[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Toxic / Whirlwind / Sludge Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Dustox feasibly compresses the roles of hazard control, special wall, and pivot into a single set. While its bulk is far from impenetrable, its typing allows it to have a solid matchup versus special attackers like Servine and Frogadier. This in turn provides opportunities for Dustox to clear entry hazards with Defog, as well as gain momentum with STAB U-turn. Toxic allows Dustox to punish switch-ins like Gigalith and Pignite, a more proactive approach of dealing with its checks in comparison to pivoting. Whirlwind forces out sweepers like Klang and Scraggy, and it can also gain momentum when drawing in a Pokemon that cannot threaten Dustox with a subsequent U-turn. Sludge Bomb is another option Dustox may opt for to spread status while also nailing the Grass-types it checks. Physically defensive and mixed defensive investments work well too, given the appropriate team support.
Offensive Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Frogadier are great teammates as they can force out the Fire- and Rock-types that could come in on Dustox, like Magmar and Lairon. In return, Dustox can come in on Grass-types and restart the U-turn momentum cycle. Physical walls like Gigalith and Carbink make for a good core to pair with Dustox. Offensive pivots like Electabuzz and Furfrou also generate momentum in tandem with Dustox. Dark-types like Scraggy and Korkorok are necessary so that Dustox can pivot out on Duosion and not fear the following Future Sight.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double Dance sets with Quiver Dance + Iron Defense and Bug Buzz for coverage are decent wincons, but fail to break the mold due to their passivity before setting up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Lairon and Gigalith are offensive Stealth Rock users that Dustox has little chance at deterring by itself.
**Fire-types**: Dustox needs to watch out for offensive Fire-type Pokemon like Magmar and Pignite, as it fears letting them in any time it attempts to recover or Defog.
**Psychic-types**: While they can take hefty damage from U-turn, Dustox struggles with its role as a special wall versus Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat.
**Wallbreakers**: Depending on its investment, Dustox will be generally vulnerable to stronger attackers like Choice Band Furfrou and Life Orb Simisage. Even with maxed out bulk, it still cannot safely switch into some threats like Choice Specs Vanilluxe.
**Stallbreakers**: Given Dustox's passivity, it relies on Toxic and Whirlwind to deal with setup sweepers, so the likes of Dragon Dance + Taunt Scraggy and Encore Jumpluff could make it a sitting duck.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Toxic / Whirlwind / Sludge Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Dustox feasibly compresses the roles of hazard control, special wall, and pivot into a single set. While its bulk is far from impenetrable, its typing allows it to have a solid matchup versus special attackers like Servine and Frogadier. This in turn provides opportunities for Dustox to clear entry hazards with Defog, as well as gain momentum with STAB U-turn. Toxic allows Dustox to punish switch-ins like Gigalith and Pignite, a more proactive approach of dealing with its checks in comparison to pivoting. Whirlwind forces out sweepers like Klang and Scraggy, and it can also gain momentum when drawing in a Pokemon that cannot threaten Dustox with a subsequent U-turn. Sludge Bomb is another option Dustox may opt for to spread status while also nailing the Grass-types it checks. Physically defensive and mixed defensive investments work well too, given the appropriate team support.
Offensive Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Frogadier are great teammates as they can force out the Fire- and Rock-types that could come in on Dustox, like Magmar and Lairon. In return, Dustox can come in on Grass-types and restart the U-turn momentum cycle. Physical walls like Gigalith and Carbink make for a good core to pair with Dustox. Offensive pivots like Electabuzz and Furfrou also generate momentum in tandem with Dustox. Dark-types like Scraggy and Korkorok are necessary so that Dustox can pivot out on Duosion and not fear the following Future Sight.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double Dance sets with Quiver Dance + Iron Defense and Bug Buzz for coverage are decent wincons, but fail to break the mold due to their passivity before setting up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Lairon and Gigalith are offensive Stealth Rock users that Dustox has little chance at deterring by itself.
**Fire-types**: Dustox needs to watch out for offensive Fire-type Pokemon like Magmar and Pignite, as it fears letting them in any time it attempts to recover or Defog.
**Psychic-types**: While they can take hefty damage from U-turn, Dustox struggles with its role as a special wall versus Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat.
**Wallbreakers**: Depending on its investment, Dustox will be generally vulnerable to stronger attackers like Choice Band Furfrou and Life Orb Simisage. Even with maxed out bulk, it still cannot safely switch into some threats like Choice Specs Vanilluxe.
**Stallbreakers**: Given Dustox's passivity, it relies on Toxic and Whirlwind to deal with setup sweepers, so the likes of Dragon Dance + Taunt Scraggy and Encore Jumpluff could make it a sitting duck.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
