Corporal Levi
ninjadog of the decade
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its Fairy typing and Intimidate, Snubbull acts as a reliable check to many metagame-defining Pokemon, including Mienfoo, Timburr, and Vullaby, and as a soft check to a slew of physical attackers. Numerous support options, including Heal Bell, Thief, and Thunder Wave, let Snubbull adequately support its team, and its good Attack, fantastic coverage options, and access to Bulk Up make it an immediate threat, generally outperforming other Fairy-types, most notably Spritzee, on offensive teams as a result. Although drawbacks in low Speed and a lack of built-in recovery mean that it is easily forced out and worn down, its coveted niche as an offensive Fighting-type check ensures that it remains one of the most splashable Pokemon in the metagame.
[SET]
name: Berry Juice
move 1: Play Rough
move 2: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 3: Thief
move 4: Bulk Up / Thunder Wave / Heal Bell
item: Berry Juice
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish / Careful
evs: 36 HP / 116 Atk / 116 Def / 196 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Play Rough is a strong STAB move that hits the Fighting- and Dark-types Snubbull is trying to check such as Mienfoo and Scraggy. Earthquake provides good neutral coverage alongside Play Rough, dealing with Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-types like Mareanie, Magnemite, and Ponyta. Alternatively, Fire Punch can be used to heavily damage Ferroseed and somewhat threaten Foongus, but it leaves Snubbull walled by Fire-types and Mareanie. Close Combat 2HKOes Ferroseed and OHKOes Pawniard and most Magnemite but leaves Snubbull completely walled by Poison-types and drastically reduces its staying power. Thief acts as a pseudo-Knock Off once Snubbull's Berry Juice has been activated or removed, allowing Snubbull to cripple switch-ins and potentially snag a useful Eviolite or Berry Juice. Bulk Up gives Snubbull the means to break through certain bulkier switch-ins and allows it to significantly threaten slower teams that lack a solid check to Fairy-types. Thunder Wave can annoy faster switch-ins such as Ponyta and supports the sweeping attempts of slow but powerful Pokemon like Timburr. Heal Bell is useful for teams that are vulnerable to status ailments, though Snubbull itself tends to fare poorly against common status users. Substitute is an option to more reliably activate Berry Juice, block slower status users like Thunder Wave Ferroseed, and ease prediction, though it is not as consistently useful.
Set Details
========
The Defense EVs and an Impish nature allow Snubbull to better check predominantly physical Fighting-types, letting it avoid a 2HKO from 16 Attack Timburr's Poison Jab before factoring in Berry Juice as well as Mienfoo's U-turn into Life Orb Diglett's Earthquake after Stealth Rock. 116 Attack EVs give Snubbull the power to almost always OHKO sweeping Vullaby variants after Stealth Rock. 23 HP and 13 Special Defense, reached with an Impish nature, let Snubbull always survive +2 Vullaby's Air Slash from full health. An alternative Careful nature leaves Snubbull more prone to being trapped by Diglett, but allows it to survive +2 Vullaby's Air Slash after Stealth Rock more consistently. Faster spreads of 36 HP / 116 Atk / 116 Def / 116 SpD / 116 Spe to outrun slow Timburr, 36 HP / 116 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe to outrun Mareanie and defensive Mudbray, and the latter EV spread with a Jolly nature to outrun Nasty Plot Croagunk and fast Timburr are viable, but the reduction in bulk leaves Snubbull much less reliable at checking Fighting-types and Vullaby. More Attack EVs can be run to get a few extra KOs, such as an OHKO on fast Eviolite Mienfoo after Stealth Rock with 17 Attack and the 2HKO on Foongus after Stealth Rock with Fire Punch and 18 Attack, but scenarios where the loss of bulk matters, as described above, tend to be more common. Intimidate gives Snubbull its niche as a blanket check to physical attackers. Berry Juice is Snubbull's only means of recovering its health and synergizes well with Thief.
Usage Tips
========
Switch into predicted Knock Offs from Pokemon that Snubbull checks, notably including Mienfoo and Timburr, to immediately pressure the opposing team with Thief. Once Berry Juice has been activated or removed, aim to use Thief on a Pokemon that relies on Eviolite or Berry Juice, like Foongus or Magnemite, so that Snubbull gains bulk to better check its targets or even more longevity. Be careful of the opponent predicting Thief and switching to a Choice Scarf or Life Orb user, as those items cripple Snubbull. Do not switch Snubbull into Pawniard unless you are certain that it has a Choice Scarf and is locked into a resisted move, as Intimidate activates Defiant. For the same reason, be wary of double switches into Pawniard when switching Snubbull in on foes it obviously checks, which are mostly Fighting-types. Use Earthquake and Fire Punch on predicted Mareanie and Foongus switch-ins, respectively, as Snubbull will need to hit them on the switch to 2HKO them and they can easily shrug off damage dealt by Play Rough because of Regenerator. The same applies for faster Pokemon like Magnemite and Ponyta that don't mind Play Rough and can immediately force it out with the threat of a strong special attack or a burn. When predicting switch-ins that Snubbull can OHKO or come close to OHKOing with an unexpected coverage move, such as Ferroseed with Fire Punch or Close Combat, it is safer to only reveal such a coverage move after they have switched in so that Snubbull can act as a lure.
Snubbull is a decent blanket check to physical attackers in general, soft checking threats like Archen and Drilbur. If Snubbull is too low in health to check a strong physical attacker, sacking Snubbull to activate Intimidate before it faints helps to make the attacker easier to deal with, but be wary of doing this against threats like Corphish, which can use the predicted sack to boost its Attack with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance instead of attacking; in addition, Intimidate will not activate if Snubbull faints to entry hazards upon switching in. Alternatively, against a physical attacker that cannot further boost its Attack, it may be worth sacking teammates to repeatedly activate Intimidate if none of Snubbull's teammates can withstand an attack after a single Attack drop. Entry hazards and weaker attacks can be taken advantage of to activate Berry Juice if Snubbull needs to take an attack it can only withstand from full health.
Due to Snubbull's low Speed, the goal of Bulk Up is not usually to pull off a sweep. Use it frequently early-game if the opponent lacks a good Snubbull switch-in such as Foongus so that Snubbull can better pressure its foes with strong attacks. Bulk Up Snubbull does occasionally have a real shot at sweeping weaker physically offensive teams; in this case, saving Snubbull for a late-game sweep after its checks have been worn down is an option.
Team Options
========
Snubbull is generally very splashable, but best fits onto offensive teams that do not appreciate Spritzee's frequent loss of momentum. Its main role is as a Fighting-type and Vullaby check, which means it pairs well with Pokemon like Pawniard and Ferroseed; they appreciate a good switch-in to their checks. Switch-ins to the Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-types that force Snubbull out are needed; examples of Pokemon that synergize defensively with Snubbull include Slowpoke, Onix, and Munchlax. Diglett can also be used to trap and eliminate these checks to Snubbull. Pokemon that can come in on the strong special attackers that force Snubbull out like Life Orb Abra, such as Munchlax and Alolan Grimer, are appreciated. Stealth Rock support from the likes of Drilbur or Onix wears down switch-ins and lets Snubbull obtain some key KOs, such as an OHKO on offensive Vullaby with Play Rough. Even with Bulk Up, Snubbull is not very effective as a dedicated sweeper, so it should be run alongside stronger late-game threats whose checks it can wear down.
[SET]
name: Eviolite
move 1: Play Rough
move 2: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 3: Heal Bell / Thief
move 4: Bulk Up / Thunder Wave / Thief
item: Eviolite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 116 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Play Rough serves as Snubbull's STAB attack, with which it forces out Fighting- and Dark-types such as Mienfoo. Earthquake and Fire Punch are Snubbull's best coverage options; Earthquake hits Fire-types and Mareanie, whereas Fire Punch is more threatening to Ferroseed and Foongus. Close Combat hits Pawniard harder and also does a good amount of damage to Ferroseed, but carries the drawback of lowering Snubbull's defenses and leaves it with no way of threatening Poison-types. Heal Bell supports Snubbull's entire team by curing status. As Snubbull will frequently be switching into Knock Off, Thief is useful for stealing an foe's Eviolite or Berry Juice and provide some chip damage. Bulk Up increases Snubbull's offensive presence and leaves it less easily walled on top of boosting its already impressive physical bulk. Thunder Wave cripples faster Pokemon like Gastly and pairs well with slow but threatening teammates such as Corphish.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature let Snubbull outpace all common Timburr and Croagunk variants. The given defensive EVs hit Eviolite-optimal numbers, granting Snubbull decent 23/18/18 bulk. 116 Attack EVs let Snubbull most notably OHKO offensive Vullaby after Stealth Rock. An Impish nature instead of Jolly lets Snubbull retain its ability to outspeed Mareanie and Mudbray and gives it the bulk to survive Mienfoo's U-turn into Diglett's Tectonic Rage, though it then ties with faster variants of Timburr and Croagunk. In general, with the extra bulk from Eviolite, Snubbull can be much more flexible with its EV spread and invest more heavily in bulk or Attack as seen fit. Intimidate is the preferred ability so that Snubbull can better check physical attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Be wary of Snubbull's Intimidate activating Pawniard's Defiant. Save unexpected coverage moves that can heavily damage slower foes, such as Fire Punch for Ferroseed, until after they have switched in so that they are not scared off. Otherwise, try to hit foes on the switch with coverage moves. Thanks to Intimidate, Snubbull can beat most physical attackers, including Drilbur and Doduo. When Snubbull is low on health, it can be sacked against a physical attacker for Intimidate's Attack drop as long as it does not faint to entry hazards in the process; alternatively, against a particularly threatening physical attacker, it can be repeatedly sent in after teammates have been sacked to reactivate Intimidate. Although Bulk Up Snubbull can occasionally be played against a sweeper in especially favorable matchups, it is generally used whenever Snubbull is not attempting to immediately damage a switch-in so that Snubbull can fire off more threatening attacks. If Thief is run, try to use it on an Eviolite or Berry Juice holder such as Croagunk after Snubbull has been hit by Knock Off, as Snubbull can take advantage of these items. This set is preferable for offensive teams that use Snubbull as their sole check to Fighting-types, as the increased initial bulk makes Snubbull more difficult to KO with an unexpected coverage move.
Team Options
========
Snubbull tends to fit on teams leaning towards offense, as it competes with the more resilient but momentum-sapping Spritzee on defensive teams. It synergizes well with Pokemon such as Diglett, Drilbur, Ferroseed, and Slowpoke, which appreciate a Fighting- and Dark-type check and can deal with the Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-type Pokemon that Snubbull dislikes. Fire-types like Ponyta handle Foongus and Ferroseed. Lickitung has good type synergy with Snubbull and can pass Wishes to keep it healthy, but struggles to fit onto the fast-paced teams Snubbull tends to be included in. Offensive Stealth Rock setters like Onix pair well with Snubbull's decent offensive presence for Snubbull to more easily get KOs, such as a likely OHKO on Choice Scarf Pawniard with Earthquake.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A combination of Rest and Sleep Talk gives Snubbull a more reliable form of recovery, but such a set is generally done better by Wish + Aromatherapy Spritzee. Unlike Thief, Crunch OHKOes all common Gastly variants and can 2HKO Frillish and Pumpkaboo-XL after Stealth Rock; however, it offers almost no coverage otherwise. Facade lets Snubbull significantly damage Eviolite-less Larvesta and Ponyta once it has been burned, but provides no additional coverage and isn't very useful when Snubbull is healthy. Brick Break is an alternative Fighting-type coverage move over Close Combat, as it does not lower Snubbull's defenses, but is generally too weak to be worthwhile, failing to 2HKO Ferroseed and requiring Stealth Rock to OHKO Eviolite Pawniard. Power-Up Punch is even weaker to the point where even Pokemon weak to it don't initially mind it too much, meaning it is useless as a coverage move despite its tempting side effect. Roar helps Snubbull deal with setup sweepers, but Snubbull is generally strong enough to attempt to simply outright KO them. Though Taunt can somewhat hinder Ferroseed, Snubbull is generally too slow to properly take advantage of it. Super Fang can help ease prediction and somewhat threaten switch-ins, but Snubbull's coverage moves are more useful. Toxic cripples some bulkier switch-ins, but Snubbull's most common switch-ins, bulky Poison- and Steel-types, are immune to it, and Mudbray frequently runs Rest. Despite its uses against Ponyta in particular, Bulldoze is generally less useful than Earthquake because it is too weak to 2HKO Mareanie and activates Pawniard's Defiant.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Foongus is undoubtedly Snubbull's most prominent check, not minding Play Rough and Earthquake while being able to avoid a 2HKO from Fire Punch if it still has its Eviolite. Mareanie can also be troublesome although it is 2HKOed by Earthquake. Other Poison-types such as Gastly, Skrelp, Alolan Grimer, and Croagunk are weak to moves Snubbull commonly carries and may not resist Play Rough, but can force it out with the threat of STAB Poison-type attacks. Despite its rarity, Koffing deserves special mention for completely walling all Snubbull variants.
**Steel-types**: Though they don't want to deal with Snubbull's coverage moves, Magnemite and Ferroseed can come in on Play Rough or a utility move and force Snubbull out. Ferroseed loses to Fire Punch Snubbull but walls Earthquake variants. Pawniard is a special case in that it struggles to actually come in on Snubbull but is still an enormous threat to it due to the possibility of Intimidate or Play Rough activating Defiant.
**Bulky Fire-types**: Larvesta is one of the most reliable answers to Snubbull, as it walls Snubbull completely, stops Snubbull from threatening its teammates with Will-O-Wisp, and remains healthy with Morning Sun. Defensive Ponyta is weak to Earthquake but can burn Snubbull if gets in safely.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Extremely strong special attackers like Life Orb Houndour, Life Orb Abra, and Skrelp are generally able to OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull after Stealth Rock, easily forcing it out, but may lack the bulk to switch into Snubbull directly.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: If Snubbull lacks Bulk Up, physical walls such as Mudbray, Spritzee, and Slowpoke can attempt to shut it down. However, they dislike Snubbull thieving their Eviolites, so they should carry a setup or coverage move, such as Calm Mind on Spritzee, that lets them OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull. With some Attack investment, Mudbray can OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull with Heavy Slam provided it is not affected by Intimidate and can wall Snubbull even if it uses Thief to take Mudbray's Eviolite.
Thanks to its Fairy typing and Intimidate, Snubbull acts as a reliable check to many metagame-defining Pokemon, including Mienfoo, Timburr, and Vullaby, and as a soft check to a slew of physical attackers. Numerous support options, including Heal Bell, Thief, and Thunder Wave, let Snubbull adequately support its team, and its good Attack, fantastic coverage options, and access to Bulk Up make it an immediate threat, generally outperforming other Fairy-types, most notably Spritzee, on offensive teams as a result. Although drawbacks in low Speed and a lack of built-in recovery mean that it is easily forced out and worn down, its coveted niche as an offensive Fighting-type check ensures that it remains one of the most splashable Pokemon in the metagame.
[SET]
name: Berry Juice
move 1: Play Rough
move 2: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 3: Thief
move 4: Bulk Up / Thunder Wave / Heal Bell
item: Berry Juice
ability: Intimidate
nature: Impish / Careful
evs: 36 HP / 116 Atk / 116 Def / 196 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Play Rough is a strong STAB move that hits the Fighting- and Dark-types Snubbull is trying to check such as Mienfoo and Scraggy. Earthquake provides good neutral coverage alongside Play Rough, dealing with Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-types like Mareanie, Magnemite, and Ponyta. Alternatively, Fire Punch can be used to heavily damage Ferroseed and somewhat threaten Foongus, but it leaves Snubbull walled by Fire-types and Mareanie. Close Combat 2HKOes Ferroseed and OHKOes Pawniard and most Magnemite but leaves Snubbull completely walled by Poison-types and drastically reduces its staying power. Thief acts as a pseudo-Knock Off once Snubbull's Berry Juice has been activated or removed, allowing Snubbull to cripple switch-ins and potentially snag a useful Eviolite or Berry Juice. Bulk Up gives Snubbull the means to break through certain bulkier switch-ins and allows it to significantly threaten slower teams that lack a solid check to Fairy-types. Thunder Wave can annoy faster switch-ins such as Ponyta and supports the sweeping attempts of slow but powerful Pokemon like Timburr. Heal Bell is useful for teams that are vulnerable to status ailments, though Snubbull itself tends to fare poorly against common status users. Substitute is an option to more reliably activate Berry Juice, block slower status users like Thunder Wave Ferroseed, and ease prediction, though it is not as consistently useful.
Set Details
========
The Defense EVs and an Impish nature allow Snubbull to better check predominantly physical Fighting-types, letting it avoid a 2HKO from 16 Attack Timburr's Poison Jab before factoring in Berry Juice as well as Mienfoo's U-turn into Life Orb Diglett's Earthquake after Stealth Rock. 116 Attack EVs give Snubbull the power to almost always OHKO sweeping Vullaby variants after Stealth Rock. 23 HP and 13 Special Defense, reached with an Impish nature, let Snubbull always survive +2 Vullaby's Air Slash from full health. An alternative Careful nature leaves Snubbull more prone to being trapped by Diglett, but allows it to survive +2 Vullaby's Air Slash after Stealth Rock more consistently. Faster spreads of 36 HP / 116 Atk / 116 Def / 116 SpD / 116 Spe to outrun slow Timburr, 36 HP / 116 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe to outrun Mareanie and defensive Mudbray, and the latter EV spread with a Jolly nature to outrun Nasty Plot Croagunk and fast Timburr are viable, but the reduction in bulk leaves Snubbull much less reliable at checking Fighting-types and Vullaby. More Attack EVs can be run to get a few extra KOs, such as an OHKO on fast Eviolite Mienfoo after Stealth Rock with 17 Attack and the 2HKO on Foongus after Stealth Rock with Fire Punch and 18 Attack, but scenarios where the loss of bulk matters, as described above, tend to be more common. Intimidate gives Snubbull its niche as a blanket check to physical attackers. Berry Juice is Snubbull's only means of recovering its health and synergizes well with Thief.
Usage Tips
========
Switch into predicted Knock Offs from Pokemon that Snubbull checks, notably including Mienfoo and Timburr, to immediately pressure the opposing team with Thief. Once Berry Juice has been activated or removed, aim to use Thief on a Pokemon that relies on Eviolite or Berry Juice, like Foongus or Magnemite, so that Snubbull gains bulk to better check its targets or even more longevity. Be careful of the opponent predicting Thief and switching to a Choice Scarf or Life Orb user, as those items cripple Snubbull. Do not switch Snubbull into Pawniard unless you are certain that it has a Choice Scarf and is locked into a resisted move, as Intimidate activates Defiant. For the same reason, be wary of double switches into Pawniard when switching Snubbull in on foes it obviously checks, which are mostly Fighting-types. Use Earthquake and Fire Punch on predicted Mareanie and Foongus switch-ins, respectively, as Snubbull will need to hit them on the switch to 2HKO them and they can easily shrug off damage dealt by Play Rough because of Regenerator. The same applies for faster Pokemon like Magnemite and Ponyta that don't mind Play Rough and can immediately force it out with the threat of a strong special attack or a burn. When predicting switch-ins that Snubbull can OHKO or come close to OHKOing with an unexpected coverage move, such as Ferroseed with Fire Punch or Close Combat, it is safer to only reveal such a coverage move after they have switched in so that Snubbull can act as a lure.
Snubbull is a decent blanket check to physical attackers in general, soft checking threats like Archen and Drilbur. If Snubbull is too low in health to check a strong physical attacker, sacking Snubbull to activate Intimidate before it faints helps to make the attacker easier to deal with, but be wary of doing this against threats like Corphish, which can use the predicted sack to boost its Attack with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance instead of attacking; in addition, Intimidate will not activate if Snubbull faints to entry hazards upon switching in. Alternatively, against a physical attacker that cannot further boost its Attack, it may be worth sacking teammates to repeatedly activate Intimidate if none of Snubbull's teammates can withstand an attack after a single Attack drop. Entry hazards and weaker attacks can be taken advantage of to activate Berry Juice if Snubbull needs to take an attack it can only withstand from full health.
Due to Snubbull's low Speed, the goal of Bulk Up is not usually to pull off a sweep. Use it frequently early-game if the opponent lacks a good Snubbull switch-in such as Foongus so that Snubbull can better pressure its foes with strong attacks. Bulk Up Snubbull does occasionally have a real shot at sweeping weaker physically offensive teams; in this case, saving Snubbull for a late-game sweep after its checks have been worn down is an option.
Team Options
========
Snubbull is generally very splashable, but best fits onto offensive teams that do not appreciate Spritzee's frequent loss of momentum. Its main role is as a Fighting-type and Vullaby check, which means it pairs well with Pokemon like Pawniard and Ferroseed; they appreciate a good switch-in to their checks. Switch-ins to the Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-types that force Snubbull out are needed; examples of Pokemon that synergize defensively with Snubbull include Slowpoke, Onix, and Munchlax. Diglett can also be used to trap and eliminate these checks to Snubbull. Pokemon that can come in on the strong special attackers that force Snubbull out like Life Orb Abra, such as Munchlax and Alolan Grimer, are appreciated. Stealth Rock support from the likes of Drilbur or Onix wears down switch-ins and lets Snubbull obtain some key KOs, such as an OHKO on offensive Vullaby with Play Rough. Even with Bulk Up, Snubbull is not very effective as a dedicated sweeper, so it should be run alongside stronger late-game threats whose checks it can wear down.
[SET]
name: Eviolite
move 1: Play Rough
move 2: Earthquake / Fire Punch
move 3: Heal Bell / Thief
move 4: Bulk Up / Thunder Wave / Thief
item: Eviolite
ability: Intimidate
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 116 Atk / 36 Def / 116 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Play Rough serves as Snubbull's STAB attack, with which it forces out Fighting- and Dark-types such as Mienfoo. Earthquake and Fire Punch are Snubbull's best coverage options; Earthquake hits Fire-types and Mareanie, whereas Fire Punch is more threatening to Ferroseed and Foongus. Close Combat hits Pawniard harder and also does a good amount of damage to Ferroseed, but carries the drawback of lowering Snubbull's defenses and leaves it with no way of threatening Poison-types. Heal Bell supports Snubbull's entire team by curing status. As Snubbull will frequently be switching into Knock Off, Thief is useful for stealing an foe's Eviolite or Berry Juice and provide some chip damage. Bulk Up increases Snubbull's offensive presence and leaves it less easily walled on top of boosting its already impressive physical bulk. Thunder Wave cripples faster Pokemon like Gastly and pairs well with slow but threatening teammates such as Corphish.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature let Snubbull outpace all common Timburr and Croagunk variants. The given defensive EVs hit Eviolite-optimal numbers, granting Snubbull decent 23/18/18 bulk. 116 Attack EVs let Snubbull most notably OHKO offensive Vullaby after Stealth Rock. An Impish nature instead of Jolly lets Snubbull retain its ability to outspeed Mareanie and Mudbray and gives it the bulk to survive Mienfoo's U-turn into Diglett's Tectonic Rage, though it then ties with faster variants of Timburr and Croagunk. In general, with the extra bulk from Eviolite, Snubbull can be much more flexible with its EV spread and invest more heavily in bulk or Attack as seen fit. Intimidate is the preferred ability so that Snubbull can better check physical attackers.
Usage Tips
========
Be wary of Snubbull's Intimidate activating Pawniard's Defiant. Save unexpected coverage moves that can heavily damage slower foes, such as Fire Punch for Ferroseed, until after they have switched in so that they are not scared off. Otherwise, try to hit foes on the switch with coverage moves. Thanks to Intimidate, Snubbull can beat most physical attackers, including Drilbur and Doduo. When Snubbull is low on health, it can be sacked against a physical attacker for Intimidate's Attack drop as long as it does not faint to entry hazards in the process; alternatively, against a particularly threatening physical attacker, it can be repeatedly sent in after teammates have been sacked to reactivate Intimidate. Although Bulk Up Snubbull can occasionally be played against a sweeper in especially favorable matchups, it is generally used whenever Snubbull is not attempting to immediately damage a switch-in so that Snubbull can fire off more threatening attacks. If Thief is run, try to use it on an Eviolite or Berry Juice holder such as Croagunk after Snubbull has been hit by Knock Off, as Snubbull can take advantage of these items. This set is preferable for offensive teams that use Snubbull as their sole check to Fighting-types, as the increased initial bulk makes Snubbull more difficult to KO with an unexpected coverage move.
Team Options
========
Snubbull tends to fit on teams leaning towards offense, as it competes with the more resilient but momentum-sapping Spritzee on defensive teams. It synergizes well with Pokemon such as Diglett, Drilbur, Ferroseed, and Slowpoke, which appreciate a Fighting- and Dark-type check and can deal with the Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-type Pokemon that Snubbull dislikes. Fire-types like Ponyta handle Foongus and Ferroseed. Lickitung has good type synergy with Snubbull and can pass Wishes to keep it healthy, but struggles to fit onto the fast-paced teams Snubbull tends to be included in. Offensive Stealth Rock setters like Onix pair well with Snubbull's decent offensive presence for Snubbull to more easily get KOs, such as a likely OHKO on Choice Scarf Pawniard with Earthquake.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A combination of Rest and Sleep Talk gives Snubbull a more reliable form of recovery, but such a set is generally done better by Wish + Aromatherapy Spritzee. Unlike Thief, Crunch OHKOes all common Gastly variants and can 2HKO Frillish and Pumpkaboo-XL after Stealth Rock; however, it offers almost no coverage otherwise. Facade lets Snubbull significantly damage Eviolite-less Larvesta and Ponyta once it has been burned, but provides no additional coverage and isn't very useful when Snubbull is healthy. Brick Break is an alternative Fighting-type coverage move over Close Combat, as it does not lower Snubbull's defenses, but is generally too weak to be worthwhile, failing to 2HKO Ferroseed and requiring Stealth Rock to OHKO Eviolite Pawniard. Power-Up Punch is even weaker to the point where even Pokemon weak to it don't initially mind it too much, meaning it is useless as a coverage move despite its tempting side effect. Roar helps Snubbull deal with setup sweepers, but Snubbull is generally strong enough to attempt to simply outright KO them. Though Taunt can somewhat hinder Ferroseed, Snubbull is generally too slow to properly take advantage of it. Super Fang can help ease prediction and somewhat threaten switch-ins, but Snubbull's coverage moves are more useful. Toxic cripples some bulkier switch-ins, but Snubbull's most common switch-ins, bulky Poison- and Steel-types, are immune to it, and Mudbray frequently runs Rest. Despite its uses against Ponyta in particular, Bulldoze is generally less useful than Earthquake because it is too weak to 2HKO Mareanie and activates Pawniard's Defiant.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Foongus is undoubtedly Snubbull's most prominent check, not minding Play Rough and Earthquake while being able to avoid a 2HKO from Fire Punch if it still has its Eviolite. Mareanie can also be troublesome although it is 2HKOed by Earthquake. Other Poison-types such as Gastly, Skrelp, Alolan Grimer, and Croagunk are weak to moves Snubbull commonly carries and may not resist Play Rough, but can force it out with the threat of STAB Poison-type attacks. Despite its rarity, Koffing deserves special mention for completely walling all Snubbull variants.
**Steel-types**: Though they don't want to deal with Snubbull's coverage moves, Magnemite and Ferroseed can come in on Play Rough or a utility move and force Snubbull out. Ferroseed loses to Fire Punch Snubbull but walls Earthquake variants. Pawniard is a special case in that it struggles to actually come in on Snubbull but is still an enormous threat to it due to the possibility of Intimidate or Play Rough activating Defiant.
**Bulky Fire-types**: Larvesta is one of the most reliable answers to Snubbull, as it walls Snubbull completely, stops Snubbull from threatening its teammates with Will-O-Wisp, and remains healthy with Morning Sun. Defensive Ponyta is weak to Earthquake but can burn Snubbull if gets in safely.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Extremely strong special attackers like Life Orb Houndour, Life Orb Abra, and Skrelp are generally able to OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull after Stealth Rock, easily forcing it out, but may lack the bulk to switch into Snubbull directly.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: If Snubbull lacks Bulk Up, physical walls such as Mudbray, Spritzee, and Slowpoke can attempt to shut it down. However, they dislike Snubbull thieving their Eviolites, so they should carry a setup or coverage move, such as Calm Mind on Spritzee, that lets them OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull. With some Attack investment, Mudbray can OHKO Berry Juice Snubbull with Heavy Slam provided it is not affected by Intimidate and can wall Snubbull even if it uses Thief to take Mudbray's Eviolite.
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