Is acid spray worth using competitively?

Question

I mean isn't the -2 sp.def somewhat equivalent to nasty plot?

And if I'm correct it doesn't activate throat spray right?

Comments

I think It can chip at special walls.

Answer 1

After seeing BananaBro's answer, I was going to make this a comment on the Singles portion but decided to make this an answer instead. While Acid Spray isn't used much competitive, Acid Spray has seen some usage in Singles. While yes, it is generally better to boost your own stats, there are a couple of reasons why Acid Spray is used in Singles.

1. It allows Pokemon who do NOT have a way to boost their own Special Attack to be able to break past defensive Pokemon.

Some offensive Pokemon do not have a way to boost their Special Attack stat (not counting Petaya Berry or Weakness Policy). However, by using Acid Spray, it can allow offensive Pokemon to break past Pokemon that could otherwise switch into them, and even 1v1 certain Pokemon. Some examples are Goodra in SV PU (and NU if you decide to use there, was used in Alpha SV NU), Hisuian Goodra in SV RU, Skuntank in ORAS NU and SM PU, and Eelektross in SM PU and SV ZU.

And yes, the opponent can just switch out to get rid of the Special Defense drop, which leads to the other reason:

2. Opposing Pokemon switching out is EXCACTLY what the Pokemon is using Acid Spray for

Opposing Pokemon switching out is another reason for some Pokemon using Acid Spray in competitive. The offensive Pokemon I listed earlier can also use Acid Spray to force switches. Defenisve Pokemon can also utilize Acid Spray to force switches. Tentacruel in ORAS UU (and I guess SV NU as well) can utilize Acid Spray to force Pokemon to switch out. Another example is Fezandipiti in National Dex Ubers(original VR nom post if you're interested, can also find other VR posts about Fezandipiti), as it can utilize the Special Defense drop from Acid Spray to force switches (and support breakers such as Deoxys-A), and can switch out with U-turn should the opponent switch out after you use Acid Spray.

I'd also like to mention that Pokemon using Acid Spray is also dependent on the generation and format. While the utility it has its nice, some Pokemon might prefer other options or use another set that doesn't need Acid Spray. For example, Tentacruel in SM UU prefers other utility options over Acid Spray. While Fezandipiti runs Acid Spray in NatDex Ubers, it doesn't use it in formats such as SV RU or OU, where it uses other sets that don't need Acid Spray. While Skuntank can use Acid Spray in ORAS NU and SM PU, it doesn't use it in Gen 8 since it can learn Nasty Plot. It also depends on what Pokemon is using Acid Spray, as you're not going to have Acid Spray on something like a Salazzle or Naganadel.

Edit: Acid Spray is viable in a format like 1v1, where you're not allowed to switch out, allowing offensive Pokemon to easily break past defensive Pokemon there.

TL;DR Whether or not Acid Spray is worth it in competitive is dependent on the Pokemon, generation, and format. Offensive Pokemon with no viable way of boosting their Special Attack stat can use Acid Spray to allow them to break past checks, force switches, or both. Defensive Pokemon can also utilize Acid Spray to force opposing Pokemon to switch out. While some Pokemon benefit from what Acid Spray does, they don't want to use it in certain formats since they prefer other options or is used in a format where it uses other sets that doesn't benefit from using Acid Spray. Acid Spray is also a viable move in 1v1 formats since you're not allowed to switch out.

Comments

Switching out is not an issue in 1v1, so moves like Acid Spray are also viable there.

Answer 2

No

• After you use it opponent will just switch and the stat lowered will be gone.
• Nasty Plot, opposite. The boost will still be there even that opponent switch
• Acid Spray was a Poison type move, which won't effect the steel mtypes
• It wasn't a stab or a good coverage, and its low bp makes it very bad

So, no, use Nasty Plot if you wanna boost stat and Sludge Bomb / Wave or Poison Jab if yu want a good coverage or a stab.
Hope it helps!

Comments

But, for curiosity sake, if the opponent switches on the turn after getting lowered stat, doesn't it mean free damage against next 'mon? If the opponent stays, aren't u just hitting them with a nasty plot equivalent attack?

Answer 3

In singles formats, no. It is much more valuable to raise your own stats than to lower that of your opponent's. This ie because, if the opponent's Pokemon faints, you'll have to Acid Spray the next Pokemon that comes in, wasting a turn. In contrast, if you just Nasty Plot, you'll have that doubled damage regardless of if the opposing Pokemon faints.

In doubles formats, it's really niche, and I'm pretty sure it's when the power level of the format is lower. For example, in this generation's VGC Series 2 (2 years ago at this point), James Baek tried out this Iron Moth set that had Acid Spray and Booster Energy Speed. This basically facilitated its teammate, Specs Flutter Mane, to output monstrous amounts of damage. Flutter Mane's Specs does allow it to do a lot of damage, but that means it can't set up with Calm Mind. In a sense, Iron Moth is setting up for Flutter Mane, lowering the Special Defense of bulkier Pokemon and allowing Flutter Mane (and Gholdengo, which is on the same team but less of an abuser since it has Nasty Plot itself) to be a bonafide nuke. It's a niche strategy, but if a faster Pokemon can Acid Spray a bulky target before its teammate attacks it, that bulky target can faint even though it could have lived without the Special Defense Drop. (In more high-powered formats, though, like restricted formats, the only example I can find that's similar is Fake Tears Whimsicott supporting Miraidon, which also gives -2 SpDef but is a status move so its priority is boosted by Prankster.)

Here's the James Baek video.

Also, as others have pointed out, Acid Spray isn't a sound-based move, so it doesn't trigger Throat Spray.

Hope I helped!

Comments

Why was this downvoted? This is a
Good
Answer.

Answer 4

With regards to competitive formats, a move that only lowers the opponents stats is much less valuable than a move that boosts your own. All your opponent has to do is switch out (which they're probably going to do anyway if they can't hit you Super Effective) to nullify the changes to their stats. Where as if you had raised your own stats, there's precious little they could do about it. Only making your Pokemon faint, or using a force-switch move (all of which have reduced priority) or a stat clearing move (Defog, Mist, etc) can negate that.

And honestly, comparing +2 to your stats against -2 to an opponents stats is going to be a loss most of the time. When you are raising your own stats, in most cases you're also putting investment into those stats (ex Attack with Dragon Dance or Swords Dance, Sp Attack with Calm Mind or Nasty Plot, Defense and Sp Defense with Cosmic Power), which amplifies their effect. Moves that lower your opponents stats, however, are much more hit-or-miss. If the target is a Sweeper, you'd get more mileage out of just attacking them and making them faint -- it's rare that they have put any serious investment into their defenses, so lowering them just wastes your time, which might hand them the victory. If the target is a Wall, you'd be more effective to switch to a Pokemon that targets the other defense, since it's rare for a Wall to be strong on both defense stats. Anything else is going to be dealt with more effectively by either switching to a defensive Pokemon that resists, or an offensive Pokemon that hits Super Effective.

And regarding Throat Spray, it is triggered off of vocal/sound moves. Acid Spray is more like Water Gun, rather than Boomburst. It's a liquid, not a sound. Screech, on the other hand, should trigger Throat Spray.

Answer 5

It's very niche, but it can annoy some defensive teams, especially if they only have one answer for your mon.