ManOfMany
I can make anything real
[OVERVIEW]
- unique Mono-poison lets it check pokemon like Leafeon, Mawile, and Monferno
- decent physical and special bulk
- Unremovable Rocky Helmet is very good for punishing physical attackers. Swalot is also a good switch-in to most Knock Off users because of high bulk, unremovable item, and good coverage in Earthquake/Sludge Bomb which allows it to hit Pawniard and Leafeon hard.
- Defensive set is fairly passive due to low offensive stats. Only method of recovery is Rest, which is unreliable and leaves it worn down easily, and also adds to its passiveness.
- does not fit on many teams due to passiveness, only certain bulky teams looking for its particular niche.
- Because of its good coverage Swalot can run other, more offensive sets, but they are not as reliable.
- Its role on teams overlaps somewhat with Gourgeist-Super as it is also a good check to physically offensive Grass-types and Knock-Off users. However, Swalot differentiates itself with its ability to also wall Monferno, Fire Blast Mawile, and Ninjask among other things.
name: Physical Wall
Move 1: Sludge Bomb
Move 2: Earthquake
Move 3: Rest
Move 4: Sleep Talk/Encore
Item: Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sticky Hold
Nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Sludge Bomb is Swalot's STAB move of choice and is its primary way to deal damage. Sludge Wave can be used instead to hit Quilladin, which is immune to Sludge Bomb, and also htis slightly harder, but Swalot really appreciates the 30% poison chance of Sludge Bomb.
- Earthquake hits steel-types immune to poison, such as Metang and Probopass, and allows Swalot to counter Pawniard. It also hits fire-types like Monferno and Simisear hard.
- Rest allows Swalot to heal up the damage it has taken so it can continue checking pokemon throughout the battle.
- Sleep Talk lets Swalot still attack while it is asleep so Swalot is not a sitting duck while it is asleep.
- Encore lets Swalot lock slower pokemon like Clefairy and Munchlax into non-attacking moves to prevent them from sweeping a team. However, you must forfeit Sleep Talk which makes it very easy for the opponent to take advantage of a sleeping Swalot.
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- Max HP and Max Def make it as physically bulky as possible, in order to take hits from pokemon like Monferno, Mawile, and Leafeon throughout the match.
- A Relaxed Nature is used to give Swalot maximum physical defense while not lowering either offensive stat because Swalot uses both special and physical moves. Swalot does not mind the speed loss since it is already slow.
- Sticky Hold is used so the item Rocky Helmet cannot be removed by Knock Off or Trick.
- Rocky Helmet is the choice item as all the pokemon Swalot checks use physical contact moves, and Swalot can keep using it to wear down the pokemon it checks throughout the match due to Sticky Hold. In addition it helps Swalot to deal damage because of its weak offensive stats.
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- Switch Swalot into something that it counters or checks, such as Eviolite Monferno, Leafeon, or Ninjask. You can also take advantage of Swalot's bug resistance to switch it on a U-turn and get 20% chip damage.
- Use Rest frequently to preserve Swalot's health, because Swalot needs to be healthy in order to check pokemon throughout the match. Generally focus on getting Rocky Helmet damage off on the pokemon Swalot checks rather than actually attacking since Swalot is weak anyway.
- Against weaker pokemon like Lumineon or Audino, Sludge Bomb can be spammed to get Poison damage off.
- If running Encore, use it to prevent setup sweepers like Calm Mind Clefairy or Curse Munchlax from sweeping the team, but be sure not to waste PP on Encoring other moves like Wish or Stealth Rocks.
- If Swalot is no longer useful in a match, it can be sacked to get off Rocky Helmet damage and possibly recoil on a physical attacker that it cannot wall, such as Chocie Band Dodrio, Life Orb Rapidash, or Stoutland.
- Swalot can be useful to remove Toxic Spikes off a field even if the physical threats it walls are gone.
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- Swalot works best on bulkier teams wanting a catch-all or secondary checks for various physical attackers.
- Grass-types such as Tangela, Gogoat, and Gourgeist are good partners for Swalot as they take the ground type moves aimed at Swalot. Swalot can in return check Monferno and take Knock Offs.
- Specially bulky pokemon such as Audino and Grumpig are decent partners to take on the special attackers who try to break through Swalot, especially psychic-types like Mr.Mime.
- Swalot pairs well with pokemon who strongly dislike Knock Off or Trick, such as Munchlax, Chinchou, and Clefairy, since it can absorb those moves for them.
- Swalot enjoys Heal Bell support from the likes of Audino, Grumpig, and Altaria because it uses Rest frequently.
- Teams with Swalot appreciates hazard removers like Swanna, Prinplup, and Cryogonal because it is very passive and often invites hazard setters in for free.
- Swalot pairs well with pokemon weak to fighting like Audino and Bouffalant, since it beats Monferno.
- Swalot pairs well with pokemon weak to grass like Stunfisk, Prinplup, and Relicanth, since it is one of the best checks to Leafeon, Simisage, and Jumpluff.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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- Assault Vest is a decent option to allow Swalot to take both physical and special hits. However it is hurt by the fact that it cannot hit back very hard, and it faces heavy competition from other special tanks like Bouffalant and Grumpig.
- Pain Split can be used over Rest but due to Swalot's high HP it generally won't recover a lot of health.
- Physically Offensive sets such as Choice Band or Offensive Rocky Helmet are usable due to Swalot's decent coverage. However, they are outclassed by Arbok due to lower speed and lack of Coil, and are quite subpar in terms of power.
- Specially Offensive sets are also usable since Swalot has a large special movepool including moves such as Ice Beam and Giga Drain. However Swalot's severe lack of power and speed makes them unappealing.
- Acid Spray is an option to annoy pokemon who rely on their special bulk, such as Audino.
- Counter could be used to retaliate with a heavy hit from a physical attacker for KO, however it usually requires sacrificing Swalot's health.
- Destiny Bond or Explosion with Custap Berry can be a nice lure with the ability Gluttony to activate Custap Berry at 50% health, but it is an unreliable strategy.
- Swalot can use Curse to become a setup sweeper, although if not running Rest-Talk it is easily overwhelmed by common special attackers, and if it does run Rest-Talk it runs the risk of being walled by Steel-types.
Checks and Counters
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**Ground Types**: Bulky Ground Types such as Stunfisk, Gabite, and Golem take little damage from either Sludge Bomb or Earthquake and can 2HKO in return with their ground-type STAB moves.
**Psychic Types**: Psychic types such as Grumpig, Mr.Mime, and Kadabra can heavily damage or KO Swalot with their STAB attacks, although the latter two cannot switch in.
**Ghost Types**: Misdreavus and CM Drifblim takes little damage from Swalot's attacks and can use it as set-up bait. Dusknoir can come easily in on Swalot and hit it hard with Earthquake.
**Bulky Tanks**: Pokemon with high bulk that are also strong offensively are able to easily switch in on Swalot and threaten it out, such as Regice, Lapras, Bouffalant, and Relicanth.
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