[OVERVIEW]
As Chatot possesses STAB Boomburst, one of the most powerful moves in the game, it should come as no surprise that it is a fearsome wallbreaker in ZU. It also has a decent Speed tier that allows it to be a very good anti-offense Pokemon, as it is able to outspeed some of the fastest staples of the metagame like Floatzel, Zebstrika, and Rapidash when equipped with a Choice Scarf. Good coverage moves like Heat Wave and Hidden Power Fighting allow Chatot to hit the Steel-types that are resistant to Boomburst. A lack of viable Ghost-types in the metagame outside of Gourgeist-XL, which cannot switch into Chatot for obvious reasons, allows Chatot to freely spam Boomburst. Access to U-turn allows Chatot to keep up momentum for its team. Access to Encore also allows Chatot to function well in another role as a setup sweeper. While Chatot has a good Speed tier, however, it still fails to outpace common Pokemon like Electivire and Silvally formes when not holding a Choice Scarf. Electivire is one of the most common Choice Scarf users in the metagame, which hinders Chatot greatly. In addition, Chatot's numerous weaknesses and low bulk heavily limit its effectiveness in an offensive metagame, as it is easy to force out.
[SET]
name: Choice Attacker
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Chatter / Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Water
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Boomburst is Chatot's most powerful move and should almost always be clicked except when Chatot needs to hit a foe resistant to it with an appropriate coverage move or when it needs to gain momentum with U-turn. Chatter is a secondary STAB move that has the added effect of confusing the opposing Pokemon. It is also Chatot's most effective option for hitting Gourgeist-XL. Hidden Power Ground is used to hit Probopass and Alolan Golem. Alternatively, Hidden Power Water secures the 2HKO on Golem and still hits Probopass super effectively, even if the damage output is only limited to doing decent chip damage. Heat Wave hits Pokemon like Bronzor, Pawniard, and Gourgeist-XL that resist Boomburst. It also has a chance to OHKO Mawile even without a boost from Choice Specs. U-turn is great for creating momentum, given Chatot's high Speed. It allows Chatot to pivot out of its switch-ins and have its teammates apply pressure to them.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf allows Chatot to function as a great revenge killer against offensive teams, while Choice Specs lets Chatot function as a wallbreaker. When equipped with Choice Specs, Chatot is able to 2HKO even the bulkiest of special walls with Boomburst, such as Muk, Lickilicky, and Assault Vest Komala. It is also able to 2HKO many Normal-type switch-ins, such as offensive Golem and Mawile. Chatot's abilities are mostly useless; Tangled Feet may save it against an opposing Chatot with Chatter. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Chatot to always outspeed unboosted Pokemon like Mr. Mime, Pinsir, Rotom-S, and Vigoroth.
Usage Tips
========
Chatot should predict switch-ins such as Golem, Mawile, Dusclops with the appropriate coverage move or U-turn into a teammate so that it can more easily spam Boomburst later. While Chatot should spam Boomburst, it becomes more prediction reliant when using a Choice Scarf because unlike with Choice Specs, it typically cannot muscle past Normal-type resists with Boomburst. When using a Choice Scarf, Chatot should be used to revenge kill offensive Pokemon, like Floatzel and Zebstrika, rather than to wallbreak as Choice Specs would. It can also be used as an effective late-game cleaner. In addition, Chatot is able to bluff sets depending on the situation, so bluffing a Choice Scarf to force the foe out and heavily damaging or KOing an incoming switch-in can be useful at times. When facing a Grass-type, Boomburst will still do more damage than a super effective Chatter or Heat Wave, except against Gourgeist-XL. Chatot has absolutely no defensive value outside of switching into Ghost- and Ground-type attacks, so try not to bring it in directly into an attack.
Team Options
========
Whether Chatot is using a Choice Scarf or a Choice Specs, its teammates remain largely the same. Chatot loves a slow Volt Switch, Parting Shot, or U-turn to help it get in safely, so common users of these moves like Silvally formes, Komala, and Probopass are fantastic teammates. Probopass is a particularly amazing teammate, as it can trap Steel-types like Metang and opposing Probopass, which allows Chatot to spam Boomburst more effectively. Chatot is weak to Stealth Rock, so Pokemon like Sandslash, Swanna, and many Silvally formes are excellent teammates, since they can remove entry hazards for it. Additionally, Chatot appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon like Golem, Bronzor, Probopass, and Crustle, as it can help Chatot wear down the opponent's team and more easily achieve KOs.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Boomburst
move 3: Encore
move 4: Heat Wave
item: Normalium Z
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot allows Chatot to become a powerful setup sweeper with an incredibly powerful STAB Boomburst. Encore can be used to take advantage of more passive Pokemon like Altaria and Pyukumuku and setup sweepers like Muk and Vigoroth. It also helps Chatot function as a stallbreaker. Chatter can be used instead of Encore as a secondary coverage move that is boosted by STAB, but Encore should be used if Chatot wants an option to boost its Speed or set up on more passive teams. Heat Wave is used to hit the Steel-types that resist Boomburst and Chatter, and it can nearly OHKO defensive Metang at +2.
Set Details
========
Normalium Z turns Boomburst into an incredibly powerful 200-Base Power STAB Breakneck Blitz. Alternatively, when used with Encore, it boosts Chatot's Speed by one stage, giving it an easier time cleaning up. Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Chatot to hit as hard as possible while being able to outspeed Pokemon like Pinsir and Bellossom.
Usage Tips
========
Chatot should aim to set up on passive Pokemon that can't do anything to it, such as a Pokemon Choice-locked into a Ghost- or Ground-type move. Gourgeist-XL cannot do much damage to Chatot and makes for good setup fodder. Chatot can also use Encore to lock the foe into a healing or setup move and proceed to set up with Nasty Plot for free. Chatot should not set up until its checks are sufficiently weakened, nor should it use its Z-Move too early, as using Boomburst at +2 will KO most foes anyway. The Z-Move is generally used to break through Normal-type switch-ins after a Nasty Plot boost. +2 Breakneck Blitz should be used to break through Lickilicky to prevent it from using Toxic on Chatot or to bypass Soundproof Pokemon like Mr. Mime. Z-Encore should be used when Chatot wants to sweep through frailer teams, while Breakneck Blitz works best against bulkier teams that need to be broken through.
Team Options
========
Chatot appreciates Pokemon that can weaken and wear down Steel-types, so Pokemon like Electivire and Probopass are great teammates. Chatot has a lot of difficulty breaking through Rock- and Steel-types that resist its STAB moves, so strong Fighting-types like Silvally-Fighting and Combusken and Ground-types like Sandslash and Silvally-Ground can help ease some of these matchups. Water-types like Floatzel and Silvally-Water and Grass-types like Leafeon and can also wear down the Rock-type Pokemon that check Chatot. Pivoting support from Pokemon like Komala, Alolan Golem, and Probopass can help bring Chatot into battle more safely. Entry hazard support from Stealth Rock setters like Golem and Pinsir can help Chatot sweep more easily and secure KOs. Komala and Silvally-Fighting invite Gourgeist-XL in and use U-turn to bring in Chatot so it can use Gourgeist-XL as setup fodder. Electric-type checks, such as Gourgeist-XL, Sandslash, and Golem, are appreciated to prevent Chatot from being revenge killed easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A stallbreaking set using Boomburst / Taunt / Toxic / Roost can be used, but it is generally not advised due to Chatot's minimal bulk and the fact that there are better and faster stallbreakers like Oricorio-F and Simipour. Substitute can help ease prediction on the Nasty Plot set but is often outclassed by another coverage or support move. Additionally, an Agility set can be used to outspeed Choice Scarf users such as Electivire and Silvally that a +1 Chatot cannot, but Z-Encore usually provides more utility, since it has use in more matchups.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Probopass and Alolan Golem**: Probopass is easily Chatot's best check with its high Special Defense, a 4x resistance to both Chatter and Boomburst, and a neutrality to Heat Wave, but it needs to be careful of taking a Choice Specs-boosted Hidden Power Ground. Alolan Golem is a similarly good check, resisting Chatot's STAB attacks and easily OHKOing it in return. However, Alolan Golem should be wary of Hidden Power Ground.
**Specially Defensive Normal-type Switch-ins**: Pokemon like specially defensive Golem and Bronzor resist Boomburst and can come in on Chatot's attacks, but they fear some of Chatot's coverage moves. Dusclops can also counter Choice Specs Chatot, but it can be taken advantage of by Z-Encore if it's not careful.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon like Choice Scarf Electivire and Choice Scarf Silvally can outspeed Chatot and OHKO it with their attacks. Other Pokemon such as Floatzel, Zebstrika, and Rapidash can outspeed and OHKO unboosted Chatot.
**Soundproof Pokemon**: Pokemon with the ability Soundproof such as Mr. Mime, Hakamo-o, and some Bouffalant variants completely wall Chatot, as Chatot does almost all its damage through sound-based moves. However, Breakneck Blitz threatens to OHKO these Pokemon after a Nasty Plot.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[DurzaOffTopic, 357488], [5gen, 296755]]
- Quality checked by: [[Xayah, 167012], [jklioe, 424692], [Bloodace0107, 435539]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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