QC: PK Gaming, p2, Gary
GP: DeathByWobbuffet, Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Buzzwole possesses a solid defensive typing and high physical bulk that lets it check a number of physical Ground-, Fighting-, and Dark-types, such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, Tapu Bulu, Bisharp, Weavile, and Terrakion. Its access to Roost means it can keep its HP high over the course of the match and allows it to check threats relatively consistently. However, its pitiful Special Defense means most special attacks, even some resisted ones, will take a significant chunk out of Buzzwole's HP or outright OHKO it, and its low Speed means it's easy to check offensively. Many Pokemon it would otherwise check can run a Z-Move to take it out, such as Landorus-T and Gyarados with Supersonic Skystrike, Zygarde with Devastating Drake, and Garchomp with Inferno Overdrive. Its strongest STAB moves also either cripple it in some way, force it to predict, or require it to be behind a Substitute.
[SET]
name: Roost + 3 Attacks
move 1: Hammer Arm
move 2: Roost
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Poison Jab / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hammer Arm is the primary STAB move due to its side effect being less pronounced than Superpower's. Roost increases Buzzwole's longevity, enabling it to check what it's meant to repeatedly. Ice Punch hits Landorus-T, which otherwise walls Buzzwole, and Flying-types like Mega Pinsir and Tornadus-T while having a high chance to OHKO Zygarde after minimal prior damage. Poison Jab hits Tapu Fini and Clefable for large amounts of damage, which would otherwise wall this set, while Earthquake prevents this set from being walled by Toxapex and Alolan Marowak, which can otherwise come in for free. Lunge is an optional secondary STAB attack that makes it easier to check some physical attackers due to the Attack drop it causes, but it results in Buzzwole missing out on much needed coverage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed enables Buzzwole to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, notably outspeeding maximum Speed Adamant Tapu Bulu and maximum Speed Timid Magearna before it uses Shift Gear. The rest of the EVs are pumped into Attack with an Adamant nature to maximize damage output. Jolly is an option, as it notably enables Buzzwole to outspeed Adamant Landorus-T, which means that it can outspeed and beat Adamant Supersonic Skystrike sets if it is running Ice Punch, as well as Timid Heatran. Leftovers increases Buzzwole's longevity and lets it check what it's meant to consistently.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Buzzwole in on Pokemon it can check and fire off attacks. If its HP gets low, use Roost in order to prevent it from getting too low and allow it to repeatedly check what it's meant to. Scout the set that the physical threat is running before sending Buzzwole in mindlessly, as the physical attacker may be running a move that can take out Buzzwole. For example, watch out for Fire Blast or Inferno Overdrive Garchomp and Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T. Keep Buzzwole away from special attackers if possible, as most will do a large amount of damage to it, if not outright OHKOing.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate threats like defensive Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tapu Bulu being handled, such as Garchomp, Double Dance Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Mega Mawile, are solid partners. Checks to faster special attackers such as Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Latios are mandatory, so Pokemon like Assault Vest Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, Toxapex, specially defensive Celesteela, Mega Venusaur, Zygarde, Magearna, and Choice Scarf users are appreciated. Secondary checks to Landorus-T and Garchomp are usually a good idea, as Buzzwole cannot reliably handle all of their sets.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Focus Punch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Ice Punch / Poison Jab
move 4: Leech Life
item: Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 196 HP / 184 Atk / 12 SpD / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Focus Punch is an extremely powerful STAB move with no drawbacks if Buzzwole is behind a Substitute, doing a large amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Substitute eases prediction when using Focus Punch, as well as blocking Intimidate from Pokemon like Landorus-T. Leech Life is a reasonably strong secondary STAB attack that heals some of the damage it deals. Ice Punch is the primary option to hit the omnipresent Landorus-T, which otherwise walls Buzzwole, as well as many Flying- and Grass-types that would pose significant issues to it, and it can OHKO Zygarde after some prior damage. Poison Jab is an option to hit Tapu Fini and Clefable for super effective damage, but it fails to hit much else that Buzzwole's STAB moves or Ice Punch doesn't already hit. Earthquake is an option to hit Toxapex and Alolan Marowak, which can otherwise come in for free, but it sacrifices the ability to hit Landorus-T.
Set Details
========
196 HP EVs enable Buzzwole to make 101 HP Substitutes, preventing Seismic Toss from breaking them. 12 Special Defense EVs prevent Toxapex's Scalds from breaking Buzzwole's Substitutes. 116 Speed EVs enables it to outpace standard defensive Landorus-T, enabling Buzzwole to hit Landorus-T with Ice Punch before it uses U-turn to switch out. The rest of the EVs are pumped into Attack along with an Adamant nature in order to maximize Buzzwole's damage output. Leftovers gives Buzzwole consistent passive recovery, enabling it to make more Substitutes than it otherwise would be able to.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Buzzwole in on physical attackers that don't threaten it and set up a Substitute. Don't attempt to set up versus Landorus-T until you know what set it is running or you could find your Buzzwole being annihilated by Supersonic Skystrike. Once behind a Substitute, fire off Focus Punches or the appropriate coverage move and start doing damage. Keep Buzzwole away from special attackers if at all possible, as the majority will threaten to do huge damage to or outright OHKO it.
Team Options
========
Answers to special attackers such as Assault Vest Tangrowth, specially defensive Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Zygarde are very much appreciated. Pokemon that appreciate bulky Steel-types being weakened such as Tapu Lele pair well with this set. Solid checks to Volcarona are mandatory, as Buzzwole is otherwise setup bait for it. Pokemon like Zygarde, Choice Scarf Keldeo, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Choice Scarf Terrakion, Tyranitar, Latios, Nihilego, and priority users should be considered. Flying-type checks are heavily appreciated, as Flying-types bother Buzzwole to no end, even the physical attacking ones like Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T. Pokemon like Celesteela, Magnezone, Skarmory, and Rotom-W are solid performers of these roles.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up is an option, but it cuts into Buzzwole's coverage and is generally unimpressive versus defensive teams. Substitute + Bulk Up is also usable but cuts into coverage even more in exchange for being nearly impossible to KO physically after a few boosts. A Choice Band set is a very powerful option damage wise, but it is generally very prediction-reliant. Z-Moves can be run on Buzzwole to hit certain targets much harder—Tectonic Range (Earthquake) hits Toxapex hard, All-Out Pummeling acts as a general nuke, and Acid Downpour (Poison Jab) can be used to hit Fairy-types like Clefable and Tapu Fini much harder. However, this comes at the cost of the passive recovery provided by Leftovers, which is beneficial to Buzzwole's use as a defensive check to certain Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Special Attackers**: Due to its poor Special Defense, most special attackers are able to do a large amount of damage to Buzzwole or outright OHKO it. Tapu Koko, Greninja, Tapu Lele, Keldeo, Volcarona, Gengar, and Keldeo easily force out Buzzwole and threaten to either 2HKO or OHKO it.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types tend to pose a problem for Buzzwole due to many resisting its STAB moves, as well as many outspeeding it and either OHKOing or putting a huge dent in Buzzwole. Tapu Lele in particular outspeeds and beats every variant of Buzzwole with its Psychic-type STAB moves, while Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, and Clefable do chunks with their STAB moves and either outspeed it and/or can check it defensively.
**Flying-types**: As they tend to resist both of Buzzwole's STAB moves, and pretty much any Flying-type STAB attack will OHKO Buzzwole due to its 4x weakness, most Flying-types are able to check Buzzwole to some degree. Mega Pinsir, Gyarados, Mega Charizard Y, offensive Celesteela, Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T, and Tornadus-T are all capable of checking Buzzwole. However, they are all either hit super effectively by Ice Punch or take neutral damage from its STAB moves, except for Mega Charizard Y, which doesn't like taking its Fighting-type STAB attacks anyway.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types resist Buzzwole's STAB combination, making it difficult for it to spam its STAB moves, and most take either neutral or resisted damage from common coverage. Alolan Marowak easily handles all non-Earthquake variants and can do significant damage to Buzzwole with Fire Punch or Flare Blitz. While Gengar takes a significant amount from Ice Punch and is OHKOed by Earthquake, it is able easily pick off weakened Buzzwole with Sludge Wave, though it may face issues if Buzzwole is behind a Substitute.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Volcarona, Heatran, Mega Charizard X and Y, and Alolan Marowak outspeed Buzzwole (except for Alolan Marowak) and OHKO with their Fire-type STAB moves. Volcarona in particular resists or takes neutral damage from all of Buzzwole's attacks, forces it out, and threatens to set up with Quiver Dance, making it a particularly dangerous foe.
GP: DeathByWobbuffet, Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Buzzwole possesses a solid defensive typing and high physical bulk that lets it check a number of physical Ground-, Fighting-, and Dark-types, such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, Tapu Bulu, Bisharp, Weavile, and Terrakion. Its access to Roost means it can keep its HP high over the course of the match and allows it to check threats relatively consistently. However, its pitiful Special Defense means most special attacks, even some resisted ones, will take a significant chunk out of Buzzwole's HP or outright OHKO it, and its low Speed means it's easy to check offensively. Many Pokemon it would otherwise check can run a Z-Move to take it out, such as Landorus-T and Gyarados with Supersonic Skystrike, Zygarde with Devastating Drake, and Garchomp with Inferno Overdrive. Its strongest STAB moves also either cripple it in some way, force it to predict, or require it to be behind a Substitute.
[SET]
name: Roost + 3 Attacks
move 1: Hammer Arm
move 2: Roost
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Poison Jab / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hammer Arm is the primary STAB move due to its side effect being less pronounced than Superpower's. Roost increases Buzzwole's longevity, enabling it to check what it's meant to repeatedly. Ice Punch hits Landorus-T, which otherwise walls Buzzwole, and Flying-types like Mega Pinsir and Tornadus-T while having a high chance to OHKO Zygarde after minimal prior damage. Poison Jab hits Tapu Fini and Clefable for large amounts of damage, which would otherwise wall this set, while Earthquake prevents this set from being walled by Toxapex and Alolan Marowak, which can otherwise come in for free. Lunge is an optional secondary STAB attack that makes it easier to check some physical attackers due to the Attack drop it causes, but it results in Buzzwole missing out on much needed coverage.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed enables Buzzwole to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, notably outspeeding maximum Speed Adamant Tapu Bulu and maximum Speed Timid Magearna before it uses Shift Gear. The rest of the EVs are pumped into Attack with an Adamant nature to maximize damage output. Jolly is an option, as it notably enables Buzzwole to outspeed Adamant Landorus-T, which means that it can outspeed and beat Adamant Supersonic Skystrike sets if it is running Ice Punch, as well as Timid Heatran. Leftovers increases Buzzwole's longevity and lets it check what it's meant to consistently.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Buzzwole in on Pokemon it can check and fire off attacks. If its HP gets low, use Roost in order to prevent it from getting too low and allow it to repeatedly check what it's meant to. Scout the set that the physical threat is running before sending Buzzwole in mindlessly, as the physical attacker may be running a move that can take out Buzzwole. For example, watch out for Fire Blast or Inferno Overdrive Garchomp and Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T. Keep Buzzwole away from special attackers if possible, as most will do a large amount of damage to it, if not outright OHKOing.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate threats like defensive Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tapu Bulu being handled, such as Garchomp, Double Dance Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Mega Mawile, are solid partners. Checks to faster special attackers such as Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Latios are mandatory, so Pokemon like Assault Vest Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, Toxapex, specially defensive Celesteela, Mega Venusaur, Zygarde, Magearna, and Choice Scarf users are appreciated. Secondary checks to Landorus-T and Garchomp are usually a good idea, as Buzzwole cannot reliably handle all of their sets.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Focus Punch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Ice Punch / Poison Jab
move 4: Leech Life
item: Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 196 HP / 184 Atk / 12 SpD / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Focus Punch is an extremely powerful STAB move with no drawbacks if Buzzwole is behind a Substitute, doing a large amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Substitute eases prediction when using Focus Punch, as well as blocking Intimidate from Pokemon like Landorus-T. Leech Life is a reasonably strong secondary STAB attack that heals some of the damage it deals. Ice Punch is the primary option to hit the omnipresent Landorus-T, which otherwise walls Buzzwole, as well as many Flying- and Grass-types that would pose significant issues to it, and it can OHKO Zygarde after some prior damage. Poison Jab is an option to hit Tapu Fini and Clefable for super effective damage, but it fails to hit much else that Buzzwole's STAB moves or Ice Punch doesn't already hit. Earthquake is an option to hit Toxapex and Alolan Marowak, which can otherwise come in for free, but it sacrifices the ability to hit Landorus-T.
Set Details
========
196 HP EVs enable Buzzwole to make 101 HP Substitutes, preventing Seismic Toss from breaking them. 12 Special Defense EVs prevent Toxapex's Scalds from breaking Buzzwole's Substitutes. 116 Speed EVs enables it to outpace standard defensive Landorus-T, enabling Buzzwole to hit Landorus-T with Ice Punch before it uses U-turn to switch out. The rest of the EVs are pumped into Attack along with an Adamant nature in order to maximize Buzzwole's damage output. Leftovers gives Buzzwole consistent passive recovery, enabling it to make more Substitutes than it otherwise would be able to.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Buzzwole in on physical attackers that don't threaten it and set up a Substitute. Don't attempt to set up versus Landorus-T until you know what set it is running or you could find your Buzzwole being annihilated by Supersonic Skystrike. Once behind a Substitute, fire off Focus Punches or the appropriate coverage move and start doing damage. Keep Buzzwole away from special attackers if at all possible, as the majority will threaten to do huge damage to or outright OHKO it.
Team Options
========
Answers to special attackers such as Assault Vest Tangrowth, specially defensive Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Zygarde are very much appreciated. Pokemon that appreciate bulky Steel-types being weakened such as Tapu Lele pair well with this set. Solid checks to Volcarona are mandatory, as Buzzwole is otherwise setup bait for it. Pokemon like Zygarde, Choice Scarf Keldeo, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Choice Scarf Terrakion, Tyranitar, Latios, Nihilego, and priority users should be considered. Flying-type checks are heavily appreciated, as Flying-types bother Buzzwole to no end, even the physical attacking ones like Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T. Pokemon like Celesteela, Magnezone, Skarmory, and Rotom-W are solid performers of these roles.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up is an option, but it cuts into Buzzwole's coverage and is generally unimpressive versus defensive teams. Substitute + Bulk Up is also usable but cuts into coverage even more in exchange for being nearly impossible to KO physically after a few boosts. A Choice Band set is a very powerful option damage wise, but it is generally very prediction-reliant. Z-Moves can be run on Buzzwole to hit certain targets much harder—Tectonic Range (Earthquake) hits Toxapex hard, All-Out Pummeling acts as a general nuke, and Acid Downpour (Poison Jab) can be used to hit Fairy-types like Clefable and Tapu Fini much harder. However, this comes at the cost of the passive recovery provided by Leftovers, which is beneficial to Buzzwole's use as a defensive check to certain Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Special Attackers**: Due to its poor Special Defense, most special attackers are able to do a large amount of damage to Buzzwole or outright OHKO it. Tapu Koko, Greninja, Tapu Lele, Keldeo, Volcarona, Gengar, and Keldeo easily force out Buzzwole and threaten to either 2HKO or OHKO it.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types tend to pose a problem for Buzzwole due to many resisting its STAB moves, as well as many outspeeding it and either OHKOing or putting a huge dent in Buzzwole. Tapu Lele in particular outspeeds and beats every variant of Buzzwole with its Psychic-type STAB moves, while Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, and Clefable do chunks with their STAB moves and either outspeed it and/or can check it defensively.
**Flying-types**: As they tend to resist both of Buzzwole's STAB moves, and pretty much any Flying-type STAB attack will OHKO Buzzwole due to its 4x weakness, most Flying-types are able to check Buzzwole to some degree. Mega Pinsir, Gyarados, Mega Charizard Y, offensive Celesteela, Supersonic Skystrike Landorus-T, and Tornadus-T are all capable of checking Buzzwole. However, they are all either hit super effectively by Ice Punch or take neutral damage from its STAB moves, except for Mega Charizard Y, which doesn't like taking its Fighting-type STAB attacks anyway.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types resist Buzzwole's STAB combination, making it difficult for it to spam its STAB moves, and most take either neutral or resisted damage from common coverage. Alolan Marowak easily handles all non-Earthquake variants and can do significant damage to Buzzwole with Fire Punch or Flare Blitz. While Gengar takes a significant amount from Ice Punch and is OHKOed by Earthquake, it is able easily pick off weakened Buzzwole with Sludge Wave, though it may face issues if Buzzwole is behind a Substitute.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Volcarona, Heatran, Mega Charizard X and Y, and Alolan Marowak outspeed Buzzwole (except for Alolan Marowak) and OHKO with their Fire-type STAB moves. Volcarona in particular resists or takes neutral damage from all of Buzzwole's attacks, forces it out, and threatens to set up with Quiver Dance, making it a particularly dangerous foe.
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