[AG] Sableye [QC 2/3] written

MZ

And now for something completely different
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QC 2/3, GP 0/1

Overview

Mega Sableye's unique as a Magic Bouncer with actually usable defensive stats allows it to excel on stall teams as an answer to many top tier threats. Magic Bounce both allows Sableye to support Stealth Rock weak teammates such as Lugia and shut down many Pokemon reliant on status moves such as Ferrothorn. Meanwhile, its excellent physical bulk allows Sableye to take on common threats such as Zygarde and Extreme Killer Arceus effectively. However, its typing and only average Special Defense can leave it pressured by most strong special attackers like Yveltal and common Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus Fairy. Sableye is also fairly ineffective outside of stall teams, which limits its presence in the metagame.

[Standard Support]
Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Fake Out / Protect
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover

Set Comments

Moves

Both Fake Out and Protect allow Sableye to safely Mega Evolve for improved bulk and Magic Bounce even versus foes that would normally force it out. Fake Out has marginal offensive utility in breaking Focus Sash and being effective in conjunction with Burn or Poison while Protect allows Sableye to consistently stall a turn even when facing Ghost-types or under Psychic Terrain. Foul Play is Sableye's best attack to discourage physical setup and threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types, while Will-O-Wisp keeps physical attackers even more in check. Recover is mandatory for keeping Sableye healthy.

Set Details

248 HP, maximum defense investment and an Impish nature make Sableye as physically bulky as possible, while the HP investment is slightly reduced to take less damage from entry hazards and status. Prankster can be useful pre-mega for an emergency priority Will-O-Wisp.

Usage Tips

Get Sableye Mega Evolved as quickly as possible, as the massive bulk increase is vital for being able to switch into most every offensive threat. Having Magic Bounce available as early as possible also forces opponents to think twice before using many status moves. Although Sableye does want to reflect back entry hazards if possible, many setters such as Primal Groudon or Fairy Arceus can deal significant damage to Sableye if they predict it switching in. Also be aware that Lead Excadrill can set entry hazards through Magic Bounce, making Sableye an ineffective stop. Sableye needs to be kept healthy in order to take on foes such as Extreme Killer Arceus, so use Recover frequently. Strong wallbreakers such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-Oh can break through or significantly cripple Mega Sableye, so pick and choose the threats it is being used to beat.

Team Options

Sableye fits exclusively on stall teams, so most of its teammates will be defensive staples such as Lugia and defensive Arceus formes. The majority of the Flying-types, such as Ho-oh, Yvetal, and Lugia, appreciates Sableye's ability to keep Stealth Rock away which would take significant portion of their health on switch-in otherwise. Fairy checks such as Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn are required to support Mega Sableye. Chansey is also notable for its ability to remove status in case Sableye is crippled by moves such as Sacred Fire. Specially bulky Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and the aforementioned Chansey help take on strong special attackers that can break through Sableye. Extra checks to Mega Rayquaza such as Arceus-Rock and Lugia are useful since Sableye can be a shaky check to certain variants such as Life Orb mixed. Sableye appreciates partners that can remove hazards, as it can have difficulties with being worn down thanks to a lack of any passive recovery if any hazard setters manage to get past Magic Bounce.

Other Options

Knock Off can be used to annoy some switch-ins for Sableye such as Xerneas, but so many Pokemon are immune to its effects and it's much weaker vs most attackers so it's generally outclassed by Foul Play. Toxic is another status move that better cripples support Arceus formes and Fire-types, but prevents Sableye from threatening many strong physical attackers as effectively. Metal Burst and Counter can surprise the usual checks for Sableye, but both are unreliable and incompatible with Prankster. Taunt is a niche option to catch support Arceus-formes and certain leads off guard but Sableye has a hard time fitting Taunt into its moveset.

Checks and Counters

**Fairy-types**: Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Magearna can easily KO Sableye and are only minimally annoyed by Foul Play or Will-O-Wisp. Clefable can also force Sableye out and set Stealth Rock or heal any burns Sableye causes with Aromatherapy.

**Special Attackers**: Most special attackers such as Yveltal and Primal Kyogre can come in on Will-O-Wisp or Foul Play with ease and threaten to 1-2HKO Sableye with their STAB attacks. However, they can be worn down over time by burn damage and Stealth Rock.

**Calm Mind Arceus Formes**: Sableye can be used as setup fodder by Calm Mind Arceus Ground, Steel, Dark, and Fairy, which all take minimal damage from Foul Play and can 2HKO Sableye at +1. Some also carry Refresh to deal with switching into Will-O-Wisp.

**Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh**: Both Pokemon are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can 2HKO Sableye if running offensive sets or cripple it with burn from Lava Plume or Sacred Fire if running defensive sets. However, both take a significant amount of damage from Foul Play.
 
Last edited:
AM QC, implement what you agree with.
QC 1/3, GP 0/1

Overview
  • Unique ability interesting defensive typing makes it a staple on stall and defensive teams for its ability to take on so many strong mons in the meta
  • Magic Bounce gives Sableye an excellent niche in supporting Pokemon that don't enjoy hazards like Lugia
  • Magic Bounce gives Sableye an excellent niche in supporting Pokemon that don't enjoy hazards like Lugia repeated bullet
  • Able to take on many dominant physical attackers like Extreme Killer Arceus and shut down many status reliant defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn consider mentioning how it's type makes it one of the few answers to Deoxys-a on stall
  • Mediocre Special Defense and somewhat awkward typing leaves it pressured by most strong special attackers like Yveltal and Pogre and common Fairy types in Xerneas and Fairyceus honestly, the only reason it's so weak specially is that you don't invest in that like you do defense; they're only 10 apart. The real thing that makes it frail is that bad Hp.
  • Also has issues with common CM Arceus formes which can set up all over it
[Standard Support]
Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Fake Out / Protect
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover

Set Comments

Moves
  • Fake Our or Protect allow Sableye to safely Mega Evolved for improved bulk and Magic Bounce even versus foes that would normally force it out, Fake Out having marginal offensive utility in breaking Focus Sashes and Protect being able to stall versus Ghost-types and in Psychic Terrain
  • Foul Play is Sableye's best attack to discourage physical setup and threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types
  • Will-O-Wisp allows Sableye to cripple defensive foes and threaten out almost every physical attacker
  • Recover is mandatory for keeping Sableye healthy
Set Details
  • 248 HP, maximum defense and an Impish nature make Sableye as physically bulky as possible, while the HP investment is slightly reduced to take less damage from entry hazards and status
  • Prankster can be useful pre-mega for an emergency priority Will-O-Wisp
  • Magic bounce bullet, no?
Usage Tips
  • Get Sableye Mega Evolved as quickly as possible, as the massive bulk increase is vital for being able to switch into just about everything and magic bounce is needed to bounce back hazards
  • Although Sableye does want to reflect back entry hazards if possible, many setters such as Primal Groudon or Fairy Arceus can deal significant damage to it if Sableye is not played carefully
  • Also be aware that Lead Excadrill can set entry hazards through Magic Bounce
  • Sableye needs to be kept healthy in order to take on foes such as Extreme Killer Arceus, so use Recover frequently
  • Strong wallbreakers such as Mega Rayquaza or Ho-Oh can break through or significantly cripple Mega Sableye, so pick and choose the threats it is being used to beat
  • I'd mention keeping Sableye healthy if there are threats like Mewtwo, doe-A, and MGar on the opposing team, as it's one of the few answers to them.
Team Options
  • Sableye fits almost exclusively on stall teams, so most of its teammates will be defensive staples such as Lugia and defensive Arceus formes
  • The majority of the Flying-types, such as Ho-oh, Yvetal, and Lugia, appreciates Sableye's ability to keep Stealth Rock away which would take significant portion of their health on switch-in otherwise.
  • Fairy checks such as Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn are required to support Mega Sableye. Chansey is also notable for its ability to remove status in case Sableye is crippled by moves such as Sacred Fire
  • Specially bulky Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and the aforementioned Chansey help take on strong special attackers that can break through Sableye
  • Extra checks to Mega Rayquaza such as Arceus-Rock and Lugia are useful since Sableye can be a shaky check to certain variants such as mixed
  • Sableye appreciates partners that can remove hazards, as it can have difficulties with being worn down thanks to a lack of any passive recovery if any hazard setters manage to get past Magic Bounce
  • I'd mention Blissey somewhere in here, as with shed shell it's critical to have something to switch into MGar with (which Sableye provides), and it also covers that weakness to special attacks
Other Options
  • Knock Off can be used to annoy some switch-ins for Sableye such as Xerneas, but so many Pokemon are immune to its effects alongside the loss in damage and checking attackers such as Arceus, means that it's generally outclassed by Foul Play
  • Toxic is another status move that better cripples support Arceus formes and Fire-types, but is not as threatening to most physical attackers
  • Metal Burst and Counter can surprise the usual checks for Sableye, but both are unreliable and incompatible with Prankster
  • Taunt is a niche option to catch support Arceus-formes and certain leads off guard but Sableye generally doesn't have the space for it
Checks and Counters

**Fairy-types**: Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy, and Magearna can easily KO Sableye and are only minimally annoyed by Foul Play or Will-O-Wisp. Clefable can also force Sableye out and set Stealth Rock or heal any burns Sableye causes.

**Special Attackers**: Most special attackers such as Yveltal and Primal Kyogre can come in on Will-O-Wisp or Foul Play with ease and threaten to 1-2HKO Sableye with their STAB attacks. However, they can be worn down over time by burn and Stealth Rock.

**Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh**: Both Pokemon are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can 2HKO Sableye if running offensive sets or cripple it with burn from Lava Plume or Sacred Fire if running defensive sets. However, both take a significant amount of damage from Foul Play.

**Calm Mind Arceus Formes**: Sableye can be used as setup fodder by Calm Mind Arceus Ground, Steel, Dark, and Fairy, fairy is already mentioned above, no? which all take minimal damage from Foul Play and can 2HKO Sableye at +1. Some also carry Refresh to deal with switching into Will-O-Wisp.
 

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