In-battle formes
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| HP: | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 63 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 101 |
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Evolutions
- Pansage
- Simisage
Strategies
- en
Overview
Simisage is an extremely effective breaker thanks to its expansive movepool and excellent offensive stats. Little can switch into Simisage because of its fantastic coverage and ability to act as a mixed attacker with Leaf Storm and Superpower or setup sweeper with Nasty Plot. In addition to being able to threaten most of the metagame, Simisage is able to play around usual Grass-type checks such as Gourgeist-XL, Altaria, and Bouffalant because of its high attacking stats and powerful coverage moves. Moreover, Nasty Plot makes Simisage one of the best stallbreakers in the metagame, allowing it to overwhelm walls such as Lickilicky, Dusclops, and Gourgeist-XL. However, a pure Grass typing and mediocre bulk make it difficult for Simisage to find opportunities to switch in, and it is weak to revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Electivire, Rapidash, and Choice Scarf Swanna. This is exacerbated by Life Orb recoil, which in tandem with its entry hazard vulnerability makes Simisage easy to wear down. While Simisage is a fast Grass-type that hits hard, it faces competition from other offensive Grass-types such as Servine and Leafeon, which are bulkier and offer more utility.
Mixed Attacker
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Set Description
Hidden Power Ice hits Leaf Storm switch-ins such as Rotom-S, Altaria, and Silvally-Dragon. Knock Off gives Simisage great utility as a mixed attacker, allowing it to break down bulky Pokemon such as Bronzor and Dusclops. Superpower rounds out Simisage's coverage, enabling it to OHKO weakened Normal-types such as Bouffalant, Sawsbuck, and Lickilicky.
Set Details
Maximum Special Attack investment is used over full Attack investment to ensure Simisage can wallbreak with Leaf Storm and 2HKO switch-ins such as Rotom-S with Hidden Power Ice.
Usage Tips
Because Simisage lacks opportunities to switch in, it should be brought off pivots and aggressive double switches. Subsequently, bring Simisage in against Pokemon it can revenge kill with Leaf Storm such as Marowak, Silvally-Water, and Swanna. Against switch-ins that have recovery, a Grass-type immunity, or a 4x resistance to Leaf Storm such as Muk, Bouffalant, and Altaria, Simisage should double switch to a teammate or nail them with the right coverage move. Conversely, against frailer switch-ins and switch-ins that lack recovery such as Pinsir, Combusken, and Silvally-Dragon, Simisage should usually spam Leaf Storm and heavily chip them down. However, Simisage needs to be wary of the Special Attack drops from Leaf Storm, which make it much easier to switch into and render it as setup fodder for Pokemon such as Shell Smash Crustle and Swords Dance Leafeon. In addition, Simisage needs to be careful of the opponent switching around its coverage moves and STAB attacks in order to stall it out with Life Orb recoil or fish for the Special Attack drop.
Team Options
Pokemon that appreciate Ground- and Water-types gone such as Choice Scarf Electivire and Swords Dance Combusken pair well with Simisage. In return, Choice Scarf Electivire checks faster threats such as Rapidash and Jumpluff and has Volt Switch to bring Simisage in safely, while Combusken checks Grass- and Steel-types such as Bellossom and Metang. Because Simisage lacks good opportunities to switch in, pivots such as Rotom-S, Silvally-Dragon, and Choice Band Furfrou pair well with it. Moreover, Rotom-S covers Flying-types that threaten Simisage, Silvally-Dragon is able to check Fire-types, and Choice Band Furfrou checks Pokemon with faster physical attackers such as Floatzel, Choice Scarf Silvally, and Pinsir. Simisage also pairs well with setup sweepers such as Z-Rain Dance Swanna and Shell Smash Crustle that take advantage of Simisage's ability to break down Pokemon such as Bouffalant, Dusclops, and Rotom-S. Entry hazard setters such as Golem and Bronzor help Simisage secure KOs against Pokemon such as Glaceon, Altaria, and offensive Torterra. Conversely, Defoggers and spinners such as Silvally-Water, Swanna, and Sandslash help keep Simisage healthy by removing entry hazards.
Nasty Plot
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Set Description
Energy Ball provides Simisage with more breaking power, allowing it to 2HKO bulky Pokemon such as Dusclops and specially defensive Komala, but it makes Simisage much easier to wear down. Focus Blast nails Pokemon such as Bouffalant, Lickilicky, and Mawile that could switch into Giga Drain and Hidden Power Ice. Hidden Power Ice is necessary, as it allows Simisage to break through Grass-type switch-ins such as Altaria, Gourgeist-XL, and Toucannon after a Nasty Plot.
Set Details
Fightinium Z is preferred over Life Orb to ensure Simisage can break past Bouffalant and Lickilicky without risking a Focus Blast miss and does not wear down Simisage unlike Life Orb. However, Life Orb gives Simisage greater breaking power and secures more OHKOs after a Nasty Plot, such as on Gourgeist-XL and specially defensive Torterra with Hidden Power Ice.
Usage Tips
Simisage should set up off forced switches against Pokemon such as Golem, Torterra, and Basculin or against passive Pokemon such as Gourgeist-XL and Mareanie because it tends to lack setup opportunities otherwise. Simisage should be brought in off pivots, through double switches, or after a teammate faints, since it tends to lack good opportunities to switch in. Nasty Plot is comparatively easier to switch into than mixed attacker sets, so it is vital to analyze the opponent's team and formulate a plan accordingly. Against slower, more defensive teams, Simisage can usually sweep late-game, but against faster teams, where Simisage lacks setup opportunities, it is best used as an early-game breaker. Make sure counters such as Muk, Bronzor, and Silvally-Poison are gone to ensure Simisage can sweep. Once these Pokemon are removed, Simisage can usually sweep through stall teams after a Nasty Plot because of its amazing coverage and ability to stay healthy by attacking foes with +2 Giga Drain. Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Electivire, Rapidash, and Choice Band Furfrou and priority users such as Kecleon should also be eliminated so that Simisage can sweep.
Team Options
Grass-type switch-ins such as Bronzor, Muk, and Silvally-Poison wall Nasty Plot Simisage, so partners that can weaken these Pokemon such as Mareanie, Swanna, and Monferno pair well with Simisage. Mareanie is able to remove Bronzor's Eviolite with Knock Off, Swanna is able to weaken Muk and Silvally-Poison with Scald, and Monferno is able to heavily weaken all these Pokemon with STAB Flare Blitz. Electric-types such as Electivire, Rotom-S, and Silvally-Electric support Simisage by checking Flying-types such as Toucannon, Jumpluff, and Choice Scarf Swanna that threaten it. In particular, Simisage can break down walls for Choice Scarf Electivire and pave way for a late-game sweep. Entry hazard setters such as Golem, Marowak, and Bronzor provide crucial Stealth Rock support for Simisage, enabling it to pick up KOs against Lickilicky and Altaria after setting up. Golem and Bronzor both provide good defensive support as well, with the former checking Fire- and Bug-types such as Rapidash and Pinsir and the latter checking Ice- and Normal-types such as Glaceon and Choice Scarf Silvally. Mareanie is another entry hazard setter that pairs exceptionally well with Simisage because Toxic Spikes make it easier for Simisage to break down specially bulky Pokemon such as Dusclops, Lickilicky, and Assault Vest Kecleon due to the constant chip damage. Entry hazard removers such as Swanna, Silvally-Ground, and Silvally-Dragon are crucial for Simisage, as keeping it healthy is vital for a late-game sweep, particularly when running Life Orb.
Other Options
On the mixed attacker set, a spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe with Gunk Shot or Rock Slide over Hidden Power Ice can be used to take advantage of Simisage's ability to break down Leaf Storm switch-ins such as Shiinotic and Rapidash. While this is generally inferior and limits Simisage's ability to spam Leaf Storm, it is useful on teams that appreciate Simisage's ability to bait in the aforementioned Pokemon and KO them. A Choice Scarf set can be used with Leaf Storm, Rock Slide, Gunk Shot, and Superpower to make Simisage a scary revenge killer. However, this heavily limits Simisage and forces it to forego its niche as a wallbreaker that can switch up coverage moves.
Checks and Counters
Poison-types: Muk and Silvally-Poison shut down Simisage and threaten it out. Muk counters Simisage thanks to its natural bulk and Rest, but Silvally-Poison is prone to being worn down over the course of a game.
Bulky Pokemon: Simisage has varying defensive counterplay depending on its set. Pokemon such as Metang, Mawile, Bouffalant, and Altaria can pivot into Simisage's mixed attacker set but must be careful of coverage moves. Against its Nasty Plot set, Pokemon such as Bronzor, Dusclops, and Assault Vest Kecleon can reliably take on Simisage.
Faster Pokemon: Pokemon such as Rapidash, Choice Scarf Rotom-S, and Choice Scarf Electivire outspeed and OHKO Simisage despite its solid Speed tier.
Residual Damage: Simisage loses health quickly because of Life Orb recoil and all the damage it takes from entry hazards. This makes Simisage susceptible to revenge killers and priority users such as Floatzel, Kecleon, and Pawniard.
Credits
- Written by 5gen
- Quality checked by S1nn0hC0nfirm3d and Greybaum
- Grammar checked by Lumari and Astra
