Rotom-S (Analysis) [QC 0/3]

Status
Not open for further replies.
Don Honchkrorleone

Don Honchkrorleone

Happy Qwilfish the nightmare
is a Smogon Discord Contributor Alumnus
Rotom-S is hard to use in OU, but it does well against Virizion and other stuff. Done.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rotom (it includes the Rotom-S too)

[Overview]
  • In the fourth Generation, the haunted fan already had few reasons to be used over his comrades Rotom-H, Rotom-W, Rotom-C and even Rotom-F, due his weak and not-so useful signature move Air Slash, but was still the best Spinblocker around, along with the other Rotom formes.
  • However, in the transition to B/W, all Rotom formes lost their Ghost-typing in favor of the type of their signature move. Since its signature move was a Flying-type one, Rotom-S is now a Electric / Flying Pokemon. That is very, very strange considering that Rotom-S has Levitate, making it the only Pokemon that is immune to ground that is immune to Ground.
  • Although Electric / Flying is a good typing, two other Pokémon are also of this typing: Zapdos and Thundurus, and they offer a severe competition (there is also Emolga, but it's hard to tell that Emolga is worth to an OU teamslot).
  • However, Rotom-S has its selling points; Unlike Zapdos and Thundurus, Rotom-S has a usable Flying-type move in Air Slash, which is very useful against Conkeldurr, Breloom and Virizion. Rotom-S has also some tools that differs him from the bird and the genie, mostly Will-O-Wisp and Trick.
  • Overall, even though he is still outclassed by the other Rotom appliances, do not feel discouraged of using Rotom-S, as it definitively has its merits and is more than worth of a teamslot.
[SET]
name: Status Platform
move 1: Discharge
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Ground
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Modest
Evs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 Spe

Set comments
  • At first you may ask: Why use Rotom-S instead of all other Rotom formes and Zapdos? Because Rotom-S can deal very well with the most popular Guts abuser: Conkeldurr.
  • Discharge has a nifty 30% paralysis chance, and is also a strong STAB move that deals with Gyarados and Jellicent.
  • Will-O-Wisp cripples most of the physical sweepers such as Excadrill, Haxorus and Landorus.
  • Air Slash makes Conkeldurr and Heracross shuffle in fear.
  • Hidden Power Ice is Rotom-S's best weapon against Hydreigon, Latios and Latias, who have enough special bulk to take an Air Slash and can retaliate back with a powerful Dragon STAB. Neither of them wants to switch into Discharge due its high paralysis chance, though. It also catches Gliscor and Landorus.
Additional comments
  • Toxic is an option over Will-O-Wisp, but then Rotom-S will be outclassed by Toxic Zapdos.
  • Hidden Power Ground is an option over Hidden Power Ice mainly for Jolteon, that doesn't fear burn from Will-O-Wisp so much, but most of other things that are hit super effectively by Hidden Power Ground such as Electivire and Excadrill hate Will-O-Wisp.
  • Thunder Wave can replace Discharge, but then Rotom-S would be very vulnerable against Taunt.
  • 128 Speed Evs let Rotom-S outspeed 252 Spe Adamant Breloom and a lot of Impish Gliscor that doesn't invest in their Speed. 252 Special Attack with a Modest nature for sheer power. Remaining Evs go in HP.
Teammates and counters
  • Fire Pokemon with high Attack or Special Attack and a powerful STAB move are the best counters to this set, especially those that have Flash Fire to absorb Will-O-Wisp such as Heatran and Chandelure, unless Rotom-S is packing Hidden Power Ground.
  • Blissey and Evolution Stone Chansey are a pain to take down. Not even the burn from Will-O-Wisp nor the poison from Toxic an beat they because of Heal Bell and Natural Cure.
  • Terrakion is an excellent teammate to Rotom-S, as he can send Blissey and Evolution Stone Chansey to the Paradise, while also can take out Excadrill and Mamoswine if holding a Balloon. In return, Rotom-S paralyzes stuff to Terrakion, and also takes out most Fighting, Water and Grass-types that scares Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Thunderbolt / Volt Change
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Trick
Item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid / Modest
Evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Set comments
  • Rotom-S, just like its fellows Zapdos and Thundurus, can be an effective user of either Choice Specs or Choice Scarf.
  • However, Rotom-S has two things that Zapdos and Thundurus doesn't have: Trick and Air Slash.
  • Thunderbolt is a strong STAB move that dents with Water and Flying Pokemon. Volt Change, although weaker than Thunderbolt, turns Rotom-S into a potent scouter provided that the foe isn't immune to Electric by some way.
  • Air Slash murders Conkeldurr, Virizion, Breloom, Heracross and other stuff.
  • Hidden Power Ice gives Rotom-S the legendary BoltBeam combo, while also destroys Gliscor and Landorus. Hidden Power Ground is mostly for Electivire and Jolteon because they can freely switch into both of Rotom-S's STAB moves, as well for non-Balloon Excadrill and other Steel-types that don't take much from Thunderbolt or Volt Change.
  • Trick disables Blissey and destroys Evolution Stone Chansey in an indirect way removing her valuable Evolution Stone. It's also a good way of dealing with physical attacking Pokemon (if Rotom-S has Choice Specs) and walls (Choice Scarf).
Additional comments
  • Simple Evs spread for a specially-based Choice user.
  • The choice between Choice Specs and Choice Scarf are a matter of power or outspeeding Timid Scarf Heatran and killing it with Hidden Power Ground. The choice of nature also runs this way.
Teammates and counters
  • Blissey and Evolution Stone Chansey walls this set, but Trick ruins them, especially Chansey that will lose her precious Evolution Stone.
  • Terrakion destroys both Blissey and Chansey, and also enjoys Water, Grass and Fighting-types being beaten by Rotom-S.
  • Rotom-S got a Stealth Rock weakness with his STAB Air Slash, and with a Choice item, especially if Rotom-S opted for Volt Change instead of Thunderbolt. Excadrill can Rapid Spin away those pesky Stealth Rock while it can destroy most things that Rotom-S is unable to KO.

[Team Options]
  • Since Rotom-S is now weak to Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin is highly recommended. Rapid Spin Excadrill works well with Rotom-S because while the metallic mole Spins away those nasty floating rocks (and other entry hazards), Rotom-S counters many Fighting- and Water-type that commonly switch into Excadrill.
  • Magic Mirror Espeon also works if Rapid Spin bothers you.
  • Terrakion for already discussed reasons.
  • Ferrothorn can take out most Ground Pokemon that are immune to Rotom-S' Electric STAB moves and set up hazards to help Rotom-S.
  • Things that can take out Ground Pokemon are welcome.

[Optional Changes]
  • An annoyer set with Confuse Ray, Discharge, Air Slash and a filler move; Rotom-S' trademark set in generation IV, can be used. However, Togekiss and Jirachi do this better because of Serene Grace.
  • Pain Split is an option for unreliable healing.
  • A Substitute + Charge Beam could work, but Rotom-W is better because of Hydro Pump to deal with Ground Pokemon.
  • Rotom-S can run Dual Screen alongside Volt Change, but it weakness to Stealth Rock limits how long Rotom-S can switch.
  • Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse are stronger hits in Reuniclus hard, but have little use outside that.
  • Hidden Power Fighting can be used if Mamoswine and Excadrill are big troubles to Rotom-S.
  • Bulkier spreads for defensive sets.

[Counters]
  • Bulky Grounds, especially those with decent Special Defense to take Air Slash and Hidden Power Ice and that doesn't fear Will-O-Wisp to much are excellent counters. Notable examples include special Nidoking and the extremely rare in OU Claydol and Camerupt (Camerupt is immune to Will-O-Wisp)
  • Mamoswine and Excadrill are neutral to Hidden Power Ice and can hurt Rotom-S hard with Ice Shard and Rock Slide respectively, but they must be careful of Will-O-Wisp or if Rotom-S is carrying Hidden Power Fighting.
  • Tyranitar and Terrakion have great Special Defense due Sandstorm boost, and also has STAB Stone Edge to destroy Rotom-S, but cannot switch in Will-O-Wisp (and in Terrakion's case, Thunder Wave too).
  • Blissey and Evolution Stone Chansey walls Rotom-S coldly, but both are utterly crippled by Trick, especially Chansey.
  • In general things that aren't completely destroyed by paralysis, burn, Thunderbolt or Air Slash, and have a good super effective or STAB move to dent Rotom-S can be called a counter.

[Dream World]
  • Yeah, Rotom-S will get something from Dream World, not an Ability but more competition since Zapdos will get the upgraded Lightning Rod.
  • However, Rotom-S also got more reasons to be used because of the dangerous Technician Breloom and Iron Fist Conkeldurr.
 

A Man In Black

The annoyer set seems to be outclassed by similar sets on Togekiss or Jirachi, who can offer (arguably) better typing and better coverage. If you want a stally, bulky Pokemon in that typing, subroost Zapdos can also do the job and has reliable recovery. What does Rotom-S bring to the table that these don't?

Make sure you mention Rotom-S's stealth rock weakness, particularly if you're planning to include a choice set.
 

Bloo

Banned deucer.
Rotom-S just isn't that great in BW OU. As an Electric / Flying-type, I would much rather use Zapdos, who can be just as annoying as Rotom-S. It's bulkier, faster, stronger, and has access to a reliable recovery move in Roost, which is a pretty big advantage. There's also the newly introduced Thundurus, who has the same typing, but much better offenses and Mischievous Heart. I don't see any reason to use Rotom-S over the aforementioned 'mons.

Rotom-S also faces competition from its brethren Rotom-W, who is significantly more useful in the OU metagame right now. With the exception of the annoyer set, Rotom-W can also pull off sets like Choice Scarf / Choice Specs more effectively due to 1) better typing, 2) lack of Stealth Rock weakness and 3) Hydro Pump. Speaking of Rotom-S's annoyer set, Jirachi and Togekiss arguably do it better, as AccidentalGreed mentioned.

Anyway, Rotom-S is also on the uncompetitive list here; just thought I'd provide you with a reasoning above. Moving this to L&O.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

  • ... and 1 more.
    • Top