[OVERVIEW]
Cobalion is a very useful and versatile Pokemon that is able to perform both offensive and supporting roles for a team. Cobalion's good Speed, access to Swords Dance, and good neutral coverage from its STAB types make it a dangerous offensive threat that has many opportunities to set up thanks to its good typing and high Defense. This also allows it to check key threats, notably Escavalier, Mega Glalie, Drapion, Shiftry, Tyrantrum, and Exploud, and switch into Knock Off easily due to Justified. Cobalion's movepool also includes important utility moves such as Stealth Rock, Taunt, and Volt Switch, making it a great Stealth Rock setter, especially as a lead, and momentum grabber. However, Cobalion is susceptible to faster Pokemon, most of which can easily revenge kill it. Cobalion's mediocre attacking stats also mean it often needs boosts to deal large amounts of damage, and its lack of good coverage moves makes it walled consistently by a few Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Cobalion to boost its Attack, and in conjunction with Cobalion's good Speed, lets it become an effective sweeper. Close Combat and Iron Head are strong STAB attacks that provide good neutral coverage on the tier. Substitute eases prediction and protects Cobalion from status, letting it set up on and beat Pokemon such as Alomomola, Amoonguss, and Cofagrigus. Stealth Rock, however, can be used in the last slot if a setter is needed, while Volt Switch gives Cobalion the ability to pivot early- and mid-game before its checks and counters are removed. Finally, Magnet Rise gives Cobalion a better matchup and ease setup against Bronzong, Mega Steelix, and Rhyperior.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack and Speed investment is recommended to maximize Cobalion's offensive potential. Leftovers gives Cobalion longevity throughout a match, which is useful given Cobalion's utility. Lum Berry can help aid setup if Substitute is not used, and Shuca Berry gives Cobalion a more advantageous matchup against Ground-types such as Seismitoad, Flygon, and Dugtrio.
Usage Tips
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Cobalion is used as a sweeper that is simultaneously able to check many important threats. Swords Dance boosts Cobalion's Attack, and, with its high speed, Cobalion can punch holes in the opponent's team. Use Swords Dance or Substitute against Pokemon that Cobalion forces out, such as Shiftry, Escavalier, Drapion, Skuntank, Houndoom, Tyrantrum, Registeel, and Mega Glalie. Note that Substitute lets Cobalion set up on Alomomola and Amoonguss and beat Hitmontop by forcing Close Combat drops. If a solid counter to Cobalion exists on the opposing team, such as Quagsire, Jellicent, or Qwilfish, it might be a better idea to save Cobalion as a utility check to the Pokemon above until its counters are weakened or removed.
Team Options
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Pursuit trappers help weaken or eliminate hard counters to Cobalion such as Jellicent, so users such as Skuntank, Spiritomb, Houndoom, and Escavalier make for good partners. Entry hazards from Qwilfish, Accelgor, or Crustle also help to wear down Cobalion's checks and counters. Wallbreakers in general can soften up the opposing team; Meloetta is especially notable, as it enjoys Cobalion's ability to set up on and eliminate Dark-types. Finally, Mega Glalie is a great partner that can lure in Quagsire, Jellicent, and Qwilfish and weaken them with Super Fang, Freeze-Dry, or Explosion, paving the way for Cobalion to sweep.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is an essential entry hazard and Cobalion is a great setter due to its high Speed. Taunt is a useful move that has a variety of applications including preventing opposing Pokemon such as Crustle, Qwilfish, Bronzong, Registeel, Omastar, and Kricketune from getting up entry hazards, preventing the use of Defog, stopping status from the likes of Spiritomb, denying recovery, and preventing setup from Pokemon such as Slurpuff. Close Combat is a strong STAB that gives Cobalion offensive presence and allows it to check Pokemon such as Exploud. Volt Switch makes Cobalion a great pivot, gaining valuable momentum and preventing double switching. Iron Head hits Aromatisse super effectively but generally isn't worth giving up a slot for.
Set Details
========
The EVs for this set can be largely shifted between power and bulk. For the particular spread, 152 HP EVs are used to let CObalion always survive a Superpower from Choice Scarf Durant and Emboar, and 104 attack EVs 104 Attack EVs almost guarantee that Close Combat will 2HKO Swords Dance Drapion after Stealth Rock. A Jolly nature is used with maximum Speed investment for a fast Taunt and maximizes Cobalion's ability to set up Stealth Rock against offensive teams; however, Cobalion can opt to run only 196 Speed EVs, enough for Mega Glalie, if either more power or more bulk is required to meet team specific benchmarks. Leftovers gives Cobalion more longevity throughout a match.
Usage Tips
========
Cobalion is unique as an entry hazard setter due to its great Speed tier and ability to keep and gain momentum, unlike other common setters such as Rhyperior and Mega Steelix. It is a good idea to lead with Cobalion most of the time, as it can Taunt many opposing entry hazard setters such Omastar, Crustle, Qwilfish, Mesprit, Kricketune, Bronzong, Registeel, and Druddigon; however, Cobalion has a slightly disadvantageous matchup against Rhyperior, Seismitoad and Mega Steelix. Don't treat Cobalion as a suicide lead, as its bulk and typing let it set up Stealth Rock multiple times in a match and act as a good offensive pivot; Volt Switch makes it great at gaining momentum and can potentially give free switches to teammates. Use Cobalion's great typing and bulk to check important threats such as Mega Glalie, Houndoom, Drapion, Tyrantrum, Exploud, and Escavalier throughout the match and take resisted hits, notably Knock Off, for its teammates.
Team Options
========
Because Cobalion is one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters in the tier, any Pokemon that appreciates entry hazard support naturally works well. Spikes stackers such as Qwilfish and Accelgor work well too, as Cobalion is able to keep entry hazards on the opposing team by preventing the use of Defog with its Taunt, and threatens most offensive spinners such as Kabutops and Hitmonlee. Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Reuniclus greatly enjoy Cobalion's ability to take Dark- and Bug-type moves for them, and they can sponge Fighting-type attacks aimed at Cobalion in return. Many Pokemon enjoy Cobalion's pivoting ability to get them in safely; examples include Tyrantrum, Mega Banette, Exploud, Houndoom, and Durant.
Other Options=============
Calm Mind allows Cobalion to beat certain counters such as Quagsire, and Qwilfish, but it isn't as effective at helping Cobalion sweep as Swords Dance is because it boosts slower and makes Cobalion rely on the shaky Focus Blast. Zen Headbutt is an option to hit Qwilfish super effectively but is rather useless otherwise. A double boosting set with Swords Dance and Rock Polish can be dangerous, but Cobalion struggles to obtain both boosts and prefers the utility of other moves. Finally, status moves can be used on Cobalion; Toxic cripples Quagsire and Jellicent while the support set can use Thunder Wave.
Checks & Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: While Cobalion's Speed is good, common revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Emboar, Choice Scarf Hitmonlee, Choice Scarf Medicham, Choice Scarf Delphox, and Durant can easily outspeed and KO it. Also, if Cobalion has incurred one or more Defense and Special Defense drops from Close Combat, foes such as Choice Scarf Rotom-C, Choice Scarf Meloetta, Jolteon, Mach Punch Hitmonlee, and Dugtrio are able to KO it.
**Pokemon That Resist Both STAB types**: While these Pokemon are limited, Cobalion's lack of solid coverage options lets it be beaten rather consistently by Pokemon such as Jellicent, and Qwilfish. Delphox also falls under this category, although it has a chance to be OHKOed by a +2 Close Combat after Stealth Rock.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Quagsire ignores Cobalion's boosts thanks to Unaware, allowing it to wall Cobalion consistently. Alomomola and Hitmontop also wall Cobalion if it lacks Substitute, and Weezing is able to survive two boosted Iron Heads and retaliate with Fire Blast or Will-O-Wisp. Finally, Pokemon that are able to survive a boosted attack and KO back are problematic, such as offensive Tangrowth, Gurdurr, Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Torterra.
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