Amaroq
Cover me.
Mamoswine
QC: [3/3]
GP: [2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
An incredible base 130 Attack, access to STAB priority, and an excellent offensive typing allow Mamoswine to serve as one of the best wallbreakers in the tier. Mamoswine's Ice / Ground typing grants it excellent coverage with its STAB moves alone, but it is extremely poor defensively, and thus Mamoswine fails to contribute much to a team's defensive synergy. Access to STAB priority in Ice Shard is extremely valuable in a tier where many fast, powerful attackers are weak to Ice-type attacks, and it helps Mamoswine compensate for its average base Speed. In addition to its impressive power and coverage, Mamoswine's respectable bulk allows it to survive many neutral hits and retaliate. However, Mamoswine's mediocre base 80 Speed holds it back somewhat and prevents it from dealing with faster threats effectively, and it lacks many meaningful utility options outside of Knock Off and Stealth Rock and thus struggles to find a place outside of offensive teams. Lastly, Mamoswine's combination of poor Speed, average bulk, and a horrendous defensive typing leaves it vulnerable to many threats in the current metagame, such as Rotom-W, Scizor, Infernape, and Cobalion.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Ice Shard
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Icicle Crash / Freeze-Dry
move 4: Knock Off / Stealth Rock / Freeze-Dry
item: Life Orb
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Shard allows Mamoswine to revenge kill Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Sceptile, Mega Beedrill, Mega Pidgeot, Latias, and Hydreigon, although it usually requires some prior damage first. Earthquake is Mamoswine's strongest STAB move, 2HKOing all but the bulkiest Pokemon that do not resist the move, and it possesses no significant drawbacks. Icicle Crash is Mamoswine's secondary STAB move and provides nearly perfect coverage alongside Earthquake. Alternatively, Freeze-Dry allows Mamoswine to OHKO Quagsire, 2HKO bulky Water-types that would ordinarily check it, like Swampert and Rotom-W, after Stealth Rock, and 2HKO Alomomola after some prior damage. Knock Off allows Mamoswine to provide its team with some utility by removing its target's item. Lastly, Stealth Rock is an option, as Mamoswine forces switches easily and thus has many opportunities to set up the entry hazard to support its team with residual damage.
Set Details
========
Full investment in Attack and Speed maximizes Mamoswine's offensive presence. An Adamant nature is preferred for more power, but a Jolly nature is an alternative that allows it to outspeed Timid Mega Blastoise and Speed tie with Togekiss, Mega Altaria, and Chandelure. If running Freeze-Dry, Mamoswine should use either a Naughty or a Naive nature, depending on whether it values damage output or Speed, respectively. Life Orb provides Mamoswine with a significant power boost at the cost of recoil. Thick Fat is Mamoswine's most consistently useful ability, as it provides Mamoswine with a resistance to Ice-type attacks and causes Fire-types attacks to do neutral damage.
Usage Tips
========
Mamoswine's limited ability to contribute to its team's defensive synergy means that it fits best on more offensive teams, which should use Mamoswine to break walls early-game. Earthquake and Icicle Crash provide amazing coverage and do considerable damage when backed by Mamoswine's base 130 Attack stat. Mamoswine can also revenge kill fast, frail threats that normally give offensive teams trouble with Ice Shard. Take advantage of the switches Mamoswine forces to fire off powerful attacks or set up Stealth Rock. Mamoswine's typing leaves it with limited opportunities to switch in, but its natural bulk and immunity to Electric-type attacks help mitigate this somewhat. Mamoswine can switch in after a teammate has fainted or on weak neutral attacks, Electric-type moves like Thunder Wave, or utility moves like Stealth Rock and proceed to fire off powerful attacks.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate having opposing walls weakened benefit from Mamoswine's support. Cleaners like Mega Sharpedo, Mega Aerodactyl, and Mega Sceptile all appreciate Mamoswine's ability to break down bulkier teams. Pokemon that can provide pivot support, such as Scizor, Mega Beedrill, Hydreigon, Infernape, and Mega Manectric, can help Mamoswine switch in safely. Water-types like Rotom-W, Primarina, and Tentacruel can check many of the Fire-, Fighting-, and Steel-type Pokemon that threaten Mamoswine. Entry hazard support helps Mamoswine obtain important KOs (for example, Adamant Mamoswine is guaranteed to 2HKO defensive Swampert with Earthquake after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes). Pokemon like Cobalion, Empoleon, and Mega Aerodactyl can set up Stealth Rock if Mamoswine does not run the move itself. Klefki can provide Spikes support, while Tentacruel and Mega Beedrill have access to Toxic Spikes. Mamoswine is also vulnerable to entry hazards, so Pokemon that can remove them through Rapid Spin or Defog, like Starmie, Tentacruel, Latias, Togekiss, and Crobat, make good partners. Grounded Poison-types like Mega Beedrill, Tentacruel, and Alolan Muk remove Toxic Spikes upon switching in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Superpower can be used to hit Pokemon that rely on Shuca Berry to check Mamoswine, such as Cobalion and Empoleon, if neither Stealth Rock nor Knock Off is desirable. A suicide lead set using Oblivious, Focus Sash, Stealth Rock, Ice Shard, and Endeavor can be used, but it is generally outclassed by other suicide leads. Toxic is a potential option in the fourth slot to pressure bulky Pokemon that ordinarily wall Mamoswine, like Alomomola and Slowbro. Icicle Spear is an option over Icicle Crash that guarantees accuracy, but its damage output is usually significantly lower than that of Icicle Crash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Swampert, Slowbro, Suicune, and Alomomola are beefy enough to avoid a 2HKO from Earthquake and can retaliate with a super effective STAB Scald. Rotom-W serves as a particularly good counter to Mamoswine, as Levitate allows it to completely wall any set lacking Freeze-Dry.
**Cresselia**: Cresselia's immense bulk and access to reliable recovery allow it to shrug off any attack Mamoswine commonly carries.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Cobalion, Metagross, and Empoleon resist Mamoswine's Ice-type STAB moves and can employ Shuca Berry to survive an Earthquake and retaliate with their own super effective STAB moves. Scizor deserves a special mention because its typing allows it to take neutral damage from Earthquake and threaten Mamoswine out with Bullet Punch.
**Fighting-types**: Most Fighting-types are either fast enough to outspeed Mamoswine or bulky enough to take a hit. In either case, their super effective STAB moves can KO Mamoswine with little difficulty. Pokemon like Infernape and Cobalion also resist Ice Shard due to their secondary typings.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Infernape, Entei, and Darmanitan resist Mamoswine's Ice-type STAB moves and can KO it with a powerful Fire Blast, Sacred Fire, or Flare Blitz, although they cannot switch in on Earthquake.
**Super Effective Priority**: Mamoswine's typing leaves it hit super effectively by common priority moves, such as Bullet Punch, Mach Punch, and Aqua Jet. Scizor in particular can threaten Mamoswine with Technician Bullet Punch, while Infernape and Crawdaunt can KO it with Mach Punch or Aqua Jet.
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