churine
lunatic+
PINECONE
[OVERVIEW]
Pineco's access to the rare Spikes alongside Explosion gives it a solid role in the metagame, particularly as a lead. Pineco can set Spikes in the face of many common leads like Wailmer, Elekid, Voltorb, Snubbull, and Cubone and use Explosion to bring a teammate in safely and likely trade with the opponent. Pineco also has the capacity to set Light Screen up to not only provide the potential for more layers of Spikes or room to use Explosion but also bolster a teammate's special bulk, which can be useful for helping setup sweepers and wallbreakers on its team. Pineco also learns Rapid Spin, letting it clear Spikes set by opposing Spikes leads. However, Pineco does have some notable shortcomings, namely its low Speed and inability to exert offensive pressure outside of Explosion. The other two Spikes leads, Cacnea and Snorunt, have better Speed stats and offensive capabilities with solid special coverage options. These traits can make Pineco awkward to use outside of being a lead, but oftentimes a single layer of Spikes and the ability to eliminate an opposing threat with Explosion can set the tempo for the rest of the game.
[SET]
Spikes (Pineco) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 196 HP / 40 Def / 240 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin / Earthquake
- Light Screen / Hidden Power Ghost
- Explosion
[SET COMMENTS]
Pineco is most often seen as a lead for teams, as the immediate layer of Spikes can go a long way in chipping down the opposing team to hit damage thresholds. The listed EV spread lets Pineco survive a full-power Water Spout from Wailmer. Explosion not only provides immense wallbreaking power but also lets Pineco get a teammate in safely after it has set a layer of Spikes. Rapid Spin removes Spikes set by the opposing team, which can be useful for bulkier teams that rely on grounded Pokemon like Porygon and Wailmer to repeatedly handle the myriad of opposing threats such as Doduo and opposing Porygon. Rapid Spin also helps setup sweepers not take extra chip damage upon switching in to more easily clean up. Earthquake is a strong move that can threaten common Electric-type leads, as well as Houndour on the switch. Light Screen shores up Pineco's lacking Special Defense to let it handle many special threats such as Wailmer, Elekid, Staryu, Chinchou, and Houndour, providing more opportunities to set additional layers of Spikes. Additionally, the augmented special bulk from Light Screen gives Pineco more room to use Explosion, letting it safely bring a teammate in while likely trading with the opponent. Hidden Power Ghost is useful to hit Gastly and Duskull, which can otherwise block Rapid Spin and nullify an Explosion.
Spikes support facilitates a wide variety of offensive threats by racking up damage on forced switches and bringing opposing Pokemon into KO ranges. Spikes helps Choice Band Doduo and offensive Wailmer immensely in their metagame assault, as they not only force a lot of switches due to their innate damage output, which means racking up Spikes chip damage, but said chip damage also weakens Pokemon such as defensive Porygon that try to withstand their hits into KO ranges. Cubone is another powerful threat that benefits greatly from Spikes support, as it lets it OHKO Porygon. Setup sweepers like Bagon and Larvitar also appreciate the chip damage Spikes provides in order to secure KOs on Pokemon after a Dragon Dance, as well as Pineco's capability to set up Light Screen for them and use Explosion to bring them in safely and widen their setup opportunities. Bagon can survive an Ice Beam from Wailmer and KO with Brick Break + Double-Edge at +1 after one layer of Spikes, while Larvitar benefits immensely from Light Screen softening a stray Hidden Power Grass. Elekid's high Speed and coverage threatens many Pokemon and forces many switches, which can give Elekid an opportunity to set up a Substitute while racking up Spikes damage that puts threats into KO ranges, such as specially defensive Diglett into Ice Punch range. Pineco dislikes facing lead Doduo, as its Choice Band-boosted Drill Peck easily OHKOes Pineco. Due to this, having a teammate that can switch into Doduo while threatening it is preferred. Duskull is a great teammate for Pineco, as it is immune to Normal and can tank a Drill Peck from Doduo while threatening it with an Ice Beam or Will-O-Wisp. Duskull's Ghost typing also lets it block Rapid Spin and keep Spikes up. Physically defensive Porygon can also handle lead Doduo and threaten an OHKO with Ice Beam. Magnemite is a sturdy answer to Doduo, as it resists Normal and Flying and can exert solid offensive pressure with its ability to force switches. Houndour can trap Gastly and Duskull with Pursuit to facilitate Pineco's ability to spin and use Explosion undeterred.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Protect allows Pineco to avoid an Explosion or Self-Destruct from the likes of Gastly, Exeggcute, and Wailmer while also letting it scout Choice Band Doduo leads by forcing it to lock into a move. Hidden Power Bug is a STAB option for Pineco that lets it OHKO Cacnea, Abra, and Exeggcute. Giga Drain is an option that hits many common leads such as Wailmer, Chinchou, and Staryu for decent damage while restoring a bit of HP; it also threatens to stifle Larvitar's setup opportunities. Rock Slide is a decently strong move that hits Snorunt and opposing Pineco hard and can discourage switches to Pokemon like Doduo.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Doduo**: Choice Band Doduo is a common lead that can threaten to OHKO Pineco immediately, though Doduo does have to be wary of Rock Slide if trying to switch into Pineco later on.
**Explosion users**: Explosion and Self-Destruct leads such as Gastly, Exeggcute, and Wailmer are dangerous for Pineco, as most of them can blow up to deny Spikes,though Pineco can run Protect to make their Explosion attempts whiff. With how ADV mechanics function, even if Pineco survives an Explosion, it cannot use a move due to the opponent having already fainted.
**Substitute users**: Many fast offensive Pokemon that run Substitute, such as Diglett, Elekid, and Gastly, can often take advantage of Pineco's relative passivity to either force it out and have a free turn or provoke a premature Explosion to eliminate Pineco.
**Fire- and Rock-types**: Houndour and Ponyta can easily dispatch Pineco with their STAB moves, though they must be wary of switching into a potential Rock Slide or Earthquake. Anorith can OHKO Pineco if Rock Blast hits three or more times, while Onix and Larvitar can hit hard with Rock Slide, though they should be careful of Giga Drain.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/churine.264307/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/reggg.588561/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
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