[OVERVIEW]
- With its defensive typing, immunity to Prankster effects, decent coverage and utility moves, capability to run many sets, Pursuit-trapping capability, access to priority, and a decent ability, Skuntank's presence is evident in the PU metagame.
- Thanks to its Poison/Dark typing, it gets a nice immunity to Psychic-type moves.
- In addition to the Dark-typing, it is also immune from the effects of Prankster moves like Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, and Thunder Wave. The Poison-typing also lets Skuntank absorb Toxic Spikes upon entering the field.
- Coverage moves like Fire Blast and Explosion give Skuntank more versatility and because of this, Skuntank can run a physical or a special attacking set.
- Skuntank's got access to utility moves like Taunt and Defog to give any team entry hazard support or removal.
- Skuntank stands out as the best Pursuit-trapper in PU by outclassing Pokemon like Spiritomb and Pawniard.
- Skuntank also gets blessed with a STAB priority move in Sucker Punch which lets it hit Pokemon that outspeed it.
- Aftermath is its best and only viable ability that will punish the user of a contact move that knocks Skuntank out by taking away 1/4 of their HP.
- Despite everything, Skuntank doesn't have the best bulk and can easily be worn down by moves like Mach Punch or U-turn.
- In addition to this, reliable recovery, other than Black Sludge, is not available to it.
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Rocky Helmet / Black Sludge
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Defog lets Skuntank remove all entry hazards from the field, giving it utility on more offensive teams.
- Since it's part Poison-type, it absorbs Toxic Spikes upon entering the field and this is why it's the best Defog user in PU.
- Pursuit is a move that lets Skuntank pick off those weakened Pokemon or Pokemon that are bad versus Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, which allows it to function a revenge-killer.
- Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a STAB priority move to threaten potential setup sweepers faster than it like Alolan Raichu, Dodrio, and Lycanroc.
- Crunch is an alternative to Sucker Punch that hits Pokemon like Froslass and Jellicent, but leaves it open to Pokemon that Sucker Punch would do better against.
- Poison Jab allows Skuntank to hit fellow Dark-types and Fighting-types and also checks the Grass-types of the tier like Tangela, Abomasnow, and Ludicolo.
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- Maximizing Attack and Speed let Skuntank hit as hard as possible and as fast as possible. An Adamant nature gives Skuntank a better Attack stat to hit with its STAB moves while a Jolly nature lets it outspeed Pokemon an Adamant nature won't like Absol, Hitmonchan, and Kangaskhan.
- Aftermath is the preferred ability here because it punishes the user of a contact move that knocks out Skuntank by chipping its HP by 25%.
- Rocky Helmet also gives Skuntank a way to punish contact move users. More specifically, U-turn, by chipping 1/6 of the foe's HP for each contact hit.
- Black Sludge is an alternative item to Rocky Helmet if favoring longevity for Skuntank.
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- This set for Skuntank is to be used more for utility rather than offense. Because of this, keeping Skuntank around to Defog whenever necessary will be key.
- In addition, bringing in Skuntank on Toxic Spikes to absorb them will be crucial to allow setup sweepers on its team to do their job with minimal issue.
- If running Rocky Helmet, bringing Skuntank in on known U-turn users like Mesprit are a great way to wear them down and give them less chances to do so.
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- While not its biggest issue, Mach Punch from the likes of Gurdurr and Hitmonchan can still be a problem since Skuntank gets hit neutrally by Fighting-type moves and can easily wear it down. Having a check to them like Mesprit, Silvally-Fairy, and Froslass is nice.
- Teammates that appreciate Grass-types being gone make great teammates since Skuntank checks them. Options include Mudsdale, Regirock, and Lanturn.
- Setup sweepers are great teammates since Skuntank can absorb Toxic Spikes and halt any potential poison problem. Options include Omastar, Lycanroc, and Alolan Raichu.
- Since Skuntank is not a fan of Ground-type moves, something to dispose of them is appreciated. These potential partners include Victreebel, Tangela, Ludicolo, and Rotom-Frost.
- If Skuntank is going to want to be in it for the long haul, having Wish or Healing Wish support can help. Partners include Audino, Mesprit, and Mr. Mime.
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Acid Spray
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Defog is for the removal of all entry hazards on the field. It also removes Reflect and/or Light Screen on the opponent's side.
- Acid Spray makes it easier to take down opponents with a lot of Special Defense since it lowers theirs by 2 stages. Bear in mind this will not work on Clear Body foes like Regirock or Metang.
- Dark Pulse is a nice STAB move to that hits foes like Froslass, defensive Mesprit, and Haunter. It also has a chance to make the foe flinch.
- Fire Blast is a great coverage move to hit the Steel-types that would otherwise wall it like Alolan Sandslash and Mawile.
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- Maximum EVs in Special Attack and Speed and a Timid nature allow Skuntank to go its fastest and hit its hardest.
- Aftermath is the go-to ability to punish a contact move user that would knock out Skuntank by chipping them for 1/4 of their maximum HP.
- Black Sludge gives Skuntank more longevity and is great bait for a Trick user. Darkinium Z is an alternative item that turns Dark Pulse into a one-time nuke in Black Hole Eclipse.
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- Skuntank's purpose with this set is to function as a utility attacker. Since the utility is Defog, bringing it in to remove entry hazards or opposing screens is what it should be doing.
- As an added note, bringing it in while Toxic Spikes are the field is a good idea to take less pressure off of any setup sweepers that may be on Skuntank's team.
- Since this set does have Acid Spray, using Skuntank to take out foes that are weak on Special Defense or will be after one use end up being beneficial to its team.
- Skuntank's bulk isn't the best and keeping it away from priority moves like Mach Punch and Aqua Jet is wise to keep its life long-lasting.
- This set is lacking Sucker Punch and Pursuit. Not to mention Skuntank's Special Attack only hits 241. Because of this, choosing the right attacking move becomes more of a challenge.
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- Since this variant of Skuntank can potentially struggle with special walls like Eelektross, Articuno, and Hitmonchan despite having Acid Spray, having a physical wallbreaker teammate certainly helps. Options include Kangaskhan, Stoutland, or Lycanroc.
- A teammate to deal with Ground-type Pokemon like Mudsdale, Quagsire, and Gastrodon is greatly appreciated since Skuntank hates these Pokemon. Victreebel, Tangela, Rotom-Frost, and Ludicolo work here.
- Fairy-types are also a problem since Acid Spray isn't doing much initially to them and Dark Pulse hardly does anything. Steel-types like Aggron, Alolan Sandslash, and Alolan Dugtrio work well as partners.
- An absorber of priority moves like Mach Punch and Aqua Jet like Jellicent or Qwilfish can relieve some pressure off of Skuntank and help it stay alive longer.
- Wish or Healing Wish support from the likes of Audino or Mesprit give Skuntank a second chance at doing some more utility work.
name: Choice Band
move 1: Crunch
move 2: Poison Jab
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Pursuit
item: Choice Band
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Crunch is an excellent STAB move that can break through bulky physical walls like Mesprit and Jellicent. It also is guaranteed to hit unlike Sucker Punch relying on something that isn't a status move.
- Poison Jab serves as a secondary STAB move that allows Skuntank to hit the opposing Dark-types and Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan that would otherwise wall Crunch and Sucker Punch. Poison Jab can also poison the opposing Pokemon 30% of the time and this works well on Pokemon like Regirock and Carracosta since both of them normally wall Skuntank.
- Sucker Punch is a great STAB move that allows Skuntank to revenge kill and to hit opposing Pokemon faster than it like Oricorio-E, Dodrio, and Lycanroc since all three of these Pokemon can potentially OHKO Skuntank with their respective STAB moves or Z-moves.
- Pursuit lets Skuntank pick off weakened foes or Pokemon who fear Dark-type moves like Mesprit, Froslass, or Alolan Raichu.
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- Max Attack and max Speed EVs allow Skuntank to go its fastest and deal the most damage. An Adamant nature, in tandem with the Choice Band, allows for more attack power but at the cost of being outsped by Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Jolly Kabutops which can take a big chunk of HP.
- Aftermath is the ability of choice here which punishes that one contact move that finishes Skuntank by chipping 1/4 of that user's HP.
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- Skuntank's wallbreaking skills will be on full display with this set. Ripping holes through physical walls like defensive Mesprit, Gourgeist-XL, Jellicent, and Tangela and obliterating specials ones is how it's best used.
- Being choice-locked into a move will inevitably be a problem. This will cue setup sweepers like Carracosta or Omastar to come in and possibly set up for free. This is something that must be minimized at all costs.
- While not its main job, bringing in Skuntank to absorb Toxic Spikes should be something to keep an eye on to take pressure of setup sweepers that may be on its team.
- Coming in on foes with a Prankster ability like Sableye or Volbeat should be taken with a grain of salt. Skuntank will absorb any status move that comes its way but they could end up using Knock Off or U-turn, respectively to cripple Skuntank.
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- Since Skuntank always is fearing Ground-types like Mudsdale, Golurk, and Quagsire, having something to deal with them is strongly encouraged. These options include Victreebel, Abomasnow, or Ludicolo.
- Healing Wish support from the likes of Mesprit or Mr.Mime is nice should Skuntank become burned.
- Teammates that appreciate Grass-types gone like Regirock, Aurorus, and Claydol can also fit here. These all give Skuntank Stealth Rock support to wear down foes.
- A Spikes user like Froslass or Roselia can also help out Skuntank to make its job easier.
- Priority moves like Mach Punch and Aqua Jet may end up hurting Skuntank and wear it down over time. An absorber of these moves like Jellicent, Qwilfish, or Tangela is nice to have.
- Setup sweepers like Omastar or Carracosta that can easily set up on Skuntank will take advantage of Skuntank being locked into Poison Jab or Sucker Punch. Having a teammate like Choice Scarf Manectric or Quagsire, respectively, to deal with foes like these is must.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Poison Jab
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Memento / Explosion
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Poison Jab allows Skuntank to hit opposing Dark-types, Fighting-, and Fairy-types. Poison Jab also has the nice effect of poisoning opposing foes 30% of the time and thereby crippling them.
- Crunch as a STAB move lets scarfed Skuntank hit uninvested base 110 Speed Pokemon like Dodrio, Dugtrio-A, and most importantly, Froslass. It even has a 20% chance to lower the foe's Defense by one stage.
- Pursuit is used as a means to finish off weakened foes or deal major harm to Pokemon that run at the sight of Dark-types like Choice Scarf Mesprit, wallbreaker Jellicent, or Alolan Raichu.
- Memento is a nice utility move that drops the foe's Attack and Special Attack by 2 stages at the cost of Skuntank's life. The benefit here is that it presents an opportunity to bring in a setup sweeper on Skuntank's team.
- Explosion can be used over Memento since it does the same thing but nukes the foe instead of dropping its stats.
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- Maximized Speed and Attack ensure Skuntank hits as hard as possible while going as fast as possible. If running an Adamant nature, Explosion is preferred over Memento for damage output.
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- This version of Skuntank fits best on bulky offensive or regular offensive teams needing a scarfer that have a setup sweeper so Memento or Explosion can bring them in safely.
- With the Choice Scarf, Skuntank's Speed hits 439 at best and this set allows it to outspeed and hit Pokemon like Froslass, Oricorio-E, Oricorio-G, and Silvally-Fairy.
- This is also a set that involves being choice-locked into a move. Because of this, paying close attention to any setup sweepers at team preview is key.
- Toxic Spikes being removed from the field helps out Skuntank's teammates. Especially any setup sweepers that may exist on it. Bringing in Skuntank safely to absorb them via a slow U-turn or Volt Switch will ensure Skuntank doesn't lose its Choice Scarf.
- Priority moves like Mach Punch and Aqua Jet are not Skuntank's friends. They limit Skuntank's chances of doing damage to faster foes. Avoiding Pokemon like Gurdurr, Hitmonchan, and Carracosta is crucial in that case.
- Thanks to its Dark-typing, Skuntank has nothing to fear from Prankster utility moves like Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, or Taunt. It can usually come in on users of these moves like Sableye or Volbeat, but Knock Off or U-turn can end up being a problem if predicted wrong since they can cripple Skuntank.
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- Hazard control will be a must on this team since Sticky Web is a huge problem for Choice Scarf Skuntank since it defeats the purpose of the scarf. Not to mention Stealth Rock and Spikes wear it down over time as well. Hazard removal partners that can work include Alolan Sandslash, Hitmonchan, Lurantis, and Silvally-Dragon.
- Setup sweepers that appreciate crippled foes and removal of Toxic Spikes so that they can set up make excellent partners. Options include Carracosta, Alolan Raichu, or Pinsir.
- Something that can deal with Ground-types for Skuntank like Tangela, Rotom-Frost, or Ludicolo make great teammates to take more pressure off of it.
- Entry hazard setters can make Skuntank's job less stressful in taking down foes. Pokemon like Froslass, Qwilfish, Regirock, or Mudsdale work well here.
- Lastly, Healing Wish or Wish support from Mesprit or Audino can keep Skuntank healthy and give it more chances to outspeed other nuisances.
Other Options
=============
- Since Skuntank has a decent Speed tier, Taunt is an option to run on one of the Defog sets as a means of preventing entry hazards, utility moves, and set up moves. But since Skuntank has Defog for any hazards, absorbs Toxic Spikes, and has Sucker Punch for faster foes, it's not used so much. Taunt is better left used by Pokemon like Froslass, Sableye, or Qwilfish.
- Toxic is also another option to use in any of the sets. However, given that Skuntank itself is part Poison-type, it immediately lures other Poison-types and Steel-types and can end up wasting a turn.
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**Dark-types**: Skuntank's other Dark-type brethren like Alolan Persian, Sableye, Guzzlord, and Spiritomb all have no problem coming in on it due to that fact that they can eat up whatever move Skuntank throws at them. They all have to be mindful of a potential poisoning, however.
**Ground-types**: The Ground-types of the tier like Mudsdale, Golurk, Quagsire, Gastrodon, and Alolan Dugtrio all have nothing to fear from Skuntank and can easily come in on it. Golurk has to be wary of Crunch or Dark Pulse though.
**Steel-types**: If not running the Special Defog set, Steel-types practically wall Skuntank with their bulk. So, Pokemon like Aggron, Mawile, and Alolan Sandslash can all run rampant.
**Priority**: Moves like Mach Punch and Aqua Jet can easily wear down Skuntank over time and, if not checked, could end up being its downfall. Users of those moves need to be mindful of Aftermath and/or Rocky Helmet damage though.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Oathkeepre, 83980]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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