QC: Rowan / Fiend / Thunderboy
GP: CryoGyro / TDP
GP: CryoGyro / TDP
[OVERVIEW]
Anorith's access to Knock Off, Stealth Rock, and Rapid Spin gives it excellent role compression to support the team with. Its great 18 Speed tier makes it the second fastest Stealth Rock user in the tier, only behind Diglett. It also has an excellent Attack stat, one of the highest in the metagame, so it can hit quite hard. However, Anorith faces competition from Onix and Dwebble as an entry hazard setter and from Drilbur and Staryu as a spinner due to their greater reliability. Anorith is also pretty frail, with a very bad defensive typing that only gives it a resistance to two uncommon offensive typing and a weakness to Aqua Jet, Bullet Punch, and Stealth Rock, making it hard to switch in and remove entry hazards. Anorith also has trouble dealing with the common Fighting-types due to its small movepool, and it's completely countered by Staryu because it can KO Anorith before it can move and then remove its entry hazards with Rapid Spin.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Rock Blast
item: Berry Juice
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Anorith makes good use of Stealth Rock, as its great Speed allows it to set up the entry hazard before it gets hit by Taunt or KOed. Rapid Spin is used to eliminate entry hazards laid by the opponent during the battle. Knock Off is a great move for crippling Eviolite users and limiting Berry Juice users, and it also hits Ghost-types so that they don't block it from using Rapid Spin. Rock Blast is used over Stone Edge for better accuracy and to break through Substitutes, beat Focus Sash and Sturdy Pokemon like Dwebble and Surskit, and exploit Weak Armor Pokemon such as Vullaby.
Set Details
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Berry Juice is Anorith's only way to recover HP by itself; it allows Anorith to have more time to set up and remove entry hazards as well as attack the foe. A Jolly nature and 236 Speed EVs are required for Anorith to reach 18 Speed, which lets it outspeed Pokemon such as Archen and Mienfoo. 236 EVs are put into Attack to maximize Anorith's power and to 2HKO Pumpkaboo-XL and Frillish with Knock Off. The remaining EVs go into Defense to take physical attacks better. Battle Armor prevents the occasional critical hit from happening; Swift Swim doesn't benefit this set.
Usage Tips
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Anorith functions as a good lead because of its great Speed in conjunction with Stealth Rock. It can also remove entry hazards set by the opposing lead thanks to Rapid Spin. The best time to use Rapid Spin, however, is when entry hazard setters on the opponent's team are gone. Beware of Onix, as it easily beats Anorith with Rock Blast. Knock Off should be used if Rock Blast won't KO or if the foe still has its item. Anorith can be used to revenge kill Pokemon that are slower than it due to its great Attack and Speed, such as Archen, Rufflet, and Vullaby. Anorith shouldn't be sent out against Pokemon faster than it such as Staryu, Choice Scarf Doduo, and Choice Scarf Chinchou, as they'll likely KO Anorith before it can do anything.
Team Options
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Fighting- and Ground-types such as Timburr and Mudbray can switch in on the Rock-types that Anorith hates like Onix and Tirtouga and drive them off as well as hit Steel-types like Magnemite and Pawniard. Foongus and Cottonee are both able to switch in on Fighting-, Rock-, and Water-types thanks to their typings. Ferroseed resists all of Anorith's weaknesses and can set up Spikes to stack entry hazards, while Anorith can hit the Flying- and Fire-types that threaten Ferroseed with Rock Blast. Sweepers such as Shellder, Scraggy, and Pawniard benefit from Anorith's ability to eliminate entry hazards, set up its own, and remove items with Knock Off.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Anorith can use a Swords Dance set to make use of its great Attack and Speed, but it's quite hard to set up. It can utilize Aerial Ace to hit Fighting-types, Brick Break to OHKO Pawniard, or X-Scissor as a secondary STAB move, but these moves are hard to fit in over the great Rock Blast and Knock Off. Anorith can be run as a rain sweeper with Swift Swim, but rain isn't very viable in LC due to a lack of Drizzle users. Anorith can run Rock Polish with an Adamant nature to outspeed almost all of the tier, but it has a tough time getting past bulky foes. Rock Slide and Stone Edge can be used over Rock Blast, but LC's multi-hit damage rolls favor Rock Blast. Aqua Jet can be used if the priority is needed, but it's very weak otherwise.
Checks and Counters
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**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Diglett, Ponyta, and Abra can switch in and check Anorith. Choice Scarf Pokemon are even more dangerous, since it can be hard to tell if they're holding one until they move first and KO Anorith.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Chinchou, Mareanie, and Shellder are able to super effectively hit Anorith with Scald and, in the latter's case, Rock Blast. Tirtouga, Corphish, and Carvanha can net a quick KO on Anorith with Aqua Jet. Staryu gets a special mention, as it is faster than Anorith, can KO Anorith before it can attack, and removes the entry hazards set up by Anorith.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types like Onix and Omanyte give Anorith a hard time, since they don't take much damage from its moves and can OHKO Anorith with Rock Blast and Hydro Pump.
**Steel-types**: Both Pawniard and Magnemite can take some hits from Anorith and deal back super effective damage. Ferroseed doesn't take much damage from any of Anorith's attacks and hurts it with Iron Barbs.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Mienfoo, Timburr, and Croagunk all wall Anorith's attacks if it doesn't carry the rare Aerial Ace and can hit hard with a neutral attack or set up.
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