NFE Offensive Rocks (Gabite) @ Eviolite
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Roar / Toxic
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Optional Move(s):
- Hone Claws
- Iron Tail
- Substitute
Optional Item(s):
- Steelium Z
Optional Ability:
- N/A
Optional EV/IV(s):
- 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe (Jolly)
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Overview: Thanks to its access to Stealth Rock, strong STAB moves and a good Attack stat, Gabite is a reasonably good Choice Scarf user and one of the more reliable offensive entry hazard setters. However, it’s middling overall bulk means it can not reliably check many of the important threats in the tier.
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Choice Scarf: The Choice Scarf Gabite set is able to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, including offensive threats such as Electabuzz, Frogadier, Kadabra and Haunter. It also outspeeds other notable Choice Scarf users like Monferno and Krokorok. Earthquake is a great STAB move, which hits Electric-, Fire-, Poison- and Steel-types such as Electabuzz, Monferno, Alolan Grimer, Metang and Magmar hard. Outrage is powerful STAB move which hits Dragon-types such as Sliggoo, Fraxure and Hakamo-o very hard and hits frailer neutral targets hard. Stone Edge is a decent coverage move, which mainly hits Flying-types such as Staravia and Togetic on the switch-in. Dragon Claw is a weaker STAB move but does not have the drawback of being locked into Outrage. Dual Chop offers an alternative to Dragon Claw as it gives up accuracy in order to bypass Kadabra's Focus Sash. Iron Tail threatens bulky Fairy-types such as Clefairy and Togetic who would otherwise comfortably wall Gabite.
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Offensive Rocks: This offensive Gabite set is a great role compressor as it can set up Stealth Rock and either pressure opposing Defoggers and bulky switch-ins with Toxic or phaze setup sweepers and accumulate hazard chip on opposing Pokemon with Roar. This set's main selling point is the fact that it outspeeds wallbreaker Monferno sets and therefore, it provides offensive teams with a reliable way to revenge kill Monferno. It can also switch into physical attackers like Alolan Grimer and Metang once and threaten them out with Earthquake.
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Checks & Counters: Bulky Water-types like Prinplup, Marshtomp and Wartortle can easily switch into Gabite and threaten it out with either 4x effective Ice Beam/Ice Punch or Scald burns. Bulky Fairy-types such as Clefairy and Togetic can switch into Gabite and retaliate with a STAB Moonblast or Dazzling Gleam. However, both fear Iron Tail and Togetic does not appreciate Toxic. Bulky Grass-types such as Gloom, Quilladin and Tangela also can tank hits from Gabite and wall it. However, the latter two fear Toxic.
Faster offensive Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Frogadier can OHKO any Gabite set. Hidden Power Ice Electabuzz and Dazzling Gleam Kadabra also hit the offensive Gabite set hard. However, none of the above Pokemon appreciate switching into any attack from Gabite.
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Optional EV/IV(s): An alternative spread of 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature is viable as a bulkier variant of the Offensive Rocks Gabite set. This allows it to better switch into Alolan Grimer, Metang and Pawniard, while also avoiding the OHKO by an unboosted Fightinium Z from all Combusken variants. However, this increased bulk makes Gabite more passive.
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