[SET]
name: Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Power Gem / Thunderbolt / Tera Blast
move 4: Spikes / Stealth Rock
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Protosynthesis
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
tera type: Ground / Water / Ice
[SET COMMENTS]
Sandy Shocks's solid STAB combination, stats, and movepool allow it to function as a solid pivot and hazard setter. Spikes is usually the hazard move of choice due to the wide variety of other Stealth Rock setters in the tier, though Stealth Rock can be slotted in if if no other Pokemon on the team can fit it. Power Gem can be used to hit Zapdos, the only Flying type in the tier that doesn't take super effective damage from Sandy Shocks's Electric-type STAB. Thunderbolt can be used as a stronger Electric-type STAB move, notably guaranteeing a 2HKO on Assault Vest Tornadus-T. Tera Blast must only be used in conjunction with Tera Ice to hit Grass- and Dragon-types like Hydrapple, Serperior, and Latios that wall Sandy Shocks's dual STABs. Tera Ground can be used to further increase the power of Earth Power, while Tera Water can be used to resist Water-type attacks from foes such as Azumarill, Keldeo, Quaquaval, and Greninja. Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Sandy Shocks from being chipped down by hazards, increasing its efficiency as a pivot, while Leftovers provides Sandy Shocks with passive recovery.
Sandy Shocks fits best on offense and bulky offense teams that appreciate the role compression it provides. Sandy Shocks's biggest counters are Grass-types like Hydrapple, Serperior, and Sinistcha, which wall its STAB combination and force it to run Tera Blast Ice. Pokemon such as Zapdos, Tornadus-T, and Lokix can handles these threats for Sandy Shocks while also freeing up its moveset and Tera type options. All three of these Pokemon also form pivoting cores with Sandy Shocks. Sandy Shocks also struggles greatly with Latios, which either resists or is immune to its two STABs and also forces it to run Tera Blast Ice, so Pokemon like Slowking, Metagross, and Tinkaton make great partners to help check Latios. Stealth Rock setters such as Excadrill, Rhyperior, and Tinkaton form a hazard stacking core with Sandy Shocks that run Spikes, wearing down foes over the course of a game for teammates like Lokix, Okidogi, and Latios to break through, though it should be noted that these Pokemon share a lot of common weaknesses. Excadrill pairs particularly well with Sandy Shocks because of its ability to spin away hazards, preventing Sandy Shocks from getting worn down over the course of a game.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/starfalcon555.540058/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
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