On Pokemon X and Y, I do a lot of online battling. One thing I notice, is that many people use hazards like Toxic Spikes, Stealth Rock, ect. ect.. I know Flying types and Levitate can go around the ground based ones, but not Stealth Rock. Is there a way I can deal with these hazards, or do I just have to tough it out?
13 Answers
You can use the moves Rapid Spin or Defog to clear away entry hazards.
To quote Smogon:
Rapid Spin
Deals damage. Removes all layers of entry hazards (ie. Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes) from the user's side of the field, and also removes the trapping effect of moves such as Fire Spin and Wrap. It also removes Leech Seed from the user.
Check out the full Smogon's analysis of Rapid Spin, including a list of Pokemon that can learn it.
Four of the best Pokemon that can use Rapid Spin are:
- Donphan
- Forretress
- Starmie
- Tentacruel
Notes:
- It is possible to counter Rapid Spin: As it's a normal move, sending out a Ghost Pokemon will cause it to fail, leaving the entry hazards intact as well.
- Defog will remove all entry hazards, which includes any of your own.
I actually think that you have a few options, which I will list below:
Remove them
You can use Rapid Spin and Defog to remove entry hazards like Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Stealth Rock and Sticky Web.
One issue with those is that you might be losing 1 precious turn with either a low power move, or a no damage move. Of course, this is all part of the battle; to decide whether to set up or to deal damage, and what's more is that spinners can often be predicted and countered with Ghost types, especially since there are a few very good at Rapid Spin-ning.
Some Rapid Spin-ners you might consider:
- Blastoise (level up)
- Tentacruel (egg move)
- Starmie (level up)
- Kabutops (egg move)
- Forretress (level up)
- Donphan (level up)
- Excadrill (level up)
- Avalugg (level up)
Some Defog-ers you might consider:
- Pidgeot (egg move)
- Crobat (egg move)
- Swellow (egg move)
- Scizor (egg move)
- Drifblim (egg move)
- Swanna (level up)
- Braviary (level up)
- Mandibuzz (level up)
- Archeops (egg move)
Endure them
While not as common, you can still let the opponent set field hazards and some teams might just shrug those off.
As you already know, Flying-types, Pokemon with Levitate, Pokemon with Air Balloon and Baton Pass-ed Magnet Rise (granted Gravity is not enforced, or they don't hold Iron Ball or are not Baton Pass-ed with Ingrain) are immune to Spikes.
Toxic Spikes can be ignored by the same Pokemon mentioned above about Spikes, with the addition that Poison-types, Steel-types and Pokemon with the ability Immunity are also immune to them. As a bonus, Poison-types will also absorb the Toxic Spikes, should they make contact with the ground (this means that a Levitating Gengar won't absorb Toxic Spikes). What's more, Pokemon with the ability Poison Heal, Toxic Boost and Guts will actually benefit from the Poison status.
Stealth Rock is a bit more tricky, and cannot be as easily ignored as Spikes. Pokemon with typing resistant to Rock are the best at resisting Stealth Rock.
Sticky Web is the latest addition and can be avoided by the same Pokemon as those mentioned to shrug off Spikes, plus Pokemon with the ability Clear Body and Contrary (the latter will have its speed doubled on switching). Some other abilities which might benefit from this hazard are Pokemon with the ability Defiant and Competitive Spirit (where you get a boost in offensive power, which can be nice for tanks). Otherwise, Pokemon which are already slow don't be much affected by it, and you can even get an edge if you have Trick Room activated.
Otherwise, Pokemon with the ability Magic Guard will completely ignore the effects of Spikes, Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock.
Reflect them
One last, probably my favourite since I believe you get the most momentum there is to reflect those hazards back at your opponent. Like most non-damaging moves, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Stealth Rock and Sticky Web can be reflected by Magic Bounce and Magic Coat.
Pokemon with Magic Bounce:
- Espeon (hidden ability)
- Xatu (hidden ability)
- Mega Absol
Pokemon which can learn Magic Coat:
- Girafarig (egg move)
- Dunsparce (egg move)
- Kecleon (egg move)
- Grumpig (level up)
- Absol (egg move)
- Musharna (egg move)
- Delphox (egg move)
Not only you will be free from hazards on a good prediction, but your opponent will be the one with the entry hazards. Isn't that just great? :) Not to mention that both Magic Guard and Magic Coat can be used to reflect a bunch of other things as well; status ailment inducing moves, status reducing moves/abilities.
Any Pokemon that can learn Rapid Spin, like Donphan or Forrettress, or Defog can clear entry hazards. Note that Defog will clear all hazards on the field, including the ones that you place yourself. Toxic Spikes can be cleared by sending out any Poison-type Pokemon, as they "absorb" the spikes.
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