Overview
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[OVERVIEW]
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Chesnaught's great physical bulk allows it to shut down unprepared physical attackers such as Excadrill, Mega Lopunny, Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Terrakion. Its amazing ability Bulletproof grants it immunities to common attacks such as Shadow Ball, Gyro Ball, Focus Blast, and Sludge Bomb. Its good support movepool with Leech Seed and Spikes gives it means of supporting the team, but the biggest change to Chesnaught in ORAS has been the addition of Drain Punch. With it, Chesnaught is no longer reliant on Hammer Arm, which drops Chesnaught's Speed with its speed drops, and can sustain itself while also hitting the enemy for decent damage. On top of that, Chesnaught's naturally high physical bulk, even with no investment, and in tandem with access to STAB Drain Punch gives it the ability to be a devastating Belly Drum sweeper thanks to its ability to recover health while sweeping. However, many of the problems that Chesnaught has faced in the past have still come back to haunt it. For a start, [rc] it has a huge number of weaknesses that hinder its defensive prowess, especially to Flying the Flying-type, which is made more problematic with the prevalence of Talonflame and Mega Pinsir in the current metagame. Its poor Special Defense inhibits it even further, meaning it is weak to many common special attackers. It's also very slow, meaning it can't naturally outspeed opposing walls. It also suffers from four-moveslot syndrome, as it is limited by its [remove apostrophe] move choices. Additionally, Chesnaught faces competition from Ferrothorn as a defensive Spiker, who which boasts a better typing and defenses. Despite these drawbacks, Chesnaught still can be quite a threat under the correct circumstances.
[SET]
Physical Tank
########name: Physical Tank
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Spikes
move 4: Wood Hammer / Spiky Shield
item: Leftovers
ability: Bulletproof
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Leech Seed is Chesnaught's main form of recovery, [rc] and allows it to recover a lot of HP when used in combination with Spiky Shield, [rc] Chesnaught can recover from a great deal of damage. Drain Punch is Chesnaught's other form of sustain recovery. Backed by STAB and solid Attack, Drain Punch allows Chesnaught to can heal, [rc] itself while still dishing out damage. Spikes gives Chesnaught utility, [rc] while by punishing opposing Pokemon as they on switch in. Coupled with it's high physical bulk, [rc] Chesnaught can set up multiple layers of spikes due to its high physical bulk. A Grass-type STAB, [rc] such as Wood Hammer has an impressive Base Power of 120 and is a STAB move and can, [rc] should be used to handle common bulky Water- [hyphen], [rc] and Ground-types [unbold the hyphen in Ground-types], [rc] and water/ground types such as Azumarill, Hippowdon, Swampert, Quagsire, and Gastrodon. Wood Hammer possesses an impressive 120 BasePower Grass-type STAB move, but Alternatively, [ac] Seed Bomb can be used for it lack of recoil damage, [ac] but it is an alternative option that has less power but also does not have recoil damage. An alternative to wood hammer a Grass-type STAB would be Chesnaught's signature move, [rc] Spiky Shield could also allow. [remove period] This gives Chesnaught to recover more HP means of recovery in conjunction with Leech Seed while also enabling it to deal do chip damage, [ac] and lock Choiced Pokemon into their respective moves, [comma > period] and enable It also enables Chesnaught to better handle Gyarados, a huge boon for a defensive wall.
Set Details
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The EVs are standard for a physical tank such as Chesnaught: maximize Defense and HP to make it as physically bulky as possible. More Attack and Speed can be used for more offensive prowess, [rc] at the cost of some bulk. However, Leftovers is generally more reliable [more reliable than what? how does Leftovers relate to Attack and Speed EVs?]. Bulletproof is far superior to Overgrow, [ac] as it gives Chesnaught some helpful immunities to common attacks.
Usage Tips
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Leech Seed with its passive damage and health restoration makes Chesnaught a great tank. Set Leech Seed up on as soon as possible. Using Leech Seed on a Pokemon that cannot hurt Chesnaught very much will probably force a switch, and said switch should be capitalized on by setting up Leech Seed or laying Spikes against the switch-in. That said, Spiky Shield is still a great move that is ideal to use against Choiced foes, such as Keldeo, to scout moves and appropriately respond. If Spiky Shield is not being run, than instead use Wood Hammer to force out Pokemon such as Azumaril and Gyarados. Spikes should be used on switches that Chesnaught forces with its sheer bulk, but be wary of Defog and Rapid Spin. Instead, take advantage of these switches by using Leech Seed once more. Drain Punch should be used whenever Chesnaught can get a chance to attack, as it deals damage and gives granting Chesnaught some additional damage and health back. When facing a boosted enemy that Chesnaught can significantly damage, such as Bisharp, don't waste your time with Leech Seed or Spikes, [ac] as using them causes Chesnaught to take taking unnecessary damage; go for the KO with Drain Punch. Chesnaught hates status, so try to keep it free of these afflictions. Be wary of special attackers and don't let Chesnaught stay in for long in unfavorable situations.
Team Options
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Chansey can heal status, provide good defensive synergy, and contribute Wish support. Heatran covers all of Chesnaught's defensive weaknesses, while Chesnaught covers Heatran's weaknesses to Fire and Water. In addition, Heatran's special bulk and Chesnaught's physical bulk complement each other. Heatran can also set up Stealth Rock to weaken Flying-types and continually shuffle foes with Roar. Slowbro and Slowking work well with Chesnaught as well, and although Slowking has special bulk to complement Chesnaught's physical bulk, [rc] and has access to Dragon Tail for synergy with entry hazards. Rotom-W provides Chesnaught with some switch-in opportunities while covering its weaknesses as well; [semi] as having Rotom-W's weakness to Grass is covered by Chesnaught. Rotom-H can also fit this role for Chesnaught. Spinblockers can be valuable to Chesnaught because having its Spikes being removed by Rapid Spin would reduce its effectiveness.
[SET]
Sanic and Knuckles
########name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Seed Bomb
item: Salac Berry
ability: Overgrow / Bulletproof
item: Salac Berry
EV's: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
evs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
While it might seem outclassed by other Belly Drum users such as Azumarill at first, Chesnaught has access to STAB Drain Punch for recovery as well as reliable bulk, which allow it to be very threatening when it has set up. Chesnaught is It's also able to set up on some of the more common OU threats such as Mega Sableye, [add space] Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Breloom, Ferrothorn, Gliscor, and Gyarados. Substitute is used to help Chesnaught activate the Salac Berry and use get a Belly Drum up safely. Seed Bomb is the preferred STAB move choice here for this set, as Wood Hammer's recoil damage reduces Chesnaught's survivability. Alternatively, Chesnaught can run Rock Slide to deal with Pokemon such as Amoonguss, and Celebi, allowing Chesnaught to beat pokemon such as Talonflame, and Mega Pinsir behind a sub. Drain Punch is a phenomenal move for Chesnuaght here; the health recovery gives Chesnaught an excellent means of recovery to complement Substitute and its naturally high bulk.
Set Details
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12 HP EVs are used to ensure you hit Chesnaught hits 25% of your health to activate your Salac Berry and keep as much health as possible. The rest of the EVs [remove apostrophe] are put into Attack and then Speed for offense. Salac Berry is crucial for Chesnaught to sweep, as the Speed boost will enable Chesnaught to outpace its [remove apostrophe] foes. The ability choice comes down to preference. Overgrow is the preferred ability here, [ac] as it gives Chesnaught some extra power at low health, [rc] enough extra power to OHKO Latios with Seed Bomb when Chesnaught is at low health. However, Bulletproof allows it can be used to set up easier on Pokemon such as Gengar, Sableye, Venasaur, and other Pokemon with Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball.
Usage Tips
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Do not rush to set up Chesnaught, but instead wait until a good opportunity for it to set up appears. Switching into Pokemon that Chesnaught can counter normally will allow it Chesnaught to have an easier time setting up. Try to lock Pokemon into moves that normally wouldn't hurt Chesnaught, such as Azumarill's Aqua Jet, Excadrill and Landorus's Earthquake, etc. Setting up Substitute will allow Chesnaught to safely set up on Pokemon that can cripple it with a burn, such as Mega Sableye. If your opponent has Pokemon that can take care of Chesnaught once it has set up, eliminate them first before trying to set up. Chesnaught can still reliably take some physical hits and even heal up with Drain Punch if it needs to; feel free to do so if Chesnaught needs to switch into one of its [remove apostrophe] typical counters such as an unboosted Bisharp or Excadrill. Make sure that all the Pokemon that can take care of Chesnaught at +6 Attack such as Amoongus, Celebi, Talonflame, and Mega Pinsir are off the field, unless Chesnaught still has a Substitute up when they switch in. Once you set up, watch as Chesnaught completely obliterates the opposition. Using Drain Punch at the earliest opportunity is crucial to this set in order to restore the health lost from Belly Drum. [period] as Chesnaught's
Team Options
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Slow U-turn and Volt Switch users are crucial for Chesnaught, as they can switch it in safely and give it an a switch-in opportunity to set up. Magnezone provides a slow Volt Switch for Chesnaught and can ward off Skarmory for Chesnaught, [comma > period] while Scizor and Mega Scizor can provide a slow U-turn, Defog, and Knock Off support for Chesnaught so that it can get a great setup oppurtunity. Rotom-W also is a great Volt Switch user and is, [rc] while also being able to take care of Talonflame and Mega Pinsir, which are two Pokemon that can eliminate Chesnaught if it doesn't have a Substitute set up. Rotom-H is another great Volt Switch user capable of taking care of Amoongus and Celebi, which two Pokemon that can wall this set. Heatran can set up Stealth Rock and provide rocks for Chesnaught while also providing good synergy with for Chesnaught's typing. Defog and Rapid Spin support is also essential to Chesnaught in order for it to stay healthy as it switches in. Skarmory can set up entry hazards and also provide some hazards or Defog support for Chesnaught.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Chesnaught certainly doesn't lack in other options, but several of these are niches. Stone Edge can surprise Flying-types on the switch. Substitute on the defensive set can be used to give Chesnaught for a way to handle status, and it can be used well in combination with Spiky Shield and Leech Seed. Roar can be used for shuffling foes opponents and racking up entry hazard damage. Super Fang can whittle down Pokemon that Chesnaught can't damage with its usual deal with using it's normal STAB moves. Toxic is useful on for more stall-based teams, [ac] and Taunt is fantastic for fazing phazing and stopping setup sweepers.
Checks & and Counters
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[add blank line]**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Talonflame, Staraptor, and Mega Pinsir all threaten Chesnaught with their 4x super effective STAB moves. They do not appreciate switching into Leech Seed, however, and can be defeated by the Belly Drum set. Talonflame and Mega Pinsir do check the Belly Drum set, though however.
**Taunt**: Chesnaught still hits reasonably hard with Drain Punch; however, [ac] it can easily be shut down by faster Taunt users such as Thundurus, Mandibuzz, and Mew. Taunt prevents Chesnaught from setting up Belly Drum.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur isn't affected by Leech Seed, can shrug off Drain Punch if carrying Synthesis, and deal heavy damage to Chesnaught with Hidden Power if carrying HP Fire.
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**Fire-types**: [unbold the asterisks] Fire-types such as Charizard, Heatran, Volcarona, and Mega Camerupt all threaten Chesnaught with their respective STAB moves, though they don't appreciate Leech Seed and are destroyed by Belly Drum-boosted attacks.
**Fairy-types**: Gardevoir, Sylveon, Mega Altaria and Clefable all can take care of Chesnaught. Particularly Clefable is a good answer to Chesnaught, as its it's Magic Guard ability negates.[remove period] Leech Seed, [comma > period] and Clefable with Unaware it completely shuts down the Belly Drum set. [period > comma] and Gardevoir, Sylveon, and Mega Altaria can bypass Substitute with Hyper Voice.
**Magic Bounce users**: [colon instead of semicolon] Magic Bounce users can deflect Spikes and Leech Seed. [period] Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye in particular can deflect Spikes and Leech Seed, [rc] and can KO Chesnaught with Moonblast and cripple it with a burn, respectively. However, Diancie fears switching into a Grass-type attack, while Mega Sableye is setup fodder for the Belly Drum set, [rc] when Chesnaught is behind a Substitute.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mega Metagross, Mega Gallade, Latios, [ac] Latias the Lati Twins, Gothitelle, Slowbro, and Medicham all threaten Chesnaught with their super effective moves. Even physical ones attackers such as Gallade and Medicham can eliminate Chesnaught with enough damage. Though However, [ac] most of these Pokemon don't appreciate taking Leech Seed and Spiky Shield damage, and they can only check the Belly Drum set.
**Rapid Spin and Defog users**: Rapid Spin and Defog users Chesnaught has to worry about Defoggers such as Latias and Mandibuzz can remove from removing the Spikes [add space] that Chesnaught set up.
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**Gengar**: Gengar can set up Substitute or threaten to burn or OHKO Chesnaught, [rc] or set up a sub. Gengar is also capable of OHKOing with its with Will-O-Wisp and STAB Sludge Wave, [ac] respectively. However, Chesnaught can outspeed and OHKO Gengar at +6 while also outspeeding it.
