What's the Point of Defog?

[Minokun]

To my understanding, Defog is a Flying "Status" Move that removes ALL Hazards from the field of battle and lowers your opponent's evasion. My question is, why use it? What's the point? I mean, when you have a Rapid Spin why use Defog? Though there objective is the same (To remove hazards from the field), Defog doesn't just remove the OPPONENTS hazards it removes YOURS too! Why on earth would you remove your own hazards? Is there a Pokémon that benefits from them? Ok, ok, I understand that Rapid spin Immediately becomes useless when a ghost types on the field, but Defog immediately becomes useless when a Mega-Gengar has Taunt. Or when ANY Pokémon has Taunt! Think how plentiful that move is on Showdown. I want a SOLID reason why EVERYONE is recommending Defogged Mandibuzz, saying 's soooo good.

 

[PlatinumDude]

The reason why Defog is used is because unlike Rapid Spin, it can't be blocked by Ghost Pokemon, as you mentioned. Defog removes opposing Reflects and Light Screens. It also prevents the user from taking Life Orb recoil (should they be holding one) or triggering an opponent's Rocky Helmet/Rough Skin/Iron Barbs. Also, Defog has a better distribution than Rapid Spin does. Most Pokemon who have access to Defog also have access to recovery moves, such as Mandibuzz and Scizor, allowing them to come in and remove hazards again should the need arise. Most Rapid Spinners also don't have reliable recovery; in fact, Starmie is the only Rapid Spinner with reliable recovery.

 

[Minokun]

Hmmm... So if I use Defog first, then attack someone with a Rocky Helmet I won't get affected by it, or the Life Orb I'm holding? Or do I have it backwards?

 

[Noah★]

Hmmm... So if I use Defog first, then attack someone with a Rocky Helmet I won't get affected by it, or the Life Orb I'm holding? Or do I have it backwards?

You won't get damaged by the opponents Rocky Helmet or take damage from your own Life Orb by using Defog.

The main draw to Defog is actually the metagame around it. The current gen 6 metagame has shifted in a way that bulky offense is the driving archtype (with hyper offense on the ladder). Because of this, suicide leads--who's only goal is to get hazards up and then die--are almost obsolete and bulkier hazard setters that can come in and set up multiple times in a match are more in favor.

If you Defog your own hazards away, it doesn't mean they are off the field for the entire match. Taunt is barely an answer to Defog users as you generally have to switch in your Taunt user to the Defog user and they will already have used Defog. Most of the best Defogers have some form of offensive pressure as well: Lati@s, MScizor, Zapdos, and Gliscor are all able to either threaten or outright kill most Pokemon that would try to Taunt them.

The only real downside to Defog is that Bisharp pseudo-blocks the move. If Bisharp comes in on a Defog, it gets a +2 boost thanks to Defiant and can then put some serious pressure on most teams. Seeing Bisharp in the preview also dissuades the use of Defog.