Relicanth

TrollFreak

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is a Contributor Alumnus


Fastest Pokemon I ever got through QC, only 30 minutes :D



[Overview]

<p>At first glance, Relicanth looks like an inferior version of Kabutops or Omastar. However, Relicanth has a few niches, mainly its access to Rock Head. With Rock Head, Relicanth can abuse STAB Head Smash to great effect, punching holes in just about any Pokemon. It also isn't that bad defensively either; 100 / 130 / 65 defenses aren't half-bad for a Rock-type Pokemon.</p>

<p>However, Relicanth is in the NU tier for a reason: base 90 Attack is disappointingly average for a Pokemon with such a potent attack. To make matters worse, it doesn't have a single move in its arsenal with which to boost its Attack. Relicanth is also slow, base 55 Speed means that faster Pokemon can easily attack Relicanth before it can retaliate, though Rock Polish fixes this to an extent. Furthermore, Relicanth has a limited movepool, making it fairly predictable, and a poor typing, which grants it weaknesses to common types in the RU metagame, such as Electric, Fighting, and Grass. However, don't underestimate this bony fish—it has just enough power to rip through unprepared teams.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>What better use for a Pokemon that can't boost its Attack than a Choice Band set? Instead of wasting time setting up, Relicanth aims to break skulls with its STAB Head Smash, which is especially good without the recoil thanks to Rock Head. This Relicanth has flawless neutral coverage—it hits every Pokemon in the RU metagame for at least neutral damage. STAB Waterfall has great coverage with Head Smash, as it hits Pokemon that resist Head Smash, such as Steelix and Claydol, for massive damage. Earthquake nails Magneton, Aggron, and Klinklang, which also resist Head Smash. The last moveslot is a flexible one. Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to hit Poliwrath, who resists both of Relicanth's STABs, for super effective damage; it also hits all the various Fighting-types in the RU tier besides Gallade and Medicham for super effective damage. On the other hand, Double-Edge hits Quagsire harder, which is just as crucial as Quagsire easily sponges Relicanth's other attacks. Double-Edge also has the benefit of no recoil thanks to Rock Head, so it's a viable alternative over Zen Headbutt.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Adamant is the main nature as it gives Relicanth more power. Despite Relicanth's poor base 55 Speed, maximum Speed is used to outspeed Uxie, Gligar, and Qwilfish. A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Altaria, which makes it a strong alternative. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def can be used for more bulk, which is useful alongside Relicanth's 100 / 130 / 65 defenses. However, Relicanth generally likes to outspeed common RU tanks, particularly Gligar, as Relicanth can deal massive damage with Waterfall, and thanks to Relicanth's weaknesses, it won't get much use of a bulkier spread anyways. To showcase Relicanth's power, the damage calculations below pit an Adamant Relicanth against common RU Pokemon:</p>

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Uxie 48.3% - 57.1%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Tangrowth 43.8% - 51.5%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/136+ Cofagrigus 58.44% - 69.38%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/0 Steelix 47.5% - 55.9%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/252+ Gligar 46.71% - 55.69%</li>
<li>Earthquake vs. 252/4 Poliwrath 34.4% - 40.6%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 252/4 Poliwrath 55.2% - 65.1%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 4/0 Hitmonlee 139.7% - 164.5%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 12/252+ Hariyama 46.8% - 55.1%</li>
<li>Double-Edge vs. 252/252+ Quagsire 31% - 36.5%</li>
</ul>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall for more power, though it does not gain any important KOs, making the drop in accuracy undesirable. Waterfall also has the chance to flinch the opponent, making its value worth much more than Aqua Tail. Sleep Talk can be used over Zen Headbutt or Double-Edge to make Relicanth a useful sleep absorber, though the loss of a coverage move generally isn't worth it. Also, most Pokemon that use sleep inducing moves are Grass-types, meaning that they would most likely OHKO Relicanth with STAB Grass-type attacks. Stone Edge or Rock Slide can be used in the last slot as well, as they give Relicanth a Rock-type attack if Head Smash should run out of PP, though both attacks are weaker, making the loss of a coverage move not worth it.</p>

<p>As Relicanth tries to deal as much damage as possible, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really appreciated. Roselia is a prime example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth as well, and it can Baton Pass a Swords Dance boost, making Relicanth a force to be reckoned with. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagsire and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While the Choice Band set focuses on Relicanth's power to break through walls, the Rock Polish set has the aim of sweeping the opponent once Relicanth sets up. This is made easier thanks to Relicanth's great excellent defenses, which mean that defensive Pokemon such as Uxie and Mandibuzz often cannot hurt it much. If it can get a safe switch into a Pokemon it forces out, it can set up and begin sweeping. STAB Head Smash is still the main attack on the set, as it wrecks any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Head Smash and Waterfall make for a great combo, as few Pokemon resist both attacks. Earthquake lets Relicanth quickly dispatch of Pokemon such as Klinklang and Magneton.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive-natured base 86s and below after a Rock Polish, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar, and Medicham. An Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as the ability to outspeed positive-natured base 140 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish. However, losing out on outspeeding key Pokemon, especially Choice Scarf Rotom-C, might not be worth it. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive-natured base 115s, as well as all +1 base 60s after a Rock Polish.</p>

<p>Since this Relicanth forgoes the power gained from using a Choice Band, teammates that can set up entry hazards are greatly appreciated. Roselia, again, makes a great teammate, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and also has excellent defensive synergy with Relicanth. Ferroseed also partners well with Relicanth, as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon that still outspeed Relicanth after a Rock Polish, such as Galvantula. For more offensive partners, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth, and it can Baton Pass Relicanth a Swords Dance boost for total and utter devastation. Leafeon also draws out Bug- and Fire-type Pokemon, which gives Relicanth plenty of time to set up a Rock Polish. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric, and immune to Ground. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagsire and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth's sweeping chances.</p>

[SET]
name: Swift Swim Sweeper
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rain Dance / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set rose to fame back in the DPP era, and in a tier with Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Qwilfish, and Omastar, it can shine in the BW era as well. By utilizing Relicanth's lesser-used ability, Swift Swim, it aims to use the rain to hit the opponent as powerfully and as speedily as possible. Despite Rock Head no longer being Relicanth's ability of choice, Head Smash still remains the main attack on the set, as its sheer power alone makes it a difficult move to switch into. The combination of Waterfall and Head Smash nails just about every Pokemon in the RU tier—only three Pokemon resist Relicanth's STABs, namely Ferroseed, Poliwrath, and Quagsire. Waterfall is especially dangerous in rain, as it now has the power to take down even more Pokemon. Earthquake is used to pick off Steel-type Pokemon such as Magneton.</p>

<p>Finally, the last moveslot depends on personal preference. Rain Dance enables Relicanth to try and sweep with its own rain, and Relicanth's Waterfall becomes even more powerful. However, if Relicanth's teammates can set up the rain for it, Stone Edge is a viable alternative for a STAB attack that doesn't cause recoil damage, which is crucial when one takes into consideration Life Orb and Head Smash recoil.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>A Jolly nature ensures that Relicanth can outpace +1 positive-natured base 86s in the rain, which include Rotom-A, who gives Relicanth the most problems. However, if one is unconcerned with outspeeding Rotom-A, an Adamant nature guarantees more power, and Relicanth still has enough Speed to outspeed positive-natured base 140 Speed Pokemon in the rain, as well as base 60 Speed Choice Scarf users, so the power isn't wasted. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed all base 115 Speed Pokemon, as well as all base 60 Speed Choice Scarf users in the rain, while giving it some additional bulk; however, maxing out its Speed usually works best.</p>

<p>Relicanth, as with most other sweepers, loves entry hazard support. As with all Relicanth, Roselia makes a great teammate, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and thanks to rain, Roselia can take Fire-type attacks much more easily. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple the likes of Galvantula, who still outspeeds Relicanth in the rain. Ferroseed also benefits from the rain reducing its Fire-type weakness. Other rain abusers, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can overwhelm the opponent's rain checks. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it can both set up rain and abuse it with Thunder, and also has the typing to deal with common Relicanth checks Poliwrath and Quagsire.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Relicanth has a few other options it can utilize. A RestTalk set can be viable, but is generally better left to bulkier Pokemon, such as Regirock. Amnesia could work on a defensive set, but Relicanth has better things to do than to try and set up Amnesia. Speaking of a defensive set, a support set with some combination of Stealth Rock, Toxic, and Yawn can work. However, Kabutops and Omastar do it better thanks to higher Attack and Special Attack, respectively, which means that they can deal more damage even with little investment.</p>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, but it is less accurate, and Waterfall's flinch chance is useful. Substitute shields Relicanth from status, and can possibly give Relicanth an extra attack; however, this takes prediction to pull off correctly. Finally, Bounce forces switches, as well as potentially spreading paralysis, but its charge turn makes it very easy to switch into.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Relicanth may have a great combo with Head Smash and Rock Head, but it takes more than that to be a top-tier threat. There are two Pokemon that give Relicanth headaches: Poliwrath and Quagsire. The former resists Head Smash and has Water Absorb to absorb Waterfall, making it an excellent counter. To make matters worse for Relicanth, Poliwrath has STAB Fighting-type attacks to put a dent in it. However, Poliwrath must be careful when switching into the Choice Band set, as a well-timed Zen Headbutt will hurt. Quagsire makes another great Relicanth counter, especially ones with Water Absorb, as it can absorb Waterfall and resists Head Smash. Even Unaware Quagsire does well against Relicanth, though a rain-boosted Waterfall will deal a bit of damage. However, it has Recover to heal off any damage, and thanks to its Ground-type STAB, Quagsire can dispose of Relicanth easily.</p>

<p>Bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Tangrowth and Torterra, do a great job of taking Head Smash, though Torterra will not enjoy taking a Choice Band-boosted Waterfall. Ferroseed can also take any attack as it is resistant to both of Relicanth's STABs, though it can't do much in return unless it has Seed Bomb, and without reliable recovery, repeated Head Smashes will hurt. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Hariyama, make good checks in general as they can take a Head Smash and retaliate with their STABs, but they must be wary of switching in on Choice Band Zen Headbutt.</p>

<p>Faster Grass-type Pokemon, such as Lilligant and Leafeon, can OHKO Relicanth with their Grass-type STAB attacks before it can attack. However, they must be careful switching in, as Head Smash will hurt. In general, faster special attackers, such as Galvantula and Rotom-C, can beat Relicanth, as they target Relicanth's lower Special Defense. Finally, as Relicanth will most commonly be firing off Choice Band Head Smash, most Pokemon that can take one are safe checks, but note that the right coverage attack will do some damage.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Relicanth receives Sturdy from the Dream World. Sadly, this ability is useless on Relicanth, who needs to utilize either Head Smash to negate recoil damage or Swift Swim for the Speed boost in order to be effective.</p>
 

Texas Cloverleaf

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Choice Band to first set, Remove support set, slash Double-Edge with Zen Headbutt, DE being the first slash.

Add special attackers in general to checks, scarfed ones beating the rock polish set as well. Emphasize Quagsire.

Stealth Rock and support options to OO, Bounce to OO

Implement this and I'll approve.

EDIT@Omi: Its also entirely outcleassed by both Omastar and Kabutops, Relicanth offering nothing over the former two, as Stone Edge and Hydro Pump will still hit similarly without investment.
 
I would argue that the support set deserves to stay. Relicanth is pretty bulky, can set up Stealth Rock, and still hits hard with STAB Head Smash. It's a decent enough set imo.
 

Windsong

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I would argue that the support set deserves to stay. Relicanth is pretty bulky, can set up Stealth Rock, and still hits hard with STAB Head Smash. It's a decent enough set imo.
There's basically no reason to use it over, say, Kabutops or Omastar though, other than STAB Head Smash which only hits a bit harder than Kabutops' Stone Edge. Tops and Omastar have either Rapid Spin or Spikes available to them in addition to Stealth Rock, and generally just play the support role better than Relicanth does.
 

TrollFreak

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is a Contributor Alumnus
Choice Band to first set, Remove support set, slash Double-Edge with Zen Headbutt, DE being the first slash.
moved, removed, slashed and moved to 1st
 

Windsong

stumbling down elysian fields
is a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Changes:
  • Have Zen Headbutt be the first move slashed in the CB set (especially since you provide calcs)
  • Mention what Jolly outspeeds over Adamant on the CB set (mainly Leafeon, and Omastar)
  • Mention Stone Edge / Rock Slide as usable in the last slot on the CB set
  • Just max speed on the Rain Dance Attacker set, since you want to be able to outrun Rotom-C
  • Ferroseed to checks and counters, but mention that it gets brutally wrecked by repeated Head Smashes
QC APPROVED 1/3
 
In the set comments of the Rock Polish set, remove the mentions of Sawk and Pinsir since literally no one uses them.
QC APPROVED 3/3
 

Texas Cloverleaf

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[*]Mention Stone Edge / Rock Slide as usable in the last slot on the CB set
Overruling. Rock Slide is half as strong as Head Smash, while Stone Edge is a nerfed Head Smahs with a better crit rate. There should almost never be a situation where Head SMash will run out of PP, and ergo there is no reason to be running either of those over a coverage move.
 

TrollFreak

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is a Contributor Alumnus
made the changes, didn't add the secondary rock STAB, will start writing tommorow
 

Mafeking

channels his inner Wolverine
is a Contributor Alumnus
Relicanth for Pokemon of the year every year. Placeholder.

God all my favorite Pokemon are useless UGH.

Removals
(Additions/Replacements)
(Quick Comments)

[Overview]

<p>At first glance, Relicanth looks like an inferior (version of) Kabutops or Omastar. However, Relicanth has a few niches in that armor, the main (selling)point being (access to) Rock Head. With Rock Head, Relicanth can abuse STAB Head Smash to great effect, which puts (punching) holes in just about any Pokemon. It also isn't that bad with (on the) base stats (front) either, (semi-colon) 100 / 130 / 65 defenses aren't half bad for a Rock-type Pokemon. However, Relicanth is in the NU (RU) tier for a reason; base 90 Attack is really (disappointingly) average for a Pokemon with such a potent attack. To make matters worse, it doesn't have a single move in it's arsenal to boost its Attack. Relicanth is also really slow, base 55 Speed means that faster Pokemon can easily attack Relicanth before it can retaliate, though Rock Polish fixes this to an extent. It also has a really limited movepool, making it fairly predictable, and with (suffers from) weaknesses to common types in the RU metagame such as Electric-, Fighting-, and Grass-type moves. However, don't underestimate this bony fish,(emdash)it has just enough power to rip through unprepared teams.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>What better use for a Pokemon that can't boost its Attack without Baton Pass than a Choice Band set. (Question Mark) Instead of wasting time setting up, Relicanth aims to break skulls with STAB Head Smash, which is especially good without the recoil thanks to Rock Head. Along with Head Smash, this set offers Relicanth flawless neutral coverage, hitting every Pokemon in the RU metagame for at least neutral damage. STAB Waterfall has great coverage with Head Smash, as it hits Pokemon that resist Head Smash, such as Steelix and Claydol (comma) (for massive damage). Earthquake nails Magneton, Aggaron, and Klinklang, which also resist Head Smash. The last moveslot is a vital one; Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to hit Poliwrath for super effective damage, which is key as it resists both STAB attacks. It also hits every Fighting-type Pokemon in the RU tier besides Gallade and Medicham for super effective damage, which is crucial as the RU metagame is infested with Fighting-type Pokemon. On the other hand, Double-Edge hits Quagsire harder, which is (just as) crucial as Quagsire can absorb any attack Relicanth can use. It also has the benefit of no recoil thanks to Rock Head, so it(')s a viable alternative over Zen Headbutt.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Adamant is the main nature as it gives Relicanth more power to hit harder. Also, despite Relicanth's poor base 55 Speed, maximum Speed is used to outspeed Uxie, Gligar, and Qwilfish. However, a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Altaria, which makes it a viable (strong) alternative. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def can be used for more bulk, which is useful alongside Relicanth's 100 / 130 / 65 defenses. However, Relicanth generally likes to outspeed common RU tanks, and thanks to Relicanth's weaknesses, it won't get much use of a spread like that anyways. To showcase Relicanth's power, the below damage calculations show an Adamant Relicanth against common RU Pokemon:</p>

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Uxie: 48.3% - 57.1%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Tangrowth: 43.8% - 51.5%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/136+ Cofagrigus: 58.44% - 69.38%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/0 Steelix: 47.5% - 55.9%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/252+ Evolite Gligar: 46.71% - 55.69%</li>
<li>Earthquake vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 34.4% - 40.6%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 55.2% - 65.1%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 4/0 Hitmonlee: 139.7% - 164.5%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 12/252+ Hariyama: 46.8% - 55.1%</li>
<li>Double-Edge vs. 252/252+ Quagsire: 31% - 36.5%</li>
</ul>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall for more power, though it does not gain any important KOs, making the drop in accuracy undesirable. Waterfall also has the chance to flinch the opponent, making its value worth much more than Aqua Tail. Sleep Talk can be used over Zen Headbutt or Double-Edge as a Spore or Sleep Powder (to make Relicanth a useful sleep) absorber, though the loss of a coverage move generally isn't worth it. Also, most Pokemon that use sleep inducing moves are Grass-types, meaning that they would most likely OHKO Relicanth with STAB Grass-type attacks. Stone Edge or Rock Slide can be used in the last slot as well (comma) as it gives (they give) Relicanth a Rock-type attack if Head Smash should run out of PP, though both attacks are weaker, making the loss of a coverage move not worth it.</p>

<p>As Relicanth tries to deal as much damage as possible, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really appreciated. Roselia is a prime example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Offensively, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth as well, and it can Baton Pass it a Swords Dance boost, making Relicanth a force to be reckoned with. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, four times (4x) resistant to Electric-type attacks, and (has) a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While the Choice Band set focuses on Relicanth's power to break through walls, the Rock Polish set is used with the aim of sweeping the opponent once Relicanth sets up. This is made easier thanks to Relicanth's great overall defenses; if it can get a safe switch into a Pokemon it forces out, it can set up and begin sweeping. STAB Head Smash is still the main attack on the set, as it still wrecks any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Head Smash alongside Waterfall makes for a great combo, as few Pokemon resist both attacks. Earthquake is used so that Pokemon such as Klinklang and Magneton don't give this set problems.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive nature base 86s and below after a Rock Polish, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar (comma) and Medicham. Using an Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as outspeeding positive nature base 140 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish. However, losing out on outspeeding key Pokemon, especially Rotom-C, may not be worth it. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive nature base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish.</p>

<p>Since this Relicanth forgoes the power gained from using a Choice Band, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really (greatly) appreciated. Roselia (comma) again (comma) makes a great example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks makes Roselia last longer (excellent defensive synergy with Relicanth). (I opted to delete all this because you explained it in the set above) Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as using (use) Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon (comma) such as Galvantula (comma) which still outspeed Relicanth after a Rock Polish. For more offensive partners, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth, and it can Baton Pass it a Swords Dance boost, which is crucial as Relicanth can't boost its attack through any other means (Relicanth's only method of boosting its Attack). Leafeon also draws out Bug- and Fire-type Pokemon, which gives Relicanth plenty of time to set up a Rock Polish. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, four times (4x) resistant to Electric-type attacks, and (has) a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth('s) sweeping chances.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance Physical Attacker
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rain Dance / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set came to rise back in the DPP era, and in a teir (tier) with Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Qwilfish and Omastar, it can shine in the BW era as well. By utilzing Relicanth's lesser used ability, Swift Swim, it aims to use the rain to attack the opponent as hard and as fast as possible. Despite no longer using Rock Head as the main ability, Head Smash still remians (remains) as the main attack on the set, as its sheer power alone makes it a hard Pokemon (difficult move) to switch into. Waterfall (comma) alongside Head Smash (comma) nails just about every Pokemon in the RU tier, as only 3 Pokemon resist Relicant's STABs, (colon) Ferroseed, Poliwrath (comma) and Quagsire. Waterfall is especially dangerous in rain, as it now has the power to take down even more Pokemon. Earthquake is used to pick off Steel-type Pokemon such as Aggaron and Magneton. Finally, the last moveslot is up to a personal perference. Rain Dance can be used so Relicanth can try and sweep with its own rain, and it works even better as Relicanth's Waterfall becomes even more powerful. However, if Relicanth has a teammate that can set up the rain already, Stone Edge is a viable alternative, allowing Relicanth to have a STAB attack that doesn't cause recoil damage, which is crucial when one takes into consideration Life Orb and Head Smash recoil.</p>

(remove line spacing)
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>As with the Rock Polish set, (Relicanth hits 458 Speed) with a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive nature base 86s and below in the rain, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar (comma) and Sawk. Using an Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as outspeeding positive nature base 140 Speed Pokemon in the rain. This works even better, as with only base 90 Attack, Relicanth needs all the power it can get. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive nature base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemon in the rain, though maxing out its Speed usually works best.</p>

<p>Relicanth, as with most other sweepers, loves entry hazard support. Roselia (comma) again (comma) makes a great example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and thanks to rain, Roselia can take Fire-type attacks much better. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as using (use) Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon (comma) such as Galvantula (comma) which still outspeed Relicanth in the rain. Also, Ferroseed also benefits from rain, as it can take Fire-type attacks better as well, which is important since Ferroseed is four times weak to fire. Pokemon that can abuse the rain along with Relicanth, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can all attack hard and fast and break down the opponent, making one eventually break through (leading to the opponent's team collapsing). Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it can set up rain and abuse it with Thunder, as well as having the power to get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth('s) sweeping chances.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Relicanth has a few other options it can utilize; a Rest(remove space)Talk set can be viable but are generally better left for bulkier Pokemon, such as Munchlax. Amnesia could work on a defensive set, however Relicanth has better things to do than to try and set up Amnesias. Speaking of a defensive set, a support set with Stealth Rock, Toxic (comma) or Yawn can work, however, Pokemon such as Kabutops and Omatsar can utilize it better thanks to higher Attack and Special Attack, respectively. Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, though it is less accurate, and Waterfall has the chance to flinch the opponent, which is useful. Substitute can work, as it shields Relicanth from status, as well as giving Relicanth a chance to attack. However, this takes prediction to pull of correctly, and should only be used by more experienced players. Finally, Bounce can be used as it forces switches as well as spreads (potentially spreading) around paralysis, though it takes a turn to work, which makes it very predictable.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Relicanth may have a great combo with Head Smash and Rock Head, however, (but) it takes more than that to be a top-tier threat. Thus, there are two Pokemon that give the bony fish headaches, (colon) Poliwrath and Quagsire. Poliwrath is very annoying to Relicanth, as it is resistant to Head Smash, and has Water Absorb to absorb Waterfall, making it a really good counter. To make matters worse for Relicanth, Poliwrath has Fighting-type STAB attacks to put a dent in Relicanth. However, Poliwrath must be careful when switching into the Choice Band set, as a well timed Zen Headbutt will hurt. Quagsire makes another great Relicanth counter, especially ones with Water Absorb, as it can absorb Waterfall and its resistant to Head Smash. It also has Recover to heal off any damage Relicanth can do to Quagsire, and thanks to it's Ground-type STAB, it can dispose of the bony fish easily. Bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Tangela, Tangrowth, and Torterra all do a great job of taking Head Smash, though Torterra will not enjoy taking a Choice Banded Waterfall. Ferroseed can also take any attack as it is resistant to both of Relicanth's STABs, however, (though) it can't do much in return unless it has Seed Bomb, and without reliable recovery, repeated Head Smashes will hurt. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hariyama make good checks in general as they can take a Head Smash and attack with their STABs, however, (but) they must be wary of a Choice Banded Zen Headbutt must wary of Zen Headbutt. Faster Grass-type Pokemon, such as Lilligant and Leafeon, can OHKO Relicant(h) with their Grass STAB attacks before it can attack. However, they must be careful switching in, as a Head Smash will hurt. Faster Special attackers in general (comma) such as Galvantula and Rotom-C (comma) can beat Relicanth, as they can target Relicanth's lower Special Defense. Generally, most Pokemon that can take a Head Smash are usually safe checks, though the right coverage attack will do some damage.</p>

(remove line spacing)
[Dream World]

<p>Relicanth receives Sturdy from the Dream World. Sadly, this ability is useless on Relicanth, who needs to utilize either no recoil damage from Head Smash or Swift Swim to be effective.</p>


Hello I am Mafe and I make really nit-picky edits to fellow GP members analyses because I am a meaniepants.

I do have a major concern, though. Your Additional Comments sections for the Rock Polish set and the Rain Dance set are nearly identical, with a lot of it being directly copy-paste'd. I know a lot of the partners and counters are the same, as they both deal with boosting Relicanth's Speed, but I would definitely suggest doing some rewording so that people aren't reading the same analyses for two different sets.

That said;

[Overview]

<p>At first glance, Relicanth looks like an inferior version of Kabutops or Omastar. However, Relicanth has a few niches in that armor, the main sellingpoint being access to Rock Head. With Rock Head, Relicanth can abuse STAB Head Smash to great effect, punching holes in just about any Pokemon. It also isn't that bad on the base stats front either; 100 / 130 / 65 defenses aren't half bad for a Rock-type Pokemon. However, Relicanth is in the RU tier for a reason; base 90 Attack is disappointingly average for a Pokemon with such a potent attack. To make matters worse, it doesn't have a single move in it's arsenal to boost its Attack. Relicanth is also really slow, base 55 Speed means that faster Pokemon can easily attack Relicanth before it can retaliate, though Rock Polish fixes this to an extent. It also has a really limited movepool, making it fairly predictable, and suffers from weaknesses to common types in the RU metagame such as Electric-, Fighting-, and Grass-type moves. However, don't underestimate this bony fish—it has just enough power to rip through unprepared teams.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>What better use for a Pokemon that can't boost its Attack without Baton Pass than a Choice Band set? Instead of wasting time setting up, Relicanth aims to break skulls with STAB Head Smash, which is especially good without the recoil thanks to Rock Head. Along with Head Smash, this set offers Relicanth flawless neutral coverage, hitting every Pokemon in the RU metagame for at least neutral damage. STAB Waterfall has great coverage with Head Smash, as it hits Pokemon that resist Head Smash, such as Steelix and Claydol, for massive damage. Earthquake nails Magneton, Aggron, and Klinklang, which also resist Head Smash. The last moveslot is a vital one; Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to hit Poliwrath for super effective damage, which is key as it resists both STAB attacks. It also hits every Fighting-type Pokemon in the RU tier besides Gallade and Medicham for super effective damage, which is crucial as the RU metagame is infested with Fighting-type Pokemon. On the other hand, Double-Edge hits Quagsire harder, which is just as crucial as Quagsire can absorb any attack Relicanth can use. It also has the benefit of no recoil thanks to Rock Head, so it's a viable alternative over Zen Headbutt.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Adamant is the main nature as it gives Relicanth more power to hit harder. Also, despite Relicanth's poor base 55 Speed, maximum Speed is used to outspeed Uxie, Gligar, and Qwilfish. However, a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Altaria, which makes it a strong alternative. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def can be used for more bulk, which is useful alongside Relicanth's 100 / 130 / 65 defenses. However, Relicanth generally likes to outspeed common RU tanks, and thanks to Relicanth's weaknesses, it won't get much use of a spread like that anyways. To showcase Relicanth's power, the below damage calculations show an Adamant Relicanth against common RU Pokemon:</p>

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Uxie: 48.3% - 57.1%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Tangrowth: 43.8% - 51.5%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/136+ Cofagrigus: 58.44% - 69.38%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/0 Steelix: 47.5% - 55.9%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/252+ Evolite Gligar: 46.71% - 55.69%</li>
<li>Earthquake vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 34.4% - 40.6%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 55.2% - 65.1%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 4/0 Hitmonlee: 139.7% - 164.5%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 12/252+ Hariyama: 46.8% - 55.1%</li>
<li>Double-Edge vs. 252/252+ Quagsire: 31% - 36.5%</li>
</ul>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall for more power, though it does not gain any important KOs, making the drop in accuracy undesirable. Waterfall also has the chance to flinch the opponent, making its value worth much more than Aqua Tail. Sleep Talk can be used over Zen Headbutt or Double-Edge to make Relicanth a useful sleep absorber, though the loss of a coverage move generally isn't worth it. Also, most Pokemon that use sleep inducing moves are Grass-types, meaning that they would most likely OHKO Relicanth with STAB Grass-type attacks. Stone Edge or Rock Slide can be used in the last slot as well, as they give Relicanth a Rock-type attack if Head Smash should run out of PP, though both attacks are weaker, making the loss of a coverage move not worth it.</p>

<p>As Relicanth tries to deal as much damage as possible, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really appreciated. Roselia is a prime example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth as well, and it can Baton Pass a Swords Dance boost, making Relicanth a force to be reckoned with. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While the Choice Band set focuses on Relicanth's power to break through walls, the Rock Polish set is used with the aim of sweeping the opponent once Relicanth sets up. This is made easier thanks to Relicanth's great overall defenses; if it can get a safe switch into a Pokemon it forces out, it can set up and begin sweeping. STAB Head Smash is still the main attack on the set, as it still wrecks any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Head Smash alongside Waterfall makes for a great combo, as few Pokemon resist both attacks. Earthquake is used so that Pokemon such as Klinklang and Magneton don't give this set problems.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive nature base 86s and below after a Rock Polish, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar, and Medicham. Using an Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as outspeeding positive nature base 140 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish. However, losing out on outspeeding key Pokemon, especially Rotom-C, may not be worth it. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive nature base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish.</p>

<p>Since this Relicanth forgoes the power gained from using a Choice Band, teammates that can set up entry hazards are greatly appreciated. Roselia, again, makes a great example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having excellent defensive synergy with Relicanth. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Galvantula, which still outspeed Relicanth after a Rock Polish. For more offensive partners, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth, and it can Baton Pass it a Swords Dance boost, which is Relicanth's only method of boosting its Attack. Leafeon also draws out Bug- and Fire-type Pokemon, which gives Relicanth plenty of time to set up a Rock Polish. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth's sweeping chances.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance Physical Attacker
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rain Dance / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set came to rise back in the DPP era, and in a tier with Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Qwilfish and Omastar, it can shine in the BW era as well. By utilzing Relicanth's lesser used ability, Swift Swim, it aims to use the rain to attack the opponent as hard and as fast as possible. Despite no longer using Rock Head as the main ability, Head Smash still remains as the main attack on the set, as its sheer power alone makes it a difficult move to switch into. Waterfall, alongside Head Smash, nails just about every Pokemon in the RU tier, as only 3 Pokemon resist Relicant's STABs: Ferroseed, Poliwrath, and Quagsire. Waterfall is especially dangerous in rain, as it now has the power to take down even more Pokemon. Earthquake is used to pick off Steel-type Pokemon such as Aggaron and Magneton. Finally, the last moveslot is up to personal perference. Rain Dance can be used so Relicanth can try and sweep with its own rain, and it works even better as Relicanth's Waterfall becomes even more powerful. However, if Relicanth has a teammate that can set up the rain already, Stone Edge is a viable alternative, allowing Relicanth to have a STAB attack that doesn't cause recoil damage, which is crucial when one takes into consideration Life Orb and Head Smash recoil.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>As with the Rock Polish set, Relicanth hits 458 Speed with a Jolly nature, enabling it to outpace +1 positive nature base 86s and below in the rain, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar, and Sawk. Using an Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as outspeeding positive nature base 140 Speed Pokemon in the rain. This works even better, as with only base 90 Attack, Relicanth needs all the power it can get. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive nature base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemon in the rain, though maxing out its Speed usually works best.</p>

<p>Relicanth, as with most other sweepers, loves entry hazard support. Roselia, again, makes a great example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and thanks to rain, Roselia can take Fire-type attacks much better. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Galvantula, which still outspeed Relicanth in the rain. Also, Ferroseed also benefits from rain, as it can take Fire-type attacks better as well. Pokemon that can abuse the rain along with Relicanth, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can all break down the opponent, leading to the opponent's team collapsing. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it can set up rain and abuse it with Thunder, as well as having the power to get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth's sweeping chances.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Relicanth has a few other options it can utilize; a RestTalk set can be viable but are generally better left for bulkier Pokemon, such as Munchlax. Amnesia could work on a defensive set, however Relicanth has better things to do than to try and set up Amnesia. Speaking of a defensive set, a support set with Stealth Rock, Toxic, or Yawn can work, however, Pokemon such as Kabutops and Omatsar can utilize it better thanks to higher Attack and Special Attack, respectively. Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, though it is less accurate, and Waterfall has the chance to flinch the opponent, which is useful. Substitute can work, as it shields Relicanth from status, as well as giving Relicanth a chance to attack. However, this takes prediction to pull of correctly, and should only be used by more experienced players. Finally, Bounce can be used as it forces switches as well as potentially spreading around paralysis, though it takes a turn to work, which makes it very predictable.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Relicanth may have a great combo with Head Smash and Rock Head, but it takes more than that to be a top-tier threat. Thus, there are two Pokemon that give the bony fish headaches: Poliwrath and Quagsire. Poliwrath is very annoying to Relicanth, as it is resistant to Head Smash and has Water Absorb to absorb Waterfall, making it a really good counter. To make matters worse for Relicanth, Poliwrath has Fighting-type STAB attacks to put a dent in Relicanth. However, Poliwrath must be careful when switching into the Choice Band set, as a well timed Zen Headbutt will hurt. Quagsire makes another great Relicanth counter, especially ones with Water Absorb, as it can absorb Waterfall and is resistant to Head Smash. It also has Recover to heal off any damage Relicanth can do to Quagsire, and thanks to it's Ground-type STAB, it can dispose of the bony fish easily. Bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Tangela, Tangrowth, and Torterra all do a great job of taking Head Smash, though Torterra will not enjoy taking a Choice Banded Waterfall. Ferroseed can also take any attack as it is resistant to both of Relicanth's STABs, though it can't do much in return unless it has Seed Bomb, and without reliable recovery, repeated Head Smashes will hurt. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hariyama make good checks in general as they can take a Head Smash and attack with their STABs, but they must be wary of a Choice Banded Zen Headbutt. Faster Grass-type Pokemon, such as Lilligant and Leafeon, can OHKO Relicanth with their Grass STAB attacks before it can attack. However, they must be careful switching in, as a Head Smash will hurt. Faster Special attackers in general, such as Galvantula and Rotom-C, can beat Relicanth, as they can target Relicanth's lower Special Defense. Generally, most Pokemon that can take a Head Smash are usually safe checks, though the right coverage attack will do some damage.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Relicanth receives Sturdy from the Dream World. Sadly, this ability is useless on Relicanth, who needs to utilize either no recoil damage from Head Smash or Swift Swim to be effective.</p>



GP 1/2 (though please address the rewording concern :3)
 

TrollFreak

(╮°-°)╮┳━┳ (╯°□°)╯ ┻━┻
is a Contributor Alumnus
thanks Mafe, and sorry, kinda rushed this one, so it's my fault

ready for check #2
 
AM GP CHECK INCOMING !!!!!!
[Overview]

<p>At first glance, Relicanth looks like an inferior version of Kabutops or Omastar. However, Relicanth has a few nichesin that armor, the;(add semi-colon) mainly sellingpoint being having access to Rock Head. With Rock Head, Relicanth can abuse STAB Head Smash to great effect, punching holes in just about any Pokemon. It also isn't that bad on the base stats front either; 100 / 130 / 65 defenses aren't half bad for a Rock-type Pokemon. However, Relicanth is in the RU tier for a reason; base 90 Attack is disappointingly average for a Pokemon with such a potent attack. To make matters worse, it doesn't have a single move in it's arsenal to boost its Attack. Relicanth is also really slow, base 55 Speed means that faster Pokemon can easily attack Relicanth before it can retaliate, though Rock Polish fixes this to an extent. It also has a really limited movepool, making it fairly predictable, and suffers from weaknesses to common types in the RU metagame such as Electric-, Fighting-, and Grass-type moves. However, don't underestimate this bony fish—it has just enough power to rip through unprepared teams.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>What better use for a Pokemon that can't boost its Attack without Baton Pass than a Choice Band set? Instead of wasting time setting up, Relicanth aims to break skulls with STAB Head Smash, which is especially good without the recoil thanks to Rock Head. Along with Head Smash, this set offers Relicanth flawless neutral coverage, hitting every Pokemon in the RU metagame for at least neutral damage. STAB Waterfall has great coverage with Head Smash, as it hits Pokemon that resist Head Smash, such as Steelix and Claydol, for massive damage. Earthquake nails Magneton, Aggron, and Klinklang, which also resist Head Smash. The last moveslot is a vital one; Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to hit Poliwrath for super effective damage, which is key as it resists both STAB attacks. It also hits every Fighting-type Pokemon in the RU tier besides Gallade and Medicham for super effective damage, which is crucial as the RU metagame is infested with Fighting-type Pokemon. On the other hand, Double-Edge hits Quagsire harder, which is just as crucial as Quagsire can absorb any attack Relicanth can use. It also has the benefit of no recoil thanks to Rock Head, so it's a viable alternative over Zen Headbutt.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Adamant is the main nature as it gives Relicanth more power to hit harder. Also, despite Relicanth's poor base 55 Speed, maximum Speed is used to outspeed Uxie, Gligar, and Qwilfish. However, a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Altaria, which makes it a strong alternative. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def can be used for more bulk, which is useful alongside Relicanth's 100 / 130 / 65 defenses. However, Relicanth generally likes to outspeed common RU tanks, and thanks to Relicanth's weaknesses, it won't get much use of a spread like that anyways. To showcase Relicanth's power, the below damage calculations show an Adamant Relicanth against common RU Pokemon:</p>

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Uxie: 48.3% - 57.1%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Tangrowth: 43.8% - 51.5%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/136+ Cofagrigus: 58.44% - 69.38%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/0 Steelix: 47.5% - 55.9%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/252+ Evolite Gligar: 46.71% - 55.69%</li>
<li>Earthquake vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 34.4% - 40.6%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 55.2% - 65.1%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 4/0 Hitmonlee: 139.7% - 164.5%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 12/252+ Hariyama: 46.8% - 55.1%</li>
<li>Double-Edge vs. 252/252+ Quagsire: 31% - 36.5%</li>
</ul>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall for more power, though it does not gain any important KOs, making the drop in accuracy undesirable. Waterfall also has the chance to flinch the opponent, making its value worth much more than Aqua Tail. Sleep Talk can be used over Zen Headbutt or Double-Edge to make Relicanth a useful sleep absorber, though the loss of a coverage move generally isn't worth it. Also, most Pokemon that use sleep inducing moves are Grass-types, meaning that they would most likely OHKO Relicanth with STAB Grass-type attacks. Stone Edge or Rock Slide can be used in the last slot as well, as they give Relicanth a Rock-type attack if Head Smash should run out of PP, though both attacks are weaker, making the loss of a coverage move not worth it.</p>

<p>As Relicanth tries to deal as much damage as possible, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really appreciated. Roselia is a prime example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth as well, and it can Baton Pass a Swords Dance boost, making Relicanth a force to be reckoned with. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While the Choice Band set focuses on Relicanth's power to break through walls, the Rock Polish set is used with the aim of sweeping the opponent once Relicanth sets up. This is made easier thanks to Relicanth's great overall defenses; if it can get a safe switch into a Pokemon it forces out, it can set up and begin sweeping. STAB Head Smash is still the main attack on the set, as it still wrecks any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Head Smash alongside Waterfall makes for a great combo, as few Pokemon resist both attacks. Earthquake is used so that Pokemon such as Klinklang and Magneton don't give this set problems.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive nature base 86s and below after a Rock Polish, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar, and Medicham. Using an Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as outspeeding positive nature base 140 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish. However, losing out on outspeeding key Pokemon, especially Rotom-C, may not be worth it. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive nature base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish.</p>

<p>Since this Relicanth forgoes the power gained from using a Choice Band, teammates that can set up entry hazards are greatly appreciated. Roselia, again, makes a great example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having excellent defensive synergy with Relicanth. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Galvantula, which still outspeed Relicanth after a Rock Polish. For more offensive partners, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth, and it can Baton Pass it a Swords Dance boost, which is Relicanth's only method of boosting its Attack. Leafeon also draws out Bug- and Fire-type Pokemon, which gives Relicanth plenty of time to set up a Rock Polish. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth's sweeping chances.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance Physical Attacker
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rain Dance / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set came to rise back in the DPP era, and in a tier with Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Qwilfish and Omastar, it can shine in the BW era as well. By utilzing Relicanth's lesser used ability, Swift Swim, it aims to use the rain to attack the opponent as hard and as fast as possible. Despite no longer using Rock Head as the main ability, Head Smash still remains as the main attack on the set, as its sheer power alone makes it a difficult move to switch into. Waterfall, alongside Head Smash, nails just about every Pokemon in the RU tier, as only 3 Pokemon resist Relicant's STABs: Ferroseed, Poliwrath, and Quagsire. Waterfall is especially dangerous in rain, as it now has the power to take down even more Pokemon. Earthquake is used to pick off Steel-type Pokemon such as Aggaron and Magneton. Finally, the last moveslot is up to personal perference. Rain Dance can be used so Relicanth can try and sweep with its own rain, and it works even better as Relicanth's Waterfall becomes even more powerful. However, if Relicanth has a teammate that can set up the rain already, Stone Edge is a viable alternative, allowing Relicanth to have a STAB attack that doesn't cause recoil damage, which is crucial when one takes into consideration Life Orb and Head Smash recoil.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Using[Insert Space]Relicanth Jolly nature ensures that it can outpace +1 positive nature base 86s in the rain, which include Rotom-A, which gives Relicanth the most problems. However, if one is unconcerned with outspeeding Rotom-A, an Adamant nature guarantees more power, and the Relicanth still has enough Speed to outspeed positive nature base 140 Speed Pokemon in the rain, so the power isn't wasted. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive nature base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemon in the rain, though maxing out its Speed usually works best.</p>

<p>Relicanth, as with most other sweepers, loves entry hazard support. As with all Relicanth, Roselia makes a great example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and thanks to rain, Roselia can take Fire-type attacks much better. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Galvantula, which still outspeed Relicanth in the rain. Also, Ferroseed also benefits from rain, as it can take Fire-type attacks better as well. Pokemon that can abuse the rain along with Relicanth, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can all break down the opponent, leading to the opponent's team collapsing. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it can set up rain and abuse it with Thunder, as well as having the typing to deal with common Relicanth checks, Poliwrath and Quagsire.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Relicanth has a few other options it can utilize; a RestTalk set can be viable but are generally better left for bulkier Pokemon, such as Munchlax. Amnesia could work on a defensive set, however Relicanth has better things to do than to try and set up Amnesia. Speaking of a defensive set, a support set with Stealth Rock, Toxic, or Yawn can work, however, Pokemon such as Kabutops and Omatsar can utilize it better thanks to higher Attack and Special Attack, respectively. Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, though it is less accurate, and Waterfall has the chance to flinch the opponent, which is useful. Substitute can work, as it shields Relicanth from status, as well as giving Relicanth a chance to attack. However, this takes prediction to pull of correctly, and should only be used by more experienced players. Finally, Bounce can be used as it forces switches as well as potentially spreading around paralysis, though it takes a turn to work, which makes it very predictable.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Relicanth may have a great combo with Head Smash and Rock Head, but it takes more than that to be a top-tier threat. Thus, there are two Pokemon that give the bony fish headaches: Poliwrath and Quagsire. Poliwrath is very annoying to Relicanth, as it is resistant to Head Smash and has Water Absorb to absorb Waterfall, making it a really good counter. To make matters worse for Relicanth, Poliwrath has Fighting-type STAB attacks to put a dent in Relicanth. However, Poliwrath must be careful when switching into the Choice Band set, as a well timed Zen Headbutt will hurt. Quagsire makes another great Relicanth counter, especially ones with Water Absorb, as it can absorb Waterfall and is resistant to Head Smash. It also has Recover to heal off any damage Relicanth can do to Quagsire, and thanks to it's Ground-type STAB, it can dispose of the bony fish easily. Bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Tangela, Tangrowth, and Torterra all do a great job of taking Head Smash, though Torterra will not enjoy taking a Choice Banded Waterfall. Ferroseed can also take any attack as it is resistant to both of Relicanth's STABs, though it can't do much in return unless it has Seed Bomb, and without reliable recovery, repeated Head Smashes will hurt. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon such as Hariyama make good checks in general as they can take a Head Smash and attack with their STABs, but they must be wary of a Choice Banded Zen Headbutt. Faster Grass-type Pokemon, such as Lilligant and Leafeon, can OHKO Relicanth with their Grass STAB attacks before it can attack. However, they must be careful switching in, as a Head Smash will hurt. Faster Special attackers in general, such as Galvantula and Rotom-C, can beat Relicanth, as they can target Relicanth's lower Special Defense. Generally, most Pokemon that can take a Head Smash are usually safe checks, though the right coverage attack will do some damage.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Relicanth receives Sturdy from the Dream World. Sadly, this ability is useless on Relicanth, who needs to utilize either no recoil damage from Head Smash or Swift Swim to be effective.</p>p>
 
[Overview]

<p>At first glance, Relicanth looks like an inferior version of Kabutops or Omastar. However, Relicanth has a few nichesin that armor, the;(add semi-colon) mainly sellingpoint being having, mainly its access. With Rock Head, Relicanth can abuse STAB Head Smash to great effect, punching holes in just about any Pokemon. It also isn't that bad on the base stats frontdefensively either; 100 / 130 / 65 defenses aren't half -bad for a Rock-type Pokemon. </p>

<p>
However, Relicanth is in the RU tier for a reason;: base 90 Attack is disappointingly average for a Pokemon with such a potent attack. To make matters worse, it doesn't have a single move in it's arsenal with which to boost its Attack. Relicanth is also really slow, base 55 Speed means that faster Pokemon can easily attack Relicanth before it can retaliate, though Rock Polish fixes this to an extent. It also has a reallyFurthermore, Relicanth has a limited movepool, making it fairly predictable, and suffers froma poor typing, which grants it weaknesses to common types in the RU metagame, such as Electric-, Fighting-, and Grass-type moves. However, don't underestimate this bony fish—it has just enough power to rip through unprepared teams.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>What better use for a Pokemon that can't boost its Attack without Baton Pass than a Choice Band set? Instead of wasting time setting up, Relicanth aims to break skulls with STAB Head Smash, which is especially good without the recoil thanks to Rock Head. Along with Head Smash, this set offerThis Relicanth has flawless neutral coverage, hitting—it hits every Pokemon in the RU metagame for at least neutral damage. STAB Waterfall has great coverage with Head Smash, as it hits Pokemon that resist Head Smash, such as Steelix and Claydol, for massive damage. Earthquake nails Magneton, Aggron, and Klinklang, which also resist Head Smash. The last moveslot is a vitalflexible one;. Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to hit Poliwrath for super effective damage, which is key as it resists both STAB attacks. It also hits every, who resists both Relicanth's STABs, for super effective damage; it also hits all the various Fighting-type Pokemons in the RU tier besides Gallade and Medicham for super effective damage, which is crucial as the RU metagame is infested with Fighting-type Pokemon. On the other hand, Double-Edge hits Quagsire harder, which is just as crucial as Quagsire can absorb any attack Relicanth can use. Iteasily sponges Relicanth's other attacks. Double-Edge also has the benefit of no recoil thanks to Rock Head, so it's a viable alternative over Zen Headbutt.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Adamant is the main nature as it gives Relicanth more power to hit harder. Also, dDespite Relicanth's poor base 55 Speed, maximum Speed is used to outspeed Uxie, Gligar, and Qwilfish. However, aA Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Altaria, which makes it a strong alternative. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def can be used for more bulk, which is useful alongside Relicanth's 100 / 130 / 65 defenses. However, Relicanth generally likes to outspeed common RU tanks, particularly (examples), and thanks to Relicanth's weaknesses, it won't get much use of a spread like thatbulkier spread anyways. To showcase Relicanth's power, the below damage calculations showbelow pit an Adamant Relicanth against common RU Pokemon:</p>

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Uxie: 48.3% - 57.1%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Tangrowth: 43.8% - 51.5%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/136+ Cofagrigus: 58.44% - 69.38%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/0 Steelix: 47.5% - 55.9%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/252+ Eviolite Gligar: 46.71% - 55.69%</li> (if there are no viable gligar sets lacking eviolite, remove the word "eviolite" - because that's like saying leftovers uxie / tangrowth etc)
<li>Earthquake vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 34.4% - 40.6%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 252/4 Poliwrath: 55.2% - 65.1%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 4/0 Hitmonlee: 139.7% - 164.5%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 12/252+ Hariyama: 46.8% - 55.1%</li>
<li>Double-Edge vs. 252/252+ Quagsire: 31% - 36.5%</li>
</ul>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall for more power, though it does not gain any important KOs, making the drop in accuracy undesirable. Waterfall also has the chance to flinch the opponent, making its value worth much more than Aqua Tail. Sleep Talk can be used over Zen Headbutt or Double-Edge to make Relicanth a useful sleep absorber, though the loss of a coverage move generally isn't worth it. Also, most Pokemon that use sleep inducing moves are Grass-types, meaning that they would most likely OHKO Relicanth with STAB Grass-type attacks. Stone Edge or Rock Slide can be used in the last slot as well, as they give Relicanth a Rock-type attack if Head Smash should run out of PP, though both attacks are weaker, making the loss of a coverage move not worth it.</p>

<p>As Relicanth tries to deal as much damage as possible, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really appreciated. Roselia is a prime example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth as well, and it can Baton Pass a Swords Dance boost, making Relicanth a force to be reckoned with. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While the Choice Band set focuses on Relicanth's power to break through walls, the Rock Polish set is used withhas the aim of sweeping the opponent once Relicanth sets up. This is made easier thanks to Relicanth's great overall defenses; iexcellent defenses, which mean that defensive Pokemon such as (examples) often cannot hurt it much. If it can get a safe switch into a Pokemon it forces out, it can set up and begin sweeping. </p>

<p>
STAB Head Smash is still the main attack on the set, as it still wrecks any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Head Smash alongsidend Waterfall makes for a great combo, as few Pokemon resist both attacks. Earthquake is used so thatlets Relicanth quickly dispatch of Pokemon such as Klinklang and Magneton don't give this set problems.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive -natured base 86s and below after a Rock Polish, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar, and Medicham. Using aAn Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as the ability to outspeeding positive -natured base 140 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish. However, losing out on outspeeding key Pokemon, especially Choice Scarf Rotom-C, mayight not be worth it. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive -natured base 115 Speed Pokemon as well as positive +1 base 60 Speed Pokemons, as well as all +1 base 60s after a Rock Polish.</p>

<p>Since this Relicanth forgoes the power gained from using a Choice Band, teammates that can set up entry hazards are greatly appreciated. Roselia, again, makes a great examplteammate, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as havingnd also has excellent defensive synergy with Relicanth. Ferroseed also makes a great partner;partners well with Relicanth, as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Galvantula, which that still outspeed Relicanth after a Rock Polish, such as Galvantula. For more offensive partners, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth, and it can Baton Pass itRelicanth a Swords Dance boost, which is Relicanth's only method of boosting its Attack for total and utter devastation. Leafeon also draws out Bug- and Fire-type Pokemon, which gives Relicanth plenty of time to set up a Rock Polish. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key, and immunitye to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth's sweeping chances.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance Physical Attacker
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rain Dance / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set came to risrose to fame back in the DPP era, and in a tier with Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Qwilfish, and Omastar, it can shine in the BW era as well. By utilizing Relicanth's lesser -used ability, Swift Swim, it aims to use the rain to attackhit the opponent as hard and as fastpowerfully and as speedily as possible. Despite Rock Head no longer usbeing Rock Head as the main abilityelicanth's ability of choice, Head Smash still remains as the main attack on the set, as its sheer power alone makes it a difficult move to switch into. The combination of Waterfall, alongsidend Head Smash, nails just about every Pokemon in the RU tier, as only 3three Pokemon resist Relicanth's STABs:, namely Ferroseed, Poliwrath, and Quagsire. Waterfall is especially dangerous in rain, as it now has the power to take down even more Pokemon. Earthquake is used to pick off Steel-type Pokemon such as Aggaron and Magneton. </p>

<p>
Finally, the last moveslot is up todepends on personal perreference. Rain Dance can be used soenables Relicanth canto try and sweep with its own rain, and it works even better as Relicanth's Waterfall becomes even more powerful. However, if Relicanth has a's teammate thats can set up the rain alreadyfor it, Stone Edge is a viable alternative, allowing Relicanth to have for a STAB attack that doesn't cause recoil damage, which is crucial when one takes into consideration Life Orb and Head Smash recoil.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Using[Insert Space]RelicanthA Jolly nature ensures that itRelicanth can outpace( +1 positive -natured base 86s in the rain, which include Rotom-A, whicho gives Relicanth the most problems. However, if one is unconcerned with outspeeding Rotom-A, an Adamant nature guarantees more power, and the Relicanth still has enough Speed to outspeed positive -natured base 140 Speed Pokemon in the rain (is this significant, really? what scarfers does this outspeed?), so the power isn't wasted. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive natureall base 115 Speed Pokemon, as well as positive +1all base 60 Speed Pokemon in the rain, thoughChoice Scarf users in the rain, while giving it some additional bulk; however, maxing out its Speed usually works best.</p>

<p>Relicanth, as with most other sweepers, loves entry hazard support. As with all Relicanth, Roselia makes a great examplteammate, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and thanks to rain, Roselia can take Fire-type attacks much bettermore easily. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon, such asthe likes of Galvantula, whicho still outspeeds Relicanth in the rain. Also, Ferroseed also benefits from rain, as it can take Fire-type attacks better as well. Pokemon that can abuse the rain along with Relicanth, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can all break down the opponent, leading to the opponent's team collapsingthe rain reducing its Fire-type weakness. Other rain abusers, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can overwhelm the opponent's rain checks. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it can both set up rain and abuse it with Thunder, as well as havingnd also has the typing to deal with common Relicanth checks, Poliwrath and Quagsire.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Relicanth has a few other options it can utilize; a. A RestTalk set can be viable, but areis generally better left forto bulkier Pokemon, such as Munchlax. Amnesia could work on a defensive set, howeverbut Relicanth has better things to do than to try and set up Amnesia. Speaking of a defensive set, a support set with some combination of Stealth Rock, Toxic, orand Yawn can work, h. However, Pokemon such as Kabutops and Omatsar can utilizestar do it better thanks to higher Attack and Special Attack, respectively. , which means that they (are less easily walled? can more easily get past who? basically, why?).</p>

<p>
Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, thoughbut it is less accurate, and Waterfall has the chance to flinch the opponent, which's flinch chance is useful. Substitute can work, as it shields Relicanth from status, as well as giving Relicanth a chance tond can possibly give Relicanth an extra attack. However, this takes prediction to pull of correctly, and should only be used by more experienced players. Finally, Bounce can be used as it forces switches, as well as potentially spreading around paralysis, though it takes a turn to work, whichbut its charge turn makes it very predictable.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Relicanth may have a great combo with Head Smash and Rock Head, but it takes more than that to be a top-tier threat. Thus, there are two Pokemon that give the bony fisRelicanth headaches: Poliwrath and Quagsire. Poliwrath is very annoying to Relicanth, as it isThe former resistants to Head Smash and has Water Absorb to absorb Waterfall, making it a really goodn excellent counter. To make matters worse for Relicanth, Poliwrath has STAB Fighting-type STAB attacks to put a dent in Relicanthit. However, Poliwrath must be careful when switching into the Choice Band set, as a well -timed Zen Headbutt will hurt. Quagsire makes another great Relicanth counter, especially ones with Water Absorb (do these even exist anymore? do unaware variants still counter?), as it can absorb Waterfall and is resistant tos Head Smash. It also has Recover to heal off any damage Relicanth can do to Quagsire, and thanks to it's Ground-type STAB, itQuagsire can dispose of the bony fish easily. Relicanth easily.</p>

<p>
Bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Tangela, Tangrowth, and Torterra, all do a great job of taking Head Smash, though Torterra will not enjoy taking a Choice Band-boosted Waterfall. Ferroseed can also take any attack as it is resistant to both of Relicanth's STABs, though it can't do much in return unless it has Seed Bomb, and without reliable recovery, repeated Head Smashes will hurt. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Hariyama, make good checks in general as they can take a Head Smash and attackretaliate with their STABs, but they must be wary of aswitching in on Choice Banded Zen Headbutt. </p>

<p>
Faster Grass-type Pokemon, such as Lilligant and Leafeon, can OHKO Relicanth with their Grass-type STAB attacks before it can attack. However, they must be careful switching in, as a Head Smash will hurt. FIn general, faster Sspecial attackers in general, such as Galvantula and Rotom-C, can beat Relicanth, as they can (leave this) target Relicanth's lower Special Defense. Generally, most Pokemon that can take a Head Smash are usually safe checks, thoughFinally, as Relicanth will most commonly be firing off Choice Band Head Smash, most Pokemon that can take one are safe checks, but note that the right coverage attack will do some damage.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Relicanth receives Sturdy from the Dream World. Sadly, this ability is useless on Relicanth, who needs to utilize either no recoil damage from Head Smash or Swift SwimHead Smash to negate recoil damage or Swift Swim for the Speed boost in order to be effective.</p>p>


AM GP CHECK INCOMING !!!!!!
[Overview]

<p>At first glance, Relicanth looks like an inferior version of Kabutops or Omastar. However, Relicanth has a few niches, mainly its access to Rock Head. With Rock Head, Relicanth can abuse STAB Head Smash to great effect, punching holes in just about any Pokemon. It also isn't that bad defensively either; 100 / 130 / 65 defenses aren't half-bad for a Rock-type Pokemon.</p>

<p>However, Relicanth is in the RU tier for a reason: base 90 Attack is disappointingly average for a Pokemon with such a potent attack. To make matters worse, it doesn't have a single move in its arsenal with which to boost its Attack. Relicanth is also slow, base 55 Speed means that faster Pokemon can easily attack Relicanth before it can retaliate, though Rock Polish fixes this to an extent. Furthermore, Relicanth has a limited movepool, making it fairly predictable, and a poor typing, which grants it weaknesses to common types in the RU metagame, such as Electric, Fighting, and Grass. However, don't underestimate this bony fish—it has just enough power to rip through unprepared teams.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>What better use for a Pokemon that can't boost its Attack than a Choice Band set? Instead of wasting time setting up, Relicanth aims to break skulls with STAB Head Smash, which is especially good without the recoil thanks to Rock Head. This Relicanth has flawless neutral coverage—it hits every Pokemon in the RU metagame for at least neutral damage. STAB Waterfall has great coverage with Head Smash, as it hits Pokemon that resist Head Smash, such as Steelix and Claydol, for massive damage. Earthquake nails Magneton, Aggron, and Klinklang, which also resist Head Smash. The last moveslot is a flexible one. Zen Headbutt allows Relicanth to hit Poliwrath, who resists both Relicanth's STABs, for super effective damage; it also hits all the various Fighting-types in the RU tier besides Gallade and Medicham for super effective damage. On the other hand, Double-Edge hits Quagsire harder, which is just as crucial as Quagsire easily sponges Relicanth's other attacks. Double-Edge also has the benefit of no recoil thanks to Rock Head, so it's a viable alternative over Zen Headbutt.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Adamant is the main nature as it gives Relicanth more power. Despite Relicanth's poor base 55 Speed, maximum Speed is used to outspeed Uxie, Gligar, and Qwilfish. A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Altaria, which makes it a strong alternative. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def can be used for more bulk, which is useful alongside Relicanth's 100 / 130 / 65 defenses. However, Relicanth generally likes to outspeed common RU tanks, particularly (examples), and thanks to Relicanth's weaknesses, it won't get much use of a bulkier spread anyways. To showcase Relicanth's power, the damage calculations below pit an Adamant Relicanth against common RU Pokemon:</p>

<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Uxie 48.3% - 57.1%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/252+ Tangrowth 43.8% - 51.5%</li>
<li>Head Smash vs. 252/136+ Cofagrigus 58.44% - 69.38%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/0 Steelix 47.5% - 55.9%</li>
<li>Waterfall vs. 252/252+ Eviolite Gligar 46.71% - 55.69%</li> (if there are no viable gligar sets lacking eviolite, remove the word "eviolite" - because that's like saying leftovers uxie / tangrowth etc)
<li>Earthquake vs. 252/4 Poliwrath 34.4% - 40.6%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 252/4 Poliwrath 55.2% - 65.1%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 4/0 Hitmonlee 139.7% - 164.5%</li>
<li>Zen Headbutt vs. 12/252+ Hariyama 46.8% - 55.1%</li>
<li>Double-Edge vs. 252/252+ Quagsire 31% - 36.5%</li>
</ul>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall for more power, though it does not gain any important KOs, making the drop in accuracy undesirable. Waterfall also has the chance to flinch the opponent, making its value worth much more than Aqua Tail. Sleep Talk can be used over Zen Headbutt or Double-Edge to make Relicanth a useful sleep absorber, though the loss of a coverage move generally isn't worth it. Also, most Pokemon that use sleep inducing moves are Grass-types, meaning that they would most likely OHKO Relicanth with STAB Grass-type attacks. Stone Edge or Rock Slide can be used in the last slot as well, as they give Relicanth a Rock-type attack if Head Smash should run out of PP, though both attacks are weaker, making the loss of a coverage move not worth it.</p>

<p>As Relicanth tries to deal as much damage as possible, teammates that can set up entry hazards are really appreciated. Roselia is a prime example, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, as well as having key resistances to Grass-, Electric-, and Fighting-type attacks, while Relicanth has resistances to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth as well, and it can Baton Pass a Swords Dance boost, making Relicanth a force to be reckoned with. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric-type attacks, and has a key immunity to Ground-type attacks. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters.</p>

[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Head Smash
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Rock Head
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While the Choice Band set focuses on Relicanth's power to break through walls, the Rock Polish set has the aim of sweeping the opponent once Relicanth sets up. This is made easier thanks to Relicanth's great excellent defenses, which mean that defensive Pokemon such as (examples) often cannot hurt it much. If it can get a safe switch into a Pokemon it forces out, it can set up and begin sweeping.</p>

<p>STAB Head Smash is still the main attack on the set, as it still wrecks any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Head Smash and Waterfall make for a great combo, as few Pokemon resist both attacks. Earthquake lets Relicanth quickly dispatch of Pokemon such as Klinklang and Magneton.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Jolly nature, Relicanth hits 458 Speed, enabling it to outpace +1 positive-natured base 86s and below after a Rock Polish, which includes common Choice Scarf users such as Rotom-C, Magmortar, and Medicham. An Adamant nature, however, guarantees more power, as well as the ability to outspeed positive-natured base 140 Speed Pokemon after a Rock Polish. However, losing out on outspeeding key Pokemon, especially Choice Scarf Rotom-C, might not be worth it. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed positive-natured base 115s, as well as all +1 base 60s after a Rock Polish.</p>

<p>Since this Relicanth forgoes the power gained from using a Choice Band, teammates that can set up entry hazards are greatly appreciated. Roselia, again, makes a great teammate, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and also has excellent defensive synergy with Relicanth. Ferroseed also partners well with Relicanth, as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon that still outspeed Relicanth after a Rock Polish, such as Galvantula. For more offensive partners, Leafeon has excellent defensive and offensive synergy with Relicanth, and it can Baton Pass Relicanth a Swords Dance boost for total and utter devastation. Leafeon also draws out Bug- and Fire-type Pokemon, which gives Relicanth plenty of time to set up a Rock Polish. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it is resistant to Grass, 4x resistant to Electric, and immune to Ground. Rotom-C can also get rid of Quagisre and Poliwrath, Relicanth's key counters, easing Relicanth's sweeping chances.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance Physical Attacker
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rain Dance / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set rose to fame back in the DPP era, and in a tier with Pokemon such as Ludicolo, Qwilfish, and Omastar, it can shine in the BW era as well. By utilizing Relicanth's lesser-used ability, Swift Swim, it aims to use the rain to hit the opponent as powerfully and as speedily as possible. Despite Rock Head no longer being Relicanth's ability of choice, Head Smash still remains the main attack on the set, as its sheer power alone makes it a difficult move to switch into. The combination of Waterfall and Head Smash nails just about every Pokemon in the RU tier— only three Pokemon resist Relicanth's STABs, namely Ferroseed, Poliwrath, and Quagsire. Waterfall is especially dangerous in rain, as it now has the power to take down even more Pokemon. Earthquake is used to pick off Steel-type Pokemon such as Aggron and Magneton.</p>

<p>Finally, the last moveslot depends on personal preference. Rain Dance enables Relicanth to try and sweep with its own rain, and Relicanth's Waterfall becomes even more powerful. However, if Relicanth's teammates can set up the rain for it, Stone Edge is a viable alternative for a STAB attack that doesn't cause recoil damage, which is crucial when one takes into consideration Life Orb and Head Smash recoil.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>A Jolly nature ensures that Relicanth can outpace +1 positive-natured base 86s in the rain, which include Rotom-A, who gives Relicanth the most problems. However, if one is unconcerned with outspeeding Rotom-A, an Adamant nature guarantees more power, and Relicanth still has enough Speed to outspeed positive-natured base 140 Speed Pokemon in the rain (is this significant, really? what scarfers does this outspeed?), so the power isn't wasted. An alternative EV spread of 108 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe with an Adamant nature allows Relicanth to outspeed all base 115 Speed Pokemon, as well as all base 60 Speed Choice Scarf users in the rain, while giving it some additional bulk; however, maxing out its Speed usually works best.</p>

<p>Relicanth, as with most other sweepers, loves entry hazard support. As with all Relicanth, Roselia makes a great teammate, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and thanks to rain, Roselia can take Fire-type attacks much more easily. Ferroseed also makes a great partner; as it can set up both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as use Thunder Wave to cripple the likes of Galvantula, who still outspeeds Relicanth in the rain. Ferroseed also benefits from the rain reducing its Fire-type weakness. Other rain abusers, such as Ludicolo, Omastar, and Kabutops, also make great partners, as they can overwhelm the opponent's rain checks. Rotom-C makes another great partner, as it can both set up rain and abuse it with Thunder, and also has the typing to deal with common Relicanth checks Poliwrath and Quagsire.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Relicanth has a few other options it can utilize. A RestTalk set can be viable, but is generally better left to bulkier Pokemon, such as Munchlax. Amnesia could work on a defensive set, but Relicanth has better things to do than to try and set up Amnesia. Speaking of a defensive set, a support set with some combination of Stealth Rock, Toxic, and Yawn can work. However, Kabutops and Omastar do it better thanks to higher Attack and Special Attack, respectively, which means that they (are less easily walled? can more easily get past who? basically, why?).</p>

<p>Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, but it is less accurate, and Waterfall's flinch chance is useful. Substitute shields Relicanth from status, and can possibly give Relicanth an extra attack. However, this takes prediction to pull of correctly, and should only be used by more experienced players. Finally, Bounce forces switches, as well as potentially spreading paralysis, but its charge turn makes it very predictable.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Relicanth may have a great combo with Head Smash and Rock Head, but it takes more than that to be a top-tier threat. There are two Pokemon that give Relicanth headaches: Poliwrath and Quagsire. The former resists toHead Smash and has Water Absorb to absorb Waterfall, making it an excellent counter. To make matters worse for Relicanth, Poliwrath has STAB Fighting-type attacks to put a dent in it. However, Poliwrath must be careful when switching into the Choice Band set, as a well-timed Zen Headbutt will hurt. Quagsire makes another great Relicanth counter, especially ones with Water Absorb (do these even exist anymore? do unaware variants still counter?), as it can absorb Waterfall and resists Head Smash. It also has Recover to heal off any damage, and thanks to its Ground-type STAB, Quagsire can dispose of Relicanth easily.</p>

<p>Bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Tangela, Tangrowth, and Torterra, all do a great job of taking Head Smash, though Torterra will not enjoy taking a Choice Band-boosted Waterfall. Ferroseed can also take any attack as it is resistant to both of Relicanth's STABs, though it can't do much in return unless it has Seed Bomb, and without reliable recovery, repeated Head Smashes will hurt. Bulky Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Hariyama, make good checks in general as they can take a Head Smash and retaliate with their STABs, but they must be wary of switching in on Choice Band Zen Headbutt.</p>

<p>Faster Grass-type Pokemon, such as Lilligant and Leafeon, can OHKO Relicanth with their Grass-type STAB attacks before it can attack. However, they must be careful switching in, as Head Smash will hurt. In general, faster special attackers, such as Galvantula and Rotom-C, can beat Relicanth, as they target Relicanth's lower Special Defense. Finally, as Relicanth will most commonly be firing off Choice Band Head Smash, most Pokemon that can take one are safe checks, but note that the right coverage attack will do some damage.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Relicanth receives Sturdy from the Dream World. Sadly, this ability is useless on Relicanth, who needs to utilize either Head Smash to negate recoil damage or Swift Swim for the Speed boost in order to be effective.</p>p>
 

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