phantom
Banned deucer.
[SET]
name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Roost / Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>You'll find that by using Agility, Moltres has all the tools it needs to pull off an effective sweeping set. With enough power to 2HKO the entire tier—as a result easily forcing switches to set up—and after a single boost, outspeed all Pokemon bar a few Unburden users, Moltres has the capability to double up as a simultaneous wallbreaker and sweeper. While Moltres is more often seen using traditional wallbreaking sets or acting as a wall itself, by making use of Agility, it can take it another step further by bringing its terrifying power to the face of both defensive and offensive teams alike.</p>
<p>Exploiting this set's power is all about executing it at the best possible moment; in other words, save it for mid- to late-game. In those time frames (provided that you play well), you'll find that Moltres has everything it needs to execute its sweep: the opposing team is properly weakened and have entry hazards placed on their side of the field. It is best to use Agility when Moltres forces out a bulky Grass-type or when facing an opponent that is Choice-locked into a resisted attack. When against a bulky target that takes neutral damage from all three of Moltres's attacks, such as Clefable, Bouffalant, and Uxie, it is better to use Hurricane as opposed to Flamethrower; this is especially true due to the fact that if either of the previously mentioned Pokemon have not attained enough residual damage, they will be able to take a Flamethrower and either cripple or outright OHKO Moltres. In stark contrast to Hurricane, Flamethrower doesn't have that shaky 70% accuracy. This is quite useful in situations where Moltres is up against fast, frail attackers such as Cinccino, Unburden Hitmonlee, and Accelgor. A miss against these types of Pokemon will likely make the difference between a continued sweep and a dead sweeper.</p>
<p>The final two moves are dependent on how you plan to support Moltres. If you decide to make it a primary goal to keep Stealth Rock off the field, then making use of Hidden Power Grass is useful, as it allows Moltres to demolish both Rhydon and Omastar—two Pokemon that resist Moltres's STABs. Hidden Power Grass's perfect accuracy also makes it "safer" to use than Hurricane when it comes to dealing with bulky Water-types such as Alomomola. However, if you plan on supporting Moltres by pairing it with Grass-type attackers, you'll find that Roost can be useful in more ways than one. First off, Roost allows Moltres to regain its health from Stealth Rock should its Rapid Spinning partner fail to keep the entry hazard off the field. Second, you'll find that Moltres can take advantage of Pressure + Roost to play mind games with the likes of Sucker Punch Absol. Thirdly, Roost will allow Moltres to offset the damage from Life Orb recoil and/or priority attacks against less threatening targets. In short, whichever of the two moves you decide to use in the last slot is dependent on how Moltres functions relative to the structure of your team.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>First and foremost, the given EVs allow Moltres to outspeed Choice Scarf Cinccino and Unburden Hitmonlee after an Agility boost; once boosted by Agility, the Speed EVs give Moltres an almost guaranteed win condition versus offensive teams. This win condition is supplemented by the fact that Moltres can easily one-shot, most if not all standard hyper-offensive Pokemon and withstand the strongest priority moves in RU at least once. However, Moltres can make use of a bulkier spread. For example, a spread consisting of 96 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 156 Spe with Leftovers as the main item and a Modest nature is most certainly a viable alternative. After an Agility boost, the given spread allows Moltres to outspeed everything up to Choice Scarf Manectric. Moreover, the bulkier EV spread combined with Leftovers allows Moltres to withstand priority attacks with greater ease. For instance, Moltres now has the bulk to take not one, but two of Choice Band Entei's ExtremeSpeeds and avoid the 2HKO From Spiritomb's Black Glasses-boosted Sucker Punch.</p>
<p>The only other viable move Moltres can make use of on this set is Fire Blast. Generally, it is better to use Flamethrower in place of Fire Blast, as having two inaccurate STABs can prove to be costly in situations where Moltres cannot afford to miss. However, Fire Blast's 85% accuracy isn't as shaky as Hurricane's 70%, so the risk factor is considerably lower. Although the main draw when it comes to utilizing Fire Blast is the increased damage output—in contrast to Flamethrower—along with the increased accuracy—in contrast to Hurricane—which allows Moltres to OHKO the likes of offensive Spiritomb and Mesprit without relying on Hurricane's coin flip-like consistency.</p>
<p>As with any Moltres set, Pokemon that can utilize Rapid Spin aid it immensely given that Stealth Rock damage will deteriorate its performance. When the pointed stones aren't jabbing away at its health, Moltres will have an easier time setting up and be better equipped to take on priority attackers. To get an idea of how vital it is to keep Stealth Rock off the field, Moltres is put into KO range for a slew of priority attacks it would have otherwise survived at full health. For example, Absol's Sucker Punch, Choice Band Entei's ExtremeSpeed, and Feraligatr's Aqua Jet get a clean OHKO after Stealth Rock damage. Moreover, Moltres now finds itself OHKOed by even resisted attacks such as Adamant Medicham's Hi Jump Kick. By providing Moltres with Rapid Spin support, it not only has an easier time setting up for a sweep, but it is able to maintain that sweep too. Kabutops and Cryogonal are the most reliable at providing Moltres with Rapid Spin support. Kabutops has the distinction of being able to defeat every spinblocker one-on-one, allowing it to pull off a Rapid Spin with a high success rate. Kabutops can even lure out Grass-types for Moltres to set up on. In terms of offensive synergy, both Kabutops and Moltres compliment each other very well, as after a Swords Dance boost, Kabutops can take down Lanturn, Rhydon, and Omastar with ease, thus paving the way for Moltres's sweep. Unlike Kabutops, Cryogonal has a much easier lasting throughout the match thanks to its access to reliable recovery. Cryogonal also checks Electric-types that harry Moltres, such as Manectric, Galvantula, Lanturn, and Rotom.</p>
<p>Do note, however, that both Pokemon share some distinct flaws with Moltres; Kabutops and Moltres both share a weakness to Electric-type attacks, while Cryogonal and Moltres are both quickly dealt with by powerful Rock-types such as Aerodactyl. It is imperative to provide each of the following pairs with the right support. For example, Kabutops and Moltres will appreciate Druddigon's partnership so that it can provide the two with entry hazard support in the form of Stealth Rock and act as a bulwark for Electric- and Water-type attacks. On the other hand, Cryogonal and Moltres will appreciate support from the likes of Tangrowth, by providing both the two a solid switch-in to many physical attackers and a way to deal with Water-types in general.</p>
<p>In order to optimize on Moltres's ability to dish out damage, entry hazard support is highly recommended. Entry hazard support allows Moltres to achieve a plethora of KOs it wouldn't have otherwise. For example, with the aid of Stealth Rock, Moltres can take out Bouffalant, Mesprit, offensive Spiritomb, and Entei in one shot with Hurricane. In addition, entry hazard support breaks Focus Sashes and Sturdy from the likes of Crustle and Accelgor, with the former item being common on hyper offensive teams. By removing their lease on life, Moltres will not have to fear an OHKO from either Accelgor's Hidden Power Rock or Crustle's Rock Blast. One of the best partners to set up Stealth Rock is Smeargle. On top of setting up Stealth Rock, Smeargle can also set up Spikes, give Moltres a chance to set up with the use of Spore, and help get it in safely with Explosion, Memento, or U-turn. Just like Smeargle, Rotom-C and Amoonguss can help get Moltres in safely or give it free setup opportunities with Volt Switch and Spore, respectively. Due to their Grass typing, offensive variants of Rotom-C and Amoonguss can take out many of Moltres's checks if it lacks Hidden Power Grass. Such Pokemon include Rhydon, Omastar, Lanturn, and Regirock. Similar offensive support involves Pokemon that can break down walls; the likes of Clefable, mixed Absol, and Emboar all work effectively at doing so. While none of those three Pokemon share particularly good synergy with Moltres, they all come with other added benefits. The entire premise of pairing Moltres and Emboar is to overload the opposition's Fire-type check(s), as they are more likely to stay in on Emboar as opposed to a Grass-type; by weakening these Pokemon, Moltres will have an easier time attempting to sweep. In contrast to Emboar, Clefable's respectable bulk allows it to easily switch into Moltres's defensive checks such as Lanturn and Slowking. From there, it can proceed to demolish the two with its STAB- and Life Orb-boosted Double-Edge. Absol can take it a step further by Pursuit trapping the likes of Uxie and Slowking, both of which can tank an attack at full health and and cripple Moltres with Thunder Wave. In a similar vein to Absol, Escavalier can also Pursuit trap the above Pokemon and other dedicated special sponges such as Clefable and Lanturn (watch out for Scald burns), but its excellent bulk in comparison gives it a much easier time switching in.</p>
name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Roost / Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>You'll find that by using Agility, Moltres has all the tools it needs to pull off an effective sweeping set. With enough power to 2HKO the entire tier—as a result easily forcing switches to set up—and after a single boost, outspeed all Pokemon bar a few Unburden users, Moltres has the capability to double up as a simultaneous wallbreaker and sweeper. While Moltres is more often seen using traditional wallbreaking sets or acting as a wall itself, by making use of Agility, it can take it another step further by bringing its terrifying power to the face of both defensive and offensive teams alike.</p>
<p>Exploiting this set's power is all about executing it at the best possible moment; in other words, save it for mid- to late-game. In those time frames (provided that you play well), you'll find that Moltres has everything it needs to execute its sweep: the opposing team is properly weakened and have entry hazards placed on their side of the field. It is best to use Agility when Moltres forces out a bulky Grass-type or when facing an opponent that is Choice-locked into a resisted attack. When against a bulky target that takes neutral damage from all three of Moltres's attacks, such as Clefable, Bouffalant, and Uxie, it is better to use Hurricane as opposed to Flamethrower; this is especially true due to the fact that if either of the previously mentioned Pokemon have not attained enough residual damage, they will be able to take a Flamethrower and either cripple or outright OHKO Moltres. In stark contrast to Hurricane, Flamethrower doesn't have that shaky 70% accuracy. This is quite useful in situations where Moltres is up against fast, frail attackers such as Cinccino, Unburden Hitmonlee, and Accelgor. A miss against these types of Pokemon will likely make the difference between a continued sweep and a dead sweeper.</p>
<p>The final two moves are dependent on how you plan to support Moltres. If you decide to make it a primary goal to keep Stealth Rock off the field, then making use of Hidden Power Grass is useful, as it allows Moltres to demolish both Rhydon and Omastar—two Pokemon that resist Moltres's STABs. Hidden Power Grass's perfect accuracy also makes it "safer" to use than Hurricane when it comes to dealing with bulky Water-types such as Alomomola. However, if you plan on supporting Moltres by pairing it with Grass-type attackers, you'll find that Roost can be useful in more ways than one. First off, Roost allows Moltres to regain its health from Stealth Rock should its Rapid Spinning partner fail to keep the entry hazard off the field. Second, you'll find that Moltres can take advantage of Pressure + Roost to play mind games with the likes of Sucker Punch Absol. Thirdly, Roost will allow Moltres to offset the damage from Life Orb recoil and/or priority attacks against less threatening targets. In short, whichever of the two moves you decide to use in the last slot is dependent on how Moltres functions relative to the structure of your team.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>First and foremost, the given EVs allow Moltres to outspeed Choice Scarf Cinccino and Unburden Hitmonlee after an Agility boost; once boosted by Agility, the Speed EVs give Moltres an almost guaranteed win condition versus offensive teams. This win condition is supplemented by the fact that Moltres can easily one-shot, most if not all standard hyper-offensive Pokemon and withstand the strongest priority moves in RU at least once. However, Moltres can make use of a bulkier spread. For example, a spread consisting of 96 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 156 Spe with Leftovers as the main item and a Modest nature is most certainly a viable alternative. After an Agility boost, the given spread allows Moltres to outspeed everything up to Choice Scarf Manectric. Moreover, the bulkier EV spread combined with Leftovers allows Moltres to withstand priority attacks with greater ease. For instance, Moltres now has the bulk to take not one, but two of Choice Band Entei's ExtremeSpeeds and avoid the 2HKO From Spiritomb's Black Glasses-boosted Sucker Punch.</p>
<p>The only other viable move Moltres can make use of on this set is Fire Blast. Generally, it is better to use Flamethrower in place of Fire Blast, as having two inaccurate STABs can prove to be costly in situations where Moltres cannot afford to miss. However, Fire Blast's 85% accuracy isn't as shaky as Hurricane's 70%, so the risk factor is considerably lower. Although the main draw when it comes to utilizing Fire Blast is the increased damage output—in contrast to Flamethrower—along with the increased accuracy—in contrast to Hurricane—which allows Moltres to OHKO the likes of offensive Spiritomb and Mesprit without relying on Hurricane's coin flip-like consistency.</p>
<p>As with any Moltres set, Pokemon that can utilize Rapid Spin aid it immensely given that Stealth Rock damage will deteriorate its performance. When the pointed stones aren't jabbing away at its health, Moltres will have an easier time setting up and be better equipped to take on priority attackers. To get an idea of how vital it is to keep Stealth Rock off the field, Moltres is put into KO range for a slew of priority attacks it would have otherwise survived at full health. For example, Absol's Sucker Punch, Choice Band Entei's ExtremeSpeed, and Feraligatr's Aqua Jet get a clean OHKO after Stealth Rock damage. Moreover, Moltres now finds itself OHKOed by even resisted attacks such as Adamant Medicham's Hi Jump Kick. By providing Moltres with Rapid Spin support, it not only has an easier time setting up for a sweep, but it is able to maintain that sweep too. Kabutops and Cryogonal are the most reliable at providing Moltres with Rapid Spin support. Kabutops has the distinction of being able to defeat every spinblocker one-on-one, allowing it to pull off a Rapid Spin with a high success rate. Kabutops can even lure out Grass-types for Moltres to set up on. In terms of offensive synergy, both Kabutops and Moltres compliment each other very well, as after a Swords Dance boost, Kabutops can take down Lanturn, Rhydon, and Omastar with ease, thus paving the way for Moltres's sweep. Unlike Kabutops, Cryogonal has a much easier lasting throughout the match thanks to its access to reliable recovery. Cryogonal also checks Electric-types that harry Moltres, such as Manectric, Galvantula, Lanturn, and Rotom.</p>
<p>Do note, however, that both Pokemon share some distinct flaws with Moltres; Kabutops and Moltres both share a weakness to Electric-type attacks, while Cryogonal and Moltres are both quickly dealt with by powerful Rock-types such as Aerodactyl. It is imperative to provide each of the following pairs with the right support. For example, Kabutops and Moltres will appreciate Druddigon's partnership so that it can provide the two with entry hazard support in the form of Stealth Rock and act as a bulwark for Electric- and Water-type attacks. On the other hand, Cryogonal and Moltres will appreciate support from the likes of Tangrowth, by providing both the two a solid switch-in to many physical attackers and a way to deal with Water-types in general.</p>
<p>In order to optimize on Moltres's ability to dish out damage, entry hazard support is highly recommended. Entry hazard support allows Moltres to achieve a plethora of KOs it wouldn't have otherwise. For example, with the aid of Stealth Rock, Moltres can take out Bouffalant, Mesprit, offensive Spiritomb, and Entei in one shot with Hurricane. In addition, entry hazard support breaks Focus Sashes and Sturdy from the likes of Crustle and Accelgor, with the former item being common on hyper offensive teams. By removing their lease on life, Moltres will not have to fear an OHKO from either Accelgor's Hidden Power Rock or Crustle's Rock Blast. One of the best partners to set up Stealth Rock is Smeargle. On top of setting up Stealth Rock, Smeargle can also set up Spikes, give Moltres a chance to set up with the use of Spore, and help get it in safely with Explosion, Memento, or U-turn. Just like Smeargle, Rotom-C and Amoonguss can help get Moltres in safely or give it free setup opportunities with Volt Switch and Spore, respectively. Due to their Grass typing, offensive variants of Rotom-C and Amoonguss can take out many of Moltres's checks if it lacks Hidden Power Grass. Such Pokemon include Rhydon, Omastar, Lanturn, and Regirock. Similar offensive support involves Pokemon that can break down walls; the likes of Clefable, mixed Absol, and Emboar all work effectively at doing so. While none of those three Pokemon share particularly good synergy with Moltres, they all come with other added benefits. The entire premise of pairing Moltres and Emboar is to overload the opposition's Fire-type check(s), as they are more likely to stay in on Emboar as opposed to a Grass-type; by weakening these Pokemon, Moltres will have an easier time attempting to sweep. In contrast to Emboar, Clefable's respectable bulk allows it to easily switch into Moltres's defensive checks such as Lanturn and Slowking. From there, it can proceed to demolish the two with its STAB- and Life Orb-boosted Double-Edge. Absol can take it a step further by Pursuit trapping the likes of Uxie and Slowking, both of which can tank an attack at full health and and cripple Moltres with Thunder Wave. In a similar vein to Absol, Escavalier can also Pursuit trap the above Pokemon and other dedicated special sponges such as Clefable and Lanturn (watch out for Scald burns), but its excellent bulk in comparison gives it a much easier time switching in.</p>
Why this set deserves to be onsite:
- moltres's other sets play as wallbreakers / walls so this set flips those conventional uses upside their heads and turns moltres into a formidable sweeper
- has power almost equivalent to choice specs moltres but it can actually switch moves
- outspeeds the entire tier after an agility boost, making it impossible to revenge kill outside of priority
- completely wrecks offensive teams mid-late game
- still has the power to decimate slower teams due to its ridiculous damage output
- agility is the whole point the set even exists, as it allows moltres to outspeed the entire tier once boosted and then ravage through teams with its insane power
- Hurricane allows moltres to handle most fire-type resists and is in general a very destructive attack
- Flamethrower is chosen because it is much more reliable than hurricane and is especially important in those situations where you can't afford a miss
- Roost allows Moltres to heal itself from SR damage should its rapid spin partner fail and also works well by playing mind games with sucker punch absol and spiritomb
- Hidden Power grass on the other hand, is a more reliable way at handling water-types such as omastar and ground-types such as rhydon
- the speed evs allow it to outspeed unburden hitmonlee after an agility boost, this prevents hitmonlee from revenge killing it with a combination of fake out + stone edge
- the HP evs helps cushion the impact of many priority attacks
- rapid spin support is very helpful so that moltres isn't totally screwed by stealth rock; Cryogonal and Kabutops both help out in this regard
- entry hazard support from the likes of smeargle and crustle helps moltres sweep easier and the sleep support from smeargle and can potentially give moltres a chance to nab a free agility boost
- if it's not carrying hidden power grass, then moltres appreciates support from the likes of sceptile and lilligant to help deal with lanturn, slowking, and rhydon
- offensive amoongus can work too and can even put a pokemon to sleep and give moltres a chance to set up
- pursuit support from esca to chip away at slowking and other annoying special walls
- likes having wallbreaker support from absol and clefable so it can sweep a little easier
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