In-battle formes
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| HP: | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 115 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 80 |
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Evolutions
- Kabuto
- Kabutops
Strategies
- en
- PU
Overview
Kabutops is a solid Choice Scarf user that has plenty of utility in checking top threats such as Oricorio-E due to its unique combination of typing and Speed. Unlike most Choice Scarf users, it functions more as a utility revenge killer, with excellent support options such as Rapid Spin and Knock Off, and not as a check to most setup sweepers due to its mediocre base Speed. Kabutops is also notable for its role on rain teams, as its solid Speed, decent Attack, access to Swords Dance, and excellent STAB combination all make it highly suited to become one of the tier's top rain sweepers. Kabutops gets by on key resistances to Fire, Flying, Ice, and Normal, but its typing is a double-edged sword, leaving it with common weaknesses to Fighting, Ground, Electric, and Grass. This leaves it vulnerable to many coverage moves such as Kangaskhan's Earthquake and Dodrio's Jump Kick, and this can often limit its opportunities for setup or revenge killing. Additionally, outside of rain, Kabutops is prone to being revenge killed by common Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Dodrio and struggles with how common Mach Punch Hitmonchan and Gurdurr are. Ultimately, Kabutops faces a lot of competition from faster Choice Scarf users such as Dodrio, Primeape, and Swanna, which are far more capable at revenge killing, and only sets itself apart with its unique set of resistances and ability to remove entry hazards.
Choice Scarf
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Moves
Knock Off enables Kabutops to cripple switch-ins that are reliant on their item for bulk, such as Gurdurr and Tangela, or recovery, such as Poliwrath, Gastrodon, and Qwilfish. Rapid Spin allows Kabutops to serve as an emergency entry hazard remover, with its heightened Speed and positive matchup against spinblockers like Oricorio-G giving it an easier time clearing its side of the field. Superpower is an option to reliably revenge kill Modest Omastar after a Shell Smash, OHKO Aggron and Alolan Sandslash, and deal more damage to Ferroseed.
Set Details
Swift Swim gives Kabutops more utility in case of facing an opposing rain team, as it can outspeed and KO rain sweepers such as Ludicolo with slight chip damage, although Battle Armor's ability to prevent critical hits can be helpful.
Usage Tips
Choice Scarf Kabutops is best used as a pivot into offensive threats it has a type advantage against, such as Dodrio and Simisear. Kabutops will rarely be a completely safe switch-in to said threats; it cannot comfortably switch into Dodrio's Jump Kick and Simisear's Grass Knot. However, with good prediction, Kabutops can limit the opponent's ability to spam moves it can switch into and keep top threats such as Stoutland on their toes. Once Kabutops has managed to come in safely, use Knock Off and Rapid Spin aggressively when possible. Taking advantage of a forced switch to remove entry hazards or cripple a switch-in such as Tangela can reap huge dividends late-game. Kabutops won't have much longevity, so make sure to keep a close tab on what it needs to accomplish in any given game and avoid risking it recklessly if, for example, it will need to stick around to remove Qwilfish's Spikes later in the match or revenge kill Calm Mind Oricorio-G. Keep in mind that all of its moves can be exploited by certain setup sweepers if Kabutops opts to lock itself into them. In particular, Rapid Spin and Knock Off allow many setup sweepers such as Lycanroc and Carracosta to set up with Swords Dance or Shell Smash practically risk-free. If your team finds itself pressured by a particular setup sweeper, make sure that Kabutops avoids locking itself into one of the moves that might give the sweeper the chance it needs to sweep your team.
Team Options
Pokemon that are vulnerable to entry hazards such as Aurorus and Lanturn appreciate Kabutops's Rapid Spin support. However, Kabutops is prone to being spinblocked by many of the tier's common Ghost-types, so a secondary entry hazard remover such as Lurantis or Shiftry is advisable. Teams that use their own dedicated entry hazard setters such as Smeargle and Qwilfish and don't want to Defog away their own Sticky Web or Spikes should consider using Kabutops for entry hazard removal. Kabutops also benefits noticeably from Spikes, as they can chip away at many of its grounded checks, including Gurdurr and Tangela. Fighting-type checks such as Musharna and Haunter are needed to keep Pokemon such as Primeape and the aforementioned Gurdurr in check for Kabutops, and additional switch-ins to Ground-, Grass-, and Electric-type attacks such as Oricorio-E, Skuntank, and Mudsdale are advisable. On the other hand, Kabutops can be excellent support for Flying- and Fire-weak Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Jynx, helping teams using them to keep offensive momentum even when forced out. Kabutops is fairly mediocre at revenge killing setup sweepers such as Jynx and Pinsir, so strong priority users such as Kangaskhan and Alolan Raticate can help keep these sweepers in check. Kabutops appreciates being paired with strong wallbreakers such as Aurorus and Stoutland, since it struggles with most physically bulky Pokemon. In the same vein, Kabutops lets many bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Tangela and Poliwrath switch in fairly freely, so checks to these types of Pokemon such as Altaria and Jynx are advisable.
Rain Sweeper
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Moves
Superpower gives Kabutops neutral coverage for Poliwrath, which would otherwise completely wall it, and the ability for non-Life Orb sets to OHKO Aggron without rain. Alternatively, Aqua Jet can be used to pick off Pokemon that outspeed Kabutops outside of rain such as Choice Scarf Dodrio as well as hit Choice Scarf Aurorus, which is otherwise a highly problematic Pokemon for rain teams to handle. It can also pick off a weakened Gurdurr before Mach Punch.
Set Details
Swift Swim allows Kabutops to outspeed almost the entire tier under rain without the need for a Choice Scarf or a Speed-boosting nature. Rockium Z gives Kabutops an excellent nuke to OHKO many Pokemon otherwise capable of tanking a hit such as physically defensive Qwilfish. It also avoids the need to rely on Stone Edge's subpar accuracy for a single turn. Life Orb is another solid option that keeps Kabutops's power level consistently high, although the recoil can put Kabutops in range of certain priority users. Lum Berry is another alternative to set up a Swords Dance versus status users such as Jellicent.
Usage Tips
Swords Dance dramatically increases Kabutops's power and threat level, so try to set up with it when possible. Kabutops can set up versus many Choice item users and most defensive Pokemon, such as Stoutland Choice-locked into Return and bulky Oricorio-G, as well as on forced switches versus Pokemon like Scyther. If using Life Orb, be very careful about allowing Kabutops to take too much chip damage, or it won't be able to sweep. Kabutops should try to avoid being used until rain has been set up, as without rain Kabutops finds itself much weaker and slower. However, it may sometimes be needed to revenge kill certain threats outside of rain. Choice Scarf Aurorus in particular is a large threat that many rain teams may rely on Aqua Jet Kabutops to revenge kill. Normally Z-Moves ought to be played carefully and preserved for one specific instance, but so few Pokemon are capable of switching into a +2 Continental Crush with rain up and prevent Kabutops from grabbing a KO on the next turn that it is often fine to simply use it as soon as the opportunity prevents itself, especially since entering into a drawn-out series of predictions with your opponent about when you'll finally use the Z-Move may waste precious rain turns. One exception to this is a full-health Gurdurr, however.
Team Options
This set is meant for rain teams only. Rain setters such as Liepard and Volbeat give Kabutops not only the weather it needs to function effectively, but also free opportunities to switch in with their slow U-turn. Fellow rain sweepers like Omastar, Qwilfish, and Ludicolo can help break down teams in tandem with Kabutops. Qwilfish is an especially good partner, since both Pokemon can break down physically bulky annoyances like Type: Null with their Swords Dance sets. Qwilfish also checks Fighting-types like Gurdurr for Kabutops and can absorb Toxic Spikes, which are extremely annoying for Life Orb Kabutops. Checks to Choice Scarf Aurorus, such as Alolan Sandslash and Assault Vest Crabominable, are very important for rain teams, as it can easily revenge kill Kabutops lacking Aqua Jet due to its ability removing rain. However, these Pokemon may be somewhat difficult to fit onto rain teams.
Other Options
Choice Band turns Kabutops into a powerful wallbreaker that can benefit massively from access to Weak Armor. However, it is also extremely prediction reliant and needs to play extremely well around Pokemon that can tank multiple of its moves with ease, such as Ferroseed or Gurdurr. Waterfall is a worthwhile alternative to Liquidation that passes up slight boost in power for the chance to make opposing Pokemon flinch. Kabutops can be used as a suicide lead for hyper offensive teams with a Focus Sash, Weak Armor, and Stealth Rock. Although it faces tight competition from other leads such as Omastar, Aurorus, and Lycanroc, which have multiple entry hazards, more utility outside of setting Stealth Rock, and more offensive presence, respectively, Kabutops can remove the opponent's entry hazards with Rapid Spin, allowing you to take an early lead in the entry hazard game. Swords Dance sets can be run outside of rain teams, although they ought to utilize Weak Armor to make up for their lack of Speed without Swift Swim being active. However, Lycanroc and Carracosta tend to be much more useful due to the former's immediate Speed and the latter's ease of setting up and higher Attack. Offensive Rapid Spin sets are also workable for non-Choice Scarf Kabutops, although there is very little reason to use them over Pokemon such as Shiftry and Hitmonchan. Toxic can cripple switch-ins such as Tangela, Poliwrath, and Gastrodon, but is extremely difficult to justify using over better options and is extremely exploitable if Choice Scarf Kabutops locks itself into the status move.
Checks and Counters
Fighting-types: Poliwrath is one of the best switch-ins to Kabutops, as it is immune to Liquidation, resists Stone Edge, and threatens to OHKO Kabutops with Focus Blast, only fearing a boosted Superpower. Gurdurr has the bulk to take a +2 Liquidation from non-Life Orb Kabutops in the rain and threatens to KO it with Drain Punch. Both of these Pokemon can also pick Kabutops off with Vacuum Wave and Mach Punch, respectively. Hitmonchan can also be a nuisance with Mach Punch.
Faster Pokemon: Faster Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Rotom-F can easily revenge kill Choice Scarf Kabutops, as it is somewhat frail. Very few foes outspeed Kabutops under rain, but Choice Scarf Alolan Raichu can revenge kill non-Aqua Jet rain sweeper Kabutops.
Physically Bulky Pokemon: Kabutops can struggle to break through Pokemon such as Tangela, Qwilfish, Ferroseed, Torterra, and Pyukumuku. Although they must be careful about taking a boosted Z-Move and don't appreciate losing their item, all of these Pokemon can KO Kabutops or cripple it with status.
Opposing Weather: Choice Scarf Aurorus and Abomasnow can remove Kabutops's rain, outspeed it, and KO it with Freeze-Dry or Giga Drain, although a weakened Aurorus is vulnerable to Aqua Jet and neither fares especially well versus Choice Scarf Kabutops.
