Art is mine
Piloswine is a decent offensive Stealth Rock setter thanks to its unique STAB combination and access to priority in Ice Shard, which allows it to threaten Xatu as well as most other Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon and Druddigon and take out entry hazard removers like Dhelmise and Golbat. It is also quite bulky, with its typing, ability to utilize Eviolite, and Thick Fat ability making it a decent check to Pokemon such as Garbodor and defensive Incineroar. However, Piloswine is unable to do much to the bulky Water-types of NU such as Blastoise, Slowking, and Vaporeon and has a poor matchup against Fighting-types such as Passimian, Pangoro, and Medicham. Piloswine also needs its Eviolite in order to tank certain hits, so losing the item could be detrimental to its team's defensive core. Piloswine will get worn down fast due to its lack of recovery options and having to constantly switch into resisted hits. Other Stealth Rock setters give Piloswine some hefty competition; Rhydon has a stronger offensive and defensive presence, Druddigon has other utility options such as Glare, and Steelix is much bulkier, has a better defensive typing, and can threaten certain Pokemon by boosting with Curse.
[SET]
name: Offensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Icicle Crash
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Piloswine makes for a decent offensive Stealth Rock user thanks to its STAB combination that can punish opposing Stealth Rock setters like Druddigon and Rhydon and entry hazard removers like Dhelmise and Golbat. Icicle Crash hurts foes that don't care about Earthquake like Xatu, Alolan Exeggutor, Rotom, and Vikavolt. Earthquake deals a considerable amount of damage to Garbodor, Steelix, and Incineroar and hits bulky Water-types like Slowking and Blastoise. Ice Shard is crucial for revenge killing weakened, faster threats such as Aerodactyl, Sceptile, and Vivillon.
Set Detail
========
With an Adamant nature and maximum Attack and Speed investment, Piloswine is as powerful as possible while outspeeding pivot Incineroar, Alolan Exeggutor, Rhydon, and defensive Decidueye. Eviolite and Thick Fat guarantee that Piloswine will survive hits from Pokemon such as Choice Band Sneasel, Aerodactyl, and defensive Incineroar.
Usage Tips
========
Piloswine has positive matchups against opposing entry hazard setters such as Garbodor and Druddigon and certain entry hazard clearers such as Xatu and Dhelmise, so using Piloswine as a lead can be a good idea. Piloswine should aim to set Stealth Rock as soon as possible to maximize its offensive output. Once Stealth Rock is set, Piloswine can begin wallbreaking early- and mid-game or potentially pick off certain offensive threats late-game with Ice Shard. Piloswine can attempt to pivot into Pokemon it can take a hit from like defensive Incineroar, Sneasel locked into an Ice-type move, and Electric-types like Heliolisk and Rotom. Be aware that this can also be risky, since Sneasel could just as easily use Knock Off as Piloswine comes in, and Heliolisk and Rotom can stop it by using moves like Surf, Hyper Voice, and Will-O-Wisp. While Earthquake should be used the most out of all of Piloswine's moves thanks to its lack of drawbacks, if the opponent has multiple switch-ins to Ground-type moves like Decidueye, Sigilyph, and Xatu, using Icicle Crash to catch them off guard would be a good idea.
Team Options
========
Piloswine fits best on offensive teams that don't want a passive Stealth Rock setter like Steelix. Having a partner that can beat bulky Water-types for Piloswine is a good idea, so pairing it with a Pokemon like Heliolisk, Sceptile, and Vikavolt is always wise. Other Pokemon like Xatu, Slowking, and Comfey can threaten Fighting-types for Piloswine. Comfey also appreciates Piloswine's ability to beat Poison-types so it has an easier time sweeping later in the match. A spinblocker can help keep Piloswine's Stealth Rock intact, so Pokemon like Rotom, Dhelmise, and Mismagius can make for good teammates. Passimian is also an excellent partner for Piloswine because it can safely bring Piloswine into battle with U-turn, allowing it to either safely set Stealth Rock or fire off a powerful attack. Garbodor can form an entry hazard stacking core with Piloswine, providing the team with a Fighting-type switch-in, and it can absorb Toxic Spikes for Piloswine. Garbodor also appreciates Piloswine's ability to threaten Xatu, allowing it to set Spikes much more easily. Pokemon such as Incineroar, Braviary, and Vivillon appreciate Piloswine's ability to threaten Stealth Rock setters. A cleric like Vaporeon can be a good idea, since it can heal Piloswine if it has taken prior damage or been crippled with status. Vaporeon can also switch into Scald for Piloswine, while Piloswine can cover Electric-types for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic could catch bulky Water-types off guard as they pivot into Piloswine, but Piloswine can't really do much else to these Pokemon afterwards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon like Slowking, Vaporeon, and Blatoise can all comfortably take any attack Piloswine goes for and threaten it out with either Toxic or a burn from Scald. Blastoise can also clear Stealth Rock after it forces Piloswine out.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Passimian, Pangoro, and Medicham threaten Piloswine out of the match, but they do not want to switch directly into Piloswine and can be revenge killed by Ice Shard if they are weakened enough.
**Residual Damage**: Because Piloswine lacks a reliable method of recovery, it is often worn down by repeatedly switching into resisted hits and entry hazards. Piloswine does not take status conditions well; Toxic poison from switching into Toxic Spikes puts it on a timer, while burns from Will-O-Wisp severely weaken its offensive output.
**Faster Grass-types**: Sceptile, Whimsicott, and offensive Deciduye can easily come in after a teammate has been knocked out and force Piloswine out with their powerful STAB moves if they are at full health. Decidueye can even clear Piloswine's Stealth Rock with Defog if it has been forced out with the threat of Bloom Doom. However, none of them want to come in on Piloswine's Icicle Crash directly, and all are threatened by Ice Shard if they have been weakened enough.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Yoshi, 322194], [Rabia, 336073], [Eternally, 295647]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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