asa
PU Leader
[QC Checks: quziel / Eternally / Disjunction]
[GP Checks: The Dutch Plumberjack / Fireflame479]
[OVERVIEW]
Due to its impressive Eviolite-augmented bulk, Type: Null is one of the bulkiest Pokemon in NU and is capable of serving as an effective blanket check to some of the tier's most threatening special wallbreakers in Heliolisk and Vanilluxe. Type: Null's decent Attack stat coupled with Swords Dance prevents it from being passive and allows it to pose a threat to offensive and defensive teams alike, and access to Iron Defense allows Type: Null to set up on and shut down physical attackers like Braviary, which makes it annoying to stop late-game. Type: Null is also capable of acting as a bulky pivot due to its access to U-turn, allowing it to get threatening wallbreakers in on the Pokemon that it tends to bait in. However, Type: Null is reliant on Rest for recovery, which can be taken advantage of by setup sweepers like Klinklang, and it is forced out by both Fighting- and Ghost-types due to the former threatening it with super effective STAB moves and the latter walling it completely due to their immunity to Return. Finally, Type: Null is unable to consistently check stronger special attackers if it loses its Eviolite.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Return
move 3: Rest
move 4: Iron Defense / Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance increases Type: Null's Attack, which makes its Return harder to switch into. Return is Type: Null's main and only STAB move and is rather reliable due to it being decently powerful, having high PP, and its lack of drawbacks. Rest gives Type: Null a method of recovery at the cost of incapacitating it for a few turns, allowing it to regain any lost HP and absorb status. Iron Defense increases Type: Null's Defense, making it even more annoying for teams to deal with after it obtains enough boosts, though it does leave it unable to do anything while asleep. Sleep Talk is an alternative that uses one of Type: Null's moves when it is asleep, preventing Type: Null from being completely helpless.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in both HP and Special Defense in combination with a Careful nature makes Type: Null as specially bulky as it can be, which allows it to take on special attackers as well as it does. Eviolite is the preferred item due to it further increasing Type: Null's bulk and allowing it to better take on special attackers as well as physical attackers if it runs Iron Defense. Battle Armor is Type: Null's only ability, and it means that there's no way around any potential Defense boosts it may obtain.
Usage Tips
========
Type: Null should primarily switch in on strong special attackers such as Whimsicott, Venusaur, and Vikavolt. Type: Null should also pivot in on sleep-inducing moves from Pokemon such as Smeargle and Vivillon, allowing it to absorb status for its team. Use Rest once Type: Null falls to about half of its health so it can continue to check special attackers throughout the course of the match. Type: Null should try to burn its sleep turns whenever possible so it can come in on special attacks more often later on and use Rest again when needed. Type: Null should refrain from setting up until all Ghost-types have been removed, as they will almost always force it out due to its inability to touch them. Waiting until Fighting-types have been removed is smart too, since they are capable of muscling through Type: Null if it lacks Iron Defense and can take advantage of its helplessness if it lacks Sleep Talk.
Team Options
========
Type: Null can fit on a fairly wide range of playstyles ranging from bulky offense to stall due to its ability to keep problematic special attackers in check. Type: Null appreciates having teammates that can check Fighting-types due to its weakness to their STAB attacks, so Pokemon such as Delphox and Slowbro pair well with it. Vileplume can also check Fighting-types and serve as a cleric due to its access to Aromatherapy, which saves Type: Null the trouble of having to burn sleep turns on its own. Vileplume also appreciates having Type: Null to fall back on against stronger special attackers like Vanilluxe. Pursuit trappers such as Sneasel and Skuntank are capable of removing Ghost-types that would otherwise impede Type: Null's sweep, with the former providing useful Knock Off support and the latter also offering Defog support. Wallbreakers such as Magmortar, Medicham, and Vanilluxe that place pressure on Normal-resistant foes are appreciated, since they are the hardest stops to Type: Null barring Ghost-types.
[SET]
name: Pivot
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Return
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn gives Type: Null the ability to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while also generating momentum. Return gives Type: Null a decently powerful STAB move. Rest is Type: Null's only method of recovery, and it also cures Type: Null of any status that may be plaguing it beforehand. Sleep Talk prevents Type: Null from being completely helpless while asleep, giving it the ability to potentially pivot out if anything switches in on it to capitalize on it being asleep.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in both HP and Special Defense in conjunction with a Careful nature makes Type: Null as specially bulky as it can be, which allows it to take on special attackers as well as it does. Eviolite is the preferred item due to it further increasing Type: Null's bulk and allowing it to better take on special attackers. Battle Armor, Type: Null's only ability, prevents it from being struck by a critical hit, which gives stronger attackers a harder time breaking through it.
Usage Tips
========
Type: Null should switch in on strong special attackers and sleep-inducing moves such as Sleep Powder in order to serve as a status absorber for the team. Type: Null should use U-turn on predicted switches to Pokemon that it can't touch such as Gigalith, Steelix, Rotom, and Rhydon as well as on predicted switches to Fighting-types in order to get in a wallbreaker that can threaten them out. Use Rest once Type: Null begins taking notable damage, as this will give it the ability to check as many special attackers and pivot as much as it can. Burning sleep turns whenever Type: Null gets the chance is smart, as it is almost completely helpless while sleeping and this means that it can use Rest again when necessary.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can check Fighting-types such as Delphox, Slowbro, and Golbat are appreciated, since Fighting-types can deal heavy amounts of damage to Type: Null with their super effective STAB moves. Pursuit trappers like Skuntank and Sneasel pair well with Type: Null due to their ability to remove Ghost-types for it, with the former also providing Defog support, which prevents Type: Null from being pressured by entry hazards and lessens the need to use Rest. Wallbreakers that can heavily pressure Rock- and Steel-types such as Fightinium Z Magmortar, Heliolisk, and Medicham are appreciated, since Type: Null is incapable of doing much to them. In return, Type: Null can come aid them against faster special attackers such as Sceptile and opposing Heliolisk and get them in safely against its checks with U-turn. Physically defensive Pokemon that falter against strong special attackers such as Granbull and Pyukumuku appreciate having Type: Null to fall back on, with the former offering useful Heal Bell support while also switching into Knock Off comfortably and the later keeping setup sweepers like Klinklang in check due to Unaware.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic punishes Pokemon like Rhydon as well as Ghost-types on the switch, but Type: Null struggles finding a slot for it. Roar phazes set-up sweepers like Delphox and can be annoying for teams to deal with if entry hazards end up on the opposing side of the field, but Iron Defense and Sleep Talk are much more consistent. Type: Null has access to options that help it against Ghost-types like Pursuit and Shadow Claw, with the former also chipping away at special attackers as they switch out, but it has trouble finding room for these options as well.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Type: Null is completely walled by Ghost-types such as Mismagius, Palossand, and Rotom due to them fearing nothing that it can use. Furthermore, Mismagius can prevent Type: Null from using Rest with Taunt, while Rotom can potentially cripple it with Trick if it is running Choice Scarf.
**Normal-resistant Foes**: Bulky Normal-resistant Pokemon such as Steelix, Diancie, Rhydon, and Klinklang are capable of taking Return rather well, even if Type: Null has used Swords Dance, and can take advantage of Type: Null by laying Stealth Rock or setting up on it, though they may face issues with breaking it if it has Iron Defense. Steelix is particularly noteworthy, as it can use Roar to phaze Type: Null or even set up alongside Type: Null with Curse.
**Fighting-types**: While they don't appreciate switching in on Return, Fighting-types such as Passimian, Medicham, and Toxicroak can force Type: Null out with their respective STAB moves. Medicham and Toxicroak are also capable of setting up on Type: Null should it lack Sleep Talk.
**Loss of Eviolite**: Without its Eviolite, Type: Null cannot reliably check stronger special attackers such as Choice Specs Vanilluxe, meaning that it is susceptible to Knock Off from Pokemon such as Mega Audino and Venusaur and Trick from Pokemon such as Delphox, Haunter, and Rotom.
[GP Checks: The Dutch Plumberjack / Fireflame479]
[OVERVIEW]
Due to its impressive Eviolite-augmented bulk, Type: Null is one of the bulkiest Pokemon in NU and is capable of serving as an effective blanket check to some of the tier's most threatening special wallbreakers in Heliolisk and Vanilluxe. Type: Null's decent Attack stat coupled with Swords Dance prevents it from being passive and allows it to pose a threat to offensive and defensive teams alike, and access to Iron Defense allows Type: Null to set up on and shut down physical attackers like Braviary, which makes it annoying to stop late-game. Type: Null is also capable of acting as a bulky pivot due to its access to U-turn, allowing it to get threatening wallbreakers in on the Pokemon that it tends to bait in. However, Type: Null is reliant on Rest for recovery, which can be taken advantage of by setup sweepers like Klinklang, and it is forced out by both Fighting- and Ghost-types due to the former threatening it with super effective STAB moves and the latter walling it completely due to their immunity to Return. Finally, Type: Null is unable to consistently check stronger special attackers if it loses its Eviolite.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Return
move 3: Rest
move 4: Iron Defense / Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance increases Type: Null's Attack, which makes its Return harder to switch into. Return is Type: Null's main and only STAB move and is rather reliable due to it being decently powerful, having high PP, and its lack of drawbacks. Rest gives Type: Null a method of recovery at the cost of incapacitating it for a few turns, allowing it to regain any lost HP and absorb status. Iron Defense increases Type: Null's Defense, making it even more annoying for teams to deal with after it obtains enough boosts, though it does leave it unable to do anything while asleep. Sleep Talk is an alternative that uses one of Type: Null's moves when it is asleep, preventing Type: Null from being completely helpless.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in both HP and Special Defense in combination with a Careful nature makes Type: Null as specially bulky as it can be, which allows it to take on special attackers as well as it does. Eviolite is the preferred item due to it further increasing Type: Null's bulk and allowing it to better take on special attackers as well as physical attackers if it runs Iron Defense. Battle Armor is Type: Null's only ability, and it means that there's no way around any potential Defense boosts it may obtain.
Usage Tips
========
Type: Null should primarily switch in on strong special attackers such as Whimsicott, Venusaur, and Vikavolt. Type: Null should also pivot in on sleep-inducing moves from Pokemon such as Smeargle and Vivillon, allowing it to absorb status for its team. Use Rest once Type: Null falls to about half of its health so it can continue to check special attackers throughout the course of the match. Type: Null should try to burn its sleep turns whenever possible so it can come in on special attacks more often later on and use Rest again when needed. Type: Null should refrain from setting up until all Ghost-types have been removed, as they will almost always force it out due to its inability to touch them. Waiting until Fighting-types have been removed is smart too, since they are capable of muscling through Type: Null if it lacks Iron Defense and can take advantage of its helplessness if it lacks Sleep Talk.
Team Options
========
Type: Null can fit on a fairly wide range of playstyles ranging from bulky offense to stall due to its ability to keep problematic special attackers in check. Type: Null appreciates having teammates that can check Fighting-types due to its weakness to their STAB attacks, so Pokemon such as Delphox and Slowbro pair well with it. Vileplume can also check Fighting-types and serve as a cleric due to its access to Aromatherapy, which saves Type: Null the trouble of having to burn sleep turns on its own. Vileplume also appreciates having Type: Null to fall back on against stronger special attackers like Vanilluxe. Pursuit trappers such as Sneasel and Skuntank are capable of removing Ghost-types that would otherwise impede Type: Null's sweep, with the former providing useful Knock Off support and the latter also offering Defog support. Wallbreakers such as Magmortar, Medicham, and Vanilluxe that place pressure on Normal-resistant foes are appreciated, since they are the hardest stops to Type: Null barring Ghost-types.
[SET]
name: Pivot
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Return
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn gives Type: Null the ability to pivot out of unfavorable matchups while also generating momentum. Return gives Type: Null a decently powerful STAB move. Rest is Type: Null's only method of recovery, and it also cures Type: Null of any status that may be plaguing it beforehand. Sleep Talk prevents Type: Null from being completely helpless while asleep, giving it the ability to potentially pivot out if anything switches in on it to capitalize on it being asleep.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in both HP and Special Defense in conjunction with a Careful nature makes Type: Null as specially bulky as it can be, which allows it to take on special attackers as well as it does. Eviolite is the preferred item due to it further increasing Type: Null's bulk and allowing it to better take on special attackers. Battle Armor, Type: Null's only ability, prevents it from being struck by a critical hit, which gives stronger attackers a harder time breaking through it.
Usage Tips
========
Type: Null should switch in on strong special attackers and sleep-inducing moves such as Sleep Powder in order to serve as a status absorber for the team. Type: Null should use U-turn on predicted switches to Pokemon that it can't touch such as Gigalith, Steelix, Rotom, and Rhydon as well as on predicted switches to Fighting-types in order to get in a wallbreaker that can threaten them out. Use Rest once Type: Null begins taking notable damage, as this will give it the ability to check as many special attackers and pivot as much as it can. Burning sleep turns whenever Type: Null gets the chance is smart, as it is almost completely helpless while sleeping and this means that it can use Rest again when necessary.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can check Fighting-types such as Delphox, Slowbro, and Golbat are appreciated, since Fighting-types can deal heavy amounts of damage to Type: Null with their super effective STAB moves. Pursuit trappers like Skuntank and Sneasel pair well with Type: Null due to their ability to remove Ghost-types for it, with the former also providing Defog support, which prevents Type: Null from being pressured by entry hazards and lessens the need to use Rest. Wallbreakers that can heavily pressure Rock- and Steel-types such as Fightinium Z Magmortar, Heliolisk, and Medicham are appreciated, since Type: Null is incapable of doing much to them. In return, Type: Null can come aid them against faster special attackers such as Sceptile and opposing Heliolisk and get them in safely against its checks with U-turn. Physically defensive Pokemon that falter against strong special attackers such as Granbull and Pyukumuku appreciate having Type: Null to fall back on, with the former offering useful Heal Bell support while also switching into Knock Off comfortably and the later keeping setup sweepers like Klinklang in check due to Unaware.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic punishes Pokemon like Rhydon as well as Ghost-types on the switch, but Type: Null struggles finding a slot for it. Roar phazes set-up sweepers like Delphox and can be annoying for teams to deal with if entry hazards end up on the opposing side of the field, but Iron Defense and Sleep Talk are much more consistent. Type: Null has access to options that help it against Ghost-types like Pursuit and Shadow Claw, with the former also chipping away at special attackers as they switch out, but it has trouble finding room for these options as well.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Type: Null is completely walled by Ghost-types such as Mismagius, Palossand, and Rotom due to them fearing nothing that it can use. Furthermore, Mismagius can prevent Type: Null from using Rest with Taunt, while Rotom can potentially cripple it with Trick if it is running Choice Scarf.
**Normal-resistant Foes**: Bulky Normal-resistant Pokemon such as Steelix, Diancie, Rhydon, and Klinklang are capable of taking Return rather well, even if Type: Null has used Swords Dance, and can take advantage of Type: Null by laying Stealth Rock or setting up on it, though they may face issues with breaking it if it has Iron Defense. Steelix is particularly noteworthy, as it can use Roar to phaze Type: Null or even set up alongside Type: Null with Curse.
**Fighting-types**: While they don't appreciate switching in on Return, Fighting-types such as Passimian, Medicham, and Toxicroak can force Type: Null out with their respective STAB moves. Medicham and Toxicroak are also capable of setting up on Type: Null should it lack Sleep Talk.
**Loss of Eviolite**: Without its Eviolite, Type: Null cannot reliably check stronger special attackers such as Choice Specs Vanilluxe, meaning that it is susceptible to Knock Off from Pokemon such as Mega Audino and Venusaur and Trick from Pokemon such as Delphox, Haunter, and Rotom.
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