[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Haze / Heal Bell
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides Altaria with reliable recovery and keeps it healthy throughout the game. Flamethrower allows Altaria to hit Steel-types such as Steelix, Ferroseed, and Klinklang, which are immune to Toxic. Dragon Pulse can be used over Flamethrower to give Altaria better damage output versus neutral targets; however, it is still relatively weak and leaves Altaria completely walled by Steel-types, so it is not recommended. Toxic is key for wearing down Pokemon like Musharna, Rhydon, Gastrodon, Regirock, and Magmortar. Haze helps Altaria halt setup sweepers such as Samurott, Shiftry, and Gurdurr. However, Heal Bell can be used as an alternative, as it allows Altaria to act as a cleric for its team, which in turn allows Mega Audino to run a different support move such as Encore or Thunder Wave. Finally, Roar is a viable option to let Altaria phaze Pokemon and helps rack up entry hazard damage against the opponent's team.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs maximize Altaria's overall bulk while also letting it switch into Stealth Rock four times. 212 Defense EVs with a Bold nature help Altaria tackle Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Gurdurr, as well as avoiding the 3HKO from Choice Band Primeape's Close Combat. 28 Special Defense EVs allow Altaria to avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Pyroar's Hyper Voice and Choice Specs Charizard's Air Slash after Leftovers recovery, therefore allowing it to act as a secondary check to most Fire-types. The Speed investment lets Altaria outrun Jolly Rhydon, allowing it to get off a last-ditch Toxic on Rhydon. Leftovers provides Altaria with passive recovery throughout a match. Natural Cure is Altaria's most useful ability, giving it the ability to heal itself by switching out should it be afflicted by status.
Usage Tips
========
Altaria should be used primarily as a check to threatening Pokemon such as Swords Dance Samurott, Gurdurr, Hariyama, Combusken, Magmortar, and Shiftry. With Haze, Altaria is able to stop setup sweepers such as Samurott and Klinklang from overwhelming its team and therefore works effectively in aiding passive Pokemon such as Mega Audino and Bronzor, which could be used as setup bait. Use Roost frequently to keep Altaria healthy, as it can get worn down by Stealth Rock rather quickly. Altaria can attempt to cripple switch-ins with Toxic, as it will eventually outlast them thanks to Roost and Natural Cure. Moreover, Altaria can pivot into status moves such as Weezing's Will-O-Wisp, Gastrodon's Toxic, and Miltank's Thunder Wave to protect its teammates from being afflicted and either heal itself with Heal Bell or switch out and let Natural Cure activate.
Team Options
========
Defensive Altaria fits primarily on stall and semi-stall teams, which need its specific set of resistances to counter certain threats like Magmortar, physical Samurott, Hariyama, and Shiftry. Steel-types including Steelix and Ferroseed are great partners for Altaria, as they can pivot into Fairy-types like Mega Audino and also set up entry hazards. They also appreciate Altaria's ability to pivot into Fire-types such as Magmortar while providing a sturdy resistance to Fighting-types as well. Partners that resist Ice-type moves, like Bronzor, Hariyama, Thick Fat Miltank, and Piloswine, are near-mandatory for Altaria, as it is extremely vulnerable to them. Finally, Altaria also appreciates entry hazard control, as it gets worn down by Stealth Rock very easily, which makes Hitmonchan and Skuntank good partners due to their ability to remove entry hazards from the field while sharing decent type synergy.
name: Defensive
move 1: Roost
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Haze / Heal Bell
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides Altaria with reliable recovery and keeps it healthy throughout the game. Flamethrower allows Altaria to hit Steel-types such as Steelix, Ferroseed, and Klinklang, which are immune to Toxic. Dragon Pulse can be used over Flamethrower to give Altaria better damage output versus neutral targets; however, it is still relatively weak and leaves Altaria completely walled by Steel-types, so it is not recommended. Toxic is key for wearing down Pokemon like Musharna, Rhydon, Gastrodon, Regirock, and Magmortar. Haze helps Altaria halt setup sweepers such as Samurott, Shiftry, and Gurdurr. However, Heal Bell can be used as an alternative, as it allows Altaria to act as a cleric for its team, which in turn allows Mega Audino to run a different support move such as Encore or Thunder Wave. Finally, Roar is a viable option to let Altaria phaze Pokemon and helps rack up entry hazard damage against the opponent's team.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs maximize Altaria's overall bulk while also letting it switch into Stealth Rock four times. 212 Defense EVs with a Bold nature help Altaria tackle Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Gurdurr, as well as avoiding the 3HKO from Choice Band Primeape's Close Combat. 28 Special Defense EVs allow Altaria to avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Pyroar's Hyper Voice and Choice Specs Charizard's Air Slash after Leftovers recovery, therefore allowing it to act as a secondary check to most Fire-types. The Speed investment lets Altaria outrun Jolly Rhydon, allowing it to get off a last-ditch Toxic on Rhydon. Leftovers provides Altaria with passive recovery throughout a match. Natural Cure is Altaria's most useful ability, giving it the ability to heal itself by switching out should it be afflicted by status.
Usage Tips
========
Altaria should be used primarily as a check to threatening Pokemon such as Swords Dance Samurott, Gurdurr, Hariyama, Combusken, Magmortar, and Shiftry. With Haze, Altaria is able to stop setup sweepers such as Samurott and Klinklang from overwhelming its team and therefore works effectively in aiding passive Pokemon such as Mega Audino and Bronzor, which could be used as setup bait. Use Roost frequently to keep Altaria healthy, as it can get worn down by Stealth Rock rather quickly. Altaria can attempt to cripple switch-ins with Toxic, as it will eventually outlast them thanks to Roost and Natural Cure. Moreover, Altaria can pivot into status moves such as Weezing's Will-O-Wisp, Gastrodon's Toxic, and Miltank's Thunder Wave to protect its teammates from being afflicted and either heal itself with Heal Bell or switch out and let Natural Cure activate.
Team Options
========
Defensive Altaria fits primarily on stall and semi-stall teams, which need its specific set of resistances to counter certain threats like Magmortar, physical Samurott, Hariyama, and Shiftry. Steel-types including Steelix and Ferroseed are great partners for Altaria, as they can pivot into Fairy-types like Mega Audino and also set up entry hazards. They also appreciate Altaria's ability to pivot into Fire-types such as Magmortar while providing a sturdy resistance to Fighting-types as well. Partners that resist Ice-type moves, like Bronzor, Hariyama, Thick Fat Miltank, and Piloswine, are near-mandatory for Altaria, as it is extremely vulnerable to them. Finally, Altaria also appreciates entry hazard control, as it gets worn down by Stealth Rock very easily, which makes Hitmonchan and Skuntank good partners due to their ability to remove entry hazards from the field while sharing decent type synergy.
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