uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Sableye is a well-rounded defensive Pokemon in the PU metagame thanks to its good typing, solid utility, and access to Prankster. Sableye's Ghost / Dark typing not only gives it good immunities to a lot of moves while leaving it only weak to Fairy but also makes it a capable spinblocker. Prankster gives Sableye's status moves priority, which is a nuisance for the majority of the tier, as priority Taunt and Will-O-Wisp can really mess with a lot of Pokemon that want to set up, heal, or simply attack. Access to priority Recover also makes Sableye a durable and consistent wall. Unfortunately, poor base stats make Sableye fairly vulnerable to strong wallbreakers. It also means Sableye is reliant on Will-O-Wisp to check a lot of physical threats, even with physical bulk investment. Additionally, status moves affected by Prankster have no effect on opposing Dark-type Pokemon, so they usually can switch into Sableye freely and pressure it out. Finally, Sableye is vulnerable to strong special attackers especially when uninvested, which means it does still require some support to function effectively.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Recover
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Impish / Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt prevents opposing Pokemon from setting up, healing, or using status moves such as Toxic on Sableye. Will-O-Wisp burns and cripples most physical attackers and discourages them from switching in. It also wears down Pokemon in general. Recover lets Sableye stay healthy throughout the match. Knock Off is a solid STAB move, and it gets rid of foes' items. Foul Play can be used as an alternative to help versus offensive Pokemon and Dark-types in general, which Knock Off would otherwise do little to. More importantly, it prevents Sableye from being set up on by Pokemon such as Lycanroc, Komala, Absol, and Carracosta.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense investment and an Impish nature let Sableye take physical hits as well as possible. Prankster gives Sableye's status moves priority. Leftovers gives Sableye even more passive recovery each turn, which can also help its longevity. If you're running Foul Play, Bold is the preferred nature over Impish because it minimizes opposing Foul Play damage.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Sableye in on physical attackers like Hitmonchan, Zangoose, Golurk, and Primeape, as well as other Pokemon that do not threaten it very much. Use Taunt when the foe wants to set up, heal, or potentially inflict status, but be cautious of using Taunt if Sableye is in a vulnerable position to be KOed by the opposing Pokemon. Use Will-O-Wisp to burn and cripple opposing threats, but be careful of using it without thinking if the opponent has a Pokemon that is immune to it, because you risk losing momentum otherwise. Knock Off is a spammable move and therefore should be used often early-game if Sableye is healthy. Avoid staying in on strong special attackers or wallbreakers, as Sableye can get overwhelmed by them easily. Due to Dark types' immunity to moves affected by Prankster, be wary of Pokemon like Liepard, Shiftry, Absol, Skuntank, and Alolan Raticate, as they can often switch in for free with no drawbacks outside of losing an item. Sableye gets worn down easily with burns and especially Toxic, so keeping it healthy and status free can increase its longevity and effectiveness.
Team Options
========
Answers to special attackers like Magmortar, Pyroar, Abomasnow, and Lanturn are appreciated for Sableye, as they often don't mind a burn and can hit back hard. Reliable answers like Clefairy, Type: Null, Miltank, and Audino are some of the best partners for Sableye when it comes to checking these threats. Sableye also requires answers to Fairy-types such as offensive Granbull, Mr. Mime, and Silvally-Fairy, which can hit it super effectively. Pokemon like Weezing, Qwilfish, and Ferroseed can switch into and check most of them by threatening them out with a STAB move or crippling them with status. Answers to opposing Dark-types are very important because they often use Sableye as setup fodder. Hence, some good teammates would include Fairy-types, like Granbull, as a check to Liepard and non-Iron Tail Absol, as well as bulky Fighting-types, like Hitmonchan and Throh, which can switch into most Dark-types and threaten them out with a STAB move. Partners that can help Sableye check powerful Normal-types, especially those with Scrappy such as Stoutland and Kangaskhan, are helpful, as they can utilize a boosted Facade to break through Sableye. Regirock, Ferroseed, and Mawile do a good job of providing support by being able to switch into them. Sableye fits well on balanced teams with bulky teammates and on teams that need a Fighting-type immunity. Sableye can also fit on teams as a spinblocker, since it is able to beat most spinners like Hitmonchan, Sandslash, and Kabutops. Finally, Sableye can be worn down by hazards and especially does not like Toxic Spikes, so hazard control from Pokemon like Hitmonchan, Skuntank, Lurantis, and Swanna is appreciated. Sableye also appreciates cleric support, so Pokemon like Granbull, Audino, and Miltank are good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sableye can run a Calm Mind set with Recover, Dark Pulse, and Will-O-Wisp or Taunt, making it a threatening sweeper. Sableye can run a specially defensive set, which can check certain special attackers like Lanturn, Swanna, Oricorio-G, and Alolan Raichu, although this set isn't so much about walling these kinds of threats as much as it's about being harder to take down both physically (because of Will-O-Wisp) and specially.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Powerful Special Attackers**: Sableye's special bulk is rather low, so powerful special attackers like Abomasnow, Lilligant, and Floatzel can 2HKO it with ease.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-type Pokemon like Pyroar, Magmortar, Turtonator, and Ninetales can often pivot into a predicted Will-O-Wisp and threaten Sableye out with powerful STAB attacks or threaten to set up on it, forcing Sableye to risk staying in to Taunt a potential setup move user.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-type Pokemon like Absol, Shiftry, and Liepard can all switch in on any of Sableye's moves, since they are immune to Prankster, and therefore can threaten to set up on it or KO it with a powerful attack.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Togetic, Shiinotic, and Clefairy can come in relatively safely and consistently on Sableye thanks to their access to reliable recovery and can threaten it out with a STAB attack, although Togetic and Clefairy must be wary of losing their Eviolite. Mr. Mime and Granbull can threaten Sableye offensively, but the former doesn't usually like getting its item removed, while the latter usually doesn't appreciate a burn.
[OVERVIEW]
Sableye is a well-rounded defensive Pokemon in the PU metagame thanks to its good typing, solid utility, and access to Prankster. Sableye's Ghost / Dark typing not only gives it good immunities to a lot of moves while leaving it only weak to Fairy but also makes it a capable spinblocker. Prankster gives Sableye's status moves priority, which is a nuisance for the majority of the tier, as priority Taunt and Will-O-Wisp can really mess with a lot of Pokemon that want to set up, heal, or simply attack. Access to priority Recover also makes Sableye a durable and consistent wall. Unfortunately, poor base stats make Sableye fairly vulnerable to strong wallbreakers. It also means Sableye is reliant on Will-O-Wisp to check a lot of physical threats, even with physical bulk investment. Additionally, status moves affected by Prankster have no effect on opposing Dark-type Pokemon, so they usually can switch into Sableye freely and pressure it out. Finally, Sableye is vulnerable to strong special attackers especially when uninvested, which means it does still require some support to function effectively.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Recover
move 4: Knock Off / Foul Play
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Impish / Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt prevents opposing Pokemon from setting up, healing, or using status moves such as Toxic on Sableye. Will-O-Wisp burns and cripples most physical attackers and discourages them from switching in. It also wears down Pokemon in general. Recover lets Sableye stay healthy throughout the match. Knock Off is a solid STAB move, and it gets rid of foes' items. Foul Play can be used as an alternative to help versus offensive Pokemon and Dark-types in general, which Knock Off would otherwise do little to. More importantly, it prevents Sableye from being set up on by Pokemon such as Lycanroc, Komala, Absol, and Carracosta.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense investment and an Impish nature let Sableye take physical hits as well as possible. Prankster gives Sableye's status moves priority. Leftovers gives Sableye even more passive recovery each turn, which can also help its longevity. If you're running Foul Play, Bold is the preferred nature over Impish because it minimizes opposing Foul Play damage.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Sableye in on physical attackers like Hitmonchan, Zangoose, Golurk, and Primeape, as well as other Pokemon that do not threaten it very much. Use Taunt when the foe wants to set up, heal, or potentially inflict status, but be cautious of using Taunt if Sableye is in a vulnerable position to be KOed by the opposing Pokemon. Use Will-O-Wisp to burn and cripple opposing threats, but be careful of using it without thinking if the opponent has a Pokemon that is immune to it, because you risk losing momentum otherwise. Knock Off is a spammable move and therefore should be used often early-game if Sableye is healthy. Avoid staying in on strong special attackers or wallbreakers, as Sableye can get overwhelmed by them easily. Due to Dark types' immunity to moves affected by Prankster, be wary of Pokemon like Liepard, Shiftry, Absol, Skuntank, and Alolan Raticate, as they can often switch in for free with no drawbacks outside of losing an item. Sableye gets worn down easily with burns and especially Toxic, so keeping it healthy and status free can increase its longevity and effectiveness.
Team Options
========
Answers to special attackers like Magmortar, Pyroar, Abomasnow, and Lanturn are appreciated for Sableye, as they often don't mind a burn and can hit back hard. Reliable answers like Clefairy, Type: Null, Miltank, and Audino are some of the best partners for Sableye when it comes to checking these threats. Sableye also requires answers to Fairy-types such as offensive Granbull, Mr. Mime, and Silvally-Fairy, which can hit it super effectively. Pokemon like Weezing, Qwilfish, and Ferroseed can switch into and check most of them by threatening them out with a STAB move or crippling them with status. Answers to opposing Dark-types are very important because they often use Sableye as setup fodder. Hence, some good teammates would include Fairy-types, like Granbull, as a check to Liepard and non-Iron Tail Absol, as well as bulky Fighting-types, like Hitmonchan and Throh, which can switch into most Dark-types and threaten them out with a STAB move. Partners that can help Sableye check powerful Normal-types, especially those with Scrappy such as Stoutland and Kangaskhan, are helpful, as they can utilize a boosted Facade to break through Sableye. Regirock, Ferroseed, and Mawile do a good job of providing support by being able to switch into them. Sableye fits well on balanced teams with bulky teammates and on teams that need a Fighting-type immunity. Sableye can also fit on teams as a spinblocker, since it is able to beat most spinners like Hitmonchan, Sandslash, and Kabutops. Finally, Sableye can be worn down by hazards and especially does not like Toxic Spikes, so hazard control from Pokemon like Hitmonchan, Skuntank, Lurantis, and Swanna is appreciated. Sableye also appreciates cleric support, so Pokemon like Granbull, Audino, and Miltank are good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sableye can run a Calm Mind set with Recover, Dark Pulse, and Will-O-Wisp or Taunt, making it a threatening sweeper. Sableye can run a specially defensive set, which can check certain special attackers like Lanturn, Swanna, Oricorio-G, and Alolan Raichu, although this set isn't so much about walling these kinds of threats as much as it's about being harder to take down both physically (because of Will-O-Wisp) and specially.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Powerful Special Attackers**: Sableye's special bulk is rather low, so powerful special attackers like Abomasnow, Lilligant, and Floatzel can 2HKO it with ease.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-type Pokemon like Pyroar, Magmortar, Turtonator, and Ninetales can often pivot into a predicted Will-O-Wisp and threaten Sableye out with powerful STAB attacks or threaten to set up on it, forcing Sableye to risk staying in to Taunt a potential setup move user.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-type Pokemon like Absol, Shiftry, and Liepard can all switch in on any of Sableye's moves, since they are immune to Prankster, and therefore can threaten to set up on it or KO it with a powerful attack.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Togetic, Shiinotic, and Clefairy can come in relatively safely and consistently on Sableye thanks to their access to reliable recovery and can threaten it out with a STAB attack, although Togetic and Clefairy must be wary of losing their Eviolite. Mr. Mime and Granbull can threaten Sableye offensively, but the former doesn't usually like getting its item removed, while the latter usually doesn't appreciate a burn.
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