
369, Damn you fine
[Overview]
<p>Relicanth is a Pokemon that struggles to find its place in NU, as it faces major competition from the likes of Carracosta in both offensive and defensive roles. Its great physical bulk is somewhat offset by its low Speed and Special Defense, as well as weaknesses to some of the most common offensive types in the tier. However, Relicanth does have access to an extremely powerful STAB move in Head Smash, as well as the ability Rock Head, which gives Relicanth a niche in the tier.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Double Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Thanks to Head Smash and the ability Rock Head, Choice Band Relicanth is a great wallbreaker, even 2HKOing Alomomola with Head Smash. Waterfall is advised as an additional STAB move, and has pretty good coverage in conjunction with Head Smash. Earthquake allows Relicanth to beat Steel-types looking to switch in and absorb a Head Smash, while Double Edge provides additional neutral coverage, and is Relicanth's best move with which to hit Seismitoad.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>An Adamant nature is chosen so Relicanth can hit as hard as possible, allowing Relicanth to 2HKO Alomomola and Tangela most of the time after Stealth Rock. Rock Head allows Relicanth to spam its most powerful STAB, Head Smash, without taking massive amounts of recoil damage. Zen Headbutt and Toxic can be used in the last slot over Double Edge, as Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to beat Gurdurr, while Toxic can be used for switch-ins that Relicanth struggles to beat such as Torterra or Seismitoad. An alternative EV spread of 176 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe can be used to give Relicanth more bulk while still outspeeding minimum Speed Alomomola, but the extra Speed investment is generally more useful. Relicanth should be used with Pokemon that appreciate its ability to lure in and break physical walls, such as Braviary or Primeape, who can easily clean a weakened team. Relicanth also appreciates teammates that can switch into Grass- and Electric-type Pokemon and beat them reliably, such as Charizard and Torterra, respectively.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Yawn
item: Leftovers
ability: Rock Head
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to take advantage of Relicanth's monstrous Defense stat and set up Stealth Rock reliably. Even without investment, Relicanth is still able to hit hard due to the high Base Power of Head Smash, meaning that it isn't setup fodder for opposing sweepers. Waterfall and Earthquake both have decent coverage with Head Smash, but Waterfall is preferred as it gets the STAB bonus. Yawn is also an option in the last slot, as it can force out a dangerous switch in and rack up hazard damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Even though this is a defensive set, Rock Head is chosen as the ability because it allows Relicanth to utilize its most powerful STAB move. The EV spread allows Relicanth to outspeed min Speed Alomomola, and hit it with Toxic before it can do anything. If you are concerned about not hitting hard enough, an EV spread of 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe could be used with an Adamant nature, but you lose some ability to tank hits. Relicanth really appreciates teammates that can set up Spikes to punish the switches it forces, while also being able to absorb special moves. Roselia deserves special mention, as it forms a great defensive backbone with Relicanth, setting up Spikes and absorbing special Electric- and Grass-type moves. Ludicolo is another good teammate for Relicanth, as it can take Ground-type moves, as well as special Electric-, Grass-, and Fighting-type moves for Relicanth.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Relicanth doesn't really have a lot of options outside of those listed. A Rock Polish set could be used, but unfortunately, Relicanth fails to outspeed even base 95 Speed Choice Scarf users after a boost. A Swift Swim set could be used on a rain team, but it loses the ability spam recoil-free Head Smash, and still falls short of the key 95 base Speed Choice Scarf users that dominate NU.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Nothing in the tier likes to switch into Choice Band Relicanth, but Gurdurr can switch into anything bar Zen Headbutt and heal off the damage with Drain Punch. Defensive Seismitoad can switch into Relicanth once and finish it off with Earth Power. The easiest way to deal with Relicanth is to revenge kill it with faster special attackers; Rotom-S, Rotom-F, Samurott, and Serperior are all good options for this. Sawk and Primeape can also come in after Relicanth kills something and force it out with their Fighting-type STABs. Torterra also deserves a special mention, as offensive variants can switch in once and kill it with Wood Hammer. Due to the fact that Relicanth is vulnerable to every entry hazard and has no reliable recovery, it is easily worn down if you keep putting offensive pressure on it.</p>
[Overview]
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Double Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
name: Stealth Rock Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Yawn
item: Leftovers
ability: Rock Head
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Faces a lot of competition in any role it tries to perform, especially from Carracosta
- Defensive typing is a mixed bag with some nice resistances and some unfortunate weaknesses
- Nice HP and Defense, but its low speed and special defense let it down
- Access to the moves it needs to do its job, most importantly head smash
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Double Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Hits extremely hard (chance to 2hko Alomomola after SR)
- Head Smash and Waterfall for STABS
- Earthquake grants some extra coverage
- Double Edge is there cause it has high BP and decent neutral coverage
- Most of the time Relicanth will be spamming Head Smash
- Adamant nature is chosen to hit as hard as possible
- Rock Head is chosen to prevent recoil from both Head Smash and Double Edge
- Zen Headbutt is an option in the last slot as it allows it to 2HKO Gurdurr and Machoke
- Toxic can be used in the last slot over Double Edge to wear down physical walls
- An alternative EV spread of 172 HP/252 Atk/84 Spe to get more bulk, while outspeeding min Alomomola
- Physical sweepers and cleaners appreciate Relicanth's ability to kill and lure in physical wall
- Fast Flying or fire types that can take on faster grass types are good teammates, such as Charizard or Braviary
name: Stealth Rock Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall / Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Yawn
item: Leftovers
ability: Rock Head
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Takes advantage of Relicanth's great defense to repeatedly set up Stealth Rock
- The Speed EVs outpace min speed Alomomola
- Head Smash still hits pretty hard without investment thanks to high BP and STAB
- Third slot is for coverage on steel types, Earthquake is really only for Metang
- Toxic Can cripple Alomomola and Tangela on the switch
- Great check to the many normal and flying types in the tier
- Rock Head is chosen as the ability to abuse its most powerful STAB without recoil, but sturdy can be used with stone edge if you want to be extra safe
- An alternative spread of 172 HP/252 Atk/84 Spe with an adamant nature could be used for a more offensive route, but loses its defensive presence
- Teammates that can provide spikes are really useful for Relicanth, as it can force a lot of swithces through it's massive defenses (Especially Roselia)
- Really shallow movepool outside of what is listed
- A Rock Polish set is possible, but is hard to pull off due to the offensive nature of the meta giving little set up, and being revenged by common scarfers
- Swift Swim could be used on a rain team in conjunction with LO, but it provides poor synergy with other members suffers from recoil
- Depending on the move chosen in the last slot very few things can switch in to Choice Band Relicanth after Stealth rocks
- Gurdurr can switch in to anything barring zen headbutt and replenish its health with drain punch
- Bulky Seismitoad can switch in once and target Relicanths lower SpD while fishing for burns with scald
- Alomomola and Tangela are good options if Relicanth is not locked into Head Smash
- Easiest way to get rid of Choice Band is to revenge kill it with any fast special attacker such as Rotom-S, Rotom-F, Zebstrika, Samurott or Serperior. Torterra also works as a decent revenge killer to relicanth.
- The Stealth Rock Set's best counter is Roselia, who has natural cure and grass type STAB, but it won't like switching into head smash
- Target its lower special defense
- Has no reliable recovery and is easily worn down
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