Conni
katharsis
QC by: AD Thunderboy / Hilomilo / Nineage
GP by: lotiasite / Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
Karrablast has an interesting niche in the LC metagame due to its great Attack, a great ability in No Guard, and the highly powerful Megahorn, which make it a powerful physical attacker that never misses. Karrablast's moderate defenses grant it at least enough bulk to tank most priority and weak neutral attacks, although it is let down by its Bug typing, which has many weaknesses, especially to Stealth Rock, making it easy to target. Karrablast's coverage moves aren't good either, as they are underwhelming and weak, leaving it only with its Bug-type STAB move to deal damage, which isn't really good offensively either.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Drill Run
move 4: Poison Jab / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: No Guard
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Megahorn is Karrablast's most powerful STAB move and is highly spammable with perfect accuracy, which is Karrablast's main niche, hitting Pokemon that are neutral against it like a truck. Knock Off allows Karrablast to remove opposing Eviolites to lower the opposing Pokemon's bulk, which makes them more susceptible to Megahorn afterwards. It also allows Karrablast to hit Ghost-types such as Gastly on the switch and is Karrablast's best option against Flying-types. Drill Run can be used to hit Steel- and Rock-types on the switch, as they would typically switch into a resisted Megahorn, although Karrablast will most likely only be able to 2HKO them. Poison Jab surprises Fairy-types that try to switch into a resisted Megahorn, as they would force out Karrablast otherwise; however, aside from Fairy-types, Poison Jab deals little damage to other Pokemon. Pursuit is an alternative option that can be used to trap Psychic-types such as Abra if Karrablast switches into them, which can provide decent utility for Karrablast's teammates, although Pursuit is generally more niche and the coverage Poison Jab provides, even though it only hits one significant type effectively, will be more useful in certain situations.
Set Details
========
The given Attack and Speed investment alongside a Jolly nature allows Karrablast to hit like a truck and outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and other Pokemon such as +1 Torchic and Choice Scarf Mudbray, which makes it a feared Choice Scarf user alongside its ability and movepool. The Defense EVs allow Karrablast to tank physical attacks more comfortably, which allows it to switch into resisted physical attacks more often. Instead of a Jolly nature, Karrablast can run an Adamant nature to hit harder, although this allows Pokemon with 21 Speed such as Choice Scarf Mudbray, to Speed tie with Karrablast.
Usage Tips
========
Karrablast can be used to revenge kill slower Choice Scarf users, weakened Pokemon, and Pokemon weak to Bug, as it can take them all out with Megahorn or its other moves. Additionally, revenge killing is made much more reliable thanks to No Guard. Karrablast should use Knock Off early-game to weaken opposing Eviolite users so Karrablast or its teammates can take care of them more easily later. Karrablast forces a lot of switches thanks to its powerful Megahorn, so it should be used to force out Pokemon that are weak to it or are physically weak, which gives Karrablast a good opportunity to use Knock Off to remove Eviolites on the switch, although Karrablast should often switch out after using Knock Off. After Pokemon that resist Megahorn and check Karrablast are eliminated, Karrablast can spam Megahorn to sweep late-game. Faster Choice Scarf users can pick Karrablast off quite easily, and some of them are reliable checks to Karrablast as well, so it is also wise to eliminate them from the battle first before Karrablast starts sweeping. Karrablast should try to avoid being setup bait once locked into a move that the opposing Pokemon resists. Due to Karrablast's mediocre defenses, it should stay away from powerful neutral and super effective attacks. If Karrablast runs Pursuit, it should use Pursuit if it can KO the opposing Pokemon or deal significant damage to it if you expect it to switch out, which can help out your teammates and possibly ruin the opposing team's momentum.
Team Options
========
Karrablast appreciates teammates such as Onix, Elekid, and Amaura because they can help it take out Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo, which can easily check Karrablast. Furthermore, Rock-types can set up Stealth Rock to aid Karrablast's sweeping. Teammates such as Timburr, Pumpkaboo-XL, and Staryu can help Karrablast deal with Rock-types, which can take all of Karrablast's moves bar Drill Run. Staryu can also help Karrablast by removing Stealth Rock planted by the opposing Rock-types. Karrablast appreciates teammates like Abra, Spritzee, and Vullaby because even though Karrablast resists Fighting, the very common Fighting-types such as Timburr and Mienfoo can still take it out regardless. Karrablast benefits from the company of Mienfoo, Ponyta, and Diglett because they can help remove opposing Steel-types from the battle, which can tank all of Karrablast's moves excluding Drill Run and take it out. Alolan Grimer and Pawniard are good teammates for Karrablast because they can take out the pesky Fairy-types that can wall Megahorn and all of Karrablast's other moves except for Poison Jab. Additionally, they provide beneficial Pursuit trapping. Spinners and Defog users such as Staryu and Vullaby are essential teammates due to Karrablast's weakness to Steath Rock, which chips a lot of its health. Archen in particular is a great teammate to have due to its ability to check Flying-types and some Fighting-types and set up or remove entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Swords Dance Karrablast is an alternative option for a more offensive approach;(SC) +2 Attack Megahorn is very frightening and can hit even resisted Pokemon devastatingly, making Karrablast insanely hard to switch into. However, Karrablast's Speed makes it outsped quite easily, and it can be KOed easily as well due to common checks that can prevent Karrablast from setting up safely. An Eviolite set focusing more on bulk can be run, although it will get outsped by almost all of its checks and will lose a significant portion of its bulk straight off the bat if it is hit by Knock Off. Aerial Ace can be used as an alternative coverage option that can hit Fighting-type Pokemon on the switch. Life Orb can be used instead of Choice Scarf to instantly hit harder, although Karrablast gets outsped easily, and its frailness doesn't contribute to the fact that it gets KOed quite easily. Return or Double-Edge can do powerful neutral damage, but it provides no super effective coverage and is difficult to fit in a moveslot due to the important need for a coverage move. Shed Skin and Swarm can be used instead to remove status or boost Megahorn, respectively. However, No Guard is absolutely better than these two abilities, as it is one of the crucial parts that make up Karrablast's niche, since it allows Karrablast to have perfect accuracy, especially with Megahorn, which is much more important than status recovery and last-minute boosts.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bug-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Karrablast's main and most powerful move can wall it most of the time at full health, since Karrablast's coverage moves are rather underwhelming even if they do hit super effectively; these Pokemon that resist Megahorn can proceed to wall Karrablast and either weaken or KO it if it doesn't switch out. Pokemon that can resist Megahorn include Fighting-types such as Mienfoo, Fairy-types such as Spritzee, Steel-types such as Pawniard, Fire-types such as Larvesta, and Flying-types such as Vullaby. Additionally, some of these Pokemon can also use Karrablast as setup bait if they take advantage of their resistance to Bug.
**Rock-types**: Rock-type Pokemon such as Onix, Tirtouga, and Omanyte can take on everything Karrablast has to offer except for Drill Run and can take it out easily with a super effective Rock-type STAB move. They can also set up Stealth Rock before Karrablast switches in to inflict decent residual damage.
**Faster Choice Scarf Users**: As Karrablast is a rather slow Choice Scarf user, faster ones such as Doduo and Gastly can outspeed it and attack it with powerful moves, which either heavily damage or KO it, preventing Karrablast from revenge killing efficiently. Choice Scarf Vullaby and Rufflet, which are bulkier than the two previously mentioned Pokemon, can also take on Karrablast with ease by outspeeding Karrablast, resisting Karrablast's moves, and later taking it out.
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