[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic / Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 176 HP / 80 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Walrein's huge HP stat allows its Substitutes to hit the magic number of 101 HP, blanking Seismic Toss and Night Shade, as well as surviving weak attacks from the likes of Wormadam-T and Vullaby. Behind a Substitute, Walrein's STAB attacks are extremely difficult to handle. Surf provides solid neutral coverage and terrorizes staples like Solrock and Lairon. STAB Ice Beam is a great complement to Surf, hitting Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon for enormous damage. Thanks to the continuous safety of Substitute, spamming Ice Beam for the chance to land a critical hit or freeze is notoriously viable, allowing Walrein to force its way through Clefairy with a bit of luck. The last move is used to harass walls that can stand up to Walrein's attacks. Toxic is the standard, stacking increasing damage on Water-types and walls that can take Surf and Ice Beam, such as Staryu, Munchlax, and other Walrein. Encore is another good option if Walrein's team can cover for Water-types, as the free turns generated can be used to set up a Substitute or fire off more attacks. Thick Fat is Walrein's only consistent ability; the Fire-type resistance is useful against Choice-locked Fire-types like Simisear and Lampent. 176 HP EVs are necessary for Walrein to reach 404 HP. 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Walrein to outspeed Pokemon like most Meganium and Solrock while providing a speed tie at minimum against other Walrein and Mienfoo. However, a Modest nature can be used if immediate damage is a higher priority.
Walrein fits on offense teams that can take advantage of the KOs it force, but it still appreciates some defensive backbone. Emolga is a standout Walrein partner, pivoting it in on Rock-types while having the Speed and power to revenge kill faster threats to it like Leafeon and Simisear. In return, Walrein provides some much-needed hit-taking ability for offense teams, trading hits against opposing offense teams in a way staples like Persian, Emolga, and Raichu can't afford. Arbok also has good synergy with Walrein, baiting in common answers like Wormadam-S, Hippopotas, and Solrock for Walrein to take advantage of. Cleaners like Pelipper and Kingler appreciate the holes Walrein punches in the enemy team, abusing weakened or KOed Frillish and Clefairy to go for a win. Walrein's Stealth Rock weakness can limit its longevity, so defensive pivots that can take hits for the team rather than needing to use its valuable health are appreciated. Meganium is a solid defensive presence that covers Walrein against Electric-types while either providing utility like Aromatherapy or more offense through Swords Dance. Staryu is commonly seen as a partner thanks to Rapid Spin support keeping Walrein healthy; Thunder Wave can allow Walrein to outspeed offensive Pokemon that try to switch into Staryu. Pelipper is another great teammate despite its shared weaknesses to Electric- and Rock-types, as it can spread lots of status with Scald and Toxic, as well as debilitating Clefairy with Knock Off. Pokemon that can punish Volt Switch give Walrein some leeway when dealing with Raichu and occasionally Emolga. Ground-type Pokemon like Hippopotas, Wormadam-G, and Whiscash can block Volt Switch and threaten the user with Earthquake or status, while Emolga and Raichu both gain bonus effects from absorbing Volt Switch.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/therealbigc.532450/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Toxic / Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 176 HP / 80 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Walrein's huge HP stat allows its Substitutes to hit the magic number of 101 HP, blanking Seismic Toss and Night Shade, as well as surviving weak attacks from the likes of Wormadam-T and Vullaby. Behind a Substitute, Walrein's STAB attacks are extremely difficult to handle. Surf provides solid neutral coverage and terrorizes staples like Solrock and Lairon. STAB Ice Beam is a great complement to Surf, hitting Grass-types like Meganium and Leafeon for enormous damage. Thanks to the continuous safety of Substitute, spamming Ice Beam for the chance to land a critical hit or freeze is notoriously viable, allowing Walrein to force its way through Clefairy with a bit of luck. The last move is used to harass walls that can stand up to Walrein's attacks. Toxic is the standard, stacking increasing damage on Water-types and walls that can take Surf and Ice Beam, such as Staryu, Munchlax, and other Walrein. Encore is another good option if Walrein's team can cover for Water-types, as the free turns generated can be used to set up a Substitute or fire off more attacks. Thick Fat is Walrein's only consistent ability; the Fire-type resistance is useful against Choice-locked Fire-types like Simisear and Lampent. 176 HP EVs are necessary for Walrein to reach 404 HP. 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Walrein to outspeed Pokemon like most Meganium and Solrock while providing a speed tie at minimum against other Walrein and Mienfoo. However, a Modest nature can be used if immediate damage is a higher priority.
Walrein fits on offense teams that can take advantage of the KOs it force, but it still appreciates some defensive backbone. Emolga is a standout Walrein partner, pivoting it in on Rock-types while having the Speed and power to revenge kill faster threats to it like Leafeon and Simisear. In return, Walrein provides some much-needed hit-taking ability for offense teams, trading hits against opposing offense teams in a way staples like Persian, Emolga, and Raichu can't afford. Arbok also has good synergy with Walrein, baiting in common answers like Wormadam-S, Hippopotas, and Solrock for Walrein to take advantage of. Cleaners like Pelipper and Kingler appreciate the holes Walrein punches in the enemy team, abusing weakened or KOed Frillish and Clefairy to go for a win. Walrein's Stealth Rock weakness can limit its longevity, so defensive pivots that can take hits for the team rather than needing to use its valuable health are appreciated. Meganium is a solid defensive presence that covers Walrein against Electric-types while either providing utility like Aromatherapy or more offense through Swords Dance. Staryu is commonly seen as a partner thanks to Rapid Spin support keeping Walrein healthy; Thunder Wave can allow Walrein to outspeed offensive Pokemon that try to switch into Staryu. Pelipper is another great teammate despite its shared weaknesses to Electric- and Rock-types, as it can spread lots of status with Scald and Toxic, as well as debilitating Clefairy with Knock Off. Pokemon that can punish Volt Switch give Walrein some leeway when dealing with Raichu and occasionally Emolga. Ground-type Pokemon like Hippopotas, Wormadam-G, and Whiscash can block Volt Switch and threaten the user with Earthquake or status, while Emolga and Raichu both gain bonus effects from absorbing Volt Switch.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/therealbigc.532450/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
Last edited by a moderator: