Encore is a very situational move. But when used right, Encore can turn a battle around in a single turn. The two Encore users I've had the most success with are Raichu and Liepard. These two pokemon may come as a surprise to many battlers in OU, but with encore, they become counters to several very common and troublesome OU pokemon and strategies.

Liepard @ White Herb/Leftovers

Ability: Prankster

Nature: Jolly/Timid

EVs: 252 Attack/Special Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP

• Encore

• Night Slash/Dark Pulse

• Snatch

• Toxic/Play Rough

The idea here is very simple. Switch in on a pokemon like Cloyster that you know is about to use a set-up strategy. Then use your priority Encore and start Snatching up all the stat boosts. Either your opponent will eventually switch, eliminating their set-up, or Liepard will continue to Encore and Snatch until it's powerful enough to sweep entire teams alone. Since Liepard's Attack and Special Attack stats are the same, you can use it as either as special sweeper or a physical one, or both if you so choose. Since special set-ups are more common due to Calm Mind, Dark Pulse is usually the better option.

Liepard's stopping power doesn't end there either. With Encore, Liepard can become a reliable stall as well. Simply Encore on either a non damaging move or a psychic type move and Liepard can Toxic Stall until the Miltanks come home. Leftovers provide recovery for Liepard as she can't heal herself (unless she uses Snatch on Recovery or Synthesis).

Raichu @ Focus Sash

Ability: Lightning Rod

Nature: Timid

EVs: 252 Speed, 252 Special Attack, 4 HP

• Encore

• Thunderbolt

• Volt Switch

• Signal Beam/Grass Knot/Disarming Voice/Focus Blast

Raichu is the second viable Encore user. His high base speed of 110 means he'll outspeed any of the pokemon he is meant to counter, namely Rotom-Wash and Garchomp. First we'll look at a match-up with Rotom-Wash.

You know that Rotom-Wash is about to use Volt Switch against you. If your predict correctly and switch in Raichu, you not only get a boost to your Special Attack, but Rotom-Wash also can't switch out. This leaves your opponent with two options.

1: Switch out Rotom-Wash

2: Attack Raichu with another move

Odds are, you opponent will choose to attack as Rotom is bulky enough to survive a boosted hit from Raichu anyway. this is where Encore comes into play. You can lock them into Volt Switch, guaranteeing they will switch on the next turn and boost your Special Attack even further. At this point, your Raichu will have a Special Attack of 558. More than enough to take a chunk out of whatever is about to switch in, if not KO it outright. If it's not a pokemon you can KO in one hit, Volt Switch will bring Raichu back to counter Rotom-Wash when he reappears.

Next we'll take a look at how Raichu can be used to counter Garchomp. You would use the same set but be sure to include Disarming Voice. If Raichu has been boosted from using Encore before, he has enough power to 2HKO Garchomp, guaranteed (252 SpA boosted Raichu vs 0 SpD Garchomp = 166-196 HP). Either you'll survive Garchomp's attack and KO it or bring it down to half health if it has a scarf, well within revenge killing range.

Basically, encore is a saving grace for pokemon that would otherwise never see themselves in a battle. Aside from Raichu and Liepard, Alakazam, Whimsicott, Infernape, and Gardevoir can all benefit from forcing an opponent into using the same move over the next three turns, either to set up for themselves or stop a major threat to your team.