[OVERVIEW]
Ice
========
Lapras's great bulk and neutrality to Steel-type attacks lets it serve as an effective Mega Scizor check for Ice teams. Additionally, its part Water typing grants it a neutrality to Fire-type attacks, allowing it to survive a Magma Storm from Heatran and check offensive Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Victini and Blacephalon from full health. With its ability Water Absorb and its access to Freeze-Dry, Lapras can function as a check for Water-types like Toxapex and Azumarill. When equipped with Choice Specs, Lapras is able to break past many defensive Pokemon, such as Mantine, Skarmory, and Armaldo. Unfortunately, Lapras has a terrible Speed stat, making it extremely susceptible to faster wallbreakers like Diggersby and Keldeo. Lapras also faces competition as a Mega Scizor check with Walrein, which has more Special Attack and Speed as well as Thick Fat to gain a Fire resistance. However, Lapras sets itself apart from Walrein due to its access to Freeze-Dry, allowing it to defeat bulky Water-types. Lastly, Lapras's Ice typing gives it a weakness to Stealth Rock, which limits the number of times it can safely switch in, while its mediocre Special Attack leaves it walled by specially defensive Pokemon like Celesteela and Alolan Muk, even with Choice Specs.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs (Ice)
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Freeze-Dry
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Surf
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Lapras's most powerful Water-type STAB attack, capable of breaking through Fire-types like Torkoal and Heatran. Freeze-Dry is the preferred Ice-type STAB attack, as it hits Water-types like Swampert, Slowbro, and Toxapex. Hidden Power Fire is essential for hitting Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn. Surf is the Water-type STAB attack used for consistency and to confirm KOs when Hydro Pump's power isn't needed.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack with a Modest nature and Choice Specs lets Lapras hit as hard as possible. 176 EVs in Speed are used to outspeed Azumarill and defensive Mega Scizor. The remaining EVs are put into HP to increase Lapras's overall bulk and let it survive a +4 Bullet Punch from defensive Mega Scizor from full health. Choice Specs further increases Lapras's Special Attack, turning it into a decent wallbreaker. Water Absorb grants Lapras an immunity to Water-type attacks, allowing it to safely switch into Water-types like Toxapex and Mantine.
Usage Tips
========
Try sending out Lapras early-game to wallbreak against Fire-, Water-, and Steel-types. Make sure to keep Stealth Rock off the field as often as possible, since it wears down Lapras very quickly. Preserve Lapras's health so that it can take hits from Mega Scizor more effectively; for example, don't directly switch into neutral attacks from Excadrill and Heatran. Switch in Lapras against predicted Water-type attacks to restore its health. Additionally, Water Absorb can give Lapras safe switches against bulky Water-types like Toxapex and Mantine. Only use Hydro Pump when there is an important wall that Lapras needs to break through, such as Tyranitar or Mega Sableye. In most other situations, Surf's consistency is more important.
Team Options
========
Kyurem-B is capable of breaking through specially defensive Pokemon that Lapras can't beat, such as Chansey and Alolan Muk, as well as being able to target Water-types that don't take much damage from Freeze-Dry like Volcanion and Empoleon. In return, Lapras can hit Water / Ground types that are immune to Fusion Bolt like Swampert and Seismitoad. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil, allowing Lapras to survive more hits. It can also check Fighting-types like Keldeo and Terrakion with Moonblast. Mamoswine can set up Stealth Rock to chip down foes throughout the battle to help Lapras wallbreak more easily. It can also switch into Electric-type attacks, while Lapras switches into Water-type attacks in return. Piloswine can also set up Stealth Rock, switch into Electric-type attacks, handle special attacks from Nihilego and Heatran in order to keep Lapras from taking unnecessary damage, and phaze setup sweepers such as Mew and Mega Latias with Roar. Avalugg and Rotom-F can remove entry hazards to keep Lapras healthy. Avalugg can switch into Fighting-types like Terrakion and Heracross, while Rotom-F can use Will-O-Wisp to cripple Mega Scizor so Lapras can safely switch into it. Rotom-F can also slowly pivot with Volt Switch to bring in Lapras safely. Alolan Sandslash can both remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin and check Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Xurkitree in hail. Cloyster greatly benefits from Lapras's ability to beat Water-types that wall it, such as Toxapex and Slowbro, with Freeze-Dry. Weavile can trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Victini, Latios, and Gengar with Pursuit and also remove Porygon2's Eviolite with Knock Off to help Lapras break through it more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice
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Lapras could potentially run more Speed investment with a Timid nature in order to outspeed Adamant Breloom and Bisharp, as well as maximum Speed Scizor. However, this would come at the cost of extra bulk, resulting in Heatran almost always 2HKOing Lapras with Magma Storm.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ice
--------
**Super Effective Attackers**: Powerful Pokemon with super effective STAB moves like Tapu Koko, Mega Gallade, and Tapu Bulu are able to OHKO Lapras without hesitation.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Chansey, Empoleon, and Celesteela can comfortably survive Lapras's attacks and wear it down slowly, with Chansey and Empoleon taking advantage of it by setting up Stealth Rock.
**Wallbreakers**: Victini and Diggersby can outspeed and OHKO Lapras with their STAB moves.
**Residual Damage**: Lapras's Stealth Rock weakness severely limits the number of times it can switch in. Status conditions like poison and burn will also effectively wear it down.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[smub, 397606]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tyke, 243751], [Moosical, 215618], [Eien, 100418]]
- Grammar checked by: [[A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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