Slurpuff [GP 1/2]

[horyzhnz]

taken over from manager-senpai ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)gazer

Overview
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Slurpuff is an extremely versatile and effective Pokemon in the NU metagame, being able to run multiple sets thanks to its great Fairy typing and well-rounded stats. Slurpuff also has access to Unburden to bolster the effectiveness of its offensive sets, and access to two great boosting moves in Belly Drum and Calm Mind. However, though it's a jack of all trades, it's a master of none, as without a boost, offensive Slurpuff is relatively weak.

Belly Drum
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name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Play Rough
move 3: Return
move 4: Substitute / Flamethrower / Aromatherapy
ability: Unburden
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
nature: Adamant / Naughty

Moves
========
Belly Drum's ability to maximize Slurpuff's Attack and activate Unburden simultaneously makes it an excellent boosting move on Slurpuff. STAB Play Rough is Slurpuff's strongest move, while Return hits the Poison- and Fire-types which resist it. The last slot has many options: Substitute prevents Slurpuff from being statused and revenge killed, Flamethrower hits Steel-types which resist Play Rough and Return, and Aromatherapy provides some team support and possibly gives Slurpuff a second chance to sweep. Substitute can be used with Endeavor to cripple a wall your team may have trouble with, but it doesn't play the role of a sweeper too well.

Set Details
========
30 HP IVs are used to activate Unburden after using Belly Drum. Sitrus Berry allows Slurpuff to recover some HP after activating Unburden. An Adamant nature is used because Slurpuff outspeeds the whole unboosted tier after Unburden is activated, but a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Choice Scarf Pyroar, Tauros, and Typhlosion. A Naughty nature should only be used if you choose to run Flamethrower.

Usage Tips
========
Slurpuff's Unburden ability will only activate once, so take care to only set up once Slurpuff's checks and counters have been removed or sufficiently weakened. Similarly, Slurpuff doesn't need to necessarily set up Belly Drum to sweep. Keep in mind that Slurpuff's lack of priority and low health after setting up means that it will be prone to being revenge killed. Slurpuff's versatility means that it can also bluff other sets by finishing off a weakened opponent with Flamethrower or using Aromatherapy.

Team Options
========
Teammates which can deal with opposing Poison- and Steel-types, such as Rhydon, Seismitoad, Samurott, Mesprit, and Typhlosion, make great teammates. Belly Drum Slurpuff also pairs well with other physical sweepers, as they can wear down each other's checks. Pokemon which can lure in Fighting-types for Slurpuff to set up on also make good teammates. As with any other setup sweeper, entry hazard and dual screens support will make it a lot easier for Slurpuff to do its job.


Calm Mind
########
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Dazzling Gleam
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Surf / Psychic
ability: Unburden
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
nature: Modest

Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Slurpuff's Special Attack and Special Defense to respectable levels, allowing it to take more hits and hit back harder. Dazzling Gleam is Slurpuff's strongest special STAB move, while Flamethrower is needed to hit the Steel-types that resist Dazzling Gleam. In the last moveslot, Surf hits the Fire-types which resist both Dazzling Gleam and Flamethrower, but Psychic can be used to hit Poison-types super effectively.

Set Details
========
30 HP IVs enable Slurpuff to consume its Sitrus Berry and activate Unburden after two switch-ins into Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes. A standard spread for a special attacker is used, while a Modest nature boosts Slurpuff's Special Attack even further, as Unburden lessens the need for a Timid nature. A Timid nature can be used, in any case, to outrun Choice Scarf Tauros, Typhlosion, and Pyroar after the Unburden boost.

Usage Tips
========
This Slurpuff set is primarily meant to be a late-game cleaner rather than a wallbreaker. Set up a few Calm Minds if given the chance and use appropriate coverage moves when necessary. Slurpuff's Unburden ability will only activate once, so take care to only set up once Slurpuff's checks and counters have been removed or sufficiently weakened.

Team Options
========
Teammates such as Uxie, Rotom, Mesprit, Probopass, and Mismagius are great to lure in Fighting- and Dark-types, which Slurpuff can set up on. Teammates such as Mesprit, Sawk, and Typhlosion which can deal with Steel- and Poison-types more easily are also greatly appreciated.

Other Options
########

A defensive set with Wish, Aromatherapy, Protect, and Play Rough can be used, but it's not very effective. An offensive ChestoRest set with Draining Kiss, Calm Mind, and Flamethrower can also be used for more longevity, but Draining Kiss is quite weak without boosts. Other offensive options include Energy Ball to hit Rhydon and Seismitoad, and Thunderbolt to hit Feraligatr and Samurott. Yawn can be used to force switches and allow Slurpuff to act as a pseudo-phazer. Cotton Guard can be used on a defensive set to exponentially increase Slurpuff's Defense.


Checks & Counters
########

**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Weezing, Vileplume, Muk, Dragalge, and Garbodor can easily take most of Slurpuff's attacks and either hit it back hard with a STAB move or set up on it, although Vileplume doesn't like taking Flamethrower.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Klinklang, Probopass, Steelix, Ferroseed, and Metang can also easily take whatever Slurpuff has, bar Flamethrower, and force it out with the threat of a STAB move or set up on it.

**Dedicated Walls**: Due to its mediocre stats, Slurpuff struggles against dedicated physical or special walls such as Rhydon and Audino, which can easily stall it out or wear it down.

**Status**: Poison wears Slurpuff down over time, paralysis prevents it from making full use of Unburden, and burn cripples the Belly Drum set.

**Encore**: If an opponent manages to use Encore as Slurpuff is setting up a Belly Drum, Slurpuff has essentially wasted an Unburden boost and cut its health in half for nothing, while also being forced out.

**Priority**: Priority moves such as Kangaskhan's Fake Out and Hariyama's Bullet Punch can wear Slurpuff down easily due to its lack of priority.

skeletons

Overview
########

• Amazing.
• Versatile.
• Good typing that gives it plently of set up opportunity.
• Great ability in Unburden, which Slurpuff can easily abuse. Unfortunately, it means that it has one chance to sweep.
• Access to Belly Drum and Calm Mind makes it a threat.
• Kinda weak without a boost.

Belly Drum
########
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Play Rough
move 3: Return
move 4: Substitute / Flamethrower / Aromatherapy
ability: Unburden
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
nature: Adamant / Naughty

Moves
========

• Belly Drum to boost its Attack.
• Play Rough is Slurpuff's strongest STAB.
• Return gives Slurpuff decent coverage.
• Substitute is fantastic if you predict a switch or to set up on walls trying to cripple you with Thunder Wave or Toxic.
• Flamethrower with a Naughty nature lets Slurpuff hit Steel-types, which would wall it otherwise.
• Aromatherapy is nice to support the whole team and heal Slurpuff if it gets hit by a Toxic or a Thunder Wave.
• Substitute + Endeavor is also an amazing option for Slurpuff, but plays differently than the set above as it's more of a wallbreaker than a sweeper. (will make a good mention of it in the write-up)

Set Details
========

• 30 HP ivs is used to let Slurpuff get in Unburden after using Belly Drum from full health. Also lets Slurpuff activate Unburden after two switch ins on Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes.
• Sitrus Berry is used as it gives Slurpuff a form of recovery while also letting Slurpuff activiate Unburden.
• Adamant is used to do as much damage as possible. Jolly can be used if you need Slurpuff to outspeed Choice Scarf Typhlosion, Choice Scarf Pyroar, and Choice Scarf Tauros with the Unburden boost.

Usage Tips
========

• Slurpuff doesn't absolutely need to Belly Drum to win if the opponent's team is worn down enough so that Slurpuff can clean easily.
• Slurpuff usually want to use Belly Drum if it can take a hit from your opponent and still be above 50% of your health after activating its Sitrus Berry, or if Slurpuff is above 50% of your health and behind a Substitute.
• Slurpuff will most of the time be low on health and revenge killed after it uses Belly Drum, so use it wisely.
• When using Flamethrower, Slurpuff can sometimes bluff that it is a Special Attacker by KOing an opponent's Pokemon with Flamethrower if they are low enough.
• If Slurpuff is using Aromatherapy, the best time to use it is when you predict the opponent to switch out to their Slurpuff answers, which will give Slurpuff a free turn to heal its teammates.
• Substitute and Endeavor is played differently and is seen more as a Wallbreaker. The goal of Substitute+Endeavor is to wear down the opponent's answer to Slurpuff, which will most of the time be the opponent's answer to all of your Physical attackers, by bringing it down to low health with Endeavor.
• Slurpuff needs to be played carefully as if it gets forced out after Unburden is activated, Slurpuff will have a hard time sweeping again.

Team Options
========

• Teammates that can deal with an opponent's Steel- and Poison-types such as Rhydon, Seismitoad, Samurott, Mesprit, Typhlosion, and more.
• Belly Drum Slurpuff works well with other Physical attackers as they can support eachother by weakening or removing eachother's checks or counters.
• Entry Hazards support is always nice.
• Pairs well with Pokemon that lures in Fighting-types, which are the majority of the time setup fodder for Slurpuff.
• Dual Screens support.

Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Dazzling Gleam
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Surf / Psychic
ability: Unburden
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
nature: Modest

Moves
========

• Calm Mind to boost and become more threatening.
• Dazzling Gleam is Slurpuff's strongest STAB on the special side.
• Flamethrower to hit Steel-types.
• Surf to hit Fire-types.
• Psychic can be used over Surf if you need Slurpuff to beat Weezing, Muk, or Garbodor more easily. It also hits Qwilfish which resists every other move.

Set Details
========

• 30 HP ivs lets Slurpuff activate Unburden after two switch ins on Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes.
• Max Max. Sitrus Berry is used so that Unburden can be activated when Slurpuff gets below half health. Modest is used to do as much damage as possible, but Slurpuff can run Timid if you absolutely need it to outspeed Choice Scarf Typhlosion, Choice Scarf Pyroar, and Choice Scarf Tauros with the Unburden boost.

Usage Tips
========

• This set is straightforward: set up a couple of Calm Mind if given the chance and click the appropriate move to 2HKO or OHKO the opponent's Pokemon.
• Late-game cleaner, can't wallbreak very well due to its average offensive stats.
• Slurpuff needs to be played carefully as if it gets forced out after Unburden is activated, Slurpuff will have a hard time sweeping again.

Team Options
========

• Entry Hazards support.
• Teammates that can lure in Dark- or Fighting-types to give Slurpuff a set up opportunity (Rotom, Uxie, Probopass, Kangaskhan, Mismagius, and more).
• Teammates that can deal with the opponent's Steel- and Poison-types such as Choice Band Sawk, Choice Specs Typhlosion, and Life Orb Mesprit pairs well with Slurpuff.
• Dual Screens support.

Defensive
########
name: Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Aromatherapy
move 3: Protect
move 4: Play Rough
ability: Sweet Veil
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpDef
nature: Impish

Moves
========

• Wish to support your whole team and to give Slurpuff some recovery.
• Aromatherapy to heal status.
• Protect to scout. Protect is also needed with Wish so that Slurpuff can heal itself safely.
• Play Rough is STAB. Also one of the reasons Defensive Slurpuff is good: Being able to 2HKO CM Spiritomb and to beat Fighting-types while being a cleric is amazing.
• Dazzling Gleam can be used with a Bold nature if you need Slurpuff to hit Gurdurr harder and also need a more reliable STAB. Keep in mind that it won't be able to beat Calm Mind Spiritomb 100% of the time if it doesn't carry Play Rough though.

Set Details
========

• Max HP and Max Def with an Impish nature to take physical attacks as well as possible.
• Sweet Veil is used so that Slurpuff can't be put to sleep.
• Its typing is better suited to wall physical attackers.

Usage Tips
========

• This Slurpuff's set is a cleric, so the way it should be used is straighforward: switch it in on threats that it can wall, pass a Wish to a teammate that wants its health back, and use Aromatherapy to remove annoying burns or poisons.

Team Options
========

• Should only be used on Stall that needs a cleric able to deal with Spiritomb and Fighting-types.
• Camerupt, Ferroseed, Dragalge, and more. (stall mons)
• Entry Hazards control is necessary with Slurpuff so that it won't get worn down too easily. Defoggers such as Pelipper and Vullaby or Rapid Spin users such as Defensive Cryogonal works well with it.

Other Options
########

• ChestoRest Calm Mind with Draining Kiss and Flamethrower.
• Protect.
• Energy Ball and Thunderbolt.
• Cotton Guard.
• Yawn.

Checks & Counters
########

• Poison-types such as Weezing, Vileplume, Muk, Dragalge, and Garbodor.
• Steel-types such as Klinklang, Probopass, Steelix, Ferroseed, and Metang.
• Physical Walls in general.
• Special Walls in general.
• Encore.
• Status / Toxic Spikes.
• Priority from Kangaskhan, Hariyama, Feraligatr, and more.
• Strong attackers.

 

[Punchshroom]

Mention that Psychic also hits Qwilfish, which resists all of CM Puff's other attacks.

 

[Martin]

Not QC, so take this with a pinch of salt.

I personally feel that Psychic should be slashed before Surf as it hits a wider range of things for considerable damage. Also, the majority of the Fire-types in the tier (referring specifically to Pyroar, Typhlosion, Torkoal, Camerupt, Simisear, Rapidash and (for the sake of including every specially frail Fire-type) Heatmor and Magcargo - that's 8 out of the 10 Fire-types that are legal in the tier) are so specially frail due to the combination of low/middling HP and SpD stats that Psychic will deal more than enough damage to them - especially after a boost or two.

 

[aVocado]

"Dazzling Gleam can be used with a Bold nature if you need Slurpuff to hit Gurdurr harder and also need a more reliable STAB. Keep in mind that it won't be able to beat Calm Mind Spiritomb 100% of the time if it doesn't carry Play Rough though."

Spiritomb isn't NU anymore, so perhaps make Dazzling Gleam the main slash?

 

[horyzhnz]

yeah i know i need to change all this tomb / omastar stuff, it was in the requirements when i took the job

 

[soulgazer]

gamer boy You are kinda overestimating Slurpuff's power lol, even with +2 it can't OHKO most of the mons you named with Psychic (way too lazy to calc, but im speakng from experience). Slurpuff won't always be at +2 too either! Sometimes it won't get the chance to boost, and you wouldn't want to be stopped by Fire-types. Surf also allows Slurpuff to hit Probopass for good damage. Psychic is good, don't get me wrong, but only deserves to be the second slash.

horyzhnz good luck ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°).

 

[Ares]

horyzhnz when will this be written?

 

[Punchshroom]

Remove Tomb mentions and shit :3 Dazzling Gleam can listed over Play Rough on defensive Puff so it doesn't get annoyed by burns, and Gurdurr is still here.

 

[Raseri]

The Defensive set is being cut from this writeup. If people think it is viable and worth a mention outside of OO, feel free to post a separate thread for it to be QCed. It is being cut due to it being heavily reliant on Spiritomb. Without Tomb, the set just isn't very good. It still has a niche as a cleric that can beat Fighting-types, but Soulgazer and myself dont think its worthy of being a set (also this means it will be written up quicker)

 

[frenzyplant]

1/2 horyzhnz :)

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Overview
########
Slurpuff is an extremely versatile and effective Pokemon in the NU metagame, being able to run multiple sets, both offensive and defensive, thanks to its great Fairy typing and well-rounded stats. Slurpuff also has access to Unburden to bolster the effectiveness of its offensive sets, and access to two great boosting moves in Belly Drum and Calm Mind. However, despite its unparalleled versatility, though it's a jack of all trades, yet it's a master of none, as without a boost, offensive Slurpuff is relatively weak, and defensive Slurpuff doesn't have access to reliable recovery and can be worn down easily.

Belly Drum
########
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Play Rough
move 3: Return
move 4: Substitute / Flamethrower / Aromatherapy
ability: Unburden
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
nature: Adamant / Naughty

Moves
========
Belly Drum's ability to maximize Slurpuff's Attack and activate Unburden simultaneously makes it for an excellent boosting move on Slurpuff. STAB Play Rough is Slurpuff's strongest move, while Return hits the Poison- and Fire-types which resist it. The last slot has many options: (semicolon to colon) Substitute prevents Slurpuff from being statused and revenge killed, Flamethrower hits Steel-types which resist Play Rough and Return, while and Aromatherapy provides some team support and possibly gives Slurpuff a second chance to sweep. Substitute can be used with Endeavor to cripple a wall your team may have trouble with, but it doesn't play the role of a sweeper too well.

Set Details
========
30 HP IVs are used to activate Unburden after using Belly Drum. Sitrus Berry allows Slurpuff to recover some HP after activating Unburden. An Adamant nature is used because Slurpuff outspeeds the whole unboosted tier after Unburden is activated, but a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Choice Scarf Pyroar, Tauros, and Typhlosion. (you could add something about what Naughty does over Adamant; is it required when using Flamethrower, for instance?)

Usage Tips
========
Slurpuff's Unburden ability will only activate once, so take care to only set up once Slurpuff's checks and counters have been removed or sufficiently weakened. Similarly, Slurpuff doesn't need to necessarily set up Belly Drum to sweep. Keep in mind that Slurpuff's lack of priority and low health after setting up means that it will be prone to being revenge killed. Slurpuff's versatility means that it can also bluff other sets by finishing off a weakened opponent with Flamethrower or using Aromatherapy.

Team Options
========
Teammates which can deal with opposing Poison- and Steel-types, (comma) such as Rhydon, Seismitoad, Samurott, Mesprit, and Typhlosion, (comma) make great teammates. Belly Drum Slurpuff also pairs well with other physical sweepers, as they can wear down each other's checks. Pokemon which can lure in Fighting-types for Slurpuff to set up on also make good teammates. As with any other setup sweeper, entry hazard and dual screens support will make it a lot easier for Slurpuff to do its job.


Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind (you could change to "Calm Mind" for clarity)
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Dazzling Gleam
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Surf / Psychic
ability: Unburden
item: Sitrus Berry
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 30 HP
nature: Modest

Moves
========
Calm Mind boosts Slurpuff's Special Attack and Special Defense to respectable levels, allowing it to take more hits and hit back harder. Dazzling Gleam is Slurpuff's strongest special STAB move, while Flamethrower is needed to hit the Steel-types that resist Dazzling Gleam. In the last moveslot, Surf hits the Fire-types which resist both Dazzling Gleam and Flamethrower, but Psychic can be used to hit Poison-types super effectively.

Set Details
========
30 HP IVs enable Slurpuff to consume its Sitrus Berry and activate Unburden after two switch-ins into Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes. A standard spread for a special attacker is used, while a Modest nature boosts Slurpuff's Special Attack even further, (comma) as Unburden lessens the need for a Timid nature. A Timid nature can be used, (comma) in any case, to outrun Choice Scarf Tauros, Typhlosion, and Pyroar after the Unburden boost.

Usage Tips
========
This Slurpuff set is primarily meant to be a late-game cleaner rather than a wallbreaker. Set up a few Calm Minds if given the chance and use appropriate coverage moves when necessary. Slurpuff's Unburden ability will only activate once, so take care to only set up once Slurpuff's checks and counters have been removed or sufficiently weakened.

Team Options
========
Teammates such as Uxie, Rotom, Mesprit, Probopass, and Mismagius are great to lure in Fighting- and Dark-types, (comma) which Slurpuff can set up on. Teammates such as Mesprit, Sawk, and Typhlosion which can deal with Steel- and Poison-types more easily are also greatly appreciated.

Other Options
########

A defensive set with Wish, Aromatherapy, Protect, and Play Rough can be used, but it's not very effective. An alternative (implies there is another offensive ChestoRest set) offensive ChestoResto set with Draining Kiss, Calm Mind, and Flamethrower can also be used for more longevity, but Draining Kiss is quite weak without boosts. Other offensive options include Energy Ball to hit Rhydon and Seismitoad, and Thunderbolt to hit Feraligatr and Samurott. Yawn can be used to force switches and allow Slurpuff to act as a pseudo-phazer. Cotton Guard can be used on a defensive set to exponentially increase Slurpuff's Defense.


Checks & Counters
########

**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Weezing, Vileplume, Muk, Dragalge, and Garbodor can easily take most of Slurpuff's attacks, (remove comma) and can either hit it back hard with a STAB move or set up on it, although Vileplume doesn't like taking Flamethrower.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Klinklang, Probopass, Steelix, Ferroseed, and Metang can also easily take whatever Slurpuff has, bar Flamethrower, and force it out with the threat of a STAB move or set up on it.

**Dedicated Walls**: Due to its mediocre stats, Slurpuff struggles against dedicated physical or special walls such as Rhydon and Audino, while they which can easily stall it out or wear it down.

**Status**: Poison wears Slurpuff down over time, paralysis prevents it from making full use of Unburden, and burn cripples the Belly Drum set.

**Encore**: If an opponent manages to use Encore as Slurpuff is setting up a Belly Drum, Slurpuff has essentially wasted an Unburden boost and cut its health in half for nothing, while also being forced out.

**Priority**: Priority moves such as Kangaskhan's Fake Out and Hariyama's Bullet Punch can wear Slurpuff down easily due to its lack of priority.

 

[Raseri]

banned