6th Gen:
[OVERVIEW]
Rotom's fantastic typing and Levitate give it resistances to Flying, Steel, Bug, and Electric and immunities to Normal, Fighting, and Ground, letting Rotom check dangerous threats such as Archeops, Scyther, Vivillon, Sawk, Tauros, Swellow, and others. A Ghost typing allows Rotom to spinblock and hit the common Psychic-types super effectively with STAB Shadow Ball. Access to Volt Switch makes Rotom an excellent pivot for many different teams, and moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Trick give it the ability to cripple switch-ins, especially bulky Pokemon immune to Electric. Unfortunately, the low Base Power of most of its moves means that Rotom's power is often rather lackluster. Because of this, most Pokemon immune to Electric have little problem blocking Rotom's Volt Switch, as they can generally stomach several Shadow Balls. Rotom's susceptibility to the common Dark-types doesn't help, either. In addition, even though it sports many great resistances and immunities, Rotom simply doesn't have the bulk to make the best use of them. However, in spite of its flaws, Rotom's qualities make it one of the easiest Pokemon in the metagame to fit onto various different teams.
[SET]
name: Spell Tag Hex
move 1: Hex
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Spell Tag
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hex packs a powerful punch when the foe has a status ailment, and it allows Rotom to lure and beat Pokemon immune to Electric. Will-O-Wisp lets Rotom spread status to power up Hex and is generally useful to cripple physical attackers and defensive Pokemon. Volt Switch hits decently hard and lets Rotom pivot out into a teammate. Shadow Ball is a more reliable Ghost-type STAB move and does solid damage thanks to the Spell Tag boost. Thunderbolt can be used over Volt Switch for an Electric-type STAB move that doesn't force Rotom to switch out.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment lets Rotom hit as hard as possible, and maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature lets Rotom outspeed Lilligant, Vivillon, Jolly Sawk, Timid Mesprit, and others. Spell Tag boosts the power of Rotom's Ghost-type moves, allows it to switch between moves, and lets it bluff a Choice Scarf or Choice Specs set due to the lack of Life Orb recoil.
Usage Tips
========
Take advantage of Rotom's great resistances and immunities to switch into the likes of Archeops, Swellow, Tauros, Zangoose, and Sawk, among others; however, the former two can 2HKO Rotom even with their Flying STAB moves, so it should bluff Choice Scarf to force them out. Bluffing Choice Scarf in general lets Rotom force faster Pokemon out and lure in Pokemon immune to Electric. Rotom's primary role is to lure its usual switch-ins, such as Stunfisk, Rhydon, and Lanturn, burn them as they come in, and smack them with a full-powered Hex, weakening them for a teammate and allowing Rotom to freely spam Volt Switch once they are gone. If there are Toxic Spikes on the foe's side of the field, however, feel free to spam Rotom's powerful Hex. Spam Volt Switch to chip away at the opposing team if there's no Pokemon Rotom needs to weaken or, better yet, if it has already done so. Be careful around Lanturn, however, as Volt Absorb can let it recover the HP that Rotom took away.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that can sweep once Rotom has lured and weakened the Pokemon that'd typically wall it are ideal partners for Rotom. Klinklang is arguably Rotom's best partner, as most stops to its sweep are lured and beaten by it. Pokemon such as Scyther and Fletchinder also pair decently. Toxic Spikes support is very helpful, as it allows Rotom to spam Hex without having to burn the opposing Pokemon first. In exchange, Rotom can spinblock foes that try to remove those Toxic Spikes. Other forms of entry hazard stacking also work nicely with Rotom. A switch-in to Pokemon immune to Electric is appreciated in the cases where Rotom is needed for another threat, as Rotom generally cannot 2HKO them as they come without burning them first. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scyther, Mesprit, Liepard, Lanturn, and Zebstrika form a solid VoltTurn core that constantly chips away at the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Thunderbolt / Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch works well with Rotom's ability to force switches, letting it gain momentum while doing solid damage. Shadow Ball provides great coverage, hitting Psychic-types and Pokemon immune to Electric. Thunderbolt is a more powerful Electric-type STAB move that doesn't force Rotom to switch out. Will-O-Wisp, on the other hard, lets Rotom cripple switch-ins such as Rhydon, Lanturn, and Kangaskhan and allows it to avoid Cacturne's, Pawniard's, and Mawile's Sucker Punch and burn them. Trick cripples defensive switch-ins and makes them useless for the rest of the match while also giving Rotom a better matchup against slower, bulkier teams after it Tricks away its Choice Scarf. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass targets Rhydon and Quagsire.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment maximizes Rotom's damage output, and maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature let Rotom outspeed the likes of +1 Vivillon, +1 Lilligant, +2 Gorebyss, and Choice Scarf Mesprit. Choice Scarf makes Rotom a very fast and reliable revenge killer. Maximum HP can be run over Special Attack to make Rotom significantly bulkier and check the likes of Archeops and Swellow better at the expense of a lot of power.
Usage Tips
========
Pivot into moves that Rotom resists or is immune to, such as Archeops's Acrobatics or Earthquake, Fletchinder's Acrobatics, Swellow's Facade or Brave Bird, Sawk's Close Combat, and Tauros's Rock Climb, but be wary of coverage moves such as Archeops's Stone Edge and Sawk's Knock Off, as they can OHKO Rotom. Spam Volt Switch throughout most of the game unless there's a Pokemon immune to Electric, such as Stunfisk, Rhydon, or Lanturn, on the opposing team, in which case it's best to use Shadow Ball, use Will-O-Wisp, or simply hard switch to a teammate. This situation gets even trickier if there's a Normal- or Dark-type on the opposing team, where the best solution is to go out to a teammate or burn them as they switch in. Unless the foe has Mega Audino, Trick away Rotom's Choice Scarf early-game against bulky, slow teams, against which it doesn't need the Speed Choice Scarf provides. Similarly, Rotom can Trick away its Choice Scarf to cripple Pokemon such as Stunfisk and Lanturn to make it easier for a teammate such as Klinklang to sweep late-game. Use Will-O-Wisp against Sucker Punch users such as Cacturne, Mawile, and Kangaskhan to avoid their priority move and severely cripple them. Sacrificing Rotom to burn Pokemon such as Kangaskhan or Liepard is an option when you don't need Rotom anymore in order to give teammates such as Swords Dance Mawile, Lilligant, and Klinklang the opportunity to set up and sweep.
Team Options
========
Rotom doesn't need a lot of support thanks to its ability to be easily slapped onto many teams. A switch-in to Pokemon immune to Electric is a necessary partner for Rotom; Water- and Grass-types both work well. Checks to the Dark-types that take advantage of Rotom, such as Pawniard, Cacturne, and Liepard, are also important due to their popularity and how threatening they are, with Mawile, Mega Audino, Hariyama, and Scyther pairing with Rotom nicely. Wallbreakers such as Aurorus, Magmortar, and Exeggutor appreciate Rotom's ability to bring them in with Volt Switch, and they also take advantage of Rotom's Ground and Grass switch-ins. U-turn and Volt Switch users, such as Mesprit, Liepard, Lanturn, Scyther, and Xatu, form a good VoltTurn core with Rotom that gradually wears down the opposing team. Entry hazard-stacking teams love Rotom's ability to spinblock; Garbodor, Crustle, Cacturne, and Kricketune are good examples of effective entry hazard setters that each work in very different team archetypes. Sweepers such as Klinklang, Fletchinder, and Samurott love Rotom's ability to take on Water-types while weakening or crippling Grass- and Ground-types and Lanturn with Shadow Ball, Will-O-Wisp, and Trick.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch does solid damage thanks to STAB and Choice Specs, and it lets Rotom pivot into a teammate. Shadow Ball hits Pokemon immune to Electric relatively hard. Thunderbolt is a more powerful Electric STAB move that doesn't force Rotom to switch out. Trick lets Rotom cripple a bothersome Pokemon to pave the way for a teammate to clean late-game and also helps in matchups where Rotom would rather not be Choice-locked into a move. Will-O-Wisp burns most of Rotom's usual switch-ins, progressively wearing them down and severely crippling physical attackers.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack investment maximizes Rotom's power, and maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature let Rotom outspeed Lilligant, Vivillon, Jolly Sawk, Jolly Kangaskhan, and slow variants of Uxie. Choice Specs lets Rotom dent physical walls and do a fair amount of damage to special ones.
Usage Tips
========
Use Rotom's good resistances and immunities to pivot into moves such as Archeops's Acrobatics, non-Scrappy Normal-type moves, Sawk's Close Combat, and Xatu's Psychic. Bluff Choice Scarf in order to force faster Pokemon out. Spam Shadow Ball if there is a Pokemon immune to Electric on the opposing team that Rotom needs to wear them down for a teammate, but be careful if there's a Normal-type, as giving them a free switch-in is unwanted. Otherwise, Rotom generally prefers to spam its strong Volt Switches to wear down the opposing team and gain momentum. If there's both a Pokemon immune to Electric and a Normal-type on the opposing team, however, Rotom's best bet is simply hard switch to a teammate, unless winning the 50/50 is the only way to victory. Trick Rotom's Choice Specs away if there's a Pokemon that Rotom needs to cripple to for a teammate and Rotom doesn't need the extra power.
Team Options
========
Choice Specs Rotom finds a home primarily on offensively-oriented teams. Pokemon that need bulky Ground-types, Grass-types, and Lanturn weakened to sweep, such as Klinklang, Samurott, and Fletchinder, best appreciate Rotom's ability to wear them down or cripple them. Entry hazard stacking significantly aids Rotom in breaking down walls for its teammates, and in return Rotom can spinblock those entry hazards. U-Turn U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scyther, Mesprit, Liepard, Lanturn, and Zebstrika form a good VoltTurn core with Rotom in order to wear down opposing teams and gain momentum. Switch-ins to Ground- and Normal-types and Lanturn, which are immune to one of Rotom's two STAB moves, are important partners; Mawile, Grass-types, Gurdurr, and others at least partly fulfill this criteria.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Pain Split
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
STAB Volt Switch lets Rotom act as a bulky pivot for more balanced or defensive teams. Thunderbolt can be used for a more powerful Electric STAB move that doesn't force Rotom to switch out. Shadow Ball is a reliable Ghost STAB move that hits Pokemon immune to Electric. Will-O-Wisp cripples the physical attackers Rotom checks, in addition to many of its switch-ins, and in general greatly enhances Rotom's physical bulk. Pain Split gives Rotom a somewhat unreliable form of recovery that takes advantage of its low HP stat and the high HP of the walls that check Rotom, such as Audino, Lanturn, and Hariyama.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Rotom to outspeed maximum Speed Adamant Kangaskhan and anything slower, and the rest are put into HP and Defense to enhance Rotom's physical bulk. Even more Speed investment can be run to outspeed Jolly Sawk, but this greatly cuts into Rotom's bulk. On the other hand, running only enough Speed for fully invested neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon, such as Samurott, lets Rotom invest more into its defenses. Leftovers give Rotom passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Switch into moves Rotom resists or is immune to, or even into weak attackers that it can threaten such as Mantine. Use Will-O-Wisp frequently in order to spread burns, as even with investment Rotom is not bulky enough to stomach multiple physical hits and burns are generally useful for wearing down the opposing team. Will-O-Wisp is also useful for crippling the Pokemon immune to Electric that often switch into Rotom. Spam Volt Switch if there's nothing Rotom needs to burn to gain momentum. Shadow Ball should only be used when Rotom is focused on dealing damage or when there's a Pokemon immune to Electric that Rotom needs to get chip damage on. Use Pain Split if Rotom is weakened to regain some health. Pain Split is also Rotom's best option to deal damage against the likes of Hariyama, Lanturn, and Stunfisk, outside of burning them, due to their high HP stat.
Team Options
========
U-turn and Volt Switch users form a solid VoltTurn core with Rotom, with Mesprit, Uxie, Lanturn, and Scyther all being solid options. Scyther stands out for its solid bulk with Eviolite and defensive investment in addition to its solid synergy with Rotom, notably checking the Dark-types that give Rotom trouble, especially Malamar, and being a good secondary Pokemon that resists Fighting. Lanturn, meanwhile, provides a Fire check, a necessity in most teams. Baton Pass users such as Musharna and defensive Mawile also work in this category. Pokemon that take advantage of the bulky Pokemon immune to Electric that give Rotom trouble are mandatory partners. Grass- and Water-types are generally good checks to them, and they appreciate Rotom's Flying and Electric resistances, respectively. A teammate that checks Dark-types is an important partner for Rotom, as they otherwise easily take advantage of it; Mega Audino, Mawile, Gurdurr, Hariyama, and Garbodor pair nicely. Rotom works well in defensive entry hazard stacking teams that also need a Flying check thanks to its ability to spinblock. Sweepers such as Klinklang and Samurott appreciate Rotom's ability to weaken Ground-types and Lanturn with Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split in order to sweep late-game, and in return they have solid defensive synergy with Rotom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Expert Belt with Hidden Power Grass allows Rotom to bluff a Choice Scarf or Choice Specs set and lure Quagsire and Rhydon. Substitute + Pain Split with a Life Orb hits fairly hard, avoids Sucker Punches, and wears down counters with high HP stats such as Lanturn and Hariyama. Hex can be used over Shadow Ball on Rotom's sets with Toxic Spikes support, and all of them can also burn the foe to independently boost Hex's power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pokemon Immune to Electric**: Pokemon immune to Electric block Rotom's Volt Switch and generally have the bulk and typing to take Shadow Balls. Many Pokemon immune to Electric fear Will-O-Wisp, Trick, full-powered Hex, or even Hidden Power Grass, but even then, Rotom will not often be seen spamming these moves.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types take little from Rotom's Electric STAB moves, and many are bulky enough to stomach Shadow Balls. Lilligant in particular can easily use Rotom as setup fodder.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Because Rotom is generally weak without a boosting item, most bulky Pokemon can stomach Rotom's attacks with relative ease. However, Rotom can simply Volt Switch out as they come in, and Choice Specs-boosted moves and full-powered Hex can hurt.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types resist Shadow Ball or have more than enough bulk to take one in Malamar's case, and they threaten Rotom with their STAB moves. Cacturne also resists Electric-type moves, and Liepard can Pursuit trap Rotom.
**Normal-types**: Though Rotom is generally a solid Normal-type check, Normal-types can come in for free on Choice sets when Rotom is forced to use Shadow Ball. Kangaskhan and Kecleon are especially threatening to Rotom, the former because of Scrappy and the latter because of its access to Protean Knock Off, Sucker Punch, and Shadow Sneak.
**Priority Attacks**: Priority moves such as Aqua Jet, Ice Shard, and Sucker Punch can bypass Rotom's high Speed and Choice Scarf and KO it if they're boosted or if Rotom is weakened; Sucker Punch even outright OHKOes Rotom. Sucker Punch users have to be wary of Will-O-Wisp, however.
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