Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
75
|
- |
291 |
354 |
- |
| Atk |
70
|
158 |
176 |
239 |
262 |
| Def |
90
|
194 |
216 |
279 |
306 |
| SpA |
70
|
158 |
176 |
239 |
262 |
| SpD |
105
|
221 |
246 |
309 |
339 |
| Spe |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
This is a semi-standard Altaria set for both versions of play. Toxic can be used with Altaria's defenses to stall out, and then heal with Rest, while Flamethrower will hit anything that you can't hit with Toxic (namely, Steels and Poisons, especially since many Poisons have a part Grass typing). Hidden Power Grass can be used to hit Waters in general, and Quagsire in particular. Dragon Claw can be used as an attack for the "Flameclaw" combo, which nothing resists, but Dragon Claw really isn't going to be hurting much, so it's not recommended. Sing and Toxic don't make a very good combo, generally, so try and use that with Dragon Claw more often.
Dragon Dancing Altaria set is pretty much an inferior Salamence, except that Altaria can Natural Rest and hit the road when it knows it's beaten. Put in a Fire move if you want to beat Skarmory, but I'd suggest sticking with Rest and just Natural Resting when big bad Skarmory comes in. Fortunately, Skarmory is not in the same metagame as Altaria, and thus won't be seen in Altaria's normal use (UU).
Other Options
Altaria gained Heal Bell with the XD moves, making it an even better supporter. It can come in to sponge a hit, Heal Bell to cure Toxics, Sleep Powders and whatnot, maybe Rest off any damage taken, and switch out to come back later.
EVs
For Dragon Dancing sets, keep Speed at the magic 200, focus a little bit on Attack, giving it an Adamant nature, even if you're using a Fire move, then dump the rest in HP and defenses. For a stalling set, you'll want to take advantage of Altaria's defenses, which are actually her best stats. Give it around 200 Speed, and then max HP, with any remaining EVs going into Defense and Special Defense, with most of the emphasis on Special Defense, as it is not only her greatest stat, but Ice Beam is her greatest fear, and you want to be able to survive it. Give it a Careful nature. That should just about do it for our little cotton soprano here.
Opinion
Natural Rest is just awesome, and Altaria is the only thing that really gets to pull it off, since all other Natural Cure pokes have Recover or some sort of recovery move, even Corsola and Roselia. Thanks to Natural Cure, when Altaria uses Rest, it instantly wakes up after switching out. Its defensive stats are great and it has the support moves to use them. That's why a set with more of a stalling mentality is recommended. However, the Dragon Dance set with Sing can really surprise people when you sleep their counter.
Counters
Standard: Pretty much anything that walls Salamence would wall Altaria, so Suicune, Milotic, and Swampert pretty much takes care of it. Since it's weak offensively, even Snorlax and Blissey can repeatedly switch in and take next to nothing. If it's a Dragon Dance version, Skarmory could stop it and it wouldn't be able to do much to Zapdos at all. Regice, Lapras and other strong Ice Beamers pretty much takes care of it as far as killing it.
In UU, your best choices would be Hypno and Grumpig for the special attacker, albeit watch out for Toxics. Blastoise and Walrein pretty much stop it all the time. If it's a Dragon Dancer, just send in your Solrock or Lunatone. Solid high HP Pokémon such as Kangaskhan and Granbull can easily take anything Altaria throws at them, too.
