[OVERVIEW]
Muk's high HP and Special Defense stats make it a good check to several special attackers in the metagame like Swanna, Silvally-Water, and Silvally-Dragon while also enabling to check common special setup sweepers that threaten stall teams like Servine, Raichu, and Simisage. Muk's access to Curse makes it a threatening setup sweeper for unprepared teams, exploiting passive Pokemon such as Altaria and Lickilicky. Furthermore, a very helpful ability in Sticky Hold, allows Muk to keep its item against Trick, Switcheroo, and Knock Off users, helping it check threats such as Rotom-S and Choice Specs Floatzel more reliably without being forced out. However, Muk struggles to beat Steel-types like Bronzor and Mawile with its STAB move, and while it has the option of running coverage moves like Fire Punch to beat them, doing so makes Muk a lot more passive.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Curse
move 4: Poison Jab / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rest helps keep Muk healthy throughout the match to check special attackers better while also helping it get rid of status that would otherwise hinder its ability to sweep, such as Rotom-S's Will-o-Wisp. Fire Punch can be run over Poison Jab so Muk can get past Steel-types like Bronzor and Probopass, but it makes Muk a lot more passive and weaker offensively, making it hard to get past Fire- and Water-types such as Rapidash and Swanna while also missing on Poison Jab's high poison chance, which can be useful to cripple non-immune checks.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is used over Black Sludge due to Pyukumuku's Soak making Black Sludge damage Muk. Moreover, since Muk's ability Sticky Hold prevents its item from being removed, it's actually impossible to punish Trick and Switcheroo users.
Usage Tips
========
This set is a reliable switch-in to several special attackers in the metagame, being able to threaten them with a Curse setup, so it should be brought in to sponge a hit from these. It also switches into passive Pokemon like Altaria with ease. Due to this set being easily walled, using Poison Jab to try to get the 30% poison chance or double switching to a trapper or a wallbreaker is usually a good move early-game, allowing you to remove or pressure your opponent's answers to Muk. With Rest and a Poison typing, this set is an excellent status absorber, being able to switch into moves like Altaria's Toxic and Gourgeist-XL's Will-O-Wisp. Due to Sticky Hold, Muk can potentially come in on Trick and Switcheroo users like Floatzel and Rotom-S and force them out. Therefore, Muk should attempt to set up once its checks are either removed or crippled with status, potentially sweeping the opposing team. If using Fire Punch, it's wise to conceal Muk's attacking move, so it can surprise the opponent and break down its check in order to sweep at the right opportunity.
Team Options
========
Good partners to Muk include trappers like Probopass, Alolan Golem, Silvally-Dark, and Pawniard, which can remove Steel- and Psychic-types that interfere with Muk's ability to sweep. Ground-immune as Altaria and Bronzor make good partners to Muk due to their ability to switch into Earthquake. Physically defensive Pokemon that don't share Muk's weaknesses like Gourgeist-XL, Tangela, and Gabite are also good teammates, being able to absorb super effective hits such as Golem's Earthquake that would otherwise heavily damage Muk due to its average Defense stat. On more balanced builds, wallbreakers like Komala and Pinsir make for good partners to this set, as they are able to remove Muk's common checks such as Bronzor and Mareanie, paving the way to a sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
On the Curse set, Brick Break is an option over Sleep Talk, being able to 2HKO trapper Probopass, which otherwise beats Muk with Tectonic Rage, while Ice Punch can be run to hit Ground-types such as Gabite, Sandslash, and Silvally-Ground. Due to Muk's good physical movepool, a Choice Band set is an option to potentially lure and remove common checks while wallbreaking using Gunk Shot's raw power, but this set is very reliant on predictions. On such a set, Thunder Punch is an option to hit Mareanie while Shadow Sneak can be used to revenge kill Psychic-types such as Kadabra and Mr. Mime. An Assault Vest set is also an option that capitalizes on Muk's special bulk while being able to lure and remove certain checks such as Probopass, but this set struggles to get past defensive Pokemon such as Gourgeist-XL, Altaria, and Lickilicky and is chipped rather easily due to its lack of recovery. Poison Touch can be used over Sticky Hold for the high poison chance alongside Black Sludge, but keeping Muk's item intact is usually better in the long run. Muk has access to trapping moves like Infestation and Block, so it can potentially run a set with Acid Spray and/or Toxic to lure and remove threats like Mareanie, Pyukumuku and Gourgeist-XL. It can also trap defensive Pokemon such as Altaria and set up on them.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Haze Mareanie**: Haze Mareanie is the best Muk counter in the tier, removing Muk's Curse boosts and taking advantage of its passiveness towards it to set Toxic Spikes.
**Spite Pyukumuku**: Spite Pyukumuku can trap Muk with Block and PP stall it while ignoring its boosts due to Unaware. It also runs Rest so Muk can't afflict it with status or beat it during the process.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Mawile, Bronzor, and Probopass wall the mono-attacking set with Poison Jab, setting entry hazards or pivoting out to gain momentum. They need to watch out for Fire Punch, though. Trapper Probopass will beat Muk one-on-one regardless of Fire Punch if its Z-Move hasn't been used yet.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem, Sandslash, Silvally-Ground, and Gabite can all switch into Muk and proceed to beat it with their Ground-type STAB moves.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types with access to a strong STAB move like Kadabra, Mr.Mime and Beheeyem can all revenge kill unboosted Muk. Beheeyem can switch into Muk and proceed to set up or OHKO it most of the time with Shattered Psyche. Kadabra can threaten Muk with Counter due to Focus Sash and Magic Guard. Neither Mr. Mime nor Kadabra can afford to switch in on Muk, though.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Strong physical wallbreakers like Electivire, Komala, Rampardos, and Pinsir can all beat even a boosted Muk with super effective coverage due to its average Defense stat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Czim, 305832]]
- Quality checked by: [[Xayah, 167012], [Froasty, 446575], [Jklioe, 424692]]
- Grammar checked by: [[martha, 384270], [the-dutch-plumberjack, 232216]]
Muk's high HP and Special Defense stats make it a good check to several special attackers in the metagame like Swanna, Silvally-Water, and Silvally-Dragon while also enabling to check common special setup sweepers that threaten stall teams like Servine, Raichu, and Simisage. Muk's access to Curse makes it a threatening setup sweeper for unprepared teams, exploiting passive Pokemon such as Altaria and Lickilicky. Furthermore, a very helpful ability in Sticky Hold, allows Muk to keep its item against Trick, Switcheroo, and Knock Off users, helping it check threats such as Rotom-S and Choice Specs Floatzel more reliably without being forced out. However, Muk struggles to beat Steel-types like Bronzor and Mawile with its STAB move, and while it has the option of running coverage moves like Fire Punch to beat them, doing so makes Muk a lot more passive.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Curse
move 4: Poison Jab / Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rest helps keep Muk healthy throughout the match to check special attackers better while also helping it get rid of status that would otherwise hinder its ability to sweep, such as Rotom-S's Will-o-Wisp. Fire Punch can be run over Poison Jab so Muk can get past Steel-types like Bronzor and Probopass, but it makes Muk a lot more passive and weaker offensively, making it hard to get past Fire- and Water-types such as Rapidash and Swanna while also missing on Poison Jab's high poison chance, which can be useful to cripple non-immune checks.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is used over Black Sludge due to Pyukumuku's Soak making Black Sludge damage Muk. Moreover, since Muk's ability Sticky Hold prevents its item from being removed, it's actually impossible to punish Trick and Switcheroo users.
Usage Tips
========
This set is a reliable switch-in to several special attackers in the metagame, being able to threaten them with a Curse setup, so it should be brought in to sponge a hit from these. It also switches into passive Pokemon like Altaria with ease. Due to this set being easily walled, using Poison Jab to try to get the 30% poison chance or double switching to a trapper or a wallbreaker is usually a good move early-game, allowing you to remove or pressure your opponent's answers to Muk. With Rest and a Poison typing, this set is an excellent status absorber, being able to switch into moves like Altaria's Toxic and Gourgeist-XL's Will-O-Wisp. Due to Sticky Hold, Muk can potentially come in on Trick and Switcheroo users like Floatzel and Rotom-S and force them out. Therefore, Muk should attempt to set up once its checks are either removed or crippled with status, potentially sweeping the opposing team. If using Fire Punch, it's wise to conceal Muk's attacking move, so it can surprise the opponent and break down its check in order to sweep at the right opportunity.
Team Options
========
Good partners to Muk include trappers like Probopass, Alolan Golem, Silvally-Dark, and Pawniard, which can remove Steel- and Psychic-types that interfere with Muk's ability to sweep. Ground-immune as Altaria and Bronzor make good partners to Muk due to their ability to switch into Earthquake. Physically defensive Pokemon that don't share Muk's weaknesses like Gourgeist-XL, Tangela, and Gabite are also good teammates, being able to absorb super effective hits such as Golem's Earthquake that would otherwise heavily damage Muk due to its average Defense stat. On more balanced builds, wallbreakers like Komala and Pinsir make for good partners to this set, as they are able to remove Muk's common checks such as Bronzor and Mareanie, paving the way to a sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
On the Curse set, Brick Break is an option over Sleep Talk, being able to 2HKO trapper Probopass, which otherwise beats Muk with Tectonic Rage, while Ice Punch can be run to hit Ground-types such as Gabite, Sandslash, and Silvally-Ground. Due to Muk's good physical movepool, a Choice Band set is an option to potentially lure and remove common checks while wallbreaking using Gunk Shot's raw power, but this set is very reliant on predictions. On such a set, Thunder Punch is an option to hit Mareanie while Shadow Sneak can be used to revenge kill Psychic-types such as Kadabra and Mr. Mime. An Assault Vest set is also an option that capitalizes on Muk's special bulk while being able to lure and remove certain checks such as Probopass, but this set struggles to get past defensive Pokemon such as Gourgeist-XL, Altaria, and Lickilicky and is chipped rather easily due to its lack of recovery. Poison Touch can be used over Sticky Hold for the high poison chance alongside Black Sludge, but keeping Muk's item intact is usually better in the long run. Muk has access to trapping moves like Infestation and Block, so it can potentially run a set with Acid Spray and/or Toxic to lure and remove threats like Mareanie, Pyukumuku and Gourgeist-XL. It can also trap defensive Pokemon such as Altaria and set up on them.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Haze Mareanie**: Haze Mareanie is the best Muk counter in the tier, removing Muk's Curse boosts and taking advantage of its passiveness towards it to set Toxic Spikes.
**Spite Pyukumuku**: Spite Pyukumuku can trap Muk with Block and PP stall it while ignoring its boosts due to Unaware. It also runs Rest so Muk can't afflict it with status or beat it during the process.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Mawile, Bronzor, and Probopass wall the mono-attacking set with Poison Jab, setting entry hazards or pivoting out to gain momentum. They need to watch out for Fire Punch, though. Trapper Probopass will beat Muk one-on-one regardless of Fire Punch if its Z-Move hasn't been used yet.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem, Sandslash, Silvally-Ground, and Gabite can all switch into Muk and proceed to beat it with their Ground-type STAB moves.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types with access to a strong STAB move like Kadabra, Mr.Mime and Beheeyem can all revenge kill unboosted Muk. Beheeyem can switch into Muk and proceed to set up or OHKO it most of the time with Shattered Psyche. Kadabra can threaten Muk with Counter due to Focus Sash and Magic Guard. Neither Mr. Mime nor Kadabra can afford to switch in on Muk, though.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Strong physical wallbreakers like Electivire, Komala, Rampardos, and Pinsir can all beat even a boosted Muk with super effective coverage due to its average Defense stat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Czim, 305832]]
- Quality checked by: [[Xayah, 167012], [Froasty, 446575], [Jklioe, 424692]]
- Grammar checked by: [[martha, 384270], [the-dutch-plumberjack, 232216]]
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