Dodrio has excellent speed and attack, which makes it an ideal Choice Bander. However, like many other Choice Banders, it is fairly fragile and will therefore have difficulty when it comes to switching in. It is a fairly good lead, but it is better for the lategame when it can just attack quickly and with strength. Dodrio is a pretty mean physical sweeper. It gets STAB with three of its attacks. Hidden Power Ground is to hurt Magneton, Jirachi, and Metagross on the switch-in, but it is not recommended that Dodrio stays in unless there is a sure chance of killing. Hidden Power Fighting will hurt Tyranitar even more, but Hidden Power Ground can do just as well. The main problem with Hidden Power Fighting is that it will always lower your Speed, preventing you from reaching 299 or 328 Speed total.
With Dodrio getting STAB on Flail, it can easily sweep a team if used correctly. With Liechi Berry, Dodrio can boost its attack power, but Agility will be a must in order to ensure a sweep. It is powerful, but it is a bit harder to use than the standard Choice Band set. Alternately, you could use a Salac Berry and at least 264 Speed (which requires 112 EVs), with something over Agility. Quick Attack is sadly your best choice, to help against enemy Flailers. Other OptionsBaton Pass is a great option to help predict a switch or to pass along a Substitute or some Speed. It can really benefit the rest of the team by helping them set up. You can also Baton Pass on the first turn to see their Dodrio counter, and if it is Skarmory, then you can pass to Magneton and instantly kill it. The same goes for passing to Dugtrio on switch to a weakened Tyranitar / Metagross. Endeavor, in conjunction with Quick Attack, can make short work of opposing Pokémon if Dodrio has low HP. However, Tyranitar can prove troublesome. Haze can remove stat-ups, but overall, it is fairly useless because Dodrio is fragile. You are best off with an offensive moveset since Dodrio is well-suited for that with its 110 base-attack and 100 base-speed. EVsWith the Choice Bander, maximum Attack and Speed is optimal because Dodrio will not stay in for long anyway. Jolly is useful since most people expect Adamant since it gives that much more Attack power, but the Choice Band somewhat makes up for that. Either way though, still use maximum speed and attack. On the Flailer, 264 is the best speed (16 EVs with Jolly and 112 EVs with Adamant) with Salac, or minimum Speed with Agility. However, more Speed is a possibility. Maximize Attack power with the Flailer, put enough in for your desired level of Speed, and stick the rest of the EVs in another stat. OpinionDodrio is an excellent Pokémon when it comes to physical sweeping, whether it's using a Choice Band or it is going to Flail. It also has that awesome STAB Drill Peck to work with. Dodrio can really be a monster if used in conjunction with Magneton and other Pokémon meant to take out physical walls intending on stopping Dodrio short. However, he's really fragile and won't be switching in on much. CountersSkarmory and Forretress, two of the most common physical walls, can handle Dodrio with relative ease, unless Magneton is present. Tyranitar's Sand Stream wears down Dodrio, and Tyranitar himself resists Normal and Flying, Dodrio's main attacking types. With Choice Band, Hidden Power Ground can 2HKO it and Hidden Power Fighting is a OHKO. Metagross can shrug off nearly everything Dodrio throws at him, even Choice Band Hidden Power Ground may not 2HKO him. Regirock is the best counter though, because Hidden Power Ground / Fighting will do negligible damage. These three can easily OHKO Dodrio with their STAB moves. Gengar can come in on Normal attacks and Thunderbolt or Will-O-Wisp Dodrio into oblivion. Choice Band Drill Peck will OHKO him more often than not though, and Flail sets will probably have Hidden Power Ghost. Dusclops is slower, but more defensive and has the same immunity to Normal attacks. He can burn Dodrio and Pain Split / Rest off any damage. About any hit, especially STAB or super-effective ones, will cripple (if not kill) Dodrio, as his defenses and HP are abysmal at best. |
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