[OVERVIEW]
Absol is an effective wallbreaker because it's incredibly strong and has great coverage; very little can safely switch into it. Furthermore, unlike other wallbreakers with a somewhat average Speed tier, Absol's access to Sucker Punch gives it extra security against frail revenge killers like Salazzle, Heliolisk, and Starmie. Defensively, though, Absol offers very little despite its typing being passable; it just lacks the bulk to make use of its resistances to Ghost and Dark as much as its main competition in Guzzlord, which is much bulkier and has an even better defensive typing. As a result, Absol also struggles getting into battle without aggressive play and pivot support, limiting the amount of chances it has to wallbreak. Absol also can have a rough time dealing with foes like Diancie, Sylveon, and Mudsdale if it lacks the proper coverage move or chance to set up.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Iron Tail / Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Super Luck
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Absol has perfect coverage if it opts for Iron Tail; without it, Fairy-types like Diancie and Sylveon can generally answer it throughout a game. However, Swords Dance is still a great alternative that gives Absol more late-game potential and can severely limit offensive answers to it with the threat of +2 Sucker Punch. Do note, though, that because of how fragile Absol is, Iron Tail's miss chance is even more punishing and it's very hard to find good setup opportunities with Swords Dance. A Jolly nature is usually advised so Absol always outpaces Decidueye and Sirfetch'd, but Adamant lets it always OHKO Heliolisk with Sucker Punch and lowers the amount of chip damage necessary to secure a KO against other revenge killers like Salazzle.
Because of Absol's poor defenses, it greatly appreciates the support of pivots to get it in safely. Dragalge, Talonflame, and Rotom-C are some of the best available; Dragalge's slow Flip Turn is particularly nice for guaranteeing safe entry, and it as well as Talonflame both help handle Sylveon for Absol. Additionally, Dragalge and Rotom-C are great at getting Absol in against Bronzong and Guzzlord, respectively. Absol's ability to force damage onto Fairy-types works well alongside late-game cleaners like Ninjask and Choice Scarf Passimian, with all of these options also supplying Absol with pivot support. If using Swords Dance, consider running Absol on a hyper offense dual screens team with Xatu or Espeon to provide it with safer setup opportunities.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Psycho Cut has good synergy with Super Luck and targets Toxicroak as well as other Fighting-types that may try pivoting into Knock Off, although Iron Tail is a vastly superior option if you desire more coverage. Focus Sash on dual screens teams works to guarantee Absol a Swords Dance boost. Choice Band sets cannot switch between moves but have great raw power and lack the constant chip damage of Life Orb.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fighting-types**: Toxicroak is one of the better offensive checks to Absol because it resists Dark and Fighting and easily dispatches Absol with Drain Punch. Other Fighting-types like Sirfetch'd, Machamp, and Passimian can deal with Absol too, with the former also having First Impression to avoid sustaining major damage from Absol, but they're much more vulnerable to Close Combat.
**Physical Walls**: Mudsdale has the raw bulk to take multiple attacks from Absol and beat it one-on-one with Earthquake. Vileplume is a shakier answer, needing to be at full health to contend with Absol, but can take two Knock Offs and recover health back with Strength Sap. Arcanine detests losing its Heavy-Duty Boots, but its bulk combined with Intimidate lets it easily wall Absol.
**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Diancie are both good Knock Off switch-ins that threaten to KO Absol with their STAB attacks. Iron Tail heavily pressures both, though, and even Swords Dance Absol variants can still heavily dent Diancie with Close Combat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074], [Finchinator, 114198]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
Absol is an effective wallbreaker because it's incredibly strong and has great coverage; very little can safely switch into it. Furthermore, unlike other wallbreakers with a somewhat average Speed tier, Absol's access to Sucker Punch gives it extra security against frail revenge killers like Salazzle, Heliolisk, and Starmie. Defensively, though, Absol offers very little despite its typing being passable; it just lacks the bulk to make use of its resistances to Ghost and Dark as much as its main competition in Guzzlord, which is much bulkier and has an even better defensive typing. As a result, Absol also struggles getting into battle without aggressive play and pivot support, limiting the amount of chances it has to wallbreak. Absol also can have a rough time dealing with foes like Diancie, Sylveon, and Mudsdale if it lacks the proper coverage move or chance to set up.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Iron Tail / Swords Dance
item: Life Orb
ability: Super Luck
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Absol has perfect coverage if it opts for Iron Tail; without it, Fairy-types like Diancie and Sylveon can generally answer it throughout a game. However, Swords Dance is still a great alternative that gives Absol more late-game potential and can severely limit offensive answers to it with the threat of +2 Sucker Punch. Do note, though, that because of how fragile Absol is, Iron Tail's miss chance is even more punishing and it's very hard to find good setup opportunities with Swords Dance. A Jolly nature is usually advised so Absol always outpaces Decidueye and Sirfetch'd, but Adamant lets it always OHKO Heliolisk with Sucker Punch and lowers the amount of chip damage necessary to secure a KO against other revenge killers like Salazzle.
Because of Absol's poor defenses, it greatly appreciates the support of pivots to get it in safely. Dragalge, Talonflame, and Rotom-C are some of the best available; Dragalge's slow Flip Turn is particularly nice for guaranteeing safe entry, and it as well as Talonflame both help handle Sylveon for Absol. Additionally, Dragalge and Rotom-C are great at getting Absol in against Bronzong and Guzzlord, respectively. Absol's ability to force damage onto Fairy-types works well alongside late-game cleaners like Ninjask and Choice Scarf Passimian, with all of these options also supplying Absol with pivot support. If using Swords Dance, consider running Absol on a hyper offense dual screens team with Xatu or Espeon to provide it with safer setup opportunities.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Psycho Cut has good synergy with Super Luck and targets Toxicroak as well as other Fighting-types that may try pivoting into Knock Off, although Iron Tail is a vastly superior option if you desire more coverage. Focus Sash on dual screens teams works to guarantee Absol a Swords Dance boost. Choice Band sets cannot switch between moves but have great raw power and lack the constant chip damage of Life Orb.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fighting-types**: Toxicroak is one of the better offensive checks to Absol because it resists Dark and Fighting and easily dispatches Absol with Drain Punch. Other Fighting-types like Sirfetch'd, Machamp, and Passimian can deal with Absol too, with the former also having First Impression to avoid sustaining major damage from Absol, but they're much more vulnerable to Close Combat.
**Physical Walls**: Mudsdale has the raw bulk to take multiple attacks from Absol and beat it one-on-one with Earthquake. Vileplume is a shakier answer, needing to be at full health to contend with Absol, but can take two Knock Offs and recover health back with Strength Sap. Arcanine detests losing its Heavy-Duty Boots, but its bulk combined with Intimidate lets it easily wall Absol.
**Fairy-types**: Sylveon and Diancie are both good Knock Off switch-ins that threaten to KO Absol with their STAB attacks. Iron Tail heavily pressures both, though, and even Swords Dance Absol variants can still heavily dent Diancie with Close Combat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074], [Finchinator, 114198]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
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