[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Protect / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Encore / Toxic / Hidden Power Grass
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Politoed is a multifaceted offensive tank and bulky Water-type. The threat of a strong Scald backed up by Ice Beam to hit Grass-types like Servine and Jumpluff makes Politoed hard to switch into. Access to Water Absorb and great defensive stats also make Politoed a valuable defensive asset in a pinch against the likes of Magmar, Klang, and Simipour. Protect doubles as a means to net extra recovery from Leftovers, as well as a defense against Choice-locked attackers like Vanilluxe. Encore also pairs well with Protect because it allows Politoed to scout and then punish utility moves and weaker attacks versus slower foes like Duosion and Bronzor, all while securing additional Leftovers recovery. Encore is also very good against setup sweepers that don't care about Toxic like Scraggy and the aforementioned Duosion. Toxic is another stallbreaking option for Politoed to be more threatening versus its counters like Regenerator Duosion, although it comes at the opportunity cost of losing the safe switch against slower status users. Another consideration is Hidden Power Grass, which can be opted for if the team needs to rely on Politoed to check offensive Water-types like Simipour and Huntail. With 16 Speed EVs, Politoed outspeeds and revenge kills Adamant Lairon.
Politoed fits on any balance and bulky offense team that can appreciate its role compression and defensive typing. Defensive cores like Gigalith + Vibrava and Dustox + Carbink need Politoed to check threats like Huntail, Klang, and Pignite. In return, they can create a safe switch opportunity for Politoed against Pokemon like Gigalith, Vibrava, and Carbink, especially when prompting foes to trade entry hazards. Scraggy and Bronzor can absorb Future Sight from Regenerator Duosion, while Dustox and Gogoat are generally good threats to Servine. Ground-types like Krokorok and Hippopotas are great to maintain momentum versus faster Volt Switch users that can force out Politoed, and they are especially beneficial versus Choice-locked Electabuzz, given Politoed's Protect will punish revenge kill attempts.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA
Choice Specs Politoed boasts an impressive offensive movepool and still retains a lot of its defensive merit. Most notably, the extra power offers Politoed a guaranteed 2HKO versus Regenerator Duosion and Dustox with Hydro Pump. Its coverage in Ice Beam + Hidden Power Grass gives Politoed a chance to OHKO the likes of Gourgeist-L and Whiscash, respectively. Additionally, Politoed's ability Water Absorb means that even without defensive investment, it can still soft check the likes of Huntail and Simipour and retaliate with Hidden Power Grass with a chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock.
Pivots like Electabuzz and Dustox are great teammates to get Politoed in safely. Knock Off users like Servine and Persian can soften up Eviolite walls like Bronzor and Quilladin, making them more vulnerable to Politoed's wallbreaking. Swalot, Ivysaur, and Gourgeist-L are all checks to Grass-types that give Politoed a defensive backbone to rely on versus the likes of Simisage and Sawsbuck. Specially offensive sweepers like Vanilluxe and Butterfree can clean late-game after Politoed pokes holes through opposing special walls. Fast attackers like Persian and Sawsbuck make for great partners to help circumvent Politoed's mediocre Speed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Blast offers strong coverage generally, but it lacks specific targets to make up for its inaccuracy. Choice Scarf sets can get the jump on some noticeable targets if the opponent is unaware, although these sets lack either the defensive reliability or power that the other sets excel at. Perish Song + Whirlpool sets offer a different stallbreaking option than Encore; however, these sets make Politoed more passive, which can sink momentum. No Item + Thief can be opted for over Protect as a means to debilitate Eviolite-reliant counters, but the lack of Leftovers and the risk of stealing a useless or debilitating item like Dustox's Black Sludge usually means that item removal is a better fit for Politoed's teammates. Substitute is another option on Leftovers sets that prefer more Speed, as it gives Politoed an extra burn chance and allows for safer Toxics against foes that want to switch in on it like Swalot, Sawsbuck and Ivysaur.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dustox**: Dustox is immune to Scald burns due to its ability Shield Dust. Additionally, it can use Toxic to completely shut down Politoed, all while having the bulk and recovery to consistently function as a safe switch-in except versus Choice Specs Hydro Pump.
**Duosion**: Specially defensive Duosion tanks Politoed's unboosted hits, and, thanks to Regenerator, it can generally leave unscathed. Double Dance sets are in jeopardy of getting hit by Encore, though.
**Grass-types**: Faster Grass-types like Servine, Simisage, and Sawsbuck can force out Politoed, although they risk a strong Ice Beam if they attempt to set up versus it.
**Revenge Killers**: Stronger revenge killers like Electabuzz, Choice Specs Vanilluxe, and Choice Band Furfrou favorably trade hits against Politoed, and they will force it out once at low health; scouting with Protect can deter the Choice-locked revenge killers, however.
**Status**: Politoed doesn't do well when taking residual damage from poison or burn due to its only form of recovery being Leftovers. It needs to be wary of Toxic from the likes of Dustox and Gigalith, as well as Will-O-Wisp from Dusclops and Solrock.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
name: Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Protect / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Encore / Toxic / Hidden Power Grass
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Politoed is a multifaceted offensive tank and bulky Water-type. The threat of a strong Scald backed up by Ice Beam to hit Grass-types like Servine and Jumpluff makes Politoed hard to switch into. Access to Water Absorb and great defensive stats also make Politoed a valuable defensive asset in a pinch against the likes of Magmar, Klang, and Simipour. Protect doubles as a means to net extra recovery from Leftovers, as well as a defense against Choice-locked attackers like Vanilluxe. Encore also pairs well with Protect because it allows Politoed to scout and then punish utility moves and weaker attacks versus slower foes like Duosion and Bronzor, all while securing additional Leftovers recovery. Encore is also very good against setup sweepers that don't care about Toxic like Scraggy and the aforementioned Duosion. Toxic is another stallbreaking option for Politoed to be more threatening versus its counters like Regenerator Duosion, although it comes at the opportunity cost of losing the safe switch against slower status users. Another consideration is Hidden Power Grass, which can be opted for if the team needs to rely on Politoed to check offensive Water-types like Simipour and Huntail. With 16 Speed EVs, Politoed outspeeds and revenge kills Adamant Lairon.
Politoed fits on any balance and bulky offense team that can appreciate its role compression and defensive typing. Defensive cores like Gigalith + Vibrava and Dustox + Carbink need Politoed to check threats like Huntail, Klang, and Pignite. In return, they can create a safe switch opportunity for Politoed against Pokemon like Gigalith, Vibrava, and Carbink, especially when prompting foes to trade entry hazards. Scraggy and Bronzor can absorb Future Sight from Regenerator Duosion, while Dustox and Gogoat are generally good threats to Servine. Ground-types like Krokorok and Hippopotas are great to maintain momentum versus faster Volt Switch users that can force out Politoed, and they are especially beneficial versus Choice-locked Electabuzz, given Politoed's Protect will punish revenge kill attempts.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA
Choice Specs Politoed boasts an impressive offensive movepool and still retains a lot of its defensive merit. Most notably, the extra power offers Politoed a guaranteed 2HKO versus Regenerator Duosion and Dustox with Hydro Pump. Its coverage in Ice Beam + Hidden Power Grass gives Politoed a chance to OHKO the likes of Gourgeist-L and Whiscash, respectively. Additionally, Politoed's ability Water Absorb means that even without defensive investment, it can still soft check the likes of Huntail and Simipour and retaliate with Hidden Power Grass with a chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock.
Pivots like Electabuzz and Dustox are great teammates to get Politoed in safely. Knock Off users like Servine and Persian can soften up Eviolite walls like Bronzor and Quilladin, making them more vulnerable to Politoed's wallbreaking. Swalot, Ivysaur, and Gourgeist-L are all checks to Grass-types that give Politoed a defensive backbone to rely on versus the likes of Simisage and Sawsbuck. Specially offensive sweepers like Vanilluxe and Butterfree can clean late-game after Politoed pokes holes through opposing special walls. Fast attackers like Persian and Sawsbuck make for great partners to help circumvent Politoed's mediocre Speed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Blast offers strong coverage generally, but it lacks specific targets to make up for its inaccuracy. Choice Scarf sets can get the jump on some noticeable targets if the opponent is unaware, although these sets lack either the defensive reliability or power that the other sets excel at. Perish Song + Whirlpool sets offer a different stallbreaking option than Encore; however, these sets make Politoed more passive, which can sink momentum. No Item + Thief can be opted for over Protect as a means to debilitate Eviolite-reliant counters, but the lack of Leftovers and the risk of stealing a useless or debilitating item like Dustox's Black Sludge usually means that item removal is a better fit for Politoed's teammates. Substitute is another option on Leftovers sets that prefer more Speed, as it gives Politoed an extra burn chance and allows for safer Toxics against foes that want to switch in on it like Swalot, Sawsbuck and Ivysaur.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dustox**: Dustox is immune to Scald burns due to its ability Shield Dust. Additionally, it can use Toxic to completely shut down Politoed, all while having the bulk and recovery to consistently function as a safe switch-in except versus Choice Specs Hydro Pump.
**Duosion**: Specially defensive Duosion tanks Politoed's unboosted hits, and, thanks to Regenerator, it can generally leave unscathed. Double Dance sets are in jeopardy of getting hit by Encore, though.
**Grass-types**: Faster Grass-types like Servine, Simisage, and Sawsbuck can force out Politoed, although they risk a strong Ice Beam if they attempt to set up versus it.
**Revenge Killers**: Stronger revenge killers like Electabuzz, Choice Specs Vanilluxe, and Choice Band Furfrou favorably trade hits against Politoed, and they will force it out once at low health; scouting with Protect can deter the Choice-locked revenge killers, however.
**Status**: Politoed doesn't do well when taking residual damage from poison or burn due to its only form of recovery being Leftovers. It needs to be wary of Toxic from the likes of Dustox and Gigalith, as well as Will-O-Wisp from Dusclops and Solrock.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
