this rose -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Great 75 / 90 / 105 bulk, a good defensive typing, and access to Defog gives Altaria a niche as a special wall and hazard remover for defensive and balanced teams in need of a check to Grass-, Fire-, and Fighting-types, such as Magmortar, Lurantis, and Passimian. In addition, a great ability in Natural Cure allows Altaria to shrug off status when it switches out. This also gives it the advantage of being able to use Toxic with little fear of being poisoned back. The combination of Toxic and Defog also gives Altaria a way to annoy/beat prominent hazard setters, such as Mesprit lacking Ice Beam. However, despite Altaria's typing granting it very useful resistances to popular Fighting- and Fire-type moves, it gives Altaria a nasty 4x weakness to Ice-type moves and weakness to Stealth Rock, with the latter hampering its ability to remove entry hazards. Altaria is very passive, which leaves it susceptible to Taunt from Pokemon such as Sableye, and to set up sweepers, such as Swords Dance Zangoose. Finally, Altaria is somewhat easy to pressure offensively, especially if it's Leftovers have been knocked off. This is not helped by Altaria's lack of offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Cloud Birb (Specially Defensive Defog)
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 244 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Defog gives Altaria a way to clear hazards for its team. Ataria also has an advantageous matchup against Ferroseed and Weezing, with Flamethrower threatening Ferroseed, and pseudo status immunity makes Weezing much easier to deal with. Roost is extremely important, as it recovers Altaria's HP, helps it keep the field clear throughout the battle, and lets it absorb special attacks throughout the match. Flamethrower is used to hit a variety of targets, especially Steel-types. Flamethrower also prevents Altaria from being complete Taunt fodder. Keep in mind it isn't very powerful, though, and can only do significant damage to targets with a Fire weakness, such as Ferroseed. Toxic allows Altaria to cripple opposing Pokemon by putting them on a timer. This especially helpful against defensive Pokemon, like Regirock, that Altaria can't do much of anything to otherwise. Toxic is also Altaria's best way of inflicting meaningful damage to the opposing Pokemon.
Set Details
========
244 HP, 248 Special Defense EVs, and a Calm nature are run to maximize Altaria's special bulk, while 16 Speed EVs are run to outpace Adamant Mawile and other base 50 speed threats. Leftovers is used to provide Altaria with passive recovery, while also making Altaria less dependent on Roost long-term. Natural Cure removes poison and burn from Altaria when it switches out, which is especially useful against Pokemon that rely on status to do any meaningful damage, such as Weezing.
Usage Tips
========
If entry hazards are on the field, Defog should be used as soon as it is safe to do so. Furthermore, be wary of Pokemon with Defiant, such as Pawniard, as they can capitalize on Altaria's usage of Defog. Altaria is best used to check Fighting-, Grass-, and Fire-types, as they can't really do much to Altaria. Magmortar and non-Breakneck Blitz variants of Lilligant in particular are hard walled. However, be careful of the coverage moves Fighting-types typically carry for Flying-types, such as Hitmonchan's Ice Punch, as they can be deadly. Against Primeape or Passimian, however, it is generally a safe bet to switch in, as they will be stuck using a move that Altaria resists/is neutral to unless the opponent makes a prediction. Altaria can absorb status by using Natural Cure if necessary, but this can give free momentum to the opposing team, while also sacrificing your own momentum. For example, if the opponent brings in a set up sweeper on the turn Altaria switches out, their set up sweeper gets a free chance to either double switch or set up. Scout for Ice-type coverage on Mesprit, as it becomes a prime target for Defog if it lacks Ice Beam. In addition, try to catch Regirock and other Stealth Rock setters on a switch using Toxic, as it makes it easier for Altaria to beat them 1v1 if necessary. To ease on prediction, try spamming Toxic if the opposing team lacks a Steel- or Poison-type. Try to use Roost either immediately after or soon after Altaria has used Defog (if it has taken any damage during that time), as opportunities to use Roost without giving the opposing Pokemon a free turn are somewhat scarce.
Team Options
========
Fire- and Fighting-types are great partners, as they can deal with the Steel- and Ice-types that threaten Altaria. Special mention goes to Primeape, as it benefits from the removal of entry hazards greatly. Keep in mind that Fire-types stack a Stealth Rock weakness, though. Ice-types are major threats to Altaria, as they can prey on its 4x weakness to Ice. As such, special walls, like Hitmonchan and Miltank, make excellent partners. Miltank in particular gets Thick Fat as an ability, which allows it to stave off Ice type moves with ease. Other special walls, such as Eelektross, can check the Electric- and Water-types that Altaria has difficulties with. In exchange, Altaria can absorb status conditions, particularly poison, which Eelektross despises. Lilligant and other Grass-types appreciate Altaria's ability to check Magmortar and other prominent Fire-types. In return, they can take care of Rock- and Water-types, both of which Altaria has particular trouble with. Physical walls, such as Regirock, benefit from Altaria absorbing special attacks, and can sponge physical hits in return. In particular, Regirock serves as a hard stop to Archeops, which can easily K.O Altaria. Finally, set up sweepers, such as Me First Pinsir, can take advantage of Altaria's ability to gradually chip away at the enemy team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Dragon Dance Set with Dragonium Z can be run to take advantage of Altaria's good offensive typing and decent movepool. However, the set is still weak after a single Dragon Dance, and is generally outclassed by other set up sweepers. In a similar vein, a Choice Specs set can surprise Altaria's checks and deal heavy damage. However, it is mostly outclassed by Drampa and Alolan Exeggutor. A Life Orb set can be used to exploit Altaria's great offensive move pool while giving it the freedom to switch moves. However, the set faces the same problems as the Choice Specs set. On the defensive side, Haze or Roar can be used to make Altaria less susceptible to set up sweepers, with Roar having the additional bonus of forcing the opponent to switch. However, Altaria would have to give up either Flamethrower or Toxic, both of which Altaria depends on to not be Taunt bait and have a way to deal meaningful damage to the enemy Pokemon, respectively. Heal Bell can be used to give Altaria utility as a cleric. However, it suffers from the same issues as Haze and Roar. A physically defensive spread can be run to better deal with Pokemon like Primeape. However, such a spread faces heavy competition from the numerous physical walls in PU, such as Pyukumuku.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-types and Ice-type Coverage**: Due to Altaria's 4x weakness to Ice-type moves, any decently strong Ice-type attack can be deadly. Auroras and Abomasnow can OHKO Altaria with their Ice-type STAB moves, while Mesprit and Magmortar and can surprise Altaria with Ice-type coverage.
**Pokemon Immune To Toxic**: Poison and Steel types, such as Skuntank and Aggron, are immune to Toxic, and, in Aggron's case, can set up Hazards in Altaria's face. Skuntank in particular can shut down Altaria with Taunt. However, Steel-types other then Aggron will take heavy damage from Flamethrower, especially Ferroseed.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types deal super effective damage to Altaria with their STAB moves, and force Altaria out. Granbull can use Heal Bell to nullify Toxic, while Carbink is resistant to Flamethrower and can set up Stealth Rock. Clefairy is particularly dangerous due to Magic Guard, which gives it a pseudo status immunity. Clefairy can also stall out Altaria with it's own Toxic or outright K.O. it with Moonblast.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types resist Flamethrower and can heavily damage Altaria with their STAB Rock-type moves. In particular, Carracosta has a quadruple resistance to Flamethrower, and can use Altaria as set up fodder. However, Carracosta and other Rock-types don't appreciate being heavily poisoned by Toxic.
[OVERVIEW]
Great 75 / 90 / 105 bulk, a good defensive typing, and access to Defog gives Altaria a niche as a special wall and hazard remover for defensive and balanced teams in need of a check to Grass-, Fire-, and Fighting-types, such as Magmortar, Lurantis, and Passimian. In addition, a great ability in Natural Cure allows Altaria to shrug off status when it switches out. This also gives it the advantage of being able to use Toxic with little fear of being poisoned back. The combination of Toxic and Defog also gives Altaria a way to annoy/beat prominent hazard setters, such as Mesprit lacking Ice Beam. However, despite Altaria's typing granting it very useful resistances to popular Fighting- and Fire-type moves, it gives Altaria a nasty 4x weakness to Ice-type moves and weakness to Stealth Rock, with the latter hampering its ability to remove entry hazards. Altaria is very passive, which leaves it susceptible to Taunt from Pokemon such as Sableye, and to set up sweepers, such as Swords Dance Zangoose. Finally, Altaria is somewhat easy to pressure offensively, especially if it's Leftovers have been knocked off. This is not helped by Altaria's lack of offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Cloud Birb (Specially Defensive Defog)
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 244 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Defog gives Altaria a way to clear hazards for its team. Ataria also has an advantageous matchup against Ferroseed and Weezing, with Flamethrower threatening Ferroseed, and pseudo status immunity makes Weezing much easier to deal with. Roost is extremely important, as it recovers Altaria's HP, helps it keep the field clear throughout the battle, and lets it absorb special attacks throughout the match. Flamethrower is used to hit a variety of targets, especially Steel-types. Flamethrower also prevents Altaria from being complete Taunt fodder. Keep in mind it isn't very powerful, though, and can only do significant damage to targets with a Fire weakness, such as Ferroseed. Toxic allows Altaria to cripple opposing Pokemon by putting them on a timer. This especially helpful against defensive Pokemon, like Regirock, that Altaria can't do much of anything to otherwise. Toxic is also Altaria's best way of inflicting meaningful damage to the opposing Pokemon.
Set Details
========
244 HP, 248 Special Defense EVs, and a Calm nature are run to maximize Altaria's special bulk, while 16 Speed EVs are run to outpace Adamant Mawile and other base 50 speed threats. Leftovers is used to provide Altaria with passive recovery, while also making Altaria less dependent on Roost long-term. Natural Cure removes poison and burn from Altaria when it switches out, which is especially useful against Pokemon that rely on status to do any meaningful damage, such as Weezing.
Usage Tips
========
If entry hazards are on the field, Defog should be used as soon as it is safe to do so. Furthermore, be wary of Pokemon with Defiant, such as Pawniard, as they can capitalize on Altaria's usage of Defog. Altaria is best used to check Fighting-, Grass-, and Fire-types, as they can't really do much to Altaria. Magmortar and non-Breakneck Blitz variants of Lilligant in particular are hard walled. However, be careful of the coverage moves Fighting-types typically carry for Flying-types, such as Hitmonchan's Ice Punch, as they can be deadly. Against Primeape or Passimian, however, it is generally a safe bet to switch in, as they will be stuck using a move that Altaria resists/is neutral to unless the opponent makes a prediction. Altaria can absorb status by using Natural Cure if necessary, but this can give free momentum to the opposing team, while also sacrificing your own momentum. For example, if the opponent brings in a set up sweeper on the turn Altaria switches out, their set up sweeper gets a free chance to either double switch or set up. Scout for Ice-type coverage on Mesprit, as it becomes a prime target for Defog if it lacks Ice Beam. In addition, try to catch Regirock and other Stealth Rock setters on a switch using Toxic, as it makes it easier for Altaria to beat them 1v1 if necessary. To ease on prediction, try spamming Toxic if the opposing team lacks a Steel- or Poison-type. Try to use Roost either immediately after or soon after Altaria has used Defog (if it has taken any damage during that time), as opportunities to use Roost without giving the opposing Pokemon a free turn are somewhat scarce.
Team Options
========
Fire- and Fighting-types are great partners, as they can deal with the Steel- and Ice-types that threaten Altaria. Special mention goes to Primeape, as it benefits from the removal of entry hazards greatly. Keep in mind that Fire-types stack a Stealth Rock weakness, though. Ice-types are major threats to Altaria, as they can prey on its 4x weakness to Ice. As such, special walls, like Hitmonchan and Miltank, make excellent partners. Miltank in particular gets Thick Fat as an ability, which allows it to stave off Ice type moves with ease. Other special walls, such as Eelektross, can check the Electric- and Water-types that Altaria has difficulties with. In exchange, Altaria can absorb status conditions, particularly poison, which Eelektross despises. Lilligant and other Grass-types appreciate Altaria's ability to check Magmortar and other prominent Fire-types. In return, they can take care of Rock- and Water-types, both of which Altaria has particular trouble with. Physical walls, such as Regirock, benefit from Altaria absorbing special attacks, and can sponge physical hits in return. In particular, Regirock serves as a hard stop to Archeops, which can easily K.O Altaria. Finally, set up sweepers, such as Me First Pinsir, can take advantage of Altaria's ability to gradually chip away at the enemy team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Dragon Dance Set with Dragonium Z can be run to take advantage of Altaria's good offensive typing and decent movepool. However, the set is still weak after a single Dragon Dance, and is generally outclassed by other set up sweepers. In a similar vein, a Choice Specs set can surprise Altaria's checks and deal heavy damage. However, it is mostly outclassed by Drampa and Alolan Exeggutor. A Life Orb set can be used to exploit Altaria's great offensive move pool while giving it the freedom to switch moves. However, the set faces the same problems as the Choice Specs set. On the defensive side, Haze or Roar can be used to make Altaria less susceptible to set up sweepers, with Roar having the additional bonus of forcing the opponent to switch. However, Altaria would have to give up either Flamethrower or Toxic, both of which Altaria depends on to not be Taunt bait and have a way to deal meaningful damage to the enemy Pokemon, respectively. Heal Bell can be used to give Altaria utility as a cleric. However, it suffers from the same issues as Haze and Roar. A physically defensive spread can be run to better deal with Pokemon like Primeape. However, such a spread faces heavy competition from the numerous physical walls in PU, such as Pyukumuku.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ice-types and Ice-type Coverage**: Due to Altaria's 4x weakness to Ice-type moves, any decently strong Ice-type attack can be deadly. Auroras and Abomasnow can OHKO Altaria with their Ice-type STAB moves, while Mesprit and Magmortar and can surprise Altaria with Ice-type coverage.
**Pokemon Immune To Toxic**: Poison and Steel types, such as Skuntank and Aggron, are immune to Toxic, and, in Aggron's case, can set up Hazards in Altaria's face. Skuntank in particular can shut down Altaria with Taunt. However, Steel-types other then Aggron will take heavy damage from Flamethrower, especially Ferroseed.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types deal super effective damage to Altaria with their STAB moves, and force Altaria out. Granbull can use Heal Bell to nullify Toxic, while Carbink is resistant to Flamethrower and can set up Stealth Rock. Clefairy is particularly dangerous due to Magic Guard, which gives it a pseudo status immunity. Clefairy can also stall out Altaria with it's own Toxic or outright K.O. it with Moonblast.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types resist Flamethrower and can heavily damage Altaria with their STAB Rock-type moves. In particular, Carracosta has a quadruple resistance to Flamethrower, and can use Altaria as set up fodder. However, Carracosta and other Rock-types don't appreciate being heavily poisoned by Toxic.
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