Cynde
toasty
[OVERVIEW]
Kabutops is a unique suicide lead thanks to its access to Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Weak Armor, which allows it to set up its own entry hazards reliably and keep opposing entry hazards off. However, it faces competition from other suicide leads like Azelf and Aerodactyl, which can reliably prevent entry hazards from being set via Taunt and have larger offensive presences. Kabutops is an extremely one-dimensional Pokemon; all of its other potential roles are heavily outclassed by other Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Suicide Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Toxic / Knock Off
item: Focus Sash
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Jolly Nature
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides Kabutops with a way to cause chip damage to the opposing team. Rapid Spin ensures that Kabutops is always able to prevent entry hazards from being set. Rock Tomb helps Kabutops beat opposing entry hazard leads like Aerodactyl and Azelf while generally being able to lower the Speed of any foe before it faints. Toxic allows Kabutops to cripple and wear down foes, most notably entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Latias, which would otherwise be hard to do considering its strongest move is Rock Tomb. Toxic can also punish Rapid Spin-immune Pokemon like Jellicent. Knock Off is an alternative to Toxic, which also allows Kabutops to cripple the Ghost-types like Doublade and Jellicent that might attempt to stop it from clearing entry hazards and is overall a great utility move.
Set Details
========
Kabutops is given maximum Speed and Attack investment with a Jolly nature to maximize its damage output and utility. Weak Armor provides it with a +2 boost in Speed if it gets hit by a physical move, allowing it to beat opposing entry hazard leads like Aerodactyl and Azelf. Focus Sash allows Kabutops to always survive at least one hit and therefore reliably set Stealth Rock or remove entry hazards.
Usage Tips
========
Use Kabutops at the beginning of games to set up Stealth Rock immediately. Once this is accomplished, there are generally a few ways of going about things. If your opponent also sets up entry hazards, using Rapid Spin repeatedly is generally the best option. Alternatively, if the opponent doesn't set up Stealth Rock, using Toxic or Rock Tomb is the best plan; Toxic is more suitable against defensive Pokemon, while Rock Tomb is better against offensive ones.
Against opposing entry hazard leads, the game plan changes a little bit. Suppose you are playing against a faster entry hazard lead like Azelf or Aerodactyl: they are likely to use Taunt, so using Rock Tomb first is best, as this allows Kabutops to come out on top, either with its own entry hazards up or without the opponent's. You must be cautious, however, of matchups against opposing entry hazard setters that are slower than Kabutops and can either burn or poison it, as this will result in Stealth Rock being up for both teams.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers like Nidoking, Mamoswine, and Scizor are great Pokemon to take advantage of the initial pressure that Kabutops can exert with Stealth Rock, as they are able to get OHKOs and 2HKOs that they would fail to achieve otherwise. Ghost-types like Doublade and Chandelure are a good way of keeping Stealth Rock on the field. Similarly, Taunt-wielding Pokemon like Cobalion, Serperior, Nidoking, and Chandelure are capable of preventing Defog. Late-game cleaners like Mega Sharpedo, Choice Scarf Latias, and Swords Dance Scizor appreciate the opposing team getting worn down by entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Swords Dance set with Rockium Z and Swift Swim can be used on rain teams, but rain teams are very niche because of temporary weather, which renders this set rather ineffective. Aqua Jet is a possibility to get off a bit of priority damage before it faints; however, with Weak Armor,(ac) this is slightly redundant.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rapid Spin**: Pokemon like Starmie, Mega Blastoise, and Tentacruel are capable of undoing Kabutops initial early-game work.
**Defog**: Defog users like Empoleon, Serperior, and Gliscor are capable of removing Stealth Rock from the field. Kabutops can't even slow Serperior down because of its access to Contrary.
**Setup Sweepers**: Some bulky setup sweepers like Suicune do not care about anything that Kabutops can do and will freely boost against it. Those that do not care about the Speed drop like Rock Polish Cobalion and Swords Dance Doublade can also set up against it for free.
Kabutops is a unique suicide lead thanks to its access to Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Weak Armor, which allows it to set up its own entry hazards reliably and keep opposing entry hazards off. However, it faces competition from other suicide leads like Azelf and Aerodactyl, which can reliably prevent entry hazards from being set via Taunt and have larger offensive presences. Kabutops is an extremely one-dimensional Pokemon; all of its other potential roles are heavily outclassed by other Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Suicide Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Rock Tomb
move 4: Toxic / Knock Off
item: Focus Sash
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Jolly Nature
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides Kabutops with a way to cause chip damage to the opposing team. Rapid Spin ensures that Kabutops is always able to prevent entry hazards from being set. Rock Tomb helps Kabutops beat opposing entry hazard leads like Aerodactyl and Azelf while generally being able to lower the Speed of any foe before it faints. Toxic allows Kabutops to cripple and wear down foes, most notably entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Latias, which would otherwise be hard to do considering its strongest move is Rock Tomb. Toxic can also punish Rapid Spin-immune Pokemon like Jellicent. Knock Off is an alternative to Toxic, which also allows Kabutops to cripple the Ghost-types like Doublade and Jellicent that might attempt to stop it from clearing entry hazards and is overall a great utility move.
Set Details
========
Kabutops is given maximum Speed and Attack investment with a Jolly nature to maximize its damage output and utility. Weak Armor provides it with a +2 boost in Speed if it gets hit by a physical move, allowing it to beat opposing entry hazard leads like Aerodactyl and Azelf. Focus Sash allows Kabutops to always survive at least one hit and therefore reliably set Stealth Rock or remove entry hazards.
Usage Tips
========
Use Kabutops at the beginning of games to set up Stealth Rock immediately. Once this is accomplished, there are generally a few ways of going about things. If your opponent also sets up entry hazards, using Rapid Spin repeatedly is generally the best option. Alternatively, if the opponent doesn't set up Stealth Rock, using Toxic or Rock Tomb is the best plan; Toxic is more suitable against defensive Pokemon, while Rock Tomb is better against offensive ones.
Against opposing entry hazard leads, the game plan changes a little bit. Suppose you are playing against a faster entry hazard lead like Azelf or Aerodactyl: they are likely to use Taunt, so using Rock Tomb first is best, as this allows Kabutops to come out on top, either with its own entry hazards up or without the opponent's. You must be cautious, however, of matchups against opposing entry hazard setters that are slower than Kabutops and can either burn or poison it, as this will result in Stealth Rock being up for both teams.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers like Nidoking, Mamoswine, and Scizor are great Pokemon to take advantage of the initial pressure that Kabutops can exert with Stealth Rock, as they are able to get OHKOs and 2HKOs that they would fail to achieve otherwise. Ghost-types like Doublade and Chandelure are a good way of keeping Stealth Rock on the field. Similarly, Taunt-wielding Pokemon like Cobalion, Serperior, Nidoking, and Chandelure are capable of preventing Defog. Late-game cleaners like Mega Sharpedo, Choice Scarf Latias, and Swords Dance Scizor appreciate the opposing team getting worn down by entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Swords Dance set with Rockium Z and Swift Swim can be used on rain teams, but rain teams are very niche because of temporary weather, which renders this set rather ineffective. Aqua Jet is a possibility to get off a bit of priority damage before it faints; however, with Weak Armor,
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rapid Spin**: Pokemon like Starmie, Mega Blastoise, and Tentacruel are capable of undoing Kabutops initial early-game work.
**Defog**: Defog users like Empoleon, Serperior, and Gliscor are capable of removing Stealth Rock from the field. Kabutops can't even slow Serperior down because of its access to Contrary.
**Setup Sweepers**: Some bulky setup sweepers like Suicune do not care about anything that Kabutops can do and will freely boost against it. Those that do not care about the Speed drop like Rock Polish Cobalion and Swords Dance Doublade can also set up against it for free.
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