Rotom-W's Items:
http://www.smogon.com/stats/2015-02/ou-1825.txt
usage stats feb 2015 said:
Leftovers 79.237%
Chesto Berry 8.331%
Choice Scarf 6.949%
Choice Specs 1.942%
Other 3.541%
Still surprised as to see why this set is still used. Seriously, I see this shit on the ladder from time to time.
Don't use this
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt / Will-o-Wisp
- Trick
Why it's bad:
At first glance, Scarf Rotom-W has the ability to Trick its Choice Scarf to cripple walls, while being able to induce quick burns against physically offensive threats. In addition, it has the ability to revenge kill multiple offensive threats such as Mega Diancie, Landorus-I, Landorus-T Keldeo, Excadrill, as well as being able to beat Mega Charizard-Y and Mega Gyarados, provided the latter two were hit by a bit of prior damage. Due to its Scarf, it has such surprise factor when utilizing it. However, when utilizing an offensive Scarf Rotom-W set, you lose such valuable defensive capabilities. Due to its low HP, it's frail without defensive investment, losing the ability to pivot against several offensive threats. It can't take on many offensive threats, unlike the Defensive Rotom-W set could, and they will actually wear you down throughout the match without you having any form of recovery. Additionally, it relies on its Scarf too much in order to burn many threats in the metagame. It should also be taken note that getting locked into Will-o-Wisp can easily be taken advantage by opposing set-up sweepers/tanks/walls that are either Special attackers, Fire-types (especially those with Flash Fire) or Magic Bounce users. Pokemon that are Guts abusers are also able to switch to your Choice-locked Scrotom-W's WoW.
If you really wish on fitting Rotom-W, then...
Instead, use this
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Why it's better:
While Scarf Rotom-W and Physically defensive Rotom-W play differently, the latter is the way to go. The job of Rotom-W in OU is to switch to physical hits. It's just better to tank the hit then cripple them with a Will-o-Wisp. With its bulk, it can stand many of the threats on the physical attacking spectrum. And with Leftovers recovery, it turns certain OHKOes to 2HKOes; 2HKOes to 3HKOes aimed at you. And the Pain Split recovery can be handy sometimes, by chipping off the opponent's health while being able to have the ability to recover some of your health in case your HP goes low. Oh and yeah, slow Volt Switches give setup sweepers room to breathe by having Rotom-W tanking the hit.
Hey wait, what if I want to revenge kill Mega Diancie, Keldeo, Excadrill, Mega Charizard-Y, Landorus-I, Landorus-T, Gyarados, and Mega Gyarados? I also think that a TrickScarf method is solid to cripple walls. Can I use Scrotom-W?
FUCK NO!
Instead, use one of these:
Latios (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Surf / Thunderbolt / Hidden Power Fire
- Trick
Keldeo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
Why they're better:
With these Pokemon, they boast better coverage, and importantly a higher speed tier able to outspeed most of the meta when equipped with a Scarf. In addition, they hit harder than Scrotom-W and can actually switch in better on some of the said threats.
Latios has access to Trick, and can also revenge kill non-mega Gyarados and Mega Charizard-Y with Thunderbolt (though they need a bit of prior damage to secure a KO). Additionally, Latios is able to beat Keldeo through Psyshock, as well as Mega Diancie and non-AV Excadrill through Surf. Take note that with the great speed tier Latios has, it can still be able to outspeed a large portion of the metagame once its Scarf is gone, unlike Scrotom-W, who is reliant on its Choice Scarf to burn or beat several threats.
Scarf Keldeo on the other hand, is your ideal Water-type Scarf user who can check similar Pokemon that Scrotom-W can, such as Excadrill, Mega Gyarados, Mega Diancie, Landorus-I, and Landorus-T.
tl;dr Scrotom-W is quite bad for a Scarfer, as it is outclassed by better scarfers that provide the same utility while also hitting harder. Additionally, it foregoes its tanking defensive capabilities, which is the main reason to use Rotom-W in OU. Don't use Scrotom-W or any other offensive Rotom-W variant, ever. It's not funny.