tcr
sage of six tabs
Overview
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As one of the few Pokemon with Prankster in Little Cup and even fewer Pokemon who can warrant an offensive set, Riolu holds a specific niche as a revenge killer and late game cleaner. With access to both Copycat and Prankster it can fire off powerful Hi Jump Kicks and chain that together so the opponent cannot react. Prankster makes sure that Riolu can Swords Dance before a Pokemon Taunts it. Its decent sized movepool give it enough options to cover potential checks and a variety of threats. However, it is somewhat outclassed as a Fighting-type with Pokemon like Timburr and Mienfoo being dominant in the tier. Its Copycat chain is also easily interruptible either through faster priority or Pokemon with Protect.
Life Orb Swords Dance Sweeper
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name: Swords Dance Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Protect / Crunch
ability: Prankster
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
ivs: 0 HP IVs
Moves
========
Swords Dance is the main set up move that is Riolu's bread and butter, its what separates him from other some other Fighting-types by having a +1 priority Swords Dance. High Jump Kick should be the main STAB, as it grants the most power, and is devastating after a boost. Copycat is essential because it allows Riolu to consistently spam its High Jump Kick without any backlash, as it will always be at +1 priority. Protect can be used in order to scout the opponent, such as a Mienfoo using U-turn, and allowing Riolu to use U-turn back. This is also useful for generating free Knock Offs and such against threats like Pawniard. Zen Headbutt can be the second offensive move, as it hits Croagunk, Gastly, and other Fighting-types with Super-effectiveness. It's also the best option against threats like Foongus. Crunch can be an option to hit other Ghost types, specifically Drifloon and Pumpkaboo. In most situations a Pursuit trapper should be added on the team that will trap those for Riolu however. Cross Chop and Drain Punch are two Fighting-type moves that can be effective over High Jump Kick if one prefers not to risk losing half HP on a miss. Cross Chop has decent power but can lack killing power if unboosted but it can also miss, while Drain Punch fails to kill many things even while boosted, but provides a safer alternative for Eviolite and bulkier sets.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Speed and Attack, while investing the rest into HP in order for Riolu to live slightly longer. It's imperitive that the HP EVs be invested into the defenses instead, and the HP IV lowered to 0 in order to hit exactly 19 HP for good Life Orb recoil rolls. A Life Orb is generally preferred for a regular Swords Dance set, as the Life Orb lets Riolu net more kills than an Eviolite would.
Usage Tips
========
Riolu should be sure to set up when common Ghost-types like Drifloon and Gastly are gone, and walls like Spritzee or Snubbull should be taken care of before Riolu attempts to sweep. Its best to setup on Pokemon that can't really OHKO Riolu, or Pokemon that are forced out by Riolu, such as Pawniard. One can also set up on Pokemon that have been recently Memento'd, which makes Stunky an excellent partner. Due to Riolu's poor bulk, Memento support is almost always preferred to help Riolu set up.
Team Options
========
Stunky and Honedge are two excellent partners. Stunky takes care of Ghost-types for Riolu to sweep, while also beating Spritzee and Snubbull with its Poison-type STAB moves. Honedge can easily switch in on Fletchling and Spritzee and check both of them, as well as taking out Abra with Pursuit. Pawniard is another option as Pawniard can check Spritzee and Snubbull while spreading Knock Offs and supporting the team with moves like Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock. Houndour is a good teammate as well since Houndour checks Drifloon and can wallbreak for Riolu. Memento users make great teammates, so Pokemon like Cottonee and again Stunky are excellent partners. Riolu often needs some sort of defensive core, which makes Pokemon like Ferroseed+Spritzee really good. Ponyta is also an excellent teammate, as it can burn things like Mienfoo that will allow Riolu to set up more easily. Gothita can be used to help eliminate Fairy-types and Croagunk, as well as other Poison-types.
Bulky Swords Dance Sweeper
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name: Swords Dance Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Protect / Iron Tail
ability: Prankster
item: Eviolite / Roseli Berry
nature: Adamant
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 36 SpD / 116 Spe
Moves
========
Swords Dance is the main boosting move and the point of the set. High Jump Kick is the STAB move of choice and can easily be spammed through Copycat. Copycat gains +1 priority through Riolu's ability Prankster, thus allowing for a Copycat chain of attacks that can otherwise make up for Riolu's poor speed. Protect can be used in the last slot in order to scout Scarf Pokemon and Copycat different utility moves, like Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, U-turn, Volt Switch, Knock Off, and more. However Iron Tail can be used on a Fairy-type lure set, as with a Roseli Berry one can set up on Snubbull and Spritzee and KO them after a boost. Riolu has a few others move it can use in the last slot, such as Crunch to stop Ghost-types or Zen Headbutt to try to kill Foongus.
Set Details
========
If using a Roseli Berry it is better to run a little bulk as this lets you live a +1 Spritzee Moonblast most of the time, as in a perfect 1 vs 1 Riolu would lose if Spritzee Calm Minded then Moonblasted. The extra investment also lets Riolu live several weak neutral attacks, such as Omanyte's Surf. 14 Speed lets you outspeed 12 Speed Fletchling and outpriority with a Copycat'd High Jump Kick, while an Adamant nature should be used to get as much power as possible (without an Adamant nature Riolu might not OHKO Spritzee with Stealth Rocks up). An Eviolite can be used in order to create more setup opportunities at the cost of low power. A Life Orb is generally preferred for a regular Swords Dance set, as the Life Orb lets Riolu net more kills than an Eviolite would. A Roseli Berry can be used if one wants to lure in Snubbull or Spritzee and kill them, as well as using them as setup bait. This can often leave Riolu open to being revenge killed by any sort of priority attack, as setting up with a Roseli Berry will leave you with only a couple health points.
Usage Tips
========
With a Roseli berry, its beneficial to bait in Pokemon like Spritzee and set up a Swords Dance, so you can lure it in and beat it. From there you can spam Hi Jump Kick throughout the game to wear down checks. Riolu needs to make sure to set up after Ghost-types have already been removed as its main sweeping move is High Jump Kick. Use Riolu to bait in Fairy-types and then send in your partner that appreciates the Fairy-type being gone. This set focuses less on sweeping by itself and more on clearing the way for its teammates.
Team Options
========
Stunky is one of the best partners for Riolu, as Stunky traps Gothita / Gastly / Abra and also can set up Memento for Riolu. It also can check Spritzee being that its a Poison-type. Houndour is a good teammate as well since Houndour checks Drifloon and can wallbreak for Riolu. Cottonee, Wynaut, and other support Pokemon are good teammates, as they can set up Encores and Taunts and Mementos for Riolu to get easy boosts. Pokemon that can take advantage of Spritzee and Snubbull being gone make excellent partners. This makes Pokemon like Timburr, Scarf Mienfoo, Scraggy, Carvanha, and more really good partners. Trappers like Gothita and Diglett are good partners as they can remove Poison-types for Riolu and make a sweep easier.
Other Options
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Berry Juice can be used in place of Eviolite on the bulkier spread, but Riolu's bulk is so little that a lot of neutral attacks can OHKO it anyway. A Focus Sash set can be used on Hyper Offensive teams but is otherwise outclassed by other items. Rock Slide can be used to deal with Flying-types on the switchin, as well as Ponyta and Larvesta. Magnet Rise can be used in order to beat Diglett and Drilbur, as Diglett cannot trap and kill with Earthquake. Role Play can be used on things like Mienfoo or Foongus in order to copy their Regenerator ability and regain health on a U-turn, or if they are low health. However outside that, it has limited use. A Substitute set can be useful, but Riolu does not have the power to be threatening enough without an Attack boost. A weather setter set can be useful on teams dedicated to weather, but self-weather is generally a poor strategy anyway.
Checks & Counters
########
**Abra** - Abra can function as one of the best checks to Riolu, as it often carries a Focus Sash and sometimes carries Protect, as well as being able to OHKO with Psychic.
**Fairy-types** - Spritzee and Snubbull can completely counter Riolu unless Riolu happens to run both a Roseli Berry and Iron Tail. They can switch in on almost anything else and OHKO with their Fairy-type STAB.
**Fletchling / other Flying-types** - Fast Fletchling can outspeed and out prioritize Riolu and OHKO with Acrobatics, and other Flying types can typically outspeed and OHKO with their Flying-type STABs, however they must sometimes be wary of switching into Riolu as High Jump Kick can 2hko some with Rocks up.
**Foongus / other bulky Grass-types** - Bulky Grass-types like Foongus can switch into almost anything except Zen Headbutt and Blaze Kick, and can typically Spore to sleep Riolu.
**Ponyta / Larvesta** - Ponyta and Larvesta check most Fighting-types, and can possibly Burn Riolu. If Riolu doesn't get burned however, a +2 High Jump Kick with Rocks 2hkoes, as well as Rock Slide.
**Gothita** - Gothita can trap and OHKO Riolu however it has to be wary of a +2 High Jump Kick with hazards up.
**Faster Priority users** - Pokemon such as Cottonee and +1 Carvanha can outspeed Riolu and cripple it, either through Encoring Riolu's set up or revenge killing with a priority move.
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As one of the few Pokemon with Prankster in Little Cup and even fewer Pokemon who can warrant an offensive set, Riolu holds a specific niche as a revenge killer and late game cleaner. With access to both Copycat and Prankster it can fire off powerful Hi Jump Kicks and chain that together so the opponent cannot react. Prankster makes sure that Riolu can Swords Dance before a Pokemon Taunts it. Its decent sized movepool give it enough options to cover potential checks and a variety of threats. However, it is somewhat outclassed as a Fighting-type with Pokemon like Timburr and Mienfoo being dominant in the tier. Its Copycat chain is also easily interruptible either through faster priority or Pokemon with Protect.
Life Orb Swords Dance Sweeper
########
name: Swords Dance Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Protect / Crunch
ability: Prankster
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
ivs: 0 HP IVs
Moves
========
Swords Dance is the main set up move that is Riolu's bread and butter, its what separates him from other some other Fighting-types by having a +1 priority Swords Dance. High Jump Kick should be the main STAB, as it grants the most power, and is devastating after a boost. Copycat is essential because it allows Riolu to consistently spam its High Jump Kick without any backlash, as it will always be at +1 priority. Protect can be used in order to scout the opponent, such as a Mienfoo using U-turn, and allowing Riolu to use U-turn back. This is also useful for generating free Knock Offs and such against threats like Pawniard. Zen Headbutt can be the second offensive move, as it hits Croagunk, Gastly, and other Fighting-types with Super-effectiveness. It's also the best option against threats like Foongus. Crunch can be an option to hit other Ghost types, specifically Drifloon and Pumpkaboo. In most situations a Pursuit trapper should be added on the team that will trap those for Riolu however. Cross Chop and Drain Punch are two Fighting-type moves that can be effective over High Jump Kick if one prefers not to risk losing half HP on a miss. Cross Chop has decent power but can lack killing power if unboosted but it can also miss, while Drain Punch fails to kill many things even while boosted, but provides a safer alternative for Eviolite and bulkier sets.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Speed and Attack, while investing the rest into HP in order for Riolu to live slightly longer. It's imperitive that the HP EVs be invested into the defenses instead, and the HP IV lowered to 0 in order to hit exactly 19 HP for good Life Orb recoil rolls. A Life Orb is generally preferred for a regular Swords Dance set, as the Life Orb lets Riolu net more kills than an Eviolite would.
Usage Tips
========
Riolu should be sure to set up when common Ghost-types like Drifloon and Gastly are gone, and walls like Spritzee or Snubbull should be taken care of before Riolu attempts to sweep. Its best to setup on Pokemon that can't really OHKO Riolu, or Pokemon that are forced out by Riolu, such as Pawniard. One can also set up on Pokemon that have been recently Memento'd, which makes Stunky an excellent partner. Due to Riolu's poor bulk, Memento support is almost always preferred to help Riolu set up.
Team Options
========
Stunky and Honedge are two excellent partners. Stunky takes care of Ghost-types for Riolu to sweep, while also beating Spritzee and Snubbull with its Poison-type STAB moves. Honedge can easily switch in on Fletchling and Spritzee and check both of them, as well as taking out Abra with Pursuit. Pawniard is another option as Pawniard can check Spritzee and Snubbull while spreading Knock Offs and supporting the team with moves like Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock. Houndour is a good teammate as well since Houndour checks Drifloon and can wallbreak for Riolu. Memento users make great teammates, so Pokemon like Cottonee and again Stunky are excellent partners. Riolu often needs some sort of defensive core, which makes Pokemon like Ferroseed+Spritzee really good. Ponyta is also an excellent teammate, as it can burn things like Mienfoo that will allow Riolu to set up more easily. Gothita can be used to help eliminate Fairy-types and Croagunk, as well as other Poison-types.
Bulky Swords Dance Sweeper
########
name: Swords Dance Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Copycat
move 4: Protect / Iron Tail
ability: Prankster
item: Eviolite / Roseli Berry
nature: Adamant
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 36 SpD / 116 Spe
Moves
========
Swords Dance is the main boosting move and the point of the set. High Jump Kick is the STAB move of choice and can easily be spammed through Copycat. Copycat gains +1 priority through Riolu's ability Prankster, thus allowing for a Copycat chain of attacks that can otherwise make up for Riolu's poor speed. Protect can be used in the last slot in order to scout Scarf Pokemon and Copycat different utility moves, like Rapid Spin, Stealth Rock, U-turn, Volt Switch, Knock Off, and more. However Iron Tail can be used on a Fairy-type lure set, as with a Roseli Berry one can set up on Snubbull and Spritzee and KO them after a boost. Riolu has a few others move it can use in the last slot, such as Crunch to stop Ghost-types or Zen Headbutt to try to kill Foongus.
Set Details
========
If using a Roseli Berry it is better to run a little bulk as this lets you live a +1 Spritzee Moonblast most of the time, as in a perfect 1 vs 1 Riolu would lose if Spritzee Calm Minded then Moonblasted. The extra investment also lets Riolu live several weak neutral attacks, such as Omanyte's Surf. 14 Speed lets you outspeed 12 Speed Fletchling and outpriority with a Copycat'd High Jump Kick, while an Adamant nature should be used to get as much power as possible (without an Adamant nature Riolu might not OHKO Spritzee with Stealth Rocks up). An Eviolite can be used in order to create more setup opportunities at the cost of low power. A Life Orb is generally preferred for a regular Swords Dance set, as the Life Orb lets Riolu net more kills than an Eviolite would. A Roseli Berry can be used if one wants to lure in Snubbull or Spritzee and kill them, as well as using them as setup bait. This can often leave Riolu open to being revenge killed by any sort of priority attack, as setting up with a Roseli Berry will leave you with only a couple health points.
Usage Tips
========
With a Roseli berry, its beneficial to bait in Pokemon like Spritzee and set up a Swords Dance, so you can lure it in and beat it. From there you can spam Hi Jump Kick throughout the game to wear down checks. Riolu needs to make sure to set up after Ghost-types have already been removed as its main sweeping move is High Jump Kick. Use Riolu to bait in Fairy-types and then send in your partner that appreciates the Fairy-type being gone. This set focuses less on sweeping by itself and more on clearing the way for its teammates.
Team Options
========
Stunky is one of the best partners for Riolu, as Stunky traps Gothita / Gastly / Abra and also can set up Memento for Riolu. It also can check Spritzee being that its a Poison-type. Houndour is a good teammate as well since Houndour checks Drifloon and can wallbreak for Riolu. Cottonee, Wynaut, and other support Pokemon are good teammates, as they can set up Encores and Taunts and Mementos for Riolu to get easy boosts. Pokemon that can take advantage of Spritzee and Snubbull being gone make excellent partners. This makes Pokemon like Timburr, Scarf Mienfoo, Scraggy, Carvanha, and more really good partners. Trappers like Gothita and Diglett are good partners as they can remove Poison-types for Riolu and make a sweep easier.
Other Options
########
Berry Juice can be used in place of Eviolite on the bulkier spread, but Riolu's bulk is so little that a lot of neutral attacks can OHKO it anyway. A Focus Sash set can be used on Hyper Offensive teams but is otherwise outclassed by other items. Rock Slide can be used to deal with Flying-types on the switchin, as well as Ponyta and Larvesta. Magnet Rise can be used in order to beat Diglett and Drilbur, as Diglett cannot trap and kill with Earthquake. Role Play can be used on things like Mienfoo or Foongus in order to copy their Regenerator ability and regain health on a U-turn, or if they are low health. However outside that, it has limited use. A Substitute set can be useful, but Riolu does not have the power to be threatening enough without an Attack boost. A weather setter set can be useful on teams dedicated to weather, but self-weather is generally a poor strategy anyway.
Checks & Counters
########
**Abra** - Abra can function as one of the best checks to Riolu, as it often carries a Focus Sash and sometimes carries Protect, as well as being able to OHKO with Psychic.
**Fairy-types** - Spritzee and Snubbull can completely counter Riolu unless Riolu happens to run both a Roseli Berry and Iron Tail. They can switch in on almost anything else and OHKO with their Fairy-type STAB.
**Fletchling / other Flying-types** - Fast Fletchling can outspeed and out prioritize Riolu and OHKO with Acrobatics, and other Flying types can typically outspeed and OHKO with their Flying-type STABs, however they must sometimes be wary of switching into Riolu as High Jump Kick can 2hko some with Rocks up.
**Foongus / other bulky Grass-types** - Bulky Grass-types like Foongus can switch into almost anything except Zen Headbutt and Blaze Kick, and can typically Spore to sleep Riolu.
**Ponyta / Larvesta** - Ponyta and Larvesta check most Fighting-types, and can possibly Burn Riolu. If Riolu doesn't get burned however, a +2 High Jump Kick with Rocks 2hkoes, as well as Rock Slide.
**Gothita** - Gothita can trap and OHKO Riolu however it has to be wary of a +2 High Jump Kick with hazards up.
**Faster Priority users** - Pokemon such as Cottonee and +1 Carvanha can outspeed Riolu and cripple it, either through Encoring Riolu's set up or revenge killing with a priority move.
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