QC: iVid / all falls down / Eien
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / Rare Poison
**Rock:**
As one of Rock's most flexible offensive Pokemon, Terrakion provides an invaluable presence on Rock teams and contributes to the success of many teams. Its unique Rock and Fighting STAB combination supplemented by powerful attacks in Close Combat and Stone Edge provides useful coverage and makes it difficult to wall. In particular, Fighting STAB is extremely useful for beating Steel-types, which most of Terrakion's offensive teammates will have trouble breaking through. With base 108 Speed, Terrakion is one of the fastest Rock-types available and effectively takes advantage of this by acting as an ideal wallbreaker and revenge killer. However, Terrakion is still limited in what it can do, as both of its main STAB attacks have drawbacks, and although it provides great STAB coverage, it doesn't add much defensive synergy to the team. Despite this, it has the ability to fit what most Rock teams need and can improve almost any Rock team.
**Fighting:**
With useful STAB coverage, good Speed, and a Flying neutrality, Terrakion fits well on Fighting teams, which tend to be offensively inclined. Terrakion's great Speed tier lets it outspeed most common Choice Scarf Pokemon, most notably Victini and Togekiss. Although it might not have the bulk to take too many hits, Terrakion has enough natural bulk to check Flying-types that the team might struggle with if it needs to and thus eases pressure off its teammates. Mega Pinsir is a great example of this, as Terrakion is Fighting's only real check for it. However, since Terrakion typically holds a Choice Scarf in order to revenge kill Pokemon more easily, it may find itself lacking power against defensive Pokemon, such as Skarmory, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, so it relies on its teammates to help weaken these walls first. Late-game, however, is when Terrakion shines and shows why most Fighting teams don't go without it.
[SET]
name: Choice Band (Rock)
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake / Iron Head
move 4: Quick Attack / Iron Head
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat, as a STAB attack with a high Base Power, breaks through Dark-, Normal-, and Steel-types or simply anything that doesn't resist Fighting, just at the cost of lowering Terrakion's defensive stats, which Terrakion doesn't need to worry about too much. Stone Edge is a secondary STAB move that rounds out Terrakion's coverage by hitting the Pokemon that Close Combat misses out on, such as Poison-, Flying-, Fairy-, and Ghost-types. This power comes with some risk, as Stone Edge has unreliable accuracy. Because Terrakion already has great coverage between its two main STAB moves, the final two moveslots are very flexible. Although Earthquake generally has redundant coverage alongside Close Combat, it fits on this set because it hits Doublade, Nidoking, and Golurk, which wall Terrakion otherwise and pose a threat to Rock as a whole, and it has reliable accuracy, good power, and no drawbacks. Because Rock Monotype doesn't have access to common priority users, Quick Attack is an option, since it can be used to pick off weakened threats like Belly Drum + Aqua Jet Azumarill. Iron Head hits Clefable, Sylveon, Mega Gardevoir, and other Fairy-types more reliably than Stone Edge with a nifty chance to flinch. Rock Slide can be used as a more reliable Rock STAB move with a respectable accuracy that KOes weakened foes with a useful chance to flinch, which may make a difference when wearing down sturdier physical walls.
Set Details
========
Choice Band raises Terrakion's Attack to dangerous levels so it needs much less support to defeat physical walls, 2HKOing Skarmory with Close Combat. The given EV spread maximizes Attack and Speed and helps Terrakion hit as hard and fast as possible, which is Terrakion's main function. A Jolly nature is used to maximize Terrakion's Speed and allows it to Speed tie with other base 108 Speed Pokemon such as Keldeo, Cobalion, Infernape, and Galvantula. Justified is Terrakion's only ability, but it provides a useful Attack boost in a few situations.
Usage Tips
========
This set operates with high risk and high reward; wise positioning of Terrakion throughout the game through proper double switches and free switches will allow it to find more opportunities to chip away at physical walls or earn valuable KOs by using its teammates to eliminate its checks and counters. Terrakion has decent bulk, but be careful when hard switching Terrakion into battle, as it has weaknesses to common attacking types and can't take powerful neutral attacks. Prevent Terrakion from locking itself into moves that allow the opponent to set up; Quick Attack is especially dangerous to lock into. Therefore, it should only be used in emergencies, like against a weakened Belly Drum Azumarill.
Team Options
========
Sticky Web Shuckle helps patch up Terrakion's slight Speed issue, allowing it to outspeed and OHKO Keldeo, and prevents several Choice Scarf Pokemon from easily revenge killing Terrakion, like Hoopa-U, Togekiss, and Gardevoir. Mega Diancie helps protect Terrakion from status by bouncing back Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave with Magic Bounce and removes Sableye and Fighting-types. Pursuit Tyranitar traps Psychic- and Ghost-types in order to allow Terrakion to spam Close Combat more easily. Shell Smash Omastar takes advantage of Ground-types and physical walls that Terrakion struggles with, like Skarmory, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon. Cradily also beats many Ground-types and deals with bulky Water-types that Terrakion struggles with thanks to Storm Drain. Rhyperior can help check physical Steel-, Ground-, and Fighting-types like Mega Scizor while also absorbing Thunder Wave. RestTalk Mega Aggron is another great status absorber and checks the Fairy-, Grass-, and Steel-types that Terrakion hates. Mega Aerodactyl handles the bulky Grass-types that Terrakion doesn't like taking on and can also provide Tailwind support while appreciating Terrakion's ability to remove bulky Steel-, Normal-, and Rock-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Fighting)
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Earthquake / Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stone Edge is a useful STAB attack that lets Terrakion nail the Flying-types that Fighting Monotype dreads, but its infamously poor accuracy makes it difficult to rely on. Close Combat is another STAB attack but one with higher accuracy and power that also complements Stone Edge's coverage. It also has the side effect of lowering Terrakion's defenses, however. Iron Head hits Fairy-types like Mega Diancie, Choice Scarf Gardevoir, and Clefable harder than Stone Edge, which can be difficult to revenge kill otherwise. The final moveslot can be altered to whichever you prefer, as Terrakion only needs Stone Edge, Close Combat, and Iron Head to perform well. Earthquake generally offers redundant coverage with Fighting STAB, as they both hit Rock- and Steel-types, but it does hit Doublade for decent damage. Relying on Stone Edge's accuracy to check certain threats can be detrimental in some cases, so Rock Slide could be used alongside it, as its improved accuracy and chance to flinch allow it to be effective against Pokemon that are weakened or easy for Terrakion to OHKO, making it more useful late-game.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf helps Terrakion keep many setup sweepers in check, boosting its Speed to a fantastic level. Outspeeding Tornadus-T, Mega Diancie, Mega Pinsir under Sticky Web, and many more, this offensive support tremendously helps out Fighting Monotype teams. Terrakion also has higher Speed than many other Choice Scarf Pokemon, such as Togekiss and Victini. A Jolly nature is used to outspeed base 100 Speed Choice Scarf Pokemon and below, most notably Hydreigon and Kyurem-B. Justified has the potential to provide a useful Attack boost, but it is very situational, so it shouldn't be relied upon. The EV spread maximizes Attack and Speed, as Terrakion doesn't have any viable reason to invest in other stats.
Usage Tips
========
Terrakion is best utilized late-game, when its checks have been weakened. Playing offensively early-game through double switches and utilizing Terrakion's teammates make it easier to reach the point where Terrakion can clean more easily. Terrakion also takes full advantage of free switches after a teammate faints, as it revenge kills several targets effectively. If Terrakion is needed to check dangerous sweepers like Mega Pinsir, keep it healthy until then, as, in Mega Pinsir's case, falling into +2 Quick Attack's KO range is devastating. For dangerous fast setup sweepers, it is important to safely send Terrakion in before they become faster than Terrakion with moves like Quiver Dance or Dragon Dance. Dragonite, Mega Gyarados, and Giga Drain Volcarona beat Terrakion at +2. Avoiding status is important for Terrakion, as burns halve its Attack, paralysis quarters its Speed, and Toxic wears it down quickly.
Team Options
========
Choice Specs Keldeo is one of the best partners for Terrakion. It appreciates Terrakion's ability to revenge kill faster Flying-types, and Terrakion needs Keldeo to break through bulky Ground-types as well as physical walls in general. Similarly to Keldeo, Breloom and Mega Heracross are also good offensive Pokemon to pair up with Terrakion. They keep Ground- and Water-types in check while improving the team's matchup against opposing weather teams that utilize faster sweepers like Mega Swampert and Sand Rush Excadrill. Mega Medicham is a great wallbreaker that puts intense pressure on defensive cores that beat Terrakion. Mega Gallade helps pave the way for Terrakion's sweep by weakening Terrakion's checks through the sheer power provided by Swords Dance, by using Knock Off to weaken Psychic-types as well as Doublade, and by removing bulky Poison-types like Mega Venusaur with its Psychic-type STAB moves. Conkeldurr absorbs status for Terrakion and helps remove Doublade and other Ghost-types with Knock Off. Both Cobalion and Infernape can set up Stealth Rock, which is integral for Terrakion's sweep. Infernape can also remove Skarmory and Doublade with its Fire STAB attacks. Hawlucha possesses a handy Fighting resistance and Ground immunity, and it works well late-game with Terrakion because they both weaken each other's checks decently well. Lastly, Guts Heracross can eliminate bulky Psychic-types like Slowbro and Mew that Terrakion can't break past while also absorbing status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Rock:**
Terrakion can make use of other sets such as Substitute + Swords Dance to dodge debilitating status moves like Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave from Mew and other status users, which Terrakion otherwise loses to. X-Scissor can be used because it lets Terrakion 2HKO defensive Slowbro with Stealth Rock up, but, for the most part, it will do less damage than Terrakion's STAB attacks and has poor coverage outside of Psychic-types. Life Orb is an option because, although weaker than Choice Band, it provides useful, immediate power without locking Terrakion into a move, making it harder for setup sweepers to take advantage of it. It also opens up more options for the final moveslot, such as Taunt. Missing out on the 2HKO against Skarmory is a serious problem, however. A Focus Sash lead set with Taunt and Stealth Rock quickly gets Stealth Rock on the field and usually has enough Speed to Taunt opposing leads before they can act. However, it is best to allow Terrakion to fill other roles, as there are many other better options that can set Stealth Rock, like Aerodactyl and Shuckle, and using it on Terrakion presents a high opportunity cost. Choice Scarf forfeits the immediate power presented by Choice Band, making it harder for Terrakion to break through Skarmory and Hippowdon, and misses out on the OHKO on major threats such as Mega Gardevoir and Keldeo. The higher immediate Speed does allow Terrakion to revenge kill a wider range of Pokemon, though, which is especially useful because Rock Monotype typically lacks fast Pokemon.
**Fighting:**
Life Orb and Choice Band make Terrakion harder to wall, with a decent chance to 2HKO Skarmory after Stealth Rock. With Substitute + Swords Dance, Terrakion could squeak past status users such as Will-O-Wisp Mew and Thunder Wave Porygon2 and easily set up on them. It could also use Salac Berry on this same set, which makes it even more difficult to revenge kill. Taunt + Stealth Rock lets Terrakion use its great Speed to quickly set up Stealth Rock while preventing the opponent from setting their own entry hazards, but teammates such as Infernape and Cobalion pull this off more effectively, and Terrakion would rather keep its Choice item. Using any item other than the Choice Scarf sacrifices Terrakion's ability to check quicker, more dangerous threats, like Tornadus-T and Volcarona. If your team needs a wallbreaker, it is recommended to utilize something else, like Swords Dance Breloom or Choice Specs Keldeo, and if you need a Stealth Rock lead, look to Infernape or Cobalion.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock:**
**Offensive Steel-types**: Choice Scarf users like Jirachi, Excadrill, and Magnezone can outspeed Terrakion and OHKO it. Doublade also walls Terrakion's STAB attacks and only needs to watch out for a stray Earthquake, which doesn't even touch one of Doublade's most common partners, Skarmory.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Life Orb Gengar, Mega Diancie, Latias, Latios, and Choice Scarf Heracross outspeed and OHKO Choice Band Terrakion.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Mega Venusaur avoids a 2HKO from Stone Edge and retaliates with Giga Drain, healing back most of the damage dealt. Slowbro also avoids a 2HKO from anything other than the very rare X-Scissor. Landorus-T can also beat Terrakion and possibly even set up on it, while Choice Scarf variants simply outspeed and OHKO.
**Priority Users**: Azumarill and Breloom also have access to super effective priority moves that easily KO Terrakion if has lowered its defenses after a Close Combat. Mega Scizor does the same, but it can start setting up with Swords Dance as well.
**Fighting:**
**Bulky Steel-types**: Skarmory, Doublade, Forretress, Klefki, and Jirachi can easily take any of Terrakion's attacks if it hasn't nabbed an Attack boost. They also can force Terrakion out and use those turns to set up entry hazards.
**Offensive Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Serperior, Breloom, and Whimsicott can OHKO Terrakion with their respective Grass STAB attacks while either tanking a hit or attacking before Terrakion can.
**Bulky Psychic-types**: Mew and Slowbro can tank any hit and cripple Terrakion with Will-O-Wisp or Scald.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Landorus-T, Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Swampert have access to Earthquake and aren't immediately threatened by Terrakion, so they can switch in fairly comfortably. They also freely set up Stealth Rock on Terrakion.
**Priority Users**: Mega Scizor, Conkeldurr, and Azumarill have super effective priority which allow them to easily revenge kill Terrakion, especially if it has lowered its defenses after a Close Combat.
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