Kricketune Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Sticky Web allows Kricketune to slow down the opponent's team and support its slow teammates. Taunt is a great move that allows Kricketune to outspeed and prevent Defog users from removing Sticky Web. In addition, it prevents slower foes from stacking Spikes or setting up against it. Endeavor allows Kricketune to bring foes down to 1 HP after it activates its Focus Sash, letting a teammate finish them off. Knock Off removes items and is useful to weaken NFE Pokemon such as Misdreavus and Tangela, annoy stall teams by removing Leftovers, and discourage Ghost-types from switching in on Endeavor. Set Details Maximum Speed investment allows Kricketune to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, letting it Taunt bulky Defog users before they remove Sticky Web, as well as set up Sticky Web and use Endeavor on as many foes as possible. Focus Sash almost guarantees that Kricketune will be able to set up Sticky Web and enables it to use Endeavor effectively. Kricketune should not invest in bulk because the set is designed as a suicide lead, and having less bulk enables it to utilize a more powerful Endeavor. Usage Tips Kricketune should usually be used as a lead to maximize the effect of its Focus Sash and let it set up Sticky Web as soon as possible, unless it is obvious that the opponent will lead with a Pokemon that beats Kricketune, such as a faster Taunt user. If any Pokemon that has Defog comes in on Kricketune, use Taunt to prevent Sticky Web from being removed. Set up Sticky Web as soon as possible, and if it is certain that Sticky Web will remain on the field for the rest of the game, sacrifice Kricketune to give one of its teammates a free switch-in. After setting up Sticky Web, Kricketune should stay in and spam Knock Off to annoy the opponent until it gets brought down to its Focus Sash. After this, use Endeavor as much as possible to soften up foes. If Kricketune is up against a Toxic Spikes user, it is advisable to use Taunt first, then set up Sticky Web, because the residual damage from Toxic Spikes will limit its teammates' longevity. Against stall teams, it is advisable to simply use a combination of Taunt and Knock Off to wear down foes because Sticky Web rarely comes in handy against these teams. If a Pokemon that threatens to sweep your team comes in on Kricketune with an intact Focus Sash, Kricketune can use Endeavor and bring the foe down to 1 HP on the same turn it gets attacked and brought down to the Focus Sash, neutering a threat. If the opposing team has a Rapid Spin or Defog user, it isn't a bad idea to set up Sticky Web and switch out to preserve Kricketune in case the entry hazard needs to be set up again. Team Options Kricketune should only be used on offensive teams because they can deal with the early loss of a teammate much better than defensive teams can. Offensive teams can also pressure Defog and Rapid Spin users more easily and usually have a way to beat stall teams that do not mind Sticky Web. Slow but powerful teammates can outspeed more Pokemon with Sticky Web up, as well as cripple Defog users. Examples include Ursaring, Marowak, and Beheeyem. Sticky Web teams also appreciate fast Pokemon, such as Ninetales, Simipour, and Choice Scarf Rotom-F; these Pokemon not only outspeed virtually the entire tier, including revenge killers, but provide insurance against Flying-types, Pokemon with Levitate, and opposing Sticky Web teams. Spinblockers such as Misdreavus and Dusknoir can foil attempts to spin away Sticky Web, and they even have access to Taunt and Thunderbolt to stop common Defog users. Pawniard can also discourage the use of Defog with its ability Defiant, giving it a +2 Attack boost when it switches into Defog. An offensive Stealth Rock user, such as Golem, can provide Stealth Rock support, which is useful to wear down foes for the team while threatening them offensively.

Unless you use all of dual screens, Memento, and Tailwind support, Kricketune really doesn't have a snow ball's chance in hell of sweeping. Although, a Life Orb-boosted Bug Bite does 2HKO physically defensive Musharna and OHKOes at +2. Brick Break is for Golem and Regirock, and Return is there for those dastardly Fire- and Flying-types. If that doesn't suit your taste, Night Slash can be used instead to surprise Misdreavus and Golurk.

Kricketune can run a Choice Scarf set to make up for its poor Speed stat, becoming a novelty revenge killer. X-Scissor is its primary STAB move, and if Kricketune manages to secure a Swarm boost, it becomes just as powerful as if Kricketune was using Megahorn. Brick Break is for Steel- and Rock-types, while Night Slash allows Kricketune to hit Ghost-types, and Return is a nice neutral attack that rounds off Kricketune's coverage. Maximum Speed is needed to outspeed positive-natured base 120s, the Speed tier where Kricketune's prime targets reside (namely Sceptile and Alakazam). However, an Adamant nature is fine as Kricketune will still outspeed base 105s, which is still a large portion of the UU metagame. Perish Song can be used in the last slot to finish off an opponent's final Pokemon, and it also counters Baton Pass teams that haven't yet acquired a Speed boost. Choice Scarf Kricketune really wants Rapid Spin support, more so than any other set, as being limited to a maximum of five switch-ins as a weak revenge killer is less than ideal. Other than that, Stealth Rock and Spikes help weaken the opponent's team gradually and breaks Focus Sashes.

Though it is quite hard to set up at all when using Kricketune, Swords Dance is probably its best bet at sweeping; by doubling its Attack stat, Kricketune becomes at least slightly threatening. X-Scissor is the best STAB move available to Kricketune, and its power can even be boosted by Kricketune's ability, Swarm, when it is low on health. Brick Break offers the best coverage with X-Scissor, hitting Steel-types for super effective damage, while Night Slash can be used to target Ghost-types. Taunt can give Kricketune some nice setup opportunities against the likes of Chansey and Registeel, walls that might otherwise cripple it with status. Life Orb is the recommended item, as Kricketune needs all the power it can get to make up for his mediocre Attack stat. For this reason, an Adamant nature is also preferred. Kricketune can't outspeed too many additional threats when running a Jolly nature, so Adamant is almost always the better option. Lum Berry is an option over Life Orb and gives Kricketune a one-time status buffer which can either help it set up or sweep more easily. It should not be used alongside Taunt though, as they both serve essentially the same purpose. Sing can be used to put an opponent to sleep, but its accuracy is horrible, making it a less-than-reliable option. Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin spinners like Claydol are especially good when Kricketune is attempting a sweep. If Kricketune has Lum Berry or Taunt, a teammate that can lure out the likes of Chansey, such as Mismagius, can give Kricketune the perfect chance to actually set up. Packing Pokemon that can deal with its counters, namely Weezing and bulky Steel-types, particularly Fire-types such as Arcanine, will also help smoothen its endeavor. Finally, paralysis support can greatly benefit the sluggish Kricketune, and is one of the more useful team support options when it is trying to sweep. Uxie is a reliable status inducer, thanks to its gross amount of bulk, and can easily utilize Thunder Wave to bring paralysis onto most of any opponent's team.