★ Aron for C rank ★
How does this little LC thing can be usable in the 1v1 tier ? This is a really good question and actually, Aron is pretty good in this tier. How is it even possible ? Aron has access to the most interesting ability in the 1v1 tier, which is Sturdy. It allows Aron to be played with a really vicious strategy which is the Lvl 1 Pokemon. With this strategy, it can counter many pokemons in the viability ranking however Aron is really predictable. Let's see how to build around Aron.
Aron @ Shell Bell
Level 1
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Endeavor
- Sandstorm
- Protect
- Iron Head
Moves
Endeavor is an essential move. It allows Aron to make powerful damages and to keep the opponent pokemon to 1 HP after it get attacked by it. Endeavor is the attack that will always have to be used at start. Even if the opponent isn't making damages, it will have the same HP than Aron, who is lvl 1 so it would lose massive HP anyway.
Sandstorm is usefull against Pokemons that aren't Rock / Ground and Steel Type. Indeed, it allows Aron to finish the job with using residual weather damages after using Endeavor the first turn. It will allow Aron to counter Altaria, Lopunny, Greninja, Charizard Y, Gardevoir, Salamence and Dragonite.
Protect is usefull against Fake Out users such as Medicham Mega and Lopunny Mega. It allows Aron to counter the Fake Out strategy to break its Sturdy. It also allow Aron to stay alive one more turn that is needed to finish the opponent pokemon with residual weather damages.
Iron Head is the offensive STAB move of Aron. It's useful against the Pokemons that are Rock, Ground and Steel type. Indeed, Sandstorm doesn't affect them, it means that they would stay at 1 HP after Aron used Endeavor. Even at lvl 1, Iron Head in Adamant will not make 0%.
Set Details
The EV's aren't really important in this build because its a level 1 Pokemon, which means that it would get OHKOed even if we can boost every stats. Just make sure to play Adamant with 252 in Atk stat because it will allow Aron to make 1% damage with Iron Head on Steel, Ground and Rock type Pokemons, who are not affected by Sandstorm.
Shell Bell item is useful and essential in Aron set. Indeed, the opponent Pokemon will use its attack the first, and Aron's Sturdy will be activated. Aron will use Endeavor the same turn and will force the opponent Pokemon to have the same HP than it. After an attack, Shell Bell's holder gains 1/8 of the damage in HP dealt to other Pokemon which means that Aron will be full HP the next turn, and will have the occasion to stay alive one more time, instead of the opponent Pokemon that will be at 1% hp.
Sturdy Ability is also essential in this set, it would allow Aron to stay alive after an attack that would OHKO it, then using the Endeavor strategy with Shell Bell.
Other Options
It is possible to play with a Berry Juice instead of a Shell Bell, to counter Leech Seed users such as Ferrothorn and Venusaur Mega.
It is also possible to play with Metal Burst instead of Iron Head if you only play against physical teams. It will allow Aron to finish the opponent Pokemon even without Sandstorm and if its a rock, ground or steel type.
It is also possible to play with Endure instead of Protect, to counter Fake Out users such as Medicham and Lopunny. Aron needs to hold Berry Juice tho.
Check and Counters
- Sleep powder & Spore: Smeargle, Breloom, Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur totally break the Aron strategy with using sleeping statue. Aron needs at least the first 2 turns to use its strategy.
- Multi-hits attacks & Skill Link: Cinccino, Mega Heracross, Cloyster, Breloom, Golem, Rhyperior and Ambipom totally counter Aron strategy. Multi Hit attacks is actually the worst thing against FEAR and lvl 1 Pokemon strategy.
- Mold Breaker / Teravolt: Aron can't do anything against that. Indeed, Mold Breaker and Teravolt don't look at the opponent Pokemon ability, which means that Sturdy isn't working against a Mold Breaker or Teravolt Pokemon. Aron would be OHKO the first turn against Mega Gyarados, Kyurem-Black, Excadrill and Hawlucha.
- Leftovers / Sitrus Berry: It breaks Aron Endeavor because the opponent Pokemon recovers HP and after the first use of Endeavor, it will not be that effective. Pokemons such as Azumarill Belly Drumer and Hawlucha Sub can counter Aron strategy.
Aron has a really interesting build in 1v1 tier. It actually can counter many Pokemons and stallers isn't a real problem due to its Steel type that immunises it against Toxic. However the huge problem is that Aron strategy is too predictable as every Sturdy Pokemons, and every lvl 1 Pokemons. Some Pokemons in high viability ranking can counter it such as Gyarados Mega and Kyurem-Black and there is a lot of Multi Hit Pokemon users in the 1v1 tier, who are all between B and A rank. That's why Aron could never get more than C rank, because this build is too much predictable by the high viability ranking Pokemons.
