[OVERVIEW]
Omastar is a threatening offensive lead that is able to punish opposing leads in Archeops, Steelix, and Garbodor with powerful STAB Water-type attacks. Omastar gets access to multiple forms of entry hazards in Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock. Its ability Weak Armor lets it outspeed almost any Pokemon in the metagame after a physical hit, allowing it to get off additional entry hazards or dish out damage with Surf or Scald. However, below-average HP and Special Defense along with weaknesses to common Grass- and Fighting-type moves force Omastar to use Focus Sash. Omastar can function as a setup sweeper thanks to Shell Smash but faces stiff competition with Barbaracle, which has better coverage options. Omastar's Swift Swim sets also leave much to be desired, as Kabutops and Ludicolo combined have much better offensive capabilities and synergy than what Omastar has to offer. Omastar also faces competition from other leads and hazard stackers such as Archeops, Qwilfish, and Garbodor, as they all have something to offer over Omastar in the form of greater Speed, access to Taunt, or better defensive capabilities.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Surf / Scald
move 4: Shell Smash
item: Focus Sash
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is the most vital entry hazard and heavily damages common hazard removers in Golbat and Cryogonal. Spikes gives Omastar the ability to stack entry hazards to quickly whittle the opponent's Pokemon down for fast attackers to finish them off. Surf is the preferred STAB move for its ability to OHKO Xatu at +2. Scald can be used for its chance to burn opposing leads such as Archeops, bypassing their Focus Sashes and allowing Omastar to beat them. Hydro Pump can be used for more firepower and to OHKO Hitmontop after a Shell Smash, but lacks the accuracy to be consistent as well as a chance to burn the target. Shell Smash is used to let Omastar beat hazard removers before they can do their job. At +2, Omastar can OHKO Xatu, 2HKO physically defensive Golbat, and 2HKO Cryogonal with Surf. Ice Beam can be used over Spikes, as a +2 Ice Beam can OHKO any Grass-type bar Virizion and can 2HKO specially defensive Golbat. Toxic Spikes can also be used over Spikes to give Omastar a major advantage against bulkier setup sweepers such as Meloetta.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature and 252 Speed and Special Attack EVs maximize Omastar's offense and Speed. Weak Armor, once activated, lets Timid Omastar outspeed Accelgor, Choice Scarf Hitmonlee, and Rotom-C. Focus Sash gives Omastar the ability to survive any one attack, including Fighting-type moves and special attacks from strong pivots such as Rotom-C, and therefore set up more entry hazards or get off an additional attack if the opposing Pokemon doesn't have a priority move to finish it off.
Usage Tips
========
Lead with Omastar when there are no Pokemon that can disrupt or prevent its setup, such as Encore Whimsicott, Sleep Powder users like Lilligant and Vivillon, and Trick Choice Scarf Rotom-C. Other Pokemon such as Cinccino, which can OHKO Omastar despite Focus Sash, must also be accounted for. If Xatu or an entry hazard remover such as Hitmonlee or Golbat is on the opponent's team, you can instantly apply pressure by either setting up an entry hazard against a hazard remover or attempting to lure these Pokemon out by setting up entry hazards and then using Shell Smash on the switch, giving Omastar the offensive capacity to OHKO them. Ideal Pokemon to set hazards against are physical attackers such as Drapion, Sneasel, and Emboar. Using Volt Switch or U-turn from teammates can give Omastar an easier time getting opportunities to set up entry hazards. Once the needed amount of entry hazards has been set, focusing on keeping hazards up is of the utmost importance. If the pressure needed to preserve Omastar's hazards can be kept up, checks to your Pokemon will be worn down to the point where they can no longer consistently wall your Pokemon's attacks.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that punish or prevent entry hazard removal, such as Braviary to punish Defog and a Ghost-type like Spiritomb or Mismagius to prevent Rapid Spin, are the most recommendable partners for Omastar. Many Pokemon that are immune to or resist Water-type moves, such as Seismitoad, Vaporeon, Toxicroak, Liligant, and Virizion, can check or set up on Omastar. Because of this, using fast and powerful attackers such as Rotom-C, Sceptile, and Meloetta is helpful to easily threaten to OHKO these Pokemon. Meloetta and Rotom-C in particular are exceptionally helpful because of their ability to pivot, and they take major advantage of having their answers whittled down by Omastar's entry hazards. Other offensive threats that take advantage of Omastar’s entry hazard stacking, such as Sneasel, Emboar, and setup sweepers like Houndoom and Delphox, can become serious problems to the opponent once more than one form of entry hazard has been placed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off can be used to remove opposing Pokemon's valuable items such as Golbat's Eviolite and Slowking's Assault Vest, but this wastes a valuable turn Omastar could have used to set an entry hazard, and Knock Off takes up a moveslot needed to boost Omastar's offensive presence with Shell Smash or Ice Beam. A defensive entry hazard setter set with Shuca Berry and Shell Armor is an option, as this set gives Omastar the capacity to switch into physical attackers like Drapion and Rhydon and set entry hazards while threatening to burn them with Scald. However, this is typically done better by bulkier entry hazard setters such as Qwilfish, Garbodor, Steelix, and Rhydon, which generally have more things to switch into. An offensively oriented Shell Smash set can be put to good use but is generally done better by Barbaracle. A Swift Swim sweeper set with Life Orb can be used but generally isn't recommended thanks to common Snow Warning users, multiple popular switch-ins to Water-type attacks, and the more preferred duo of Kabutops and Ludicolo, which do anything this set tries to achieve more effectively.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: Grass-types such as Virizion, Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Rotom-C have an easy time getting around Omastar thanks to their resistance to Water and 4x super effective STAB moves. Trick Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Encore Whimsicott, and Sleep Powder Lilligant in particular are worrisome because they can disrupt Omastar's capacity to set up a Shell Smash or entry hazards. Any of the above do need to beware of Ice Beam, as it could do heavy damage to them.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Common Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hitmonlee, Virizion, Toxicroak, and Machamp all have advantages against Omastar. Hitmonlee and Hitmontop hit Omastar with super effective STAB attacks and can finish it off with Rapid Spin while removing its set entry hazards. Virizion and Toxicroak use Omastar as setup bait, and Machamp can activate Guts by forcing Omastar to use its Focus Sash only to finish it off with Bullet Punch. Bar Virizion and Toxicroak, however, these Fighting-types can't reliably switch into Omastar without risking a Shell Smash and taking a boosted Surf.
**Electric-type Pokemon**: In addition to Rotom-C, other Electric-types such as Rotom, Vikavolt, Lanturn, and Alolan Raichu can use Volt Switch to bring Omastar down to its Focus Sash while pivoting into an entry hazard remover. Choice Scarf Rotom can even outspeed +2 Omastar.
**Entry Hazard Removers**: The aforementioned Hitmonlee and Hitmontop are able to remove Omastar's entry hazards as well as threaten to take it out at the same time. Cryogonal does this even better by also having reliable recovery, great Special Defense to reliably take Surf, and Freeze-Dry to take Omastar down to its Focus Sash. Specially defensive Golbat is able to come in on Omastar's attacks and remove stacked entry hazards safely. In addition, If Golbat is using a faster set with Taunt, it shuts down almost anything Omastar can do against it.
**Xatu**: Xatu is the tier's best entry hazard preventer thanks to Magic Bounce bouncing back any entry hazards. Xatu also has a solid Speed tier and can pressure Omastar with Grass Knot and Thunder Wave. However, Xatu can't reliably switch into Omastar without risking it using Shell Smash, after which Surf OHKOes Xatu. This makes it very hard for Xatu to check Omastar.
**Cinccino**: While not the most common, Cinccino deserves a special mention thanks to Skill Link and Bullet Seed giving it the unique ability to KO Omastar in one turn even with its Focus Sash intact. It must watch out, however, as its below average defenses mean it can't switch into even unboosted attacks from Omastar without taking heavy damage.
Omastar is a threatening offensive lead that is able to punish opposing leads in Archeops, Steelix, and Garbodor with powerful STAB Water-type attacks. Omastar gets access to multiple forms of entry hazards in Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock. Its ability Weak Armor lets it outspeed almost any Pokemon in the metagame after a physical hit, allowing it to get off additional entry hazards or dish out damage with Surf or Scald. However, below-average HP and Special Defense along with weaknesses to common Grass- and Fighting-type moves force Omastar to use Focus Sash. Omastar can function as a setup sweeper thanks to Shell Smash but faces stiff competition with Barbaracle, which has better coverage options. Omastar's Swift Swim sets also leave much to be desired, as Kabutops and Ludicolo combined have much better offensive capabilities and synergy than what Omastar has to offer. Omastar also faces competition from other leads and hazard stackers such as Archeops, Qwilfish, and Garbodor, as they all have something to offer over Omastar in the form of greater Speed, access to Taunt, or better defensive capabilities.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Spikes
move 3: Surf / Scald
move 4: Shell Smash
item: Focus Sash
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is the most vital entry hazard and heavily damages common hazard removers in Golbat and Cryogonal. Spikes gives Omastar the ability to stack entry hazards to quickly whittle the opponent's Pokemon down for fast attackers to finish them off. Surf is the preferred STAB move for its ability to OHKO Xatu at +2. Scald can be used for its chance to burn opposing leads such as Archeops, bypassing their Focus Sashes and allowing Omastar to beat them. Hydro Pump can be used for more firepower and to OHKO Hitmontop after a Shell Smash, but lacks the accuracy to be consistent as well as a chance to burn the target. Shell Smash is used to let Omastar beat hazard removers before they can do their job. At +2, Omastar can OHKO Xatu, 2HKO physically defensive Golbat, and 2HKO Cryogonal with Surf. Ice Beam can be used over Spikes, as a +2 Ice Beam can OHKO any Grass-type bar Virizion and can 2HKO specially defensive Golbat. Toxic Spikes can also be used over Spikes to give Omastar a major advantage against bulkier setup sweepers such as Meloetta.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature and 252 Speed and Special Attack EVs maximize Omastar's offense and Speed. Weak Armor, once activated, lets Timid Omastar outspeed Accelgor, Choice Scarf Hitmonlee, and Rotom-C. Focus Sash gives Omastar the ability to survive any one attack, including Fighting-type moves and special attacks from strong pivots such as Rotom-C, and therefore set up more entry hazards or get off an additional attack if the opposing Pokemon doesn't have a priority move to finish it off.
Usage Tips
========
Lead with Omastar when there are no Pokemon that can disrupt or prevent its setup, such as Encore Whimsicott, Sleep Powder users like Lilligant and Vivillon, and Trick Choice Scarf Rotom-C. Other Pokemon such as Cinccino, which can OHKO Omastar despite Focus Sash, must also be accounted for. If Xatu or an entry hazard remover such as Hitmonlee or Golbat is on the opponent's team, you can instantly apply pressure by either setting up an entry hazard against a hazard remover or attempting to lure these Pokemon out by setting up entry hazards and then using Shell Smash on the switch, giving Omastar the offensive capacity to OHKO them. Ideal Pokemon to set hazards against are physical attackers such as Drapion, Sneasel, and Emboar. Using Volt Switch or U-turn from teammates can give Omastar an easier time getting opportunities to set up entry hazards. Once the needed amount of entry hazards has been set, focusing on keeping hazards up is of the utmost importance. If the pressure needed to preserve Omastar's hazards can be kept up, checks to your Pokemon will be worn down to the point where they can no longer consistently wall your Pokemon's attacks.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that punish or prevent entry hazard removal, such as Braviary to punish Defog and a Ghost-type like Spiritomb or Mismagius to prevent Rapid Spin, are the most recommendable partners for Omastar. Many Pokemon that are immune to or resist Water-type moves, such as Seismitoad, Vaporeon, Toxicroak, Liligant, and Virizion, can check or set up on Omastar. Because of this, using fast and powerful attackers such as Rotom-C, Sceptile, and Meloetta is helpful to easily threaten to OHKO these Pokemon. Meloetta and Rotom-C in particular are exceptionally helpful because of their ability to pivot, and they take major advantage of having their answers whittled down by Omastar's entry hazards. Other offensive threats that take advantage of Omastar’s entry hazard stacking, such as Sneasel, Emboar, and setup sweepers like Houndoom and Delphox, can become serious problems to the opponent once more than one form of entry hazard has been placed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off can be used to remove opposing Pokemon's valuable items such as Golbat's Eviolite and Slowking's Assault Vest, but this wastes a valuable turn Omastar could have used to set an entry hazard, and Knock Off takes up a moveslot needed to boost Omastar's offensive presence with Shell Smash or Ice Beam. A defensive entry hazard setter set with Shuca Berry and Shell Armor is an option, as this set gives Omastar the capacity to switch into physical attackers like Drapion and Rhydon and set entry hazards while threatening to burn them with Scald. However, this is typically done better by bulkier entry hazard setters such as Qwilfish, Garbodor, Steelix, and Rhydon, which generally have more things to switch into. An offensively oriented Shell Smash set can be put to good use but is generally done better by Barbaracle. A Swift Swim sweeper set with Life Orb can be used but generally isn't recommended thanks to common Snow Warning users, multiple popular switch-ins to Water-type attacks, and the more preferred duo of Kabutops and Ludicolo, which do anything this set tries to achieve more effectively.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: Grass-types such as Virizion, Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Rotom-C have an easy time getting around Omastar thanks to their resistance to Water and 4x super effective STAB moves. Trick Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Encore Whimsicott, and Sleep Powder Lilligant in particular are worrisome because they can disrupt Omastar's capacity to set up a Shell Smash or entry hazards. Any of the above do need to beware of Ice Beam, as it could do heavy damage to them.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Common Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hitmonlee, Virizion, Toxicroak, and Machamp all have advantages against Omastar. Hitmonlee and Hitmontop hit Omastar with super effective STAB attacks and can finish it off with Rapid Spin while removing its set entry hazards. Virizion and Toxicroak use Omastar as setup bait, and Machamp can activate Guts by forcing Omastar to use its Focus Sash only to finish it off with Bullet Punch. Bar Virizion and Toxicroak, however, these Fighting-types can't reliably switch into Omastar without risking a Shell Smash and taking a boosted Surf.
**Electric-type Pokemon**: In addition to Rotom-C, other Electric-types such as Rotom, Vikavolt, Lanturn, and Alolan Raichu can use Volt Switch to bring Omastar down to its Focus Sash while pivoting into an entry hazard remover. Choice Scarf Rotom can even outspeed +2 Omastar.
**Entry Hazard Removers**: The aforementioned Hitmonlee and Hitmontop are able to remove Omastar's entry hazards as well as threaten to take it out at the same time. Cryogonal does this even better by also having reliable recovery, great Special Defense to reliably take Surf, and Freeze-Dry to take Omastar down to its Focus Sash. Specially defensive Golbat is able to come in on Omastar's attacks and remove stacked entry hazards safely. In addition, If Golbat is using a faster set with Taunt, it shuts down almost anything Omastar can do against it.
**Xatu**: Xatu is the tier's best entry hazard preventer thanks to Magic Bounce bouncing back any entry hazards. Xatu also has a solid Speed tier and can pressure Omastar with Grass Knot and Thunder Wave. However, Xatu can't reliably switch into Omastar without risking it using Shell Smash, after which Surf OHKOes Xatu. This makes it very hard for Xatu to check Omastar.
**Cinccino**: While not the most common, Cinccino deserves a special mention thanks to Skill Link and Bullet Seed giving it the unique ability to KO Omastar in one turn even with its Focus Sash intact. It must watch out, however, as its below average defenses mean it can't switch into even unboosted attacks from Omastar without taking heavy damage.
Last edited: