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I was looking into Skarmory for its SR + Spike + Whirlwind combo it can pull off...But with the nerfs to Steel, is it still a viable spiker for just casual and/or competitive play?

My other problem is I love the Aegislash tanking prospects but I don't want to start carrying to many Steel types.

I've also heard that Kelfki can make quite a formidable Spiker.

If Steel are the only spikers...What other options do I have for a Tank/Wall over Aegislash?

If it helps, this team is being built around Mega Gengar.

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2 Answers

1 vote

Well, I know it is a Steel type, but I figure it is still a good spiker.
Klefki @ Light Clay/Focus Sash
enter image description here
Ability: Prankster
EV's: 252 Def/252 Sp. Def/4 HP
Nature: Bold/Impish/Calm/Careful - basically something that lowers one of its attacks and raises one of its defences
Moves:
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Foul Play
- Torment/Heal Block/Reflect/Light Screen

Well, its first three moves are probably fairly obvious choices. Spikes is kind of needed on a Spikes setter, Thunder Wave is for status, Foul Play attacks without using your own (pretty low) attack stat. The last move is personal choice. Either of the screens could be useful. Heal Block is a surprising move to annoy Pokemon using Roost/Recover/etc. Torment is another option. Steel/Fairy is a pretty good type as well, as it is only weak to Ground and Fire. As for the item, Light Clay is obviously if you want to run screens, Focus Sash is if you want to be almost guaranteed to get 2 layers of spikes up.

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Klefki is currently the fastest spikes user, I agree with you, have a +1.
0 votes

The only one I can think of right now is Greninja.

image
Greninja @ Focus Sash
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Jolly
-Spikes
-Water Shuriken
-Night Slash/ Shadow Sneak
-Taunt

This is a suicide hazards lead, not unlike Azelf's suicide Stealth Rock lead. Physical over special set for this Greninja, because of Water Shuriken's priority which can allow it to deal some damage before fainting. Taunt is great for this lead set, since Greninja's so fast; the point of the whole set is to set up some hazards and stop your opponent from doing the same. Shame with Kelfki having Prankster is that Taunt won't work on it until it's done something to you.

I hope Greninja gets Fake Out from breeding, because then it'll be a great anti-lead like Infernape, with the added bonus of a priority STAB move.

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how does it learn Spikes? I couldn't see it on its dex page.
It's not listed on DB, but Bulba and Serebii both list Greninja as learning Spikes via level up at 28. All things considered, it probably gets it as a bred move as well.  I think it's in the same egg group as Omanyte.
What about Prankster Klefki?
The question already mentioned that it didn't want too many steel types on one team. It asked for other spikers, and also the fact that the team was being built around Mega Gengar.
Greninja is fast, it has a really nice ability, and its original STAB resists Ghost & Dark, immune to Psychic (which Gengar is weak to).