Simisage

[erisia]

[OVERVIEW]

• Lots of competition as an offensive Grass-type but its good Speed tier, mixed offensive stats, and excellent mixed coverage give it a niche as a balance breaker, outspeeding threats such as Rotom, Jynx, and Primeape, but unfortunately falling behind Scyther and Pyroar.
• Knock Off, Superpower, Rock Slide, and Gunk Shot let Simisage hit the majority of the tier for neutral damage, making it dangerous against offensive teams when brought in against a slower threat.
  
• Low bulk and multiple defensive weaknesses ensure it has to come in to revenge kill or using a pivot to avoid taking heavy damage or being KOed.
  
• While Leaf Storm and Superpower are strong moves, Simisage can be forced out after using them and lacks power against neutral targets without it.

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Gunk Shot / Seed Bomb
item: Life Orb
ability: Overgrow
nature: Naive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Set Details
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Usage Tips
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Team Options
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[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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• A specially based set with Focus Blast and Hidden Power can be used to overwhelm physically defensive targets while providing a stronger Leaf Storm, using either Choice Specs or Life Orb.
• Nasty Plot or Swords Dance can be used to threaten a sweep late-game, but is unlikely to work considering Simisage's only decent Speed tier and frail defenses.
• Taunt lets Simisage stop entry hazards from being set and prevents setup attempts / status, but is risky due to Simisage's low bulk, and struggles to find a place on Simisage's moveset over a coverage move.

Checks and Counters
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**Faster offensive Pokemon**:

**Priority-attacks**:

**Poison-type Pokemon**:

**Mixed-defensive tanks**:

 

[Punchshroom]

name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Gunk Shot / Knock Off (possibly unslash)

Imo, Rock Slide is too important of a move to be put in slash, as being able to outspeed and OHKO bulky Charizard is a huge reason to use Simisage over Shiftry in the first place, plus you also get to pop Vivillon. Meanwhile I'm not really sure what Knock Off is supposed to target when Rock Slide OHKOes Jynx, 2HKOes Colbur Xatu (while Knock off does not), and already does ~71-84% to Haunter. Knock Off also simply does not do enough to Gourgeist-XL if that is your intention, and Shiftry is better for more dedicated core-breaking anyway. Knock Off isn't even for AV Yama either, as with Simisage's current investment, Superpower does more than Leaf Storm to even non-AV Yama.

The only real advantage I can see Knock Off offering is that Knock Off followed up with Superpower 2HKOes Ferroseed, while Superpower itself doesn't 2HKO, but Superpower proves enough of a deterrent as is. Knock Off does bother the bulky Poisons, but honestly you're better off with freaking Hidden Power Psychic or, again, just let Shiftry take over at this point.

 

[ryan]

I've been using Specs Simisage lately, and it's really good. Leaf Storm / Giga Drain / Focus Blast / Hidden Power Ice or Rock depending on the team. Unique niche of being a fast Grass with coverage, so it takes on offensive Water-types well without giving as many free switches as Lilligant can.

Definitely don't think Knock is necessary on mixed. Rock Slide hits way more relevant stuff.

 

[erisia]

Thanks for the feedback. Yogibears is taking this over for me so locking and moving. This is provided that Simisage stays ranked as there's been considerable discussion about unranking it due to a lack of consistency in general.