Status: Formatting and whatnot.Electivire
Type: Electric
[Overview]
<p>In today’s metagame, Electivire falls behind many physical hard hitting Pokémon, such as Conkledurr, Haxorus, or Excadrill. Additionally, unlike other Pokémon, such as Blaziken, Electivire did not get many shiny new toys to play with. Combined with his average speed and mediocre 75/67/85 defenses, Electivire has to be knocked down a few pegs, even from last generation. Put simply, Electivire is certainly not a top-tier Pokémon.</p>
<p> However, it would be an incorrect statement to say that he is a horrible Pokémon. Electivire still got a much needed physical STAB in Wild Bolt, which fits nicely into has vast movepool. Electivire can still outspeed a large amount of the metagame with a Motor Drive boost, combined with nice 125/95/95 offensive stats, he can act as a wallbreaker to take down new defensive threats such as Ferrothorn. Everything considered, Electivire has many shortfalls that prevent it with keeping up with the rest of the metagame, but nevertheless, he can still do his job well.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Cross Chop
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
nature: Mild
ability: Motor Drive
evs: 252 SpA / 40 Atk / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Electivire’s vast movepool and very nice offensive stats make him a prime candidate for a mixed set. Thunderbolt for the main stab may seem to surprise you due to Electivire’s superior attack stat, but on this set Thunderbolt packs a bigger punch. Cross chop is a very useful move on this set, capable of taking down Chansey, Blissey, Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and other steel types. Hidden power Ice is used to take out dragons not named Hydreigon, Gliscor, and other ground types. Unfortunately, it will not 2HKO max Special Defense Hippowdon, who can slack off the damage. Flamethrower is ideal for the last slot to deal heavy damage to Skarmory and Ferrothorn. As for the item choice, Life Orb is the best option for the most damage, but an expert belt can be used if you don’t like the recoil. However, You will be sacrificing some power, and will only work if your attack is super effective, which is not always the case.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Volt Switch is an interesting option, but since most switch-ins to Electivire would be things such as Hippowdon, Volt Switch is rendered useless.</p>
<p>When using this Electivire Set, It is important to capitalize to do what Eelektross cannot otherwise accomplish with another mixed set. Since Eelektross has overall better defenses, access to Grass Knot, better mixed attacking stats, no weakness, along with a vast movepool similar to Electivire’s, Eelektross gives Electivire a lot of competition for the mixed attacking role. To use this Electivire properly, one must focus on what it has over Eelektross- namely, its ability to take out much speedier threats, and a much easier way to defeat Blissey or Chansey. As where Eelektross fails to strike first against important Pokémon such as Hydreigon, Electivire can strike first with a deadly Cross Chop. Also, Eelektross must invest a few extra EV’s to outspeed Blissey, giving Electivire another advantage.</p>
<p>As this is a mixed attacking set, it can be easily used as a wallbreaking set, so Pokémon who need walls out of the way such as Scrafty are always a good choice. Of course, Electivire almost always requires a motor drive boost to make his sets effective, so naturally Pokémon who can lure in electric attacks are essential. Gyarados is the most effective for this role, as he has a 4x weakness to electric attacks. Skarmory is also a decent partner, also being weak to electric attacks, and can set up entry hazards for Electivire. However, due to the introduction of Ferrothorn in the metagame, flamethrower would be more common attack against Skarmory to cover them both.</p>
<p>The counters to this set are rather straightforward. Choice scarfed Garchomp can revenge kill Electivire with ease with a STAB Earthquake. However, one should still be wary, as this can allow Pokémon such as Dragonite or Salamence to set up, having Garchomp being locked into Earthquake. Due to Electivire’s lack of physical bulk, Pokémon that can cause a lot of physical damage can also harm Electivire, such as Bulk Up Conkledurr. However, Electivire absolutely shudders in fear at Sand throw Excadrill. This would cause Electivire to switch, possibly letting Excadrill set up, having the rest of his team face one of the most dangerous Pokémon in the game, or get knocked out by an Earthquake.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Wild Bolt
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Fire Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Cross Chop
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
nature: Adamant
ability: Motor Drive
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Uses Electivire’s great attack stat.
- Good move pool allowing for excellent coverage.
- Wild bolt for Main STAB.
- Ice punch allows coverage against dragons and Gliscor, landlos, and other ground types that do not survive ice punch.
- Earthquake is to hit some steels hard along with fire-types.
- Fire Punch can be used to hit Scizor, Forretress, Ferrothorn, and Genesect.
- Like the mixed set, Cross chop hits steels, Blissey,Chansey, along with Tyranitar and Bisharp, and hits Hydreigon harder.
- Expert belt is an option, but life orb is the prime choice for the most non-choiced power.
- Volt change is also an option, but again as most switch-ins to Electivire are ground types, it is not too productive on this set.
- Meditate can be used, with Earthquake/ Fire Punch replaced with meditate.
- However, due to so many hard and fast-hitting pokemon in this generation, Electivire will rarely have the chance to set up.
- This set cannot afford a burn, so physically offensive flying or water types, such as Gyarados, who also doesn't like a burn, are not the best choices.
- Same usual partners, like Skarmory and Tornadus.
- Since This set suffers more from residual damage than the other set, a wish supporter, such as chansey, can be a good partner for Electivire.
- Excadrill can usually come in on Electivire, but he should be wary of balloon.
- Similar counters to the first set; revenge killed by scarfed Garchomp, can be plucked off by Conkledurr and Excadrill (unless in the event of a balloon).
- Even Hippowdon, who is weak to ice punch, can endure almost anything Electivire throws at it, and then slack off the damage.
<p>A Balloon can be used on Electivire to avoid ground attacks and an OHKO on Excadrill on the physical set, which can be very helpful in certain situations.</p>
[Counters and Checks]
<p>Indubitably, Sand Throw Excadrill is by far the best counter to all variants of Electivire. As for other ways to defeat or weaken Electivire, Choice Scarfed Garchomp can revenge kill Electivire with ease, or at least force a switch (without a baloon!) Once again, Electivire's poor defenses allow him to be plucked of by hard-hitting threats, so even a pokemon such as Conkledurr can cause a substatial amount of damage. </p>
[Dream World]
<p>Electivire gets Vital spirit as a Dream World ability. Due to sleep's new mechanics, and thus more presence of sleep, this would have been useful, but Electivire's average speed combined with less than average defenses practically forces Electivire to have Motor Drive.</p>
