Semi-Detailed Discussion: Sableye

[TeleFox]

After breeding for Recover on my Sableye, I started to think of different movesets, but I need some advice on a few things:

Stats:
HP Atk Def Spd SP. Atk SP. Def
50 75 75 50 65 65

First up is Personality, which to choose? The one I have now is Quiet (+Sp. Atk, -Spd), but I'm not sure how much use that'll be anymore, maybe a +Def would be more useful?

Next is, of course, the actual moveset. I was thinking about:
*Shadow Ball
*Toxic
*Mean Look
*Recover
Which is pretty straight-forward I guess, and I've heard Shadow Ball is based off Attack and not Special Attack (which is good for Sableye), but why then does it lower Special Defense? A +Def/+SP. Def would go well with this set, just for a bit more stability.

Then again Knock Off could replace Shadow Ball; I'll admit it's useful, but I like my Pokémon to have at least one decent attack to round them out.

Anyway, all advice is welcome, unless you're going to simply suggest replacing Sableye. Hold items would be also be Muchly appreciated!

[Inferno Cow]

I don't think Sableye should be used for any straight-forward attacking what-so-ever. It would work alot better as annoyer IMO.

Sableye
@Bright Powder/Quick Claw
(+Speed or Def, -Att or S.Att)
~Recover
~Toxic
~Mean Look
~Night Shade

Thats the one I plan on using, have yet to test it out

@Leftovers
~Toxic
~Mean Look
~Protect
~Confuse Ray

Standard Toxifuse

I've been trying to think of someone involving Psych Up or Snatch too...nothing yet

[TeleFox]

I guess Sableye's stats have suffered to make up for his type advantages. I wish his Sp. Atk didn't bite so much, Psychic would be a nice touch - it'd get rid of any Foresight/Odor Sleuth + Fighting combinations... but then that'd be hoping for a bit too much ^-^

[Scythemantis]

With his low hp and defensive stats I don't think sableye should be without confuse ray. c-ray and mean look for sure. Toxic is no longer affected by a switch (the opponent can switch all they want and they'lle still be badly poisoned...mwahahaha!) so there isn't much point anymore in toxic-trapping. Confusion-trapping + toxic, though...

I bred to get a sableye with recover, too. I'm training it now, since my main team is already done maxing out EV's.

[[McGraw]]

Let's be honest here, with those attacking stats, Sableye will not be dealing much damage - so I would opt for night shade. The majority of pokemon will have about 300-320 HP in R/S because of the EV restrictions so a guranteed 100 damage isn't too shabby. For the other attacks, recover is a given and I would personally use knock off and toxic in the last two spots. Personality wise, impish is best (-SA, +Def).

Sableye Impish
@anything...

nightshade
toxic
knock off
recover

Toxic to induce switching and knock off on the switch...

EV Distribution: 36/0/218/4/0/252

[HP] 250
[ATTACK] 186
[DEFENSE] 264
[SP. ATK] 149
[SP. DEF] 229
[SPEED] 137

Even with EVs concentrated on it's defenses, Sableye looks like it can't take much punishment. It would be alright if it learned light screen/reflect cos it is immune to brick break...

[Darkanine]

Sableye is ok, but I think Clops makes a much better tank especially with amnesia and willOwisp.

[Gligar_Man]

personaly im suprised mcgraw was the first to bring about knockoff... its very helpful on something w/3 immunities... f33r, and i agree w/mcraws ev distribution, but i also prefer to (-attack/s.a. + s.d.) for an even better s.d. knock off is the best thing this has going for it with healbellers being so uncommon in this game...

knock off, toxic, confuse ray, recover

is personally what i prefer... send him/her in against an obvious psychic/return/cross chop, etc. and knock off an item on the switch, etc. overall its not shabby at all... and w/a boosted s.d. it doesnt have bad staying power at all... and you could go night shade over toxic/confuse ray but that ust worx best for my usage of it... sableye is very good

[Inferno Cow]

Well G-Man, you conviced me...I always thought Knock Off was a depowered theif but I read it wrong and it just gets rid of the item instead of stealing it. So McGraw's set is most likely the most practical in online play.

How about this for Sableye

@Quick Claw
(-Att?, + Def)
~Calm Mind
~Psychic
~Knock Off/Night Shade
~Recover

[Musourenka]

Actually, I think Sableye is technically weak to Fighting. Foresight + Fighting attack = Super-effective.

Of course, they have to waste a turn to make you vulnerable.

[Inferno Cow]

Originally posted by Musourenka
Actually, I think Sableye is technically weak to Fighting. Foresight + Fighting attack = Super-effective.

Of course, they have to waste a turn to make you vulnerable.

Well thats kind of known but I doubt that fighting types will carry around Foresight or Mind Reader JUST for Sableye. Plus if anything uses either of those moves agiasnt Eye then I know to switch out.

[Gligar_Man]

or theyd use one of there other attax, most of the time, like... rock slide, earthquake, etc. hes not always guaranteed and i definitely wouldnt use sableye as an attacker... definitely

[Shuckle]

I just can't seem to make a move set that i like with Sableye after reading this discussion...

Maybe this -

-Nightshade
-Confuse Ray
-Toxic
-Recover

Is it really necessary to have mean look? Once toxic has been used it's all a matter of time - they can switch but they'll be back eventually...

The *BIG* question Night Shade V Shadow Ball on Sableye?

At level 100 v level 100 PKMN i think Nightshade is better for Sableye and if your Sableye doesn't have faint attack it's even better.

I don't know though maybe i'm wrong...?

[123LTJ]

My moveset:

Shadow Ball
Mean Look (Do I have to breed this on?)
Toxic
Attract (It'll be a female)

Wow, that'll be annoying.