Community POTW #18

[CaptainCombusken]

Sir Tankalot
Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Moves:
-Amnesia [Level up]
-Acid Armor [Egg Move- is also an egg move in gen iV]
-Giga Drain [Gen IV TM]
-Toxic [Level up]

Well, basically a tank. Amnesia and Acid Armor raises its defences to really high levels, which, combined with its high HP, will allow it to hang around for a while.
Toxic is to deal damage, which, when combined with Black Sludge and the high defences and HP, will mean he can hang around for a while. Combine that with Giga Drain, which can also deal with ground types which are horrible for this guy to face, and you have a real tank.

Mr. Messy
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Moves:
-Gastro Acid [Level up]
-Destiny Bond [Egg Move- Koffing/Wheezing]
-Pain Split [Egg moves- Koffing/Wheezing
-Sludge Bomb/Gunk Shot [Level up]

This Swalot is one that is a pain to face. It was Gastro Acid, a potential battle-winning move if used on the right Pokemon. For example, it can allow you to KO a Shedninja with any attack, and more valuable, stop Blaziken and Ninjask from being able to set up a sweeper.
Then you have Destiny Bond. This move guarantees that whatever knocks out Swalot, who has a Focus Sash so he doesn't die before using the move. This can ruin an opponent's strategy, especially if its a boosted sweeper such as Garchomp.
Next, Pain Split. Swalot is low on HP, and you opponent sends out a new Pokemon. This will restore Swalot's HP and make the opponent weaker straight away.
Finally, one of two STAB attacking moves, both of which can inflict poison at a 30% chance. It juts depends on whether you prefer more power or more accuracy.

Thanks for reading.

[Kraleck]

Swalot is actually a coOl looking pokemon. If only it had better defensive stats.

I agree, but if only it had better stats, period. HP is the only stat going for it. Great for a 101-Substitute, but it's so slow and fragile to its weaknesses, STABed or not, that you're likely not going to see one.

That said, getting Trick Room support and a safe switch-in is tricky, but doable. Liquid Ooze plus Curse and Block (4th Gen Tutor) is a great way to ruin a Physical Attacker+Seeder/Drainer that somehow isn't taking the full brunt of your STAB (like if you can't hit the broad side of a Snorlax due to inaccurate Moves or if they are a Seeder Ferrothorn).

Getting Swalot in at all is high-risk. So many Pokemon know Psychic or Ground Moves that any Poison Type has issues.

For a safe switch-in on EQ, you'll need to work with an Air Balloon in Singles or an Imprison+EQ Pokemon Partner in Doubles/Triples. Not many Pokemon can have both Imprison and EQ to help - Stantler, Bronzor, Bronzong, Landorus, Dusclops, and Dusknoir. Stantler and Bronzor/Bronzong would be best since they can learn Psychic Moves and use them fairly well (Stantler's Zen Headbutt and Bronzor/Bronzong's Psychic).

A "safe" Doubles/Triples Partner for Swalot:

Bronzong
Quiet, 252 to both defenses, 6 to HP
Red Card/Leftovers/Wise Glasses
Heatproof
Imprison, EQ, Psychic, Hidden Power (Dark)

Triples Partner for Swalot & Bronzong:

Cradily
Impish, same EVs as Bronzong
Leftovers/Muscle Band
Suction Cups
Block (4th Gen), Recover, Pain Split, Rock Slide
Position - Center

Basically, Block High-HP opponents or ones that can't handle super-effective Moves too well, Imprison immediately and go for broke with Swalot. As for a Swalot for this Triple set, try this:

Swalot
Careful/Calm, 252 to HP, 160 to Sp.Def, rest to Defense
Black Sludge/Rocky Helmet
Sticky Hold
Careful - Gunk Shot, Ice Punch (4th Gen Tutor), Thunderpunch (4th Gen Tutor), Seed Bomb (4th Gen Tutor)
Calm - Sludge Bomb, Ice Beam, Shock Wave (4th Gen TM), Giga Drain (4th Gen TM)

[Vodka Haze]

I agree, but if only it had better stats, period. HP is the only stat going for it.

I also feel that if it had learned Toxic Spikes in Gen IV and gotten a much better DW ability, Swalot would be amazing. It's a real shame as well, since I like it's design.

[GroundTypeGuru]

Tanklot
Swallot@Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
- Curse
- Gunk Shot
- Earthquake
- Amnesia
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EV: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd

Kind of a variant on dual defenses. Curse makes your attack and defense higher, at the cost of your already bad speed, while Amnesia 2x boosts your special defense. Max HP to hang in there and hopefully get a sub up that can take a beating after the boosts. Gunk Shot has STAB, Earthquake is Earthquake

[Epicpip]

...
...
...

I forgot him. I played Emerald oh so long ago and had him. He worked kinda okay, but I see one large use for him: Serperior counter. He can get Serperior so easily.

Seeders go Bye-Bye
Swalot@Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Calm/Careful
252 HP/252 (Sp)Attack/4 SpD
-Amnesia
-Sludge Bomb/Gunk Shot
-Toxic
-Earthquake/Fire Punch/HP Fire

There. Use Toxic on a subseeder, or destroy the sub with Earthquake or a filler, just get toxic down so that something happens. Then Amnesia to prevent Leaf Storm from getting ahead of your defense (If battling Serperior). The last move is there so that after you kill the subseeder you aren't useless.

I am not the best set-maker, so tell me what you think.

[Swoobat]

Swalot's stats are outclassed by many Pokémon. His attacking stats are awful in this tier. The list of counters is almost endless. I think it doesn't deserve an analysis until UU is open, but well...

In the analysis it should be said that Swalot's movepool is great and that it can surprise many opponents with his coverage.

[streetlightdsb]

Lefties vs Black Sludge: Lefties if you don't want someone else on your team to get black sludge.

I have to quote this so more people will see. If a tricker takes your Black Sludge, they're not going to keep it.

[Wild Dragonite]

You could try Acid Spray as a set-up for a partner, or to stop Baton Passers... but that's really the only new piece of advice I can give.

[TheAwesomeOne]

Muk>Swalot IMO.

[CloudVII]

Is Explosion still viable or did it get nerfed?

[GroundTypeGuru]

Is Explosion still viable or did it get nerfed?

Yes and no. It still has 250 base power, which means it jumps to 375 for normal types with STAB, and it's viable there, but it no longer halves defense, which means the pokemon that loved it in previous gens have to consider it carefully.

More or less, it's become a 'I'm going to die so I might as well get damage on them' Kind of thing.

[Haru Glory]

Swalot @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
Nature: Sassy (+S.Def, -Spd)
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 S.Atk
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- HP Ice
- Shadow Ball

All offensive stuff. Hit, hit, hit.
Swalot can take at least two hits, so make good use of the Toxic+Venoshock combo.
HP Ice and Shadow Ball to counter weaknesses.

[TheAwesomeOne]

It stopped halving defense in 4th Gen wasn't it?

[WeatherEffectRain]

Oh boy, I'm really late to this one. Swalot... Interesting. I'd say UU sets, where he is farely usable.

I really wish it got a better DW ability though. Maybe Poison Touch.

Mixed Tanker. Yes. I chose Tanking.
Ability: Sticky Hold
Item: Life Orb/Black Sludge
EVs: 128 SDef, 128 Def, 124 SAtk, 124 Atk, 4 HP
-Earthquake
-Giga Drain/Sunny Day
-Ice Punch/Ice Beam/Fire Punch
-Shadow Ball/SolarBeam

A farely simple Tanker Set. Two variations, I'll explain later. Earthquake is that move that rocks. Giga Drain to heal from Life Orb, and get healing anyway. Ice Punch or Ice Beam to smack Altaria in the face, use which one dependent on your choice. Shadow Ball is a Ghost-type move that can be usefull. However, you could put Black Sludge and run a SunnyBeamer. Fire Punch gets a useful bonus from it as well, and Earthquake hits super-effective to Fire-types that want to get in your way. Although, Altaria DOES Dominate the SunnyBeamer variant, so be careful.

^The above is probably my best set yet. PLEASE, tell me anything wrong with it.

So thats it from me for now.

[chanseychansey77]

The "Poison Bag" Pokemon? C'mon, Pokedex...

Swalot@Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: Max HP and Sp. Atk.
Acid Spray
Ice Beam
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power (Fire)

Something Swalot has that few others do is Acid Spray, a move that cuts the opponents Sp. Def. in half, so it may as well use it. Ice Beam and Shadow Ball for coverage, Sludge Bomb for STAB.

[Grassmaster411]

my swalot focuses on doing the most damage possible before it can be taken out by ground or psychic moves

Moveset:
Explosion
Toxic
Gunk Shot
Gastro acid

toxic to poison, and gunk shot for STAB. gastro acid to get rid of pesky dream world abilitys. explosion to finish things off.

Item: Black slugde

[TrollFreak]

*sigh* might as well post something
Swalot @ Black Sludge
Careful (Sp Def> Sp. Atk)

252 HP/252 Sp.Def/ 4 Atk

Curse
Gunk Shot
Earthquake
Ice Punch

Heres an intersting set. Max Hp and Max Sp.Def gives Swalot plenty of time to set up
and endure some hits as well. Gunk Shot, STAB, eartquake, covers Steel Immunitys.
Ice Punch for ground types. There.

Darkrai the Swalot @ Black Sludge
Modest (Sp. Atk > Atk)

252 HP/ 252 Sp. Atk/ 4 Sp. Def

Yawn
Block
Dream Eater
Nightmare

Well, serebii told us to go nuts, im going nuts. Block prevents switching and yawn is obvious. Then the fun Begins Nightmare first, so they lose HP everyturn. The slowly Dream Eater to death. Mwhwhhwhahaha Creative set, If I say so myself.

Specs @ Choice Specs

Modest (same as above, to lazy to put it here again)

same Ev's as the Darkrai Set

Slude Bomb/ Slude Wave
Ice Beam
Hp Fire
Shadow Ball/ SolarBeam (IF useing sunny day team)

Another set that covers swalots weaknesses. Slude Bomb or Wave, Bomb for better chance of poisoning, Wave for Power, is STAB

Ice Beam for Ground types, Hp Fire for Steels types, Shadow Ball for Psychics
(Works great in the sun, Hp Fire is stronger and solarbeam is now an option )

Banded @ choice band (last set)

Adament (Opposite of Modest)

252 Hp/ 252 Atk/ 4 Sp Def

Gunk Shot
Ice Punch
E-Quake
Explosion

Same as the Curse set, BUT WITH EXPLOSIONS

[Firebrand]

I guess you could run a stockpile set with sludge bomb in the fourth slot, maybe energy ball or somehing for coverage instead of swallow. Uh, black sludge for item.
Ive never actually used swalot. Never liked the design. But my friend does, and he uses it partnered with quagsire. Its a decent wall… but they dont do much. To counter swalot, I use swampert, because I like swampert. Anything with earthquake works though. Or if you still have mons with iron tail, go nuts. Metagross is good. Empoleon with flash cannon gets the job done.
No idea for EVs, but either dump them all into defense and special defense, or pick if you want to be a physical or special wall. Then invest the rest into special attack and hp.
All in all... Not such a great pokemon.

[Dragonite's]

Why does everybody forget giga drain!!!

[TheAwesomeOne]

Cos it sucks.
Giga Drain for Tanking sets, Energy Ball for Attacking sets.

[_Calm|Mind_]

Here's my Reno Swalot.

Swalot @ Float Stone
Ability: Sticky Hold
Nature: Sassy (+SpD, -Spe)
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 216 SpD
- Swallow
- Rollout
- Body Slam
- Swagger

Float Stone reduces his Grass Knot weak, Swallow because it's just what Reno does, Body Slam and Rollout to take advantage of Reno's voluptuous body, and Swagger because Reno's always gettin' his swagger on.

[stenli]

As a nasty absurd looking Poison-type Pokemon, Swalot is outclassed by Muk and Garbodor. However the Stomach Pokemon still has some niche. Or he wish....

Drain Pwn
Swalot @ Leftovers
Trait: Liquid Ooze
EVs & Nature: Some HP, Def & SpD. Some SpA. +Def -Spe. 0 Spe IV.

- Stockpile.
- Pain Split.
- Acid Spray / Hidden Power lol Psychic.
- Ice Beam.

This set made to wall HP suckers :P (Toxicroak, Conkeldurr, Mienshao, Ferrothorn, Whimsicott, etc). Switch to Swalot while they're using Drain Punch / Leech Seed / Giga Drain. U know the rest...

[WeatherEffectRain]

Why does everybody forget giga drain!!!

I believe my Tanking set had it. Everyone seemed to miss it though...

[SomeoneIGuess]

I wouldn't use Giga Drain. It gets no STAB and is coming off your Swalot's base 73 Special Attack. Pain Split gets you ALOT further. Unless you're Up against a Water/Ground or your opponent's HP is lesser than yours.

[WeatherEffectRain]

Well, Giga Drain is more reliable. By the way, if they Belly Drum or something like that, you end up healing them. Giga Drain... Yeh. More reliable.

I still wanna see something about my set. Its gone under the radar or something.