[OVERVIEW]
Ice
========
Walrein is among one of the best Mega Scizor checks available to Ice teams due to its great bulk and Steel neutrality allowing it to take a +2 Bullet Punch. With its Water typing and the ability Thick Fat, Walrein offers Ice teams a resistance to Fire-type attacks, allowing it to switch into Fire-type moves from Choice Scarf Victini and Choice Scarf Blacephalon. However, Walrein is incredibly slow, making it very easy to revenge kill with wallbreakers such as Magnezone and Diggersby. It faces competition as a Scizor check from Lapras, which has access to Water Absorb, a more powerful Water-type STAB move in Hydro Pump, and Freeze-Dry to improve the Water matchup. Walrein's Special Attack stat also is mediocre on its own, forcing it to rely on Choice Specs to do respectable damage. Due to its shallow movepool, it gets walled by bulky Water-types like Suicune, Azumarill, and Toxapex, and its low Special Attack holds it back against common specially defensive Pokemon like Celesteela and Chansey.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs (Ice)
move 1: Hidden Power Fire
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Blizzard
item: Choice Specs
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Modest
evs: 116 HP / 252 SpA / 140 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hidden Power Fire is important coverage that is used to hit Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Surf is Walrein's best Water-type STAB move, allowing it to hit Fire-types like Torkoal, Heatran, and Victini. Ice Beam is used as a consistent Ice-type STAB move, letting it hit Dragon- and Flying-types like Garchomp and Dragonite. Blizzard is a more powerful Ice-type STAB move that has perfect accuracy in hail and can always 2HKO Mega Sableye.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in Special Attack with a Modest nature and Choice Specs is used to maximize Walrein's offensive presence, allowing it to 2HKO Mantine after Stealth Rock with Blizzard. 140 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Mega Venusaur and bulky Mega Scizor. The remaining EVs are put into HP to increase Walrein's overall bulk and allow it to avoid a 2HKO from Choice Scarf Blacephalon's Fire Blast after Stealth Rock. Thick Fat grants Walrein a resistance to Fire-type attacks such as Heatran's Magma Storm and Torkoal's Lava Plume.
Usage Tips
========
Thanks to Walrein’s great bulk, it's a good idea to switch it into resisted hits from Pokemon like Heatran and Blacephalon. In the Bug and Steel matchups, make sure to preserve Walrein's health, since it'll need to be as healthy as possible to check Mega Scizor. Try predicting when Mega Scizor tries to switch to a teammate that can take a Hidden Power Fire, such as Heatran or Armaldo, and use Surf to OHKO it on the switch. In matchups where it isn't necessary to keep Walrein healthy, it can be used more liberally to wallbreak early-game. Make sure to keep entry hazards like Stealth Rock off the field before sending in Walrein, since it gets worn down very quickly. In the Fire matchup, it's best to switch in Walrein against Fire-type attacks outside of sun, since Choice Scarf Blacephalon's sun-boosted Fire Blast can 2HKO Walrein after Stealth Rock.
Team Options
========
Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil for Walrein, allowing it to switch into more powerful attacks like Choice Specs Blacephalon's sun-boosted Fire Blast. It can also check Fighting-types like Keldeo and Kommo-o that threaten to OHKO Walrein. Kyurem-B can break past defensive Pokemon like Celesteela and Mega Venusaur for Walrein, and it can switch into Electric-type attacks from Tapu Koko and Zapdos. Mamoswine and Piloswine are both able to set Stealth Rock for Walrein, allowing it to 2HKO Mantine with Blizzard. Mamoswine can beat wallbreakers like Breloom, Landorus, and Dragonite with Ice Shard, while Piloswine can consistently switch into special attackers like Tapu Koko and Nihilego. Additionally, they can both check Electric-types for Walrein. Alolan Sandslash can check Rock-types like Mega Diancie, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nihilego under hail and can remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin to keep Walrein healthy. In return, Walrein switches into Fire-type attacks from fast threats like Blacephalon and Infernape. Weavile can revenge kill threats that outspeed Walrein like Dragonite and Landorus, and it can remove Porygon2's Eviolite with Knock Off so Walrein can 2HKO it with Surf. It can also Pursuit trap Pokemon on Psychic teams that threaten Walrein, such as Latios and Choice Band Victini. Avalugg and Rotom-F are able to remove entry hazards for Walrein. Avalugg can switch into Fighting-types like Choice Scarf Infernape and Choice Scarf Terrakion, while Rotom-F can cripple Mega Scizor with Will-O-Wisp so that Walrein can check it more effectively and can use Volt Switch to bring Walrein in safely. Cloyster appreciates Walrein's ability to check Mega Scizor so it can more easily set up with Shell Smash and sweep types like Bug and Steel.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice
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Walrein has no other viable options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ice
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**Rock-types**: Rock-types like Terrakion, Nihilego, and Mega Diancie are all able to OHKO Walrein after Stealth Rock.
**Electric-types**: Faster Electric-types such as Tapu Koko, Alolan Raichu, and Xurkitree are able to outspeed Walrein and OHKO it with their STAB attacks.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Mega Gallade, Keldeo, and Heracross can OHKO Walrein with their Fighting-type STAB moves. Keldeo in particular resists all of Walrein's attacks and can easily switch into it.
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Toxapex, Azumarill, and Suicune resist all of Walrein's attacks and can slowly wear it down.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Chansey and Celesteela easily switch into and take little damage from all of Walrein's attacks.
**Residual Damage**: Walrein's lack of recovery and a weakness to Stealth Rock result in it being worn down very quickly.
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