[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Tera Price Range**: 14-15 points
**Overview**: Annihilape's good bulk, typing, and access to Rage Fist make it a uniquely deadly attacker, capable of using non-lethal attacks from foes to become more immediately threatening. It can make for a great setup sweeper with Bulk Up or fast revenge killer with Choice Scarf, while always having the ability to punish common pivoting moves with Rage Fist's damage boosts. Annihilape also has a uniquely anti-hazard removal profile, as it can both spinblock and discourage the use of Defog from foes with Defiant. However, its only average Attack and Speed means that, without setup or Rage Fist boosts, it can lack the means to immediately threaten foes, and can be taken advantage of itself by faster wallbreakers and disrupters.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Bulky Setup Sweeper**: With Bulk Up and recovery from Drain Punch, these sets aim to stay on the field for a long period of time and force multiple attacks on it to empower Rage Fist. To add to Annihilape's staying power, it can also heavily invest into Special Defense thanks to Bulk Up, while greatly enjoying Terastallization to bolster its defensive profile. Since it can usually rely on the coverage of its STAB moves, utility options like Taunt, Substitute, and Encore are good options to prevent various forms of disruption from impeding Annihilape, or it can use Rest + Chesto Berry to stay healthy and remove status effects.
**Revenge Killer**: Annihilape can utilize a Choice Scarf, along with its powerful STAB moves and coverage, to pick off offensive foes while using U-turn to generate momentum for its team. It can also switch in on weak attacks or pivoting moves to build up Rage Fist damage throughout the match.
**Bulky Utility**: By leveraging its bulk in tandem with its utility movepool, Annihilape can lean into a more supportive role for its team while still wielding Rage Fist as an offensive tool. With either Leftovers or Assault Vest, these sets can defensively check certain foes, such as users of Rapid Spin, and either disrupt them with moves like Taunt and Encore or punish their other attacks with a boosted Rage Fist. Other utility in Stealth Rock and U-turn can gain momentum on opposing switches that are in response to Annihilape.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Rage Fist, Drain Punch, Close Combat
**Setup Moves**: Bulk Up
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Substitute, Encore, Rest, U-turn, Stealth Rock, Sleep Talk, Protect. Brick Break
**Coverage**: Gunk Shot, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Stone Edge, Poison Jab, Fire Punch, Throat Chop, Seed Bomb, Thunder Punch, Acrobatics, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Final Gambit**: Though it usually wants to stay on the field for a longer period of time without immediately trading itself, Annihilape can potentially use Final Gambit as a lead to guarantee a KO on a specific target and immediately get in another teammate.
**Endure**: Endure allows Annihilape to survive a hit and boost Rage Fist, and can also be paired with Salac Berry as a Speed-boosting option.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Since Annihilape aims to stay on the field for a long time on Bulk Up sets, Leftovers are the best option to bolster its longevity, especially when paired with Substitute as well.
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry is paired with Rest on Bulk Up sets as an alternative method of healing, as the immediate health and status recovery can make Annihilape difficult to take down if its already accrued many stat boosts.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf can turn Annihilape into an unexpectedly fast revenge killer, letting it outspeed and pick off nearly all unboosted offensive foes while generating momentum for its team.
Niche Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Items like Spell Tag and Choice Band can supplement Annihilape's initial power in certain matchups.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest helps Annihilape tank special attacks better for easier Rage Fist boosting, at the cost of its setup and utility moves.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry is an alternative to Leftovers that can give a burst of healing in more immediately threatening matchups.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb is a strong option against faster Pokemon with Taunt or Encore so that it gets more opportunities to set up or doesn't get stuck using Bulk Up.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to stave off hazard damage on sets that aim to switch in often during the game for Rage Fist boosting.
**Punching Glove**: Punching Glove allows Annihilape to avoid adverse contact effects primarily on its two most common moves in Rage Fist and Drain Punch while slightly boosting them.
**Focus Sash**: If used as a lead, Focus Sash can ensure Annihilape's survival for a guaranteed boost to Rage Fist, allowing it to KO back the enemy lead.
Tera
========
Annihilape can be a good primary Tera Captain since it greatly benefits from it as an option, but it has notable flaws compared to higher-priced ones, especially its lack of initial damage and mediocre Speed. If made a Tera Captain, Annihilape will primarily use defensive types like Tera Fairy, Water, Steel, and Poison to ease setup on its Bulk Up sets, usually forcing foes to hit it neutrally and allowing more Rage Fist boosts. It can also use Tera Ghost to directly boost its own Rage Fist which can turn it into a dangerous late-game sweeper with Choice items.
Draft Strategy
========
Annihilape primarily acts as a setup sweeper that seeks out passive foes or weaker attacks to boost up on, so it relies on teammates to both handle stronger threats and provide it the opportunities it desires. Outside of sweeping, Annihilape can also provide more minor support to the team itself with its disruptive utility and anti-hazard removal pressure.
**Fast Offensive Pivots**: Fast offensive teammates like Greninja, Darkrai, and Cinderace can provide the speed to a team that Annihilape otherwise lacks and bring it in on the passive walls they usually draw in.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Annihilape appreciates the entry hazards set by the likes of Gliscor and Hisuian Samurott to put extra pressure on opponents that try to play around Rage Fist with switching, while Annihilape can keep said hazards up with its spinblocking and Defog-deterrent capabilities.
**Grounded Poison-types**: Toxic Spikes can greatly hinder the effectiveness of non-Rest Annihilape sets as it almost never wants to run Heavy-Duty Boots, so allies like Galarian Slowking and Fezandipiti are appreciated to easily absorb them as well as handle the Fairy-types Annihilape might struggle against.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physically Defensive Foes**: Bulkier walls like Corviknight, Mandibuzz, and Alomomola, while they usually cannot handle Annihilape by themselves, can easily tank its initial attacks and utilize Rocky Helmet to chip away at it without boosting Rage Fist, while also using slow pivot moves as needed to bring in a more threatening teammate.
**Fast Disruption**: Annihilape's reliance on either setup or initially weak moves can make it vulnerable to Taunt, Encore, or Trick from the likes of Tornadus-T, Iron Valiant, and Scream Tail.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Enamorus, Urshifu-R, and Chi-Yu can blow through Annihilape's bulk with enough prior chip damage.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monkeboi215.582038/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/furyy.529077/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Tera Price Range**: 14-15 points
**Overview**: Annihilape's good bulk, typing, and access to Rage Fist make it a uniquely deadly attacker, capable of using non-lethal attacks from foes to become more immediately threatening. It can make for a great setup sweeper with Bulk Up or fast revenge killer with Choice Scarf, while always having the ability to punish common pivoting moves with Rage Fist's damage boosts. Annihilape also has a uniquely anti-hazard removal profile, as it can both spinblock and discourage the use of Defog from foes with Defiant. However, its only average Attack and Speed means that, without setup or Rage Fist boosts, it can lack the means to immediately threaten foes, and can be taken advantage of itself by faster wallbreakers and disrupters.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Bulky Setup Sweeper**: With Bulk Up and recovery from Drain Punch, these sets aim to stay on the field for a long period of time and force multiple attacks on it to empower Rage Fist. To add to Annihilape's staying power, it can also heavily invest into Special Defense thanks to Bulk Up, while greatly enjoying Terastallization to bolster its defensive profile. Since it can usually rely on the coverage of its STAB moves, utility options like Taunt, Substitute, and Encore are good options to prevent various forms of disruption from impeding Annihilape, or it can use Rest + Chesto Berry to stay healthy and remove status effects.
**Revenge Killer**: Annihilape can utilize a Choice Scarf, along with its powerful STAB moves and coverage, to pick off offensive foes while using U-turn to generate momentum for its team. It can also switch in on weak attacks or pivoting moves to build up Rage Fist damage throughout the match.
**Bulky Utility**: By leveraging its bulk in tandem with its utility movepool, Annihilape can lean into a more supportive role for its team while still wielding Rage Fist as an offensive tool. With either Leftovers or Assault Vest, these sets can defensively check certain foes, such as users of Rapid Spin, and either disrupt them with moves like Taunt and Encore or punish their other attacks with a boosted Rage Fist. Other utility in Stealth Rock and U-turn can gain momentum on opposing switches that are in response to Annihilape.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Rage Fist, Drain Punch, Close Combat
**Setup Moves**: Bulk Up
**Utility Moves**: Taunt, Substitute, Encore, Rest, U-turn, Stealth Rock, Sleep Talk, Protect. Brick Break
**Coverage**: Gunk Shot, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Stone Edge, Poison Jab, Fire Punch, Throat Chop, Seed Bomb, Thunder Punch, Acrobatics, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Final Gambit**: Though it usually wants to stay on the field for a longer period of time without immediately trading itself, Annihilape can potentially use Final Gambit as a lead to guarantee a KO on a specific target and immediately get in another teammate.
**Endure**: Endure allows Annihilape to survive a hit and boost Rage Fist, and can also be paired with Salac Berry as a Speed-boosting option.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Since Annihilape aims to stay on the field for a long time on Bulk Up sets, Leftovers are the best option to bolster its longevity, especially when paired with Substitute as well.
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry is paired with Rest on Bulk Up sets as an alternative method of healing, as the immediate health and status recovery can make Annihilape difficult to take down if its already accrued many stat boosts.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf can turn Annihilape into an unexpectedly fast revenge killer, letting it outspeed and pick off nearly all unboosted offensive foes while generating momentum for its team.
Niche Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Items like Spell Tag and Choice Band can supplement Annihilape's initial power in certain matchups.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest helps Annihilape tank special attacks better for easier Rage Fist boosting, at the cost of its setup and utility moves.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry is an alternative to Leftovers that can give a burst of healing in more immediately threatening matchups.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb is a strong option against faster Pokemon with Taunt or Encore so that it gets more opportunities to set up or doesn't get stuck using Bulk Up.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to stave off hazard damage on sets that aim to switch in often during the game for Rage Fist boosting.
**Punching Glove**: Punching Glove allows Annihilape to avoid adverse contact effects primarily on its two most common moves in Rage Fist and Drain Punch while slightly boosting them.
**Focus Sash**: If used as a lead, Focus Sash can ensure Annihilape's survival for a guaranteed boost to Rage Fist, allowing it to KO back the enemy lead.
Tera
========
Annihilape can be a good primary Tera Captain since it greatly benefits from it as an option, but it has notable flaws compared to higher-priced ones, especially its lack of initial damage and mediocre Speed. If made a Tera Captain, Annihilape will primarily use defensive types like Tera Fairy, Water, Steel, and Poison to ease setup on its Bulk Up sets, usually forcing foes to hit it neutrally and allowing more Rage Fist boosts. It can also use Tera Ghost to directly boost its own Rage Fist which can turn it into a dangerous late-game sweeper with Choice items.
Draft Strategy
========
Annihilape primarily acts as a setup sweeper that seeks out passive foes or weaker attacks to boost up on, so it relies on teammates to both handle stronger threats and provide it the opportunities it desires. Outside of sweeping, Annihilape can also provide more minor support to the team itself with its disruptive utility and anti-hazard removal pressure.
**Fast Offensive Pivots**: Fast offensive teammates like Greninja, Darkrai, and Cinderace can provide the speed to a team that Annihilape otherwise lacks and bring it in on the passive walls they usually draw in.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Annihilape appreciates the entry hazards set by the likes of Gliscor and Hisuian Samurott to put extra pressure on opponents that try to play around Rage Fist with switching, while Annihilape can keep said hazards up with its spinblocking and Defog-deterrent capabilities.
**Grounded Poison-types**: Toxic Spikes can greatly hinder the effectiveness of non-Rest Annihilape sets as it almost never wants to run Heavy-Duty Boots, so allies like Galarian Slowking and Fezandipiti are appreciated to easily absorb them as well as handle the Fairy-types Annihilape might struggle against.
Checks and Counters
========
**Physically Defensive Foes**: Bulkier walls like Corviknight, Mandibuzz, and Alomomola, while they usually cannot handle Annihilape by themselves, can easily tank its initial attacks and utilize Rocky Helmet to chip away at it without boosting Rage Fist, while also using slow pivot moves as needed to bring in a more threatening teammate.
**Fast Disruption**: Annihilape's reliance on either setup or initially weak moves can make it vulnerable to Taunt, Encore, or Trick from the likes of Tornadus-T, Iron Valiant, and Scream Tail.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Enamorus, Urshifu-R, and Chi-Yu can blow through Annihilape's bulk with enough prior chip damage.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monkeboi215.582038/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/furyy.529077/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
