
Omastar (Shell Smash)
QC: 3/3 (Arikado, Spirit, atomicllamas)
GP: 2/2 (P Squared, Queez)
Shell Smash
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name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
ability: Weak Armor
item: White Herb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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Shell Smash doubles Omastar's Special Attack and Speed, making it an offensive powerhouse that can outspeed the entire unboosted tier and Choice Scarf users with base 89 Speed or lower. Hydro Pump is a powerful Water-type STAB attack, 2HKOing even Cresselia at +2, while Surf is a less powerful but more accurate STAB option. Ice Beam provides strong coverage alongside Hydro Pump or Surf, hitting most Pokemon neutrally save for most Water-types. Hidden Power Grass hits the Water-types that wall Omastar, particularly Alomomola, Lanturn, and Slowking. Alternatively, Hidden Power Fire OHKOes Assault Vest Escavalier after Stealth Rock, as well as Mega Abomasnow without any prior damage.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in Speed and Special Attack is necessary to make the most of Omastar's sweeping capabilities. Weak Armor gives Omastar another way to boost its Speed, which can help it outrun Choice Scarf Meloetta. It can easily activate Weak Armor due to its high base 125 Defense. White Herb will remove the defense drops from Shell Smash. Alternatively, Lum Berry provides a safety net against crippling status problems that can end Omastar's sweep, while Life Orb gives Omastar a power boost and allows it to nearly always 2HKO Assault Vest Slowking with a +2 Hidden Power Grass.
Usage Tips
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This set has the role of an excellent late-game cleaner, so be sure to weaken opposing special walls such as Registeel and Slowking before attempting to set up. Even at +2, Omastar fails to outspeed Choice Scarf Meloetta, so be careful around it. Unless Omastar is running Lum Berry, avoid setting up on defensive Pokemon with Thunder Wave such as Cresselia, as Omastar needs the Speed boost from Shell Smash to function. A weakened Omastar can be easily picked off by strong priority moves such as Hitmonlee's Mach Punch, so be sure to take out opposing priority users before sending Omastar in.
Team Options
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A Fire- or Flying-type such as Emboar or Braviary, respectively, will cover Omastar's weakness to Grass-type Pokemon fairly well. Priority attackers such as Fletchinder will take on the Choice Scarf users that outspeed Omastar at +2, as well as Hitmonlee. A physical attacker will deal with the special walls that even +2 Omastar struggles with. Hitmonlee can take care of Registeel, while Drapion can beat Cresselia and Slowking. Special wallbreakers such as Clawitzer can also wear down Registeel and Slowking in order to make it easier for Omastar to clean up. A Pursuit user such as Skuntank or Spiritomb helps to eliminate Slowking, Bronzong, and Cresselia, all of which wall Omastar. A Pokemon with Volt Absorb such as Jolteon or Lanturn will happily absorb any Volt Switch or Thunder Wave used against Omastar.
Checks and Counters
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**Revenge Killers**: Pokemon with powerful priority attacks such as Hitmonlee can easily pick off a weakened Omastar. Moreover, because Omastar fails to outspeed Choice Scarf users with base 90 Speed or more, it is very vulnerable to being revenge killed by Meloetta and Durant.
**Assault Vest Users**: Pokemon that commonly hold Assault Vest such as Slowking, Eelektross, and Druddigon can survive a +2 attack from Omastar and deal serious damage back to it with an appropriate coverage move.
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