[OVERVIEW]
Ice
========
Alolan Ninetales is one of Ice's best support options due to its access to the combination of Snow Warning and Aurora Veil, giving its teammates increased survivability against physical and special attacks. Its Speed tier puts it just above threats such as Terrakion and Keldeo, which is extremely important for Ice teams. Its part-Fairy typing allows it to check threats such as Mega Sableye, Buzzwole, and Keldeo. Thanks to Snow Warning, it is the most important partner for Pokemon with Slush Rush such as Alolan Sandslash and Beartic. Access to Encore lets it cripple entry hazard setters like Forretress and Torkoal as well as setup sweepers like Volcarona and Bisharp. However, its mediocre Special Attack leaves it unable to offensively pressure Pokemon that it can't hit super effectively, such as Clefable and Mew. With an Ice / Fairy typing, it is burdened with weaknesses to common attacking types like Fire and Poison as well as a 4x Steel weakness. It is also weak to Stealth Rock, making it very easy to wear down. Furthermore, a limited offensive movepool outside of its STAB moves leaves it consistently walled by common Fire- and Steel-types like Torkoal, Heatran, and Celesteela. Lastly, it has a poor Defense stat outside of Aurora Veil, which makes it susceptible to revenge killers like Excadrill and Choice Scarf Heracross.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support (Ice)
move 1: Aurora Veil
move 2: Freeze-Dry
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Encore / Blizzard / Hidden Power Fire
item: Light Clay
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aurora Veil gives Alolan Ninetales's entire team increased survivability against both physical and special attacks. Freeze-Dry is the Ice-type STAB move of choice due to its ability to hit Water-types such as Swampert, Mantine, and Pelipper super effectively. Moonblast is the strongest Fairy-type STAB move Alolan Ninetales has access to and is able to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Mega Sableye, Buzzwole, and Keldeo hard. Encore is used to cripple entry hazard setters like Forretress and Torkoal as well as setup sweepers like Bisharp and Volcarona. Blizzard can be used as a more powerful Ice-type STAB move that has perfect accuracy in hail and can OHKO Mega Pinsir and 2HKO Skarmory. Hidden Power Fire is another alternative to keep Mega Scizor from setting up for free while also targeting Ferrothorn.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed allows Alolan Ninetales to be as strong and as fast as possible. A Timid nature allows it to outspeed Terrakion, Keldeo, and Mega Pinsir. Snow Warning is vital in order to set up Aurora Veil and give Slush Rush Pokemon like Alolan Sandslash and Beartic doubled Speed. Light Clay is the item used to increase the duration of Aurora Veil to eight turns.
Usage Tips
========
Try switching in with Alolan Ninetales frequently to set up Aurora Veil to increase its teammates' survivability. Keep entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes off the field as much as you can, since they wear down Alolan Ninetales quickly and limit the number of times it can switch in. With its high Speed stat, Alolan Ninetales ends up losing many lead matchups against opposing weather setters like Torkoal and Tyranitar, which can result in an inability to set up Aurora Veil and a huge loss of momentum. As such, it's best not to lead with Alolan Ninetales immediately in these situations. However, it would be a great idea to lead with Alolan Ninetales otherwise in order to get up Aurora Veil as soon as possible. If you're running Encore, try switching into a Rapid Spin or Defog from entry hazard removers such as Forretress and Mandibuzz or a setup move from Bisharp or Clefable in order to cripple them and give yourself a free opportunity to set up Aurora Veil. It is also beneficial to switch in when the foe tries to set up Stealth Rock in order to cripple them with Encore without taking any hazard damage. Keep Alolan Ninetales away from status as much as possible, as paralysis can halve its Speed and poison will slowly wear it down each turn.
Team Options
========
Everything on Ice appreciates the extra survivability Alolan Ninetales provides with Aurora Veil, as well as its ability to check Fighting-types like Buzzwole and Keldeo. Avalugg is a great partner that can remove entry hazards for Alolan Ninetales with Rapid Spin as well as switch into threatening physical attackers like Jirachi, Excadrill, and Alolan Muk. In return, Alolan Ninetales can offensively check special attackers that threaten Avalugg, such as Landorus and Hydreigon. Piloswine and Mamoswine can both set up Stealth Rock for Alolan Ninetales while also taking neutral damage from Rock- and Fire-type attacks thanks to their typing and Thick Fat and resisting Poison-type attacks. Piloswine is able to phaze setup Pokemon with priority like Mega Scizor and Azumarill as well as switch into threatening special attackers like Heatran and Nihilego. Mamoswine on the other hand is able to offensively check weather setters like Torkoal and Tyranitar, as well as Steel- and Poison-types like Heatran, Magnezone, and Alolan Muk. In return, Alolan Ninetales can deal with bulky Water-types like Slowbro and Swampert. Kyurem-B can break through special walls like Empoleon, Celesteela, and Heatran, and Alolan Ninetales can remove Water-types that are immune to Fusion Bolt like Swampert and Seismitoad as well as switch into Dragon-type attacks. Lapras and Walrein can switch into Fire- and Steel-type attacks for Alolan Ninetales. They also serve as checks towards Fire- and Steel-types like Heatran, Alolan Marowak, Ferrothorn, and especially Mega Scizor, which is the most potent counter to Alolan Ninetales. Weavile can Pursuit trap Ghost- and Psychic-types that threaten to KO Alolan Ninetales such as Gengar, Victini, and Jirachi while removing items with Knock Off and dealing with special walls. Alolan Ninetales in return deals with physically defensive Water-types like Swampert and Toxapex. Cloyster appreciates Alolan Ninetales's Aurora Veil, as it gives Cloyster an easier time setting up with Shell Smash. Cloyster can take on Fire-, Steel-, and Rock-types that threaten Alolan Ninetales such as Victini, Excadrill, and Nihilego after setting up. Alolan Sandslash and Beartic greatly benefit from Alolan Ninetales's Snow Warning ability, doubling their Speed and allowing them to effectively sweep. They also break through special walls that give Alolan Ninetales a hard time. Alolan Sandslash offers entry hazard removal with Rapid Spin, as well as Rock and Steel neutralities and a Poison immunity. Beartic is capable of breaking through special walls like Chansey and Ferrothorn as well as outspeeding and revenge killing Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona in hail with Stone Edge.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Ice
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Icy Rock can be used to increase the duration of hail and thus give Alolan Sandslash and Beartic more turns to sweep. However, the increased duration of Aurora Veil with Light Clay is much more valuable. A Choice Scarf set can be used as a means of outspeeding Choice Scarf Fighting- and Dark-types such as Heracross, Terrakion, and Hydreigon. However, this would come at the cost of important utility in Aurora Veil.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ice
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**Mega Scizor**: Mega Scizor can easily set up Swords Dance on Alolan Ninetales due to resisting its STAB moves and having reliable recovery in Roost. However, it will have to watch out for the very rare Hidden Power Fire.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela take little damage from Alolan Ninetales's STAB moves and can retaliate with their own STAB moves. However, if Heatran and Ferrothorn attempt to set up entry hazards, they are susceptible to being afflicted with Encore. Ferrothorn may also have to fear the potential Hidden Power Fire.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Torkoal, Mega Charizard Y, and Alolan Marowak all easily take Alolan Ninetales's STAB moves and can threaten it back with their own STAB moves. Torkoal and Mega Charizard Y deserve a special mention due to removing the hail with Drought and thus preventing Alolan Ninetales from setting up Aurora Veil.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types like Nihilego, Tyranitar, and Mega Aerodactyl threaten to KO Alolan Ninetales with their STAB moves.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Due to Alolan Ninetales's mediocre offensive presence, specially defensive walls such as Empoleon, Chansey, and Jirachi can easily take advantage of it. However, they will have to fear being crippled by Encore if any of them try to set up Stealth Rock.
**Poison-types**: Poison-type sweepers like Choice Scarf Nihilego, Gengar, and Scolipede are able to outspeed Alolan Ninetales and OHKO it with their STAB moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers like Tapu Koko and Greninja as well as Choice Scarf Pokemon like Victini outspeed and threaten to KO Alolan Ninetales.
**Residual Damage**: Alolan Ninetales is very easily worn down by Stealth Rock and status afflictions like poison, limiting the number of times it can switch in to set up Aurora Veil.
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