[QC 3/3]
[GP 1/1]
[OVERVIEW]
* Despite having below average offensive stats, as well as a subpar movepool and typing, a 140-Base Power STAB move in Boomburst and a great speed Stat make Swellow a fantastic cleaner against offense and balance teams.
* Scrappy allows it to bypass Ghost-types with Boomburst.
* Its poor typing and low bulk mean that it offers very little defensively.
[SET]
name: Boomburst (Choice Specs)
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Choice Specs
ability: Scrappy
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Boomburst is an easily spammable STAB move with no drawbacks.
* Heat Wave can be used to hit Steel-types such as Scizor and Forretress on the switch.
* U-turn can be used to let Swellow pivot on Pokemon that switch in regularly to maintain momentum.
* Sleep Talk allows it to be a sleep absorber for offensive teams.
Set Details
========
* Choice Specs and maximum Special Attack investment ensure maximum damage output for Boomburst.
* A Timid nature is used to outspeed the likes of Raikou and Latias.
* Scrappy as the ability means that coverage is not required to hit Ghost-types.
Usage Tips
========
* Swellow should be brought in on free switches from Volt Switch and U-turn against slower Pokemon that it can revenge kill.
* Switching out against faster Pokemon, potential Choice Scarf users, and priority users is the best course of action, as Swellow lacks the natural bulk to live even neutral hits.
* U-turn can be used to let Swellow switch out against Pokemon that it cannot break through without help while maintaining momentum.
* Sleep Talk means that Swellow can switch into the likes of Amoonguss' Spore while being able to maintain momentum rather than becoming useless after being put to sleep.
Team Options
========
* Entry hazard removers are vital as they can maximize the amount of times that Swellow can be sent out by removing Stealth Rock.
* Pokemon that utilize Volt Switch and U-turn to allow Swellow to have free switches such as Mienshao, Cobalion, Infernape and Scizor are useful partners.
* Entry hazard setters can help Swellow OHKO many offensive Pokemon.
* Forretress specifically offers all of the above, as it has the ability to set both Spikes and Stealth Rock, as well as being able to remove them. Additionally, it has access to a slow Volt Switch, which can bring Swellow in easily and can check Mega Aerodactyl, one of Swellow's most used counters.
* Fighting-types that can pressure Blissey and Empoleon as well as Rock-types that can stop Swellow fairly easily are good teammates because these Pokemon can easily halt Swellow.
* Wallbreakers such as Life Orb Hydreigon, Mega Sharpedo, Cobalion, and Lucario can help Swellow revenge kill against bulkier teams by weakening certain Pokemon to be put into range of Swellow's Boomburst.
* Having checks to common revenge killers like Mega Aerodactyl, Choice Scarf users, and priority users such as Forretress, other Choice Scarfers, and Tsareena respectively, are necessary to give Swellow the best chance of causing an impact.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Hurricane can be used instead of Heat Wave, but the coverage it gives is much less useful.
* Defog and Tailwind are additional options for the fourth moveslot but are very situational and less effective than the above options.
* Endeavor can also be used for the last move as way to weaken slow opposing Pokemon when Swellow reaches low health.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: The likes of Blissey and Porygon2 can recover off the damage from Swellow easily.
**Empoleon**: It resists Boomburst and takes neutral damage from Heat Wave. However, it can be whittled down easily throughout the game as Leftovers is its only form of recovery.
**Mega Aerodactyl**: Mega Aerodactyl is one of the few Pokemon that naturally outspeeds Swellow, resists Boomburst and can KO it with Stone Edge or limit switches with Pursuit.
**Gigalith**: With Sand Stream, Gigalith's Special Defense gets a boost from the sand meaning that it takes very little from any of Swellow's attacks and can set up Stealth Rock to limit further switches.
**Priority**: Frail defenses result in Swellow requiring very little previous damage to be KOed by most strong priority attackers such as Conkeldurr, Bisharp, and Scizor.
**Choice Scarf Users**: The majority of Choice Scarf users outspeed Swellow, meaning that it is easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon. Keldeo, Mienshao, and Krookodile are popular Choice Scarf users and examples of Pokemon that can revenge kill Swellow easily.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock limits the amount of times Swellow can switch in to revenge kill.
Last edited:
