[OVERVIEW]
Abomasnow's excellent offensive typing combined with high-powered STAB attacks and decent mixed offensive stats makes it an extremely dangerous wallbreaker that can break down common defensive cores. Being able to run both specially and physically based sets makes Abomasnow highly unpredictable and difficult to switch into with Pokemon that have one high defensive stat and an exploitable lower one, such as Steelix, Mantine, and Hariyama. Furthermore, Snow Warning is an extremely useful ability that stacks chip damage on the enemy's non-Ice-types, prevents targets such as Musharna and Vileplume from healing effectively, breaks Focus Sash and Sturdy on dangerous threats like Omastar and Sawk, and allows Blizzard to be used reliably over Ice Beam as Abomasnow's Ice-type attack of choice. It can also shut down weather teams and standalone sweepers such as Ludicolo quite effectively, so long as Abomasnow gets an opportunity to switch in. While these attributes combine to make Abomasnow a potent offensive threat, its multiple weaknesses to common attacking types, particularly Fire, Fighting, and Rock, make it difficult for it to capitalize on its decent defensive stats and to fit into a balanced team. For example, it makes a poor general check to Water-types, such as Samurott, Kabutops, and Floatzel, because of its vulnerability to their coverage moves, in addition to disliking Scald burns from defensive Water-types such as Lanturn. When combined with a mediocre Speed stat, this makes Abomasnow very easy to revenge kill after it scores a KO. With sufficient team support, Abomasnow can find many opportunities to break holes in the opponent's cores, but without this it can also be dead weight against certain matchups, making it a risky choice compared to other wallbreakers such as Magmortar.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Blizzard
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Shard
item: Life Orb
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Blizzard is Abomasnow's most powerful attack, and it hits a lot of physically defensive targets, such as Vileplume, Steelix, and Musharna, for good damage, as well as most other offensive Pokemon. Giga Drain provides Abomasnow with a strong Grass-type STAB move that doesn't inflict heavy recoil, unlike Wood Hammer, and generally deals enough damage to common targets such as Lanturn, Samurott, and opposing Ice-types such as Aurorus to be effective. Earthquake is a useful physical coverage move that hits Fire-types such as Assault Vest Magmortar, Pyroar, and Combusken as they attempt to switch into Abomasnow and KO it. It also deals a decent amount of damage to Assault Vest Hariyama, which can otherwise handle specially based Abomasnow. Ice Shard provides a countermeasure against faster offensive threats that might try to revenge kill Abomasnow, such as Sceptile, Swellow, and Archeops, as well as deterring setup sweepers such as Vivillon and Lilligant. Wood Hammer is a powerful physical attack that hits the specially defensive targets that can take Abomasnow's special attacks, particularly Assault Vest Hariyama, extremely hard. However, the extreme recoil from Wood Hammer combined with the high HP of Abomasnow's targets often prevents it from attacking more than once with the move without KOing itself, and Giga Drain's recovery generally makes it more useful as a Grass-type attack.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs and a Hasty nature allow Abomasnow to outspeed neutral-natured Samurott and Barbaracle, preventing them from setting up or KOing it. The Special Attack stat is then maximized to ensure that Abomasnow's main STAB attacks hit as hard as possible, and the remaining EVs are invested in Attack to improve the power of its physical coverage options. A Hasty nature is similarly chosen to preserve its Attack stat, as Abomasnow will rarely utilize its Defense stat effectively due to its type weaknesses. A Mild nature can be used to give Abomasnow's main attacks more power, particularly against bulky neutral targets such as Mega Audino, but it doesn't secure any more notable KOs and losing against physical Samurott and Barbaracle is not pleasant. Snow Warning is the ability of choice, as it not only allows Blizzard to be used with 100% accuracy but also lets Abomasnow inflict chip damage after it attacks, breaking Focus Sashes and Sturdy while increasing damage output in general, for both itself and its teammates for Hail's duration. Life Orb is used to maximize Abomasnow's damage output against neutral targets, as opposed to Expert Belt's boost, which only affects super effective hits and is generally less useful.
Usage Tips
========
Abomasnow should be used early in the game to break down balanced defensive cores that rely on a physically defensive Pokemon, such as Weezing, paired with a specially defensive Pokemon, such as Magmortar. Abomasnow can deal good damage to either member on its weak defensive stat if you predict correctly, forcing the opponent into a 50-50 situation. Abomasnow should not usually try to switch into foes, unless it is obvious that the opponent will use a move that can't directly hurt it, such as Stealth Rock or Taunt. Abomasnow can also switch into Water-, Grass-, and Electric-type attacks, such as Sceptile's Giga Drain, but it should avoid switching into Scald or Volt Switch for fear of being burned and of the opponent switching in a deadly response. Abomasnow should usually come in either after a teammate has been KOed by a vulnerable threat (such as Swellow or Quagsire) or after a teammate uses U-turn, Volt Switch, Healing Wish, or Memento, to minimize Abomasnow's chances of being KOed by a stray coverage move. Giga Drain should be used when Abomasnow is at low health to prevent it from KOing itself with recoil from Stealth Rock, Life Orb, and potential Scald burns if it switches into bulky Water-types.
Team Options
========
Abomasnow is highly vulnerable to entry hazards, but it also appreciates having them on the opposing team's side to give it an easier time with wallbreaking. Rapid Spin users such as Hitmonchan and Claydol can keep them off the field while providing good offensive synergy with their STAB attacks. Defog users such as Pelipper and Mantine can also be good teammates, boasting better defensive synergy with Abomasnow while still threatening most Fire-types, and Pelipper can also use its slow U-turn to bring Abomasnow into battle safely. Entry hazard setters can help Abomasnow's team capitalize on the hail it provides by inflicting masses of chip damage as foes try to switch into Abomasnow's attacks. Garbodor and Weezing can take on Fighting-types while laying Spikes or Toxic Spikes, while Mesprit can similarly lay Stealth Rock. Teammates that can use a slow U-turn or Volt Switch, such as Pelipper, Mesprit, and Lanturn, can help Abomasnow enter combat and start tearing up teams without risking being hit by a coverage move. Mesprit is a particularly good choice, as it can also provide Stealth Rock support, a solid Fighting-type resistance, Thunder Wave support to paralyze faster threats and make them vulnerable to Abomasnow's strongest moves, and Healing Wish to give Abomasnow more chances to wallbreak throughout the match. Lanturn and Mega Audino can also provide Thunder Wave support, while the latter can additionally use Healing Wish while luring in Steel-types and KOing them with Fire Blast. Finally, teammates that can capitalize on hail support, such as Rotom-F, Clefairy, and offensive cleaners and setup sweepers that appreciate the residual damage, such as Kangaskhan and Jynx, also appreciate Abomasnow's presence.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Blizzard / Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Snow Warning / Soundproof
nature: Hasty / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Abomasnow to become a deadly physical threat, allowing its Ice Shard to pick off a much wider range of targets that outspeed it and letting it break through most walls without prediction. Ice Shard allows Abomasnow to potentially sweep after a boost or two due to its priority and lack of resistances, and it hits faster targets such as Sceptile, Swellow, and Archeops. It also lets Abomasnow force out other setup sweepers, such as Vivillon, Scyther, and Lilligant, providing itself with opportunities to set up instead. Seed Bomb is a consistent Grass-type attack that deals good damage after a boost,doesn't inflict recoil like Wood Hammer does, is usually powerful enough to get the job done, and lets Abomasnow KO multiple Pokemon without KOing itself afterwards. However, even at +2 Seed Bomb requires Stealth Rock, a round of Hail damage, or an Adamant or Lonely nature to OHKO Hariyama. Blizzard is used to let Abomasnow 2HKO physically bulky threats such as Weezing, Steelix, and Gurdurr without boosting, as well as OHKO bulky Grass-types such as Vileplume and Gourgeist-XL that could otherwise take a +2 Ice Shard. It also provides Abomasnow with a strong Ice-type attack for immediate use when boosting or priority isn't required. Earthquake can be used instead so that Abomasnow can hit Fire- and Steel-types such as Pyroar, Combusken, and Klinklang as they attempt to switch in, providing better coverage in general, but it isn't too useful after the first turn, as most of its targets can outspeed and KO Abomasnow before it can use it, boosted or not.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Hasty nature is used to surprise threats such as Samurott and Barbaracle and either KO them with Seed Bomb or force them out and secure a Swords Dance boost. The nature also preserves Abomasnow's Special Attack stat, as it shouldn't be taking too many physical hits anyway and doesn't need the extra Defense, but a Jolly nature can be used to preserve its Defense stat instead if Blizzard isn't used. Attack is then fully invested in so that Abomasnow has as much power as possible to sweep or wallbreak with. A Lonely nature, or an Adamant nature if not using Blizzard, can be used to boost Abomasnow's Attack stat if the extra damage is more useful to you than outspeeding Samurott and Barbaracle. For example, an Attack-boosting nature gives Abomasnow a good chance to OHKO Aurorus with Seed Bomb without a boost. Life Orb is the best item choice because it helps Abomasnow inflict more damage against neutral targets than the likes of Expert Belt and Never-Melt Ice. Lum Berry is also a decent choice, as it lets Abomasnow switch into Scald users, as well as threats such as Mismagius and Rotom, and set up Swords Dance semi-reliably against these targets. Snow Warning is an obvious choice when using Blizzard, but it is also a option when running a different move in that slot, as it still increases residual damage as well as breaking Sawk's Sturdy and diminishing Musharna's recovery from Moonlight. However, Swords Dance Abomasnow is more likely to OHKO opponents outright and doesn't appreciate this as much as mixed Abomasnow does. Soundproof is a good alternative if Blizzard isn't being used that provides Abomasnow with some unusual setup opportunities, such as against Swellow's Boomburst and Choice Specs Pyroar's and Aurorus's Hyper Voice.
Usage Tips
========
Swords Dance Abomasnow should be conserved until Pokemon that can threaten its sweep, such as Kangaskhan, Sawk, and Will-O-Wisp users, have been dealt with. Earthquake can be used to hit Fire-types if they attempt to switch in, but the opponent will most likely bring them into a boosted Abomasnow after it has KOed a teammate, as it is unlikely to KO them with Ice Shard after they have come in. Abomasnow should generally aim to blow holes in the opponent's team so that a more consistent sweeper or cleaner can have an easier time with its defensive checks weakened or removed. Abomasnow can also use a boosted Ice Shard to seriously cripple offensive responses, such as Choice Scarf Sawk, so that a teammate such as Kangaskhan, Samurott, or Skuntank can break through them later with another priority attack. Abomasnow should use Swords Dance when it forces a switch against an Ice Shard target such as Swellow or when it is against a passive defensive Pokemon that can't hit it for good damage, such as Calm Mind Musharna or Mega Audino without Fire Blast.
Team Options
========
Follow-up sweepers and cleaners really appreciate Abomasnow's ability to break through walls and wear down speedier responses with Ice Shard. Swellow can KO physically defensive walls that can take Abomasnow's attacks while also appreciating the pressure on Rock- and Steel-types due to Abomasnow's coverage. Meanwhile, other wallbreakers of your own such as Magmortar and Samurott are useful for softening up the opponent's defensive checks to Abomasnow, making it easier for it to sweep on its own. This is important because many threats that Abomasnow fails to beat can KO it in return due to its many weaknesses. Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Claydol can remove entry hazards from Abomasnow's path and let it use Wood Hammer more often before KOing itself with the recoil, as well as tank certain attacks such as Hydro Pump. Entry hazards of your own can complement Abomasnow's sweeping capabilities, drawing offensive targets closer to Ice Shard's KO range. Omastar can reliably set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes for an offensive team, whereas Archeops can provide Stealth Rock support while dealing with other hazard teams and blowing holes in teams with STAB Head Smash and Endeavor. Healing Wish users such as Mesprit and Mega Audino are also highly useful for giving Abomasnow more opportunities to sweep or wallbreak in a match. These two candidates can also provide Thunder Wave support so that Abomasnow can use its more powerful attacks against vulnerable foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass Knot and Energy Ball are powerful special Grass-type attacks, with Grass Knot being especially good against heavy targets such as Aurorus, Hariyama, and Regirock. However, Giga Drain is generally preferred, as its healing offsets Abomasnow's vulnerability to residual damage, and it's strong enough against most of its targets for the extra power provided by other moves to be mostly unnecessary. Focus Blast can be used to hit Normal- and Steel-types, such as Pyroar, Miltank, and Ferroseed, harder than usual, but its low accuracy is annoying and Abomasnow is already strapped for moveslots as it is. Ice Punch can be used to provide Abomasnow with a more powerful physical Ice-type attack, especially on the Swords Dance set, but Blizzard's damage output is generally superior in this metagame. Substitute + Leech Seed can let Abomasnow capitalize on the switches it forces and stack residual damage with hail, but the ease of breaking its Substitutes and its low Speed often make this set less effective than a direct attacking set. A set with Substitute and three attacks can be used instead, as such a set can capitalize more effectively on the switches Abomasnow forces, but it will sorely miss the utility of the move it replaces, usually Earthquake or Ice Shard. Growth boosts Abomasnow's Special Attack as well as its Attack, but Swords Dance makes more efficient use of a single turn of setup, and an unboosted Blizzard is usually powerful enough to break through any physical walls that could take a +2 Seed Bomb. Finally, a specially based Choice Scarf set with Snow Warning can be used as a deterrent against weather sweepers such as Ludicolo, Kabutops, and Victreebel, but it has limited use against non-weather teams due to its inability to switch moves, the attribute that makes Abomasnow so dangerous in the first place.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Most Fire-type Pokemon can switch into Abomasnow's STAB attacks and OHKO it easily with their Fire-type attack of choice, provided they can avoid switching into Earthquake. Assault Vest Magmortar can comfortably take Blizzards, while Charizard can switch into Grass-type attacks and Earthquake with impunity.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Klinklang can switch into anything other than Earthquake, outspeed Abomasnow, and either KO it with Gear Grind or start to set up, while Metang can take any unboosted hit and retaliate with Meteor Mash. Ferroseed can also take a Blizzard, or two if specially defensive, and retaliate with Gyro Ball, taking little from Abomasnow's other attacks.
**Faster Attackers**: Abomasnow's only defense against faster revenge killers is Ice Shard, and this is usually not powerful enough to OHKO them outright without a boost. Sawk, Kangaskhan, and Tauros can all take an Ice Shard with ease and force Abomasnow out with their STAB attacks or Fire Blast from Tauros.
**Residual Damage**: Abomasnow gets worn down very quickly due to recoil from Life Orb and potentially Wood Hammer, so setting Stealth Rock and Spikes will help to whittle it down even faster. Burning or poisoning it will also reduce the number of turns it can stay in and fire off its powerful attacks, as will inflicting chip damage with Fake Out from Kangaskhan.
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