[OVERVIEW]
Linoone is the only Pokemon with access to both Belly Drum and Extreme Speed, making it a unique cleaner and sweeper in UU. Linoone is able to outspeed and beat most bulky Pokemon after setting up due to its coverage moves, Seed Bomb and Stomping Tantrum, that can KO most Pokemon resistant to Extreme Speed. Linoone's ability Gluttony, with a Figy Berry, means Linoone can almost always use Belly Drum. However, even after using Belly Drum, Linoone is revenge killed by every faster Normal-resistant or -immune Pokemon such as Cobalion, Gengar, and Scizor, which uses Bullet Punch to deal massive damage. Because of its low defensive stats, Linoone can be OHKOed by many offensive threats, which makes setting up against offensive teams difficult even at full health. Furthermore, Linoone's subpar stats leave it outclassed by other setup sweepers that use priority moves like Belly Drum Azumarill and Swords Dance Scizor. Linoone is a one-time sweeper that is utterly useless before setting up and is quite frail.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum Sweeper
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Stomping Tantrum
move 4: Seed Bomb
item: Figy Berry
ability: Gluttony
nature: Adamant
evs: 148 HP / 248 Atk / 8 Def / 88 SpD / 16 Spe
Moves
========
Belly Drum increases Linoone's Attack to +6, which makes it an extremely powerful offensive threat. Extreme Speed is a strong +2 priority STAB attack that OHKOes Pokemon such as Latias, Infernape, and Hydreigon after a boost from Belly Drum. Linoone also has great coverage moves that allow it to break through Normal-resistant walls: Seed Bomb, which lets Linoone break through bulky Water-types like Swampert, Suicune, and Seismitoad that are not OHKOed by +6 Extreme Speed, and Stomping Tantrum, which allows Linoone to damage slow and bulky Steel-types like Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix; however, it does not OHKO them even at +6.
Set Details
========
16 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Adamant Metagross so Linoone can OHKO it with Stomping Tantrum. Linoone also Speed ties with Timid Primarina and Jolly Bewear. The HP, Defense, and Special Defense EVs make it so Linoone survives Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge, Latias's Draco Meteor, and Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock. The defensive investment also allows it to survive Hydreigon's Draco Meteor and Choice Band Scizor's U-turn from full HP. A Figy Berry combined with Gluttony allows Linoone to use Belly Drum once and completely recover all of the lost HP or take any one hit that would not OHKO it and gives it enough HP to use Belly Drum.
Usage Tips
========
Linoone is only used as a late-game sweeper. For Linoone to be an effective sweeper, all faster threats that are immune to or resist Extreme Speed must be KOed or severely weakened. These threats include fast Ghost-types like Chandelure, Steel-types like Cobalion, and Rock-types like Mega Aerodactyl. Linoone should not switch directly into any attacks or offensive threats. Instead, bring it in to set up either after a teammate has fainted or with the support of a Volt Switch or U-turn user against Pokemon that cannot OHKO Linoone.
Team Options
========
Linoone is most effective on hyper offense. Specifically, Linoone thrives on Aurora Veil offense due to the increased number of setup opportunities the playstyle provides. Aurorus and Alolan Sandslash are the only viable Aurora Veil setters in the tier, so they make good partners. Linoone is very frail, so checks to Fighting-types such as Latias, Chandelure, and Azumarill pair very well with it. Scizor threatens Linoone greatly, so checks to it such as Cobalion and Chandelure make good partners. Linoone also appreciates support from stallbreakers like Heracross and Haxorus that weaken walls and allow Linoone to clean more easily. Fighting-types like Terrakion, Cobalion, and Infernape also pair nicely with Linoone because they are able to beat the Rock- and Steel-types that check it. Mega Manectric is a good teammate for Linoone because it can pressure physical attackers with Intimidate, check Steel-types, and use Volt Switch to bring Linoone in safely.
Other Options
=============
Linoone can run more Speed to outspeed Pokemon like Primarina. Specifically, 196 Speed EVs allow Linoone to outspeed Pokemon such as Tsareena, Chandelure, and Mega Blastoise.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Aggron, Cobalion, Doublade, Steelix, and Scizor are able to reliably take any attack from Linoone and KO or heavily damage it in return.
**Faster Normal-resistant and -immune Pokemon**: Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Cobalion, and Terrakion cannot be OHKOed by +6 Extreme Speed and OHKO Linoone in return. Chandelure and Gengar are immune to Extreme Speed and can outspeed Linoone and revenge kill it.
Linoone is the only Pokemon with access to both Belly Drum and Extreme Speed, making it a unique cleaner and sweeper in UU. Linoone is able to outspeed and beat most bulky Pokemon after setting up due to its coverage moves, Seed Bomb and Stomping Tantrum, that can KO most Pokemon resistant to Extreme Speed. Linoone's ability Gluttony, with a Figy Berry, means Linoone can almost always use Belly Drum. However, even after using Belly Drum, Linoone is revenge killed by every faster Normal-resistant or -immune Pokemon such as Cobalion, Gengar, and Scizor, which uses Bullet Punch to deal massive damage. Because of its low defensive stats, Linoone can be OHKOed by many offensive threats, which makes setting up against offensive teams difficult even at full health. Furthermore, Linoone's subpar stats leave it outclassed by other setup sweepers that use priority moves like Belly Drum Azumarill and Swords Dance Scizor. Linoone is a one-time sweeper that is utterly useless before setting up and is quite frail.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum Sweeper
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Stomping Tantrum
move 4: Seed Bomb
item: Figy Berry
ability: Gluttony
nature: Adamant
evs: 148 HP / 248 Atk / 8 Def / 88 SpD / 16 Spe
Moves
========
Belly Drum increases Linoone's Attack to +6, which makes it an extremely powerful offensive threat. Extreme Speed is a strong +2 priority STAB attack that OHKOes Pokemon such as Latias, Infernape, and Hydreigon after a boost from Belly Drum. Linoone also has great coverage moves that allow it to break through Normal-resistant walls: Seed Bomb, which lets Linoone break through bulky Water-types like Swampert, Suicune, and Seismitoad that are not OHKOed by +6 Extreme Speed, and Stomping Tantrum, which allows Linoone to damage slow and bulky Steel-types like Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix; however, it does not OHKO them even at +6.
Set Details
========
16 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Adamant Metagross so Linoone can OHKO it with Stomping Tantrum. Linoone also Speed ties with Timid Primarina and Jolly Bewear. The HP, Defense, and Special Defense EVs make it so Linoone survives Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge, Latias's Draco Meteor, and Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock. The defensive investment also allows it to survive Hydreigon's Draco Meteor and Choice Band Scizor's U-turn from full HP. A Figy Berry combined with Gluttony allows Linoone to use Belly Drum once and completely recover all of the lost HP or take any one hit that would not OHKO it and gives it enough HP to use Belly Drum.
Usage Tips
========
Linoone is only used as a late-game sweeper. For Linoone to be an effective sweeper, all faster threats that are immune to or resist Extreme Speed must be KOed or severely weakened. These threats include fast Ghost-types like Chandelure, Steel-types like Cobalion, and Rock-types like Mega Aerodactyl. Linoone should not switch directly into any attacks or offensive threats. Instead, bring it in to set up either after a teammate has fainted or with the support of a Volt Switch or U-turn user against Pokemon that cannot OHKO Linoone.
Team Options
========
Linoone is most effective on hyper offense. Specifically, Linoone thrives on Aurora Veil offense due to the increased number of setup opportunities the playstyle provides. Aurorus and Alolan Sandslash are the only viable Aurora Veil setters in the tier, so they make good partners. Linoone is very frail, so checks to Fighting-types such as Latias, Chandelure, and Azumarill pair very well with it. Scizor threatens Linoone greatly, so checks to it such as Cobalion and Chandelure make good partners. Linoone also appreciates support from stallbreakers like Heracross and Haxorus that weaken walls and allow Linoone to clean more easily. Fighting-types like Terrakion, Cobalion, and Infernape also pair nicely with Linoone because they are able to beat the Rock- and Steel-types that check it. Mega Manectric is a good teammate for Linoone because it can pressure physical attackers with Intimidate, check Steel-types, and use Volt Switch to bring Linoone in safely.
Other Options
=============
Linoone can run more Speed to outspeed Pokemon like Primarina. Specifically, 196 Speed EVs allow Linoone to outspeed Pokemon such as Tsareena, Chandelure, and Mega Blastoise.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Steel-types**: Pokemon such as Mega Aggron, Cobalion, Doublade, Steelix, and Scizor are able to reliably take any attack from Linoone and KO or heavily damage it in return.
**Faster Normal-resistant and -immune Pokemon**: Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Cobalion, and Terrakion cannot be OHKOed by +6 Extreme Speed and OHKO Linoone in return. Chandelure and Gengar are immune to Extreme Speed and can outspeed Linoone and revenge kill it.
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