Empoleon [QC 1/3]

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Empoleon

QC:
[0/3] -
GP: [0/1] - dodmen

[OVERVIEW]

* Empoleon's decently well-rounded stats in addition to its amazing defensive typing make it a reliable pivot in the UU tier.
* Access to a handful of useful utility moves such as Defog, Knock Off, and Roar allow it to fill many useful roles on a variety of teams.
* However, Empoleon's lack of reliable recovery will leave it vulnerable to being worn down over the course of a game.
* Empoleon's typing also leaves it vulnerable to common attacking types in Fighting, Ground, and Electric, as well as being trappable by Magneton.


[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Defog
move 3: Toxic / Knock Off / Roar
move 4: Toxic / Knock Off / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Scald is Empoleon's STAB of choice, being decently powerful with a 30% burn chance, which typically dissuades many physically-oriented threats from switching directly into it.
* Defog allows Empoleon to support its teammates by removing all entry hazards from the field.
* Toxic allows Empoleon to severly cripple Pokemon such as Mew, Slowbro, and Latias, making them much easier for other teammates to break through.
* Knock Off has the ability to cripple threats such as Primarina, Mew, Hydreigon, and Metagross by removing their item.
* Roar allows Empoleon to annoy sweepers like Calm Mind Latias and Clefable by phazing them out midgame and halting their sweep.
* Stealth Rock can be used if Empoleon's teammates do not carry it.

Set Details
========

* Maximum investment in HP and 180 Special Defense with a Calm nature allow Empoleon to comfortably switch into threats such as Clefable, Primarina, and Latias.
* 76 EVs in Defense allow Empoleon to always survive Earthquake from Choice Scarf Krookodile, Close Combat from Cobalion, and Choice Banded Entei's Flare Blitz.
* As Empoleon lacks any form of reliable recovery, Leftovers provides it with a small amount of passive recovery.
* Torrent is Empoleon's ability of choice, as it powers up its Scald when under 33% of its maximum health.

Usage Tips
========

* Empoleon should avoid Knock Off and burns via Scald and Will-O-Wisp as often as possible, as removing the recovery it gains from Leftovers will drastically weaken its defensive capability.
* Empoleon can be used as a reliable switch in to conservative sweepers such as Togekiss and Clefable midgame and phaze them with Roar. However, both have methods of circumventing status conditions and will be able to beat Empoleon when it is no longer able to phase them.
* Empoleon should also work to avoid strong neutral or super effective physical attacks such as Mega Sharpedo's Crunch and Bisharp's Knock Off as they will also do considerable damage to it.
* Empoleon must be wary of Gigavolt Havoc from Latias, a fairly common Z-move on Latias that can easily OHKO it.

Team Options
========

* Empoleon often needs a backup offensive check to threats such as Latias, Clefable and Togekiss, so Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Krookodile and Mega Aerodactyl make good partners for it.
* Pokemon such as Talonflame, Togekiss, and Mega Aerodactyl that highly appreciate Stealth Rock being removed appreciate Empoleon's ability to reliably remove entry hazards via Defog.
* Krookodile and Hippowdon are good teammates that can check Electric-types like Raikou which are extremely threatening to Empoleon.
* Empoleon appreciates teammates such as Togekiss and Gliscor that can sponge strong Fighting-type attacks aimed at it. Latias can check Cobalion, Terrakion, Keldeo, and Infernape which Empoleon greatly appreciates.
* Fighting- and Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Conkeldurr, and Keldeo appreciate Empoleon being able to reliably switch into Fairy- and Psychic-type attacks from the likes of Clefable and Latias.

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Hidden Power Electric / Grass Knot
item: Choice Specs
ability: Torrent
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

*Hydro Pump is Empoleon's strongest STAB move, being able to hit extremely hard even against resists when boosted by Choice Specs.
* Ice Beam allows Empoleon to hit Grass- and Dragon-type threats such as Celebi, Amoonguss, and Hydreigon super effectively.
* Flash Cannon is Empoleon's secondary STAB that allows it to greatly pressure Fairy-types such as Togekiss and Clefable.
* Hidden Power Electric rounds out Empoleon's coverage, allowing it to hit most opponents for neutral damage, as well as opposing Water-types super effectively.
* Grass Knot is an option that allows Empoleon to OHKO Swampert and Gastrodon, the latter being a large nuisance to the set otherwise.

Set Details
========

*Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed fully emphasize Empoleon's offensive abilities.
* A Timid nature allows Empoleon to outspeed many common checks to it such as Conkeldurr Adamant Bewear, and Adamant max Speed Scizor.
* Choice Specs greatly increases Empoleon's damage output, allowing it to surprise many opponents expecting a specially defensive variant.
* Torrent is Empoleon's preferred ability as it increases the power of Hydro Pump even further when Empoleon is under 1/3 of its maximum HP.

Usage Tips
========

* Empoleon with maximum Speed investment can suprise and KO many threats expecting to outspeed and KO it such as Flame Orb Conkeldurr, Adamant Bewear, and Offensive Scizor.
* Without investment, Empoleon loses much of its defensive prowess, and is often no longer a good switch in to threats such as Latias.
* Since Empoleon will be locked into an attack due to Choice Specs, a fair amount of prediction on the player's end is necessary for its success.
* Empoleon is far weaker defensively with an offensive set, so it should be brought in for free as much as possible, without taking unnecessary damage.

Team Options
========

* Choice Specs Empoleon appreciated support from Volt Switch or U-turn users such as Meinshao and Hydreigon to generate momentum and bring it in without any negative repercussions.
* Offensive Empoleon sets appreciate a team that has extra options against threats such as Latias and Primarina, since without any investment in Special Defense, it is a poor switch in to them.
* Empoleon works as a good lure to Conkeldurr, Bewear, and Adamant max speed Scizor, which it can KO with Hydro Pump while outspeeding them. Dark-type sweepers such as Bisharp and Mega Sharpedo can benefit greatly from this.
* Covering Empoleon's defensve weaknesses is still greatly crucial to its success. Pokemon such as Latias and Gliscor that sponge many Fighting-type attacks aimed at it, while solid Electric-type checks such as Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Krookodile are good teammates as well.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Empoleon can run 44 Speed EVs to outspeed 0 Spe Scizor and hit it with Scald before it can escape with U-turn.
* Empoleon can run an offensive set with Scald / Ice Beam / Grass Knot / Defog, an EV spread of 252 HP / 212 SpA / 44 Spe, a Modest nature, and holding a Shuca Berry that can surprise opponents and effectively lure Krookodile, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nidoking.
* Empoleon can run Protect, allowing it to gain extra Leftovers recovery as well as racking up extra Toxic damage without any drawback.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Raikou are extremely threatening to Empoleon and can heavily damage or outright KO it with super effective STAB. Magneton can also trap Empoleon with Magnet Pull and easily remove it from the game.

**Fighting-types**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Cobalion, and Keldeo can easily threaten to KO Empoleon with strong super effective STAB. Guts users such as Conkeldurr and Heracross can even switch into Scald with minimal repurcussion.

**Ground-types**: Empoleon's weakness to Ground-type moves make it an easy target for threats like Krookodile, Nidoking, and Gliscor. Empoleon will find itself taking a sizable amount of damage from any strong Ground-type coverage, but Ground-type Pokemon often struggle to switch directly in to Empoleon thanks to its decently strong Scald.

**Strong Physical Attackers**: Empoleon heavily invests into its Special Defense, so strong neutral or super effective physical moves from the likes of Bisharp, Mega Sharpedo, and Metagross can leave Empoleon severely weakened and unable to take on other threats.

**Residual damage**: Without any reliable form of recovery, Empoleon struggles to keep itself healthy throughout long matches. Any form of damage that neutralizes its Leftovers recovery such as Knock Off, burn, or entry hazard damage often severly hinders it.

**Bulky setup sweepers**: Clefable and Reuniclus are immune to any form of passive damage that Empoleon can inflict and can easily set up on it once Empoleon is unable to phaze them as a last Pokemon. Pokemon such as Heal Bell + Nasty Plot Togekiss and Calm Mind Suicune can also do so since they have the ability to remove harmful status conditions.
 
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252 Atk Krookodile Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 76 Def Empoleon: 312-368 (84 - 99.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Cobalion Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 76 Def Empoleon: 312-368 (84 - 99.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Entei Flare Blitz vs. 248 HP / 76 Def Empoleon: 303-357 (81.6 - 96.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Not a terribly huge investment so I'd say it's worth it.

I think Stealth Rock should be moved up to Moves, just say it can be used over any other support move if the team needs it. For the OO offensive set, definitely add the 44 Speed EVs from special attack (move the 44 EV bullet point above it so you don't have to explain twice). Also add a Timid Specs set which is a lot of fun for luring stuff like Conk, offensive Scizor, Bewear, and other stuff looking to outspeed and/or KO, it's also a really nice check to CM Clefable (Hydro, Ice Beam, Flash Cannon, HP Electric or Grass Knot).

Slowbro as an Empoleon partner is kind of questionable I think, maybe say Gliscor instead since that can deal with Krookodile and certain Fighting-types reasonably well. Emphasize Latias partner too, since it takes on the role of Keldeo/Cobalion/Terrakion/Infernape check, Volcanion check, and really appreciates that Empoleon can Defog.

I would add "Powerful Physical Attackers" to C&C, things with strong neutral or super effective coverage like Bisharp, Metagross, and Mega Absol can leave Empoleon too weak to take on anything else.

Consider this QC 1/3 if all this is implemented, I'll take another quick look once you've added all this, just in case.
 
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