QC: Raiza. / TONE114 / Magnemite
GP: Queez / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Servine distinguishes itself from other Pokemon in the PU tier with its ability Contrary and access to Leaf Storm. Once it has gained a +2 Special Attack boost from Leaf Storm, it can be extremely threatening to most teams. With its Eviolite-boosted bulk, Servine is able to check common Water-types such as Poliwrath. It is also able to survive throughout battles because of its access to reliable recovery in Synthesis and Giga Drain. On the downside, it has very little initial power, and its coverage is extremely limited. Its lacking Speed limits its wallbreaking capabilities, as it can be easily revenge killed by a lot of offensive Pokemon in the tier and is easily checked by common Pokemon such as Ninetales, Roselia, and Zebstrika; the former can even switch in for free. For these reasons, it faces strong competition from Simisage, which is faster and has much better coverage options; Servine does have an advantage over Simisage though, as it can attack and set up at the same time with Leaf Storm.
[SET]
name: Contrary Sweeper
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Glare
move 4: Synthesis / Giga Drain / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Contrary
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm, Servine's strongest STAB move, gives it a +2 Special Attack boost, so it should be spammed as often as possible. Hidden Power Ice allows Servine to take on Flying-, Grass-, and Dragon-types such as Dodrio, Jumpluff, and Fraxure, respectively. Glare cripples faster threats such as Ninetales upon switching in. Synthesis is Servine's most reliable form of recovery, while Giga Drain can deal damage but recovers less health. Alternatively, Knock Off can be used to cripple Pokemon that easily take Servine's attacks, such as Roselia and Zebstrika.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Servine to outspeed Pokemon such as Arbok and Kingler. Maximum Special Attack investment along with a Modest nature is used to deal as much damage as possible. The combination of Leaf Storm and Contrary is used to severely damage opposing teams.
Usage Tips
========
Servine should mainly spam Leaf Storm, as this is its most powerful STAB move and Servine gains a +2 boost from it. Servine should be brought in against slower Pokemon in order to gain a boost from Leaf Storm. It can be brought in to take resisted hits such as Poliwrath's Hydro Pump and Golem's Earthquake. If you predict checks to Servine such as Ninetales and Rapidash to switch in, it should use Glare in order to cripple them, as it isn't able to deal much damage to them anyway. Servine should use Synthesis once it gets low on health, but the move has few PP, so switching it in after a teammates slow U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass is helpful to keep it healthy. Servine should be used to break through bulkier Pokemon, allowing other teammates to sweep. It should be wary of slow and fast threats alike, as it is slow and weak initially, making it easy for stronger Pokemon to KO it. Servine should also be wary of bulkier walls that can take multiple hits from it, as Pokemon such as Togetic can cripple it and Pokemon such as Roselia can KO it. If the opponent carries Pokemon that can take Leaf Storm, weaken them before bringing Servine on the field, so Servine can severely damage the opposing team.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard setters such as Dwebble, Golem, and Probopass can set up Stealth Rock and Spikes to help weaken bulkier Pokemon. Leavanny can provide Sticky Web support, making Servine much more effective; however, Sticky Web is a very niche playstyle. Probopass provides Stealth Rock support, resists Ice- and Flying-type moves, is immune to Poison-type moves, and provides a slow Volt Switch, allowing Servine to switch in freely. Other slow users of Baton Pass or U-turn such as Dodrio and Pelipper can also allow Servine to switch in safely and avoid unneccesary damage. Fire-types make great partners for Servine, as they resist Fire- and Ice-type moves targeted at it. Grumpig also resists Fire- and Ice-type moves targeted at Servine and provides Heal Bell and Thunder Wave support, preventing status ailments and crippling faster opposing Pokemon. Togetic, Kadabra, and Clefairy can also provide Thunder Wave support to cripple faster foes, allowing Servine to sweep. Spinners such as Torkoal and Armaldo and Defoggers such as Togetic and Pelipper prevent it from being worn down by the foe's entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Servine can use Taunt in order to prevent opposing status, setup, and healing moves. Substitute can be used to avoid status moves and facilitate setting up with Leaf Storm. Leech Seed works well in conjunction with Substitute to wear down bulkier Pokemon. Aromatherapy allows Servine to support its team by getting rid of all status ailments. Choice Scarf could be used in place of Eviolite, allowing Servine to outspeed faster threats such as Simipour and Jumpluff, but doing so leaves it more easily checked.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Sap Sipper**: Pokemon with Sap Sipper such as Zebstrika and Gogoat are immune to Servine's main STAB move, Leaf Storm; therefore, they prevent any setup opportunities.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ninetales and Rapidash can take on any attack Servine may use and retaliate with STAB super effective damage; however, it can cripple them with Glare.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Jumpluff and Dodrio take minimal damage from Servine's STAB moves and can deal super effective damage to it with their STAB moves, although Servine can 2HKO the former with Hidden Power Ice and the latter is crippled by Glare.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Togetic and Roselia can take multiple hits from Servine; the former can cripple it with a status ailment, while the latter can deal heavy damage with Sludge Bomb and cure itself of paralysis from Glare with Natural Cure.
**Status**: Status moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic can completely cripple Servine; Thunder Wave slows it down immensely, while Toxic can put it on a timer and limit how long it can stay in.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Rotom-F, Ninjask, and Simisear can outspeed Servine and OHKO it; Rotom-F and Ninjask can also take advantage of it by picking up momentum with Volt Switch or U-turn.
GP: Queez / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Servine distinguishes itself from other Pokemon in the PU tier with its ability Contrary and access to Leaf Storm. Once it has gained a +2 Special Attack boost from Leaf Storm, it can be extremely threatening to most teams. With its Eviolite-boosted bulk, Servine is able to check common Water-types such as Poliwrath. It is also able to survive throughout battles because of its access to reliable recovery in Synthesis and Giga Drain. On the downside, it has very little initial power, and its coverage is extremely limited. Its lacking Speed limits its wallbreaking capabilities, as it can be easily revenge killed by a lot of offensive Pokemon in the tier and is easily checked by common Pokemon such as Ninetales, Roselia, and Zebstrika; the former can even switch in for free. For these reasons, it faces strong competition from Simisage, which is faster and has much better coverage options; Servine does have an advantage over Simisage though, as it can attack and set up at the same time with Leaf Storm.
[SET]
name: Contrary Sweeper
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Glare
move 4: Synthesis / Giga Drain / Knock Off
item: Eviolite
ability: Contrary
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm, Servine's strongest STAB move, gives it a +2 Special Attack boost, so it should be spammed as often as possible. Hidden Power Ice allows Servine to take on Flying-, Grass-, and Dragon-types such as Dodrio, Jumpluff, and Fraxure, respectively. Glare cripples faster threats such as Ninetales upon switching in. Synthesis is Servine's most reliable form of recovery, while Giga Drain can deal damage but recovers less health. Alternatively, Knock Off can be used to cripple Pokemon that easily take Servine's attacks, such as Roselia and Zebstrika.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment allows Servine to outspeed Pokemon such as Arbok and Kingler. Maximum Special Attack investment along with a Modest nature is used to deal as much damage as possible. The combination of Leaf Storm and Contrary is used to severely damage opposing teams.
Usage Tips
========
Servine should mainly spam Leaf Storm, as this is its most powerful STAB move and Servine gains a +2 boost from it. Servine should be brought in against slower Pokemon in order to gain a boost from Leaf Storm. It can be brought in to take resisted hits such as Poliwrath's Hydro Pump and Golem's Earthquake. If you predict checks to Servine such as Ninetales and Rapidash to switch in, it should use Glare in order to cripple them, as it isn't able to deal much damage to them anyway. Servine should use Synthesis once it gets low on health, but the move has few PP, so switching it in after a teammates slow U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass is helpful to keep it healthy. Servine should be used to break through bulkier Pokemon, allowing other teammates to sweep. It should be wary of slow and fast threats alike, as it is slow and weak initially, making it easy for stronger Pokemon to KO it. Servine should also be wary of bulkier walls that can take multiple hits from it, as Pokemon such as Togetic can cripple it and Pokemon such as Roselia can KO it. If the opponent carries Pokemon that can take Leaf Storm, weaken them before bringing Servine on the field, so Servine can severely damage the opposing team.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard setters such as Dwebble, Golem, and Probopass can set up Stealth Rock and Spikes to help weaken bulkier Pokemon. Leavanny can provide Sticky Web support, making Servine much more effective; however, Sticky Web is a very niche playstyle. Probopass provides Stealth Rock support, resists Ice- and Flying-type moves, is immune to Poison-type moves, and provides a slow Volt Switch, allowing Servine to switch in freely. Other slow users of Baton Pass or U-turn such as Dodrio and Pelipper can also allow Servine to switch in safely and avoid unneccesary damage. Fire-types make great partners for Servine, as they resist Fire- and Ice-type moves targeted at it. Grumpig also resists Fire- and Ice-type moves targeted at Servine and provides Heal Bell and Thunder Wave support, preventing status ailments and crippling faster opposing Pokemon. Togetic, Kadabra, and Clefairy can also provide Thunder Wave support to cripple faster foes, allowing Servine to sweep. Spinners such as Torkoal and Armaldo and Defoggers such as Togetic and Pelipper prevent it from being worn down by the foe's entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Servine can use Taunt in order to prevent opposing status, setup, and healing moves. Substitute can be used to avoid status moves and facilitate setting up with Leaf Storm. Leech Seed works well in conjunction with Substitute to wear down bulkier Pokemon. Aromatherapy allows Servine to support its team by getting rid of all status ailments. Choice Scarf could be used in place of Eviolite, allowing Servine to outspeed faster threats such as Simipour and Jumpluff, but doing so leaves it more easily checked.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Sap Sipper**: Pokemon with Sap Sipper such as Zebstrika and Gogoat are immune to Servine's main STAB move, Leaf Storm; therefore, they prevent any setup opportunities.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ninetales and Rapidash can take on any attack Servine may use and retaliate with STAB super effective damage; however, it can cripple them with Glare.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Jumpluff and Dodrio take minimal damage from Servine's STAB moves and can deal super effective damage to it with their STAB moves, although Servine can 2HKO the former with Hidden Power Ice and the latter is crippled by Glare.
**Special Walls**: Special walls such as Togetic and Roselia can take multiple hits from Servine; the former can cripple it with a status ailment, while the latter can deal heavy damage with Sludge Bomb and cure itself of paralysis from Glare with Natural Cure.
**Status**: Status moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic can completely cripple Servine; Thunder Wave slows it down immensely, while Toxic can put it on a timer and limit how long it can stay in.
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Rotom-F, Ninjask, and Simisear can outspeed Servine and OHKO it; Rotom-F and Ninjask can also take advantage of it by picking up momentum with Volt Switch or U-turn.
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