PU Skuntank

yogi

I did not succumb...
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uploaded -zard

[OVERVIEW]
Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to its unique Poison / Dark typing, access to Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and ability to run several viable sets; these qualities also make it easy to fit on most teams. Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant while also giving it a helpful immunity against Psychic-types like Mesprit and to Prankster moves from foes like Sableye. Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank the ability to trap a Pokemon or revenge kill it, which is especially useful against Psychic- and Ghost-types or frail Pokemon. Skuntank’s reasonable Speed tier, decent Attack, and ability to run both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that's difficult to predict at Team Preview. Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in part by virtue of being a Poison-type, meaning it's able to absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in and then use Defog to remove remaining entry hazards. Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing 1/4 damage to a foe if it KOes Skuntank with a contact move. Regardless, even though it provides excellent role compression, Skuntank’s stats are all average to mediocre. This means that while it does have several roles that it fills, it does all of them to an average standard while also not being able to hit that hard or take unresisted hits.

[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field, giving it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog, as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in as well. Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokemon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, letting Skuntank act as a reliable revenge killer. Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Pyroar while giving it priority to threaten setup sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc. Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Gourgeist-XL but leaves Skuntank vulnerable to faster Pokemon that Sucker Punch enables it to check. Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant that are OHKOed by it. Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal, providing a decent utility choice that gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or prevent foes like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature giving it stronger priority and a Jolly nature allowing it to outspeed foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol. Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokemon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade. Black Sludge provides passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, making it a more reliable Defogger, and it also cripples anything that uses an item-swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo. Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a more reliable option in checking sleep inducers like Lilligant and Jynx or lets Skuntank avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Grass-types such as Jynx and Lilligant and can offensively pressure them to prevent setup. Lum Berry allows it to more reliably check sleep inducers such as the aforementioned Lilligant and Jynx. With Sucker Punch, Skuntank can pick off and revenge kill fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu, but be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G, as Substitute and setup moves cause it to fail and force mind games. Skuntank can switch into predicted Psychic-type moves from Pokemon such as Mr. Mime and Mesprit and then Pursuit trap them for teammates, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces the opponent into mind games. Skuntank can be brought in to use Defog on foes that have STAB combinations it resists, like Shiftry and Haunter, or more passive Pokemon such as Clefairy, which it usually forces out. Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but it cannot directly beat either of the setters, Qwilfish and Weezing, without Taunt. Faster variants of Qwilfish also are able to outspeed and Taunt Skuntank before it's able to Taunt back. An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely, giving it ample opportunity to use Defog or Pursuit trap. If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog, it can shut down setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or, in Musharna's case, healing with Moonlight. Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like defensive Qwilfish. During the mid- to late-game, a weakened Skuntank can use its ability Aftermath to pressure Pokemon such as Primeape, Hitmonchan, and Archeops from attacking it.

Team Options
========

Skuntank is a glue Pokemon that easily fits on most teams, synergizes with almost every archetype, and, due to its role, requires little team support. Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. In return, both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with Magmortar absorbing Will-O-Wisp and Alolan Raichu offering a way to break Gastrodon. Skuntank also pressures common checks to them by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab. Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank, as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem, which usually force Skuntank out, thanks to its high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent setup. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing. Primeape is a notable teammate, as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on. Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-turn while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Pokemon like Type: Null and Assault Vest Hitmonchan greatly appreciate the Pursuit support that Skuntank offers, trapping Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Misdreavus and Musharna that wall Type: Null and Hitmonchan. Both of these teammates are able to act as special tanks in return, taking hits from faster attackers like Pyroar, Floatzel, and Mesprit.

[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

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

Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of entry hazards along with, thanks to its typing, absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokemon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing, along with having a 30% chance to make its target flinch. Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate. Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages, meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch-ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while hitting hard. Timid is the preferred nature to outspeed Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan without losing out on much power. Modest can be used over Timid to increase Skuntank's low Special Attack stat, but it then fails to outspeed the previously mentioned Pokemon. Aftermath deters weakened foes from OHKOing Skuntank with contact moves, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage. Black Sludge provides passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This allows it to Defog more reliably compared to variants that run Darkinium Z. It also cripples foes that use either Trick or Switcheroo, providing they aren't Poison-types. Darkinium Z, though it makes Skuntank less reliable at Defogging, is an option over Black Sludge, as the stronger attack helps Skuntank break foes such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Black Hole Eclipse is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip damage. This is especially notable because physical Skuntank is a far more common set, allowing this special set to act as more of a lure.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse. Special Skuntank has a far easier time switching in and dealing with Stealth Rock and Spikes setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set, which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed. Acid Spray + Dark Pulse cripples almost all of them, and Fire Blast hits Ferroseed 4x super effectively. Skuntank is able to switch in and Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and foes with STAB combinations it resists, like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item—if it's running Black Sludge—via Knock Off from the latter two. Special Skuntank can also use Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb burns for teammates. Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse without fearing a potential burn. With Darkinium Z, Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist Dark, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which can easily take its Z-Move at -2, meaning Skuntank should be cautious of using its Z-Move when these foes are still present.

Team Options
========

Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return, Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out. Skuntank is usually susceptible to repeated chip damage throughout the match as the team's form of hazard removal, especially if it opts for Darkinium Z, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mesprit—which also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-turn—helps Skuntank keep healthy for removing entry hazards. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with. Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank, as they share no weaknesses due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switch into Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing, as its Dark typing means it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish. Gurdurr is another solid partner for Skuntank, giving a good physical check to Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Sandslash, with Skuntank offering a way to break physical walls, like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing, for Gurdurr. Choiced Fighting-types like Primeape and Passimian appreciate Skuntank breaking down physical walls like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing, which otherwise wall them; in return, they offer U-turn support and the ability to break special walls like Audino and Type: Null. The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu, as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of them break standard checks to Skuntank; for example, Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, while Alolan Raichu pressures every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu in Poison- and Dark-types.

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band / Black Glasses
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokemon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves, like Mesprit and Haunter, letting it act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets Skuntank trap weakened foes that are unable to switch out without being KOed. Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster foes like Lycanroc, Alolan Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch its middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant, if sleep clause is active, and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful Z-Moves. Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB move that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank break through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokemon. Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB move able to hit standard Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry forat least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the foe 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit. Aftermath deters foes from OHKOing it with a move that makes contact, and it deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do. Black Glasses are an option over Choice Band, giving Skuntank the ability to freely change moves and Pursuit trap more reliably while also being able to bluff having a Choice Band, at the cost of reduced damage.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check with Pursuit and Sucker Punch. Pokemon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenge killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank, allowing Skuntank to pick off certain foes for teammates. Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band, or Black Glasses, allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move; this means that Skuntank can revenge kill faster foes that would otherwise naturally outspeed and KO it. The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Qwilfish with ease while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL, which the standard physical set fails to do. All-out attacker Skuntank is, however, extremely susceptible to being burned by Will-O-Wisp or Scald and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn to not stay in or directly switch into an attack from either. Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be exploited by the opposing side; for example, Skuntank being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up absolutely for free with both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing Skuntank out. Similarly, being locked into Pursuit after trapping a foe can give the opponent ample opportunity to freely set up given the move's low Base Power, forcing Skuntank to switch and lose momentum. Using Black Glasses over Choice Band mitigates the disadvantages that the latter poses, but the reduced damage means Skuntank can struggle to revenge kill with Sucker Punch or break with Poison Jab and Crunch. Even though this set loses the ability to Defog, it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in, meaning it's still a valuable way to stop the spread of poison among the rest of its team.

Team Options
========

Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-turn while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null, as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples. An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurr—which usually force Skuntank out—thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent setup. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it. Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokemon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap. Hitmonchan is a valuable teammate because of its ability to remove hazards, which is something this Skuntank set can't do, with Rapid Spin and act as a strong special tank capable of checking the likes of Pyroar, Floatzel, and Eelektross. In return, Skuntank offers Pursuit and Sucker Punch support, which threatens common Ghost- and Psychic-type checks to Hitmonchan.

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

Z-Hone Claws gives Skuntank a setup move that provides the same power of Choice Band without forcing Skuntank to lock itself into a move; however, it then has to lose an important attack, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or forfeiting its ability to trap foes. Memento over its other support moves allows Skuntank to sacrifice itself in order to give a teammate the ability to come in for free and safely set up, even being combined with Darkinium Z to fully heal whatever switches in. Choice Scarf with Memento is an option on Skuntank, letting it surprise faster foes like Pyroar and unboosted Jynx and Lilligant, along with giving it the ability to sacrifice itself to let a teammate in for free, but Skuntank doesn't quite have the speed to pull this strategy off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change moves. A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means Skuntank often has to drop a more valued move. On the Choice Band set, Explosion can be used to surprise Pokemon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three. Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr. Shuca Berry is an option that lets Skuntank survive a Ground-type attack from Pokemon such as Alolan Dugtrio and Colbur Berry Golurk, effectively beating them. Toxic lets Skuntank hit bulky foes that are usually able to wall or force it out, such as Clear Body Regirock and Gastrodon, and cripple them for the rest of the match. A Black Glasses set with Defog, Crunch, Pursuit, and Sucker Punch can be used to effectively break would-be checks to the standard physical Defog set, like Gourgeist-XL and Musharna. Sludge Bomb is an alternative to Acid Spray on the special Defog set, as it gives more immediate power against foes like Clefairy and Lilligant, but it doesn't offer the same wallbreaking potential that Acid Spray does.

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to their natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus special sets if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge. Colbur Berry Golurk, Torterra, and Alolan Dugtrio are all able to check Skuntank; the first two can take a hit, and Alolan Dugtrio outspeeds special sets and has Substitute to outplay Sucker Punch against physical sets.

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh are able to easily take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliate with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokemon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch; Primeape can also switch into a predicted Defog to get an immediate Defiant boost. However, all of the previously mentioned Pokemon struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat, quite a few Pokemon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank is able to somewhat threaten these Pokemon, but it isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage. While Pokemon like Jynx and Oricorio-G are weak to Sucker Punch, they are able to either put Skuntank to sleep or outplay it with a combination of Flyinium Z and Substitute.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokemon are able to wall it. The physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to set up on or cripple it. Special sets are almost entirely walled by Pokemon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by Acid Spray on the switch. It's worth noting that Clear Body Regirock and Probopass are able to wall all three of Skuntank's primary sets, along with Probopass not even fearing the uncommon Toxic.
 
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yogi

I did not succumb...
is a Tutor Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus
Holy lord, this is finally ready! It's probably a little bit rough, but that's what QC is for!
 

TJ

Banned deucer.
is the Smogon Tour Season 34 Championis a Past SPL Championis a Two-Time Past SCL Champion
[OVERVIEW]
  • Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to a unique Poison- and Dark-typing, getting Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and having several viable sets.
  • Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant, while also giving an immunity to Psychic-types like Mesprit.
  • Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank both the ability to trap a Pokemon or revenge kill it, especially in the case of Psychic-types or frail Pokemon
  • Skuntank’s reasonable speed tier, decent attack, and access to both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that’s difficult to predict at Team Preview.
  • Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in-part due to virtue of being part Poison-type, as it's able to use Defog to remove all entry hazards and absorb Toxic Spikes when it's sent out.
  • Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing 1/4 damage to a foe if they KO Skuntank with a contact move.
  • (what are some drawbacks to using skuntank?)
[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field. This gives it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in.
  • Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer.
  • Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Alolan Dugrio while giving it priority to threaten set up sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc. (jynx will just lovely kiss so add something else imo)
  • Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Weezing, but leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokémon that Sucker Punch is able to check. (like?)
  • Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan, and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant who are OHKOed by it.
  • Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal. Taunt gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or foes like Gourgeist-Super and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp, making Taunt a decent utility choice.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature having stronger priority and a Jolly nature outspeeding foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol.
  • Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokémon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade. (mention a physical attacker)
  • Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, while also crippling anything that uses an item swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo. (mention trick or switchero users. saying "anything" is too general and if I was new to pu i would like to know that info)
  • Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a reliable option in checking sleep-inducing users like Lilligant and Jynx, while also being able to avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a good Psychic- and Grass-type check, being able to threaten foes such as Jynx and Lilligant, and can offensively pressure them to prevent set up. Black Sludge gives Skuntank better longevity thanks to passive recovery, but Lum berry allows to to more reliably check sleep abusers such as the afformentioned Lilligant and Jynx. (mention other psychics like mesprit or mush because you arent checking jynx unless skuntank is lum same goes for liligant or it misses lk/ sleep powder
  • Skuntank can pick off fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu with Sucker Punch, but has to be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G as Substitute and set up moves cause it to fail and force mind games.
  • Pursuit can be used to help Skuntank trap opposing Pokémon like Haunter and Mesprit, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces 50/50s for the opponent.
  • Skuntank can be brought in on foes it resists like Shiftry and Haunter or more passive Pokémon such as Cradily and Clefairy to Defog, which it usually forces out. (it does not force out cradily but everything else sounds good. also maybe something about be wary of willo from haunter if not lum as it can cripple skunk)
  • Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but cannot directly beat either of the setters without Taunt. (mention qwil and weezing instead of setters so the reader knows)
  • An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely as it's immune to Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, giving it ample opportunity to Defog or Pursuit trap.
  • If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog it means it can shutdown setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or the former healing with Synthesis. Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like Qwilfish. (say Defensive Qwilfish because skuntank cant taunt max speed qwilfish)

Team Options
========
  • Skuntank is an extremely splashable glue pokemon, fitting on most teams and synergising with almost every archetype and due to its role, requiring little team support.
  • Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. In return both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with the former absorbing Will-O-Wisp and the latter offering a way to break Gastrodon. Skuntank also pressures common checks to the aforementioned two, by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab.
  • Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-types. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing.
  • Primeape is a notable teammate as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-Turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on.
  • Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish support, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G.
[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z ( I think dark-z should def be the first slash if using acid spray but see what qc says)
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of Entry Hazards and, thanks to virtue of its typing, absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Due to this, Skuntank is the most reliable user of it in the tier.
  • Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokémon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing, along with having a 30% chance to flinch.
  • Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate.
  • Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while also allowing it to hit hard. Timid Nature is preferred as it outspeeds Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan, without losing out on much power.
  • Aftermath is the ability of choice as it deters foes (like?) from OHKOing it with contact moves if they're weakened, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage.
  • Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This is essential for it to reliably Defog. It also cripples opponents who use either Trick or Switcheroo, (like) providing they aren't Poison-type.
  • Darkinium Z is an option over Black Sludge as it helps Skuntank break opponents such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Darkinium Z is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse.
  • Special Skuntank has a far easier time dealing with Stealth Rock and Spike setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed, thanks to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse crippling almost all of them and Fire Blast hitting Ferroseed 4x super effectively.
  • Skuntank is able to Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and things it resists like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item - if it's running Black Sludge - from Knock Off from the latter two.
  • Skuntank can also Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it being the special set and not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb them for teammates.
  • Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse, without fearing a potential Burn.
  • With Darkinium Z Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist it, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan which can easily take its z move at -2.

Team Options
========
  • Skuntank is a very splashable glue Pokémon, able to fit onto almost every archetype of team, requiring little support due to how it functions.
  • Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out. (you said skunk could break the special walls with dark z + acid spray and then you said it struggles to break hitmonchan.. so why not mention a teamate that can beat down it?)
  • Skuntank is usually susceptible to being constantly chipped throughout the match, especially if it opts for the Darkinium Z set, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mesprit - which also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-Turn - help Skuntank keep healthy for hazard removal. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with. (defensive sets? how do they struggle?)
  • Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank as they share no common weaknesses, due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switch in to Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing as it's Dark-type meaning it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish.
  • The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of which break standard checks to Skuntank; for example Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, with Alolan Raichu pressuring every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu in Poison- and Dark-types. (like?)
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets it trap weakened foes, who are unable to switch out without being KO'd.
  • Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster opponents like Lycanroc, Alolan Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch it's middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful z moves. (I like this but you dont beat lili unless they miss, ur lum since it will just go for sleep powder or unless another mon is asleep so make it clear)
  • Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank breaks through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokémon. (what subsitute pokemon?) (tbh i dont like the mush example since you kinda beat it anyway most of the time)
  • Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB able to hit standard Dark-type resists such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry for at least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the opponent 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit.
  • Aftermath is Skuntank's best ability as it deters foes (what foes [insert physical mon here) from OHKOing it, requiring it's a move that makes contact, and deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check which it can either Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Pokémon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenged killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank. ( i mean this set is choice locked so mention something like raichu can play around sucker if it predicts you to be choiced)
  • Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move.
  • The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Golem with ease, while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL which the standard Physical set fails to do.
  • Choice Band Skuntank is extremely susceptible to being burned by either Will-O-Wisp or Scald (from?) and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn.
  • Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be abused by the opposing side; for example being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing it out. (being locked into sucker can also make things like costa setup)
  • Even though this set loses the ability to Defog it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it swtiches in, meaning it's still a valuable way for stopping the spread of Poison among the rest of its team.

Team Options
========
  • Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G.
  • Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every Special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples.
  • An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground-types. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurr - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it.
  • Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokémon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-Turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • Hone Claws gives Skuntank a setup move that gives it the same power of Choice Band without needing to lock itself into a move; however it has to lose some form of coverage, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or losing its ability to trap foes.
  • Choice Scarf is an option on Skuntank letting it surprise faster opponents like Pyroar, and non-boosted Jynx and Lilligant, but doesn't quite have the speed to pull it off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change coverage.
  • A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means it often has to drop a more valued move.
  • On the Choice Band set Explosion can be used to surprise Pokémon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three.
  • Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr.

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus the special set if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge.

**Status** (willo) if physical

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh able to easy take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliating with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokémon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with either Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch. All of the previously mentioned struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon Opponents**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat quite a few Pokémon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank's able to somewhat threaten these Pokémon, but isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokémon are able to wall it. The Physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to setup on or cripple it. The Special set is almost entirely walled by Pokémon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by and Acid Spray on the switch.
am check, this was rly good
 

yogi

I did not succumb...
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I implemented some of these. The reason why I didn't want to add examples to the Aftermath and Black Sludge sections is because they're quite general, but may add it if another QC agrees. Thanks!
 
not much to add but i think skuntank's match up against regirock in c&cs should be explained a little more thoroughly since standard regirock with clear body unambiguously beats both physical and special sets pretty solidly, making it skuntank's most reliable defensive answer in general. also in the context of faster pokemon it's worth a mention that certain pokemon like oricorio-g and jynx that can threaten skunk have ways of bypassing sucker punch with stuff like kiss or sub. i'd also figure out a way to lump in aggron and pawniard somewhere in checks and counters (perhaps consider creating a steel types section? there's also stuff like ferroseed and probopass that can switch into and beat physical sets easily, while also probo walling special sets too) since they're one of the best offensive checks to non special sets (basically the most common types of skuntank ofc) and pawn is a solid defog deterrent thanks to defiant.

i'd mention 2x's AV set/spreads in OO since it has its niches in blanket checking the special attackers that skuntank wants to more reliably like offensive mesprit, oricorio, ludicolo, etc., and generally the option i'd go for if i wanted skutank to deal with such threats more reliably than its traditional sets.

good job on this in any case.
 

yogi

I did not succumb...
is a Tutor Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus
Will implement most of this. Ferroseed is already mentioned in c&c, will add about jynx and Oricorio-G as I have mentioned them in previous sets, bit iffy about adding Pawn purely because it loses to one set outright and is quite a niche mon. I'll ask for taps set. Thanks!
 

MZ

And now for something completely different
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[OVERVIEW]
  • Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to a unique Poison- and Dark-typing, getting Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and having several viable sets.
  • Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant, while also giving an immunity to Psychic-types like Mesprit.
  • Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank both the ability to trap a Pokemon or revenge kill it, especially in the case of Psychic-types or frail Pokemon.
  • Skuntank’s reasonable speed tier, decent attack, and access to both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that’s difficult to predict at Team Preview.
  • Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in-part due to virtue of being part Poison-type, as it's able to use Defog to remove all entry hazards and absorb Toxic Spikes when it's sent out.
  • Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing 1/4 damage to a foe if they KO Skuntank with a contact move.
  • Even though it provides excellent role compression, Skuntank only has average stats in HP, Attack, and Speed, with it having mediocre Defences and Special Attack Stats. this is obvious, it's the impact that u should be talking about i.e. it's not super strong or bulky or anything so won't totally crush any one role
i would like to see something about splashability here, it's not somth u always mention but when it's top 2 splashable that's quite notable

[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field. This gives it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in.
  • Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer.
  • Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Alolan Dugrio while giving it priority to threaten set up sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc.
  • Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Weezing, but leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokémon that Sucker Punch is able to check.
  • Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan, and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant who are OHKOed by it.
  • Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal. Taunt gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or foes like Gourgeist-Super and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp, making Taunt a decent utility choice.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature having stronger priority and a Jolly nature outspeeding foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol.
  • Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokémon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade.
  • Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, while also crippling anything that uses an item swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo.
  • Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a reliable option in checking sleep-inducing users like Lilligant and Jynx, while also being able to avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a good Psychic- and Grass-type check, being able to threaten foes such as Jynx and Lilligant, and can offensively pressure them to prevent set up. Black Sludge gives Skuntank better longevity thanks to passive recovery, but Lum berry allows to to more reliably check sleep abusers such as the afformentioned Lilligant and Jynx. u already discussed the merits of lum in set details, maybe u mean to say that lum checks them better than sludge does?
  • Skuntank can pick off fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu with Sucker Punch, but has to be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G as Substitute and set up moves cause it to fail and force mind games.
  • Pursuit can be used to help Skuntank trap opposing Pokémon like Haunter and Mesprit already used the same exact examples, at least mix up haunter, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces 50/50s for the opponent.
  • Skuntank can be brought in on foes it resists it resists their STAB combos, not the foes themselves like Shiftry and Haunter or more passive Pokémon such as Clefairy to Defog, which it usually forces out.
  • Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but cannot directly beat either of the setters, Qwilfish and Weezing, without Taunt.
  • An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely as it's immune to Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, giving it ample opportunity to Defog or Pursuit trap.
  • If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog it means it can shutdown setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or the former healing with Synthesis. Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like Defensive Qwilfish. this is a point that belongs in moves, not usage tips. if u want to mention taunt in usage tips u actually have to give a tip about how to use it not just "taunt stops xyz from using status moves"

Team Options
========
  • Skuntank is an extremely splashable glue pokemon, fitting on most teams and synergising with almost every archetype and due to its role, requiring little team support.
  • Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. is alolan raichu really hurt by tspikes? v weird mon to mention imo when u have shit like mushy or w/e In return both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with the former absorbing Will-O-Wisp and the latter offering a way to break Gastrodon. Skuntank also pressures common checks to the aforementioned two, by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab.
  • Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-types. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing.
  • Primeape is a notable teammate as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-Turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on.
  • Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish support, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G.
i would just go slightly more into things that appreciate pursuit, ur only briefly mentioning it on the side for weezing and primeape without really going into it

[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of Entry Hazards and, thanks to virtue of its typing, absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Due to this, Skuntank is the most reliable user of it in the tier. u already said it's the most reliable remover, no need to bring it up over and over every time defog comes up
  • Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokémon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing, along with having a 30% chance to flinch.
  • Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate.
  • Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.
Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while also allowing it to hit hard. Timid Nature is preferred as it outspeeds Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan, without losing out on much power.
  • Aftermath is the ability of choice as it deters foes from OHKOing it with contact moves if they're weakened, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage.
  • Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This is essential for it to reliably Defog. It also cripples opponents who use either Trick or Switcheroo, providing they aren't Poison-type.
  • Darkinium Z is an option over Black Sludge as it helps Skuntank break opponents such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Darkinium Z is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse.
  • Special Skuntank has a far easier time dealing with Stealth Rock and Spike setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed, thanks to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse crippling almost all of them and Fire Blast hitting Ferroseed 4x super effectively.
  • Skuntank is able to Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and things it resists like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item - if it's running Black Sludge - from Knock Off from the latter two.
  • Skuntank can also Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it being the special set and not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb them for teammates.
  • Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse, without fearing a potential Burn.
  • With Darkinium Z Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist it, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan which can easily take its z move at -2.
definitely mention something about lure/surprise factor, physical is far more common so there's always potential to catch an incoming qwil or somth esp if u drop that z-nuke

Team Options
========
  • Skuntank is a very splashable glue Pokémon, able to fit onto almost every archetype of team, requiring little support due to how it functions.
  • Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out.
  • Skuntank is usually susceptible to being constantly chipped throughout the match, especially if it opts for the Darkinium Z set, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mesprit - which also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-Turn - help Skuntank keep healthy for hazard removal. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with.
  • Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank as they share no common weaknesses, due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switch in to Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing as it's Dark-type meaning it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish. u already did a big thing on weezing for physical skunk and it is a much better parter to physical. i agree that "mons that like psychic checks" and "ground checks" are worth mentioning, but perhaps don't limit those to just weezing and offer new things like gurdrr and mesprit or w/e
  • The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of which break standard checks to Skuntank; for example Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, with Alolan Raichu pressuring every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu in Poison- and Dark-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets it trap weakened foes, who are unable to switch out without being KO'd.
  • Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster opponents like Lycanroc, Alolan Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch it's middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant, if another teammate is asleep, and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful z moves.
  • Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank breaks through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokémon.
  • Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB able to hit standard Dark-type resists such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry for at least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the opponent 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit.
  • Aftermath is Skuntank's best ability as it deters foes from OHKOing it, requiring it's a move that makes contact, and deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check which it can either Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Pokémon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenged killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank.
  • Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move.
  • The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Golem with ease, while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL which the standard Physical set fails to do. i wouldnt necessarily say u break golem with ease when spdef is only 3hkod by crunch
  • Choice Band Skuntank is extremely susceptible to being burned by either Will-O-Wisp or Scald and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn.
  • Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be abused by the opposing side; for example being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing it out. u already mentioned oricorio as a skunk abuser before and i would just go a little more into really being careful about locking urself into sucker
  • Even though this set loses the ability to Defog it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it swtiches in, meaning it's still a valuable way for stopping the spread of Poison among the rest of its team.

Team Options
========
  • Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G.
  • Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every Special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples.
  • An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground-types. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurr - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it. again i really don't get the use of weezing, it's just a way to avoid talking about things like "mons that like pursuit" and "ground checks" and "phys def partners when zangoose forces u out" because u rolled all of that into 1 mon and didn't really elaborate on it at all. it's lazy (not intentional, I'm just saying that's what it ends up being) way to avoid talking about more stuff
  • Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokémon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-Turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • Hone Claws gives Skuntank a setup move that gives it the same power of Choice Band without needing to lock itself into a move; however it has to lose some form of coverage, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or losing its ability to trap foes.
  • Choice Scarf is an option on Skuntank letting it surprise faster opponents like Pyroar, and non-boosted Jynx and Lilligant, but doesn't quite have the speed to pull it off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change coverage.
  • A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means it often has to drop a more valued move.
  • On the Choice Band set Explosion can be used to surprise Pokémon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three.
  • Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr.
memento, AV skunk (with the EV spread), a more defensive defog skunk set with foul play and taunt, toxic to catch bulky grounds like gastro or mudsdale (and some other things obv but mostly them), iapapa berry or whichever pinch doesn't fuck with ur nature, and shuca berry could all use mentions

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus the special set if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge. i do feel like u could talk about slightly more here, colbur golurk/alolan duggy/mudsdale/torterra all check skunk

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh able to easy take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliating with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokémon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with either Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch. All of the previously mentioned struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat quite a few Pokémon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank's able to somewhat threaten these Pokémon, but isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokémon are able to wall it. The Physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to setup on or cripple it. The Special set is almost entirely walled by Pokémon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by and Acid Spray on the switch.
qcstamp.gif
1/3
 

yogi

I did not succumb...
is a Tutor Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus
This has been implemented, I will need to try and find an alternative partner over Weezing which I'll do while waiting for the second check but really it's kinda difficult because Weezing+Skuntank, while admittedly lazy, is such a good core.
 

ManOfMany

I can make anything real
is a Tiering Contributor
[OVERVIEW]
  • Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to a unique Poison- and Dark-typing, getting Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and having several viable sets; also making it extremely splashable as it fits on most teams.
  • Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant, while also giving an immunity to Psychic-types like Mesprit.
  • Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank both the ability to trap a Pokemon or revenge kill it, especially in the case of Psychic-types or frail Pokemon.
  • Skuntank’s reasonable speed tier, decent attack, and access to both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that’s difficult to predict at Team Preview.
  • Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in-part due to virtue of being part Poison-type, as it's able to use Defog to remove all entry hazards and absorb Toxic Spikes when it's sent out.
  • Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing 1/4 damage to a foe if they KO Skuntank with a contact move.
  • Even though it provides excellent role compression, Skuntank only has average stats in HP, Attack, and Speed, with it having mediocre Defences and Special Attack Stats. This means that while it does have several roles that it fills it does all of them to an average standard, while also not being able to hit that hard or take unresisted hits.
[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field. This gives it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in.
  • Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer.
  • Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Alolan Dugrio while giving it priority to threaten set up sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc.
  • Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Weezing, but leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokémon that Sucker Punch is able to check.
  • Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan, and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant who are OHKOed by it.
  • Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal. Taunt gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or foes like Gourgeist-Super and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp, making Taunt a decent utility choice.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature having stronger priority and a Jolly nature outspeeding foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol.
  • Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokémon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade.
  • Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, while also crippling anything that uses an item swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo.
  • Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a more reliable option in checking sleep-inducing users like Lilligant and Jynx, while also being able to avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald. (i added more here because the matchup is still so iffy versus Jynx and Z-Hyper Beam Lilli even with a one-time sleep immunity)

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a good Psychic- and Grass-type check, being able to threaten foes such as Jynx and Lilligant, and can offensively pressure them to prevent set up. Lum Berry Skuntank allows it to more reliably check sleep abusers such as the afformentioned Lilligant and Jynx. this needs to be less like listing facts and more of "Switch Skuntank into these mons. Also it isn't really that good of a Jynx check so i would place less emphasis on that
  • Skuntank can pick off fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu with Sucker Punch, but has to be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G as Substitute and set up moves cause it to fail and force mind games.
  • Pursuit can be used to help Skuntank trap opposing Pokémon like Mr. Mime and Mesprit, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces 50/50s for the opponent. again this sounds more like a Moves bullet, just make it a bit more active
  • Skuntank can be brought in on foes it resists STAB combos of like Shiftry and Haunter or more passive Pokémon such as Clefairy to Defog, which it usually forces out.
  • Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but cannot directly beat either of the setters, Qwilfish and Weezing, without Taunt.
  • An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely as it's immune to Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, giving it ample opportunity to Defog or Pursuit trap. i don't think this needs its own usage tip
  • If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog it means it can shutdown setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or the former healing with Synthesis. Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like Defensive Qwilfish or against Will-O-Wisp users such as Gourgeist-XL, which can either Taunt or Burn the Defog version.
  • you never talk about actually straight-up attacking, or using Aftermath to bop physical attackers

Team Options
========
  • Skuntank is an extremely splashable glue pokemon, fitting on most teams and synergising with almost every archetype and due to its role, requiring little team support.
  • Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. In return both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with the former absorbing Will-O-Wisp and the latter offering a way to break Gastrodon. Skuntank also pressures common checks to the aforementioned two, by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab.
  • Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-types. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing.
  • Primeape is a notable teammate as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-Turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on.
  • Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish support, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G.
  • Pokemon like Type: Null and Assault Vest Hitmonchan greatly appreciate the Pursuit support that Skuntank offers, trapping Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Drifblim and Musharna which wall Type: Null and Hitmonchan. Both of these teammates are able to act as special walls in return, taking hits from faster attackers like Pyroar, Floatzel, and Mesprit.
  • this is good, I like how you acknowledge that Skuntank fits with just about any pokemon so then you go into some specific pokemon it fits the most with

[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid no Modest slash?
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of Entry Hazards and, thanks to virtue of its typing, absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in.
  • Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokémon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing, along with having a 30% chance to flinch.
  • Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate.
  • Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while also allowing it to hit hard. Timid Nature is preferred as it outspeeds Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan, without losing out on much power.
  • Aftermath is the ability of choice as it deters foes from OHKOing it with contact moves if they're weakened, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage.
  • Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This is essential for it to reliably Defog uh it can still reliably Defog with the Z-item too, maybe reword this. It also cripples opponents who use either Trick or Switcheroo, providing they aren't Poison-type.
  • Darkinium Z is an option over Black Sludge as it helps Skuntank break opponents such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Darkinium Z is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip. This is especially notable as Physical Skuntank is a far more common set, allowing the Special set to act as more of a lure set.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse.
  • Special Skuntank has a far easier time dealing with Stealth Rock and Spike setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed, thanks to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse crippling almost all of them and Fire Blast hitting Ferroseed 4x super effectively.
  • Skuntank is able to Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and things it resists like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item - if it's running Black Sludge - from Knock Off from the latter two.
  • Skuntank can also Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it being the special set and not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb them for teammates. probably combine this with previous sentence and simplify/shorten
  • Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse, without fearing a potential Burn.
  • With Darkinium Z Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist it, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan which can easily take its z move at -2.
  • while this is better than the other two Usage Tips, there's still a bunch here that needs to be reworded to "Skuntank should switch in on this, Skuntank should do that" rather than just listing its attributes


Team Options
========
  • Skuntank is a very splashable glue Pokémon, able to fit onto almost every archetype of team, requiring little support due to how it functions. dont just repeat
  • Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out.
  • Skuntank is usually susceptible to being constantly chipped throughout the match, especially if it opts for the Darkinium Z set, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mesprit - which also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-Turn - help Skuntank keep healthy for hazard removal. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with.
  • Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank as they share no common weaknesses, due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switch in to Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing as it's Dark-type meaning it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish. don't need this much detail :o
  • Gurdurr is another solid partner for Skuntank by giving a good Physical check versus Gorund-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Sandslash, with Skuntank offering Pursuit support to trap Ghost-types for Gurdurr. i'd just mention Fighting-types in general cause Skunk beating Psychics and Weezing (also btw you can mention Passimian now that it's good)
  • The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of which break standard checks to Skuntank; for example Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, with Alolan Raichu pressuring every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu in Poison- and Dark-types. you don't need this much detail imo. Also if you're mentioning Defog might as well mention mons weak to SR.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
  • Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets it trap weakened foes, who are unable to switch out without being KO'd.
  • Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster opponents like Lycanroc, Alolan Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch it's middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant, if another teammate is asleep, and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful z moves. mention the flaws of being locked in to it
  • Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank breaks through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokémon.
  • Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB able to hit standard Dark-type resists such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry for at least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the opponent 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta.

Set Details
========
  • Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit.
  • Aftermath is Skuntank's best ability as it deters foes from OHKOing it, requiring it's a move that makes contact, and deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do.

Usage Tips
========
  • Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check which it can either Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Pokémon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenged killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank.
  • Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move.
  • The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Golem with ease, while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL which the standard Physical set fails to do.
  • Choice Band Skuntank is extremely susceptible to being burned by either Will-O-Wisp or Scald and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn.
  • Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be abused by the opposing side; for example being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up for absolutely free with both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing it out.
  • Even though this set loses the ability to Defog it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it swtiches in, meaning it's still a valuable way for stopping the spread of Poison among the rest of its team.
again you're at risk of this sounding like "listing facts", which is more of a Moves and Set Details thing. Try to talk about how you would play Skuntank in a battle.

Team Options
========
  • Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G.
  • Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every Special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples.
  • An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground-types. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurr - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it. you already have like 3 huge paragraphs on Weezing, maybe mention something else this time? idk. I know it's good
  • Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokémon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-Turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • Hone Claws mention Z-move gives Skuntank a setup move that gives it the same power of Choice Band without needing to lock itself into a move; however it has to lose some form of coverage, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or losing its ability to trap foes.
  • Choice Scarf is an option on Skuntank letting it surprise faster opponents like Pyroar, and non-boosted Jynx and Lilligant, but doesn't quite have the speed to pull it off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change coverage.
  • A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means it often has to drop a more valued move. specify
  • On the Choice Band set Explosion can be used to surprise Pokémon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three.
  • Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr.
  • Shuca Berry is an option that lets Skuntank live a Ground-type attack from Pokémon such as Alolan Dugtrio and Colbur Berry Golurk, effectively beating them.
  • Memento over its other support moves allows Skuntank to sacrifice itself in order to give a teammate the ability to come in for free and safely set up, even being combined with Darkinium Z to fully heal whatever switches in.
  • Toxic lets Skuntank hit bulky foes that are usually able to wall or force it out, such as Clear Body Regirock and Gastrodon, and cripple them for the rest of the match.
  • Insert AV skunk with a spread made by tap soon trademark.
  • Specs s/o Shane :heart:

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus the special set if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge. Colbur Golurk, Torterra, and Alolan Dugtrio are all able to check Skuntank by either taking a hit with the former two or either outspeeding the Special set or using Substitute to outplay Sucker Punch against the Physical set. add Palossand and Muddy i guess

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh able to easy take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliating with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokémon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with either Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch. All of the previously mentioned struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat quite a few Pokémon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank's able to somewhat threaten these Pokémon, but isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage. While Pokémon like Jynx and Oricorio-G are weak to Sucker Punch, they are able to either put Skuntank to sleep or outplay it with a combination of Flyium Z and Substitute.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokémon are able to wall it. The Physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to setup on or cripple it. The Special set is almost entirely walled by Pokémon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by and Acid Spray on the switch. It's worth noting that Clear Body Regirock and Probopass are able to wall all three of Skuntank's primary sets, along with Probopass not even fearing the uncommon Toxic.

QC 2/3

i can tell you spent a lot of time on this. As a general tip I'd probably put more emphasis how it beats Mesprit more cause Mesprit is the best mon in the tier. Also, some parts you go a little overboard in the amount of detail required
 

yogi

I did not succumb...
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QC 2/3

i can tell you spent a lot of time on this. As a general tip I'd probably put more emphasis how it beats Mesprit more cause Mesprit is the best mon in the tier. Also, some parts you go a little overboard in the amount of detail required
Implemented most of this thanks! I'm not a fan on putting too much emphasis on Skuntank beating Mesprit because Mesprit has several ways it can actually win or at least not lose against Skuntank. This is written up and ready for the final QC check!

Also I'm keeping Weezing in all three team options. It is quite literally the best Skuntank partner.
 
Last edited:
[OVERVIEW]

Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to a unique Poison- and Dark-typing, getting Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and having several viable sets; also making it extremely splashable as it fits on most teams. Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant, while also giving an immunity to Psychic-types like Mesprit. (Immunity to prankster moves could also be noted as its the most relevant Dark type in the tier) Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank both the ability to trap a Pokemon or revenge kill it, especially in the case of Psychic-types (Mention Ghost types here too) or frail Pokemon. (such as?) Skuntank’s reasonable speed tier, decent attack, and access to both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that’s difficult to predict at Team Preview. Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in-part due to virtue of being part Poison-type, as it's able to use Defog to remove all entry hazards and absorb Toxic Spikes when it's sent out. Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing 1/4 damage to a foe if they KO Skuntank with a contact move. Even though it provides excellent role compression, Skuntank only has average stats in HP, Attack, and Speed, with it having mediocre Defences and Special Attack Stats. This means that while it does have several roles that it fills it does all of them to an average standard, while also not being able to hit that hard or take unresisted hits. (Mention lack of weaknesses as a positive).

[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field. This gives it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in. Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Alolan Dugrio (Main Alolan Duggy set has Sub so maybe go with a different example) while giving it priority to threaten set up sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc. Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Weezing, (Weezing still wins 1v1 pretty easily with wisp and Crunch doesnt do much even when not burnt so id remove Weezing here) but leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokémon that Sucker Punch is able to check. Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan, and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant who are OHKOed by it. Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal. Taunt gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or foes like Gourgeist-Super and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp, making Taunt a decent utility choice.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature having stronger priority and a Jolly nature outspeeding foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol. (Jolly Absol isnt seen too often in my experience and with Zangoose rising in USUM i think that could be a better example) Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokémon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade. Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, (briefly mention how this improves its ability to Defog too) while also crippling anything that uses an item swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo. Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a more reliable option in checking sleep-inducing users like Lilligant and Jynx, while also being able to avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good Psychic- and Grass-type check, being able to threaten foes such as Jynx and Lilligant, and can offensively pressure them to prevent set up. Lum Berry Skuntank allows it to more reliably check sleep abusers such as the afformentioned Lilligant and Jynx. With Sucker Punch, Skuntank can pick off and revenge kill fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu, but has to be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G as Substitute and set up moves cause it to fail and force mind games. Skuntank can switch into the predicted Psychic-type moves of Pokemon such as Mr. Mime and Mesprit and then Pursuit trap them for teammates, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces 50/50s for the opponent. Skuntank can be brought in on foes it resists STAB combos of like Shiftry and Haunter or more passive Pokémon such as Clefairy to Defog, which it usually forces out. Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but cannot directly beat either of the setters, Qwilfish and Weezing, without Taunt. (I'd argue that it doesnt beat Qwilfish even with Taunt as qwil outspeeds and Taunts first) An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely as it's immune to Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, giving it ample opportunity to Defog or Pursuit trap. If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog it means it can shutdown setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or the former healing with Synthesis. Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like Defensive Qwilfish or against Will-O-Wisp users such as Gourgeist-XL, which can either Taunt or Burn Defog Skuntank. During the mid- to late-game, a weakened Skuntank can use its ability Aftermath to pressure Pokémon such as Primeape, Hitmonchan, and Archeops from attacking it.

Team Options
========

Skuntank is an extremely splashable glue pokemon, fitting on most teams and synergising with almost every archetype and due to its role, requiring little team support. Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. In return both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with the former absorbing Will-O-Wisp and the latter offering a way to break Gastrodon. Skuntank also pressures common checks to the aforementioned two, by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab. Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-types. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing. Primeape is a notable teammate as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-Turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on. (Mention how ape can also cc freely with psychic and ghost types trapped) Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish support, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Pokemon like Type: Null and Assault Vest Hitmonchan greatly appreciate the Pursuit support that Skuntank offers, trapping Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Drifblim and Musharna which wall Type: Null and Hitmonchan. Both of these teammates are able to act as special walls (wouldnt really call chan a wall so id rephrase here) in return, taking hits from faster attackers like Pyroar, Floatzel, and Mesprit.

[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

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

Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of Entry Hazards and, thanks to virtue of its typing, absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokémon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing (mention that qwilfish and weezing would normally switch into the physical set), along with having a 30% chance to flinch. Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate. Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while also allowing it to hit hard. Timid Nature is preferred as it outspeeds Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan, without losing out on much power. Modest can be used over Timid to increase Skuntank's low Special Attack stat, but then fails to outspeed the previously mentioned Pokémon. Aftermath is the ability of choice as it deters foes from OHKOing it with contact moves if they're weakened, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage. Black sludge is passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This allows it to Defog more reliably compared to the Darkinium Z version. It also cripples opponents who use either Trick or Switcheroo, providing they aren't Poison-type. Darkinium Z is an option over Black Sludge as it helps Skuntank break opponents such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Darkinium Z is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip. This is especially notable as Physical Skuntank is a far more common set, allowing the Special set to act as more of a lure set. (Mention how this set is also good for stallbreaking due to Acid spray)

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse. Special Skuntank has a far easier time switching in and dealing with Stealth Rock and Spike setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed, thanks to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse crippling almost all of them and Fire Blast hitting Ferroseed 4x super effectively. Skuntank is able to switch in and Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and things it resists like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item - if it's running Black Sludge - from Knock Off from the latter two. Skuntank can also Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it being the special set and not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb them for teammates. Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse, without fearing a potential Burn. With Darkinium Z Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist it, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan which can easily take its z move at -2, meaning it should be cautious of using its z move when they're still present.

Team Options
========

Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out. Skuntank is usually susceptible to being constantly chipped throughout the match, (Especially since its switching in on hazards to defog) especially if it opts for the Darkinium Z set, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mesprit - which also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-Turn - help Skuntank keep healthy for hazard removal. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with. Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank as they share no common weaknesses, due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switch in to Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing as it's Dark-type meaning it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish. Gurdurr is another solid partner for Skuntank by giving a good Physical check versus Gorund-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Sandslash, with Skuntank offering Pursuit support to trap Ghost-types (such as?) for Gurdurr. Choiced Fighting-types like Primeape and Passimian appreciate Skuntank breaking down physical walls like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing, which otherwise wall them; in return, Primeape and Passimian offer U-Turn support and the ability to break special walls like Audino and Type: Null. The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of which break standard checks to Skuntank; for example Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, with Alolan Raichu pressuring every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu in Poison- and Dark-types.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant / Jolly (Jolly still should be first slash on this but maybe check with other QC)
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokémon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets it trap weakened foes, who are unable to switch out without being KO'd. Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster opponents like Lycanroc, Alolan Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch it's middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant, if another teammate is asleep, and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful z moves. Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank breaks through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokémon. Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB able to hit standard Dark-type resists such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry for at least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the opponent 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta. (pjab also hits fairies)

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit. Aftermath is Skuntank's best ability as it deters foes from OHKOing it, requiring it's a move that makes contact, and deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check which it can either Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Pokémon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenged killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank, allowing Skuntank to pick off certain foes for teammates. Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move; this means that Skuntank can revenge kill faster foes that would otherwise naturally outspeed and KO it. The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Golem with ease, (I wouldnt say it breaks Golem with ease as even Adamant has a chance to not 2hko and Golem ohkos back) while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL which the standard Physical set fails to do. Choice Band Skuntank is, however, extremely susceptible to being burned by either Will-O-Wisp or Scald and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn to not stay in or directly switch into an attack from either. Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be abused by the opposing side; for example being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up for absolutely free with both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing it out. (Mention how being locked into pursuit can be detremental too) Even though this set loses the ability to Defog it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it swtiches in, meaning it's still a valuable way for stopping the spread of Poison among the rest of its team.

Team Options
========

Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-Turn; while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every Special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples. An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground-types. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurr - which usually force Skuntank out - thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent set up. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it. Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokémon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-Turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap. (Mention how you need to run different mean of removal bc this skunk doesnt run defog and give some examples)

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

Hone Claws with a z move (Z-Hone Claws?) gives Skuntank a setup move that gives it the same power of Choice Band without needing to lock itself into a move; however it has to lose some form of coverage, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or losing its ability to trap foes. Choice Scarf with Memento is an option on Skuntank letting it surprise faster opponents like Pyroar, and non-boosted Jynx and Lilligant, along with the ability to sacrifice itself to let a teammate in for free, but doesn't quite have the speed to pull it off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change coverage. A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means it often has to drop a more valued move. (HP grass can be used on the special set too, perhaps more commonly, so i'd mention it seperately) On the Choice Band set Explosion can be used to surprise Pokémon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three. Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr. Shuca Berry is an option that lets Skuntank live a Ground-type attack from Pokémon such as Alolan Dugtrio and Colbur Berry Golurk, effectively beating them. Memento over its other support moves allows Skuntank to sacrifice itself in order to give a teammate the ability to come in for free and safely set up, even being combined with Darkinium Z to fully heal whatever switches in. Toxic lets Skuntank hit bulky foes that are usually able to wall or force it out, such as Clear Body Regirock and Gastrodon, and cripple them for the rest of the match. A Blackglasses set with Defog, Crunch, Pursuit and Sucker Punch can be used to effectively break would-be checks to the standard physical Defog set, like Gourgeist-XL and Musharna.
Sludge Bomb gives the special set a more reliable way to hit Lilligant and a more immediate way to threaten fairys such as clefairy.

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus the special set if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge. Colbur Golurk, Torterra, and Alolan Dugtrio are all able to check Skuntank by either taking a hit with the former two or either outspeeding the Special set or using Substitute to outplay Sucker Punch against the Physical set.

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh able to easy take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliating with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokémon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with either Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch. (Mention how primeape can switch in on defogs and get the Defiant boost too) All of the previously mentioned struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat quite a few Pokémon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank's able to somewhat threaten these Pokémon, but isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage. While Pokémon like Jynx and Oricorio-G are weak to Sucker Punch, they are able to either put Skuntank to sleep or outplay it with a combination of Flyium Z and Substitute.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokémon are able to wall it. The Physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to setup on or cripple it. The Special set is almost entirely walled by Pokémon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by and Acid Spray on the switch. It's worth noting that Clear Body Regirock and Probopass are able to wall all three of Skuntank's primary sets, along with Probopass not even fearing the uncommon Toxic.
Might have nit-picked a bit but really good job! 3/3

 

P Squared

a great unrecorded history
is a Site Content Manageris a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
GP 1/2


first gp on xenforo 2 :O
if anything looks weird let me know, i used a script to format this and i didn't really check it for bugs
[OVERVIEW]
Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to a its unique Poison / Dark typing Poison- and Dark-typing, access to getting Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and ability to run having several viable sets; these qualities also make making it easy to fit on extremely splashable as it fits on most teams. Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant, (RC) while also giving it a helpful an immunity against to Psychic-types like Mesprit; it also offers an immunity and to Prankster moves from foes like Sableye. Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank both the ability to trap a Pokemon or revenge kill it, which is especially useful against in the case of Psychic- and Ghost-types or frail Pokemon. Skuntank’s reasonable Speed tier, decent Attack, and ability to run access to both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that’s difficult to predict at Team Preview. Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in part by due to virtue of being a part Poison-type, meaning as it's able to absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in and then use Defog to remove all remaining entry hazards and absorb Toxic Spikes when it's sent out. Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing 1/4 damage to a foe if they KO Skuntank with a contact move. Regardless, even though it provides excellent role compression, Skuntank only has average stats in HP, Attack, and Speed, with it having and mediocre defenses and Special Attack Stats. (the stats are shown on the analysis page right above the overview, so I would just say "Regardless [...], Skuntank's stats are all average to mediocre") This means that while it does have several roles that it fills, (AC) it does all of them to an average standard, (RC) while also not being able to hit that hard or take unresisted hits.

[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field, giving. This gives it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog, (AC) as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in as well. Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokemon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, letting meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Pyroar while giving it priority to threaten setup sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc. Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Gourgeist-XLSuper, but leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokemon that Sucker Punch is able to check. Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan, (RC) and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant that who are OHKOed by it. Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal. Taunt is a decent utility choice that gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or prevent foes like Gourgeist-XLSuper and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp, making Taunt a decent utility choice.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature giving it having stronger priority and a Jolly nature allowing it to outspeeding foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol. Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokemon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade. Black Sludge provides passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, making it meaning it's a more reliable Defogger, and it also cripples while also crippling anything that uses an item-swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo. Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a more reliable option in checking sleep inducers sleep-inducing users like Lilligant and Jynx, while also being able to or lets Skuntank avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Grass-types check, being able to threaten foes such as Jynx and Lilligant, (RC) and can offensively pressure them to prevent setup. Lum Berry Skuntank allows it to more reliably check sleep inducers abusers such as the afforaforementioned Lilligant and Jynx. With Sucker Punch, Skuntank can pick off and revenge kill fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu, but has to be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G, (AC) as Substitute and setup moves cause it to fail and force mind games. Skuntank can switch into the predicted Psychic-type moves from of Pokemon such as Mr. Mime and Mesprit and then Pursuit trap them for teammates, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces 50/50s for the opponent. Skuntank can be brought in to use Defog on foes that have STAB combinations it resists, (AC) STAB combos of like Shiftry and Haunter, (AC) or more passive Pokemon such as Clefairy to Defog, which it usually forces out. Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but it cannot directly beat either of the setters, Qwilfish and Weezing, without Taunt. Faster variants of Qwilfish are able to outspeed and Taunt Skuntank before it's able to Taunt back. An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely, (AC) as it's immune to Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, giving it ample opportunity to use Defog or Pursuit trap. If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog, it means it can shut down setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or, in Musharna's case, the former healing with Synthesis. Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like defensive Qwilfish or against Will-O-Wisp users such as Gourgeist-XL, which can either Taunt or Burn Defog Skuntank. (don't you say that in the previous sentence?) During the mid- to late-game, a weakened Skuntank can use its ability Aftermath to pressure Pokemon such as Primeape, Hitmonchan, and Archeops from attacking it.

Team Options
========

Skuntank is an extremely splashable glue Pokemon, fitting that easily fits on most teams, and synergizes synergising with almost every archetype, (AC) and, (AC) due to its role, requires requiring little team support. Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. In return, (AC) both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with Magmortar the former absorbing Will-O-Wisp and Alolan Raichu the latter offering a way to break Gastrodon (it's fine to use former/latter but I was a bit confused at first because I thought they were referring to Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed). Skuntank also pressures common checks to them aforementioned two, by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab. Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank, (AC) as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-types. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem—which usually force Skuntank out—thanks to its high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent setup. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing. Primeape is a notable teammate, (AC) as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-resistant Pokemon type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on. Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish support, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-turn; (RSC) while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Pokemon like Type: Null and Assault Vest Hitmonchan greatly appreciate the Pursuit support that Skuntank offers, trapping Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Drifblim and Musharna that which wall Type: Null and Hitmonchan. Both of these teammates are able to act as special tanks in return, taking hits from faster attackers like Pyroar, Floatzel, and Mesprit.

[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

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

Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of entry hazards along with and, thanks to virtue of its typing, absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokemon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing, along with having a 30% chance to make its target flinch. Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate. Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages, (AC) meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch-ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while hitting also allowing it to hit hard. Timid Nature is preferred as it to outspeeds Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan, (RC) without losing out on much power. Modest can be used over Timid to increase Skuntank's low Special Attack stat, but it then fails to outspeed the previously mentioned Pokemon. Aftermath is the ability of choice as it deters weakened foes from OHKOing Skuntank it with contact moves if they're weakened, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage. Black Sludge is provides passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This allows it to Defog more reliably compared to the variants that run Darkinium Z version. It also cripples foes that opponents who use either Trick or Switcheroo, providing they aren't Poison-types. Darkinium Z is still an option over Black Sludge, though, as the stronger attack it helps Skuntank break foes opponents such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Darkinium Z Black Hole Eclipse is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip damage. This is especially notable because as physical Skuntank is a far more common set, allowing this special the Special set to act as more of a lure set.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse. Special Skuntank has a far easier time switching in and dealing with Stealth Rock and Spikes setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set, (AC) which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed, thanks to. Acid Spray + Dark Pulse cripples crippling almost all of these setters, them and Fire Blast hits hitting Ferroseed 4x super effectively. Skuntank is able to switch in and Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and foes with STAB combinations things it resists, (AC) like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item—if it's running Black Sludge—from via Knock Off from the latter two. Special Skuntank can also use Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it being the special set and not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb burns them for teammates. Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse, (RC) without fearing a potential burn. With Darkinium Z, (AC) Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist it Dark, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan, (AC) which can easily take its Z-Move at -2, meaning Skuntank it should be cautious of using its Z-Move when these foes are they're still present.

Team Options
========

Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return, (AC) Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out. Skuntank is usually susceptible to repeated chip damage being constantly chipped throughout the match as the team's form of hazard removal, especially if it opts for the Darkinium Z set, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mespritwhich also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-turnhelps Skuntank keep healthy for hazard removal. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with. Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank, (AC) as they share no common weaknesses, (RC) due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switch in to Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing, (AC) as its Dark typing means it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish. Gurdurr is another solid partner for Skuntank, (AC) by giving a good physical check to versus Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Sandslash, with Skuntank offering a way to break physical walls, like Gourgeist-SuperXL and Weezing, for Gurdurr. Choiced item Fighting-types like Primeape and Passimian appreciate Skuntank breaking down physical walls like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing, which otherwise wall them; in return, they Primeape and Passimian offer U-turn support and the ability to break special walls like Audino and Type: Null. The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu, (AC) as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of them which break standard checks to Skuntank; for example, (AC) Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, while with Alolan Raichu pressures pressuring every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu in Poison- and Dark-types.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokemon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves, (AC) like Mesprit and Haunter, letting meaning Skuntank can act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets Skuntank it trap weakened foes, who that are unable to switch out without being KOed. Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster foes opponents like Lycanroc, Alolan Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch its it's middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant, if another teammate is asleep, and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful Z-Moves. Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB move that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank breaks break through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokemon. Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB move able to hit standard Dark-resistant Pokemon Dark-type resists such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry for at least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the foe opponent 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit. Aftermath is Skuntank's best ability as it deters foes from OHKOing it, requiring it's with a move that makes contact, and it deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check which it can either with Pursuit or and Sucker Punch. Pokemon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenged revenge killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank, allowing Skuntank to pick off certain foes for teammates. (that could be rewritten to make more logical sense/flow better with the previous sentence) Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move; this means that Skuntank can revenge kill faster foes that would otherwise naturally outspeed and KO it. The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Qwilfish with ease, (RC) while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL, (AC) which the standard physical set fails to do. Choice Band Skuntank is, however, extremely susceptible to being burned by either Will-O-Wisp or Scald and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn to not stay in or directly switch into an attack from either. Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be exploited abused by the opposing side; for example, (AC) Skuntank being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up for absolutely for free with both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing Skuntank it out. Similarly, being locked into Pursuit after trapping a foe can give the opponent ample opportunity to freely set up given the move's low Base Power, forcing Skuntank to switch and lose momentum. Even though this set loses the ability to Defog, (AC) it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in, meaning it's still a valuable way to stop for stopping the spread of poison among the rest of its team.

Team Options
========

Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-turn; (RSC) while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null, (AC) as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples. An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground-types. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurrwhich usually force Skuntank outthanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent setup. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it. Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokemon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-resistant Pokemon type resists like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap. Hitmonchan is a valuable teammate because of its ability to remove hazards, which is something this Skuntank set can't do, with Rapid Spin and act as a strong special tank capable of checking the likes of Pyroar, Floatzel, and Eelektross. In return, (AC) Skuntank offers Pursuit and Sucker Punch support, which threatens common Ghost- and Psychic-type checks to Hitmonchan.

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

Z-Hone Claws gives Skuntank a setup move that provides with the same power of Choice Band without forcing Skuntank needing to lock itself into a move; however, it then has to lose an important attack some form of coverage, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, (it's not really coverage if these are all the same type, and beyond that it's not coverage if it's STAB) leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or forfeiting losing its ability to trap foes. Choice Scarf with Memento is an option on Skuntank, (AC) letting it surprise faster foes opponents like Pyroar, (RC) and non-unboosted Jynx and Lilligant, along with giving it the ability to sacrifice itself to let a teammate in for free, but Skuntank doesn't quite have the speed to pull this strategy it off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change moves coverage. A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means Skuntank it often has to drop a more valued move. On the Choice Band set, (AC) Explosion can be used to surprise Pokemon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three. Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr. Shuca Berry is an option that lets Skuntank survive live a Ground-type attack from Pokemon such as Alolan Dugtrio and Colbur Berry Golurk, effectively beating them. Memento over its other support moves allows Skuntank to sacrifice itself in order to give a teammate the ability to come in for free and safely set up, even being combined with Darkinium Z to fully heal whatever switches in. (you should move this sentence closer to the other Memento sentence in this paragraph and make it logically flow better!!!) Toxic lets Skuntank hit bulky foes that are usually able to wall or force it out, such as Clear Body Regirock and Gastrodon, and cripple them for the rest of the match. A Black Glasses set with Defog, Crunch, Pursuit, (AC) and Sucker Punch can be used to effectively break would-be checks to the standard physical Defog set, like Gourgeist-XL and Musharna. Sludge Bomb is an alternative to for Acid Spray on the special Defog set, (AC) as it gives more immediate power against foes like Clefairy and Lilligant, but it doesn't offer the same wallbreaking potential that Acid Spray does.

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to their natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus the special sets if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge. Colbur Berry Golurk, Torterra, and Alolan Dugtrio are all able to check Skuntank; the first two can take a hit, and Alolan Dugtrio by either taking a hit with the former two or either outspeedsing the special sets and has or using Substitute to outplay Sucker Punch against the physical sets.

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh are able to easily take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliate retaliating with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokemon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with either Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch; and Primeape can also switch into a the predicted Defog to get an immediate Defiant boost. However, all of the previously mentioned Pokemon struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat, (AC) quite a few Pokemon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank is able to somewhat threaten these Pokemon, but it isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage. While Pokemon like Jynx and Oricorio-G are weak to Sucker Punch, they are able to either put Skuntank to sleep or outplay it with a combination of Flyinium Z (I think?) and Substitute.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokémon are able to wall it. The physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to set up on or cripple it. The Special sets are is almost entirely walled by Pokemon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by and Acid Spray on the switch. It's worth noting that Clear Body Regirock and Probopass are able to wall all three of Skuntank's primary sets, along with Probopass not even fearing the uncommon Toxic.
 
Last edited:

Lumari

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GP 2/2
[OVERVIEW]
Skuntank is a very versatile Pokemon in PU thanks to its unique Poison / Dark typing, access to Pursuit and Sucker Punch along with support moves like Defog and Taunt, and ability to run several viable sets; these qualities also make it easy to fit on most teams. Skuntank's typing allows it to check Dark- and Grass-types such as Liepard and Lilligant while also giving it a helpful immunity against Psychic-types like Mesprit and to Prankster moves from foes like Sableye. Access to both Pursuit and Sucker Punch gives Skuntank the ability to trap a Pokemon orrevenge kill it, which is especially useful against Psychic- and Ghost-types or frail Pokemon. Skuntank’s reasonable Speed tier, decent Attack, and ability to run both physical and special sets make it strong offensive threat that’s that's difficult to predict at Team Preview. Skuntank is the best hazard remover in PU, in part by virtue ofbeing of being a Poison-type, meaning it's able to absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in and then use Defog to remove remaining entry hazards. Aftermath is a notable ability due to it dealing(space)1/4 damage to a foe if they KO it KOes Skuntank with a contact move. Regardless, even though it provides excellent role compression, Skuntank’s stats are all average to mediocre. This means that while it does have several roles that it fills, it does all of them to an average standard while also not being able to hit that hard or take unresisted hits.

[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge / Lum Berry
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field, giving it a support role on offensive teams. Skuntank is the best user of Defog, as it absorbs Toxic Spikes when it switches in as well. Pursuit traps weakened foes or Pokemon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves like Mesprit and Haunter, letting Skuntank act as a reliable revenge killer. Sucker Punch helps Skuntank pick off frail foes like Zangoose, Floatzel, and Pyroar while giving it priority to threaten setup sweepers like Jynx and Lycanroc. Crunch is a more reliable alternative to Sucker Punch that helps versus foes like Musharna and Gourgeist-XL (RC) but leaves it Skuntank vulnerable to faster Pokemon that Sucker Punch is ableto enables it to check. Poison Jab gives Skuntank a way to hit Dark- and Fighting-types such as Absol and Hitmonchan and also helps it check Grass-types like Lilligant that are OHKOed by it. Taunt can be used instead of Defog if the team already has a form of hazard removal, (comma) Taunt is providing a decent utility choice that gives Skuntank the ability to stop hazards from Ferroseed or prevent foes like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from burning it with Will-O-Wisp.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack help Skuntank hit hard as possible while being as fast as possible, with an Adamant nature giving it stronger priority and a Jolly nature allowing it to outspeed foes like Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol. Aftermath gives Skuntank the ability to deal 25% to any foe that knocks it out with a contact attack and deters weakened Pokemon from OHKOing it, as it forces a trade. Black Sludge provides passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match, making it a more reliable Defogger, and it also cripples anything that uses an item-swapping move like Trick or Switcheroo. Lum Berry trades passive recovery for a more reliable option in checking sleep inducers like Lilligant and Jynx or lets Skuntank avoid a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Grass-types such as Jynx and Lilligant and can offensively pressure them to prevent setup. Lum Berry allows it to more reliably check sleep inducers such as the aforementioned Lilligant and Jynx. With Sucker Punch, Skuntank can pick off and revenge kill fast attackers such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu, but be wary of using it versus foes like Oricorio-G, as Substitute and setup moves cause it to fail and force mind games. Skuntank can switch into predicted Psychic-type moves from Pokemon such as Mr. Mime and Mesprit and then Pursuit trap them for teammates, along with weakened foes if predicted correctly. Pursuit along with Sucker Punch also forces 50/50s for the opponent into mind games. Skuntank can be brought in to use Defog on foes that have STAB combinations it resists, like Shiftry and Haunter, or more passive Pokemon such as Clefairy, which it usually forces out. Skuntank is also able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in to stop status spreading to the rest of its team, but it cannot directly beat either of the setters, Qwilfish and Weezing, without Taunt. Faster variants of Qwilfish also are able to outspeed and Taunt Skuntank before it's able to Taunt back. An immunity to Prankster also allows Skuntank to switch in on Sableye freely, as it's immune to Will-O-Wisp and Taunt, (seems repeated / redundant) giving it ample opportunity to use Defog or Pursuit trap. If Skuntank opts for Taunt over Defog, it can shut down setup sweepers like Musharna and both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing from crippling it with Will-O-Wisp or, in Musharna's case, healing with Synthesis. (Moonlight?) Taunt also shuts down entry hazard users like defensive Qwilfish. During the mid- to late-game, a weakened Skuntank can use its ability Aftermath to pressure Pokemon such as Primeape, Hitmonchan, and Archeops from attacking it.

Team Options
========

Skuntank is a glue Pokemon that easily fits on most teams, synergizes with almost every archetype, and, due to its role, requires little team support. Magmortar and Alolan Raichu appreciate Skuntank's ability to Defog reliably and absorb Toxic Spikes. In return, both break common checks to Skuntank like Weezing, Gurdurr, and Ferroseed, with Magmortar absorbing Will-O-Wisp and Alolan Raichu offering a way to break Gastrodon. Skuntank also pressures common checks to them by threatening both Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Lanturn with Poison Jab. Weezing is an ideal partner for Skuntank, as they share no weaknesses due to Weezing's Levitate ability and Skuntank's immunity to Psychic. Weezing helps deal with physical attackers like Gurdurr and Golem, (comma) which usually force Skuntank out, (comma) thanks to its high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent setup. Skuntank is able to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing. Primeape is a notable teammate, as it gives Skuntank a fast partner able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Access to U-turn also allows it to bait in and pivot on common Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can either trap with Pursuit or Defog on. Mesprit supports Skuntank with a Ground immunity, Healing Wish support, access to Stealth Rock, and a pivoting move in U-turn while also checking prominent physical attackers like Primeape and Archeops. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Pokemon like Type: Null and Assault Vest Hitmonchan greatly appreciate the Pursuit support that Skuntank offers, trapping Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Drifblim and Musharna that wall Type: Null and Hitmonchan. Both of these teammates are able to act as special tanks in return, taking hits from faster attackers like Pyroar, Floatzel, and Mesprit.

[SET]
name: Special Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Acid Spray
item: Black Sludge / Darkinium Z
ability: Aftermath
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

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

Access to Defog means Skuntank can clear the field of entry hazards along with, thanks to its typing, absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable STAB move capable of breaking Pokemon such as Musharna, Qwilfish, and Weezing, along with having a(space)30% chance to make its target flinch. Fire Blast is mainly for hitting Ferroseed super effectively but also allows Skuntank to deal neutral damage to other Dark-types like Absol and Alolan Raticate. Acid Spray drops the target's Special Defense by two stages, meaning Skuntank is able to break bulkier walls such as Lanturn and Miltank when it's used in conjunction with Dark Pulse. Acid Spray also allows Skuntank to pressure switch-ins like Gastrodon, which struggle to check it at -2.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Special Attack help Skuntank be as fast as possible while hitting hard. Timid is the preferred nature to outspeed Timid Mesprit, Jolly Absol and Kabutops, and Adamant Kangaskhan without losing out on much power. Modest can be used over Timid to increase Skuntank's low Special Attack stat, but it then fails to outspeed the previously mentioned Pokemon. Aftermath deters weakened foes from OHKOing Skuntank with contact moves, dealing 25% of their total HP as damage. Black Sludge provides passive recovery that keeps Skuntank healthy throughout the match. This allows it to Defog more reliably compared to variants that run Darkinium Z. It also cripples foes that use either Trick or Switcheroo, providing they aren't Poison-types. Darkinium Z, though it makes Skuntank less reliable at Defogging, is still an option over Black Sludge, though, as the stronger attack helps Skuntank break foes such as Gastrodon and Lanturn, especially when used after Acid Spray. Black Hole Eclipse is also able to pick up OHKOs on foes like Aggron and Kabutops after a small amount of prior chip damage. This is especially notable because physical Skuntank is a far more common set, allowing this special set to act as(space)more of a lure.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a good check to Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Haunter, being able to easily force them out with a STAB Dark Pulse. Special Skuntank has a far easier time switching in and dealing with Stealth Rock and Spikes setters, as they usually expect the more common physical set, which often struggles versus the likes of Qwilfish, Regirock, and Ferroseed. Acid Spray + Dark Pulse cripples almost all of the setters them, and Fire Blast hits Ferroseed 4x super effectively. Skuntank is able to switch in and Defog on more passive Pokemon like defensive Mesprit and foes with STAB combinations it resists, like Shiftry and Sableye, only fearing the loss of its item—if it's running Black Sludge—via Knock Off from the latter two. Special Skuntank can also use Defog on both Gourgeist-XL and Weezing due to it not fearing the Attack drop from Will-O-Wisp, allowing it to absorb burns for teammates. Skuntank can freely switch in and absorb Toxic Spikes versus setters like Weezing and Qwilfish, as it forces them out with Dark Pulse without fearing a potential burn. With Darkinium Z, Skuntank acts as a wallbreaker capable of severely denting most special walls that don't resist Dark, such as Lanturn, Magmortar, and Audino. It struggles versus Fighting-types, however, especially Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which can easily take its Z-Move at -2, meaning Skuntank should be cautious of using its Z-Move when these foes are still present.

Team Options
========

Even though Skuntank has access to Acid Spray + Dark Pulse and Fire Blast, it still has trouble against some bulkier tanks, especially the likes of Assault Vest Hitmonchan, which are able to easily take a hit and force it out. Teammates like Archeops and Golurk break through most specially defensive walls while offering utility support in Taunt and Stealth Rock. In return, Skuntank can absorb Will-O-Wisps from foes such as Sableye and Weezing, freely switching in and forcing them out. Skuntank is usually susceptible to repeated chip damage throughout the match as the team's form of hazard removal, especially if it opts for Darkinium Z, meaning Healing Wish support from users such as Mesprit—which also provides a Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, and a slow U-turn—helps Skuntank keep healthy for hazard removal removing entry hazards. Skuntank is able to check both Ghost- and Dark-types such as Haunter and Shiftry for Mesprit, which the defensive sets struggle with. Weezing is almost always a good partner for Skuntank, as they share no weaknesses due to Levitate making Weezing immune to Ground-type moves and Skuntank having an immunity to Psychic-type attacks. Weezing can directly switchin to switch into Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan and Gurdurr, both of which force Skuntank out relatively easily, along with checking Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Golem. Skuntank aids Weezing, as its Dark typing means it can check offensive Psychic-types like Mesprit while also threatening foes that use Weezing as setup bait such as Qwilfish. Gurdurr is another solid partner for Skuntank, giving a good physical check to Ground-types like Alolan Dugtrio and Sandslash, with Skuntank offering a way to break physical walls, like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing, for Gurdurr. Choice item-using (or just "Choiced" honestly, talked w/ p squared) Fighting-types like Primeape and Passimian appreciate Skuntank breaking down physical walls like Gourgeist-XL and Weezing, which otherwise wall them; in return, they offer U-turn support and the ability to break special walls like Audino and Type: Null. The Defog support that Skuntank offers, along with absorbing Toxic Spikes upon switching in, helps setup sweepers like Lilligant and Alolan Raichu, as they dislike taking damage from entry hazards. Both of them break standard checks to Skuntank; for example, Lilligant threatens the OHKO on both Gastrodon and Poliwrath, while Alolan Raichu pressures every Fighting-type along with special walls such as Type: Null and Clefairy. Skuntank's typing also means that it can check common threats to both Lilligant and Alolan Raichu(space)in Poison- and Dark-types.

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Choice Band / Black Glasses
ability: Aftermath
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

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

Pursuit gives Skuntank the ability to trap Pokemon that are susceptible to Dark-type moves, like Mesprit and Haunter, letting Skuntank it act as a reliable revenge killer. It also lets Skuntank trap weakened(space)foes that are unable to switch out without being KOed. Sucker Punch gives Skuntank a strong priority move capable of hitting faster foes like Lycanroc, Alolan(space)Raichu, and Zangoose, which helps patch its middling Speed stat. Sucker Punch can also be used to revenge kill setup sweepers such as Lilligant, if another teammate is asleep Sleep Clause is active, (more to the point) and Floatzel, which otherwise threaten Skuntank with powerful Z-Moves. Crunch is a more reliable Dark-type STAB move that, unlike Sucker Punch, doesn't fail if the opponent uses a status move. It helps Skuntank break through foes such as Weezing and Musharna while also offering a more reliable way of hitting Qwilfish and Substitute Pokemon. Poison Jab offers Skuntank a strong secondary STAB move able to hit standard Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Hitmonchan, Absol, and Shiftry forat least neutral damage. Poison Jab also has the added effect of poisoning the foe 30% of the time, crippling potential switch-ins like Regirock and Carracosta.

Set Details
========

Maximum Speed and Attack allow Skuntank to be as quick as possible with a high damage output. An Adamant nature coupled with a Choice Band gives Skuntank the ability to deal heavy amounts of damage, while a Jolly nature allows it to outspeed the likes of Adamant Kangaskhan, Jolly Alolan Raticate and Shiftry, and Timid Mesprit. Aftermath deters foes from OHKOing it with a move that makes contact, and it deals 25% of their total HP as damage if they do. Black Glasses are an option over Choice Band, giving Skuntank the ability to freely change moves and Pursuit trap more reliably (RSC) while also being able to bluff having a Choice Band, at the cost of reduced damage.

Usage Tips
========

Skuntank acts as a solid Psychic- and Ghost-type check with Pursuit and Sucker Punch. Pokemon such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu can be revenge killed with the aforementioned moves, with neither being able to do enough damage to OHKO Skuntank, allowing Skuntank to pick off certain foes for teammates. Sucker Punch backed by the power boost from Choice Band, or Black Glasses, allows Skuntank to effectively pick off faster threats like Pyroar, Swanna, and Archeops, as long as they go for an attacking move; this means that Skuntank can revenge kill faster foes that would otherwise naturally outspeed and KO it. The increased damage from Choice Band also helps Skuntank break foes such as Musharna and Qwilfish with ease while also pressuring walls like Miltank and Gourgeist-XL, which the standard physical set fails to do. AOA All-out attacker Skuntank is, however, extremely susceptible to being burned by either Will-O-Wisp or Scald and is made almost useless if this happens, so caution should be taken when against foes like Weezing and Lanturn to not stay in or directly switch into an attack from either. Due to the nature of using a Choice item, being locked into a singular move can be exploited by the opposing side; for example, Skuntank being locked into Sucker Punch can let foes like Oricorio-G set up absolutely for free with both Substitute and Calm Mind while forcing Skuntank out. Similarly, being locked into Pursuit after trapping a foe can give the opponent ample opportunity to freely set up given the move's low Base Power, forcing Skuntank to switch and lose momentum. Using Black Glasses over Choice Band mitigates the disadvantages that the latter poses, but the reduced damage means Skuntank can struggle to revenge kill with Sucker Punch or break with Poison Jab and Crunch. Even though this set loses the ability to Defog, it's still able to absorb Toxic Spikes when it switches in, meaning it's still a valuable way to stop the spread of poison among the rest of its team.

Team Options
========

Mesprit offers Skuntank support with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish, a Ground immunity, and a pivoting move in U-turn while also checking prominent physical attackers like Passimian and Hitmonchan. Skuntank in return helps deal with other Dark-types like Shiftry and Absol, (spacing) along with Pursuit trapping Ghost-types like Oricorio-G. Skuntank is a good partner for Type: Null, as it's able to trap or eliminate the common Ghost-types like Oricorio-G and Gourgeist-XL that completely wall it. Type: Null can blanket check almost every special attacker in the tier in return, with faster ones such as Pyroar and Floatzel being the more notable examples. An ideal partner for Skuntank is often Weezing, as they have zero common weaknesses between them thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psychic-type moves and Weezing's Levitate giving it an immunity to Ground. Weezing checks physical attackers like Golurk and Gurdurr—which usually force Skuntank out—thanks to high Defense and Will-O-Wisp, along with Taunt to prevent setup. Skuntank's ability to check and Pursuit trap Psychic- and Ghost-types like Musharna and Haunter, which are usually able to switch in relatively freely versus Weezing, make it a useful partner for it. Primeape is notable as a teammate due to it giving Skuntank a fast pivot Pokemon able to revenge kill sweepers and cleaners like Pyroar and Archeops. Primeape's U-turn allows it to bait in and pivot against common Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Mesprit and Sableye, which Skuntank can Pursuit trap. Hitmonchan is a valuable teammate because of its ability to remove hazards, which is something this Skuntank set can't do, with Rapid Spin and act as a strong special tank capable of checking the likes of Pyroar, Floatzel, and Eelektross. In return, Skuntank offers Pursuit and Sucker Punch support, which threatens common Ghost- and Psychic-type checks to Hitmonchan.

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

Z-Hone Claws gives Skuntank a setup move that provides the same power of Choice Band without forcing Skuntank to lock itself into a move; however, it then has to lose an important attack, such as Crunch, Pursuit, or Sucker Punch, leaving it more vulnerable to being revenge killed or forfeiting its ability to trap foes. Memento over its other support moves allows Skuntank to sacrifice itself in order to give a teammate the ability to come in for free and safely set up, even being combined with Darkinium Z to fully heal whatever switches in. Choice Scarf with Memento is an option on Skuntank, letting it surprise faster foes like Pyroar and unboosted Jynx and Lilligant, along with giving it the ability to sacrifice itself to let a teammate in for free, but Skuntank doesn't quite have the speed to pull this strategy off. It also loses the ability to Defog and change moves. A mixed Defog set with either Hidden Power Grass, to hit Carracosta and Golem, or Fire Blast, to hit Ferroseed, is an option but means Skuntank often has to drop a more valued move. On the Choice Band set, Explosion can be used to surprise Pokemon like Gastrodon, Weezing, and Gurdurr, dealing heavy damage to all three. Play Rough can also be used on the Choice Band set to OHKO Hitmonchan and 2HKO both Poliwrath and Gurdurr. Shuca Berry is an option that lets Skuntank survive a Ground-type attack from Pokemon such as Alolan Dugtrio and Colbur Berry Golurk, effectively beating them. Toxic lets Skuntank hit bulky foes that are usually able to wall or force it out, such as Clear Body Regirock and Gastrodon, and cripple them for the rest of the match. A Black Glasses set with Defog, Crunch, Pursuit, and Sucker Punch can be used to effectively break would-be checks to the standard physical Defog set, like Gourgeist-XL and Musharna. Sludge Bomb is an alternative to Acid Spray on the special Defog set, as it gives more immediate power against foes like Clefairy and Lilligant, but it doesn't offer the same wallbreaking potential that Acid Spray does.

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

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Golem and Gastrodon are able to defensively check Skuntank thanks to their natural bulk, with Golem capable of taking any single hit from all three sets and Gastrodon easily recovering on Skuntank. Gastrodon and Golem struggle versus special sets if they switch in on an Acid Spray, especially if Darkinium Z is used over Black Sludge. Colbur Berry Golurk, Torterra, and Alolan Dugtrio are all able to check Skuntank; the first two can take a hit, and Alolan Dugtrio outspeeds special sets and has Substitute to outplay Sucker Punch against physical sets.

**Fighting-types**: Hitmonchan, Gurdurr, and Throh are able to easily take a STAB Dark-type move from Skuntank and retaliate with their respective STAB moves. Faster Pokemon like Primeape can naturally outspeed every Skuntank set and severely dent it with either Earthquake or Close Combat, taking very little from Skuntank's priority Sucker Punch; Primeape can also switch into a predicted Defog to get an immediate Defiant boost. However, all of the previously mentioned Pokemon struggle to switch in, bar Gurdurr, to a Poison Jab, especially from the Choice Band set.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Skuntank's rather average Speed stat, quite a few Pokemon are able to outspeed and either force out or revenge kill Skuntank. Examples of these are Swanna, Archeops, and Lycanroc, which naturally outspeed Skuntank and threaten it. Sucker Punch Skuntank is able to somewhat threaten these Pokemon, but it isn't able to OHKO any of them without a decent amount of prior chip damage. While Pokemon like Jynx and Oricorio-G are weak to Sucker Punch, they are able to either put Skuntank to sleep or outplay it with a combination of Flyinium Z and Substitute.

**Defensive Walls**: Depending on what set Skuntank is running, different Pokémon Pokemon are able to wall it. The physical sets are walled almost entirely by foes such as Regirock, Carracosta, Ferroseed, and Weezing, taking little from all of Skuntank's attacks and being able to set up on or cripple it. Special sets are almost entirely walled by Pokemon like Type: Null, Silvally-Fairy, and Assault Vest Eelektross; however, they all struggle to deal with Skuntank if hit by Acid Spray on the switch. It's worth noting that Clear Body Regirock and Probopass are able to wall all three of Skuntank's primary sets, along with Probopass not even fearing the uncommon Toxic.
 
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