Tentacruel @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body/Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 SAtk / 16 Spd / 120 SDef / 120 HP
Modest/Calm Nature
- Scald
- Sludge Wave
- Giga Drain
- Rapid Spin / Mirror Coat
Comical set, spare me any and all references to famous YouTuber BlameTruth, or I will stab you in the nose. This is basically an offensively-oriented Assault Vest Tentacruel set, and very simple and straightforward. Assault Vest allows Tentacruel to expand its excellent base 120 Sp. Def to even greater levels, allowing it to tank and survive hits from even the strongest special attackers in the UU environment. Scald and Sludge Wave are obligatory STAB options that get surprisingly decent neutral coverage together, while Giga Drain allows Tentacruel to get essential recovery to keep going while also being able to take on bulky waters and/or grounds. Rapid Spin is the preferred fourth moveslot option since this allows Tentacruel to maintain some of its utility and keep your team's side clear of hazards. However, Mirror Coat is a funny as hell move that will guaranteed you one pissed off person per game, provided you bait the hit, which isn't hard, in all honesty. The 16 Speed EVs are to outrun max Speed Adamant Metagross (Obscure benchmark but you don't really have much else worth outpacing that doesn't cost you a cubic ton of speed, considering Tentacruel's already-good-as-is base 100 Speed stat), while the HP and SpD EVs are slashed since you would get identical special bulk if you ran 0 HP / 240 SpD. Having the extra HP at least gives you a bit more bulk on both sides of the defensive spectrum, which is always welcome.
Of course, like any Assault Vest user, you don't just shove this guy into random hits and expect him to live and kill things back in return. It takes execution, and primarily would be used as an offensive pivot of sorts who can sponge a hit, throw one back, and go from there. Most of the Pokemon Tentacruel pivots on are the specially-oriented bulky Water-, Grass-, and Fire-type Pokemon, most of whom it can take hits from and deal back. Now while you can stomach a super-effective move like Thunderbolt from Raikou or something if you're healthy enough, it's highly recommended you avoid doing such, unless you're setting up the Mirror Coat. Which in itself is a one-time surprise since Tentacruel won't be able to do much else after taking too big of a hit, even if it lives. Naturally because of how easy it can be to wear down heedless of Giga Drain, get yourself some Wish support from either Umbreon or Florges. It doesn't matter which one, they both have good synergy with Tentacruel, however, Umbreon + Tentacruel isn't as easily broken by Nidoking. So there's that to consider.
Oh yeah. Clear Body is slashed with Liquid Ooze because they're both incredibly niche abilities overall. The most common stat drop you'll suffer will mainly be from Sticky Web. It could be useful for not getting SpD drops from Shaymin's Seed Flare, though. Liquid Ooze is cool for those stray Leech Seeds you may happen to switch into. Which most of the time will be from SubSeed Shaymin. Either way you slice it, SubSeed Shaymin gets smashed.
