QC: nv / Hogg / Pearl
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Despite the many Water-types in the tier, Omastar finds its place thanks to its access to Shell Smash, its impressive Special Attack, and an offensive movepool that gives it all it needs to function as a terrifying sweeper. However, while Omastar hits significantly harder, it faces competition from Cloyster, which boasts a better Speed tier. Moreover, Omastar's pitiful Special Defense and Speed leave it very reliant on its Focus Sash to set up safely. Even after a boost, it fails to outspeed common Choice Scarf users that litter the tier, such as Darmanitan, Hydreigon, and Mienshao, although Weak Armor rectifies that if Omastar is setting up on physical attacks.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Electric
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash doubles Omastar's Special Attack and Speed, making it an offensive behemoth. Hydro Pump is its most powerful STAB attack and hits incredibly hard after a boost. Ice Beam allows Omastar to hit Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Hydro Pump, such as Salamence and Shaymin. Hidden Power Electric hits Water-types that would otherwise wall Omastar, such as Suicune and Gyarados, for heavy damage. Scald or Surf is an option over Hydro Pump if you prefer superior accuracy; however, Omastar sorely misses the power, as it fails to OHKO the likes of Reuniclus, Sableye, and Mega Aggron and 2HKO Snorlax and Porygon2. Alternatively, Earth Power hits Toxicroak, Empoleon, and Tentacruel for substantial damage, but it is rather suboptimal because Omastar loses the ability to break past most Water-types if it doesn't run Hidden Power Electric.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Omastar to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature is necessary to outrun key threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Sceptile after a boost. Focus Sash guarantees that Omastar can set up safely against teams that lack means of rendering it helpless, such as Whimsicott and Sableye, which can use Encore or Taunt against it. Life Orb is an alternative option to amplify Omastar's sweeping potential, which sometimes makes it a better choice over Focus Sash. Weak Armor is the ability of choice, as it allows Omastar to potentially gain an extra Speed boost, which allows it to outrun all relevant Choice Scarf users.
Usage Tips
========
Omastar should be preserved until late-game, when all its checks and counters have been weakened or eliminated, especially Choice Scarf users, as most can outrun it even after a Shell Smash boost. Omastar should not be switched in with entry hazards on the field in order to preserve its Focus Sash. Life Orb variants should seek to set up on attackers that struggle to break through its impressive Defense. Omastar should aim to be brought in through a slow Volt Switch or U-turn or after a teammate has fainted, to avoid taking unnecessary damage.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removal is a necessity to keep Omastar's Focus Sash intact, so Pokemon that can remove entry hazards are good partners. Fast suicide leads such as Azelf and Aerodactyl make for fine partners, as they both set and prevent entry hazards. Forretress and Gligar are nice partners as well, as Omastar appreciates their slow Volt Switch and U-turn, as well as their ability to set up entry hazards. Mega Blastoise shares similar checks to Omastar and assists in weakening its checks. Entry hazard support is appreciated to help secure KOs, so good teammates include Nidoqueen and Cobalion, which set up Stealth Rock, and Roserade and Accelgor, which set up Spikes. Memento users such as Gardevoir, Whimsicott, and Chandelure are good partners, especially for the Life Orb set, as they somewhat offset Omastar's average bulk and permit safer setup opportunities. Finally, Fire- and Flying-types such as Entei, Infernape, and Mega Aerodactyl make for good partners, as they all break down Grass-types that can threaten Omastar with their STAB attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Omastar can be run as a Swift Swim sweeper on rain teams, but it faces heavy competition from Kingdra, which has superior Speed and the capacity to run a mixed set. Mental Herb is an option, as it allows Omastar to negate the effects of Taunt and Encore, which inhibit it from setting up. Omastar could run a suicide lead or physically defensive set with its access to Spikes and Stealth Rock, but both sets lose to common entry hazard removers, and the latter offers little to no defensive advantages that make it worth using over other Water-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users that possess base 90 Speed and above such as Hydreigon, Mienshao, and Salamence outrun even a Shell Smash-boosted Omastar and weaken or outright OHKO it with their STAB attacks.
**Priority**: Priority users such as Mega Absol and Feraligatr can easily pick off a weakened Omastar after its drop in defenses from Shell Smash, but a healthy Omastar can shrug off most physical priority attacks. Special priority users such as Lucario and Infernape can easily revenge kill Omastar with Vacuum Wave.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Blissey, Florges, and Umbreon can tank a +2 Hydro Pump from Omastar. Blissey can chip away at it with Seismic Toss and cripple it with status, Florges can wear it down with Moonblast, and Umbreon can heavily dent Omastar with Foul Play after it has boosted.
**Fast Special Attackers**: Due to Omastar's low Special Defense, it has to be wary when facing off against special attackers such as Hydreigon, Shaymin, and Alakazam, which can all severely weaken it with their STAB attacks. Alakazam can afford to run Focus Sash in tandem with Thunder Wave and effectively neuter Omastar with paralysis.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Despite the many Water-types in the tier, Omastar finds its place thanks to its access to Shell Smash, its impressive Special Attack, and an offensive movepool that gives it all it needs to function as a terrifying sweeper. However, while Omastar hits significantly harder, it faces competition from Cloyster, which boasts a better Speed tier. Moreover, Omastar's pitiful Special Defense and Speed leave it very reliant on its Focus Sash to set up safely. Even after a boost, it fails to outspeed common Choice Scarf users that litter the tier, such as Darmanitan, Hydreigon, and Mienshao, although Weak Armor rectifies that if Omastar is setting up on physical attacks.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Electric
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash doubles Omastar's Special Attack and Speed, making it an offensive behemoth. Hydro Pump is its most powerful STAB attack and hits incredibly hard after a boost. Ice Beam allows Omastar to hit Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Hydro Pump, such as Salamence and Shaymin. Hidden Power Electric hits Water-types that would otherwise wall Omastar, such as Suicune and Gyarados, for heavy damage. Scald or Surf is an option over Hydro Pump if you prefer superior accuracy; however, Omastar sorely misses the power, as it fails to OHKO the likes of Reuniclus, Sableye, and Mega Aggron and 2HKO Snorlax and Porygon2. Alternatively, Earth Power hits Toxicroak, Empoleon, and Tentacruel for substantial damage, but it is rather suboptimal because Omastar loses the ability to break past most Water-types if it doesn't run Hidden Power Electric.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Omastar to hit as hard and fast as possible. A Timid nature is necessary to outrun key threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Sceptile after a boost. Focus Sash guarantees that Omastar can set up safely against teams that lack means of rendering it helpless, such as Whimsicott and Sableye, which can use Encore or Taunt against it. Life Orb is an alternative option to amplify Omastar's sweeping potential, which sometimes makes it a better choice over Focus Sash. Weak Armor is the ability of choice, as it allows Omastar to potentially gain an extra Speed boost, which allows it to outrun all relevant Choice Scarf users.
Usage Tips
========
Omastar should be preserved until late-game, when all its checks and counters have been weakened or eliminated, especially Choice Scarf users, as most can outrun it even after a Shell Smash boost. Omastar should not be switched in with entry hazards on the field in order to preserve its Focus Sash. Life Orb variants should seek to set up on attackers that struggle to break through its impressive Defense. Omastar should aim to be brought in through a slow Volt Switch or U-turn or after a teammate has fainted, to avoid taking unnecessary damage.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removal is a necessity to keep Omastar's Focus Sash intact, so Pokemon that can remove entry hazards are good partners. Fast suicide leads such as Azelf and Aerodactyl make for fine partners, as they both set and prevent entry hazards. Forretress and Gligar are nice partners as well, as Omastar appreciates their slow Volt Switch and U-turn, as well as their ability to set up entry hazards. Mega Blastoise shares similar checks to Omastar and assists in weakening its checks. Entry hazard support is appreciated to help secure KOs, so good teammates include Nidoqueen and Cobalion, which set up Stealth Rock, and Roserade and Accelgor, which set up Spikes. Memento users such as Gardevoir, Whimsicott, and Chandelure are good partners, especially for the Life Orb set, as they somewhat offset Omastar's average bulk and permit safer setup opportunities. Finally, Fire- and Flying-types such as Entei, Infernape, and Mega Aerodactyl make for good partners, as they all break down Grass-types that can threaten Omastar with their STAB attacks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Omastar can be run as a Swift Swim sweeper on rain teams, but it faces heavy competition from Kingdra, which has superior Speed and the capacity to run a mixed set. Mental Herb is an option, as it allows Omastar to negate the effects of Taunt and Encore, which inhibit it from setting up. Omastar could run a suicide lead or physically defensive set with its access to Spikes and Stealth Rock, but both sets lose to common entry hazard removers, and the latter offers little to no defensive advantages that make it worth using over other Water-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users that possess base 90 Speed and above such as Hydreigon, Mienshao, and Salamence outrun even a Shell Smash-boosted Omastar and weaken or outright OHKO it with their STAB attacks.
**Priority**: Priority users such as Mega Absol and Feraligatr can easily pick off a weakened Omastar after its drop in defenses from Shell Smash, but a healthy Omastar can shrug off most physical priority attacks. Special priority users such as Lucario and Infernape can easily revenge kill Omastar with Vacuum Wave.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Blissey, Florges, and Umbreon can tank a +2 Hydro Pump from Omastar. Blissey can chip away at it with Seismic Toss and cripple it with status, Florges can wear it down with Moonblast, and Umbreon can heavily dent Omastar with Foul Play after it has boosted.
**Fast Special Attackers**: Due to Omastar's low Special Defense, it has to be wary when facing off against special attackers such as Hydreigon, Shaymin, and Alakazam, which can all severely weaken it with their STAB attacks. Alakazam can afford to run Focus Sash in tandem with Thunder Wave and effectively neuter Omastar with paralysis.
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