rose to NU -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Piloswine is an excellent Stealth Rock setter in PU thanks to its great bulk, which allows it to take multiple hits throughout a battle and set the hazard up multiple times if needed. Moreover, its Thick Fat ability and its Ground / Ice typing allow it to check threats such as Magmortar and Manectric, making Piloswine an overall tough defensive pivot to take down. Piloswine also lacks the passiveness of other Stealth Rock users thanks to a decent base 100 Attack stat that, coupled with EV investment, allows it to hit fairly hard. This is also complemented by a very good offensive STAB combination, a spammable move in Earthquake, and by priority in Ice Shard. However, Piloswine's typing is only mediocre defensively, leaving it vulnerable to common types such as Fighting. Lack of recovery and being affected by every form of entry hazard also mean that there are plenty of ways to take Piloswine down without having to attack it directly.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Icicle Crash
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock deals damage to foes upon switching in, and Piloswine's is a solid setter thanks to its defensive capabilities. Earthquake is a powerful and spammable move that can hit rather hard thanks to Piloswine's great Attack stat and EV investment. Icicle Crash complements Earthquake's coverage well, hitting Flying-types, Grass-types on the switch in, and bulkier Ground-types. Ice Shard provides valuable priority, helping against a setup sweeper that has gotten out of control, such as Lilligant, and faster, weakened threats.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is necessary to make Piloswine as bulky as possible to ensure that it sets up Stealth Rock. Maximum Attack EVs and an Adamant nature allow Piloswine to hit as hard as possible with its good STAB moves. Thick Fat and Eviolite give Piloswine a bulk boost and pseud-resistances to Fire and Ice, respectively, allowing it to check plenty of threats reliably.
Usage Tips
========
Stealth Rock should be set up as soon as possible to make the most out of it; try to do this early-game while Piloswine has not been weakened yet. Piloswine's job will often be limited to setting up Stealth Rock and weakening a foe before getting KOed; however, keep in mind that it can still be useful late-game thanks to Ice Shard's priority. Switch Piloswine into Ice- and Electric-types such as Rotom-F and Manectric, though keep in mind that some Electric-types such as Nasty Plot Alolan Raichu and Lanturn aren't ideal matchups, since they can hit Piloswine with a boosted Focus Blast and Scald, respectively. Avoid letting Piloswine take a Knock Off, as it depends on Eviolite for its bulk. Also avoid getting Piloswine burned, since this will make it almost useless, especially if it has already set up Stealth Rock. Keep an eye on hazard control if Piloswine is crucial to deal with the opposing team, as it is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards and it will be quickly worn down by repeated switch ins.
Team Options
========
Psychic-types such as Musharna and Fairy-types such as Clefairy and Granbull can switch into the Fighting-types that Piloswine tends to lure in. Musharna holding a Z-Crystal can also set up on them, since it does not fear Knock Off, and is also able to pressure Weezing. Answers to Water-type moves such as Lilligant and Cradily and checks to Grass-types also greatly help reducing he pressre on Piloswine. In general, Piloswine is a Stealth Rock setter that also has an offensive presence, so it is ideal to use it on offensively inclined teams and take full advantage of its offensive presence. Water-types and other Flying-types also appreciate Piloswine ability to pivot into Electric-types. Qwilfish in particular can take on the Fighting-type attacks aimed at Piloswine and also form a hazard-stacking core with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An offensive Choice Band set can be considered, but Piloswine is eavsly taken advantage of it its locked into one move. Roar can be used to deal with setup sweepers; if Piloswine is at full health, it will be able to take even a boosted hit in most cases. Toxic is a solid option to cripple Pokemon such as Musharna, Gastrodon, and Lumineon on the switch in, though it comes at the cost of poisoning Piloswine itself in Musharna's case. A more defensive EV spread is an alternative, but this makes Piloswine too passive in most cases.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing is immune to Earthquake and is easily bulky enough to take an Icicle Crash and burn Piloswine with Will-O-Wisp. It can also Taunt Piloswine if it has not set up Stealth Rock yet.
**Physically bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Musharna and Clefairy do not fear Piloswine's attacks and can set up on it.
**Fighting-types**: Primeape, Hitmonchan, Passimian, and Gurdurr all hit Piloswine hard with their STAB moves. Gurdurr in particular can also set up on Piloswine with a combination of Bulk Up and Drain Punch. However, none of them bar Gurdurr appreciate taking a hit from Piloswine.
**Offensive Water- and Grass-types**: Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Swanna, Shiftry, Lilligant, and Leafeon can heavily damage Piloswine, though the Grass-types bar Ludicolo don't appreciate taking a super effective Ice Shard.
[OVERVIEW]
Piloswine is an excellent Stealth Rock setter in PU thanks to its great bulk, which allows it to take multiple hits throughout a battle and set the hazard up multiple times if needed. Moreover, its Thick Fat ability and its Ground / Ice typing allow it to check threats such as Magmortar and Manectric, making Piloswine an overall tough defensive pivot to take down. Piloswine also lacks the passiveness of other Stealth Rock users thanks to a decent base 100 Attack stat that, coupled with EV investment, allows it to hit fairly hard. This is also complemented by a very good offensive STAB combination, a spammable move in Earthquake, and by priority in Ice Shard. However, Piloswine's typing is only mediocre defensively, leaving it vulnerable to common types such as Fighting. Lack of recovery and being affected by every form of entry hazard also mean that there are plenty of ways to take Piloswine down without having to attack it directly.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Icicle Crash
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock deals damage to foes upon switching in, and Piloswine's is a solid setter thanks to its defensive capabilities. Earthquake is a powerful and spammable move that can hit rather hard thanks to Piloswine's great Attack stat and EV investment. Icicle Crash complements Earthquake's coverage well, hitting Flying-types, Grass-types on the switch in, and bulkier Ground-types. Ice Shard provides valuable priority, helping against a setup sweeper that has gotten out of control, such as Lilligant, and faster, weakened threats.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment is necessary to make Piloswine as bulky as possible to ensure that it sets up Stealth Rock. Maximum Attack EVs and an Adamant nature allow Piloswine to hit as hard as possible with its good STAB moves. Thick Fat and Eviolite give Piloswine a bulk boost and pseud-resistances to Fire and Ice, respectively, allowing it to check plenty of threats reliably.
Usage Tips
========
Stealth Rock should be set up as soon as possible to make the most out of it; try to do this early-game while Piloswine has not been weakened yet. Piloswine's job will often be limited to setting up Stealth Rock and weakening a foe before getting KOed; however, keep in mind that it can still be useful late-game thanks to Ice Shard's priority. Switch Piloswine into Ice- and Electric-types such as Rotom-F and Manectric, though keep in mind that some Electric-types such as Nasty Plot Alolan Raichu and Lanturn aren't ideal matchups, since they can hit Piloswine with a boosted Focus Blast and Scald, respectively. Avoid letting Piloswine take a Knock Off, as it depends on Eviolite for its bulk. Also avoid getting Piloswine burned, since this will make it almost useless, especially if it has already set up Stealth Rock. Keep an eye on hazard control if Piloswine is crucial to deal with the opposing team, as it is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards and it will be quickly worn down by repeated switch ins.
Team Options
========
Psychic-types such as Musharna and Fairy-types such as Clefairy and Granbull can switch into the Fighting-types that Piloswine tends to lure in. Musharna holding a Z-Crystal can also set up on them, since it does not fear Knock Off, and is also able to pressure Weezing. Answers to Water-type moves such as Lilligant and Cradily and checks to Grass-types also greatly help reducing he pressre on Piloswine. In general, Piloswine is a Stealth Rock setter that also has an offensive presence, so it is ideal to use it on offensively inclined teams and take full advantage of its offensive presence. Water-types and other Flying-types also appreciate Piloswine ability to pivot into Electric-types. Qwilfish in particular can take on the Fighting-type attacks aimed at Piloswine and also form a hazard-stacking core with it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An offensive Choice Band set can be considered, but Piloswine is eavsly taken advantage of it its locked into one move. Roar can be used to deal with setup sweepers; if Piloswine is at full health, it will be able to take even a boosted hit in most cases. Toxic is a solid option to cripple Pokemon such as Musharna, Gastrodon, and Lumineon on the switch in, though it comes at the cost of poisoning Piloswine itself in Musharna's case. A more defensive EV spread is an alternative, but this makes Piloswine too passive in most cases.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing is immune to Earthquake and is easily bulky enough to take an Icicle Crash and burn Piloswine with Will-O-Wisp. It can also Taunt Piloswine if it has not set up Stealth Rock yet.
**Physically bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Musharna and Clefairy do not fear Piloswine's attacks and can set up on it.
**Fighting-types**: Primeape, Hitmonchan, Passimian, and Gurdurr all hit Piloswine hard with their STAB moves. Gurdurr in particular can also set up on Piloswine with a combination of Bulk Up and Drain Punch. However, none of them bar Gurdurr appreciate taking a hit from Piloswine.
**Offensive Water- and Grass-types**: Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Swanna, Shiftry, Lilligant, and Leafeon can heavily damage Piloswine, though the Grass-types bar Ludicolo don't appreciate taking a super effective Ice Shard.
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