Credit to FLCL for set, credit to EBeast for EV Spread.
Acid Spray Skuntank
Skuntank (F) @ Dread Plate
Trait: Aftermath
EVs: 120 Atk / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Mild Nature (+SpA, -Def)
-
Acid Spray
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Sucker Punch
OK, guys. So at first look, this set looks totally awkward, and you must be asking yourself: ''Why should I use this over the standard set, or even the mixed set?''. The answer to this is pretty easy:
Acid Spray. This set allows Skuntank do defeat some of its counters, namely Carracosta, Metang, Alomomola, Torterra, Golem, Weezing and Misdreavus.
Acid Spray has a huge surprise effect, while retaining a lot of effectiveness. What this move does is that it harshly lowers your SpD (-2), leaving your opponent completely open to Dark Pulse and Fire Blast. Dark Pulse takes immediate advantage of this little opening, allowing you to break through even the bulkiest of physical walls. Pursuit also takes advantage of Acid Spray, as it causes a lot of switches. Sucker Punch is the last move on this set, and it's crucial as it retains what is very appealing about Skuntank, powerful priority. Even without much investment, Dread Plate still allows Skuntank to pick off Gardevoir, Drifblim, and some weakened Pokemon with Sucker Punch.
The EV spread allows you to outspeed Miltank and everything slower, have maximum Special Attack investment and the rest being dumped into Attack. Mild is chosen over Rash as Skuntank's main task is to switch into Special attackers such as Musharna and Haunter, and it allows it to tank their attacks with more ease.
Now just to show this set's effectiveness, I'll show some calcs on some of Skuntank's usual counters, which were previously mentioned in this post.
- 252+ SpA Dread Plate Skuntank Dark Pulse vs. -2 248 HP / 0 SpD Carracosta: 330-388 (94.01 - 110.54%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
- 252+ SpA Dread Plate Skuntank Dark Pulse vs. -2 252 HP / 4 SpD Alomomola: 433-511 (81.08 - 95.69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- 252SpAtk Dread Plate Skuntank (+SAtk) Fire Blast vs 252HP/0SpDef Leftovers -2 Torterra (Neutral): 112% - 132% (442 - 522 HP). Guaranteed OHKO
- 252+ SpA Dread Plate Skuntank Dark Pulse vs. -2 212 HP / 0 SpD Golem: 330-388 (93.22 - 109.6%) -- 93.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
- 252+ SpA Dread Plate Skuntank Dark Pulse vs. -2 252 HP / 0 SpD Weezing: 310-366 (92.81 - 109.58%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
- 252+ SpA Dread Plate Skuntank Dark Pulse vs. -2 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus: 356-420 (109.87 - 129.62%) -- guaranteed OHKO
- 252+ SpA Dread Plate Skuntank Dark Pulse vs. -2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Miltank: 210-247 (53.29 - 62.69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
As you can see, all of these are OHKO's, and 2HKO's at best. Also notice that Acid Spray is a damaging move, so most of these 2HKO's turn into OHKO's after Acid Spray.