[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 Barraskewda to consistently deal damage with its STAB attacks, and with access to Close Combat and Psychic Fangs it can even break through Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. In addition, it's Speed allows it to revenge kill fast opponents such as Kilowattrel and non-Choice Scarf Munkidori. 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. It can also struggle to run all the moves it needs, generally needing to drop one of Close Combat, Psychic Fangs, and Aqua Jet. 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 Amoonguss and Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak.
[SET]
name: All Out Attacker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Flip Turn
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Aqua Jet / Crunch
item: Choice Band / Mystic Water / Heavy-Duty Boots
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 Choice Band Tera Fighting allowing it to 2HKO checks like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. Flip Turn allows Barraskewda to freely pivot and doing solid chip damage against foes like Tsareena and Rhyperior. Choice Band Psychic Fangs allows it to 2HKO Amoonguss, which otherwise walls Barraskewda. Alternatively, Aqua Jet can revenge kill faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Munkidori and Dragon Dance Flygon while Crunch can be used to hit foes such as Galarian Slowbro and Basculegion-M. Mystic Water prevents Barraskewda from being Choice-locked while maintaining some power, but makes the previously mentioned 2HKOs impossible. Heavy-Duty Boots can provide Basculegion some additional survivability on teams that don't control hazards well. 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. Thus, it partners well with teammates like Assault Vest Hariyama, Toxicroak, and Galarian Slowbro. Steel-types such as Bronzong and Copperajah also work as switchins to checks like Amoonguss and Bellibolt. Teammates that can help overload these physical walls, such as Flygon, Overqwil, and Rhyperior, further support Barraskewda's ability to break through. 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 such as Galarian Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Amoonguss. 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 has a wide variety of other coverage options to target specific foes, such as Throat Chop for Bronzong and Toxtricity, 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. Life Orb can also be used for additional damage while maintaining flexibility, but makes Barraskewda's limited survivability even worse.
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 Close Combat, and is completely walled if Vaporeon has a relevant Tera. Toxicroak, however, must be very cautious of Psychic Fangs.
**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 while Breloom can use it as setup fodder. However, all of them 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, and 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/pika134.609709/
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 Barraskewda to consistently deal damage with its STAB attacks, and with access to Close Combat and Psychic Fangs it can even break through Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. In addition, it's Speed allows it to revenge kill fast opponents such as Kilowattrel and non-Choice Scarf Munkidori. 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. It can also struggle to run all the moves it needs, generally needing to drop one of Close Combat, Psychic Fangs, and Aqua Jet. 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 Amoonguss and Water-immunes like Vaporeon and Toxicroak.
[SET]
name: All Out Attacker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Flip Turn
move 4: Psychic Fangs / Aqua Jet / Crunch
item: Choice Band / Mystic Water / Heavy-Duty Boots
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 Choice Band Tera Fighting allowing it to 2HKO checks like Vaporeon and Toxicroak. Flip Turn allows Barraskewda to freely pivot and doing solid chip damage against foes like Tsareena and Rhyperior. Choice Band Psychic Fangs allows it to 2HKO Amoonguss, which otherwise walls Barraskewda. Alternatively, Aqua Jet can revenge kill faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Munkidori and Dragon Dance Flygon while Crunch can be used to hit foes such as Galarian Slowbro and Basculegion-M. Mystic Water prevents Barraskewda from being Choice-locked while maintaining some power, but makes the previously mentioned 2HKOs impossible. Heavy-Duty Boots can provide Basculegion some additional survivability on teams that don't control hazards well. 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. Thus, it partners well with teammates like Assault Vest Hariyama, Toxicroak, and Galarian Slowbro. Steel-types such as Bronzong and Copperajah also work as switchins to checks like Amoonguss and Bellibolt. Teammates that can help overload these physical walls, such as Flygon, Overqwil, and Rhyperior, further support Barraskewda's ability to break through. 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 such as Galarian Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Amoonguss. 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 has a wide variety of other coverage options to target specific foes, such as Throat Chop for Bronzong and Toxtricity, 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. Life Orb can also be used for additional damage while maintaining flexibility, but makes Barraskewda's limited survivability even worse.
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 Close Combat, and is completely walled if Vaporeon has a relevant Tera. Toxicroak, however, must be very cautious of Psychic Fangs.
**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 while Breloom can use it as setup fodder. However, all of them 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, and 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/pika134.609709/
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:
