[OVERVIEW]
At first Nosepass may seem like a good pick thanks to its access to Sturdy + Berry Juice and Stealth Rock, which allows it to function as a reliable entry hazard setter. It also has great bulk, and its Flying resistance lets it check the metagame's very threatening Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo. Furthermore, its access to Volt Switch is especially useful because it allows Nosepass to pivot out of the two most common hazard removers, Staryu and Kabuto, and access to Thunder Wave differentiates it from other Stealth Rock setters. However, its bad Attack and Speed massively limit its offensive presence, making it passive and somewhat vulnerable to being set up on. It is also outclassed by Onix, which is faster and has a greater Defense stat. Its bad defensive typing gives it weaknesses to common threats like Staryu, Mienfoo, and Pawniard. Overall, Nosepass is generally not worth using.
[SET]
name: SturdyJuice Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Berry Juice
ability: Sturdy
nature: Relaxed
evs: 76 Atk / 236 Def / 196 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock wears down the opposing team, punishes the opponent for switching, and breaks opposing Pokemon's Sturdy. Rock Blast is Nosepass's preferred STAB attack, being especially useful for damaging Weak Armor Pokemon such as Vullaby and Dwebble and for breaking through Dwebble's Sturdy and Abra's Focus Sash. Thunder Wave cripples the foe's Speed, allowing Nosepass's team to outpace it while also ensuring that Nosepass is not setup bait. Volt Switch lets Nosepass pivot around and gain momentum while also hitting some of the most common entry hazard removers like Staryu and Kabuto for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Sturdy ensures that Nosepass will be able to set up Stealth Rock most of the time. Berry Juice provides recovery, which handily reactivates Sturdy. The EVs invested in Defense and Special Defense maximize Nosepass's bulk, allowing it to take powerful attacks such as Knock Off from Doduo followed by Jump Kick and +2 Dark Pulse from Vullaby. A Relaxed nature is used to boost Nosepass's Defense further and decrease its Speed so that it is more likely to move last with Volt Switch. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to increase Rock Blast damage.
Usage Tips
========
Sometimes, it is ideal to lead with Nosepass so that Stealth Rock can be used as soon as possible; however, you should watch out for threats such as Taunt Onix and Mienfoo, which are often used as leads too. You should use Thunder Wave if a foe like Shellder is going to set up or if you want to decrease the foe's Speed so that Nosepass's team can deal with it more easily. You should also try to preserve Nosepass's Berry Juice by avoiding Knock Off. Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, and Mienfoo are all examples of common Knock Off users. Keep Nosepass healthy while the opponent has an entry hazard remover, so that Nosepass can set up Stealth Rock again if it gets removed, or Flying-type, so that Nosepass can continue to switch into it throughout the match. You can keep Nosepass healthy by using Volt Switch on predicted switches instead of immediately after taking hits. Be cautious if the opponent has Timburr, which could benefit from paralysis via Guts. It can also set up on Nosepass with Bulk Up. Additionally, you should be wary of Diglett, which can trap and remove Nosepass. You should switch Nosepass in on Pokemon that it can check such as Flying-types like Doduo for a safe opportunity to set up Stealth Rock. Volt Switch should be used to switch out and gain momentum, but be careful if the opponent has a Ground-type.
Team Options
========
Foongus has great defensive synergy with Nosepass, checking Fighting-, Water-, Grass-, and Ground-type Pokemon for it, while Nosepass checks Fire- and Flying-types in return. Other Fighting-type checks like Snubbull and Spritzee make good teammates too. Water- and Ground-type checks include Pumpkaboo-XL, which can also spinblock to prevent opposing Rapid Spin users from removing Nosepass's Stealth Rock, and Staryu, which can also use Rapid Spin to prevent entry hazards from breaking Nosepass's Sturdy. Offensive threats that benefit from Nosepass's use of Stealth Rock, especially ones that appreciate a free switch from Volt Switch like Doduo and Abra, are good partners. Snivy synergizes well with Nosepass because it can use the Ground-types that Nosepass lures in as setup bait. Slow Pokemon that benefit from Nosepass's use of Thunder Wave like Alolan Grimer and Mudbray work well alongside Nosepass.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Magnet Pull set can be used to trap and remove Steel-types like Choice Scarf Magnemite with Earthquake and Ferroseed with Hidden Power Fire, but Nosepass's weakness to Steel can be troublesome. An Eviolite set with Pain Split can be used somewhat effectively because of Nosepass's low HP stat, but it's not a reliable source of recovery. Instead of Thunder Wave, Magic Coat can be used to bounce back Taunt and Stealth Rock against Pokemon like Onix; Endure can be used to take a hit, consume Berry Juice, and then reactivate Sturdy; Earthquake can be used to hit Steel-types super effectively; and Fire Punch can do the same with less power while hitting Ferroseed harder. However, Thunder Wave tends to be more useful than these moves because without it, Nosepass is setup bait.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon can hit Nosepass super effectively with their powerful STAB moves, resist Rock Blast, and are immune to Thunder Wave and Volt Switch. Examples include Mudbray, which receives multiple Defense boosts from Rock Blast via Stamina; Drilbur, which can bypass Sturdy using Mold Breaker; Onix, whose access to Taunt enables it to stop Nosepass from setting up Stealth Rock; and Diglett, which is arguably the most threatening because it can easily trap Nosepass.
**Fighting-types**: Pokemon like Timburr and Mienfoo are very common, resist Rock Blast, can use Knock Off to remove Nosepass's Berry Juice, and hit Nosepass hard with their super effective STAB moves. Mienfoo can also use Taunt to prevent Nosepass from using Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave, and Scraggy can set up with Dragon Dance because it can heal paralysis from Thunder Wave using Shed Skin. Timburr can benefit from Thunder Wave via Guts.
**Water-types** Water-types like Staryu, which can also remove Stealth Rock, and Chinchou, which is also immune to Volt Switch and Thunder Wave, can hit Nosepass super effectively with their powerful Water-type attacks.
**Grass-types:** Grass-types like Foongus and Pumpkaboo-XL resist Volt Switch and can hit Nosepass super effectively. Snivy can become a large threat to Nosepass's team because it gets an opportunity to set up with Leaf Storm when it switches in on Nosepass; however, without Substitute, it fears Thunder Wave.
At first Nosepass may seem like a good pick thanks to its access to Sturdy + Berry Juice and Stealth Rock, which allows it to function as a reliable entry hazard setter. It also has great bulk, and its Flying resistance lets it check the metagame's very threatening Flying-types such as Vullaby and Doduo. Furthermore, its access to Volt Switch is especially useful because it allows Nosepass to pivot out of the two most common hazard removers, Staryu and Kabuto, and access to Thunder Wave differentiates it from other Stealth Rock setters. However, its bad Attack and Speed massively limit its offensive presence, making it passive and somewhat vulnerable to being set up on. It is also outclassed by Onix, which is faster and has a greater Defense stat. Its bad defensive typing gives it weaknesses to common threats like Staryu, Mienfoo, and Pawniard. Overall, Nosepass is generally not worth using.
[SET]
name: SturdyJuice Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rock Blast
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Berry Juice
ability: Sturdy
nature: Relaxed
evs: 76 Atk / 236 Def / 196 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock wears down the opposing team, punishes the opponent for switching, and breaks opposing Pokemon's Sturdy. Rock Blast is Nosepass's preferred STAB attack, being especially useful for damaging Weak Armor Pokemon such as Vullaby and Dwebble and for breaking through Dwebble's Sturdy and Abra's Focus Sash. Thunder Wave cripples the foe's Speed, allowing Nosepass's team to outpace it while also ensuring that Nosepass is not setup bait. Volt Switch lets Nosepass pivot around and gain momentum while also hitting some of the most common entry hazard removers like Staryu and Kabuto for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Sturdy ensures that Nosepass will be able to set up Stealth Rock most of the time. Berry Juice provides recovery, which handily reactivates Sturdy. The EVs invested in Defense and Special Defense maximize Nosepass's bulk, allowing it to take powerful attacks such as Knock Off from Doduo followed by Jump Kick and +2 Dark Pulse from Vullaby. A Relaxed nature is used to boost Nosepass's Defense further and decrease its Speed so that it is more likely to move last with Volt Switch. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to increase Rock Blast damage.
Usage Tips
========
Sometimes, it is ideal to lead with Nosepass so that Stealth Rock can be used as soon as possible; however, you should watch out for threats such as Taunt Onix and Mienfoo, which are often used as leads too. You should use Thunder Wave if a foe like Shellder is going to set up or if you want to decrease the foe's Speed so that Nosepass's team can deal with it more easily. You should also try to preserve Nosepass's Berry Juice by avoiding Knock Off. Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, and Mienfoo are all examples of common Knock Off users. Keep Nosepass healthy while the opponent has an entry hazard remover, so that Nosepass can set up Stealth Rock again if it gets removed, or Flying-type, so that Nosepass can continue to switch into it throughout the match. You can keep Nosepass healthy by using Volt Switch on predicted switches instead of immediately after taking hits. Be cautious if the opponent has Timburr, which could benefit from paralysis via Guts. It can also set up on Nosepass with Bulk Up. Additionally, you should be wary of Diglett, which can trap and remove Nosepass. You should switch Nosepass in on Pokemon that it can check such as Flying-types like Doduo for a safe opportunity to set up Stealth Rock. Volt Switch should be used to switch out and gain momentum, but be careful if the opponent has a Ground-type.
Team Options
========
Foongus has great defensive synergy with Nosepass, checking Fighting-, Water-, Grass-, and Ground-type Pokemon for it, while Nosepass checks Fire- and Flying-types in return. Other Fighting-type checks like Snubbull and Spritzee make good teammates too. Water- and Ground-type checks include Pumpkaboo-XL, which can also spinblock to prevent opposing Rapid Spin users from removing Nosepass's Stealth Rock, and Staryu, which can also use Rapid Spin to prevent entry hazards from breaking Nosepass's Sturdy. Offensive threats that benefit from Nosepass's use of Stealth Rock, especially ones that appreciate a free switch from Volt Switch like Doduo and Abra, are good partners. Snivy synergizes well with Nosepass because it can use the Ground-types that Nosepass lures in as setup bait. Slow Pokemon that benefit from Nosepass's use of Thunder Wave like Alolan Grimer and Mudbray work well alongside Nosepass.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Magnet Pull set can be used to trap and remove Steel-types like Choice Scarf Magnemite with Earthquake and Ferroseed with Hidden Power Fire, but Nosepass's weakness to Steel can be troublesome. An Eviolite set with Pain Split can be used somewhat effectively because of Nosepass's low HP stat, but it's not a reliable source of recovery. Instead of Thunder Wave, Magic Coat can be used to bounce back Taunt and Stealth Rock against Pokemon like Onix; Endure can be used to take a hit, consume Berry Juice, and then reactivate Sturdy; Earthquake can be used to hit Steel-types super effectively; and Fire Punch can do the same with less power while hitting Ferroseed harder. However, Thunder Wave tends to be more useful than these moves because without it, Nosepass is setup bait.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon can hit Nosepass super effectively with their powerful STAB moves, resist Rock Blast, and are immune to Thunder Wave and Volt Switch. Examples include Mudbray, which receives multiple Defense boosts from Rock Blast via Stamina; Drilbur, which can bypass Sturdy using Mold Breaker; Onix, whose access to Taunt enables it to stop Nosepass from setting up Stealth Rock; and Diglett, which is arguably the most threatening because it can easily trap Nosepass.
**Fighting-types**: Pokemon like Timburr and Mienfoo are very common, resist Rock Blast, can use Knock Off to remove Nosepass's Berry Juice, and hit Nosepass hard with their super effective STAB moves. Mienfoo can also use Taunt to prevent Nosepass from using Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave, and Scraggy can set up with Dragon Dance because it can heal paralysis from Thunder Wave using Shed Skin. Timburr can benefit from Thunder Wave via Guts.
**Water-types** Water-types like Staryu, which can also remove Stealth Rock, and Chinchou, which is also immune to Volt Switch and Thunder Wave, can hit Nosepass super effectively with their powerful Water-type attacks.
**Grass-types:** Grass-types like Foongus and Pumpkaboo-XL resist Volt Switch and can hit Nosepass super effectively. Snivy can become a large threat to Nosepass's team because it gets an opportunity to set up with Leaf Storm when it switches in on Nosepass; however, without Substitute, it fears Thunder Wave.
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