[SET]
Choice Band (Aipom) @ Choice Band
Ability: Run Away
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Double-Edge
- Brick Break
- Baton Pass
- Return
[SET COMMENTS]
Aipom's high Speed and Attack make it a potent wallbreaker with Choice Band and Double-Edge. Brick Break targets Rock-types such as Corsola and Rhyhorn, as well as hitting Magnemite. Baton Pass lets Aipom pivot out, easing prediction against foes likely to switch out against it. Return provides a powerful hit without costing Aipom's HP, but its lower power matters in some matchups, such as it failing to 2HKO physically bulky variants of Gloom and Koffing. Both of Aipom's abilities are useless; it does not matter which is chosen.
Aipom best fits on offensive and balance teams looking for a potent wallbreaker, something helped by the lack of viable Pokemon that resist Normal-type moves. The ability to remove physical and special walls and tanks such as Koffing, Noctowl, and Flaaffy makes it a great partner for offensive teammates such as Elekid, Ponyta, and Gloom. Calm Mind Corsola is Aipom's hardest counter, taking minimal damage from Double-Edge and failing to be 2HKOed by Brick Break. Grass-types such as Tropius and Gloom can break through Corsola before it accumulates too many boosts, though they must watch out for Ice Beam. Powerful wallbreakers such as Clamperl and Cubone can break through Aipom's defensive checks like Corsola, Rhyhorn, and Lileep, while it in return provides them with the means to switch in with Baton Pass. Toxic users such as Porygon can also cripple these foes, limiting their ability to check Aipom. Aipom struggles with faster Pokemon such as Ponyta and Abra, making bulky Pokemon such as Mightyena and Tropius good teammates. Choice Band Aipom can be used as a lead, providing instant power against opposing leads and the ability to pivot out of bad matchups and predicted switches using Baton Pass.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Punch on Choice Band sets provides a stronger hit against Rock- and Steel-types, but it fails to OHKO Calm Mind Corsola, is extremely prediction-reliant, and can be exploited by foes after Aipom gets a KO. Aipom has a variety of utility options such as Taunt, Toxic, and Thunder Wave, butAipom's its frailty makes it outclassed at using these moves. Shadow Ball provides Aipom with the means to threaten Shuppet, but its rarity makes Shadow Ball generally not worth using.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Corsola and the rare Lileep take minimal damage from Aipom's STAB moves, aren't 2HKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Brick Break, and can heal off damage with Recover, making them Aipom's hardest check. Rhyhorn lacks reliable recovery, but it can easily tank Aipom's STAB moves and threaten it and its team with heavy damage in return.
**Faster Foes**: While they are usually OHKOed back, faster foes such as Abra and Ponyta can easily revenge kill Aipom after it has taken the smallest amount of chip damage. Weather sweepers, such as Gloom, can easily OHKO Aipom when their favored weather is active, though they usually take heavy damage or are OHKOed outright by Aipom's attacks.
**Shuppet**: Since Aipom usually only runs Normal- and Fighting-type attacking moves, it cannot damage Shuppet at all.
**Magnemite**: With its resistance to Normal, Magnemite can tank Aipom's STAB moves and threaten it and its team with heavy damage and status, though it cannot switch into even resisted Choice Band-boosted Normal-type attacks and must be wary of Aipom's Fighting-type coverage.
**Tropius**: Offensive variants of Tropius can easily tank even a Choice Band-boosted Double-Edge and threaten heavy damage in return, notably with Tropius able to set up sun to outspeed Aipom next turn. Defensive variants of Tropius are bulky enough to not even be 2HKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Double-Edge, letting it wall Aipom.
**Status**: Being burned completely ruins Aipom, preventing it from meaningfully damaging most foes. Paralysis is similar, making Aipom easy to KO due to its frailty. While Toxic doesn't immediately stop Aipom, it tends to be worn down very quickly by poison damage and Double-Edge recoil.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Choice Band (Aipom) @ Choice Band
Ability: Run Away
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Double-Edge
- Brick Break
- Baton Pass
- Return
[SET COMMENTS]
Aipom's high Speed and Attack make it a potent wallbreaker with Choice Band and Double-Edge. Brick Break targets Rock-types such as Corsola and Rhyhorn, as well as hitting Magnemite. Baton Pass lets Aipom pivot out, easing prediction against foes likely to switch out against it. Return provides a powerful hit without costing Aipom's HP, but its lower power matters in some matchups, such as it failing to 2HKO physically bulky variants of Gloom and Koffing. Both of Aipom's abilities are useless; it does not matter which is chosen.
Aipom best fits on offensive and balance teams looking for a potent wallbreaker, something helped by the lack of viable Pokemon that resist Normal-type moves. The ability to remove physical and special walls and tanks such as Koffing, Noctowl, and Flaaffy makes it a great partner for offensive teammates such as Elekid, Ponyta, and Gloom. Calm Mind Corsola is Aipom's hardest counter, taking minimal damage from Double-Edge and failing to be 2HKOed by Brick Break. Grass-types such as Tropius and Gloom can break through Corsola before it accumulates too many boosts, though they must watch out for Ice Beam. Powerful wallbreakers such as Clamperl and Cubone can break through Aipom's defensive checks like Corsola, Rhyhorn, and Lileep, while it in return provides them with the means to switch in with Baton Pass. Toxic users such as Porygon can also cripple these foes, limiting their ability to check Aipom. Aipom struggles with faster Pokemon such as Ponyta and Abra, making bulky Pokemon such as Mightyena and Tropius good teammates. Choice Band Aipom can be used as a lead, providing instant power against opposing leads and the ability to pivot out of bad matchups and predicted switches using Baton Pass.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Punch on Choice Band sets provides a stronger hit against Rock- and Steel-types, but it fails to OHKO Calm Mind Corsola, is extremely prediction-reliant, and can be exploited by foes after Aipom gets a KO. Aipom has a variety of utility options such as Taunt, Toxic, and Thunder Wave, but
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Corsola and the rare Lileep take minimal damage from Aipom's STAB moves, aren't 2HKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Brick Break, and can heal off damage with Recover, making them Aipom's hardest check. Rhyhorn lacks reliable recovery, but it can easily tank Aipom's STAB moves and threaten it and its team with heavy damage in return.
**Faster Foes**: While they are usually OHKOed back, faster foes such as Abra and Ponyta can easily revenge kill Aipom after it has taken the smallest amount of chip damage. Weather sweepers, such as Gloom, can easily OHKO Aipom when their favored weather is active, though they usually take heavy damage or are OHKOed outright by Aipom's attacks.
**Shuppet**: Since Aipom usually only runs Normal- and Fighting-type attacking moves, it cannot damage Shuppet at all.
**Magnemite**: With its resistance to Normal, Magnemite can tank Aipom's STAB moves and threaten it and its team with heavy damage and status, though it cannot switch into even resisted Choice Band-boosted Normal-type attacks and must be wary of Aipom's Fighting-type coverage.
**Tropius**: Offensive variants of Tropius can easily tank even a Choice Band-boosted Double-Edge and threaten heavy damage in return, notably with Tropius able to set up sun to outspeed Aipom next turn. Defensive variants of Tropius are bulky enough to not even be 2HKOed by a Choice Band-boosted Double-Edge, letting it wall Aipom.
**Status**: Being burned completely ruins Aipom, preventing it from meaningfully damaging most foes. Paralysis is similar, making Aipom easy to KO due to its frailty. While Toxic doesn't immediately stop Aipom, it tends to be worn down very quickly by poison damage and Double-Edge recoil.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
