QC: Raiza / Magnemite / Anty
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
========
Relicanth has a decent niche in PU both with access to a recoiless Head Smash and as a very potent rain lead. It also has sufficient coverage moves to hit Pokemon that resist Head Smash. Despite this, Relicanth does face a lot of competition for a teamslot from other Water-types such as Carracosta and Poliwrath; however, it is an amazing Choice Band wallbreaker. Relicanth's low base Speed also hinders its ability to function, combined with a 4x weakness to Grass as well as weaknesses to Electric, Ground, and Fighting, but in turn it can switch into Normal- and Flying-type attacks with relative ease and either retaliate with a powerful attack or get up a well-ended Rain Dance.
[SET]
Choice Band
========
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is Relicanth's main STAB move and most spammable move. Waterfall is used for Pokemon that resist Rock, such as Probopass and Pawniard. Relicanth uses Zen Headbutt for Fighting-types, especially Poliwrath. Double-Edge is used for neutral coverage and safe middle plays.
Set Details
========
Relicanth uses maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band for immense wallbreaking power. An Adamant nature still allows Relicanth to outspeed common walls and hit them hard, making Relicanth an efficient wallbreaker. Maximum Speed investment is used to outrun most walls in the tier such as Lickilicky, Misdreavus, and Golem. The ability Rock Head is used so Relicanth doesn't take recoil from Head Smash.
Usage Tips
========
You want Relicanth to come in on a Pokemon it can easily take hits from, such as Dodrio, Lickilicky, Avalugg, or Armaldo. Also be wary of potential switch-ins because being locked in the wrong move is terrible. It's almost never a bad idea to just click Head Smash, though. It's Relicanth's strongest move, and coming off base 90 Attack with full investment and an Adamant nature, it will hurt everything that wants to switch in very hard; even more offensive variants of Poliwrath take almost half. You really want to switch Relicanth out when a threat comes in to resume wallbreaking later.
Team Options
========
Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-types such as Dodrio, Ninetales, and Regice can defeat Grass-types, especially Tangela, which give Relicanth problems. Relicanth should be used in conjunction with Pokemon that can defeat bulky Fighting-types. Flying-types such as Jumpluff and Dodrio do this especially well. Bulky Grass-types such as Tangela and Gogoat can also defeat Poliwrath. Relicanth appreciates Ground-types such as Piloswine and Stunfisk, as they can switch in against the Electric-types that check Relicanth. It also enjoys having entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes to limit and pressure switch-ins and gain KOs. Sticky Web and Thunder Wave support can slow down the opposition so that Relicanth can nuke things late-game. Relicanth can also provide some vital support by checking common Rock-, Steel-, and Ground such as Armaldo, Probopass, Pawniard, and Marowak, and it can break physical walls for sweepers such as Leafeon.
[SET]
Rain Lead
========
name: Rain Lead
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Head Smash
move 4: Waterfall / Yawn
item: Damp Rock
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Relicanth uses Rain Dance to set up rain for the team, boosting the power of Water-type moves and speeding up Swift Swim Pokemon. Stealth Rock helps check many threats in the tier that would otherwise be even harder to deal with and can secure KOs for your team. Head Smash is Relicanth's main form of damage output and has the added benefit of preventing slower entry hazard removers from removing Stealth Rock, as its recoil can KO by KOing Relicanth so that Rapid Spin and Defog have no target. Similarly, it also functions as a way to get your rain sweeper in quickly and without taking unnecessary damage. Waterfall hits common leads such as Golem hard. Another option in place of Waterfall is Yawn, which can create free turns for Relicanth or its teammates to set up.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment is used for maximum damage output. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Relicanth to outspeed more Pokemon, such as Adamant Torterra, and thus gives it a higher chance to set up both Rain Dance and Stealth Rock. Relicanth utilizes Sturdy over Rock Head to virtually guarantee at least one of Rain Dance and Stealth Rock. Damp Rock is used for extra rain turns, which is vital for rain teams.
Usage Tips
========
This is a dedicated lead, so more often than not you want to lead with it, unless you see a foe like Torterra, which commonly carries Bullet Seed. Don't be afraid to sacrifice Relicanth; this set is meant to faint and as long as it has done its job it doesn't matter if it faints. Setting up rain is Relicanth's first priority over setting up Stealth Rock. Be wary against possible Taunt users and foes that can bypass Relicanth's Sturdy and limit its effectiveness.
Team Options
========
Relicanth only works on full rain teams, featuring Swift Swim Pokemon such as Armaldo, Poliwrath, Golduck, Floatzel, and Carracosta. Rain teams play offense at all times, and they normally appreciate a Grass-type Pokemon, as these have very good synergy with rain; examples include Leafeon, Jumpluff, Gogoat, and Sawsbuck. Rain can also make Fire-types less useful, giving the Grass-types an easier time to do their job. Additional rain setters such as Volbeat are essential for rain teams. On teams with lead Relicanth you also might want an Electric-type such as Zebstrika or Raichu to capitalize on the rain with a perfectly accurate Thunder. Swanna can also be very effective on rain teams as a Grass-type check for perfectly accurate Hurricanes.
Other Options
========
An offensive Stealth Rock set can be viable, as it forces so many switches with the threat of Head Smash. A Rock Polish set with Life Orb can be good if Relicanth can find a turn to come in and set up. A Swift Swim setcan work as a rain abuser, patching up its mediocre Speed and turning it into a powerful cleaner. It faces competition from Armaldo, however, which can even run Rapid Spin to give it more valuable assets over Relicanth.
Checks & Counters
========
**Grass-types**: Tangela can switch in on Relicanth and switch out if needed while recovering HP with its ability Regenerator, Torterra can easily take Relicanth's main move and KO it easily, and Quilladin can take a Head Smash and Double-Edge and do major damage with Seed Bomb against Relicanth.
**Faster Pokemon**: Raichu and Rotom-F can revenge kill Relicanth with Thunderbolt, Leafeon can revenge kill it with Leaf Blade, and Zebstrika can revenge kill it too. They can also prevent the rain lead set from setting up Stealth Rock or Rain Dance.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Poliwrath and Machoke can stop Relicanth from spamming its Head Smash with impunity.
**Burn**: Burn halves Relicanth's Attack and whittles at its HP every turn, putting it in KO range of special attacks, which already give it trouble. Burn can be inflicted on it by Misdreavus, Solrock, and Scald users.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
========
Relicanth has a decent niche in PU both with access to a recoiless Head Smash and as a very potent rain lead. It also has sufficient coverage moves to hit Pokemon that resist Head Smash. Despite this, Relicanth does face a lot of competition for a teamslot from other Water-types such as Carracosta and Poliwrath; however, it is an amazing Choice Band wallbreaker. Relicanth's low base Speed also hinders its ability to function, combined with a 4x weakness to Grass as well as weaknesses to Electric, Ground, and Fighting, but in turn it can switch into Normal- and Flying-type attacks with relative ease and either retaliate with a powerful attack or get up a well-ended Rain Dance.
[SET]
Choice Band
========
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is Relicanth's main STAB move and most spammable move. Waterfall is used for Pokemon that resist Rock, such as Probopass and Pawniard. Relicanth uses Zen Headbutt for Fighting-types, especially Poliwrath. Double-Edge is used for neutral coverage and safe middle plays.
Set Details
========
Relicanth uses maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band for immense wallbreaking power. An Adamant nature still allows Relicanth to outspeed common walls and hit them hard, making Relicanth an efficient wallbreaker. Maximum Speed investment is used to outrun most walls in the tier such as Lickilicky, Misdreavus, and Golem. The ability Rock Head is used so Relicanth doesn't take recoil from Head Smash.
Usage Tips
========
You want Relicanth to come in on a Pokemon it can easily take hits from, such as Dodrio, Lickilicky, Avalugg, or Armaldo. Also be wary of potential switch-ins because being locked in the wrong move is terrible. It's almost never a bad idea to just click Head Smash, though. It's Relicanth's strongest move, and coming off base 90 Attack with full investment and an Adamant nature, it will hurt everything that wants to switch in very hard; even more offensive variants of Poliwrath take almost half. You really want to switch Relicanth out when a threat comes in to resume wallbreaking later.
Team Options
========
Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-types such as Dodrio, Ninetales, and Regice can defeat Grass-types, especially Tangela, which give Relicanth problems. Relicanth should be used in conjunction with Pokemon that can defeat bulky Fighting-types. Flying-types such as Jumpluff and Dodrio do this especially well. Bulky Grass-types such as Tangela and Gogoat can also defeat Poliwrath. Relicanth appreciates Ground-types such as Piloswine and Stunfisk, as they can switch in against the Electric-types that check Relicanth. It also enjoys having entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes to limit and pressure switch-ins and gain KOs. Sticky Web and Thunder Wave support can slow down the opposition so that Relicanth can nuke things late-game. Relicanth can also provide some vital support by checking common Rock-, Steel-, and Ground such as Armaldo, Probopass, Pawniard, and Marowak, and it can break physical walls for sweepers such as Leafeon.
[SET]
Rain Lead
========
name: Rain Lead
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Head Smash
move 4: Waterfall / Yawn
item: Damp Rock
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Relicanth uses Rain Dance to set up rain for the team, boosting the power of Water-type moves and speeding up Swift Swim Pokemon. Stealth Rock helps check many threats in the tier that would otherwise be even harder to deal with and can secure KOs for your team. Head Smash is Relicanth's main form of damage output and has the added benefit of preventing slower entry hazard removers from removing Stealth Rock, as its recoil can KO by KOing Relicanth so that Rapid Spin and Defog have no target. Similarly, it also functions as a way to get your rain sweeper in quickly and without taking unnecessary damage. Waterfall hits common leads such as Golem hard. Another option in place of Waterfall is Yawn, which can create free turns for Relicanth or its teammates to set up.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment is used for maximum damage output. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Relicanth to outspeed more Pokemon, such as Adamant Torterra, and thus gives it a higher chance to set up both Rain Dance and Stealth Rock. Relicanth utilizes Sturdy over Rock Head to virtually guarantee at least one of Rain Dance and Stealth Rock. Damp Rock is used for extra rain turns, which is vital for rain teams.
Usage Tips
========
This is a dedicated lead, so more often than not you want to lead with it, unless you see a foe like Torterra, which commonly carries Bullet Seed. Don't be afraid to sacrifice Relicanth; this set is meant to faint and as long as it has done its job it doesn't matter if it faints. Setting up rain is Relicanth's first priority over setting up Stealth Rock. Be wary against possible Taunt users and foes that can bypass Relicanth's Sturdy and limit its effectiveness.
Team Options
========
Relicanth only works on full rain teams, featuring Swift Swim Pokemon such as Armaldo, Poliwrath, Golduck, Floatzel, and Carracosta. Rain teams play offense at all times, and they normally appreciate a Grass-type Pokemon, as these have very good synergy with rain; examples include Leafeon, Jumpluff, Gogoat, and Sawsbuck. Rain can also make Fire-types less useful, giving the Grass-types an easier time to do their job. Additional rain setters such as Volbeat are essential for rain teams. On teams with lead Relicanth you also might want an Electric-type such as Zebstrika or Raichu to capitalize on the rain with a perfectly accurate Thunder. Swanna can also be very effective on rain teams as a Grass-type check for perfectly accurate Hurricanes.
Other Options
========
An offensive Stealth Rock set can be viable, as it forces so many switches with the threat of Head Smash. A Rock Polish set with Life Orb can be good if Relicanth can find a turn to come in and set up. A Swift Swim setcan work as a rain abuser, patching up its mediocre Speed and turning it into a powerful cleaner. It faces competition from Armaldo, however, which can even run Rapid Spin to give it more valuable assets over Relicanth.
Checks & Counters
========
**Grass-types**: Tangela can switch in on Relicanth and switch out if needed while recovering HP with its ability Regenerator, Torterra can easily take Relicanth's main move and KO it easily, and Quilladin can take a Head Smash and Double-Edge and do major damage with Seed Bomb against Relicanth.
**Faster Pokemon**: Raichu and Rotom-F can revenge kill Relicanth with Thunderbolt, Leafeon can revenge kill it with Leaf Blade, and Zebstrika can revenge kill it too. They can also prevent the rain lead set from setting up Stealth Rock or Rain Dance.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Poliwrath and Machoke can stop Relicanth from spamming its Head Smash with impunity.
**Burn**: Burn halves Relicanth's Attack and whittles at its HP every turn, putting it in KO range of special attacks, which already give it trouble. Burn can be inflicted on it by Misdreavus, Solrock, and Scald users.
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