Community POTW #62

[Zachmac]

Man, this guy sucks. Defensively, it has poor typing. Even with it's massive defenses, but it's lack of good recovery and has terrible HP cancels that out. Power split? Your enemy will just swap out and remove the effects, thought that is probably the best way to go from the looks of it.

Offensively...don't make me laugh. Shell Smash? Yeah, as if that'd do anything to it's terrible offensive stats. Power Trick? That's what they call a gimmick. With 5 speed, it won't be sweeping through anything, and with it's newly lowered defenses, it's KOed by a Magikarp's tackle. And the trick room/power trick combo? Then you'd set up right before they attack, so the damage done will probably KO it, unless it's still got sturdy. Also, it'll be finished of by priority as if it were nothing. Oh, right, and it'd also only have so many rounds to sweep with.

Anyway, I think it'd love Vaporeon for a teammate. Wish support and the ability to baton pass high HP substitutes.

 

[Aquadon]

Shuckle @ Leftovers
Impish (252 HP, 252 Def, 6 SpD)
Power Trick
Knock Off
Rest
Toxic

This is the Shuckle set I use. Unfortunately it didn't get Recover, so Rest will have to do. Good news is that it has the defenses to back it up while it's zonked out. Knock Off makes sure it isn't Taunt bait while taking down a major item, and Power Split makes sure that it is can do some fair damage while neutering the opponent. Toxic still wears down the opponent faster though. Other options are Stealth Rock if you need it, or Struggle Bug as Shuckle won't be dealing much damage anyway and you can buff defenses more.

 

[M4zz]

Shuckle
Bug - Rock​

Overveiw
Shuckle, the Mould Pokemon, is the one Pokemon that has the defensive stats to even put the illustrious Deoxys-D to shame. However, it was shot down with next to zero Speed and HP, really crippling its stalling and walling prowess, making it inevitably weak to repetitive hits and Taunt, inevitably making the bulkiet of Deoxys a much better choice for most teams. However, if supported right, Shuckle can do many a wondrous things to the metagame. The Bug-Rock typing does the the Mould Pokemon justice, as it removes 2 of his weaknesses (Fire and Flying) in exchange for neutral Fighting-Type status and a Water weakness.

Abilities
Sturdy: Is arguably Shuckle's best ability, it allows the mollusk to survive any direct and potentially fatal hit. Unfortunately, there isn't anything outside of the OHKO moves that would be able to one-shot Shuckle, making it just a useless ability.
Gluttony: This ability activates a Pokemon's held berry sooner than it would be normally used. For Shuckle, this ability does not suit it, as it's staggering 244 HP will want to be restored as late as possible to further wall out whatever Shuckle is walling. If used on a more offensive stat, it could be used in a pinch to boost Shuckle's attack.
Contrary: This ability is useless on Shuckle, as he gets no moves that lower his stats, only those that raise it. Never use this ability on Shuckle.

Stats
Offensively, Shuckle has the worst stats, sporting a spread of 10/10/5, leaving it outsped by nigh on everything to exist in the known Pokemon Universe. With its lacklustre attack and special attack, Shuckle even struggles to dent Blissey.
Defensively, Shuckle reigns supreme. Mostly. Running a spread of 20/230/230, and hindered only by that massive base 20 HP stat, nothing can compare its defences to that of Shuckle's.

Sets

Everyday I'm Shucklin'

Shuckle @ Chesto Berry / Leftovers
Sturdy
Bold Nature
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp.Def
~Toxic
~Safeguard / Withdraw
~Rest
~Wrap / Struggle Bug

The goal of this set is to just break through anything that won't resist Toxic by stalling it out beyond belief. It's best used alongside Tyranitar or Hippowdon, as the boost its Special Defense gets from the Sandstorm will give it a better shot at stalling. The choice between Safeguard and Withdraw is your own, whether you want to avoid status and burning through your Chesto Berry too soon, or just getting your defences to godly levels. Rest enables Shuckle to stall for even longer, and remove whatever status ails him. Wrap and Struggle Bug are Shuckle's best shot of a form of offense, as the Wrap and Toxic damage may subdue an opponent, while struggle Bug has potential to lower the foe's Special Attack, making Shuckle's life easier.

Shuckle like a Madman

Shuckle@Leftovers
Sturdy
Adamant Nature
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp.Def
0 Speed IVs
~Power Trick
~Earthquake
~Stone Edge / Smack Down
~Gyro Ball

When used under Trick Room, Shuckle can act as one of the most deadly sweepers to walk (crawl?) the Earth. Becoming faster than all existing Pokemon, and after a Power Trick, a move that swaps Shuckle's immense Defences with his massive Attack stats, and plough through anything that stands in his way. Earthquake hits non-levitating Electric-Type Pokemon, Fire Type Pokemon, and Rock-Type Pokemon stupidly hard. Stone Edge and Smack Down are both STAB. Stone Edge is recommended, but if you feel lucky enough to, use Smack down to send those Levitating Pokemon to the ground and perish at Shuckle's mighty Earthquake. Gyro Ball is self-explanitory, being one of the slowest Pokemon to exist (minimum speed stat being 13). It's a hell of a gimmick, but it will catch people off guard. Like the previous set, Shuckle is best used in Sandstorm, giving it some defenses to work with.

 

[Meowmeow]

We all know Shuckle's stats lie in the extremes. It has the biggest defense and special defense and the smallest of everything else.
Shuckle was pretty gimmicky, and it still is. It can pull a few things off, but nothing drastically game changing. BW gave Shuckle one amazing tool: Power Share. Any offensive Pokemon hit by this loses all of its power. Now, for some sets.

My Shuckle
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 defense and sp defense, 4 hp
Ability: Sturdy (always)
@: Lum Berry/Rocky Helmet

Power Share
Toxic
Struggle Bug
Bulldoze

The aim behind this set is to cripple attackers. Power Share averages Shuckle's and the target's attacking stats and those numbers become their new attack stats. With Shuckle's pea sized offensive ability, every target will be crippled. Toxic is Shuckle's only real way of dishing out damage, but it also keeps attackers you don't want to see away for a while. Its no burn, but lets work with what we have. Struggle Bug drops the targets sp attack, which is always welcome. Bulldoze drops speed.
This set is extremely situational. At the right time, this set can turn the game around.

Another Power Share set
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 defense and sp defense, 4 hp
Ability: Sturdy (always)
@: Lum Berry/Rocky Helmet

Power Share
Toxic
Wrap/Stealth Rock
Encore

This set will encourage switches. Shuckle can do two things with this set: prevent switching, or punish it. Power Share, Toxic, and Encore do their job in encouraging the switches. Wrap will prevent switching, letting Toxic do its job. Stealth Rock lets you rack up damage on the opponent's team as they switch.

 

[jesusfreak94]

Not only is Power Trick Shuckle gimmicky, it's almost completely outclassed. After Power Trick with max Def, Shuckle has 614 Atk, about 816 with the Life Orb added in. Marowak can use that same turn to set up a Swords Dance, giving it 568 Atk, making it 1136 after Thick Club. That said, why use Shuckle as a Trick Room sweeper when Marowak is more powerful, has much better typing, has a better offensive movepool, and doesn't make itself as frail as wet tissue paper on the physical side just to have offensive potential? Not to mention that this is just an example; there are plenty of other Pokemon that can acheive similar or greater power with far less support.

If you're going to use Shuckle, you'd best take advantage of its support options like Stealth Rock, Encore, and Power Split. Otherwise, you're just using a poor man's...everything.

 

[Zachmac]

Not only is Power Trick Shuckle gimmicky, it's almost completely outclassed. After Power Trick with max Def, Shuckle has 614 Atk, about 816 with the Life Orb added in. Marowak can use that same turn to set up a Swords Dance, giving it 568 Atk, making it 1136 after Thick Club. That said, why use Shuckle as a Trick Room sweeper when Marowak is more powerful, has much better typing, has a better offensive movepool, and doesn't make itself as frail as wet tissue paper on the physical side just to have offensive potential? Not to mention that this is just an example; there are plenty of other Pokemon that can acheive similar or greater power with far less support.

If you're going to use Shuckle, you'd best take advantage of its support options like Stealth Rock, Encore, and Power Split. Otherwise, you're just using a poor man's...everything.

After a swords dance, jolly Terrakion has 714 attack, which is 10 points higher then shuckle, and it doesn't need trick room support.

Just throwing out that there is a common pokemon who does it better as well.

 

[zerocielX]

Trick Room Sweeper

Shuckle @ Life Orb/Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
252 HP/4 Atk/ 252 Def
Relaxed Nature

Moves
Power Trick
Earthquake
Stone-Edge
Gyro Ball

With Power Trick, Shuckle gets 614 Atk. Which is obscene. Earthquake and Stone-edge make the infamous EdgeQuake combo. Gyro Ball, working off of Shuckle horrible Base 5 Speed, is almost guaranteed to be at max power. Trick Room support is needed so Shuckle can sweep without fear of being outsped and KO'ed.



Sandstorm Special Wall
Shuckle @ Leftovers/Chesto Berry
252 HP/ 4 Def/ 252 Sp.Def
Sassy/Careful Nature

Moves
Toxic
Protect
Rest
Knock Off

Being part Rock, Shuckle gets a ridiculous Special Defense boost in Sandstorm. It hits 921, if I did my math right. He can take Special hits all day. His Base 20 Hp is a letdown, but with that ridiculous bulk, he is impossible to OHKO. Anyways, Toxic and Protect is Shuckle's best way of wearing down the opponent, specially if the opponent is not immune to the Sand. Rest keeps Shuckle alive to keep it trolling longer. And Knock Off is a great support option as it can get rid of Leftovers, Choice Band/Specs, making Terrakion and Latios I little bit less menacing. You can run Max Defense as well.

 

[jesusfreak94]

After a swords dance, jolly Terrakion has 714 attack, which is 10 points higher then shuckle, and it doesn't need trick room support.

Just throwing out that there is a common pokemon who does it better as well.

I was mainly referring to Trick Room sweepers (which Power Trick Shuckle is usually used as), but yeah, there are a lot of Pokemon like Terrakion and Salamence that can reach similar or greater power with less support.

 

[ParaChomp]

With Gastro Acid and Guard Split, Shuckle is pretty handy at aiding Regigigas and Slaking in doubles and triples.

 

[Shuckster]

Oh shizz! Shuckle is my favorite pokemon!
*Note: I may overly complement this Pokemon.*

Overview

Its puts Deoxys-D to shame! With its base 230 defensive stats, and useful support moves, but, unfortunately, thats where it ends. base 40 HP means, although it still rarely KO's from most (unboosted) Pokemon, it still lacks the moves and raw stats to abuse it, and base 10 offensive stats, and irredeemable base 5 Speed dosent help (without Trick Room.) Its still a good support Pokemon in any environment.

Abilities

Sturdy: Although its new pseudo-Focus Sash effect may seem useless with its sky-high defenses, it allows it to come in on boosted Pokemon without a 1HKO, and then allows it to set up something.
Gluttony: It actually has a noteable use: Custap Berry and Sitrus Berry abuse. Custap Berry is a notable mention, it allows to set up in a situation where Speed wouldnt allow, but this Berry isnt realeased yet
Contrary: Not the most useful, only where moves Shadow Ball or Crunch are taken into account, but its inferior to the others.

Sets

Standard Set
(No Sandstorm)Relaxed, 252 HP, 28 Defense 230 Sp.Def
(Sandstorm)Relaxed, 252 HP, 252 Defense, 4 Sp.Def
Leftovers/Sitrus Berry/Custap Berry (when released)
Sturdy/Gluttony
~Toxic
~Encore
~Rest
~Stealth Rocks

If you run no Sandstorm, the EV's and nature will result in 244 HP, and 553 defenses down the line, giving it the mixed wall, without Sandstorm support. With sandstorm (including the SS boost), he gets a blistering 244 HP, 614 Defense... and 745 Sp.Defense, wow!

I find myself usually starting out with Encore, as most Pokemon will attempt to set up on Shuckle. With Encore in effect, you may use Stealth Rocks next, because they're awesome (like Shuckle) and who likes SR on their side of the field? Between being Encored and switching out to lose health can be annoying. No switching means you can give you opponent a free switch in plus a free turn, or switch out, take some damage, and be pitted against a counter... very hard to choose. Toxic is to spread a little status, and in case Shuckle can out-poison an enemy. Rest is unreliable recovery, but its his only recovery, so work with it!

Power Trick trick!
Relaxed, 252 Defense, 252 Sp.Ded, 4 HP
Leftovers
Sturdy/Contrary
~Power Trick
~Earthquake
~Stone Edge/Rock Slide
~Gyro Ball

Offensive Shuckle? Ridiculous, unless you know what your doing! Power Trick switches Shuckle's Defense with his Attack. From defense specialist, to deadly juggernaut! It works best in a Trick Room, where he is certain to go first (minus priority.) Sturdy works best because now, ANY physical hit would otherwise kill him one hit, Sturdy allows for one more turn to destroy things with. Stone Edge/Earthquake combo has priceless type coverage and are just downright powerful. Gyro Ball will almost always have high power, though coverage is a far to be desired.

Power SPLIT trick!
(No Sandstorm)Relaxed, 252 HP, 28 Defense 230 Sp.Def
(Sandstorm)Relaxed, 252 HP, 252 Defense, 4 Sp.Def
Leftovers/Sitrus Berry/Chesto Berry
Sturdy/Gluttony/Contrary
~Power Split
~Earthquake/
~Stone Edge/Rock Slide
~Rest

Whats this? A Standard/Power Trick hybird? No! Its the most gimmicky, but potentially destructive, set of its own!

First, on an OFFENSIVE Pokemon, you use Power Split. With this move used, you are not only reducing you target's offensives, but are also raising Shuckle's very own offensive stats. As with the Power Trick set, EQ+SE combo is great coverage, but Rest is here in to increase longevity of Shuckle, instead of all out offense, since this set can actually afford to heal.

In case you dont know how Power Share works, let me give a scenario: lets say a Shuckle with minimal Attack of 13, verses a Dragonite with a maximum Attack stat of 403, when Power Share is used, the stats are added and averaged together between Shuckle and Dragonite. Both Dragonite's and Shuckle's Attack both become 208. Athough its not a ground-breaking Attack stat, its a huge jump for Shuckle, and a major interference in Dragonite's sweeping skills, giving Shuckle the upper hand. Also note that these changes are reset if they switch out. If Shuckle switches, Dragonite stats are stilled lowered, and if Dragonite switch's, Shuckle's stats are still buffed.

 

[Soperman]

Shuckle has fanatstic defenses, but terrible Hp, Speed, Attack, Sp. Atk... Actually, it has nothing going for it besides its defenses. Seriously, terribad typing, bad movepool, bad stats...
Not much left to say.

 

[Eliteknight]

Shuckle@leftovers
bold
252hp/252def/4spd7
sturdy
power split
toxic
struggle bug
rest/protect/sandstorm

i love shuckle with poower split you weaken the foe then use the increased spa to inflict damage while weakening the opponents and toxic to wear them down last slot is your choice heal and sleep, toxic stall or set up a storm

 

[No. 1 Machop Fan]

Here's a Shuckle set I used on my troll team for a little while:


- Sand Tomb/Wrap

- Toxic
- Power Share

- Rest

Item Attached: Leftovers

Ability: Sturdy

EVs and Nature:

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

Impish Nature (+Def, -SpA)

Use the moves in the order shown. Sand Tomb/Wrap and Toxic provide passive damage to its power, and Power Share adds to its already humongous bulk. EVs and nature are designed for Sandstorm.

The perfect counter to this set is Gengar, who is immune to all of Shuckle's moves.

 

[shaunthebear]

Horray! I love Shuckle. This little tanky support has helped me net a bunch of double and triple battle wins, forcing my enemies to try to get rid of him while my sweepers mess up their lives.

Shuckle
Nature: Impish
Item: Sitrus Berry (I use leftovers on a different team member and this berry makes the battle less predictable for the enemy... can you say "time waster" )
Ability: Sturdy (oddly enough, I've come up against OHKO spammers enough that this makes shuckle a helpful switch in)

Helping Hand
Accupressure
Guard Split
Gastro Acid

Pretty self explanitory, helping hand helps his partner sweep threats.
Accupressure is super useful (though sometimes banned) in 2v2 and 3v3 especially if half your team has protect.
Guard Split turns your target sweeper into a threatening bulky sweeper and often leaves Shuckle with enough defenses to take a couple more hits.
Gastro acid... I originally gave this to Shuckle to clear my Slaking's truant but since I've been running with a different team composition, I've found it really useful for dealing with ability centered team strategies, like guts, technicians, levitate, and even used it to rain on the parade of a skill swap team that managed to get study to a shedinja right under my nose.

1v1? Yeah, there are better choices than Shuckle.
2v2 and 3v3? I don't go into a match without him!!!

 

[Kraleck]

Hilarious. -6 your Speed, and Gyro Ball continues to stayed capped at 150 base power. Woooo divide by zero!

Contrary Rock Polish + Gyro Ball is for other Shuckle and Trick Room users with Curse-potential (Slowbro/king, Steelix, Torkoal, Carracosta, and Ferrothorn). Should've mentioned that earlier, considering nobody here looks past the most obvious and insignificant things towards the points I try to make.

You don't get much power out of GB with Contrary Rock Polish, but you guarantee you can stay the slowest and hit hard enough past the resistances of the aforementioned Pokemon with Curse to be worth something.

Not much Shuckle can do with Contrary aside from this gimmick, but not much the opponent can do about it either. Plus, Gluttony is a waste of time because of how long it would take to get to 50% HP (aside from impatient Super Fang users) and few Pokemon will have the power to 1HKO past your defenses for Sturdy to be worth it anyway (way outside Shuckle's comfort zone).

Except, another use of Contrary is Intimidate "protection." Could also be useful for a Defense buff if you use Power Trick. You may survive a single attack if you're lucky...or the opponent is stupid...

 

[Ludwig]

Shuckle. What a... unique Pokemon. Time to make a gimmicky set that will have next to no application, ever!

Shuckle @ Choice Band
252 HP/ 252 Att/ 4 Def, 0 Speed IVs
Brave
Sturdy
-Gyro Ball
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge
-Return
This set takes advantage of Shuckles unique attack stat, and boosts it. Max attack and minimum speed allow it to take advantage of Gyro Ball. Stone Edge is a powerful STAB attack, able to 2HKO Modest Eviolite Magikarp. Earthquake completes the edgequake combo, and Return provides good neutral coverage to all that resist it's incredible strength.

It is walled by levitate bronzong.

 

[sbktdreed]

Sorry but shuckle can't learn shell smash and sludge bomb is worthless.

As for Shell Smash, I put it up because thought someone was talking about it, but I already made the changes to my original post.

 

[Ilan]

It is walled by levitate bronzong.

It is walled by magikarp*

Oh and power trick is bad it is only a base 230 attack better use other sweepers with swords dance...

it is strong but useless...

 

[jesusfreak94]

It is walled by levitate bronzong.

Yeah, it's pretty much walled by everything, seeing as how even an uninvested Ferrothorn has about 15% more power. It was more of a joke set than anything, like Specscadrill.

 

[grantholomew]

Whoa everything's all different...