[OVERVIEW]
Barraskewda thrives in NU as a powerful physical attacker that is also the fastest unboosted Pokemon in the tier, which allows it to act as both a fast, supportive pivot and a speedy wallbreaker. Barraskewda's high base Attack allows it to consistently deal damage with its STAB attacks, and with access to Close Combat and Psychic Fangs, it can even break through Water-immune foes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. In addition, its Speed allows it to revenge kill fast foes such as Kilowattrel, Raikou, and non-Choice Scarf Munkidori. However, Barraskewda can at times rely on prediction, as it requires a Choice Band for certain 2HKOs, such as Tera Fighting Close Combat on Vaporeon and Bellibolt. It can also struggle to run all the moves it needs, generally needing to drop a coverage or STAB move no matter what role it wants to fill. Furthermore, Barraskewda has next to no bulk, and is vulnerable to priority from foes such as Breloom, Flygon, and Decidueye. NU also features several Pokemon that resist Barraskewda's attacks or force it to Tera to secure a KO, such as Amoonguss and Water-immune foes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Flip Turn
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Liquidation / Aqua Jet / Ice Fang
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Aqua Jet / Poison Jab
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Choice Band / Mystic Water
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Flip Turn allows Barraskewda to freely pivot and keep up momentum against foes like Tsareena and Amoonguss. Close Combat with Choice Band and Tera Fighting 2HKOes checks like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. Liquidation is Barraskewda's most spammable STAB move, dealing immense damage to any foe that doesn't resist it. Alternatively, Aqua Jet can revenge kill faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Munkidori and Dragon Dance Flygon, while Ice Fang lets Barraskewda hit Dragon- and Grass-types such as Altaria, Breloom, and Tsareena. Choice Band Psychic Fangs allows Barraskewda to 2HKO Amoonguss, which otherwise walls it, while OHKOing Toxicroa, though Poison Jab can instead be used to hit Fairy- and Grass-types such as Sylveon, Scream Tail, and Tsareena super effectively. Heavy-Duty Boots can provide Barraskewda some additional survivability on teams that don't control entry hazards well as well as allow it to act more freely as a pivot and as speed control. Choice Band, as mentioned before, makes several damage rolls possible, and generally supports Barraskewda's role as a wallbreaker, whereas Mystic Water prevents Barraskewda from being Choice-locked while maintaining some power, but makes the previously mentioned 2HKOs impossible. 168 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Barraskewda to outpace the entire unboosted metagame, including Kilowattrel, Inteleon, and Munkidori. This allows the rest of the EVs to be poured into Barraskewda's HP to aid its role as a supportive but offensive pivot. However, a more offensive spread with maximum Attack and Speed is preferred on wallbreaking Choice Band and Mystic Water sets. On these sets, an Adamant nature can be used for the improved wallbreaking it offers, but a Jolly nature ensures Barraskewda can still outspeed all foes. Tera Water is a viable alternative to Tera Fighting, letting Barraskewda OHKO Flygon and 2HKO Swampert with Liquidation.
Barraskewda, particularly on Choice Band sets, requires teammates that can switch into Water-immune Pokemon like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. Thus, it partners well with teammates like Poison Heal Breloom, Toxicroak, and Galarian Slowbro. Pivoting sets with Heavy-Duty Boots lure in psychical walls like Bellibolt and Amoonguss, and thus pair well with special wallbreakers like Chandelure and Toxtricity. Steel-types such as Bronzong and Copperajah also work as switch-ins to checks like Amoonguss and Bellibolt and provide Stealth Rock support. Teammates that can help overload these physical walls, such as Flygon, Flamigo, and Rhyperior, further support Barraskewda's ability to break through. Entry hazard setters such as the previously mentioned Steel- and Ground-types, as well as others like Gligar, Uxie, and Diancie, help Barraskewda break down foes that would otherwise switch in on it such as Galarian Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Amoonguss. Barraskewda also performs extremely well on rain teams, accompanied by setters like Klefki and Tornadus as well as by other wallbreakers like Basculegion-M, Kilowattrel, and Kingdra.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Barraskewda can use Throat Chop to hit Basculegion-M as well as Galarian Slowbro, and it helps against sound move users like Bronzong and Toxtricity. Tera Poison can be used to boost the power of Poison Jab as well, OHKOing physically defensive Sylveon after Stealth Rock chip damage.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-immune Pokemon**: Vaporeon and Toxicroak wall Barraskewda's STAB options and restore HP while doing so. Barraskewda is forced to Tera to 2HKO with Close Combat, and is completely walled if Vaporeon has a relevant Tera type. Toxicroak, however, must be very cautious of Psychic Fangs.
**Grass-types**: Foes like Tsareena, Breloom, and Amoonguss can all resist Barraskewda's Water-type attacks and restore HP in order to do so multiple times, while Breloom can use it as setup fodder. However, all of them are vulnerable to its coverage moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Barraskewda's nonexistent bulk makes it vulnerable to being revenge killed by essentially any Choice Scarf user, such as Flygon, Munkidori, and Chandelure. Furthermore, priority can easily finish it off, such as Toxicroak's Sucker Punch, Flygon's First Impression, and Decidueye's Shadow Sneak.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
Barraskewda thrives in NU as a powerful physical attacker that is also the fastest unboosted Pokemon in the tier, which allows it to act as both a fast, supportive pivot and a speedy wallbreaker. Barraskewda's high base Attack allows it to consistently deal damage with its STAB attacks, and with access to Close Combat and Psychic Fangs, it can even break through Water-immune foes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. In addition, its Speed allows it to revenge kill fast foes such as Kilowattrel, Raikou, and non-Choice Scarf Munkidori. However, Barraskewda can at times rely on prediction, as it requires a Choice Band for certain 2HKOs, such as Tera Fighting Close Combat on Vaporeon and Bellibolt. It can also struggle to run all the moves it needs, generally needing to drop a coverage or STAB move no matter what role it wants to fill. Furthermore, Barraskewda has next to no bulk, and is vulnerable to priority from foes such as Breloom, Flygon, and Decidueye. NU also features several Pokemon that resist Barraskewda's attacks or force it to Tera to secure a KO, such as Amoonguss and Water-immune foes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Flip Turn
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Liquidation / Aqua Jet / Ice Fang
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Aqua Jet / Poison Jab
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Choice Band / Mystic Water
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Flip Turn allows Barraskewda to freely pivot and keep up momentum against foes like Tsareena and Amoonguss. Close Combat with Choice Band and Tera Fighting 2HKOes checks like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. Liquidation is Barraskewda's most spammable STAB move, dealing immense damage to any foe that doesn't resist it. Alternatively, Aqua Jet can revenge kill faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Munkidori and Dragon Dance Flygon, while Ice Fang lets Barraskewda hit Dragon- and Grass-types such as Altaria, Breloom, and Tsareena. Choice Band Psychic Fangs allows Barraskewda to 2HKO Amoonguss, which otherwise walls it, while OHKOing Toxicroa, though Poison Jab can instead be used to hit Fairy- and Grass-types such as Sylveon, Scream Tail, and Tsareena super effectively. Heavy-Duty Boots can provide Barraskewda some additional survivability on teams that don't control entry hazards well as well as allow it to act more freely as a pivot and as speed control. Choice Band, as mentioned before, makes several damage rolls possible, and generally supports Barraskewda's role as a wallbreaker, whereas Mystic Water prevents Barraskewda from being Choice-locked while maintaining some power, but makes the previously mentioned 2HKOs impossible. 168 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Barraskewda to outpace the entire unboosted metagame, including Kilowattrel, Inteleon, and Munkidori. This allows the rest of the EVs to be poured into Barraskewda's HP to aid its role as a supportive but offensive pivot. However, a more offensive spread with maximum Attack and Speed is preferred on wallbreaking Choice Band and Mystic Water sets. On these sets, an Adamant nature can be used for the improved wallbreaking it offers, but a Jolly nature ensures Barraskewda can still outspeed all foes. Tera Water is a viable alternative to Tera Fighting, letting Barraskewda OHKO Flygon and 2HKO Swampert with Liquidation.
Barraskewda, particularly on Choice Band sets, requires teammates that can switch into Water-immune Pokemon like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. Thus, it partners well with teammates like Poison Heal Breloom, Toxicroak, and Galarian Slowbro. Pivoting sets with Heavy-Duty Boots lure in psychical walls like Bellibolt and Amoonguss, and thus pair well with special wallbreakers like Chandelure and Toxtricity. Steel-types such as Bronzong and Copperajah also work as switch-ins to checks like Amoonguss and Bellibolt and provide Stealth Rock support. Teammates that can help overload these physical walls, such as Flygon, Flamigo, and Rhyperior, further support Barraskewda's ability to break through. Entry hazard setters such as the previously mentioned Steel- and Ground-types, as well as others like Gligar, Uxie, and Diancie, help Barraskewda break down foes that would otherwise switch in on it such as Galarian Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Amoonguss. Barraskewda also performs extremely well on rain teams, accompanied by setters like Klefki and Tornadus as well as by other wallbreakers like Basculegion-M, Kilowattrel, and Kingdra.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Barraskewda can use Throat Chop to hit Basculegion-M as well as Galarian Slowbro, and it helps against sound move users like Bronzong and Toxtricity. Tera Poison can be used to boost the power of Poison Jab as well, OHKOing physically defensive Sylveon after Stealth Rock chip damage.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-immune Pokemon**: Vaporeon and Toxicroak wall Barraskewda's STAB options and restore HP while doing so. Barraskewda is forced to Tera to 2HKO with Close Combat, and is completely walled if Vaporeon has a relevant Tera type. Toxicroak, however, must be very cautious of Psychic Fangs.
**Grass-types**: Foes like Tsareena, Breloom, and Amoonguss can all resist Barraskewda's Water-type attacks and restore HP in order to do so multiple times, while Breloom can use it as setup fodder. However, all of them are vulnerable to its coverage moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Barraskewda's nonexistent bulk makes it vulnerable to being revenge killed by essentially any Choice Scarf user, such as Flygon, Munkidori, and Chandelure. Furthermore, priority can easily finish it off, such as Toxicroak's Sucker Punch, Flygon's First Impression, and Decidueye's Shadow Sneak.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
Last edited:
