Electabuzz
[Overview]
<p>At first glance, Electabuzz appears to be a standard Electric-type. It is fast and decently powerful, yet quite frail. However, access to many coverage options allows it to secure a niche over other NU Pokemon. Electabuzz is an NFE, which means it can use Eviolite and become quite bulkier compared to the other offensive Electric-types in the tier, such as Raichu. Electabuzz has a nice balance of Speed and power, being faster than the mighty Ampharos, yet significantly stronger than the speedster Electrode. Vital Spirit is also an amazing ability for Electabuzz, allowing it to absorb Spore from the ever so common Amoonguss with ease. Nevertheless, despite all of Electabuzz's perks, it still has to compete heavily with many other Electric-types for a slot in a team, as each fulfill a specific niche, so using the incorrect one can be a disaster.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Thunderbolt is your primary STAB move, hitting nearly everything that doesn't resist it quite hard, such as Samurott, Emboar, and Sawk. Volt Switch is good to have, as early-game Electabuzz does a solid job at forcing switches, and can keep up momentum as well as well as chip away at the opposition. Hidden Power Ice gives Electabuzz the coveted BoltBeam coverage and allows it to hit Dragon-types such as Altaria and Fraxure very hard, as well as hitting Torterra harder than any other move on the set. While Hidden Power Ice has great coverage, Hidden Power Grass can be used to hit some threats that would otherwise wall the set, such as Seismitoad. Hidden Power Grass also hits Golem harder than anything else. Focus Blast is the best option for the last slot, as it hits Normal-types such as Lickilicky and Miltank hardest, although 70% accuracy can be a huge letdown at times.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Psychic is a cool move that Electabuzz has; it hits Gurdurr and Amoonguss harder than any other choices, although it will cost Electabuzz a lot of coverage, as it is forced to drop an important move on the set. Vital Spirit is a great ability, as it allows Electabuzz to switch in on Amoonguss with minimal risk and hit it with a powerful Hidden Power Ice, while only fearing Sludge Bomb in return. Electabuzz has huge problems with special walls, so powerful Pokemon such as Sawk and Emboar make great teammates for their ability to dispatch them with ease. Musharna, particularly one with Baton Pass, makes a great teammate for Electabuzz as it is capable of passing a Calm Mind or two to it, which makes it a lot easier to sweep. Regirock and Piloswine both provide Stealth Rock for Electabuzz and are also strong enough to hurt threats such as Lickilicky and Ampharos, which would otherwise defeat Electabuzz. Electabuzz hates status with a passion, particularly paralysis, so Lickilicky is a great teammate because of its access to Heal Bell, while also providing Wish support to keep your Electric-type healthy. Static is also a viable ability if you like hax, but isn't nearly as reliable as Vital Spirit.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Vital Spirit
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlike the previous set, this set focuses more on revenge killing, as it is one of the best Choice Scarf Pokemon in NU. Electabuzz struggles to compete with Zebstrika and Rotom-S for a teamslot, but is more powerful than the former, and faster and more powerful than the latter. Thunderbolt is the move that is used most often, revenge killing Samurott, Swellow, Gorebyss, and Braviary easily. Volt Switch can be used to KO a weakened Pokemon without losing momentum, but is a lot weaker than Thunderbolt. Hidden Power Ice revenge kills Dragon-types such as Altaria, as well as Ground-types such as Rock Polish Torterra, which can demolish many teams. It also is Electabuzz's best choice against Grass-types such as Serperior that otherwise wall the set with ease. Focus Blast should be used sparingly, as it is a terrible move to be locked into, despite hitting Normal-types such as Cinccino and Kangaskhan harder than any other move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Timid nature can be used if you want to outrun faster Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Haunter, Charizard, and Sawsbuck, but the drop in power is noticeable and none of those Pokemon are huge threats in the metagame. Unlike Zebstrika, Electabuzz is not fast enough to revenge kill weather sweepers such as Victreebel, and must instead focus on more standard threats. Not being able to switch attacks sucks, as a single misprediction can really turn the tide of a match, and an Electabuzz locked into a move that isn't Thunderbolt is laughably weak. Torterra has great synergy with Electabuzz and can provide Stealth Rock, making it a handy teammate to have. Ludicolo also is a great partner for Electabuzz, as it appreciates faster threats being removed so it can sweep, while it can also remove Ground-types so Electabuzz can use Volt Switch more freely. When compared to the other common Electric-type Choice Scarf Pokemon, Electabuzz has more power and access to Focus Blast over Zebstrika, and more speed, power, a lack of Stealth Rock weakness, and Focus Blast over Rotom-S, while gaining a Ground-type weakness.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Electabuzz has many more options that it can use. A bulky pivot set with Eviolite is plausible as Electabuzz has solid defensive stats, but is generally outclassed by Ampharos. Electabuzz is one of the few Electric-types capable of going mixed, and has access to Cross Chop to dispatch many of its counters such as Lickilicky, although splitting EVs means a drop in power will be noticeable. Electabuzz can use SubPunch quite well, as many of its common switch-ins are weak to Fighting-type attacks. Choice Specs can be used, but is not recommended as the lack of Speed and ability to switch moves is devastating. Electabuzz can also use Rain Dance and Thunder quite well, but this is generally performed better by Electrode. Signal Beam can be used to hit Musharna and Exeggutor, but doesn't really hit much else. Thunder Wave can be used to cripple the opposition, but Electabuzz is generally better off attacking. Electabuzz can also use Meditate to boost its Attack, as well as a Choice Band, but the Special Attacker set is almost always better, as it isn't as easily walled.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Defeating Electabuzz isn't incredibly difficult, as its Electric-type STAB leaves a lot of potential options to wall it. Opposing Electric-types such as Ampharos aren't afraid of it at all and can chip away at Electabuzz. Ground-types such as Golurk and Marowak can tank a super effective Hidden Power and OHKO in return with Earthquake and Bonemerang, respectively. Piloswine and Camerupt fear nothing from Electabuzz, and each can OHKO easily in return. Muk can tank any attack and fire a powerful Gunk Shot at Electabuzz in return. Bulky Dragonair can use Dragon Dance multiple times in front of Electabuzz, fearing nothing as it can Rest off the damage easily. Gurdurr is bulky enough to tank a few hits, and can heal most of its HP back with Drain Punch. Grumpig and Musharna can also tank Thunderbolts easily, and either paralyze or attack with a powerful Psychic. Stunfisk is an amazing counter to Electabuzz as it is immune to Electric-type attacks, and has a powerful STAB Earth Power that it can use in return. Specially bulky Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Regice can tank attacks quite easily, and respond with their STAB moves. Many powerful Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Golurk can also each tank a hit and OHKO in return.</p>
