[OVERVIEW]
Klinklang stands out as a setup sweeper thanks to its signature move Shift Gear, which boosts its Attack by one stage and Speed by two stages. Its solid defensive typing and decent natural bulk combined with HP investment makes it a soft check to Psychic- and Flying-types that also performs well as an offensive Venusaur check. However, it's easily stopped by common RU physical walls like Druddigon and Steel-types due to its quite limited movepool. Plus, it's weak to common types in the metagame such as Fighting, Ground, and Fire, but it still performs as a unique sweeper in the RU metagame.
[SET]
name: Physical Sweeper
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Gear Grind
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Wild Charge
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 108 HP / 252 Atk / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shift Gear allows Klinklang to do its job, boosting its Attack by one stage and boosting its Speed by two stages. This lets Klinklang outspeed every relevant Pokemon in the tier. Gear Grind hits twice, breaking Substitutes, Sturdy, and Focus Sashes. Substitute allows Klinklang to set up more easily, avoid status, and check a fair amount of Pokemon, especially slow U-turn pivots. Wild Charge hits bulky Water-types like Alomomola, Blastoise, and Slowking super effectively and hits Steel-types neutrally. Keep in mind that this move causes recoil damage.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature and full investment in Attack give Klinklang a nice 328 Attack stat, and 148 Speed EVs allow Klinklang to reach 253 Speed, enough to outspeed Adamant Absol. After one boost, Klinklang is able to outspeed Choice Scarf Delphox, the fastest Choice Scarf user in the tier. An alternative spread of 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe grants more bulk and still allows Klinklang to outspeed Choice Scarf Jolly Drapion as well as Adamant Choice Scarf Flygon after one boost. Clear Body is the only relevant ability Klinklang has, which helps versus Intimidate users and random stat drops. Leftovers is chosen for passive recovery, giving longevity and allowing Klinklang to set up more Substitutes throughout the game.
Usage Tips
========
Klinklang shines as a cleaner when all its checks are weakened enough late-game. However, if you are forced to use it early- or mid-game, Klinklang can also perform as a check to some threats in RU such as Diancie, Venusaur, and Glalie. Substitute lets Klinklang avoid status like Scald from Alomomola or Yawn from Uxie and allows Klinklang to set up versus Pokemon like Flygon. This is also great for scouting moves and sets, especially Choice-locked Pokemon like Choice Specs Magneton or Choice Band Escavalier. Try to avoid Knock Off as much as you can, as Klinklang really appreciates Leftovers.
Team Options
========
Venusaur works really well with Klinklang to take care of bulky Water-types, while Klinklang acts as a Flying-type sponge and as a soft Psychic-type check. Knock Off variants are especially useful to lure common Steel-types like Registeel or Escavalier and remove their Leftovers. Pursuit trappers like Drapion can take care of Bronzong; Drapion in particular provides Toxic Spikes support. Mega Glalie is the best Spiker in RU, which Klinklang really appreciates. Special Mega Glalie can deal with most bulky Water-types, defensive Druddigon, and the most common hazard removers in the tier, Flygon and Blastoise. Fighting-types like Emboar, Sawk, or Medicham can deal with Steel-types and lure physically defensive Pokemon, and Klinklang helps them by being a Fairy- and Flying-type check. Ground-types like Flygon or Mega Camerupt pressure bulky Steel-types and deal with Magneton, which is a great stop to Klinklang.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Return can hit Water-types neutrally and avoid recoil damage. Magnet Rise lets Klinklang avoid Ground-type attacks and makes it easier for Klinklang to set up versus Pokemon like Flygon or Rhyperior, but Substitute can fulfill this purpose better most of the time. Volt Switch can support the team with momentum. A Shift Gear / Gear Grind / Rest / Sleep Talk set seems appealing, but it requires a heavy amount of team support, and Curse Registeel is better most of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rocky Helmet Users:**: Klinklang loses half its HP just attacking defensive Druddigon, which usually runs Fire Punch or Earthquake for coverage as well.
**Steel-types:**: Most Steel-types can take care of Klinklang easily. Magneton in particular resists Wild Charge and could potentially trap it or get an opportunity to fire off an Analytic-boosted move for free every time Klinklang switches in.
**Ground-types:** Mega Camerupt and Seismitoad wall Klinklang. Flygon is a great threat if Klinklang has not set up yet.
**Fighting-types:**: Strong Fighting-types like Medicham, Sawk, and Hitmonlee are able to check Klinklang and obliterate it with any STAB move. Gurdurr in particular can take on Klinklang fairly well, revenge kill it with Mach Punch, or even use it as setup fodder.
Klinklang stands out as a setup sweeper thanks to its signature move Shift Gear, which boosts its Attack by one stage and Speed by two stages. Its solid defensive typing and decent natural bulk combined with HP investment makes it a soft check to Psychic- and Flying-types that also performs well as an offensive Venusaur check. However, it's easily stopped by common RU physical walls like Druddigon and Steel-types due to its quite limited movepool. Plus, it's weak to common types in the metagame such as Fighting, Ground, and Fire, but it still performs as a unique sweeper in the RU metagame.
[SET]
name: Physical Sweeper
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Gear Grind
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Wild Charge
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 108 HP / 252 Atk / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shift Gear allows Klinklang to do its job, boosting its Attack by one stage and boosting its Speed by two stages. This lets Klinklang outspeed every relevant Pokemon in the tier. Gear Grind hits twice, breaking Substitutes, Sturdy, and Focus Sashes. Substitute allows Klinklang to set up more easily, avoid status, and check a fair amount of Pokemon, especially slow U-turn pivots. Wild Charge hits bulky Water-types like Alomomola, Blastoise, and Slowking super effectively and hits Steel-types neutrally. Keep in mind that this move causes recoil damage.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature and full investment in Attack give Klinklang a nice 328 Attack stat, and 148 Speed EVs allow Klinklang to reach 253 Speed, enough to outspeed Adamant Absol. After one boost, Klinklang is able to outspeed Choice Scarf Delphox, the fastest Choice Scarf user in the tier. An alternative spread of 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe grants more bulk and still allows Klinklang to outspeed Choice Scarf Jolly Drapion as well as Adamant Choice Scarf Flygon after one boost. Clear Body is the only relevant ability Klinklang has, which helps versus Intimidate users and random stat drops. Leftovers is chosen for passive recovery, giving longevity and allowing Klinklang to set up more Substitutes throughout the game.
Usage Tips
========
Klinklang shines as a cleaner when all its checks are weakened enough late-game. However, if you are forced to use it early- or mid-game, Klinklang can also perform as a check to some threats in RU such as Diancie, Venusaur, and Glalie. Substitute lets Klinklang avoid status like Scald from Alomomola or Yawn from Uxie and allows Klinklang to set up versus Pokemon like Flygon. This is also great for scouting moves and sets, especially Choice-locked Pokemon like Choice Specs Magneton or Choice Band Escavalier. Try to avoid Knock Off as much as you can, as Klinklang really appreciates Leftovers.
Team Options
========
Venusaur works really well with Klinklang to take care of bulky Water-types, while Klinklang acts as a Flying-type sponge and as a soft Psychic-type check. Knock Off variants are especially useful to lure common Steel-types like Registeel or Escavalier and remove their Leftovers. Pursuit trappers like Drapion can take care of Bronzong; Drapion in particular provides Toxic Spikes support. Mega Glalie is the best Spiker in RU, which Klinklang really appreciates. Special Mega Glalie can deal with most bulky Water-types, defensive Druddigon, and the most common hazard removers in the tier, Flygon and Blastoise. Fighting-types like Emboar, Sawk, or Medicham can deal with Steel-types and lure physically defensive Pokemon, and Klinklang helps them by being a Fairy- and Flying-type check. Ground-types like Flygon or Mega Camerupt pressure bulky Steel-types and deal with Magneton, which is a great stop to Klinklang.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Return can hit Water-types neutrally and avoid recoil damage. Magnet Rise lets Klinklang avoid Ground-type attacks and makes it easier for Klinklang to set up versus Pokemon like Flygon or Rhyperior, but Substitute can fulfill this purpose better most of the time. Volt Switch can support the team with momentum. A Shift Gear / Gear Grind / Rest / Sleep Talk set seems appealing, but it requires a heavy amount of team support, and Curse Registeel is better most of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rocky Helmet Users:**: Klinklang loses half its HP just attacking defensive Druddigon, which usually runs Fire Punch or Earthquake for coverage as well.
**Steel-types:**: Most Steel-types can take care of Klinklang easily. Magneton in particular resists Wild Charge and could potentially trap it or get an opportunity to fire off an Analytic-boosted move for free every time Klinklang switches in.
**Ground-types:** Mega Camerupt and Seismitoad wall Klinklang. Flygon is a great threat if Klinklang has not set up yet.
**Fighting-types:**: Strong Fighting-types like Medicham, Sawk, and Hitmonlee are able to check Klinklang and obliterate it with any STAB move. Gurdurr in particular can take on Klinklang fairly well, revenge kill it with Mach Punch, or even use it as setup fodder.
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