[SET]
Swords Dance (Baxcalibur) @ Clear Amulet
Ability: Thermal Exchange / Ice Body
Tera Type: Ghost / Electric
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Glaive Rush
- Ice Shard
- Swords Dance
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
- Swords Dance Baxcalibur is built to withstand hits, set up, and sweep through teams using its STAB attacks. Clear Amulet ensures that its offensive presence isn't hindered by physical damage reduction like Incineroar's Intimidate and Parting Shot or Gouging Fire and Roaring Moon's Breaking Swipe.
- Maximum HP investment allows Baxcalibur to almost always survive a Make It Rain from Gholdengo. In Aurora Veil, it lives Draco Meteor from Kyurem and almost always withstands two Drain Punches from Iron Hands.
- Ice Shard gives this slower Baxcalibur a priority option to finish off weakened foes. It also synergizes well with Glaive Rush, as using Ice Shard immediately after removes the defensive drawback. Additionally, it lets Baxcalibur lock itself into an attack after setting up to avoid being punished by Encore users such as Alolan Ninetales.
- Thermal Exchange is ideal for a physically-oriented setup Pokemon like Baxcalibur, preventing it from getting burned by moves like Incineroar's Will-O-Wisp. Thermal Exchange also deters Fire-type attacks such as Ogerpon-H's Ivy Cudgel. Ice Body is an alternative option to boost its longevity, but it should only be used alongside an ally Alolan Ninetales to ensure Snow is consistently set.
- Tera Ghost gives Baxcalibur useful neutralities to Dragon- and Fairy-type moves, but more importantly, it grants an immunity to Fake Out, often letting it set up for an extra turn, as well as to Fighting-type attacks, which helps against threats like Iron Hands and Okidogi. Alternatively, Tera Electric offers neutralities to otherwise threatening Fighting-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks while giving Baxcalibur a crucial resistance to Steel-type attacks, improving its matchup against Pokemon like Gholdengo and Iron Crown.
- Swords Dance Baxcalibur aims to capitalize on openings created by teammates to set up and tear through teams at any stage of the game. After one Swords Dance, Baxcalibur has a high chance to OHKO uninvested Iron Hands with Glaive Rush and offensive Tornadus with Ice Shard.
- Regardless of its ability choice, Baxcalibur greatly benefits from Alolan Ninetales's support. Snow Warning provides a Defense boost, and Aurora Veil makes it even harder to remove, giving Baxcalibur the time it needs to set up and sweep. Teammates with Fake Out and pivoting moves such as Incineroar and Rillaboom can cycle in and out to help Baxcalibur safely click Swords Dance without being threatened.
- Because this set relies primarily on Glaive Rush, Baxcalibur appreciates teammates that can handle the common Steel- and Fairy-types, namely Gholdengo, Iron Crown, Alolan Ninetales, and Diancie. Landorus is one of the best partners for this, pressuring Steel-types with its Ground moves and Fairy-types with Sludge Bomb. Gholdengo also helps by threatening Fairy-types with Make It Rain while resisting both of Iron Crown's STAB moves and retaliating with Shadow Ball.
- Ogerpon-H also threatens the aforementioned Steel-types with Ivy Cudgel while providing redirection with Follow Me, allowing Baxcalibur to safely set up.
- Due to its middling Speed, Baxcalibur appreciates Tornadus as a partner to provide Tailwind and Icy Wind speed control, increasing its sweeping potential by allowing it to outspeed most of the metagame and fire off powerful Glaive Rushes.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/code.646416/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/waffle2o2o.509849/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/logice.617069/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Swords Dance (Baxcalibur) @ Clear Amulet
Ability: Thermal Exchange / Ice Body
Tera Type: Ghost / Electric
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Glaive Rush
- Ice Shard
- Swords Dance
- Protect
[SET COMMENTS]
- Swords Dance Baxcalibur is built to withstand hits, set up, and sweep through teams using its STAB attacks. Clear Amulet ensures that its offensive presence isn't hindered by physical damage reduction like Incineroar's Intimidate and Parting Shot or Gouging Fire and Roaring Moon's Breaking Swipe.
- Maximum HP investment allows Baxcalibur to almost always survive a Make It Rain from Gholdengo. In Aurora Veil, it lives Draco Meteor from Kyurem and almost always withstands two Drain Punches from Iron Hands.
- Ice Shard gives this slower Baxcalibur a priority option to finish off weakened foes. It also synergizes well with Glaive Rush, as using Ice Shard immediately after removes the defensive drawback. Additionally, it lets Baxcalibur lock itself into an attack after setting up to avoid being punished by Encore users such as Alolan Ninetales.
- Thermal Exchange is ideal for a physically-oriented setup Pokemon like Baxcalibur, preventing it from getting burned by moves like Incineroar's Will-O-Wisp. Thermal Exchange also deters Fire-type attacks such as Ogerpon-H's Ivy Cudgel. Ice Body is an alternative option to boost its longevity, but it should only be used alongside an ally Alolan Ninetales to ensure Snow is consistently set.
- Tera Ghost gives Baxcalibur useful neutralities to Dragon- and Fairy-type moves, but more importantly, it grants an immunity to Fake Out, often letting it set up for an extra turn, as well as to Fighting-type attacks, which helps against threats like Iron Hands and Okidogi. Alternatively, Tera Electric offers neutralities to otherwise threatening Fighting-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks while giving Baxcalibur a crucial resistance to Steel-type attacks, improving its matchup against Pokemon like Gholdengo and Iron Crown.
- Swords Dance Baxcalibur aims to capitalize on openings created by teammates to set up and tear through teams at any stage of the game. After one Swords Dance, Baxcalibur has a high chance to OHKO uninvested Iron Hands with Glaive Rush and offensive Tornadus with Ice Shard.
- Regardless of its ability choice, Baxcalibur greatly benefits from Alolan Ninetales's support. Snow Warning provides a Defense boost, and Aurora Veil makes it even harder to remove, giving Baxcalibur the time it needs to set up and sweep. Teammates with Fake Out and pivoting moves such as Incineroar and Rillaboom can cycle in and out to help Baxcalibur safely click Swords Dance without being threatened.
- Because this set relies primarily on Glaive Rush, Baxcalibur appreciates teammates that can handle the common Steel- and Fairy-types, namely Gholdengo, Iron Crown, Alolan Ninetales, and Diancie. Landorus is one of the best partners for this, pressuring Steel-types with its Ground moves and Fairy-types with Sludge Bomb. Gholdengo also helps by threatening Fairy-types with Make It Rain while resisting both of Iron Crown's STAB moves and retaliating with Shadow Ball.
- Ogerpon-H also threatens the aforementioned Steel-types with Ivy Cudgel while providing redirection with Follow Me, allowing Baxcalibur to safely set up.
- Due to its middling Speed, Baxcalibur appreciates Tornadus as a partner to provide Tailwind and Icy Wind speed control, increasing its sweeping potential by allowing it to outspeed most of the metagame and fire off powerful Glaive Rushes.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/code.646416/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/waffle2o2o.509849/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/logice.617069/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
