[OVERVIEW]
Duskull's most significant role in the metagame is as a dedicated check to Choice Band Doduo and other physical wallbreakers such as Cubone. Duskull distinguishes itself in this role from the faster and more offensive Ghost-type Gastly and the more physically bulky Koffing by combining a diverse supportive movepool that includes options such as Memento, Icy Wind, and Will-O-Wisp with enough bulk and the typing to survive attacks that Gastly and Koffing cannot, notably Choice Band Doduo's Drill Peck and Abra's Psychic, respectively. Once revealed, Duskull's Ghost typing deters Self-Destruct and Explosion, while Levitate gives Duskull an immunity to Ground-type moves and allows it to avoid being trapped by Diglett and Trapinch's Arena Trap. These traits make Duskull a niche option on teams that need an answer to Choice Band Doduo's wallbreaking power or appreciate Duskull's ability to guarantee safe setup with Memento for Pokemon such as Bagon and Larvitar. Unfortunately, Duskull is quite passive and slow, so it struggles to make progress if it is against Pokemon it does not check or if it is unable to use Memento.
[SET]
Defensive (Duskull) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 196 HP / 36 Atk / 196 Def / 40 SpA / 40 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Thief
- Memento
[SET COMMENTS]
Early game, this set seeks to take advantage of Duskull's immunities and bulk to act as a check to Choice Band Doduo. Mid-game it deters the use of Self-Destruct and Explosion and looks to steal an opposing Pokemon's Sitrus Berry. Late-game it either acts as an emergency measure against an unrevealed Abra or enables a sweeper through Memento. Icy Wind and Ice Beam both 2HKO Doduo. Icy Wind provides utility on forced switches, while Ice Beam cannot miss and always 2HKOes against Cubone. Ice Beam also guarantees a 2HKO against Trapinch and specially defensive Diglett that have used their Sitrus Berry. Thief allows Duskull to try to keep itself healthy by stealing Sitrus Berries throughout a match and gives Duskull an option to make progress against Pokemon that are not running Thief. Duskull's bulk enables it to effectively use Memento against all-out attackers such as Diglett to guarantee setup opportunities for its teammates. However, Duskull should avoid using Memento against fast or bulky attackers that run Thunder Wave such as Elekid, Staryu, Chinchou, Snubbull, and Porygon unless its setup partner has a way to avoid being paralyzed. The EV spread gives Duskull the bulk necessary to survive the hits it needs to, making Choice Band Doduo's Drill Peck and unboosted Abra's Psychic 3HKOs, as well as hitting damage thresholds such as the 2HKO on Doduo with its Ice-type move and the OHKO on Abra and Gastly with Shadow Ball.
Bulkier Pokemon such as specially defensive Porygon and Snubbull that appreciate Duskull's immunities and defensive profile can form defensive cores with Duskull. Frail offensive threats such as Doduo, Abra, and Gastly appreciate Duskull's ability to take hits for them and steal opposing defensive Pokemon's Sitrus Berries. Setup sweepers such as Bagon and Larvitar also appreciate Duskull's ability to enable their safe setup with Memento. Duskull is incredibly vulnerable to Houndour and cannot do anything to it besides stealing its Sitrus Berry or getting off Memento if Duskull is quite lucky; because of this Pokemon with access to Arena Trap like Diglett and Trapinch can help Duskull by revenge killing Houndour. Duskull can also struggle against bulkier Water-types like Chinchou, Wailmer, and Staryu, which are able to put Duskull in range of a 2HKO if they are running Hydro Pump; Duskull cannot do much in return. Running Chinchou helps to combat Staryu and Wailmer, while Duskull's immunity to Ground helps to cover for Chinchou's weakness to it.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Psychic is an option in order for Duskull to more easily deal with a weakened Koffing after coming in on a wrongly predicted Explosion, as Duskull can struggle to dispatch Koffing otherwise. Will-O-Wisp is a potential option on bulkier teams that struggle to deal with more durable physical attackers. Toxic can be used to put common bulky Duskull switch-ins such as Porygon on a timer. Sunny Day and Rain Dance can be paired with Memento in order to enable sun and rain Sweepers like Exeggcute and Horsea, respectively.
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
**Houndour**: Duskull cannot do anything to Houndour, which can always switch in and threaten Duskull with guaranteed damage from Pursuit or can always OHKO Duskull with Crunch if Duskull has taken any damage.
**Bulky Water-types**: Duskull stuggles to make progress against most bulky Pokemon in the metagame, but bulky Water-types such as Chinchou, Wailmer, and Staryu present a larger issue for Duskull, as if these Pokemon choose to run Hydro Pump they can threaten to 2HKO Duskull and avoid activating Duskull's Sitrus Berry.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bluewollywog.585309/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Duskull's most significant role in the metagame is as a dedicated check to Choice Band Doduo and other physical wallbreakers such as Cubone. Duskull distinguishes itself in this role from the faster and more offensive Ghost-type Gastly and the more physically bulky Koffing by combining a diverse supportive movepool that includes options such as Memento, Icy Wind, and Will-O-Wisp with enough bulk and the typing to survive attacks that Gastly and Koffing cannot, notably Choice Band Doduo's Drill Peck and Abra's Psychic, respectively. Once revealed, Duskull's Ghost typing deters Self-Destruct and Explosion, while Levitate gives Duskull an immunity to Ground-type moves and allows it to avoid being trapped by Diglett and Trapinch's Arena Trap. These traits make Duskull a niche option on teams that need an answer to Choice Band Doduo's wallbreaking power or appreciate Duskull's ability to guarantee safe setup with Memento for Pokemon such as Bagon and Larvitar. Unfortunately, Duskull is quite passive and slow, so it struggles to make progress if it is against Pokemon it does not check or if it is unable to use Memento.
[SET]
Defensive (Duskull) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 196 HP / 36 Atk / 196 Def / 40 SpA / 40 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Thief
- Memento
[SET COMMENTS]
Early game, this set seeks to take advantage of Duskull's immunities and bulk to act as a check to Choice Band Doduo. Mid-game it deters the use of Self-Destruct and Explosion and looks to steal an opposing Pokemon's Sitrus Berry. Late-game it either acts as an emergency measure against an unrevealed Abra or enables a sweeper through Memento. Icy Wind and Ice Beam both 2HKO Doduo. Icy Wind provides utility on forced switches, while Ice Beam cannot miss and always 2HKOes against Cubone. Ice Beam also guarantees a 2HKO against Trapinch and specially defensive Diglett that have used their Sitrus Berry. Thief allows Duskull to try to keep itself healthy by stealing Sitrus Berries throughout a match and gives Duskull an option to make progress against Pokemon that are not running Thief. Duskull's bulk enables it to effectively use Memento against all-out attackers such as Diglett to guarantee setup opportunities for its teammates. However, Duskull should avoid using Memento against fast or bulky attackers that run Thunder Wave such as Elekid, Staryu, Chinchou, Snubbull, and Porygon unless its setup partner has a way to avoid being paralyzed. The EV spread gives Duskull the bulk necessary to survive the hits it needs to, making Choice Band Doduo's Drill Peck and unboosted Abra's Psychic 3HKOs, as well as hitting damage thresholds such as the 2HKO on Doduo with its Ice-type move and the OHKO on Abra and Gastly with Shadow Ball.
Bulkier Pokemon such as specially defensive Porygon and Snubbull that appreciate Duskull's immunities and defensive profile can form defensive cores with Duskull. Frail offensive threats such as Doduo, Abra, and Gastly appreciate Duskull's ability to take hits for them and steal opposing defensive Pokemon's Sitrus Berries. Setup sweepers such as Bagon and Larvitar also appreciate Duskull's ability to enable their safe setup with Memento. Duskull is incredibly vulnerable to Houndour and cannot do anything to it besides stealing its Sitrus Berry or getting off Memento if Duskull is quite lucky; because of this Pokemon with access to Arena Trap like Diglett and Trapinch can help Duskull by revenge killing Houndour. Duskull can also struggle against bulkier Water-types like Chinchou, Wailmer, and Staryu, which are able to put Duskull in range of a 2HKO if they are running Hydro Pump; Duskull cannot do much in return. Running Chinchou helps to combat Staryu and Wailmer, while Duskull's immunity to Ground helps to cover for Chinchou's weakness to it.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Psychic is an option in order for Duskull to more easily deal with a weakened Koffing after coming in on a wrongly predicted Explosion, as Duskull can struggle to dispatch Koffing otherwise. Will-O-Wisp is a potential option on bulkier teams that struggle to deal with more durable physical attackers. Toxic can be used to put common bulky Duskull switch-ins such as Porygon on a timer. Sunny Day and Rain Dance can be paired with Memento in order to enable sun and rain Sweepers like Exeggcute and Horsea, respectively.
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
**Houndour**: Duskull cannot do anything to Houndour, which can always switch in and threaten Duskull with guaranteed damage from Pursuit or can always OHKO Duskull with Crunch if Duskull has taken any damage.
**Bulky Water-types**: Duskull stuggles to make progress against most bulky Pokemon in the metagame, but bulky Water-types such as Chinchou, Wailmer, and Staryu present a larger issue for Duskull, as if these Pokemon choose to run Hydro Pump they can threaten to 2HKO Duskull and avoid activating Duskull's Sitrus Berry.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bluewollywog.585309/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Last edited:
