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Skuntank is a great stallbreaker in ZU; its Poison / Dark typing gives it various opportunities to set up against foes such as Uxie and Tangela. While initially weak, Skuntank can pummel passive walls like Clefairy and Altaria with Nasty Plot and its STAB coverage. Taunt can be used to prevent foes like Miltank and Pyukumuku from recovering HP. Alternatively, Corrosive Gas cripples common checks like Rhydon, Articuno, and Stunfisk. Skuntank fits best on offense and balance teams that appreciate its Toxic and Psychic immunities, stallbreaking, and ability to pressure Ghost-, Psychic-, and Fairy-types like Cofagrigus, Uxie, and Clefairy. Ground-types such as Rhydon, Stunfisk, and Piloswine are able to heavily pressure Skuntank; checks to them such as Cramorant and Poliwrath are appreciated. The aforementioned Water-types can also lure in Grass-types like Thwackey and Tangela for Skuntank to take advantage of. Partners like Sawk and Swords Dance Silvally formes benefit from Skuntank weakening foes such as Tangela, Qwilfish, and Alcremie to clean late-game.

Moves Pursuit allows Skuntank to trap Dark-weak Pokemon such as Musharna, Bronzor, Jellicent, and Haunter and weakened, slower Pokemon such as Stoutland, Victreebel, and Lanturn. Crunch offers Skuntank a reliable Dark-type STAB move, 2HKOing physically defensive sets of both Pokemon, although Skuntank should watch out for Earthquake from Metang. Set Details Choice Band provides Skuntank with greatly increased damage potential on its moves, allowing it to be a more potent Pursuit trapper and revenge killer. It also allows Skuntank to 2HKO Calm Mind Musharna with Crunch and OHKO Abomasnow with Poison Jab. Maximum Speed with a Jolly nature is preferred to allow Skuntank to outspeed Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol, notably letting Skuntank revenge kill the latter after Stealth Rock damage. An Adamant nature can be run instead for better damage output, allowing Skuntank to better punish switch-ins such as Mudsdale and more reliably Pursuit trap Pokemon such as Jellicent and Metang while guaranteeing that Skuntank can OHKO Silvally-Fairy with Poison Jab. Usage Tips Thanks to the increased damage output provided by Choice Band and threat of Choice Band-boosted Crunch, Skuntank is able to more reliably Pursuit trap threats such as Metang, Jellicent, and Victreebel that it would struggle with otherwise. Skuntank should, however, avoid directly switching into the former two and only switch into the latter's STAB moves, as it can be heavily punished by Metang's Earthquake, Jellicent's Will-O-Wisp, and Victreebel's Strength Sap. In general, Choice Band Skuntank should be very careful about locking into specific moves, especially when Pokemon that can punish them are still present. For instance, locking into Sucker Punch allows Pokemon such as Oricorio-G, Omastar, and Musharna to set up for free and is especially dangerous if Substitute users such as Combusken and Alolan Raichu are present. Locking into Pursuit can also offer Pokemon such as Carracosta and Oricorio-E free setup opportunities while giving powerful wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Drampa free turns. While not as dangerous as the previous two, locking into Poison Jab can instead offer free turns to Steel-types such as Aggron, Alolan Sandslash, and Ferroseed, the latter of which can take advantage of any move Skuntank locks into. Team Options Physically defensive Pokemon such as Mudsdale, Regirock, and Gurdurr are capable of consistently walling Choice Band Skuntank. Teammates such as Victreebel, Jellicent, and Simisear can help break these Pokemon; in return, Victreebel appreciates Skuntank Pursuit trapping Cryogonal, Musharna, and Oricorio-G, while Choice Specs Simisear appreciates Jellicent being Pursuit trapped. Pivots such as Lanturn and Eelektross are able to bring Skuntank in on Pokemon such as Victreebel, Cryogonal, and Musharna that it can Pursuit trap. Eelektross can also help pressure Mudsdale and Regirock, while Assault Vest Lanturn can help check Omastar and non-Grassium Z Simisear, which can set up on Skuntank locked into Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Teammates such as Regirock and Cryogonal can check Pokemon such as Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G that may attempt to set up on Skuntank after locking into an unfavorable move. Lycanroc is a more offensive option that can also help revenge kill these Pokemon as well as Turtonator and Simisear that attempt to set up on Skuntank, although it will need some chip damage on Turtonator. Musharna pairs excellently with Choice Band Skuntank, as Skuntank is able to Pursuit trap problematic Pokemon such as Bronzor, Haunter, and Metang, while Musharna can provide Future Sight support to help punish switch-ins to Skuntank such as Mudsdale, Gurdurr, and Regirock and help check Gurdurr. Teammates such as Alolan Sandslash and Primeape appreciate Skuntank's ability to Pursuit trap Jellicent, enabling Alolan Sandslash to more easily remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin or break through the opposing team with Swords Dance. Primeape in particular invites Jellicent in and can use U-turn against it, bringing Skuntank in safely without risk of being burned. Teammates such as Aurorus, Swords Dance Silvally-Fairy, and Kangaskhan appreciate Skuntank Pursuit trapping Bronzor and Metang, enabling the former two to break enemy teams more easily. Silvally-Fairy in particular is able to bring Skuntank in on these Pokemon through U-turn.

Moves Punishment is an alternative option to Defog that allows Skuntank to more easily beat setup sweepers such as Oricorio-E, Musharna, Turtonator, and Simisear. Memento is another option that allows Skuntank to sacrifice itself to offer a setup opportunity to one of its teammates late-game while providing free momentum; however, it is not as reliable when Regirock or Carbink are present due to Clear Body blocking the stat drops. Toxic can instead be run to cripple switch-ins such as Mudsdale and Regirock but is more situational, especially in matchups against Pokemon such as Qwilfish, and can be dangerous to lock into if predicted. Set Details While a Jolly nature is usually preferred for outspeeding +2 Omastar, an Adamant nature can instead be run to allow Skuntank to do more damage, notably guaranteeing that Skuntank KOes offensive Oricorio-G from full HP and bulky Oricorio-G after Stealth Rock damage. Usage Tips Choice Scarf Skuntank should be careful about what move it locks itself into, as locking into Pursuit could provide free opportunities for wallbreakers such as Drampa, Aurorus, and Crabominable or setup sweepers such as Carracosta and Oricorio-E; therefore, you should carefully consider this when using Pursuit. Locking into Defog is a very risky, last-resort option that leaves Skuntank wide open, and it should only be done when absolutely necessary. Thanks to the increased Speed from its Choice Scarf, Skuntank can be used to Pursuit trap faster, Dark-weak Pokemon such as Alolan Raichu and Jynx that could otherwise KO Skuntank or put it to sleep first, as well as weakened, fast threats such as Simisear, Lycanroc, Oricorio-E, and Swanna. Skuntank should be wary about attempting this versus the latter two Pokemon if it has not yet revealed that it is a Choice Scarf set, as they may attempt to heal with Roost predicting a Sucker Punch. If running Punishment, Skuntank can aim to use it versus Pokemon such as Carracosta, Calm Mind Oricorio-E, and Nasty Plot Simisear if they are already worn down; however, Skuntank should be careful not to reveal that it is a Choice Scarf variant or that it is running Punishment if attempting to do this to prevent the opponent swapping out and using Skuntank for free turns due to Punishment's low natural Base power. Team Options Pivots such as Silvally-Fairy, Lanturn, and Rotom-F can help Skuntank perform its roles more reliably despite its average defensive stats. Swords Dance Silvally-Fairy can help to put pressure on the physically defensive Pokemon Skuntank struggles with such as Mudsdale and Gurdurr while being able to pivot Skuntank in on Bronzor with U-turn so that it can be Pursuit trapped, allowing Silvally-Fairy to more reliably clean late-game. Lanturn can instead offer Heal Bell support, allowing Skuntank to attempt to Pursuit trap Jellicent with less fear of being burned, and if Skuntank is running Punishment, Lanturn can pivot into Calm Mind Oricorio-E and safely bring Skuntank in against it with Volt Switch. Rotom-F can help break Mudsdale and Torterra and offer Defog support so Skuntank can run a different move such as Punishment or Memento. Gurdurr is able to switch into Skuntank fairly safely and use it as setup fodder, so reliable checks such as Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G are helpful teammates. While it can't deal with Gurdurr well, Jellicent is another option that can effectively handle Choice Scarf Primeape and isn't weak to Stealth Rock, which is especially useful due to Choice Scarf Primeape outspeeding Skuntank. In return, these Pokemon appreciate Skuntank Pursuit trapping Cryogonal and, in non-Taunt Oricorio-E's case, Bronzor. Teammates such as Ludicolo and Abomasnow can help pressure Torterra, Mudsdale, and Regirock, helping create situations where Skuntank can potentially clean up late-game. Ludicolo can also offer an additional late-game sweeper and appreciates Memento support if Skuntank is running it, while Abomasnow appreciates Skuntank Pursuit trapping Bronzor and can bluff a Choice Scarf set to help Skuntank surprise foes such as Oricorio-G. Fighting-types such as Gurdurr, Primeape, and Combusken appreciate Skuntank's support in Pursuit trapping Pokemon such as Musharna and Alolan Raichu. Gurdurr can in return help check Regirock and Mudsdale and appreciates Skuntank's support against Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, while Combusken can help patch up Skuntank's below-average Speed for a Choice Scarf user with Speed Boost and help break Pokemon such as Regirock and Torterra with a special attacking set. Alternatively, Swords Dance Combusken sets appreciate Memento support from Skuntank to more reliably set up late-game. Setup sweepers such as Carracosta, Omastar, and Rock Polish Torterra can help break through problematic Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock, with Torterra in particular highly appreciating Skuntank Pursuit trapping Bronzor. All three can also take advantage of Memento support to set up more easily and become harder to revenge kill.

Moves Acid Spray allows Skuntank to pressure usual switch-ins to other Skuntank sets such as Mudsdale, Torterra, Qwilfish, and Gurdurr, putting the former two into range of Skuntank's Z-Move. Sludge Bomb is an alternative that lets Skuntank more immediately threaten Silvally-Fairy and Gurdurr and attempt to poison switch-ins such as Regirock that Acid Spray cannot affect due to Clear Body. Taunt allows Skuntank to prevent entry hazard setters such as Regirock and Carbink, which otherwise wall it, from setting up Stealth Rock and, in conjunction with Acid Spray, allows Skuntank to break through Audino. Fire Blast is an alternative that lets Skuntank OHKO Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash. It also allows Skuntank to do more damage to Torterra without using its Z-Move and lets it offensively check Victreebel. Set Details Darkinium Z provides Skuntank with a powerful nuke that it can take advantage of in combination with Acid Spray to KO Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Torterra. Black Sludge is an alternative if another member of Skuntank's team has a Z-Crystal, providing it with a passive form of recovery and allowing it to use Defog more reliably. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Skuntank to outspeed Adamant Kangaskhan and Jolly Absol; however, a Modest nature can be run for higher damage output, allowing Skuntank to do more chip damage to Pokemon such as Gurdurr and Regirock on the switch in. Usage Tips Skuntank can aim to use Acid Spray early- and mid-game on switches it forces versus Pokemon such as Victreebel and Jellicent to punish switch-ins such as Mudsdale, Gurdurr, and Eelektross. If Regirock or Carbink is present, however, Skuntank should only ever do this once they have been crippled or removed due to Clear Body preventing Special Defense drops and should instead either use Taunt on the switch or double switch to a Pokemon that can pressure them. Skuntank should be careful about when it uses its Z-Move, as this is usually a very obvious move after Skuntank has used Acid Spray versus a Pokemon such as Mudsdale, and it may be useless if the opponent switches out. If another Pokemon such as Cryogonal or Lanturn is present that may attempt to switch into the Z-Move, Skuntank should ideally wait until they are removed or in range of the Z-Move and focus more on using Dark Pulse when predicting Mudsdale to switch in. Skuntank should prioritize using Defog on switches it forces versus Pokemon such as Jellicent, Musharna, and Bronzor. If Skuntank is running Taunt, it can more freely use Defog while Regirock is still healthy and use Taunt on it after it switches into Skuntank, although it must watch out for Regirock running Earthquake. Skuntank should, however, prioritize attacking Mudsdale if expecting it to come in because Skuntank can't prevent it from setting Stealth Rock back up. If running Taunt, Skuntank can aim to use it when predicting a Pokemon such as Regirock or Carbink to switch in, preventing them setting up Stealth Rock. Skuntank can also aim to use it versus sweepers such as Turtonator, Omastar, and Carracosta that attempt to set up on Skuntank. If running Fire Blast, be careful not to reveal that Skuntank is running a special set early in the match if teammates that appreciate Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash being removed are present, as the opponent will likely anticipate that you are running Fire Blast after this. Team Options Pokemon such as Lycanroc and Stoutland appreciate Skuntank weakening Mudsdale and Gurdurr, allowing them to more easily break the enemy team. Lycanroc in particular can help check problematic special walls such as Articuno and Cryogonal as well as Calm Mind Oricorio-E, which can set up on Skuntank, while Skuntank benefits from Stoutland wearing down a shared check in Regirock, allowing it to more easily keep entry hazards off the field. Pokemon such as Golurk, Victreebel, and Eelektross that can pressure Regirock and Carbink make for good teammates; Golurk can set Stealth Rock; Victreebel can pressure Gurdurr and Mudsdale so that Skuntank can save its Z-Move as well as help wear down Eelektross and check Assault Vest Hitmonchan; and Eelektross can check Cryogonal with Drain Punch, wear down Mudsdale so that Skuntank can save its Z-Move, and bring Skuntank in on Pokemon such as Musharna and Audino that it can help break. Teammates such as Regirock and Metang can help to consistently check Silvally-Fairy, making up for Skuntank's inability to reliably pressure it when running Acid Spray. They can also help pressure special walls such as Articuno and Cryogonal and offer Stealth Rock support; in return, they appreciate Skuntank pressuring Jellicent, Victreebel, and Sableye. Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G can help check Gurdurr and appreciate Skuntank being able to remove specially defensive Alolan Sandslash with Fire Blast. Taunt Skuntank sets can instead help pressure Audino and appreciate their help dealing with Victreebel. Skuntank also enjoys Oricorio-E being able to poison its checks such as Regirock, Lanturn, and Eelektross with Toxic. Fighting-types such as Primeape and Gurdurr appreciate Skuntank taking on Jellicent, Musharna, and Victreebel. Primeape and Skuntank can wear down down shared checks such as Mudsdale and Gurdurr, while Primeape and Gurdurr can help pressure Regirock and Carbink and specially defensive Pokemon such as Lanturn and Eelektross. If Skuntank is running Fire Blast, Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Aurorus, and Musharna enjoy its ability to lure in and KO Ferroseed and Alolan Sandslash, especially specially defensive variants of the latter. In return, Aurorus is able to help pressure Mudsdale, Regirock, and Torterra, Kangaskhan can help pressure Pokemon such as Cryogonal and Calm Mind Oricorio-E, and Musharna can provide Future Sight support to help chip switch-ins to Skuntank such as Regirock and Carbink and provide an answer to specially defensive Pokemon that Skuntank struggles with such as Assault Vest Hitmonchan and Eelektross.

Moves Pursuit allows Skuntank to trap Dark-weak Pokemon such as Haunter and Bronzor, as well as Cryogonal and weakened Jellicent. Sucker Punch allows Skuntank to revenge kill faster threats such as Alolan Raichu, as well as Dodrio and Ludicolo after chip damage. If another Pokemon on Skuntank's team has Defog or Rapid Spin, Taunt can be used to prevent Pokemon such as Regirock and Ferroseed from setting up Stealth Rock and foes such as Victreebel and non-Scald Jellicent from freely healing against or statusing it. Toxic is an option to help Skuntank punish switch-ins such as Regirock, Mudsdale, and Torterra, but it lacks the utility and team support that Defog and Taunt otherwise provide. Set Details Aftermath allows Skuntank to punish Pokemon such as Primeape and Dodrio for KOing it with a contact move and can be used in conjunction with Sucker Punch to more reliably revenge kill such Pokemon by increasing the potential damage. Rocky Helmet allows Skuntank to punish contact moves such as Kangaskhan's Fake Out and Primeape's U-turn, and it pairs well with Aftermath by removing a considerable amount of HP from such Pokemon when Skuntank is KOed. Black Sludge is an alternative that offers Skuntank a passive form of recovery, letting it more reliably use Defog and Pursuit trap targets. Black Glasses is another alternative that increases the power of Skuntank's Pursuit and Sucker Punch, allowing it to revenge kill Pokemon such as Simisear from higher HP and pressure Bronzor and Musharna more. Usage Tips Skuntank can make use of Sucker Punch to revenge kill weakened, faster threats such as Ludicolo under rain, Dodrio, and Simisear or try to Pursuit trap them when they switch out under the threat of Sucker Punch. Skuntank should watch out when using Sucker Punch against Oricorio-G, Simisear, and Alolan Raichu, however, if it is not yet known whether they are running Substitute. In matchups where Skuntank is necessary to Pursuit trap Pokemon such as Haunter and Future Sight Musharna, it should try to preserve its HP as much as possible to ensure it has enough HP to survive a hit from such Pokemon if they stay in. If Skuntank's running Rocky Helmet and low on HP or no longer useful in a match, it can be brought in on physical attackers such as Dodrio, Stoutland, Gurdurr, and Crabominable to deal a considerable amount of recoil to the foe through the combination of Aftermath and Rocky Helmet damage and offer a safe switch in to a teammate, although Skuntank should only attempt this versus Gurdurr if the former is at very low HP due to Drain Punch. If running Defog, since Skuntank does not have a good matchup versus common Stealth Rock setters such as Mudsdale, Regirock, and Torterra, it should primarily attempt to remove entry hazards on Pokemon that it can force out or is not threatened by such as Musharna, Clefairy, Sableye, and Cryogonal. If running Taunt, Skuntank can more readily Pursuit trap targets such as Victreebel and Jellicent for its teammates by preventing Victreebel from staying in and using Strength Sap and stopping Jellicent from using Recover or Will-O-Wisp; however, Skuntank will need to be brought in safely if it does not want to risk being burned, and it must watch out for Scald variants of Jellicent. Team Options Water- and Grass-types such as Jellicent and Victreebel can help threaten Mudsdale and Regirock, which can both set Stealth Rock against and wall Skuntank. Victreebel can also help deal with Gurdurr and appreciates Skuntank Pursuit trapping Cryogonal and Musharna. Torterra can also help threaten Mudsdale and Regirock while being able to provide Stealth Rock support or a potential wincon with Rock Polish, and it also appreciates Skuntank Pursuit trapping the aforementioned targets. Teammates such as Regirock and Cryogonal can help check Oricorio-E and Oricorio-G, with Regirock also helping to check Kangaskhan and providing Stealth Rock support and Cryogonal helping Skuntank check Victreebel and Jellicent while allowing it to run Taunt or Toxic instead of Defog. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Primeape and Gurdurr appreciate Skuntank being able to Pursuit trap Future Sight Musharna and, if running Taunt, Victreebel. In return, they are able to pressure Regirock and Alolan Sandslash, while Primeape can provide Skuntank with free opportunities to Pursuit trap targets such as Jellicent through U-turn. Pokemon walled by Bronzor, such as Aurorus, Alolan Sandslash, Musharna, and Kangaskhan, appreciate Skuntank's Pursuit trapping. Aurorus can also help pressure Mudsdale and appreciates Skuntank's support in removing or preventing Stealth Rock from setters such as Bronzor and Regirock, while Musharna can offer Future Sight support to help pressure switch-ins such as Mudsdale and Regirock and check Gurdurr.

Moves Sucker Punch allows Skuntank to pick off some offensive Pokemon. Pursuit allows Skuntank to trap Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Musharna, Mesprit, Haunter, and Mismagius. Poison Jab lets Skuntank reliably damage Grass-types such as Shiftry, Cacturne, and Lilligant, as well as 3HKO Mega Audino. Taunt gives Skuntank a way to shut down defensive Pokemon such as Musharna and Mega Audino, as well prevent slower Pokemon from setting up any entry hazards. Crunch can be used if a reliable Dark-type STAB move is needed to prevent Klinklang from setting up for free and to deal reliable damage to Xatu, Mesprit, and Musharna. Set Details 232 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allow Skuntank to 3HKO Mega Audino with Poison Jab. 144 Speed EVs allow Skuntank to outspeed neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon such as Ludicolo and Samurott. The rest of the EVs go into Special Defense to let Skuntank better check special attackers such as Lilligant, Cacturne, Mesprit, and Audino. Lum Berry gives Skuntank some insurance against Will-O-Wisps from the Ghost-types which it aims to Pursuit trap, as well as well avoiding being put to sleep from Lilligant's Sleep Powder. Black Sludge can be used to give Skuntank consistent recovery that allows it to last a bit longer, but the extra insurance against Will-O-Wisp from Lum Berry to aid in Pursuit trapping is generally more beneficial. If using Black Sludge, 24 HP EVs should be moved from Special Defense to HP in order to maximize the recovery from Black Sludge. Aftermath is chosen to damage physical attackers after they KO Skuntank with a contact move. An alternative EV spread of 24 HP / 232 Atk / 168 SpD / 84 Spe can be used to ensure that Skuntank is slower than minimum Speed Xatu, allowing Skuntank to take it down with Pursuit when it uses U-turn, while giving Skuntank more bulk. Usage Tips Use Skuntank's typing to switch into Pokemon it checks such as Lilligant, Shiftry, Musharna, Mesprit, and Exeggutor. When anticipating an opposing Pokemon's switch, use Pursuit to heavily damage or eliminate it from the match. When using Sucker Punch, be wary of Will-O-Wisp and Substitute users, as they can take advantage of Skuntank by using it as setup fodder. Similarly, while Skuntank switches into both Haunter and Mismagius easily, it must watch out for Will-O-Wisp if it's not holding a Lum Berry. Use Taunt to shut down defensive Pokemon such as Audino and Musharna, as well as prevent Pokemon from using any non-attacking moves, easing prediction with Sucker Punch. Taunt is also useful for shutting down slower entry hazard setters such as Garbodor and Crustle. Team Options Primeape pairs incredibly well with Skuntank, as it appreciates the Pursuit support Skuntank provides, allowing it to easily wallbreak. Primeape also has access to U-turn, which works great with its ability to lure in Ghost- and Psychic-types for Skuntank to trap. Calm Mind Mesprit pairs well with Skuntank, as Skuntank is able to eliminate both Musharna and Mega Audino, two Pokemon that are bulky enough to stomach Mesprit's boosted attacks, while Mesprit is able to switch into Ground-type attacks aimed at Skuntank due to Levitate. Skuntank also traps faster Ghost-types that threaten Mesprit such as Haunter, Rotom, and Mismagius. Swords Dance Kabutops and Samurott appreciate Skuntank's ability to switch into Lilligant and Shiftry and threaten both with Poison Jab, making it easier for Samurott and Kabutops to clean late-game. Mixed Samurott and Floatzel also threaten problematic Ground-types such as Rhydon and Torterra. Lilligant is a great partner, as it threatens Ground- and Rock-types with its Grass STAB type, while Skuntank shuts down Mega Audino, one of the few Pokemon bulky enough to take Lilligant's attacks after a Quiver Dance.

Moves Dark Pulse is Skuntank's most reliable Dark-type STAB move, dealing heavy damage to Musharna, Mesprit, and Exeggutor while dealing reliable damage to Garbodor. Fire Blast hits many common switch-ins to Skuntank, such as Pawniard, Mawile, Ferroseed, and Vileplume. Hidden Power Grass deals heavy damage to Rhydon, Carracosta, and Quagsire. Alternatively, Acid Spray allows Skuntank to break through bulkier foes such as Mega Audino, Sliggoo, and Mantine while softening up switch-ins. Defog allows Skuntank to remove all entry hazards from the field, making it act as a team supporter. This set in particular utilizes Defog well because it is able to beat common hazard setters by luring them in and KOing them, making it easier to keep hazards off the field. Memento is another decent option that weakens a foe, allowing a sweeper to get a free opportunity to set up. Sludge Bomb can be used as a reliable Poison-type STAB move to hit Mega Audino and Lilligant, but it is generally inferior to Dark Pulse. Set Details Maximum Special Attack EVs plus a Modest nature allow Skuntank to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed EVs allow Skuntank to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, most notably Modest Mesprit. Black Sludge is used to increase Skuntank's longevity and let it switch into Pokemon such as Mesprit and Garbodor more comfortably. Alternatively, Shuca Berry has use in reducing the amount of damage taken from a Ground-type attack from the likes of Rhydon and Steelix, allowing Skuntank to get off a crucial Defog or attack if needed. Life Orb is another option that gives a more significant boost in power, which makes up for Skuntank's lacking Special Attack against neutral targets at the cost of longevity. Aftermath is used to wear down physical attackers if they KO Skuntank with a contact move. Alternatively, an EV spread of 112 HP / 252 SpA / 144 Spe with a Modest nature gives Skuntank more bulk and lets it outspeed up to neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon, such as Ludicolo and Samurott. Usage Tips This set is designed to lure in conventional answers to Skuntank such as Rhydon, Mawile, and Quagsire. It also has a better matchup against entry hazard setters, allowing Skuntank to effectively run Defog and support its teammates. Generally Defog should be used against a Pokemon that cannot do much in return, such as Lilligant or Shiftry. Do not directly switch Skuntank into Stealth Rock users such as Rhydon and Carracosta, as they all have a way to threaten Skuntank. Team Options Pokemon that appreciate entry hazards being removed, such as Archeops and Swellow, pair well with Skuntank. They also appreciate Skuntank's ability to eliminate Rhydon, a common answer to both Pokemon. Mesprit appreciates Skuntank's ability to switch into and check Ghost-types, while in return Mesprit is able threaten Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Hitmonchan, switch into Ground-type attacks thanks to Levitate, and restore Skuntank's HP with Healing Wish if it has been worn down too much by residual damage. Setup sweepers such as Belly Drum Linoone and Swords Dance Samurott also work well with Skuntank if it runs Memento, allowing them to have a free setup opportunity.

This set is Skuntank's best, providing a multitude of ways to support its team and disrupt momentum on the opposing side. With Sucker Punch, Skuntank can serve as a revenge killer, being able to easily pick off weakened threats thanks to Skuntank's satisfactory Attack stat. With the combination of Pursuit and Sucker Punch, Skuntank can put many Pokemon—particularly Psychic- and Ghost-types—into a checkmate position, either forcing them to attack and be hit with Sucker Punch or switch and be hit by Pursuit. Poison Jab serves as a reliable STAB, providing nice coverage against Fighting-types such as Sawk and Primeape while also having a nice 30% poison chance to wear down bulkier opponents. On the other hand, Crunch is a viable alternative; while it provides considerably less coverage than Poison Jab, it acts as a reliable Dark-type STAB when Sucker Punch and Pursuit aren't needed. Finally, the last slot is reserved for Taunt, providing a way to disrupt momentum and shut down setup. It also forms an excellent combination with Sucker Punch and Pursuit, forcing the opponent to either attack or switch and be attacked accordingly. The given EV spread achieves a few purposes. 80 EVs are put into Speed in order to outspeed Timid Gorebyss and either Taunt before its Shell Smash or simply attack it. Attack is maximized to get the most out of Sucker Punch and Pursuit. Finally, the rest of the EVs buff up Skuntank's special bulk. This EV spread is fairly variable; for example, 104 Speed EVs can be used to get the jump on standard Mandibuzz as well as positive-natured base 55s such as Exeggutor and Cacturne. Maximum Speed coupled with a Jolly nature allows for outspeeding Timid Gardevoir, Jolly Drifblim, and Adamant Sawk. Black Sludge is the preferred item here, providing passive recovery to allow Skuntank to switch in more often and do its job. However, Lum Berry is a perfectly viable alternative; it allows Skuntank to switch into Misdreavus's Will-O-Wisp and Musharna's Thunder Wave and trap them more efficiently. The most notable other alternative is Dread Plate; it allows Skuntank to 2HKO Musharna with Crunch and OHKO Charizard with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock. Despite this, Black Sludge and Lum Berry are still generally preferred due to both providing a more reliable trap on the opponent. Ideal teammates for Skuntank include those that benefit from Skuntank's Pursuit trapping abilities; Fighting-types such as Sawk, Primeape, and Gurdurr are some of the best examples, and in return can threaten the Steel-types that give Skuntank trouble. Primeape gets a special mention, being able to lure in Psychic- and Ghost-types with U-turn so Skuntank can freely trap them. Ironically, these very same Fighting-types are some of Skuntank's greatest nemeses; Psychic-types make fantastic partners for defeating them and can form an effective Psychic / Dark / Fighting core that can trouble a large majority of the metagame. Finally, specially oriented Samurott is a good partner, as it can deal with pesky Ground-types and physical walls that Skuntank struggles to break.

By focusing on Skuntank's decent bulk and cool defensive typing, this set aims to allow Skuntank to comfortably switch in and trap or counter not only Psychic-types but also certain other special attackers such as Haunter, Shiftry, and Vileplume. Pursuit is Skuntank's most important move, allowing it to trap and remove defensive Psychic-types in order to open the gate for a teammate like Charizard or Medicham to sweep. Sucker Punch is a useful tool for hitting faster Pokemon, especially since this set doesn't attempt to outspeed most offensive Pokemon. Crunch is a reliable attack to fall back on when your opponent might try to play around Pursuit or Sucker Punch. Taunt prevents your opponent from crippling Skuntank with status or using recovery moves and has nice synergy with Sucker Punch, but keep in mind that this set's lack of Speed investment means Skuntank can't use Taunt to prevent Pokemon like Whiscash from setting up. Poison Jab is also an option in this slot to make Skuntank a solid counter to Shiftry and Cacturne. In the last slot, Explosion is a great tool to ensure you get value out of Skuntank even when there's nothing left for it to trap. This set is very customizable depending on what you want Skuntank to counter. With the listed EV spread and a Shuca Berry, Life Orb Haunter's Hidden Power Ground will never 2HKO Skuntank even after Stealth Rock damage, making Skuntank a guaranteed counter. Shuca Berry also allows Skuntank to survive an Earthquake from Tauros or Whiscash and respond with Explosion. On the other hand, Lum Berry makes it safer for Skuntank to switch in and trap Gardevoir, Slowking, and Dusclops, especially if you also carry Taunt to prevent further attempts to cripple Skuntank with Will-O-Wisp or Thunder Wave. If neither of those seems necessary, Black Sludge is a great option to help Skuntank stay healthy and better tank weak or resisted hits. For example, with Black Sludge and the listed EV spread, defensive Slowking's Surf doesn't even 3HKO Skuntank, giving you much more leeway in case you mispredict whether Slowking will switch out or stay in and attack. Feel free to adjust the EVs to help against other targets, keeping in mind that Skuntank's high base HP and low base defenses often makes it better to invest in Defense or Special Defense before investing in HP. One other benchmark worth noting is that investing 24 EVs in Speed allows Skuntank to outspeed neutral-natured Cacturne and Crawdaunt and positive-natured Golem and Marowak, which may pay off if your team lacks good switch-ins to any of those Pokemon. Aside from Fire- and Fighting-types such as Charizard and Medicham, which always appreciate Skuntank's Pursuit support, choosing which teammates to use with Skuntank depends on what Pokemon you've tailored this set to beat. If Skuntank is using Poison Jab to counter Grass-types, it fits nicely on teams with defensive cores that are weak to Grass-type moves, such as Regirock + Slowking. On the other hand, Shuca Berry Skuntank's ability to reliably switch in on and remove Haunter makes it a good teammate for Normal-type attackers such as Choice Band Tauros and Curse Lickilicky. Treat Skuntank as a glue Pokemon; almost any team will have some weakness that Skuntank can help it overcome with the right set.

Skuntank provides invaluable Pursuit support for any team that aims to sweep with a Pokemon like Charizard, Typhlosion, or Medicham, all of which have very few counters once Psychic-types are removed. This set also has plenty of offensive utility on top of trapping thanks to its powerful Sucker Punch and Explosion. Sucker Punch does heavy damage to most offensive Pokemon, making Skuntank a valuable revenge killer. Crunch is Skuntank's most reliable attack; it has good neutral coverage, lacks any drawbacks, and doesn't require any prediction to use. It may seem a little bit strange to have three Dark-type attacks with no coverage moves, but that's often all Skuntank needs in order to do its job. However, Taunt is an alternative to Crunch that shuts down your opponent's attempts to cripple Skuntank with status, stall with recovery moves, or set up on Skuntank after it's successfully trapped its target. Taunt also reduces the level of prediction needed to use Pursuit and Sucker Punch by limiting the possible actions your opponent can take. Finally, Explosion is an excellent way to send Skuntank out of the battle after its job is done. Don't be too eager to blow Skuntank up early in the game, though, especially if you might need its Sucker Punch for revenge killing later. Skuntank has several coverage options it can run to take out specific targets, replacing Crunch or even Sucker Punch if your team doesn't need a priority move. Poison Jab is a solid alternative STAB move that hits most Pokemon that resist Dark at least neutrally, most notably allowing Skuntank to OHKO Shiftry and Cacturne. Fire Blast and Hidden Power Ground both OHKO Magneton; the former maintains coverage against Shiftry and Cacturne, while the latter 2HKOes opposing Skuntank. Finally, Hidden Power Grass and Hidden Power Ice hit most Ground-types significantly harder than Skuntank's STAB moves, but keep in mind that they are quite weak without Special Attack investment; Hidden Power Grass doesn't even OHKO Whiscash, for example. Black Glasses is the preferred item if Skuntank is running three Dark-type attacks, while Life Orb is the better choice if Skuntank is carrying a coverage move. Even without a coverage move, Skuntank still sometimes appreciates the extra power that Life Orb brings, especially when it's trying to revenge kill with Sucker Punch or KO a wall with Explosion, but the recoil damage can make it more difficult for Skuntank to successfully trap the Pokemon that it wants to. For example, after Skuntank has taken a single round of Life Orb recoil, Life Orb Haunter will always OHKO with Hidden Power Ground with Stealth Rock damage, and defensive Slowking's Surf will always 2HKO. Lum Berry is another decent option to prevent Pokemon like Gardevoir and Slowking from crippling Skuntank with a burn or paralysis as it switches in, but this set is usually better off with a power-boosting item. An Adamant nature is highly recommended, since power is usually much more important than Speed when using Pursuit or Sucker Punch. However, switching to a Jolly nature does help Skuntank in a few specific matchups against Pokemon with base 80 Speed, most notably in order to attack Gardevoir before it can burn Skuntank with Will-O-Wisp and to prevent Medicham from bypassing Sucker Punch with its own priority moves. If you opt to use Fire Blast or Hidden Power for coverage, switch to a Lonely or Hasty nature in order to avoid lowering Skuntank's Special Defense, since most of the Pokemon that it wants to switch into use special attacks. Skuntank's EV spread is very flexible. When you're using Life Orb, a simple spread with maximum Attack and Speed is the best choice, but when using Black Glasses you should consider shifting a few EVs into HP or defenses to take advantage of Skuntank's decent bulk. For example, a spread of 12 HP / 240 Atk / 32 SpD / 224 Spe will guarantee that Skuntank survives Life Orb Haunter's Hidden Power Ground after Stealth Rock damage while still outspeeding neutral-natured Pokemon with base 80 Speed. Skuntank is the ideal teammate for Pokemon that appreciate having opposing Psychic-types removed. Medicham and Hitmonchan benefit greatly from being able to spam their Fighting-type STAB moves freely. Jynx and Fire-types such as Charizard and Typhlosion appreciate Slowking and Grumpig being out of the way. Floatzel notably lures Slowking in and can use Baton Pass on the switch to bring Skuntank in to trap it. Rain Dance Gorebyss suddenly becomes very threatening with Slowking out of the picture. Perhaps the simplest template for building an effective offensive team in NU is to combine Skuntank with one or more Fire-types and a spinner, as it is very difficult to stop Pokemon like Charizard and Magmortar once Psychic-types and entry hazards are out of the way.