Battling Roles

This is a guide covering the numerous functions that a Pokemon can perform in battle. Take note that I'm merely writing this from what I know about battling roles. As such, there might be mistakes, or the information given might not be compatible with today's metagame, which I'm not that familiar with. Also note that the movesets given might not be the best movesets for the Pokemon, but merely serve as examples to illustrate what moves each Battling Role entails.

Hence, do give me feedback; as long as it is constructive, I don't mind whether it's good or bad comments ^_^

1. Physical Sweepers

Physical Sweepers are all offense; they aim to deal as much damage as possible before the foe can do much back to them. Physical Sweepers make use of Physical attacks only, and, as such, depend heavily on their Attack stat. Speed is also a very important consideration, so as to gain the advantage of being able to hit the foe first. Their dependence on Physical attacks also means that their Special Attack stat hardly ever affects their function.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Earthquake, Aerial Ace, Rock Slide, Brick Break, Return, Sludge Bomb, Shadow Ball
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Belly Drum, Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Dragon Dance
>Nature: Adamant, Jolly
>Key Stats: Attack, Speed
>Item: Shell Bell, Leftovers, Salac Berry

Examples:

@ Lefties
Adamant | Swarm
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Bulk Up
~Earthquake
~Megahorn
~Brick Break

@ Shell Bell
Adamant | Intimidate
252 Atk 252 Spd 6 HP
~Dragon Dance
~Aerial Ace
~Steel Wing
~Earthquake/Double-Edge

@ Lefties/Shell Bell
Adamant | Battle Armor
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Swords Dance
~Ancientpower
~HP Bug/Earthquake
~Aerial Ace/Brick Break/Slash

2. Choice-Banders

CB-ers are essentially Physical Sweepers, but with Choice Bands as hold items, and no stat-boosting moves due to the Choice Band's effects.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Earthquake, Aerial Ace, Rock Slide, Brick Break, Return, Sludge Bomb, Shadow Ball
>Nature: Adamant, Jolly
>Key Stats: Attack, Speed
>Item: Choice Band (of course)

Examples:

@ Choice Band
Jolly | Guts
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Cross Chop/Brick Break
~Earthquake
~Rock Slide
~HP Ghost/HP Bug

@ Choice Band
Adamant/Jolly | Rock Head
252 Atk 252 Spd 6 HP
~Earthquake
~Aerial Ace
~Steel Wing
~Rock Slide

3. Special Sweepers

Special Sweepers are similar to Physical Sweepers, save for the fact that they make use of Special Attacks instead.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Thunderbolt, Surf, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Psychic, Dragon Claw, Crunch
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Calm Mind, Rain Dance (in combination with Thunder), Sunny Day (in combination with Solar beam or Flamethrower/Heat Wave)
>Nature: Modest, Timid
>Key Stats: Sp. Attack, Speed
>Item: Shell Bell, Leftovers, Salac Berry

Examples:

@ Lefties
Modest | Synchronize
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Calm Mind
~Psychic
~Will-o-wisp
~Thunderbolt

@ Leftovers
Modest | Marvel Scale
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Dragonbreath
~Rest/Recover/Attract

@ Shell Bell
Modest | Synchronize
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Calm Mind
~Psychic
~Thunderpunch
~Ice Punch

4. Mixed Sweepers

Mixed Sweepers have both Physical and Special Moves. This may be because of their wide movepools, or because they learn too few moves to specialise in either one. Mixed Sweepers may also be Pokemon that have dual-types, one of which is a Physical type while the other is a Special type, in order to use STAB moves of each type. Generally, Mixed Sweepers are less effective than other Sweepers as a result of their split EVs.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Refer to that for both Special and Physical Sweepers
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Refer to that for both Special and Physical Sweepers
>Nature: Bashful, Docile, Hardy, Quirky, Serious
>Key Stats: Attack, Sp. Attack, Speed
>Item: Shell Bell, Leftovers, Choice Band, Salac Berry

Examples:

@ Leftovers
Docile | Torrent
252 Spd, 129 Atk, 129 SA
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Earthquake
~Haze/Rapid Spin

@ Scope Lens
Docile | Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 SA, 6 Spd
~Sky Uppercut
~Blaze Kick
~Focus Energy
~Slash

5. Annoyers

Annoyers either lay multiple status ailments on the foe, or raise their evasion while lowering the foe's accuracy such that the foe's ability to hit them is greatly reduced. Only after that does the annoyer start attacking. While an Annoyer can wreak havoc on in-game trainers, they do not work equally well in competitive battling. Since most Annoyers only have one or two offensive moves, should the foe switch to a Pokemon that is resistant to the Annoyer's attacks, the Annoyer can't do much in return. For example, when Raichu (a Parattractafusioner, which refers to a Pokemon that can inflict Paralysis, Attraction as well as Confusion at the same time) is used, the opponent can simply switch to a Ground type and Raichu would be unable to damage the foe. Also, Annoyers depend very much on chance. Moreover, given the common use of Haze, Annoyers are often unreliable in competitive battling.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Thunder Wave, Sweet Kiss, Attract, Double Team, Confuse Ray, Glare

Examples:

@ Lefties
Modest | Static
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Thunder Wave
~Thunderbolt
~Sweet Kiss
~Attract

@ Bright Powder
Adamant | Sand Veil
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Sandstorm
~Double Team
~Swords Dance/Earthquake
~Rock Slide/Return

6. Drainers

Drainers are so called because of their ability to drain HP from the enemy. Coupled with Leftovers and moves that restore HP, Drainers can remain in battle for very long as they slowly drain away the foe's HP.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Giga Drain
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Leech Seed, Rest, Synthesis
>Nature: Relaxed, Careful, Impish
>Key Stats: Defense, Sp. Defense, HP
>Item: Leftovers

Examples:

@ Lefties
Bold | Rain Dish
EVs: 252 HP 129 SD 129 Def
~Rain Dance
~Leech Seed
~Toxic/Dive/Surf
~Giga Drain

@ Lefties
Modest | Chlorophyll
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Sleep Powder/Stun Spore
~Leech Seed
~Giga Drain
~Psychic

7. Spikers

Spikers are just Pokemon that make use of the move Spikes. They usually have shuffling moves like Roar and Whirlwind as well, so as to deal damage to the opponent using Spikes.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Spike, Roar, Whirlwind

Examples:

@ Lefties
Careful | Keen Eye
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Toxic
~Roar
~Spikes
~Steel Wing/Aerial Ace/Drill Peck

@ Lefties
Naughty | Shell Armor
252 Atk, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Explosion
~Rapid Spin
~Spikes
~Ice Beam/Surf

8. Tanks

Tanks are usually Pokemon that have good Defenses or Pokemon that can make use of defensive moves such as Cosmic Power. Tanks usually have a means of healing themselves as well. As such, Tanks are able to remain in battle for very long.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Rest, Iron Defense, Amnesia, Cosmic Power, Wish
>Nature: Relaxed, Careful, Impish
>Key Stats: Defense, Sp. Defense, HP
>Item: Leftovers

Examples:

@ Lefties
Bold/Calm | White Smoke
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Iron Defense
~Amnesia
~Rest
~Heat Wave

@ Lefties
Modest | Natural Cure
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Cosmic Power
~Surf
~Psychic
~Recover/Thunderbolt/Ice Beam

9. Physical Sponge

Physical Sponges are partial tanks. They have good Defense, and can take many hits from physical attacks. Switch one in when you anticipate that the opponent is going to use a strong physical move.

>Key Stats: Defense, HP

Examples:

@ Lefties
Impish | Levitate
252 Hp 252 Def 6 Atk
~Sludge Bomb
~Will-O-Wisp
~Pain Split
~Haze

@ Lefties
Adamant | Sturdy
252 Atk, 252 Def, 6 HP
~Earthquake
~Explosion
~Focus Punch
~Rock Slide

10. Special Sponge

Self explanatory. Special Sponges have great Special Defense, and can take many hits from special attacks.

>Key Stats: Sp. Defense, HP

Examples:

@ Lefties
Calm | Natural Cure
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Heal Bell/Aromatherapy
~Counter
~Softboiled
~Seismic Toss

@ Lefties
Modest | Pressure
252 SA, 129 Spd, 129 HP
~Calm Mind
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Mirror Coat

11. Toxi-Tanks

A type of Tank which makes use of Toxic and no offensive moves. Largely similar to ordinary Tanks. However, Toxi-Tanks will be made ineffective should the foe have a Healer in his/her team. As such, Toxi-Trappers are more useful than Toxi-Tanks.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Toxic, Rest, Iron Defense, Amnesia, Cosmic Power, Wish
>Nature: Relaxed, Careful, Impish
>Key Stats: Defense, Sp. Defense, HP
>Item: Leftovers

Examples:

@ Leftovers/Chesto
Timid | Natural Cure
252 HP, 129 Spd, 129 Sp Atk
~Cosmic Power
~Toxic
~Recover/Rest
~Surf/Psychic

@ Lefties
Careful | Levitate
252 SD, 252 Def, 6 HP
~Cosmic Power
~Rest
~Toxic
~Explosion/Double Team/Sandstorm

12. Toxi-Trappers

Toxi-Trappers make use of Toxic as well as moves such as Wrap and Mean Look to trap the enemy, forcing them to take the increasingly damaging Toxic. As such, they are more effective than Toxi-Tanks. Toxi-Trappers are usually Tanks as well, so they are able to last long in battle too.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Toxic, Mean Look, Rest, Wish
>Nature: Relaxed, Careful, Impish
>Key Stats: Defense, Sp. Defense, HP
>Item: Leftovers

Examples:

@ Lefties
Impish | Sturdy
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Wrap
~Toxic
~Attract
~Rest

@ Lefties
Careful | Pressure
252 SD, 252 Def, 6 HP
~Mean Look
~Toxic
~Rest
~Shadow Punch/Will-o-wisp/Curse

@ Lefties
Careful | Synchronize
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Mean Look
~Toxic
~Rest/Wish
~Baton Pass/Taunt

13. Toxi-Shufflers

Toxi-shufflers are Pokemon that have Toxic, as well as a shuffling move such as Roar. Their objective it to inflict as many of the opponent's Pokemon with Toxic as possible.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Toxic, Roar, Whirlwind

Examples:

@ Lefties
Modest | Intimidate
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Flamethrower/Heat Wave
~Crunch
~Toxic
~Roar

@ Lefties
Careful | Keen Eye
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Toxic
~Roar
~Spikes
~Steel Wing/Aerial Ace/Drill Peck

14. Hazers

Self explanatory name; Hazers are Pokemon that makes use of the move Haze to negate any stat-increasing moves the opponent has used. This pretty much thwarts the foe's plan to sweep through your team with a Pokemon with increase stats.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Haze

Examples:

@ Leftovers
Docile | Torrent
252 Spd, 129 Atk, 129 SA
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Earthquake
~Haze/Rapid Spin

@ Leftovers
Impish | Levitate
192 HP, 252 Def, 58 Atk
~Sludge Bomb
~Will-O-Wisp
~Pain Split
~Haze

(M) @ Leftovers
Calm | Water Absorb
220 HP, 118 Def, 76 SAtk, 96 SDef
~Haze
~Protect / Ice Beam
~Wish
~Surf

15. Pseudo-Hazers

Pseudo-Hazers negate stat-increasing moves the opponent has used by using shuffling moves such as Roar and Whirlwind.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Roar, Whirlwind

Examples:

@ Lefties
Careful | Keen Eye
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Toxic
~Roar
~Spikes
~Steel Wing/Aerial Ace/Drill Peck

@ Lefties
Modest | Static
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Crunch/HP Grass
~Thunder Wave
~Roar

16. Psycho-Hazers

Seldom seen battling type that uses Psych Up to copy the opponent's stat changes, thus gaining whatever advantages that the opponent has.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Psych Up

Examples:

@ Leftovers
Adamant | Limber
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Psych Up
~Substitute/Roar
~Slash/Return
~Shadow Ball

17. Spinners

Spinners are short for Rapid-Spinners. They are Pokemon with the move Rapid Spin, and are used to get you out of conditions like Spikes and Leech Seed.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Rapid Spin

Examples:

@ Leftovers
Docile | Torrent
252 Spd, 129 Atk, 129 SA
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Earthquake
~Haze/Rapid Spin

@ Lefties
Naughty | Shell Armor
252 Atk, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Explosion
~Rapid Spin
~Spikes
~Ice Beam/Surf

18. Baton-Passers

Pokemon that use stat-upping moves, and then pass on the stat changes to other Pokemon via Baton Pass. The type of stat-upping moves used depends on the target that you want to pass to.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Silver Wind, Ancientpower
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Baton Pass, Calm Mind, Bulk Up, Double Team, Substitute, Dragon Dance, Agility, Swords Dance, Iron Defense

Examples:

@ Lefties
Adamant | Spd Boost
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Silver Wind
~Double Team
~Swords Dance
~Baton Pass

@ Lefties/Salac/Petaya/Leichi
Calm | Volt Absorb
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Attract/Thunder Wave
~Agility/Double Team
~Thunderbolt
~Baton Pass

@ Lefties
Calm | Early Bird
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Calm Mind
~Agility
~Baton Pass
~Psychic/Crunch

19. Pseudo-Passers

Pseudo-Passers are Pokemon that pass on status moves without the use of Baton Pass. Instead, the moves used are those that remain in effect when you switch your Pokemon.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Reflect, Light Screen, Safeguard, Mist, Wish
>Key Stats: Speed, HP, Defense, Special Defense

Examples:

@ Leftovers
Bold/Impish | Levitate
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 Sp Def
~Reflect
~Light Screen
~Rapid Spin
~Earthquake/Psychic

@ Leftovers
Serious | Inner Focus/Early Bird
~Reflect
~Light Screen
~Wish
~Psychic

20. Heal-Bellers

Pokemon that have the ability to heal all the status ailments on your entire team.

>Commonly used non-damaging moves:Aromatherapy, Heal Bell, Softboiled, Rest, Refresh

Examples:

@ Lefties
Calm | Natural Cure
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Heal Bell/Aromatherapy
~Counter
~Softboiled
~Seismic Toss

@ Lefties/Chesto
Modest | Levitate
252 SA, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Psychic
~Heal Bell
~Rest
~Calm Mind

21. Sub-Reversors

Pokemon that continually Substitute or take hits while using Endure when necessary until a Berry activates due to the low HP. Subsequently, the Pokemon can sweep using Reversal or any other offensive moves.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Reversal
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Substitute, Endure
>Item: Salac Berry, Liechi Berry

Examples:

@ Salac
Adamant | Limber
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Substitute
~Reversal
~HP Ghost
~Brick Break

@ Salac
Adamant | Swarm
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Endure/Substitute
~Reversal
~Swords Dance
~Brick Break/Megahorn/Earthquake

22. Sub-Punchers

Some Pokemon might have limited movesets to fulfill the roles of Special Sweeper or Physical Sweeper. In such cases, Sub-Punching is a possible alternative. The high base power of Focus Punch makes it viable even on a Special Sweeper, hence this combo is not limited to merely Physical Sweepers.

Sub-punching can also be a possible strategy even if the Pokemon does not have a limited moveset. However, since this combo takes up two slots, you might be giving up versatility for power. For instance, you replace Earthquake and Brick Break for this Sub-punching combo. You lose a Ground type attack and a Fighting type attack but gain only a single type ie Normal.

>Commonly used damage-dealing moves: Focus Punch
>Commonly used non-damaging moves: Substitute

Examples:

@ Leftovers
Mild | Static
252 Spd, 154 Sp Atk, 104 Atk
~Substitute
~Focus Punch
~Thunderbolt
~Surf/Wish/Encore/Thunder Wave

@ Leftovers
Adamant | Sticky Hold
252 Atk, 252 Spd, 6 HP
~Substitute
~Focus Punch
~Sludge Bomb
~Acid Armor/Explosion/Brick Break

Conclusion?

While there seem to be a wide variety of battling roles, only a few are much more important than the rest. Sweepers and Tanks, for example. Also, Pokemon today are seldom a single Battling Type. What trainers typically use in battle are hybrids of several Battling Types. Blissey, for instance, with its Heal-Bell/Aromatherapy and Softboiled (to complement its high HP and Special Defense), is a Heal-Beller as well as a Special Sponge. Umbreon, with its decent defenses, Toxic, Mean Look, Wish and Baton Pass, is a Toxi-Trapper, a Tank, and a Baton-Passer. What one should do is essentially incorporate as many functions into a team of six as possible, in order to be highly versatile.

Copyright 2005, sN0wBaLL

Nice guide, except that for the Psych-uppers, Regice is Quite commonly used, and that Shuckle set can trap, using wrap.

Wow, 19 types of pokemon uses. I thought it was 3 !! Anyway, awesome guide.

Great guide, this should help a lot of those people that come on and ask related questions.

I'd also like to briefly mention Perish-Hazers. (Just the use of Perish Song) Although it's not as easy as another type of hazer to work, it usually will work well if used right (or with Protect or Mean Look and switching on the last turn). I suppose that you know this though.

Also, it might be easier to add a small list up top on what you're covering in the order. That can save some time for future references.

You might wanna change the Name from "Types" to something else to avoid confusion.

"Styles"?

I like the guide and find it very informative... but i was just wondering... the pokemon above look great in what my first thought to be a single battle scenario... but what about double battles?

I don't believe he included them because most Double Battle roles/styles/whatever could already be found at the Double Battle Guide.

However, I'm not totally sure about this.

The extra strategies needed for Double Battles can be found in the link that tiger10x posted. These Battling Roles that I wrote about shouldn't change even in a Double Battle. In Double Battles, sweepers are still sweepers, and tanks are still tanks after all, right?

I would suppose they would be. I have a question about BatonPassers: If a pokemon uses Attract, then uses BatonPass, will the Attraction still be in effect? And if so, does it work if you switched in a pokemon with the same gender as the opponent?

I'm not sure about this, but I think Attraction can't be Baton-Passed.

you need to try to find out the answer.eitherway,i should think not

To clear things up: Attraction can't be BPed at all.

What about MeanLook? I bet there's more, but I'm having a brainfart at the moment and can't think of them.

Yes, Mean Look can be BPed. Refer to Umbreon's set, for instance.

@ Lefties
Careful | Synchronize
252 HP, 129 Def, 129 SD
~Mean Look
~Toxic
~Rest/Wish
~Baton Pass/Taunt

Mean Look and Toxic while using Rest/Wish is the straightforward strategy to adopt. However, if the opponent were to switch to, say, a Steel Type, you can Mean Look the foe, and Baton Pass to a Fire type to counter the foe. With Mean Look in effect, the foe cannot escape and would have to face the Fire type

I knew I would remember! What about Imprison? I don't know if any single pokemon can learn BP and Imprison, but would that be passed on as well?

I'm not so sure about Imprison, having never used that move before

It might be able to be BPed though, so perhaps you can try

The BEST example of a Psycho Hazer is Regice. Calmcune goodbye.

I'd like to add that special sweepers also commonly use overheat. an exelent first for a quick victory. not nearly as usefull the second time but has major advantages vs. a hazer (almost any hazer).

where would you put self destructing pokes?

Self-destructing Pokemon are often physical sweepers, and do not function the mere purpose of using Explosion. Golem, for instance, might have Explosion, but its other moves are usually Earthquake, Double-Edge and similar offensive and physical moves.

I do not belive Special Sweepers commonly use Overheat; just Fire-
Type Physical Sweepers. (the reason is that Overheat dosen't just lower its power, but overall special attack)

Edit from sN0w: Like Fire Blast, it can also serve anti-skarm functions.

My only problem with the guide is that somethings aren't "up to date" as the metagame and older thoughts have changes about pokemon roles:

The Mixed Sweeper for example has been bumped to a spot of great importance. The mixed sweeper is what makes Tyraniboah, McIceGar, Swampert, ect. very popular pokemon.

Also, the "Toxi-" roles you listed are only used in the UU/NU/Ubers environment of competitive play. I think you should list that as those types of pokemon don't do very well in the competitive environment unless used by very very skilled trainers.

The "Drainers" pokemon are just wall/sponge pokemon with the ability to get HP back without the need of Rest/Recover. Celebi and Ludicolo are great at absorbing special attacks. Sceptile can seed and sub extremely well due to speed then sweep after a nice chunk of HP has been sapped. They aren't used for the Leech Seed attack, they are used for the ability to Sweep/Sponge.

I think that you should mention that SubReving is competely thrown to the wind by Tyranitar and users should be weary of that. Also, you didn't mention the use of flail.

Under the Physical Sweepers section you should mention something about Choice Band and how it works.

Also, I really think you should say somethings about the uses ingame and the uses competitively. Clerics aren't used too often ingame and I think that you should mention that.

The guide is awesome regardless of my opinion. Very well put together and organized.

I'll get to some of your points when I have the time (like the need to differentiate types that work better competitively, etc.) Thanks.

does rest + the ability of umbreon work?