[OVERVIEW]
Moltres is a premier defensive pivot in the RU metagame, having some really valuable resistances coming with its Fire/Flying typing, such as its capacity to check Cobalion, Gardevoir, and Enamorus-T. Flame Body is great on Moltres as it allows it to punish the multiple physical attackers and U-turn on the tier, such as Cyclizar, Slither Wing, and Zapdos-Galar, it is also a valuable too on punishing Maushold's Population bomb and Cinccino lacking Rock Blast. Heavy-Duty Boots is Moltres's ideal item due to it providing Moltres with a valuable chance to ignore the hazards that annoy it so much, but is very reliant on so, and is susceptible to Knock Off from the already mentioned, Cyclizar and Zapdos-Galar and other pokemon. Having a hazard removal partner alongside Moltres is ideal due to its susceptibility to hazards. Moltres also has to watch out for said pivots, as they can U-turn in to another check which can take dispose of Moltres without the fear of Will-O-Wisp burns, such as Terrakion, Thundurus-Therian, and strong Water-types.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Roost
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 76 Def / 184 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Dragon / Ground
[SET COMMENTS]
Moltres can make use of it's solid typing to be good utility pivot, U-Turn is Moltres's main source of momentum, as it can make use of its resistances to enter the field and safely pivot into another teammate safely, Roost increases Moltres's longevity and allows it to stick around for longer, while Will-O-Wisp is good to spread burns and punish opponents who try to switch-in on Moltres. A Timid nature and 184 Speed EVs allows Moltres to hit 288 Speed, which is enough to outspeed maximum Speed Gyarados and Slither Wing, the rest is distributed into its Defense to help out with physical attackers. Heavy-Duty-Boots is the prefered item of choice, as it allows Moltres to avoid Stealth Rock which would be deadly otherwise. Tera Fairy allows Moltres to keep some of it's important resistances, such as fighting, while giving it important ones to dark and a immunity to dragon, Tera Dragon alternatively helps Moltres with the Water and Electric-type matchup while still allowing it to check important targets, such as Thundurus-Therian and Volcanion, and for last but not least, Tera Ground helps out with Moltres's quadruple weakness to stealth rock, while also giving it a important immunity to Electric.
Moltres fits best on Bulky Offense or Balance structures, which appreciate its capacity to weaken physical attackers and bring out teammates more easily. Cyclizar is one of Moltres's best partners, as it can Knock Off opposing items for Moltres, while packing Rapid Spin to clean the field out of hazards for Moltres to switch in more easily, while also being one of the best switch-ins to Water and Electric-type moves, and one of the best Volcanion checks on the tier. Good Knock off absorbers are also appreaciated such as Cobalion, Hippowdon or Rhyperior, since Moltres hates having its Heavy-Duty Boots knocked. Frail wallbreakers also appreciate Moltres's capacity to pivot out safely to them and make out for good partners for Moltres, Hex Gengar is a good pair as it takes advantage of Moltres spreading burns, while Breloom or Lilligant Hisui take advantage of Moltres forcing in switch-ins to Water, Ground and Rock-type pokemon.
[Other Options]
Moltres can run Brave Bird as a alternative to Flamethrower to punish on switch-ins expecting Flamethrower to hit them harder, such as Tera Fire Iron Leaves and Cyclizar. Scorching Sands can be run alongside Tera Ground for a stronger STAB option with a chance to burn.
[Checks and Counters]
Knock Off and Stealth Rock: Moltres is vulnerable to Stealth Rock upon losing its Heavy-Duty Boots. Pokemon like Cyclizar, Deoxys-Defense, Okidogi and Zapdos-Galar can often take the opportunity to Knock Off Moltres thus crippling its ability to switch-in.
Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage: Rhyperior, Terrakion and Lycanroc-D can easily switch in on Flamethrower and retaliate back with strong Rock-type STAB, although they fear being burned by Will-O-Wisp. Cobalion and Mienshao which would supposedly be checked by Moltres, can carry Stone Edge on some of it's sets. Hippowdon, Breloom, and Cincinno can also carry rock coverage for Moltres, which it has to watch out for, the former two fear being burned due to being slower though, while the latter has to click Rock Blast in order to not proc Flame Body.
Electric-types: Electric types such as Rotom-H, Raikou, Thundurus-T can easily pressure Moltres out with Volt Switch or Electric STAB, while Rotom-H specifically resists Moltres's Fire STAB.
Water-types: Water types such as Slowbro, Volcanion and Empoleon can easily tank Moltres's Flamethrower and deal strong super effective damage, while often not carrying for Will-O-Wisp burns.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ampha.388824/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Moltres is a premier defensive pivot in the RU metagame, having some really valuable resistances coming with its Fire/Flying typing, such as its capacity to check Cobalion, Gardevoir, and Enamorus-T. Flame Body is great on Moltres as it allows it to punish the multiple physical attackers and U-turn on the tier, such as Cyclizar, Slither Wing, and Zapdos-Galar, it is also a valuable too on punishing Maushold's Population bomb and Cinccino lacking Rock Blast. Heavy-Duty Boots is Moltres's ideal item due to it providing Moltres with a valuable chance to ignore the hazards that annoy it so much, but is very reliant on so, and is susceptible to Knock Off from the already mentioned, Cyclizar and Zapdos-Galar and other pokemon. Having a hazard removal partner alongside Moltres is ideal due to its susceptibility to hazards. Moltres also has to watch out for said pivots, as they can U-turn in to another check which can take dispose of Moltres without the fear of Will-O-Wisp burns, such as Terrakion, Thundurus-Therian, and strong Water-types.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Roost
move 4: U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 76 Def / 184 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Dragon / Ground
[SET COMMENTS]
Moltres can make use of it's solid typing to be good utility pivot, U-Turn is Moltres's main source of momentum, as it can make use of its resistances to enter the field and safely pivot into another teammate safely, Roost increases Moltres's longevity and allows it to stick around for longer, while Will-O-Wisp is good to spread burns and punish opponents who try to switch-in on Moltres. A Timid nature and 184 Speed EVs allows Moltres to hit 288 Speed, which is enough to outspeed maximum Speed Gyarados and Slither Wing, the rest is distributed into its Defense to help out with physical attackers. Heavy-Duty-Boots is the prefered item of choice, as it allows Moltres to avoid Stealth Rock which would be deadly otherwise. Tera Fairy allows Moltres to keep some of it's important resistances, such as fighting, while giving it important ones to dark and a immunity to dragon, Tera Dragon alternatively helps Moltres with the Water and Electric-type matchup while still allowing it to check important targets, such as Thundurus-Therian and Volcanion, and for last but not least, Tera Ground helps out with Moltres's quadruple weakness to stealth rock, while also giving it a important immunity to Electric.
Moltres fits best on Bulky Offense or Balance structures, which appreciate its capacity to weaken physical attackers and bring out teammates more easily. Cyclizar is one of Moltres's best partners, as it can Knock Off opposing items for Moltres, while packing Rapid Spin to clean the field out of hazards for Moltres to switch in more easily, while also being one of the best switch-ins to Water and Electric-type moves, and one of the best Volcanion checks on the tier. Good Knock off absorbers are also appreaciated such as Cobalion, Hippowdon or Rhyperior, since Moltres hates having its Heavy-Duty Boots knocked. Frail wallbreakers also appreciate Moltres's capacity to pivot out safely to them and make out for good partners for Moltres, Hex Gengar is a good pair as it takes advantage of Moltres spreading burns, while Breloom or Lilligant Hisui take advantage of Moltres forcing in switch-ins to Water, Ground and Rock-type pokemon.
[Other Options]
Moltres can run Brave Bird as a alternative to Flamethrower to punish on switch-ins expecting Flamethrower to hit them harder, such as Tera Fire Iron Leaves and Cyclizar. Scorching Sands can be run alongside Tera Ground for a stronger STAB option with a chance to burn.
[Checks and Counters]
Knock Off and Stealth Rock: Moltres is vulnerable to Stealth Rock upon losing its Heavy-Duty Boots. Pokemon like Cyclizar, Deoxys-Defense, Okidogi and Zapdos-Galar can often take the opportunity to Knock Off Moltres thus crippling its ability to switch-in.
Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage: Rhyperior, Terrakion and Lycanroc-D can easily switch in on Flamethrower and retaliate back with strong Rock-type STAB, although they fear being burned by Will-O-Wisp. Cobalion and Mienshao which would supposedly be checked by Moltres, can carry Stone Edge on some of it's sets. Hippowdon, Breloom, and Cincinno can also carry rock coverage for Moltres, which it has to watch out for, the former two fear being burned due to being slower though, while the latter has to click Rock Blast in order to not proc Flame Body.
Electric-types: Electric types such as Rotom-H, Raikou, Thundurus-T can easily pressure Moltres out with Volt Switch or Electric STAB, while Rotom-H specifically resists Moltres's Fire STAB.
Water-types: Water types such as Slowbro, Volcanion and Empoleon can easily tank Moltres's Flamethrower and deal strong super effective damage, while often not carrying for Will-O-Wisp burns.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ampha.388824/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
