[OVERVIEW]
Imposter Chansey is the single most defining set in BH. With astronomical HP that is preserved after transforming compounded with a potential Eviolite boost, it can turn into a significantly bulkier version of the foe, making it a blanket check to most offensive Pokemon. Defensive Pokemon are not safe either, as without proper teambuilding, Imposter users can take advantage of their enormous bulk to become incredibly difficult to punish, allowing them to utilize the constant PP Imposter can provide to stall out the foes. As a result of these traits, every team must Imposter-proof: be well prepared for and carry responses to all of its own Pokemon. Imposter also provides invaluable scouting information in a tier where anything is possible to allow the player to make more informed decisions. Additionally, Imposter Chansey and Blissey provide role compression by Imposter-proofing some special attackers when not transformed. However, every competent team will prepare carefully for Imposter, limiting its effectiveness; examples of common generally Imposter-resilient sets include Plate + Judgment users like Arceus-Ghost and Thunder Cage + Strength Sap users like Arceus-Electric. Imposter users also dislike the metagame having an abundance of offensive Pokemon such as Eternatus and Mega Garchomp that are weak to their own STAB moves, reducing their defensive utility and making them more difficult to fit on teams.
Alternatively, non-Imposter Chansey utilizes its astronomical special bulk and respectable physical bulk with Eviolite to serve as a strong special wall capable of answering threats like Eternatus and Take Heart Arceus formes. It differentiates itself from Blissey through the extra bulk from said item allowing it to sponge certain physical coverage moves like Eternatus's Shell Side Arm much more comfortably. Its exceptional special bulk also lets it forgo Ice Scales in favor of Magic Guard, allowing it to be very resilient against residual damage from entry hazards, Thunder Cage, and status conditions. Chansey's minuscule Attack also lets it neutralize Strength Sap healing from the special attackers it aims to wall to support its offensive teammates. However, Chansey is rather passive, causing it to be a momentum drain against Pokemon such as RegenVest users with Knock Off and Flutter Mane, which an issue amplified by its lack of passive recovery from Leftovers, forcing it to spend turns healing more. It also has a minor opportunity cost of not being able to use Eviolite + Imposter.
[SET]
Imposter (Chansey) @ Eviolite / Heavy-Duty Boots / Covert Cloak
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Calm / Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shore Up
- Topsy-Turvy / Haze
- Block / Teleport
- Heal Bell / Jungle Healing / Wish
[SET COMMENTS]
Most of the time, Chansey will be transformed into the foe, so the given moves are for the situations it is not transformed. Shore Up in conjunction with Topsy-Turvy or Haze allows Chansey to excellently Imposter-proof special attackers such as Miraidon and Take Heart Arceus formes with its high special bulk and low Attack to limit Strength Sap healing from opposing Imposter users. Block can be used to ensure that opposing Imposter users that stay in are trapped and eliminated, while Teleport provides slow pivoting instead. Heal Bell lets Chansey act as a cleric in a pinch, while Jungle Healing can provide additional recovery while also curing it of status, which is useful to Imposter-proof Eternatus. Wish is an alternative if Teleport is run to effectively support teammates. Eviolite provides a generally useful bulk increase that is particularly helpful against threats like Mega Alakazam. Heavy-Duty Boots is the premier option on entry hazard-resilient teams that forgo hazard removal. Covert Cloak meanwhile blocks the secondary effect of moves like Spirit Shackle and Mortal Spin, allowing it to bypass some Imposter-proofing methods. It is worth noting that if Eviolite is not opted for, then Blissey can be used as the Imposter user.
Imposter users can fit on virtually every team archetype due to the utility and information they provide, and all Pokemon can benefit from their presence. Physically offensive Pokemon such as Choice Band Ash-Greninja and Mega Garchomp appreciate the scouting information Imposter brings, in particular moves like Burning Bulwark being revealed; these Pokemon are also particularly helpful for Teleport sets, providing an immediate method to force out opposing Imposter users transformed into Chansey. Special attackers like Eternatus and Mega Gardevoir meanwhile enjoy Imposter Chansey's ability to trade Knock Offs against opposing RegenVest Pokemon to soften them up, and these attackers can also be potentially Imposter-proofed by it. Defensively, walls appreciate Imposter Chansey alleviating pressure by soft checking threats like Mega Alakazam. Pokemon that provide slow pivoting, such as Mega Audino, can bring Imposter users in to safely scout opponents. Special walls like Ice Scales Mega Audino can check a variety of threats to Imposter users, such as Arceus-Ghost, Take Heart Arceus formes, and offensive Dragon-types like Mega Sceptile. Imposter users can also be highly reliant on their items, especially in the case of Heavy-Duty Boots and Covert Cloak, so they appreciates Knock Off absorbers like Magic Guard Arceus Ghost and select RegenVest users.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Imposter users can run a variety of other utility moves depending on what the team requires, with some examples being Court Change, Rapid Spin, and Glare. They can also use some other niche items. Leftovers provides a minor longevity increase and crucially gives them an edge against otherwise troublesome Take Heart Arceus formes. Spooky Plate lets them surprise Normalize Flutter Mane and non-Knock Off Arceus-Ghost, although these are its exclusive use cases. Choice Scarf is very niche, (comma) and the Choice lock can be highly restrictive and exploitable, with the only benefit being safer matchups against certain offensive Pokemon, mainly Dragon-types like Ultra Necrozma and Mega Garchomp. Non-Imposter Chansey can utilize a Regenerator set to spend less turns healing but faces fierce competition from Blissey due to a vulnerability to entry hazards, with the extra security against Shell Side Arm Eternatus being offset by potential poison.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off**: Imposter users hate having their items removed, whether it's the significant bulk cut from losing Eviolite or losing the high utility Heavy-Duty Boots and Covert Cloak provide. Non-Imposter Chansey is heavily reliant on Eviolite for its bulk, making Knock Off incredibly crippling.
**Status Conditions**: Paralysis cripples Imposter users' ability to check notable offensive threats and allows common Dragon Energy users like Eternatus to comfortably defeat them. Poison can also rapidly chip them down.
**Anti-Imposter Sets**: Due to Imposter's prevalence, many common sets are capable of defeating Imposter users one-on-one. Notable examples include Thunder Cage + Strength Sap Arceus formes and Judgment + Plate users like Arceus-Ghost, Arceus-Steel, and Flutter Mane.
**Wallbreakers with Super Effective Coverage**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Eternatus, Ultra Necrozma, and Mega Garchomp can hit Imposter users extremely hard, deterring them from switching in. Dragon Energy users in particular can threaten weakened Imposter users significantly. These will often need to consider Speed ties against Imposter users, however, so may still switch out.
**Limiting Healing**: Imposter users can be susceptible to being worn down rapidly if they is unable to transform into something that can reliably heal. This most commonly involves Strength Sap and limiting its healing through low Attack Pokemon like Chansey, Blissey, and Mega Audino.
**Trapping**: Imposter only grants a total of 20 PP, so sets with a trapping move like Spirit Shackle, Block, or the rare Jaw Lock can trap and PP stall Imposter users. However, Spirit Shackle users must be cautious of being reverse PP stalled by Covert Cloak Imposter users in extended games.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Despite the Eviolite boost, Chansey is still rather frail physically and is vulnerable to physical wallbreakers like Mega Garchomp and Mega Blaziken, though Burning Bulwark can somewhat alleviate the issue against Choice Band users.
**Flutter Mane**: Flutter Mane regularly runs Pain Split and Spikes, allowing to make significant progress against Chansey while keeping itself healthy.
**Taunt**: Chansey is highly vulnerable to Taunt due to its passivity. Taunt is capable of shutting down its recovery, can stop its setup control, and often prevents its pivoting attempts.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chessking345.355040/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rightclicker.589755/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Imposter Chansey is the single most defining set in BH. With astronomical HP that is preserved after transforming compounded with a potential Eviolite boost, it can turn into a significantly bulkier version of the foe, making it a blanket check to most offensive Pokemon. Defensive Pokemon are not safe either, as without proper teambuilding, Imposter users can take advantage of their enormous bulk to become incredibly difficult to punish, allowing them to utilize the constant PP Imposter can provide to stall out the foes. As a result of these traits, every team must Imposter-proof: be well prepared for and carry responses to all of its own Pokemon. Imposter also provides invaluable scouting information in a tier where anything is possible to allow the player to make more informed decisions. Additionally, Imposter Chansey and Blissey provide role compression by Imposter-proofing some special attackers when not transformed. However, every competent team will prepare carefully for Imposter, limiting its effectiveness; examples of common generally Imposter-resilient sets include Plate + Judgment users like Arceus-Ghost and Thunder Cage + Strength Sap users like Arceus-Electric. Imposter users also dislike the metagame having an abundance of offensive Pokemon such as Eternatus and Mega Garchomp that are weak to their own STAB moves, reducing their defensive utility and making them more difficult to fit on teams.
Alternatively, non-Imposter Chansey utilizes its astronomical special bulk and respectable physical bulk with Eviolite to serve as a strong special wall capable of answering threats like Eternatus and Take Heart Arceus formes. It differentiates itself from Blissey through the extra bulk from said item allowing it to sponge certain physical coverage moves like Eternatus's Shell Side Arm much more comfortably. Its exceptional special bulk also lets it forgo Ice Scales in favor of Magic Guard, allowing it to be very resilient against residual damage from entry hazards, Thunder Cage, and status conditions. Chansey's minuscule Attack also lets it neutralize Strength Sap healing from the special attackers it aims to wall to support its offensive teammates. However, Chansey is rather passive, causing it to be a momentum drain against Pokemon such as RegenVest users with Knock Off and Flutter Mane, which an issue amplified by its lack of passive recovery from Leftovers, forcing it to spend turns healing more. It also has a minor opportunity cost of not being able to use Eviolite + Imposter.
[SET]
Imposter (Chansey) @ Eviolite / Heavy-Duty Boots / Covert Cloak
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Calm / Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shore Up
- Topsy-Turvy / Haze
- Block / Teleport
- Heal Bell / Jungle Healing / Wish
[SET COMMENTS]
Most of the time, Chansey will be transformed into the foe, so the given moves are for the situations it is not transformed. Shore Up in conjunction with Topsy-Turvy or Haze allows Chansey to excellently Imposter-proof special attackers such as Miraidon and Take Heart Arceus formes with its high special bulk and low Attack to limit Strength Sap healing from opposing Imposter users. Block can be used to ensure that opposing Imposter users that stay in are trapped and eliminated, while Teleport provides slow pivoting instead. Heal Bell lets Chansey act as a cleric in a pinch, while Jungle Healing can provide additional recovery while also curing it of status, which is useful to Imposter-proof Eternatus. Wish is an alternative if Teleport is run to effectively support teammates. Eviolite provides a generally useful bulk increase that is particularly helpful against threats like Mega Alakazam. Heavy-Duty Boots is the premier option on entry hazard-resilient teams that forgo hazard removal. Covert Cloak meanwhile blocks the secondary effect of moves like Spirit Shackle and Mortal Spin, allowing it to bypass some Imposter-proofing methods. It is worth noting that if Eviolite is not opted for, then Blissey can be used as the Imposter user.
Imposter users can fit on virtually every team archetype due to the utility and information they provide, and all Pokemon can benefit from their presence. Physically offensive Pokemon such as Choice Band Ash-Greninja and Mega Garchomp appreciate the scouting information Imposter brings, in particular moves like Burning Bulwark being revealed; these Pokemon are also particularly helpful for Teleport sets, providing an immediate method to force out opposing Imposter users transformed into Chansey. Special attackers like Eternatus and Mega Gardevoir meanwhile enjoy Imposter Chansey's ability to trade Knock Offs against opposing RegenVest Pokemon to soften them up, and these attackers can also be potentially Imposter-proofed by it. Defensively, walls appreciate Imposter Chansey alleviating pressure by soft checking threats like Mega Alakazam. Pokemon that provide slow pivoting, such as Mega Audino, can bring Imposter users in to safely scout opponents. Special walls like Ice Scales Mega Audino can check a variety of threats to Imposter users, such as Arceus-Ghost, Take Heart Arceus formes, and offensive Dragon-types like Mega Sceptile. Imposter users can also be highly reliant on their items, especially in the case of Heavy-Duty Boots and Covert Cloak, so they appreciates Knock Off absorbers like Magic Guard Arceus Ghost and select RegenVest users.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Imposter users can run a variety of other utility moves depending on what the team requires, with some examples being Court Change, Rapid Spin, and Glare. They can also use some other niche items. Leftovers provides a minor longevity increase and crucially gives them an edge against otherwise troublesome Take Heart Arceus formes. Spooky Plate lets them surprise Normalize Flutter Mane and non-Knock Off Arceus-Ghost, although these are its exclusive use cases. Choice Scarf is very niche, (comma) and the Choice lock can be highly restrictive and exploitable, with the only benefit being safer matchups against certain offensive Pokemon, mainly Dragon-types like Ultra Necrozma and Mega Garchomp. Non-Imposter Chansey can utilize a Regenerator set to spend less turns healing but faces fierce competition from Blissey due to a vulnerability to entry hazards, with the extra security against Shell Side Arm Eternatus being offset by potential poison.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off**: Imposter users hate having their items removed, whether it's the significant bulk cut from losing Eviolite or losing the high utility Heavy-Duty Boots and Covert Cloak provide. Non-Imposter Chansey is heavily reliant on Eviolite for its bulk, making Knock Off incredibly crippling.
**Status Conditions**: Paralysis cripples Imposter users' ability to check notable offensive threats and allows common Dragon Energy users like Eternatus to comfortably defeat them. Poison can also rapidly chip them down.
**Anti-Imposter Sets**: Due to Imposter's prevalence, many common sets are capable of defeating Imposter users one-on-one. Notable examples include Thunder Cage + Strength Sap Arceus formes and Judgment + Plate users like Arceus-Ghost, Arceus-Steel, and Flutter Mane.
**Wallbreakers with Super Effective Coverage**: Powerful wallbreakers such as Eternatus, Ultra Necrozma, and Mega Garchomp can hit Imposter users extremely hard, deterring them from switching in. Dragon Energy users in particular can threaten weakened Imposter users significantly. These will often need to consider Speed ties against Imposter users, however, so may still switch out.
**Limiting Healing**: Imposter users can be susceptible to being worn down rapidly if they is unable to transform into something that can reliably heal. This most commonly involves Strength Sap and limiting its healing through low Attack Pokemon like Chansey, Blissey, and Mega Audino.
**Trapping**: Imposter only grants a total of 20 PP, so sets with a trapping move like Spirit Shackle, Block, or the rare Jaw Lock can trap and PP stall Imposter users. However, Spirit Shackle users must be cautious of being reverse PP stalled by Covert Cloak Imposter users in extended games.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Despite the Eviolite boost, Chansey is still rather frail physically and is vulnerable to physical wallbreakers like Mega Garchomp and Mega Blaziken, though Burning Bulwark can somewhat alleviate the issue against Choice Band users.
**Flutter Mane**: Flutter Mane regularly runs Pain Split and Spikes, allowing to make significant progress against Chansey while keeping itself healthy.
**Taunt**: Chansey is highly vulnerable to Taunt due to its passivity. Taunt is capable of shutting down its recovery, can stop its setup control, and often prevents its pivoting attempts.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chessking345.355040/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rightclicker.589755/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Last edited:
