plznostep
Flittle Fanatic
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake / Bonemerang
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Substitute
item: Thick Club
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Cubone is a potent wallbreaker in ZU due to its incredibly high Attack thanks to Thick Club that can be boosted even further with Swords Dance. It also boasts decent coverage moves for Pokemon such as Koffing and Bayleef. Cubone is able to find opportunities to come in on passive Pokemon, like Delcatty and Dustox, and Choice-locked Pokemon like Nidorino and set up with Swords Dance. Earthquake is Cubone's STAB-boosted attack of choice, with it OHKOing Pokemon such as Rhyhorn at +0 and Lileep at +2. Bonemerang can be used instead to beat Substitute versus Pokemon like Rhyhorn, but it comes at the cost of less accuracy when compared to Earthquake. Double-Edge is Cubone's strongest option into Koffing, doing about half of its HP and almost being able to OHKO it at +2 while additonally hitting Grass-types such as Bayleef, which are Cubone's best defensive answers. It also threatens Flying-types such as Pidgeotto and Taillow that may want to pivot into Earthquake. An Adamant nature increases the odds of OHKOing Pidgeotto with Double-Edge, but it comes at the cost of losing Speed, meaning foes like Delcatty can outrun Cubone. Rock Head allows Cubone to avoid the recoil from Double-Edge that would put it in range of Choice Band Pidgeotto and Taillow. Substitute is used to avoid status from Koffing and to help Cubone deal with revenge killers like Seaking and Aipom.
Cubone is mainly found on balance and some offense teams that prefer its power to the defensive utility that Ground-types like Rhyhorn may offer. Cubone also appreciates having defensive Pokemon to fall back on, as its defenses are rather poor, and its low Speed makes it liable to be revenge killed quite easily. Pokemon like Elekid and Mankey appreciate Cubone's ability to break through or trade with Pokemon like Dustox, Delcatty, and Koffing, which allows them to clean late-game. Cubone can struggle into strong special attackers such as Seaking and Growlithe. To help alleviate this issue, specially defensive walls like Dustox and Delcatty can be good partners. Particularly strong physical attackers such as Choice Band Aipom can also threaten to OHKO Cubone after some chip, and Pokemon like Pidgeotto and Taillow can also threaten to KO it. Pairing Cubone with Rock-types like Rhyhorn and Lileep can help remedy this, while Shuppet can also be useful to pivot into these attackers. Grass-types such as Sunflora and Bayleef can also attempt to pivot in on Cubone's Ground moves and threaten back with their Grass moves. Cubone thus appreciates partners like Cyndaquil and Growlithe to threaten these answers.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/plznostep.595639/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Slide can be used to hit Flying-types such as Pidgeotto, guaranteeing an OHKO. However, Double-Edge is preferred, as it still hits Flying-types relatively hard with perfect accuracy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Sunflora and Bayleef resist Earthquake and are able to threaten Cubone back with Grass-type attacks, although they must be careful of being hit by Double-Edge on the switch.
**Koffing**: Koffing is one of the only Pokemon in the tier able to avoid a 2HKO from Cubone thanks to Levitate and is able to answer back with a burn, Explosion, or Hidden Power Grass.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Due to Cubone's low special bulk and poor Speed, special attackers such as Cyndaquil, Seaking, and Chinchou can revenge kill it, although they cannot switch into Cubone.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Delibird and Pidgeotto can pivot in on Earthquake and threaten Cubone out, although they must be careful of Cubone's coverage moves.
**Residual Damage**: Cubone's reliance on Thick Club for its firepower means it is not able to hold Leftovers, making it vulnerable to residual damage from Spikes and Toxic, which make it easier to revenge kill.
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake / Bonemerang
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Substitute
item: Thick Club
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Cubone is a potent wallbreaker in ZU due to its incredibly high Attack thanks to Thick Club that can be boosted even further with Swords Dance. It also boasts decent coverage moves for Pokemon such as Koffing and Bayleef. Cubone is able to find opportunities to come in on passive Pokemon, like Delcatty and Dustox, and Choice-locked Pokemon like Nidorino and set up with Swords Dance. Earthquake is Cubone's STAB-boosted attack of choice, with it OHKOing Pokemon such as Rhyhorn at +0 and Lileep at +2. Bonemerang can be used instead to beat Substitute versus Pokemon like Rhyhorn, but it comes at the cost of less accuracy when compared to Earthquake. Double-Edge is Cubone's strongest option into Koffing, doing about half of its HP and almost being able to OHKO it at +2 while additonally hitting Grass-types such as Bayleef, which are Cubone's best defensive answers. It also threatens Flying-types such as Pidgeotto and Taillow that may want to pivot into Earthquake. An Adamant nature increases the odds of OHKOing Pidgeotto with Double-Edge, but it comes at the cost of losing Speed, meaning foes like Delcatty can outrun Cubone. Rock Head allows Cubone to avoid the recoil from Double-Edge that would put it in range of Choice Band Pidgeotto and Taillow. Substitute is used to avoid status from Koffing and to help Cubone deal with revenge killers like Seaking and Aipom.
Cubone is mainly found on balance and some offense teams that prefer its power to the defensive utility that Ground-types like Rhyhorn may offer. Cubone also appreciates having defensive Pokemon to fall back on, as its defenses are rather poor, and its low Speed makes it liable to be revenge killed quite easily. Pokemon like Elekid and Mankey appreciate Cubone's ability to break through or trade with Pokemon like Dustox, Delcatty, and Koffing, which allows them to clean late-game. Cubone can struggle into strong special attackers such as Seaking and Growlithe. To help alleviate this issue, specially defensive walls like Dustox and Delcatty can be good partners. Particularly strong physical attackers such as Choice Band Aipom can also threaten to OHKO Cubone after some chip, and Pokemon like Pidgeotto and Taillow can also threaten to KO it. Pairing Cubone with Rock-types like Rhyhorn and Lileep can help remedy this, while Shuppet can also be useful to pivot into these attackers. Grass-types such as Sunflora and Bayleef can also attempt to pivot in on Cubone's Ground moves and threaten back with their Grass moves. Cubone thus appreciates partners like Cyndaquil and Growlithe to threaten these answers.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/plznostep.595639/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Slide can be used to hit Flying-types such as Pidgeotto, guaranteeing an OHKO. However, Double-Edge is preferred, as it still hits Flying-types relatively hard with perfect accuracy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Sunflora and Bayleef resist Earthquake and are able to threaten Cubone back with Grass-type attacks, although they must be careful of being hit by Double-Edge on the switch.
**Koffing**: Koffing is one of the only Pokemon in the tier able to avoid a 2HKO from Cubone thanks to Levitate and is able to answer back with a burn, Explosion, or Hidden Power Grass.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Due to Cubone's low special bulk and poor Speed, special attackers such as Cyndaquil, Seaking, and Chinchou can revenge kill it, although they cannot switch into Cubone.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Delibird and Pidgeotto can pivot in on Earthquake and threaten Cubone out, although they must be careful of Cubone's coverage moves.
**Residual Damage**: Cubone's reliance on Thick Club for its firepower means it is not able to hold Leftovers, making it vulnerable to residual damage from Spikes and Toxic, which make it easier to revenge kill.
Last edited: