Taken over from 0kay
Permission from Nayrz to take this over.
qc: Nayrz / Hack / Dominatio
gp: Fireflame479 [OVERVIEW]
* Shuckle provides incredible support for your team in aiding sweeps with Sticky Web and Encore; the former of which is an incredible tool that is great against opposing offensive styles.
* Shuckle's ability Sturdy allows it to always live a hit, ensuring it gets up entry hazards more often than not.
* However, despite Shuckle's great defenses, it has horrible HP, so it won't take hits as well as most battlers think.
* Shuckle also has to compete with Smeargle as a lead, since it also gets the same hazards as well as Magic Coat and Taunt.
* Shuckle struggles against Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye, as it is unable to set hazards against them.
* Even if Sticky Web is on the field, Flying-types and Levitate users trouble Shuckle greatly due to not being affected by Sticky Web.
* Finally, Sticky Web teams are very weak to stall teams, as most of the strong attackers on Sticky Web teams rely on the opponent using frailer and faster threats rather than slower and bulkier Pokemon that can absorb damage and recover.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Rock Tomb
move 3: Encore
move 4: Toxic
item: Mental Herb
ability: Sturdy
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
==============
* Sticky Web slows down foes and gives Shuckle an amazing anti-offense tool.
* Rock Tomb is a great tool that allows Shuckle to slow down opposing Flying-type Pokemon, giving your teammates more chances to revenge kill them.
* Encore locks the foe into their own entry hazard or status moves so that Shuckle has as many turns as possible to set up its own hazards, cripple the foe, or allow one of its teammates to switch in.
* Toxic is used to help wear down foes, especially setup sweepers, and can generally be thrown off once Shuckle has used Encore.
Set Details
==============
* Mental Herb is necessary, since most leads will generally use Taunt against Shuckle first to prevent entry hazards from going on the field.
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment is used so Shuckle is not 2HKOed by Yveltal's Dark Pulse and can try and not get flinched.
* Sturdy ensures Shuckle survives any hit that would otherwise OHKO it, allowing it to set up entry hazards.
Usage Tips
==============
* Shuckle should start off by leading and getting up Sticky Web almost every game.
* However, do not lead with Shuckle against Excadrill or stall teams, as its efforts to get up entry hazards will by cleanly stopped by Excadrill's Rapid Spin and Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce.
* Sticky Web is what Shuckle is primarily used for, so you must be able to keep it up.
* On a predicted Rapid Spin, switch into a Ghost-type so that Sticky Web remains on the field. Similarly, you should use hard hitters to apply pressure to the opponent's Defog user.
* Use Encore on setup Pokemon, and then take advantage of them by getting up hazards.
Team Options
==============
* Mega Lucario appreciates Sticky Web due to its lackluster Speed tier and amazing offensive prowess. Primal Groudon also appreciates Sticky Web, as it can fire off Eruptions or possibly utilize a powerful Swords Dance attacking set; Primal Groudon is also a good Stealth Rock user.
* Xerneas and other Fairy-types are able to threaten out Mega Sableye, which is a huge nuisance to Shuckle, as it stops Shuckle from getting up entry hazards. Arceus-Fairy in particular is very important to help check Mega Salamence and Yveltal while also pressuring opposing Pokemon that can threaten hazards, such as Mega Sableye and Giratina-O.
* Extreme Killer Arceus is a classic late-game sweeper that can do its job even without Sticky Web on the field. This can serve an important role, as it can be hard to keep Sticky Web on the field at all times.
* Landorus-T is a good Stealth Rock user that also takes advantage of Sticky Web, allowing itself to run an Adamant nature. It can also use Explosion to prevent Defog and thus keep hazards on the field. With Sticky Web, it can outspeed support Arceus formes and KO them with a boosted Supersonic Skystrike
* Yveltal hits the foe extremely hard with its STAB moves and is a useful Ghost-resistant Pokemon that can prevent Defog with Taunt.
* Mega Gengar is a great spinblocker that can also stop Defog by using Taunt; it also provides a huge offensive presence and can trap threats to help its teammates.
* Arceus-Ghost prevents Rapid Spin so that Shuckle is able to keep Sticky Web on the field.
* Rayquaza is able to decimate opposing teams with Sticky Web up and with the right coverage moves.
* Lunala is another Ghost-type that prevents Rapid Spin and is able to hit hard with Choice Specs or set up with Calm Mind.
* Arceus-Ground is a powerful attacker that helps deal with prominent threats such as Primal Groudon and Mega Salamence while also adding another possible setup sweeper to the team; it also benefits from Sticky Web.
* Solgaleo is an important secondary Xerneas check that can hit ridiculously hard if it's using a Z-Splash set. With Sticky Web up, Solgaleo is very hard to revenge kill, and it is also able to OHKO every Defogger after the +3 boost with Stealth Rock on the field.
* Palkia with Z-Heal Block is a hard hitter that can sweep the opponent once Sticky Web is on the field.
* Choice Specs Kyurem-W is a huge threat that the foe will have a hard time maneuvering around, and it appreciates Sticky Web to destroy the opposition.
* Zekrom is useful because it can take advantage of a Dragonium Z set to decimate the opponent's bulkier Pokemon that can stop Shuckle cold.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
==============
* More Defense investment over Special Defense helps Shuckle live more hits against physical attackers such as Primal Groudon.
* Lum Berry allows Shuckle to prevent being put to sleep, but it then loses to Taunt.
* Rest + Chesto Berry lets Shuckle live for a longer period of time while also avoiding the threat of opposing sleep inducers. However, just like Lum Berry, Shuckle may lose to Taunt users.
* Infestation prevents opposing leads from switching around and cripplies those that stay in to status Shuckle.
Checks and Counters
==============
**Mega Sableye**: Thanks to Magic Bounce, Mega Sableye can block Sticky Web from being set up, and it is unaffected by Shuckle's other status moves, making it useless.
**Rapid Spin**: Excadrill and Cloyster can set up their own Stealth Rock and spin away Shuckle's Sticky Web. Pheromosa is also a nuisance, as it can also spin away Shuckle's hazards while being a huge offensive threat.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar can trap, use Taunt against, set up Substitutes on, and stall Shuckle until it eventually faints.
**Magic Coat Users**: Magic Coat users are similar to Mega Sableye in that they are unaffected by Shuckle's status moves. This makes Shuckle setup fodder and forced to rely on a weak Rock Tomb.
**Sleep**: Sleep-inducing move users like Xurkitree stop Shuckle from getting up entry hazards completely if they get the right number of sleep turns. However, this is only if Shuckle isn't running Lum Berry.
Permission from Nayrz to take this over.
qc: Nayrz / Hack / Dominatio
gp: Fireflame479
* Shuckle provides incredible support for your team in aiding sweeps with Sticky Web and Encore; the former of which is an incredible tool that is great against opposing offensive styles.
* Shuckle's ability Sturdy allows it to always live a hit, ensuring it gets up entry hazards more often than not.
* However, despite Shuckle's great defenses, it has horrible HP, so it won't take hits as well as most battlers think.
* Shuckle also has to compete with Smeargle as a lead, since it also gets the same hazards as well as Magic Coat and Taunt.
* Shuckle struggles against Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye, as it is unable to set hazards against them.
* Even if Sticky Web is on the field, Flying-types and Levitate users trouble Shuckle greatly due to not being affected by Sticky Web.
* Finally, Sticky Web teams are very weak to stall teams, as most of the strong attackers on Sticky Web teams rely on the opponent using frailer and faster threats rather than slower and bulkier Pokemon that can absorb damage and recover.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Rock Tomb
move 3: Encore
move 4: Toxic
item: Mental Herb
ability: Sturdy
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
==============
* Sticky Web slows down foes and gives Shuckle an amazing anti-offense tool.
* Rock Tomb is a great tool that allows Shuckle to slow down opposing Flying-type Pokemon, giving your teammates more chances to revenge kill them.
* Encore locks the foe into their own entry hazard or status moves so that Shuckle has as many turns as possible to set up its own hazards, cripple the foe, or allow one of its teammates to switch in.
* Toxic is used to help wear down foes, especially setup sweepers, and can generally be thrown off once Shuckle has used Encore.
Set Details
==============
* Mental Herb is necessary, since most leads will generally use Taunt against Shuckle first to prevent entry hazards from going on the field.
* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment is used so Shuckle is not 2HKOed by Yveltal's Dark Pulse and can try and not get flinched.
* Sturdy ensures Shuckle survives any hit that would otherwise OHKO it, allowing it to set up entry hazards.
Usage Tips
==============
* Shuckle should start off by leading and getting up Sticky Web almost every game.
* However, do not lead with Shuckle against Excadrill or stall teams, as its efforts to get up entry hazards will by cleanly stopped by Excadrill's Rapid Spin and Mega Sableye's Magic Bounce.
* Sticky Web is what Shuckle is primarily used for, so you must be able to keep it up.
* On a predicted Rapid Spin, switch into a Ghost-type so that Sticky Web remains on the field. Similarly, you should use hard hitters to apply pressure to the opponent's Defog user.
* Use Encore on setup Pokemon, and then take advantage of them by getting up hazards.
Team Options
==============
* Mega Lucario appreciates Sticky Web due to its lackluster Speed tier and amazing offensive prowess. Primal Groudon also appreciates Sticky Web, as it can fire off Eruptions or possibly utilize a powerful Swords Dance attacking set; Primal Groudon is also a good Stealth Rock user.
* Xerneas and other Fairy-types are able to threaten out Mega Sableye, which is a huge nuisance to Shuckle, as it stops Shuckle from getting up entry hazards. Arceus-Fairy in particular is very important to help check Mega Salamence and Yveltal while also pressuring opposing Pokemon that can threaten hazards, such as Mega Sableye and Giratina-O.
* Extreme Killer Arceus is a classic late-game sweeper that can do its job even without Sticky Web on the field. This can serve an important role, as it can be hard to keep Sticky Web on the field at all times.
* Landorus-T is a good Stealth Rock user that also takes advantage of Sticky Web, allowing itself to run an Adamant nature. It can also use Explosion to prevent Defog and thus keep hazards on the field. With Sticky Web, it can outspeed support Arceus formes and KO them with a boosted Supersonic Skystrike
* Yveltal hits the foe extremely hard with its STAB moves and is a useful Ghost-resistant Pokemon that can prevent Defog with Taunt.
* Mega Gengar is a great spinblocker that can also stop Defog by using Taunt; it also provides a huge offensive presence and can trap threats to help its teammates.
* Arceus-Ghost prevents Rapid Spin so that Shuckle is able to keep Sticky Web on the field.
* Rayquaza is able to decimate opposing teams with Sticky Web up and with the right coverage moves.
* Lunala is another Ghost-type that prevents Rapid Spin and is able to hit hard with Choice Specs or set up with Calm Mind.
* Arceus-Ground is a powerful attacker that helps deal with prominent threats such as Primal Groudon and Mega Salamence while also adding another possible setup sweeper to the team; it also benefits from Sticky Web.
* Solgaleo is an important secondary Xerneas check that can hit ridiculously hard if it's using a Z-Splash set. With Sticky Web up, Solgaleo is very hard to revenge kill, and it is also able to OHKO every Defogger after the +3 boost with Stealth Rock on the field.
* Palkia with Z-Heal Block is a hard hitter that can sweep the opponent once Sticky Web is on the field.
* Choice Specs Kyurem-W is a huge threat that the foe will have a hard time maneuvering around, and it appreciates Sticky Web to destroy the opposition.
* Zekrom is useful because it can take advantage of a Dragonium Z set to decimate the opponent's bulkier Pokemon that can stop Shuckle cold.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
==============
* More Defense investment over Special Defense helps Shuckle live more hits against physical attackers such as Primal Groudon.
* Lum Berry allows Shuckle to prevent being put to sleep, but it then loses to Taunt.
* Rest + Chesto Berry lets Shuckle live for a longer period of time while also avoiding the threat of opposing sleep inducers. However, just like Lum Berry, Shuckle may lose to Taunt users.
* Infestation prevents opposing leads from switching around and cripplies those that stay in to status Shuckle.
Checks and Counters
==============
**Mega Sableye**: Thanks to Magic Bounce, Mega Sableye can block Sticky Web from being set up, and it is unaffected by Shuckle's other status moves, making it useless.
**Rapid Spin**: Excadrill and Cloyster can set up their own Stealth Rock and spin away Shuckle's Sticky Web. Pheromosa is also a nuisance, as it can also spin away Shuckle's hazards while being a huge offensive threat.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar can trap, use Taunt against, set up Substitutes on, and stall Shuckle until it eventually faints.
**Magic Coat Users**: Magic Coat users are similar to Mega Sableye in that they are unaffected by Shuckle's status moves. This makes Shuckle setup fodder and forced to rely on a weak Rock Tomb.
**Sleep**: Sleep-inducing move users like Xurkitree stop Shuckle from getting up entry hazards completely if they get the right number of sleep turns. However, this is only if Shuckle isn't running Lum Berry.
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