QC: p2, Gary, Subject 18
GP: Fireflame479, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Mamoswine's primary role in OU is as a wallbreaker due to its high Attack stat and fantastic Ice- and Ground-type STAB combination that is very difficult to deal with defensively. It also has good utility due to its priority Ice Shard, threatening prevalent threats such as Landorus-T. Access to Stealth Rock and its Ground typing are some of the main traits that help it fit onto teams, as both are invaluable. However, Mamoswine suffers competition from other Stealth Rock setters and Ground-type wallbreakers such as Landorus-T and Garchomp due to its mediocre Speed stat and subpar defenses, leaving it vulnerable to a lot of offensive Pokemon. Mega Scizor is probably the biggest issue for Mamoswine, as it can actually tank its attacks and threaten it with Bullet Punch while also removing Stealth Rock with Defog. In general, other priority users pose a threat to Mamoswine, as it is weak to common priority moves such as Bullet Punch and Aqua Jet. Overall, Mamoswine is a good Pokemon but requires more team support than the most common Ground-types in the tier.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear
move 4: Stealth Rock / Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Mamoswine's strongest STAB move and hits Steel-types like Magearna hard. Ice Shard helps Mamoswine check Pokemon such as Garchomp and Landorus-T as well as pick off other weakened threats. Icicle Crash is Mamoswine's most reliable Ice-type STAB move, which is its more dangerous attacking type. Icicle Spear is an option, as it is effective against Substitute Zygarde, Focus Sash Smeargle, and unboosted Mimikyu. Stealth Rock is the preferred final option, as Mamoswine has great coverage with its STAB moves and can find several opportunities to set it up against Pokemon it threatens out. Knock Off is also an option to remove items like Shed Shell from Skarmory so Magnezone can trap it, and it hits Mew as well. Freeze-Dry can be used to hit Rotom-W and Pelipper hard while also easing prediction against cores like Landorus-T + Keldeo.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature allows Mamoswine to outspeed Timid Heatran and Speed tie with opposing positive-natured base 80s, while maximum Attack powers up Mamoswine's moves. Thick Fat is the ability of choice to reduce the damage Mamoswine takes from Fire- and Ice-type moves. Life Orb increases Mamoswine's damage output while still allowing it to switch up moves freely. Adamant is an option for more power, but Mamoswine becomes slower than positive-natured base 70s. A Naive nature with 16 Special Attack EVs is recommended if running Freeze-Dry, as this allows Mamoswine to 2HKO Rotom-W after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Mamoswine should be used as a wallbreaker to threaten defensive backbones that cannot stomach powerful Ice- and Ground-type attacks. Icicle Crash is often the primary option, because nothing is immune to it and Ice-type attacks are generally very difficult to switch into. In general, one should weigh the risk and reward scenario presented to them and select their move based on that; Earthquake might not lose you too much against a team whose Ground switch-in is Landorus-T. Mamoswine can also be used to check faster threats such as Garchomp with Ice Shard; you can use this opportunity to predict a switch and go for more powerful STAB attacks as well. Mamoswine shouldn't be directly switched in very often, as it has relatively poor defenses, but it can be used in some cases to block Volt Switch from Pokemon such as Magearna and Tapu Koko if you predict correctly.
Team Options
========
Magnezone eliminates many of Mamoswine's best counters such as Mega Scizor and Skarmory. Tangrowth takes on offensive Water-types such as Keldeo and Greninja, which threaten Mamoswine. Heatran threatens opposing Steel-types, which check Mamoswine, while opening up the last moveslot for something else besides Stealth Rock. Battle Bond Greninja appreciates Mamoswine's ability to threaten Grass- and Electric-types that check it, while it complements Mamoswine by adding much-needed speed control. Tapu Koko is a solid partner as well because it helps Mamoswine switch in more freely against Pokemon such as Zygarde and Tangrowth, which it has a favorable matchup against.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Focus Sash set with Stealth Rock can be used as a lead, but generally, Mamoswine performs better as a wallbreaker. Choice Band is also an option, but it loses the ability to switch between powerful STAB moves and its priority Ice Shard. Superpower can hit Ferrothorn, but that's about it. Substitute can be used to ease prediction but does not synergize too well with Life Orb.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Mega Scizor is the biggest threat to Mamoswine due to its ability to tank Life Orb-boosted Earthquake and use Roost to heal off the damage while threatening with Bullet Punch and having the ability to Defog Stealth Rock away. Skarmory poses a similar threat to Mamoswine but does not check it as well offensively and can be taken down with a timely Icicle Crash flinch. Ferrothorn can take any two attacks from Mamoswine if it's not fully specially defensive but does not have reliable recovery and cannot switch in repeatedly.
**Water-types**: Offensive Water-types such as Keldeo and Battle Bond Greninja are big threats that threaten to OHKO Mamoswine with super effective STAB moves. More defensive Water-types such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Alomomola can switch into Mamoswine relatively well and threaten it out.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, Volcarona, and Mega Medicham all naturally outspeed Mamoswine and threaten to OHKO it.
**Tanks**: Mega Heracross and Mega Venusaur are notable tanks that can take hits from Mamoswine and threaten to OHKO it in return.
GP: Fireflame479, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Mamoswine's primary role in OU is as a wallbreaker due to its high Attack stat and fantastic Ice- and Ground-type STAB combination that is very difficult to deal with defensively. It also has good utility due to its priority Ice Shard, threatening prevalent threats such as Landorus-T. Access to Stealth Rock and its Ground typing are some of the main traits that help it fit onto teams, as both are invaluable. However, Mamoswine suffers competition from other Stealth Rock setters and Ground-type wallbreakers such as Landorus-T and Garchomp due to its mediocre Speed stat and subpar defenses, leaving it vulnerable to a lot of offensive Pokemon. Mega Scizor is probably the biggest issue for Mamoswine, as it can actually tank its attacks and threaten it with Bullet Punch while also removing Stealth Rock with Defog. In general, other priority users pose a threat to Mamoswine, as it is weak to common priority moves such as Bullet Punch and Aqua Jet. Overall, Mamoswine is a good Pokemon but requires more team support than the most common Ground-types in the tier.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear
move 4: Stealth Rock / Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake is Mamoswine's strongest STAB move and hits Steel-types like Magearna hard. Ice Shard helps Mamoswine check Pokemon such as Garchomp and Landorus-T as well as pick off other weakened threats. Icicle Crash is Mamoswine's most reliable Ice-type STAB move, which is its more dangerous attacking type. Icicle Spear is an option, as it is effective against Substitute Zygarde, Focus Sash Smeargle, and unboosted Mimikyu. Stealth Rock is the preferred final option, as Mamoswine has great coverage with its STAB moves and can find several opportunities to set it up against Pokemon it threatens out. Knock Off is also an option to remove items like Shed Shell from Skarmory so Magnezone can trap it, and it hits Mew as well. Freeze-Dry can be used to hit Rotom-W and Pelipper hard while also easing prediction against cores like Landorus-T + Keldeo.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature allows Mamoswine to outspeed Timid Heatran and Speed tie with opposing positive-natured base 80s, while maximum Attack powers up Mamoswine's moves. Thick Fat is the ability of choice to reduce the damage Mamoswine takes from Fire- and Ice-type moves. Life Orb increases Mamoswine's damage output while still allowing it to switch up moves freely. Adamant is an option for more power, but Mamoswine becomes slower than positive-natured base 70s. A Naive nature with 16 Special Attack EVs is recommended if running Freeze-Dry, as this allows Mamoswine to 2HKO Rotom-W after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
Mamoswine should be used as a wallbreaker to threaten defensive backbones that cannot stomach powerful Ice- and Ground-type attacks. Icicle Crash is often the primary option, because nothing is immune to it and Ice-type attacks are generally very difficult to switch into. In general, one should weigh the risk and reward scenario presented to them and select their move based on that; Earthquake might not lose you too much against a team whose Ground switch-in is Landorus-T. Mamoswine can also be used to check faster threats such as Garchomp with Ice Shard; you can use this opportunity to predict a switch and go for more powerful STAB attacks as well. Mamoswine shouldn't be directly switched in very often, as it has relatively poor defenses, but it can be used in some cases to block Volt Switch from Pokemon such as Magearna and Tapu Koko if you predict correctly.
Team Options
========
Magnezone eliminates many of Mamoswine's best counters such as Mega Scizor and Skarmory. Tangrowth takes on offensive Water-types such as Keldeo and Greninja, which threaten Mamoswine. Heatran threatens opposing Steel-types, which check Mamoswine, while opening up the last moveslot for something else besides Stealth Rock. Battle Bond Greninja appreciates Mamoswine's ability to threaten Grass- and Electric-types that check it, while it complements Mamoswine by adding much-needed speed control. Tapu Koko is a solid partner as well because it helps Mamoswine switch in more freely against Pokemon such as Zygarde and Tangrowth, which it has a favorable matchup against.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Focus Sash set with Stealth Rock can be used as a lead, but generally, Mamoswine performs better as a wallbreaker. Choice Band is also an option, but it loses the ability to switch between powerful STAB moves and its priority Ice Shard. Superpower can hit Ferrothorn, but that's about it. Substitute can be used to ease prediction but does not synergize too well with Life Orb.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Mega Scizor is the biggest threat to Mamoswine due to its ability to tank Life Orb-boosted Earthquake and use Roost to heal off the damage while threatening with Bullet Punch and having the ability to Defog Stealth Rock away. Skarmory poses a similar threat to Mamoswine but does not check it as well offensively and can be taken down with a timely Icicle Crash flinch. Ferrothorn can take any two attacks from Mamoswine if it's not fully specially defensive but does not have reliable recovery and cannot switch in repeatedly.
**Water-types**: Offensive Water-types such as Keldeo and Battle Bond Greninja are big threats that threaten to OHKO Mamoswine with super effective STAB moves. More defensive Water-types such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Alomomola can switch into Mamoswine relatively well and threaten it out.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, Volcarona, and Mega Medicham all naturally outspeed Mamoswine and threaten to OHKO it.
**Tanks**: Mega Heracross and Mega Venusaur are notable tanks that can take hits from Mamoswine and threaten to OHKO it in return.
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