Overview
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Escavalier has many traits that make it solid in the Underused metagame. Its massive base 135 attack allows it to hit walls very hard and OHKO frailer threats easily. Its impressive 70 / 105 / 105 bulk combined with its multiple resistances and immunities makes Escavalier very hard to take down unless a super effective move is used on it. It also has access to the ability Overcoat, which makes it immune to powder moves like Sleep Powder and weather damage, like hail.
However, Escavalier also has many crippling flaws that limit its effectiveness. Fire-types are able to KO Escavalier effortlessly. Its awful base 20 speed means it will almost always move last, allowing the opponent to inflict damage. No access to reliable recovery means it will get worn down very quickly as it switches into moves often. It has trouble breaking down Steel types if it lacks Drill Run. Status, especially burns, completely cripples Escavalier. Despite these flaws, Escavalier is still a strong threat that the opponent should be wary about.
Assault Vest
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name: Assault Vest
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Drill Run / Pursuit
ability: Overcoat
item: Assault Vest
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 84 Spe
nature: Adamant / Brave
Moves
========
Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest STAB option, which hits very hard coming off its base 135 attack. Iron Head is the secondary STAB option, which also helps with its coverage. Knock Off does heavy damage while removing items and allowing Escavalier to deal significant damage to Ghost types, like Doublade. In the last slot, there are two options. Pursuit allows Escavalier to trap Pokemon that it forces out, such as Cresselia, Alakazam, Roserade, and Reuniclus and doing heavy damage to Doublade if it switches out. Drill Run is an option to damage Steel types heavily, preventing them from walling Escavalier.
Set Details
========
The given EVs allow Escavalier to outspeed 0 speed base 30s, such as Slowking and Reuniclus, while maximizing attack and pouring the rest into bulk and decreasing Stealth Rock damage. An Adamant nature is chosen to give a huge boost to attack. Assault Vest is the item for this set to greatly increase Special Defence to easily tank special hits from many special attackers such as Florges, Kyurem, Cresselia, Alakazam, and Roserade. If using Escavalier on a Trick Room Team, use a Brave nature with 0 IVs in speed and max HP and Attack. An alternative spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe can be used to outspeed standard Adamant Doublade before it is allowed to hit Escavalier, but this hurts bulk.
Usage Tips
========
With Assault Vest, Escavalier acts as an excellent pivot that frequently switches into many special attackers that can't do much, like Kyurem and Florges. Its excellent typing allows it to counter Pokemon like Mega Beedrill and Mega Abomasnow lacking Hidden Power Fire, so switching into them is relatively safe. Due to Escavalier's 4x weakness to Fire moves, play very carefully when they are still healthy, and also scout for surprise fire type coverage on Pokemon like Hydreigon. Escavalier greatly appreciates having Steel types weakened, as they give it trouble, especially if it lacks Drill Run. Use Knock off regularly, as it removes items from switch-ins and makes them easier to break through later.
Team Options
========
Healers, such as Florges and Vaporeon, work well with Escavalier as they are able to heal Escavalier of status and can replenish its health. Hazard removal from Pokemon like Mega Blastoise is appreciated as it will get worn down quickly as it switches into hazards and special attackers often. Water absorbers, like Vaporeon and Seismitoad, are great as they help Escavalier avoid burns from Scald. VoltTurn users, like Mega Ampharos, are able to get Escavalier in safely, having it take less damage in the process. Trick Room and paralysis support is helpful to help alleviate its speed issues. Pokemon that take advantage of fire-types, like Chandelure and Feraligatr, are good partners as well.
Choice Band
########
name: Choice Band
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Drill Run / Pursuit
ability: Overcoat
item: Choice Band
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 84 Spe
nature: Adamant / Brave
Moves
========
Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest attack, and it hits anything that isn't a bulky resist extremely hard. Iron Head is useful to destroy Pokemon that might switch into Megahorn, like Aromatisse and Crobat. Knock off is used to give Escavalier super effective coverage on Ghost types, like Doublade, and for the utility of removing items. For the last slot, either Drill Run or Pursuit is used. Drill Run is good to smack Steel types that try to wall Escavalier for good damage, while Pursuit traps Pokemon that try to switch out, like Doublade and Alakazam.
Set Details
========
The given EVs allow Escavalier to outspeed 0 speed base 30s, such as Slowking and Reuniclus while maximizing attack and pouring the rest into bulk and decreasing Stealth Rock damage. An Adamant nature is chosen to give a huge boost to attack. Choice Band is used for this set to grant Escavalier incredible power, allowing it to easily 2HKO defensive Alomomola and grants it a nice chance to 2HKO defensive Gligar after its Eviolite has been removed. If using Escavalier on a Trick Room Team, use a Brave nature with 0 IVs in speed and max HP and Attack. An alternative spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe can be used to outspeed standard Adamant Doublade before it is allowed to hit Escavalier, but this hurts bulk.
Usage Tips
========
This set aims to make Escavalier a powerful wallbreaker that puts big holes into the opponent's team. Even without Assault Vest, Escavalier is still naturally bulky and can still switch into resisted hits fairly easily, being able to counter Mega Beedrill and Mega Abomasnow lacking Hidden Power Fire. As always, be careful when fire types are still around, and scout for surprise fire type coverage. Even if Escavalier uses Drill Run, Steel types are still annoying for it, especially Mega Aggron. Using Knock Off regularly helps weaken the opposing Pokemon while removing their items.
Team Options
========
Clerics, like Florges and Vaporeon, keep Escavalier healthy throughout the match by healing status and passing big wishes off to it. Hazard removers, like Mega Blastoise and Tentacruel, are good teammates as they help Escavalier stick around longer as it has no reliable recovery. Water absorbers, like Vaporeon and Seismitoad, are great as they help Escavalier avoid any burns from Scald. VoltTurn users, like Mega Ampharos, help bring Escavalier in safely to wallbreak. Trick room and paralysis support is great to help Escavalier break through the opponent's team easier. Pokemon that can deal with fire types, like Chandelure and Feraligatr, are good teammates as well.
Other Options
########
X- Scissor can be used as a more accurate STAB over Megahorn, but it lacks power. A Swords Dance + RestTalk set is able to put enormous pressure on walls that can't phase it out, but it hurts coverage. Counter is an interesting option to surprise physical attackers and deal huge damage, but Escavalier is usually better off firing off Megahorns. An alternative spread of 188 Atk / 236 SpD / 84 Spe with Assault Vest allows Escavalier to always live a Life Orb Dragon Dance Salamence's Fire Blast, but it hurts physical bulk and power.
Checks & Counters
########
** Fire types and moves**: Fire types are able to effortlessly KO Escavalier with their STAB fire types moves, and surprise fire type moves are always a threat to Escavalier. Fire types can't switch into Drull Run easily, however.
**Status**: Status, especially burns, limit Escavalier's effectiveness greatly and cripples it for the rest of the match or until a cleric can heal Escavalier.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Escavalier poor speed, outspeeding it is very easy, and it is able to be forced out by a faster threat frequently.
**Steel types**: Steel types are able to easily tank most of Escavalier's hits bar Drill Run. Mega Aggron is easily able to tank even Choice Band Drill Runs from Escavalier, which is a 4HKO on the standard tank set, while Mega Aggron can KO with Fire Punch.
**Defensive Salamence**: Defensive Salamence can tank even a Choice Band boosted Iron Head from Escavalier and can use Flamethrower to KO in return.
########
Escavalier has many traits that make it solid in the Underused metagame. Its massive base 135 attack allows it to hit walls very hard and OHKO frailer threats easily. Its impressive 70 / 105 / 105 bulk combined with its multiple resistances and immunities makes Escavalier very hard to take down unless a super effective move is used on it. It also has access to the ability Overcoat, which makes it immune to powder moves like Sleep Powder and weather damage, like hail.
However, Escavalier also has many crippling flaws that limit its effectiveness. Fire-types are able to KO Escavalier effortlessly. Its awful base 20 speed means it will almost always move last, allowing the opponent to inflict damage. No access to reliable recovery means it will get worn down very quickly as it switches into moves often. It has trouble breaking down Steel types if it lacks Drill Run. Status, especially burns, completely cripples Escavalier. Despite these flaws, Escavalier is still a strong threat that the opponent should be wary about.
Assault Vest
########
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Drill Run / Pursuit
ability: Overcoat
item: Assault Vest
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 84 Spe
nature: Adamant / Brave
Moves
========
Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest STAB option, which hits very hard coming off its base 135 attack. Iron Head is the secondary STAB option, which also helps with its coverage. Knock Off does heavy damage while removing items and allowing Escavalier to deal significant damage to Ghost types, like Doublade. In the last slot, there are two options. Pursuit allows Escavalier to trap Pokemon that it forces out, such as Cresselia, Alakazam, Roserade, and Reuniclus and doing heavy damage to Doublade if it switches out. Drill Run is an option to damage Steel types heavily, preventing them from walling Escavalier.
Set Details
========
The given EVs allow Escavalier to outspeed 0 speed base 30s, such as Slowking and Reuniclus, while maximizing attack and pouring the rest into bulk and decreasing Stealth Rock damage. An Adamant nature is chosen to give a huge boost to attack. Assault Vest is the item for this set to greatly increase Special Defence to easily tank special hits from many special attackers such as Florges, Kyurem, Cresselia, Alakazam, and Roserade. If using Escavalier on a Trick Room Team, use a Brave nature with 0 IVs in speed and max HP and Attack. An alternative spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe can be used to outspeed standard Adamant Doublade before it is allowed to hit Escavalier, but this hurts bulk.
Usage Tips
========
With Assault Vest, Escavalier acts as an excellent pivot that frequently switches into many special attackers that can't do much, like Kyurem and Florges. Its excellent typing allows it to counter Pokemon like Mega Beedrill and Mega Abomasnow lacking Hidden Power Fire, so switching into them is relatively safe. Due to Escavalier's 4x weakness to Fire moves, play very carefully when they are still healthy, and also scout for surprise fire type coverage on Pokemon like Hydreigon. Escavalier greatly appreciates having Steel types weakened, as they give it trouble, especially if it lacks Drill Run. Use Knock off regularly, as it removes items from switch-ins and makes them easier to break through later.
Team Options
========
Healers, such as Florges and Vaporeon, work well with Escavalier as they are able to heal Escavalier of status and can replenish its health. Hazard removal from Pokemon like Mega Blastoise is appreciated as it will get worn down quickly as it switches into hazards and special attackers often. Water absorbers, like Vaporeon and Seismitoad, are great as they help Escavalier avoid burns from Scald. VoltTurn users, like Mega Ampharos, are able to get Escavalier in safely, having it take less damage in the process. Trick Room and paralysis support is helpful to help alleviate its speed issues. Pokemon that take advantage of fire-types, like Chandelure and Feraligatr, are good partners as well.
Choice Band
########
name: Choice Band
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Drill Run / Pursuit
ability: Overcoat
item: Choice Band
evs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 84 Spe
nature: Adamant / Brave
Moves
========
Megahorn is Escavalier's strongest attack, and it hits anything that isn't a bulky resist extremely hard. Iron Head is useful to destroy Pokemon that might switch into Megahorn, like Aromatisse and Crobat. Knock off is used to give Escavalier super effective coverage on Ghost types, like Doublade, and for the utility of removing items. For the last slot, either Drill Run or Pursuit is used. Drill Run is good to smack Steel types that try to wall Escavalier for good damage, while Pursuit traps Pokemon that try to switch out, like Doublade and Alakazam.
Set Details
========
The given EVs allow Escavalier to outspeed 0 speed base 30s, such as Slowking and Reuniclus while maximizing attack and pouring the rest into bulk and decreasing Stealth Rock damage. An Adamant nature is chosen to give a huge boost to attack. Choice Band is used for this set to grant Escavalier incredible power, allowing it to easily 2HKO defensive Alomomola and grants it a nice chance to 2HKO defensive Gligar after its Eviolite has been removed. If using Escavalier on a Trick Room Team, use a Brave nature with 0 IVs in speed and max HP and Attack. An alternative spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe can be used to outspeed standard Adamant Doublade before it is allowed to hit Escavalier, but this hurts bulk.
Usage Tips
========
This set aims to make Escavalier a powerful wallbreaker that puts big holes into the opponent's team. Even without Assault Vest, Escavalier is still naturally bulky and can still switch into resisted hits fairly easily, being able to counter Mega Beedrill and Mega Abomasnow lacking Hidden Power Fire. As always, be careful when fire types are still around, and scout for surprise fire type coverage. Even if Escavalier uses Drill Run, Steel types are still annoying for it, especially Mega Aggron. Using Knock Off regularly helps weaken the opposing Pokemon while removing their items.
Team Options
========
Clerics, like Florges and Vaporeon, keep Escavalier healthy throughout the match by healing status and passing big wishes off to it. Hazard removers, like Mega Blastoise and Tentacruel, are good teammates as they help Escavalier stick around longer as it has no reliable recovery. Water absorbers, like Vaporeon and Seismitoad, are great as they help Escavalier avoid any burns from Scald. VoltTurn users, like Mega Ampharos, help bring Escavalier in safely to wallbreak. Trick room and paralysis support is great to help Escavalier break through the opponent's team easier. Pokemon that can deal with fire types, like Chandelure and Feraligatr, are good teammates as well.
Other Options
########
X- Scissor can be used as a more accurate STAB over Megahorn, but it lacks power. A Swords Dance + RestTalk set is able to put enormous pressure on walls that can't phase it out, but it hurts coverage. Counter is an interesting option to surprise physical attackers and deal huge damage, but Escavalier is usually better off firing off Megahorns. An alternative spread of 188 Atk / 236 SpD / 84 Spe with Assault Vest allows Escavalier to always live a Life Orb Dragon Dance Salamence's Fire Blast, but it hurts physical bulk and power.
Checks & Counters
########
** Fire types and moves**: Fire types are able to effortlessly KO Escavalier with their STAB fire types moves, and surprise fire type moves are always a threat to Escavalier. Fire types can't switch into Drull Run easily, however.
**Status**: Status, especially burns, limit Escavalier's effectiveness greatly and cripples it for the rest of the match or until a cleric can heal Escavalier.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Escavalier poor speed, outspeeding it is very easy, and it is able to be forced out by a faster threat frequently.
**Steel types**: Steel types are able to easily tank most of Escavalier's hits bar Drill Run. Mega Aggron is easily able to tank even Choice Band Drill Runs from Escavalier, which is a 4HKO on the standard tank set, while Mega Aggron can KO with Fire Punch.
**Defensive Salamence**: Defensive Salamence can tank even a Choice Band boosted Iron Head from Escavalier and can use Flamethrower to KO in return.
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