[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 240 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm is an extremely powerful STAB move that boosts Snivy's Special Attack instead of lowering it due to Contrary, helping Snivy set up while attacking. Giga Drain is an alternate STAB move that lets Snivy safely clean up due to its 100% accuracy or slightly heal itself, although it is quite weak unboosted. Knock Off can catch and cripple bulky Pokemon switching in, such as Alolan Grimer, Vullaby, and Foongus. It can also hit certain Ghost-types decently hard, such as Gastly and Pumpkaboo-XL. Hidden Power Ground hits Magnemite extremely hard, as well as hitting Alolan Grimer, Croagunk, and Pawniard. Hidden Power Fire is an alternative to hit Grass- and Steel-types, mainly Ferroseed. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit opposing Grass- and Flying-types such as Foongus and Vullaby, but since it doesn't hit any viable Pokemon in Little Cup for 4x super effective damage and Choice Scarf Snivy can only use one move after it switches in, it can't power through very much. Hidden Power Psychic and Fighting can be used to defeat Croagunk and Pawniard, respectively, but both can be easily powered through if weakened as is. Glare can be used over Knock Off, as it is more useful for crippling offensive checks and setup sweepers, as well as being a last-ditch effort to stop sweepers.
Set Details
========
A Choice Scarf, a Timid nature, and 252 Speed EVs are used to maximize Snivy's Speed, letting it sweep even more effectively by outspeeding all unboosted Pokemon in Little Cup and even many boosted Pokemon, such as +1 Corphish, +2 Tirtouga, and all 16 Speed Choice Scarf users. However, using Hidden Power Fire leaves Snivy Speed tying with many of these threats. The rest of Snivy's EVs are put into Special Attack to help it deal maximum damage. If Snivy is using Hidden Power Fire, it cannot reach 17 Speed, so the EVs that would go there should be invested into HP instead, making Snivy's EV spread 76 HP / 240 SpA / 176 Spe. Contrary allows Snivy to utilize Leaf Storm to set up.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Snivy's main purpose is as a late-game cleaner and situational sweeper, so be sure to remove Snivy's checks before it tries to sweep or clean. Important checks include Alolan Grimer, Vullaby, Foongus, and most of all Ferroseed. Snivy isn't that strong on its own, so it should usually be using Leaf Storm. Using Knock Off or Glare when you predict troublesome Pokemon to switch in can cripple Snivy's biggest foes. Since it's relatively uncommon, Choice Scarf Snivy can bluff being a slower variant and surprise faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Chinchou and Abra that would otherwise revenge kill it. Due to Choice Scarf Snivy's recovery being limited to Giga Drain, it must be kept as healthy as possible, and it should usually only be brought on a free switch. Prediction is important with Choice Scarf Pokemon, and Snivy is no exception. Be sure to use your Hidden Power of choice when you predict Pokemon weak to it to switch in. Snivy's coverage is also quite weak, so unless trying to score some surprise damage on a switch-in, these threats should be left to its teammates to deal with. Due to this set's lack of a defensive item, it can't be switched in well on threats like Mudbray that it would otherwise be able to.
Team Options
========
U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Vullaby can help Snivy get in without taking damage. Diglett can trap and remove Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types, and certain sets can also set Stealth Rock up. Tectonic Rage Diglett paired with Knock Off users can eliminate some of Snivy's best checks, namely Foongus, Alolan Grimer, and Ponyta. Drilbur can do this as well, but since it doesn't trap these Pokemon, it has a bit less synergy. Hazard setters in general, such as Ferroseed, Dwebble, and Pawniard, can set up hazards to break Sturdy on opposing Pokemon, mainly Onix and Dwebble. Many of these Pokemon can also wear down and check Flying-types like Vullaby and Rufflet for Snivy. Doduo and Torchic can break through Grass- and Steel-types for Snivy, while Snivy in return can remove Rock- and Water-types. Checks to Flying-types such as Kabuto, Onix, and Chinchou are near essential, as Choice Scarf Flying-types like Doduo and Rufflet can revenge kill Snivy, while bulkier Flying-types like Vullaby completely wall it. Kabuto and Onix can also set Stealth Rock and Kabuto can even provide Knock Off support. Lures to Snivy's checks, such as Destiny Bond Gastly taking Vullaby with it and Superpower Cophish taking down Ferroseed, can help remove troublesome Pokemon. Knock Off support from Alolan Grimer, Mienfoo, or Pawniard can cripple defensive threats for Snivy. Abra and Gastly can help bait in and wear down Vullaby and Alolan Grimer, making them useful to Snivy. Finally, as Snivy can't function as a proper check to Ground-types, pairing it with Pumpkaboo-XL or Foongus can cover up this weakness.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 240 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm is an extremely powerful STAB move that boosts Snivy's Special Attack instead of lowering it due to Contrary, helping Snivy set up while attacking. Giga Drain is an alternate STAB move that lets Snivy safely clean up due to its 100% accuracy or slightly heal itself, although it is quite weak unboosted. Knock Off can catch and cripple bulky Pokemon switching in, such as Alolan Grimer, Vullaby, and Foongus. It can also hit certain Ghost-types decently hard, such as Gastly and Pumpkaboo-XL. Hidden Power Ground hits Magnemite extremely hard, as well as hitting Alolan Grimer, Croagunk, and Pawniard. Hidden Power Fire is an alternative to hit Grass- and Steel-types, mainly Ferroseed. Hidden Power Ice can be used to hit opposing Grass- and Flying-types such as Foongus and Vullaby, but since it doesn't hit any viable Pokemon in Little Cup for 4x super effective damage and Choice Scarf Snivy can only use one move after it switches in, it can't power through very much. Hidden Power Psychic and Fighting can be used to defeat Croagunk and Pawniard, respectively, but both can be easily powered through if weakened as is. Glare can be used over Knock Off, as it is more useful for crippling offensive checks and setup sweepers, as well as being a last-ditch effort to stop sweepers.
Set Details
========
A Choice Scarf, a Timid nature, and 252 Speed EVs are used to maximize Snivy's Speed, letting it sweep even more effectively by outspeeding all unboosted Pokemon in Little Cup and even many boosted Pokemon, such as +1 Corphish, +2 Tirtouga, and all 16 Speed Choice Scarf users. However, using Hidden Power Fire leaves Snivy Speed tying with many of these threats. The rest of Snivy's EVs are put into Special Attack to help it deal maximum damage. If Snivy is using Hidden Power Fire, it cannot reach 17 Speed, so the EVs that would go there should be invested into HP instead, making Snivy's EV spread 76 HP / 240 SpA / 176 Spe. Contrary allows Snivy to utilize Leaf Storm to set up.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Snivy's main purpose is as a late-game cleaner and situational sweeper, so be sure to remove Snivy's checks before it tries to sweep or clean. Important checks include Alolan Grimer, Vullaby, Foongus, and most of all Ferroseed. Snivy isn't that strong on its own, so it should usually be using Leaf Storm. Using Knock Off or Glare when you predict troublesome Pokemon to switch in can cripple Snivy's biggest foes. Since it's relatively uncommon, Choice Scarf Snivy can bluff being a slower variant and surprise faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Chinchou and Abra that would otherwise revenge kill it. Due to Choice Scarf Snivy's recovery being limited to Giga Drain, it must be kept as healthy as possible, and it should usually only be brought on a free switch. Prediction is important with Choice Scarf Pokemon, and Snivy is no exception. Be sure to use your Hidden Power of choice when you predict Pokemon weak to it to switch in. Snivy's coverage is also quite weak, so unless trying to score some surprise damage on a switch-in, these threats should be left to its teammates to deal with. Due to this set's lack of a defensive item, it can't be switched in well on threats like Mudbray that it would otherwise be able to.
Team Options
========
U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Vullaby can help Snivy get in without taking damage. Diglett can trap and remove Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types, and certain sets can also set Stealth Rock up. Tectonic Rage Diglett paired with Knock Off users can eliminate some of Snivy's best checks, namely Foongus, Alolan Grimer, and Ponyta. Drilbur can do this as well, but since it doesn't trap these Pokemon, it has a bit less synergy. Hazard setters in general, such as Ferroseed, Dwebble, and Pawniard, can set up hazards to break Sturdy on opposing Pokemon, mainly Onix and Dwebble. Many of these Pokemon can also wear down and check Flying-types like Vullaby and Rufflet for Snivy. Doduo and Torchic can break through Grass- and Steel-types for Snivy, while Snivy in return can remove Rock- and Water-types. Checks to Flying-types such as Kabuto, Onix, and Chinchou are near essential, as Choice Scarf Flying-types like Doduo and Rufflet can revenge kill Snivy, while bulkier Flying-types like Vullaby completely wall it. Kabuto and Onix can also set Stealth Rock and Kabuto can even provide Knock Off support. Lures to Snivy's checks, such as Destiny Bond Gastly taking Vullaby with it and Superpower Cophish taking down Ferroseed, can help remove troublesome Pokemon. Knock Off support from Alolan Grimer, Mienfoo, or Pawniard can cripple defensive threats for Snivy. Abra and Gastly can help bait in and wear down Vullaby and Alolan Grimer, making them useful to Snivy. Finally, as Snivy can't function as a proper check to Ground-types, pairing it with Pumpkaboo-XL or Foongus can cover up this weakness.
Last edited: