churine
lunatic+
taken over from Schmedly
[OVERVIEW]
Natu carves itself a niche as the only Magic Bounce user in the tier, making it function as a great entry hazard and status deterrent for both offensive and defensive teams alike. It boasts a wide movepool with access to Roost, U-turn, and Thunder Wave for utility purposes and coverage options like Heat Wave, Sucker Punch, and Giga Drain. Furthermore, it has decent Special Attack when invested and hits a respectable 17 Speed, giving it some offensive presence. Natu also has a good typing, granting an immunity to Ground and a 4x resistance to Fighting, and this typing paired with its movepool and Magic Bounce ability allows it to counter key defensive Pokemon like Foongus and Ferroseed. However, its typing leaves it easily trapped by Pursuit and weak to Knock Off, which are carried by many Fighting-types it would otherwise check. Additionally, because of Natu's many weaknesses, it often loses to common entry hazard setters such as Onix, Dwebble, and Pawniard due to their Rock- or Dark-type moves as well as faster Pokemon such as Staryu and Doduo due to their coverage options. Lastly, even after investment, Natu has mediocre bulk, making it hard for Natu to take stronger attacks.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Heat Wave / Dazzling Gleam
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Roost / Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Naive
evs: 116 Atk / 196 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is able to OHKO Mienfoo as well as Foongus and Timburr after Stealth Rock damage. Heat Wave is used to damage Steel-types that would otherwise wall Natu, such as Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Pawniard. Dazzling Gleam trades hitting Steel-types for hitting Dark-types such as Vullaby and destroys Scraggy, both of which are immune to Psychic. U-turn allows Natu to gains momentum for the team and pivot out of a bad matchup while doing some chip damage. Roost restores the HP taken from Life Orb recoil and other attacks and can play mind games with Sucker Punch users like Pawniard. Sucker Punch can be used instead as priority to hit faster Pokemon, such as Gastly, Abra, and weakened Choice Scarf users. Giga Drain is also an option to hit Water- and Rock-types like Shellder and Omanyte while recovering HP; however, it doesn't provide as much coverage as Natu's other moves.
Set Details
========
The EV spread optimizes Natu's offensive capabilities, inclining towards Special Attack due to Psychic being its primary attack. Life Orb gives Natu some much-needed power, as it increases the damage output of all attacks used at the cost of some HP; as such, 19 HP IVs or less are required to minimize the recoil damage taken from Life Orb. A Naive nature is used to maximize Speed while not hindering the power of U-turn and Sucker Punch. Magic Bounce is the only ability Natu should have, as it provides utility in blocking status moves, preventing Natu from being crippled by status ailments such as paralysis and sleep.
Usage Tips
========
Natu discourages the use of entry hazards from the likes of Onix and Dwebble when it is alive and can function as a lead to inhibit the thought of the opponent using them really early. However, it should use U-turn right away to switch out of all relevant Stealth Rock users other than Ferroseed, which it can beat if carrying Heat Wave, as it normally loses to them one-on-one. Onix is an exception, as it Speed ties with Natu, making it safer to just manually switch. U-turn is also a great move to use early-game, as it provides offensive momentum and deals chip damage against foes switching in on Natu for its teammates to KO later on. Natu's poor bulk doesn't allow it to take many unresisted hits, meaning that it should often be brought in on safe switches, such as from a slow U-turn or Volt Switch. However, if you predict that your opponent will use a status move, Natu can switch in to reflect the status back to the user, potentially crippling it or its team. Roost can also be used when predicting a switch to restore HP and to play mind games with Sucker Punch. Lastly, avoid keeping Natu on the field when the opponent has an Alolan Grimer or Pawniard, as they can easily Pursuit trap it.
Team Options
========
Diglett is an exceptional partner to Natu, as it can get rid of Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, Electric-types, and Rock-types, while Natu can pivot it in safely with U-turn. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Vullaby are able to bring Natu in safely and form VoltTurn cores. Fighting-types like Mienfoo and Timburr can dispose of Dark-, Rock-, and Steel-types, which can be troublesome for Natu. Alolan Grimer and Pawniard are able to Pursuit trap Ghost-types, which Natu is weak to. Pokemon weak to Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Carvanha and Snivy, benefit from Natu's ability to check these Pokemon. Shell Smash users such as Tirtouga and Dwebble are able to more easily set up and net many KOs thanks to Natu bouncing entry hazards back to the opposing side. Additionally, the aforementioned Pokemon, as well as Magnemite, especially appreciate entry hazards being cleared, as they otherwise break their Sturdy.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn / Thunder Wave
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 116 SpA / 76 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic hits Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively, such as Foongus, Timburr, and Mareanie. Roost provides a reliable form of recovery, which extends Natu's longevity. Heat Wave allows Natu to counter Ferroseed, dealing incredible damage to it, and it can also hit Pawniard on the switch. U-turn allows Natu to switch out while doing chip damage and provides offensive momentum. Thunder Wave can cripple faster Pokemon such as Gastly, Staryu, and Doduo on the switch, making them easier for Natu's teammates to handle.
Set Details
========
Magic Bounce is Natu's main niche and allows it to counter certain defensive Pokemon like Ferroseed and Foongus by bouncing back entry hazards and other status moves. 196 HP EVs maximize Natu's HP stat and, coupled with 156 Defense EVs and a Bold nature, allow Natu to take physical hits better—notably, it usually avoids the 2HKO from Ferroseed's and Croagunk's Knock Off. 116 Special Attack EVs are used to allow Natu to OHKO Mienfoo with Psychic and Ferroseed with Heat Wave after minimal chip damage. The rest are put into Special Defense to hit an Eviolite-optimal number and Speed to outspeed Croagunk and slow Mienfoo.
Usage Tips
========
Natu is used to primarily counter certain defensive Pokemon such as Foongus and Ferroseed, as its ability Magic Bounce prevents them from using status moves and entry hazards such as Spore and Stealth Rock against it while it can beat them with Psychic and Heat Wave, respectively. Natu also counters Croagunk, as it is able to switch into any of Croagunk's attacks and OHKO it with Psychic while also being able to provide offensive momentum with U-turn if these Pokemon decide to switch out into a counter. U-turn can also be used whenever Natu wants to safely bring in another Pokemon to set up or pressure an opposing Pokemon. With Magic Bounce, Natu discourages entry hazard setters like Onix and Ferroseed from using Stealth Rock and Spikes, and as such, Natu should be kept alive as long as the opponent can still use those Pokemon. Due to this, it can be used as a lead to prohibit the use of entry hazards of said Pokemon in the early turns and can KO Ferroseed with Heat Wave. It should, however, not stay in on most hazard setters such as Onix and Dwebble, since they beat Natu with super effective moves. Be especially careful of using Natu when the opponent has Alolan Grimer or Pawniard, as their access to Pursuit allows them to trap Natu and dispose of it. Natu is still quite passive and can be setup bait for Pokemon such as Vullaby and Scraggy, as they don't take much damage from its attacks. Lastly, Natu can use Thunder Wave on predicted switches to cripple the incoming foe, making it easier for Natu's teammates to handle.
Team Options
========
Fighting-types such as Mienfoo, Timburr, and Scraggy can check Dark-, Rock-, and Steel-types that can trouble Natu and appreciate Natu's ability to get rid of Poison-types like Croagunk and Foongus. Diglett is an amazing partner, as it is able to trap and KO most of Natu's checks and counters, such as Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, and Magnemite, while Natu can deter entry hazards and bring it in safely with U-turn. Water-types such as Chinchou, Corphish, and Shellder benefit from Natu's ability to counter Foongus and Ferroseed and pivot the Water-types in safely, with Chinchou being able to form a VoltTurn core with Natu. Sturdy users such as Tirtouga and Magnemite especially appreciate entry hazards being bounced back to the opposing side by Natu, as it prevents their Sturdy from being broken. Other Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock, such as Ponyta, Doduo, and Rufflet, are also helped by Natu being able to bounce entry hazards back. Dark-types such as Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, and Vullaby counter Ghost-types that can trouble Natu, with the first two being able to Pursuit trap them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Natu can use dual screens with Light Clay to support the team, but Alolan Vulpix outclasses Natu in this role due to its access to Aurora Veil with Snow Warning. Tailwind doubles the Speed of Natu's teammates for four turns, allowing its slower teammates to outpace foes, but has a hard time fitting on a set. Haze eliminates stat changes, preventing sweepers from setting up on Natu, but is tough to fit on a set. Shadow Ball is an option to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types; however, Natu has better moves like U-turn and Sucker Punch to deal with these Pokemon. Wish is an option on Natu to restore HP for its allies, but Natu does not have sufficient bulk or adequate typing to make good use of this and is outclassed in this role by Spritzee. A set using Trick + Choice Scarf can be used to hinder walls by stealing their Eviolite, but this is not very consistent because of Natu's frailty.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Alolan Grimer and Pawniard are immune to Psychic and can trap Natu with Pursuit, but the latter should be wary of Heat Wave when switching in. Vullaby and Scraggy can switch in on Psychic and easily OHKO Natu with Knock Off, but they must watch out for Dazzling Gleam.
**Electric-types**: Magnemite is resistant to Psychic, can survive an attack with Sturdy, and OHKOes Natu with Volt Switch. Chinchou Speed ties with offensive Natu, while Elekid outspeeds it—both can KO Natu with Volt Switch.
**Rock-types**: While they may not be able to set up Stealth Rock when Natu is on the field, Dwebble, Onix, and Tirtouga easily KO Natu with a Rock-type move, though the last two should be careful of the rare Giga Drain.
**Ghost-types**: Gastly outspeeds and OHKOes Natu but should watch for Sucker Punch. Frillish and Pumpkaboo are able to wall Natu and 2HKO it with Shadow Ball, though Frillish should be careful of the rare Giga Drain, and Pumpkaboo cannot switch in on Heat Wave.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Natu's only average Speed, it is outsped by faster Pokemon such as Doduo, Abra, and Staryu, as well as Choice Scarf users like Magnemite and Rufflet, which are able to KO Natu with strong coverage moves.
I prefer natu
QC: Hilomilo / Nineage / Berks
GP: gmars+lotiasite / Fireflame
QC: Hilomilo / Nineage / Berks
GP: gmars+lotiasite / Fireflame
[OVERVIEW]
Natu carves itself a niche as the only Magic Bounce user in the tier, making it function as a great entry hazard and status deterrent for both offensive and defensive teams alike. It boasts a wide movepool with access to Roost, U-turn, and Thunder Wave for utility purposes and coverage options like Heat Wave, Sucker Punch, and Giga Drain. Furthermore, it has decent Special Attack when invested and hits a respectable 17 Speed, giving it some offensive presence. Natu also has a good typing, granting an immunity to Ground and a 4x resistance to Fighting, and this typing paired with its movepool and Magic Bounce ability allows it to counter key defensive Pokemon like Foongus and Ferroseed. However, its typing leaves it easily trapped by Pursuit and weak to Knock Off, which are carried by many Fighting-types it would otherwise check. Additionally, because of Natu's many weaknesses, it often loses to common entry hazard setters such as Onix, Dwebble, and Pawniard due to their Rock- or Dark-type moves as well as faster Pokemon such as Staryu and Doduo due to their coverage options. Lastly, even after investment, Natu has mediocre bulk, making it hard for Natu to take stronger attacks.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Heat Wave / Dazzling Gleam
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Roost / Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Naive
evs: 116 Atk / 196 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is able to OHKO Mienfoo as well as Foongus and Timburr after Stealth Rock damage. Heat Wave is used to damage Steel-types that would otherwise wall Natu, such as Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Pawniard. Dazzling Gleam trades hitting Steel-types for hitting Dark-types such as Vullaby and destroys Scraggy, both of which are immune to Psychic. U-turn allows Natu to gains momentum for the team and pivot out of a bad matchup while doing some chip damage. Roost restores the HP taken from Life Orb recoil and other attacks and can play mind games with Sucker Punch users like Pawniard. Sucker Punch can be used instead as priority to hit faster Pokemon, such as Gastly, Abra, and weakened Choice Scarf users. Giga Drain is also an option to hit Water- and Rock-types like Shellder and Omanyte while recovering HP; however, it doesn't provide as much coverage as Natu's other moves.
Set Details
========
The EV spread optimizes Natu's offensive capabilities, inclining towards Special Attack due to Psychic being its primary attack. Life Orb gives Natu some much-needed power, as it increases the damage output of all attacks used at the cost of some HP; as such, 19 HP IVs or less are required to minimize the recoil damage taken from Life Orb. A Naive nature is used to maximize Speed while not hindering the power of U-turn and Sucker Punch. Magic Bounce is the only ability Natu should have, as it provides utility in blocking status moves, preventing Natu from being crippled by status ailments such as paralysis and sleep.
Usage Tips
========
Natu discourages the use of entry hazards from the likes of Onix and Dwebble when it is alive and can function as a lead to inhibit the thought of the opponent using them really early. However, it should use U-turn right away to switch out of all relevant Stealth Rock users other than Ferroseed, which it can beat if carrying Heat Wave, as it normally loses to them one-on-one. Onix is an exception, as it Speed ties with Natu, making it safer to just manually switch. U-turn is also a great move to use early-game, as it provides offensive momentum and deals chip damage against foes switching in on Natu for its teammates to KO later on. Natu's poor bulk doesn't allow it to take many unresisted hits, meaning that it should often be brought in on safe switches, such as from a slow U-turn or Volt Switch. However, if you predict that your opponent will use a status move, Natu can switch in to reflect the status back to the user, potentially crippling it or its team. Roost can also be used when predicting a switch to restore HP and to play mind games with Sucker Punch. Lastly, avoid keeping Natu on the field when the opponent has an Alolan Grimer or Pawniard, as they can easily Pursuit trap it.
Team Options
========
Diglett is an exceptional partner to Natu, as it can get rid of Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, Electric-types, and Rock-types, while Natu can pivot it in safely with U-turn. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Vullaby are able to bring Natu in safely and form VoltTurn cores. Fighting-types like Mienfoo and Timburr can dispose of Dark-, Rock-, and Steel-types, which can be troublesome for Natu. Alolan Grimer and Pawniard are able to Pursuit trap Ghost-types, which Natu is weak to. Pokemon weak to Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Carvanha and Snivy, benefit from Natu's ability to check these Pokemon. Shell Smash users such as Tirtouga and Dwebble are able to more easily set up and net many KOs thanks to Natu bouncing entry hazards back to the opposing side. Additionally, the aforementioned Pokemon, as well as Magnemite, especially appreciate entry hazards being cleared, as they otherwise break their Sturdy.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn / Thunder Wave
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 116 SpA / 76 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic hits Poison- and Fighting-types super effectively, such as Foongus, Timburr, and Mareanie. Roost provides a reliable form of recovery, which extends Natu's longevity. Heat Wave allows Natu to counter Ferroseed, dealing incredible damage to it, and it can also hit Pawniard on the switch. U-turn allows Natu to switch out while doing chip damage and provides offensive momentum. Thunder Wave can cripple faster Pokemon such as Gastly, Staryu, and Doduo on the switch, making them easier for Natu's teammates to handle.
Set Details
========
Magic Bounce is Natu's main niche and allows it to counter certain defensive Pokemon like Ferroseed and Foongus by bouncing back entry hazards and other status moves. 196 HP EVs maximize Natu's HP stat and, coupled with 156 Defense EVs and a Bold nature, allow Natu to take physical hits better—notably, it usually avoids the 2HKO from Ferroseed's and Croagunk's Knock Off. 116 Special Attack EVs are used to allow Natu to OHKO Mienfoo with Psychic and Ferroseed with Heat Wave after minimal chip damage. The rest are put into Special Defense to hit an Eviolite-optimal number and Speed to outspeed Croagunk and slow Mienfoo.
Usage Tips
========
Natu is used to primarily counter certain defensive Pokemon such as Foongus and Ferroseed, as its ability Magic Bounce prevents them from using status moves and entry hazards such as Spore and Stealth Rock against it while it can beat them with Psychic and Heat Wave, respectively. Natu also counters Croagunk, as it is able to switch into any of Croagunk's attacks and OHKO it with Psychic while also being able to provide offensive momentum with U-turn if these Pokemon decide to switch out into a counter. U-turn can also be used whenever Natu wants to safely bring in another Pokemon to set up or pressure an opposing Pokemon. With Magic Bounce, Natu discourages entry hazard setters like Onix and Ferroseed from using Stealth Rock and Spikes, and as such, Natu should be kept alive as long as the opponent can still use those Pokemon. Due to this, it can be used as a lead to prohibit the use of entry hazards of said Pokemon in the early turns and can KO Ferroseed with Heat Wave. It should, however, not stay in on most hazard setters such as Onix and Dwebble, since they beat Natu with super effective moves. Be especially careful of using Natu when the opponent has Alolan Grimer or Pawniard, as their access to Pursuit allows them to trap Natu and dispose of it. Natu is still quite passive and can be setup bait for Pokemon such as Vullaby and Scraggy, as they don't take much damage from its attacks. Lastly, Natu can use Thunder Wave on predicted switches to cripple the incoming foe, making it easier for Natu's teammates to handle.
Team Options
========
Fighting-types such as Mienfoo, Timburr, and Scraggy can check Dark-, Rock-, and Steel-types that can trouble Natu and appreciate Natu's ability to get rid of Poison-types like Croagunk and Foongus. Diglett is an amazing partner, as it is able to trap and KO most of Natu's checks and counters, such as Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, and Magnemite, while Natu can deter entry hazards and bring it in safely with U-turn. Water-types such as Chinchou, Corphish, and Shellder benefit from Natu's ability to counter Foongus and Ferroseed and pivot the Water-types in safely, with Chinchou being able to form a VoltTurn core with Natu. Sturdy users such as Tirtouga and Magnemite especially appreciate entry hazards being bounced back to the opposing side by Natu, as it prevents their Sturdy from being broken. Other Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock, such as Ponyta, Doduo, and Rufflet, are also helped by Natu being able to bounce entry hazards back. Dark-types such as Alolan Grimer, Pawniard, and Vullaby counter Ghost-types that can trouble Natu, with the first two being able to Pursuit trap them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Natu can use dual screens with Light Clay to support the team, but Alolan Vulpix outclasses Natu in this role due to its access to Aurora Veil with Snow Warning. Tailwind doubles the Speed of Natu's teammates for four turns, allowing its slower teammates to outpace foes, but has a hard time fitting on a set. Haze eliminates stat changes, preventing sweepers from setting up on Natu, but is tough to fit on a set. Shadow Ball is an option to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types; however, Natu has better moves like U-turn and Sucker Punch to deal with these Pokemon. Wish is an option on Natu to restore HP for its allies, but Natu does not have sufficient bulk or adequate typing to make good use of this and is outclassed in this role by Spritzee. A set using Trick + Choice Scarf can be used to hinder walls by stealing their Eviolite, but this is not very consistent because of Natu's frailty.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Alolan Grimer and Pawniard are immune to Psychic and can trap Natu with Pursuit, but the latter should be wary of Heat Wave when switching in. Vullaby and Scraggy can switch in on Psychic and easily OHKO Natu with Knock Off, but they must watch out for Dazzling Gleam.
**Electric-types**: Magnemite is resistant to Psychic, can survive an attack with Sturdy, and OHKOes Natu with Volt Switch. Chinchou Speed ties with offensive Natu, while Elekid outspeeds it—both can KO Natu with Volt Switch.
**Rock-types**: While they may not be able to set up Stealth Rock when Natu is on the field, Dwebble, Onix, and Tirtouga easily KO Natu with a Rock-type move, though the last two should be careful of the rare Giga Drain.
**Ghost-types**: Gastly outspeeds and OHKOes Natu but should watch for Sucker Punch. Frillish and Pumpkaboo are able to wall Natu and 2HKO it with Shadow Ball, though Frillish should be careful of the rare Giga Drain, and Pumpkaboo cannot switch in on Heat Wave.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Natu's only average Speed, it is outsped by faster Pokemon such as Doduo, Abra, and Staryu, as well as Choice Scarf users like Magnemite and Rufflet, which are able to KO Natu with strong coverage moves.
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