false
maybe this is heaven
[OVERVIEW]
The only viable Contrary user that PU has to offer, Servine's combination of good mixed bulk, a decent Speed tier, and a STAB move that boosts its Special Attack two stages make it a threatening Pokemon for many balanced teams to deal with. Unfortunately, Servine is relatively predictable, due to a limited number of possible set variations. As such, Servine is hard walled by a number of very common metagame threats such as Muk and Altaria, as well as by most Fire-types. Servine's uninvested base 60 Special Attack stat is very low for an offensive Pokemon, and thus Servine can be weak, even after a Leaf Storm boost. Leaf Storm also suffers from a low number of PP, and seeing that it is usually Servine's only STAB move, it must be used wisely in order to not risk running out. Lastly, Servine suffers competition from other Grass-types. Offensive Grass-types such as Simisage offer more immediate breaking power, more coverage, and a better Speed tier. Defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Quilladin possess better defensive abilities and more bulk.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Synthesis
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Synthesis
item: Eviolite
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=======
Leaf Storm is Servine's main STAB move, increasing its Special Attack by two stages while also being a generally powerful attack. Hidden Power Fire hits Steel- and Grass-types such as Pawniard, Metang, and Leafeon. Substitute allows Servine to set up on weaker attacks such as Audino's Knock Off, Clefairy's Moonblast, and Duosion's Psyshock, but it can also be set up on forced switches when facing Pokemon such as Golem and Relicanth. Synthesis keeps Servine healthy. Servine's HP investment in combination with Eviolite makes it somewhat bulky in comparison to other offensive Pokemon, making it potentially tough to KO in combination with Synthesis.
Set Details
======
Maximum HP investment gives Servine good mixed bulk, avoiding the 2HKO from Choice Specs Mr. Mime. Maximum Speed investment allows Servine to outspeed offensive Pokemon such as Gabite and Monferno. Contrary is Servine's ability of choice, enabling it to act as a threatening wallbreaker when facing balanced teams.
Usage Tips
=======
Servine comes in relatively freely on Water- and Ground-types, as long as you are wary of Toxic or Scald burns, and can proceed to force them out, setting up a Substitute or pressuring the defensive Pokemon that is switched in with Leaf Storm. Don't bother using Leaf Storm if a Muk, Bouffalant, or Altaria is still on the opposing team. Pokemon such as those will easily wall Servine no matter how many boosts it acquires, so it is in your best interest not to waste the limited Leaf Storm PP that you have available. Servine possesses the ability to handle a decent number of offensive Pokemon, avoiding the 2HKO from offensive threats such as Choice Specs Mr. Mime, so don't be afraid to switch it in in situations like this.
Team Options
=======
Trapinch is able to trap Muk, Ninetales, and Arbok, three of Servine's hardest counters, and thus makes for a great supportive partner. Stoutland can be used to bust through the special walls that Servine cannot break while also boasting the ability to Pursuit trap faster offensive threats that Servine may struggle with. In return, Servine deals with bulky Rock- and Ground-types such as Golem, Relicanth, and Stunfisk while also setting up on Gourgeist and Vullaby. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Relicanth and Golem can be useful to wear down Fire-types as well as Muk. SpeedPass Combusken is a good partner for Servine, as it appreciates the extra Speed to deal with offensive Pokemon such as Floatzel and Dodrio.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off can be used to remove Eviolite or Leftovers from defensive Pokemon, making them easier to break through. It can also remove damage-boosting items such as Stoutland's Choice Band, which is useful, since Stoutland cannot 2HKO Servine without its Choice Band equipped. Glare can be used as a form of speed control, crippling faster offensive Pokemon. Taunt enables Servine to better handle defensive Pokemon such as Calm Mind Clefairy or Grumpig with Calm Mind or a status-inflicting move. Giga Drain can be used to give Servine a secondary Grass STAB move, making up for Leaf Storm's low PP, while Hidden Power Ice can also be run in that slot to nail would-be counter Altaria. A Choice Scarf set is also a possibility. However, Servine's only average base Speed, leaving it outsped by other Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-F and Dodrio, combined with the fact that Servine is somewhat weak without boosts means that this set is usually underwhelming.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Rapidash, Ninetales, and Simisear all resist Leaf Storm and are immune to or resist Hidden Power Fire. They all outspeed Servine and can OHKO it with their Fire-type STAB moves.
**Poison-types**: Curse Muk is the single hardest counter to Servine that exists, taking next to nothing from any of its attacks and dealing heavy damage with Poison Jab. Arbok can also be used as an offensive check, since it resists Leaf Storm and threatens Servine with Gunk Shot.
**Ice-types**: Articuno outspeeds Servine and resists its STAB Leaf Storm, threatening it in return with moves such as Hurricane, Ice Beam, and Freeze-Dry. Rotom-F acts as an offensive check with both its Choice Scarf and Substitute sets, which both outspeed Servine and threaten to OHKO it with Blizzard.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Dodrio, Ninjask, and Jumpluff can deal big damage to Servine with their STAB moves. Ninjask and Jumpluff also have the Infiltrator ability, allowing them to hit Servine through its Substitute.
**Sap Sipper**: With their ability granting them an immunity to Grass-type moves, Bouffalant, Gogoat, and Sliggoo are all solid defensive answers to Servine. Zebstrika can act as an offensive check, although it can be worn down by Life Orb, entry hazards, or simply switching into Hidden Power Fire.
The only viable Contrary user that PU has to offer, Servine's combination of good mixed bulk, a decent Speed tier, and a STAB move that boosts its Special Attack two stages make it a threatening Pokemon for many balanced teams to deal with. Unfortunately, Servine is relatively predictable, due to a limited number of possible set variations. As such, Servine is hard walled by a number of very common metagame threats such as Muk and Altaria, as well as by most Fire-types. Servine's uninvested base 60 Special Attack stat is very low for an offensive Pokemon, and thus Servine can be weak, even after a Leaf Storm boost. Leaf Storm also suffers from a low number of PP, and seeing that it is usually Servine's only STAB move, it must be used wisely in order to not risk running out. Lastly, Servine suffers competition from other Grass-types. Offensive Grass-types such as Simisage offer more immediate breaking power, more coverage, and a better Speed tier. Defensive Pokemon such as Tangela and Quilladin possess better defensive abilities and more bulk.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Synthesis
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Synthesis
item: Eviolite
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=======
Leaf Storm is Servine's main STAB move, increasing its Special Attack by two stages while also being a generally powerful attack. Hidden Power Fire hits Steel- and Grass-types such as Pawniard, Metang, and Leafeon. Substitute allows Servine to set up on weaker attacks such as Audino's Knock Off, Clefairy's Moonblast, and Duosion's Psyshock, but it can also be set up on forced switches when facing Pokemon such as Golem and Relicanth. Synthesis keeps Servine healthy. Servine's HP investment in combination with Eviolite makes it somewhat bulky in comparison to other offensive Pokemon, making it potentially tough to KO in combination with Synthesis.
Set Details
======
Maximum HP investment gives Servine good mixed bulk, avoiding the 2HKO from Choice Specs Mr. Mime. Maximum Speed investment allows Servine to outspeed offensive Pokemon such as Gabite and Monferno. Contrary is Servine's ability of choice, enabling it to act as a threatening wallbreaker when facing balanced teams.
Usage Tips
=======
Servine comes in relatively freely on Water- and Ground-types, as long as you are wary of Toxic or Scald burns, and can proceed to force them out, setting up a Substitute or pressuring the defensive Pokemon that is switched in with Leaf Storm. Don't bother using Leaf Storm if a Muk, Bouffalant, or Altaria is still on the opposing team. Pokemon such as those will easily wall Servine no matter how many boosts it acquires, so it is in your best interest not to waste the limited Leaf Storm PP that you have available. Servine possesses the ability to handle a decent number of offensive Pokemon, avoiding the 2HKO from offensive threats such as Choice Specs Mr. Mime, so don't be afraid to switch it in in situations like this.
Team Options
=======
Trapinch is able to trap Muk, Ninetales, and Arbok, three of Servine's hardest counters, and thus makes for a great supportive partner. Stoutland can be used to bust through the special walls that Servine cannot break while also boasting the ability to Pursuit trap faster offensive threats that Servine may struggle with. In return, Servine deals with bulky Rock- and Ground-types such as Golem, Relicanth, and Stunfisk while also setting up on Gourgeist and Vullaby. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Relicanth and Golem can be useful to wear down Fire-types as well as Muk. SpeedPass Combusken is a good partner for Servine, as it appreciates the extra Speed to deal with offensive Pokemon such as Floatzel and Dodrio.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off can be used to remove Eviolite or Leftovers from defensive Pokemon, making them easier to break through. It can also remove damage-boosting items such as Stoutland's Choice Band, which is useful, since Stoutland cannot 2HKO Servine without its Choice Band equipped. Glare can be used as a form of speed control, crippling faster offensive Pokemon. Taunt enables Servine to better handle defensive Pokemon such as Calm Mind Clefairy or Grumpig with Calm Mind or a status-inflicting move. Giga Drain can be used to give Servine a secondary Grass STAB move, making up for Leaf Storm's low PP, while Hidden Power Ice can also be run in that slot to nail would-be counter Altaria. A Choice Scarf set is also a possibility. However, Servine's only average base Speed, leaving it outsped by other Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-F and Dodrio, combined with the fact that Servine is somewhat weak without boosts means that this set is usually underwhelming.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Rapidash, Ninetales, and Simisear all resist Leaf Storm and are immune to or resist Hidden Power Fire. They all outspeed Servine and can OHKO it with their Fire-type STAB moves.
**Poison-types**: Curse Muk is the single hardest counter to Servine that exists, taking next to nothing from any of its attacks and dealing heavy damage with Poison Jab. Arbok can also be used as an offensive check, since it resists Leaf Storm and threatens Servine with Gunk Shot.
**Ice-types**: Articuno outspeeds Servine and resists its STAB Leaf Storm, threatening it in return with moves such as Hurricane, Ice Beam, and Freeze-Dry. Rotom-F acts as an offensive check with both its Choice Scarf and Substitute sets, which both outspeed Servine and threaten to OHKO it with Blizzard.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Dodrio, Ninjask, and Jumpluff can deal big damage to Servine with their STAB moves. Ninjask and Jumpluff also have the Infiltrator ability, allowing them to hit Servine through its Substitute.
**Sap Sipper**: With their ability granting them an immunity to Grass-type moves, Bouffalant, Gogoat, and Sliggoo are all solid defensive answers to Servine. Zebstrika can act as an offensive check, although it can be worn down by Life Orb, entry hazards, or simply switching into Hidden Power Fire.
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