Smeargle has been unbanned on the UU ladder for a testing period. In the past this Pokemon was proven broken and the idea behind this retest is to see if the metagame changes have made that different. You can use this thread to discuss Smeargle's effect on the current metagame. What are it's best sets? What are the best ways of dealing with it? Do you feel that Smeargle is still too good for the UU metagame or have things changed enough that it fits in well? Keep in mind that we want to see posts based on experience and knowledge (not theorymon). Go and actually build a team that includes Smeargle. This is the best way of seeing how good it is in the current metagame. No suspect discussion about Smeargle will be opened for a minimum of two weeks and it will be only opened if a good portion of the community feels Smeargle is suspect worthy, otherwise it will just be another Pokemon in the current metagame.
It'll be interesting using Smeagle in UU, to be honest. I wasn't playing when it was last in the tier.
Smeargle will be a cool addition to the tier, and definitely will be a staple on HO teams as it provides entry hazards and can potentially cripple a pokemon with Spore, which will most likely replace Crustle as the top suicide lead in UU.
RIP Crustle :( Well, I already have an idea on what to use Smeargle for in my test team. Smeargle @ Focus Sash Ability: Moody Own Tempo Nature: Timid EVs: 252 Hp / 4 SpDef / 252 Spd - Spore - Spikes - Stealth Rock - Destiny Bond/Magic Coat/Taunt/some other filler
Jolly Smeargle @ White Herb or Focus Sash 252 HP 252 Speed 4 SpDef Shell Smash Spore Baton Pass Cotton Guard\Whatever Filler you want I like this set because 90% of the time, you can get off a spore, shell smash and then keep the def and sp def. You can then pass this to whomever; also, Cotton Guard is just filler for the players who don't switch right away, although obviously it's a pretty unsafe choice unless you are really good at predicting. :P I don't think Smeargle is too powerful in UU because of a few reasons: I don't know if it's just me, but I've never had a hard time against a smeargle; packing a few priority moves into your team (you should have at least one) is an easy way to check Smeargle (focus sashed or otherwise), along with the roar family of moves, and entry hazards.. if there is rocks on the field or even a layer of spikes, that sash becomes useless, so make sure to get some hazards out if you are facing a smeargle team for an easier time. I think there's way too many counters and factors and variables in play to keep Smeargle out of UU.
In terms of Smash Passing you should be aware that Smashing FIRST then Sporing is almost always better, obviously you don't on something that can phaze, taunt or KO with priority, etc.
An interesting set I've used a few times: Smeargle @ Focus Sash Trait: Own Tempo Nature: Sassy (+SDef -Spd) EV: 252 HP IV 0 Atk, 0 Spd Spore Trick Room Magic Coat Lunar Dance/Memento/Destiny Bond The worst this set does is put something to sleep. General idea - use Spore, then Trick Room. The last move can be used to bring a teammate in cleanly - Lunar Dance gives a crippled sweeper another go, Memento cripples an attacker, Destiny Bond can bring something down with you.
Not sure if this would work in UU, but I tried it in OU and it worked okay, but not too well Smeargle @ Focus Sash Trait: Own Tempo Nature: Jolly (+Spe -SAtk) EV: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe Spore Shift Gear V-Create Outrage Fire/Dragon is a pretty decent coverage that few resist. Most that resist one are at least neutral to the other. However, since it's Attack stat is piss poor I don't recommend using this. You can also use ExtremeSpeed in spite of Outrage for some extra lulz
With Smeargle's horrible offenses, this set wouldn't do too well. Also, Dragon is a terrible attacking type to use if you lack STAB on it, I'd use bolt beam if anything. However, Smeargle in general is much better passing off boosts sicne it lacks offensive power, even after a boost or two.
Very very happy. Finally a cool suicide spikes that is not named Crustle. UU seems fairly balanced to me right now, well it's more offensive, but stall is definitely playable and balance even more so. I think with all the phazers, Blastoise, Rhyperior, to name two, Smash Pass won't be broken.
I wonder how people are going to adapt their teams to prepare themselves for Smeargle, because if they don't it will have a field day doing whatever it wants. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean it is broken. When I used to play RU, most people had something faster than Smeargle, capable 2HKOing it, with either Taunt or Lum Berry to avoid Spore. That alone is enough to beat Lead Smeargle or simply force it to not lead most of the time, and if Smeargle isn't leading it isn't a significant threat. Fitting a Pokemon that meets those requirements in the standard UU team is quite simple, so Smeargle shouldn't be too troublesome if people actually bother adapting to this new threat.
I've used Smeargle a couple times now... not too impressed. I was hoping for better results. Most UU teams carry some form of priority, and especially Honchkrow can KO most SmashPass recipients at -1 Defense with Sucker Punch. Hazards ruining Smeargle's Sash makes it a lot harder to use than you'd expect. You either have to lead of with it which is extremely predictable and your opponent will counterlead you most likely. But it's that or having to spin midgame and then finding a way to bring it in safely. Or you can predict the SR and switch in that turn, but if for example Rhyperior predicts you and uses Rock Blast you just lose a poke. There are other good sets ofcourse like a Trick Room lead as Dr. Doom mentioned or even a hazard lead. Without Spore, Smeargle would be so awful though :x
it does catch many people off guard, though, and the horrible stats do kind of hinder it, but with team support, it can be an okay sweeper
What exactly is Smeargle overpowering in UU? It has no niche over a bunch of UU Pokemon offensively, even if it gets +2/+2. Also, it would be much more beneficial for it to pass shell smash to setting like Scrafty or Nidoking.
Even if it does catch your opponent "off guard", it's still much too weak to sweep a decently-built team. With proper team support, you can make almost anything an okay/good sweeper.
Smeargle is quite good at what he does, either suiciding to get hazards up or to pass boosts to a teammate. A supporting set with trick is also not bad, especially against less offensive teams. However, as was said earlier, it won't take long for people to pack some more counters to the rat, in the form of fast taunt or priority. Crobat/Tornadus are the most likely counters, and substitute users such as chandelure can easily set up on it. Overall he is a very interesting addition that even more heavily sways the tier towards offense, and will likely reduce usage of some pokes such as Umbreon.
UU Smeargle huh? Should be interesting. We could see relics like Insomnia Krow resurfacing just to disembowel it. Also, Xatu's a pretty solid Smeargle stop too thanks to Magic Coat bouncing back its Spore. XAtu also gets Whirlwind too, so it can phaze out whatever Smeargle passes to (it can't do anything else, as all non attacking moves will be bounced right back.
Fyi it doesn't. It gets Haze, though :| But yeah, Xatu is easily the best Smeargle counter if it isn't Smashpassing (Xatu is pretty powerless when it comes to that). Outside of that, there's no real surefire counter because you have no clue what it's doing (each set can be beaten, but you have to know the set, a lot like Arceus or Mew)! Anyway, anyone try this set? FEARGLE! (Smeargle) @ Focus Sash Level: 1 Trait: Own Tempo Nature: Jolly (+Spe -SAtk) EVs: 252 Speed - Spore - Endeavor - Dragon Rage - Trick Room I haven't gotten a chance to test this, but I remember it being devastating to people who weren't prepared. It also adds momentum to Trick Room teams, because everyone loves being against Trick Room teams!!!
so here's one of my favourite smeargle sets, based on FEAR, but better if you're not using a TR team: Smeargle (M) @ Focus Sash Trait: Own Tempo EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Spore - Endeavor - ExtremeSpeed - Magic Coat / Taunt / Encore / Stealth Rock / use your imagination Royalty stole this set from me, and with good reason. It's pretty fun to use and great as a lead to instantly throw your opponent off balance, as when it's played correctly you will take out at least two Pokemon. Endeavor+Extremespeed to me is a lot better than using Level 1 Smeargle Endeavor+TR+DR since Extremespeed is surprisingly good at picking off weakened mons (assuming Smeargle lives more than like 3 turns into the battle) and you aren't forced to run other things that flow well with Trick Room.
Double posting because important and because I can. Due to literally nobody complaining about it, Smeargle is now legal in UU. Thank you all for participating in this retest.