Kiyo
the cowboy kid
taken over from Scraftyisthebest
[OVERVIEW]
A massive Attack backed by a STAB Close Combat makes Sawk one of the premier wallbreakers in the NeverUsed tier. When equipped with Choice Band or Choice Scarf, Sawk finds itself OHKOing or outpacing the majority of the tier. With access to two great abilities in Sturdy and Mold Breaker, as well as a great movepool, Sawk is able to get past several Pokemon that would otherwise trouble it. Middling bulk and Speed can hold Sawk back in a tier filled with faster threats, but Sawk's ability to tear through defensive teams is typically enough to warrant use on any team.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Stone Edge / Ice Punch
item: Choice Band / Black Belt
ability: Sturdy
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is a powerful and reliable STAB move that deals huge amounts of damage even to Pokemon that resist it. Knock Off hits the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that look to switch in on Close Combat, and it also has the added benefit of removing the foe's item. Zen Headbutt gives Sawk a reliable way to hit common defensive Poison-types such as Weezing, Vileplume, and Garbodor. Stone Edge lets Sawk hit Flying-types such as Scyther, Mantine, and Xatu. If you value accuracy more than power, Ice Punch also lets Sawk hit Flying-types and can hit other common switch-ins such as Vileplume super effectively. Earthquake can be used to avoid making contact with Garbodor; this lets Sawk dodge any potential Rocky Helmet or Aftermath damage. Poison Jab can be used to hit Fairy-types such as Granbull and Togetic, though neither is common.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature takes advantage of Sawk's solid Speed tier and great base Attack. Sturdy turns Sawk into a semi-reliable check to anything it can OHKO, as Sawk can survive any hit with 1 HP and retaliate with a powerful attack. Mold Breaker can be used to OHKO lead Crustle with Stone Edge and hit levitating Pokemon such as Weezing and Rotom with Earthquake. Choice Band boosts Sawk's already high Attack to sky-high levels; however, Life Orb and Black Belt are both viable options to boost Sawk's power while maintaining the ability to switch moves. Sawk can also run a Jolly nature to outspeed certain Pokemon such as positive-natured Mesprit and neutral-natured Kangaskhan and Zangoose, but the drop in power is considerable.
Usage Tips
========
Thanks to its monstrous Attack, Sawk can immediately threaten almost any team with its powerful attacks. Sawk should aim to break down opposing walls with strong attacks and hopefully weaken a teammate's check or counter for a late-game sweep. With Sturdy, Sawk can take any hit and retaliate with a powerful attack; this makes it a great check to almost any sweeper, provided Stealth Rock is not on your side of the field. Keep in mind that having to choose a single move to lock Sawk into can be a predicament early-game, so weigh your options based on the opponent's team and use the move that hits the most optimal switch-ins hard. If you find yourself caught up in choosing a move to lock into, Knock Off and Close Combat are both solid options, as they remove the foe's item and severely dent the foe's HP, respectively.
Team Options
========
Dark-types such as Pawniard, Liepard, and Sneasel can deal with Psychic- and Ghost-types that prevent Sawk from spamming Close Combat. Defog and Rapid Spin users such as Prinplup, Mantine, Claydol, and Cryogonal help keep Sawk's Sturdy intact, allowing it to check threatening setup sweepers. Xatu also keeps the field clear of entry hazards with Magic Bounce, and it can deal with defensive Poison-types such as Garbodor and Weezing to an extent. Other powerful attackers such as Pyroar work well with Sawk to overwhelm the opponent's defensive Pokemon. Sawk forces a lot of switches, so entry hazard users such as Crustle, Rhydon, and Garbodor can help to wear down the opposing team by setting up Spikes and Stealth Rock. Fast Pokemon and setup sweepers such as Scyther and Lilligant appreciate Sawk's wallbreaking ability and often find themselves with the opportunity to sweep late-game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker / Sturdy
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is a reliable STAB move that hits extremely hard. Knock Off provides solid coverage with Close Combat and hits Ghost- and Psychic-types looking to switch in on Close Combat super effectively. Earthquake hits Poison-types such as Weezing for good damage and also hits levitating Pokemon such as Mesprit and Rotom if Sawk has Mold Breaker. Ice Punch lets Sawk hit Vileplume and Flying-types such as Rotom-S for super effective damage. Thanks to Sturdy, Reversal can allow Sawk to do a good amount of damage to anything if it survives with 1 HP.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature gives Sawk the ability to hit hard and take advantage of the Speed boost from Choice Scarf. Mold Breaker lets Sawk hit levitating Pokemon such as Rotom and Weezing with Earthquake. Sturdy is also a viable ability, as it allows Sawk to act as a one-time check to any threat provided it hasn't taken any prior damage; it can also be useful when running Reversal to get off a powerful hit.
Usage Tips
========
Sawk should be played as a revenge killer and late-game cleaner that can surprise fast foes with the Speed boost from Choice Scarf. Weaken or remove Pokemon that resist Fighting throughout the course of the match to give Sawk an easier time running through the opposition later in the game. Make use of Sawk's coverage moves to hit common switch-ins, as without an Attack boost of some kind, there are quite a few Pokemon that can switch into Sawk easily.
Team Options
========
Powerful wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Pyroar and Life Orb Samurott pair well with Sawk and can wear down the opponent's team for a late-game Sawk sweep. Stealth Rock and Spikes users such as Mesprit, Rhydon, Crustle, Garbodor, and Ferroseed can help weaken the opponent's team with their respective entry hazards. Volt Switch, Baton Pass, and U-turn users such as Rotom, Leafeon, Scyther, and Mesprit can help gain momentum and get Sawk into favorable matchups. No matter what you pair with Sawk, it's essential that you weaken the opponent's team heavily, as without a boosting item, Sawk is not as powerful.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sawk can utilize a number of coverage moves, such as Thunder Punch and Taunt, to help out teammates and get past certain Pokemon. Expert Belt can be an interesting item to retain a boost on super effective attacks while also giving Sawk the ability to switch moves and bluff a Choice set. Sawk can also run a set that utilizes Bulk Up, but Gurdurr is generally better suited for such a set.
Checks & Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Bulky Psychic-types such as Musharna, Uxie, and Xatu can switch into Sawk's Close Combat with relative ease. However, they need to be wary of Knock Off, as Xatu is OHKOed and Musharna and Uxie don't appreciate taking the hit or losing their Leftovers.
**Poison-types**: Bulky Poison-types such as Garbodor, Weezing, and Vileplume can switch into Sawk's Close Combat better than most Psychic-types because they don't fear Knock Off. All three are able to take at least one Zen Headbutt, but Weezing and Garbodor lack reliable recovery, which leaves them prone to being worn down throughout the game. Sawk does need to watch out for Will-O-Wisp from Weezing and Effect Spore from Vileplume, as an errant burn or paralysis can easily end a sweep.
**Faster Pokemon**: Any Pokemon that can outspeed and OHKO Sawk can counter it. The only ways to prevent this are using a fast teammate or preserving Sawk's Sturdy. Common Pokemon that outspeed and OHKO Sawk include Scyther, Pyroar, Archeops, Swellow, and Jynx.
**Status Conditions**: Sawk really needs to make the most of its average Speed and monstrous Attack. Pokemon that carry Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp such as Musharna, Uxie, Mismagius, and Weezing can be a little more tricky to play around if they aren't in KO range or get a free switch.
[OVERVIEW]
A massive Attack backed by a STAB Close Combat makes Sawk one of the premier wallbreakers in the NeverUsed tier. When equipped with Choice Band or Choice Scarf, Sawk finds itself OHKOing or outpacing the majority of the tier. With access to two great abilities in Sturdy and Mold Breaker, as well as a great movepool, Sawk is able to get past several Pokemon that would otherwise trouble it. Middling bulk and Speed can hold Sawk back in a tier filled with faster threats, but Sawk's ability to tear through defensive teams is typically enough to warrant use on any team.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Stone Edge / Ice Punch
item: Choice Band / Black Belt
ability: Sturdy
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is a powerful and reliable STAB move that deals huge amounts of damage even to Pokemon that resist it. Knock Off hits the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that look to switch in on Close Combat, and it also has the added benefit of removing the foe's item. Zen Headbutt gives Sawk a reliable way to hit common defensive Poison-types such as Weezing, Vileplume, and Garbodor. Stone Edge lets Sawk hit Flying-types such as Scyther, Mantine, and Xatu. If you value accuracy more than power, Ice Punch also lets Sawk hit Flying-types and can hit other common switch-ins such as Vileplume super effectively. Earthquake can be used to avoid making contact with Garbodor; this lets Sawk dodge any potential Rocky Helmet or Aftermath damage. Poison Jab can be used to hit Fairy-types such as Granbull and Togetic, though neither is common.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature takes advantage of Sawk's solid Speed tier and great base Attack. Sturdy turns Sawk into a semi-reliable check to anything it can OHKO, as Sawk can survive any hit with 1 HP and retaliate with a powerful attack. Mold Breaker can be used to OHKO lead Crustle with Stone Edge and hit levitating Pokemon such as Weezing and Rotom with Earthquake. Choice Band boosts Sawk's already high Attack to sky-high levels; however, Life Orb and Black Belt are both viable options to boost Sawk's power while maintaining the ability to switch moves. Sawk can also run a Jolly nature to outspeed certain Pokemon such as positive-natured Mesprit and neutral-natured Kangaskhan and Zangoose, but the drop in power is considerable.
Usage Tips
========
Thanks to its monstrous Attack, Sawk can immediately threaten almost any team with its powerful attacks. Sawk should aim to break down opposing walls with strong attacks and hopefully weaken a teammate's check or counter for a late-game sweep. With Sturdy, Sawk can take any hit and retaliate with a powerful attack; this makes it a great check to almost any sweeper, provided Stealth Rock is not on your side of the field. Keep in mind that having to choose a single move to lock Sawk into can be a predicament early-game, so weigh your options based on the opponent's team and use the move that hits the most optimal switch-ins hard. If you find yourself caught up in choosing a move to lock into, Knock Off and Close Combat are both solid options, as they remove the foe's item and severely dent the foe's HP, respectively.
Team Options
========
Dark-types such as Pawniard, Liepard, and Sneasel can deal with Psychic- and Ghost-types that prevent Sawk from spamming Close Combat. Defog and Rapid Spin users such as Prinplup, Mantine, Claydol, and Cryogonal help keep Sawk's Sturdy intact, allowing it to check threatening setup sweepers. Xatu also keeps the field clear of entry hazards with Magic Bounce, and it can deal with defensive Poison-types such as Garbodor and Weezing to an extent. Other powerful attackers such as Pyroar work well with Sawk to overwhelm the opponent's defensive Pokemon. Sawk forces a lot of switches, so entry hazard users such as Crustle, Rhydon, and Garbodor can help to wear down the opposing team by setting up Spikes and Stealth Rock. Fast Pokemon and setup sweepers such as Scyther and Lilligant appreciate Sawk's wallbreaking ability and often find themselves with the opportunity to sweep late-game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Mold Breaker / Sturdy
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is a reliable STAB move that hits extremely hard. Knock Off provides solid coverage with Close Combat and hits Ghost- and Psychic-types looking to switch in on Close Combat super effectively. Earthquake hits Poison-types such as Weezing for good damage and also hits levitating Pokemon such as Mesprit and Rotom if Sawk has Mold Breaker. Ice Punch lets Sawk hit Vileplume and Flying-types such as Rotom-S for super effective damage. Thanks to Sturdy, Reversal can allow Sawk to do a good amount of damage to anything if it survives with 1 HP.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature gives Sawk the ability to hit hard and take advantage of the Speed boost from Choice Scarf. Mold Breaker lets Sawk hit levitating Pokemon such as Rotom and Weezing with Earthquake. Sturdy is also a viable ability, as it allows Sawk to act as a one-time check to any threat provided it hasn't taken any prior damage; it can also be useful when running Reversal to get off a powerful hit.
Usage Tips
========
Sawk should be played as a revenge killer and late-game cleaner that can surprise fast foes with the Speed boost from Choice Scarf. Weaken or remove Pokemon that resist Fighting throughout the course of the match to give Sawk an easier time running through the opposition later in the game. Make use of Sawk's coverage moves to hit common switch-ins, as without an Attack boost of some kind, there are quite a few Pokemon that can switch into Sawk easily.
Team Options
========
Powerful wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Pyroar and Life Orb Samurott pair well with Sawk and can wear down the opponent's team for a late-game Sawk sweep. Stealth Rock and Spikes users such as Mesprit, Rhydon, Crustle, Garbodor, and Ferroseed can help weaken the opponent's team with their respective entry hazards. Volt Switch, Baton Pass, and U-turn users such as Rotom, Leafeon, Scyther, and Mesprit can help gain momentum and get Sawk into favorable matchups. No matter what you pair with Sawk, it's essential that you weaken the opponent's team heavily, as without a boosting item, Sawk is not as powerful.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sawk can utilize a number of coverage moves, such as Thunder Punch and Taunt, to help out teammates and get past certain Pokemon. Expert Belt can be an interesting item to retain a boost on super effective attacks while also giving Sawk the ability to switch moves and bluff a Choice set. Sawk can also run a set that utilizes Bulk Up, but Gurdurr is generally better suited for such a set.
Checks & Counters
===================
**Psychic-types**: Bulky Psychic-types such as Musharna, Uxie, and Xatu can switch into Sawk's Close Combat with relative ease. However, they need to be wary of Knock Off, as Xatu is OHKOed and Musharna and Uxie don't appreciate taking the hit or losing their Leftovers.
**Poison-types**: Bulky Poison-types such as Garbodor, Weezing, and Vileplume can switch into Sawk's Close Combat better than most Psychic-types because they don't fear Knock Off. All three are able to take at least one Zen Headbutt, but Weezing and Garbodor lack reliable recovery, which leaves them prone to being worn down throughout the game. Sawk does need to watch out for Will-O-Wisp from Weezing and Effect Spore from Vileplume, as an errant burn or paralysis can easily end a sweep.
**Faster Pokemon**: Any Pokemon that can outspeed and OHKO Sawk can counter it. The only ways to prevent this are using a fast teammate or preserving Sawk's Sturdy. Common Pokemon that outspeed and OHKO Sawk include Scyther, Pyroar, Archeops, Swellow, and Jynx.
**Status Conditions**: Sawk really needs to make the most of its average Speed and monstrous Attack. Pokemon that carry Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp such as Musharna, Uxie, Mismagius, and Weezing can be a little more tricky to play around if they aren't in KO range or get a free switch.
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