http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/abomasnow
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Wood Hammer
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Focus Punch / Brick Break
item: Choice Band
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Adamant
evs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Give Abomasnow a Choice Band and it reaches its maximum offensive potential. This set lures in and defeats opposing weather inducers and common Abomasnow switch-ins. Wood Hammer OHKOes specially defensive Tyranitar and physically defensive Politoed while 2HKOing any Hippowdon. Earthquake OHKOes 252 HP / 0 Def Ninetales with ease, destroys Heatran, and deals 69.8% - 82.7% to specially defensive Jirachi. This set is a great addition to hail teams, as they often fail to get past these threats if they use Kyurem as their main attacker. As all these Pokemon have little to fear from other Abomasnow sets, Abomasnow can frequently lure them in and take them out. Abomasnow can also work as an excellent revenge killer with Ice Shard, as STAB Ice-type priority is excellent in a metagame filled with offensive Dragon-types such as Dragonite and Salamence. Abomasnow gets enough coverage with Wood Hammer, Ice Shard, and Earthquake; as such, it doesn't regularly use its fourth move. Focus Punch, however, is still usable in certain situations; it KOes Air Balloon Heatran hoping to switch into an Earthquake and eliminates Tyranitar without forcing Abomasnow to take recoil from Wood Hammer. It also OHKOes Blissey, and even Chansey falls after Stealth Rock and hail damage. Because decent prediction skills are needed to use Focus Punch effectively, Brick Break is a viable alternative even though the loss in power is considerable.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Abomasnow's Attack is maximized so that it can hit as hard as possible, and 84 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed minimum Speed Politoed and Tyranitar. The remaining 172 EVs are placed into HP to provide extra bulk and offset Wood Hammer's recoil. An alternative EV spread of 118 HP / 252 Atk / 140 Spe allows Abomasnow to outspeed minimum Speed Heatran. There are a few other moves Abomasnow can use in the last slot, but before considering them, be aware of the benefits of Focus Punch:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Focus Punch vs. 252/88+ Ferrothorn 80.7% - 95.5%</li>
<li>Focus Punch vs. 248/0 Scizor 61.8% - 72.9%</li>
<li>Focus Punch vs. 252/252+ Skarmory 36.2% - 42.8%</li>
<li>Focus Punch vs. 252/252+ Forretress 33.9% - 40.1%</li>
<li>Focus Punch vs. 252/252+ Bronzong 40.8% - 48.2%</li>
</ul>
<p>Ice Punch is more powerful than Ice Shard, but Abomasnow's low Speed stat means that Ice Shard is usually the better choice. Avalanche has -4 priority, but it gives Abomasnow a 120 Base Power move if attacked by the foe; then again, Abomasnow should not take hits if it can avoid them. Seed Bomb is weaker than Wood Hammer, but it lacks recoil damage and can still 2HKO Blissey and Hippowdon after Stealth Rock. Hidden Power Fire can be used to deal heavy damage to physically defensive Steel-types such as Forretress, which can take all of Abomasnow's physical moves. Use a Lonely nature and transfer 4 EVs from HP into Speed if Abomasnow decides to go mixed. However, Hidden Power Fire will be weak without Special Attack investment, and it is a bad move to be locked into. Finally, Rock Slide is a niche option to destroy incoming Volcarona.</p>
<p>Steel-types are at the top of Abomasnow's list of counters. Scizor is particularly dangerous, as it can switch in on Wood Hammer or Ice Shard and threaten to KO with Bullet Punch or U-turn. Forretress, Skarmory, and Bronzong also have an easy time against Abomasnow as they are not 2HKOed by any of its moves. Therefore, Magnezone is an excellent teammate because it can trap and KO these Pokemon with Hidden Power Fire. Faster Pokemon with Fire- and Fighting-type moves can KO Abomasnow with ease if they can safely switch in; Infernape, Terrakion, and Mienshao are just some of the full stops to Abomasnow. Slowbro and Reuniclus make good teammates as they can take on these Fighting-types. Gyarados is also an excellent choice to tank Fire- and Fighting-type moves directed at Abomasnow, but it brings another Rock-type weakness. Residual damage is also a major problem for Abomasnow, as it will receive recoil from Wood Hammer and has a weakness to Stealth Rock. Furthermore, it is vulnerable to Spikes and Toxic Spikes and does not have Leftovers to restore its HP. Abomasnow thus appreciates Rapid Spin and Wish support. Tentacruel can spin entry hazards away, has excellent defensive synergy with Abomasnow, and is a great check to Scizor. It can also lay Toxic Spikes to help weaken the opponent's offensive Pokemon to the point where Abomasnow can take them out with Ice Shard. Vaporeon is a great Wish passer due to its high HP and bulk, and Abomasnow is able to switch in on the Grass- and Electric-type attacks that Vaporeon is weak to in order to receive the Wish. Lastly, Heatran can take most of the special attacks aimed at Abomasnow and lay down Stealth Rock to rack up more residual damage on the opponent's Pokemon.</p>