[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Self-Destruct / Strength Sap / Giga Drain
item: Focus Sash
ability: Queenly Majesty
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Queenly Majesty Polteageist is a niche but dangerous setup sweeper: After a Shell Smash, it outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame and avoids being revenge killed by the metagame's common priority users such as Barraskewda, Dhelmise, and Triage Tapu Lele. Stored Power is its strongest attack after Shell Smash, powering through neutral foes like Tapu Fini and defensive Garchomp. Shadow Ball is the STAB move of choice and complements Stored Power to hit common Psychic-types such as Mew, Tapu Lele, and RegenVest Jirachi. Self-Destruct severely weakens Polteageist's specially defensive and Dark-type checks like Blissey and Zarude to open up a sweep for a fellow teammate and give them free entry into the field afterwards, which is crucial to keep up offensive momentum. Strength Sap can be used to reinstate Polteageist's Focus Sash or defeat weak physical attackers like Ferrothorn and defensive Landorus-T one-on-one. Giga Drain is its strongest option against Tapu Fini and RegenVest Swampert and can, in rare cases, restore it to full health for Focus Sash, but otherwise has limited use. Focus Sash allows for safe setup at full health, even against powerful attackers like Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko.
Polteageist generally fits on hyper offense teams, so Pokemon commonly seen on these archetypes also make great teammates. Dedicated leads like Aerodactyl and Azelf can reliably set up Stealth Rock to chip down foes into Polteageist's KO range and deny opposing entry hazards with Taunt to preserve Polteageist's Focus Sash. Polteageist also appreciates further entry hazard control from teammates such as Regieleki and Choice Scarf Latios with their Rapid Spin and Defog, respectively. Volcarona enjoys Polteageist weakening common specially defensive Pokemon like Garchomp, Blissey, and RegenVest Swampert with boosted Stored Power + Self-Destruct. Polteagiest is utterly unable to make progress against Prankster Toxapex and Unaware Mandibuzz, even if they are heavily damaged; dedicated lures like Galvanize Kommo-o and teammates that can overwhelm them like Swords Dance Garchomp are necessary teammates. Wallbreakers like Sheer Force Tapu Lele, Swords Dance Garchomp, and Belly Drum or Galvanize Kommo-o can open up holes early-game for Polteageist to sweep more easily; they also either overwhelm or threaten all of Polteageist's checks in Blissey, Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn, and Dark-types like Hydreigon. Polteagiest can also still be outsped by fast Choice Scarf users such as Azelf, so careful scouting is required before setting up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used to safely set up against Blissey, though it synergizes poorly with Focus Sash. Instead of Queenly Majesty, Polteageist can opt for Adaptability or Magic Guard + Life Orb to further boost its offensive presence, but this makes it easier to revenge kill; thus, it requires further amount of support such as Psychic Terrain from Azelf to protect it from priority attacks, which can also amplify Polteageist's Stored Power. Will-O-Wisp is an option to cripple physical attackers, which lets Polteageist's teammates set up easier.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Mandibuzz, Zarude, and Hydreigon can shrug off all of Polteageist's attacks and threaten significant damage to it with their STAB attacks. The former two can even grab momentum in the process via U-turn.
**Prankster Toxapex**: Toxapex's Prankster-boosted Haze limits Polteageist's sweeping attempts and makes sure it won't take significant damage from an otherwise boosted Stored Power. Haze's higher amount of PP means it can't be PP-stalled by Shell Smash either.
**Specially Defensive Steel-types**: Ferrothorn and Bulletproof Heatran can survive Poltegeist's boosted attacks comfortably and threaten it with Knock Off and Fire-type STAB moves, respectively. However, the former has to be cautious of Strength Sap variants, which can muscle past it eventually.
**Blissey and Chansey**: The combination of their remarkable special bulk, typing, and reliable recovery let them consistently stop Polteageist from sweeping. Unaware variants of Chansey can be even harder to break through. However, both of them need Toxic to beat Polteageist.
**Chip Damage**: Without Strength Sap or Giga Drain, Polteageist is unable to restore its Focus Sash after taking entry hazard damage, making it harder to set up and easier to revenge kill.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Surge Surfer Xurkitree as well as Choice Scarf users like Azelf and Latios can reliably outspeed even a boosted Polteageist. If its Focus Sash is no longer intact, they can also comfortably OHKO it. However, none of them can safely switch into Polteageist.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Self-Destruct / Strength Sap / Giga Drain
item: Focus Sash
ability: Queenly Majesty
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Queenly Majesty Polteageist is a niche but dangerous setup sweeper: After a Shell Smash, it outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame and avoids being revenge killed by the metagame's common priority users such as Barraskewda, Dhelmise, and Triage Tapu Lele. Stored Power is its strongest attack after Shell Smash, powering through neutral foes like Tapu Fini and defensive Garchomp. Shadow Ball is the STAB move of choice and complements Stored Power to hit common Psychic-types such as Mew, Tapu Lele, and RegenVest Jirachi. Self-Destruct severely weakens Polteageist's specially defensive and Dark-type checks like Blissey and Zarude to open up a sweep for a fellow teammate and give them free entry into the field afterwards, which is crucial to keep up offensive momentum. Strength Sap can be used to reinstate Polteageist's Focus Sash or defeat weak physical attackers like Ferrothorn and defensive Landorus-T one-on-one. Giga Drain is its strongest option against Tapu Fini and RegenVest Swampert and can, in rare cases, restore it to full health for Focus Sash, but otherwise has limited use. Focus Sash allows for safe setup at full health, even against powerful attackers like Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko.
Polteageist generally fits on hyper offense teams, so Pokemon commonly seen on these archetypes also make great teammates. Dedicated leads like Aerodactyl and Azelf can reliably set up Stealth Rock to chip down foes into Polteageist's KO range and deny opposing entry hazards with Taunt to preserve Polteageist's Focus Sash. Polteageist also appreciates further entry hazard control from teammates such as Regieleki and Choice Scarf Latios with their Rapid Spin and Defog, respectively. Volcarona enjoys Polteageist weakening common specially defensive Pokemon like Garchomp, Blissey, and RegenVest Swampert with boosted Stored Power + Self-Destruct. Polteagiest is utterly unable to make progress against Prankster Toxapex and Unaware Mandibuzz, even if they are heavily damaged; dedicated lures like Galvanize Kommo-o and teammates that can overwhelm them like Swords Dance Garchomp are necessary teammates. Wallbreakers like Sheer Force Tapu Lele, Swords Dance Garchomp, and Belly Drum or Galvanize Kommo-o can open up holes early-game for Polteageist to sweep more easily; they also either overwhelm or threaten all of Polteageist's checks in Blissey, Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn, and Dark-types like Hydreigon. Polteagiest can also still be outsped by fast Choice Scarf users such as Azelf, so careful scouting is required before setting up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute can be used to safely set up against Blissey, though it synergizes poorly with Focus Sash. Instead of Queenly Majesty, Polteageist can opt for Adaptability or Magic Guard + Life Orb to further boost its offensive presence, but this makes it easier to revenge kill; thus, it requires further amount of support such as Psychic Terrain from Azelf to protect it from priority attacks, which can also amplify Polteageist's Stored Power. Will-O-Wisp is an option to cripple physical attackers, which lets Polteageist's teammates set up easier.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Mandibuzz, Zarude, and Hydreigon can shrug off all of Polteageist's attacks and threaten significant damage to it with their STAB attacks. The former two can even grab momentum in the process via U-turn.
**Prankster Toxapex**: Toxapex's Prankster-boosted Haze limits Polteageist's sweeping attempts and makes sure it won't take significant damage from an otherwise boosted Stored Power. Haze's higher amount of PP means it can't be PP-stalled by Shell Smash either.
**Specially Defensive Steel-types**: Ferrothorn and Bulletproof Heatran can survive Poltegeist's boosted attacks comfortably and threaten it with Knock Off and Fire-type STAB moves, respectively. However, the former has to be cautious of Strength Sap variants, which can muscle past it eventually.
**Blissey and Chansey**: The combination of their remarkable special bulk, typing, and reliable recovery let them consistently stop Polteageist from sweeping. Unaware variants of Chansey can be even harder to break through. However, both of them need Toxic to beat Polteageist.
**Chip Damage**: Without Strength Sap or Giga Drain, Polteageist is unable to restore its Focus Sash after taking entry hazard damage, making it harder to set up and easier to revenge kill.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Surge Surfer Xurkitree as well as Choice Scarf users like Azelf and Latios can reliably outspeed even a boosted Polteageist. If its Focus Sash is no longer intact, they can also comfortably OHKO it. However, none of them can safely switch into Polteageist.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866], [Isaiah, 375662]]
Last edited: