harder to safely activate. However, extra recovery allow Wobbuffet to avoid 2HKOs from stronger attacks such as maximum Attack Primal Groudon's Precipice Blades and, after Stealth Rock damage, Water-type moves from offensive Primal Kyogre variants and Double-Edge from Adamant Mega Salamence.
* Leftovers can be considered, as it provides Wobbuffet with passive recovery, gives it some resilience against passive damage, and notably allows it to survive +2 Moonblast from Xerneas after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery.
Usage Tips
========
* Wobbuffet aims to punish bulky Pokemon that its team struggles to bypass. While it does not necessarily cripple trapped foes by weakening them with Counter and Mirror Coat, it can benefit its team more by giving free switches with Encore.
* This means Wobbuffet can switch into or, if possible, double switch into support Arceus formes or relatively passive Pokemon like defensive Necrozma-DM to easily survive a hit and lock them with Encore. This will either force them to keep attacking Wobbuffet with the same move or lock them into status moves like Stealth Rock, Defog, Recover, and Toxic. Attacks can be handled with Counter or Mirror Coat, and status moves make them fodder for Wobbuffet's teammates.
* Double switching into passive Pokemon can preserve Wobbuffet's health so that it may have another chance to trap and temporarily neutralize a foe later in the game.
* Wobbuffet is likely going to be hit by status moves like Toxic while locking a foe into Encore, so Safeguard should be used afterwards to prevent its teammate from getting crippled.
* A healthy Wobbuffet can also take more aggressive approach to lock stronger foes into Encore. However, it is quite dangerous to recklessly create a confrontation with powerful and unpredictable foes like Primal Groudon that have varying ways to 2HKO Wobbuffet. Xerneas, which Wobbuffet avoids a 2HKO from, should be faced with caution as well. If Geomancy Xerneas hits Wobbuffet with Moonblast on switch, it can force a risky mind game between using Mirror Coat on the next Moonblast or punishing Geomancy with Encore. Get a safe switch in against these Pokemon if possible.
* A lead Pokemon will likely be taken down by a Pokemon that Wobbuffet will proceed to trap next, and this means there will be an opportunity to acquire some information about opposing lead Pokemon depending on the moves they carry or the damage they do to the lead Pokemon.
* Against offensive teams, Wobbuffet will struggle to be able to trap multiple foes. Identify which offensive Pokemon will be threatening to Wobbuffet's team. Wobbuffet may have to be left healthy if the team is not able to adequately deal with Geomancy Xerneas and Rock Polish Primal Groudon, but if its team has enough ways to pressure the opposing team, it can be used to allow its team to immediately become threatening after it cripples a foe with Encore and either cause serious damage early-game or secure a win against weakened teams that attempt a comeback by using setup moves or removing entry hazards.
* Do not worry much about Wobbuffet's longevity. While excessive layers of entry hazards can mess with Wobbuffet's ability to effectively trap foes, Wobbuffet will typically trade itself for the momentum or ideal setup conditions it generates for the team. Use Wobbuffet as sacrifice fodder if it is no longer needed, and if it is one-on-one situation against a foe after getting weakened, use Encore before going down so that a foe it is facing won't get to set up on Wobbuffet without getting punished.
Team Options
========
* There are multiple ways for Wobbuffet's team to draw in Pokemon like support Arceus formes, which Wobbuffet can turn into setup fodder for teammates. Offensive teams that typically employ Wobbuffet can have a dedicated lead like Cloyster or Deoxys-S to set entry hazards or powerful yet commonly prepared-for threats like Primal Groudon and Xerneas to draw in passive foes. Note that letting foes remove entry hazards in exchange of Wobbuffet turning them into setup fodders is not an ideal decision in cases where there are bulkier foes that need entry hazards to be effectively taken out.
* A number of setup sweepers can run rampant with Wobbuffet giving them a free turn to set up unharmed. Pokemon like Rayquaza, Mega Blaziken, and Nagandel, which can be devastating after a turn of setup but are typically too frail to successfully set up and remain healthy enough to survive a priority move, can have the perfect setup condition they desire. Rayquaza is also helpful for being one of the very few Pokemon that can take advantage of Primal Groudon locked into one its STAB moves and providing its team with extra security against sweepers with Extreme Speed. Lunala can check out some out-of-control sweepers in a pinch with Shadow Shield intact, and it can potentially set up Calm Mind while keeping its Shadow Shield with the free turn Wobbuffet generates for it.
* Marshadow should be strongly considered in Wobbuffet's team. It can offensively threaten any Ghost- and Dark-types apart from Mega Sableye and defensive Yveltal and check certain Z-Move users like Ultra Necrozma and Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, which can still use their Z-Moves after getting locked into Encore. In addition, there are very few setup sweepers that are powerful enough to OHKO Wobbuffet and outspeed Marshadow at the same time with exceptions like Double Dance Primal Groudon, meaning Marshadow can threaten setup sweepers that Wobbuffet cannot defensively check with Spectral Thief, while some faster threats can be dealt by a healthy Wobbuffet in an emergency.
* Other setup sweepers like Rock Polish Primal Groudon, Geomancy Xerneas, and Extreme Killer Arceus are viable partners that can provide some defensive utility to the team, lessening the number of instances where Wobbuffet has to confront and attempt to cripple an offensive threat itself. Extreme Killer Arceus serves as a strong countermeasure against many offensive teams that Wobbuffet can have a harder time functioning against and checks Marshadow with a Chople Berry intact.
* Magearna can be considered, as it can generate momentum against certain foes to allow Wobbuffet to switch into the field unharmed, check Dark-types, and function as a more reliable check to Xerneas. Wobbuffet can hinder Primal Groudon and lock Arceus-Ground into an unfavorable move and potentially remove them if they are confirmed to be support variants.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A physically defensive EV spread can be used to take hits from Extreme Killer and physical Primal Groudon better, but worsening Wobbuffet's matchup against Geomancy Xerneas and support Arceus formes is generally not worth it.
* Destiny Bond can be used to take down foes when Wobbuffet is close to getting KOed or punish them with Encore should they attempt to play around it, but Wobbuffet is too slow to make an effective trade.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Wobbuffet is offensively threatened by and has no way to effectively neutralize Ghost-types, as they cannot be trapped by Shadow Tag. Marshadow in particular can be troublesome, as it is immune to Counter and some variants can even set up Bulk Up on a forced switch or weaken Wobbuffet with Pursuit.
**Zygarde**: Zygarde has many ways to avoid getting hindered by Wobbuffet's trapping. Almost every offensive variant has Substitute, and a Zygarde behind Substitute can attack Wobbuffet without worrying about Counter once, forcing Wobbuffet to predict between locking Zygarde into Dragon Dance using Encore or using Counter to at least break the Substitute for teammates. Variants with Dragon Tail are less concerned about Encore, and others holding Groundium Z can still use Tectonic Rage while Encore-locked.
**Dark-types**: Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and the rare Darkrai can hit Wobbuffet super effectively with their STAB moves without fearing retaliation thanks to their immunity to Mirror Coat.
**Z-Move Users**: Other Z-Move users like Necrozma-DM, Ultra Necrozma, Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, and Naganadel can set up on Wobbuffet and still attack a switch-in with a Z-Move through Encore, meaning they cannot be completely neutralized.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users like Mewtwo can prevent Wobbuffet from locking them into a move using Encore and set up on it without fear.
**Mixed Attackers**: Powerful mixed attackers like Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre can make predictions more difficult when Wobbuffet has to choose between using Counter and Mirror Coat. Wobbuffet can avoid some 2HKOs against mixed attackers with Sitrus Berry intact, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DMDW, 434601]]
- Quality checked by: [[Nayrz, 212134], [Cynara, 224455], [Melee Mewtwo, 75110]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CyroGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
[OVERVIEW]
* Instead of using Shadow Tag to trap and revenge kill or PP stall a foe like Mega Gengar, Gothitelle, and Gothorita do, Wobbuffet takes advantage of its superior bulk to retaliate against certain threats after stomaching a heavy hit or leave a foe in an exploitable state by locking it into a move with Encore.
* Wobbuffet's bulk is also noteworthy for being able to ensure that Geomancy Xerneas will be dealt with before it proceeds to annihilate offensive teams, as it survives any boosted attack from full health to retaliate with Mirror Coat or lock Xerneas into any status move it carries.
* Access to Encore also serves as one of the crucial elements to Wobbuffet's viability, as Wobbuffet won't be easily taken advantage of by its checks the same way as Gothitelle and Gothorita, which can be left completely helpless against certain foes. This means Wobbuffet will not be left useless even if weakened and be able to prevent setup or potentially even reverse momentum by locking a foe into a setup move.
* Due to its tiny movepool, horrendous defensive typing, and lack of recovery moves, Wobbuffet's effectiveness is quite limited as a bulky trapper. Wobbuffet is almost impossible to viably fit in teams other than offense, an archetype that prefers Wobbuffet's ability to generate setup opportunities and check out-of-control foes in emergency over its longevity.
[SET]
name: Please Free Custap (Trapper)
move 1: Encore
move 2: Counter
move 3: Mirror Coat
move 4: Safeguard
item: Sitrus Berry / Wiki Berry
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Trapped foes afflicted by Encore will be easily taken advantage of by Wobbuffet's teammates. Using Encore when Wobbuffet is no longer needed also prevents it from being set up on.
* Counter and Mirror Coat prevent Wobbuffet from being completely passive, returning doubled damage if Wobbuffet made a correct prediction. An attacking foe locked into Encore can be taken out by Wobbuffet itself if the attack isn't strong enough to take out Wobbuffet in a few hits. Note that Counter will not affect Ghost-types nor will Mirror Coat hit Dark-types.
* While Safeguard may not seem like the most sensible utility move due to Wobbuffet's slow Speed leaving it vulnerable to most status ailment users, it can be used to prevent a foe locked into status moves like Toxic or Thunder Wave from statusing incoming teammates.
Set Details
========
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Calm nature allows Wobbuffet to survive any attack from +2 Xerneas and minimize the chance it falls to +2 Moonblast after taking Stealth Rock damage. Specially defensive investment also helps with Wobbuffet's ability to stomach Judgment from support Arceus formes that it typically attempts to take advantage of.
* Sitrus Berry heals a quarter of Wobbuffet's HP when its HP decreases below 50%, enabling it to take another hit against support Primal Groudon after Precipice Blades or Overheat and avoid other potential 2HKOs. Sitrus Berry also enables Wobbuffet to check mixed Rock Polish Primal Groudon from full health, as it can avoid a 2HKO from Fire Blast or Precipice Blades with Sitrus Berry recovery, lock Primal Groudon into a move, and KO back the next turn using Counter or Mirror Coat.
* Wiki Berry heals half of Wobbuffet's HP when its HP decreases below 25%, but this is much harder to safely activate. However, extra recovery allow Wobbuffet to avoid 2HKOs from stronger attacks such as maximum Attack Primal Groudon's Precipice Blades and, after Stealth Rock damage, Water-type moves from offensive Primal Kyogre variants and Double-Edge from Adamant Mega Salamence.
* Leftovers can be considered, as it provides Wobbuffet with passive recovery, gives it some resilience against passive damage, and notably allows it to survive +2 Moonblast from Xerneas after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery.
Usage Tips
========
* Wobbuffet aims to punish bulky Pokemon that its team struggles to bypass. While it does not necessarily cripple trapped foes by weakening them with Counter and Mirror Coat, it can benefit its team more by giving free switches with Encore.
* This means Wobbuffet can switch into or, if possible, double switch into support Arceus formes or relatively passive Pokemon like defensive Necrozma-DM to easily survive a hit and lock them with Encore. This will either force them to keep attacking Wobbuffet with the same move or lock them into status moves like Stealth Rock, Defog, Recover, and Toxic. Attacks can be handled with Counter or Mirror Coat, and status moves make them fodder for Wobbuffet's teammates.
* Double switching into passive Pokemon can preserve Wobbuffet's health so that it may have another chance to trap and temporarily neutralize a foe later in the game.
* Wobbuffet is likely going to be hit by status moves like Toxic while locking a foe into Encore, so Safeguard should be used afterwards to prevent its teammate from getting crippled.
* A healthy Wobbuffet can also take more aggressive approach to lock stronger foes into Encore. However, it is quite dangerous to recklessly create a confrontation with powerful and unpredictable foes like Primal Groudon that have varying ways to 2HKO Wobbuffet. Xerneas, which Wobbuffet avoids a 2HKO from, should be faced with caution as well. If Geomancy Xerneas hits Wobbuffet with Moonblast on switch, it can force a risky mind game between using Mirror Coat on the next Moonblast or punishing Geomancy with Encore. Get a safe switch in against these Pokemon if possible.
* A lead Pokemon will likely be taken down by a Pokemon that Wobbuffet will proceed to trap next, and this means there will be an opportunity to acquire some information about opposing lead Pokemon depending on the moves they carry or the damage they do to the lead Pokemon.
* Against offensive teams, Wobbuffet will struggle to be able to trap multiple foes. Identify which offensive Pokemon will be threatening to Wobbuffet's team. Wobbuffet may have to be left healthy if the team is not able to adequately deal with Geomancy Xerneas and Rock Polish Primal Groudon, but if its team has enough ways to pressure the opposing team, it can be used to allow its team to immediately become threatening after it cripples a foe with Encore and either cause serious damage early-game or secure a win against weakened teams that attempt a comeback by using setup moves or removing entry hazards.
* Do not worry much about Wobbuffet's longevity. While excessive layers of entry hazards can mess with Wobbuffet's ability to effectively trap foes, Wobbuffet will typically trade itself for the momentum or ideal setup conditions it generates for the team. Use Wobbuffet as sacrifice fodder if it is no longer needed, and if it is one-on-one situation against a foe after getting weakened, use Encore before going down so that a foe it is facing won't get to set up on Wobbuffet without getting punished.
Team Options
========
* There are multiple ways for Wobbuffet's team to draw in Pokemon like support Arceus formes, which Wobbuffet can turn into setup fodder for teammates. Offensive teams that typically employ Wobbuffet can have a dedicated lead like Cloyster or Deoxys-S to set entry hazards or powerful yet commonly prepared-for threats like Primal Groudon and Xerneas to draw in passive foes. Note that letting foes remove entry hazards in exchange of Wobbuffet turning them into setup fodders is not an ideal decision in cases where there are bulkier foes that need entry hazards to be effectively taken out.
* A number of setup sweepers can run rampant with Wobbuffet giving them a free turn to set up unharmed. Pokemon like Rayquaza, Mega Blaziken, and Nagandel, which can be devastating after a turn of setup but are typically too frail to successfully set up and remain healthy enough to survive a priority move, can have the perfect setup condition they desire. Rayquaza is also helpful for being one of the very few Pokemon that can take advantage of Primal Groudon locked into one its STAB moves and providing its team with extra security against sweepers with Extreme Speed. Lunala can check out some out-of-control sweepers in a pinch with Shadow Shield intact, and it can potentially set up Calm Mind while keeping its Shadow Shield with the free turn Wobbuffet generates for it.
* Marshadow should be strongly considered in Wobbuffet's team. It can offensively threaten any Ghost- and Dark-types apart from Mega Sableye and defensive Yveltal and check certain Z-Move users like Ultra Necrozma and Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, which can still use their Z-Moves after getting locked into Encore. In addition, there are very few setup sweepers that are powerful enough to OHKO Wobbuffet and outspeed Marshadow at the same time with exceptions like Double Dance Primal Groudon, meaning Marshadow can threaten setup sweepers that Wobbuffet cannot defensively check with Spectral Thief, while some faster threats can be dealt by a healthy Wobbuffet in an emergency.
* Other setup sweepers like Rock Polish Primal Groudon, Geomancy Xerneas, and Extreme Killer Arceus are viable partners that can provide some defensive utility to the team, lessening the number of instances where Wobbuffet has to confront and attempt to cripple an offensive threat itself. Extreme Killer Arceus serves as a strong countermeasure against many offensive teams that Wobbuffet can have a harder time functioning against and checks Marshadow with a Chople Berry intact.
* Magearna can be considered, as it can generate momentum against certain foes to allow Wobbuffet to switch into the field unharmed, check Dark-types, and function as a more reliable check to Xerneas. Wobbuffet can hinder Primal Groudon and lock Arceus-Ground into an unfavorable move and potentially remove them if they are confirmed to be support variants.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A physically defensive EV spread can be used to take hits from Extreme Killer and physical Primal Groudon better, but worsening Wobbuffet's matchup against Geomancy Xerneas and support Arceus formes is generally not worth it.
* Destiny Bond can be used to take down foes when Wobbuffet is close to getting KOed or punish them with Encore should they attempt to play around it, but Wobbuffet is too slow to make an effective trade.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Wobbuffet is offensively threatened by and has no way to effectively neutralize Ghost-types, as they cannot be trapped by Shadow Tag. Marshadow in particular can be troublesome, as it is immune to Counter and some variants can even set up Bulk Up on a forced switch or weaken Wobbuffet with Pursuit.
**Zygarde**: Zygarde has many ways to avoid getting hindered by Wobbuffet's trapping. Almost every offensive variant has Substitute, and a Zygarde behind Substitute can attack Wobbuffet without worrying about Counter once, forcing Wobbuffet to predict between locking Zygarde into Dragon Dance using Encore or using Counter to at least break the Substitute for teammates. Variants with Dragon Tail are less concerned about Encore, and others holding Groundium Z can still use Tectonic Rage while Encore-locked.
**Dark-types**: Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and the rare Darkrai can hit Wobbuffet super effectively with their STAB moves without fearing retaliation thanks to their immunity to Mirror Coat.
**Z-Move Users**: Other Z-Move users like Necrozma-DM, Ultra Necrozma, Swords Dance Arceus-Ground, and Naganadel can set up on Wobbuffet and still attack a switch-in with a Z-Move through Encore, meaning they cannot be completely neutralized.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users like Mewtwo can prevent Wobbuffet from locking them into a move using Encore and set up on it without fear.
**Mixed Attackers**: Powerful mixed attackers like Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre can make predictions more difficult when Wobbuffet has to choose between using Counter and Mirror Coat. Wobbuffet can avoid some 2HKOs against mixed attackers with Sitrus Berry intact, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DMDW, 434601]]
- Quality checked by: [[Nayrz, 212134], [Cynara, 224455], [Melee Mewtwo, 75110]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CyroGyro, 331519], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Last edited:
