Armaldo

[Overview]

<p>Armaldo is one of those Pokemon that gets less use than what it deserves. With great offensive typing, with —only Steel-type and Fighting-type Pokemon resisting both STABs, —along with base 125 Attack, Armaldo has the power to rip through unprepared teams. It also has a niche over other Bug-types by gaining, as it has access to Swift Swim via Dream World, which makes it a great physical attacker in rain. AlsoMoreover, unlike other Swift Swim physical attackers, such as Kabutops and Qwilfish, Armaldo can take care of Pokemon such as Latios, Cresselia, Latias, and other Pokemon that tend to give rain teams trouble. It also has great defensive typing as well,; with only 3three weaknesses and 75 / 100 / 80 defenses, it'll be on the field for a while. However, it isn't all raindrops and gumballs for Armaldo, with common. With weaknesses to the common Water and Rock-type attacks, which are common in the VGC 2012 metagame, with the former bethe former even receiving a boosted due to under rain, Armaldo will have problems executing its offensive role properly. To make matters worse, aits low base Speed of 45 makes it dead weight against other Swift Swim users such as Ludicolo and Kingdra. However, Armaldo isn't a Pokemon to be underestimated, as it has enough weapons in its arsenal to wrecak havoc.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: X-Scissor
move 2: Rock Slide / Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake / Brick Break
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 12 HP / 252 Atk / 244 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>By using its Dream World ability, Swift Swim, Armaldo becomes a powerful sweeper in the rain. X-Scissor is its main STAB, as it hits the numerous Psychic and Dark-type Pokemon in the VGC 2012 metagame, such as the Lati twins, Cresselia, Tyranitar, and Hydregion, for super effective damage. Rock Slide is another great STAB for Armaldo, as it retainhas great coverage alongside X-Scissor, as well as giving and gives Armaldo a spread move to use. However, Stone Edge can be used for more power, as it OHKOes 140/0 Zapdos, 252/140 Gyarados (if you avoid Intimidate), and 252/0 Togekiss, though it comes at the cost of accuracy. There are two options for the third moveslot; Earthquake is there to retainfor coverage against Steel-type Pokemon such as Metagross, Heatran, and Emploeon. However, Brick Break can be used to hit Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, as well as and Tyranitar, harder. Finally, Protect is used so Armaldo can avoid damage from moves such as Fake Out and Bullet Punch, which gives its partner time to take out the threat or set up rain via Rain Dance.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EVs shown abovgiven in conjunction with a Jolly nature are used to outpace positive Speed -natured Smeargle in the rain, as that is the main threat Armaldo needs to outpace. It also outpaces Choice Scarf Politoed, Metagross, and other fast Pokemon such as Aerodactyl and Jolteon, all of which outpace Armaldo if its using runs an Adamant nature. In any case, Adamant isn't that bad an idea, as it provides Armaldo with more power, as well as a Speed tie with Weavile and Swellow. Life Orb is the primary item as it provides Armaldo with a significant power boost, especially since its using a Jolly nature is recommended.</p>

<p>Considering that Armaldo is using Swift Swim as its ability, Pokemon that can set up rain are a must for this set's success. As such, Politoed is a must, using Drizzle to activate Swift Swim, without any set up whatsoever. Pokemon that can take care of Water, Fighting, and Steel-types also make good partners. Zapdos can take care of both Water and Fighting-type Pokemon with its STABs, as well as using Tailwind to ensure that Armaldo will outspeed Pokemon such as Kingdra in the rain. Thundurus is another good choice, only using; the only difference is that it uses Thunder Wave instead of Tailwind to ensure that Armaldo outspeeds its checks, as well as setting up Rain Dance via. Thundurus can also set up Rain Dance reliably thanks to Prankster. However, both Pokemon rack up a common Rock-type weakness with Armaldo. Ludicolo can usenot use only powerful Hydro Pumps and Surfs to take care of Steel-type Pokemon and Fighting-type Pokemon, while usingbut also Giga Drain to take care of Water-type Pokemon. Gastrodon makes a good partner as well, as Storm Drain will redirect Water-type attacks away from Armaldo, while Armaldo's X-Scissors can handle Grass-type foes. Gastrodon also can use Earth Power to deal damage to Steel-types. Finally, Amoonguss makes a great partner, drawing away Water-type attacks with Rage Powder, while using Spore to prevent Trick Room from going up, which would cripple Armaldo.</p>

[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: X-Scissor
move 2: Rock Slide / Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake / Low Kick
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb / Sitrus Berry
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>For some people, using Armaldo in rain is a dumb idea. However, there's an alternative to the fast sweeper set,: a slower, bulkier Trick Room sweeper!. Though the moves are similar as the rain sweeper, it utilizingses Trick Room instead of rain in order to outspeed the opponent and attack. X-Scissor is Armaldo's strongest Bug-type STAB and it works, working well when going for coverage against Pokemon such as Tyranitar, the Lati twinos, Latias, and the ever annoying Cresselia. The choice of Rock STAB is up to the user; Rock Slide gives Armaldo a spread attack, while Stone Edge should be used if you'd like gaining OHKOs against Pokemon such as Zapdos and Togekiss. The third moveslot is used based on what your team needs coverage on the most. Earthquake retaingives coverage against Steel-type Pokemon such as Metagross and Heatran, while Low Kick can nail Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Terrakion harder than Earthquake can. Finally, Protect is used to stall foe a turn as Armaldo's ally sets up Trick Room or clears a threat.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EVs listed are the typical EV spread for an Trick Room abuser,. 252 HP EVs forgive maximum balanced bulk, withhile 252 Attack EVs are used for Attack to make it hit as hard as possible. To make sure Armaldo is as slow as possible, 0 Speed IVs and a Brave nature are used. Again, a Life Orb is recommended as it provides Armaldo with the power to blast through teams, though a Sitrus Berry can be used instead, as Armaldo has's defenses are good enough defenses to make use of the berry.</p>

<p>Trick Room usetters that have trouble against Tyranitar, such as Musharna and Cresselia, make great teammates as they can boost Armaldo's attacks with Helping Hand, while Armaldo takes care of those pesky Dark-type Pokemon that give them trouble. Like the Swift Swim set, Pokemon that can take care of Water, Fighting, and Steel-types make good partners. Eelecktross takes care of Water-type Pokemon due to its STAB, has well as having Acrobatics for Fighting-types, orand can use Flamethrower foragainst Steel-types. Breloom takes care of Steels- and Water-types due to its STABs, as well as having Spore tond has Spore as well, which can cripple an opposing Pokemon. Speaking of Spore, Amoonguss makes a great partner, as it can drawing away Water-type attacks with Rage Powder, while using the before mentionedor use Spore to cripple Pokemon that give Armaldo trouble.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Armaldo has a few extra options that can work out for it. Aqua Tail, while illegal with Swift Swim, can be used on the Trick Room set to hit Rock-type Pokemon harder, though it lacks general coverage with Armaldo's STABs. Bulldoze can lower the opponents' Speed, which helps both it and its partner, thoughbut it is generally outclassed by Earthquake. Rock Blast can be used with Rock Gem to blast ypasts Pokemon that try to prevent Trick Room from going up, such as Chandelure. Superpower can be used on the Trick Room set (it's illegal with Swift Swim) to always have a reliable Fighting-type attack against Pokemon that aren't very heavy, such as Ferrothorn, though the Attack and Defense drops are really a killer. Swords Dance can be used to boost Armaldo's attack to eye-popping levels, though this requires extensive team support. Item-wise, Focus Sash is usuable on the Swift Swim set to ensure it can take an attack from faster Swift Swim users, such as Kingdra and Ludicolo, giving Armaldo time to retaliate.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Despite the armor Armaldo sports, it still has problems against common VGC 2012 Pokemon. Steel-type Pokemon such as Scizor and Metagross can Bullet Punch Armaldo before it does anything, and Metagrossthe latter can just Meteor Mash Armaldo to break its armorit as well. Ferrothorn can take any attack, and proceed to either Gyro Ball or sap away at Armaldo's health with Leech Seed. Amoonguss can also take any attack and then use Spore to put Armaldo out of the picture. For the Swift Swim set, faster Swift Swim Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Kabutops, and Kingdra can all outspeed Armaldo in the rain and OHKO it with powerful Water-type STAB attacks. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Machamp and Hitmontop, resist both STABs and can use powerful Fighting-type attacks to put down Armaldo. B; both Pokemon even have Wide Guard to block Rock Slide and Earthquake, making it even harder to deal with them. To make matters worse, Hitmontop has Intimidate, which lowers Armaldo's attack, weakening it for as long as it stays in. Finally, Trick Room screws over the Swift Swim set, as it relies on Speed to be effective.</p>

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