Stantler, The Big Horn Pokémon. Staring at its antlers creates an odd sensation as if one were being drawn into their centers. The curved antlers subtly change the flow of air to create a strange space where reality is distorted. Stantler's magnificent antlers were traded at high prices as works of art. As a result, this Pokémon was hunted close to extinction by those who were after the priceless antlers.
Overview
It's the holidays once again and as Delibird has been done, it's time for Stantler, the deer Pokémon that is often used to act as a reindeer. Unfortunately, that's pretty much Stantler's only redeeming quality. This Pokémon just isn't as viable as we'd all like it to be. With its backstory of being able to use Psychic powers, it unfortunately just never lives up to its conceptual potential, and that is a massive shame. It has a diverse movepool, but it just doesn't have the stats to support it in ways other Pokémon such as Tauros do.
Positives
+Diverse Movepool
+Good, but not great offensive stats
+It has decent abilities
+It can learn Flash so is good at guiding sleighs at night.
Negatives
-Its Speed is somewhat poor
-Its defences are just not that feasible. 73/62/65 bulk is just atrocious, it won't survive long
-It can't hit too hard
Abilities
Intimidate: Upon entering battle, the opponent’s Attack lowers one stage. In a Double Battle, both opponents’ Attack are lowered. Pokémon with the Clear Body, Hyper Cutter, or White Smoke ability are unaffected. In a link battle, if both sides switch on the same turn, and first player sends out a Pokémon with Intimidate, the opponent’s Attack will be lowered before the opponent’s Pokémon switches. - This ability is always a great ability as it helps shut down many physical threats
Frisk: Reveals the foe’s held item. - Scouting is always good to see how your opponents may be running a Pokémon, but with the other two options it's just best not to use it.
Hidden Ability (Available):
Sap Sipper: Attack is raised by one stage when the Pokémon is hit by a Grass-type move. User receives no damage from Grass-type attacks. - This ability is a good one, but seeing as Grass-type attacking moves aren't that common, this ability wouldn't get as much use as it probably should do.
Movesets
Dashing Through The Snow
-Double-Edge / Return
-Sucker Punch
-Jump Kick / Earthquake
-Megahorn
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate / Sap Sipper
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
Stantler, let's face it, is not a powerful Pokémon but you are going to want to get in there and do as much damage as possible while you still can and this set is a perfect one for doing just that. Return and Double-Edge are moves that get STAB and can hit quite hard in the best circumstances. Sucker Punch is able to do some damage to the pesky Ghost-types that resist the STAB moves and get in with a bit of priority. Jump Kick and Earthquake are good ways to get through Steel and Rock-type Pokémon, while Megahorn is just a very powerful move. With the Life Orb boost, it can hit quite hard but it'll still be a bit frail so you'll want to get the Speed boost from Jolly and the EVs in to get hits in as much as you can.
Other Options
-While Return is a decent enough move, you may want to go Facade in case of status afflictions
-If you want to go the Special or Mixed route, then going with moves such as Energy Ball, Thunderbolt, Charge Beam and so forth would make fantastic choices.
-Psyshock is a great choice on Special and Mixed sets
-Skill Swap is always fun to use to ruin people's strategies
-Sucker Punch is good for priority, but does require a level of prediction.
-Zen Headbutt gives some decent damage while having a chance of flinch so if you go for a fast Stantler, this could be useful
VGC, Double & Triple Battle Options
If you want to use Stantler in the VGC ruleset, then there are few options you can use for it. It requires a lot of finesse to get working, but there are methods to the madness. Unfortunately, there are so many things which do what it can better
It Doesn't Have A Shiny Nose
Return / Double-Edge
Sucker Punch
Earthquake / Jump Kick
Energy Ball / Signal Beam / Charge Beam
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Sap Sipper / Intimidate
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4 SAtk
Hasty Nature
Let's face it, Stantler isn't going to last long, so what you need to do is hit as hard as you can and that's where this set comes in and it's a Mixed set. Return and Double-Edge are the heavy hitters with the STAB. Sucker Punch can do decent damage and has priority, but with a level of prediction required. Earthquake can be useful with the right partner in that it can do decent damage while hurting both of the opponents, you just need to make sure to protect your partner while Jump Kick can do some decent physical damage. Then we have the Special options of Energy Ball, Signal Beam and Charge Beam to get some further coverage. This Pokémon won't get far, but you may be able to dent your opponents significantly before it collapses.
Countering Stantler
Stantler is a moderately offensive Pokémon with horrifically low defenses so going for the Super Effective Fighting-type moves is probably your best bet. Pokémon such as Conkeldurr, Hawlucha, Machamp and so forth can get in and OHKO the Stantler with some powerful Fighting-type moves. With only Zen Headbutt and Psyshock to worry about, they can get their hits in before then. Otherwise, just go for powerful physical moves and Stantler will likely fall with very little ease. Going for Pokémon that resist its moves is a safe bet, but you do need to watch out for the Jump Kick. However, as Stantler doesn't have the best Speed, just going for a hard hitting Pokémon that is slightly faster will be an absolute safe bet.
Locations in Games
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from Emerald/FireRed/LeafGreen/Colosseum (Ruby/Sapphire)
Safari Zone, Altering Cave (Emerald)
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Altering Cave
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Chaser Liaks in The Under Subway (Colosseum)
Trade from Emerald/FireRed/LeafGreen
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Route 207 (Pearl & Platinum)
Trade with Pearl/Platinum/HeartGold/SoulSilver (Diamond)
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 37, Route 36, Route 37, Safari Zone
Black/White:
Abundant Shrine
Black 2/White 2:
Trade from Black & White
X/Y:
Trade from Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Mirage Mountain
Animé Appearences
