[OVERVIEW]
Riolu's niche over Little Cup's other Fighting-types lies in its access to Copycat and Prankster. This allows Riolu to gain priority on its most recently used attack with Copycat and beat faster Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it such as Diglett, Doduo, and Gastly. Furthermore, Riolu's expansive movepool, fair bulk with Eviolite, high Attack stat, and access to Swords Dance altogether allow it to function as a fairly potent sweeper. Unfortunately, Riolu's lack of Knock Off and a more reliable STAB attack than High Jump Kick, as well as worse bulk than most other Fighting-types still leave it generally outclassed by better options in Mienfoo and Timburr. It also struggles to find setup opportunities due to its only decent bulk as well as rather unimpressive Speed, and it can at times, struggle to maintain Copycat chains due to the tier's prevalence of priority.
[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Copycat
move 3: High Jump Kick
move 4: Protect / Iron Tail / Zen Headbutt / Crunch
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
nature: Adamant
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 116 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance is important for boosting Riolu's Attack and enabling it to sweep, and the +1 priority it gets from Prankster is useful for avoiding Taunt, which is uncommon but still present nonetheless. Copycat allows Riolu to gain priority on either High Jump Kick or its coverage immediately after using the move to compensate for its poor Speed. It can also be used alongside Protect to scout a foe's attack or entry hazard and proceed to use the same move back, as well as an ally's pivoting move. High Jump Kick is Riolu's strongest STAB option and, when boosted, is capable of OHKOing Shellder, Alolan Grimer, and every relevant Vullaby set with Stealth Rock up. However, the move is slightly unreliable at times, given that Riolu will lose 50% of its maximum HP upon missing. Protect is useful for scouting powerful attacks such as Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, Diglett's Earthquake, and Doduo's Brave Bird, and using Copycat to OHKO the aforementioned Pokemon with their own attacks after a boost. Iron Tail is useful coverage for common Fairy-types in Spritzee, Cottonee, and Snubbull, and it is capable of OHKOing them when boosted with Stealth Rock up. Zen Headbutt is another coverage option that allows Riolu to hit Poison-types such as Gastly, Mareanie, and Foongus for better damage, being able to OHKO the former and 2HKO the latter two threats when boosted. Crunch is useful for 2HKOing most of the Ghost-types that are immune to High Jump Kick, such as Pumpkaboo and Frillish, and OHKOing Gastly as well after a boost. Blaze Kick is another option for hitting various threats such as Foongus and Cottonee for 2HKOs. However, these Pokemon are all hit hard by Riolu's other coverage options, so this move isn't usually as preferred. Substitute can be used over Protect to provide Riolu with a setup opportunity, though it often will need as much longevity as it can get, meaning that this isn't as preferable of an option.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs and an Adamant nature allow Riolu to hit as hard as possible and reliably OHKO common defensive Pokemon in Ferroseed and Mudbray with a boosted High Jump Kick. Near maximum investment in HP and Defense with an Eviolite allow Riolu to tank powerful hits from the likes of Drilbur, Scraggy, and Ponyta. 36 EVs invested in Special Defense ensure that Riolu can survive some of the tier's most feared special attacks in Snivy's Leaf Storm and Chinchou's Hydro Pump, and 36 Speed EVs are useful for hitting 13 Speed and outpacing most defensive Pokemon. Prankster is mandatory, as it allows Riolu to receive priority on Swords Dance and Copycat. Roseli Berry can be run over Eviolite in order to tank one Fairy-type attack more reliably, though the lack of Eviolite significantly cuts Riolu's bulk, and as a result, it is generally not preferred.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its poor longevity and frailty, it is best to preserve Riolu early-game and remove its checks so it can function as a late-game sweeper. Protect is a move that serves many uses; most importantly, it can help Riolu protect itself from some of the tier's most powerful attacks in Rufflet's Brave Bird, boosted Omanyte's Hydro Pump, and Diglett's Earthquake and proceed to use Copycat to severely dent the aforementioned threats with their own attacks. It also allows Riolu to scout out Choice Scarf users or generate momentum by scouting and copying pivoting moves. Although it can struggle to find setup opportunities, Riolu can often reliably use Swords Dance when predicting a switch. If a foe uses Stealth Rock or sets another entry hazard, Riolu can do the same with Copycat and help weaken its teammates' checks. It can also make good use of Copycat in utilizing slow pivots as partners to copy either their U-turn or Volt Switch and wear down foes. Riolu must be wary of Ghost-type switch-ins when using High Jump Kick, as it will take severe crash damage if the move fails. It should also be noted that if Riolu doesn't 2HKO a foe with High Jump Kick and the foe attacks after it, it will not be able to use Copycat to receive priority on High Jump Kick. Because of High Jump Kick's heavy recoil damage, Riolu must also be wary of common Protect users in Torchic, Carvanha, and Spritzee, as they will take no damage from its attack and potentially KO it after the 50% HP loss from crash damage. It is best to use Riolu once powerful Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-type attackers are removed, as they will all severely dent Riolu with their super effective STAB attacks regardless of its bulk investment and weaken it for their teammates to revenge kill. If Riolu isn't running Protect, it should use the coverage move of choice on predicted switches to deal sufficient damage to certain Fighting-resistant Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Despite sharing a weakness to Fairy, Dark-types such as Vullaby and Carvanha are fantastic teammates for Riolu, as they reliably take care of the Psychic- and Ghost-types that trouble it, such as Abra, Gastly, and Slowpoke. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer are especially helpful, as they aren't weak to Fairy-type attacks and can Pursuit trap and either OHKO or severely weaken Psychic- and Ghost-types that keep Riolu from spamming High Jump Kick. Answers to Fairy-type Pokemon, such as Gastly, Foongus, and Ferroseed, can either switch into the Fairy-type attacks that Riolu hates taking or threaten common Fairy-types in Spritzee and Cottonee with their super effective STAB attacks. Offensive and defensive answers to Flying-type Pokemon are both very helpful due to Riolu's weakness to the type; Magnemite, Chinchou, and Onix are all very capable of either offensively pressuring or tanking the hits of powerful Flying-types in Vullaby and Doduo. Diglett is capable of trapping and KOing Poison-type Pokemon that resist High Jump Kick such as Croagunk and Skrelp. Slow pivots such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Mienfoo are useful teammates, as they can bring Riolu in safely and allow it to use Copycat on either Volt Switch or U-turn to wear down foes. Entry hazard support from the likes of Dwebble, Onix, and Mareanie is helpful to Riolu for an easier time securing KOs. Knock Off support from Pokemon like Cottonee, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer is also appreciated, as Riolu will have an easier time sweeping once foes' Eviolites have been removed. Lastly, while not mandatory, Memento support from the likes of Diglett, Cottonee, and Alolan Grimer is useful for providing Riolu with an easy setup opportunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Copycat and Roar may at first seem like a useful combination, but it doesn't actually work and will ultimately cost Riolu a moveslot. Riolu has a rather expansive physical movepool that consists of interesting options in Ice Punch, Rock Slide, Shadow Claw, Poison Jab, and Earthquake. However, it usually isn't able to put any of these moves to as much use as the coverage listed in the main set. A more offensively-inclined Swords Dance set can be used with Life Orb and Speed investment over bulk. However, it is extremely hard for Riolu to find setup opportunities with this set due to the lack of bulk, and it is still outsped by big threats in Doduo and Gastly. Riolu can utilize its access to Nasty Plot to try functioning as a special setup sweeper, though its poor Special Attack and lack of special coverage make sweeping extremely difficult. Riolu can utilize a double dance set, given its access to both Agility and Swords Dance. However, it will have to sacrifice coverage to make room for both setup options as well as take powerful hits in the process of setting up. Role Play is an option for copying useful abilities in Foongus and Mienfoo's Regenerator as well as Mudbray's Stamina, but this gives up coverage and is often fairly situational. Riolu can use its access to both Rain Dance and Sunny Day alongside Prankster to function as a weather setter, but its poor bulk usually will only allow it to set up weather once before fainting. Focus Sash is an option on more offensive teams and also guarantees a boost, though Riolu is generally better off using another item if it isn't investing too heavily in defenses. Berry Juice can be used over Eviolite or Roseli Berry to provide Riolu with semi-reliable recovery, though this usually leaves it susceptible to OHKOs from attacks that Eviolite allows it to survive, such as Choice Scarf Mienfoo's High Jump Kick and Vullaby's Air Slash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Common Ghost-types in Gastly, Frillish, and Pumpkaboo are immune to High Jump Kick, and alongside cutting Riolu's HP from crash damage, they can offensively pressure it or inflict it with status.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Riolu's poor Speed, faster Pokemon in Abra, Choice Scarf Vullaby, and Cottonee are able to outpace and threaten to OHKO it with their super effective STAB attacks. However, these threats must be careful not to allow Riolu to use Copycat and attack them with their own moves.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Spritzee and Snubbull resist High Jump Kick and can severely damage Riolu with either STAB Moonblast or STAB Play Rough, though they must be wary of Iron Tail.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Mareanie, Croagunk, and Foongus are all capable of tanking High Jump Kick and either whittling Riolu down with Sludge Bomb or inflicting it with status, though they all must look out for Zen Headbutt.
**Powerful Special Attackers**: Due to Riolu's rather poor Special Defense, it is heavily pressured by especially powerful special attackers in Gastly, Bulbasaur, and Magnemite, though these threats must be wary of either High Jump Kick or Zen Headbutt.
**Faster Priority Users**: Faster priority users such as Corphish and Doduo can disrupt Riolu's Copycat chains with their priority moves in Aqua Jet and Quick Attack, respectively.
Riolu's niche over Little Cup's other Fighting-types lies in its access to Copycat and Prankster. This allows Riolu to gain priority on its most recently used attack with Copycat and beat faster Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it such as Diglett, Doduo, and Gastly. Furthermore, Riolu's expansive movepool, fair bulk with Eviolite, high Attack stat, and access to Swords Dance altogether allow it to function as a fairly potent sweeper. Unfortunately, Riolu's lack of Knock Off and a more reliable STAB attack than High Jump Kick, as well as worse bulk than most other Fighting-types still leave it generally outclassed by better options in Mienfoo and Timburr. It also struggles to find setup opportunities due to its only decent bulk as well as rather unimpressive Speed, and it can at times, struggle to maintain Copycat chains due to the tier's prevalence of priority.
[SET]
name: Bulky Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Copycat
move 3: High Jump Kick
move 4: Protect / Iron Tail / Zen Headbutt / Crunch
item: Eviolite
ability: Prankster
nature: Adamant
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 116 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance is important for boosting Riolu's Attack and enabling it to sweep, and the +1 priority it gets from Prankster is useful for avoiding Taunt, which is uncommon but still present nonetheless. Copycat allows Riolu to gain priority on either High Jump Kick or its coverage immediately after using the move to compensate for its poor Speed. It can also be used alongside Protect to scout a foe's attack or entry hazard and proceed to use the same move back, as well as an ally's pivoting move. High Jump Kick is Riolu's strongest STAB option and, when boosted, is capable of OHKOing Shellder, Alolan Grimer, and every relevant Vullaby set with Stealth Rock up. However, the move is slightly unreliable at times, given that Riolu will lose 50% of its maximum HP upon missing. Protect is useful for scouting powerful attacks such as Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, Diglett's Earthquake, and Doduo's Brave Bird, and using Copycat to OHKO the aforementioned Pokemon with their own attacks after a boost. Iron Tail is useful coverage for common Fairy-types in Spritzee, Cottonee, and Snubbull, and it is capable of OHKOing them when boosted with Stealth Rock up. Zen Headbutt is another coverage option that allows Riolu to hit Poison-types such as Gastly, Mareanie, and Foongus for better damage, being able to OHKO the former and 2HKO the latter two threats when boosted. Crunch is useful for 2HKOing most of the Ghost-types that are immune to High Jump Kick, such as Pumpkaboo and Frillish, and OHKOing Gastly as well after a boost. Blaze Kick is another option for hitting various threats such as Foongus and Cottonee for 2HKOs. However, these Pokemon are all hit hard by Riolu's other coverage options, so this move isn't usually as preferred. Substitute can be used over Protect to provide Riolu with a setup opportunity, though it often will need as much longevity as it can get, meaning that this isn't as preferable of an option.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs and an Adamant nature allow Riolu to hit as hard as possible and reliably OHKO common defensive Pokemon in Ferroseed and Mudbray with a boosted High Jump Kick. Near maximum investment in HP and Defense with an Eviolite allow Riolu to tank powerful hits from the likes of Drilbur, Scraggy, and Ponyta. 36 EVs invested in Special Defense ensure that Riolu can survive some of the tier's most feared special attacks in Snivy's Leaf Storm and Chinchou's Hydro Pump, and 36 Speed EVs are useful for hitting 13 Speed and outpacing most defensive Pokemon. Prankster is mandatory, as it allows Riolu to receive priority on Swords Dance and Copycat. Roseli Berry can be run over Eviolite in order to tank one Fairy-type attack more reliably, though the lack of Eviolite significantly cuts Riolu's bulk, and as a result, it is generally not preferred.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its poor longevity and frailty, it is best to preserve Riolu early-game and remove its checks so it can function as a late-game sweeper. Protect is a move that serves many uses; most importantly, it can help Riolu protect itself from some of the tier's most powerful attacks in Rufflet's Brave Bird, boosted Omanyte's Hydro Pump, and Diglett's Earthquake and proceed to use Copycat to severely dent the aforementioned threats with their own attacks. It also allows Riolu to scout out Choice Scarf users or generate momentum by scouting and copying pivoting moves. Although it can struggle to find setup opportunities, Riolu can often reliably use Swords Dance when predicting a switch. If a foe uses Stealth Rock or sets another entry hazard, Riolu can do the same with Copycat and help weaken its teammates' checks. It can also make good use of Copycat in utilizing slow pivots as partners to copy either their U-turn or Volt Switch and wear down foes. Riolu must be wary of Ghost-type switch-ins when using High Jump Kick, as it will take severe crash damage if the move fails. It should also be noted that if Riolu doesn't 2HKO a foe with High Jump Kick and the foe attacks after it, it will not be able to use Copycat to receive priority on High Jump Kick. Because of High Jump Kick's heavy recoil damage, Riolu must also be wary of common Protect users in Torchic, Carvanha, and Spritzee, as they will take no damage from its attack and potentially KO it after the 50% HP loss from crash damage. It is best to use Riolu once powerful Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-type attackers are removed, as they will all severely dent Riolu with their super effective STAB attacks regardless of its bulk investment and weaken it for their teammates to revenge kill. If Riolu isn't running Protect, it should use the coverage move of choice on predicted switches to deal sufficient damage to certain Fighting-resistant Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Despite sharing a weakness to Fairy, Dark-types such as Vullaby and Carvanha are fantastic teammates for Riolu, as they reliably take care of the Psychic- and Ghost-types that trouble it, such as Abra, Gastly, and Slowpoke. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer are especially helpful, as they aren't weak to Fairy-type attacks and can Pursuit trap and either OHKO or severely weaken Psychic- and Ghost-types that keep Riolu from spamming High Jump Kick. Answers to Fairy-type Pokemon, such as Gastly, Foongus, and Ferroseed, can either switch into the Fairy-type attacks that Riolu hates taking or threaten common Fairy-types in Spritzee and Cottonee with their super effective STAB attacks. Offensive and defensive answers to Flying-type Pokemon are both very helpful due to Riolu's weakness to the type; Magnemite, Chinchou, and Onix are all very capable of either offensively pressuring or tanking the hits of powerful Flying-types in Vullaby and Doduo. Diglett is capable of trapping and KOing Poison-type Pokemon that resist High Jump Kick such as Croagunk and Skrelp. Slow pivots such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Mienfoo are useful teammates, as they can bring Riolu in safely and allow it to use Copycat on either Volt Switch or U-turn to wear down foes. Entry hazard support from the likes of Dwebble, Onix, and Mareanie is helpful to Riolu for an easier time securing KOs. Knock Off support from Pokemon like Cottonee, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer is also appreciated, as Riolu will have an easier time sweeping once foes' Eviolites have been removed. Lastly, while not mandatory, Memento support from the likes of Diglett, Cottonee, and Alolan Grimer is useful for providing Riolu with an easy setup opportunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Copycat and Roar may at first seem like a useful combination, but it doesn't actually work and will ultimately cost Riolu a moveslot. Riolu has a rather expansive physical movepool that consists of interesting options in Ice Punch, Rock Slide, Shadow Claw, Poison Jab, and Earthquake. However, it usually isn't able to put any of these moves to as much use as the coverage listed in the main set. A more offensively-inclined Swords Dance set can be used with Life Orb and Speed investment over bulk. However, it is extremely hard for Riolu to find setup opportunities with this set due to the lack of bulk, and it is still outsped by big threats in Doduo and Gastly. Riolu can utilize its access to Nasty Plot to try functioning as a special setup sweeper, though its poor Special Attack and lack of special coverage make sweeping extremely difficult. Riolu can utilize a double dance set, given its access to both Agility and Swords Dance. However, it will have to sacrifice coverage to make room for both setup options as well as take powerful hits in the process of setting up. Role Play is an option for copying useful abilities in Foongus and Mienfoo's Regenerator as well as Mudbray's Stamina, but this gives up coverage and is often fairly situational. Riolu can use its access to both Rain Dance and Sunny Day alongside Prankster to function as a weather setter, but its poor bulk usually will only allow it to set up weather once before fainting. Focus Sash is an option on more offensive teams and also guarantees a boost, though Riolu is generally better off using another item if it isn't investing too heavily in defenses. Berry Juice can be used over Eviolite or Roseli Berry to provide Riolu with semi-reliable recovery, though this usually leaves it susceptible to OHKOs from attacks that Eviolite allows it to survive, such as Choice Scarf Mienfoo's High Jump Kick and Vullaby's Air Slash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Common Ghost-types in Gastly, Frillish, and Pumpkaboo are immune to High Jump Kick, and alongside cutting Riolu's HP from crash damage, they can offensively pressure it or inflict it with status.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Riolu's poor Speed, faster Pokemon in Abra, Choice Scarf Vullaby, and Cottonee are able to outpace and threaten to OHKO it with their super effective STAB attacks. However, these threats must be careful not to allow Riolu to use Copycat and attack them with their own moves.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Spritzee and Snubbull resist High Jump Kick and can severely damage Riolu with either STAB Moonblast or STAB Play Rough, though they must be wary of Iron Tail.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Mareanie, Croagunk, and Foongus are all capable of tanking High Jump Kick and either whittling Riolu down with Sludge Bomb or inflicting it with status, though they all must look out for Zen Headbutt.
**Powerful Special Attackers**: Due to Riolu's rather poor Special Defense, it is heavily pressured by especially powerful special attackers in Gastly, Bulbasaur, and Magnemite, though these threats must be wary of either High Jump Kick or Zen Headbutt.
**Faster Priority Users**: Faster priority users such as Corphish and Doduo can disrupt Riolu's Copycat chains with their priority moves in Aqua Jet and Quick Attack, respectively.
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