[OVERVIEW]
Breloom's monstrous Attack, especially when coupled with Technician, makes it difficult to switch into at times. On top of this, it has the rare trait of being a Fighting-type that easily beats Water-types like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Milotic; however, it competes with Toxicroak for this role, which has an immunity to Water-type attacks and a higher Speed tier to boot. Breloom can circumvent its middling Speed with a Technician-boosted Mach Punch, though, and while Breloom has solid checks like Vileplume, Galarian Slowbro, and Tornadus, it can carry coverage moves to make quick work of them. Breloom is even immune to Vileplume's Effect Spore, letting it attack it without worry, though it needs to be wary of Rocky Helmet. However, Breloom can't beat all of these checks in one set, forcing it to choose which foes it prefers to beat. Additionally, even though it can be worked around, its Speed can be taken advantage of by multiple other wallbreakers like Chandelure, Staraptor, and Toxtricity. While Breloom has good resistances like Water and Ground, these are often rendered moot by its low defenses, and Water-types, which it can normally check, might burn it with Scald, worsening its damage output and ability to beat them.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Bullet Seed
move 3: Mach Punch
move 4: Aerial Ace / Bulldoze / Rock Tomb
item: Choice Band
ability: Technician
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Fire / Rock
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Aerial Ace allows Breloom to handle one of its best checks, Vileplume. However, Breloom could opt for Bulldoze instead, since Poison-types like Dragalge and Galarian Slowbro can be a pain for it to get past, but in doing so, Breloom gives up any chance of even touching Tornadus, Kilowattrel, and Galarian Articuno. Rock Tomb, on the other hand, allows Breloom to hit these aforementioned troublesome Flying-types as they switch in, and similarly to Bulldoze, it can hit Fire-types like Chandelure, Incineroar, and Hisuian Typhlosion. Seed Bomb can be used over Bullet Seed for its reliable damage output, as it's stronger if Bullet Seed only hits twice; however, the majority of the time, it's weaker, and Breloom is worse off running it. Since Breloom's Speed tier isn't too congested, Adamant is preferred for more power. Jolly does let it outpace Adamant Basculegion, Jolly Incineroar, and Modest Toxtricity, though. Tera Fighting lets Breloom boost its Close Combat and Mach Punch to absurd levels, allowing it to OHKO Alolan Muk and Bronzong and 2HKO Sylveon with the former as well as OHKO Inteleon and Mienshao with the latter. On the other hand, Tera Fire allows Breloom to avoid burns from Incineroar's Will-O-Wisp while letting it withstand a Fire-type attack from Hisuian Typhlosion, Chandelure, and the aforementioned Incineroar at least once. Tera Rock similarly gifts Breloom a Fire resistance and allows it to take Flying-type attacks from Galarian Articuno, Kilowattrel, and Tornadus so that it can retaliate with a STAB-boosted Rock Tomb.
One of Breloom's main struggles when trying to wallbreak is getting past Poison-types like Vileplume, Dragalge, and Galarian Slowbro, so Psychic- and Ground-types like Munkidori, Uxie, and Flygon are greatly appreciated. The former two as well as Kilowattrel and Dragalge excel at pivoting Breloom in on Dark- and Steel-types like Klefki, Registeel, and Alolan Muk with their U-turn and Flip Turn. Galarian Articuno is an exceptionally good partner, as on top of also providing U-turn support, it can use Future Sight to limit Breloom's switch-ins even further and take advantage of Vileplume's Strength Sap with its Competitive. In a similar vein, pivots such as Mienshao, Incineroar, Inteleon, and the aforementioned Flygon are appreciated, as they commonly draw in Water-types, like Vaporeon, Milotic, Gastrodon, and Swampert, for Breloom to take advantage of. Flying-types like Kilowattrel and Tornadus can be similarly annoying, so switch-ins to these threats like Kilowattrel, Bellibolt, and Diancie have good synergy. Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Bronzong, also make for decent partners, handling the Psychic- and Fairy-types, like Uxie, Munkidori, Whimsicott, and Sylveon, that force Breloom out.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Breloom can equip a Choice Scarf to become a surprise revenge killer, but its mediocre Speed tier and access to a Technician-boosted Mach Punch makes this set unappealing overall. Gunk Shot lets Breloom hit Grass- and Fairy-types that try to switch into its STAB attacks super effectively like Brambleghast, Whimsicott, and Scream Tail while dealing good damage to Flying-types like Tornadus and Kilowattrel that try to do the same.
Checks and Counters
====
**Poison-types**: Galarian Slowbro, Dragalge, and Vileplume all easily wall Breloom, and both Toxicroak and Tera Poison Uxie can easily use it as setup fodder. However, if Breloom carries Bulldoze, the majority of these aren't an issue, and Aerial Ace can make quick work of Vileplume.
**Flying-types**: Kilowattrel and Galarian Articuno wall Breloom's STAB moves and can use it for momentum, while Tornadus and Scyther can do the same and also capitalize on Breloom by setting up or throwing off their high-Base Power attacks. However, they're quite frail, meaning Mach Punch could pick them off if they've been sufficiently weakened, and Breloom can carry Rock Tomb and Tera Rock to handle them, though Scyther often carries Close Combat and doesn't worry about Substitute sets thanks to Dual Wingbeat's multi-hit nature.
**Fire-types**: Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion can take both of Breloom's STAB moves and retaliate with powerful Fire-type attacks. Paldean Tauros-F and Incineroar are also annoying for Breloom with their access to Intimidate. Breloom can take them out on the switch in with Rock Tomb or Bulldoze and can use Tera Rock to take one Fire-type attack if needed, though.
**Psychic-types**: Munkidori, Meloetta, and Uxie can all threaten out Breloom, but the first two are susceptible to being picked off due to their frailty, and none of them take multiple Bullet Seed hits comfortably.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
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