qc: Tricking / sparktrain / Mambo
gp: Haund / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Honedge carves itself a niche in Little Cup thanks to its fantastic Steel / Ghost typing that lets it check or Pursuit trap major threats such as Abra, Porygon, and Fletchling. Honedge's typing is complemented by its high physical stats and good movepool, containing STAB priority in Shadow Sneak and coverage options such as Sacred Sword and Rock Slide to hit its counters. However, Honedge is slow and can be either extremely useful or complete deadweight depending on team matchup. A lack of recovery outside of Berry Juice combined with a Knock Off weakness makes it easy to wear down. In addition, it can barely make use of No Guard offensively and is left unable to dodge low-accuracy moves.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Pursuit / Swords Dance
move 4: Sacred Sword / Rock Slide
item: Berry Juice / Eviolite
ability: No Guard
nature: Careful
evs: 76 HP / 116 Atk / 36 Def / 220 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head is Honedge's strongest STAB attack and hits Fairy-types such as Spritzee super effectively. Shadow Sneak provides Honedge with STAB priority, letting it pick off threats that have been sufficiently weakened. Pursuit puts frailer Pokemon such as Fletchling and Abra into a checkmate position, weakening them significantly and making them easier to check later in the match. Alternatively, Swords Dance can be used to give Honedge much more offensive presence. Sacred Sword OHKOes Pawniard and 2HKOes Porygon after Stealth Rock damage. Rock Slide is a viable alternative that can catch would-be counters such as Vullaby and Fire-types on the switch, 2HKOing them after Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread with a Careful nature allows Honedge to survive many powerful super effective special attacks, including Fletchling's Overheat, Abra's Shadow Ball, and Download Porygon's Hidden Power Fire. The Attack and Speed investment lets Honedge hit a jump point in Attack and outspeed Spritzee, respectively, with the remaining EVs put into Defense to increase overall bulk. Berry Juice is Honedge's only form of recovery and gives it increased longevity, while Eviolite significantly increases its bulk. An alternate EV spread of 196 Atk / 36 Def / 220 SpD / 52 Spe with an Adamant nature is also viable; this spread works well with Swords Dance and allows Honedge to always 2HKO offensive Porygon, but it makes Honedge noticeably less bulky.
Usage Tips
========
Use Honedge as a switch-in to powerful special attackers such as Porygon and Abra, Fairy-types such as Spritzee, and certain physical attackers such as Fletchling and Shellder. Pursuit is useful to guarantee that opposing Abra's Focus Sashes will be broken and leave opposing Fletchling at very low health if Stealth Rock is up. Use Shadow Sneak to pick off threats that are weak to Ghost, such as Drifloon. The combination of Pursuit and Shadow Sneak can force mind games with threats such as Gastly and Drifloon; however, Honedge must be careful around these Pokemon, as a misprediction can leave it crippled or KOed. Honedge is severely crippled by burns and cannot dodge Will-O-Wisp, so try to avoid users of Will-O-Wisp and Scald. When using Honedge, be careful to avoid Knock Off users if its Berry Juice has not been consumed, as they can easily cripple or KO Honedge by removing its only form of recovery. However, if its Berry Juice has been consumed, Honedge can serve as a decent Pawniard lure, as it is not OHKOed by any of Pawniard's Dark-type STAB attacks while Pawniard is OHKOed by Sacred Sword in return.
Team Options
========
Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr make excellent teammates for Honedge, as they greatly appreciate Honedge's ability to deal with Fletchling, Abra, and Fairy-types and can absorb Knock Offs for it. Fairy-types are also useful for switching into Knock Offs. Spritzee can keep Honedge healthy with Wish support, while Snubbull is a better Knock off absorber and can provide Speed control with Thunder Wave. Bulky Water-types such as Chinchou work well with Honedge, as they beat Fire-types, some of Honedge's most potent counters. Honedge works well on sun teams because it can trap and eliminate Abra and Fletchling, two of the biggest threats to the playstyle. Entry hazard support from the likes of Drilbur helps Honedge get additional KOs, most notably against opposing Porygon and Fletchling.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic makes Honedge a much better Porygon counter, but Honedge struggles to find a moveslot for it. Autotomize is an alternative boosting option that synergizes well with Destiny Bond, but Honedge is usually too weak to sweep and is still relatively slow after a boost. Shadow Claw deals with certain Pokemon such as Pumpkaboo-XL and Shellder better than anything else Honedge uses. Honedge has a number of other potentially viable options including Magnet Rise and Reflect; it is too slow to make these consistently effective, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Honedge lacks a way to do much damage to Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr, allowing them to switch into Honedge safely and force it out with the threat of a super effective Knock Off.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily force out Honedge with the threat of a burn or a super effective STAB Flare Blitz. They must watch out for Rock Slide, however.
**Water-types**: Honedge cannot do much damage to Water-types, while they can force Honedge out with the threat of a crippling Scald burn.
**Ground-types**: Honedge cannot 2HKO common Ground-types such as Drilbur and Hippopotas and is forced out by the threat of a super effective STAB Earthquake.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Pawniard and Vullaby can threaten Honedge with a super effective STAB Knock Off. Honedge can hit them on the switch with either Sacred Sword or Rock Slide, depending on the Pokemon.
gp: Haund / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Honedge carves itself a niche in Little Cup thanks to its fantastic Steel / Ghost typing that lets it check or Pursuit trap major threats such as Abra, Porygon, and Fletchling. Honedge's typing is complemented by its high physical stats and good movepool, containing STAB priority in Shadow Sneak and coverage options such as Sacred Sword and Rock Slide to hit its counters. However, Honedge is slow and can be either extremely useful or complete deadweight depending on team matchup. A lack of recovery outside of Berry Juice combined with a Knock Off weakness makes it easy to wear down. In addition, it can barely make use of No Guard offensively and is left unable to dodge low-accuracy moves.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Pursuit / Swords Dance
move 4: Sacred Sword / Rock Slide
item: Berry Juice / Eviolite
ability: No Guard
nature: Careful
evs: 76 HP / 116 Atk / 36 Def / 220 SpD / 52 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head is Honedge's strongest STAB attack and hits Fairy-types such as Spritzee super effectively. Shadow Sneak provides Honedge with STAB priority, letting it pick off threats that have been sufficiently weakened. Pursuit puts frailer Pokemon such as Fletchling and Abra into a checkmate position, weakening them significantly and making them easier to check later in the match. Alternatively, Swords Dance can be used to give Honedge much more offensive presence. Sacred Sword OHKOes Pawniard and 2HKOes Porygon after Stealth Rock damage. Rock Slide is a viable alternative that can catch would-be counters such as Vullaby and Fire-types on the switch, 2HKOing them after Stealth Rock damage.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread with a Careful nature allows Honedge to survive many powerful super effective special attacks, including Fletchling's Overheat, Abra's Shadow Ball, and Download Porygon's Hidden Power Fire. The Attack and Speed investment lets Honedge hit a jump point in Attack and outspeed Spritzee, respectively, with the remaining EVs put into Defense to increase overall bulk. Berry Juice is Honedge's only form of recovery and gives it increased longevity, while Eviolite significantly increases its bulk. An alternate EV spread of 196 Atk / 36 Def / 220 SpD / 52 Spe with an Adamant nature is also viable; this spread works well with Swords Dance and allows Honedge to always 2HKO offensive Porygon, but it makes Honedge noticeably less bulky.
Usage Tips
========
Use Honedge as a switch-in to powerful special attackers such as Porygon and Abra, Fairy-types such as Spritzee, and certain physical attackers such as Fletchling and Shellder. Pursuit is useful to guarantee that opposing Abra's Focus Sashes will be broken and leave opposing Fletchling at very low health if Stealth Rock is up. Use Shadow Sneak to pick off threats that are weak to Ghost, such as Drifloon. The combination of Pursuit and Shadow Sneak can force mind games with threats such as Gastly and Drifloon; however, Honedge must be careful around these Pokemon, as a misprediction can leave it crippled or KOed. Honedge is severely crippled by burns and cannot dodge Will-O-Wisp, so try to avoid users of Will-O-Wisp and Scald. When using Honedge, be careful to avoid Knock Off users if its Berry Juice has not been consumed, as they can easily cripple or KO Honedge by removing its only form of recovery. However, if its Berry Juice has been consumed, Honedge can serve as a decent Pawniard lure, as it is not OHKOed by any of Pawniard's Dark-type STAB attacks while Pawniard is OHKOed by Sacred Sword in return.
Team Options
========
Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr make excellent teammates for Honedge, as they greatly appreciate Honedge's ability to deal with Fletchling, Abra, and Fairy-types and can absorb Knock Offs for it. Fairy-types are also useful for switching into Knock Offs. Spritzee can keep Honedge healthy with Wish support, while Snubbull is a better Knock off absorber and can provide Speed control with Thunder Wave. Bulky Water-types such as Chinchou work well with Honedge, as they beat Fire-types, some of Honedge's most potent counters. Honedge works well on sun teams because it can trap and eliminate Abra and Fletchling, two of the biggest threats to the playstyle. Entry hazard support from the likes of Drilbur helps Honedge get additional KOs, most notably against opposing Porygon and Fletchling.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic makes Honedge a much better Porygon counter, but Honedge struggles to find a moveslot for it. Autotomize is an alternative boosting option that synergizes well with Destiny Bond, but Honedge is usually too weak to sweep and is still relatively slow after a boost. Shadow Claw deals with certain Pokemon such as Pumpkaboo-XL and Shellder better than anything else Honedge uses. Honedge has a number of other potentially viable options including Magnet Rise and Reflect; it is too slow to make these consistently effective, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Honedge lacks a way to do much damage to Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr, allowing them to switch into Honedge safely and force it out with the threat of a super effective Knock Off.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can easily force out Honedge with the threat of a burn or a super effective STAB Flare Blitz. They must watch out for Rock Slide, however.
**Water-types**: Honedge cannot do much damage to Water-types, while they can force Honedge out with the threat of a crippling Scald burn.
**Ground-types**: Honedge cannot 2HKO common Ground-types such as Drilbur and Hippopotas and is forced out by the threat of a super effective STAB Earthquake.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Pawniard and Vullaby can threaten Honedge with a super effective STAB Knock Off. Honedge can hit them on the switch with either Sacred Sword or Rock Slide, depending on the Pokemon.
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