Standard (Dusclops) @ Eviolite
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 60 Def / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Night Shade / Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Haze
RestTalk (Dusclops) @ Eviolite
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 60 Def / 200 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Night Shade
- Will-O-Wisp
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Calm Mind (Dusclops) @ Eviolite
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting] / Sleep Talk
- Rest
Notes: Dusclops is quite possibly the bulkiest pokemon in the tier, boasting insane 130 split defenses. The Standard Dusclops set is only 3HKOd by Krokorok Knock Off, being able to burn it and Pain Split up if it tries to trap Dusclops. The rest is dropped into spdef so that special attackers like Frogadier, Haunter and Servine won't have a field day with Dusclops, as well as making it able to tank Thunderbolts from Electabuzz and Shadow Balls from Kadabra without being 3HKOd. Night Shade is the main damage dealing move, but Hex can be used due to STAB + 130 BP on burn victims. Will-O-Wisp cripples incoming fighting types, while Pain Split acts as a semi reliable healing move. Haze makes Dusclops able to stall out the many set up sweepers in the tier, as well as acting as a hardcounter to Eevee. An Alternative spread of 252hp/252 defense with Bold nature can be ran to semi check Physical SD Monferno, however, Dusclops is more likely than not to lose that Match-up still. Rest-Talk Dusclops is also an option, which works somewhat better for teams relying on Dusclops to just come in and tank a hit, abusing weak support pokemon to waste rest turns. Calm Mind is also a niche option, either running a CroClops set or Hidden Power Fighting to hit Dark types and normal types that otherwise takes little to no damage from Shadow Ball.
Checks & Counters: Pokemon with Taunt are generally a hardcounter to Dusclops, such as certain Quilladin sets, Fraxure and Misdreavus. Servine is a tough nut to crack, getting Sp.Atk boosts from Leaf Storm and not providing much Hp from Pain Split. However, Servine generally needs 4 hits to kill Dusclops, meaning it'll be out of Leaf storms once Clops is dead. Strong Knock Off mons like Grimer-Alola can also be a nuissance, as well as Life Orb Haunter and other Hex Ghosts. Normal Types can also hard wall Dusclops, but there aren't too many of them and pokemon like Staravia do not like getting burnt. The Guts fighting types (Machoke and Gurdurr) don't mind a burn, and can pull off a few strong Knock Offs on Dusclops.
Other Options: Protect and Spite are good tools for abusing its ability Pressure to PP stall opposing pokemon with low PP moves, such as Servine. Toxic is also a good way to cripple bulky walls, as well as Shadow Sneak to priority chip weaker mons. Memento + Trick Room is also great for Trick Room teams, acting as the #1 TR setter. Ice Beam can also be good on the CM Clops set, dealing Super Effective damage to annoying pokemon like Murkrow, Vullaby, Servine, Roselia, GLoom and Quilladin.
