[OVERVIEW]
Lycanroc-D is one of the most effective revenge killers and wallbreakers that NU has to offer. It boasts one of the best base Speed stats in the tier and carries strong STAB priority in Accelerock for faster foes. Its strong, Tough Claws-boosted attacks, often boosted further by Swords Dance, deal immense damage even to neutral targets. It also has fantastic coverage, with Close Combat to burst through physical walls like Avalugg and Registeel, Crunch to break Slowbro and Reuniclus, and Psychic Fangs to crack Vileplume or Dragalge. The sheer variety of coverage available to it, including options like Sucker Punch and Stone Edge, makes predicting and countering Lycanroc-D incredibly difficult. Lycanroc-D's poor bulk is its main weakness; it can struggle to cleanly switch in, and finding time to set up a Swords Dance can be difficult. Life Orb recoil and entry hazards can further wear it down, limiting Lycanroc-D's staying power. Lycanroc-D can also be revenge killed by several of the Choice Scarf users in the tier, notably Mienshao, Flygon, and Krookodile. Walls like Swampert and Vileplume can also take a few hits if Lycanroc-D cannot set up with Swords Dance.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Accelerock
move 3: Close Combat / Sucker Punch
move 4: Crunch
item: Life Orb
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Lycanroc-D has significant power and Speed without any boosts, but Swords Dance pushes it even further. Accelerock is a strong priority STAB move that hits faster Pokemon like Talonflame, Noivern, and Thundurus for super effective damage. Close Combat is an excellent coverage move that hits large portions of the tier for neutral or super effective damage. Notably, it hits walls such as Avalugg and Registeel, almost always OHKOing Avalugg at +2. Pokemon resistant to Accelerock, such as Swampert and Rhyperior, also dislike switching into Close Combat, particularly after a Swords Dance boost. The addition of Tera Fighting allows an unboosted Lycanroc-D to 2HKO Swampert and Quagsire. Sucker Punch can replace Close Combat for an even stronger priority move on Tera Dark variants, letting Lycanroc-D OHKO Choice Scarf Mienshao. Crunch, often in combination with Tera Dark, allows Lycanroc-D to OHKO Slowbro at +2 after Stealth Rock, and always OHKOes Reuniclus. Alternatively, Psychic Fangs beats Poison-types like Vileplume, defensive Dragalge, and Tera Poison Slowbro with ease. Life Orb provides some immediate power without the boost of Swords Dance, giving it solid revenge killing potential upon entering the field.
One of Lycanroc-D's primary weaknesses is its bulk, which makes it difficult to switch in, particularly when it also takes entry hazard damage. As a result, Lycanroc-D benefits greatly from pivoting teammates to bring it in without taking a hit. Slow pivots, such as Magnezone and Swampert, can take the hit themselves, safely bringing Lycanroc-D in, while fast, strong pivots like Noivern can scare out opposing Pokemon to bring Lycanroc-D in for free. Special attackers such as Dragalge, Magnezone, and Thundurus appreciate Lycanroc-D's ability to blow holes in special walls like Alolan Muk, and in return they can wear down common physical walls like Slowbro and Quagsire. On hyper offense teams, particularly those using Galvantula to set up Sticky Web, Lycanroc-D's threat potential is only increased, allowing it to outspeed dangerous Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Infernape. Grass-types, primarily Rapid Spin users like Tsareena and Brambleghast, also pair well with Lycanroc-D, threatening common Ground-type checks like Swampert and Quagsire and removing the hazards that would otherwise chip away at Lycanroc-D's HP. Teammates like Slowbro and Talonflame can switch in on threatening revenge killers like Mienshao and Krookodile, and Slowbro can also help check opposing Talonflame, which threatens to cripple Lycanroc-D with Flame Body burns.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Accelerock
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Crunch / Stone Edge / Sucker Punch
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Accelerock provides priority that's useful against the few threats in the tier that outspeed Lycanroc-D, dealing super effective damage to Noivern, Talonflame, and Thundurus. It also provides an option to pick off Shell Smash sweepers like Cloyster and some weakened Choice Scarf users, such as Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion. Close Combat can OHKO specially defensive Registeel, 2HKO Avalugg, and serve as a strong neutral coverage move in response to many other threats. Tera Fighting Close Combat can also guarantee 2HKOs on Swampert and Quagsire. Crunch cleanly 2HKOes Slowbro and Reuniclus, and Psychic Fangs 2HKOes Vileplume and OHKOes all but the most physically bulky Dragalge. Sucker Punch provides Lycanroc-D with a stronger priority move than Accelerock that's not resisted by the Choice Scarf Ground-types that try to revenge kill it. Stone Edge is a stronger STAB move than Accelerock, and unlike the rest of Lycanroc-D's options, it does not risk activating contact-based abilities like Effect Spore and Flame Body. With Choice Band, Stone Edge cleanly 2HKOes Vileplume. Life Orb provides less immediate power but more flexibility at the cost of some HP, while Choice Band provides maximum immediate damage at the cost of locking Lycanroc-D into a move.
Slow pivots like Magnezone, Swampert, and Incineroar can take a hit and cleanly switch into Lycanroc-D, getting it onto the field without taking damage. Teammates like Tsareena, Brambleghast, and Feraligatr can break through bulky Water- and Ground-types that could otherwise tank multiple hits, such as Slowbro and Swampert. Strong special attackers, such as Magnezone, Thundurus, and Porygon-Z, support Lycanroc-D by breaking through the physical walls, like Slowbro and Quagsire, that can check it. Rapid Spin users like Tsareena and Brambleghast, as well as Defog users like Talonflame, pair well with Lycanroc-D, removing entry hazards that hurt its already limited longevity. Galvantula, as the premier Sticky Web setter in the tier, also pairs well with Lycanroc-D, allowing it to outspeed and OHKO Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Infernape that would otherwise pose a threat to it. Defensively, teammates like Slowbro and Talonflame can take Close Combat and Earthquake from potential revenge killers like Mienshao and Krookodile, and Slowbro further checks Talonflame, which potentially threatens Lycanroc-D with a Flame Body burn on every attack except Stone Edge.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Lycanroc-D can use Tera Ghost defensively in order to avoid Close Combat from revenge killing threats like Mienshao, but offensive Tera types are preferred to maximize damage output. A Focus Sash lead set with Stealth Rock / Accelerock / Close Combat / Taunt is a great enabler of hyper offense teams, as Lycanroc-D is still quite strong without a boosting move or item and is fast enough to reliably set its entry hazard.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Vileplume switches into most of Lycanroc-D's moves well, with the exception of Psychic Fangs. Rocky Helmet chip damage helps further wear Lycanroc-D down, and Effect Spore has the potential to activate on every one of Lycanroc-D's attacking options besides Stone Edge. Bulky Tsareena can take Close Combat, is immune to Accelerock, and can threaten Lycanroc-D with Rapid Spin or an OHKO with Power Whip. Venusaur in sun can also outspeed and threaten Lycanroc-D.
**Water-types**: Slowbro, Swampert, and Quagsire all take at least one hit from Lycanroc-D and threaten it back with super effective damage. Feraligatr and Basculegion can also threaten it offensively with Aqua Jet.
**Ground-types**: Swampert and Quagsire tank unboosted Close Combat adequately, while Flygon and Krookodile are capable of switching into anything but Close Combat while often using Choice Scarf to outspeed and potentially OHKO Lycanroc-D with Earthquake.
**Revenge Killers**: Very few threats in the tier can naturally outspeed Lycanroc-D, but for those that do, Lycanroc-D is forced to use a relatively weak priority move in Accelerock. Raikou, along with Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Flygon, can take an Accelerock and threaten Lycanroc-D back with super effective attacks.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
Lycanroc-D is one of the most effective revenge killers and wallbreakers that NU has to offer. It boasts one of the best base Speed stats in the tier and carries strong STAB priority in Accelerock for faster foes. Its strong, Tough Claws-boosted attacks, often boosted further by Swords Dance, deal immense damage even to neutral targets. It also has fantastic coverage, with Close Combat to burst through physical walls like Avalugg and Registeel, Crunch to break Slowbro and Reuniclus, and Psychic Fangs to crack Vileplume or Dragalge. The sheer variety of coverage available to it, including options like Sucker Punch and Stone Edge, makes predicting and countering Lycanroc-D incredibly difficult. Lycanroc-D's poor bulk is its main weakness; it can struggle to cleanly switch in, and finding time to set up a Swords Dance can be difficult. Life Orb recoil and entry hazards can further wear it down, limiting Lycanroc-D's staying power. Lycanroc-D can also be revenge killed by several of the Choice Scarf users in the tier, notably Mienshao, Flygon, and Krookodile. Walls like Swampert and Vileplume can also take a few hits if Lycanroc-D cannot set up with Swords Dance.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Accelerock
move 3: Close Combat / Sucker Punch
move 4: Crunch
item: Life Orb
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Lycanroc-D has significant power and Speed without any boosts, but Swords Dance pushes it even further. Accelerock is a strong priority STAB move that hits faster Pokemon like Talonflame, Noivern, and Thundurus for super effective damage. Close Combat is an excellent coverage move that hits large portions of the tier for neutral or super effective damage. Notably, it hits walls such as Avalugg and Registeel, almost always OHKOing Avalugg at +2. Pokemon resistant to Accelerock, such as Swampert and Rhyperior, also dislike switching into Close Combat, particularly after a Swords Dance boost. The addition of Tera Fighting allows an unboosted Lycanroc-D to 2HKO Swampert and Quagsire. Sucker Punch can replace Close Combat for an even stronger priority move on Tera Dark variants, letting Lycanroc-D OHKO Choice Scarf Mienshao. Crunch, often in combination with Tera Dark, allows Lycanroc-D to OHKO Slowbro at +2 after Stealth Rock, and always OHKOes Reuniclus. Alternatively, Psychic Fangs beats Poison-types like Vileplume, defensive Dragalge, and Tera Poison Slowbro with ease. Life Orb provides some immediate power without the boost of Swords Dance, giving it solid revenge killing potential upon entering the field.
One of Lycanroc-D's primary weaknesses is its bulk, which makes it difficult to switch in, particularly when it also takes entry hazard damage. As a result, Lycanroc-D benefits greatly from pivoting teammates to bring it in without taking a hit. Slow pivots, such as Magnezone and Swampert, can take the hit themselves, safely bringing Lycanroc-D in, while fast, strong pivots like Noivern can scare out opposing Pokemon to bring Lycanroc-D in for free. Special attackers such as Dragalge, Magnezone, and Thundurus appreciate Lycanroc-D's ability to blow holes in special walls like Alolan Muk, and in return they can wear down common physical walls like Slowbro and Quagsire. On hyper offense teams, particularly those using Galvantula to set up Sticky Web, Lycanroc-D's threat potential is only increased, allowing it to outspeed dangerous Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Infernape. Grass-types, primarily Rapid Spin users like Tsareena and Brambleghast, also pair well with Lycanroc-D, threatening common Ground-type checks like Swampert and Quagsire and removing the hazards that would otherwise chip away at Lycanroc-D's HP. Teammates like Slowbro and Talonflame can switch in on threatening revenge killers like Mienshao and Krookodile, and Slowbro can also help check opposing Talonflame, which threatens to cripple Lycanroc-D with Flame Body burns.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Accelerock
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Crunch / Stone Edge / Sucker Punch
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Dark
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Accelerock provides priority that's useful against the few threats in the tier that outspeed Lycanroc-D, dealing super effective damage to Noivern, Talonflame, and Thundurus. It also provides an option to pick off Shell Smash sweepers like Cloyster and some weakened Choice Scarf users, such as Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion. Close Combat can OHKO specially defensive Registeel, 2HKO Avalugg, and serve as a strong neutral coverage move in response to many other threats. Tera Fighting Close Combat can also guarantee 2HKOs on Swampert and Quagsire. Crunch cleanly 2HKOes Slowbro and Reuniclus, and Psychic Fangs 2HKOes Vileplume and OHKOes all but the most physically bulky Dragalge. Sucker Punch provides Lycanroc-D with a stronger priority move than Accelerock that's not resisted by the Choice Scarf Ground-types that try to revenge kill it. Stone Edge is a stronger STAB move than Accelerock, and unlike the rest of Lycanroc-D's options, it does not risk activating contact-based abilities like Effect Spore and Flame Body. With Choice Band, Stone Edge cleanly 2HKOes Vileplume. Life Orb provides less immediate power but more flexibility at the cost of some HP, while Choice Band provides maximum immediate damage at the cost of locking Lycanroc-D into a move.
Slow pivots like Magnezone, Swampert, and Incineroar can take a hit and cleanly switch into Lycanroc-D, getting it onto the field without taking damage. Teammates like Tsareena, Brambleghast, and Feraligatr can break through bulky Water- and Ground-types that could otherwise tank multiple hits, such as Slowbro and Swampert. Strong special attackers, such as Magnezone, Thundurus, and Porygon-Z, support Lycanroc-D by breaking through the physical walls, like Slowbro and Quagsire, that can check it. Rapid Spin users like Tsareena and Brambleghast, as well as Defog users like Talonflame, pair well with Lycanroc-D, removing entry hazards that hurt its already limited longevity. Galvantula, as the premier Sticky Web setter in the tier, also pairs well with Lycanroc-D, allowing it to outspeed and OHKO Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Infernape that would otherwise pose a threat to it. Defensively, teammates like Slowbro and Talonflame can take Close Combat and Earthquake from potential revenge killers like Mienshao and Krookodile, and Slowbro further checks Talonflame, which potentially threatens Lycanroc-D with a Flame Body burn on every attack except Stone Edge.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Lycanroc-D can use Tera Ghost defensively in order to avoid Close Combat from revenge killing threats like Mienshao, but offensive Tera types are preferred to maximize damage output. A Focus Sash lead set with Stealth Rock / Accelerock / Close Combat / Taunt is a great enabler of hyper offense teams, as Lycanroc-D is still quite strong without a boosting move or item and is fast enough to reliably set its entry hazard.
Checks and Counters
====
**Grass-types**: Vileplume switches into most of Lycanroc-D's moves well, with the exception of Psychic Fangs. Rocky Helmet chip damage helps further wear Lycanroc-D down, and Effect Spore has the potential to activate on every one of Lycanroc-D's attacking options besides Stone Edge. Bulky Tsareena can take Close Combat, is immune to Accelerock, and can threaten Lycanroc-D with Rapid Spin or an OHKO with Power Whip. Venusaur in sun can also outspeed and threaten Lycanroc-D.
**Water-types**: Slowbro, Swampert, and Quagsire all take at least one hit from Lycanroc-D and threaten it back with super effective damage. Feraligatr and Basculegion can also threaten it offensively with Aqua Jet.
**Ground-types**: Swampert and Quagsire tank unboosted Close Combat adequately, while Flygon and Krookodile are capable of switching into anything but Close Combat while often using Choice Scarf to outspeed and potentially OHKO Lycanroc-D with Earthquake.
**Revenge Killers**: Very few threats in the tier can naturally outspeed Lycanroc-D, but for those that do, Lycanroc-D is forced to use a relatively weak priority move in Accelerock. Raikou, along with Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Flygon, can take an Accelerock and threaten Lycanroc-D back with super effective attacks.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
Last edited: