MrAldo
Hey
QC: Arikado / Omicron / Arifeen
GP: P Squared / Eyan
[OVERVIEW]
Flygon is one of the most threatening Pokemon in the RU metagame, able to perform as a setup sweeper, pivot, and revenge killer. It finds a lot of opportunities to set up Dragon Dance due to its ability to force out Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-types like Gigalith, Doublade, and Nidoqueen. It also has an extensive movepool with attacks like Earthquake, Outrage, Iron Tail, U-turn, and Fire Punch, allowing it to threaten a myriad of Pokemon. Thanks to its typing and ability, Flygon possesses a handful of notable resistances, such as to Fire and Rock, and immunities to Electric and Ground; this also means it is very resilient to entry hazards. Despite its excellent typing, Flygon has very average bulk, which means it can struggle to switch into resisted attacks often. Flygon's also rather average Attack stat means that it can be pressured by Pokemon that it should beat like Doublade and Escavalier, which can take an unboosted attack really well and deal considerable damage to Flygon, making it easier to revenge kill later in the match. Lastly, Flygon has a really nasty Ice weakness, meaning it has to be wary of Pokemon like Sneasel and Mega Glalie, and it is also prone to being lured by Pokemon that can run Ice-type moves like Salazzle and Rhyperior.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Iron Tail
item: Groundium Z / Dragonium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance allows Flygon to boost its Attack and Speed to threatening levels. Earthquake is Flygon´s main STAB move, hitting Rock-, Fire-, and Electric-type Pokemon super effectively while being a really good move that Flygon can repeatedly use without much risk involved. Outrage is Flygon´s secondary STAB move that allows it to hit targets that resist or are immune to Ground for great damage, complementing Earthquake really well. Lastly, Iron Tail is necessary in order to hit Gardevoir, which would otherwise completely wall this set thanks to it Tracing Levitate, and it has the added benefit of dealing good damage to other Fairy-types like Florges and Whimsicott, the latter of which resists Earthquake.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment with an Adamant nature is recommended in order to maximize Flygon's offensive presence. Flygon can afford to run Adamant nature thanks to it outspeeding Pokemon like Kommo-o and Gardevoir naturally and Scarf Heracross at +1 Speed. A Jolly Nature can be used in order to avoid Speed ties against opposing Dragon Dance Flygon and to outspeed Pokemon like Roserade but the power difference is noticeable. Groundium Z is the preferred Z-Crystal, turning Earthquake into a powerful Tectonic Rage that Flygon can use in order to deal great damage to Fairy-types like Florges that would aim to switch into Flygon, aside from being a great neutral coverage move to hit grounded Pokemon. Dragonium Z is a good alternative Z-Crystal, turning Outrage into a powerful Devastating Drake that allows Flygon to hit Pokemon that resist Ground-type attacks like Shaymin way harder than Tectonic Rage would and to hit Pokemon like Mantine without having to lock Flygon into Outrage and risk it being revenge killed.
Usage Tips
========
To make the best use of Flygon's capabilities, it is better to provide it with safe opportunities to switch in through moves like U-turn and Volt Switch and to avoid it taking unnecessary damage, since it appreciates being healthy in order to have an easier time using Dragon Dance. Flygon's typing allows it to force out Pokemon like Gigalith, Doublade, and Rotom-H locked into Overheat or an Electric-type move, so this is where you can find the opportunity to use Dragon Dance. Z-Moves like Tectonic Rage and Devastating Drake are really strong moves despite Flygon's average Attack stat, so make sure to use them in order to get rid of a Pokemon that can be annoying for your team if the opportunity arises. Physically bulky Pokemon like Chesnaught, Gligar, Umbreon, Donphan, and Reuniclus must be weakened or removed before attempting to sweep after a Dragon Dance. Due to Flygon's typing, it can be prone to be lured by Ice-type coverage moves, so make sure that Pokemon like Rhyperior aren't running Ice Punch before attempting to set up on them.
Team Options
========
Steel-types like Doublade, Escavalier, and Bronzong can beat the Ice- and Fairy-types that Flygon struggles to deal with, while Flygon can beat the Fire-types that threaten them in return. Reuniclus and Nidoqueen make for nice partners, as Nidoqueen can lay down Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, which Flygon appreciates to pressure its checks and beat physically defensive Pokemon like Chesnaught, Mantine, and Gligar, while Reuniclus takes advantage of Fairy-types like Florges and Comfey by easily setting up Calm Mind against them. Spikes users like Chesnaught, Roserade, and Froslass make for great partners, since Flygon appreciates the chip damage that Spikes provides, which allows Flygon to net 2HKOs and OHKOs much more reliably and put pressure on its checks.
Bronzong can be a nuisance for this set thanks to its immunity to Earthquake and resistances to Outrage and Iron Tail, so Pokemon like Escavalier and Sneasel make for excellent partners because they pressure Bronzong through Knock Off or Pursuit. Zoroark makes for a notable partner thanks to its Illusion ability, being able to disguise itself and lure Bronzong and other defensive Pokemon to weaken them so Flygon can break through them. Wallbreakers like Salazzle, Durant, and Swellow make for great partners, punching holes in opposing teams with their immense power so Flygon can proceed to go for a Dragon Dance sweep. Heracross is a notable mention because it share similar checks to Flygon in Fairy-types, so it is easy to overwhelm them. Pokemon that provide U-turn or Volt Switch support like Whimsicott, Moltres, Rotom-C, Uxie, and Rotom-H give Flygon opportunities to switch in safely. Uxie and Whimsicott can also provide Memento support so Flygon has an easier time setting Dragon Dance up. Grass-types like Shaymin, Virizion, and Roserade can beat bulky Water-types like Slowbro, Milotic, and Mantine.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Dragon Claw / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn turns Flygon into a capable fast pivot with the ability to preserve offensive momentum through the match. Outrage is Flygon's main STAB move and provides it with a strong neutral attack capable of revenge killing frail offensive Pokemon like Swellow; it is also Flygon's main tool to clean weakened teams. Earthquake is Flygon's secondary STAB move and gives it a strong attack that can be used without many drawbacks. It is also Flygon's main attack to pressure Steel- and Rock-types. Dragon Claw, while weak, is a good option that gives Flygon a Dragon-type STAB move that can revenge kill weakened foes without the undesirable effect of getting locked into Outrage. Defog may seem like an odd choice for a Choice Scarf set, but it is a really useful option, allowing the user to get rid of entry hazards in a pinch after Flygon has performed its role. Aerial Ace can be used in the last moveslot in order to get the OHKO on Virizion and Heracross after Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
Jolly is the preferred nature on this set in order to outspeed opposing Dragon Dance Flygon, which are generally Adamant, while still getting the jump over other opposing Choice Scarf users like Heracross and special cases like +1 Sharpedo and Yanmega. 4 Special Defense EVs may seem like an arbitrary investment, but this means that whenever Flygon faces a Download Porygon2, it will raises its Attack stat instead. Adamant can be an option in order to have an easier time revenge killing Pokemon, but the risk of a Speed tie against opposing Dragon Dance Flygon makes it a rather unappealing choice.
Usage Tips
========
Flygon makes for a reliable Choice Scarf user thanks to its ability to gain and preserve offensive momentum with U-turn throughout the match, so make sure to consistently use this move at the start of a match. Due to Flygon's good combination of STAB moves alone, it can be a reliable revenge killer, being able to pick off many offensive Pokemon, and it can even sweep weakened teams in the late-game, so always look out for that possibility. Due to its relatively average Attack stat, Flygon is much more useful as a fast pivot, so repeatedly using U-turn in order to chip down opposing Pokemon and support your team through the pivoting is encouraged. The user must be careful of locking Flygon into Outrage early in the match, as despite being a reliable Choice Scarf user, Flygon isn't exceptionally strong; a mistimed Outrage could mean losing your Flygon in the process. Using Dragon Claw instead of Outrage to revenge kill weakened Pokemon or if opposing Fairy-types are still around is recommended so you can switch Flygon out. Lastly, make sure to only use Defog if you really need to get rid of Stealth Rock or Spikes or if Flygon is against a Pokemon that it can force out, as a misplay like this can be a huge momentum killer and could result in a KOed Flygon.
Team Options
========
This set makes for a good support option for teams by providing them with a fast pivot, so frail Pokemon that struggle to find opportunities to switch in like Sneasel, Bruxish, Mega Glalie, Sharpedo, and Durant really appreciate Flygon's pivoting capabilities. Electric-types like Galvantula, Rotom-C, and Rotom-H complete the VoltTurn core and can proceed to beat the bulky Water-types that tend to switch into Flygon. Setup sweepers like Cloyster, Minior, Virizion, and Toxicroak are examples of Pokemon that appreciate being given safe switches in through U-turn so they can get in the battle without taking unnecessary damage.
Grass-types like Shaymin, Chesnaught, and Roserade can beat the bulky Water-types that tend to switch into Flygon, while in return Flygon can check Pokemon like Salazzle. Chesnaught and Roserade are fine partners, in particular, because they provide Spikes, which can turn Flygon into a pretty annoying presence for opposing teams with the added chip damage. A wallbreaker like Salazzle makes for a great partner, since it absolutely loves switching into Fairy-types like Florges and Comfey and sturdy defensive Pokemon like Chesnaught, being able to pressure them with its STABs moves alone or just using them as setup bait with Nasty Plot. Salazzle also really appreciates the U-turn support and can pressure bulky Water-types like Slowbro with Acid Downpour.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Flygon can opt to run an offensive Defog set that differentiates itself by its Speed tier and more immediate offensive presence, but it fails to deliver the same degree of defensive utility that a Pokemon like Gligar would. Choice Band turns it into a really competent wallbreaker that differentiates itself thanks to its pivoting capabilities, but the presence of faster wallbreakers like Swellow and Salazzle makes this set unappealing due to its average Speed. Fire Punch can be used on the Dragon Dance set in order to hit Bronzong and KO Escavalier without needing to use a Z-Move, but Flygon finds better use out of Iron Tail, which is kind of necessary. Stone Edge can be used so Flygon can beat Pokemon like Mantine and hit Rotom-H without locking itself into Outrage, but it finds very little use for the move otherwise.
Life Orb can be used on the Dragon Dance set if a team consists of another Z-Move user. The increased damage output is pretty nice, but the Life Orb recoil makes Flygon an easier Pokemon to revenge kill. Steelium Z can be used to hit Fairy-types like Gardevoir and Florges without having to risk missing with Iron Tail, but Tectonic Rage and Devastating Drake are superior options that provide Flygon with a better matchup against most teams; besides, Gardevoir and Whimsicott cannot take an Iron Tail, and Florges can easily get KOed by +1 Tectonic Rage after just a bit of prior damage. Tailwind can be a nice alternative on the Choice Scarf set, providing the team with a last resort that would double their Speed for the next three turns. Toxic can be a decent alternative to catch bulky Water-types and Pokemon like Chesnaught, but it is kind of hard to fit on a moveset, since Flygon finds better use out of its other options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bronzong**: With an immunity to Ground-type attacks thanks to Levitate and a resistance to Outrage, Bronzong has the unique trait of being a Steel-type that Flygon is pretty helpless against. Bronzong can use Gyro Ball to severely damage Flygon or Toxic to put Flygon on a timer, which compromises its effectiveness.
**Fairy-types**: Pokemon like Florges, Whimsicott, and Gardevoir can be really annoying for Flygon to handle. Florges can take any unboosted hit and heavily dent Flygon, Whimsicott has Prankster Encore if Flygon ever goes for Dragon Dance, and against Gardevoir, you risk missing with Iron Tail.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types like Mantine, Slowbro, and Milotic can all take a hit and threaten to burn Flygon with Scald, which makes Flygon useless afterwards. Some of these Pokemon could even opt to run Haze, which can annoy Dragon Dance sets.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Sturdy physically defensive walls like Chesnaught, Mantine, and Umbreon can take either Tectonic Rage or Devastating Drake really well and proceed to beat Flygon one-on-one. Chesnaught can wear Flygon down with the combination of Leech Seed + Spiky Shield, Umbreon can deter the use of Dragon Dance thanks to Foul Play, and Mantine can either attempt to go for the Scald burn, put it on a timer with Toxic, or use Haze.
**Ice-types**: While they can't switch directly on Flygon, Ice-types like Sneasel, Mega Glalie, and Cloyster can all threaten it. Sneasel and Mega Glalie are really annoying for it thanks to their access to Ice Shard priority and by naturally outspeeding it, and Cloyster can take any hit and use Shell Smash even against +1 Flygon thanks to its high Defense.
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