RU Escavalier

cyanize

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[OVERVIEW]

Escavalier is one of the best glue Pokemon in the tier, as its defensive typing and solid bulk allow it to check many common threats. Its powerful STAB moves backed by a monstrous Attack stat make it hard to switch into, and an excellent defensive typing gives it a wide range of resistances and only one weakness. Access to Pursuit allows it to damage foes that attempt to flee from it, including threats such as Swellow and Shaymin. However, sluggish base 20 Speed leaves it outpaced by almost the entire tier and often means it has to take two hits before retaliating when switching in. A massive 4x weakness to Fire causes it to be lured easily by Pokemon that it would otherwise wall and are using Fire-type coverage. No reliable recovery and susceptibility to all entry hazards also lead it to being worn down quickly.

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Protect
move 4: Pursuit / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 52 Atk / 204 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest STAB move and hits most targets that Escavalier switches in on for the highest damage. Iron Head is a secondary STAB attack that rounds out Escavalier's coverage well and has more reliable accuracy but significantly lower power. Pursuit allows Escavalier to trap foes it threatens such as Psychic- and Grass-types by damaging them as they switch out. Knock Off is an option to remove the items of foes that switch in as well as deal them often unresisted damage, though the utility of Pursuit is missed. Protect allows Escavalier to get more passive Leftovers recovery and scout foes' attacks.

Set Details
========


Investing EVs into Special Defense and HP allows Escavalier to take on a variety of attackers in the tier such as Shaymin, Gardevoir, Meloetta and Glalie. The given spread grants Escavalier a notable increase in bulk, allowing it to dodge the 2HKO from Nidoqueen's Earth Power, as well as from both Life Orb Modest Sharpedo's Hydro Pump and +2 Cloyster's Hydro Pump when factoring in the additional Leftovers recovery from Protect. The rest of the EVs in Attack with an Adamant nature let Escavalier hit harder. Leftovers provides Escavalier with passive recovery and prevents it from being worn down as quickly by entry hazards. A more offensive EV spread with 252 HP / 172 Atk / 84 Spe and an Adamant nature can be used, as gives Escavalier the ability to outspeed uninvested neutral base 30 Pokemon and has a larger damage output, allowing it to pressure foes such as Slowbro and Snorlax better. However, this comes at the cost of a very notable cut in bulk.

Usage Tips
========

Pivot Escavalier into attackers that have STAB moves it resists or easily takes, such as Rotom-C, Gardevoir, and Glalie. Beware of Fire-type coverage, as some special attackers run it to take a chunk off Escavalier's HP or KO it outright. Megahorn is an excellent STAB attack, so use it a lot, but don't risk the possibility of it missing unless necessary. Iron Head is better to confirm KOs better due to not missing and hits some targets such as Fairy-types that Megahorn misses for super effective damage, but it is generally less spammable than Megahorn. Pursuit traps Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Bronzong, and Espeon. Use it when taking out a threat is more important than getting damage on a switch-in. Pursuit can also be used to trap frail threats that aren't necessarily weak to it but will switch because they can't hurt Escavalier anyway such as Swellow. Use Protect to keep Escavalier healthy so it can check what it needs to. Protect is also good for scouting for Hidden Power Fire and Z-Moves and seeing what moves Choice-locked foes will use. Finally, keep Escavalier away from Knock Off, as losing its Leftovers greatly reduces its longevity.

Team Options
========

Due to Escavalier's 4x Fire-type weakness, teammates that can take care of Fire-types such as Gigalith, Milotic, and Thick Fat Snorlax are often necessary. Teammates that enjoy Psychic-types and frail, fast attackers being removed from the equation often pair well with Escavalier; these include Bewear, Roserade, and Kommo-o. Partners such as Salazzle and Rotom-H can handle bulky Steel-types such as Registeel and Durant which Escavalier is often unable to do much damage to. Pokemon that enjoy the defensive utility Escavalier brings to the table and are weak to the types it covers, such as Gligar, Diancie, Chesnaught, and Jellicent, pair well with it. Since Escavalier is often unable to 2HKO bulky Water-types and fears getting a Scald burn in return, teammates that can handle those, such as Roserade and Shaymin, work well with it. Clerical support from partners such as Florges and Umbreon is often appreciated because Escavalier has no recovery outside of Leftovers and doesn't enjoy the prospect of being burned.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Knock Off / Drill Run
item: Choice Band
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Megahorn is an obscenely strong STAB attack capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing most of the tier, even some Pokemon that resist it. Iron Head is also strong, but less so; however, it has the safety of not missing and provides valuable coverage alongside Megahorn. Pursuit allows Escavalier to deal big damage to frail foes and other Pokemon threatened by it when they switch out, notably OHKOing all offensive targets weak to Dark on the switch bar Necrozma. Knock Off removes items from switch-ins such as Rotom-H, Doublade, Registeel, and Moltres as well as dealing them solid damage. Drill Run can be used instead of Knock Off to do more damage to Steel- and grounded Fire-type targets, such as Registeel and Torkoal, but leaves Escavalier helpless versus Moltres and Rotom-H.

Set Details
========

84 Speed EVs let Escavalier outpace uninvested base 30 Speed Pokemon such as Snorlax and Slowbro, allowing it to hit them with a Megahorn before they can move and notably enabling Escavalier to 2HKO Snorlax even after a Curse boost. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature lets Escavalier hit as hard as possible. The rest of the EVs go into HP to allow Escavalier to switch into more things and have more opportunities to fire off attacks.

Usage Tips
========

Switch Escavalier in on resisted special attacks and fire off its strong STAB attacks. Note that this Escavalier set appreciates pivoting support more than any other, as it has less bulk and no recovery whatsoever. Use Pursuit on frail targets such as Espeon and Roserade to KO them as they flee, allowing your team more breathing room. Use Knock Off whenever a solid switch-in to Escavalier's STAB moves such as Doublade or Moltres is present on the opponent's team, as it heavily cripples them alongside dealing decent damage.

Team Options
========

Switch-ins to Fire-types such as Diancie, Goodra, and Flygon are appreciated. This set has less bulk, so having teammates with Volt Switch and U-turn such as Rotom-H and Gligar to get it on the field safely is often appreciated. Cleaners such as Salazzle, Sharpedo, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir like to take advantage of the holes Escavalier leaves in the oppposition. Pokemon that take advantage of Escavalier's switch-ins to set up, such as Dragon Dance Flygon and Nasty Plot Salazzle, enjoy Escavalier bringing in its checks, as they are often rather passive. Additional checks to the typings Escavalier covers, like Goodra, Rotom-H, and Jellicent, are appreciated, as without Leftovers and with less bulk investment, Escavalier is worn down much faster and cannot reliably check as much as bulkier sets.

[SET]
name: RestTalk Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 172 SpD / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance rockets Escavalier's attack to sky-high levels, allowing it to serve as a bulky sweeper. Megahorn is Escavalier's most reliable STAB attack, providing coverage on a wide range of targets while still allowing Escavalier to do notable damage unboosted. Iron Head could be used as the sole attack instead, but the drop in power is very notable, and it makes Escavalier less effective in general. Rest lets Escavalier keep itself healthy throughout the match and also reduces its susceptibility to burns. Sleep Talk prevents Escavalier from being setup fodder while asleep and allows it to use its turns sleeping for benefit. Iron Head can also be used in the last slot to round out coverage, but this causes Escavalier to be guaranteed setup bait while sleeping. It also requires Heal Bell support to be effective, as without it, Escavalier is a sitting duck for two turns.

Set Details
========

84 EVs in Speed make Escavalier outpace uninvested base 30 Speed Pokemon like Slowbro and Snorlax, allowing Escavalier to hit them with a Megahorn before they can retaliate. The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Special Defense with a Careful nature to make Escavalier as effective a tank as it can be.

Usage Tips
========

Primarily use Escavalier to set up on and break through bulky teams. Escavalier can also be used as a bulky sweeper after all its checks have been sufficiently weakened or removed. Additionally, don't be afraid to take a bit more residual damage than usual, as this set uses a recovery move. Set up versus any Pokemon that Escavalier can comfortably take the attacks of, such as resisted attackers like Shaymin and Glalie and weak support Pokemon like Florges and Bronzong. However, it is worth noting that Foul Play users such as Umbreon and Porygon2 don't make for good setup bait, as Foul Play does huge damage after Escavalier has boosted.

Team Options
========

Cover Fire-types with teammates like Dragalge and Rhyperior. Teammates that share checks like Doublade and Registeel with Escavalier such as Gardevoir, Glalie, and Kommo-o are recommended, to soften up their mutual checks so Escavalier can finish them off. Similarly, Pokemon that can break down walls, such as Roserade, Honchkrow, and Bewear, give Escavalier an easier time cleaning up late-game. As this Escavalier set only carries Megahorn, offensive Bug-resistant Pokemon such as Durant and Bewear are liable to switch into it. Thus, checks to these Pokemon, like Gligar and Moltres, are highly recommended.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

For the bulky attacker set, the more offensive EV spread with 252 HP / 172 Atk / 84 Spe and an Adamant nature can equip an Assault Vest, as that grants has more raw bulk than the Leftovers spread. However, the recovery gained from Leftovers + Protect mitigates the drop in bulk, and Leftovers is generally better for pivoting into weaker attacks as well as healing off entry hazard damage. A Swords Dance set with 3 attacks is usable, but it is often a much less effective sweeper than the RestTalk set and a much more situational wallbreaker than the Choice Band set. Toxic can be used on the bulky attacker set to disrupt opposing bulky Water- and Flying- types, but it is hard-pressed to warrant a moveslot - over any of the already slotted moves.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon resist both of Escavalier's STAB moves and threaten to easily OHKO it back with STAB attacks or use it as setup bait. Using Drill Run on the Choice Band set is an effective way to deter Salazzle, but it still misses Rotom-H and Moltres.

**Bulky Resistant Pokemon**: Physically bulky Pokemon that resist one or more of Escavalier's STAB attacks such as Jellicent, Registeel, and Gligar can often stop it in its tracks, though they often dislike having their item knocked off.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon that Escavalier would otherwise check, such as Roserade, Shaymin, and Swellow, can use Fire-type coverage moves to hit it hard on the switch and take large portions off of its HP, often causing Escavalier to be unable to check anything well for the rest of the match or even outright KOed.
 
Last edited:

cyanize

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is a Community Contributor
I've been busy, and have been working on it on and off. I'll start to really get it done.
 

cyanize

Mantra Good I Casted So Many Spells U Idiot
is a Community Contributor
Update: I've been really busy lately with exams and graduation and stuff, so I haven't gotten a chance to finalize this and put it for QC. I'll try my best to have it done be Sunday/Monday.
 

Lemonade

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Somewhere, probably in usage tips, you should talk about how to "beware of Fire attacks". I mean, saying something like "For example, if the opponent's team doesn't have a direct answer to Escav (maybe more general to Fire weak threats?), one of their Pokémon probably has Hidden Power Fire." (if this is actually true. Haven't played much RU). This gives the reader intuition for how to analyze situations (evaluate the opponent's team), instead of being frustrated when they encounter something using HP Fire that usually would not in a vacuum.

In general, I recommend adding examples for "generic" advice (eg the "predict when the opponent..." lines) so that new players begin the learn how the analyze the game as a whole, instead of just the turn they are in.
 

aVocado

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overview:
One of the best glues in the tier
remove, useless information. what is good information is the line directly after this in overview; you explain why its a good glue.

Access to Pursuit allows it to remove some opponents from the game with ease
examples

bulky attacker usage tips:
possibly mention pursuiting some frailer pokemon alongside the garde etc mentions, swellow locked into boomburst is big here, cant think of many else

sd usage tips:
mention examples of pokemon he could set up on. make special note on how umbreon can do a fuckton with foul play (like 75-90)

make a note on how megahorn's pitiful pp can be mitigated via sleep talk (which i find to be very amusing for some reason lol)

really good job otherwise. im out of practice so i'm not sure what the fad is with ev spreads and such but if there has been any changes since this analysis was written i'm sure other QC members will offer more help

QC approved 1/3
 

cyanize

Mantra Good I Casted So Many Spells U Idiot
is a Community Contributor
implemented, and i'll try to work lemonades suggestion in when i write up
 
Looks good for the most part

Sorry for the long wait

Any further changes I see later on we can discuss on discord, but for now consider this

QC 2/3
 

MrAldo

Hey
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You have to write it up so the analysis can get a 3rd check!

Also 252 hp / 56 Atk / 204 SpD isnt possible as a spread, so fix that right quick (it should be 52 Atk)
 

MrAldo

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Damn, pretty extensive read.

- Protect shouldnt be shared with any slashes on the bulky pivot set. Protect is essential for this set to work and for its longevity and adding a potential slash diminishes its importance for a reader. Fix that.

- You can add some specific benchmarks for the spread of the bulky pivot set. Like it is trust that it allows Escavalier to check these Pokemon, mention how the spread allow it to survive Shaymin´s Hidden Power Fire after rocks and how it can avoid the 2hko from Life Orb Modest Sharpedo Hydro Pump and +2 Hydro Pump from Cloyster thanks to the leftovers recovery.

- Relegate the mention of Assault Vest under the Set Details section to the Other options section tbh.

- On that note, on the set details section were you mention the assault vest you can keep the spread and mention that while it doesnt have the notable bulk the original spread has, it has added firepower to pressure Pokemon like Slowbro and Snorlax better. Just change that bit since Assault Vest will be relegated to other options.

- Also remove mention on Assault Vest on Usage tips and just put them on the mention under the Other Options section.

- Mention Snorlax on all sets for the 30 speed benchmark. Easily the most notable one out of the Pokemon available on that speed tier, and being able to pressure by knocking off its item or 2hkoing it with megahorn if it gets a curse boost (with the choice band set) is too important to dismiss.

And I think thats it, if anything needs to be changed at last minute I could just message you with what is needed but this is pretty good in general.

QC 3/3 once you implement this. Nice job.
 

GP 1/2
remove add comments

[OVERVIEW]
Escavalier is one of the best glues Pokemon in the tier, as its defensive typing and solid bulk allow it to check many common threats. Its high powered powerful STAB moves off of backed by a monstrous base Attack stat make it hard to switch into, and an excellent defensive typing gives it a wide range of resists resistances and only one weakness. Access to Pursuit allows it to damage foes that attempt to flee from it, allowing it to deal chunks of damage to including threats such as Swellow and Shaymin. However, a a sluggish base 20 Speed leaves it outpaced by almost the entire tier and often means it has to takes 2 hits before retaliating when switching in. A massive 4x weakness to Fire causes it to be lured easily by Pokemon that it would otherwise wall that use and are using Fire-type coverage. And finally, No reliable recovery and susceptibility to all entry hazards leads it to being worn down quickly.

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Protect
move 4: Pursuit / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 52 Atk / 204 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest STAB, (comma) move and it hits most targets that it Escavalier switches in on for the highest damage. Iron Head is a secondary STAB attack that rounds out its Escavalier's coverage well and is has more reliable due to no miss chance, accuracy but has significantly lower power. Pursuit allows Escavalier to trap foes weak to it threatens such as Psychic- and Grass-types and damage by damaging them as they switch out. Protect allows Escavalier to regain get more passive Leftovers recovery and scout the foes' attacks of foes. Knock Off is an option to remove the items of foes that switch in as well as deal them often unresisted damage, though the utility of Pursuit is missed. (put this between the Pursuit and Protect sentences)

Set Details
========

Investing EVs into Special Defense and HP allows Escavalier to take on a variety of attackers in the tier, (comma) such as Shaymin, Gardevoir, Meloetta and Glalie. The given spread gives grants Escavalier a notable increase in bulk, allowing it to dodge the 2HKOs from both Life Orb Modest Sharpedo's Hydro Pump and +2 Cloyster's Hydro Pump when factoring in the additional Leftovers recovery from Protect. The rest of the EVs in Attack with an Adamant nature let Escavalier hit harder. Leftovers provides Escavalier with passive recovery, (comma) and makes it so that it is not worn down as quickly by entry hazards. A more offensive EV spread with 252 HP / 172 Atk / 84 Spe with and an Adamant nature can be used, as it has the ability to outspeed uninvested neutral base 30 Pokemon, (comma) and has a larger damage output, (comma) allowing Escavalier to pressure foes such as Slowbro and Snorlax better. However, this comes at the cost of a very notable cut in bulk.

Usage Tips
========

Pivot Escavalier into attackers which that have STABs that moves it can resists or easily take, takes such as Rotom-C, Gardevoir, and Glalie. Beware of Fire-type coverage, as some special attackers run it to take a chunk off Escavalier's HP or KO it outright. Megahorn is an excellent STAB attack, so use it a lot, but don't risk the possibility of it missing unless necessary. Iron Head confirms KOs better due to no miss chance not missing and hits some targets that resist Megahorn misses such as Fairy-types for super effective damage, such as Fairy-types, but is generally less spammable than Megahorn. Pursuit traps Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Bronzong, (comma) and Espeon and deals them damage on the switch. (sounds pretty redundant) Use it when taking out a threat is preferred to more important than getting damage on a switch-(hyphen)in. Pursuit can also be used to trap frail threats that aren't necessarily weak to it but will switch because they can't hurt Escavalier anyways, (comma) such as Swellow. Use Protect to keep Escavalier healthy so it can check what it needs to. Protect is also good for scouting for Hidden Power Fire and Z-Moves and seeing what moves Choice-locked foes will use. Finally, keep Escavalier away from Knock Off, as it removes its Leftovers, greatly reducing its longevity.

Team Options
========

Due to Escavalier's 4x Fire-type weakness, teammates that can take care of Fire-types such as Gigalith, Milotic, and Thick Fat Snorlax are often necessary. Teammates that enjoy Psychic-types and frail, fast attackers being removed from the equation often pair well with Escavalier; this includes Bewear, Roserade, and Kommo-o. Partners such as Salazzle and Rotom-H that can handle bulky Steel-types such as Registeel and Durant work well with Escavalier, as it which Escavalier is often unable to do much damage to them. Pokemon that enjoy the defensive utility Escavalier brings to the table and are weak to the types it covers, such as Gligar, Diancie, Chesnaught, and Jellicent, pair well with Escavalier it. Since it is often unable to 2HKO bulky Water-types and fears getting a Scald burn in return, teammates that can handle bulky Water-types, (comma) such as Roserade and Shaymin, (comma) work well with Escavalier it. Clerical support from partners such as Florges and Umbreon is often appreciated because Escavalier has no recovery outside of Leftovers, (comma) and doesn't enjoy the prospect of being burned.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Knock Off / Drill Run
item: Choice Band
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Megahorn is an obscenely strong STAB attack capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing most of the tier, even some Pokemon that resist it. Iron Head is also strong, but less so; however, it has the safety of not missing and provides valuable coverage alongside Megahorn. Pursuit allows Escavalier to deal big damage to frail foes and other Pokemon threatened by it when they switch out, notably OHKOing all offensive targets weak to Dark on the switch bar Necrozma. Knock Off removes items from switch-(hyphen)ins such as Rotom-H, Doublade, Registeel, and Moltres as well as dealing them solid damage. Drill Run can be used instead of Knock Off to do more damage to Steel- and grounded Fire-type targets, (comma) such as Registeel and Torkoal, but leaves Escavalier helpless versus Moltres and Rotom-H. (per)

Set Details
========

84 Speed EVs lets Escavalier outpace uninvested base 30s Speed Pokemon such as Snorlax and Slowbro, allowing it to hit them with a Megahorn before they can move, (comma) and notably allowing enabling Escavalier to 2HKO Snorlax even after a Curse boost. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature makes Escavalier hit as hard as possible. The rest of the EVs go into HP to allow Escavalier to switch in(space)to more things and have more opportunities to fire off attacks. (per)

Usage Tips
========

Switch Escavalier in on resisted special attacks and fire off its strong STAB attacks. Note that this Escavalier set appreciates pivoting support more than any other, as it has less bulk and no recovery whatsoever. Use Pursuit on frail targets such as Espeon and Roserade to KO them as they flee, allowing your team more breathing room. Use Knock Off whenever a solid switch-(hyphen)in to Escavalier's STABs moves such as Doublade or Moltres is present on the enemy opponent's team, as it heavily cripples them alongside dealing decent damage.

Team Options
========

Again, Fire-type switchins
Switch-ins to Fire-types (don't assume the reader is looking at every set, let alone in order)
such as Diancie, Goodra, and Flygon are appreciated. This set has less bulk, so having teammates with Volt Switch and U-turn such as Rotom-H and Gligar to get it on the field safely are is often appreciated. Cleaners such as Salazzle, Sharpedo, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir like to take advantage of the holes Escavalier breaks leaves in the oppposition. Pokemon that take advantage of Escavalier's switch-(hyphen)ins to set up, such as Dragon Dance Flygon and Nasty Plot Salazzle, enjoy Escavalier bringing in its checks, (comma) as they are often rather passive. Additional checks to the typings Escavalier covers, like Goodra, Rotom-H, and Jellicent, are appreciated, (comma) as without Leftovers and with less bulk investment, (comma) Escavalier is worn down much faster and cannot reliably check as much as bulkier sets.

[SET]
name: RestTalk Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 172 SpD / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance rockets Escavalier's attack to sky-high levels, allowing it to serve as a bulky win condition sweeper. Megahorn is Escavalier's most reliable STAB attack, providing coverage on a wide range of targets while still allowing Escavalier to do notable damage unboosted. Iron Head could be used as the sole attack instead, but the drop in power both unboosted and with Attack boosts is very notable, and it makes Escavalier less effective in general. Rest lets Escavalier to keep itself healthy throughout the match, (comma) and also reduces its susceptibility to Burn burns. Sleep Talk prevents Escavalier from being setup fodder while asleep, (comma) and allows it to use its turns sleeping for benefit. Iron Head can also be used in the last slot to round out coverage, but this causes Escavalier to be guaranteed setup bait while sleeping. It also requires Heal Bell support to be effective, (comma) as without it, (comma) Escavalier is a sitting duck for 2 turns.

Set Details
========

84 EVs in Speed make Escavalier outpaces uninvested base 30 Speed Pokemon like Slowbro and Snorlax, allowing Escavalier to hit them with a Megahorn before they can retaliate. The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Special Defense with a Careful nature to make Escavalier as effective a tank as it can be.

Usage Tips
========

Primarily, (comma) use Escavalier to set up on and break holes through bulky teams. Escavalier can also be used as a bulky win condition sweeper after all its checks have been sufficiently weakened/ or removed. Additionally, don't be afraid to take a bit more residual damage than usual, (comma) as this set uses a recovery move. Set up versus any Pokemon that Escavalier can comfortably take the attacks of, such as resisted attacks like those from Shaymin and Glalie and weak support Pokemon like Florges and Bronzong. However, it is worth noting that Foul Play users such as Umbreon and Porygon2 don't make for good setup bait, as Foul Play does huge damage after Escavalier has boosted.

Team Options
========

As per usual, Cover Fire-types with teammates like Mantine and Rhyperior. Teammates like Gardevoir, Glalie, and Kommo-o that share checks like Doublade and Registeel with Escavalier such as Gardevoir, Glalie, and Kommo-o are recommended, (comma) to soften up their mutual checks so Escavalier can finish them off. Similarly, Pokemon that can break down walls, such as Roserade, Honchkrow, and Bewear, give Escavalier an easier time at cleaning up late-game. As this Escavalier set only carries Megahorn, offensive Bug-(hyphen)resistant Pokemon such as Durant and Bewear are liable to switch into it. Thus, checks to these Pokemon, like Gligar and Moltres, are highly recommended.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

For the bulky attacker set, the more offensive EV spread with 252 HP / 172 Atk / 84 Spe and an Adamant nature can equip an Assault Vest, as that grants it has more raw bulk than the Leftovers spread. However, the recovery gained from Leftovers + Protect mitigates the drop in bulk, and Leftovers is generally better for pivoting into weaker attacks as well as healing off entry hazard damage. A Swords Dance set with 3 attacks is usable, but is often a much less effective win condition sweeper than the RestTalk set, (comma) and a much more situational wallbreaker than the Choice Band set. Toxic can be used on the bulky attacker set to disrupt opposing bulky Water- and Flying- types, but is hard-pressed to warrant a moveslot over any of the already slotted moves.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon resist both of Escavalier's STABs moves and threaten to easily OHKO it back with STAB attacks or use it as setup bait. Using Drill Run on the Choice Band set is an effective way to majorly deter Salazzle, but it still misses Rotom-H and Moltres.

**Bulky Resistant Pokemon**: Physically bulky Pokemon such as Jellicent, Registeel, and Gligar that resist one or more of Escavalier's STABs attacks such as Jellicent, Registell, and Gligar can often stop it in its tracks, though they often dislike having their item knocked off.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon that Escavalier would otherwise check, such as Roserade, Shaymin, and Swellow, can use Fire-type coverage moves to hit Escavalier hard on the switch(space)in and take large portions off of its HP, often causing Escavalier to be unable to check anything well for the rest of the match, (comma) or even KO it outright KOed.
 
Last edited:

Lumari

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GP 2/2
[OVERVIEW]

Escavalier is one of the best glue Pokemon in the tier, as its defensive typing and solid bulk allow it to check many common threats. Its powerful STAB moves backed by a monstrous Attack stat make it hard to switch into, and an excellent defensive typing gives it a wide range of resistances and only one weakness. Access to Pursuit allows it to damage foes that attempt to flee from it, including threats such as Swellow and Shaymin. However, sluggish base 20 Speed leaves it outpaced by almost the entire tier and often means it has to takes two hits before retaliating when switching in. A massive 4x weakness to Fire causes it to be lured easily by Pokemon that it would otherwise wall and are using Fire-type coverage. No reliable recovery and susceptibility to all entry hazards also lead it to being worn down quickly.

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Protect
move 4: Pursuit / Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 52 Atk / 204 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest STAB move and hits most targets that Escavalier switches in on for the highest damage. Iron Head is a secondary STAB attack that rounds out Escavalier's coverage well and has more reliable accuracy but significantly lower power. Pursuit allows Escavalier to trap foes it thretens threatens such as Psychic- and Grass-types by damaging them as they switch out. Knock Off is an option to remove the items of foes that switch in as well as deal them often unresisted damage, though the utility of Pursuit is missed. Protect allows Escavalier to get more passive Leftovers recovery and scout foes' attacks.

Set Details
========


Investing EVs into Special Defense and HP allow allows Escavalier to take on a variety of attackers in the tier such as Shaymin, Gardevoir, Meloetta and Glalie. The given spread grants Escavalier a notable increase in bulk, allowing it to dodge the 2HKO from Nidoqueen's Earth Power, as well as from both Life Orb Modest Sharpedo's Hydro Pump and +2 Cloyster's Hydro Pump when factoring in the additional Leftovers recovery from Protect. The rest of the EVs in Attack with an Adamant nature let Escavalier hit harder. Leftovers provides Escavalier with passive recovery and makes it so that it is not prevents it from being worn down as quickly by entry hazards. A more offensive EV spread with 252 HP / 172 Atk / 84 Spe and an Adamant nature can be used, as it has gives Escavalier the ability to outspeed uninvested neutral base 30 Pokemon and has a larger damage output, allowing Escavalier it to pressure foes such as Slowbro and Snorlax better. However, this comes at the cost of a very notable cut in bulk.

Usage Tips
========

Pivot Escavalier into attackers that have STAB moves it resists or easily takes, such as Rotom-C, Gardevoir, and Glalie. Beware of Fire-type coverage, as some special attackers run it to take a chunk off Escavalier's HP or KO it outright. Megahorn is an excellent STAB attack, (AC) so use it a lot, but don't risk the possibility of it missing unless necessary. Iron Head confirms is better to confirm KOs better due to not missing and hits some targets such as Fairy-types that Megahorn misses for super effective damage, but it is generally less spammable than Megahorn. Pursuit traps Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Bronzong, and Espeon. Use it when taking out a threat is more important than getting damage on a switch-in. Pursuit can also be used to trap frail threats that aren't necessarily weak to it but will switch because they can't hurt Escavalier anyways anyway, such as Swellow. Use Protect to keep Escavalier healthy so it can check what it needs to. Protect is also good for scouting for Hidden Power Fire and Z-Moves and seeing what moves Choice-locked foes will use. Finally, keep Escavalier away from Knock Off, as it removes losing its Leftovers (RC) greatly reducing reduces its longevity.

Team Options
========

Due to Escavalier's 4x Fire-type weakness, teammates that can take care of Fire-types such as Gigalith, Milotic, and Thick Fat Snorlax are often necessary. Teammates that enjoy Psychic-types and frail, fast attackers being removed from the equation often pair well with Escavalier; this includes these include Bewear, Roserade, and Kommo-o. Partners such as Salazzle and Rotom-H can handle bulky Steel-types such as Registeel and Durant, (AC) which Escavalier is often unable to do much damage to. Pokemon that enjoy the defensive utility Escavalier brings to the table and are weak to the types it covers, such as Gligar, Diancie, Chesnaught, and Jellicent, pair well with it. Since it Escavalier is often unable to 2HKO bulky Water-types and fears getting a Scald burn in return, teammates that can handle bulky Water-types those, such as Roserade and Shaymin, (AC) work well with it. Clerical support from partners such as Florges and Umbreon is often appreciated because Escavalier has no recovery outside of Leftovers and doesn't enjoy the prospect of being burned.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Knock Off / Drill Run
item: Choice Band
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Megahorn is an obscenely strong STAB attack capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing most of the tier, even some Pokemon that resist it. Iron Head is also strong, but less so; however, it has the safety of not missing and provides valuable coverage alongside Megahorn. Pursuit allows Escavalier to deal big damage to frail foes and other Pokemon threatened by it when they switch out, notably OHKOing all offensive targets weak to Dark on the switch bar Necrozma. Knock Off removes items from switch-ins such as Rotom-H, Doublade, Registeel, and Moltres as well as dealing them solid damage. Drill Run can be used instead of Knock Off to do more damage to Steel- and grounded Fire-type targets, such as Registeel and Torkoal, (AC) but leaves Escavalier helpless versus Moltres and Rotom-H.

Set Details
========

84 Speed EVs let Escavalier outpace uninvested base 30 Speed Pokemon such as Snorlax and Slowbro, allowing it to hit them with a Megahorn before they can move and notably enabling Escavalier to 2HKO Snorlax even after a Curse boost. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature lets Escavalier hit as hard as possible. The rest of the EVs go into HP to allow Escavalier to switch into more things and have more opportunities to fire off attacks.

Usage Tips
========

Switch Escavalier in on resisted special attacks and fire off its strong STAB attacks. Note that this Escavalier set appreciates pivoting support more than any other, as it has less bulk and no recovery whatsoever. Use Pursuit on frail targets such as Espeon and Roserade to KO them as they flee, allowing your team more breathing room. Use Knock Off whenever a solid switch-in to Escavalier's STAB moves such as Doublade or Moltres is present on the opponent's team, as it heavily cripples them alongside dealing decent damage.

Team Options
========

Switch-ins to Fire-types such as Diancie, Goodra, and Flygon are appreciated. This set has less bulk, so having teammates with Volt Switch and U-turn such as Rotom-H and Gligar to get it on the field safely is often appreciated. Cleaners such as Salazzle, Sharpedo, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir like to take advantage of the holes Escavalier leaves in the oppposition. Pokemon that take advantage of Escavalier's switch-ins to set up, such as Dragon Dance Flygon and Nasty Plot Salazzle, enjoy Escavalier bringing in its checks, as they are often rather passive. Additional checks to the typings Escavalier covers, like Goodra, Rotom-H, and Jellicent, are appreciated, as without Leftovers and with less bulk investment, Escavalier is worn down much faster and cannot reliably check as much as bulkier sets.

[SET]
name: RestTalk Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 172 SpD / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance rockets Escavalier's attack to sky-high levels, allowing it to serve as a bulky sweeper. Megahorn is Escavalier's most reliable STAB attack, providing coverage on a wide range of targets while still allowing Escavalier to do notable damage unboosted. Iron Head could be used as the sole attack instead, but the drop in power is very notable, and it makes Escavalier less effective in general. Rest lets Escavalier keep itself healthy throughout the match (RC) and also reduces its susceptibility to burns. Sleep Talk prevents Escavalier from being setup fodder while asleep and allows it to use its turns sleeping for benefit. Iron Head can also be used in the last slot to round out coverage, but this causes Escavalier to be guaranteed setup bait while sleeping. It also requires Heal Bell support to be effective, as without it, Escavalier is a sitting duck for two turns.

Set Details
========

84 EVs in Speed make Escavalier outpace uninvested base 30 Speed Pokemon like Slowbro and Snorlax, allowing Escavalier to hit them with a Megahorn before they can retaliate. The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Special Defense with a Careful nature to make Escavalier as effective a tank as it can be.

Usage Tips
========

Primarily use Escavalier to set up on and break through bulky teams. Escavalier can also be used as a bulky sweeper after all its checks have been sufficiently weakened or removed. Additionally, don't be afraid to take a bit more residual damage than usual, as this set uses a recovery move. Set up versus any Pokemon that Escavalier can comfortably take the attacks of, such as resisted attacks like those from resisted attackers like Shaymin and Glalie and weak support Pokemon like Florges and Bronzong. However, it is worth noting that Foul Play users such as Umbreon and Porygon2 don't make for good setup bait, as Foul Play does huge damage after Escavalier has boosted.

Team Options
========

Cover Fire-types with teammates like Dragalge and Rhyperior. Teammates that share checks like Doublade and Registeel with Escavalier such as Gardevoir, Glalie, and Kommo-o are recommended, to soften up their mutual checks so Escavalier can finish them off. Similarly, Pokemon that can break down walls, such as Roserade, Honchkrow, and Bewear, give Escavalier an easier time cleaning up late-game. As this Escavalier set only carries Megahorn, offensive Bug-resistant Pokemon such as Durant and Bewear are liable to switch into it. Thus, checks to these Pokemon, like Gligar and Moltres, are highly recommended.


[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

For the bulky attacker set, the more offensive EV spread with 252 HP / 172 Atk / 84 Spe and an Adamant nature can equip an Assault Vest, as that grants has more raw bulk than the Leftovers spread. However, the recovery gained from Leftovers + Protect mitigates the drop in bulk, and Leftovers is generally better for pivoting into weaker attacks as well as healing off entry hazard damage. A Swords Dance set with 3 attacks is usable, but it is often a much less effective sweeper than the RestTalk set (RC) and a much more situational wallbreaker than the Choice Band set. Toxic can be used on the bulky attacker set to disrupt opposing bulky Water- and Flying- types, but it is hard pressed (AH) to warrant a moveslot over any of the already slotted moves.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Fire-type Pokemon resist both of Escavalier's STAB moves and threaten to easily OHKO it back with STAB attacks or use it as setup bait. Using Drill Run on the Choice Band set is an effective way to deter Salazzle, but it still misses Rotom-H and Moltres.

**Bulky Resistant Pokemon**: Physically bulky Pokemon that resist one or more of Escavalier's STAB attacks such as Jellicent, Registeel, and Gligar can often stop it in its tracks, though they often dislike having their item knocked off.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon that Escavalier would otherwise check, such as Roserade, Shaymin, and Swellow, can use Fire-type coverage moves to hit Escavalier it hard on the switch in and take large portions off of its HP, often causing Escavalier to be unable to check anything well for the rest of the match or even outright KOed.
 
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