TJ
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
Liepard is extremely versatile and unpredictable thanks to its plethora of viable sets such as Choice Band, Nasty Plot, and weather support. As a result of these sets' offensive nature, Liepard fits mostly on offensively based teams that appreciate its good Speed Tier and prowess. Liepard has access to Prankster, as well as useful offensive tools such as Pursuit, Sucker Punch, and Knock Off, allowing it to cripple teams. Despite these positives, Liepard has a notable flaw in the fact that its low Attack stat is low even when supplemented so it, struggles to break past bulky foes such as Weezing. Additionally, Liepard has mediocre bulk and is weak to common Fighting- and Fairy-type attacks. Without the proper coverage, it can struggle to retaliate against foes that use these moves. Lastly, Liepard is a prediction-reliant Pokemon, and being Choice-locked into Sucker Punch can be costly because it can give the opponent free turns to set up.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: U-turn / Sucker Punch / Copycat
item: Choice Band
ability: Prankster / Limber
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Liepard's strongest STAB attack and has the utility of removing the foe's item. Pursuit is used to trap Pokemon such as Choice-locked Mesprit and Haunter. Play Rough gives solid coverage versus Fighting- and Dark-types such as Primeape, Gurdurr, Sableye, and Guzzlord, which would otherwise wall Liepard. U-turn allows Liepard to pivot out on checks like Weezing, which gives its team momentum. Sucker Punch is a powerful priority attack against Pokemon that can outspeed Liepard. Lastly, Copycat allows Liepard to revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Lycanroc and Jynx, but only if used with Prankster.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with a Choice Band allows Liepard to be as powerful as possible. Maximum Speed investment with Jolly nature ensures that Liepard outspeeds base 105 Speed Pokemon such as Manectric. Black Glasses over Choice Band can work, since Liepard spams Knock Off most of the time. Prankster gives Liepard's support moves priority. Limber protects Liepard from being crippled by Thunder Wave.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Band turns Liepard into a prediction-reliant Pokemon. Liepard should use Knock Off to remove foes' items early-game. However, be careful when using Dark-type moves against Psychic-types like Mesprit and Musharna because they sometimes carry Colbur Berry to weaken them; in Musharna's case, its potential Z-Crystal reduces Knock Off damage and its Z-Move can OHKO Liepard back. Bringing Liepard in on predicted Psychic-type attacks from Mesprit or choice-locked Ghost-type attacks from Oriocorio-G and Haunter is ideal for Pursuit trapping. Be wary when locking Liepard into Sucker Punch because setup sweepers like Carracosta can take advantage of it it. Liepard should pivot out on its hard counters with U-turn.
Team Options
========
Weezing makes a good partner for Liepard because it covers Liepard's weakness to Fighting-, Bug-, and Fairy-type attacks. Hitmonchan and Mespirt also make good partners because Mesprit is a Fighting-type check and Hitmonchan removes hazards. In return, Liepard can Pursuit trap Ghost-type Pokemon such as Haunter for them. Pokemon with access to Volt Switch, such as Manetric and Alolan Raichu, pair well with Liepard because they form VoltTurn cores. Lastly, entry hazard support from Ferroseed or Qwilfish is preferred, since it makes up for Liepard's low Attack and dissuades Defog from weakened foes, which can be Pursuit trapped or pivoted on it.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Encore
move 4: Copycat
item: Black Glasses / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Liepard's Special Attack to decent levels. Dark Pulse is Liepard's strongest special STAB attack and has a chance to make the foe flinch. Encore is perfect for Liepard, since it gives Liepard a chance to set up freely once a foe is locked into a non-threatening move. Copycat allows Liepard to use Dark Pulse as a form of priority due to Prankster and beat faster foes such as Jynx and Lycanroc.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Special Attack investment allows Liepard to hit as hard as possible and be as fast as possible. Black Glasses is used to boost the power of Liepard's Dark Pulse. Alternatively, Leftovers gives Liepard passive recovery at the cost of significant power loss on a Pokemon that's already fairly weak.
Usage Tips
========
Liepard should lock foes into setup moves or status moves using Encore. Liepard should use Nasty Plot on resisted attacks or after locking a foe with Encore. Copycat gives Liepard's attacks priority, so it should be used immediately after an attack. Since Liepard's only attacking move is Dark Pulse, it should be preserved until late-game, when its checks are eliminated from the battle.
Team Options
========
Mesprit and Musharna make good partners because they can remove Fighting-types and Liepard apperciates Healing Wish support from the former. Pokemon that can switch into Fighting-, Bug- and Fairy-type attacks, such as Weezing also pair well with Liepard. Weezing can also set Toxic Spikes, which will hinder Liepard's checks futher. Liepard appreciates residual damage on its foes due to its lack of power, so entry hazard users such as Ferroseed and Qwilfish work well with it. Qwilfish in particular makes a good partner because it wears down Hitmonchan and Primeape . Alolan Raichu and Jynx make good partners for Liepard since they check Fighting-types and break through physically defensive Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Weather
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Rain Dance / Sunny Day
move 3: Encore / Thunder Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Heat Rock / Damp Rock
ability: Prankster
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Liepard's best STAB attack and is helpful for removing items from Pokemon such as Ferroseed, which disrupts rain. Rain Dance summons rain for 8 turns with Damp Rock, while Sunny Day summons sun for 8 turns with Heat Rock. Encore can be used by Liepard to lock its foes into non-threatening moves, then take advantage of them by bringing in weather sweepers and attackers with U-turn. Thunder Wave is another option that can be used to slow down faster foes.
Set Details
========
Damp Rock and Heat Rock give 8 turns of weather to a team. Prankster gives priority to Sunny Day and Rain Dance, ensuring Liepard can set the weather quickly. Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature ensures that Liepard is faster than every other Prankster user. Maximum Attack investment gives Liepard some offensive presence and power behind a Knock Off.
Usage Tips
========
Once Liepard sets the weather, it should exit battle as soon as possible in order to let its team take advantage of as many weather turns as possible. Do not use Liepard as a lead for weather teams; Liepard should be preserved because it has great utility in setting up weather, so your best bet is to send it in whenever the weather is needed or is about to expire. Liepard isn't bulky at all, so don't switch it in mindlessly. Liepard's Dark typing allows it to be immune to Prankster moves such as Sableye's Will-O-Wisp, so feel free to switch it in on Sableye or any other passive Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Liepard should be paired with weather sweepers such as Kabutops and Ludicolo on rain teams or Victreebel and Exeggutor on sun teams. Electric-types such as Manetric can be used on rain teams to take advantage of Thunder's perfect accuracy in the rain. Mespirt works well with Liepard because it can set up Stealth Rock and pivot with U-turn. Other Stealth Rock users, most notably Golem and Regirock, should be used for sun teams because they provide good role compression. Pokemon like Pyroar and Magmortar should be paired with Sunny Day Liepard because they take advantage of their Fire-type attacks being boosted by the sun.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Life Orb set can be used over Choice Band if Liepard doesn't want to be Choice-locked but would apperciate the extra power behind its coverage moves. Seed Bomb can be used to hit bulky Rock-types like Golem and Carracosta. Trick cripples bulky walls that try to switch in on Liepard such as Weezing and Audino. Taunt similary enables Liepard to cripple passive Pokemon like Audino. Fairium Z can also be used as a tool to hit Fighting-types harder. A bulkier EV spread for Weather sets can be used to slightly increase Liepard's longevity, but Liepard has inherently mediocre bulk, so it often isn't worth it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Poliwrath can hit Liepard with super effective priority attacks, but have to be wary of Play Rough.
**Faster and Stronger Pokemon**: Due to Liepard's mediocre defensive stats, any Pokemon that is faster, stronger, and isn't weak to Sucker Punch can check it. Some examples of such threats include Pyroar and Lycanroc.
**Weather Setters**: Weather setters such as Abomasnow and Hippopotas are able to disrupt Liepard's weather set by replacing the weather that Liepard sets for its teammates.
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