Please don't assume Bronzong is a top rank pokemon, but it has solid niches, which is why I think it should be in C instead of D. BTW, I forgot to mention Deoxy-A (Zong handles better due to Superpower) and Palkia (Feero handle better)
Btw the definition of check I'll be going by is 'can switch in once and force out/ko'
Maybe my definition about "check" is not correct, but I go by : being able to switch into "CERTAIN" moves and defeat or at least severely cripple (i.e. inflict huge damages that make it dies to SR once you force out said opponent with a revenge teammate) said monster, or defeat it one on one. I mean if you can switch in all moves and force out/KO you should call that a counter, right? If I am wrong sorry but this is not my main point.
The problem with the list of things that bronzong supposedly handles well, is that he 2hkoed by almost all of them so he cant switch in
Just from the most common sets:
Dark pulse from lo darkrai 2hkos
Fine, I usually found myself using Zong against a lead or sub lefties Darkari so I am not aware of this. At least Zong can handle non LO variant after sleep
Aura sphere from lo mewtwo 3hkos (fire blast ohkos)
252+ Atk Choice Band Bronzong Gyro Ball (150 BP) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mewtwo: 340-402 (96.04 - 113.55%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Cc from scarf terra 2hkos
You can switch in SE and other moves and defeat it, which fit my definition. And if you say Ferro can do the same, be aware that it lose one to one since it can't take one CC
Fusion/earth power from Specs kyu ohkos and focus blast/meteor 2hkos
Nothing on the earth outside of Chansey can switch into all Specs Kyu moves lol. Zong can at least switch into its STAB, while Ferro can't switch into Ice beam, making Zong a better switch in.
Judgment from 252 spa ghostceus 2hkos
Similar to Terra, you can switch in when it is not using Judgement (calm mind most notably) and inflict:
252+ Atk Choice Band Bronzong Gyro Ball (147 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Arceus-Ghost: 262-309 (68.76 - 81.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Yes, the damage may not be enough, but at least it is a good "buffer" if not a check, while Ferro just dies to FB. There is also variant that use 252 hp and you handle them quite well.
Sure u take on groundceus, chomp and fightceus better, but all are so rare they're hardly worth mentioning (except fightceus who is slightly more common)
Actually forget about Groudceus lol, Ferro handle it better even though Zong can still counter it quite well.
Yes ferro loses to the above, but guess what, so does zong
Eq isn't nearly as big of a deal as u make it out to be
While eq 2hkos dia, bulldoze 3hkos, which is enough to deter him from switching
Gyro ball 2hkos gene anyway so lacking eq doesn't even matter there
Rachi is 2hkoed by bulldoze with spikes and rocks
No you did not get my point, I just mean that EQ is a better attack than Bulldoze all the time because it is stronger and inflict more damage to everything. That makes a difference from time to time. It doesn't matter bulldoze 3HKO Dialga or whatever.
Lugia is 2hkoed by gyro after rocks from ferro js
But yes trick does make a difference vs skarm and gira and Chansey too may I add
Mm brought this up earlier, but sometimes it's better to explode, than to be locked into a weak move
I guess you are right here, just stick with Explsion then and uses :GB/EQ/Trick/Explosion. Rock slide is like an "Other Option" for Ho-Oh only.
They do check different things
Ferro checks kyogre, zong checks garchomp
Zong dies to pretty much the entire offensive metagame, but does better vs defensive threats
Ferro can check some key threats, but loses to some defensive threats
Given how offensive the current meta is, I'd say zong is sorely outclassed
Again I want to mention Levitate and thus Spikes immune again, this trait is Zong main advantage. I mean not every team has spinner or Bouncer and even then if it does it may not always spin or Bounce successfully. Just one layer of spikes+SR, Ferro (and things like Metagross too) lose 18% already while Zong only lose 6%. And when you switch in another time that adds up to 36%. Sorry if I am saying too much but I just want you to get how good spike immune +SR resist is.
Levitate and Spike immune makes all the differences really. Zong also check Extremekiller and Groudon (again the list is long, but this two are notable once) much better. Moreover, like I mentioned before Zong has two other viable set unlike Metagross.Another point shrang brought up is that it also has competetion from CB Metagross, lol. I'll still playtest it sometime and I'm open to more imput about Bronzong's placement in general but I don't see this set really changing things that much for him.
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