[OVERVIEW]
* Rotom-W, once one of the top dogs of VGC in years prior, has rather fallen from grace. The introduction of Z-Moves and Island Guardians have made Rotom-W's already somewhat mediocre bulk more noticeable, and Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain has made Rotom-W's support moveset less useful.
* However, Rotom-W still has a great typing with only one weakness, Grass, and a myriad of resistances; its ability also grants it an immunity to Ground.
* Rotom-W is no slouch offensively either; Water and Electric coverage backed by 105 Special Attack hits many popular Pokemon for super effective damage.
* Rotom-W faces stiff competition as a bulky Water-type with Tapu Fini, and as an Electric-type with Zapdos, both of which are overall better at their jobs. This can make it difficult to justify the use of Rotom-W on a team.
* Rotom-W’s only Water-type move is Hydro Pump, which relies on an iffy 80% accuracy to hit.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Electroweb
move 4: Protect
item: Wiki Berry / Sitrus Berry / Waterium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 60 SpA / 148 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Hydro Pump is essential to all Rotom-W movesets, as it is Rotom-W's only Water-type move.
* Thunderbolt is a reliable Electric-type STAB move with decent power.
* Will-O-Wisp is great for crippling the many physical attackers in this metagame, but the introduction of Tapu Fini and its Misty Surge ability has made this unreliable.
* Electroweb is a great option for speed control, offering accuracy and efficacy under Misty Terrain over Thunder Wave.
* Protect is always very useful in VGC, as it allows stalling through weather and terrains, as well as capitalizing on double targets by allowing Rotom-W’s partner to take out a threat while it defends itself.
* Wiki Berry greatly extends Rotom-W’s longevity by providing a one-time HP boost. Alternatively, Sitrus Berry could be used for its far greater window of activation.
* Waterium Z is great for upping Rotom-W’s offensive presence with a reliable, powerful, 100% accurate move, but its use is best relegated to a Pokemon that can utilize it more.
* The defensive nature and EVs let Rotom-W survive a multitude of powerful attacks, including Jolly Mega Metagross' Zen Headbutt in Psychic Terrain, an Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Double Edge, -1 Adamant Kartana's Leaf Blade, and -1 Adamant Tapu Bulu's Horn Leech. It also ensures that Rotom-W avoids a 2HKO by Jolly Tyranitar's Rock Slide with sandstorm damage, an OHKO by Timid Mega Charizard Y’s Solar Beam in sun, and a 2HKO by 252 Atk Incineroar Darkest Lariat. The rest is dumped in Special Attack, with the one point leftover put in Speed.
*If running Electroweb, an alternate spread is 252 HP / 44 Def / 52 SpA / 60 SpD / 100 Spe with a Modest nature. This outspeeds base 110s after they're hit with Electroweb and 2HKOes both 252 HP / 100 SpD Assault Vest Incineroar and 252 HP Milotic, at the cost of fainting to Mega Charizard Y’s Solar Beam. The rest is dumped in Special Defence.
*Rotom-W is very flexible when it comes to EVs; adjust them to suit your team.
*Assault Vest is another viable item, especially since Tapu Fini was introduced. For Assault Vest Rotom-W, a set of Electroweb, Hydro Pump, Thunderbolt, and Volt Switch is recommended.
*Reflect is a good alternative to Will-O-Wisp, if your team is really struggling with Tapu Fini.
*Ally Switch can be used in place of Protect, as Rotom-W has an incredibly useful typing that allows it to utilize Ally Switch well. It also has the potential to catch your opponents off guard, as Ally Switch is relatively uncommon.
*Use Rotom-W as a straightforward pivot. Switch it in on resisted attacks and start attacking, or force the opponent to switch through its typing.
*Many Pokemon pair well with Rotom-W. Landorus-T is a great partner, as Rotom-W handily removes Flying- and Water-types and is immune to its Earthquake. Steel-types like Metagross and Ferrothorn also appreciate Rotom-W, as it handles Fire- and Ground-types easily. Fire-types can deal with Rotom-W’s only weakness, Grass, and appreciate the annihalation of Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types.
*When running Will-O-Wisp an Island Guardian on your team other than Tapu Fini is necessary to remove Misty Terrain, which denies Rotom-W’s ability to burn.
* Rotom-W, once one of the top dogs of VGC in years prior, has rather fallen from grace. The introduction of Z-Moves and Island Guardians have made Rotom-W's already somewhat mediocre bulk more noticeable, and Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain has made Rotom-W's support moveset less useful.
* However, Rotom-W still has a great typing with only one weakness, Grass, and a myriad of resistances; its ability also grants it an immunity to Ground.
* Rotom-W is no slouch offensively either; Water and Electric coverage backed by 105 Special Attack hits many popular Pokemon for super effective damage.
* Rotom-W faces stiff competition as a bulky Water-type with Tapu Fini, and as an Electric-type with Zapdos, both of which are overall better at their jobs. This can make it difficult to justify the use of Rotom-W on a team.
* Rotom-W’s only Water-type move is Hydro Pump, which relies on an iffy 80% accuracy to hit.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Electroweb
move 4: Protect
item: Wiki Berry / Sitrus Berry / Waterium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 60 SpA / 148 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Hydro Pump is essential to all Rotom-W movesets, as it is Rotom-W's only Water-type move.
* Thunderbolt is a reliable Electric-type STAB move with decent power.
* Will-O-Wisp is great for crippling the many physical attackers in this metagame, but the introduction of Tapu Fini and its Misty Surge ability has made this unreliable.
* Electroweb is a great option for speed control, offering accuracy and efficacy under Misty Terrain over Thunder Wave.
* Protect is always very useful in VGC, as it allows stalling through weather and terrains, as well as capitalizing on double targets by allowing Rotom-W’s partner to take out a threat while it defends itself.
* Wiki Berry greatly extends Rotom-W’s longevity by providing a one-time HP boost. Alternatively, Sitrus Berry could be used for its far greater window of activation.
* Waterium Z is great for upping Rotom-W’s offensive presence with a reliable, powerful, 100% accurate move, but its use is best relegated to a Pokemon that can utilize it more.
* The defensive nature and EVs let Rotom-W survive a multitude of powerful attacks, including Jolly Mega Metagross' Zen Headbutt in Psychic Terrain, an Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Double Edge, -1 Adamant Kartana's Leaf Blade, and -1 Adamant Tapu Bulu's Horn Leech. It also ensures that Rotom-W avoids a 2HKO by Jolly Tyranitar's Rock Slide with sandstorm damage, an OHKO by Timid Mega Charizard Y’s Solar Beam in sun, and a 2HKO by 252 Atk Incineroar Darkest Lariat. The rest is dumped in Special Attack, with the one point leftover put in Speed.
*If running Electroweb, an alternate spread is 252 HP / 44 Def / 52 SpA / 60 SpD / 100 Spe with a Modest nature. This outspeeds base 110s after they're hit with Electroweb and 2HKOes both 252 HP / 100 SpD Assault Vest Incineroar and 252 HP Milotic, at the cost of fainting to Mega Charizard Y’s Solar Beam. The rest is dumped in Special Defence.
*Rotom-W is very flexible when it comes to EVs; adjust them to suit your team.
*Assault Vest is another viable item, especially since Tapu Fini was introduced. For Assault Vest Rotom-W, a set of Electroweb, Hydro Pump, Thunderbolt, and Volt Switch is recommended.
*Reflect is a good alternative to Will-O-Wisp, if your team is really struggling with Tapu Fini.
*Ally Switch can be used in place of Protect, as Rotom-W has an incredibly useful typing that allows it to utilize Ally Switch well. It also has the potential to catch your opponents off guard, as Ally Switch is relatively uncommon.
*Use Rotom-W as a straightforward pivot. Switch it in on resisted attacks and start attacking, or force the opponent to switch through its typing.
*Many Pokemon pair well with Rotom-W. Landorus-T is a great partner, as Rotom-W handily removes Flying- and Water-types and is immune to its Earthquake. Steel-types like Metagross and Ferrothorn also appreciate Rotom-W, as it handles Fire- and Ground-types easily. Fire-types can deal with Rotom-W’s only weakness, Grass, and appreciate the annihalation of Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types.
*When running Will-O-Wisp an Island Guardian on your team other than Tapu Fini is necessary to remove Misty Terrain, which denies Rotom-W’s ability to burn.
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