Summary

Swalot is a Pokemon that is unassuming on the surface, but has decent bulk and a plethora of rare move options that make it unpredictable in a draft format. This, combined with its low average cost, makes it a viable candidate for a standard or 8-Pokemon draft.

Its most immediately threatening attack is Explosion when, paired with a Choice Band, can devastate Pokemon neutral to Normal-type attacks. This slots best as a lead, with the aforementioned Explosion, Sludge Bomb, whatever Hidden Power best fits (Fighting or Ground typically for Steel- or Rock-typed Pokemon unless Fire Punch would be better for the Steel Types), then a choice of a 4th attack of Shadow Ball, Protect for he slaking matchup, or any one off coverage option that's good in the matchup like Ice Beam into Pokemon like Salamence or Dragonite, Encore, or Toxic. Due to the information available ahead of a draft match, lead Swalot can invest in EVs to live the strongest Psychics and Earthquakes an enemy team can use. Banded swalot does surprisingly good damage with Sludge Bomb into a lot of teams due to the lack of good Steel types in ADV Draft, as well as Gengar thanks to Shadow Ball. The Poison chance from Sludge Bomb can also come in handy, ruining more defensive cores that don't have a cleric or Rest to heal status.

Another archetype Swalot can fill is that of bulky Encore user which can be aided by Acid Armor or Amnesia to really stop setup attempts on either side of the spectrum. Although, due to its Poison typing, it fares worse on the special side. This kind of bulky Encore pairs well with Toxic as a general chipping tool, and Swalot is bulky enough to where it can be invested to live Earthquakes from threats such as banded Dugtrio or non band Flygon or typically threatening Psychic-type Pokemon. Notably, its ability Liquid Ooze prevents grass types from trying to get by it with Leech Seed, invaliding users such as Venusaur or Celebi which typically excel against bulkier targets. Fighting types are forced to run Earthquake as a way around Swalot, and for some like Machamp or Hariyama Swalot can run a little extra speed so as to creep past them and use Explosion if need be. Breloom is forced to run Ground-type Hidden Power just to have any way of getting around swalot, and Heracross is forced to run Earthquake on a movepool that can already struggle to fit every coverage move it needs.

Swalot is generally decently consistent into the field due to the power of Explosion and Poison being a decent type -- however it does have a couple problem matchups, most notably Registeel and Steelix. However even specially defensive Steelix is 3HKOed by Modest/Quiet natured Swalot Fire Punch, and if Swalot is attacking on the side Registeel didn't invest in for that matchup, Fire Punch or Hidden Power Ground can allow for Swalot to chip Registeel down and ruin its life with encore, locking it into any status move it wants to go for. Swalot's worst matchup is Metagross, as the spider has the defense to easily take Hidden Power Grounds and won't fold to Fire Punch very easily. Additionally, its Earthquake takes a lot of investment to live if Metagross is banded, however if Metagross doesn't have bulk investments past maximum HP a Swalot Choice Banded Explosion cleaves 66% minimum. Swalot will almost always be moving second due to its low speed, which can also be taken advantage of.

This does not cover Swalot's entire movepool, which includes even more options such as Nightmare, Dream Eater, Snatch, Protect, Counter, and Water Pulse. In the realm of draft where Swalot knows what it's up against, its move depth alongside decent typing and serviceable stats make it a sneaky threat.

Summary written by Freetle For Wii U

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