Rotom-C

Levitate
The wielder is immune to Ground-type moves.
Type Tier
Electric / Grass RU
Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
Min- Min Max Max+
HP
50
- 241 304 -
Atk
65
149 166 229 251
Def
107
225 250 313 344
SpA
105
221 246 309 339
SpD
107
225 250 313 344
Spe
86
187 208 271 298

Overview

BW brought many changes upon the Rotom formes. While they lost their secondary Ghost typing, they all gained new STABs to go along well with their special moves. Though it may seem like a curse due to the lack of Rapid Spin blocking utility, Rotom-A ultimately appreciated these changes due to the high Base Power moves they get to abuse. Rotom-C benefited from these changes a lot due to its better offensive typing and its ability to counter common threats to most Rotom-A without much hassle. Additionally, with its good dual STABs, Rotom-C is able to run sets that most other Rotom-A cannot. Though Rotom-C is RU, its ability to counter many common threats that other Rotom-A cannot best allow it to function well in OU.

Name Item Nature

Choice Scarf

Choice Scarf Timid / Modest
Moveset EVs
~ Leaf Storm
~ Volt Switch
~ Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire
~ Thunderbolt / Trick
252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

While the reasons to use a Choice Scarf Rotom-C over Choice Scarf Rotom-W may not be immediately apparent, Rotom-C holds a few features that its brethren cannot boast. While Rotom-W enjoys better typing, it lacks a few things. Rotom-C can reliably beat Gastrodon, one of the most reliable counters to standard VoltTurn; due to this, Rotom-C will be able to freely spam Volt Switch because no one would like to risk losing a Gastrodon due to a bad switch. Leaf Storm is the primary STAB move, and with 210 Base Power factoring in STAB, it will hit anything that doesn't resist it hard.

Rotom-C does not have many moves to offer besides its main STAB, so it is usually forced to run either Hidden Power Ice or Hidden Power Fire. The choice usually boils down to what a team needs more; if it needs a reliable check to +1 Dragonite, Hidden Power Ice can be used since Rotom-C will outpace all +1 Dragonite and OHKO after Stealth Rock. However, Hidden Power Fire hits Scizor and Ferrothorn hard, so it is a valid option for Rotom-C's use. However, one should note that most players will switch Ferrothorn out after discovering Hidden Power Fire, and Rotom-C will immediately become dead weight, so Hidden Power should always be used in a battle sparingly. As for the final slot, Trick and Thunderbolt are both viable options. While Trick is great for crippling key members of stall teams, a useful asset for most offensive teams, Thunderbolt has the functionality to reliably beat down Substitute + Dragon Dance Gyarados, which is a threat to all teams that have Volt Switch as their only Electric-type move.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Name Item Nature

Choice Specs

Choice Specs Modest
Moveset EVs
~ Leaf Storm
~ Volt Switch
~ Hidden Power Fire
~ Trick / Thunderbolt
252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

While Rotom-C is often seen sporting a Choice Scarf, it also is able to run a viable Choice Specs set. With Choice Specs equipped, Rotom-C becomes outrageously powerful, and its coverage between three moves gives it all it needs to be successful. Leaf Storm is the obvious choice of STAB, and Volt Switch gets secondary STAB. Hidden Power Fire has lots of power, and it can even 2HKO behemoths such as Ferrothorn who enjoy switching in on Rotom-C. Since Rotom-C is most likely to be on an offensive team with Choice Specs equipped, Trick works well as the final move because it allows Rotom-C to cripple troublesome Pokemon on stall teams. However, Thunderbolt is a viable option as well to take out Substitute + Dragon Dance Gyarados; furthermore, Thunderbolt offers a reliable STAB move that doesn't force Rotom-C to switch out.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Name Item Nature

Support

Leftovers Calm
Moveset EVs
~ Will-O-Wisp
~ Pain Split
~ Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
~ Leaf Storm
252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SpD

Due to its favorable typing, high base 107 defenses, and good resistances to common moves, Rotom-C can run a viable support set. While it is weak to Fire- and Ice-type moves, Rotom-C resists Scizor's Bullet Punch and can significantly weaken it with a burn. In addition, Rotom-C is one of the best switch-ins to his fellow forme, Rotom-W. With Will-O-Wisp, any physical attacker must think twice before switching into Rotom-C for fear of being burned, rendering common Pokemon like Choice Band Terrakion useless. Leaf Storm provides obligatory STAB, and even without offensive investment it will still do a decent amount of damage. Volt Switch is perfect for Rotom-C because it matches its role quite nicely; Rotom-C can support an offensive team and then preserve momentum by using Volt Switch to switch Pokemon. However, one can choose to forgo the ability to preserve momentum by using Thunderbolt instead, as it adds to Rotom-C's staying power. Pain Split is the final move because Rotom-C lacks reliable recovery outside of Leftovers, and Pain Split allows it to prey on Pokemon like Chansey and Blissey at full health. It also works very well with Rotom-C's low base 50 HP.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Name Item Nature

Offensive Scout

Leftovers Timid
Moveset EVs
~ Leaf Storm
~ Volt Switch
~ Thunder Wave
~ Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
28 HP / 252 SpA / 228 Spe

While most of the sets that Rotom-C can run are quite standard for Rotom formes, its great STAB and versatility, as well as its STAB Volt Switch, allow it to function as a great offensive scout, similar to Celebi's Navi set. With Thunder Wave, Rotom-C has the ability to paralyze any threats that a team may face, barring Ground-type Pokemon. However, Ground-type Pokemon will not dare switch into a STAB Leaf Storm, so Rotom-C is a very effective spreader of paralysis, especially for offensive teams. With Volt Switch, Rotom-C can switch out on predicted switches and preserve momentum like a standard VoltTurn abuser. Hidden Power Fire nails Ferrothorn, dealing out 57.95% - 68.18% damage, a respectable amount for such a defensive behemoth. Another notable KO is Hidden Power Fire on Scizor, a Pokemon who can be problematic for most offensive teams. With a handy 2HKO on Ferrothorn and the ability to switch moves, Rotom-C functions fantastically for an offensive team. However, Hidden Power Ice can be used for those scared of Dragon-type Pokemon, as they can ravage through under-prepared teams and it is impossible to have too many checks for Dragon-types.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>

Other Options

While Rotom-C's best options are all listed, it has the ability to run a few other options that are viable. For one, if a team has a Celebi weakness, Rotom-C can use Signal Beam to quickly KO it. Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse also work well for not only Celebi, but even other problematic Psychic-type Pokemon, namely Latios and Latias. Another option is usage of Thunder with Politoed's Drizzle support for more power. Similarly, Rotom-C can run Rain Dance to either back up Politoed's Drizzle or to provide its own support for Thunder. A dual screens set can be used with Light Clay because it is uncommon, but there are generally better options to utilize dual screens, especially Espeon and Latias. Confuse Ray can be used to give a team confusion support, but confusion is generally not the most reliable status.

Checks and Counters

Since Rotom-C is a very diverse Pokemon, its checks and counters can depend upon the set that it runs. However, there are a few universal counters that wall Rotom-C, such as Blissey, Chansey, and specially defensive Heatran. While Rotom-C can run Trick to attempt to cripple these counters, as well as other members of stall teams, the three will have a field day against a Rotom-C that attempts to stay in and battle. However, one should note that in the rain, Modest Rotom-C with Thunder will 2HKO defensive Heatran after Stealth Rock damage. Numerous Fire-type Pokemon can also effectively check Rotom-C due to their resistance to Leaf Storm; these include Volcarona, Infernape, and Ninetales. Ninetales and Volcarona each have high base Special Defense already, and they can attempt to set up on all Rotom-C sets bar the offensive scout, as paralysis will cripple them. Breloom, especially Bulk Up variants, gives Rotom-C a hard time due to its resistance to Rotom-C's main STAB attacks and the ability to incapacitate the next Pokemon to come out with a well timed Spore. Bulk Up Breloom does even better because of the high investment in Special Defense, so it works as a great check to all Rotom-C sets due to the Toxic Orb; Rotom-C cannot paralyze Breloom if the Toxic Orb has activated. Breloom will have its way unless it comes in on a Hidden Power Fire or Hidden Power Ice from Rotom-C. Virizion is the same in this manner due to its identical typing and its access to Calm Mind, Work Up, and Swords Dance. Celebi is another great counter to Rotom-C because of its high Special Defense. Though Rotom-C's Choice Specs set will roast Celebi, the pixie can take damage from any of the other sets and retaliate back by either gaining momentum or attacking back with a Hidden Power of its own. Like with every Rotom forme bar Rotom-F, Latios and Latias are problematic. Both resist Rotom-C's dual STABs and can become deadly sweepers after just one turn of setup. Refresh variants of Latias can even continue to play while paralyzed. While a lot of Rotom-C run Hidden Power Fire, Ferrothorn gets a free switch against those who don't run it and can set up hazards.