[OVERVIEW]
Rotom-F is the only Pokemon in the game to have STAB on both Ice- and Electric-type attacks. In combination with a decent Speed tier and a respectable Special Attack stat, this makes it an effective offensive threat that can deal good damage to the majority of the tier. With a Choice Scarf, it can outspeed key threats such as Sceptile and Swellow and OHKO them with the correct STAB move, while Volt Switch allows it to grab momentum for its teammates when required, and Trick gives it further utility against defensive foes. Meanwhile, a Life Orb set gives Rotom-F considerable power and allows it to use Pain Split to deal with usual checks and counters. However, certain threats such as Lanturn and Piloswine are able to block Rotom-F's STAB combination completely, and given its numerous exploitable weaknesses, its only above-average bulk, and the inaccuracy of Blizzard outside of hail, it requires a lot of support to stand out compared to similar Pokemon such as Rotom and Vanilluxe. Rotom-F's unique combination of qualities can make it difficult to deal with once the appropriate support has been provided, but make sure it is the best choice for your team before using it over a more standard threat.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Blizzard
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch lets Rotom-F grab momentum if the opponent switches out, and it deals enough damage to KO weakened foes. It also breaks Sturdy and Focus Sashes on threats such as Sawk and Jynx as it switches to a better response. Blizzard has excellent neutral coverage with Rotom-F's Electric-type attacks and provides its main niche as a Choice Scarf user, punishing common responses to Volt Switch such as Rhydon, Claydol, and Vileplume. Thunderbolt provides a perfectly accurate Electric-type attack that lets Rotom-F stay in against the opposing Pokemon and deal damage with certainty, unlike Volt Switch or Blizzard. Trick is a good way to deal with defensive responses such as Piloswine and Ferroseed, which don't enjoy being locked into their attacks. It also allows Rotom-F to switch moves freely after use and lets it capitalize on its excellent type coverage when the extra Speed is no longer required. Hidden Power Ice can be used in the last slot as a reliable Ice-type attack, although it sorely lacks power and fails to OHKO Pokémon such as Lilligant and Rotom-S even after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Using a Choice Scarf with a Timid nature allows Rotom-F to outspeed many Speed-boosting sweepers such as Rock Polish Torterra, Golurk, and Rhydon, as well as all unboosted Pokemon. Even after its Choice Scarf is removed by Trick or Knock Off, it can still outpace threats such as Jolly Sawk and Timid Magmortar and KO them without taking an attack. Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs are required to secure as many revenge killing opportunities as possible.
Usage Tips
========
This is Rotom-F's most consistently effective set and capitalizes on its immunities to paralysis and Ground-type attacks, which provide many opportunities to switch in. Between Blizzard and Thunderbolt, it can hit almost any offensive foe for good neutral damage if it uses the right move. Early in the match, Volt Switch should be used to scout the opponent's responses to your team, unless they have obviously Electric-immune Pokemon such as Lanturn and Piloswine, in which case Rotom-F should be saved until these threats are removed. Rotom-F's mediocre bulk and few resistances mean it should not be switched directly into attackers unless they are obviously walled, such as Articuno, or locked into a resisted move. Against teams that pack multiple bulky threats, Rotom-F should use Trick early on to cripple a defensive Pokemon and give itself the flexibility to alternate its STAB attacks as required.
Team Options
========
While Rotom-F can be run without hail support, doing so gives it significantly more competition from other Ice-type Pokemon with access to Ice Beam. Snow Warning Aurorus provides this hail support and can damage Lanturn with Choice Specs-boosted Freeze Dry or Earth Power, while Rotom-F can switch into Ground-type attacks aimed at Aurorus. They can also wear down each other's checks with repeated Blizzard spam, making them an effective offensive core. Entry hazards can wear down common responses to Rotom-F and make it easier for it to secure KOs. Garbodor and Mesprit are good candidates for hazard setters that can deal with Fighting-types, while Rhydon and Prinplup can deal with Fire- and Rock-types that lack the coverage to beat them. Hazard removal ensures that Rotom-F can switch in and revenge kill effectively throughout the match. Spinners such as Hitmonchan and Sandslash, Defog users such as Prinplup and Pelipper, and Magic Bounce Xatu have particularly good synergy with Rotom-F. Slow U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Pelipper and Lanturn allow Rotom-F to enter the battle without taking a hit and can be used to form momentum cores that continually keep the opponent on the back foot.
[SET]
name: SubSplit
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Pain Split
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Blizzard
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute allows Rotom-F to scout for the opponent's tactics and to use the correct attacking move the next turn without risking misprediction, making the most of its excellent coverage. It also lets Rotom-F lower its own HP to make Pain Split more effective if required. Pain Split capitalizes on Rotom-F's low base HP stat and vulnerability to residual damage, letting it recover a significant amount of health while still inflicting heavy damage to targets with high base HP, allowing teammates to secure the KO against them more easily later in the match. Thunderbolt provides a consistent STAB attack that hits many targets for good damage, while Blizzard provides excellent coverage with Thunderbolt and hits very hard with a Life Orb boost.
Set Details
========
Life Orb maximizes Rotom-F's power and makes it more difficult for checks that lack recovery to deal with it, as they will continually be worn down by powerful attacks. Furthermore, Rotom-F doesn't mind the extra recoil damage, as it lets Rotom-F make better use of Pain Split later in the match and, as it will be behind a Substitute whenever possible, the loss of health doesn't matter as much. A Timid nature is highly recommended in order to let Rotom-F outspeed threats such as Jolly Choice Band Sawk and to let Rotom-F use Substitute more easily against offensive teams. A Modest nature can also be used for extra power, but this doesn't really help Rotom-F get past its usual counters. Maximum Special Attack EVs are used to maximize its offensive presence, while Rotom-F's lack of bulk is mitigated by Substitute and Pain Split. Never-Melt Ice, Magnet, or Expert Belt can be used with this set to bluff the Choice Scarf more effectively, but the lack of general power and synergy with Pain Split make these niche options.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-F can force a lot of switches thanks to its offensive coverage and power, giving it opportunities to set up a Substitute and hit the opponent's response with the correct attack the next turn. This extra flexibility makes Life Orb Rotom-F more effective against defensive teams that rely on pivoting around threats with Choice items. Substitute should not be used recklessly because if the opponent intends to sacrifice a slower Pokemon that can break the Substitute, this just results in Rotom-F losing HP unnecessarily, making it easier to revenge kill afterwards. Substitute is best used against targets that are forced out by the Choice Scarf set or slower threats that are likely to use status moves. Early in the match, if a defensive threat with high HP like Lanturn or Thick Fat Hariyama switches in, Rotom-F can spam Substitute until at low HP and then use Pain Split to recover almost all of its HP while inflicting around 50% damage to a healthy foe.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Snow Warning Aurorus provides hail support and complements this set well, as it can deal with faster attackers such as Eviolite Scyther that can force Rotom-F out if it lacks a Substitute. Teammates that can deal with faster offensive threats are important, as without a Choice Scarf, Rotom-F is outsped by key threats such as Sceptile and Swellow. Musharna and Mesprit are bulky pivots that can either switch into Fighting-types and hit them with Psychic or switch into other attackers and use Thunder Wave so that Rotom-F can deal with them later. Pokemon with priority attacks such as Sucker Punch Shiftry and Skuntank can prevent faster threats from securing a sweep after KOing Rotom-F. Quagsire and Haze Altaria are good responses to setup sweepers such as Musharna and Mesprit that can take advantage of Rotom-F's lack of Trick, and they can also deal with its weaknesses to Fire- and Rock- or Fighting-type attacks, respectively. Finally, while anti-hazard support is always appreciated, Rotom-F can capitalize on the large amounts of residual damage it takes with Pain Split, so if it runs this move, a spinner or Defog user is not necessarily required as a teammate. Likewise, entry hazards of your own reduce potential healing from Pain Split against bulky targets but can be nice to let Rotom-F secure KOs; Garbodor and Rhydon are good choices in this regard.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set can be used to turn Rotom-F into a powerful wallbreaker, but this prevents it from making the most of its neutral coverage and also makes it easily stopped by faster threats, giving it few opportunities to excel. Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave are interesting utility options that can be used to cripple certain responses, particularly on the Life Orb set, but Rotom-F rarely has space in its movesets to accommodate these over more important moves. Discharge can be used to provide paralysis support for Rotom-F's teammates, particularly Choice Specs Aurorus, on either set, but it lacks the power to remove foes as consistently as Thunderbolt. Hidden Power Grass hits Lanturn, Piloswine, Quagsire, and Rhydon for consistent damage, but also isn't worth a moveslot and doesn't have enough power to be particularly useful. Finally, a ChestoRest strategy gives Rotom-F some one-time recovery and a response to status moves, but Rotom-F's immunity to paralysis and numerous weaknesses, as well as the effectiveness of Pain Split for healing, makes this not worth it most of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Lanturn and Piloswine**: These two Pokemon have the rare quality of resisting both of Rotom-F's STAB attacks while also being immune to Volt Switch. Rotom-F similarly resists its own attacks in a rare mirror match but is usually unable to capitalize on this.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Rotom-F lacks power without a Life Orb and relies on super effective attacks to deal with bulky threats. Assault Vest Hariyama, Calm Mind Musharna, and Mega Audino can switch into it easily and start attacking or setting up. Mega Audino in particular is a threat because it is also immune to Trick.
**Priority Moves**: Mach Punch users such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan can inflict heavy damage if Rotom-F is not behind a Substitute, while Sucker Punch users such as Shiftry and Skuntank can easily force a switch against the Choice Scarf set.
**Faster Attackers**: Without a Choice Scarf, Rotom-F is quickly disposed of by fast attackers such as Tauros and Pyroar after its Substitute is broken.
**Pokemon Immune to Electric**: While most Ground-types dislike Blizzard, Pokemon with abilities that give them immunity to Electric-type attacks, such as Motor Drive Electivire and Lightningrod Raichu, can stop Rotom-F from using Volt Switch and inflict heavy damage with their respective boosts.
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