Swoobat [NU]

Swoobat

(Strategy written by PoisonX)

Abilities:
Unaware
Klutz
Simple

Stats:

HP: 67
Atk: 57
Def: 55
SpA: 77
SpD: 55
Spe: 114

Total: 425

Placed Tier: (NU)
Tiers In Which Usability Is Covered In This Analysis: (NU)

Type: Psychic / Flying

Swoobat has been relatively ignored since it's introduction in Gen V. However, the wonderful part about Swoobat is just how much it can do, it has a ridiculously good movepool and just the perfect stats to pull each of the sets off. However you'll find that sometimes its low defenses can hurt it, but usually this isn't a problem as Swoobat only needs a boost or two to get on its way. It's one of the fastest pokemon in NU, and thus you should be ready to combat it when the time comes.

Set Explanation:

Pretty easy set, switch Swoobat in on something that the opponent will either switch out on, or won't be able to touch it special damage wise. (Swoobat has 359 speed with the EVs listed above, you'll be able to get a calm mind boost in before most special attackers bar scarf users). The reason this set is so nice, is because Simple doubles the effectiveness of Calm Mind, so when you use Calm Mind once, you get + 2 sp atk and sp def right off the bat. Psychic is the obligatory powerful STAB move. Although as another option, you could run Stored Power if you think you can get to + 2 (aka + 4 thanks to simple) with Calm Mind, because then Stored Power will outdo Psychic damage-wise. The last two slots are entirely your choice. Air Slash is great STAB with the chance to flinch, however Heat Wave has 100 base power, a chance to burn (which is helpful against physical counters), and has good coverage. As another alternative, Hidden Power Fighting has good synergy with Psychic allowing Swoobat to hit numerous annoying Dark types for super effective damage. The last slot is basically dependent on how you want your recovery. Roost provides immediate recovery and allows Swoobat to possibly survive a Stone Edge from something, but on the other hand, Giga Drain gives it even better coverage, and allows it to attack while healing extra as well, and with Simple boosts, Giga Drain will deal quite a bit of damage to things that don't resist it either way. It should be noted that Psychic, Heat Wave and Giga Drain have great synergy with each other, allowing them to hit quite a bit of NU for super effective damage.

Set Explanation:

This set can be a real pain to take care of, and sometimes difficult to use as it requires a fair bit of prediction, but if used right, it makes Swoobat able to cripple two or more pokemon depending on how well you predict. Trick + Klutz and Flame Orb allows Swoobat to act as a faster Lopunny, which can cripple physical sweepers / physical pokemon in general. Trick can be used to continuously jumble up the items on your opponent's team and cripple numerous pokemon alone. Taunt is for obvious reasons, as Swoobat is one of the fastest users of Taunt in NU (with Sableye safely locked up in the upper tiers). Knock Off is a nice alternative to taunt, if you want a move that can simply knock off an opponent's item, if you want to safe the Flame Orb / other item for a more useful moment. Endeavor is for when you're low on health from most likely tanking a blow from a physically crippled pokemon that you tricked a Flame Orb onto. Torment is a nightmare for Spec / Banded pokemon / Slower Scarfed pokemon locked into a move. Be warned that while this set may have a nice amount of options, it's still fairly gimmicky and does require good prediction to put to full use.

Set Explanation:

A fun set that more than often people rage quit over. The reason that it can be used well on Swoobat is because thanks to its ability Unaware, it ignores the Sp Atk boost given by its confusing move Flatter, which has 100 accuracy. So the combination of Thunder Wave and Flatter is just as effective as Thunder Wave / Confuse Ray (since unfortunately Swoobat doesn't get Confuse Ray). Once you've done a good parafusion, simply spam Air Slash, which gets STAB from Swoobat and thanks to Kings Rock will flinch the opposing pokemon quite a bit. Protect is for scouting to see what move the opposing pokemon will use if it isn't parafused yet.

Set Explanation:

Swoobat is the fastest pokemon able to set up Dual Screens in NU, and this should be taken advantage of. Swoobat can set up the screens and use U-Turn once it's done to deal a quick bit of damage and go into something else that can tank an attack. The last moveslot is preference. Taunt to deal with pokemon that would set up on Swoobat while it's setting up screens, Torment to deal with Choiced pokemon, and Protect to scout to see if U-Turn is a good idea.

Set Explanation:

This is an interesting set, mainly because of what it can accomplish and how it pulls off multiple functions. Super Fang is the most notable addition to this list, as it brings the opponent's HP down by half each time it attacks. Which is very useful for dealing with pokemon who would otherwise tank Swoobat. Taunt is for dealing with pokemon that would either attempt to set up hazards / other things on Swoobat and Toxic and Roost are for stalling / healing respectively.

Set Explanation:

Possibly one of my favorite Swoobat sets that I made, simply because of the amazing combination brought to Swoobat thanks to Unaware. All you need to do is wait until one of your pokemon get KO'd by a pokemon who is sweeping, then send in Swoobat. The pokemon's attack or special attack boosts won't affect Swoobat, and Swoobat will be able to use Psych Up to copy said stat boosts, allowing Swoobat to quickly turn into a devastating sweeper. Roost is for recovery reasons. The last two slots are dependent on the nature that you pick and what sort of sweeps you want Swoobat to stop. If you want Swoobat to stop physical sweepers. Simply run a Jolly Nature with the 4 Atk EVs, then Psych Up to receive the attack boosts. Then proceed to sweep with STAB Zen Headbutt which also has a flinch chance, or if the opponent switches out, you can either Taunt to prevent further set up, or use U-Turn to heavily hit the opponent thanks to your boosted physical attack. The special side however is far more effective, mainly because of Swoobat's higher special attack and better movepool. It functions the same way as physical, except with the special set, you use Timid and add the 4 SpAtk EVs. Psych Up and sweep. However, for the attacks, you have a multitude of choices. You can run Psychic for reliable STAB damage, or you can run Stored Power, which entirely varies on how many boosts you are able to copy via Psych Up from the opponent. The last slot in this one is dependent on what you need, you can still run U-Turn, however it will barely do any damage. Taunt is still viable as well. The best two choices are Air Slash or Heat Wave, Air Slash has good STAB + a flinch chance, while Heat Wave has better coverage + burn chance. It entirely depends on what you need for coverage.

Set Explanation:

Simple set, Swoobat has decent power and wicked speed, so Psychic and Air Slash will both hit hard. Heat Wave is for coverage, the last slot depends on what you need to do. If you want a way to hit rock and ground types for super effective damage + get some recovery to help out with the life orb recoil, use Giga Drain, if you want a way to hit dark types and other psychic types super effectively + a confusion chance, run Signal Beam. If you want a chance to boost up your special attack + a move that can at least hit water and flying pokemon super effectively, run Charge Beam.

Set Explanation:

Due to there being multiple pokemon in NU that can take advantage of Rain, Swoobat is one of the fastest pokemon that can set up Rain Dance right off the bat, allowing for eight turns of carnage for Swift Swim users on your team. Rain Dance sets up the rain, Protect scouts, U-turn is for switching into a pokemon. The last set is filler, Taunt can be used to block set up and Torment can be used after a prediction to effectively allow a pokemon with Swift Swim to switch in and wreak havoc.



Counters to Swoobat (NU):

Counters: Absol and Mightyena are both Dark type pokemon with access to STAB Sucker Punch that will massacre most sets, bar parafusion with correct prediction. Shedinja can come in on multiple sets that aren't running either Heat Wave or Air Slash and proceed to set up and attack with STAB priority Shadow Sneak. Any pokemon with higher speed and naturally powerful unboosted attacks will be able to come in and decimate Swoobat, a lot of Choice Scarf users have an advantage over Swoobat as well, although Swoobat can naturally outspeed some of its Scarf counters. (Notably Crawdaunt in certain cases).