Aurorus (QC: 0/3)

[Take Azelfie]

[OVERVIEW]

• Aurorus's niches are all in the two amazing abilities it has access to
• Refrigerate makes Aurorus's have a frighteningly powerful STAB that is hard to switch into.
• Snow Warning plays as a nice disruption tool breaking Focus Sash on lead pokemon making them OHKOed as well as messing up some pokemon's recoveries like Musharna and Vileplume who use Moonlight and Synthesis.
• Offensive Flying check
• Stealth Rock weakness
• Aurorus's typing stacks up so many weaknesses making it easy to scare out or get killed
• Aurorus's speed tier isn't the best making it outsped by many common pokemon.

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hyper Voice / Blizzard
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Frost Breath
item: Choice Specs
ability: Refrigerate / Snow Warning
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Hyper Voice is Aurorus move of choice for getting the most damage out. It is also helpful for breaking through Substitute as well.
• Blizzard allows Aurorus to one OHKO some Focus Sash leads due to the residual damage Hail does. It also disrupts some Pokemon's recovery like Synthesis and Moonlight users
• Earth Power allows Aurorus to hit Steel, Fire and Poison-types
• Freeze-Dry allows Aurorus to hit Water-types for the most amount of damage.
• Frost Breath allows Aurorus to hit through Calm Mind users
• Psychic is an alternative to Earth Power but it can really only hit Fighting-types on the switch and it also loses to ability to hit Skuntank super effectively.

Set Details
========

• Choice Specs allows Aurorus to hit as hard as powerful, this is also what makes it incredibly hard to switch into.
• Max speed is used to outspeed as much as possible, a Timid nature is not used as it doesn't outspeed anything relevant except opposing Aurorus.
• Max special attack and a Modest nature are used to boost Aurorus's special attack to high levels
• Refrigerate is used if you want to hit as hard as possible with Hyper Voice, but if you want to disrupt your opponent more than do more damage then you would use Snow Warning with Blizzard

Usage Tips
========

• Aurorus is a hit-and-run pokemon due to its frailness.
• It can't get in on many pokemon because of its stacked weaknesses but it can get in on pokemon that it can resist like Scyther, Haunter and Swellow.
• Aurorus should be used early game to help to help wallbreak.
• Aurorus doesn't require it to function but it is reccomend to keep Stealth Rock off your side of the field to help preserve Aurorus
• As Aurorus is used on some teams as a dedicated flying-check, it is recommended to keep Aurorus healthy so it can check those threats.
• If using Snow Warning it is good to lead with it as you may be able to OHKO there dedicated lead with Blizzard + Hail damage.
• Aurorus should always be using Blizzard or Hyper Voice unless the other move choices are against the pokemon in front of you (example, using Freeze-Dry against Mantine)

Team Options
========

• Aurorus pairs excellently with fighting-type pokemon like Sawk and Hariyama as Aurorus can help to remove pokemon that resist its STAB like Gourgeist, Vileplume and Pelipper. In return they can remove Steel and Rock-types that threaten Aurorus. Aurorus can also help to check flying-types that scare Fighting-types.
• Aurorus doesn't like Stealth Rock due to its weakness to it so hazard removers like Hitmonchan, Kabutops and Mantine can help.
• Set-up sweepers appreciate Aurorus's ability to chip down pokemon. It is also recommended to pair Aurorus with a pokemon that can check Aurorus's threats like Samurott, Gurdurr and Malamar

[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Blizzard
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Freeze-Dry
item: Focus Sash
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Stealth Rock is so Aurorus can lead and support its teammates.
• Blizzard can help Aurorus anti-lead by OHKOing other Focus Sash leads that are weak to Ice
• Earth Power allows Aurorus to hit Poison-type leads such as Garbodor
• Freeze-Dry allows Aurorus to hit Water-types, and in particular Prinplup who may try to Defog on Aurorus
• Encore is useful for locking pokemon into set-up moves or Defog and Rapid Spin

Set Details
========

• Max speed is used to outspeed as much as possible. A Timid nature is not used as it does not outspeed any thing prevalent in the tier except opposing Aurorus.
• Max Special Attack with a Modest nature allows it to deal out as much damage as possible before it does down.
• Focus Sash guantees that Aurorus will get Stealth Rocks up as long as it does not take prior damage to setting up Stealth Rock
• Snow Warning helps to disrupt any other suicide leads that may try to compete with Aurorus

Usage Tips
========

• Aurorus plays the role as a dedicated lead on your team.
• Aurorus should only use a different move first if the attack your going for and hail damage can take out the pokemon.
• Aurorus can be used to help pressure other hazard removers like using Freeze-Dry against Prinplup and Earth Power against Skuntank.
• As a note, Aurorus can be preserved to help set Hail back up to get residual damage and break opposing Focus Sashes and Sturdy on pokemon like Sawk, Steelix and Cacturne.

Team Options
========

• Common Aurorus teammates consist of pokemon that can get rid of Ice resistant pokemon and appreciate Stealth Rocks. Rhydon, Combusken, and Scther.
• Stealth Rock itself helps many sweepers like Mismagius, Kabutops, Tauros, Scyther, and Combusken are only a few examples.
• If Aurorus is able to preserve its Focus Sash hazard removal from pokemon like Hitmonchan and Claydol can help to preserve its Focus Sash.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• Aurorus can successfully run a choice scarf to revenge kill many things but it is very slow and loses the a lot of power it receives from Choice Specs.
• Aurorus can also use Choice Band in combination of Return, Stone Edge, Earthquake, and Zen Headbutt but it isn't as powerful as its special variants.
• Rock Polish seems good in theory, but with Aurorus plentiful amount of weaknesses it finds itself struggling to set up.
• Icy Rock can be used to support a Hail team but Hail is a rather mediocre play style anyway.
• Discharge has a small niche being able to get the occasional paralysis but other than that it isn't as strong as Freeze-Dry which gets STAB.
• Rock Tomb can be used to threaten Cryogonal by lowering its speed but it has such a low base power and has no use outside of that.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fighting-types** Fighting-types can easily revenge kill Aurorus due to the rather low bulk and four times weakness. Most of them have a hard time switching in accept for Thick Fat Harryama.

**Steel-types** They can come in on any of Aurorus's Ice-Type moves and attack with a four times effective steel move which will most likely OHKO Aurorus. They must be wary of coming in on an Aurorus who hasn't locked itself into a move yet because it can be predicted on hit with Earth Power.

**Revenge Killers** Aurorus's typing leaves it susceptible to many revenge killers like Sawk, Primeape, Samurott, Klinklang, Gurdurr and many more. Aurorus also has very poor physical bulk which doesn't help it out at all.

 

[boltsandbombers]

Please do not post a WIP that is just the analysis template and without any sets added in. This goes for everyone.

 

[Blast]

SlaySlenderDragon XD this is still pretty much the equivalent of not posting anything at all. I'm giving you 24 hours to show at least some progress on this (i.e. at least get the full sets down and not just their names, and preferably some bullet points as well) or I'm locking and reassigning.

edit: QC talked about it the other day and we want Specs and SR lead to be the only two sets, put the others in OO

 

[Take Azelfie]

This is ready for checks, astroboy already gave me my first check if anyone is confused

 

[astroboy]

no i didnt lmao

i told you id give you the first check when you were out of wip, i still have to check this for you to have qc 1/3

 

[Take Azelfie]

sorry

no i didnt lmao

i told you id give you the first check when you were out of wip, i still have to check this for you to have qc 1/3

 

[Punchshroom]

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Hyper Voice is Aurorus move of choice for getting the most damage out. It is also helpful for breaking through Substitute as well.
• Blizzard allows Aurorus to one OHKO some Focus Sash leads due to the residual damage Hail does. It also disrupts some Pokemon's recovery like Synthesis and Moonlight users
• Earth Power allows Aurorus to hit Steel, Fire and Poison-types
• Freeze-Dry allows Aurorus to hit Water-types for the most amount of damage.
• Frost Breath allows Aurorus to hit through Calm Mind users
• Psychic is an alternative to Earth Power but it can really only hit Fighting-types on the switch and it also loses to ability to hit Skuntank super effectively.

- Mention Blizzard alongside Hail actually deals slightly more overall damage than Refrigerate Hyper Voice.
- You should list specific targets of each coverage move, since they don't hit too much Pokemon. Earth Power mainly hits Fire-types (Magmortar, Pyroar, Combusken), Klinklang (other Steel-types get nailed hard enough by the main Ice STAB), and opposing Aurorus.
- Mention the Water-types Freeze-Dry hits that its main STAB does not handle (so no Pelipper, for example), and also note that Freeze-Dry helps to lessen prediction against opponents trying to pivot around Aurorus using their resists.
- Mention example of CM users that Frost Breath helps to break.
- You should mention that Psychic is solely for Hariyama; why do you need Psychic for any other Fighting-type? Remove the Skuntank bit as well.

Set Details
========

• Choice Specs allows Aurorus to hit as hard as powerful, this is also what makes it incredibly hard to switch into.
• Max speed is used to outspeed as much as possible, a Timid nature is not used as it doesn't outspeed anything relevant except opposing Aurorus.
• Max special attack and a Modest nature are used to boost Aurorus's special attack to high levels
• Refrigerate is used if you want to hit as hard as possible with Hyper Voice, but if you want to disrupt your opponent more than do more damage then you would use Snow Warning with Blizzard

- It is important to note that Refrigerate is especially preferred over Snow Warning if your team has any Pokemon that would otherwise be hindered by Hail, such as Moonlight Vileplume / Musharna, Synthesis Gourgeist, and Sturdy Sawk.

Usage Tips
========

• Aurorus is a hit-and-run pokemon due to its frailness.
• It can't get in on many pokemon because of its stacked weaknesses but it can get in on pokemon that it can resist like Scyther, Haunter and Swellow.
• Aurorus should be used early game to help to help wallbreak.
• Aurorus doesn't require it to function but it is reccomend to keep Stealth Rock off your side of the field to help preserve Aurorus
• As Aurorus is used on some teams as a dedicated flying-check, it is recommended to keep Aurorus healthy so it can check those threats.
• If using Snow Warning it is good to lead with it as you may be able to OHKO there dedicated lead with Blizzard + Hail damage.
• Aurorus should always be using Blizzard or Hyper Voice unless the other move choices are against the pokemon in front of you (example, using Freeze-Dry against Mantine)

- Aurorus is not frail; reword to 'poor Speed and bad defensive typing'.
- Also touch upon Aurorus's respectable special bulk, which lets it capitalize on the likes of Rotom and Mesprit.
- Mention Weezing as an especially notable target for Aurorus to switch into.
- Aurorus is not a "dedicated" Flying check, remove 'dedicated'.

Team Options
========

• Aurorus pairs excellently with fighting-type pokemon like Sawk and Hariyama as Aurorus can help to remove pokemon that resist its STAB like Gourgeist, Vileplume and Pelipper. In return they can remove Steel and Rock-types that threaten Aurorus. Aurorus can also help to check flying-types that scare Fighting-types.
• Aurorus doesn't like Stealth Rock due to its weakness to it so hazard removers like Hitmonchan, Kabutops and Mantine can help.
• Set-up sweepers appreciate Aurorus's ability to chip down pokemon. It is also recommended to pair Aurorus with a pokemon that can check Aurorus's threats like Samurott, Gurdurr and Malamar

You also want some teammates that do well against faster teams to make up for Aurorus's weaker matchup against them.

[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Blizzard
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Freeze-Dry
item: Focus Sash
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

I feel like this set could actually use a revamp:

name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Blizzard
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Rock Tomb
item: Focus Sash
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Hasty
evs: 32 Atk / 224 SpA / 252 Spe

Earth Power no longer has the OHKOing potential on this set that Specs has; instead, this set chooses to 2HKO the Fire-types with Rock Tomb, which with the Speed drop basically translates to a OHKO. The Speed + nature allows Aurorus to outspeed -1 Tauros, and the Attack investment cleanly 2HKOes Magmortar and nearly guarantees the 2HKO on Pyroar with Hail damage.

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Stealth Rock is so Aurorus can lead and support its teammates.
• Blizzard can help Aurorus anti-lead by OHKOing other Focus Sash leads that are weak to Ice
• Earth Power allows Aurorus to hit Poison-type leads such as Garbodor
• Freeze-Dry allows Aurorus to hit Water-types, and in particular Prinplup who may try to Defog on Aurorus
• Encore is useful for locking pokemon into set-up moves or Defog and Rapid Spin

You don't really need Earth Power for anything other than Klinklang (which will still punch right through your Sash anyway). Encore is also rather useless since you can just Freeze-Dry the bulky Defoggers, while the likes of Shiftry, Kabutops, and Hitmonchan are risky to Encore against and are probably more interested in KOing you.

Set Details
========

• Max speed is used to outspeed as much as possible. A Timid nature is not used as it does not outspeed any thing prevalent in the tier except opposing Aurorus.
• Max Special Attack with a Modest nature allows it to deal out as much damage as possible before it does down.
• Focus Sash guantees that Aurorus will get Stealth Rocks up as long as it does not take prior damage to setting up Stealth Rock
• Snow Warning helps to disrupt any other suicide leads that may try to compete with Aurorus

- FYI, Timid Aurorus does outspeed Adamant Barbaracle, though you don't need to mention this since Stealth Rock Aurorus should never really face Shell Smash Barbaracle in a lead matchup anyway (plus Aurorus would still have its Sash); just mention the outspeeding -1 Tauros bit.

Usage Tips
========

• Aurorus plays the role as a dedicated lead on your team.
• Aurorus should only use a different move first if the attack your going for and hail damage can take out the pokemon.
• Aurorus can be used to help pressure other hazard removers like using Freeze-Dry against Prinplup and Earth Power against Skuntank.
• As a note, Aurorus can be preserved to help set Hail back up to get residual damage and break opposing Focus Sashes and Sturdy on pokemon like Sawk, Steelix and Cacturne.

- Since I suggested a revamp, the Usage Tips need to be updated as well. Mention that Aurorus should use Rock Tomb against faster leads that it can outspeed after -1 (which does not include Sceptile, btw); this allows Aurorus to play around faster Taunt users as well as plan its next move accordingly, be it to KO the opponent, or set up Stealth Rock and let a teammate handle the slowed threat.
- Again, you don't need to Earth Power the Skuntank.

Team Options
========

• Common Aurorus teammates consist of pokemon that can get rid of Ice resistant pokemon and appreciate Stealth Rocks. Rhydon, Combusken, and Scther.
• Stealth Rock itself helps many sweepers like Mismagius, Kabutops, Tauros, Scyther, and Combusken are only a few examples.
• If Aurorus is able to preserve its Focus Sash hazard removal from pokemon like Hitmonchan and Claydol can help to preserve its Focus Sash.

SR Aurorus isn't meant to have good longevity, so you don't need hazard removal for it to function.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• Aurorus can successfully run a choice scarf to revenge kill many things but it is very slow and loses the a lot of power it receives from Choice Specs.
• Aurorus can also use Choice Band in combination of Return, Stone Edge, Earthquake, and Zen Headbutt but it isn't as powerful as its special variants.
• Rock Polish seems good in theory, but with Aurorus plentiful amount of weaknesses it finds itself struggling to set up.
• Icy Rock can be used to support a Hail team but Hail is a rather mediocre play style anyway.
• Discharge has a small niche being able to get the occasional paralysis but other than that it isn't as strong as Freeze-Dry which gets STAB.
• Rock Tomb can be used to threaten Cryogonal by lowering its speed but it has such a low base power and has no use outside of that.

- Mention that the Choice Scarf Snow Warning (add this) set's main draw is to singlehandedly wipe out weather sweepers, but the inability to outspeed Sceptile greatly hurts its potential.
- Mention that the Choice Band set is also susceptible to burns, and doesn't have the utility of Hyper Voice's Substitute piercing or Snow Warning's disruption potential.
- Remove Rock Tomb since it has a spot on SR Aurorus.
- You can mention Flash Cannon as a way to hit Piloswine.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fighting-types** Fighting-types can easily revenge kill Aurorus due to the rather low bulk and four times weakness. Most of them have a hard time switching in accept for Thick Fat Harryama.

**Steel-types** They can come in on any of Aurorus's Ice-Type moves and attack with a four times effective steel move which will most likely OHKO Aurorus. They must be wary of coming in on an Aurorus who hasn't locked itself into a move yet because it can be predicted on hit with Earth Power.

**Revenge Killers** Aurorus's typing leaves it susceptible to many revenge killers like Sawk, Primeape, Samurott, Klinklang, Gurdurr and many more. Aurorus also has very poor physical bulk which doesn't help it out at all.

- Pretty much no relevant Steel-type wants to switch into Aurorus's Ice moves at all; Klinklang is the only one that can even be considered a check.
- Aurorus's physical bulk is not bad at all, simply due to its typing which gives it many unfortunate weaknesses. You can even touch upon Aurorus's weakness to entry hazards, which makes it even easier to take down.
If you're having trouble expanding the C&C section, try breaking down your list into different sections. You already have Fighting-types listed, so you can probably make a section for the other kinds of attackers that can handle Aurorus, and emphasizing the different advantages they have (Fighting-types hit Aurorus 4x, Water-types can resist Aurorus's primary attack, etc.).

 

[Hootie]

Sorry, but this is getting reassigned.

Again there are flaws in this analysis that show limited metagame knowledge. The overview is generic and doesn't really tell me much that I couldn't learn on my own from looking at it on serebii. Your whole moves section never gives specific examples of targets for each of the moves and its very questionable that you list Poison-types as Earth Power targets when they take almost as much from Hyper Voice (one of the more common Poison-types in Weezing is even immune). You make mention of Psychic, but I don't see Hariyama mentioned anywhere in that sentence. There's also some other red flags such as the mention of Aurorus acting a dedicated Flying-type check (something more relevant when Fletchinder was around) or the mention of Focus Sash Cacturne. I could go over more, but Punshrooms lengthy post that's not even a QC check already points out a good majority of the issues and confirms my concerns in regards to the overall quality of this analysis.