==General== Froslass took a hit with Team Preview, but it still retains its niche as a ghost-type with access to entry hazards, something only Froslass and the Stealth Rocker {{5glu|Golurk}} can boast about. This allows Froslass to avoid Rapid Spin while laying down hazards. This can prove to be very annoying to the opponent if used correctly, as offensive teams can use the Spikes to wear down walls like {{5gou|Ferrothorn}} and {{5gou|Jirachi}} much quicker. Froslass also has STAB Ice Beam and Shadow Ball to take out {{5gou|Starmie}}, {{5gou|Donphan}}, {{5gou|Espeon}}, and {{5gou|Xatu}}, whom are common Rapid Spin and Magic Bounce users. All of this adds up to an annoying threat. However, not all is goody gum drops for Froslass. Despite its high speed and good movepool, it has low offensive and defensive stats that can let it down. It is weak to Stealth Rock, which hampers it very much. {{5gou|Tyranitar}} and {{5gou|Scizor}}, two common pokemon in OU, give Froslass a living nightmare. As a result, Froslass gets relegated to a specific niche. However, do not let these flaws discourage the usage of Froslass, as it can be a very effective fast spiker on teams if used right. ==Spikes Lead== {{set |name=Suicide Spiker |pkmn=Froslass |item=Focus Sash |ability=Cursed Body |nature=Timid |ev= 252 SpAtk / 4SDef / 252 Spd |move1=Spikes |move2=Ice Beam|move21=Icy Wind |move3=Taunt|move31=Shadow Ball |move4=Destiny Bond}} Froslass' most popular set in DPP, the suicide spiker, is not as good as it once was, but still usable to lay down Spikes quickly. Taunt blocks pokemon from setting up on it, while Shadow Ball nails Espeon and Starmie for Super Effective damage. Destiny Bond scores a free KO after Froslass has done its job to bring instant offensive momentum to the team. Ice Beam hits everything harder than Icy Wind, but the speed drop can be useful in taking down Starmie and Espeon. The EVs maximize Speed to get up Spikes ASAP, and Sp Atk to pump some power into Froslass' attacks, since she is meant to die to begin with. ===Synergy=== Froslass fis on offensive teams, so {{5gou|Kyurem-B}}, {{5gou|Latios}}, {{5gou|Terrakion}}, {{5gou|Lucario}}, you name it - any offensive threat that does not need Sand support goes well with Froslass. A secondary ghost, like {{5gou|Gengar}} or {{5gou|Chandelure}}, can prove to be useful after Froslass has fainted to keep down the Spikes. {{5gou|Ninetales}}, {{5gou|Politoed}}, and {{5gou|Abomasnow}} can remove sandstorms and replace it with weather Froslass prefers to stay in. {{5gou|Scizor}} and {{5gou|Breloom}} can wreck havoc using Spikes support and their Technician-boosted priority moves. {{5gou|Heatran}} and {{5gou|Jirachi}} can compile Stealth Rock with Froslass' Spikes to annoy the opponent even more. Starmie or {{5gou|Donphan}} can Rapid Spin away entry hazards if Froslass cannot lay down Spikes on the first few turns. Basically, any offensive team that needs a fast spiker can look into Froslass. ==SubSpikes== {{set |name=SubSpikes |pkmn=Froslass |item=Leftovers |ability=Cursed Body |nature=Timid |ev= 248 HP / 8 SDef / 252 Spd |iv=0 Atk |move1=Spikes |move2=Ice Beam|move21=Shadow Ball |move3=Taunt|move31=Pain Split|move32=Disable |move4=Substitute}} Whereas Spikes lead aims to get up Spikes quickly, this set aims to get up Spikes and utilize Froslass' spin-blocking capabilities better. Substitute gives Froslass a free shield against Pursuit users like Tyranitar and Scizor, allowing Froslass to lay down Spikes much easier. Since Froslass is vulnerable to Prankster users like Sableye, a STAB move will be needed; Ice Beam hits Donphan, {{5gou|Gliscor}}, Xatu, and {{5gou|Landorus}}, whereas Shadow Ball hits Starmie and Espeon/Xatu, but does nothing else. It also makes Froslass even more helpless against Sand teams. Taunt can stop opponents from setting up on Froslass, whereas Pain Split utilizes a SubSplit strategy of recovery. Disable can be used as SubDisable, but the other two moves are more useful, not to mention that Froslass already has Cursed Body. The EVs maximize Froslass' speed and HP for the ability to stay up for 3 turns or more. 248 HP EVs allows Froslass to switch into Stealth Rock 5 times at most instead of 4. 0 Attack IVs minimize Confusion damage from Hurricane, and Foul Play damage should a Sableye be encountered. ===Synergy=== Froslass likes rain and hail the most. Sun increases the fire weakness, and sand gives residual damage. Thus, Politoed and Abomasnow are good partners. If in hail, Froslass can opt for Blizzard instead of Ice Beam, but be wary of the low PP. Starmie can take out threats that are troublesome for Froslass, such as Gengar and {{5gou|Keldeo}}. Starmie can also use Rapid Spin to remove Stealth Rock from the field. Donphan can lay down Stealth Rock in exchange for checking power, but Starmie is generally a better choice. Lucario can switch into Dark type attacks to get a Justified boost. Heatran is immune to Fire type moves, can lay down Stealth Rock, has a 4x resistance to Bullet Punch, and can hammer Scizor. However, Heatran does not function well in rain, so Heatran is more ideal in Hail. Jirachi and {{5gou|Bronzong}} have good synergy with Froslass, and can lay down Stealth Rock. Jirachi can also give 202 HP Wishes to Froslass to help with durability. ==Checks and Counters== Tyranitar and Scizor are the key counters to Froslass; they can use Pursuit to trap and kill Froslass from the entire match if Froslass is not behind a Substitute. Stealth Rock rips off 25% of Froslass' HP, which is downright annoying. Ninetales powers up Fire-type moves for oliberation of Froslass. Espeon can bounce back Spikes if Froslass lacks Shadow Ball. Taunt users, like Heatran and {{5gou|Sableye}}, can cause Froslass troubles. Status is a nuisance for Froslass, as it hampers her even more. Just exploit her defenses, and she will crack and whither. ==Other Options== Froslass has a couple of options up her sleeves. A SubSplit offensive set with Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and SubSplit can be used, but Froslass' Special Attack is not high enough to pull that off effectively. Weather Ball seems gimmicky, but it has its uses, hammering Scizor and Forretress on sun teams, {{5gou|Volcarona}} in rain or sand, etc. A Choice Specs set seems tempting to offset her slightly low Special Attack, but that is better left to stronger pokemon, like {{5gou|Jolteon}}, {{5gou|Thundurus-T}}, Latios, or even {{5gou|Jellicent}}. Spikes + 3 Attacks is actually not that bad in hail, with Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Hidden Power Fire as coverage, though elsewhere, it is not that good due to the lack of 100% accurate Blizzard. Thunder Wave + Confuse Ray is gimmicky, and Toxic is better left to bulkier pokemon with the moveslot for it, like {{5gou|Chansey}} or Gliscor.
A bit gimmicky, but I'd give Weather Ball a mention. It straight up OHKOes Scizor on Sun teams, gives Froslass a weapon against stuff like Heatran on Rain teams, etc. Hell, in sand storm it could be used to OHKO Volcarona too. xD Reckon it's worth it? It's legal with Spikes too.
You might want to add a suicide lead. Focus Sash+Destiny Bond might be a better set imo, as Focus Sash allows it to live one hit, and then take down its attacker along with it, bringing immediate offensive momentum to your team already. Ice beam/Shadow Ball for STAB, thats pretty much it.
This is a thing in OU? Idk about the set, I'd just stick to it's SashSpikeLead as the only set. Put SubSplit,SubToxic,andSubDisable in OO. But, idk much about Froslass in ou
Except the thing is Finch and Draco, that Froslass' biggest niche is the ability to spinblock and lay down Spikes. SubSpiker allows Froslass to lay down Spikes and spinblock, whereas Spikes Lead pretty much uses only half of Froslass' blessings. Spikes Lead is better done by more offensive fast Spikers, like Scolipede or Accelgor, who can do cr@p to the opponent before dying and laying down at least 2 layers of Spikes.
Yeah, but an opposing spinner can just lead against Scolipede/Accelgor and spin the hazards away, something Froslass prevents. As far as synergy goes, I remember from UU that Froslass + another Ghost gives nightmares to opposing spinners. Tbh, the only set I'd ever use is the Sash Lead Spike set, but even that only has a minor niche.
Except with Sash Froslass, I could just lead off with Scizor and Bullet Punch it down, so only one layer of Spikes is up. And Scizor is very common in OU. Forretress and Starmie can die with Accelgor, while Scolipede can switch out (no harm in switching) to a threat, take out the spinner, and then lay down the Spikes. With Froslass, you essentially waste the typing with the Scolipede strategy. Also, Starmie and Forretress can beat Froslass, especially Starmie, who outspeeds Froslass.
Well Froslass can just switch out too, and go to some set up sweeper and do work when leading against Scizor. I don't really know how Forretress "beats" Froslass, since it'll end up against 2 layers of Spikes and a well timed Taunt can prevent it from setting up hazards on you. When you run Icy Wind + Shadow Ball (and Taunt and Spikes as last moves) Starmie will lose as well. I don't say you have to abandon the set you have now, but do not have Froslass's best set (imo, let's hear what other QCs think).
Yeah, questioning it's overall niche. If you know the sets you're using and information you're giving is reliable and it works...I guess. Otherwise, if you're doing it based on theorymon or mediocre / bad using of it...I'd rethink this skeleton as a whole. Captain, Zoro, and I don't really think much of it. I know Noname's kinda knowledgeable, so lets see what he has to say, I suppose! (2amftw)
Overall, Froslass is much weaker in the sand, especially the Sashed lead. However, Focus Sash Lead is a very popular Froslass set, depending on how you use it. Though Sand breaks it, Froslass can still get one layer of spikes, anyway, and still prevent any rapid spinners while it's in play.
I'm going to backslash Taunt behind Shadow Ball, because taunt stops other leads from setting up their hazards/dual screens etc. Taunt+Destiny Bond also plays mindgames with your opponent, so if he kills you he dies along with you as well. I'm also going to frontslash ice beam in front of icy wind because Ice beam is frosslass' most reliable and strongest attack other than Blizzard, and hits xatu/sableye stronger though. :v Other than that, looks good.
I like Icy Wind + Shadow Ball + Taunt + Spikes best, but ok. This looks pretty complete for a poke with such a small nice.