Bibarel (Update) [QC: 0/3]

[Fuzznip]

Bibarel was such a boss Baton Pass recipient during DPP. I miss that.

R.I.P

[Overview]

• during DPP, had a great niche as one of the best Baton Pass recipients
• DW changes completely crushed all potential viability of Bibarel, as Simple doesn't double Baton Passed boosts
  
• also gained a phenomenal ability in Moody, but was swiftly banned due to how good it was
• Bibarel's generally an unfortunate case, as it boasts amazing abilities but lacks the statspread and movepool to make good use of them
• has a decent support movepool, but is so heavily outclassed that it's not worth the trouble dealing with Bibarel's countless flaws
• horrible Pokemon that only gives your opponent a good reason to laugh at you

[SET]
name: Simple Sweeper
move 1: Curse
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Simple
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

• only set Bibarel can remotely run effectively
  
• with Simple, Curse becomes both Swords Dance and Iron Defense
• Waterfall as the primary STAB of choice, hitting more things harder than Return
• classic RestTalk combo to increase longevity and not be complete setup fodder while asleep

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• max HP and SpD as Bibarel is increasing Def with Curse already, so it needs as much special bulk as possible
• Chesto Berry > Leftovers -> Quick Attack > Sleep Talk
• needs significant support to work
• dual screens from Gardevoir or Serprior
• teammates to remove the common Grass- and Water-types resistant or immune to Waterfall
• Jynx can take out Grass-types and the lesser common Dragon-types that resist Waterfall, and Piloswine packs Icicle Spear and priority Ice Shard to pick off weakened Grass- and Dragon-types as well
• Tangela and Exeggutor handle Water-types very well, and can even provide paralysis support via Stun Spore to ease setup for Bibarel; they also resist Bibarel's Water- and Electric-type weakness (Exeggutor resists Fighting too)
  
• Toxic Spikes support is also helpful so the opponent is still being hampered as Bibarel boosts up, making Garbodor or Scolipede great options to look into; they also resist Bibarel's Fighting-type weakness

[Other Options]

• defensive supporter with Unaware using Stealth Rock and Toxic/Thunder Wave/Yawn
• Work Up and Simple to act as a mixed attacker, but is awfully weak with the subpar stats
• offensive Curse set using max HP and Attack and Waterfall/Return/Quick Attack, but really hard to set up and Bibarel still hits like a wet noodle without full boosts under its belt
  
• weather support, but completely inferior to the plethora of other weather support Pokemon
• Taunt and Super Fang to break down walls, but Golbat does this significantly better and there are other more reliable wallbreakers to choose from
• Aqua Tail > Waterfall for stronger but less accurate STAB

[Counters]

• not difficult to counter Bibarel whatsoever
• any strong Electric-, Grass-, and Fighting-type attacks will completely obliterate Bibarel
• Eelektross, Exeggutor, and Sawk are some of which
• Taunt nullifies 3/4 of Bibarel's typical moveset (Mandibuzz, Samurott), and any phazer can make it start from square one (Bastiodon, Lickilicky)
  
• water immune Pokemon such as Water Absorb Seismitoad and Dry Skin Jynx instantly shut down any sweeping potential coming from Bibarel, unless it's running the uncommon Quick Attack
• Frillish stands as the perfect counter to Bibarel, being immune to both of Bibarel's STAB attacks, although it cannot do much back