[OVERVIEW]
Barraskewda thrives in NU as a powerful physical attacker that is also the fastest unboosted Pokemon in the tier. Its high base Attack allows it to consistently deal damage with Liquidation and Flip Turn, and with Close Combat and Psychic Fangs it can even break through Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. However, Barraskewda can at times rely on prediction, as it requires a Choice Band for certain 2HKOs, such as Tera Fighting Close Combat on Vaporeon and Bellibolt. Further, Barraskewda has next to no bulk, and is vulnerable to priority from foes such as Breloom, Flygon, and Decidueye. NU also features several Pokemon that resist Barraskewda's attacks or force it to Tera to secure a KO, such as Water-immunes Vaporeon and Toxicroak, Amoonguss, and Brambleghast.
[SET]
name: All Out Attacker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Close Combat / Psychic Fangs
item: Choice Band / Mystic Water
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Close Combat is the coverage of choice for Barraskewda, with Tera Fighting allowing it to 2HKO checks like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. However, Choice Band Psychic Fangs 2HKOs Amoonguss, which otherwise walls Barraskewda. Mystic Water prevents Barraskewda from being Choice-locked while maintaining some power, but makes the previously mentioned 2HKOs impossible. Tera Water is a viable alternative to Tera Fighting, OHKOing Flygon and 2HKOing Swampert with Liquidation.
Barraskewda, particularly on Choice Band sets, requires teammates that can switch into Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. As a result, Assault Vest Hariyama, Toxicroak itself, and Galarian Slowbro are all good partners for it. Steel-types such as Bronzong or Copperajah also work as switchins to checks like Amoonguss and Bellibolt. Teammates that can help overload these physical walls, such as Flygon, Overqwil, or Rhyperior, further support Barraskewda's ability to break through foes. Hazard setters such as the previously mentioned Steel- and Ground-types, as well as others like Gligar, Uxie, and Diancie, help Barraskewda break down foes who would otherwise switch in on it. Hazard removal such as Tsareena and Altaria are also helpful to maintain Barraskewda's already minimal bulk. Barraskewda also performs extremely well on rain teams, accompanied by setters like Klefki and Tornadus, as well as by other breakers like Basculegion-M, Kilowattrel, and Kingdra.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Barraskewda can choose to run Heavy-Duty Boots over any boosting item in order to increase its longevity and flexibility, but at the cost of a great deal of power. It also has a wide variety of other coverage options to target specific foes, such as Throat Chop for Bronzong, Poison Jab for Sylveon, and Ice Fang for Flygon and Gligar. However, using any of these options usually means dropping Aqua Jet or other coverage.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-immunes**: Vaporeon and Toxicroak wall Barraskewda's STAB options and restore HP while doing so. Barraskewda is forced to Tera to 2HKO with its coverage moves, and is completely walled if Vaporeon has a Tera that resists Close Combat.
**Grass-types**: Foes like Tsareena, Breloom, and Amoonguss can all resist Barraskewda's Water-type attacks and restore HP in order to do so multiple times, but can be vulnerable to its coverage moves, although Amoonguss requires Barraskewda to run Psychic Fangs in order to break it.
**Revenge-killing**: Barraskewda's nonexistent bulk makes it vulnerable to being revenge killed by essentially any Choice Scarf user, such as Flygon, Munkidori, or Chandelure. Further, priority can also easily finish it off, such as Toxicroak's Sucker Punch, Flygon's First Impression, and Decidueye's Shadow Sneak.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Barraskewda thrives in NU as a powerful physical attacker that is also the fastest unboosted Pokemon in the tier. Its high base Attack allows it to consistently deal damage with Liquidation and Flip Turn, and with Close Combat and Psychic Fangs it can even break through Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. However, Barraskewda can at times rely on prediction, as it requires a Choice Band for certain 2HKOs, such as Tera Fighting Close Combat on Vaporeon and Bellibolt. Further, Barraskewda has next to no bulk, and is vulnerable to priority from foes such as Breloom, Flygon, and Decidueye. NU also features several Pokemon that resist Barraskewda's attacks or force it to Tera to secure a KO, such as Water-immunes Vaporeon and Toxicroak, Amoonguss, and Brambleghast.
[SET]
name: All Out Attacker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Close Combat / Psychic Fangs
item: Choice Band / Mystic Water
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Close Combat is the coverage of choice for Barraskewda, with Tera Fighting allowing it to 2HKO checks like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. However, Choice Band Psychic Fangs 2HKOs Amoonguss, which otherwise walls Barraskewda. Mystic Water prevents Barraskewda from being Choice-locked while maintaining some power, but makes the previously mentioned 2HKOs impossible. Tera Water is a viable alternative to Tera Fighting, OHKOing Flygon and 2HKOing Swampert with Liquidation.
Barraskewda, particularly on Choice Band sets, requires teammates that can switch into Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. As a result, Assault Vest Hariyama, Toxicroak itself, and Galarian Slowbro are all good partners for it. Steel-types such as Bronzong or Copperajah also work as switchins to checks like Amoonguss and Bellibolt. Teammates that can help overload these physical walls, such as Flygon, Overqwil, or Rhyperior, further support Barraskewda's ability to break through foes. Hazard setters such as the previously mentioned Steel- and Ground-types, as well as others like Gligar, Uxie, and Diancie, help Barraskewda break down foes who would otherwise switch in on it. Hazard removal such as Tsareena and Altaria are also helpful to maintain Barraskewda's already minimal bulk. Barraskewda also performs extremely well on rain teams, accompanied by setters like Klefki and Tornadus, as well as by other breakers like Basculegion-M, Kilowattrel, and Kingdra.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Barraskewda can choose to run Heavy-Duty Boots over any boosting item in order to increase its longevity and flexibility, but at the cost of a great deal of power. It also has a wide variety of other coverage options to target specific foes, such as Throat Chop for Bronzong, Poison Jab for Sylveon, and Ice Fang for Flygon and Gligar. However, using any of these options usually means dropping Aqua Jet or other coverage.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-immunes**: Vaporeon and Toxicroak wall Barraskewda's STAB options and restore HP while doing so. Barraskewda is forced to Tera to 2HKO with its coverage moves, and is completely walled if Vaporeon has a Tera that resists Close Combat.
**Grass-types**: Foes like Tsareena, Breloom, and Amoonguss can all resist Barraskewda's Water-type attacks and restore HP in order to do so multiple times, but can be vulnerable to its coverage moves, although Amoonguss requires Barraskewda to run Psychic Fangs in order to break it.
**Revenge-killing**: Barraskewda's nonexistent bulk makes it vulnerable to being revenge killed by essentially any Choice Scarf user, such as Flygon, Munkidori, or Chandelure. Further, priority can also easily finish it off, such as Toxicroak's Sucker Punch, Flygon's First Impression, and Decidueye's Shadow Sneak.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
