Thanks to Pearl for giving me this. Who's ready for round 2?
[OVERVIEW]
Sableye's access to Prankster allows it to shut down a vast majority of physical attackers, setup sweepers, walls, and weak special attackers before they can cause harm thanks to a combination of priority Will-O-Wisp and Taunt. Sableye also has access to the ever-reliable Recover, preventing it from being worn down quickly, thus allowing it to annoy teams throughout an entire match. Sableye is blessed with a rare type combination, and because of a priority Taunt, Sableye serves as a reliable Defog and Rapid Spin blocker for Spikes-stacking teams. Its typing also grants Sableye key immunities to the STAB moves of relevant offensive threats, such as Snorlax, Mienshao, and Reuniclus. Access to Knock Off furthers its capacity as a stallbreaker, especially considering most of Sableye's checks and counters don't appreciate having their item removed. Because of how well it does its job and the little amount of support it needs, Sableye fits extremely easily on most playstyles.
Despite having a great ability and a movepool that pairs well with Prankster, Sableye's mediocre base stats make it hard, impossible even, to switch in on a lot of the threats it's supposed to beat, and this usually results in Sableye losing to most special attackers. Because of an overwhelming lack of any offensive presence and such weak base stats, Sableye is extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp and can be pressured to use Recover fairly easily. The ever-growing popularity of wallbreakers that Sableye can't shut down, specifically Entei, Hydreigon, Lum Berry Salamence, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir, leaves it susceptible to offensive pressure. Sableye's specialized moveset also lets powerful offensive Pokemon like Mega Houndoom and Mega Absol come in for free and immediately threaten it, but it can limit any setup in the former's case. Common defensive Pokemon, such as Florges and Arcanine, scoff at anything Sableye is capable of doing in return and force it out with Moonblast or Flare Blitz.
[SET]
name: Prankster
move 1: Recover
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Snarl
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Careful / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recover allows Sableye to stick around throughout the match, advancing to the top of the priority bracket and reliably healing half of Sableye's total HP. Will-O-Wisp helps Sableye handle most physically offensive Pokemon better, as a burn is capable of shutting down a plethora of physical threats. The move is also great for racking up chip damage against bulkier threats, potentially wearing them down for a teammate. Taunt is lethal against defensive Pokemon, simply preventing any attempts at setting up entry hazards, clearing hazards with Defog, statusing Sableye, healing, or Taunting Sableye before it can heal itself. Knock Off, although doing pitiful damage against anything not named Shedinja, removes the target's item and limits its staying power or offensive presence, making opposing threats easier to wear down. Snarl is used on teams that have an harder time handling strong specially oriented wallbreakers, namely Hydreigon and/or Roserade, allowing Sableye to tank repeated hits a lot more easily or allow a teammate to switch in with more ease. Foul Play is also worth considering, since it allows Sableye to damage physically offensive Pokemon a lot harder, most notably Mega Absol, which is free to use Sableye as setup fodder otherwise. However, against defensive teams and most special attackers, it is the inferior choice.
Set Details
========
The entire set revolves around Sableye's ability, Prankster, as the boost in priority to Sableye's status moves encompasses its viability; its ability to heal or cripple threats before they can make a move gives Sableye a rather unique niche in UnderUsed. The given EV spread is biased in favor of Special Defense in order to help Sableye manage threats such as Mega Blastoise and Choice Scarf Hydreigon. Will-O-Wisp mitigates the need for investment in its Defense stat in most cases: only Fire-types, Pokemon with the Guts ability, and Mega Absol are unperturbed by Will-O-Wisp, and they will beat Sableye one-on-one in most cases regardless. However, an alternate spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with an Impish or Bold nature can be used if Sableye's team absolutely needs the extra defensive support and is capable of comfortably taking on a wide range of special attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Without Snarl, Sableye is typically incapable of handing powerful special attackers, such as Choice Specs Hydreigon, Nasty Plot Infernape, and Dazzling Gleam Alakazam, and should not be left in on such threats. However, even with Snarl, Sableye will have a hard time dealing with them. Status conditions will limit Sableye's effectiveness, so it must try to Taunt any status users before receiving a Toxic or Will-O-Wisp. Scald users should be avoided by Sableye, as it cannot prevent stray burns from landing. Instead, bring Sableye in on Pokemon with low offensive capacities, like Froslass, Porygon2, and Cresselia, and start disrupting the opposing team from there. The certain few offensive Pokemon you can safely switch Sableye in on are those that can't do much back to it, like Toxicroak, Reuniclus, and Snorlax.
Team Options
========
Answers to powerful special attackers, such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Choice Specs Hydreigon, are a must, as both can easily switch in on Will-O-Wisp and begin demolishing Sableye with powerful STAB attacks. It's a tall order, but Pokemon like Cresselia can beat Nasty Plot Infernape, and Porygon2 walls Hydreigon. Faster offensive teammates, like Choice Scarf Gardevoir and Salamence, will also remove both Infernape and Hydreigon with ease, but they cannot afford to switch into them. Entry hazard setters such as Forretress, Swampert, and Froslass benefit from Sableye's ability to block both Rapid Spin and Defog. The hazards such Pokemon set give Sableye an easier time pressuring the opposing team, as it forces a lot of switches and will be able to rack up additional chip damage. Pokemon that can tank hits from the Fire- and Fairy-type Pokemon that constantly threaten Sableye on the battlefield are naturally good partners for it. The previously mentioned Forretress can switch in for free on Florges and Whimsicott and proceed to lay down Spikes and Stealth Rock, while Suicune is easily one of the best blanket checks to Fire-type Pokemon in the tier. Generally bulky Pokemon, such as Florges, Snorlax, Mega Aggron, and Gligar, make for excellent teammates, as Sableye's naturally low defensive stats and inability to cripple a select group of attackers still leave it liable to powerful attacks. Cleric support from Florges or Blissey will allow Sableye to be played more recklessly, as it will no longer fear status. For more offensively oriented teams, Pokemon that benefit from Sableye's ability to disrupt and wear down teams with Will-O-Wisp and Knock Off are great partners. Good examples of such Pokemon include Mega Sharpedo, Mega Swampert, Lucario, and Dragon Dance Salamence. Keep in mind that Pokemon like these really thrive on Spikes-stacking teams and Sableye alone is not enough to let them thrive.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Prankster and access to Taunt make Sableye a good option as a weather setter on specialized teams, allowing it to reliably set Sunny Day or Rain Dance. However, Sableye will lose some functionality, as one of its regular supporting moves will have to be dropped. Seismic Toss is an option as a reliable damaging move but is usually outclassed by all of the options mentioned in the main set. Sableye has access to a few interesting niche support options, such as Confuse Ray, Trick, Icy Wind, Psych Up, and Snatch. These can be used to catch opponents off guard but won't provide the same level of support as the four moves seen on the main set. Calm Mind allows Sableye to surprise strong special attackers that it would normally be unable to handle, but it's an inferior option to the Prankster set because it forces Sableye to drop either Taunt or Will-O-Wisp while still leaving it completely helpless against both Calm Mind Florges and Whimsicott.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Thanks to their immunity to Will-O-Wisp, Fire-type Pokemon in general can turn Sableye into a liability. Mega Houndoom and Infernape in particular aren't threatened much by Knock Off and can either freely set up Nasty Plot or retaliate with powerful STAB attacks.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Florges can come in consistently on Sableye due to its access to reliable recovery and Aromatherapy. Whimsicott and Gardevoir, despite being prone to getting worn down very quickly, can also switch in on Sableye and threaten it with Moonblast. While rare, Aromatisse is immune to Taunt and is thus a complete stop to Sableye; it plays identically to Florges and will be able to heal off burns and damage without worrying about Taunt.
**Residual Damage:** Sableye doesn't appreciate taking burns from Scald, as those force it to use Recover more frequently, making it a lot easier for the opponent to play around Sableye. The same applies to Will-O-Wisp burns, Toxic, and entry hazard damage, as Sableye will be forced into using Recover prematurely, thus potentially exposing it to an opposing Taunt or giving the foe a free turn to set up.
**Heracross**: Even though it doesn't appreciate getting its item removed, Guts Heracross discourages Sableye from using Will-O-Wisp and can also threaten it with its powerful Megahorn.
**Strong Special Attackers:** Pokemon such as Kyurem, Rotom-C, and Gardevoir have the ability to nuke Sableye into oblivion with their Choice Specs-boosted STAB moves. However, the former two should be wary of Snarl variants, as those can potentially stall them out of PP.
**Mega Absol**: In spite of being prone to getting burned in its regular forme, Mega Absol can use Sableye as setup bait. If played well enough, Justified Absol can come in on a predicted Knock Off, gain an Attack boost, Mega Evolve to prevent a burn, and proceed to beat or set up on Sableye. However, Mega Absol must be wary of a potential Foul Play which is capable of OHKOing it after a Swords Dance boost.
[OVERVIEW]
Sableye's access to Prankster allows it to shut down a vast majority of physical attackers, setup sweepers, walls, and weak special attackers before they can cause harm thanks to a combination of priority Will-O-Wisp and Taunt. Sableye also has access to the ever-reliable Recover, preventing it from being worn down quickly, thus allowing it to annoy teams throughout an entire match. Sableye is blessed with a rare type combination, and because of a priority Taunt, Sableye serves as a reliable Defog and Rapid Spin blocker for Spikes-stacking teams. Its typing also grants Sableye key immunities to the STAB moves of relevant offensive threats, such as Snorlax, Mienshao, and Reuniclus. Access to Knock Off furthers its capacity as a stallbreaker, especially considering most of Sableye's checks and counters don't appreciate having their item removed. Because of how well it does its job and the little amount of support it needs, Sableye fits extremely easily on most playstyles.
Despite having a great ability and a movepool that pairs well with Prankster, Sableye's mediocre base stats make it hard, impossible even, to switch in on a lot of the threats it's supposed to beat, and this usually results in Sableye losing to most special attackers. Because of an overwhelming lack of any offensive presence and such weak base stats, Sableye is extremely reliant on Will-O-Wisp and can be pressured to use Recover fairly easily. The ever-growing popularity of wallbreakers that Sableye can't shut down, specifically Entei, Hydreigon, Lum Berry Salamence, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir, leaves it susceptible to offensive pressure. Sableye's specialized moveset also lets powerful offensive Pokemon like Mega Houndoom and Mega Absol come in for free and immediately threaten it, but it can limit any setup in the former's case. Common defensive Pokemon, such as Florges and Arcanine, scoff at anything Sableye is capable of doing in return and force it out with Moonblast or Flare Blitz.
[SET]
name: Prankster
move 1: Recover
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Knock Off / Snarl
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Careful / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recover allows Sableye to stick around throughout the match, advancing to the top of the priority bracket and reliably healing half of Sableye's total HP. Will-O-Wisp helps Sableye handle most physically offensive Pokemon better, as a burn is capable of shutting down a plethora of physical threats. The move is also great for racking up chip damage against bulkier threats, potentially wearing them down for a teammate. Taunt is lethal against defensive Pokemon, simply preventing any attempts at setting up entry hazards, clearing hazards with Defog, statusing Sableye, healing, or Taunting Sableye before it can heal itself. Knock Off, although doing pitiful damage against anything not named Shedinja, removes the target's item and limits its staying power or offensive presence, making opposing threats easier to wear down. Snarl is used on teams that have an harder time handling strong specially oriented wallbreakers, namely Hydreigon and/or Roserade, allowing Sableye to tank repeated hits a lot more easily or allow a teammate to switch in with more ease. Foul Play is also worth considering, since it allows Sableye to damage physically offensive Pokemon a lot harder, most notably Mega Absol, which is free to use Sableye as setup fodder otherwise. However, against defensive teams and most special attackers, it is the inferior choice.
Set Details
========
The entire set revolves around Sableye's ability, Prankster, as the boost in priority to Sableye's status moves encompasses its viability; its ability to heal or cripple threats before they can make a move gives Sableye a rather unique niche in UnderUsed. The given EV spread is biased in favor of Special Defense in order to help Sableye manage threats such as Mega Blastoise and Choice Scarf Hydreigon. Will-O-Wisp mitigates the need for investment in its Defense stat in most cases: only Fire-types, Pokemon with the Guts ability, and Mega Absol are unperturbed by Will-O-Wisp, and they will beat Sableye one-on-one in most cases regardless. However, an alternate spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with an Impish or Bold nature can be used if Sableye's team absolutely needs the extra defensive support and is capable of comfortably taking on a wide range of special attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Without Snarl, Sableye is typically incapable of handing powerful special attackers, such as Choice Specs Hydreigon, Nasty Plot Infernape, and Dazzling Gleam Alakazam, and should not be left in on such threats. However, even with Snarl, Sableye will have a hard time dealing with them. Status conditions will limit Sableye's effectiveness, so it must try to Taunt any status users before receiving a Toxic or Will-O-Wisp. Scald users should be avoided by Sableye, as it cannot prevent stray burns from landing. Instead, bring Sableye in on Pokemon with low offensive capacities, like Froslass, Porygon2, and Cresselia, and start disrupting the opposing team from there. The certain few offensive Pokemon you can safely switch Sableye in on are those that can't do much back to it, like Toxicroak, Reuniclus, and Snorlax.
Team Options
========
Answers to powerful special attackers, such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Choice Specs Hydreigon, are a must, as both can easily switch in on Will-O-Wisp and begin demolishing Sableye with powerful STAB attacks. It's a tall order, but Pokemon like Cresselia can beat Nasty Plot Infernape, and Porygon2 walls Hydreigon. Faster offensive teammates, like Choice Scarf Gardevoir and Salamence, will also remove both Infernape and Hydreigon with ease, but they cannot afford to switch into them. Entry hazard setters such as Forretress, Swampert, and Froslass benefit from Sableye's ability to block both Rapid Spin and Defog. The hazards such Pokemon set give Sableye an easier time pressuring the opposing team, as it forces a lot of switches and will be able to rack up additional chip damage. Pokemon that can tank hits from the Fire- and Fairy-type Pokemon that constantly threaten Sableye on the battlefield are naturally good partners for it. The previously mentioned Forretress can switch in for free on Florges and Whimsicott and proceed to lay down Spikes and Stealth Rock, while Suicune is easily one of the best blanket checks to Fire-type Pokemon in the tier. Generally bulky Pokemon, such as Florges, Snorlax, Mega Aggron, and Gligar, make for excellent teammates, as Sableye's naturally low defensive stats and inability to cripple a select group of attackers still leave it liable to powerful attacks. Cleric support from Florges or Blissey will allow Sableye to be played more recklessly, as it will no longer fear status. For more offensively oriented teams, Pokemon that benefit from Sableye's ability to disrupt and wear down teams with Will-O-Wisp and Knock Off are great partners. Good examples of such Pokemon include Mega Sharpedo, Mega Swampert, Lucario, and Dragon Dance Salamence. Keep in mind that Pokemon like these really thrive on Spikes-stacking teams and Sableye alone is not enough to let them thrive.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Prankster and access to Taunt make Sableye a good option as a weather setter on specialized teams, allowing it to reliably set Sunny Day or Rain Dance. However, Sableye will lose some functionality, as one of its regular supporting moves will have to be dropped. Seismic Toss is an option as a reliable damaging move but is usually outclassed by all of the options mentioned in the main set. Sableye has access to a few interesting niche support options, such as Confuse Ray, Trick, Icy Wind, Psych Up, and Snatch. These can be used to catch opponents off guard but won't provide the same level of support as the four moves seen on the main set. Calm Mind allows Sableye to surprise strong special attackers that it would normally be unable to handle, but it's an inferior option to the Prankster set because it forces Sableye to drop either Taunt or Will-O-Wisp while still leaving it completely helpless against both Calm Mind Florges and Whimsicott.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Thanks to their immunity to Will-O-Wisp, Fire-type Pokemon in general can turn Sableye into a liability. Mega Houndoom and Infernape in particular aren't threatened much by Knock Off and can either freely set up Nasty Plot or retaliate with powerful STAB attacks.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Florges can come in consistently on Sableye due to its access to reliable recovery and Aromatherapy. Whimsicott and Gardevoir, despite being prone to getting worn down very quickly, can also switch in on Sableye and threaten it with Moonblast. While rare, Aromatisse is immune to Taunt and is thus a complete stop to Sableye; it plays identically to Florges and will be able to heal off burns and damage without worrying about Taunt.
**Residual Damage:** Sableye doesn't appreciate taking burns from Scald, as those force it to use Recover more frequently, making it a lot easier for the opponent to play around Sableye. The same applies to Will-O-Wisp burns, Toxic, and entry hazard damage, as Sableye will be forced into using Recover prematurely, thus potentially exposing it to an opposing Taunt or giving the foe a free turn to set up.
**Heracross**: Even though it doesn't appreciate getting its item removed, Guts Heracross discourages Sableye from using Will-O-Wisp and can also threaten it with its powerful Megahorn.
**Strong Special Attackers:** Pokemon such as Kyurem, Rotom-C, and Gardevoir have the ability to nuke Sableye into oblivion with their Choice Specs-boosted STAB moves. However, the former two should be wary of Snarl variants, as those can potentially stall them out of PP.
**Mega Absol**: In spite of being prone to getting burned in its regular forme, Mega Absol can use Sableye as setup bait. If played well enough, Justified Absol can come in on a predicted Knock Off, gain an Attack boost, Mega Evolve to prevent a burn, and proceed to beat or set up on Sableye. However, Mega Absol must be wary of a potential Foul Play which is capable of OHKOing it after a Swords Dance boost.
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