QC: Coconut, Tahu, Fiend
GP: Mr. Uncompetitive, Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to huge defensive stats complemented by a good defensive typing and a great ability in Levitate, Bronzor is a decent defensive Stealth Rock setter. With reliable recovery in Berry Juice + Recycle, it is usually able to set it up multiple times over the course of a match. Levitate is an awesome ability for Bronzor, as it removes its weakness to Ground-type moves and means it can't be trapped by Diglett. Its typing also allows it to check hail teams, certain Abra sets, Shellder, and Rufflet. However, Bronzor suffers from a huge weakness to Knock Off, which not only does tremendous damage to it, but also removes its only means of recovery in Berry Juice. This weakness means it can't check Fighting-types as well as it otherwise could, since they usually carry the move. Bronzor also has low offensive stats, meaning it can often be setup bait and is unable to threaten the Pokemon it checks. Lastly, it has a bad matchup against common spinners like Staryu and Drilbur as well as a common Defogger in Vullaby, meaning it has a hard time keeping Stealth Rock up.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recycle
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Heavy Slam / Earthquake
item: Berry Juice
ability: Levitate
nature: Relaxed
evs: 64 HP / 4 Atk / 228 Def / 4 SpA / 148 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock wears down foes over time, and Bronzor is great at setting it up multiple times over the course of a match. Recycle allows Bronzor to regain its Berry Juice after it's used, giving it reliable recovery. Psychic is Bronzor's main STAB move, dealing super effective damage to Fighting-types that could otherwise easily beat it, like Mienfoo and Timburr. Heavy Slam is a secondary STAB move that 2HKOes Spritzee after Stealth Rock and Snubbull from full HP. It also OHKOes Alolan Vulpix and deals heavy damage to Rock- and other Ice-types, such as Archen and Snover, both of which Bronzor can check. Earthquake is an alternative option that hits Chinchou and opposing Steel-types, which Bronzor otherwise can't hurt.
Set Details
========
Berry Juice is Bronzor's only means of recovery and works well with Recycle, allowing it to stay healthy throughout the match. Levitate is the ability of choice, as it turns Bronzor's weakness to Ground into an immunity and allows it to switch out against Diglett. The given EV spread with a Relaxed nature maximizes Bronzor's physical bulk to let it reliably check Flying-types such as Rufflet. The rest of the EVs make up for Bronzor's lack of Eviolite by giving it as much special bulk as possible. The Attack, Special Attack, and Speed EVs boost their respective stats by one point each. A Relaxed nature is used, since Speed is Bronzor's least important stat.
Usage Tips
========
Bronzor should be switched in on Pokemon that can't hurt it such as Abra, Rufflet, and Mudbray to set up Stealth Rock. It can easily do this multiple times throughout a match as long as its Berry Juice does not get removed. Even though Bronzor can check Fighting-types, be careful of Knock Off, as many of them carry it and it will significantly cripple Bronzor. Recycle should only be used if Berry Juice will immediately activate after using it, as you otherwise risk Berry Juice being removed by Knock Off.
Team Options
========
Knock Off absorbers are mandatory, as Bronzor is very scared of the move. Trubbish is a good example of this, as its ability Sticky Hold allows it to switch into Knock Off, and it is also able to set up Toxic Spikes and Spikes, which synergize well with Bronzor's Stealth Rock, while Bronzor in return can switch into Ground- and Psychic-types. Spinblockers are also good teammates, as they help keep Stealth Rock on the field. However, many of them share a Knock Off weakness with Bronzor, so be careful of stacking this weakness. Due to Bronzor's passive nature, opposing Pokemon will often set up on it; as such, support from a phazer is appreciated. Munchlax is especially notable, as it can not only phaze an opposing Pokemon that has set up, but also absorb Fire-type moves for Bronzor thanks to Thick Fat. Lastly, a Fairy- or Fighting-type like Spritzee or Mienfoo synergizes well with Bronzor, as it is able to switch into Dark-types that threaten Bronzor with Pursuit and Knock Off, while Bronzor is in return can check Poison- and Steel-types for Fairy-type teammates, as well as Psychic-, Flying-, and Fairy-types for Fighting-type teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Eviolite is an option to maximize Bronzor's bulk, but a set like that has no recovery and thus is more prone to being whittled down and has a harder time setting up Stealth Rock multiple times, therefore requiring Wish support from a teammate to stay healthy. Toxic can cripple bulky switch-ins that Bronzor otherwise can't hurt, though both Mudbray and Munchlax can Rest, and Spritzee is hit harder by Heavy Slam. Hypnosis has a chance to incapacitate a Pokemon temporarily, but it is unreliable and Bronzor has a hard time finding space for it. Flash Cannon can be used over Heavy Slam to hit Onix harder, though it misses out on the 2HKO on Spritzee after Stealth Rock and is as such usually inferior. Payback can 2HKO Gothita, which is otherwise easily able to trap and set up on Bronzor. Psych Up is another option to counteract setup sweepers, but Bronzor is not able to utilize offensive boosts very effectively. A dual screens set can be run, but without Berry Juice as recovery, Bronzor is unable to set up screens multiple times, and without Light Clay, the screens don't last very long. A Calm Mind set is also an option, but it is hindered by Bronzor's low Speed and weakness to Knock Off, as well as its low offensive stats, meaning Bronzor will need multiple boosts to deal significant damage. Finally, Bronzor's high bulk can be used to set up rain or Trick Room.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off**: Knock Off deals tremendous damage to Bronzor and removes its means of recovery in Berry Juice. Notably, Pawniard resists all of Bronzor's moves, while Vullaby gets a Speed boost from Heavy Slam and is able to set up on Bronzor.
**Setup Sweepers**: Due to Bronzor's passive nature, setup sweepers can easily get one or two boosts while it is in play.
**Drilbur**: Drilbur can remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin and hit Bronzor with a super effective Earthquake thanks to Mold Breaker.
**Taunt**: If Bronzor gets Taunted, it is unable to recover with Recycle or set up Stealth Rock. Notably, Mienfoo will force Bronzor to switch out with Knock Off, while Onix can easily set up Stealth Rock.
**Pursuit Users**: Pursuit users like Stunky, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer can weaken Bronzor tremendously or potentially remove it for the rest of the match. In addition, Stunky can Defog Bronzor's Stealth Rock away, while Pawniard and Alolan Grimer can Knock Off its Berry Juice.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Vulpix can do very significant damage to Bronzor while resisting Heavy Slam. However, they do have to be careful of Earthquake.
GP: Mr. Uncompetitive, Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to huge defensive stats complemented by a good defensive typing and a great ability in Levitate, Bronzor is a decent defensive Stealth Rock setter. With reliable recovery in Berry Juice + Recycle, it is usually able to set it up multiple times over the course of a match. Levitate is an awesome ability for Bronzor, as it removes its weakness to Ground-type moves and means it can't be trapped by Diglett. Its typing also allows it to check hail teams, certain Abra sets, Shellder, and Rufflet. However, Bronzor suffers from a huge weakness to Knock Off, which not only does tremendous damage to it, but also removes its only means of recovery in Berry Juice. This weakness means it can't check Fighting-types as well as it otherwise could, since they usually carry the move. Bronzor also has low offensive stats, meaning it can often be setup bait and is unable to threaten the Pokemon it checks. Lastly, it has a bad matchup against common spinners like Staryu and Drilbur as well as a common Defogger in Vullaby, meaning it has a hard time keeping Stealth Rock up.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recycle
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Heavy Slam / Earthquake
item: Berry Juice
ability: Levitate
nature: Relaxed
evs: 64 HP / 4 Atk / 228 Def / 4 SpA / 148 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock wears down foes over time, and Bronzor is great at setting it up multiple times over the course of a match. Recycle allows Bronzor to regain its Berry Juice after it's used, giving it reliable recovery. Psychic is Bronzor's main STAB move, dealing super effective damage to Fighting-types that could otherwise easily beat it, like Mienfoo and Timburr. Heavy Slam is a secondary STAB move that 2HKOes Spritzee after Stealth Rock and Snubbull from full HP. It also OHKOes Alolan Vulpix and deals heavy damage to Rock- and other Ice-types, such as Archen and Snover, both of which Bronzor can check. Earthquake is an alternative option that hits Chinchou and opposing Steel-types, which Bronzor otherwise can't hurt.
Set Details
========
Berry Juice is Bronzor's only means of recovery and works well with Recycle, allowing it to stay healthy throughout the match. Levitate is the ability of choice, as it turns Bronzor's weakness to Ground into an immunity and allows it to switch out against Diglett. The given EV spread with a Relaxed nature maximizes Bronzor's physical bulk to let it reliably check Flying-types such as Rufflet. The rest of the EVs make up for Bronzor's lack of Eviolite by giving it as much special bulk as possible. The Attack, Special Attack, and Speed EVs boost their respective stats by one point each. A Relaxed nature is used, since Speed is Bronzor's least important stat.
Usage Tips
========
Bronzor should be switched in on Pokemon that can't hurt it such as Abra, Rufflet, and Mudbray to set up Stealth Rock. It can easily do this multiple times throughout a match as long as its Berry Juice does not get removed. Even though Bronzor can check Fighting-types, be careful of Knock Off, as many of them carry it and it will significantly cripple Bronzor. Recycle should only be used if Berry Juice will immediately activate after using it, as you otherwise risk Berry Juice being removed by Knock Off.
Team Options
========
Knock Off absorbers are mandatory, as Bronzor is very scared of the move. Trubbish is a good example of this, as its ability Sticky Hold allows it to switch into Knock Off, and it is also able to set up Toxic Spikes and Spikes, which synergize well with Bronzor's Stealth Rock, while Bronzor in return can switch into Ground- and Psychic-types. Spinblockers are also good teammates, as they help keep Stealth Rock on the field. However, many of them share a Knock Off weakness with Bronzor, so be careful of stacking this weakness. Due to Bronzor's passive nature, opposing Pokemon will often set up on it; as such, support from a phazer is appreciated. Munchlax is especially notable, as it can not only phaze an opposing Pokemon that has set up, but also absorb Fire-type moves for Bronzor thanks to Thick Fat. Lastly, a Fairy- or Fighting-type like Spritzee or Mienfoo synergizes well with Bronzor, as it is able to switch into Dark-types that threaten Bronzor with Pursuit and Knock Off, while Bronzor is in return can check Poison- and Steel-types for Fairy-type teammates, as well as Psychic-, Flying-, and Fairy-types for Fighting-type teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Eviolite is an option to maximize Bronzor's bulk, but a set like that has no recovery and thus is more prone to being whittled down and has a harder time setting up Stealth Rock multiple times, therefore requiring Wish support from a teammate to stay healthy. Toxic can cripple bulky switch-ins that Bronzor otherwise can't hurt, though both Mudbray and Munchlax can Rest, and Spritzee is hit harder by Heavy Slam. Hypnosis has a chance to incapacitate a Pokemon temporarily, but it is unreliable and Bronzor has a hard time finding space for it. Flash Cannon can be used over Heavy Slam to hit Onix harder, though it misses out on the 2HKO on Spritzee after Stealth Rock and is as such usually inferior. Payback can 2HKO Gothita, which is otherwise easily able to trap and set up on Bronzor. Psych Up is another option to counteract setup sweepers, but Bronzor is not able to utilize offensive boosts very effectively. A dual screens set can be run, but without Berry Juice as recovery, Bronzor is unable to set up screens multiple times, and without Light Clay, the screens don't last very long. A Calm Mind set is also an option, but it is hindered by Bronzor's low Speed and weakness to Knock Off, as well as its low offensive stats, meaning Bronzor will need multiple boosts to deal significant damage. Finally, Bronzor's high bulk can be used to set up rain or Trick Room.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off**: Knock Off deals tremendous damage to Bronzor and removes its means of recovery in Berry Juice. Notably, Pawniard resists all of Bronzor's moves, while Vullaby gets a Speed boost from Heavy Slam and is able to set up on Bronzor.
**Setup Sweepers**: Due to Bronzor's passive nature, setup sweepers can easily get one or two boosts while it is in play.
**Drilbur**: Drilbur can remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin and hit Bronzor with a super effective Earthquake thanks to Mold Breaker.
**Taunt**: If Bronzor gets Taunted, it is unable to recover with Recycle or set up Stealth Rock. Notably, Mienfoo will force Bronzor to switch out with Knock Off, while Onix can easily set up Stealth Rock.
**Pursuit Users**: Pursuit users like Stunky, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer can weaken Bronzor tremendously or potentially remove it for the rest of the match. In addition, Stunky can Defog Bronzor's Stealth Rock away, while Pawniard and Alolan Grimer can Knock Off its Berry Juice.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Vulpix can do very significant damage to Bronzor while resisting Heavy Slam. However, they do have to be careful of Earthquake.
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