Scream Tail, the Paradox Pokémon. There has been only one reported sighting of this Pokémon. It resembles a mysterious creature depicted in an old expedition journal. It resembles a mysterious Pokémon described in a paranormal magazine as a Jigglypuff from one billion years ago.

Overview

Scream Tail is an anomaly among Paradox Pokémon. While most Paradoxes are renowned for their sheer offensive prowess, this primordial puff ball instead offers a rare blend of defense and speed to fantastic effect. Base 111 Speed before Protosynthesis is fantastic, outrunning a lot of already fast offensive staples. Scream Tail proceeds to use this speed to quickly throw a wrench in the opposing team’s plans, shutting down fast attackers with Thunder Wave, Encore and Disable, or blunting damage with Screens. Yet it is Scream Tail’s incredible bulk that allows it to excel. With Scream Tail’s good bulk and typing, being outran isn’t a death sentence as it is for similarly fast Pokémon. With its excellent bulk, Scream Tail, can repeatedly disrupt the opponent. This high bulk also enables Scream Tail to repeatedly establish Stealth Rocks or run as a speedy Cleric with Wish. Add in the fantastic Fairy typing and Scream Tail is more than capable of making one’s opponents scream in frustration as they attempt to take it out while it systematically leaves the opposing team a twitching mess.

Scream Tail had to take a dive somewhere, and that is in its offenses. Base 65 in both Attack and Special Attack is appallingly bad, leaving Scream Tail rather passive unless going after a rather frail or Fairy weak target. Scream Tail doesn’t even have access to the passive damage to make up for this crippling flaw, leaving it in a rather awkward position. It is only Scream Tail’s fantastic disruptive movepool that prevents it from being complete setup fodder and even then, it struggles to run all the disruption it could like. Wish being Scream Tail’s most reliable for recovery further strains its move slot problem, taking up two slots just to have reliable recovery. Scream Tail can enable its teammates to a terrifying extent, but it struggles to get victory on its own.
Positives
Base 111 Speed is fantastic for such a defensive Pokémon, allowing Scream Tail to outrun already fast Pokémon and make moves like Encore and Disable more potent.
115/99/115 defenses are fantastic ensuring Scream Tail sticks around for the long game and is hard to remove.
Fairy Psychic typing further improves defensive profile, giving few exploitable resistances.
Fantastic status movepool, with plenty of disruptive and supportive options.

Negatives
Base 65 offenses leave Scream Tail rather passive and have it struggle to pick up knockouts.
Cannot fit all the disruptive moves it wants into a single set.
No reliable recovery outside of Wish further constrains moveset.

Movesets

First Contact

-Stealth Rocks
-Thunder Wave
-Encore
-Misty Explosion
Ability: Protosynthesis
Item: Booster Energy
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Bold Nature

This Scream Tail set acts as a lead/setup piece, enabling Scream Tail’s teammates by crippling the opposition and setting up chip damage making getting knock outs all the easier. Stealth Rocks is a fantastic opening gambit. Thunder Wave is a great setup tool, crippling all sorts of normally faster attackers and sweepers, preventing them from exerting offensive pressure and turning normal checks into fodder. Futhermore, even the lost turn from Paralysis may be vital in guaranteeing setup or knock out. Encore is a powerful disruptive tool in a lead matchup. Stealth Rocks is a horrible move to be locked into, doing nothing on repeat uses. Even outside of Stealth Rocks, knowing what move an opponent is going to be using next can be more than enough, allowing Scream Tail to softly generate free switches. Scream Tail’s fantastic speed is vital in this regard, allowing it to more accurately lock an opponent into a desired move. Misty Explosion rounds out the set as a unique pivoting tool, with several minor benefits. Being a STAB attack, its power is nothing to be scoffed at, even on a Pokémon as weak as Scream Tail, allowing it to majorly chip most Pokémon. Additionally the speedy self-destruct is great in dodging hazard removal like Defog, and Rapid Spin, helping preserve the hazards Scream Tail and its allies set.

Tera Types:
This Scream Tail is all about enabling allies and thus is one of the last Pokémon you want to Terastalize, better saving it. Tera Ghost can be worth considering for blocking Rapid Spin, and maintaining Scream Tail’s hazards.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Max Speed is recommended, giving Scream Tail as much bulk as possible while ensuring it gets the Speed boost from Protosynthesis. Bold Nature is recommended, bolstering Scream Tail’s bulk and making it harder to remove while still out speeding Electrode with Protosynthesis. Timid Nature can be considered if desiring to pivot Scream Tail in multiple times, so it doesn’t get outsped by Base 100s like Paldean Tauros, Flygon, Munkidori, and Tentacruel once Protosynthesis has expired. Booster Energy is highly recommended for the item, giving Scream Tail near peerless speed while retaining move flexibility. Red Card can be considered as an alternative, punishing setup sweepers trying to take advantage of Scream Tail’s passivity. Mental Herb can also be used to prevent Taunt from shutting Scream Tail down.

Partners:
: Scream Tail lacks any direct damaging ability on its own, while directly enabling attackers of all stripes, who thus make for natural partners. Dragon Dance Flygon makes for a natural partner, threatening the Poison and Steel types that give Scream Tail trouble and can use Electric and Ground types immune to Thunder Wave as a entry point with its own immunities. Flamigo is another example of an excellent setup sweeper, adoring the speed control that Scream Tail provides with Thunder Wave. Porygon-Z is another good example, while being a good pivot into Ghost attacks aimed Scream Tail’s way.

Other Options:
Psychic Noise prevents healing, greatly improving Scream Tail’s matchup into defensive tanks and making them easier for Scream Tail’s teammates to handle. Reflect and/or Light Screen can greatly ease allied setup, while making Scream Tail that much harder to remove. Wish can be used as a soft pivot move, helping any ally recover off damage incurred while switching in. Roar directly pHazes out setup sweepers and racks up Stealth Rock damage.

Doubles and VGC Options

Scream Tail’s disruptive shenanigans gets taken to a new level in doubles formats, where it can have an active ally to provide offensive pressure, instead of the sheer loss of momentum Scream Tail usually entails. Encore, as powerful an option as in singles, is even stronger in doubles with the plethora of moves that do nothing or are actively detrimental when repeated in Doubles like Fake Out, Protect, Screens, Weather, and more. Scream Tail’s high speed, especially with Protosynthesis is fantastic in this regard both in choosing what move to repeat with Encore or seal with Disable, as well as provide active speed control with Thunder Wave. The rare combination of Encore and Disable also brings a new layer of pain, forcing opponents to switch or Struggle if Scream Tail gets the lock off. All the while not being a Prankster user, so Scream Tail’s moves cannot be blocked by a Dark or Tera Dark type. Even more niche strategies like Perish Song are enabled by the Doubles format. However, it doesn’t change the fact that Scream Tail is very passive, and lacks redirection to make the most of its bulk, leaving it dead weight in scenarios if its more offensive allies are removed.

Primeval Song

-Perish Song
-Disable
-Protect
-Play Rough
Ability: Protosynthesis
Item: Focus Sash
Tera Type: Steel
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 60 Atk / 60 Def / 36 SDef / 100 Speed
Jolly Nature

Based on Wolfe Glick's Regional Orlando team, this Scream Tail set is meant to setup and stall out for Perish Song to start picking up knock outs. Perish Song is the crux of the set and win condition Scream Tail is aiming for. Perish Song is at its strongest when the opposing team is down to two Pokémon and you have at least three as the opponent is guaranteed to lose in three turns, though Scream Tail can aim for KOs earlier with trapping support from Gothitelle. Disable and Protect help with stalling out for Perish Song. Disable is great with denying attacks. Have Scream Tail and its partner double Protect and then use Scream Tail's great speed to Disable the most dangerous move used, potentially blanking a turn and often removing the coverage needed to remove Scream Tail or its Partner quickly. Protect in addition to being the best move in Doubles is vital for stalling out Perish Song turns, leaving your opponent with an even smaller window to remove Scream Tail and its partner before they faint. Play Rough rounds out the set to ensure that Scream Tail isn't entirely passive. This Play Rough is specifically targetted against Flutter Mane a Ghost type that threatens Flutter Mane and its partners while being able to escape any trapping method.

60 Attack EVs is meant to buff up Play Rough to the point that Scream Tail deals a third to bulky Flutter Mane and half to a frail one, allowing Scream Tail to clean up a weakened Flutter Mane. 100 Speed with a positive nature and Booster Energy ensures Scream Tail outruns even Calyrex-Shadow Rider, allowing Scream Tail to more reliably get off Perish Song or land Disable. Everything else goes into bulk to maximize Scream Tail's staying power.

Preferred Partners:
Gothitelle is a mandatory partner for this set, its Shadow Tag ensuring opponents can't switch out and avoid being KO'd, while having plenty of stalling tools like Fake Out and Heal Pulse and good bulk to stick around for the 3 turns. Encore is a powerful disruptive tool in Doubles and pairs well with Disable, allowing Scream Tail to pick up KOs with Struggle's recoil and makes stalling out Perish Song much easier. Moonblast is special Fairy STAB not impacted by Intimidate, allowing Scream Tail to threaten a wider variety of foes, but struggles against the high Special Defense of Flutter Mane.

Stunning Scream

-Encore
-Disable
-Protect
-Dazzling Gleam
Ability: Protosynthesis
Item: Booster Energy
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

This is a more traditional set that one would expect to see on most Scream Tail, aiming for maximum annoyance as you disrupt and derail your opponent’s offense while implementing your own. Encore is a terrifying move in Doubles. Using it after a turn of Protect, Fake Out, Screens, weather, Calm Mind, Nasty Plot, Swords Dance and more can easily flip a difficult matchup into a much more manageable two on one situation. Disable is best used against more offensive Pokémon, especially the many that don’t or can’t afford an alternative STAB. Calyrex-Shadow Rider, Calyrex-Ice Rider, Zamazenta-Crowned, Terapagos and more all have one move they like using repeatedly, so being locked out of that move drastically decreases their threat level. This isn’t even getting into Choice users like Specs Miraidon or Scarf Kyogre, where a single Disable will force them to Struggle. Encore and Disable also pair well with each other for that exact reason, allowing Scream Tail to reduce opponents into struggling against it or switching out, giving it an awkward but terrifying win condition. Protect is recommended, not only as the best move in Doubles, but for its utility in scouting for attacks. Scream Tail’s speed after Booster Energy is enough to outspeed almost every unboosted target bar Regieleki, but it can’t Encore or Disable moves from opponents that haven’t acted. With Protect, Scream Tail can scout for attacks and cripple opponents at its leisure. Dazzling Gleam is chip damage, though it can add up especially with the numerous Fairy weak targets like the Raidons, Urshifu, Chien-Pao and more running amuck.

EVs are to maximize bulk and speed, so Scream Tail sticks around as long as possible to repeatedly Encore and Disable the opposition while the ability to outspeed everything is vital in being able to control what Scream Tail Encores or Disables. Booster Energy helps with this ensuring even out of Sun, Scream Tail can outrun Calyrex-Shadow Rider and either lock out Astral Barrage, or force it to repeat a status move like Nasty Plot. Tera Ghost is recommended so that Scream Tail isn’t disrupted from shutting down targets due to Fake Out cycling. Tera Dark is also a popular choice to stop Prankster Taunt users like Tornadus and Grimmsnarl from crippling Scream Tail.

Preferred Partners:
Scream Tail is rather passive on its own, so offensive allies that can take advantage of Scream Tail’s control methods work well. Calyrex-Shadow Rider stands out thanks to its spread damage and ability to escalate out of control on its own. Terapagos is another great example, loving the extra turns Scream Tail is so adept at granting in grinding the opposition down or getting extra turns to Calm Mind. Thunder Wave is a potent speed control tool, allowing Scream to sink an opponent’s speed mid turn.

Countering Scream Tail

While Scream Tail’s offenses rarely present much initial threat, its fantastic defenses, superb speed and dizzying array of status moves are a much more difficult task to juggle.

Scream Tail’s scariest move is often Thunder Wave given how crippling that is to many attackers, so Pokémon that can safely absorb it are recommended. Gastrodon stands out, especially given its great bulk enduring even Calm Mind sets struggle to deal with it, though Gastrodon needs Acid Spray to deal meaningful damage and can be vulnerable to Encore. Flygon is also immune to Thunder Wave, but struggles to 2HKO even with Banded Earthquake and does not like Scream Tail’s Fairy STAB. Slow Steel types are perhaps the best, caring little for the Speed drop from Thunder Wave while directly threatening Scream Tail with their Steel STAB. Copperajah, and Bronzong are both excellent examples, reliably 2HKOing with Iron Head/Heavy Slam though both dislike Fire coverage from Scream Tail. Toxtricity is outright immune to Thunder Wave and can outrun even Timid Speed Booster Energy Scream Tail after Shift Gear while threatening with Poison STAB, though it is not fond of Psychic STAB from Scream Tail. Bellibolt is also immune to Thunder Wave, while crippling Scream Tail with Toxic or Acid Spray, though it also abhors Encore.

Scream Tail struggles against walls in general, suffering from its inability to deal damage. Alolan Muk excels against special sets, threatening with Poison STAB while taking pittance from even Calm Mind boosted attacks. Diancie also works well against such sets, grinding Scream Tail down with Diamond Storm while being merely 3HKO’d by +2 Moonblast. Bulk Up sets instead fall to physical walls like Houndstone, Galarian Slowbro and Palossand who threaten with Ghost STAB while not being threatened even by boosted attacks.

If going up against the Perish Song variant, Tera Ghost and Ghost types are your friend for escaping the trap. After that, consistent offensive pressure is needed so that the Perish Team does not take the lead.

Scream Tail is also near universally weak to Taunt given most of its value is derived from status moves. Lock those out and it is forced to switch out or attack ineffectually.

Anime Appearences

Scream Tail has made several appearances in the animated series. During it, Coral found one while in Area Zero and proceeded to fight with it. Eventually, Coral caught it and it became part of her teams # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 80 Total-lie Awesome Pokémon in Area Zero! Oni-Awesome Pokémon in Area Zero?! Pics 81 The Pillar of Fire A Grand Battle! Earth-Gouging Fire Pics 86 The Rising Volt Tacklers vs. The Explorers! The Rising Volt Tacklers VS The Explorers! Pics