[OVERVIEW]
Arbok is one of the strongest Poison-type Pokemon in the PU metagame. Arbok is a strong physical attacker with a respectable speed tier and decent defensive stats along with utility in Intimidate. Arbok functions well as a breaker thanks to its strong and varied offensive coverage, and great attack stat. Arbok competes with a strong cast of other Poison-types amongst the tier, notably Swalot and Seviper. Arbok has a great blend of strengths from both such as Swalot's bulk, and Seviper's wide range of moves. Arbok can choose to hit hard with Choice Band and four attacks, or opt for some utility tools in Glare, or Toxic. Arbok's serviceable special attack can even allow it to function as a Mixed Attacker to lure in common switch-ins. With all that Arbok offers, battlers must come prepared with options to deal with Arbok.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Hidden Power Ghost
move 4: Rock Slide / Giga Drain / Glare
item: Choice Band / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sludge Bomb is the staple STAB Poison attacking move that every Arbok carries. It hits great as a mid ground and can be spammed reliably when resists have been eliminated. Earthquake is a strong coverage option that typically hits threats that are immune to, or resist Poison-type attacks, such as Graveler, Mawile, and Swalot. Hidden Power Ghost is useful for Ghost-types, but especially Gastly that resists Sludge Bomb and is immune to Earthquake. Rock Slide is a decent fourth coverage option that can be useful versus Togetic, as well as some Poison and Bug Types. The chance for a flinch can be useful too in certain situations. Choice Band is the preferred item for this set as it allows Arbok to hit as hard as possible and often force KOs. However, Leftovers can be a useful alternative where longevity and flexibility in coverage is preferred over raw power. Jolly is preferred over Adamant as it allows Arbok to outspeed majority of the tier.
Arbok fits nicely as a wall breaker on Balance teams with or without Spikes. Arbok pairs well with defensive Pokémon that can switch in and shrug off an incoming Earthquake, like Duskull, Tangela, and Shuckle. While an Arbok holding Leftovers is free to click Hidden Power Ghost on a Gastly and Duskull, a Choice Band Arbok will be forced to predict or switch out. This makes Houndour a very strong pairing with Arbok thanks to its ability to Pursuit trap or Crunch and eliminate Ghost Types. One of Arbok's greatest threats is simply the damage it takes over the course of a battle. With no recovery outside of Leftovers, and Rest, Arbok's time is limited without support. Clerics like Lickitung are a great pairing for Arbok as well thanks to the Wish and Heal Bell support it provides it. Arbok really enjoys Heal Bell support as Lickitung also serves as a much needed Special Wall that allows Arbok to avoid strong Special Attackers reliably. Arbok enjoys the presence of strong Special Attackers on its team such as Abra, Charmeleon, and Minun to balance out the offensive profile of the team. Pineco is a great partner to Arbok thanks to the Spikes hazard it offers. With Spikes up, playing around Arbok’s Choice Band moves becomes a less sustainable strategy over time.
This set features Jolly Arbok, but Adamant can be used to function better as a breaker. Arbok will still out speed most of the tier. Running Adamant results in Arbok losing the speed tie to itself, Charmeleon, and a Gastly. When Adamant, Arbok also loses the speed advantage to Beedrill, Kingler, Seadra.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Arbok has access to a plethora of other physical and special offensive tools, as well as some utility tools that may be preferential to lesser used attacks like Rock Slide. Giga Drain for example can provide some much needed damage on threats like Marshtomp. If some extra utility is required, Glare is a phenomenal move that provides speed control by spreading paralysis even amongst Electric-Immune Pokemon like Graveler and Marshtomp. Thief is another option that can be used to hinder defensive walls like Swalot.
Checks and Counters
===================
*Abra*: Though a ZU Pokemon, Abra is commonly seen in PU thanks to its great Speed and Special Attack stat. Abra outspends and OHKOs Arbok with its STAB Psychic.
*Duskull*: Duskull threatens Arbok with Will-O-Wisp and can take any hit Arbok has outside of Hidden Power Ghost. Arbok is forced out of this interaction as Duskull can just slowly ware it down and win the one-on-one.
*Togetic*: Togetic has immunity to both Earthquake, and Hidden Power Ghost. This is a huge hurdle to Arbok, especially when holding Choice Band.
*Steel-Types*: Lairon, and Mawile can give an Arbok a lot of trouble thanks to their Poison immunity. When choice locked to Sludge Bomb, Arbok has no choice but to switch out, giving these Steel-Types a free turn to setup or threaten damage.
*Ground-Types*: Graveler, Marshtomp, and especially Trapinch all give Arbok a lot of trouble by threatening their STAB Earthquake. Trapinch is doubly a threat thanks to its ability Arena Trap, and being to survive any of Arbok’s attacks with some defensive investment.
[Credits]
Written By:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/joaf.345087/
Quality Checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Arbok is one of the strongest Poison-type Pokemon in the PU metagame. Arbok is a strong physical attacker with a respectable speed tier and decent defensive stats along with utility in Intimidate. Arbok functions well as a breaker thanks to its strong and varied offensive coverage, and great attack stat. Arbok competes with a strong cast of other Poison-types amongst the tier, notably Swalot and Seviper. Arbok has a great blend of strengths from both such as Swalot's bulk, and Seviper's wide range of moves. Arbok can choose to hit hard with Choice Band and four attacks, or opt for some utility tools in Glare, or Toxic. Arbok's serviceable special attack can even allow it to function as a Mixed Attacker to lure in common switch-ins. With all that Arbok offers, battlers must come prepared with options to deal with Arbok.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Hidden Power Ghost
move 4: Rock Slide / Giga Drain / Glare
item: Choice Band / Leftovers
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Sludge Bomb is the staple STAB Poison attacking move that every Arbok carries. It hits great as a mid ground and can be spammed reliably when resists have been eliminated. Earthquake is a strong coverage option that typically hits threats that are immune to, or resist Poison-type attacks, such as Graveler, Mawile, and Swalot. Hidden Power Ghost is useful for Ghost-types, but especially Gastly that resists Sludge Bomb and is immune to Earthquake. Rock Slide is a decent fourth coverage option that can be useful versus Togetic, as well as some Poison and Bug Types. The chance for a flinch can be useful too in certain situations. Choice Band is the preferred item for this set as it allows Arbok to hit as hard as possible and often force KOs. However, Leftovers can be a useful alternative where longevity and flexibility in coverage is preferred over raw power. Jolly is preferred over Adamant as it allows Arbok to outspeed majority of the tier.
Arbok fits nicely as a wall breaker on Balance teams with or without Spikes. Arbok pairs well with defensive Pokémon that can switch in and shrug off an incoming Earthquake, like Duskull, Tangela, and Shuckle. While an Arbok holding Leftovers is free to click Hidden Power Ghost on a Gastly and Duskull, a Choice Band Arbok will be forced to predict or switch out. This makes Houndour a very strong pairing with Arbok thanks to its ability to Pursuit trap or Crunch and eliminate Ghost Types. One of Arbok's greatest threats is simply the damage it takes over the course of a battle. With no recovery outside of Leftovers, and Rest, Arbok's time is limited without support. Clerics like Lickitung are a great pairing for Arbok as well thanks to the Wish and Heal Bell support it provides it. Arbok really enjoys Heal Bell support as Lickitung also serves as a much needed Special Wall that allows Arbok to avoid strong Special Attackers reliably. Arbok enjoys the presence of strong Special Attackers on its team such as Abra, Charmeleon, and Minun to balance out the offensive profile of the team. Pineco is a great partner to Arbok thanks to the Spikes hazard it offers. With Spikes up, playing around Arbok’s Choice Band moves becomes a less sustainable strategy over time.
This set features Jolly Arbok, but Adamant can be used to function better as a breaker. Arbok will still out speed most of the tier. Running Adamant results in Arbok losing the speed tie to itself, Charmeleon, and a Gastly. When Adamant, Arbok also loses the speed advantage to Beedrill, Kingler, Seadra.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Arbok has access to a plethora of other physical and special offensive tools, as well as some utility tools that may be preferential to lesser used attacks like Rock Slide. Giga Drain for example can provide some much needed damage on threats like Marshtomp. If some extra utility is required, Glare is a phenomenal move that provides speed control by spreading paralysis even amongst Electric-Immune Pokemon like Graveler and Marshtomp. Thief is another option that can be used to hinder defensive walls like Swalot.
Checks and Counters
===================
*Abra*: Though a ZU Pokemon, Abra is commonly seen in PU thanks to its great Speed and Special Attack stat. Abra outspends and OHKOs Arbok with its STAB Psychic.
*Duskull*: Duskull threatens Arbok with Will-O-Wisp and can take any hit Arbok has outside of Hidden Power Ghost. Arbok is forced out of this interaction as Duskull can just slowly ware it down and win the one-on-one.
*Togetic*: Togetic has immunity to both Earthquake, and Hidden Power Ghost. This is a huge hurdle to Arbok, especially when holding Choice Band.
*Steel-Types*: Lairon, and Mawile can give an Arbok a lot of trouble thanks to their Poison immunity. When choice locked to Sludge Bomb, Arbok has no choice but to switch out, giving these Steel-Types a free turn to setup or threaten damage.
*Ground-Types*: Graveler, Marshtomp, and especially Trapinch all give Arbok a lot of trouble by threatening their STAB Earthquake. Trapinch is doubly a threat thanks to its ability Arena Trap, and being to survive any of Arbok’s attacks with some defensive investment.
[Credits]
Written By:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/joaf.345087/
Quality Checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: