aVocado
@ Everstone
Approved by based llamas
Taken over from MikeDawg (OP also from Mike)
Past POTW:
Shiftry
Xatu
Hey guys, Arikado here bringing everyone the next Pokemon of the Week! Format shamelessly stolen from TRC.
The XY RU Pokemon of the Week is an (obviously) weekly project in the Rarelyused forum. The idea originated from when we were reading many of the discussion threads, often the discussion is a bit lacking in the content department. Our goal here to is to highlight a threat in the metagame that isn't as well known, or isn't used as much as it should be, and provide a concise amount of information about that Pokemon; this will encourage creativity during teambuilding, and it will also provide an instant wealth of knowledge about that particular threat. This will hopefully be more helpful to the massive mediocre influx of new players in the RU subforum and promote better discussion within the individual threads.
In this thread though, the main point of discussion should be about experiences with that particular Pokemon and the sets featured, and how it has helped in some way during your battling. Niche sets and gimmicks can be mentioned as well, but bear in mind that this thread is mainly an informative source of knowledge through what is written in the OP. Think of this like an article highlighting a new threat. As such, discussion should be oriented towards highlighting its upsides, downsides, and niches. Oh yeah, you can also VM me what you think the next POTW should be, bearing in mind that they will be on lesser-used threats.
Depending on how this project goes in terms of activity (OU is certainly more active than RU), it may be edited accordingly. Perhaps more than one pokemon will be featured a week, etc. We'll see how it goes!
This week's Pokemon of the Week is: Sandslash
Type: Ground
Base Stats: 75 HP / 100 Atk / 110 Def / 45 SpA / 55 SpD / 65 Spe
Abilities: Sand Veil / Sand Rush (HA)
Introduction:
Sandslash, according to a lot of people, used to be the laughing stock of RU last generation (I wouldn't know that cuz I didn't play BW RU but w/e). Not now though, and that is because of a single thing: Knock Off buff. Knock Off made Sandslash turn from a bad spinner into pretty much the best dedicated spinner in the tier in XY RU, Along with its access to another great supportive move which is Stealth Rock. Other than Knock Off and Rapid Spin, Sandslash has all the moves it needs in its movepool: a good STAB in Earthquake, good coverage in Stone Edge and even Iron Tail, and access to a boosting move in Swords Dance, which can potentially make Sandslash dangerous. Its stats aren't impressive by any means, but it has a respectable 100 Attack as well as good physical bulk with 75 HP and 110 Def, but its SpD isn't anything special, and its speed is mediocre at best.
As I stated, it is the best spinner in RU because quite simply, the only spinblocker that can take a hit or two from Sandslash is Cofagrigus, which isn't easy to wear down if it keeps switching in on repeated Knock Offs as it lacks reliable recovery.
Sadly, Sandslash's abilities are mostly useless since they are sand dependent, and the only sand setter (Hippopotas) isn't viable enough to use alongside Sandslash, and Sand is by no means popular in RU.
What to try:
Sandslash @ Leftovers / Soft Sand
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock / Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
This set focuses on what Sandslash can do best, which is spinning and setting up Stealth Rock. With max attack, it can 2HKO all spinblockers bar Cofagrigus, including the infamous Doublade, Jellicent, Spiritomb (needs SR for a comfortable 2HKO without Soft Sand), Mismagius, and Banette with the respective moves. With its bulk it can also be used to check some Pokemon such as Cobalion and Rhyperior. Swords Dance along with Soft Sand allows Sandslash to OHKO Spiritomb and Doublade at +2 with Earthquake, and allows Sandslash to not be a sitting duck against stall since a +2 Sandslash can do work with powerful Knock Offs and Earthquakes. 4 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed both Roselia and Alomomola.
Sandslash @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
This set of Sandslash focuses on its physical defense, and uses it to check the Pokemon it checks such as Cobalion, Doublade, and Hitmonlee better and have more survivability in general. It can still defeat Doublade thanks to the Knock Off + Earthquake combo, but it doesn't pack as much of a punch as the offensive set does and therefore can't 2HKO Spiritomb with Earthquake after SR.
Checks and Counters:
Thanks to Sandslash's pitiful SpD stat, any special attacker can comfortable deal heavy damage to it. Virizion resists both Earthquake and Knock Off, and actually appreciates Knock Off for the justified boost, and can use Sandslash as set-up fodder and KO with a +2 Leaf Blade. Grass-types like Rotom-C and Tangrowth fear nothing as the former is immune to Earthquake and the latter resists it, and both threaten to KO Sandslash with their STAB moves. Alomomola is a physical wall that can handle Sandslash pretty well and has Scald to eventually overwhelm it. In general, special attackers, grass-types, and sturdy physical walls like Alomomola can keep Sandslash in check.
Teammates:
By common sense, Pokemon that like hazards gone are good teammates. Fire-types like Moltres, Fletchinder, and Delphox like Stealth Rock gone and are good Pokemon to handle the Grass-types that Sandslash struggles against, and they can also remove Alomomola with their strong Special Attack stat and secondary STAB moves or in Delphox's case, Grass Knot. Just like Fire-types, Flying-types also like Stealth Rock gone, and that makes Braviary and Swellow pretty good teammates, especially considering that SubBU Braviary can set up on Alomomola, a big Sandslash counter. Wish support on more balanced teams can be appreciated especially considering how Sandslash has no recovery outside of
Topics For Discussion:
Taken over from MikeDawg (OP also from Mike)
Past POTW:
Shiftry
Xatu
Hey guys, Arikado here bringing everyone the next Pokemon of the Week! Format shamelessly stolen from TRC.
The XY RU Pokemon of the Week is an (obviously) weekly project in the Rarelyused forum. The idea originated from when we were reading many of the discussion threads, often the discussion is a bit lacking in the content department. Our goal here to is to highlight a threat in the metagame that isn't as well known, or isn't used as much as it should be, and provide a concise amount of information about that Pokemon; this will encourage creativity during teambuilding, and it will also provide an instant wealth of knowledge about that particular threat. This will hopefully be more helpful to the massive mediocre influx of new players in the RU subforum and promote better discussion within the individual threads.
In this thread though, the main point of discussion should be about experiences with that particular Pokemon and the sets featured, and how it has helped in some way during your battling. Niche sets and gimmicks can be mentioned as well, but bear in mind that this thread is mainly an informative source of knowledge through what is written in the OP. Think of this like an article highlighting a new threat. As such, discussion should be oriented towards highlighting its upsides, downsides, and niches. Oh yeah, you can also VM me what you think the next POTW should be, bearing in mind that they will be on lesser-used threats.
Depending on how this project goes in terms of activity (OU is certainly more active than RU), it may be edited accordingly. Perhaps more than one pokemon will be featured a week, etc. We'll see how it goes!
This week's Pokemon of the Week is: Sandslash
Base Stats: 75 HP / 100 Atk / 110 Def / 45 SpA / 55 SpD / 65 Spe
Abilities: Sand Veil / Sand Rush (HA)
Introduction:
Sandslash, according to a lot of people, used to be the laughing stock of RU last generation (I wouldn't know that cuz I didn't play BW RU but w/e). Not now though, and that is because of a single thing: Knock Off buff. Knock Off made Sandslash turn from a bad spinner into pretty much the best dedicated spinner in the tier in XY RU, Along with its access to another great supportive move which is Stealth Rock. Other than Knock Off and Rapid Spin, Sandslash has all the moves it needs in its movepool: a good STAB in Earthquake, good coverage in Stone Edge and even Iron Tail, and access to a boosting move in Swords Dance, which can potentially make Sandslash dangerous. Its stats aren't impressive by any means, but it has a respectable 100 Attack as well as good physical bulk with 75 HP and 110 Def, but its SpD isn't anything special, and its speed is mediocre at best.
As I stated, it is the best spinner in RU because quite simply, the only spinblocker that can take a hit or two from Sandslash is Cofagrigus, which isn't easy to wear down if it keeps switching in on repeated Knock Offs as it lacks reliable recovery.
Sadly, Sandslash's abilities are mostly useless since they are sand dependent, and the only sand setter (Hippopotas) isn't viable enough to use alongside Sandslash, and Sand is by no means popular in RU.
What to try:
Sandslash @ Leftovers / Soft Sand
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock / Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
This set focuses on what Sandslash can do best, which is spinning and setting up Stealth Rock. With max attack, it can 2HKO all spinblockers bar Cofagrigus, including the infamous Doublade, Jellicent, Spiritomb (needs SR for a comfortable 2HKO without Soft Sand), Mismagius, and Banette with the respective moves. With its bulk it can also be used to check some Pokemon such as Cobalion and Rhyperior. Swords Dance along with Soft Sand allows Sandslash to OHKO Spiritomb and Doublade at +2 with Earthquake, and allows Sandslash to not be a sitting duck against stall since a +2 Sandslash can do work with powerful Knock Offs and Earthquakes. 4 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed both Roselia and Alomomola.
Sandslash @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
This set of Sandslash focuses on its physical defense, and uses it to check the Pokemon it checks such as Cobalion, Doublade, and Hitmonlee better and have more survivability in general. It can still defeat Doublade thanks to the Knock Off + Earthquake combo, but it doesn't pack as much of a punch as the offensive set does and therefore can't 2HKO Spiritomb with Earthquake after SR.
Checks and Counters:
Thanks to Sandslash's pitiful SpD stat, any special attacker can comfortable deal heavy damage to it. Virizion resists both Earthquake and Knock Off, and actually appreciates Knock Off for the justified boost, and can use Sandslash as set-up fodder and KO with a +2 Leaf Blade. Grass-types like Rotom-C and Tangrowth fear nothing as the former is immune to Earthquake and the latter resists it, and both threaten to KO Sandslash with their STAB moves. Alomomola is a physical wall that can handle Sandslash pretty well and has Scald to eventually overwhelm it. In general, special attackers, grass-types, and sturdy physical walls like Alomomola can keep Sandslash in check.
Teammates:
By common sense, Pokemon that like hazards gone are good teammates. Fire-types like Moltres, Fletchinder, and Delphox like Stealth Rock gone and are good Pokemon to handle the Grass-types that Sandslash struggles against, and they can also remove Alomomola with their strong Special Attack stat and secondary STAB moves or in Delphox's case, Grass Knot. Just like Fire-types, Flying-types also like Stealth Rock gone, and that makes Braviary and Swellow pretty good teammates, especially considering that SubBU Braviary can set up on Alomomola, a big Sandslash counter. Wish support on more balanced teams can be appreciated especially considering how Sandslash has no recovery outside of
Topics For Discussion:
- What are good partners that you have found for Sandslash?
- What have you found puts a stop to most Sandslash variants? How can you overcome them?
- What is the most useful Sandslash set of the two?
- What sorts of innovative sets or moves can Sandslash run? Sandstorm Sweeper? Counter?
- How should Sandslash be played?
- When should Sandslash be used relative to other threats?