Ok hi I'm posting. I guess I'm posting sets and thoughts and stuff. And, the same thing I always say on these, I formally apologize if it turns out similar to an analysis.
Thought I'd start out with this bad boy(s) not just because its broken, but it has a lotta cool sets. Also wanted to talk about Dodrio before it gets banned. Anyhow, like I said, its a pretty versatile mon. There's double dance and standard SD for wallbreaking and cleaning, but also revenge killing, Choice Band for wallbreaking and revenge killing, but also cleaning, and Choice Scarf for revenge killing and cleaning. It stats and movepool are also pretty broken, with 110 Speed and Attack, although admittedly non-existent defenses, and solid STAB with Brave Bird and Return (or Frustration) (Also Double Edge but that's incompatible with Brave Bird), coverage with Jump Kick (and Stomping Tantrum if you wanna hit Chople Berry stuff), priority in Quick Attack, and some other fun stuff like Pursuit and Knock Off. Is this putting way too much effort on a mon that's gonna be banned soon? That's for you to decide, reader! AKA yes.
Fluff Ball Birdy (Dodrio) @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Early Bird
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Jump Kick
- Swords Dance
- Agility
Nope, not Standard SD, but I'll get to that one later. Double dance has been pretty cool, being able to choose between SD for bulkier mons and Agility for the faster mons and whatnot. It's even funner if you manage to get both up and just start bopping. It's main problem is probably 4MSS, since you have to leave out Quick Attack, leaving you all the more vulnerable to other priority users. Also it sucks having your only attacking moves consist of Jump Kick, which misses and screws you over, and Brave Bird, which chips you down, although Flyinium Z does help with that part. I also stuck Adamant on there because Agility stuff, though Jolly is still ok I guess for stuff if you don't manage to set up.
Fuzz Ball Birdy (Dodrio) @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Early Bird
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Quick Attack
- Jump Kick
- Swords Dance
Ok now Standard SD. Unlike double dance, this set has space for Quick Attack (or Frustration for a non-recoil STAB and to hit things like Oricorio-Pom-Pom, but I prefer the priority), which makes it much harder to revenge kill with faster mons (without having to set up an Agility) and opposing priority users. Also having an offensive move other than Brave Bird and Jump Kick is nice, even if it is weak as frik. But enough comparing it to double dance, since it is considered by many to be the best set (that comparison doesn't count). And this is for good reason, since it can be pretty hard to wall once it manages to get an SD up, especially since Z-Jump Kick lets it beat things like non-Chople Berry Regirock (although I wouldn't be surprised if Chople Berry becomes more common). Unless you have something like Lycanroc or Choice Scarf Togedemaru still decently healthy, it can just clean up games. Oh yeah Alolan Persian is pretty good against this too. Good mon.
Fluff Ball Birdy (Dodrio) @ Choice Band
Ability: Early Bird
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Frustration
- Quick Attack
- Jump Kick
Ok, we're done with the SD stuff. Unless you wanna run Choice Band SD for those Knock Offs and itemless Tricks and Switcheroos. Anyway, the first thing that comes to mind with this set is Stoutland, with its Scrappy Returns and Frustrations and better bulk (but mostly the Scrappy thing). However, Dodrio has a bunch of stuff that still makes it a solid wallbreaking option, much higher Speed, secondary STAB, coverage that doesn't lower its stats although does has its own issues, and priority. Whether you're spamming Brave Bird, spamming Frustration because you don't wanna kill yourself, spamming Quick Attack to revenge kill or clean up the match, or spamming Jump Kick because you're overpredicting and hoping they don't bring out their Ghost-type, it can put in work. You can also probably stick Pursuit on there somewhere, but it seems pretty hard to find a slot for.
Fuzz Ball Birdy (Dodrio) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Early Bird
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Frustration
- Jump Kick
- Knock Off / Toxic / Pursuit / Taunt / Haze / Quick Attack / Acupressure / I dunno
And the in the caboose of these sets, there's Choice Scarf. Despite Dodrio's naturally high Speed, this is still a solid set. In fact, the Speed makes it all the better in that it can outspeed pretty much all other Choice Scarf users like Primeape and Scyther (bar some weird stuff Floatzel and things it Speed ties with like Froslass). It does the usual Choice Scarf stuff, being able to revenge kill and clean. It's main setback when compared to a lotta those other Choice Scarf users would be in its lack of a pivot move or Trick/Switcheroo, but there are other good Choice Scarf mons like Kabutops who can relate. It moveset is also pretty standard when compared to its other sets, powerful STAB in Brave Bird, less powerful STAB that doesn't also kill you in Frustration, and coverage in Jump Kick. That last slot isn't as vital compared to the other three moves, so you can just stick some crippling moves like Knock Off and Toxic, Pursuit trapping with Pursuit, other random utility like Taunt and Haze, priority in Quick Attack, or Acupressure if you wanna help out your opponent.
There are no dinosaurs in there I swear.
Next up is Jellicent. This mon is honestly good both defensively and offensively. On the defensive side, it's got a solid defensive typing, nice bulk, and a great movepool with Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, and Recover. Offensively, it has good STAB coverage, access to Trick, and an acceptable Special Attack (I'm running out of ways to say good). Even its Speed isn't too bad, with max Speed and Modest it just reaches 219 to creep Aggron. It also has some great choices for its ability with Water Absorb and Cursed Body (or Damp if you wanna stop those Galvanzive Explosions). I've heard some people say it should be banned, but for now I just see it as an overall thick and rich option in the metagame, although that may be because I'm just screaming about Dodrio being quickbanned. Only time will tell. Also Pringles joke.
Brush Me (Jellicent) (M) @ Colbur Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb / Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald / Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Recover
First off, there's the defensive set. It's a solid switchin for stuff like Primeape and Floatzel. There are other defensive mons like Sableye and Gourgeist-XL can give it some competition, but its typing is a large selling point for it, as is its high HP and defensive stats, and not being completely shut down by Dark-types because Prankster also helps. It's a pretty standard defensive mon moveset. For its attack move there's Scald to fish for burns or Hex to get that snazzy boost on statused mons, the utility stuff with Will-O-Wisp and Taunt to let you cripple stuff like Clefairy or at least stop things like Regirock from setting Stealth Rock and whatnot, and finally Recover because recovery. And then Ghost mon stuff with Colbur Berry and Leftovers. The Speed is to creep Weezing creeping Carracosta. Speed mind games are fun. It can probably run a similar specially defensive set or a mix of the two for some specific calcs, but I haven't tried either yet so oh well.
Shave Me (Jellicent) (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb / Cursed Body
Happiness: 0
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Hydro Pump
- Shadow Ball
- Trick / Ice Beam
Choice Specs STAB Water Spout. That alone can just come in and pick up a KO. It does have a couple flaws, with its somewhat lacking Speed and how easily it can get chipped through switching in or other stuff like hazards and hail. But for the Speed, as I said before, you're still creeping Aggron with just Modest, and even more if Timid. As for the chip damage thing, you've still the slightly weaker and inaccurate Hydro Pump (unless you wanna just use with Surf or Scald), or just stick a Healing Wish user or two on your team, ez. Shadow Ball is that other STAB and hits some stuff your Water-type moves can't like Jynx and Poliwrath. And if Shadow Ball can't hit them either, there's Trick to cripple things like Clefairy and Altaria. There's also Ice Beam, which also hits Altaria, as well as things that don't care about Trick like Drampa. You could probably even stick random coverage like Dazzling Gleam, Psychic, Energy Ball, or Sludge Bomb if there's some mon your team really hates.
Brush Me (Jellicent) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Water Absorb / Cursed Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Water Spout
- Hydro Pump
- Shadow Ball
- Trick / Ice Beam
Yeah, pretty much the same stuff as Choice Specs. You're gonna spam Water Spout, Hydro Pump when you're low, and then everything else for predicting stuff. Choice Scarf alongside Timid does get Jellicent to a decent Speed tier, being able to outspeed Lycanroc, although its still outsped by Alolan Persian. The Speed gives it a nice surprise factor (ladder approved), especially when the foe thinks they can get a hit off before you to weaken Water Spout. While its natural Special Attack may not be the highest, Water Spout doesn't care, its still making dents in the opposing team. It also doesn't really have much of a niche like other slower Choice Scarf users in Aurorus and Abomasnow, which both beat rain. Its biggest selling point would be in its fast Water Spout. Trick is nice too.
Quagsire, despite my love of its design, is definitely the mon out of the three drops I've used and seen the least, so a good amount of this is speculation. However, this thing is a solid physically defensive mon and helps make up for the loss Gastrodon, being able to switch into Aggron and friends, although does face a little competition form Mudsdale in that area. When you have an ability that completely invalidates Water Absorb, you know its good. Unaware just stops opposing setup mons, letting it just fire off some Toxics or use them as setup fodder for its own Curse. Its typing is great, with just one weakness (Freeze-Dry doesn't count) and a solid amount of resistances, not to mention it isn't too shabby on the offensive side either. It also gets Recover, which is always nice. Sadly Quagsire only makes stall better, but I'll still stick it on my balance teams. Also RIP Pyukumuku. Also also make Dundies stall great again.
Hi (Quagsire) @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Probably the most common Quagsire set, although that may be debatable with its Curse set. Its a solid wall, and has the added benefit of being able to cripple physical things with Scald (which
always gets the burn) and Toxic everything else. Even if it is pretty passive, Earthquake still does decent damage and Recover with Leftovers means you do win the 1v1 against a good amount of mons over time. And then Unaware to set setup stuff. Just a solid physical wall.
Hi (Quagsire) @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Waterfall / Ice Punch
- Curse
- Recover
A lot of Quagsire's Curse sets in other tiers have Scald on them, likely since Quagsire fills more of a nichey support role if I had to guess. However, in PU its much more viable from what I've seen, so it could function as just a dedicated setup mon. So I just put Earthquake for STAB and Waterfall for more STAB or Ice Punch to hit things like Altaria. And then more Recover Leftovers healing. Thanks to Unaware, it doesn't even have to worry about PP stalling and crit fishing wars against other bulky setup mons like Clefairy and Gurdurr. So that's cool.
Hi (Quagsire) @ Choice Band
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 124 HP / 252 Atk / 132 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Toxic / Yawn
This is a fun set I came up with a few weeks ago and just remembered while making this post, so I haven't gotten the chance to use it yet. Is it good? I have no idea (so probably not). The moveset is again pretty simple, double STAB with coverage and something to cripple random switchins. The Speed creeps things like Drampa trying to creep uninvested base 50's. It could probably go much slower with more HP for bulk and stuff, but I prefer the fun Speed mind games (in fact you could probably run a little more Speed to creep base 50's running 8 or 12 Speed EVs to try to creep things trying to creep them).
We lost Ninetales? Uhhh, good for Ninetales I guess. Too bad it had to go right when it was starting to rise on the VR, but least now our Fire-types have even less competition.
Overall these were some pretty cool drops, bar that broken one(s), but my biggest worry right now worry is gonna be updating analyses. Ok I'm done now. Kachiga.