While this set may be able to kill Tangela 70% of the time, the lack of Aerial Ace prevents Barbaracle from being able to hit Poliwrath.
-
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
-
Congrats to the winners of the 2023 Smog Awards!
Project The Next Best Thing - rip
- Thread starter Magnemite
- Start date
- Status
While this set may be able to kill Tangela 70% of the time, the lack of Aerial Ace prevents Barbaracle from being able to hit Poliwrath.
...yes, I said that. But as a long debate I had went, physically defensive tangela wins outright with AA so its a pick-your-poison deal.
Barbaracle @ White Herb
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 52 SpD / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
One of Barbaracle's best offensive checks is scarf raichu, because scarfchu outspeeds all barbaracles after they smash. However, this barbaracle can smash in front of something that really likes to switch out against it (think choice-locked fire moves, etc) and live scarfchu's thunderbolt:
252 SpA Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Barbaracle: 246-290 (70.6 - 83.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
52 sdef ev's also allow barb to live scarfchu's grass knot, which is apparently a thing:
252 SpA Raichu Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Barbaracle: 292-344 (83.9 - 98.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Also, scarfchu users should be familiar with their crap special attack, which should theoretically prevent them from volt switching, unless they're a god at reading your set or something. Calc that says they can't volt switch without losing a mon, even to normal barb:
252 SpA Raichu Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Barbaracle: 204-240 (71.5 - 84.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
And obviously, after smashing, barbaracle is still a monster even with a few less attack evs:
+2 160+ Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Razor Shell vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Raichu: 462-544 (177 - 208.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 160+ Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Aerial Ace vs. 200 HP / 0 Def Poliwrath: 318-376 (85.7 - 101.3%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Finally, 44 speed evs put barbaracle at 366 speed after smashing, which conveniently creeps timid zebstrika (fastest relevant mon in the tier)
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 52 SpD / 44 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
One of Barbaracle's best offensive checks is scarf raichu, because scarfchu outspeeds all barbaracles after they smash. However, this barbaracle can smash in front of something that really likes to switch out against it (think choice-locked fire moves, etc) and live scarfchu's thunderbolt:
252 SpA Raichu Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Barbaracle: 246-290 (70.6 - 83.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
52 sdef ev's also allow barb to live scarfchu's grass knot, which is apparently a thing:
252 SpA Raichu Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Barbaracle: 292-344 (83.9 - 98.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Also, scarfchu users should be familiar with their crap special attack, which should theoretically prevent them from volt switching, unless they're a god at reading your set or something. Calc that says they can't volt switch without losing a mon, even to normal barb:
252 SpA Raichu Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Barbaracle: 204-240 (71.5 - 84.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
And obviously, after smashing, barbaracle is still a monster even with a few less attack evs:
+2 160+ Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Razor Shell vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Raichu: 462-544 (177 - 208.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 160+ Atk Tough Claws Barbaracle Aerial Ace vs. 200 HP / 0 Def Poliwrath: 318-376 (85.7 - 101.3%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Finally, 44 speed evs put barbaracle at 366 speed after smashing, which conveniently creeps timid zebstrika (fastest relevant mon in the tier)
Barbaracle @ Leftovers
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Stone Edge
- Razor Shell
Pretty much lead Barbaracle with less of a lead like role. Everything is standard with the exception of Toxic over Taunt to catch the likes of Poliwrath and Bulky Grass-types such as Gourgeist and Tangela. Max HP is run over max Attack for more longevity, nothing real fancy with this.
Barbaracle @ Lansat Berry
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Cross Chop
- Stone Edge
+2 252+ Atk Sniper Barbaracle Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Tangela on a critical hit: 306-360 (91.6 - 107.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ Atk Sniper Barbaracle Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Poliwrath on a critical hit: 363-427 (94.5 - 111.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock (you lose to vacuum wave but still lmao)
+2 252+ Atk Sniper Barbaracle Cross Chop vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Torterra on a critical hit: 442-522 (112.1 - 132.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Boosted crit rate from Lansat + High crit moves = 100% crits, so bye counters :)))
Last edited:
Mistress Remilia
Skankovich
GrimoireGod
Late since mag sux and I have to update it, but Skankovich wins!
This week is Politoed!
pls dont post standard stuff then claim it isnt cuz its not on the outdated analysis
This week is Politoed!
pls dont post standard stuff then claim it isnt cuz its not on the outdated analysis
Politoed @ Salac Berry
Ability: Water Absorb
Happiness: 0
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Belly Drum
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Frustration
I wanted to test this a little before this post ngl. Politoed is capable of forcing switches on offensive waters and the like, so it's not too hard to set up a sub and drum into salac. Similar to wrath, you're losing to scarfers but outspeeding most of the unboosted tier outside of ninjask and basically can KO everything. Now that wrath is gone, Ice Punch is an option which hits geist, but frustration still hits other politoed or, idk, lapras. Not the best setup sweeper with all our good ones but comes with the extra package of surprise and a water check.
Ability: Water Absorb
Happiness: 0
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Belly Drum
- Waterfall
- Ice Punch / Frustration
I wanted to test this a little before this post ngl. Politoed is capable of forcing switches on offensive waters and the like, so it's not too hard to set up a sub and drum into salac. Similar to wrath, you're losing to scarfers but outspeeding most of the unboosted tier outside of ninjask and basically can KO everything. Now that wrath is gone, Ice Punch is an option which hits geist, but frustration still hits other politoed or, idk, lapras. Not the best setup sweeper with all our good ones but comes with the extra package of surprise and a water check.
Politoed @ Leftovers / Mystic Water
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 200 HP / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hypnosis
- Hydro Pump / Scald
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric]
Hypnosis + 3 Attacks set which can put switchins such as Lickilicky to sleep as well as hitting pretty hard in the process. The rest of the set is pretty self explanatory, with the Speed to outpace Golem etc.
Last edited:
- Status