Electivire
Credit goes to New World Order for the original analysis.
[Overview]
<p>Electivire's claim to fame is its amazing coverage; its physical movepool hits 13 out of the 17 types for super effective damage. It was the first popular user of Expert Belt back in DPP, the era in which both Electivire and the item were introduced. It was also once part of the infamous "Gyaravire" combo that was extremely effective at what it did best: making your opponent laugh so hard that they would lose by timeout. With those days behind it however, it now finds itself in the BW RU tier, where Electric-type attacks are somewhat common; the most prominent users being Manectric, Rotom, Rotom-C, and Lanturn. While Electivire may not hit very hard or be very fast, its incredible coverage certainly makes it something to prepare for in BW RU.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Wild Charge / Thunderbolt
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Cross Chop / Earthquake
move 4: Ice Punch / Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
ability: Motor Drive
nature: Naive
evs: 144 Atk / 140 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Electivire's main set has plenty of viable moves due to Electivire's vast movepool with the stats to back it up. Wild Charge is Electivire's primary STAB move and it hits much harder compared to the days of DPP when its most powerful physical STAB move was ThunderPunch. However, Thunderbolt is also an option for a more specially based set, catching opponents off guard when they see Electivire using a special move. Flamethrower hits Steelix hard, as well as a number of other Steel-types in the tier, including Ferroseed and Klinklang. Cross Chop is essential for hitting special walls in RU, such as Clefable and Munchlax, for super effective damage. It is worth noting that Electivire is an exceptional lure for these Pokemon, as they will usually switch in to sponge either Thunderbolt or Flamethrower, and get promptly destroyed by Cross Chop. Earthquake is also useful when using a specially based set, as it can hit specially defensive versions of Drapion and Lanturn on their weaker Defense, especially since the latter will try to come in on Electivire's Electric-type attack, looking to recover some of its health. In the last slot, Ice Punch is the primary option, as it provides Electivire with pseudo-BoltBeam coverage, making it even more exceptional. However, Hidden Power Grass hits a number of things which would otherwise wall the set, including Quagsire, Rhydon, and Sandslash.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The recommended EV spread accomplishes a few things. First and foremost, it ensures that Electivire outspeeds Rotom, Moltres, and Lilligant, at least 2HKOing all of them with the appropriate move. Secondly, Wild Charge will always OHKO both Slowking and Mandibuzz after Stealth Rock, and OHKOes Steelix with Flamethrower after 2 layers of Spikes. Motor Drive is generally the preferred ability, as it allows Electivire to come in on a stray Thunder Wave or Volt Switch and pick up a free Speed boost, which is sometimes all it needs to sweep the opponent's team. However, Vital Spirit is a viable option as well, turning Electivire into an excellent check to Lilligant, as it outspeeds Lilligant and can OHKO with Flamethrower after absorbing the Sleep Powder. Life Orb is the primary item of choice, since it gives a sizable boost to all of Electivire's attacks. Expert Belt is another viable choice, as Electivire has exceptional coverage and will get a boost nearly all of the time.</p>
<p>ThunderPunch is an option if you don't want Electivire to die too quickly between recoil from Wild Charge and Life Orb. There is a significant difference in power however, and you lose many key KOs with and without entry hazards. Volt Switch is another STAB option; like ThunderPunch, it is noticeably weaker but provides more utility as it eases prediction. Hidden Power Ice is an option over Ice Punch to hit Gligar harder, but it hits literally nothing else harder and is generally not recommended. It is also worth noting that the EV spread can be tailored to beat specific threats, as Electivire is incredibly versatile and has a coverage move for just about everything.</p>
<p>The main thing that Electivire asks of its teammates is to help it activate Motor Drive. There are lots of good Pokemon in RU that are weak to Electric while also performing another useful job. Electivire really appreciates entry hazard support, and there a number of Pokemon that can provide it; Qwilfish, Scolipede, Omastar, and Ferroseed can provide either Spikes, Stealth Rock, or both. Both Omastar and Qwilfish also have the added bonus of having an Electric-type weakness. Also, Electivire likes Rapid Spin support, since it takes full damage from all forms of entry hazards. Kabutops is an excellent choice, as it can set up Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and is weak to Electric-type attacks. Other potential teammates of Electivire are Pokemon that can take advantage of the holes that Electivire opens up in defensive cores. Honchkrow is a prime example of this, as Electivire can lure in and beat Steelix, Aggron, and Klinklang, allowing Honchkrow to sweep.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Wild Charge
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Cross Chop
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
ability: Motor Drive
nature: Jolly
evs: 32 HP / 252 Atk / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Electivire's classic physically attacking set from DPP OU also functions well in BW RU. Wild Charge is a powerful STAB move, and hits decently hard with full investment and a Life Orb. Ice Punch gives Electivire near perfect-coverage, hitting everything in RU neutrally except for Lanturn and Magneton. However, they are easily disposed of with Earthquake, with Earthquake also hitting Steelix, Aggron, and Klinklang harder. Cross Chop rounds out the set, hitting Ferroseed, Clefable, and Munchlax for super effective damage. Electivire makes an exceptional switch-in to Ferroseed in particular, as it can can come in for free on Thunder Wave while picking up a Speed boost, and do massive damage with Cross Chop.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>224 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Electivire to outspeed threats such as Rotom, Moltres, and Lilligant, while maximum investment in Attack is to hit as hard as possible. The remaining EVs are thrown into HP to slightly increase Electivire's bulk. Motor Drive is the preferred ability, but Vital Spirit is also worth using, as Electivire absorbs Sleep Powder from Lilligant, outspeeds, and KOs with Ice Punch. Life Orb is the main item to grant Electivire some extra power while retaining its impressive coverage. However, an Expert Belt can also be used to reduce recoil slightly, but the power of an unboosted neutral Wild Charge is just disappointing.</p>
<p>ThunderPunch can be used over Wild Charge to alleviate large amounts of recoil, but it is noticeably weaker. A Choice Band can also be used to significantly increase Electivire's power, but is counterproductive when Electivire has to rely on its amazing coverage to hit hard at all. Also, maximum investment in Speed can be used to Speed tie both Uxie and Drapion, but is generally not required since neither of them can beat Electivire.</p>
<p>Steelix is the number one counter to this set. It only takes about 35% from Cross Chop or Earthquake and can either set up Stealth Rock or hit Electivire with a super effective STAB Earthquake of its own. As such, Magneton is a great partner, since it can trap and 2HKO Steelix with Hidden Power Fire, and can also utilize Magnet Rise to avoid Earthquake. Other good partners are those that can lay down entry hazards. Qwilfish, Scolipede, Omastar, and Ferroseed are all exceptional users of Spikes, and Qwilfish and Omastar can even snag Electivire a free Motor Drive boost by luring Electric-type attacks. Another good teammate for Electivire is Kabutops; it can set up Stealth Rock and use Rapid Spin to aid Electivire, as it takes full damage from all forms of entry hazards.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Electivire can use either a Choice Scarf or Choice Specs to boost its middling Speed and Special Attack, respectively. However, Electivire is effective mostly due to its ability to hit almost everything in the game for super effective damage, and locking it into one move is generally not a good thing. Also, Electivire can make an unexpected user of Substitute and Focus Punch, surprising many switch-ins and hitting harder than even Wild Charge. Meditate can be used, though it wastes a coverage move, and isn't recommended.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Electivire's counters are few and far between, as it has a coverage move for nearly everything. However, Rotom can't be hit super effectively, and bulkier sets can use Will-O-Wisp to cripple all variants of Electivire for the rest of the match. Quagsire and Rhydon only fear Hidden Power Grass, and Quagsire can use Electivire as setup fodder for Curse. Steelix is a perfect counter to sets lacking Flamethrower, and can set use its STAB Earthquake to put Electivire in its place. Also, both Manectric and other Electivire are immune to Electric, and get either a boost in Special Attack or a boost in Speed. They both can then dispose of it with Overheat and Earthquake, respectively. Sceptile resists Electric and can hit Electivire with an immensely powerful Leaf Storm, while Scolipede outspeeds and KOs Electivire with a Life Orb-boosted Earthquake. Sharpedo can use Protect to ensure that it gets a Speed boost, and eliminate Electivire with Hydro Pump. Electivire is also prone to slowly killing itself, as after only a few turns, collective recoil from Wild Charge and Life Orb will begin to take its toll.</p>
