qc: teachable / avocado / rakan
gp: marthaa / fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
Qwilfish's access to entry hazards such as Toxic Spikes and Spikes as well as other utility moves such as Thunder Wave, Taunt, and Haze solidifies its role as a utility Pokemon. Qwilfish's access to Intimidate and a nifty defensive typing along with an acceptable Defense stat allows it to switch into attackers such as Escavalier, Doublade, Feraligatr, Mega Glalie, and Durant and set up Spikes as they switch out. Its typing also allows Qwilfish to absorb Toxic Spikes. However, the prevalence of Ground-type attacks from common Pokemon such as Flygon and Nidoqueen lessens Qwilfish's defensive potential. Its extremely subpar Special Defense prevents it from switching into even resisted special attacks multiple times. Qwilfish's lack of reliable recovery on sets without Z-Haze lets the opposing team chip at and pressure Qwilfish very easily by stacking entry hazards and doubling into Pokemon that threaten it. Qwilfish's mediocre Speed stat prevents it from pressuring faster setup sweepers such as Kommo-o and Flygon aside from fishing for Scald burns.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Scald
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Haze
item: Rocky Helmet / Icium Z
ability: Intimidate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes allows Qwilfish to pressure switch-ins such as Mega Abomasnow and Dragalge with chip damage and also allows Pokemon such as Choice Band Zygarde-10% to secure 2HKOs against Pokemon such as Porygon2. Scald prevents Qwilfish from being completely passive, hitting targets such as Gligar and Nidoqueen on the switch and threatening physical setup sweepers such as Feraligatr with Scald burns. It also pressures some of the more offensive switch-ins such as the aforementioned Mega Abomasnow and Dragalge with a potential burn. Taunt allows Qwilfish to prevent opposing entry hazard setters such as Registeel from setting up entry hazards. It can also prevent opposing Pokemon such as Porygon2 from using status moves such as Recover and stop slower setup sweepers such as Snorlax. Haze lets Qwilfish threaten setup sweepers such as Pangoro and Bewear by resetting their boosts and allows Qwilfish to get a one-time full heal if used in conjunction with Icium Z.
Set Details
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252 HP EVs in conjunction with 112 Defense EVs and a Bold nature maximize Qwilfish's potential to set up Spikes on physical attackers. 144 Speed EVs let it outpace and use Taunt on Pokemon such as Cloyster and Bewear, and they also let Qwilfish outspeed Adamant Honchkrow. Intimidate allows Qwilfish to more easily switch into physical attackers lacking recovery such as Mega Glalie and Feraligatr. Rocky Helmet can chip down physical attackers without recovery such as Escavalier and Durant. Icium Z lets Qwilfish use Z-Haze, which gives it a one-time recovery move.
Usage Tips
========
Make sure to capitalize on Qwilfish's ability to force out physical attackers such as Doublade by setting up Spikes as they switch out. Also, use it to pivot into resisted attacks from threats such as Feraligatr and Durant. Utilize Taunt against slower utility Pokemon such as Registeel to prevent them from setting up their own entry hazards. Take advantage of the free turn given in these situations by setting up Spikes or chipping a potential switch-in. Carefully preserve Qwilfish if your team is overly weak to physical setup sweepers such as Durant and Feraligatr, as it can be worn down very quickly. Watch out for opposing entry hazard setters such as Necrozma that beat Qwilfish. If you have set up entry hazards, try to pressure hazard removers that can switch in and use Defog against Qwilfish, such as Sigilyph and Rotom-C, by doubling out into teammates that can force more switches.
Team Options
========
Mega Abomasnow is a fantastic teammate for Qwilfish, as it can double switch and destroy entry hazard removers such as the aforementioned Sigilyph and Rotom-C as well as take down other prevalent entry hazard removers like Flygon and Gligar. Mega Abomasnow and Qwilfish also have good basic defensive type synergy, being able to cover each other’s common weaknesses fairly well. Other Pokemon that can beat or cripple common Defoggers are great teammates. A good example is Rotom-C, which can cripple some Flying-type Defoggers such as Sigilyph while sharing amazing type synergy with Qwilfish, being able to switch into Ground- and Electric-type attacks for it. Offensive setup sweepers such as Feraligatr, Kommo-o, Salazzle, and Flygon all appreciate the Spikes support provided by Qwilfish. Defensive teammates such as specially defensive Mega Steelix and Wish passers like Umbreon offer amazing defensive synergy with Qwilfish, being able to switch into attacks for each other and stack entry hazards in Mega Steelix’s case. Pokemon that can secure potential 2HKOs with Spikes support such as Choice Band Zygarde-10% are great teammates. Also, Pokemon such as Life Orb Speed Boost Yanmega and Choice Scarf Gardevoir that enjoy their checks and counters being worn down by hazards make fine teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder Wave allows Qwilfish to threaten faster setup sweepers such as Kommo-o and Durant. Destiny Bond can sometimes get a surprise KO against slower Pokemon such as Cresselia but has no merit aside from that and is useless against faster offensive Pokemon. Toxic Spikes gives Qwilfish another way to pressure switch-ins but can be very hard to fit on the set and is cleared by prevalent Poison-type Pokemon in the metagame such as Nidoqueen and Salazzle. Pain Split gives Qwilfish a decent form of recovery. However, it is less reliable than Z-Haze and can be easily manipulated. Black Sludge gives Qwilfish decent recovery, but it is outclassed by other items such as Icium Z and Rocky Helmet. Qwilfish can also use Toxic to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2. Qwilfish's Speed investment is also very customizable and can be adjusted to creep faster Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-type Attacks**: Ground-types and even Ground-type attacks from Pokemon such as Zygarde-10% and Bewear pressure Qwilfish easily due to its general lack of reliable recovery.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Espeon and Cresselia outright counter Qwilfish and can KO it due to its crippling weakness to Psychic-type attacks.
**Special Attackers**: Qwilfish's low Special Defense leaves it broken easily by special attackers such as Nidoqueen and Roserade.
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