LC Abra

[DC]

[SET]
name: Shed Shell
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Punch / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Fire Punch
item: Shed Shell
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 36 Atk / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shed Shell mitigates one of the most effective ways to remove Abra in trappers, making it a fearsome offensive threat. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types like Galarian Ponyta, Natu, and opposing Abra and Frillish. Both Focus Punch and Fire Punch target Steel-types; Focus Punch OHKOes Pawniard, while Fire Punch heavily dents Ferroseed. Substitute takes advantage of Abra forcing switches to give it an extra layer of protection while also making it easier to use Focus Punch. Alternatively, Abra can forgo Substitute and fit both Focus Punch and Fire Punch to be less prediction reliant. Inner Focus helps Abra in the lead matchup by preventing it from flinching due to Mienfoo's Fake Out and letting it potentially set up with Substitute.

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. Shed Shell allows Abra to be played more aggressively, as it doesn't have to fear getting trapped. It also lets Abra be utilized as a lead to beat lead Mienfoo, giving insurance if Mienfoo pivots to a trapper. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr pressure Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra handles Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Ferroseed, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic; Ferroseed and Pawniard also help check problematic foes like Choice Scarf Porygon. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett.

[SET]
name: Focus Sash
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Protect
move 4: Counter / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 76 Def / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Ball hits opposing Psychic-types and Frillish. Protect blocks Fake Out from Mienfoo and First Impression from Trapinch, preserving Focus Sash and preventing the latter from KOing Abra. Counter synergizes with Focus Sash to potentially revenge kill fearsome setup sweepers like Swords Dance Grookey,Belly Drum Magby, and Pawniard, while Thunder Wave cripples switch-ins like Pawniard and serves as a safety net against Choice Scarf users and setup sweepers.

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. It is very important that Focus Sash is preserved until the late-game, as Abra often will be the best option to revenge kill setup sweepers. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr complement Abra really well, pressuring Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra is able to handle Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing, which limit the effectiveness of the Fighting-types. The aforementioned Poison-types are also solid partners, absorbing priority attacks such as Grookey's Grassy Glide and Timburr's Mach Punch and preserving Abra's Focus Sash. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Timburr, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett. Abra synergizes well with other special attackers like Galarian Ponyta and Porygon to overwhelm opposing Steel-types.

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Submission / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 116 Atk / 156 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Life Orb Psychic severely damages most targets. Shadow Ball hits Frillish and opposing Psychic-types. Submission is used with 116 Attack EVs to let Abra lure in and OHKO Pawniard, while Fire Punch 2HKOes Ferroseed with 36 Attack EVs. Substitute allows Abra to take advantage of a forced switch and fire off an extra attack while also letting it avoid Pawniard's Sucker Punch. Alternatively, Protect blocks Mienfoo's Fake Out and Trapinch's First Impression and bluffs Abra's Focus Sash set. Inner Focus is a notable alternative over Magic Guard that lets Abra ignore flinch from Mienfoo's Fake Out in the lead matchup and KO it.

Life Orb Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker, taking advantage of its incredible damage output to weaken opposing defensive cores. However, it should be played carefully, especially against teams with trappers, as Life Orb Abra is incredibly vulnerable to being trapped and removed. Abra fits on Spikes-stacking offense teams, taking advantage of Dwebble's and Ferroseed's Spikes weakening foes into KO range of its powerful attacks. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can eliminate the troublesome Pawniard and Ferroseed, as well as opposing trappers. On less offensive team structures, playing Abra more passively and bluffing Focus Sash can be beneficial, as it causes the opponent to be more cautious. Knock Off absorbers such as Timburr and Mienfoo, as well as defensive cores like Ferroseed + Mareanie and Staryu + Foongus, can help Abra handle opposing Dark-types and Choice Scarf users like Porygon and Vulpix. Grass-resistant foes like Foongus, Koffing, and Ponyta are also appreciated, helping Abra against Grookey. Abra has good synergy with other special attackers like Porygon and Staryu due to their ability to wear down shared checks like Ferroseed and Frillish.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Energy Ball OHKOes Onix and targets other problematic foes like Staryu, Frillish, Diglett, and Trapinch. Abra can opt to run a dual screens set, consisting of Reflect, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, and Teleport with Light Clay, but it is outclassed by Natu in this role. Knock Off is a niche option to cripple checks such as Ferroseed, Frillish, and Munchlax on the switch. Dazzling Gleam is an option to hit both Fighting-types and Pawniard, easing prediction, but it is generally outclassed by other coverage options.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Pawniard**: Pawniard is one of the best checks to Abra thanks to its immunity to Psychic and ability to threaten Abra with Sucker Punch. It can force out Abra and use that opportunity to set Stealth Rock. However, Pawniard should be wary of Abra's coverage options.

**Ferroseed**: Ferroseed resists Psychic and threatens Abra with Thunder Wave and Knock Off. However, Ferroseed should be wary of Fire Punch.

**Priority Attacks**: Priority attacks are often the best ways to handle Abra, as they prevent it from getting a hit off. Strong priority like Grookey's Grassy Glide and Pawniard's Sucker Punch can KO, while weaker priority like Timburr's Mach Punch can break Abra's Focus Sash, leaving it vulnerable to faster attackers.

**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users like Vulpix, Porygon, and Mienfoo outspeed and KO Abra. Choice Scarf Magnemite is notable, as it resists Psychic and doesn't enable Counter. However, Abra is able to check some of these Choice Scarf users with an intact Focus Sash; it also does not give Download Porygon a Special Attack boost, which makes it harder for Porygon to sweep.

**Trappers**: Diglett, especially Eviolite Diglett, can trap and eliminate Abra with Beat Up or Earthquake. Trapinch can take a hit from Abra and KO it in return while also potentially breaking Focus Sash with Feint. However, they are less reliable against Shed Shell Abra.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DC, 449990]]
- Quality checked by: [[gali, 107567], [KSG, 32350]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dave, 192841], [Finland, 517429]]

 

[gali]

-"Opposing Dark- and Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed" seems redundant, since pawn is the only viable defensive Dark-type and is also a Steel-type. I'd change this to just Steel-types.
-On the Life Orb set, emphasize Abra's vulnerability to getting trapped, it's like the main knock on the set.
-I'd include a sentence in OO about Dazzling Gleam and why it shouldn't be used (it has better options for hitting Pawniard, the only relevant Dark-type switchin). You also mention Gleam in the C&C section on Pawn so change that too.
-In the C&C section on scarfers it's worth mentioning that Abra does not give Porygon a SpA boost.

I'd also like whoever QCs this second to weigh in on set order; I personally think Sash should still be the #1 set but am open to arguments otherwise.

Good work as always DC, 1/2

 

[ghost]

2/2

[SET]
name: Shed Shell
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Punch / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Fire Punch
item: Shed Shell
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 36 Atk / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shed Shell mitigates one of the most effective ways to remove Abra in trappers, making it a fearsome offensive threat. Psychic pressures common Fighting- and Poison-types as well as neutral targets like Porygon and Mudbray. (i suspect this psychic sentence is not necessary) Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types like Galarian Ponyta, Natu, and opposing Abra and Frillish. Both Focus Punch and Fire Punch target Steel-types; Focus Punch OHKOes Pawniard, while Fire Punch heavily dents Ferroseed. Substitute takes advantage of Abra forcing switches to give it an extra layer of protection while also making it easier to use Focus Punch. Alternatively, Abra can forgo Substitute and fit both Focus Punch and Fire Punch to be less prediction reliant. Inner Focus helps Abra in the lead matchup by preventing it from flinching due to Mienfoo's Fake Out. (mention subbing vs foo with Inner Focus)

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. Shed Shell allows Abra to be played more aggressively, as it doesn't have to fear getting trapped. (mention leading Abra and how it beats lead foo) Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr pressure Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra handles Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Ferroseed, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic; Ferroseed and Pawniard also help check problematic foes like Choice Scarf Porygon. (is scarf pory that important a consideration?) Poison-types such as Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing help check Fighting-types and provide additional utility; Foongus provides Spore, Mareanie provides Knock Off, and Koffing provides additional wallbreaking. (Abra is pretty good at handling fighting types) Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett.

[SET]
name: Focus Sash
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Protect
move 4: Counter / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 76 Def / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Abra's great Special Attack, Psychic dents common Fighting- and Poison-types such as Mienfoo, Mareanie, and Koffing and weakens most neutral targets. (again, I think we can cut the psychic sentence) Shadow Ball hits opposing Psychic-types and Frillish. Protect blocks Fake Out from Mienfoo and First Impression from Trapinch, preventing them the latter from KOing it, and also preserves Focus Sash. (maybe mention Protect stalling sun and terrain turns) Counter synergizes with Focus Sash to potentially revenge kill fearsome setup sweepers like Swords Dance Grookey and Belly Drum Magby, while Thunder Wave cripples switch-ins like Pawniard and Ferroseed. (I would switch some of these mentions around. Ferro doesn't care that much about a para, and Pawniard is very commonly hit by Counter. You should talk about Thunder Wave functioning as a safety net vs sweepers and scarfers)

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. (isn't this every role for the whole game?) It is very important that Focus Sash is preserved until the late-game, as Abra often will be the best option to revenge kill setup sweepers. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr complement Abra really well, pressuring Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra is able to handle Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing, which limit the effectiveness of the Fighting-types. The aforementioned Poison-types are also solid partners, absorbing priority attacks such as Grookey's Grassy Glide and Timburr's Mach Punch and preserving Abra's Focus Sash. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Timburr, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett. (mention the synergy of stacking threats with g pony and pory)

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Submission / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 116 Atk / 156 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Life Orb Psychic severely damages most targets. Shadow Ball hits Frillish and opposing Psychic-types. Submission is used with 116 Attack EVs to lure in and OHKO Pawniard, while Fire Punch 2HKOes Ferroseed with 36 Attack EVs; both options target Steel-types. (this is self-evident because you tell us what the steel types are already) Substitute allows Abra to take advantage of a forced switch and fire off an extra attack while also letting it avoid Pawniard's Sucker Punch. Alternatively, Protect blocks Mienfoo's Fake Out and Trapinch's First Impression and bluff Abra's Focus Sash set. Inner Focus is a notable alternative over Magic Guard that helps Abra ignore Mienfoo's Fake Out in the lead matchup and KO it.

Life Orb Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker, taking advantage of its incredible damage output to weaken opposing defensive cores and support both itself and its teammates to clean late-game. (I hesitate at this description because it's really not true in trapper matchups where you'll want to preserve, as you allude to in this next sentence) However, it should be played carefully, as Life Orb Abra is incredibly vulnerable to being trapped and removed. Abra fits on Spikes-stacking offense teams, taking advantage of Dwebble's and Ferroseed's Spikes weakening foes into KO range of its powerful attacks. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can eliminate the troublesome Pawniard and Ferroseed as well as opposing trappers. On less offensive team structures, playing Abra more passively and bluffing Focus Sash can be beneficial, as it causes the opponent to be more cautious. Knock Off absorbers such as Timburr and Mienfoo, as well as defensive cores like Ferroseed + Mareanie and Staryu + Foongus, can help Abra handle opposing Dark-types and Choice Scarf users like Porygon and Vulpix. Grass-resistant foes like Foongus, Koffing, and Ponyta are also appreciated, helping Abra against Grookey. Abra has good synergy with other special attackers like Porygon and Staryu due to their ability to wear down shared checks like Ferroseed and Frillish. (add something about punishing traps, since this is the Abra that will almost certainly be trapped)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Energy Ball OHKOes Onix and targets other problematic foes like Staryu, Frillish, Diglett, and Trapinch. Abra can opt to run a dual screens set, consisting of Reflect, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, and Teleport with Light Clay, but it is outclassed by Natu in this role. Knock Off is a niche option to cripple checks such as Ferroseed, Frillish, and Munchlax on the switch. Dazzling Gleam is an option to hit both Fighting-types and Pawniard, easing prediction, but it is generally outclassed by other coverage options.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Pawniard**: Pawniard is one of the best checks to Abra thanks to its immunity to Psychic and ability to threaten Abra with Sucker Punch. It can force out Abra and use that opportunity to set Stealth Rock. However, Pawniard should be wary of Fighting-type coverage.

**Ferroseed**: Ferroseed resists Psychic and threatens Abra with Thunder Wave and Knock Off. However, Ferroseed should be wary of Fire Punch.

**Priority Attacks**: Priority attacks are often the best ways to handle Abra, preventing it from getting a hit off. Strong priority like Grookey's Grassy Glide and Pawniard's Sucker Punch can be problematic, while weak priority like Timburr's Mach Punch can break Abra's Focus Sash, leaving it vulnerable to faster attackers.

**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users like Vulpix, Porygon, and Mienfoo outspeed and KO Abra if its Focus Sash is broken. Choice Scarf Magnemite is notable, as it resists Psychic and does not mind Counter. However, Abra is able to check some of these Choice Scarf users if its Focus Sash is intact; it also does not give Download Porygon a Special Attack boost, which makes it harder for Porygon to sweep.

**Trappers**: Diglett, especially Eviolite Diglett, can trap and eliminate Abra with Beat Up or Earthquake. Trapinch can take a hit from Abra and KO it in return while also potentially breaking Focus Sash with Feint. However, they are less reliable against Shed Shell Abra.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DC, 449990]]
- Quality checked by: [[gali, 107567], [KSG, 32350]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]

 

[antemortem]

add remove comment

gp 1/2

[SET]
name: Shed Shell
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Punch / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Fire Punch
item: Shed Shell
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 36 Atk / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shed Shell mitigates one of the most effective ways to remove Abra in trappers, making it a fearsome offensive threat. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types like Galarian Ponyta, Natu, and opposing Abra and Frillish. Both Focus Punch and Fire Punch target Steel-types; Focus Punch OHKOes Pawniard, while Fire Punch heavily dents Ferroseed. Substitute takes advantage of Abra forcing switches to give it an extra layer of protection while also making it easier to use Focus Punch. Alternatively, Abra can forgo Substitute and fit both Focus Punch and Fire Punch to be less prediction-reliant. (add hyphen) Inner Focus helps Abra in the lead matchup by preventing it from flinching due to Mienfoo's Fake Out and letting it potentially set up with Substitute.

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. Shed Shell allows Abra to be played more aggressively, as it doesn't have to fear getting trapped, and can be utilized as a lead to beat lead Mienfoo. (The mention of Shed Shell here is almost exactly what you said in the first paragraph (redundancy) and it’s unclear how Shed Shell helps you beat Mienfoo any more than Inner Focus does; consider expanding on the latter, or delete this whole sentence imo!) Fighting-type teammates such as Mienfoo and Timburr pressure Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra handles Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Ferroseed, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic; Ferroseed and Pawniard also help check problematic foes for Abra like Choice Scarf Porygon. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett. (add period)

[SET]
name: Focus Sash
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Protect
move 4: Counter / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 76 Def / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Ball hits opposing Psychic-types and Frillish. Protect blocks Fake Out from Mienfoo and First Impression from Trapinch, preserving Focus Sash and preventing the latter from KOing it, and also preserves Focus Sash Abra. Counter synergizes with Focus Sash to potentially revenge kill fearsome setup sweepers like Swords Dance Grookey and, Belly Drum Magby as well as, and Pawniard, while Thunder Wave cripples switch-ins like Pawniard and serves as a safety net against Choice Scarf users and setup sweepers.

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. It is very important that Focus Sash is preserved until the late-game, as Abra often will be the best option to revenge kill setup sweepers. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr complement Abra really well, pressuring Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra is able to handle Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing, which limit the effectiveness of the Fighting-types. The aforementioned Poison-types are also solid partners, absorbing priority attacks such as Grookey's Grassy Glide and Timburr's Mach Punch and thus preserving Abra's Focus Sash. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Timburr, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett. Abra synergizes well with other special attackers like Galarian Ponyta and Porygon to overwhelm opposing Steel-types.

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Submission / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 116 Atk / 156 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Life Orb Psychic severely damages most targets. Shadow Ball hits Frillish and opposing Psychic-types. Submission is used with 116 Attack EVs to lure in and OHKO Pawniard, while Fire Punch 2HKOes Ferroseed with 36 Attack EVs. Substitute allows Abra to take advantage of a forced switch and fire off an extra attack while also letting it avoid Pawniard's Sucker Punch. Alternatively, Protect blocks Mienfoo's Fake Out and Trapinch's First Impression and bluffs Abra's Focus Sash set. Inner Focus is a notable alternative over Magic Guard that helps Abra ignore Mienfoo's Fake Out flinch in the lead matchup and KO it.

Life Orb Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker, taking advantage of its incredible damage output to weaken opposing defensive cores. However, it should be played carefully, especially against teams with trappers, as Life Orb Abra is incredibly vulnerable to being trapped and removed. Abra fits on Spikes-stacking offense teams, taking advantage of Dwebble's and Ferroseed's Spikes weakening foes into KO range of its powerful attacks. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can eliminate the troublesome Pawniard and Ferroseed as well as opposing trappers. On less offensive team structures, playing Abra more passively and bluffing Focus Sash can be beneficial, as it causes the opponent to be more cautious. Knock Off absorbers such as Timburr and Mienfoo, as well as defensive cores like Ferroseed + Mareanie and Staryu + Foongus, can help Abra handle opposing Dark-types and Choice Scarf users like Porygon and Vulpix. Grass-resistant foes like Foongus, Koffing, and Ponyta are also appreciated, helping Abra against Grookey. Abra has good synergy with other special attackers like Porygon and Staryu due to their ability to wear down shared checks like Ferroseed and Frillish.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Energy Ball OHKOes Onix and targets other problematic foes like Staryu, Frillish, Diglett, and Trapinch. Abra can opt to run a dual screens set, (RC) consisting of Reflect, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, and Teleport with Light Clay, but it is outclassed by Natu in this role. Knock Off is a niche option to cripple checks such as Ferroseed, Frillish, and Munchlax on the switch. Dazzling Gleam is an option to hit both Fighting-types and Pawniard, easing prediction, but it is generally outclassed by other coverage options.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Pawniard**: Pawniard is one of the best checks to Abra thanks to its immunity to Psychic (add space) and ability to threaten Abra with Sucker Punch. It can force out Abra and use that opportunity to set Stealth Rock. However, Pawniard should be wary of Abra’s coverage options.

**Ferroseed**: Ferroseed resists Psychic and threatens Abra with Thunder Wave and Knock Off. However, Ferroseed should be wary of Fire Punch.

**Priority Attacks**: Priority attacks are often the best ways to handle Abra, as they preventing it from getting a hit off. Strong priority like Grookey's Grassy Glide and Pawniard's Sucker Punch can be problematic, while even weaker priority like Timburr's Mach Punch can break Abra's Focus Sash, leaving it vulnerable to faster attackers.

**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users like Vulpix, Porygon, and Mienfoo outspeed and KO Abra if its Focus Sash is broken. Choice Scarf Magnemite is notable, as it resists Psychic and does not mind is unaffected by Counter. However, Abra is able to check some of these Choice Scarf users if its Focus Sash is intact; it also does not give Download Porygon a Special Attack boost, which makes it harder for Porygon to sweep.

**Trappers**: Diglett, especially Eviolite Diglett, can trap and eliminate Abra with Beat Up or Earthquake. Trapinch can take a hit from Abra and KO it in return while also potentially breaking Focus Sash with Feint. However, they are less reliable against Shed Shell Abra.

i miss checking LC analyses, thank you for writing a stupendous one DC

 

[Adeleine]

implemented dave's check and checking on top of it
Add/Fix Remove Comment
(AC): Add Comma

Hide

[SET]
name: Shed Shell
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Punch / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Fire Punch
item: Shed Shell
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 36 Atk / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shed Shell mitigates one of the most effective ways to remove Abra in trappers, making it a fearsome offensive threat. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types like Galarian Ponyta, Natu, and opposing Abra and Frillish. Both Focus Punch and Fire Punch target Steel-types; Focus Punch OHKOes Pawniard, while Fire Punch heavily dents Ferroseed. Substitute takes advantage of Abra forcing switches to give it an extra layer of protection while also making it easier to use Focus Punch. Alternatively, Abra can forgo Substitute and fit both Focus Punch and Fire Punch to be less prediction reliant. (removed hyphen) Inner Focus helps Abra in the lead matchup by preventing it from flinching due to Mienfoo's Fake Out and letting it potentially set up with Substitute.

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. Shed Shell allows Abra to be played more aggressively, as it doesn't have to fear getting trapped, and can be utilized as a lead to beat lead Mienfoo. trapped. It also lets Abra be utilized as a lead to beat lead Mienfoo, giving insurance if Mienfoo pivots to a trapper. (I imagine? tinker if desired. if i missed the point, pls clarify or change in line w dave's comment if not) Fighting-type teammates such as Mienfoo and Timburr pressure Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra handles Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Ferroseed, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic; Ferroseed and Pawniard also help check problematic foes for Abra like Choice Scarf Porygon. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett.

[SET]
name: Focus Sash
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Protect
move 4: Counter / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 76 Def / 236 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Ball hits opposing Psychic-types and Frillish. Protect blocks Fake Out from Mienfoo and First Impression from Trapinch, preserving Focus Sash and preventing the latter from KOing Abra. Counter synergizes with Focus Sash to potentially revenge kill fearsome setup sweepers like Swords Dance Grookey, Belly Drum Magby, and Pawniard, while Thunder Wave cripples switch-ins like Pawniard and serves as a safety net against Choice Scarf users and setup sweepers.

Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. It is very important that Focus Sash is preserved until the late-game, as Abra often will be the best option to revenge kill setup sweepers. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr complement Abra really well, pressuring Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Abra is able to handle Poison-types like Foongus, Mareanie, and Koffing, which limit the effectiveness of the Fighting-types. The aforementioned Poison-types are also solid partners, absorbing priority attacks such as Grookey's Grassy Glide and Timburr's Mach Punch and thus preserving Abra's Focus Sash. Knock Off support from Mienfoo, Timburr, and Pawniard allows Abra to KO foes like Foongus and Mareanie with Psychic. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can remove Pawniard, Ferroseed, and opposing Diglett. Abra synergizes well with other special attackers like Galarian Ponyta and Porygon to overwhelm opposing Steel-types.

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Submission / Fire Punch
move 4: Substitute / Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard / Inner Focus
nature: Hasty
evs: 116 Atk / 156 SpA / 196 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Life Orb Psychic severely damages most targets. Shadow Ball hits Frillish and opposing Psychic-types. Submission is used with 116 Attack EVs to let Abra lure in and OHKO Pawniard, while Fire Punch 2HKOes Ferroseed with 36 Attack EVs. Substitute allows Abra to take advantage of a forced switch and fire off an extra attack while also letting it avoid Pawniard's Sucker Punch. Alternatively, Protect blocks Mienfoo's Fake Out and Trapinch's First Impression and bluffs Abra's Focus Sash set. Inner Focus is a notable alternative over Magic Guard that helps lets Abra ignore Mienfoo's Fake Out flinch in the lead matchup and KO it.

Life Orb Abra is best utilized as an early- and mid-game wallbreaker, taking advantage of its incredible damage output to weaken opposing defensive cores. However, it should be played carefully, especially against teams with trappers, as Life Orb Abra is incredibly vulnerable to being trapped and removed. Abra fits on Spikes-stacking offense teams, taking advantage of Dwebble's and Ferroseed's Spikes weakening foes into KO range of its powerful attacks. Trappers such as Diglett and Trapinch can eliminate the troublesome Pawniard and Ferroseed, (AC) as well as opposing trappers. On less offensive team structures, playing Abra more passively and bluffing Focus Sash can be beneficial, as it causes the opponent to be more cautious. Knock Off absorbers such as Timburr and Mienfoo, as well as defensive cores like Ferroseed + Mareanie and Staryu + Foongus, can help Abra handle opposing Dark-types and Choice Scarf users like Porygon and Vulpix. Grass-resistant foes like Foongus, Koffing, and Ponyta are also appreciated, helping Abra against Grookey. Abra has good synergy with other special attackers like Porygon and Staryu due to their ability to wear down shared checks like Ferroseed and Frillish.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Energy Ball OHKOes Onix and targets other problematic foes like Staryu, Frillish, Diglett, and Trapinch. Abra can opt to run a dual screens set consisting of Reflect, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, and Teleport with Light Clay, but it is outclassed by Natu in this role. Knock Off is a niche option to cripple checks such as Ferroseed, Frillish, and Munchlax on the switch. Dazzling Gleam is an option to hit both Fighting-types and Pawniard, easing prediction, but it is generally outclassed by other coverage options.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Pawniard**: Pawniard is one of the best checks to Abra thanks to its immunity to Psychic and ability to threaten Abra with Sucker Punch. It can force out Abra and use that opportunity to set Stealth Rock. However, Pawniard should be wary of Abra’s coverage options.

**Ferroseed**: Ferroseed resists Psychic and threatens Abra with Thunder Wave and Knock Off. However, Ferroseed should be wary of Fire Punch.

**Priority Attacks**: Priority attacks are often the best ways to handle Abra, as they prevent it from getting a hit off. Strong priority like Grookey's Grassy Glide and Pawniard's Sucker Punch can be problematic, outright KO, (I imagine?) while even weaker priority like Timburr's Mach Punch can break Abra's Focus Sash, leaving it vulnerable to faster attackers.

**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users like Vulpix, Porygon, and Mienfoo outspeed and KO Abra if its Focus Sash is broken. Choice Scarf Magnemite is notable, as it resists Psychic and is unaffected by doesn't enable Counter. However, Abra is able to check some of these Choice Scarf users if its Focus Sash is intact; with an intact Focus Sash; it also does not give Download Porygon a Special Attack boost, which makes it harder for Porygon to sweep.

**Trappers**: Diglett, especially Eviolite Diglett, can trap and eliminate Abra with Beat Up or Earthquake. Trapinch can take a hit from Abra and KO it in return while also potentially breaking Focus Sash with Feint. However, they are less reliable against Shed Shell Abra.

2/2

good stamp dave