Smeargle
Type: Normal
Stats: 55 | 20 | 35 | 20 | 45 | 75
Abilities: Own Tempo
Introduction
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Sets
Dragon Dance Pass
Smeargle @ Lum Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 96 HP / 120 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Dragon Dance
- Baton Pass
- Whirlwind / Protect / Substitute / Encore / Destiny Bond / Will-O-Wisp / Extreme Speed
Set Details
Spore guarantees sleep against any slower opponent, helping Smeargle to safely set up with Dragon Dance and use Baton Pass to give the Attack and Speed boost to a teammate. Smeargle can any move it wants in its 4th slot providing it with a number of useful options. Whirlwind counters attempts to phaze away Smeargle's boosts. Protect scouts the opponent's moves and eases prediction against Choice Band users. Substitute functions similarly while also providing protection from status with the trade off of taking 1/4 of Smeargle's HP, requiring a prior Dragon Dance boost to work against Pokemon with 274 or more Speed and failing to protect Smeargle from priority. Encore can lock an opposing Pokemon into a move that doesn't threaten Smeargle, helping Smeargle find more opportunities to safely set up Dragon Dance after Spore can't be used again. Instead of passing boosts, Destiny Bond can be used to trade Smeargle for an offensive threat. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers with a burn, allowing Smeargle to survive almost any physical attack and make Baton Pass safer for the recipient. Extreme Speed lacks strength even with full Attack investment boosted by Dragon Dance, but it provides some defensive utility by checking Reversal and Flail users as their setup leaves them vulnerable to any priority.
Spikes
Smeargle @ Lum Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 96 HP / 120 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Spikes
- [Destiny Bond / Memento for suicide lead]
- [Encore and other support moves]
Set Details
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Belly Drum
Smeargle @ Salac Berry / Silk Scarf
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 100 HP / 116 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Substitute / Extreme Speed
- Belly Drum
- Baton Pass / Explosion
Set Details
Smeargle has two primary ways to use Belly Drum. The first and most scariest is to use Spore, Substitute, Belly Drum which then activates the Salac Berry, and then Baton Pass to give +6 Attack and +1 Speed to a teammate, which if successful often results in a complete sweep of the opponent's team. The second is to attempt a sweep with Extreme Speed after weakening the opposing team or using +6 Explosion to eliminate virtually anything but Ghost-type Pokemon.
Other Options
Smeargle is one of only two Pokemon with Tail Glow, which gives a +2 SpA boost that it can pass to a strong special attacker. Transform with full HP EV investment can be used to turn Smeargle into an opponent's Pokemon, scouting their moveset and ideally providing Smeargle with the means to contribute offensively. Mirror Coat can be used with SpD investment to survive and punish special attacks, such as those from Houndoom. Super Fang cuts the opponent's current HP in half softening them for teammates, however Smeargle's low bulk makes it difficult to survive incoming attacks to make it worth while over Destiny Bond. Thunder Wave can be used to support the team with paralysis. Stun Spore and Glare are less accurate alternatives to Thunder Wave that can paralyze Ground-types. Trick with Choice Band or Macho Brace can potentially cripple a switch in expecting Spore with being choice locked or halved speed respectively. Aeroblast with 60 Attack EVs can be used to 2HKO Breloom, but is practically useless outside this specific use. Rapid Spin for hazard clearing is technically usable, however Smeargle's low bulk limits its effectiveness. Smeargle's stats are far too low to utilize almost any other move that isn't listed.
Checks and Counters
[Sleep Talk, Houndoom, Phazing, ...] Ghost-types completely shut down the Endeavor and Extreme Speed + Explosion Belly Drum sets thanks to their immunity to Normal-type attacks.
Type: Normal
Stats: 55 | 20 | 35 | 20 | 45 | 75
Abilities: Own Tempo
Introduction
.
Sets
Dragon Dance Pass
Smeargle @ Lum Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 96 HP / 120 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Dragon Dance
- Baton Pass
- Whirlwind / Protect / Substitute / Encore / Destiny Bond / Will-O-Wisp / Extreme Speed
Set Details
Spore guarantees sleep against any slower opponent, helping Smeargle to safely set up with Dragon Dance and use Baton Pass to give the Attack and Speed boost to a teammate. Smeargle can any move it wants in its 4th slot providing it with a number of useful options. Whirlwind counters attempts to phaze away Smeargle's boosts. Protect scouts the opponent's moves and eases prediction against Choice Band users. Substitute functions similarly while also providing protection from status with the trade off of taking 1/4 of Smeargle's HP, requiring a prior Dragon Dance boost to work against Pokemon with 274 or more Speed and failing to protect Smeargle from priority. Encore can lock an opposing Pokemon into a move that doesn't threaten Smeargle, helping Smeargle find more opportunities to safely set up Dragon Dance after Spore can't be used again. Instead of passing boosts, Destiny Bond can be used to trade Smeargle for an offensive threat. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers with a burn, allowing Smeargle to survive almost any physical attack and make Baton Pass safer for the recipient. Extreme Speed lacks strength even with full Attack investment boosted by Dragon Dance, but it provides some defensive utility by checking Reversal and Flail users as their setup leaves them vulnerable to any priority.
Spikes
Smeargle @ Lum Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 96 HP / 120 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Spikes
- [Destiny Bond / Memento for suicide lead]
- [Encore and other support moves]
Set Details
.
Belly Drum
Smeargle @ Salac Berry / Silk Scarf
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 100 HP / 116 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Substitute / Extreme Speed
- Belly Drum
- Baton Pass / Explosion
Set Details
Smeargle has two primary ways to use Belly Drum. The first and most scariest is to use Spore, Substitute, Belly Drum which then activates the Salac Berry, and then Baton Pass to give +6 Attack and +1 Speed to a teammate, which if successful often results in a complete sweep of the opponent's team. The second is to attempt a sweep with Extreme Speed after weakening the opposing team or using +6 Explosion to eliminate virtually anything but Ghost-type Pokemon.
Other Options
Smeargle is one of only two Pokemon with Tail Glow, which gives a +2 SpA boost that it can pass to a strong special attacker. Transform with full HP EV investment can be used to turn Smeargle into an opponent's Pokemon, scouting their moveset and ideally providing Smeargle with the means to contribute offensively. Mirror Coat can be used with SpD investment to survive and punish special attacks, such as those from Houndoom. Super Fang cuts the opponent's current HP in half softening them for teammates, however Smeargle's low bulk makes it difficult to survive incoming attacks to make it worth while over Destiny Bond. Thunder Wave can be used to support the team with paralysis. Stun Spore and Glare are less accurate alternatives to Thunder Wave that can paralyze Ground-types. Trick with Choice Band or Macho Brace can potentially cripple a switch in expecting Spore with being choice locked or halved speed respectively. Aeroblast with 60 Attack EVs can be used to 2HKO Breloom, but is practically useless outside this specific use. Rapid Spin for hazard clearing is technically usable, however Smeargle's low bulk limits its effectiveness. Smeargle's stats are far too low to utilize almost any other move that isn't listed.
Checks and Counters
[Sleep Talk, Houndoom, Phazing, ...] Ghost-types completely shut down the Endeavor and Extreme Speed + Explosion Belly Drum sets thanks to their immunity to Normal-type attacks.
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