vivalospride
can’t rest in peace cause they diggin me
[OVERVIEW]
*Smeargle's niche in the metagame is it's ability to be a Sticky Web setter with access to Spore and Stealth Rock, while also being faster then every other Sticky Web setter bar Ribombee and Galvantula.
*Smeargle is often ran as a suicide lead on offensive teams that appreciate Sticky Web support.
*Since Smeargle often runs no offensive moves, and because of this, this pokemon is major Taunt bait and could wind up being deadweight.
*While having Spore and a decent speed tier is great, Araquanid's ability to set Sticky Web throughout the game and be a wallbreaker simultaneously means it often outclasses Smeargle.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Spore
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Sticky Web
move 4: Magic Coat / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Spore is really useful for setting Sticky Web, because alongside Smeargle's decent speed, it can get a free Spore off on a lot of the popular rockers in the tier such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Mega Aggron.
*Stealth Rock chip away at the pokemon that threaten Smeargle's teammates.
*Sticky Web is valuable because applies a -1 Speed debuff to the opponent's pokemon on switch in. This is helpful for pokemon that may hit hard but have mediocre speed tiers such as Nidoking, Bewear, and Breloom.
*Magic Coat bounces back things like Taunt, Stealth Rock, and Spikes. This is valuable because Smeargle is major Taunt bait, and being able to bounce it back means you can freely set up your hazards.
*Taunt helps Smeargle with slower Taunt users, and also prevents opposing pokemon such as Breloom setup.
Set Details
========
*The suggested EVs on Smeargle are 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe, maximizing your EV investment into Speed is important to outspeed threats such as Scizor, Crawdaunt, and Primarina. While HP is maximized due to Smeargle not having a use for any offensive investment.
*Due to Smeargle being somewhat frail, it often relies on Focus Sash to tank a hit and get a Spore off.
Usage Tips
========
*You should always lead off with Spore so you can safely get your hazards on the field.
*When using Smeargle, you should primarily focus on getting your hazards up, in some cases one hazard will be more important than the other, and setting that first is important in case of a premature wake up or switch out.
*Always be very careful of Taunt, specifically faster Taunt users such as Gliscor and Crobat, because if you are successfully afflicted by Taunt, you cannot reliably get your hazards up. This is especially the case if your not running Magic Coat.
*If the lead matchup is less than desirable, you may opt to not lead with Smeargle and safely get it in later to setup hazards.
Team Options
========
*Slower wallbreakers that appreciate Sticky Web and Stealth Rock support are necessary with Smeargle. Pokemon such as Volcanion and Crawdaunt can thrive when Sticky Web is up because of their ability to outspeed most of the metagame at -1 and their hard hitting power.
*Spinblockers are recommended on a team with a suicide lead, Pokemon such as Chandelure and Doublade can hit hard while abusing Sticky Web and also provide spinblocking support to make sure your hazards stay on the field.
*Pokemon that can abuse Defog to their advantage such as Tornadus and Serperior are valuable to abuse pokemon that try to Defog your Sticky Web away.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Nuzzle is also a viable option because it can provide a guaranteed paralysis and chip damage to break other Focus Sash leads.
*Explosion can be an option on Smeargle because it provides chip damage and gives you momentum.
*Encore keeps the target Pokemon repeating it's last move for 3 turns, which Smeargle can take advantage of those turns to set up hazards.
*Memento is good to provide one of Smeargle's teammates free setup oppotunities to sweep.
*Toxic Spikes is helpful if your team has a weak stall matchup and needs pokemon like Blissey and Alomomola crippled in order to KO.
*Whirlwind forces the opponent out, allowing you to get chip damage with your hazards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt Users**: Pokemon like Gliscor, Krookodile, Azelf, among others can taunt Smeargle very easily and keep it from placing hazards if not prepared with Magic Coat.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Smeargle can prevent it can setting both hazards up by attacking, getting put to sleep, switching out and finishing Smeargle off.
**Magic Bounce**: Pokemon with the ability Magic Bounce such as Xatu can prevent this pokemon from setting up hazards.
**Hazard Removal**: Pokemon with Defog or Rapid Spin can easily remove the hazards that Smeargle placed after Smeargle is KOed.
**Priority Users**: Pokemon with priority such as Scizor and Breloom can also limit Smeargle to only having one hazard up by using a priority move after breaking Smeargle's Focus Sash.
**Breloom**: Breloom is immune to Spore, has Mach Punch, Spore, and Bullet Seed which are all good ways of dealing with Smeargle. Bullet Seed stands out because it can potentially OHKO Smeargle through its Focus Sash.
*Smeargle's niche in the metagame is it's ability to be a Sticky Web setter with access to Spore and Stealth Rock, while also being faster then every other Sticky Web setter bar Ribombee and Galvantula.
*Smeargle is often ran as a suicide lead on offensive teams that appreciate Sticky Web support.
*Since Smeargle often runs no offensive moves, and because of this, this pokemon is major Taunt bait and could wind up being deadweight.
*While having Spore and a decent speed tier is great, Araquanid's ability to set Sticky Web throughout the game and be a wallbreaker simultaneously means it often outclasses Smeargle.
[SET]
name: Sticky Web
move 1: Spore
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Sticky Web
move 4: Magic Coat / Taunt
item: Focus Sash
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Spore is really useful for setting Sticky Web, because alongside Smeargle's decent speed, it can get a free Spore off on a lot of the popular rockers in the tier such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Mega Aggron.
*Stealth Rock chip away at the pokemon that threaten Smeargle's teammates.
*Sticky Web is valuable because applies a -1 Speed debuff to the opponent's pokemon on switch in. This is helpful for pokemon that may hit hard but have mediocre speed tiers such as Nidoking, Bewear, and Breloom.
*Magic Coat bounces back things like Taunt, Stealth Rock, and Spikes. This is valuable because Smeargle is major Taunt bait, and being able to bounce it back means you can freely set up your hazards.
*Taunt helps Smeargle with slower Taunt users, and also prevents opposing pokemon such as Breloom setup.
Set Details
========
*The suggested EVs on Smeargle are 252 Hp / 4 Def / 252 Spe, maximizing your EV investment into Speed is important to outspeed threats such as Scizor, Crawdaunt, and Primarina. While HP is maximized due to Smeargle not having a use for any offensive investment.
*Due to Smeargle being somewhat frail, it often relies on Focus Sash to tank a hit and get a Spore off.
Usage Tips
========
*You should always lead off with Spore so you can safely get your hazards on the field.
*When using Smeargle, you should primarily focus on getting your hazards up, in some cases one hazard will be more important than the other, and setting that first is important in case of a premature wake up or switch out.
*Always be very careful of Taunt, specifically faster Taunt users such as Gliscor and Crobat, because if you are successfully afflicted by Taunt, you cannot reliably get your hazards up. This is especially the case if your not running Magic Coat.
*If the lead matchup is less than desirable, you may opt to not lead with Smeargle and safely get it in later to setup hazards.
Team Options
========
*Slower wallbreakers that appreciate Sticky Web and Stealth Rock support are necessary with Smeargle. Pokemon such as Volcanion and Crawdaunt can thrive when Sticky Web is up because of their ability to outspeed most of the metagame at -1 and their hard hitting power.
*Spinblockers are recommended on a team with a suicide lead, Pokemon such as Chandelure and Doublade can hit hard while abusing Sticky Web and also provide spinblocking support to make sure your hazards stay on the field.
*Pokemon that can abuse Defog to their advantage such as Tornadus and Serperior are valuable to abuse pokemon that try to Defog your Sticky Web away.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Nuzzle is also a viable option because it can provide a guaranteed paralysis and chip damage to break other Focus Sash leads.
*Explosion can be an option on Smeargle because it provides chip damage and gives you momentum.
*Encore keeps the target Pokemon repeating it's last move for 3 turns, which Smeargle can take advantage of those turns to set up hazards.
*Memento is good to provide one of Smeargle's teammates free setup oppotunities to sweep.
*Toxic Spikes is helpful if your team has a weak stall matchup and needs pokemon like Blissey and Alomomola crippled in order to KO.
*Whirlwind forces the opponent out, allowing you to get chip damage with your hazards.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt Users**: Pokemon like Gliscor, Krookodile, Azelf, among others can taunt Smeargle very easily and keep it from placing hazards if not prepared with Magic Coat.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Smeargle can prevent it can setting both hazards up by attacking, getting put to sleep, switching out and finishing Smeargle off.
**Magic Bounce**: Pokemon with the ability Magic Bounce such as Xatu can prevent this pokemon from setting up hazards.
**Hazard Removal**: Pokemon with Defog or Rapid Spin can easily remove the hazards that Smeargle placed after Smeargle is KOed.
**Priority Users**: Pokemon with priority such as Scizor and Breloom can also limit Smeargle to only having one hazard up by using a priority move after breaking Smeargle's Focus Sash.
**Breloom**: Breloom is immune to Spore, has Mach Punch, Spore, and Bullet Seed which are all good ways of dealing with Smeargle. Bullet Seed stands out because it can potentially OHKO Smeargle through its Focus Sash.
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