[OVERVIEW]
Woobat finds a niche in LC as a fearsome late-game setup sweeper, utilizing its ability Simple to gain massive boosts from Grassy Seed and Calm Mind to empower its Stored Power and Heat Wave. Once Woobat has managed to set up at least one Calm Mind, it is very difficult to stop, often requiring the opponent to sacrifice multiple Pokemon to KO it. However, Woobat has difficulty setting up thanks to its glaring weaknesses to common foes such as Vullaby, Pawniard, and Onix. Furthermore, Woobat is only able to efficiently set up one time, requiring that dedicated Terrain support from Grookey is established before Woobat switches in.
[SET]
name: Grassy Seed Sweeper
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: Roost
item: Grassy Seed
ability: Simple
nature: Bold / Timid
evs: 76 HP / 252 Def / 180 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Simple, Calm Mind provides a +2 boost to Woobat's Special Attack and Special Defense, turning it into a terrifying sweeper. Stored Power takes advantage of the boosts from Grassy Seed and Calm Mind to become a powerful STAB move that devastates most switch-ins. Heat Wave allows Woobat to hit Dark- and Steel-types such as Vullaby, Pawniard, and Ferroseed. Roost allots a source of recovery, improving Woobat's longevity and giving it more opportunities to set up additional Calm Minds.
Set Details
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Due to Simple, Grassy Seed provides Woobat with a +2 boost to its Defense stat. Maximum Defense investment and a Bold nature bolster Woobat's physical bulk, allowing it to tank Onix's Rock Blast and Vullaby's and Pawniard's Knock Off after activating Grassy Seed. Maximum Speed investment helps Woobat reach 16 Speed, letting it Speed tie with Jolly Pawniard and Vullaby. A Timid nature can be opted over a Bold nature to outspeed the two Dark-types while helping Woobat Speed tie with Onix and fast Mienfoo. However, the drop in Defense causes Woobat to take significantly more damage from Onix and Pawniard.
Usage Tips
========
Woobat is best utilized mid- and late-game when its checks have been sufficiently weakened or removed. Woobat is only able to effectively set up once and should be safely sent into battle when Grassy Terrain is active, ensuring that Grassy Seed will activate and provide a +2 Defense boost. Prior to setting up, bulky Pokemon such as Porygon, Spritzee, and Vullaby should be weakened with Knock Off or residual hazard damage, allowing Woobat to have an easier time breaking through them. Try to remove grounded checks such as Pawniard and Onix with trappers like Diglett and Trapinch to help Woobat clean late-game.
Team Options
========
Since Woobat relies on activating Grassy Seed to set up, Grookey is a mandatory partner. Grookey is able to assist Woobat by utilizing Knock Off to weaken foes, bringing it into battle safely with U-turn, and threatening Pawniard and Onix with Drain Punch and Grassy Glide, respectively. Sticky Web from Dewpider allows Woobat to outspeed Onix and faster special attackers like Abra and Staryu, ensuring that Woobat will be able to utilize Roost or set up Calm Mind before they attack. Trapping support from Diglett and Trapinch is valuable, removing Pawniard and Onix. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr provide measures against Pawniard and Onix, with Timburr also serving as an entry hazard remover, alleviating Woobat's weakness to Stealth Rock. The aforementioned Pawniard and Onix also make for good partners, checking Vullaby.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nasty Plot provides an immediate power boost, allowing Woobat to OHKO Pawniard and Vullaby after Stealth Rock damage. However, the lack of a Special Defense boost from Calm Mind leaves Woobat more susceptible to faster special attackers such as Abra, Staryu, and Choice Scarf Magnemite. Psychic synergizes with Nasty Plot and can be used instead of Stored Power for an immediately stronger STAB move, but it is outclassed by Stored Power when Woobat is able to acquire multiple boosts. Air Slash is an option for a strong STAB move against Vullaby, but losing Heat Wave leaves Woobat unable to properly damage Pawniard. Substitute + Berry Juice provides Woobat with extra opportunities to set up, but the loss of the Defense boost from Grassy Seed leaves it more vulnerable to physical attackers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Pawniard and Vullaby are immune to Stored Power and can critically damage Woobat. However, both foes struggle to break through Woobat at +2 Defense and, with enough Calm Mind boosts, are OHKOed by Heat Wave. Carvanha is an uncommon Dark-type that is able to outspeed and OHKO Woobat after Stealth Rock damage, even after activating Grassy Seed.
**Rock-types**: Onix and Archen are able to outspeed Bold variants of Woobat and threaten it with a potential Head Smash. Dragon Dance variants of Onix are able to boost alongside Woobat and can KO Woobat after a boost. Although it is slower than Woobat, Tyrunt is capable of critically damaging it with a powerful Rock Blast or Stone Edge, especially if it has managed to boost up with Dragon Dance.
**Faster Special Attackers**: Fast special attackers such as Abra, Staryu, and Choice Scarf Magnemite are able to outspeed Woobat and critically damage it before it can set up a Calm Mind boost.
**Diglett**: Diglett is able to outspeed and threaten Woobat. Air Balloon variants ignore Sticky Web support and can even take out a boosted Woobat with Final Gambit.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DC, 449990]]
- Quality checked by: [[KSG, 32350], [Stoward, 420389], [Fiend, 208173]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [lotiasite, 302985]]
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