GP 1/1: CryoGyro
[OVERVIEW]
* Swift Swim and Shell Smash allow Omastar to become difficult to revenge kill in rain, only being vulnerable to priority.
* Waterium Z makes Omaster terrifying, as a boosted Hydro Vortex does a tremendous amount of damage to even the bulkiest of Pokemon that resist Water in the rain.
* Even outside of rain, a boosted Omastar is fast enough to outspeed threats such as Tapu Koko and Greninja.
* Omastar is rather reliant on rain and Shell Smash to reliably KO some of the threats that potentially wall it.
* Though Omastar's durability is by no means terrible, it is weakened after using Shell Smash. Combined with an exploitable typing and low Speed outside of rain and a Shell Smash boost, this means Omastar is vulnerable to being KOed easily.
* Drought can severely cripple Omastar, as it halves Hydro Pump's power and forces Omastar to rely on Ancient Power. Sand Stream and Snow Warning also cancel Omastar's Speed boost from Swift Swim.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Ancient Power
item: Waterium Z
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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* Shell Smash gives Omastar an incredible boost to its Special Attack and Speed.
* Hydro Pump is the primary attack that Omastar uses within rain. Hydro Vortex should be saved for bulkier threats such as Chansey, Tapu Fini, Mega Venusaur, and Ferrothorn.
* Substitute grants Omastar extra protection when setting up Shell Smash and makes it difficult to revenge kill with priority.
* Ancient Power is Omastar's go-to move for threats that often carry Water Absorb such as Mantine. It also is Omastar's strongest attack against Mega Charizard Y and Shedinja.
Set Details
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* Waterium Z grants access to Hydro Vortex to drown Pokemon that potentially wall Omastar.
* A Modest nature with maximum Special Attack guarantees that Omastar will have maximum power behind its attacks. Although a Timid nature sounds tempting to further bolster Omastar's poor Speed, a Modest nature secures important OHKOs with Hydro Vortex.
* Maximum Speed allows a boosted Omastar to outspeed the fastest of Choice Scarf users such as Pheromosa in rain.
Usage Tips
========
* Omastar should be treated as a Pokemon that can blow through rain teams' problematic Pokemon to help support its teammates.
* Omastar should be brought in as quickly as possible to set up and do massive damage with boosted Hydro Pumps in rain.
* So long as Omastar is boosted either by Swift Swim or Shell Smash, it will always be faster than threats such as Tapu Koko.
* Hydro Vortex is important, as it allows Omastar to overcome many threats that resist Water. After Stealth Rock damage and within the rain, a boosted Hydro Vortex will OHKO most variations of Ferrothorn, Mega Venusaur, Toxapex, and Tapu Fini. It also can do at least 72% to Chansey.
* Omastar should only be brought in through a double switch, after a Pokemon has been sacked, or if Pelipper U-turns to it. Omastar has okay bulk and can take a neutral hit most of the time; however, it becomes very vulnerable after a Shell Smash as it lowers its defenses.
* Substitute is a safe move to use to help ease setting up Shell Smash, prevent Omastar from being revenge killed by most threats, and protect against status.
* There will be some matches where Omastar will be unable to fully utilize a boosted Hydro Vortex. Even without a Shell Smash boost, STAB Hydro Vortex can be very powerful within the rain and overcome weakened defensive threats or very healthy offensive threats.
Team Options
========
* Pelipper is a must alongside Omastar for its ability to summon rain with Drizzle. Pelipper also helps support Omastar with slow U-turns and by being able to chip away at Pokemon with Scald, Hurricane, or Toxic.
* Ferrothorn is a great teammate, as it sets up entry hazards for Omastar and its team. It is also a great check to threats such as Tapu Koko.
* Kingdra, Tornadus-T, and Tapu Koko are great partners because they help support Omastar and rain archetypes. Kingdra can assist in softening up threats with STAB Hydro Pump or Draco Meteor. Tornadus-T is a great Pokemon that allows Omastar to save Hydro Vortex for other threats, as Tornadus-T handles most Grass-types without issue. Tornadus-T can also provide U-turn support to help Omastar switch in safely and Knock Off support to remove threats' coveted items such as Eviolite and Leftovers. Tapu Koko greatly appreciates the removal of the bulkier Grass-types that Omastar pushes through to help spam STAB Thunders while being an acceptable Pokemon for getting Omastar in safely with U-turn or Volt Switch.
* Greninja and Ash-Greninja are great partners that help Omastar in different ways. Protean Greninja can provide Spikes and take on some of the Pokemon that resist Water to save Hydro Vortex for other potential threats such as Ferrothorn. Ash-Greninja appreciates Omastar's ability to blow through some of its checks such as Tapu Fini and can help clean up late-game.
* Thundurus or Thundurus-T can also be used alongside Omastar, as they can conserve the use of Hydro Vortex against Tapu Fini and take advantage of the rain with STAB Thunder.
* Latios and Latias help keep Mega Charizard Y and Choice Scarf Keldeo at bay to ease the pressure they exert on rain teams. Latios can provide help with bypassing Pokemon such as Keldeo and Amoonguss with STAB Psychic or Psyshock. Latias can assist with Healing Wish support. Both are capable of utilizing Defog to help keep Pelipper from being worn down by Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Surf or Scald can provide a more accurate attack when Hydro Pump is not necessary to KO an opposing Pokemon. You should only consider these moves over Substitute, as Hydro Pump is critical for its KOes.
* Choice Specs can be held if you're already using a Z-Crystal. In cases like those, however, it is probably better to not use Omastar.
* Ice Beam and Hidden Power Grass as coverage should only be considered on Choice Specs Omastar.
* Omastar has access to Spikes and Stealth Rock; however, Omastar should stick to its offensive capabilities and leave its teammates to setting up entry hazards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Grass-types**: Even though a boosted Hydro Vortex smashes through Grass-types in the rain, it is possible for the opponent to divert Hydro Vortex towards another Pokemon instead and have the Grass-type reserved to tackle Omastar. With Hydro Vortex out of the equation, Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Assault Vest Tangrowth are capable of surviving a boosted Hydro Pump in the rain and easily KO Omastar with a STAB Grass-type attack.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types are acceptable checks and counters to Omastar if Hydro Vortex has been used on another Pokemon. Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro are capable of taking down Omastar. Slowbro can halve Omastar's Speed with Thunder Wave or outright KO it with a rain-boosted Scald. Mantine and Gastrodon easily absorb Hydro Vortex thanks to their abilities of Water Absorb and Storm Drain, respectively. Mantine does have to beware of Ancient Power, however.
**Chansey**: Even though Chansey must be cautious of Hydro Vortex, it is probably one of the safest ways to take down Omastar. Chansey has to be worn down a fair amount before going down to a boosted Hydro Vortex and otherwise can take on Omastar without many issues.
**Priority and Offensive Pokemon**: Accounting for rain and a use of Shell Smash, Greninja can OHKO Omastar with Choice Specs Water Shuriken -- provided it lands at least 3 hits. Mega Scizor is also capable of doing a hefty chunk of damage with STAB Bullet Punch, especially if it decides to invest in its Attack stat. Outside of rain or without a Shell Smash boost, Omastar is slow and can fall prey to a plethora of Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Garchomp and Keldeo or naturally fast offensive Pokemon such as Pheromosa and Mega Aerodactyl. Mega Alakazam can Trace Swift Swim to outspeed and KO Omastar.
**Weather-setting Abilities**: Mega Charizard Y can nullify Swift Swim easily with Drought. Ancient Power does KO Mega Charizard Y, but Drought still leaves Omastar in a far worse position. Tyranitar and Alolan Ninetales are also effective at shutting down Swift Swim. They both can also outspeed and KO an unboosted Omastar without much issue.
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