Amane Misa
Bring Them Home Now!
QC Checks: A Cake Wearing A Hat & Eyan / Hilomilo / Hikari
GP Checks: marthaa / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Jellicent's primary role is a defensive spinblocker and a stallbreaker for balance and occasionally bulky offense. It has a great supportive movepool with access to Taunt, Scald, Will-O-Wisp and Hex; Will-O-Wisp is particularly useful for its ability to reliably cripple physical attackers and chip foes in general. With access to reliable recovery in Recover, Jellicent sets itself apart from other bulky Water-types in the tier, such as Suicune and Rotom-W. It also has a unique Ghost / Water typing and great bulk, allowing it to check Fighting-types, such as Cobalion and Infernape, and Fire-types, such as Darmanitan and Entei. Water Absorb allows Jellicent to pivot in on a large range of Water-type Pokemon, such as Tentacruel and Volcanion. Despite that, Jellicent's weakness to Dark leaves it with a crippling weakness to Pursuit, Knock Off, and Dark-type moves in general from Krookodile, Hydreigon, Scizor, and Mega Beedrill. In addition, the popularity of VoltTurn-based teams, combined with Jellicent's weakness to Volt Switch users, such as Rotom-W and Mega Manectric, is detrimental for it. Jellicent's Speed doesn't help it either; it is a bit slow and, as a result, is shut down by faster Taunt users, such as Mandibuzz. With investment, however, it can still outspeed and Taunt many defensive threats, such as Alomomola and Blissey.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Scald / Hex
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 176 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Jellicent's go-to move because it functions as a spammable STAB move with a chance to burn its target, which deters the majority of physical attackers from switching in. However, using Scald means that most Grass-type Pokemon, for example Mega Sceptile and Celebi, can almost always switch in on Jellicent and proceed to threaten it out with a STAB move. Hex synergizes well with Will-O-Wisp and increases Jellicent's wallbreaking capabilities. It also hits already statused Grass-type Pokemon, for example Mega Sceptile and Amoonguss, that tend to switch on it. However, forgoing Scald mean that Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Krookodile are more likely to get a safe switch on a predicted attack without fearing status and can proceed to threaten Jellicent with a Dark-type STAB move. It also makes Jellicent lose a reliable way of hitting Normal-type Pokemon. Taunt allows Jellicent to cripple slower passive Pokemon, such as Blissey, Empoleon, and Mantine. Will-O-Wisp lets Jellicent cripple physical attackers, such as Scizor, and Cobalion, and Pokemon that rely on Leftovers or Black Sludge, such as Amoonguss and Alomomola. It also eases Jellicent's matchup against Pursuit trappers, such as Krookodile and Alolan Muk. Recover is mandatory, as it lets Jellicent heal itself and continually check the Pokemon it is meant to check. Toxic is an option over Will-O-Wisp that puts Pokemon such as Blissey and Alomomola on a timer and provides an easier matchup against more defensive builds. However, this option leaves Jellicent weaker to physical attackers that may overpower it, such as Mamoswine and Terrakion, and it also takes away the option to reliably burn Steel-types, such as Scizor and Cobalion.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs and 176 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximize Jellicent's defensive capabilities and allow it to check strong physical attackers, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Infernape, and Scizor. 84 EVs in Speed allow Jellicent to outspeed Mantine, uninvested Scizor, and Alomomola and proceed to either status them or shut them down with Taunt. Water Absorb grants Jellicent a third immunity, which allows it to pivot on Water-type Pokemon, such as Mantine and Swampert more effectively. Leftovers increases Jellicent's longevity through passive recovery. Colbur Berry could be used over Leftovers, as it helps Jellicent against opposing Dark-type Pokemon that carry Knock Off and Pursuit and retaliate with a Will-O-Wisp; however, it makes Jellicent more vulnerable to VoltTurn-based teams and entry hazards in general, as it negates its passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Switch in Jellicent on physical attackers it is designed to beat, such as Scizor, Mega Aerodactyl, and Cobalion. Use Taunt against slower Pokemon that may try to beat Jellicent by crippling it with status or take advantage of it to set up hazards, such as Blissey and Alomomola. Its immunity to Water-type moves also allows Jellicent to switch in to opposing Water-types, such as Tentacruel, Alomomola, and Starmie, but you should be wary of Toxic from the former two and Thunderbolt from the latter. Take advantage of Jellicent's Ghost typing to spinblock effectively by pivoting into Rapid Spin users, such as Tentacruel and Starmie. Afterwards, afflicting the foe with status or double switching to a Pokemon that threatens out the aforementioned spinblockers are both great plays. Thanks to its naturally high Special Defense, Jellicent can switch in on weak or neutral special hits, such as defensive Sylveon's Hyper Voice and Volcanion's Earth Power. Jellicent is a huge threat to defensive teams if played correctly, as it can spam Taunt against them and continually chip slower Pokemon. Keep in mind that Jellicent's low Speed means that it often has to tank two hits when switching in. It can be worn down by Scizor and Cobalion repetitively using U-turn or Volt Switch, respectively, on Jellicent's switch-in to them, especially if Jellicent holds a Colbur Berry and not Leftovers. While it has access to reliable recovery, it is important to keep it away from status, especially Toxic, so it can continually tank hits and stallbreak without having to overly rely on healing. It also must be played around Trick users, such as Latias, that can cripple it by giving it a Choice item.
Team Options
========
Jellicent should be used on more balanced and defensive teams and some bulky offense teams. Teams that are weak to physical attackers, such as Scizor, Cobalion, and Infernape, and need spinblocking support appreciate Jellicent a lot. Entry hazards setters, such as Klefki, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, appreciate Jellicent's ability to keep their hazards up. Hippowdon deserves a special mention, as it has a great defensive synergy with Jellicent; it can beat Electric-type Pokemon, which Jellicent struggles against, and Jellicent can beat Water-type Pokemon, which Hippowdon has trouble with. Due to Jellicent's susceptibility to Pursuit trappers, such as Krookodile and Alolan Muk, Pokemon that take on those, such as Gliscor and Mega Aerodactyl, make good partners for it. Clerics and status absorbers such as Gliscor and Blissey synergize well with Jellicent, as Jellicent can be quite easily crippled by status. Jellicent works well with Toxic Spikes users, such as Tentacruel, Nidoqueen, and Nihilego, as it can take advantage of Toxic Spikes to automatically power up Hex on grounded targets. Since Jellicent will repetitively switch in on physical attackers, entry hazard removers such as Tentacruel and Latias can prevent Jellicent from taking any unnecessary residual damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dazzling Gleam with Fairium Z allows Jellicent to take less damage from Knock Off, be immune to Trick, and lure and severely damage Dark-type Pokemon, such as Hydreigon and Krookodile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types, such as Celebi, Amoonguss, Rotom-C, and Mega Sceptile pose a threat to Jellicent, as they resist Scald and can retaliate with their STAB moves. Celebi deserves a special mention, as it doesn't mind getting burned thanks to Natural Cure, although it must be wary of Hex.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types, such as Rotom-W, Mega Manectric, and Raikou threaten Jellicent with Electric-type STAB moves. The former two can take advantage of Jellicent by using Volt Switch to keep momentum, and the latter can set up either a Substitute or a Calm Mind on it. The latter two, however, don't appreciate switching in on a Scald or a boosted Hex from Jellicent.
**Residual Damage**: Jellicent hates residual damage, mainly damage from Toxic and entry hazards, as they give Jellicent a harder time checking what it is supposed to check, thus giving the opponent an easier time wearing it down.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types, such as Krookodile, Alolan Muk, and Mega Absol threaten Jellicent out and force mind games between Knock Off and Pursuit, though they can't directly switch in on Jellicent, as they fear getting burned by Will-O-Wisp or Scald. Hydreigon can come in on any of Jellicent's moves without fearing getting burned that much and launch a powerful attack, and Mega Absol can bounce back Will-O-Wisp via Magic Bounce.
**Status-resistant Attackers**: Status-resistant attackers, mainly Guts Heracross and Facade Mega Altaria, take advantage of Jellicent's status to power up their attacks.
**Fast Clerics**: Fast clerics, such as Mega Altaria and Togekiss, undo Jellicent's job of spreading status. Those two also can further take advantage of it by either setting up Dragon Dance or Nasty Plot, respectively.
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