dcae
plaza athénée
Approved by Blarajan
This guy is one of the best hazard setters in LC, with access to Stealth Rock and Spikes, while also having Sturdy, and excellent 16 Speed, which allows it to virtually guarantee two layers set up. Also, since it can run Shell Smash, it can combine the hazards with intense offensive pressure, and keep your opponent guessing. Also, it has access to Rock Blast to break Subs in case Pokémon try setting up on it, such as SubRoost Krow.
Everyone knows Hippopotas due to it having the unique access to Sand Stream, making it a necessity on every Sand team. It has access to Stealth Rock and recovery, which permits it to come in and set up hazards consistently through the game thanks to good bulk. However, it loses to Staryu, a common Spinner, making it a merely decent hazard setter.
This mon is a tank, very often seen on Sand teams due to incredible bulk under Sand, and also access to Storm Drain, which is amazing. Lileep gets access to Stealth Rock, and definitely has the bulk and presence to keep Stealth Rock up. It also beats both Drilbur and Staryu, the two more common spinners, and is a top notch choice for SR. However, due to it commonly being paired with Hippo, which carries the SR, Lileep is rarely seen carrying it.
The younger brother of the Ferrothorn that irritates so many people up in OU, Ferroseed stars in LC, able to set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock. However, several flaws it does have, most notably the fact that it lacks consistent recovery, and is quite a momentum loser. However, it does a decent job against common spinners and is overall a decent choice for a hazard setter.
Drilbur is most often regarded as a devastating Sand Rush sweeper, which is the flagship set because it can tear teams to shreds so easily. However, access to Rapid Spin allows it to go down the support route. It can provide good offensive presence, making spinblocking against it hard. Also, it gets Stealth Rock, which allows it to set up hazards as well. Mold Breaker is useful to nail stuff like Misdreavus and Bronzor.
Staryu is arguably the best Spinner in LC, thanks to good bulk and high powered moves, along with very fast speed. Access to recovery and Natural Cure just enhances its ability to spin and be a good teammate in general. It acts as an excellent bulky water for teams that need it as well. Definitely the benchmark spinner.
Entry Hazards Discussion
We all know what the entry hazards are and what they do. In OU there is constantly discussion on whether Stealth Rock is broken or not, and especially how hazards are on 100% of competitive teams. However, in LC, hazards are somewhat less seen, and competitive teams can peak first without hazards.
In this thread, we can discuss the effect of hazards on the LC metagame, and some major hazard setters and spinners. Also, discuss the specific hazards and how they have impacted the metagame. Hopefully we can garner some good discussion, and this can help new players also understand the role hazards play in LC.
A few questions to keep in mind:
- How effectively can this Pokémon set up hazards/spin them/spinblock
- Does it accomplish other goals as to not be dead weight?
- Does it maintain offensive pressure or is it a good defensive mon?
- How consistent is it at setting up hazards/spinning them/spinblocking?
I am going to Archive discussed mons with a short description into 3 different categories: Hazards Setter, Spinner, and Spinblocker.
Discussion is still highly important so we can together examine the pros and cons of various mons, the style they fit, etc.
Archive
Hazards Setters:
Dwebble
This guy is one of the best hazard setters in LC, with access to Stealth Rock and Spikes, while also having Sturdy, and excellent 16 Speed, which allows it to virtually guarantee two layers set up. Also, since it can run Shell Smash, it can combine the hazards with intense offensive pressure, and keep your opponent guessing. Also, it has access to Rock Blast to break Subs in case Pokémon try setting up on it, such as SubRoost Krow.
Hippopotas
Everyone knows Hippopotas due to it having the unique access to Sand Stream, making it a necessity on every Sand team. It has access to Stealth Rock and recovery, which permits it to come in and set up hazards consistently through the game thanks to good bulk. However, it loses to Staryu, a common Spinner, making it a merely decent hazard setter.
Lileep
This mon is a tank, very often seen on Sand teams due to incredible bulk under Sand, and also access to Storm Drain, which is amazing. Lileep gets access to Stealth Rock, and definitely has the bulk and presence to keep Stealth Rock up. It also beats both Drilbur and Staryu, the two more common spinners, and is a top notch choice for SR. However, due to it commonly being paired with Hippo, which carries the SR, Lileep is rarely seen carrying it.
Ferroseed
The younger brother of the Ferrothorn that irritates so many people up in OU, Ferroseed stars in LC, able to set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock. However, several flaws it does have, most notably the fact that it lacks consistent recovery, and is quite a momentum loser. However, it does a decent job against common spinners and is overall a decent choice for a hazard setter.
Spinners:
Drilbur
Drilbur is most often regarded as a devastating Sand Rush sweeper, which is the flagship set because it can tear teams to shreds so easily. However, access to Rapid Spin allows it to go down the support route. It can provide good offensive presence, making spinblocking against it hard. Also, it gets Stealth Rock, which allows it to set up hazards as well. Mold Breaker is useful to nail stuff like Misdreavus and Bronzor.
Staryu
Staryu is arguably the best Spinner in LC, thanks to good bulk and high powered moves, along with very fast speed. Access to recovery and Natural Cure just enhances its ability to spin and be a good teammate in general. It acts as an excellent bulky water for teams that need it as well. Definitely the benchmark spinner.