[LC SM] Popplio's analyisis.

[maxii.03]

[OVERVIEW]

Popplio has it's good and bad sides. While a 50 / 54 / 56 bulk boosted with Eviolite is decent, Popplio can be taken down by powerful attacks from powerful attackers on the tier. Also, it's 40 base speed doesn't make him any better, being outsped by common Pokemon, even those that are not considered fast. It also lacks instant recovery, drain recovery or leftlovers recovery. Despite that, Popplio can use Substitute, Toxic and Protect. You know what I mean, right?

[SET]
name: Defensive attempt
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Hyper Voice / Hydro Pump / Rest
item: Eviolite
ability: Liquid Voice
nature: Calm
evs: 196 HP / 164 Def / 82 SpD / 66 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Toxic is the main move on this set. Substitute and Protect are there just to make Popplio resist and the Toxic advance. Substitute is also useful to avoid status aliment. You can either use Hyper Voice (water type due the ability Liquid Voice, 90 base power, STAB and 100% acuraccy) or Rest to heal yourself completely and cure any status aliment. With the EVs distribution mentioned before Hyper Voice won't do much damage, but that's compensated with the Toxic. If using Hydro Pump, Popplio will do more damage, but 80% acuraccy is a risk. Finally, Rest is also a risk because of two turns of inactivity.. .and Popplio is not that bulky. However, the Toxic will do some damage.

Set Details
========

196 HP are used to maximize Popplio's HP, while with 164 Def EVs and 82 SpD EVs + Calm nature, Popplio's defenses are up to 14 each one. Boosted with Eviolite, 21. So, Popplio has a 24 / 21 / 21 bulk which lets it take various hits while poisoning foes and creating substitutes.

Usage Tips
========

Toxic, Substitute, Protect and repeat. In the middle of that you can either attack or use Rest. This is valid for every foe.

Team Options
========

Since Popplio lacks recovery, a Wish passer could be a good option. If you're using Rest you won't need it, but if you're not, a Cleric to cure status aliments is also welcome.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]

Actually this is the only strategy that I would use. Why? Well, Popplio has access to powerful Water and Fairy moves such as Hydro Pump and Moonblast, but I think they're a waste because of Popplio's 66 base special attack. While it's not bad, Popplio cannot boost it, so it won't hit hard. Popplio also lacks moves like Wish or Heal Bell so it can't support the team either.

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Not recommended strategies:

-Bulky Special Sweeper

-Fast Special Sweeper

-Any kind of Sweeper

-SubAttacker


Checks and Counters
===================

Steel- and Poison- types: Steel and Poison types cannot be poisoned so Popplio is useless.

 

[Merritt]

You need to be approved to write an analysis in the Analysis Reservation thread before you can post it. Since Popplio isn't viable it's unlikely to be approved, but you can try to explain why it deserves an analysis in this thread.

As for the set, Sub/Toxic stall on a pokemon who has no recovery sounds ineffective at best, and since Popplio's using 3 moves that almost every LC Pokemon can learn, it's certainly not a unique niche. In terms of a directly better Pokemon to use the set (and the set honestly isn't that good, being straight with you), Shellos is a water type who, in exchange for only very slightly lower defense and special attack, has more HP, the inability to have its Eviolite removed, and access to reliable recovery in Recover, meaning that the job that Popplio's attempting to do here is flat out done more effectively.

I personally look forward to what you can contribute in the future, just make sure you follow the right steps next time!

 

[Nineage]

What Merritt said. Feel free to post in the appropriate thread if you want to contribute in the future!