[SET]
name: Suicide Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Scald / Surf
move 4: Thunderbolt / Thunder
item: Focus Sash
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Bibarel efficiently sets up and prevents entry hazards early-game with its above-average Speed and access to Stealth Rock and Taunt. Opposing Stealth Rock setters like Solrock and Lairon are thwarted in getting their hazards up due to Taunt, and Bibarel's Scald 2HKOes both of them. Bibarel can opt to run Surf instead of Scald to KO Simisear and Solrock and 2HKO Mienfoo. However, Scald burns are more valuable for ruining physical attackers like Leafeon and Emolga or disrupting walls like Wormdam-S and Meganium, often causing more damage than Surf in the long run. Staryu, the best hazard remover in the tier, is 2HKOed by Bibarel's Thunderbolt. Bibarel can alternatively run Thunder to OHKO Kingler, but Thunderbolt's accuracy and power to beat Staryu make it the better option for Bibarel as a lead. Unaware has situational use for checking setup sweepers like Kingler and Pawniard.
Bibarel fits best on hyper offense teams, which are suited for specialized leads due to their pace. Setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Simisear and Swords Dance Leafeon appreciate Rock-weak revenge killers like Emolga, opposing Simisear, and Choice Scarf Glaceon taking Stealth Rock damage every time they switch in. Bibarel tends to invite in Grass-types like Leafeon and Meganium, meaning Emolga, Simisear, Pawniard, Muk, and Arbok can all take advantage of them once it has fallen. Persian and Emolga don't want to risk taking a Scald from Bibarel, but both of them can easily KO it after its Focus Sash is broken, and Persian commonly runs Fake Out. Lairon, Shelgon, and Solrock are all great partners for dealing with Persian and Emolga given they resist the pair's strong STAB moves. In turn, Bibarel relieves Lairon and Solrock from having to set up Stealth Rock, freeing them to run setup moves and offensive sets. Mienfoo appreciates Stealth Rock damage accumulating on Flying-type Pokemon it invites in like Emolga and Pelipper and can bring in one of Bibarel's hyper offensive partners with U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bibarel could run Thunder Wave over Thunderbolt or Thunder to slow down faster setup sweepers like Leafeon, Grumpig, and Mr. Mime, but giving up Thunderbolt means it cannot break Staryu and ensure Stealth Rock is set. Bibarel has Super Fang to make it less passive versus walls like Meganium and Clefairy compared to Scald, but Scald provides better damage against other entry hazard setters Bibarel is looking to beat, like Lairon and Solrock. Protect can shield Bibarel from Persian's Fake Out, letting it preserve its Focus Sash so it can set up Stealth Rock, but Bibarel lacks a move it can give up for this specific matchup. Bibarel's Simple ability, Normal / Water typing, and setup moves like Work Up and Curse could turn it into a setup sweeper. However, it tends to be outclassed by stronger setup sweepers like Swords Dance Leafeon and Pawniard, Dragon Dance Shelgon, Curse Muk, and Coil Arbok, as it is weak without a boost, is slowed by Curse, and struggles to break past defensive Grass-types like Meganium, Leafeon, and Ivysaur.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Persian**: Fake Out Persian bypasses Bibarel's Focus Sash and then KOes it with Return, preventing it from setting up entry hazards. Persian can also use Taunt to prevent Bibarel from setting up Stealth Rock and break Focus Sash with U-turn. However, it does not want to risk a burn switching in on Bibarel's Scald. As an offensive pivot, Persian also does not appreciate taking Stealth Rock damage if Bibarel manages to set it up.
**Emolga**: Emolga commonly runs Taunt and outspeeds Bibarel, preventing it from setting Stealth Rock. Emolga's U-turn and Volt Switch help break Bibarel's Focus Sash for its teammates, and its own Acrobatics can pick it off. Similar to Persian, Emolga is a very common offensive pivot. However, it does not appreciate Bibarel's Stealth Rock being up despite its access to Roost, and it does not want to switch into Scald for fear of burn weakening its Acrobatics.
**Faster Setup Sweepers**: Despite Bibarel's ability Unaware, sweepers fast enough to move before Bibarel's Taunt can use it as setup fodder. Physical setup sweepers like Arbok, Leafeon, and Meganium must be wary of Scald burns, but Leafeon can avoid them with a Lum Berry or Substitute. Even special setup sweepers like Raichu, Mr. Mime, and Grumpig do not appreciate chip damage from Scald and burn.
**Faster Taunt Users**: Grumpig and Mr. Mime outspeed Bibarel and can prevent it from setting up Stealth Rock or using Taunt itself, and they fear Scald burns less than Persian and Emolga. Both Psychic-types can KO Bibarel with Focus Blast once its Focus Sash is broken. Gastly is less common and quite frail, but it can use Taunt on Bibarel to disrupt it in its lead role.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
name: Suicide Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Scald / Surf
move 4: Thunderbolt / Thunder
item: Focus Sash
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Bibarel efficiently sets up and prevents entry hazards early-game with its above-average Speed and access to Stealth Rock and Taunt. Opposing Stealth Rock setters like Solrock and Lairon are thwarted in getting their hazards up due to Taunt, and Bibarel's Scald 2HKOes both of them. Bibarel can opt to run Surf instead of Scald to KO Simisear and Solrock and 2HKO Mienfoo. However, Scald burns are more valuable for ruining physical attackers like Leafeon and Emolga or disrupting walls like Wormdam-S and Meganium, often causing more damage than Surf in the long run. Staryu, the best hazard remover in the tier, is 2HKOed by Bibarel's Thunderbolt. Bibarel can alternatively run Thunder to OHKO Kingler, but Thunderbolt's accuracy and power to beat Staryu make it the better option for Bibarel as a lead. Unaware has situational use for checking setup sweepers like Kingler and Pawniard.
Bibarel fits best on hyper offense teams, which are suited for specialized leads due to their pace. Setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Simisear and Swords Dance Leafeon appreciate Rock-weak revenge killers like Emolga, opposing Simisear, and Choice Scarf Glaceon taking Stealth Rock damage every time they switch in. Bibarel tends to invite in Grass-types like Leafeon and Meganium, meaning Emolga, Simisear, Pawniard, Muk, and Arbok can all take advantage of them once it has fallen. Persian and Emolga don't want to risk taking a Scald from Bibarel, but both of them can easily KO it after its Focus Sash is broken, and Persian commonly runs Fake Out. Lairon, Shelgon, and Solrock are all great partners for dealing with Persian and Emolga given they resist the pair's strong STAB moves. In turn, Bibarel relieves Lairon and Solrock from having to set up Stealth Rock, freeing them to run setup moves and offensive sets. Mienfoo appreciates Stealth Rock damage accumulating on Flying-type Pokemon it invites in like Emolga and Pelipper and can bring in one of Bibarel's hyper offensive partners with U-turn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bibarel could run Thunder Wave over Thunderbolt or Thunder to slow down faster setup sweepers like Leafeon, Grumpig, and Mr. Mime, but giving up Thunderbolt means it cannot break Staryu and ensure Stealth Rock is set. Bibarel has Super Fang to make it less passive versus walls like Meganium and Clefairy compared to Scald, but Scald provides better damage against other entry hazard setters Bibarel is looking to beat, like Lairon and Solrock. Protect can shield Bibarel from Persian's Fake Out, letting it preserve its Focus Sash so it can set up Stealth Rock, but Bibarel lacks a move it can give up for this specific matchup. Bibarel's Simple ability, Normal / Water typing, and setup moves like Work Up and Curse could turn it into a setup sweeper. However, it tends to be outclassed by stronger setup sweepers like Swords Dance Leafeon and Pawniard, Dragon Dance Shelgon, Curse Muk, and Coil Arbok, as it is weak without a boost, is slowed by Curse, and struggles to break past defensive Grass-types like Meganium, Leafeon, and Ivysaur.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Persian**: Fake Out Persian bypasses Bibarel's Focus Sash and then KOes it with Return, preventing it from setting up entry hazards. Persian can also use Taunt to prevent Bibarel from setting up Stealth Rock and break Focus Sash with U-turn. However, it does not want to risk a burn switching in on Bibarel's Scald. As an offensive pivot, Persian also does not appreciate taking Stealth Rock damage if Bibarel manages to set it up.
**Emolga**: Emolga commonly runs Taunt and outspeeds Bibarel, preventing it from setting Stealth Rock. Emolga's U-turn and Volt Switch help break Bibarel's Focus Sash for its teammates, and its own Acrobatics can pick it off. Similar to Persian, Emolga is a very common offensive pivot. However, it does not appreciate Bibarel's Stealth Rock being up despite its access to Roost, and it does not want to switch into Scald for fear of burn weakening its Acrobatics.
**Faster Setup Sweepers**: Despite Bibarel's ability Unaware, sweepers fast enough to move before Bibarel's Taunt can use it as setup fodder. Physical setup sweepers like Arbok, Leafeon, and Meganium must be wary of Scald burns, but Leafeon can avoid them with a Lum Berry or Substitute. Even special setup sweepers like Raichu, Mr. Mime, and Grumpig do not appreciate chip damage from Scald and burn.
**Faster Taunt Users**: Grumpig and Mr. Mime outspeed Bibarel and can prevent it from setting up Stealth Rock or using Taunt itself, and they fear Scald burns less than Persian and Emolga. Both Psychic-types can KO Bibarel with Focus Blast once its Focus Sash is broken. Gastly is less common and quite frail, but it can use Taunt on Bibarel to disrupt it in its lead role.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited: