plznostep
Flittle Fanatic
[SET]
name: Spikes Lead
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Endure
item: Salac Berry
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Snorunt may look like a horrible Pokemon in ADV ZU at first glance due to its horrible stats and abysmal defensive utility, but Spikes grants its team a powerful form of support. Ice Beam is a great STAB option that also threatens common Pokemon such as Pidgeotto and Lileep. Hidden Power Grass allows Snorunt to threaten the most prominent spinner in the tier, Staryu, alongside other Water-types such as Chinchou and Seaking. Finally, Endure allows Snorunt to activate its Salac Berry and outspeed every unboosted Pokemon bar Voltorb, meaning it will always be able to get a layer of spikes versus Pokemon without priority or a status move.
Snorunt fits best on offensive and balance teams that benefit from Spikes support. Due to Snorunt's prevalence as a lead, it often faces counter-leads that can shut down Spikes such Aipom, Butterfree, and Cyndaquil. Some partners that can deal with these threats are Elekid, Seaking, and Magnemite. These partners, and other offensive threats also enjoy Spikes chipping down Pokemon that are otherwise tough matchups for them, such as Delcatty, Lileep, and Dustox, respectively. This allows them to wallbreak much much more easily. Snorunt also appreciates pivots such as Aipom, Delcatty, and Lileep to help it set up spikes later if it faces an unfavourable lead matchup. Additionally, the former two are great checks to Spoink, another tough lead matchup for Snorunt due to its fast Taunt. Lileep can also deal with common priority users such as Pidgeotto and Taillow, which completely shut down Snorunt with a Salac Berry boost, and checks Fire-types such as Growlithe and Cyndaquil that threaten Snowrunt. As teammates, priority users enjoy Spikes chipping down faster Pokemon such as Elekid into range of a KO. Even defensive pokemon enjoy Spikes which helps them threaten offensive Pokemon such as tank Castform. Shuppet uniquely denies Rapid Spin users such as Staryu, and it takes advantage of the Spikes on Delcatty and Pokemon locked into Normal- or Fighting type moves. Lastly, Magnemite walls standard Snorunt, so Nosepass can be great to trap and remove it, as well as handling priority move users and Fire-types like Lileep can. However, Nosepass does not have the longevity to do this consistently throughout a game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Fire is an option for threatening opposing Snorunt leads and Magnemite. However, without Hidden Power Grass, Snorunt cannot reliably threaten Water-types such as Staryu and Chinchou for any significant damage. Hidden Power Water is an option to threaten Fire-types such as Cyndaquil and Growlithe, which otherwise use Snowrunt as setup fodder, but it comes with the same flaws that Hidden Power Fire does.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: Faster Taunt users such as Spoink and Aipom can completely deny Snorunt from Spikes on the field, and they can either use it as setup fodder or OHKO it outright.
**Status Spreaders**: Status spreaders such as Aipom, Magnemite, and Butterfree can cripple Snorunt with paralysis, making Salac Berry useless. Butterfree is notable for sleeping Snorunt before it even has a chance to set up Spikes, incapacitating Snorunt for most the game.
**Setup Sweepers** Setup Sweepers such as Growlithe and Spoink do not fear any of Snorunt's moves and can use Snorunt as set up fodder. However, Growlithe cannot consistently stop Snorunt from setting up Spikes.
**Rapid Spin** Hazard Removal from Rapid Spinners such as Staryu can completely ruin Snorunt's effectiveness by removing Spikes
**Priority Moves**: Priority moves from Pokemon such as Pidgeotto, Elekid, and Cyndaquil can pick off Snorunt even when it has activated its Salac Berry. Cyndaquil is notable for also OHKOing Snorunt before it can set up Spikes
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[plznostep, 595639]]
- Quality checked by: [[Gangsta Spongebob, 535530]] [BP, 272450]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
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