This thread is an attempt at making Drapion at least somewhat viable. I always thought it was a really cool Pokemon, it has decent stats and a useful ability in Sniper. After discovering no generation 8 guide to Drapion, I decided to throw an idea out there. I saw a set like this in a Youtube video months ago in a channel by the name of The Garbodors. This is my interpretation of the set:
Chris Kyle (Drapion) (M) @ Lansat Berry
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Agility
- Fell Stinger
- Cross Poison
- Night Slash
Drapion's goal will be to set up using agility, which with its decent base speed sets it up to outspeed Dragapult, scarfed Rotom, scarfed Toxtricity, and scarfed Dracovish. Thanks to its 95 base speed, it is possible to max out Drapion's attack EVs and give it an adamant nature to strengthen its mediocre 90 base attack. In addition, we can invest in enough bulk to be able to tank unboosted hits and activate Lansat Berry for a boosted chance of a critical hit. Paired with high-critical-hit-ratio STAB moves Night Slash and Cross Poison, the Lansat berry boost allows Drapion to attack with critical hits boosted by its Sniper ability. Fell Stinger works as an alternative way to set up a sweep with Drapion with a +3 attack boost if it causes an opposing pokemon to faint. Poison/Dark typing is wonderful defensively, sporting only a weakness to ground. With high base physical defense and HP investment, Drapion should have no problem tanking unboosted non-STAB EQ. Offensively, Drapion obliterates Grass, Fairy, Psychic, Ghost, and poses a threat to frail Dark types with its Fell Stinger. Drapion will also likely struggle against Steel types without an attack or Crit Ratio boost and should be withdrawn in the face of Excadrill, Tyranitar, Bisharp, Corviknight, and in some cases Ferrothorn. Entry hazards pose a threat to Drapion's Lansat activation, so some sort of combination with a Court Change Heavy-Duty Boots Cinderace would synergize decently minus the shared weakness to Ground. So far the strategy has been reliable enough for me, and I don't wish to take credit for The Garbodors's moveset; I wish to share it. Chris Kyle as a nickname is interchangeable for Simo Hayha.
Chris Kyle (Drapion) (M) @ Lansat Berry
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Agility
- Fell Stinger
- Cross Poison
- Night Slash
Drapion's goal will be to set up using agility, which with its decent base speed sets it up to outspeed Dragapult, scarfed Rotom, scarfed Toxtricity, and scarfed Dracovish. Thanks to its 95 base speed, it is possible to max out Drapion's attack EVs and give it an adamant nature to strengthen its mediocre 90 base attack. In addition, we can invest in enough bulk to be able to tank unboosted hits and activate Lansat Berry for a boosted chance of a critical hit. Paired with high-critical-hit-ratio STAB moves Night Slash and Cross Poison, the Lansat berry boost allows Drapion to attack with critical hits boosted by its Sniper ability. Fell Stinger works as an alternative way to set up a sweep with Drapion with a +3 attack boost if it causes an opposing pokemon to faint. Poison/Dark typing is wonderful defensively, sporting only a weakness to ground. With high base physical defense and HP investment, Drapion should have no problem tanking unboosted non-STAB EQ. Offensively, Drapion obliterates Grass, Fairy, Psychic, Ghost, and poses a threat to frail Dark types with its Fell Stinger. Drapion will also likely struggle against Steel types without an attack or Crit Ratio boost and should be withdrawn in the face of Excadrill, Tyranitar, Bisharp, Corviknight, and in some cases Ferrothorn. Entry hazards pose a threat to Drapion's Lansat activation, so some sort of combination with a Court Change Heavy-Duty Boots Cinderace would synergize decently minus the shared weakness to Ground. So far the strategy has been reliable enough for me, and I don't wish to take credit for The Garbodors's moveset; I wish to share it. Chris Kyle as a nickname is interchangeable for Simo Hayha.