[OVERVIEW]
Arbok's unassuming stats belie one of the most interesting setup Pokemon in PU. With the help of Coil, Arbok elevates itself to being a surprisingly hard-hitting wallbreaker that can be difficult to deal with. Access to the great Abilities Intimidate and Shed Skin also give Arbok plenty of opportunities to set up and longevity, respectively. Arbok's stats do keep it down however, as without a Coil it can be underwhelming in both offensive and defensive categories.
[SET]
name: Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch / Fire Fang
item: Leftovers / Life Orb / Shuca Berry
ability: Intimidate / Shed Skin
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Coil's increases to Attack and Accuracy synergizes well with Gunk Shot, which after a Coil becomes a STAB 120 base attack that can't miss and with a high Poison chance. Earthquake is good coverage for Gunk Shot, as it hits common switch-ins like Klang and Stunfisk for heavy damage. The last move is recommended to be Sucker Punch to give Arbok a priority option, but Fire Fang is also useful for hitting certain threats like Bronzor. Both Abilities help with consistency, Intimidate giving more opportunities to set up and Shed Skin shaking off status that could cripple Arbok otherwise, but Intimidate is the recommended Ability due to its more versatile utility and potential to make Arbok into a useful switch-in check for threats like Monferno or Simisage. Leftovers is the preferred item to make Arbok harder to KO, bank more on Coil's Defense boost, and make Arbok's potential role as a switch-in check slightly easier, but the power advantage of Life Orb is high enough that it is arguable that it saves Arbok from the hassle getting additional Coil Attack boosts to hit similar benchmarks. Shuca Berry is also a good choice as the elimination of Arbok's Ground-type weakness allows it to live attacks and potentially beat threats like Stunfisk or Torterra.
Coil Arbok finds itself on balance or bulky offense teams that want a blanket check to some threats like Monferno while also threatening walls like Vileplume. As such, Arbok makes for a good teammate that appreciates having these walls and threats taken care of such as Shiftry, Marowak, or Zebstrika. Arbok also appreciates partners that cover its Psychic- and Ground-type weakness such as Scraggy or Torterra. Arbok also really enjoys the entry hazards set by Pokemon such as Rampardos, Torterra, or Dwebble. Arbok is also just shy of the base 81 Speed benchmark, so Pokemon like Stunfisk or Audino that can spread paralysis are also appreciated for their ability to slow the opponent down for a potential Arbok sweep later.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Switcheroo
move 4: Fire Fang / Coil / Sucker Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Poison Jab is the preferred STAB option due to its 100% accuracy, but Gunk Shot is significantly stronger at the cost of accuracy. Earthquake rounds out coverage by letting Arbok hit Steel-types like Klang as well as hitting the potential counter of Stunfisk. Switcheroo is to give Arbok's Choice Scarf to common walls that usually beat Arbok like Bronzor and crippling them. The last slot goes largely unused but there are a few options that are worthwhile after Switcheroo is used: Fire Fang allows Arbok to damage Bronzor after giving it a Choice Scarf, Coil lets Arbok set up after a Switcheroo, and Sucker Punch can also be used to continue revenge killing even after the Choice Scarf is lost. Shed Skin is the preferred Ability to have a chance to shake off any unfortunate Burns or Paralysis that would cripple Arbok otherwise.
It is very important to note that while Arbok can fulfill the role of revenge killer with a Choice Scarf just fine, it is the slowest common option for the Scarf role by the tier's standards. As such, the decision to choose Choice Scarf Arbok hinges more on its ability to also cripple walls with Switcheroo than anything else. Because of this, teammates like Torterra, Beheeyem, or Monferno who love having Arbok's common checks and counters of Stunfisk and Bronzor crippled are excellent choices for a potential follow-up sweep. Arbok also needs a lot of help to fully finish off threats, so entry hazard setters like Dwebble, Stunfisk, and Maractus can also make good choices. Pokemon such as Bronzor, Maractus, or Scraggy also make for good partners as they can take on common Ground- and Psychic-type attacks from Marowak or Beheeyem that are directed at Arbok. Arbok also can take Fighting- and Grass-type attacks from threats like Monferno and Simisage for teammates like Scraggy and Stunfisk for some light defensive synergy as well.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]
Arbok's unassuming stats belie one of the most interesting setup Pokemon in PU. With the help of Coil, Arbok elevates itself to being a surprisingly hard-hitting wallbreaker that can be difficult to deal with. Access to the great Abilities Intimidate and Shed Skin also give Arbok plenty of opportunities to set up and longevity, respectively. Arbok's stats do keep it down however, as without a Coil it can be underwhelming in both offensive and defensive categories.
[SET]
name: Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch / Fire Fang
item: Leftovers / Life Orb / Shuca Berry
ability: Intimidate / Shed Skin
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Coil's increases to Attack and Accuracy synergizes well with Gunk Shot, which after a Coil becomes a STAB 120 base attack that can't miss and with a high Poison chance. Earthquake is good coverage for Gunk Shot, as it hits common switch-ins like Klang and Stunfisk for heavy damage. The last move is recommended to be Sucker Punch to give Arbok a priority option, but Fire Fang is also useful for hitting certain threats like Bronzor. Both Abilities help with consistency, Intimidate giving more opportunities to set up and Shed Skin shaking off status that could cripple Arbok otherwise, but Intimidate is the recommended Ability due to its more versatile utility and potential to make Arbok into a useful switch-in check for threats like Monferno or Simisage. Leftovers is the preferred item to make Arbok harder to KO, bank more on Coil's Defense boost, and make Arbok's potential role as a switch-in check slightly easier, but the power advantage of Life Orb is high enough that it is arguable that it saves Arbok from the hassle getting additional Coil Attack boosts to hit similar benchmarks. Shuca Berry is also a good choice as the elimination of Arbok's Ground-type weakness allows it to live attacks and potentially beat threats like Stunfisk or Torterra.
Coil Arbok finds itself on balance or bulky offense teams that want a blanket check to some threats like Monferno while also threatening walls like Vileplume. As such, Arbok makes for a good teammate that appreciates having these walls and threats taken care of such as Shiftry, Marowak, or Zebstrika. Arbok also appreciates partners that cover its Psychic- and Ground-type weakness such as Scraggy or Torterra. Arbok also really enjoys the entry hazards set by Pokemon such as Rampardos, Torterra, or Dwebble. Arbok is also just shy of the base 81 Speed benchmark, so Pokemon like Stunfisk or Audino that can spread paralysis are also appreciated for their ability to slow the opponent down for a potential Arbok sweep later.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Switcheroo
move 4: Fire Fang / Coil / Sucker Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Poison Jab is the preferred STAB option due to its 100% accuracy, but Gunk Shot is significantly stronger at the cost of accuracy. Earthquake rounds out coverage by letting Arbok hit Steel-types like Klang as well as hitting the potential counter of Stunfisk. Switcheroo is to give Arbok's Choice Scarf to common walls that usually beat Arbok like Bronzor and crippling them. The last slot goes largely unused but there are a few options that are worthwhile after Switcheroo is used: Fire Fang allows Arbok to damage Bronzor after giving it a Choice Scarf, Coil lets Arbok set up after a Switcheroo, and Sucker Punch can also be used to continue revenge killing even after the Choice Scarf is lost. Shed Skin is the preferred Ability to have a chance to shake off any unfortunate Burns or Paralysis that would cripple Arbok otherwise.
It is very important to note that while Arbok can fulfill the role of revenge killer with a Choice Scarf just fine, it is the slowest common option for the Scarf role by the tier's standards. As such, the decision to choose Choice Scarf Arbok hinges more on its ability to also cripple walls with Switcheroo than anything else. Because of this, teammates like Torterra, Beheeyem, or Monferno who love having Arbok's common checks and counters of Stunfisk and Bronzor crippled are excellent choices for a potential follow-up sweep. Arbok also needs a lot of help to fully finish off threats, so entry hazard setters like Dwebble, Stunfisk, and Maractus can also make good choices. Pokemon such as Bronzor, Maractus, or Scraggy also make for good partners as they can take on common Ground- and Psychic-type attacks from Marowak or Beheeyem that are directed at Arbok. Arbok also can take Fighting- and Grass-type attacks from threats like Monferno and Simisage for teammates like Scraggy and Stunfisk for some light defensive synergy as well.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]
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