How to Counter Stall Tactics in Cobblemon

Stall tactics in Cobblemon focus on wearing down opponents through defensive play, status conditions, and residual damage. Facing a stall team can be frustrating, especially if you’re unprepared for the patient, methodical playstyle it requires to overcome. But with the right Cobblemon, moves, and strategies, you can effectively counter stall tactics and break through even the most resilient defenses. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to counter stall tactics in Cobblemon.

Understanding Stall Tactics

Stall teams rely on Cobblemon with high Defense and Special Defense stats, typically employing moves like Toxic, Leech Seed, and Protect to drain their opponent's health slowly. These teams often include Cobblemon with abilities like Regenerator and Magic Guard to avoid damage and recover health, prolonging their presence on the battlefield.

Common Stall Moves and Abilities:

• Toxic and Will-O-Wisp: Inflict damage over time, gradually weakening opponents.
• Recover, Roost, Slack Off: Healing moves that keep stall Cobblemon on the field longer.
• Protect: Allows stall Cobblemon to stall additional turns, especially when paired with poison or burn.
• Regenerator: Recovers HP when switching out, making it easier for stall Cobblemon to pivot and reset.

Key Strategies to Counter Stall Teams

1. Use Taunt to Prevent Healing and Status Moves

Taunt is a powerful move that prevents opponents from using non-damaging moves. Against stall teams, Taunt can be invaluable because it stops Cobblemon from using Recover, Protect, and status-inflicting moves.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Gengar, Weavile, Tornadus
• Best Use: Lead with a fast Cobblemon that knows Taunt to shut down the stall tactics before they can set up. Cobblemon with Taunt should ideally have a decent Speed stat to outspeed most defensive Cobblemon.

2. Utilize Strong Wallbreakers with High Attack Power

Stall teams rely on being able to outlast opponents, but high-powered offensive Cobblemon with strong moves can break through defenses before they have a chance to recover.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Conkeldurr (with Guts ability), Excadrill, Dragonite
• Best Moves: Close Combat, Earthquake, Outrage
• Best Use: Bring in Cobblemon with strong Attack stats and moves that hit hard. Moves like Swords Dance or Dragon Dance can boost your power further, making it difficult for stall Cobblemon to withstand repeated hits.

3. Leverage Status Immunity and Toxic Absorption

Since stall teams often rely on Toxic to inflict poison damage, Cobblemon that are immune to status conditions or can absorb them can be invaluable.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Gliscor with Poison Heal, Excadrill with Steel typing, Clefable with Magic Guard
• Best Use: Use Cobblemon that are immune to Toxic or can even benefit from poison, like Gliscor. Steel-types are naturally immune to poison and can switch in safely on Cobblemon that rely on Toxic for damage.

4. Use Entry Hazards to Punish Switching

Stall teams often switch frequently to reset HP and gain defensive matchups. Stealth Rock and Spikes can punish this strategy by dealing residual damage every time a Cobblemon switches in, making it difficult for stall teams to cycle effectively.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Ferrothorn (with Stealth Rock or Spikes), Skarmory, Garchomp
• Best Use: Set up Stealth Rock and Spikes early in the game. This will force your opponent to take damage every time they switch, effectively reducing their ability to pivot.

5. Employ Knock Off to Remove Recovery Items

Most stall Cobblemon rely on items like Leftovers or Black Sludge for passive recovery. Knock Off removes these items, making it harder for stall Cobblemon to sustain themselves.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Weavile, Mandibuzz, Toxapex
• Best Use: Use Knock Off on Cobblemon that rely heavily on Leftovers to gradually recover HP. This will make them more vulnerable to repeated attacks and status conditions.

6. Use Set-Up Sweepers to Apply Pressure

Stall teams typically lack immediate offensive power, giving you opportunities to set up with moves like Swords Dance and Calm Mind. Set-up sweepers can capitalize on the lack of offensive pressure to boost their stats, eventually breaking through the defenses of a stall team once they’re fully powered up. With the right setup moves, you can apply enough pressure to force your opponent into uncomfortable switches or defensive plays.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Dragonite (with Dragon Dance), Clefable (with Calm Mind), Scizor (with Swords Dance), Togekiss (with Nasty Plot)
• Best Use: Bring in a Cobblemon that can boost its stats safely against a passive stall Cobblemon. Dragon Dance and Calm Mind are particularly effective, as they boost both offensive and defensive stats, making your sweeper harder to take down as it powers up.

Specialized Moves and Abilities to Counter Stall

1. Use Substitute to Block Status Moves

Substitute is a great way to counter stall Cobblemon that rely on status moves like Toxic or Will-O-Wisp. By setting up a Substitute, you protect your Cobblemon from harmful status conditions and can safely set up or attack without worrying about residual damage.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Garchomp, Heatran, Gengar
• Best Use: Use Substitute when you predict your opponent will use a status move. This allows you to bypass Toxic or Leech Seed setups and take control of the battle by safely attacking behind a shield.

2. Magic Bounce to Reflect Status and Hazards

Cobblemon with Magic Bounce can reflect status moves, entry hazards, and other non-damaging moves back to the opponent. This ability is especially useful against stall teams that rely on setting up hazards or spreading status conditions to control the battlefield.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Espeon, Xatu, Hatterene
• Best Use: Switch in a Magic Bounce user when you predict the opponent will set up Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, or use a status move. This forces the stall team to think twice before using setup moves, giving you a tactical advantage.

3. Defog and Rapid Spin to Clear Hazards

Removing hazards can be critical when facing a stall team that relies on Stealth Rock or Spikes to chip away at your Cobblemon’s health. Defog and Rapid Spin clear hazards, allowing you to reset the battlefield and make it harder for your opponent to control the game.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Excadrill (with Rapid Spin), Mandibuzz (with Defog), Corviknight (with Defog)
• Best Use: Use Defog or Rapid Spin strategically when your opponent has established multiple layers of hazards. This prevents stall teams from accumulating chip damage on your Cobblemon every time you switch.

4. Use High-Base Power Moves to Overwhelm

Strong moves with high base power, like Outrage and Close Combat, can put significant pressure on even the most durable stall Cobblemon. Moves with high damage output can bypass defenses before the opponent has a chance to recover.

• Recommended Cobblemon: Conkeldurr (with Close Combat), Garchomp (with Outrage), Dracovish (with Fishious Rend in favorable conditions)
• Best Use: Use these high-power moves when facing a wall Cobblemon that relies on Recover or Soft-Boiled. The raw damage output makes it harder for stall teams to respond effectively.

Example Team to Counter Stall

Here’s an example team setup that incorporates various anti-stall strategies:

1. Gengar – with Taunt and Substitute to prevent recovery and status moves.
2. Excadrill – with Rapid Spin and Earthquake to clear hazards and apply offensive pressure.
3. Clefable – with Calm Mind and Magic Guard to safely set up while avoiding Toxic damage.
4. Conkeldurr – with Guts ability and Close Combat to break through defensive Cobblemon.
5. Togekiss – with Nasty Plot and Air Slash for setting up and flinching opponents, disrupting their stall strategy.
6. Mandibuzz – with Defog and Knock Off to remove hazards and items.

This team combines hazard control, setup potential, and powerful attackers to dismantle stall teams. Each Cobblemon has a specific role that counters the core strategies of stall tactics, giving you flexibility to adapt to various stall setups.

Summary of Anti-Stall Tactics

• Taunt to shut down non-attacking moves.
• Wallbreakers with high Attack to break through defensive walls.
• Status Immunity to counter Toxic and burn effects.
• Entry Hazards to punish frequent switching.
• Knock Off to remove recovery items.
• Substitute to avoid status moves.
• Magic Bounce to reflect status and hazards.
• High Power Moves to deal massive damage.

By incorporating these strategies, you can effectively counter stall tactics, keeping your opponents on their toes and forcing them to adapt to your anti-stall measures. Practice with various combinations to find the perfect balance for your team, and soon you’ll be dismantling even the toughest stall strategies in Cobblemon.