Aaronboyer
Something Worth Fighting For
uploaded -zard
QC: Mooglezard / LittleCupSkitty / An Apology of the Allstar type
GP: TDPJ / FierFlaem
[OVERVIEW]
There are two huge advantages of using Ninetales over other Fire-types: its ability to beat typical Fire-type checks such as Gastrodon without having to resort to Hidden Power and its access to a boosting move in Nasty Plot. Although Ninetales's decent base 81 Special Attack and fantastic base 100 Speed may convince someone otherwise, Ninetales is a subpar Fire-type choice that can be hard to justify using over Pyroar, which has a higher base Special Attack and Speed as well as a secondary STAB type. Ninetales's Special Attack leaves a lot to be desired, meaning it needs a Nasty Plot boost to break through teams, which can also be difficult setting up at times with opposing Pokemon taking advantage of its low base Defense. Lastly, Ninetales's vulnerability to Stealth Rock and residual Life Orb damage also mean it's worn down very easily, especially when it's required to set up a Nasty Plot to actually do meaningful damage.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Psyshock
item: Firium Z / Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Ninetales's Special Attack by two stages and allows it to sweep opposing teams late-game after all of its checks have been removed or crippled. It also helps Ninetales break through bulkier Pokemon such as Mesprit and Aurorus. Fire Blast is Ninetales's strongest reliable STAB move, dealing solid neutral damage against top-tier threats such as Mesprit and Skuntank and hitting Pokemon such as Lilligant and Pinsir super effectively. Energy Ball nails the Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types trying to eliminate Ninetales, such as Lanturn, Gastrodon, and Regirock. Psyshock hits specially defensive Pokemon like Clefairy while also hitting Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature lets Ninetales reach the 328 benchmark, outpacing common threats like all of the Silvally formes, Jynx, and Haunter while hitting as hard as possible. Firium Z focuses on getting one huge hit onto a foe such as the potential OHKO after Stealth Rock on Type: Null at +4, while Life Orb focuses on dealing consistent damage throughout the match at the cost of taking recoil. Flash Fire is Ninetales's only legal ability and gives it an immunity to Fire-type attacks, making it a decent check to Choice-locked Pyroar and Hidden Power Fire variants of Lilligant. Grassium Z can also be utilized and allows Ninetales to more easily break certain bulky Fire-resistant threats such as Regirock and Lanturn.
Usage Tips
========
Ninetales should try not to be brought in until mid- to late-game so it can attempt to sweep with Nasty Plot. If it does come in, however, it's important to determine if Ninetales can set up Nasty Plot safely. Ninetales should try to boost against more passive foes such as Clefairy, Audino, and Sableye. Sets utilizing Firium Z should be careful to not use the Z-Move so quickly. Burning it out early on can neuter Ninetales's chances of sweeping late-game. Choice Scarf users such as Primeape, Mesprit, and Oricorio-G can all revenge kill Ninetales, so waiting until the opposing team's Choice Scarf user is eliminated or crippled gives Ninetales the best opportunity to sweep. Ninetales should be brought in mid- to late-game once specially defensive walls such as Type: Null and Lanturn are crippled or have fainted. Because it struggles to set up with Nasty Plot multiple times a game, Ninetales should only be brought in with a slow pivot, after a teammate has fainted, or by forcing double switches, thus conserving its HP.
Team Options
========
Ninetales appreciates having entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Swanna and Silvally-Fairy, especially if it's a Life Orb variant, as Ninetales doesn't want to become worn down too quickly. Hazard setters like Ferroseed and Regirock have fantastic type synergy with Ninetales and can set up entry hazards for Ninetales so it can more easily clean up late-game. Pokemon such as Lilligant and Pinsir appreciate the Fire-type immunity Ninetales provides with its ability Flash Fire. In return, Lilligant checks bulky Water- and Rock-types such as Lanturn and Aurorus, while Pinsir breaks down specially defensive walls such as Type: Null and Carbink. Water-resistant and -immune teammates such as Lanturn and Gastrodon can help Ninetales clean up with Energy Ball later. Having answers to the more common Choice Scarf users like Primeape and Togedemaru is appreciated, since Ninetales cannot clean up late-game if they are still present. Such answers include defensive Mesprit and Gurdurr. Priority moves from the likes of Skuntank and Kangaskhan in tandem with entry hazards can also help wear Choice Scarf users down over the course of the battle. Physical wallbreakers such as Pinsir and Aggron help break down specially defensive walls such as Audino, Type: Null, and Clefairy so Ninetales doesn't have to set up to +4 or +6 to overcome them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute helps Ninetales set up Nasty Plot against more passive Pokemon such as Audino and Sableye and makes it harder to revenge kill, but Ninetales can have difficulty finding room for it and is left vulnerable to opposing Fire- and Dragon-types, since Substitute would be replacing Psyshock. Ninetales also doesn't appreciate the 25% health it loses each time it uses Substitute, which may prematurely end a sweep if also using Life Orb. Calm Mind boosts both its Special Attack and Special Defense simultaneously but is outclassed by Nasty Plot because Ninetales wants the power output over having increased Special Defense. Leftovers regains health passively, but Ninetales's fairly poor base 81 Special Attack misses out on the option of nuking a foe with Firium Z and the power boost Life Orb provides. Toxic chips away at Ninetales's defensive checks, but most of them, like Audino, Carbink, and Type: Null, can cure their own status. A Z-Sunny Day set with Fire Blast, Solar Beam, and Nasty Plot can be run but also leaves Ninetales open for Fire- and Dragon-type switch-ins. Ninetales also struggles to set up both Sunny Day and Nasty Plot. Hidden Power Ice can be used over Psyshock and nails Dragon-types that resist Ninetales's main two attacking options in Fire Blast and Energy Ball but misses out on hitting Fire-types such as Pyroar and Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-resistant foes**: Pokemon such as Silvally-Dragon, Drampa, Pyroar, and Munchlax resist Ninetales's Fire-type STAB attacks and only really fear a boosted Psyshock. In return, these Pokemon can severely cripple, outright KO, or set up on Ninetales.
**Chip Damage**: Ninetales is susceptible to all forms of entry hazards including the ubiquitous Stealth Rock. This chip damage puts Ninetales in danger of being revenge killed by means of priority, especially an Accelerock or Aqua Jet from the likes of Lycanroc and Carracosta. Ninetales also puts itself at higher risk of being revenge killed when it utilizes a Life Orb.
**Faster Pokemon**: Although they cannot directly switch in, faster Pokemon such as Floatzel, Lycanroc, and Choice Scarf Primeape can all outspeed Ninetales and revenge kill it with their super effective attacks.
QC: Mooglezard / LittleCupSkitty / An Apology of the Allstar type
GP: TDPJ / FierFlaem
[OVERVIEW]
There are two huge advantages of using Ninetales over other Fire-types: its ability to beat typical Fire-type checks such as Gastrodon without having to resort to Hidden Power and its access to a boosting move in Nasty Plot. Although Ninetales's decent base 81 Special Attack and fantastic base 100 Speed may convince someone otherwise, Ninetales is a subpar Fire-type choice that can be hard to justify using over Pyroar, which has a higher base Special Attack and Speed as well as a secondary STAB type. Ninetales's Special Attack leaves a lot to be desired, meaning it needs a Nasty Plot boost to break through teams, which can also be difficult setting up at times with opposing Pokemon taking advantage of its low base Defense. Lastly, Ninetales's vulnerability to Stealth Rock and residual Life Orb damage also mean it's worn down very easily, especially when it's required to set up a Nasty Plot to actually do meaningful damage.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Psyshock
item: Firium Z / Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Ninetales's Special Attack by two stages and allows it to sweep opposing teams late-game after all of its checks have been removed or crippled. It also helps Ninetales break through bulkier Pokemon such as Mesprit and Aurorus. Fire Blast is Ninetales's strongest reliable STAB move, dealing solid neutral damage against top-tier threats such as Mesprit and Skuntank and hitting Pokemon such as Lilligant and Pinsir super effectively. Energy Ball nails the Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types trying to eliminate Ninetales, such as Lanturn, Gastrodon, and Regirock. Psyshock hits specially defensive Pokemon like Clefairy while also hitting Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature lets Ninetales reach the 328 benchmark, outpacing common threats like all of the Silvally formes, Jynx, and Haunter while hitting as hard as possible. Firium Z focuses on getting one huge hit onto a foe such as the potential OHKO after Stealth Rock on Type: Null at +4, while Life Orb focuses on dealing consistent damage throughout the match at the cost of taking recoil. Flash Fire is Ninetales's only legal ability and gives it an immunity to Fire-type attacks, making it a decent check to Choice-locked Pyroar and Hidden Power Fire variants of Lilligant. Grassium Z can also be utilized and allows Ninetales to more easily break certain bulky Fire-resistant threats such as Regirock and Lanturn.
Usage Tips
========
Ninetales should try not to be brought in until mid- to late-game so it can attempt to sweep with Nasty Plot. If it does come in, however, it's important to determine if Ninetales can set up Nasty Plot safely. Ninetales should try to boost against more passive foes such as Clefairy, Audino, and Sableye. Sets utilizing Firium Z should be careful to not use the Z-Move so quickly. Burning it out early on can neuter Ninetales's chances of sweeping late-game. Choice Scarf users such as Primeape, Mesprit, and Oricorio-G can all revenge kill Ninetales, so waiting until the opposing team's Choice Scarf user is eliminated or crippled gives Ninetales the best opportunity to sweep. Ninetales should be brought in mid- to late-game once specially defensive walls such as Type: Null and Lanturn are crippled or have fainted. Because it struggles to set up with Nasty Plot multiple times a game, Ninetales should only be brought in with a slow pivot, after a teammate has fainted, or by forcing double switches, thus conserving its HP.
Team Options
========
Ninetales appreciates having entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Swanna and Silvally-Fairy, especially if it's a Life Orb variant, as Ninetales doesn't want to become worn down too quickly. Hazard setters like Ferroseed and Regirock have fantastic type synergy with Ninetales and can set up entry hazards for Ninetales so it can more easily clean up late-game. Pokemon such as Lilligant and Pinsir appreciate the Fire-type immunity Ninetales provides with its ability Flash Fire. In return, Lilligant checks bulky Water- and Rock-types such as Lanturn and Aurorus, while Pinsir breaks down specially defensive walls such as Type: Null and Carbink. Water-resistant and -immune teammates such as Lanturn and Gastrodon can help Ninetales clean up with Energy Ball later. Having answers to the more common Choice Scarf users like Primeape and Togedemaru is appreciated, since Ninetales cannot clean up late-game if they are still present. Such answers include defensive Mesprit and Gurdurr. Priority moves from the likes of Skuntank and Kangaskhan in tandem with entry hazards can also help wear Choice Scarf users down over the course of the battle. Physical wallbreakers such as Pinsir and Aggron help break down specially defensive walls such as Audino, Type: Null, and Clefairy so Ninetales doesn't have to set up to +4 or +6 to overcome them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute helps Ninetales set up Nasty Plot against more passive Pokemon such as Audino and Sableye and makes it harder to revenge kill, but Ninetales can have difficulty finding room for it and is left vulnerable to opposing Fire- and Dragon-types, since Substitute would be replacing Psyshock. Ninetales also doesn't appreciate the 25% health it loses each time it uses Substitute, which may prematurely end a sweep if also using Life Orb. Calm Mind boosts both its Special Attack and Special Defense simultaneously but is outclassed by Nasty Plot because Ninetales wants the power output over having increased Special Defense. Leftovers regains health passively, but Ninetales's fairly poor base 81 Special Attack misses out on the option of nuking a foe with Firium Z and the power boost Life Orb provides. Toxic chips away at Ninetales's defensive checks, but most of them, like Audino, Carbink, and Type: Null, can cure their own status. A Z-Sunny Day set with Fire Blast, Solar Beam, and Nasty Plot can be run but also leaves Ninetales open for Fire- and Dragon-type switch-ins. Ninetales also struggles to set up both Sunny Day and Nasty Plot. Hidden Power Ice can be used over Psyshock and nails Dragon-types that resist Ninetales's main two attacking options in Fire Blast and Energy Ball but misses out on hitting Fire-types such as Pyroar and Fighting-types such as Hitmonchan.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-resistant foes**: Pokemon such as Silvally-Dragon, Drampa, Pyroar, and Munchlax resist Ninetales's Fire-type STAB attacks and only really fear a boosted Psyshock. In return, these Pokemon can severely cripple, outright KO, or set up on Ninetales.
**Chip Damage**: Ninetales is susceptible to all forms of entry hazards including the ubiquitous Stealth Rock. This chip damage puts Ninetales in danger of being revenge killed by means of priority, especially an Accelerock or Aqua Jet from the likes of Lycanroc and Carracosta. Ninetales also puts itself at higher risk of being revenge killed when it utilizes a Life Orb.
**Faster Pokemon**: Although they cannot directly switch in, faster Pokemon such as Floatzel, Lycanroc, and Choice Scarf Primeape can all outspeed Ninetales and revenge kill it with their super effective attacks.
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