In-battle formes
| Type | |
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| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 31 |
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Evolutions
- Bidoof
Strategies
- en
- LC
Overview
Despite having access to two great abilities in Simple and Unaware, Bidoof struggles to find a niche in LC over better setup sweepers such as Timburr. The reasons for this lie in Bidoof's low stats, which require it to invest heavily in bulk, thus leaving it weak even after setting up, and its uninspired typing that leaves it weak to LC's myriad of Fighting-types. Its primary boosting move, Curse, has the side effect of lowering Bidoof's Speed, meaning that it will often have to take two attacks before dealing any damage. Despite its many flaws, Simple is still an amazing ability that allows Bidoof to double its Attack and Defense in a single turn with Curse. Bidoof's Normal typing, while mediocre defensively, provides it with a powerful, reliable STAB with good neutral coverage in Return. Bidoof also has access to STAB Quick Attack to circumvent Curse's Speed drop, as well as decent coverage moves to hit Pokemon that resist Normal.
Curse
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| Ability | |
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Moves
Curse in tandem with Simple allows Bidoof to reach a respectable 24 Attack and 22 Defense with a single turn of setup. Return is a powerful and reliable STAB attack that is also Bidoof's most powerful attack, and Quick Attack is a STAB priority move that helps mitigate Curse's Speed drop. Aqua Tail hits Pawniard neutrally as well as Rock-types such as Archen super effectively and provides the best overall coverage alongside Bidoof's STAB attacks. Thief hits Ghost-types super effectively and can steal the foe's item, which can be useful after Bidoof consumes its Berry Juice or loses its Eviolite to Knock Off.
Set Details
The given EV spread and nature optimize Bidoof's special bulk, with the remaining EVs used to slightly increase its other stats. Simple is Bidoof's biggest niche, allowing it to boost its Attack and Defense twice as fast as other bulky boosting sweepers such as Timburr. Berry Juice gives Bidoof increased longevity and synergizes well with Thief, while Eviolite provides a significant increase to Bidoof's bulk.
Usage Tips
Bidoof is most effective when it is saved until late-game; even when boosted, it is not particularly powerful, and it needs the opposing team to be worn down in order to sweep effectively. Bidoof has the easiest time setting up versus slow, bulky physical attackers such as Snubbull and Munchlax. When facing such Pokemon, use Return to hit them harder; when facing frailer but stronger Pokemon such as Elekid, use Quick Attack to work around Bidoof's low Speed. If Bidoof is running Thief, use it to hit Ghost-types such as Gastly and Pumpkaboo-Super and to steal items after Bidoof's Berry Juice has been consumed or its Eviolite Knocked Off.
Team Options
Gothita can trap and eliminate the Fighting-types that would otherwise completely shut Bidoof down. In a similar vein, Fighting-type checks such as Spritzee also make great teammates. Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta check Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Pumpkaboo-Super which otherwise wall Bidoof. Entry hazard setters, particularly Spikes users such as Dwebble, are also good teammates, as the chip damage that entry hazards provide make it easier for Bidoof to get KOs. Finally, strong attackers such as Corphish and Gastly can wear down the opponent's team for Bidoof so that it has an easier time sweeping.
Other Options
A defensive Unaware set making use of Bidoof's decent support movepool consisting of moves such as Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave is useable, but Bidoof's poor defensive typing, its lack of recovery, and the fact that it loses to Timburr, the most common setup sweeper in LC, hold this set back tremendously. A special attacking set making use of either Charge Beam or Work Up and Bidoof's good special movepool could be used, but Bidoof's low Special Attack and Speed make it worse than the Curse set. Amnesia could be used in tandem with Curse to let Bidoof boost both its Defense and Special Defense, but it's hard to find a moveslot for it. Superpower gets excellent coverage alongside Return, but the stat drops that Superpower causes do not go well with Simple. Facade allows Bidoof to benefit from burns that normally cripple it, but it is weaker than Return if Bidoof is not statused.
Checks and Counters
Fighting-types: LC's ever-present Fighting-types are by far the biggest threat to Bidoof, all of which are capable of OHKOing it with their STAB attacks. Mienfoo can use Taunt to prevent Bidoof from setting up, Croagunk can target its unboosted Special Defense with a powerful Sludge Bomb or Focus Blast, and Timburr, Pancham, and Scraggy can all set up alongside it.
Ghost-types: Ghost-types are immune to Bidoof's STAB attacks. Gastly can do serious damage to it with its powerful Sludge Bomb, while Pumpkaboo-Super resists Aqua Tail and can burn Bidoof with Will-O-Wisp. They must watch out for a boosted Thief, however.
Steel-types: Steel-types such as Pawniard and Ferroseed resist Bidoof's STAB moves, take little from its coverage options, and can threaten it with a powerful Knock Off or put it on a timer with Leech Seed, respectively.
Special Attackers: Powerful special attackers such as Skrelp and Snivy can do large amounts of damage to Bidoof, often leaving it unable to sweep even if they do not OHKO it.
Utility Moves: Taunt and Encore prevent Bidoof from setting up, making it deadweight. Burns from Will-O-Wisp drastically reduce Bidoof's damage output, and residual damage from the likes of Toxic and Leech Seed wears it down.
