Charizard [Ready for Approval]

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[Overview]

<p>The generation shift gave Charizard the Solar Power ability, which is key in it becoming relevant in the Dream World metagame. Solar Power essentially gives Charizard a Choice Specs boost without using its item slot; this means in the sun, Charizard is capable of dealing incredible amounts of damage, able to accomplish amazing feats such as 2HKOing Blissey, one of the toughest special walls in the entire game. Unfortunately, the destruction Charizard can bring upon is often short-lived due to Stealth Rock taking 50% of Charizard's HP upon entry, in addition to Solar Power also taking some of Charizard's HP under sun. However, regardless of Charizard's restricting Stealth Rock weakness, the initial damage it can deal remains unmatched in DW so it is without a doubt, an offensive threat to watch out for.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While a Pokemon x4 weak to Stealth Rock such as Charizard may seem like a questionable candidate for a Choice item abuser, it should be considered based on power alone. In sun, thanks to Solar Power, it is impossible to 100% counter Charizard, meaning it can only be beat with either prediction, by revenge killing it or accuracy mishaps. When welding a Choice Scarf, Charizard outspeeds a large portion of the unboosted Dream Wolrd metagame, while hitting just as hard as most Choice Specs users when sun is in play. While with Choice Specs equipped, Charizard functions as an admirable walldestroyer, dealing an astounding 74% - 87% to 252/0 Chansey with sun up.</p>

<p>Fire Blast is extremely powerful, even 2HKOing most Pokemon who resist it factoring in Choice Specs. Overheat can he used for an increase of power, and it also allows Charizard to run a Timid nature as a Timid Overheat deals similar damage to a Modest Fire Blast. The power drop may prove to be an issue however, so Fire Blast is generally the better option. Air Slash serves as secondary STAB, providing good neutral coverage along with Charizard's Fire attacks. Focus Blast hits Heatran and Tyranitar, hoping to switch into one of Charizard's STABs and Tyranitar hard. The last slot is a tossup between Hidden Power types: Hidden Power Grass hits Water-types such as Jellicent, while Hidden Power Ice hits dragon types such as Latias. However, note that even when resisted, a sun-boosted Fire Blast will always out-damage these Hidden Powers so they should only be used outside of sun or when Fire Blast is running low on PP.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EVs are standard fare, tailored to maximize Charizard's Speed and Attack. A Timid nature is preferred as along with Choice Scaf equipped, it enables Charizard to outspeed Choice Scarf Hydreigon, +2 Volcarona and +1 Haxorus. Timid is also the main option when using Choice Specs so Charizard can outrun the aforementioned threats when they are unboosted. Modest is a decent alternative for more power, bur Charlize isn't exactly lacking in that department.</p>

<p>SolarBeam over Hidden Power Grass would allow Charizard an easier time against bulky Water-types, but the prevalence of Tyranitar and Politoed would mean it would have to be used sparingly to avoid the charge up turn (at least until they have been eliminated). Charizard may opt for a more reliable Fire-type attack such as Flamethrower or Heat Wave, but Charizard will hit as hard as possible considering its switch-in opportunities will be limited if Stealth Rock is down.</p>

<p>There are two things absolutely required when using Charizard: Sun and Rapid Spin support. Without Sun, Charlize has no place in the Dream World metagame, even outclassed by Moltres, while without Rapid Spin support, Charizard often ends up ad dead weight, only able to muster up one or two attacks. Drought Ninetales is without a doubt, the best way to bring sun to Charizard. The Sunny Day variant is preferred in this case, as that set can maintain the sunlight better than the rest. Forretress makes an excellent Rapid Spinner for Charizard as its Fire-type weakness will open up switch-in opportunities for Charizard. Forretress can also provide hazards, making Charizard quite the task to switch into. For instance, with Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, Charizard can OHKO 252/0 Chansey with a sun-boosted, Choice Specs Fire Blast. However, with such little offensive presence, Forretress can use Rapid Spin against spin blockers such as Jellicent and Golurk, so a way to eliminate Ghost-types such as Scizor with Pursuit, is a good idea. Extra precautions that could be taken to keep hazards of the field is are Pokemon with the Magic Bounce ability such as. Dugtrio is an excellent partner to Charizard as it can trap, and eliminate, Charizard's biggest threats including Heatran, Tyranitar and Politoed.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Charizard can utilize Sunny Day to become more self-sufficient. Sunny Day also helps Charizard beat Tyranitar and Politoed easier, but the Chioce set can accomplish anyways, provided Focus Blast hits. Heatran, and even Chandelure also generally outclass Charizard with this kind of set due them not being crippled right away by Stealth Rock and Heatran's superior bulk. Charizard can put together a physical set consisting of attacks such as Flare Blitz, Earthquake, Dragon Claw ,and Rock Slide, bolstered by either Swords Dance, Dragon Dance or even Belly Drum, but these sets are completely outclassed by Blaziken and Infernape, who are faster and aren't weak to Stealth Rock. Flame Charge + 3 attacks is an option as Flame Charge isn't affected by Taunt unlike Dragon Dance, but even after a Flame Charge Charizard is still outsped by common Choice Scarf users. Substitute + 3 attacks has potential as it eases prediction, but it would be tough to even set up a Substitute with Charizard's Stealth Rock weakness and Solar Power's recoil.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Basically, when your starting down a Charizard in sun, if your Pokemon isn't immune to Fire-type attacks it is in for a world of hurt. However, this isn't so bad as Charizard is x4 weak to Stealth Rock meaning getting them up quickly (and keeping them up) is an easy way to keep Charizard at bay. Since Charizard can 2HKO everything under the sun, removing it makes Charizard much more managable. Tyranitar and Politoed can switch into Fire Blast, remove sun and threaten Charizard with their STAB attacks. When sun isn't up, Chansey and Blissey can wall Charizard. Dragonite can also take two Specs Fire Blasts thanks to Multiscale, but it must be wary of Hidden Power Ice. Bulky Water-types such as Jellicent and Vaporeon will give Charizard trouble taking Fire Blast and threatening with super effective Scalds. Even Choice Scarf Charizard can be revenge kill by Choice Scarf Terrakion and Landorus. Charizard can also be revenge killed by Aqua Jet users such as Azumarril and Kabutops. Ditto is notable for transforming into Charizard and striking back with an equally as powerful Fire Blast.</p>
 
Make SolarBeam the only Grass-type option on the Sunny Day set and slash it after HP Grass on the Choice set. Charizard should only be played in the sun, so SolarBeam should be the primary option. Even though Politoed and Tyranitar make it near useless, the Sunny Day set provides Charizard with its own sun, so those two aren't an issue.
 
That's not necessarily true, because what if a weather starter comes in to change the weather? imo it should stay as is
 
Ok so I've decided to move the Sunny Day set to OO. All it was good for was possibly taking out Tyranitar and Politoed (which the Chioce set can accomplish anyways, provided Focus Blast hits). The backup sun is nice and I like that is was self sufficient, but Heatran, and even Chandelure are better with this kind of set due them not being crippled right away by SR and Heatran's superior bulk.

Now that that's out of the way, this is ready for approval
 
I would recommend that you deslash Hidden Power Ice and replace it with SolarBeam. Even though there's always the chance that weather inducers will come in and try to ruin your day, you really shouldn't be attempting to sweep with Charizard unless the opposing weather starter has been eliminated first. You even said so in the analysis that Hidden Power is always outdamaged by Fire Blast, even when resisted, so I see no reason for you to keep Hidden Power Ice on the set. It's really AC material at best.
 
That seems feasible, but outside of sun as a Scarfer, Charizard can use Hidden Power Ice to reliably revenge kill DD Nite / Mence which is pretty useful, and even though Fire Blast outdamages it vs Latias etc it sun, it's still useful simply if you don't want to risk missing Fire Blast.
 
Charizard isn't the most reliable check to Dragonite, as HP Ice will certainly not OHKO unless Multiscale is broken. Even then, Dragonite OHKOes with +1 ExtremeSpeed after Stealth Rock. In response to your reasoning about SolarBeam, you really shouldn't be using Charizard outside of sun anyway, and certainly not as a check to Dragonite... You will rarely be using Hidden Power Ice ad SolarBeam grants some pretty awesome KOes against Water-types switching in that a resisted Fire Blast or neutral Air Slash can't.



Edit: OK

so after some discussion on IRC, HP Ice seems to be the better option, so I guess leave it as it is lol
 
There's no point when Hidden Power Ice hits Garchomp and Dragonite harder. In general, unSTABed Dragon-type moves are to be avoided - only Dragon-types should be using them because of the STAB bonus.
 
Um yeah I have some serious doubts about Charizard's viability, so I'll need to see some logs for this thing or I'm going to reject.
 
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