[OVERVIEW]
Politoed is an excellent wielder of the Drizzle ability, with good natural bulk to go with its offensive coverage options and utility that serve it well. Drizzle enables the plethora of strong Swift Swim users, such as Barraskewda, Basculegion-F, and Overqwil, while also giving Hurricane users like Kilowattrel and Salamence perfect accuracy. Perish Trapper Politoed is a valuable asset for rain teams, as it can trap and eliminate walls like Chansey and Umbreon. Politoed can use its own rain to throw off powerful STAB attacks like Surf and Weather Ball, which can be powerful when used in conjunction with Choice Specs. The main limiting factor of Politoed, however, is its inability to pivot, which means it has to rely on defensive pivots like Eject Button Amoonguss, Forretress, and Jirachi to give safe entry points to the powerful wallbreakers on rain teams. Similarly, Politoed lacks reliable recovery outside of Rest and can struggle to establish rain multiple times a game against the other weather setters in the tier like Hippowdon and Torkoal.
[SET]
name: Perish Trapper
move 1: Whirlpool
move 2: Perish Song
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Encore / Earth Power
item: Damp Rock
ability: Drizzle
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Whirlpool is an effective means to trap unsuspecting checks like Chansey, Suicune, and Umbreon, enabling Perish Song to break through these defensive pieces. Ice Beam nails Grass- and Dragon-types like Amoonguss, Chesnaught, Cyclizar, and Salamence. Encore can disrupt slower Pokemon like Reuniclus and Slowbro and put a stop to offensive setup attempts from threats like Bisharp, Fezandipiti, and Mimikyu as well, though this is prediction-reliant, as they're faster than Politoed. Earth Power can be used to hit Steel-types like Hisuian Goodra, Jirachi, and Magnezone. The provided EV spread allows Politoed to outpace neutral-natured threats like the aforementioned Hisuian Goodra and Magnezone. Tera Ghost allows Politoed to function as a spinblocker against Cyclizar as well as providing a Fighting immunity to help in the matchup against faster wallbreakers like Terrakion and Galarian Zapdos.
Politoed is essentially mandatory for dedicated rain teams because of its access to Drizzle, though it can also be seen on bulky offense teams as well. Perish trapper Politoed can be quite effective in removing special walls like Chansey and Umbreon, which can enable special attacking teammates like Basculegion-F and Salamence to use the rain to the fullest. Teammates that can help these rain users, as well as Barraskewda and Overqwil, include Eject Button Amoonguss and Volt Switch Forretress, both of which can provide safe entry points for the frailer offensive options while effectively utilizing rain turns. Similarly, Kilowattrel is a fine Pokemon on rain structures, using perfectly accurate STAB Hurricane and Thunder to great effect and functioning as a Volt Switch user and Electric-immune Pokemon in one slot. Balance teams can also appreciate Perish trapper Politoed for its ability to remove difficult foes like Chansey and Umbreon, allowing teammates like Gengar and Volcanion to wallbreak more effectively. Steel-type teammates like Jirachi can benefit from rain support as well, more effectively checking powerful Fire-types like Armarouge and Entei. Rain is effective in minimizing the healing from foes that use weather-dependent recovery moves, like Synthesis Chesnaught, Moonlight Cresselia, and Morning Sun Slither Wing, making them more susceptible to being worn down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Specs Politoed can use its rain to dish out powerful STAB attacks like Surf and Weather Ball. Rest can give Politoed a bit more longevity, allowing it to establish rain more often for its teammates. Hydro Pump and Weather Ball are powerful but less consistent STAB attacks for Politoed, offering more immediate power at the cost of accuracy and reliance on rain, respectively.
Checks and Counters
====
**Assault Vest Cyclizar**: Assault Vest Cyclizar does not take much damage from uninvested Ice Beam and can remove Politoed's Damp Rock, shortening rain turns for its teammates.
**Disruption**: Encore Jirachi and Taunt Fezandipiti can disrupt Politoed significantly, locking it into unfavorable positions and giving them momentum to set up or pivot into teammates.
**Pivots**: Perish trapper Politoed struggles with the plethora of pivots in the tier, such as Slither Wing and Galarian Zapdos, and can find it difficult to trap the Pokemon it seeks to remove.
**Water-immune Pokemon**: Water-immune Pokemon, like Gastrodon, Vaporeon, and Volcanion, can stop Whirlpool from trapping them.
**Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Basculegion-F and Gardevoir can break through Politoed before it can effectively Perish trap them.
**Opposing Weather**: Politoed lacks recovery outside of Rest, meaning it gets worn down easily and can struggle to establish rain against opposing weather setters like Hippowdon and Torkoal despite its type advantage against them. Alolan Ninetales is another weather setter that can use its faster Encore to prevent Politoed from effectively trapping it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/feen.231398/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Politoed is an excellent wielder of the Drizzle ability, with good natural bulk to go with its offensive coverage options and utility that serve it well. Drizzle enables the plethora of strong Swift Swim users, such as Barraskewda, Basculegion-F, and Overqwil, while also giving Hurricane users like Kilowattrel and Salamence perfect accuracy. Perish Trapper Politoed is a valuable asset for rain teams, as it can trap and eliminate walls like Chansey and Umbreon. Politoed can use its own rain to throw off powerful STAB attacks like Surf and Weather Ball, which can be powerful when used in conjunction with Choice Specs. The main limiting factor of Politoed, however, is its inability to pivot, which means it has to rely on defensive pivots like Eject Button Amoonguss, Forretress, and Jirachi to give safe entry points to the powerful wallbreakers on rain teams. Similarly, Politoed lacks reliable recovery outside of Rest and can struggle to establish rain multiple times a game against the other weather setters in the tier like Hippowdon and Torkoal.
[SET]
name: Perish Trapper
move 1: Whirlpool
move 2: Perish Song
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Encore / Earth Power
item: Damp Rock
ability: Drizzle
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Whirlpool is an effective means to trap unsuspecting checks like Chansey, Suicune, and Umbreon, enabling Perish Song to break through these defensive pieces. Ice Beam nails Grass- and Dragon-types like Amoonguss, Chesnaught, Cyclizar, and Salamence. Encore can disrupt slower Pokemon like Reuniclus and Slowbro and put a stop to offensive setup attempts from threats like Bisharp, Fezandipiti, and Mimikyu as well, though this is prediction-reliant, as they're faster than Politoed. Earth Power can be used to hit Steel-types like Hisuian Goodra, Jirachi, and Magnezone. The provided EV spread allows Politoed to outpace neutral-natured threats like the aforementioned Hisuian Goodra and Magnezone. Tera Ghost allows Politoed to function as a spinblocker against Cyclizar as well as providing a Fighting immunity to help in the matchup against faster wallbreakers like Terrakion and Galarian Zapdos.
Politoed is essentially mandatory for dedicated rain teams because of its access to Drizzle, though it can also be seen on bulky offense teams as well. Perish trapper Politoed can be quite effective in removing special walls like Chansey and Umbreon, which can enable special attacking teammates like Basculegion-F and Salamence to use the rain to the fullest. Teammates that can help these rain users, as well as Barraskewda and Overqwil, include Eject Button Amoonguss and Volt Switch Forretress, both of which can provide safe entry points for the frailer offensive options while effectively utilizing rain turns. Similarly, Kilowattrel is a fine Pokemon on rain structures, using perfectly accurate STAB Hurricane and Thunder to great effect and functioning as a Volt Switch user and Electric-immune Pokemon in one slot. Balance teams can also appreciate Perish trapper Politoed for its ability to remove difficult foes like Chansey and Umbreon, allowing teammates like Gengar and Volcanion to wallbreak more effectively. Steel-type teammates like Jirachi can benefit from rain support as well, more effectively checking powerful Fire-types like Armarouge and Entei. Rain is effective in minimizing the healing from foes that use weather-dependent recovery moves, like Synthesis Chesnaught, Moonlight Cresselia, and Morning Sun Slither Wing, making them more susceptible to being worn down.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Specs Politoed can use its rain to dish out powerful STAB attacks like Surf and Weather Ball. Rest can give Politoed a bit more longevity, allowing it to establish rain more often for its teammates. Hydro Pump and Weather Ball are powerful but less consistent STAB attacks for Politoed, offering more immediate power at the cost of accuracy and reliance on rain, respectively.
Checks and Counters
====
**Assault Vest Cyclizar**: Assault Vest Cyclizar does not take much damage from uninvested Ice Beam and can remove Politoed's Damp Rock, shortening rain turns for its teammates.
**Disruption**: Encore Jirachi and Taunt Fezandipiti can disrupt Politoed significantly, locking it into unfavorable positions and giving them momentum to set up or pivot into teammates.
**Pivots**: Perish trapper Politoed struggles with the plethora of pivots in the tier, such as Slither Wing and Galarian Zapdos, and can find it difficult to trap the Pokemon it seeks to remove.
**Water-immune Pokemon**: Water-immune Pokemon, like Gastrodon, Vaporeon, and Volcanion, can stop Whirlpool from trapping them.
**Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Basculegion-F and Gardevoir can break through Politoed before it can effectively Perish trap them.
**Opposing Weather**: Politoed lacks recovery outside of Rest, meaning it gets worn down easily and can struggle to establish rain against opposing weather setters like Hippowdon and Torkoal despite its type advantage against them. Alolan Ninetales is another weather setter that can use its faster Encore to prevent Politoed from effectively trapping it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/feen.231398/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
