5Dots
Chairs
SMASHING
[SET]
name: Special Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: White Herb
ability: Water Veil / Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Huntail is a premier setup sweeper thanks to Shell Smash and powerful offenses. Ice Beam targets Grass-types like Jumpluff and Gourgeist formes that can tank Surf. Hidden Power Grass 2HKOes Marshtomp and Whiscash; it is also its strongest option against defensive Water-types like Politoed and Seaking. White Herb allows Huntail to retain its defenses after a Shell Smash. While situational, Water Veil can protect Huntail from burns from Pokemon like Politoed and Gourgeist-formes, though Swift Swim can be used if it is used on rain builds.
Huntail best fits on offensive and hyper offensive builds as either a wallbreaker or cleaner, where it can take advantage of Shell Smash to punch holes in the opposition or clean a weakened team. Screens support from Pokemon like Meowstic-M and Swoobat can greatly ease its opportunities for setup and mitigates its mediocre special bulk. Grass-types like Servine and Meganium are Huntail's most difficult obstacles, so checks to them like Sawsbuck, Magmar, and Swalot can give it extra leeway. Even with Hidden Power Grass, Huntail struggles to break past Politoed, so Grass-types like Servine and Ivysaur are appreciated to check them. Wallbreakers like Furfrou and Vanillluxe can soften walls so Huntail has an easier time breaking through them. Fellow setup sweepers like Klang and Dragon Dance Scraggy can benefit Huntail through overwhelming the opposition early- to mid-game, giving Huntail a better chance at sweeping the opposition late-game, and vice versa. On rain builds, fellow rain sweepers like Golduck and Beartic can similarly benefit Huntail through their sweeping or wallbreaking, and rain setters like Volbeat and Murkrow are necessary to continue amping up Huntail's Speed and power.
[SET]
name: Physical Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Return / Ice Beam
item: White Herb
ability: Water Veil / Swift Swim
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a physical Shell Smash set, Huntail is able to take on special walls like Duosion and Dustox more easily. STAB Waterfall's potential to flinch physically bulky targets like Swalot and Bronzor may allow it to continue spiraling out of control. Sucker Punch catches Choice Scarf users like Simisage, Simipour, and Electabuzz off guard, finishing them off after some chip damage. Return targets Politoed, which would otherwise completely wall it. Ice Beam can OHKO Jumpluff and Gourgeist formes after Stealth Rock. While situational, Water Veil can guard Huntail from burns from Pokemon like Politoed and Gourgeist-formes, though Swift Swim is preferred if Huntail is used on rain teams.
Like its special set, Huntail prefers being on offensive and hyper offensive teams. Utility support from Meowstic-M and Swoobat can give more leeway for Huntail to set up. As this set is physically offensive, Huntail will have a more difficult time breaking down physical walls like Swalot and Klang due to its more limited physical movepool. Special wallbreakers like Vanilluxe and Magmar can soften these walls so Huntail can have an easier time cleaning late-game; these Pokemon can also help deal with Grass-types like Gourgeist formes and Servine, especially if Huntail is running Return over Ice Beam. In turn, it can take on walls that they struggle with, like Dustox and Carbink. Grass-type checks like Swalot and Jumpluff can make it easier for Huntail to sweep. Grass-types like Servine and Sawsbuck themselves make for great teammates, as they can help Huntail check Grass-types like Politoed and Seaking. Entry hazard setters like Gigalith and Carbink are appreciated so it can achieve benchmarks like the OHKO on Electabuzz at +2 Attack. On rain builds, fellow rain sweepers like Golduck and Beartic work well Huntail through their sweeping or wallbreaking capabilities, and rain setters like Volbeat and Murkrow allow Huntail to continue threatening the opposition.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Certain items can be used over White Herb. Lum Berry can give it a one-time shield against status users like Bronzor and Meowstic-M. Life Orb can strengthen Huntail's already high power, with the special set achieving benchmarks like OHKOing Electabuzz after Stealth Rock and Servine without Stealth Rock. While this item synergizes well on screens teams, the extra chip damage jeopardizes Huntail's already short longevity.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types are Huntail's worst matchups; defensive Pokemon like Servine and Ivysaur can tank any of Huntail's attacks at +2 and retaliate, though Ivysaur is not able to OHKO Huntail with its STAB moves. Offensive Grass-types like Sawsbuck and Simisage can also similarly force out an unboosted Huntail with their STAB moves, and Choice Scarf variants of these Grass-types can even outrun Huntail at +2.
**Faster Pokemon**: Huntail is quite slow outside a Shell Smash boost, so revenge killers and faster wallbreakers like Electabuzz, Frogadier, and Swoobat can revenge kill it with some prior chip damage. Even at +2, Huntail can still be outpaced by most Choice Scarf users, such as Simipour and Vanilluxe, and the aformentioned Electabuzz and Frogadier, though they must be aware of Sucker Punch.
**Water-types**: Politoed is the most reliable Water-type check, blanking Water-type moves and Ice Beam, but can struggle to deal with Return and Hidden Power Grass variants of Huntail. Seaking struggles against physical variants of Huntail, but both Water-types can use Toxic to deter it from setting up and spiraling out of control.
**Residual Damage and Status**: Despite being immune to burns, Huntail struggles to deal with status: Toxic from Pokemon like Dustox and Politoed shortens its longevity, while Thunder Wave from Pokemon like Meowstic and Duosion cripples Huntail's Speed. It is also vulnerable to all entry hazards and makes it harder for it to set up.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jett.226429/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: