qc 3/3: arikado, spirit, omicron
gp 1/2: fireflame479, p squared
[OVERVIEW]
Stoutland under sand is one of the scariest Pokemon that offensive teams can face. With an Adamant nature and a Choice Band, it hits extremely hard, especially with its STAB Return. It has the coverage to hit Pokemon that resist Return, such as Superpower, Crunch, and Ice Fang, making it very difficult to wall. It also has access to Pursuit, allowing it to trap and revenge kill frailer offensive Pokemon. However, Stoutland needs sand up to function effectively at all, giving it a mandatory partner in Gigalith. It is extremely prediction reliant; if the opponent predicts correctly by switching in Rock-, Steel-, or Ghost-types, Stoutland can be forced out, which loses momentum for the player. Finally, while Stoutland is extremely powerful, it fails to OHKO many offensive threats such as Nidoqueen.
[SET]
name: Sand Attacker
move 1: Return
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Crunch / Ice Fang
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is Stoutland's main STAB move, hitting anything that is not a Rock-, Steel-, or Ghost-type hard. Superpower hits the Rock- and Steel-types that Return does not deal much damage to. Pursuit allows Stoutland to revenge kill frailer, more offensive Pokemon under sand, such as Swellow, Salazzle, Espeon, and Heliolisk. Crunch hits the Ghost-types that Return and Superpower cannot hit, such as Doublade and Jellicent, harder than Pursuit. Ice Fang 2HKOes Gligar, which would otherwise avoid the 2HKO from any of Stoutland's moves. Facade allows Stoutland to be threatening even when it is burned, which would otherwise cripple it.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread, an Adamant nature, and a Choice Band maximize Stoutland's damage output while allowing it to outspeed nearly everything in RU under sand. A Jolly nature is unnecessary because Stoutland is only outsped by very fast Choice Scarf users such as Durant under sand. Sand Rush is the main reason to use Stoutland, as it allows it to revenge kill more offensive Pokemon and clean when sand is up.
Usage Tips
========
Stoutland can be used to both revenge kill opposing Pokemon and clean up, as with Sand Rush activated, it outspeeds everything in the tier unboosted. It can easily clean up once its checks, mainly Normal-resistant Pokemon, are worn down. Stoutland is very prediction reliant; even though Return is extremely powerful, Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types can switch into it at least once, if not more. As a result, go for Superpower or Crunch if predicting one of these Pokemon to switch in in order to severely weaken them. Use Pursuit to trap and revenge kill offensive Pokemon that Stoutland threatens, such as Swellow and Salazzle. Stoutland needs sand up in order effectively revenge kill; as a result, use sand turns wisely. Keep Gigalith healthy so it can set sand for Stoutland throughout the match, and try to switch into Stoutland safely if sand is up every chance you get.
Team Options
========
Gigalith is a mandatory partner for Stoutland; its ability, Sand Stream, activates Stoutland's ability and allows it to effectively revenge kill and clean. Gigalith also provides Stealth Rock for Stoutland, which it appreciates in order to wear down its checks. While Gigalith provides Stealth Rock for Stoutland, it also appreciates Spikes from Chesnaught and Roserade to further weaken its checks. Other Pursuit users, particularly ones that threaten Ghost-types such as Honchkrow and Sneasel, are good partners for Stoutland, as Ghost-types prevent Stoutland from spamming its STAB move. Furthermore, partners that threaten Rock- and Steel-types such as Kommo-o, Pangoro, and Heracross make for decent partners, as Stoutland fails to 2HKO many Rock- and Steel-types with Return. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Gligar, Swellow, and Rotom-H make for decent partners, as they give Stoutland free switches. Because Gigalith and Stoutland are both weak to Fighting-types, Pokemon that can deal with them such as Nidoqueen, Gligar, Florges, and Gardevoir make good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Silk Scarf and Life Orb are options in order to ease the need to predict with Stoutland, but the power drop is noticable. Toxic cripples some Pokemon that typically wall Stoutland on the switch, such as Gligar. Play Rough is an option to hit Fighting-types such as Chesnaught harder, but all of them take a lot of damage from Return anyway. Wild Charge is an option to surprise bulky Water-types such as Milotic, but generally Stoutland's other coverage moves hit more Pokemon. Giga Impact with a Normalium Z can muscle past some of Stoutland's checks while also lessening the need to predict, but the power drop and loss of coverage is typically worse than just running Choice Band. Fire Fang hits Escavalier and Durant the hardest, but the former takes a lot from Superpower, and the latter has a chance to be 2HKOed by Return anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types**: Pokemon such as Doublade, Diancie, Sableye, Rhyperior, Registeel, Bronzong, and Jellicent are immune to or resist Stoutland's main STAB move, preventing Stoutland from spamming it. However, they typically fear coverage such as Superpower or Crunch. Even more offensive Pokemon such as Escavalier, Durant, and Hoopa prevent this and force the player to predict a switch.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: While Stoutland is very powerful, certain physically bulky walls such as Gligar, Slowbro, Chesnaught, and Cresselia can barely avoid the 2HKO from Stoutland's moves, recover their HP, and hit Stoutland with their STAB attacks or set up entry hazards.
**Lack of Sand**: Stoutland needs sand up to effectively revenge kill opposing Pokemon or clean, so sun setters such as Torkoal and Ninetales render Stoutland nearly useless, although they can't switch in. Also, KOing Gigalith limits Stoutland's usefulness for the rest of the battle, so pressuring or luring it help check Stoutland.
**Priority**: If Stoutland is worn down, priority from Pokemon such as Honchkrow, Zoroark, and Comfey can KO it because they do not care about Sand Rush. However, none of these Pokemon can KO Stoutland if it is healthy.
**Gardevoir**: Gardevoir can Trace Sand Rush, KO Stoutland if it is weakened, and threaten the opposing team with its STAB attacks. However, it cannot switch in or KO Stoutland if it is at full health.
gp 1/2: fireflame479, p squared
[OVERVIEW]
Stoutland under sand is one of the scariest Pokemon that offensive teams can face. With an Adamant nature and a Choice Band, it hits extremely hard, especially with its STAB Return. It has the coverage to hit Pokemon that resist Return, such as Superpower, Crunch, and Ice Fang, making it very difficult to wall. It also has access to Pursuit, allowing it to trap and revenge kill frailer offensive Pokemon. However, Stoutland needs sand up to function effectively at all, giving it a mandatory partner in Gigalith. It is extremely prediction reliant; if the opponent predicts correctly by switching in Rock-, Steel-, or Ghost-types, Stoutland can be forced out, which loses momentum for the player. Finally, while Stoutland is extremely powerful, it fails to OHKO many offensive threats such as Nidoqueen.
[SET]
name: Sand Attacker
move 1: Return
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Crunch / Ice Fang
item: Choice Band
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is Stoutland's main STAB move, hitting anything that is not a Rock-, Steel-, or Ghost-type hard. Superpower hits the Rock- and Steel-types that Return does not deal much damage to. Pursuit allows Stoutland to revenge kill frailer, more offensive Pokemon under sand, such as Swellow, Salazzle, Espeon, and Heliolisk. Crunch hits the Ghost-types that Return and Superpower cannot hit, such as Doublade and Jellicent, harder than Pursuit. Ice Fang 2HKOes Gligar, which would otherwise avoid the 2HKO from any of Stoutland's moves. Facade allows Stoutland to be threatening even when it is burned, which would otherwise cripple it.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread, an Adamant nature, and a Choice Band maximize Stoutland's damage output while allowing it to outspeed nearly everything in RU under sand. A Jolly nature is unnecessary because Stoutland is only outsped by very fast Choice Scarf users such as Durant under sand. Sand Rush is the main reason to use Stoutland, as it allows it to revenge kill more offensive Pokemon and clean when sand is up.
Usage Tips
========
Stoutland can be used to both revenge kill opposing Pokemon and clean up, as with Sand Rush activated, it outspeeds everything in the tier unboosted. It can easily clean up once its checks, mainly Normal-resistant Pokemon, are worn down. Stoutland is very prediction reliant; even though Return is extremely powerful, Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types can switch into it at least once, if not more. As a result, go for Superpower or Crunch if predicting one of these Pokemon to switch in in order to severely weaken them. Use Pursuit to trap and revenge kill offensive Pokemon that Stoutland threatens, such as Swellow and Salazzle. Stoutland needs sand up in order effectively revenge kill; as a result, use sand turns wisely. Keep Gigalith healthy so it can set sand for Stoutland throughout the match, and try to switch into Stoutland safely if sand is up every chance you get.
Team Options
========
Gigalith is a mandatory partner for Stoutland; its ability, Sand Stream, activates Stoutland's ability and allows it to effectively revenge kill and clean. Gigalith also provides Stealth Rock for Stoutland, which it appreciates in order to wear down its checks. While Gigalith provides Stealth Rock for Stoutland, it also appreciates Spikes from Chesnaught and Roserade to further weaken its checks. Other Pursuit users, particularly ones that threaten Ghost-types such as Honchkrow and Sneasel, are good partners for Stoutland, as Ghost-types prevent Stoutland from spamming its STAB move. Furthermore, partners that threaten Rock- and Steel-types such as Kommo-o, Pangoro, and Heracross make for decent partners, as Stoutland fails to 2HKO many Rock- and Steel-types with Return. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Gligar, Swellow, and Rotom-H make for decent partners, as they give Stoutland free switches. Because Gigalith and Stoutland are both weak to Fighting-types, Pokemon that can deal with them such as Nidoqueen, Gligar, Florges, and Gardevoir make good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Silk Scarf and Life Orb are options in order to ease the need to predict with Stoutland, but the power drop is noticable. Toxic cripples some Pokemon that typically wall Stoutland on the switch, such as Gligar. Play Rough is an option to hit Fighting-types such as Chesnaught harder, but all of them take a lot of damage from Return anyway. Wild Charge is an option to surprise bulky Water-types such as Milotic, but generally Stoutland's other coverage moves hit more Pokemon. Giga Impact with a Normalium Z can muscle past some of Stoutland's checks while also lessening the need to predict, but the power drop and loss of coverage is typically worse than just running Choice Band. Fire Fang hits Escavalier and Durant the hardest, but the former takes a lot from Superpower, and the latter has a chance to be 2HKOed by Return anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types**: Pokemon such as Doublade, Diancie, Sableye, Rhyperior, Registeel, Bronzong, and Jellicent are immune to or resist Stoutland's main STAB move, preventing Stoutland from spamming it. However, they typically fear coverage such as Superpower or Crunch. Even more offensive Pokemon such as Escavalier, Durant, and Hoopa prevent this and force the player to predict a switch.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: While Stoutland is very powerful, certain physically bulky walls such as Gligar, Slowbro, Chesnaught, and Cresselia can barely avoid the 2HKO from Stoutland's moves, recover their HP, and hit Stoutland with their STAB attacks or set up entry hazards.
**Lack of Sand**: Stoutland needs sand up to effectively revenge kill opposing Pokemon or clean, so sun setters such as Torkoal and Ninetales render Stoutland nearly useless, although they can't switch in. Also, KOing Gigalith limits Stoutland's usefulness for the rest of the battle, so pressuring or luring it help check Stoutland.
**Priority**: If Stoutland is worn down, priority from Pokemon such as Honchkrow, Zoroark, and Comfey can KO it because they do not care about Sand Rush. However, none of these Pokemon can KO Stoutland if it is healthy.
**Gardevoir**: Gardevoir can Trace Sand Rush, KO Stoutland if it is weakened, and threaten the opposing team with its STAB attacks. However, it cannot switch in or KO Stoutland if it is at full health.
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