PH Support WG Skuntank [Done]

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berry

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[SET]
name: Support Wonder Guard
move 1: Baton Pass / Knock Off
move 2: Defog / Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes / Pursuit
move 3: Aromatherapy
move 4: Recover
item: Shed Shell / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Skuntank's main niche as a Wonder Guard user is its rare singular weakness to Ground and ability to clear Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Baton Pass allows Skuntank to provide pivoting support and maintain momentum, notably underspeeding common slow pivots like Cresselia, Magic Bounce Giratina, and Primal Kyogre. Toxic Spikes allows Skuntank to make progress in most games; Skuntank can also reliably clear any Toxic Spikes reflected by Magic Bounce or copied by Imposter. Knock Off and Pursuit threaten Pokemon like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and coverage-reliant offensive Pokemon that have no way to hit Skuntank, such as No Guard Mega Mewtwo Y lacking Fissure and Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X lacking Thousand Arrows. Defog and Aromatherapy are staples on any support Wonder Guard user; however, if a teammate is already providing either, then Skuntank can opt for alternate utility options such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, and Knock Off. Recover gives Skuntank longevity, allowing it to heal off damage from hazards, status, or attacks that slip through Wonder Guard. Shed Shell allows Skuntank to escape Shadow Tag users like Choice Band Mewtwo Mega X and Perish Song Lugia, while Safety Goggles gives it immunity to Spore from Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar. Maximum HP and Defense investment maximizes Skuntank's physical bulk, allowing Skuntank to scout Mold Breaker Pokemon that could potentially run physical and special sets, such as Mega Rayquaza, and fare better against Mega Gengar. 0 Speed IVs give Skuntank the slowest possible Baton Pass to pivot into its team's attackers.

Revenge killers such as Refrigerate Kyurem-B, Huge Power Slaking, and Regigigas make excellent teammates for Skuntank, as they appreciate Skuntank’s slow Baton Pass and pressure some of Skuntank’s most dangerous checks, namely Fissure + No Guard users like Mewtwo Mega Y and Mega Aerodactyl. Furthermore, because of its weakness to Fissure, Skuntank should almost always have both a Flying-type teammate—such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-oh— and a Wonder Guard teammate that isn’t weak to Ground—such as Arceus or Xerneas. Additionally, offensive Wonder Guard teammates such as Mega Gardevoir, Xerneas, and Mega Lucario appreciate Skuntank’s ability to both soft-check Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and efficiently compress the roles of cleric and defogger. Finally, since Skuntank is quite passive, it benefits from strong Mold Breaker attackers like Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon that can pressure Pokemon attempting to setup against Skuntank. In return, Skuntank can get them onto the battlefield safely with its slow Baton Pass. Dark-type Huge Power teammates like Mega Gyarados and Yveltal can effectively dispatch of Giratina with Pursuit and Knock Off, as Skuntank alone fails to threaten Giratina. Finally, offensive Shadow Tag Users like Choice Band Mega Mewtwo X appreciate Skuntank's ability to use Knock Off to remove Shed Shells from Psychic-type Wonder Guard users like Cresselia and Meloetta and non-Wonder Guard Support Pokemon like Registeel.

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

Sucker Punch can be used to surprise KO an attacking Mold Breaker user like Mega Gengar or heavily chipped Mold Breaker Mega Latios after Shell Smash. Spikes and Sticky Web are alternatives to Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes if their specific utility is desired. Parting Shot can be used over Baton Pass to weaken the foe as it pivots out; however, Parting Shot cedes momentum to teams with a Magic Bounce user, making it more matchup-dependent. Haze can be used to clear boosts from Shell Smash users like Wonder Guard Xerneas, preventing them from setting up on Skuntank. Toxic can be used to status and make progress against Wonder Guards like Xerneas and Arceus, forcing a switch into an Aromatherapy user. Additionally, because of Skuntank's Poison typing, it can freely use Toxic against Pokemon that may run Magic Bounce like Giratina. Poison Fang is an alternative to Toxic that gives Skuntank the ability to damage Fairy-type Woner Guard users and status foes without being susceptible to Taunt. Whirlwind gives Skuntank the ability to phase out setup sweepers like offensive Wonder Guard Xerneas and Mold Breaker Mega Gengar. Mail can give Skuntank an immunity to Trick, though this item provides no other utility and is greatly outclassed by Shed Shell. Black Sludge can be used to give Skuntank some passive healingand punish Trick users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina. Alternatively, Trick can be used by Skuntank itself to passively chip a foe. Finally, 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD EVs with a Sassy Nature can be used to Imposter-proof Choice Specs Mold Breaker Mega Mewtwo Y more effectively, thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psystrike and Psycho Boost.

Drapion can be used instead of Skuntank if its slightly higher physical Defense and faster Speed tier are desired.

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

**Fissure**: Skuntank is vulnerable to being OHKOed by No Guard users carrying the somewhat rare, but very dangerous, Fissure. This weakness can be mitigated by pairing Skuntank with another Wonder Guard user that is not weak to Ground or a Flying-type teammate like Mega Rayquaza or Ho-Oh.

**Ground-type Coverage**: Ground-type coverage on offensive Wonder Guard users like Xerneas and -ate Speed users like Kyurem-B can catch Skuntank off guard on a switch, potentially scoring an early KO and rendering your team weak to No Guard Users like Mega Mewtwo Y and Huge Power Sweepers like Mega Gyarados.

**Trick Users**: Trick Users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina can hinder Skuntank by removing its Shed Shell and reduce its support potential by locking it into one move. Skuntank can opt to mitigate this by either crippling the Trick user with Black Sludge or using Mail for an effective immunity to the move; Black Sludge carries the potential risk of being swapped to a teammate.

**Taunt Users**: Skuntank's lackluster offensive stats relegate it to a support position, which can be shut down by Taunt users like Prankster Giratina. Moves like Knock Off and Poison Fang ensure that Skuntank will not be forced to use Struggle, while also having the chance to remove items or poison the foe, respectively.

**Offensive Mold Breaker Users**: Skuntank is forced out by offensive Mold Breakers due to its low defenses. Specifically, Mold Breaker Primal Groudon and Mega Rayquaza can both OHKO physically defensive Skuntank after Stealth Rock.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[berry, 226455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Daylight, 562267], [Mbouchon, 515077]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Isaiah, 375662]]
 
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Daylight

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[SET]
name: Support Wonder Guard
move 1: Baton Pass / Toxic Spikes / Knock Off / Pursuit Is Toxic Spikes mentioned because having a Poison-type on the team makes it easier to clear Magic Bounced Toxic Spikes and/or and Imposter’s Toxic Spikes? Are you likely to run Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock on the same set?
move 2: Defog / Stealth Rock / Knock Off This is a nitpicky thing but I don’t love repeating the same move across multiple moveslots. If Knock Off is listed in this slot because of the potential for a Knock + Pursuit set (which seems extremely mediocre imo btw), then I would either remove Knock Off from the first moveslot or just explain that Knock + Pursuit is an option in the paragraph below.
move 3: Aromatherapy
move 4: Recover
item: Shed Shell / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Skuntank's main niche as a Wonder Guard user is in Pure Hackmons lies in its nearly unique combination of a singular single Ground-type weakness and ability to clear Toxic Spikes upon switching in switchin. Although held back by its low stats and poor bulk for a defensive Pokemon, its single weakness and immunity to Psychic-type moves allows it to thrive. Baton Pass allows Skuntank to provide pivoting support out and maintain switching momentum, notably underspeeding occupying a lower speed tier than common slow pivots support Pokemon like Cresselia, Giratina, and Primal Kyogre. See the above comment regarding Toxic Spikes. Definitely add a sentence explaining why Toxic Spikes are chosen specifically. Toxic Spikes allows it to make progress through setting hazards, while Knock Off and Pursuit both act as Dark-type STABs that can threaten Pokemon like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and No Guard Mega Mewtwo Y. Defog is a support staple that removes hazards from the field, Stealth Rock allows Skuntank to quickly set up its own hazards against Pokemon that won't threaten it with a Ground-type move. This sentence is self-explanatory. Consider something like… Defog and Aromatherapy are staples on any support Wonder Guard user. However, if a teammate is already providing either, then Skuntank can opt for alternate utility options such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, or Knock Off. (Reword that as you like and as makes sense re: TSpikes.) Recover gives Skuntank longevity, allowing it to heal off damage from hazards, status, or attacks that slip through Wonder Guard. Shed Shell allows Skuntank to escape trappers Shadow Tag users like Offensive Shadow Tag Choice Band Mewtwo Mega X and Shadow Tag Perish Song Lugia, while Safety Goggles give it immunity to Spore from Mold Breaker users attackers like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar. Maximum HP and Defense investment maximize Skuntank's physical bulk, while 0 Speed IVs ensure it has as slow a Baton Pass as possible its slow pivot.

Due to its slow Baton Pass, heavy hitters like
Revenge killers and Pursuit trappers such as Refrigerate Kyurem-B and Huge Power Mega Gyarados thrive when paired with Skuntank. These Pokemon are able to tale advantage of the momentum creates, make excellent teammates for Skuntank, as they both appreciate Skuntank’s slow Baton Pass and pressure some of Skuntank’s most dangerous checks, namely gaining a favorable switch-in against its largest threat in Fissure + No Guard users like Mewtwo Mega Y and Mega Aerodactyl. Fissure No Guards in general are a threat imo, not just MMY. Additionally, Furthermore, because of its weakness to Fissure, in order to avoid getting KO'd by Fissure, Skuntank should almost always have both benefits from partnering with a Ground-neutral Wonder Guard user like Arceus or a Flying-type like teammate— such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-oh—as well as a Wonder Guard teammate that isn’t weak to Ground—such as Arceus or Xerneas. Imo, Skuntank should almost always have a Flying-type teammate. Additionally, because Offensive Wonder Guard teammates such as Mega Gardevoir, Xerneas, and Mega Lucario appreciate Skuntank’s acts as a ability to both soft-check to Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and efficiently compress the roles of cleric and defogger Mega, it pairs well with offensive Wonder Guards that Gengar would have beaten like Mega Gardevoir. Finally, since Skuntank is quite passive, it benefits from strong Mold Breaker attackers like Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon that can pressure Pokemon attempting to setup against Skuntank damage Wonder Guard attackers who can set up and take advantage of Skuntank's passive moveset. Mega Rayquaza is worth noting in particular, as it also serves as a secondary check to No Guard + Fissure users. In return, Skuntank can get them onto the battlefield safely with its slow Baton Pass.

Huge Power Pursuit users like Mega Gyarados are worth mentioning in a bit more detail imo, since they can trap Giratina, who otherwise forces Skuntank out (its Dark STAB is too weak to matter against Giratina unfortunately.) Yveltal in particular probably deserves a mention as a Pursuit trapper AND Flying-type, which Skuntank of course appreciates because of Fissure.

I would also mention that offensive Shadow Tag users like Banded Beat Up MMX appreciate Skuntank’s ability to Knock Off Shed Shells from Psychic-type Wonder Guard users like Cresselia and Meloetta and other non-WG defensive mons that also use Shed Shell, like Registeel.


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

Sucker Punch can be used as a Dark-type STAB that can outspeed to surprise KO an attacking Mold Breaker user like Mega Gengar or Mega Latios. Uninvested Sucker Punch does max 96% to -1 Mega Latios, you need 208 Atk EVs to guarantee the KO from full. Not sure if that’s worth mentioning, however, as it should still KO after Rocks/minimal chip. The big downside here is ofc that they can just use Spore and kill. However, this fails to counter offensive Wonder Guard users like Xerneas, who can easily attack Skuntank with moves like Earth Power. Skuntank isn’t beating Smash Wonder Guards if they have Ground coverage regardless of whether it opts for Sucker Punch or not, so this comment feels superfluous. Other Hazards like Spikes or Toxic Spikes can be used if are alternatives to Stealth Rock if their specific utility is desired is already carried by another Pokemon on your team. It feels a little odd that TSpikes are mentioned in this sentence when they’re already slashed in the main set. Skuntank also carries the added benefit of being able to clear Toxic Spikes that are reflected against it by a Magic Bounce Pokemon. <— Definitely explain this in the first paragraph. Parting Shot can be used over Baton Pass as a pivoting move, weakening the opponent as it pivots out lowering the offensive stats of switch-ins. However, Parting Shot cedes momentum to teams with a Magic Bounce user, making it matchup-dependent this can be blocked by Magic Bounce, instead forcing the Magic Bounce user out and giving them offensive momentum. Haze can be used to clear boosts from Shell Smash users like Wonder Guard Xerneas, preventing them from setting up on Skuntank. Finally, Toxic can be used to status and make progress against Wonder Guards like Xerneas and Arceus, as well as forcing a switch into an Aromatherapy user. Additionally, because of Skuntank's Poison typing, it can freely Toxic into Pokemon that may run Magic Bounce like Giratina.

Is Poison Fang worth mentioning? It can’t spread status to most Wonder Guard users, but it does break Xerneas’s Subsititutes 75% of the time. Glare, Whirlwind, Perish Song, King’s Shield, Wish, Magic Coat, and Chesto/Lum Berry are all niche but potentially worth mentioning imo. Your call.

I’d also mention that with a specially defensive EV spread and Glare or Baton Pass + RKer Skuntank can Imposter-proof Choice Specs Mold Breaker Mega Mewtwo Y thanks to its immunity to Psystrike and Psycho Boost.

Drapion, being is an almost-clone of Skuntank, that can be used as an alternative Wonder Guard user with if its slightly higher physical defenses Defense and a faster speed tier are desired.

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

**No Guard Fissure users**: No Guard Pokemon running Fissure can catch Skuntank off guard, instantly OHKOing it. Skuntank is vulnerable to being instantly OHKOed by No Guard users carrying the somewhat rare, but very dangerous, Fissure. This weakness can be mitigated by using pairing Skuntank with another Wonder Guard user that is not weak to Ground-type moves like support Xerneas or Mega Scizor or with a Flying-type teammate.

Combine the Offensive Wonder Guard and Bad Matchup sections into a “Ground Coverage” section. Imo, Offensive WGs with ground moves are just a specific example of bad matchup—which, for Skuntank, is Ground coverage. Kyurem-Black and other -ate Speeds w TA, Thousand Arrows Huge Power MMX, Earth Power Protean Latios, Earth Power Wonder Guard Gardevoir, etc are all just examples of an unfavorable matchup. (Bc of ground coverage.)

**Offensive Wonder Guard**: Offensive Wonder Guard Pokemon like Xerneas or Regigigas can set up on Skuntank freely, threatening it with Ground-type moves like Earth Power or Thousand Arrows.

**Bad Matchup**: Due to Skuntank's common Ground-type weakness, it is weak to common Ground-type attacks like Thousand Arrows. If this move is used on a -ate Speed Pokemon like Kyurem-B, it can easily dispatch of Skuntank if it is the chosen switch-in.

I would also mention item removal/Trick and Prankster Giratina as Checks/Counters. It’s not really unique to Skuntank, as all support Wonder Guards are weak to Trick if they’re not holding Mail or something, but it’s still very much worth mentioning imo. Similar thoughts on Giratina, with the additional note that Magic Bounce variants are also annoying for TSpikes/Rocks variants of Skuntank and that univested Skuntank just isn’t strong enough for its dark stab to matter. Taunt is also potentially worth mentioning here for Skuntank sets lacking Knock Off.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[berry, 226455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Daylight, 562267], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

❤
 
Last edited:

berry

what kind
is a Community Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a member of the Battle Simulator Staff
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[SET]
name: Support Wonder Guard
move 1: Baton Pass / Knock Off / Pursuit
move 2: Defog / Stealth Rock / Toxic spikes
move 3: Aromatherapy
move 4: Recover
item: Shed Shell / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Skuntank's main niche as a Wonder Guard user is its nearly unique combination of a singular Ground-type weakness and ability to clear Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Baton Pass allows Skuntank to provide pivoting support and maintain momentum, notably underspeeding common slow pivots like Cresselia, Giratina, and Primal Kyogre. Toxic Spikes allows it to make progress through setting hazards, as well as being cleared by Skuntank's Poison-type when switching in. This makes Toxic Spikes a safer option to click if the opponent is carrying a Magic Bounce Pokemon, since the Toxic Spikes will be negated on Skuntank's next switch-in. Knock Off and Pursuit threaten Pokemon like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and No Guard Mega Mewtwo Y.Defog and Aromatherapy are staples on any support Wonder Guard user. However, if a teammate is already providing either, then Skuntank can opt for alternate utility options such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, or Knock Off. Recover gives Skuntank longevity, allowing it to heal off damage from hazards, status, or attacks that slip through Wonder Guard. Shed Shell allows Skuntank to escape Shadow Tag users like Choice Band Mewtwo Mega X and Perish Song Lugia, while Safety Goggles give it immunity to Spore from Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar. Maximum HP and Defense investment maximize Skuntank's physical bulk, while 0 Speed IVs ensure it has as slow a Baton Pass as possible.

Revenge killers and Pursuit trappers such as Refrigerate Kyurem-B and Huge Power Mega Gyarados make excellent teammates for Skuntank, as they both appreciate Skuntank’s slow Baton Pass and pressure some of Skuntank’s most dangerous checks, namely Fissure + No Guard users like Mewtwo Mega Y and Mega Aerodactyl. Furthermore, because of its weakness to Fissure,Skuntank should almost always have both a Flying-type teammate&mdash; such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-oh&mdash;as well as a Wonder Guard teammate that isn’t weak to Ground&mdash;such as Arceus or Xerneas. Additionally, Offensive Wonder Guard teammates such as Mega Gardevoir, Xerneas, and Mega Lucario appreciate Skuntank’s ability to both soft-check Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and efficiently compress the roles of cleric and defogger. Finally, since Skuntank is quite passive, it benefits from strong Mold Breaker attackers like Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon that can pressure Pokemon attempting to setup against Skuntank. In return, Skuntank can get them onto the battlefield safely with its slow Baton Pass. Dark-type Huge Power teammates like Mega Gyarados and Yveltal can effectively dispatch of Giratina with their STAB moves, as Skuntank alone fails to threaten Giratina. Finally, Offensive Shadow Tag Users like Choice Band Mega Mewtwo X appreciate Skuntank's ability to Knock Off Shed Shells from Psychic-type Wonder Guard users like Cresselia and Meloetta, as well as Non-Wonder Guard Support Pokemon like Registeel.

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

Sucker Punch can be usedto surprise KO an attacking Mold Breaker user like Mega Gengar or Mega Latios after Stealth Rock. Spikes are alternatives to Stealth Rock if their specific utility is desired. Parting Shot can be used over Baton Pass, weakening the opponent as it pivots out. However, Parting Shot cedes momentum to teams with a Magic Bounce user, making it matchup-dependent. Haze can be used to clear boosts from Shell Smash users like Wonder Guard Xerneas, preventing them from setting up on Skuntank. Toxic can be used to status and make progress against Wonder Guards like Xerneas and Arceus, as well as forcing a switch into an Aromatherapy user. Additionally, because of Skuntank's Poison typing, it can freely Toxic into Pokemon that may run Magic Bounce like Giratina. Poison Fang can be used as an alternative to Toxic, giving Skuntank the ability to damage Fairy-type Wonder Guard users and inflict foes with status while not being shut down by Taunt. Whirlwind gives Skuntank the ability to phase out setup sweepers like Offensive Wonder Guard Xerneas or Mold Breaker Mega Gengar. Black Sludge can be used to give Skuntank some passive healing, while also punishing Trick users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina. Finally, 248 HP / 252 SpD EVs with a Sassy Nature can be used to Imposter-proof Choice Specs Mold Breaker Mega Mewtwo Y thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psystrike and Psycho Boost.

Drapion is an almost-clone of Skuntank that can be used if its slightly higher physical Defense and faster speed tier are desired.

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

**Fissure**: Skuntank is vulnerable to being instantly OHKOed by No Guard users carrying the somewhat rare, but very dangerous, Fissure. This weakness can be mitigated by pairing Skuntank with another Wonder Guard user that is not weak to Groundor with a Flying-type teammate.

**Ground Coverage**: Ground-type coverage on Offensive Wonder Guard users like Xerneas or -ate Speed users like Kyurem-B can catch Skuntank off guard on a switch, potentially scoring an early KO and rendering the user's team weak to No Guard Users like Mega Mewtwo Y or Huge Power Sweepers like Mega Gyarados. Additionally, Skuntank is weak to teams that rely on Primal Groudon, as Groudon's spammable Thousand Arrows will always prevent Skuntank from switching in due to a risk of KO.

**Trick Users**: Trick Users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina can hinder Skuntank by removing its Shed Shell and reducing its support potential by locking it into one move. Skuntank can opt to mitigate this by either using Mail as an untrickable item, or using Black Sludge which will slowly chip the trick user, though Black Sludge carries the extra risk of the item being tricked onto another one of the user's own Pokemon.

**Taunt Users**: Skuntank's lackluster Offensive stats relegate it to a support position, which can be shut down by Taunt users like Prankster Giratina. Moves like Knock Off or Poison Fang ensure that Skuntank will not be forced to use Struggle, while also having the chance to remove items or poison the foe.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[berry, 226455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Daylight, 562267], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

❤
did that ^
Congrats on your first official check, esteemed ORAS PH QC Team Member Daylight
 

aerobee

Pure Hackmons
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[SET]
name: Support Wonder Guard
move 1: Baton Pass / Knock Off / Pursuit
move 2: Defog / Stealth Rock / Toxic sSpikes / Pursuit imo youre only using knock with pursuit to trap opposing gar, your call tho since other qc members seem to have mixed opinions on this + i haven't used skuntank/drap much
move 3: Aromatherapy
move 4: Recover
item: Shed Shell / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 252 HP / 252 Def / 8 4 SpD minor but 248 hp doesn't minimize chip on skuntank due to rocks neutrality/having an odd hp stat
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Skuntank's main niche as a Wonder Guard user is its nearly unique combination of a singular Ground-type weakness and ability to clear Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Baton Pass allows Skuntank to provide pivoting support and maintain momentum, notably underspeeding common slow pivots like Cresselia, Magic Bounce Giratina, and Primal Kyogre. Toxic Spikes allows Skuntank to make progress in most games and it is a reliable user of the move, as any Toxic Spikes reflected by a Magic Bounce user or copied by an Imposter user will be cleared on Skuntank's next switch-in. Knock Off and Pursuit threaten Pokemon like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and coverage-reliant offensive Pokemon that have no way to hit Skuntank, such as No Guard Mega Mewtwo Y lacking Fissure and Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X lacking Thousand Arrows. this is more accurate imo, i would also mention pursuit trapping is greatly aided by also running knock Defog and Aromatherapy are staples on any support Wonder Guard user. However, if a teammate is already providing either, then Skuntank can opt for alternate utility options such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, or Knock Off. Recover gives Skuntank longevity, allowing it to heal off damage from hazards, status, or attacks that slip through Wonder Guard. Shed Shell allows Skuntank to escape Shadow Tag users like Choice Band Mewtwo Mega X and Perish Song Lugia, while Safety Goggles give it immunity to Spore from Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar. Maximum HP and Defense investment maximize Skuntank's physical bulk, allowing Skuntank to scout Mold Breaker Pokemon that could potentially run physical and special sets, such as Mega Rayquaza, while also faring better against Mega Gengar, wording can be changed but this is worth a mention imo while 0 Speed IVs ensure it has as slow a Baton Pass as possible.

Revenge killers and Pursuit trappers such as Refrigerate Kyurem-B and Huge Power Mega Gyarados Huge Power Slaking and Regigigas you mention pursuit trappers later in the paragraph making this redundant make excellent teammates for Skuntank, as they both appreciate Skuntank’s slow Baton Pass and pressure some of Skuntank’s most dangerous checks, namely Fissure + No Guard users like Mewtwo Mega Y and Mega Aerodactyl. Furthermore, because of its weakness to Fissure, Skuntank should almost always have both a Flying-type teammate&mdash; such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-oh&mdash; your call but could be worth mentioning that the sole exception is on niche triple wg teams as well as a Wonder Guard teammate that isn’t weak to Ground&mdash;such as Arceus or Xerneas. Additionally, Ooffensive Wonder Guard teammates such as Mega Gardevoir, Xerneas, and Mega Lucario appreciate Skuntank’s ability to both soft-check Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and efficiently compress the roles of cleric and defogger. Finally, since Skuntank is quite passive, it benefits from strong Mold Breaker attackers like Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon that can pressure Pokemon attempting to setup against Skuntank. In return, Skuntank can get them onto the battlefield safely with its slow Baton Pass. Dark-type Huge Power teammates like Mega Gyarados and Yveltal can effectively dispatch of Giratina with their STAB moves Pursuit and Knock Off, explicitly mentioning pursuit/knock is the way to go imo as Skuntank alone fails to threaten Giratina. Finally, Ooffensive Shadow Tag Users like Choice Band Mega Mewtwo X appreciate Skuntank's ability to Knock Off Shed Shells from Psychic-type Wonder Guard users like Cresselia and Meloetta, as well as Non-Wonder Guard Support Pokemon like Registeel.

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

Sucker Punch can be used to surprise KO an attacking Mold Breaker user like Mega Gengar or heavily chipped Mold Breaker Mega Latios after Stealth Rock Shell Smash. sucker does 76-90 with max atk vs 0 bulk lati (54-64 with no invest) so quite a bit of chip has to be taken Spikes and Sticky Web are alternatives to Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes if their specific utility is desired. Parting Shot can be used over Baton Pass, weakening the opponent as it pivots out. However, Parting Shot cedes momentum to teams with a Magic Bounce user, making it more matchup-dependent. minor nitpick but taunt makes bp slightly matchup dependent as well Haze can be used to clear boosts from Shell Smash users like Wonder Guard Xerneas, preventing them from setting up on Skuntank. Toxic can be used to status and make progress against Wonder Guards like Xerneas and Arceus, as well as forcing a switch into an Aromatherapy user. Additionally, because of Skuntank's Poison typing, it can freely Toxic into Pokemon that may run Magic Bounce like Giratina. Poison Fang can be used as an alternative to Toxic, giving Skuntank the ability to damage Fairy-type Wonder Guard users and inflict foes with status while not being shut down by Taunt. Whirlwind gives Skuntank the ability to phase out setup sweepers like Offensive Wonder Guard Xerneas or Mold Breaker Mega Gengar. Black Sludge can be used to give Skuntank some passive healing, while also punishing Trick users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina. Finally, 248 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD EVs with a Sassy Nature can be used to Imposter-proof Choice Specs Mold Breaker Mega Mewtwo Y more effectively, thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psystrike and Psycho Boost. i would also mention glare/whirlwind/kings (whirlwind is almost good enough to be in the main set imo), as well as black sludge + trick which can be really annoying. nuzzle can be mentioned as an alternative to glare that bypasses taunt tho imo it's pretty bad due to skuntank liking knock anyway + nuzzle not affecting pdon. you mention mail in other options which should also be mentioned here; foul play could be mentioned but is really niche so your call

Drapion is an almost-clone of Skuntank that can be used if its slightly higher physical Defense and faster speed tier are desired.

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

**Fissure**: Skuntank is vulnerable to being instantly OHKOed by No Guard users carrying the somewhat rare, but very dangerous, Fissure. This weakness can be mitigated by pairing Skuntank with another Wonder Guard user that is not weak to Ground, or with a Flying-type teammate like Mega Rayquaza and Ho-Oh. having a couple examples would be best

**Ground Coverage Unfavorable Matchup**: Ground-type coverage on Ooffensive Wonder Guard users like Xerneas or -ate Speed users like Kyurem-B can catch Skuntank off guard on a switch, potentially scoring an early KO and rendering the user's team weak to No Guard Users like Mega Mewtwo Y or Huge Power Sweepers like Mega Gyarados. Additionally, Skuntank is weak to teams that rely on Primal Groudon, as Groudon's spammable Thousand Arrows will always prevent Skuntank from switching in due to a risk of KO. (move to offensive moldies section) would mention that ground coverage on ates are relatively rare

**Trick Users**: Trick Users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina can hinder Skuntank by removing its Shed Shell and reducing its support potential by locking it into one move. Skuntank can opt to mitigate this by either using Mail as an untrickable item, or using Black Sludge which will slowly chip the tTrick user, though Black Sludge carries the extra risk of the item being tricked onto another one of the user's own Pokemon. mention that skuntank teching for trick leaves it more vulnerable to stags

**Taunt Users**: Skuntank's lackluster Ooffensive stats relegate it to a support position, which can be shut down by Taunt users like Prankster Giratina. Moves like Knock Off or Poison Fang ensure that Skuntank will not be forced to use Struggle, while also having the chance to remove items or poison the foe.

**Offensive Mold Breaker Users**: skuntank's immediately forced out by every moldy bar gar/non spore unboosted latios, choiced moldies like ray/pdon are really scary though they have to be wary of knock off

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[berry, 226455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Daylight, 562267], [Mbouchon, 515077], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

Pretty solid, QC 2/2
 
Last edited:

berry

what kind
is a Community Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a member of the Battle Simulator Staff
add remove comments

[SET]
name: Support Wonder Guard
move 1: Baton Pass / Knock Off
move 2: Defog / Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes / Pursuit
move 3: Aromatherapy
move 4: Recover
item: Shed Shell / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Skuntank's main niche as a Wonder Guard user is its nearly unique combination of a singular Ground-type weakness and ability to clear Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Baton Pass allows Skuntank to provide pivoting support and maintain momentum, notably underspeeding common slow pivots like Cresselia, Magic Bounce Giratina, and Primal Kyogre. Toxic Spikes allows Skuntank to make progress in most games and it is a reliable user of the move, as any Toxic Spikes reflected by a Magic Bounce user or copied by an Imposter user will be cleared on Skuntank's next switch-in. Knock Off and Pursuit threaten Pokemon like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and coverage-reliant offensive Pokemon that have no way to hit Skuntank, such as No Guard Mega Mewtwo Y lacking Fissure and Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X lacking Thousand Arrows. Defog and Aromatherapy are staples on any support Wonder Guard user. However, if a teammate is already providing either, then Skuntank can opt for alternate utility options such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, or Knock Off. Recover gives Skuntank longevity, allowing it to heal off damage from hazards, status, or attacks that slip through Wonder Guard. Shed Shell allows Skuntank to escape Shadow Tag users like Choice Band Mewtwo Mega X and Perish Song Lugia, while Safety Goggles give it immunity to Spore from Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar. Maximum HP and Defense investment maximize Skuntank's physical bulk, allowing Skuntank to scout Mold Breaker Pokemon that could potentially run physical and special sets, such as Mega Rayquaza, while also faring better against Mega Gengar. 0 Speed IVs ensure it has as slow a Baton Pass as possible to pivot into its team's attackers.

Revenge killers such as Refrigerate Kyurem-B, Huge Power Slaking, and Regigigas make excellent teammates for Skuntank, as they both appreciate Skuntank’s slow Baton Pass and pressure some of Skuntank’s most dangerous checks, namely Fissure + No Guard users like Mewtwo Mega Y and Mega Aerodactyl. Furthermore, because of its weakness to Fissure, Skuntank should almost always have both a Flying-type teammate&mdash; such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-oh&mdash; as well as a Wonder Guard teammate that isn’t weak to Ground&mdash;such as Arceus or Xerneas. Additionally, offensive Wonder Guard teammates such as Mega Gardevoir, Xerneas, and Mega Lucario appreciate Skuntank’s ability to both soft-check Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and efficiently compress the roles of cleric and defogger. Finally, since Skuntank is quite passive, it benefits from strong Mold Breaker attackers like Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon that can pressure Pokemon attempting to setup against Skuntank. In return, Skuntank can get them onto the battlefield safely with its slow Baton Pass. Dark-type Huge Power teammates like Mega Gyarados and Yveltal can effectively dispatch of Giratina with Pursuit and Knock Off, as Skuntank alone fails to threaten Giratina. Finally, offensive Shadow Tag Users like Choice Band Mega Mewtwo X appreciate Skuntank's ability to Knock Off Shed Shells from Psychic-type Wonder Guard users like Cresselia and Meloetta, as well as Non-Wonder Guard Support Pokemon like Registeel.

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

Sucker Punch can be used to surprise KO an attacking Mold Breaker user like Mega Gengar or heavily chipped Mold Breaker Mega Latios after Shell Smash. Spikes and Sticky Web are alternatives to Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes if their specific utility is desired. Parting Shot can be used over Baton Pass, weakening the opponent as it pivots out. However, Parting Shot cedes momentum to teams with a Magic Bounce user, making it more matchup-dependent. Haze can be used to clear boosts from Shell Smash users like Wonder Guard Xerneas, preventing them from setting up on Skuntank. Toxic can be used to status and make progress against Wonder Guards like Xerneas and Arceus, as well as forcing a switch into an Aromatherapy user. Additionally, because of Skuntank's Poison typing, it can freely Toxic into Pokemon that may run Magic Bounce like Giratina. Poison Fang can be used as an alternative to Toxic, giving Skuntank the ability to damage Fairy-type Wonder Guard users and inflict foes with status while not being shut down by Taunt. Whirlwind gives Skuntank the ability to phase out setup sweepers like Offensive Wonder Guard Xerneas or Mold Breaker Mega Gengar. Mail can give Skuntank Trick immunity, though this item provides no other utility and is greatly outclassed by Shed Shell. Black Sludge can be used to give Skuntank some passive healing, while also punishing Trick users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina. Alternatively, Trick can be used by Skuntank itself to passively chip a foe. Finally, 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD EVs with a Sassy Nature can be used to Imposter-proof Choice Specs Mold Breaker Mega Mewtwo Y more effectively, thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psystrike and Psycho Boost.

Drapion is an almost-clone of Skuntank that can be used if its slightly higher physical Defense and faster speed tier are desired.

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

**Fissure**: Skuntank is vulnerable to being instantly OHKOed by No Guard users carrying the somewhat rare, but very dangerous, Fissure. This weakness can be mitigated by pairing Skuntank with another Wonder Guard user that is not weak to Ground, or with a Flying-type teammate like Mega Rayquaza and Ho-Oh.

**Unfavorable Matchup**: Ground-type coverage on offensive Wonder Guard users like Xerneas or -ate Speed users like Kyurem-B can catch Skuntank off guard on a switch, potentially scoring an early KO and rendering the user's team weak to No Guard Users like Mega Mewtwo Y or Huge Power Sweepers like Mega Gyarados.

**Trick Users**: Trick Users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina can hinder Skuntank by removing its Shed Shell and reducing its support potential by locking it into one move. Skuntank can opt to mitigate this by either using Mail as an untrickable item, or using Black Sludge which will slowly chip the Trick user, though Black Sludge carries the extra risk of the item being tricked onto another one of the user's own Pokemon.

**Taunt Users**: Skuntank's lackluster offensive stats relegate it to a support position, which can be shut down by Taunt users like Prankster Giratina. Moves like Knock Off or Poison Fang ensure that Skuntank will not be forced to use Struggle, while also having the chance to remove items or poison the foe.

**Offensive Mold Breaker Users**: Skuntank is immidiately forced out by offensive Mold Breakers due to its low defenses. Specifically, Mold Breaker Primal Groudon and Mega Rayquaza can both OHKO physically defensive Skuntank after Stealth Rock.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[berry, 226455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Daylight, 562267], [Mbouchon, 515077]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

Pretty solid, QC 2/2
did

GP Team
 

Isaiah

Here today, gone tomorrow
is a Site Content Manageris an official Team Rateris a Battle Simulator Administratoris a Top Social Media Contributoris a Member of Senior Staffis a Community Contributoris a Top Tiering Contributoris a Top Contributor
UM/OM Leader
[SET]
name: Support Wonder Guard
move 1: Baton Pass / Knock Off
move 2: Defog / Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes / Pursuit
move 3: Aromatherapy
move 4: Recover
item: Shed Shell / Safety Goggles
ability: Wonder Guard
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Skuntank's main niche as a Wonder Guard user is its nearly unique combination of a singular Ground-type weakness rare singular weakness to Ground and ability to clear Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Baton Pass allows Skuntank to provide pivoting support and maintain momentum, notably underspeeding common slow pivots like Cresselia, Magic Bounce Giratina, and Primal Kyogre. Toxic Spikes allows Skuntank to make progress in most games;(semicolon) Skuntank can also reliably clear and it is a reliable user of the move, as any Toxic Spikes reflected by a Magic Bounce user or copied by an Imposter user will be cleared on Skuntank's next switch-in. Knock Off and Pursuit threaten Pokemon like Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and coverage-reliant offensive Pokemon that have no way to hit Skuntank, such as No Guard Mega Mewtwo Y lacking Fissure and Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X lacking Thousand Arrows. Defog and Aromatherapy are staples on any support Wonder Guard user;(semicolon). Hhowever, if a teammate is already providing either, then Skuntank can opt for alternate utility options such as Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, orand Knock Off. Recover gives Skuntank longevity, allowing it to heal off damage from hazards, status, or attacks that slip through Wonder Guard. Shed Shell allows Skuntank to escape Shadow Tag users like Choice Band Mewtwo Mega X and Perish Song Lugia, while Safety Goggles gives(add) it immunity to Spore from Mold Breaker users like Mega Gengar. Maximum HP and Defense investment maximizes(add) Skuntank's physical bulk, allowing Skuntank to scout Mold Breaker Pokemon that could potentially run physical and special sets, such as Mega Rayquaza, while also faringand fare better against Mega Gengar. 0 Speed IVs give Skuntank the slowest possible Baton Pass to pivot into its team's attackers. ensure it has as slow a Baton Pass as possible to pivot into its team's attackers.

Revenge killers such as Refrigerate Kyurem-B, Huge Power Slaking, and Regigigas make excellent teammates for Skuntank, as they both appreciate Skuntank’s slow Baton Pass and pressure some of Skuntank’s most dangerous checks, namely Fissure + No Guard users like Mewtwo Mega Y and Mega Aerodactyl. Furthermore, because of its weakness to Fissure, Skuntank should almost always have both a Flying-type teammate&mdash;(space)such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-oh&mdash; as well asand a Wonder Guard teammate that isn’t weak to Ground&mdash;such as Arceus or Xerneas. Additionally, offensive Wonder Guard teammates such as Mega Gardevoir, Xerneas, and Mega Lucario appreciate Skuntank’s ability to both soft-check Mold Breaker Mega Gengar and efficiently compress the roles of cleric and defogger. Finally, since Skuntank is quite passive, it benefits from strong Mold Breaker attackers like Choice Band Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon that can pressure Pokemon attempting to setup against Skuntank. In return, Skuntank can get them onto the battlefield safely with its slow Baton Pass. Dark-type Huge Power teammates like Mega Gyarados and Yveltal can effectively dispatch of Giratina with Pursuit and Knock Off, as Skuntank alone fails to threaten Giratina. Finally, offensive Shadow Tag Users like Choice Band Mega Mewtwo X appreciate Skuntank's ability to use Knock Off to removeKnock Off Shed Shells from Psychic-type Wonder Guard users like Cresselia and Meloetta,(comma) as well asand Nn(lowercase)on-Wonder Guard Support Pokemon like Registeel.

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

Sucker Punch can be used to surprise KO an attacking Mold Breaker user like Mega Gengar or heavily chipped Mold Breaker Mega Latios after Shell Smash. Spikes and Sticky Web are alternatives to Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes if their specific utility is desired. Parting Shot can be used over Baton Pass, weakening the opponentto weaken the foe as it pivots out;(semicolon) however,. However, Parting Shot cedes momentum to teams with a Magic Bounce user, making it more matchup-dependent. Haze can be used to clear boosts from Shell Smash users like Wonder Guard Xerneas, preventing them from setting up on Skuntank. Toxic can be used to status and make progress against Wonder Guards like Xerneas and Arceus, as well as forcingforcing a switch into an Aromatherapy user. Additionally, because of Skuntank's Poison typing, it can freely Toxic intouse Toxic against Pokemon that may run Magic Bounce like Giratina. Poison Fang is an alternative to Toxic that gives Skuntank the ability to damage Fairy-type Woner Guard users and status foes without being susceptible to Taunt. can be used as an alternative to Toxic, giving Skuntank the ability to damage Fairy-type Wonder Guard users and inflict foes with status while not being shut down by Taunt. Whirlwind gives Skuntank the ability to phase out setup sweepers like Oo(lowercase)ffensive Wonder Guard Xerneas orand Mold Breaker Mega Gengar. Mail can give Skuntank an immunity to Trick, Trick immunity, though this item provides no other utility and is greatly outclassed by Shed Shell. Black Sludge can be used to give Skuntank some passive healing, while also punishingand punish Trick users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina. Alternatively, Trick can be used by Skuntank itself to passively chip a foe. Finally, 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD EVs with a Sassy Nature can be used to Imposter-proof Choice Specs Mold Breaker Mega Mewtwo Y more effectively, thanks to Skuntank's immunity to Psystrike and Psycho Boost.

Drapion is an almost-clone of Skuntank that can be used instead of Skuntank if its slightly higher physical Defense and faster sS(capitalize)peed tier are desired.

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

**Fissure**: Skuntank is vulnerable to being instantly OHKOed by No Guard users carrying the somewhat rare, but very dangerous, Fissure. This weakness can be mitigated by pairing Skuntank with another Wonder Guard user that is not weak to Ground,(comma) or withor a Flying-type teammate like Mega Rayquaza andor Ho-Oh.

**Unfavorable MatchupGround-type Coverage (more accurate, perhaps?)**: Ground-type coverage on offensive Wonder Guard users like Xerneas orand -ate Speed users like Kyurem-B can catch Skuntank off guard on a switch, potentially scoring an early KO and rendering the user'syour team weak to No Guard Users like Mega Mewtwo Y orand Huge Power Sweepers like Mega Gyarados.

**Trick Users**: Trick Users like Choice Scarf Prankster Giratina can hinder Skuntank by removing its Shed Shell and reduce(add)ing its support potential by locking it into one move. Skuntank can opt to mitigate this by either crippling the Trick user with Black Sludge or using Mail for an effective immunity to the move; Black Sludge carries the potential risk of being swapped to a teammate.by either using Mail as an untrickable item, or using Black Sludge which will slowly chip the Trick user, though Black Sludge carries the extra risk of the item being tricked onto another one of the user's own Pokemon.

**Taunt Users**: Skuntank's lackluster offensive stats relegate it to a support position, which can be shut down by Taunt users like Prankster Giratina. Moves like Knock Off orand Poison Fang ensure that Skuntank will not be forced to use Struggle, while also having the chance to remove items or poison the foe, respectively.

**Offensive Mold Breaker Users**: Skuntank is immidiately forced out by offensive Mold Breakers due to its low defenses. Specifically, Mold Breaker Primal Groudon and Mega Rayquaza can both OHKO physically defensive Skuntank after Stealth Rock.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[berry, 226455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Daylight, 562267], [Mbouchon, 515077]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Isaiah, 375662]]

GP 1/1
Isaiah2.gif

GP Team
Done
 
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