[OVERVIEW]
One of Dhelmise niches in RU is its ability to function as a reliable spinner. Thanks to its high Attack stat and strong Power Whip and Anchor Shot, it can beat some common Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Diancie. Additionally, Dhelmise can even beat Stealth Rock setters such as Registeel and Bronzong by trapping them with Anchor Shot and stalling out their PP with Rest. Furthermore, Dhelmise's Ghost / Grass typing and decent bulk allow it to check common threats like Virizion, Zygarde-10%, and Raikou. On top of that, its high Attack also act as a perfect spinblocker against and beat Donphan, Forretress, and Tsareena. However, Dhelmises typing also gives it weaknesses to common types such as Dark, Flying, and Fire. Furthermore, Dhelmise is very slow, so it's easily revenge killed by many threats like Ninetales, Salazzle, and Noivern. Through this, Dhelmise is also not a check to Mega Blastoise unlike other Grass-types, which is pretty big. However, many of these Pokemon can't switch into Dhelmise's attacks very well thanks to its offensive presence. Another problem is that Dhelmise's recovery moves have their own drawbacks. Synthesis's low PP makes Dhelmise less effective against defensive teams, while Rest makes it less effective against offensive teams because the sleep turns allow various Pokemon to take advantage of it, especially setup sweepers like Necrozma, Lycanroc-D, and Toxicroak. Last but not least, it's very hard to fit Dhelmise on a team because it often competes with many other spinners like Donphan, Forretress, Tsareena, and especially Mega Blastoise, all of which have better Speed tiers, greater coverage, or more support options or are just easier to fit on a team. In addition, it competes with many other Grass-types like Virizion, Roserade, and Shaymin for the same reasons as well as them being better checks to Mega Blastoise.
[SET]
name: Bulky Spinner
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Power Whip
move 3: Anchor Shot
move 4: Rest / Synthesis
item: Colbur Berry / Steelium Z
ability: Steelworker
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 56 Atk / 120 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dhelmise is a reliable spinner thanks to its ability to beat common Stealth Rock setters either with its powerful moves or by trapping and stalling them out. Power Whip is Dhelmise's strongest STAB move and hits Stealth Rock setters like Rhyperior, Nidoqueen, and Palossand very hard. It also 2HKOes bulky Water-types such as Slowbro and Mantine. Thanks to Dhelmise's ability in Steelworker, Anchor Shot receives the same power boost as a STAB move, which allows Dhelmise to OHKO Diancie and hit Flying- and Grass-types like Noivern, Virizion, and Roserade for good damage. It also traps opposing Pokemon and gives Dhelmise the ability to prevent double switches as well as PP stall walls like Registeel and Bronzong with Rest. Rest is used over Synthesis because it gives Dhelmise a better matchup versus Bronzong and Registeel and allows it to act as a status absorber for the team. However, Synthesis can be used to better check threats like Virizion, Zygarde-10%, and Raikou. However, Synthesis has low PP, and without Rest, Dhelmise can't beat Registeel and Bronzong.
Set Details
========
The given Attack investment with an Adamant nature allows Dhelmise to OHKO Zygarde-10% with Power Whip and 2HKO Virizion with Anchor Shot. 84 Speed EVs enable Dhelmise to outspeed uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon like Registeel, Donphan, and Diancie. The remaining EVs are placed in HP and Defense to check threats like Virizion, Zygarde-10%, and Raikou more effectively. Colbur Berry allows Dhelmise to take a Dark-type move such as Mega Blastoise's Dark Pulse better as well as weaken Knock Off or Pursuit from Pokemon like Donphan, Machamp, and Drapion. If running Steelium Z, Dhelmise can OHKO Virizion from full with Corkscrew Crash. Optionally, Dhelmise can use 100 Attack EVs to ensure that it OHKOes Noivern from full with Corkscrew Crash. However, without Colbur Berry, Dhelmise is more easily Pursuit trapped and KOed by strong Dark-type moves like Dark Pulse from Mega Blastoise and Houndoom.
Usage Tips
========
Dhelmise should be brought in on Stealth Rock setters and Pokemon that can't threaten it such as Rhyperior, Registeel, and Virizion. These are matchups where Dhelmise can easily use Rapid Spin to clear the field of entry hazards, if needed. Keep in mind that every Pokemon can be brought into Rapid Spin due to its lack of power. Thus, in some cases, it can be better to predict a switch with Power Whip or Anchor Shot. Anchor Shot is a good move in general because it can trap the opposing Pokemon and prevent a double switch. If the opponent has Bronzong, Registeel, or Forretress without Volt Switch as their Stealth Rock setter, try to trap it with Anchor Shot and stall its PP out. If using Rest, Dhelmise can be used as a status absorber for the team. However, keep in mind that Dhelmise will be forced to sleep for two turns, which allows various Pokemon to take advantage of it, especially setup sweepers like Barbaracle, Necrozma, and Toxicroak. If using Synthesis, Dhelmise can check physical threats like Virizion and Zygarde-10% more effectively as well as pivot into resisted or weak hits like Leaf Storm from Mega Sceptile and Roserade or Moonblast from Florges. However, without Rest, Dhelmise is unable to beat Registeel and Bronzong and can't be used as a status absorber for the team. Dhelmise should also avoid switching into a potential Scald from a Water-type like Slowbro or Milotic. Steelium Z allows Dhelmise to use Corkscrew Crash in order to KO Pokemon that can usually take a hit from it like Noivern and Bewear. In case of softer checks like Noivern, try to use the Z-Move on their switch to KO them. Bulky Pokemon like Bewear will need to be chipped before Dhelmise can KO them.
Team Options
========
Dhelmise fits best on balance and bulky offensive teams because it is able to compress the role of entry hazard control and act as a check to common threats like Virizion, Zygarde-10%, and Raikou, which is very valuable for these archetypes. Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock, such as Ninetales, Salazzle, and Noivern, appreciate Dhelmise's ability to act as a reliable spinner. They also take advantage of its ability to switch into strong attacks for them. Entry hazard setters like Golispod and Dragalge or just Stealth Rock setters in general like Nidoqueen, Bronzong, and Diancie appreciate that Dhelmise can spinblock foes like Forretress, Tsareena, and Donphan. They also like that Dhelmise doesn't clear their own entry hazards away with Defog. Wish support from Pokemon like Florges and Vaporeon is very helpful so that Dhelmise is not always forced to recover up with Rest. Both of them can also support Dhelmise with Heal Bell. Water-types like Slowbro, Mantine, and Gastrodon are in general very good teammates because they can switch into Fire- and Ice-types moves. Dhelmise, in return, can switch into Grass- and Electric-types moves for them. Pokemon like Bewear, Florges, and Diancie are capable of checking Dark-types like Drapion and Mandibuzz and can switch into Knock Off from opposing Pokemon. Diancie can also switch into Flying-types like Noivern and supports Dhelmise with Heal Bell. Hariyama deserves a special mention, as it can check Dark-types while also providing a Fire- and Ice-type resistance with Thick Fat. Last but not least, since Dhelmise is not a check to Mega Blastoise, it's important to have a Pokemon that can switch into Mega Blastoise's attacks such as Florges, Gastrodon, and Hariyama.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Shadow Claw can be used over Power Whip to hit Steel- and Fire-types harder, but it's very weak beside that. A Choice Band set allows Dhelmise to work as a powerful wallbreaker. However, Dhelmise is completely outclassed by Virizion and even Tsareena in this role, which have better Speed tiers, greater coverage, and in the case of Virizion, access to Swords Dance.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Salazzle, Ninetales, Houndoom, and Arcanine can easily OHKO Dhelmise with their powerful STAB Fire-type moves and force it out. They also resist Power Whip and Anchor Shot, so they can easily switch into Dhelmise most of the time. However, they have trouble directly switching in if Stealth Rock is up.
**Dark-types and Dark-type coverage**: If Dhelmise holds a Colbur Berry, it reduces the danger of Dark-types like Drapion, Houndoom, and Pangoro but they still threaten Dhelmise with their powerful STAB moves. Without the item's weakening effect, Pokemon like Drapion, Aerodactyl, Escavalier, and Honchkrow can Pursuit trap Dhelmise and remove it from battle. As soon as the Berry has been eaten, Mega Blastoise threatens Dhelmise with its powerful Dark Pulse boosted by Mega Launcher and does not need to fear Dhelmise's Grass-STAB attack anymore. However, none of these Pokemon except Escavalier can switch well into Dhelmise's Power Whip or Anchor Shot, although they can switch in easily on a Rapid Spin.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Noivern and Honchkrow can OHKO Dhelmise with their STAB moves. As already mentioned above, Honchkrow can Pursuit trap Dhelmise. In most cases, Mandibuzz has nothing to fear from Dhelmise and can stall it out with the combination of Roost, Taunt, and Toxic. However, Honchkrow and Noivern can be KOed by Corkscrew Crash, while Mandibuzz can be too if it's at low health.
**Wallbreakers**: Though Dhelmise's bulk is decent, strong wallbreakers such as Choice Band Metagross, Choice Band Tyrantrum, Choice Specs Goodra, and Dragalge can easily defeat it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Holy-Darky, 464737]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [phantom, 180300], [MrAldo, 227521]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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