Tentacruel [QC 0/3]

Hilomilo

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Was given permission to do this by Colonel M via Discord.

[OVERVIEW]

* Tentacruel makes for an effective support Pokemon in the OU metagame, thanks to its access to great utility options in Knock Off, Toxic Spikes, and particularly Rapid Spin, which allows it to remove opposing entry hazards while setting its own.
* With a decent typing and good special bulk, Tentacruel can also function as a reliable check to a few metagame staples, such as Clefable, Keldeo, defensive Heatran, Tapu Fini, and unboosted Volcarona with minimal investment.
* Tentacruel also has the tools needed to possess a decent offensive presence, adequately pressuring threats like Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, and Alolan Marowak.
* Unfortunately, Tentacruel has abysmal physical bulk, which leaves it extremely vulnerable to faster physical threats, like Tapu Koko, Garchomp, Dugtrio, and Mega Pinsir.
* Tentacruel's defensive typing, while decent, can also hinder it at times, as it is weak to several common offensive types, such as Ground, Electric, and Psychic.
* A lack of reliable recovery is also quite troublesome, as it prevents Tentacruel from setting and removing entry hazards very consistently.
* Tentacruel is also generally outclassed by Toxapex, which despite its lack of an offensive presence or Rapid Spin, has much better mixed bulk and access to reliable recovery.

[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Hydro Pump / Ice Beam
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Toxic Spikes
item: Black Sludge
ability: Liquid Ooze
nature: Timid
evs: 64 Def / 252 SpA / 192 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Hydro Pump is Tentacruel's most powerful STAB option, hitting Pokemon like Heatran, Tyranitar, Volcarona, and Landorus-T quite hard, 2HKOing all.
* Ice Beam is an option over Hydro Pump, notably allowing Tentacruel to OHKO Landorus-T 100% of the time, while also heavily denting the likes of Zygarde and Garchomp.
* Sludge Bomb offers good coverage alongside Hydro Pump, allowing Tentacruel to dent Fairy-types like Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini, and Clefable, while also potentially poisoning foes.
* Rapid Spin gives Tentacruel a way of removing entry hazards from its side of the field, while Toxic Spikes allows it to set its own entry hazards and punish switch-ins.
* Knock Off is an option for removing the items of Tentacruel's switch-ins, but usually isn't as valuable of a utility option as those listed on the main set.

Set Details
========

* Maximum investment in Special Attack gives Tentacruel as much power as possible, while 192 EVs invested in Speed with a Timid nature allow Tentacruel to outspeed and pressure various threats, such as Landorus-T, Modest Tapu Lele, Mega Garchomp, and Tapu Bulu.
* The remaining EVs are invested in Defense, which bolsters Tentacruel's physical bulk a bit and allows it to survive the OHKO from unboosted SubCoil Zygarde's Thousand Arrows.
* Black Sludge is the item of choice, as it grants Tentacruel with passive recovery at the end of each turn.
* Liquid Ooze is the preferred ability, punishing Pokemon that try using HP-draining moves to recover health, such as Ferrothorn with Leech Seed, Tapu Bulu with Horn Leech, and Tangrowth with Giga Drain.

Usage Tips
========

* Tentacruel should be switched in on Pokemon that it can reliably check, such as Clefable, Keldeo, and Ferrothorn. From there, it should look to either use Rapid Spin if entry hazards are on its side of the field, or use Toxic Spikes.
* Due to its lack of recovery, Tentacruel is very prone to being worn down. This means that it should look to only come in on resisted hits, as if it takes too much damage it won't be able to accomplish its main goal, which is removing or setting entry hazards.
* If playing against hyper offensive teams, Tentacruel should only look to set one layer of Toxic Spikes. This is because most foes on hyper offensive teams frequently switch in and out, which allows for more damage from poison overall.
* If the opponent lacks many Pokemon on their team that take notable damage from Toxic Spikes, or possesses a Poison-type capable of consistently absorbing them, it is best that Tentacruel only attempts providing offensive pressure, as Toxic Spikes will rarely ever be put to extremely notable use in these situations.

Team Options
========

* Tentacruel tends to fit on balance and bulky offense teams quite well, due to its ability to take some special hits if need be while providing both Rapid Spin support and offensive pressure.
* Pokemon that have Stealth Rock weaknesses, like Zapdos, Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Mega Pinsir, appreciate Tentacruel's ability to remove it with Rapid Spin.
* Pokemon that can set hazards alongside Toxic Spikes, such as Landorus-T, Jirachi, and Heatran, also appreciate Tentacruel due to their ability to adequately stack entry hazards with it.
* Late-game cleaners like Mega Mawile, Gyarados, and Zygarde enjoy the ability to break past foes more easily thanks to Tentacruel's Toxic Spikes.
* Poison-type checks, such as Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, and Dugtrio, are capable of removing the Poison-types that are capable of absorbing Tentacruel's Toxic Spikes.
* Dark- and Ghost-types, like Weavile, Tyranitar, and Gengar, can take care of the Psychic-types that Tentacruel is heavily threatened by.
* Ground-types like Garchomp and Zygarde are also quite helpful as teammates due to their ability to dispose of Electric-types, which also hinder Tentacruel.
* Ground-type checks, such as Landorus-T, Latios, and Ash Greninja are useful as teammates as well due to their ability to pressure the likes of Dugtrio, Garchomp, and Mamoswine, who all pressure Tentacruel quite a bit.
* Pokemon that utilize Wish, like Clefable and Jirachi, can aide Tentacruel in circumventing its lack of reliable recovery.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Scald is an option over Hydro Pump for its ability to burn physical attackers, but generally isn't preferred due to Tentacruel's need for as much power as possible.
* Acid Spray can function as a way of weakening switch-ins like Tangrowth and Zygarde, which allows for Tentacruel to more adequately pressure them, but also isn't usually worth it due to the better utility provided by either Rapid Spin or Toxic Spikes.
* Clear Body can prevent Tentacruel from having its Speed lowered by Sticky Web, while Rain Dish is good on rain teams for providing Tentacruel with more passive recovery, though neither ability compares to the usefulness of punishing foes that use HP-draining moves.
* Haze alongside an Icium Z allows Tentacruel to recover its health to full while also deterring setup, but is usually too hard to find room for on a set.
* Reflect Type is an option for preventing foes like Dugtrio, Tapu Lele, and Magearna from hitting Tentacruel super effectively, but is also quite hard to find room for.
* Sludge Wave can be used over Sludge Bomb for more power, though the slight sacrifice in power for a better chance to poison foes makes Sludge Bomb the more preferable option most of the time.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types, such as Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, and Latios, all have enough power behind their super effective STAB attacks to OHKO Tentacruel without too big a problem, though Tapu Lele must be wary of Sludge Bomb.

**Electric-types**: The likes of Magnezone, Tapu Koko, and Zapdos can either outspeed and OHKO Tentacruel, or are capable of tanking a hit and KOing it with super effective STAB attacks.

**Faster Physical Attackers**: Tentacruel's abysmal physical bulk leaves it extremely prone to being revenge killed by physical attackers that outpace it, such as Terrakion, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Swampert in rain.

**Water-types**: Unless they're Tapu Fini, Water-types barely take any damage from Tentacruel's attacks, while in return threatening to wear it down with burns from Scald.

**Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon like Zygarde, Gyarados, and Calm Mind Mega Alakazam have the ability to threaten Tentacruel out or tank its attacks, which allows them to use it as setup bait and proceed to heavily threaten its team.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Magearna and Celesteela don't take much damage from either of Tentacruel's STAB attacks, while in return wearing it down with their coverage attacks.
 
Last edited:

Colonel M

I COULD BE BORED!
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We talked a bit on QC - we feel fast Tentacruel is the best spread for it atm. You can mention bulkier in Set Details.
 

p2

Banned deucer.
spread would be something like this

Tentacruel @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 64 Def / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump / Ice Beam
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin

alternatively you can put 252 HP but i honestly havent used this mon a whole lot outside of that set so. ev investment is to outspeed mega garchomp and by extension all non scarf lando-ts. hydro is good for hitting a lot of stuff but ice beam is a lot more consistent and it can actually kill lando and weaken zyg significantly

knock off in moves, you can mention acid spray too

in set details mention a fatter spread like the one you currently have

i guess in other options you could put stuff like rain dish w/ protect on rain teams, mirror coat, and icy wind
 

Colonel M

I COULD BE BORED!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Community Leader Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Discord Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
[OVERVIEW]

You could also mention that Tentacruel does alright as a check against both Greninjas.
* Unfortunately, Tentacruel has abysmal physical bulk, which leaves it extremely vulnerable to faster physical threats, like Tapu Koko, Garchomp, Dugtrio, and Mega Pinsir.
I know Physical Koko isn't bad, but considering it isn't too commonly used it's best to probably scrap that. I'd just use something else over it - though technically, you aren't wrong.

Mention that bulkier spreads are possible in Set Details if you need Tentacruel to take more hits instead of being quicker.

Nothing else seemed to stand out otherwise. Seemed you went for a more general route with teammates - which are Pokemon that usually appreciate and support Tentacruel. Kind of doubting the Z Haze since it has a huge opportunity cost, though... Good stuff.

1/3
 

Gary

Can be abrasive at times (no joke)
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
Hold up on this. Tent is potentially getting removed from the VR, so don't update anything until I say otherwise to save you some work.
 

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