snake
CAP Co-Leader
feelin naughty tonight ;)
[OVERVIEW]
- Necturna has access to the best surprise move in the game: Sketch. Though Necturna can only use Sketch once, it can utilize many moves, including Sticky Web, Shift Gear, a variety of strong coverage moves, Geomancy, Belly Drum, and Spore.
- The best "sketch move" that Necturna can choose, however, is Shell Smash, as it gives Necturna a huge boost to Attack and Speed, allowing it to sweep the almost the entire metagame.
- With a decent Speed stat of 81, Necturna outspeeds most bulky Pokemon and notably outspeeds Magearna if Adamant and Landorus-T if Jolly. While its bulk is only above average, it possesses a pretty hefty Attack stat, which gives it strong offensive presence.
- Necturna's "natural movepool," the moves that Necturna has access to without using Sketch, has some pretty notable moves in it: Stone Edge for an excellent coverage move, Shadow Sneak for priority, and Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers.
- However, while Forewarn isn't completely useless, it's far from a great ability.
- Additionally, Necturna is very reliant on its Z-move to get rid of Steel-types, which can crippled or stall out Necturna's Shell Smash set.
- With Horn Leech as Necturna's most reliable recovery, Necturna has to rack up a lot of Attack boosts to gain much HP back. It's also hard to give up the power behind Power Whip.
- Necturna receives a lot of competition from other Grass-types in the metagame, most notably Kartana, which is natural faster, has better coverage, and Beast Boost; Jumbao, which is bulkier, has reliable recovery, and STAB Moonblast; and Tapu Bulu, which boasts Grassy Surge, meaning Necturna must capitalize on its Sketch move to set itself apart.
- While its Speed tier is excellent, Jolly Necturna falls just short of outspeeding neutral Base 95 Speed Pokemon like Volkraken and Zygarde.
- Finally, Tomohawk, arguably the best Pokemon in the metagame, can spin away Sticky Web while threatening Necturna out with Air Slash, Haze away its Shell Smash or Geomancy boosts, and tank most any hit that Necturna can throw at it.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Phantom Force
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Substitute / Stone Edge
item: Ghostium Z
ability: Forewarn
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Shell Smash gives Necturna a +2 boost to Attack and Speed at the cost of lowered defenses, allowing it to start a sweep.
- Phantom Force acts as a main STAB move for this set, as it hits fairly hard after a Shell Smash boost and can be converted into a devastating 175 BP Never-Ending Nightmare, which OHKOes Pyroak, defensive Zapdos, Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn, some of the bulkiest Pokemon in the metagame. Phantom Force even breaks through Protect and works well with Toxic Spikes team support, as it can stall for toxic damage before attacking.
- Power Whip acts as a more powerful secondary STAB move, which 2HKOes defensive variants of Landorus-T and OHKOes offensive Landorus-T. It also OHKOes Toxapex and Arghonaut, which can stop the set with Haze and Unaware, respectively. Power Whip doesn't quite OHKO Chansey, but alongside Substitute, Chansey can't do much back.
- Horn Leech can be used over Power Whip for recovery and more liberal use of Substitute, but Toxapex can more easily haze away Necturna's boosts, and Necturna becomes even more reliant on its Z-move.
- Substitute might seem odd alongside Shell Smash, but it can block Landorus-T's Intimidate, avoid Colossoil's Sucker Punch, and shield Necturna from status moves like Chansey's Toxic.
- Stone Edge is an alternative so that Zapdos and Pyroak can be OHKOed without using up Never-Ending Nightmare.
Set Details
========
- 252 Attack EVs allows Necturna to hit as hard as possible after a Shell Smash boost. An Adamant nature is required to OHKO the defensive Pokemon listed above with Never-Ending Nightmare.
- 252 Speed EVs allows Necturna to outspeed Shift Gear Magearna and speed tie with Choice Scarf Kartana after a Shell Smash boost.
- Forewarn alerts what set Landorus-T, Tomohawk, Magearna, or Greninja are running, but not that useful outside of that.
- Ghostium Z allows Necturna to use Never-Ending Nightmare with Phantom Force so that Necturna can power through the bulkiest walls in the metagame.
Usage Tips
========
- Swap in and set up against Pokemon that cannot do much back, like defensive Landorus-T, Substitute Zygarde, or Ferrothorn.
- Prankster Haze Tomohawk is a guaranteed stop to a boosted Necturna and absolutely must be removed before initiating a sweep. Provided that Necturna doesn't take hazard damage, it can be used to lure Tomohawk and switch into a counter.
- Never-Ending Nightmare should be played carefully. Weaken the opponents team appropriately so that Necturna needs Never-Ending Nightmare for only one opposing Pokemon. Remember that Power Whip can be used for Landorus-T, Toxapex, and Arghonaut.
- If Necturna is forcing a switch or against a slower status user, Substitute should be used to make the set-up turn safer.
Team Options
========
- Tapu Lele can place massive pressure on Haze Tomohawk, and its Psychic Terrain can prevent opposing priority users from shutting down Necturna's sweep.
- Teammates that can set Toxic Spikes like Toxapex or Pajantom can help wear down bulky Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Tangrowth, and Phantom Force stalls out an extra turn of poison damage.
- Stealth Rock setters like Tomohawk, Ferrothorn, Mega Tyranitar, and Landorus-T and Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Greninja are immensely helpful for chipping down opponents as well.
- Dedicated Tomohawk lures like Pajantom, Toxic Colossoil, and Toxic Landorus-T can remove or cripple Tomohawk from play, allowing Necturna a much easier time in setting up.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Shadow Sneak / Stone Edge
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
item: Focus Sash
ability: Forewarn
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Sticky Web is an extremely powerful entry hazard with limited distribution, and Necturna is one of the best setters.
- Power Whip is Necturna's most powerful move, nailing Arghonaut, Gastrodon, and Toxapex.
- Shadow Sneak is a great priority move that allows Necturna to pick off weakened threats mid- or late game. It has a good chance to OHKO Blacephalon and 2HKOes Pajantom.
- Stone Edge prevents Zapdos from using Defog without taking massive damage and prevents Mega Charizard Y or Mega Pinsir, who ignore Sticky Web, from coming in for free and either KOing Necturna or forcing a switch-in from taking damage. Additionally, Stone Edge will OHKO Volkraken after Stealth Rock damage and has a high chance to OHKO Volcarona.
- Will-O-Wisp cripples Landorus-T, Zygarde, Hawlucha, and other physical attackers hoping to take advantage of Necturna.
- Toxic, however, targets bulky Pokemon like Tomohawk and Pyroak, who would otherwise wall Necturna, and wears them down so that Necturna's teammates aren't pressured by them as much.
- Toxic Spikes can also be run to target the bulkier teams that do not care about Sticky Web, but the move is hard to fit on the set, and, unlike Toxic, Toxic Spikes does not affect Tomohawk.
- Super Fang can shave off 50% of the opposing Pokemon's health, which can be useful against Steel-types like Ferrothorn or Magearna.
Set Details
========
- 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly Nature let Necturna outspeed Adamant Landorus-T and Gyarados, which is necessary to hit them with Will-O-Wisp before they hit Necturna.
- 252 Attack EVs let Necturna hit as hard as it can with Power Whip.
- A Focus Sash lets Necturna get Sticky Web up almost guaranteed if it is used as a lead.
- However, Colbur Berry can dodge full damage from Sucker Punch from Colossoil, and Mega Mawile, as well as Ash-Greninja's Dark Pulse.
- Forewarn can hint at what sets Greninja, Magearna, or Celesteela are running.
Usage Tips
========
- Necturna should usually be used as a lead.
- However, try not to put it in situations where it has to choose between Sticky Web and another move. For example, if Necturna leads against a Mega Charizard Y, it has to choose between setting up Sticky Web or taking it out with Stone Edge, and it will lose its Focus Sash.
- Preserve Necturna's Focus Sash for as long as possible. Try not to switch it into a stray U-turn or Volt Switch or into a field with hazards.
- Sometimes the best play is not to use Sticky Web on the first turn. For example, if the opponent has a Charizard and is likely to switch out, use Stone Edge, and then set up Sticky Web the next turn.
- If the opponent has no hazard removers left, spreading status allows Necturna to support its team, as it can reduce incoming damage with burn or wear down bulky walls with Toxic.
- Necturna can be sacked against Tomohawk and Colossoil, which prevents them from using Rapid Spin for that turn and keeps Sticky Web up.
Team Options
========
- Necturna works very well as a lead on Sticky Web hyper offensive teams.
- Sticky Web abusers work with Necturna very well; examples include Choice Specs Volkraken, Choice Band Kartana, Mega Pinsir, Tapu Lele, Mega Crucibelle, and Kyurem-B.
- Pokemon like Protean Greninja, who pressures most hazard removers well, can discourage the removal of Sticky Web.
- Stealth Rock setters such as Heatran, Landorus-T, and Tomohawk can form a hazard stacking core with Necturna, but be careful not to waste too many turns on laying hazards.
- Necturna appreciates Healing Wish support from Jumbao or Tomohawk in case it needs to set up Sticky Web again.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- A Choice Band set is viable, sketching a powerful move like V-Create, Dragon Ascent, Bolt Strike, Precipice Blade, or Photon Geyser, which can lure in specific checks and remove them from play. Power Whip and Shadow Sneak are good STAB moves for power and priority, and then the last moveslot goes to Stone Edge or Shadow Claw, depending on the Sketch move; usually Shadow Claw is used if the sketch move doesn't maintain neutral coverage against Steel-types. However, the set suffers from low speed and heavy competition from Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Jumbao, which are easier to fit on teams and offer more speed or bulk.
- Necturna can run a specially oriented set with Psychium Z, full Special Attack EV investment, and a Modest nature in order to OHKO defensive Tomohawk. Psychic is a more reliable move, but Future Sight has a stronger Shattered Psyche. Necturna can run Giga Drain and Shadow Ball as reliable special STAB moves, but Leaf Storm is an option for more power. Necturna will still have access to its Sketch move; typically Sticky Web is a good option for this, as Tomohawk normally forces Necturna out and removes Sticky Web with Rapid Spin.
- Substitute + Leech Seed can be used to whittle down Necturna's checks while keeping itself healthy. Sacred Fire is an especially potent Sketch move to run with this set, as it can roast Grass-types like Ferrothorn and burn potential physically attacking checks. For the last slot, Necturna can run Power Whip for a strong STAB attack or Stone Edge to prevent faster Fire-type checks from harassing it as much.
- Sketching Belly Drum allows Necturna to boost its Attack to an absurd level, and alongside 3 of Shadow Sneak, Horn Leech, Shadow Claw, and Power Whip, Necturna hits very hard and can recover the lost HP with Horn Leech. However, Necturna generally finds it difficult to set up, and other priority users can play around it very easily.
- Necturna can Geomancy and use Z-Geomancy along a Fairium Z with Giga Drain and Shadow Ball. Pain Split and Substitute can help ease set up, and Psychic improves the match up against Toxapex, which can Haze away its boosts. However, it's hard to set up with a two-turn move, and it requires a Z-Crystal.
- Spore can be used as Necturna's Sketch move to cripple a switch-in, but with Electric Terrain being very common, Spore is a hard move to use. Necturna's other Sketch moves are just better in comparison.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tomohawk**: Tomohawk has many ways to circumvent Necturna's common sets. To begin with, as the most reliable spinner in the metagame, it can remove Necturna's Sticky Web and Toxic Spikes without any consequence. While Necturna spinblocks, being forced out by Tomohawk's Flying-type STAB means it is not reliable. Taunt Tomohawk can prevent either Sticky Web or Toxic, and Haze Tomohawk can prevent Necturna from sweeping with Shell Smash, Belly Drum, or Z-Geomancy. Defensive Tomohawk can also tank most of Necturna's Choice Band-boosted moves as well. However, Tomohawk isn't a complete stop: Choice Band-boosted Dragon Ascent and Bolt Strike will deal massive damage to Tomohawk. A Psychium Z lure will also likely remove Tomohawk, and if an extremely weakened Tomohawk tries to use Haze against a boosted Necturna, it can be taken out with a Shadow Sneak.
**Priority**: Necturna is weak to Sucker Punch from Colossoil and Mega Mawile; though Colossoil has to watch out for Power Whip, and Mega Mawile has to watch out for Will-O-Wisp. Mega Pinsir can't safely switch into Will-O-Wisp or Stone Edge, but Aerilate Quick Attack annoys Shell Smash variants of Necturna.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard ignores Sticky Web, isn't affecting Will-O-Wisp, and takes very little damage from Mega Charizard Y, but it has to be careful of Stone Edge on the switch-in. Pyroak can deal with an unboosted Stone Edge and KO or burn with Lava Plume, but it can't tank too many. Volcarona and Volkraken outspeeds unboosted variants of Necturna and threatens it out with a Fire Blast. Mollux and Heatran can be outsped, but Necturna's best counterplay is Stone Edge.
**Flying-types**: Hawlucha hard checks Necturna, as it can outspeed the boosted Shell Smash variants with Unburden. However, it has to avoid using High Jump Kick against Necturna as it switches in, as well as Will-O-Wisp. Tornadus-T can Hurricane away Necturna, but it must watch out for Stone Edge and Shell Smash. Zapdos's best option is Heat Wave, but it can reliably stall out Stone Edge with Pressure and Roost.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Magearna, and Skarmory resist most of the moves in Necturna's natural movepool, but they have trouble against Never-Ending Nightmare or appropriate Choice Band-boosted moves.
**Faster Attackers**: Naturally fast Pokemon like Syclant, Ash-Greninja, Greninja, Mega Crucibelle, Kitsunoh, and Stratagem and Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele, Volkraken, and Jumbao can force out Necturna with their respective super effective or powerful moves, but cannot reliably switch in, and most cannot outspeed a +2 Necturna. However, Choice Scarf Greninja and Syclant can outspeed +2 Adamant Necturna, OHKOing with Ice Beam.
[OVERVIEW]
- Necturna has access to the best surprise move in the game: Sketch. Though Necturna can only use Sketch once, it can utilize many moves, including Sticky Web, Shift Gear, a variety of strong coverage moves, Geomancy, Belly Drum, and Spore.
- The best "sketch move" that Necturna can choose, however, is Shell Smash, as it gives Necturna a huge boost to Attack and Speed, allowing it to sweep the almost the entire metagame.
- With a decent Speed stat of 81, Necturna outspeeds most bulky Pokemon and notably outspeeds Magearna if Adamant and Landorus-T if Jolly. While its bulk is only above average, it possesses a pretty hefty Attack stat, which gives it strong offensive presence.
- Necturna's "natural movepool," the moves that Necturna has access to without using Sketch, has some pretty notable moves in it: Stone Edge for an excellent coverage move, Shadow Sneak for priority, and Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers.
- However, while Forewarn isn't completely useless, it's far from a great ability.
- Additionally, Necturna is very reliant on its Z-move to get rid of Steel-types, which can crippled or stall out Necturna's Shell Smash set.
- With Horn Leech as Necturna's most reliable recovery, Necturna has to rack up a lot of Attack boosts to gain much HP back. It's also hard to give up the power behind Power Whip.
- Necturna receives a lot of competition from other Grass-types in the metagame, most notably Kartana, which is natural faster, has better coverage, and Beast Boost; Jumbao, which is bulkier, has reliable recovery, and STAB Moonblast; and Tapu Bulu, which boasts Grassy Surge, meaning Necturna must capitalize on its Sketch move to set itself apart.
- While its Speed tier is excellent, Jolly Necturna falls just short of outspeeding neutral Base 95 Speed Pokemon like Volkraken and Zygarde.
- Finally, Tomohawk, arguably the best Pokemon in the metagame, can spin away Sticky Web while threatening Necturna out with Air Slash, Haze away its Shell Smash or Geomancy boosts, and tank most any hit that Necturna can throw at it.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Phantom Force
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Substitute / Stone Edge
item: Ghostium Z
ability: Forewarn
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Shell Smash gives Necturna a +2 boost to Attack and Speed at the cost of lowered defenses, allowing it to start a sweep.
- Phantom Force acts as a main STAB move for this set, as it hits fairly hard after a Shell Smash boost and can be converted into a devastating 175 BP Never-Ending Nightmare, which OHKOes Pyroak, defensive Zapdos, Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn, some of the bulkiest Pokemon in the metagame. Phantom Force even breaks through Protect and works well with Toxic Spikes team support, as it can stall for toxic damage before attacking.
- Power Whip acts as a more powerful secondary STAB move, which 2HKOes defensive variants of Landorus-T and OHKOes offensive Landorus-T. It also OHKOes Toxapex and Arghonaut, which can stop the set with Haze and Unaware, respectively. Power Whip doesn't quite OHKO Chansey, but alongside Substitute, Chansey can't do much back.
- Horn Leech can be used over Power Whip for recovery and more liberal use of Substitute, but Toxapex can more easily haze away Necturna's boosts, and Necturna becomes even more reliant on its Z-move.
- Substitute might seem odd alongside Shell Smash, but it can block Landorus-T's Intimidate, avoid Colossoil's Sucker Punch, and shield Necturna from status moves like Chansey's Toxic.
- Stone Edge is an alternative so that Zapdos and Pyroak can be OHKOed without using up Never-Ending Nightmare.
Set Details
========
- 252 Attack EVs allows Necturna to hit as hard as possible after a Shell Smash boost. An Adamant nature is required to OHKO the defensive Pokemon listed above with Never-Ending Nightmare.
- 252 Speed EVs allows Necturna to outspeed Shift Gear Magearna and speed tie with Choice Scarf Kartana after a Shell Smash boost.
- Forewarn alerts what set Landorus-T, Tomohawk, Magearna, or Greninja are running, but not that useful outside of that.
- Ghostium Z allows Necturna to use Never-Ending Nightmare with Phantom Force so that Necturna can power through the bulkiest walls in the metagame.
Usage Tips
========
- Swap in and set up against Pokemon that cannot do much back, like defensive Landorus-T, Substitute Zygarde, or Ferrothorn.
- Prankster Haze Tomohawk is a guaranteed stop to a boosted Necturna and absolutely must be removed before initiating a sweep. Provided that Necturna doesn't take hazard damage, it can be used to lure Tomohawk and switch into a counter.
- Never-Ending Nightmare should be played carefully. Weaken the opponents team appropriately so that Necturna needs Never-Ending Nightmare for only one opposing Pokemon. Remember that Power Whip can be used for Landorus-T, Toxapex, and Arghonaut.
- If Necturna is forcing a switch or against a slower status user, Substitute should be used to make the set-up turn safer.
Team Options
========
- Tapu Lele can place massive pressure on Haze Tomohawk, and its Psychic Terrain can prevent opposing priority users from shutting down Necturna's sweep.
- Teammates that can set Toxic Spikes like Toxapex or Pajantom can help wear down bulky Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Tangrowth, and Phantom Force stalls out an extra turn of poison damage.
- Stealth Rock setters like Tomohawk, Ferrothorn, Mega Tyranitar, and Landorus-T and Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Greninja are immensely helpful for chipping down opponents as well.
- Dedicated Tomohawk lures like Pajantom, Toxic Colossoil, and Toxic Landorus-T can remove or cripple Tomohawk from play, allowing Necturna a much easier time in setting up.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Shadow Sneak / Stone Edge
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
item: Focus Sash
ability: Forewarn
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Sticky Web is an extremely powerful entry hazard with limited distribution, and Necturna is one of the best setters.
- Power Whip is Necturna's most powerful move, nailing Arghonaut, Gastrodon, and Toxapex.
- Shadow Sneak is a great priority move that allows Necturna to pick off weakened threats mid- or late game. It has a good chance to OHKO Blacephalon and 2HKOes Pajantom.
- Stone Edge prevents Zapdos from using Defog without taking massive damage and prevents Mega Charizard Y or Mega Pinsir, who ignore Sticky Web, from coming in for free and either KOing Necturna or forcing a switch-in from taking damage. Additionally, Stone Edge will OHKO Volkraken after Stealth Rock damage and has a high chance to OHKO Volcarona.
- Will-O-Wisp cripples Landorus-T, Zygarde, Hawlucha, and other physical attackers hoping to take advantage of Necturna.
- Toxic, however, targets bulky Pokemon like Tomohawk and Pyroak, who would otherwise wall Necturna, and wears them down so that Necturna's teammates aren't pressured by them as much.
- Toxic Spikes can also be run to target the bulkier teams that do not care about Sticky Web, but the move is hard to fit on the set, and, unlike Toxic, Toxic Spikes does not affect Tomohawk.
- Super Fang can shave off 50% of the opposing Pokemon's health, which can be useful against Steel-types like Ferrothorn or Magearna.
Set Details
========
- 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly Nature let Necturna outspeed Adamant Landorus-T and Gyarados, which is necessary to hit them with Will-O-Wisp before they hit Necturna.
- 252 Attack EVs let Necturna hit as hard as it can with Power Whip.
- A Focus Sash lets Necturna get Sticky Web up almost guaranteed if it is used as a lead.
- However, Colbur Berry can dodge full damage from Sucker Punch from Colossoil, and Mega Mawile, as well as Ash-Greninja's Dark Pulse.
- Forewarn can hint at what sets Greninja, Magearna, or Celesteela are running.
Usage Tips
========
- Necturna should usually be used as a lead.
- However, try not to put it in situations where it has to choose between Sticky Web and another move. For example, if Necturna leads against a Mega Charizard Y, it has to choose between setting up Sticky Web or taking it out with Stone Edge, and it will lose its Focus Sash.
- Preserve Necturna's Focus Sash for as long as possible. Try not to switch it into a stray U-turn or Volt Switch or into a field with hazards.
- Sometimes the best play is not to use Sticky Web on the first turn. For example, if the opponent has a Charizard and is likely to switch out, use Stone Edge, and then set up Sticky Web the next turn.
- If the opponent has no hazard removers left, spreading status allows Necturna to support its team, as it can reduce incoming damage with burn or wear down bulky walls with Toxic.
- Necturna can be sacked against Tomohawk and Colossoil, which prevents them from using Rapid Spin for that turn and keeps Sticky Web up.
Team Options
========
- Necturna works very well as a lead on Sticky Web hyper offensive teams.
- Sticky Web abusers work with Necturna very well; examples include Choice Specs Volkraken, Choice Band Kartana, Mega Pinsir, Tapu Lele, Mega Crucibelle, and Kyurem-B.
- Pokemon like Protean Greninja, who pressures most hazard removers well, can discourage the removal of Sticky Web.
- Stealth Rock setters such as Heatran, Landorus-T, and Tomohawk can form a hazard stacking core with Necturna, but be careful not to waste too many turns on laying hazards.
- Necturna appreciates Healing Wish support from Jumbao or Tomohawk in case it needs to set up Sticky Web again.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- A Choice Band set is viable, sketching a powerful move like V-Create, Dragon Ascent, Bolt Strike, Precipice Blade, or Photon Geyser, which can lure in specific checks and remove them from play. Power Whip and Shadow Sneak are good STAB moves for power and priority, and then the last moveslot goes to Stone Edge or Shadow Claw, depending on the Sketch move; usually Shadow Claw is used if the sketch move doesn't maintain neutral coverage against Steel-types. However, the set suffers from low speed and heavy competition from Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Jumbao, which are easier to fit on teams and offer more speed or bulk.
- Necturna can run a specially oriented set with Psychium Z, full Special Attack EV investment, and a Modest nature in order to OHKO defensive Tomohawk. Psychic is a more reliable move, but Future Sight has a stronger Shattered Psyche. Necturna can run Giga Drain and Shadow Ball as reliable special STAB moves, but Leaf Storm is an option for more power. Necturna will still have access to its Sketch move; typically Sticky Web is a good option for this, as Tomohawk normally forces Necturna out and removes Sticky Web with Rapid Spin.
- Substitute + Leech Seed can be used to whittle down Necturna's checks while keeping itself healthy. Sacred Fire is an especially potent Sketch move to run with this set, as it can roast Grass-types like Ferrothorn and burn potential physically attacking checks. For the last slot, Necturna can run Power Whip for a strong STAB attack or Stone Edge to prevent faster Fire-type checks from harassing it as much.
- Sketching Belly Drum allows Necturna to boost its Attack to an absurd level, and alongside 3 of Shadow Sneak, Horn Leech, Shadow Claw, and Power Whip, Necturna hits very hard and can recover the lost HP with Horn Leech. However, Necturna generally finds it difficult to set up, and other priority users can play around it very easily.
- Necturna can Geomancy and use Z-Geomancy along a Fairium Z with Giga Drain and Shadow Ball. Pain Split and Substitute can help ease set up, and Psychic improves the match up against Toxapex, which can Haze away its boosts. However, it's hard to set up with a two-turn move, and it requires a Z-Crystal.
- Spore can be used as Necturna's Sketch move to cripple a switch-in, but with Electric Terrain being very common, Spore is a hard move to use. Necturna's other Sketch moves are just better in comparison.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tomohawk**: Tomohawk has many ways to circumvent Necturna's common sets. To begin with, as the most reliable spinner in the metagame, it can remove Necturna's Sticky Web and Toxic Spikes without any consequence. While Necturna spinblocks, being forced out by Tomohawk's Flying-type STAB means it is not reliable. Taunt Tomohawk can prevent either Sticky Web or Toxic, and Haze Tomohawk can prevent Necturna from sweeping with Shell Smash, Belly Drum, or Z-Geomancy. Defensive Tomohawk can also tank most of Necturna's Choice Band-boosted moves as well. However, Tomohawk isn't a complete stop: Choice Band-boosted Dragon Ascent and Bolt Strike will deal massive damage to Tomohawk. A Psychium Z lure will also likely remove Tomohawk, and if an extremely weakened Tomohawk tries to use Haze against a boosted Necturna, it can be taken out with a Shadow Sneak.
**Priority**: Necturna is weak to Sucker Punch from Colossoil and Mega Mawile; though Colossoil has to watch out for Power Whip, and Mega Mawile has to watch out for Will-O-Wisp. Mega Pinsir can't safely switch into Will-O-Wisp or Stone Edge, but Aerilate Quick Attack annoys Shell Smash variants of Necturna.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard ignores Sticky Web, isn't affecting Will-O-Wisp, and takes very little damage from Mega Charizard Y, but it has to be careful of Stone Edge on the switch-in. Pyroak can deal with an unboosted Stone Edge and KO or burn with Lava Plume, but it can't tank too many. Volcarona and Volkraken outspeeds unboosted variants of Necturna and threatens it out with a Fire Blast. Mollux and Heatran can be outsped, but Necturna's best counterplay is Stone Edge.
**Flying-types**: Hawlucha hard checks Necturna, as it can outspeed the boosted Shell Smash variants with Unburden. However, it has to avoid using High Jump Kick against Necturna as it switches in, as well as Will-O-Wisp. Tornadus-T can Hurricane away Necturna, but it must watch out for Stone Edge and Shell Smash. Zapdos's best option is Heat Wave, but it can reliably stall out Stone Edge with Pressure and Roost.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Magearna, and Skarmory resist most of the moves in Necturna's natural movepool, but they have trouble against Never-Ending Nightmare or appropriate Choice Band-boosted moves.
**Faster Attackers**: Naturally fast Pokemon like Syclant, Ash-Greninja, Greninja, Mega Crucibelle, Kitsunoh, and Stratagem and Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele, Volkraken, and Jumbao can force out Necturna with their respective super effective or powerful moves, but cannot reliably switch in, and most cannot outspeed a +2 Necturna. However, Choice Scarf Greninja and Syclant can outspeed +2 Adamant Necturna, OHKOing with Ice Beam.
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