[OVERVIEW]
With a great defensive typing and amazing natural bulk, Suicune acts as a solid bulky Calm Mind sweeper as well as a check to common foes like Gliscor and Heatran. Suicune's ability Pressure allows it to outlast a large range of Pokemon that could otherwise wall it, which includes Chansey, Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Clefable, as well as stall out moves with low PP like Leaf Storm from Serperior. Suicune is also able to beat other bulky Calm Mind users thanks to Pressure as well as its access to Roar. Suicune does, however, struggle to consistently take on attacks due to its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers and Rest, which leaves leaving it passive for two turns if it is lacking Sleep Talk. Suicune also lacks a large movepool, making it very predictable.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Protect
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Scald
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Suicune to break through defensive cores while also getting bulkier. Substitute allows it to avoid status moves like Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Leech Seed. Substitute also helps Suicune against critical hits, which is useful against strong attacks and other Calm Mind users like Clefable. Substitute pairs very well with Protect to PP stall foes' moves like Leaf Storm from Serperior and Power Whip from Ferrothorn. Protect allows Suicune to scout moves from foes and get additional turns of recovery from Leftovers, which is important considering that Leftovers acts as Suicune's only form of recovery. Scald deals damage and has a nice benefit of a chance to burn foes.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs give Suicune exactly 404 HP, which means Seismic Toss from foes like Chansey cannot break its Substitute. 216 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Suicune to outspeed Heatran, defensive Excadrill, defensive Garchomp, Zapdos, Bisharp, and Metagross before it Mega Evolves. 40 SpD EVs allow Suicune to better take on special attacks, notably preventing Amoonguss from breaking its Substitute and also giving its Substitute a chance to withstand a Volt Switch from Rotom-W after one Calm Mind boost. Leftovers is mandatory, as it acts as Suicune's only way of recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Suicune must avoid being statused, especially by burn or Toxic, as this set does not have reliable recovery or a way to remove status effects. Since Leftovers is its only form of recovery, it does not want it to be removed by Knock Off or other moves like Trick. Suicune finds setup opportunities on defensive foes that cannot threaten it, like Heatran and non-Thunderbolt Clefable, as well as foes Choice-locked into moves that cannot threaten it, which include Choice Specs Keldeo locked into Scald and Choice Scarf Magnezone locked into Hidden Power Fire or Flash Cannon. Utilize Pressure to stall out low PP moves with Substitute and Protect like Leaf Storm from Serperior and Power Whip from Ferrothorn. Protect can also be useful against Choice item users like Choice Scarf Magnezone, Tyranitar, and Excadrill.
Team Options
========
Pursuit users like Mega Metagross, Tyranitar, and Weavile are able to remove Latios and Mega Latias, both of which resist Suicune's Scald. Tyranitar and Weavile can also check Electric-types like Thundurus and Zapdos with Stone Edge and Icicle Crash. Do be aware of Tyranitar's summoned sand hindering Suicune's recovery. Status absorbers like Gliscor and Clefable are good partners to take on the likes of Will-O-Wisp and Toxic. Heatran can help Suicune deal with Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn while also having access to utility moves like Stealth Rock. Latios can remove entry hazards, which chip away at Suicune, and also deal with Electric-types like Rotom-W and Thundurus. Latias does the same but also provides Healing Wish support to remove status and heal Suicune to full health. Clefable is another helpful Healing Wish user. Tornadus-T can help Suicune deal with Grass-types like Serperior as well as provide Knock Off and U-turn support. Magnezone is a good partner, as it has the ability to remove Ferrothorn, which could otherwise absorb Suicune's Scald and threaten it with Power Whip.
[SET]
name: Defensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Rest
move 4: Roar / Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald dishes out damage while also having a nice chance to cripple foes with a burn. Rest provides Suicune recovery but has the downside of putting it to sleep for two turns. Calm Mind makes Suicune bulkier and makes it easier to break through defensive cores and sweep. Roar is useful to phaze setup users like Calm Mind Mega Slowbro and Clefable. Alternatively, Sleep Talk gives Suicune a chance to use Scald to burn foes or set up another Calm Mind while it sleeps due to Rest.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment allows Suicune to be as bulky as possible and better at taking on physical attackers like Mega Metagross, Excadrill, Gliscor, Mega Scizor, Weavile, and Landorus-T. Leftovers allows Suicune to stay healthy and reduces the need to use Rest. Pressure is Suicune's only legal ability and helps it win setup wars with other Calm Mind users like Clefable as well as stall out defensive Pokemon like Quagsire and Gastrodon. 20 EVs can be taken from Defense and put into Speed to allow Suicune to outspeed Rotom-W so it can use Calm Mind before Rotom-W uses Volt Switch. 20 Speed EVs also allow Suicune to outspeed Adamant Crawdaunt and some variants of specially defensive Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Roar should be used to phaze out foes that want to set up like Calm Mind Clefable, force switch-ins to take entry hazard damage, and scout out movesets early-game. Suicune should spam Scald early-game to spread burns on common switch-ins like Ferrothorn and Latios to cripple them. Rest should be used to help Suicune remove a status aliment like burn, Toxic poison, or paralysis and to help it stay healthy. Calm Mind should be used late-game to allow Suicune break through and sweep teams when all its checks are eliminated or weakened.
Team Options
========
Skarmory can provide Spikes for Suicune, which is a good combination with Roar to force chip damage. Ferrothorn also has access to Spikes and can take strong attacks that Skarmory cannot, like Draco Meteor from Choice Specs Latios and Thunder Punch from Mega Metagross. It also appreciates Suicune's ability to resist Fire-type moves. Heatran can provide Stealth Rock support and take on Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn that can check Suicune. Mega Latias can deal with Electric-types that threaten Suicune like Thundurus and Zapdos. Tornadus-T helps Suicune deal with Grass-types like Serperior while also providing utility via Knock Off and U-turn. Tyranitar can remove Latios and Latias, which resist Suicune's Scald, while also removing entry hazard removers to make Roar more effective. Fire-types like Mega Charizard Y and Heatran can take on Grass-types and cripple opposing Water-types like Gastrodon via Solar Beam or Toxic, respectively. Excadrill is able to spin away entry hazards that could wear down Suicune, resist Fairy-type attacks from the likes of Clefable, deal with Flying-types like Tornadus-T and Zapdos via Toxic or Rock Slide, and take on Electric-type attacks from the likes of Magnezone. Clefable can form a Calm Mind core with Suicune while also checking certain Electric-types like Thundurus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
There are not many other options for Suicune to run, as they are all subpar at best. Toxic can be used to wear down bulky Water-types like Gastrodon and Rotom-W. Rest can be used with Substitute, but this doesn't leave space for moves like Sleep Talk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Thundurus can take a few Scalds from Suicune and threaten it back with Thunderbolt. Magnezone can also take Scald from Suicune and hit it back with Thunderbolt or use Volt Switch to gain momentum. However, neither can consistently switch into Scald, especially if it lands a burn. Zapdos and Rotom-W do not mind switching into Suicune and hit it super effectively, but they cannot beat it one-on-one as it sets up with Calm Mind.
**Grass-types**: Ferrothorn resists Scald and threatens Suicune with Power Whip or Leech Seed if it lacks Substitute. Serperior can threaten Suicune with Leaf Storm and boost past its Calm Mind boosts thanks to its ability Contrary. Serperior can, however, be PP stalled out of Leaf Storm thanks to Pressure, especially if Suicune has Protect and Substitute. Amoonguss can take Scald easily and remove Suicune's Calm Mind boosts with Clear Smog if it does not run Substitute. Mega Venusaur can threaten Suicune with Giga Drain while also resisting its Scald, but it does lose to Suicune if it gets enough boosts with Calm Mind.
**Strong Offensive Foes**: Strong offensive Pokemon like Mega Medicham, Thunder Punch Mega Metagross, and Choice Specs Latios, and Choice Specs Keldeo can all overload Suicune, making it tough for it to switch in.
**Knock Off**: Knock Off users like Bisharp, Weavile, and Clefable can all make Suicune easier to wear down by removing its Leftovers, especially if it lacks Rest.
**Setup Sweepers**: Manaphy can set up on Suicune with Tail Glow and threaten it with Energy Ball. Mega Altaria can set up with Dragon Dance on Suicune, resists its Scald, and can remove any burns that Scald may inflict with Heal Bell. Calm Mind Mega Slowbro can set up Calm Mind with Suicune and threaten it with Psyshock. Mega Latias can also set up Calm Mind with Suicune and use Thunderbolt or Psyshock to beat it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ez, 233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[Vulpix03, 306299], [jonfilch, 472436]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Estronic, 240732]]
With a great defensive typing and amazing natural bulk, Suicune acts as a solid bulky Calm Mind sweeper as well as a check to common foes like Gliscor and Heatran. Suicune's ability Pressure allows it to outlast a large range of Pokemon that could otherwise wall it, which includes Chansey, Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Clefable, as well as stall out moves with low PP like Leaf Storm from Serperior. Suicune is also able to beat other bulky Calm Mind users thanks to Pressure as well as its access to Roar. Suicune does, however, struggle to consistently take on attacks due to its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers and Rest, which leaves leaving it passive for two turns if it is lacking Sleep Talk. Suicune also lacks a large movepool, making it very predictable.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Protect
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Scald
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind allows Suicune to break through defensive cores while also getting bulkier. Substitute allows it to avoid status moves like Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic, and Leech Seed. Substitute also helps Suicune against critical hits, which is useful against strong attacks and other Calm Mind users like Clefable. Substitute pairs very well with Protect to PP stall foes' moves like Leaf Storm from Serperior and Power Whip from Ferrothorn. Protect allows Suicune to scout moves from foes and get additional turns of recovery from Leftovers, which is important considering that Leftovers acts as Suicune's only form of recovery. Scald deals damage and has a nice benefit of a chance to burn foes.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs give Suicune exactly 404 HP, which means Seismic Toss from foes like Chansey cannot break its Substitute. 216 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Suicune to outspeed Heatran, defensive Excadrill, defensive Garchomp, Zapdos, Bisharp, and Metagross before it Mega Evolves. 40 SpD EVs allow Suicune to better take on special attacks, notably preventing Amoonguss from breaking its Substitute and also giving its Substitute a chance to withstand a Volt Switch from Rotom-W after one Calm Mind boost. Leftovers is mandatory, as it acts as Suicune's only way of recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Suicune must avoid being statused, especially by burn or Toxic, as this set does not have reliable recovery or a way to remove status effects. Since Leftovers is its only form of recovery, it does not want it to be removed by Knock Off or other moves like Trick. Suicune finds setup opportunities on defensive foes that cannot threaten it, like Heatran and non-Thunderbolt Clefable, as well as foes Choice-locked into moves that cannot threaten it, which include Choice Specs Keldeo locked into Scald and Choice Scarf Magnezone locked into Hidden Power Fire or Flash Cannon. Utilize Pressure to stall out low PP moves with Substitute and Protect like Leaf Storm from Serperior and Power Whip from Ferrothorn. Protect can also be useful against Choice item users like Choice Scarf Magnezone, Tyranitar, and Excadrill.
Team Options
========
Pursuit users like Mega Metagross, Tyranitar, and Weavile are able to remove Latios and Mega Latias, both of which resist Suicune's Scald. Tyranitar and Weavile can also check Electric-types like Thundurus and Zapdos with Stone Edge and Icicle Crash. Do be aware of Tyranitar's summoned sand hindering Suicune's recovery. Status absorbers like Gliscor and Clefable are good partners to take on the likes of Will-O-Wisp and Toxic. Heatran can help Suicune deal with Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn while also having access to utility moves like Stealth Rock. Latios can remove entry hazards, which chip away at Suicune, and also deal with Electric-types like Rotom-W and Thundurus. Latias does the same but also provides Healing Wish support to remove status and heal Suicune to full health. Clefable is another helpful Healing Wish user. Tornadus-T can help Suicune deal with Grass-types like Serperior as well as provide Knock Off and U-turn support. Magnezone is a good partner, as it has the ability to remove Ferrothorn, which could otherwise absorb Suicune's Scald and threaten it with Power Whip.
[SET]
name: Defensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Rest
move 4: Roar / Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald dishes out damage while also having a nice chance to cripple foes with a burn. Rest provides Suicune recovery but has the downside of putting it to sleep for two turns. Calm Mind makes Suicune bulkier and makes it easier to break through defensive cores and sweep. Roar is useful to phaze setup users like Calm Mind Mega Slowbro and Clefable. Alternatively, Sleep Talk gives Suicune a chance to use Scald to burn foes or set up another Calm Mind while it sleeps due to Rest.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment allows Suicune to be as bulky as possible and better at taking on physical attackers like Mega Metagross, Excadrill, Gliscor, Mega Scizor, Weavile, and Landorus-T. Leftovers allows Suicune to stay healthy and reduces the need to use Rest. Pressure is Suicune's only legal ability and helps it win setup wars with other Calm Mind users like Clefable as well as stall out defensive Pokemon like Quagsire and Gastrodon. 20 EVs can be taken from Defense and put into Speed to allow Suicune to outspeed Rotom-W so it can use Calm Mind before Rotom-W uses Volt Switch. 20 Speed EVs also allow Suicune to outspeed Adamant Crawdaunt and some variants of specially defensive Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Roar should be used to phaze out foes that want to set up like Calm Mind Clefable, force switch-ins to take entry hazard damage, and scout out movesets early-game. Suicune should spam Scald early-game to spread burns on common switch-ins like Ferrothorn and Latios to cripple them. Rest should be used to help Suicune remove a status aliment like burn, Toxic poison, or paralysis and to help it stay healthy. Calm Mind should be used late-game to allow Suicune break through and sweep teams when all its checks are eliminated or weakened.
Team Options
========
Skarmory can provide Spikes for Suicune, which is a good combination with Roar to force chip damage. Ferrothorn also has access to Spikes and can take strong attacks that Skarmory cannot, like Draco Meteor from Choice Specs Latios and Thunder Punch from Mega Metagross. It also appreciates Suicune's ability to resist Fire-type moves. Heatran can provide Stealth Rock support and take on Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn that can check Suicune. Mega Latias can deal with Electric-types that threaten Suicune like Thundurus and Zapdos. Tornadus-T helps Suicune deal with Grass-types like Serperior while also providing utility via Knock Off and U-turn. Tyranitar can remove Latios and Latias, which resist Suicune's Scald, while also removing entry hazard removers to make Roar more effective. Fire-types like Mega Charizard Y and Heatran can take on Grass-types and cripple opposing Water-types like Gastrodon via Solar Beam or Toxic, respectively. Excadrill is able to spin away entry hazards that could wear down Suicune, resist Fairy-type attacks from the likes of Clefable, deal with Flying-types like Tornadus-T and Zapdos via Toxic or Rock Slide, and take on Electric-type attacks from the likes of Magnezone. Clefable can form a Calm Mind core with Suicune while also checking certain Electric-types like Thundurus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
There are not many other options for Suicune to run, as they are all subpar at best. Toxic can be used to wear down bulky Water-types like Gastrodon and Rotom-W. Rest can be used with Substitute, but this doesn't leave space for moves like Sleep Talk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Thundurus can take a few Scalds from Suicune and threaten it back with Thunderbolt. Magnezone can also take Scald from Suicune and hit it back with Thunderbolt or use Volt Switch to gain momentum. However, neither can consistently switch into Scald, especially if it lands a burn. Zapdos and Rotom-W do not mind switching into Suicune and hit it super effectively, but they cannot beat it one-on-one as it sets up with Calm Mind.
**Grass-types**: Ferrothorn resists Scald and threatens Suicune with Power Whip or Leech Seed if it lacks Substitute. Serperior can threaten Suicune with Leaf Storm and boost past its Calm Mind boosts thanks to its ability Contrary. Serperior can, however, be PP stalled out of Leaf Storm thanks to Pressure, especially if Suicune has Protect and Substitute. Amoonguss can take Scald easily and remove Suicune's Calm Mind boosts with Clear Smog if it does not run Substitute. Mega Venusaur can threaten Suicune with Giga Drain while also resisting its Scald, but it does lose to Suicune if it gets enough boosts with Calm Mind.
**Strong Offensive Foes**: Strong offensive Pokemon like Mega Medicham, Thunder Punch Mega Metagross, and Choice Specs Latios, and Choice Specs Keldeo can all overload Suicune, making it tough for it to switch in.
**Knock Off**: Knock Off users like Bisharp, Weavile, and Clefable can all make Suicune easier to wear down by removing its Leftovers, especially if it lacks Rest.
**Setup Sweepers**: Manaphy can set up on Suicune with Tail Glow and threaten it with Energy Ball. Mega Altaria can set up with Dragon Dance on Suicune, resists its Scald, and can remove any burns that Scald may inflict with Heal Bell. Calm Mind Mega Slowbro can set up Calm Mind with Suicune and threaten it with Psyshock. Mega Latias can also set up Calm Mind with Suicune and use Thunderbolt or Psyshock to beat it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ez, 233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[Vulpix03, 306299], [jonfilch, 472436]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Estronic, 240732]]
Last edited: