Charizard (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Air Slash
- Focus Blast
-
Tailwind
Charizard is notoriously difficult to switch into (Munchlax and Grumpig aside), but numerous opponents can revenge kill it, including many Choice Scarfers. Charizard could outflank them with a Choice Scarf, but the Stealth Rock weakness and inability to switch moves weakens its potential. Tailwind instead doubles its speed and allow Charizard to utilise its deadly coverage to unleash fiery death upon its opponents. All of a sudden, regardless of what the opponent switches into to tank a hit and KO back (Zebstrika into Air Slash, Scolipede into Focus Blast, Rapidash into Fire Blast), Charizard simply outpaces them on the switch thanks to Tailwind and murders them all.
Charizard is known for being difficult to defend against its ridiculous Solar Powered attacks, making it more threatening to stall than offense in general. Tailwind Charizard trades its wallbreaking potential for the ability to pick apart offensive teams, clearing them out easily if not faced against priority. The fact that Munchlax, a new counter that walls all Charizard that lacks/miss Focus Blast, has entered NU and NU's playstyle is favoring offense, gives this Charizard his time to shine, destroying Scarf Jynx, Scarf Primeape, Serperior, Zebstrika, Scolipede, Swellow, Tauros and Rapidash in one fell swoop, something a ScarfZard cannot boast. Tailwind also ensures that virtually no Scarfer (without priority) and even weather sweepers excluding Chlorophyll Jumpluff and Swift Swim Floatzel are outsped and promptly KOed.
You can afford to be a bit more reckless with this Charizard, since he is meant to break as much of the opponent's team in the 3 usable Tailwind turns as he can with little to no regard for his life. SR? Pfft, he'll only have trouble when setting up Tailwind, which you should be doing on a poke like Jynx or Exeggutor that he scares the living shit out of. If anything 2 LO attacks after SR = Blaze =
that good old overpowered Fire Blast you're all so familiar with. Heck, if Zard gets KOed early your teammates may take advantage of Tailwind themselves. You can even give Modest a shot, though note Charizard does appreciate the initial speed granted by Timid.
This Charizard is especially weak to priority, but not much more than any other Charizard really.