Yoshiblaze
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[OVERVIEW]
Palossand makes its mark on the PU tier as a great physical wall and Stealth Rock setter, sporting great physical bulk and an excellent defensive typing. Said typing gives Palossand useful immunities to Electric, Normal, and Fighting and also allows it to spinblock. This, combined with its bulk, allows Palossand to check notable physical attackers like Passimian, Archeops, Kangaskhan, and Aggron. Palossand sports reliable recovery in its signature move, Shore Up, allowing it to keep itself healthy throughout the battle and consistently get up Stealth Rock, supporting its team in the process. Its base 100 Special Attack and strong STAB moves in Earth Power and Shadow Ball mean that it isn't too passive, which is a great attribute for a wall. However, Palossand bears the burden of five weaknesses to pretty common types, making it vulnerable to Dark-types like Absol, Water-types like Swanna, Grass-types like Lilligant, Ice-types like Jynx, and Ghost-types like Haunter. Palossand also has lackluster special bulk, amplifying this problem against special attackers with super effective moves. Many strong special attackers like Pyroar and Eelektross also threaten Palossand, even without super effective STAB moves. Palossand also faces competition from Gourgeist-XL and Sableye as a spinblocking wall because it lacks access to Will-O-Wisp, though it uniquely boasts Stealth Rock.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic
move 2: Shore Up
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Earth Power
item: Colbur Berry / Leftovers
ability: Water Compaction
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock constantly wears the opposing team down to aid Palossand's teammates in sweeping. Alternatively, if you already have a hazard setter, Toxic can wear down Pokemon that don't take much damage from Palossand's STAB attacks thanks to their bulk like Lurantis, Gastrodon, Cradily, and Alolan Exeggutor. Shore Up helps Palossand stay healthy for the whole battle and lets it take advantage of Pokemon whose moves it resists like Primeape and Type: Null by healing against them. Shadow Ball is a STAB move and allows Palossand to hit Flying-types and Levitate users like Mesprit, Oricorio-G, and Weezing. Earth Power is Palossand's strongest STAB move and hits Lycanroc, Skuntank, and Aggron super effectively.
Set Details
========
252 HP and 252 Defense EVs maximize Palossand's physical bulk. Colbur Berry weakens Knock Off from Passimian and Absol, allowing Palossand to get a hit off, set up Stealth Rock, or heal, though the lack of Leftovers recovery forces to Palossand use Shore Up more often. Leftovers can be used instead to give Palossand passive recovery, allowing it to rely less on Shore Up to stay healthy enough to check Pokemon like Hitmonchan throughout the battle. This, however, makes Palossand much more vulnerable to Dark-types and Knock Off. Water Compaction is the best ability Palossand has, though it's not very useful against most Water-types because most are special attackers that get past Palossand's Defense boosts.
Usage Tips
========
Palossand's typing and rare access to both a reliable recovery move and Stealth Rock should be taken advantage of by switching into and taking strong physical attackers' STAB moves like Archeops's Stone Edge and Acrobatics, Aggron's Head Smash, and Primeape's Close Combat. This will allow you to get up Stealth Rock easily, as the opponent can't do much to stop you. When Toxic is run, Palossand can punish common switch-ins with Toxic, consistently wearing them down or possibly preventing checks like Lilligant from sweeping later on. Palossand should use Shore Up to stay healthy if weakened, making it reliable at getting up Stealth Rock multiple times. Palossand can also take on opposing Stealth Rock setters like Mesprit and Regirock and hazard removers like physical Skuntank and Hitmonchan. Palossand can keep hazards on only the opponent's side of the field by scaring away these setters and removers. While Palossand is immune to Volt Switch and Rapid Spin, be wary of super effective coverage that some users of Volt Switch or Rapid Spin may carry, like Lanturn's Scald, Life Orb Hitmonchan's Ice Punch, and Eelektross's Giga Drain.
Team Options
========
Palossand works best on balance teams, especially those that need a check to Rock-types like Lycanroc and Archeops or Fighting-types like Primeape. Sweepers like Lilligant and Jynx appreciate having Stealth Rock up to wear down foes and to have Focus Sash and Sturdy broken to make sweeping easier, making them good teammates. Rock-weak Pokemon like Magmortar and Oricorio-E and Pokemon weak to Fighting like Carracosta and Ferroseed appreciate having a teammate that can handle Rock-types and Fighting-types. Palossand struggles with Grass- and Ice-types like Lilligant and Jynx, so Fire-types like Pyroar and Magmortar make good partners, especially the latter, as it's immune to Lilligant's sleep-inducing moves. Water-types, especially specially offensive ones like Swanna, also threaten Palossand, so defensive checks to them like Lanturn and Gastrodon and offensive checks to them like Eelektross are nice to have. Additionally, Dark-types like Absol are annoying for Palossand to face, so Fighting-types like Hitmonchan and Primeape and Fairy-types like Granbull are great to have. Palossand hates being worn down by Toxic users, so clerics like Miltank, Lanturn, and Granbull help out a lot with Heal Bell. Miltank also has access to Sap Sipper and Thick Fat to check Grass- and Ice-types that Palossand is weak to and can act as a Stealth Rock user, which gives Palossand the ability to run Toxic. Palossand also hates being worn down by hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, so hazard removers like Swanna and grounded Poison-types like Skuntank are great teammates for it. Palossand can block Rapid Spin thanks to its Ghost typing, something that hazard setters looking to form a hazard-stacking core like Weezing appreciate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Giga Drain hits Gastrodon super effectively, but Palossand can't find room for it. It also hits Poliwrath, Mudsdale, and Gorebyss super effectively in one moveslot, but it's only barely stronger than Earth Power in these cases and Toxic is more reliable at dealing with these Pokemon. Ghostium Z can be used to heavily damage Pokemon like Weezing with a 160-Base Power Never-Ending Nightmare and take less damage from Knock Off. However, this takes up your team's Z-Move, which a sweeper could use, and Palossand enjoys the passive recovery from Leftovers or the near-guarantee of taking any Dark-type move from Colbur Berry. Infestation can be used over a STAB move to trap a Pokemon that can't do much to Palossand, like Kangaskhan, or is weak to one of Palossand's STAB moves, like Lanturn, but Palossand can't find room for it. A more specially defensive EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD can be used to more reliably check Electric-types like Manectric, though it can't check stronger physical attackers like Hitmonchan and Archeops as reliably and it still struggles against special attackers due to its weaknesses to Water, Grass, Ice, and Ghost and a low Special Defense stat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass- and Ice-types**: Abomasnow, Alolan Exeggutor, Lilligant, and Regice can safely switch into Palossand's STAB moves and can either KO Palossand or set up on it. Jynx doesn't appreciate switching into Shadow Ball, but, once in, it threatens Palossand with STAB Ice Beam and can put it to sleep with Lovely Kiss to start setting up. Rotom-F is immune to Earth Power and can OHKO Palossand with Blizzard.
**Water-types**: Lanturn, Ludicolo, Gorebyss, Floatzel, and Poliwrath can all heavily damage or even KO Palossand with their STAB moves. Even with Water Compaction, Palossand is eventually broken through by Carracosta and Huntail, and they can break through especially easily if they use Shell Smash beforehand. Ludicolo in particular resists Earth Power, often won't be 3HKOed by Shadow Ball, and sets up with Rain Dance versus Palossand.
**Dark-types**: Absol, Alolan Raticate, and Shiftry can use Knock Off to remove Palossand's Leftovers and do massive amounts of damage. Shiftry can also use Grass-type moves to heavily damage Palossand, and it resists both of Palossand's STAB moves. Spiritomb takes little damage from either of Palossand's STAB moves and can set up with Calm Mind or threaten it with Dark Pulse. However, weakened Dark-types have to be wary of the Colbur Berry set, as Palossand can take a hit and KO them back.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Due to Palossand's lacking special bulk, generally strong special attackers like Drampa, Magmortar, and Eelektross can break through it with their STAB or coverage moves.
[OVERVIEW]
Palossand makes its mark on the PU tier as a great physical wall and Stealth Rock setter, sporting great physical bulk and an excellent defensive typing. Said typing gives Palossand useful immunities to Electric, Normal, and Fighting and also allows it to spinblock. This, combined with its bulk, allows Palossand to check notable physical attackers like Passimian, Archeops, Kangaskhan, and Aggron. Palossand sports reliable recovery in its signature move, Shore Up, allowing it to keep itself healthy throughout the battle and consistently get up Stealth Rock, supporting its team in the process. Its base 100 Special Attack and strong STAB moves in Earth Power and Shadow Ball mean that it isn't too passive, which is a great attribute for a wall. However, Palossand bears the burden of five weaknesses to pretty common types, making it vulnerable to Dark-types like Absol, Water-types like Swanna, Grass-types like Lilligant, Ice-types like Jynx, and Ghost-types like Haunter. Palossand also has lackluster special bulk, amplifying this problem against special attackers with super effective moves. Many strong special attackers like Pyroar and Eelektross also threaten Palossand, even without super effective STAB moves. Palossand also faces competition from Gourgeist-XL and Sableye as a spinblocking wall because it lacks access to Will-O-Wisp, though it uniquely boasts Stealth Rock.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic
move 2: Shore Up
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Earth Power
item: Colbur Berry / Leftovers
ability: Water Compaction
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock constantly wears the opposing team down to aid Palossand's teammates in sweeping. Alternatively, if you already have a hazard setter, Toxic can wear down Pokemon that don't take much damage from Palossand's STAB attacks thanks to their bulk like Lurantis, Gastrodon, Cradily, and Alolan Exeggutor. Shore Up helps Palossand stay healthy for the whole battle and lets it take advantage of Pokemon whose moves it resists like Primeape and Type: Null by healing against them. Shadow Ball is a STAB move and allows Palossand to hit Flying-types and Levitate users like Mesprit, Oricorio-G, and Weezing. Earth Power is Palossand's strongest STAB move and hits Lycanroc, Skuntank, and Aggron super effectively.
Set Details
========
252 HP and 252 Defense EVs maximize Palossand's physical bulk. Colbur Berry weakens Knock Off from Passimian and Absol, allowing Palossand to get a hit off, set up Stealth Rock, or heal, though the lack of Leftovers recovery forces to Palossand use Shore Up more often. Leftovers can be used instead to give Palossand passive recovery, allowing it to rely less on Shore Up to stay healthy enough to check Pokemon like Hitmonchan throughout the battle. This, however, makes Palossand much more vulnerable to Dark-types and Knock Off. Water Compaction is the best ability Palossand has, though it's not very useful against most Water-types because most are special attackers that get past Palossand's Defense boosts.
Usage Tips
========
Palossand's typing and rare access to both a reliable recovery move and Stealth Rock should be taken advantage of by switching into and taking strong physical attackers' STAB moves like Archeops's Stone Edge and Acrobatics, Aggron's Head Smash, and Primeape's Close Combat. This will allow you to get up Stealth Rock easily, as the opponent can't do much to stop you. When Toxic is run, Palossand can punish common switch-ins with Toxic, consistently wearing them down or possibly preventing checks like Lilligant from sweeping later on. Palossand should use Shore Up to stay healthy if weakened, making it reliable at getting up Stealth Rock multiple times. Palossand can also take on opposing Stealth Rock setters like Mesprit and Regirock and hazard removers like physical Skuntank and Hitmonchan. Palossand can keep hazards on only the opponent's side of the field by scaring away these setters and removers. While Palossand is immune to Volt Switch and Rapid Spin, be wary of super effective coverage that some users of Volt Switch or Rapid Spin may carry, like Lanturn's Scald, Life Orb Hitmonchan's Ice Punch, and Eelektross's Giga Drain.
Team Options
========
Palossand works best on balance teams, especially those that need a check to Rock-types like Lycanroc and Archeops or Fighting-types like Primeape. Sweepers like Lilligant and Jynx appreciate having Stealth Rock up to wear down foes and to have Focus Sash and Sturdy broken to make sweeping easier, making them good teammates. Rock-weak Pokemon like Magmortar and Oricorio-E and Pokemon weak to Fighting like Carracosta and Ferroseed appreciate having a teammate that can handle Rock-types and Fighting-types. Palossand struggles with Grass- and Ice-types like Lilligant and Jynx, so Fire-types like Pyroar and Magmortar make good partners, especially the latter, as it's immune to Lilligant's sleep-inducing moves. Water-types, especially specially offensive ones like Swanna, also threaten Palossand, so defensive checks to them like Lanturn and Gastrodon and offensive checks to them like Eelektross are nice to have. Additionally, Dark-types like Absol are annoying for Palossand to face, so Fighting-types like Hitmonchan and Primeape and Fairy-types like Granbull are great to have. Palossand hates being worn down by Toxic users, so clerics like Miltank, Lanturn, and Granbull help out a lot with Heal Bell. Miltank also has access to Sap Sipper and Thick Fat to check Grass- and Ice-types that Palossand is weak to and can act as a Stealth Rock user, which gives Palossand the ability to run Toxic. Palossand also hates being worn down by hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, so hazard removers like Swanna and grounded Poison-types like Skuntank are great teammates for it. Palossand can block Rapid Spin thanks to its Ghost typing, something that hazard setters looking to form a hazard-stacking core like Weezing appreciate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Giga Drain hits Gastrodon super effectively, but Palossand can't find room for it. It also hits Poliwrath, Mudsdale, and Gorebyss super effectively in one moveslot, but it's only barely stronger than Earth Power in these cases and Toxic is more reliable at dealing with these Pokemon. Ghostium Z can be used to heavily damage Pokemon like Weezing with a 160-Base Power Never-Ending Nightmare and take less damage from Knock Off. However, this takes up your team's Z-Move, which a sweeper could use, and Palossand enjoys the passive recovery from Leftovers or the near-guarantee of taking any Dark-type move from Colbur Berry. Infestation can be used over a STAB move to trap a Pokemon that can't do much to Palossand, like Kangaskhan, or is weak to one of Palossand's STAB moves, like Lanturn, but Palossand can't find room for it. A more specially defensive EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD can be used to more reliably check Electric-types like Manectric, though it can't check stronger physical attackers like Hitmonchan and Archeops as reliably and it still struggles against special attackers due to its weaknesses to Water, Grass, Ice, and Ghost and a low Special Defense stat.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass- and Ice-types**: Abomasnow, Alolan Exeggutor, Lilligant, and Regice can safely switch into Palossand's STAB moves and can either KO Palossand or set up on it. Jynx doesn't appreciate switching into Shadow Ball, but, once in, it threatens Palossand with STAB Ice Beam and can put it to sleep with Lovely Kiss to start setting up. Rotom-F is immune to Earth Power and can OHKO Palossand with Blizzard.
**Water-types**: Lanturn, Ludicolo, Gorebyss, Floatzel, and Poliwrath can all heavily damage or even KO Palossand with their STAB moves. Even with Water Compaction, Palossand is eventually broken through by Carracosta and Huntail, and they can break through especially easily if they use Shell Smash beforehand. Ludicolo in particular resists Earth Power, often won't be 3HKOed by Shadow Ball, and sets up with Rain Dance versus Palossand.
**Dark-types**: Absol, Alolan Raticate, and Shiftry can use Knock Off to remove Palossand's Leftovers and do massive amounts of damage. Shiftry can also use Grass-type moves to heavily damage Palossand, and it resists both of Palossand's STAB moves. Spiritomb takes little damage from either of Palossand's STAB moves and can set up with Calm Mind or threaten it with Dark Pulse. However, weakened Dark-types have to be wary of the Colbur Berry set, as Palossand can take a hit and KO them back.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Due to Palossand's lacking special bulk, generally strong special attackers like Drampa, Magmortar, and Eelektross can break through it with their STAB or coverage moves.
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