Gen 6 [ORAS] Swalot [DONE]

[5Dots]

ZU's TRUE mascot
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam / Earthquake
move 3: Rest / Encore
move 4: Sleep Talk / Pain Split
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Bold / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot is a premier wall thanks to its great defensive typing, bulk, and set versatility. Sludge Bomb is preferred over Sludge Wave for its higher PP and poison chance, though Sludge Wave can be used to target Quilladin. Ice Beam hits Ground-types like Krokorok and Vibrava, while Earthquake hits Lairon, Klang, and opposing Swalot. RestTalk allows Swalot to continue walling foes without worrying about being statused. Encore and Pain Split are used to discourage setup sweepers and not have to wait three turns for recovery, respectively. A Bold nature should be run if Swalot chooses Ice Beam as its coverage; otherwise, Swalot should run a Relaxed nature if running Earthquake. Sticky Hold is Swalot's preferred ability to excel as a Knock Off and Trick absorber.

Swalot fits on a variety of balance and bulky teams thanks to its great bulk and customizable movepool. Defensive stalwarts like Bronzor and Servine appreciate it absorbing Knock Off for them and chipping down physical attackers, trading with offensive threats like Pignite, Lairon, and Scraggy. In return, they can check Pokemon Swalot is vulnerable to, with Bronzor handling Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat and Servine handling Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash. While Swalot is a solid status absorber, cleric support from Pokemon like Wigglytuff and Meganium can make Rest more reliable without making it go through sleep turns.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
With an Assault Vest, great all-around bulk, and a good typing, Swalot makes for a sturdy special wall. Sludge Wave hits Quilladin at the cost of forsaking Sludge Bomb's lower poison chance and PP. Ice Beam hits targets like Swoobat and Vibrava harder than any of Swalot's other coverage moves do. Giga Drain targets Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Whiscash and gives Swalot extra longevity. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Lairon and Klang harder than any of Swalot's other moves do. A Sassy nature is necessary to not weaken Earthquake.

As this set is more specially defensive, Swalot appreciates walls and tanks like Carbink, Gigalith, and Gourgeist-L to shore up its lower physical bulk. Bronzor particularly pairs well with it to set entry hazards and to cover both of Swalot's weaknesses. Due to Swalot's lack of recovery, Steel-types like Bronzor and Klang are even more difficult to answer, so checks like Pignite and Krokorok pair up nicely with it. Clerics like Meganium and Wigglytuff can alleviate Swalot's vulnerability to status, with the latter also helping out with Wish to address Swalot's lack of recovery. Eviolite-reliant Pokemon like Servine and Klang appreciate Swalot being a good Knock Off and Trick absorber.

[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Gunk Shot
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Power-Up Punch / Explosion / Seed Bomb
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Adamant
evs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 20 SpD / 220 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot's diverse coverage choices and decent Attack when invested in make it a solid all-out attacker. A physically offensive set is preferred because Swalot's special movepool is shallow. Ice Punch targets Ground-types like Vibrava and Krokorok, while Earthquake hits Steel-types like Klang and Lairon. Power-Up Punch makes it easier for Swalot to break through walls like Gigalith and opposing Swalot. Explosion provides a strong neutral hit and blocks Defoggers like Vibrava and Dustox at the cost of sacrificing Swalot, which works well on offensive teams. Seed Bomb provides a stronger and more reliable hit against Water-types like Marshtomp and Whiscash. The given EV spread allows Swalot to outspeed Pignite, Adamant Dragon Dance Scraggy, and offensive Lairon while avoiding the OHKO from physically offensive +2 Huntail and having a high chance of surviving the 2HKO from Life Orb Frogadier.

This Swalot set shines on bulky offense and balance teams, where it can take advantage of its diverse coverage options to surprise foes expecting defensive sets. Walls like Klang and Grass-types like Servine and Jumpluff pair well with Swalot, resisting Ground and retaliating with utility moves like Glare and Sleep Powder. In return, Swalot can break down physical walls that normally switch into it, like opposing Swalot and Klang, that they struggle to break through. Even with Earthquake, Swalot struggles to take on Steel-types like Klang and Bronzor, so Fire-types like Pignite and Magmar can effectively force them out. Dark-types like Choice Scarf Krokorok and Mightyena also make for great partners, with the former even able to Pursuit trap Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F that might otherwise easily revenge kill Swalot. Paralysis support from Pokemon like Servine and defensive Duosion can mitigate Swalot's low Speed and let it switch into threats like Gigalith and opposing Duosion more easily.

[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
This set turns Swalot into a setup sweeper through Curse, increasing its bulk to become progressively harder to defeat. RestTalk allows Swalot to either continue boosting with Curse or attack with Fire Punch. Fire Punch is preferred over a STAB move because of Fire-immune Pokemon's rarity in the metagame and Poison being a commonly resisted type.

This Swalot set fits well on stall and bulky balance teams, able to leverage its bulk to ward off prominent attackers like Frogadier, Electabuzz, and Servine. Swalot pairs nicely with physically bulky Pokemon like Bronzor and Gourgeist-L: the former resists Swalot's weaknesses and can set up entry hazards, while the latter can spread burn and force switches with Leech Seed, and both cover Swalot's weakness to Ground. Clerics like Wigglytuff and Meganium can make Swalot less reliant on RestTalk to perform, and the former can even spread Wish to Swalot as a secondary form of recovery. Dark-types like Krokorok and Zweilous are helpful for checking Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F, and the former can even Pursuit trap them. Taunt and Encore users like Pignite and Politoed can be tricky to handle, so checks to these threats like Vibrava and Servine, respectively, can force them out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Infestation can be slotted over one of Swalot's coverage moves on its physically defensive set and chips down threats like Scraggy and Pignite more quickly, though it leaves Swalot more vulnerable to checks like Lairon and Krokorok. A Choice Band set makes use of Swalot's coverage and solid Attack, though being locked into one of its moves can render it setup fodder against a check, making it more risky than its other sets.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Bronzor**: Bronzor is Swalot's worst matchup: barring Fire Punch from Curse sets, it can easily switch into any of Swalot's attacks before whittling it down with Psywave.

**Ground-types and Ground-type coverage**: Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash resist Swalot's STAB moves and can threaten it out with their own, though they need to be careful of coverage moves. Pokemon sporting Ground-type coverage like Gigalith and offensive Swalot sets can threaten out defensive Swalot.

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Duosion, Swoobat, and Meowstic-F can outspeed Swalot, threaten it out with their STAB moves, and set up against it, though Duosion does not enjoy dealing with offensive Swalot variants.

**Residual Damage**: Due to Swalot lacking reliable recovery, it can be worn down by entry hazards and burn, which lowers its effectiveness as a wall and causes it to rely on Rest or Pain Split to keep healthy, rendering it more passive than usual.

**Strong Wallbreakers**: Depending on what defensive spread it invests in, Swalot can be vulnerable to wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Choice Specs Magmar, Choice Band Gigalith, and Furfrou, as it lacks enough damage output to fight back against them.

[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jett.226429/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/

 

[Jett]

qc 1/2 - lmao so many sets

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam / Earthquake
move 3: Rest / Encore
move 4: Sleep Talk / Pain Split
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Bold / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot is a premier wall in ZU thanks to its great defensive typing, bulk, and set versatility. Sludge Bomb is preferred over Sludge Wave for its higher PP and poison chance, though Sludge Wave can be used to target Quilladin and higher power. Ice Beam hits Ground-types like Krokorok and Vibrava, while Earthquake hits Lairon and Klang (can add and opposing Swalot). The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allows Swalot to continue walling foes without worrying about being statused. Encore and Pain Split could both be used to discourage setup sweepers and not have to wait three turns for recovery, respectively. A Bold nature should be run if Swalot chooses Ice Beam as its coverage; otherwise, Swalot should run a Relaxed nature for running Earthquake. Sticky Hold is the preferred ability for Swalot to excel as a Knock Off and Trick absorber.

Swalot fits on a variety of balanced and bulky builds thanks to its great bulk and customizable movepool. Defensive stalwarts like Bronzor and Servine appreciate Swalot absorbing Knock Off for them and chipping down physical attackers, trading with offensive threats like Pignite, Lairon, and Scraggy. In return, they can check Pokemon Swalot is vulnerable to, with Bronzor handling Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat, and Servine handling Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash. Cleric support from Pokemon like Wigglytuff and Meganium can alleviate Swallow's vulnerability to status, and makes it less reliant on Rest for longevity (and make Rest more reliable given you dont have to go through sleep turns).
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
With an Assault Vest, great bulk all-around, and a good typing, Swalot makes for a sturdy special wall. Sludge Wave hits Quilladin and hits harder at the cost of Sludge Bomb's lower poison chance and PP. Ice Beam hits targets like Swoobat and Vibrava harder than any of its other coverage moves do. Giga Drain targets Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Whiscash, which gives it extra longevity. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Lairon and Klang harder than any of its other moves do. A Sassy nature is necessary to not weaken Earthquake.

As this set is more specially defensive, Swalot appreciates walls and tanks like Bronzor, Gigalith, and Gourgeist-L to shore up its lower physical bulk. Bronzor particularly pairs well to set entry hazards and to cover both of Swalot's weaknesses. (mention answers to Steel-types on this set too; lack of recovery means long term u will just get choked out by bronzor while you don't have the physical bulk or offense to pressure klang, even lairon a threat since it's faster.) Clerics like Meganium and Wigglytuff can alleviate Swalot's vulnerability to status, with the latter also helping out with Wish to address Swalot's lack of recovery. Eviolite-reliant Pokemon like Ivysaur and Klang appreciate it being a good Knock Off and Trick absorber.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Gunk Shot
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Seed Bomb / Power-Up Punch / Explosion (imo PuP > Explosion > Seed Bomb, and if so you'll need to rearrange set comments too)
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Adamant
evs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 20 SpD / 220 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot's diverse coverage choices and decent Attack when invested makes it a solid all-out-attacker. A physically offensive set is preferred because Swalot's special movepool is more shallow. Seed Bomb provides a stronger and more reliable hit against Water-types like Politoed and Marshtomp. Power-Up Punch makes it easier for Swalot to break through walls like Gigalith and opposing Swalot. Explosion provides a strong neutral hit and blocks Defoggers like Vibrava and Dustox at the cost of sacrificing itself. (Ice Punch is gonna be clicked against the former realistically but Explosion is definitely good on more offensive teams to continue tempo; see webs teams once they've dealt with Servine) The given EV spread allows Swalot to outspeed Pignite and Adamant Dragon Dance Scraggy.

This Swalot set shines on bulky offense and balance builds, where it can take advantage of its diverse coverage options to surprise foes expecting defensive sets. Grass-types like Servine and Jumpluff pair well with Swalot, resisting Ground-type attacks and retaliating with utility moves like Glare or Sleep Powder. Even with Earthquake, Swalot struggles to take on Steel-types like Klang and Bronzor, with Fire-types like Pignite and Magmar effectively forcing them out. Dark-types like Choice Scarf Krokorok and Mightyena make for great partners, with the former even able to Pursuit trap Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F that might otherwise easily revenge kill Swalot.

[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
This set turns Swalot into a wincon through Curse, increasing its bulk to become difficult to KO. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allow Swalot to either continue boosting with Curse, or attack with Fire Punch. Fire Punch is preferred over a STAB move because of Fire-immune Pokemon being rare in the metagame and Poison being a commonly resisted type. A Careful nature with maximized Special bulk is optimal to ensure Swalot can reliably take on special attackers like Electabuzz, Frogadier, and Servine.

Swalot pairs nicely with physically bulky Pokemon like Bronzor and Gourgeist-L - the former resists Swalot's weaknesses and can set up hazards, while the latter can spread burns and force switches with Leech Seed, and both cover Swalot's weaknesses to Ground. Clerics like Wigglytuff and Meganium can make Swalot less reliant on Rest for recovery (well it's also probably more so that Rest becomes less of a liability too since Swalot can be woken up on your own terms), and the former can even spread Wishes as a secondary form of recovery to Swalot. Dark-types like Krokorok and Zweilous are helpful for checking Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F, and the former can even Pursuit trap them. (Might be good to mention of being wary of Taunt and Encore users and provide some examples like Pignite)
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Infestation can be slotted over one of Swalot's coverage moves in its physically defensive set, which chips down threats like Scraggy and Pignite more quickly, though it leaves Swalot more vulnerable to checks like Lairon and Krokorok. A Choice Band set makes use of its coverage and solid Attack, though being locked into one of its moves can render it setup fodder against a check, making it more risky than its other sets.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types and Ground-type coverage**: Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash resist Swalot's STAB moves and can threaten it out with their own. Pokemon sporting Ground-type coverage like Gigalith and offensive Swalot sets can threaten out defensive Swalot.

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Duosion, Swoobat, and Meowstic-F can outspeed and threaten Swalot out with their STAB moves and can set up against it, though the former does not enjoy dealing with offensive Swalot variants.

**Residual Damage**: Due to Swalot lacking reliable recovery, Swalot can be worn down by entry hazards and burns, which lowers its effectiveness as a wall and causes it to rely on Rest or Pain Split often to keep it healthy, rendering it more passive than usual.

**Strong Wallbreakers**: Depending on what defensive spread it invests in, Swalot can be vulnerable to wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Choice Specs Magmar, and Furfrou, as it lacks enough damage output to fight back against them.

 

[sleid]

Nicely done!

QC 2/2

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam / Earthquake
move 3: Rest / Encore
move 4: Sleep Talk / Pain Split
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Bold / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot is a premier wall in ZU thanks to its great defensive typing, bulk, and set versatility. Sludge Bomb is preferred over Sludge Wave for its higher PP and poison chance, though Sludge Wave can be used to target Quilladin and higher power (the power difference is so minimal that i would just remove this last part unless it changes any ko ranges or something). Ice Beam hits Ground-types like Krokorok and Vibrava, while Earthquake hits Lairon, Klang, and opposing Swalot. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allows Swalot to continue walling foes without worrying about being statused. Encore and Pain Split could both be used to discourage setup sweepers and not have to wait three turns for recovery, respectively. A Bold nature should be run if Swalot chooses Ice Beam as its coverage; otherwise, Swalot should run a Relaxed nature for running Earthquake. Sticky Hold is the preferred ability for Swalot to excel as a Knock Off and Trick absorber.

Swalot fits on a variety of balanced and bulky builds thanks to its great bulk and customizable movepool. Defensive stalwarts like Bronzor and Servine appreciate Swalot absorbing Knock Off for them and chipping down physical attackers, trading with offensive threats like Pignite, Lairon, and Scraggy. In return, they can check Pokemon Swalot is vulnerable to, with Bronzor handling Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat, and Servine handling Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash. Cleric support from Pokemon like Wigglytuff and Meganium can alleviate Swallow's vulnerability to status, and makes Rest more reliable without going through sleep turns. (you contradict yourself a bit here. in the first paragraph you say resttalk helps it not worry about status, but here you talk about how it is vulnerable to it. i would either add some clarity here or fix the wording both of these claims line up)
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
With an Assault Vest, great bulk all-around, and a good typing, Swalot makes for a sturdy special wall. Sludge Wave hits Quilladin and hits harder at the cost of Sludge Bomb's lower poison chance and PP (like i said above. i dont think the 5 point power difference is worth the mention, neither is the extra PP, just keep it as it hits quilladin but has the drawback of less poison chance). Ice Beam hits targets like Swoobat and Vibrava harder than any of its other coverage moves do. Giga Drain targets Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Whiscash, which gives it extra longevity. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Lairon and Klang harder than any of its other moves do. A Sassy nature is necessary to not weaken Earthquake.

As this set is more specially defensive, Swalot appreciates walls and tanks like Bronzor (swap Bronzor here for Carbink since it's the only mon here who can reliably deal with scraggy since you already mention it in the next sentence), Gigalith, and Gourgeist-L to shore up its lower physical bulk. Bronzor particularly pairs well to set entry hazards and to cover both of Swalot's weaknesses. Due to Swalot's lack of recovery, Steel-types like Bronzor and Klang are even more difficult to answer, so checks like Pignite and Krokorok pair up nicely with Swalot. Clerics like Meganium and Wigglytuff can alleviate Swalot's vulnerability to status, with the latter also helping out with Wish to address Swalot's lack of recovery. Eviolite-reliant Pokemon like Ivysaur and Klang appreciate it being a good Knock Off and Trick absorber.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Gunk Shot
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Power-Up Punch / Explosion / Seed Bomb
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Adamant
evs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 20 SpD / 220 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot's diverse coverage choices and decent Attack when invested makes it a solid all-out-attacker. A physically offensive set is preferred because Swalot's special movepool is more shallow. (i wouldn't just gloss over ice punch and earthquake) Power-Up Punch makes it easier for Swalot to break through walls like Gigalith and opposing Swalot. Explosion provides a strong neutral hit and blocks Defoggers like Vibrava and Dustox at the cost of sacrificing itself, which works well in offensive teams. Seed Bomb provides a stronger and more reliable hit against Water-types like Politoed, Marshtomp, and Whiscash (remove toed from this list because Gunk does more to it). The given EV spread allows Swalot to outspeed Pignite and Adamant Dragon Dance Scraggy. (is there a reason for the hp and spd spreads? instead of it just being dumped into hp)

This Swalot set shines on bulky offense and balance builds, where it can take advantage of its diverse coverage options to surprise foes expecting defensive sets. (mentioning what swalot does for teams is important, you can follow this up with talking about physical walls that it helps break down for its teammates) Grass-types like Servine and Jumpluff pair well with Swalot, resisting Ground-type attacks and retaliating with utility moves like Glare or Sleep Powder. Even with Earthquake, Swalot struggles to take on Steel-types like Klang and Bronzor, so Fire-types like Pignite and Magmar can effectively force them out. Dark-types like Choice Scarf Krokorok and Mightyena make for great partners, with the former even able to Pursuit trap Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F that might otherwise easily revenge kill Swalot. Paralysis support from Pokemon like Servine and defensive Duosion can mitigate Swalot's low Speed and switch into threats like Gigalith and opposing Duosion more easily.

[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
This set turns Swalot into a wincon through Curse, increasing its bulk to become progressively harder to defeat. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allow Swalot to either continue boosting with Curse, or attack with Fire Punch. Fire Punch is preferred over a STAB move because of Fire-immune Pokemon being rare in the metagame and Poison being a commonly resisted type. A Careful nature with maximized Special bulk is optimal to ensure Swalot can reliably take on special attackers like Electabuzz, Frogadier, and Servine. (you don't have to mention anything about the nature here since it's a given)

mention the type of teams swalot does well on Swalot pairs nicely with physically bulky Pokemon like Bronzor and Gourgeist-L: the former resists Swalot's weaknesses and can set up hazards, while the latter can spread burns and force switches with Leech Seed, and both cover Swalot's weaknesses to Ground. Clerics like Wigglytuff and Meganium can make Swalot less reliant on Rest and Sleep Talk to perform, and the former can even spread Wishes as a secondary form of recovery to Swalot. Dark-types like Krokorok and Zweilous are helpful for checking Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F, and the former can even Pursuit trap them. Taunt and Encore users like Pignite and Politoed can be tricky to handle, so checks to these threats like Vibrava and Servine can force them out (add respectively since servine does not force out pignite).
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Infestation can be slotted over one of Swalot's coverage moves in its physically defensive set, which chips down threats like Scraggy and Pignite more quickly, though it leaves Swalot more vulnerable to checks like Lairon and Krokorok. A Choice Band set makes use of its coverage and solid Attack, though being locked into one of its moves can render it setup fodder against a check, making it more risky than its other sets.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types and Ground-type coverage**: Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash resist Swalot's STAB moves and can threaten it out with their own, though they need to be careful of coverage moves. Pokemon sporting Ground-type coverage like Gigalith and offensive Swalot sets can threaten out defensive Swalot.

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Duosion, Swoobat, and Meowstic-F can outspeed and threaten Swalot out with their STAB moves and can set up against it, though the former does not enjoy dealing with offensive Swalot variants.

**Residual Damage**: Due to Swalot lacking reliable recovery, Swalot can be worn down by entry hazards and burns, which lowers its effectiveness as a wall and causes it to rely on Rest or Pain Split often to keep it healthy, rendering it more passive than usual.

**Strong Wallbreakers**: Depending on what defensive spread it invests in, Swalot can be vulnerable to wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Choice Specs Magmar, Choice Band Gigalith, and Furfrou, as it lacks enough damage output to fight back against them.

mention bronzor somewhere in here because it walls all sets aside from curse

 

[5Dots]

GP Team

 

[SolarBeam]

1/1, GP Team done

the other eater

blue = add
red = remove
(orange) = comment

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam / Earthquake
move 3: Rest / Encore
move 4: Sleep Talk / Pain Split
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Bold / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot is a premier wall in ZU thanks to its great defensive typing, bulk, and set versatility. Sludge Bomb is preferred over Sludge Wave for its higher PP and poison chance, though Sludge Wave can be used to target Quilladin. Ice Beam hits Ground-types like Krokorok and Vibrava, while Earthquake hits Lairon, Klang, and opposing Swalot. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk RestTalk allows Swalot to continue walling foes without worrying about being statused. Encore and Pain Split could both be are used to discourage setup sweepers and not have to wait three turns for recovery, respectively. A Bold nature should be run if Swalot chooses Ice Beam as its coverage; otherwise, Swalot should run a Relaxed nature for if running Earthquake. Sticky Hold is the Swalot's preferred ability for Swalot (passive voice) to excel as a Knock Off and Trick absorber.

Swalot fits on a variety of balanced balance and bulky builds teams thanks to its great bulk and customizable movepool. Defensive stalwarts like Bronzor and Servine appreciate Swalot it absorbing Knock Off for them and chipping down physical attackers, trading with offensive threats like Pignite, Lairon, and Scraggy. In return, they can check Pokemon Swalot is vulnerable to, with Bronzor handling Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat (RC) and Servine handling Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash. While Swalot is a solid status absorber, cleric support from Pokemon like Wigglytuff and Meganium can make Rest more reliable without going making it go through sleep turns.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Sludge Bomb / Sludge Wave
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
With an Assault Vest, great all-around bulk all-around, and a good typing, Swalot makes for a sturdy special wall. Sludge Wave hits Quilladin at the cost of forsaking Sludge Bomb's lower poison chance and PP. Ice Beam hits targets like Swoobat and Vibrava harder than any of its Swalot's other coverage moves do. Giga Drain targets Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Whiscash (RC) which and (not related to hitting water-types) gives it Swalot extra longevity. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Lairon and Klang harder than any of its Swalot's other moves do. A Sassy nature is necessary to not weaken Earthquake.

As this set is more specially defensive, Swalot appreciates walls and tanks like Carbink, Gigalith, and Gourgeist-L to shore up its lower physical bulk. Bronzor particularly pairs well with it to set entry hazards and to cover both of Swalot's weaknesses. Due to Swalot's lack of recovery, Steel-types like Bronzor and Klang are even more difficult to answer, so checks like Pignite and Krokorok pair up nicely with Swalot it. Clerics like Meganium and Wigglytuff can alleviate Swalot's vulnerability to status, with the latter also helping out with Wish to address Swalot's lack of recovery. Eviolite-reliant Pokemon like Servine and Klang appreciate it Swalot being a good Knock Off and Trick absorber.

[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Gunk Shot
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Power-Up Punch / Explosion / Seed Bomb
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Adamant
evs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 20 SpD / 220 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swalot's diverse coverage choices and decent Attack when invested makes in make it a solid all-out attacker (RH). A physically offensive set is preferred because Swalot's special movepool is more shallow. Ice Punch targets Ground-types like Vibrava and Krokorok, while Earthquake hits Steel-types like Klang and Lairon. Power-Up Punch makes it easier for Swalot to break through walls like Gigalith and opposing Swalot. Explosion provides a strong neutral hit and blocks Defoggers like Vibrava and Dustox at the cost of sacrificing itself Swalot, which works well in on offensive teams. Seed Bomb provides a stronger and more reliable hit against Water-types like Marshtomp and Whiscash. The given EV spread allows Swalot to outspeed Pignite, (AC) and Adamant Dragon Dance Scraggy, (AC) . The EV spread allows Swalot to outspeed Pignite (redundant) and offensive Lairon while avoiding the OHKO from physically offensive +2 Huntail and having a high chance of surviving the 2HKO from Life Orb Frogadier.

This Swalot set shines on bulky offense and balance builds teams, where it can take advantage of its diverse coverage options to surprise foes expecting defensive sets. Walls like Klang and Grass-types like Servine and Jumpluff pair well with Swalot, resisting Ground-type attacks and retaliating with utility moves like Glare or and Sleep Powder. In return, Swalot can break down physical walls that would normally switch into it, like opposing Swalot and Klang, that they struggle to break through. Even with Earthquake, Swalot struggles to take on Steel-types like Klang and Bronzor, so Fire-types like Pignite and Magmar can effectively force them out. Dark-types like Choice Scarf Krokorok and Mightyena also make for great partners, with the former even able to Pursuit trap Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F that might otherwise easily revenge kill Swalot. Paralysis support from Pokemon like Servine and defensive Duosion can mitigate Swalot's low Speed and let it switch into threats like Gigalith and opposing Duosion more easily.

[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
This set turns Swalot into a wincon setup sweeper (wincon is conditional and from an in-battle perspective) through Curse, increasing its bulk to become progressively harder to defeat. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allow RestTalk allows Swalot to either continue boosting with Curse (RC) or attack with Fire Punch. Fire Punch is preferred over a STAB move because of Fire-immune Pokemon's rarity being rare in the metagame and Poison being a commonly resisted type.

This Swalot set fits well on stall and bulky balance builds teams, able to leverage its bulk to ward off prominent attackers like Frogadier, Electabuzz, and Servine. Swalot pairs nicely with physically bulky Pokemon like Bronzor and Gourgeist-L: the former resists Swalot's weaknesses and can set up entry hazards, while the latter can spread burns burn and force switches with Leech Seed, and both cover Swalot's weaknesses weakness to Ground. Clerics like Wigglytuff and Meganium can make Swalot less reliant on Rest and Sleep Talk RestTalk to perform, and the former can even spread Wishes Wish to Swalot as a secondary form of recovery to Swalot. Dark-types like Krokorok and Zweilous are helpful for checking Psychic-types like Swoobat and Meowstic-F, and the former can even Pursuit trap them. Taunt and Encore users like Pignite and Politoed can be tricky to handle, so checks to these threats like Vibrava and Servine, respectively, can force them out, respectively.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Infestation can be slotted over one of Swalot's coverage moves in on its physically defensive set (RC) which and chips down threats like Scraggy and Pignite more quickly, though it leaves Swalot more vulnerable to checks like Lairon and Krokorok. A Choice Band set makes use of its Swalot's coverage and solid Attack, though being locked into one of its moves can render it setup fodder against a check, making it more risky than its other sets.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Bronzor**: Bronzor is Swalot's worst matchup: barring Fire Punch from curse Curse sets, Bronzor it can easily switch into any of Swalot's attacks before whittling it down with Psywave.

**Ground-types and Ground-type coverage**: Ground-types like Krokorok and Whiscash resist Swalot's STAB moves and can threaten it out with their own, though they need to be careful of coverage moves. Pokemon sporting Ground-type coverage like Gigalith and offensive Swalot sets can threaten out defensive Swalot.

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Duosion, Swoobat, and Meowstic-F can outspeed Swalot, and threaten Swalot it out with their STAB moves, (AC) and can set up against it, though the former Duosion (can't use former/latter with >2 things) does not enjoy dealing with offensive Swalot variants.

**Residual Damage**: Due to Swalot lacking reliable recovery, Swalot it can be worn down by entry hazards and burns burn, which lowers its effectiveness as a wall and causes it to rely on Rest or Pain Split often to keep it healthy, rendering it more passive than usual.

**Strong Wallbreakers**: Depending on what defensive spread it invests in, Swalot can be vulnerable to wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Choice Specs Magmar, Choice Band Gigalith, and Furfrou, as it lacks enough damage output to fight back against them.

[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jett.226429/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/