QC: TONE114 / Raiza / Magnemite
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Despite its amazing ability in Simple, Bibarel is still outclassed by common Water-types in the PU metagame such as Barbaracle and Carracosta. Although Bibarel's bulk isn't great, it is able to set up on weaker foes, such as Pelipper and Clefairy. On the downside, it is easily checked by many common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Tangela, Misdreavus, and Gourgeist-XL. Its mediocre bulk also makes it easy to take out before it gets the chance to set up, and even when it has set up it is still revenge killed by Pokemon such as Simipour, Simisage, and Zebstrika. Additionally, Bibarel is fairly passive, making it easy for strong, fast Pokemon to either set up on it or revenge kill it, though it can pick its foes off with Quick Attack. Because Water-types are so common in the PU metagame, it is hard to fit Bibarel on a team over Pokemon such as Carracosta, Simipour, and Barbaracle.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Rest
item: Chesto Berry
ability: Simple
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Simple, Curse boosts Bibarel's Attack and Defense by two stages, but it lowers its Speed by two stages as well. Waterfall is one of Bibarel's most reliable STAB attacks that can deal good damage to Pokemon that are immune to Quick Attack, such as Misdreavus. Quick Attack helps to make up for Bibarel's lack of Speed after a Curse, as it can deal a lot of damage at +2 as well as pick off weakened foes. Rest allows Bibarel to heal up to full health and alleviate any inflicted status at no cost along with Chesto Berry.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment along with maximum Special Defense investment and a Careful nature maximizes the amount of damage Bibarel can take from special attacks, while the remaining 4 EVs are placed into Attack to deal a bit more damage to Bibarel's foes. Simple is used to double any stat changes, making Curse more effective. A Chesto Berry is used along with Rest to fully heal Bibarel's health and alleviate any status that has been inflicted upon it.
Usage Tips
========
Bibarel should aim to set up on Pokemon that can deal little damage to it and can't phaze it, such as Pelipper and Clefairy. It can also set up on Pokemon that it forces out, such as Armaldo and Piloswine. Once Bibarel is low on health or inflicted with status, it should use Rest in order to heal itself, making it easier to sweep. Bibarel can also be brought in against weakened foes to revenge kill them with Quick Attack. Generally, Bibarel should wait until the late-game, when its checks have been weakened, to set up, allowing it to sweep. However, Bibarel can also be used as an early-game wallbreaker, as it can deal decent damage with a boost up. Bibarel should not be switched into strong physical attacks, especially if it is weakened, but it can switch into attacks that it resists or is immune to, such as Dusknoir's Shadow Sneak and Pelipper's Scald. It can also be brought in safely by a slow Volt Switch or U-turn from Pokemon such as Probopass and Vullaby.
Team Options
========
Bibarel fits best on balanced and offensive teams, as it requires support to take on its weaknesses, but it can also sweep late-game. Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon such as Piloswine, Probopass, Quilladin, and Roselia is helpful for wearing down Bibarel's checks. Bibarel appreciates wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Simisage, as they can hit bulkier foes hard, making it easier for Bibarel to sweep. Grass-types such as Roselia and Gourgeist synergize well with Bibarel as they check Water-types such as Barbaracle, which Bibarel has trouble handling, as well as take opposing Electric-type attacks, which Bibarel is weak to. Zebstrika is a good partner for Bibarel, as it can take on bulky Water- and Grass-types that trouble Bibarel. Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves, such as Pelipper and Arbok, are also helpful to Bibarel. Bibarel also appreciates spinners and Defoggers such as Armaldo and Pelipper, which help to prevent Bibarel from being worn down by entry hazards. Users of a slower Volt Switch or U-turn such as Probopass and Vibrava are helpful to get Bibarel in safely. Misdreavus is one of Bibarel's biggest checks, so Pokemon that can take it on, such as Scrappy Stoutland and Ninetales, make for good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bibarel can also make use of a lead set with Stealth Rock, Scald, Taunt, and Thunder Wave to prevent opposing leads from setting up entry hazards, though it is completely outclassed by Barbaracle. Maranga Berry can also be used to allow Bibarel to take more special attacks, though it loses out on Chesto Berry, which grants it a form of relatively reliable recovery along with Rest. It can also be used as a Rain Dance lead, though it is outclassed by Relicanth, which can take any one hit with Sturdy. Amnesia can be used to severely boost Bibarel's Special Defense, but it becomes even more passive and forced to either rely on one attack or lose its only form of healing in Rest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Grass-types**: Bulkier Grass-types such as Tangela, Quilladin, and Gourgeist-XL can all take at least one hit from Bibarel, even at +2, and KO in return with their STAB moves; Quilladin can also use Roar to phaze it or even set up Spikes.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Carracosta and Barbaracle can relatively safely take hits from Bibarel and set up on it with Shell Smash.
**Fighting-types**: Machoke can take any hit from Bibarel and retaliate with a super effective STAB attack, whereas Monferno can revenge kill with Close Combat but cannot take a Waterfall.
**Strong Attackers**: Stoutland and Grumpig can both take a +2 Quick Attack from Bibarel and, in return, deal a lot of damage to it with Superpower and Focus Blast, respectively.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Despite its amazing ability in Simple, Bibarel is still outclassed by common Water-types in the PU metagame such as Barbaracle and Carracosta. Although Bibarel's bulk isn't great, it is able to set up on weaker foes, such as Pelipper and Clefairy. On the downside, it is easily checked by many common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Tangela, Misdreavus, and Gourgeist-XL. Its mediocre bulk also makes it easy to take out before it gets the chance to set up, and even when it has set up it is still revenge killed by Pokemon such as Simipour, Simisage, and Zebstrika. Additionally, Bibarel is fairly passive, making it easy for strong, fast Pokemon to either set up on it or revenge kill it, though it can pick its foes off with Quick Attack. Because Water-types are so common in the PU metagame, it is hard to fit Bibarel on a team over Pokemon such as Carracosta, Simipour, and Barbaracle.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Rest
item: Chesto Berry
ability: Simple
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Simple, Curse boosts Bibarel's Attack and Defense by two stages, but it lowers its Speed by two stages as well. Waterfall is one of Bibarel's most reliable STAB attacks that can deal good damage to Pokemon that are immune to Quick Attack, such as Misdreavus. Quick Attack helps to make up for Bibarel's lack of Speed after a Curse, as it can deal a lot of damage at +2 as well as pick off weakened foes. Rest allows Bibarel to heal up to full health and alleviate any inflicted status at no cost along with Chesto Berry.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment along with maximum Special Defense investment and a Careful nature maximizes the amount of damage Bibarel can take from special attacks, while the remaining 4 EVs are placed into Attack to deal a bit more damage to Bibarel's foes. Simple is used to double any stat changes, making Curse more effective. A Chesto Berry is used along with Rest to fully heal Bibarel's health and alleviate any status that has been inflicted upon it.
Usage Tips
========
Bibarel should aim to set up on Pokemon that can deal little damage to it and can't phaze it, such as Pelipper and Clefairy. It can also set up on Pokemon that it forces out, such as Armaldo and Piloswine. Once Bibarel is low on health or inflicted with status, it should use Rest in order to heal itself, making it easier to sweep. Bibarel can also be brought in against weakened foes to revenge kill them with Quick Attack. Generally, Bibarel should wait until the late-game, when its checks have been weakened, to set up, allowing it to sweep. However, Bibarel can also be used as an early-game wallbreaker, as it can deal decent damage with a boost up. Bibarel should not be switched into strong physical attacks, especially if it is weakened, but it can switch into attacks that it resists or is immune to, such as Dusknoir's Shadow Sneak and Pelipper's Scald. It can also be brought in safely by a slow Volt Switch or U-turn from Pokemon such as Probopass and Vullaby.
Team Options
========
Bibarel fits best on balanced and offensive teams, as it requires support to take on its weaknesses, but it can also sweep late-game. Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon such as Piloswine, Probopass, Quilladin, and Roselia is helpful for wearing down Bibarel's checks. Bibarel appreciates wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Simisage, as they can hit bulkier foes hard, making it easier for Bibarel to sweep. Grass-types such as Roselia and Gourgeist synergize well with Bibarel as they check Water-types such as Barbaracle, which Bibarel has trouble handling, as well as take opposing Electric-type attacks, which Bibarel is weak to. Zebstrika is a good partner for Bibarel, as it can take on bulky Water- and Grass-types that trouble Bibarel. Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves, such as Pelipper and Arbok, are also helpful to Bibarel. Bibarel also appreciates spinners and Defoggers such as Armaldo and Pelipper, which help to prevent Bibarel from being worn down by entry hazards. Users of a slower Volt Switch or U-turn such as Probopass and Vibrava are helpful to get Bibarel in safely. Misdreavus is one of Bibarel's biggest checks, so Pokemon that can take it on, such as Scrappy Stoutland and Ninetales, make for good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bibarel can also make use of a lead set with Stealth Rock, Scald, Taunt, and Thunder Wave to prevent opposing leads from setting up entry hazards, though it is completely outclassed by Barbaracle. Maranga Berry can also be used to allow Bibarel to take more special attacks, though it loses out on Chesto Berry, which grants it a form of relatively reliable recovery along with Rest. It can also be used as a Rain Dance lead, though it is outclassed by Relicanth, which can take any one hit with Sturdy. Amnesia can be used to severely boost Bibarel's Special Defense, but it becomes even more passive and forced to either rely on one attack or lose its only form of healing in Rest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Grass-types**: Bulkier Grass-types such as Tangela, Quilladin, and Gourgeist-XL can all take at least one hit from Bibarel, even at +2, and KO in return with their STAB moves; Quilladin can also use Roar to phaze it or even set up Spikes.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Carracosta and Barbaracle can relatively safely take hits from Bibarel and set up on it with Shell Smash.
**Fighting-types**: Machoke can take any hit from Bibarel and retaliate with a super effective STAB attack, whereas Monferno can revenge kill with Close Combat but cannot take a Waterfall.
**Strong Attackers**: Stoutland and Grumpig can both take a +2 Quick Attack from Bibarel and, in return, deal a lot of damage to it with Superpower and Focus Blast, respectively.
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