- Very good offensive typing it shares with only Breloom
- resists SR
- Ability to go either side of the spectrum with impressive Attack/Special Attack/Speed
- Justice Heart raises its Attack if it is hit with a Dark-type move.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move1: Swords Dance
move2: Close Combat
move3: Stone Edge
move4: Leaf Blade/Substitute/Taunt
item: Life Orb/Leftovers
nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Set Description:
- Very good offensive typing and speed
- 91/72/129 defenses along with a plethora of resistances give it many chances to set up quite well.
- Substitute can be interchanged for Leaf Blade, depending on how much Water/Ground-types threaten your team. Taunt removes Phasers, except Dragon Tailers.
- Rock Polish can also be used in that slot.
- Life Orb is risky with the weather, as you may be taking 16% per turn, but gives you the 30% boost. It's up to you whether or not it's worth it.
- Heatran or Bulky Waters, other Pokémon that can take Fire and Ice-type moves.
- Pokémon that lure Dark-type attacks, but not Pursuit.
- Skarmory counters very well, being able to take a +2 Stone Edge and OHKOing with Brave Bird. However, Close Combat+Brave Bird recoil will kill Skarmory as well.
- Wobbuffett can Encore/Counter and easily defeat Birijion.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move1: Calm Mind
move2: Giga Drain/Grass Knot
move3: Focus Blast
move4: Substitute/Taunt/Reflect
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Very good offensive typing and speed
- 91/72/129 defenses along with a plethora of resistances give it many chances to set up quite well.
- Reflect in the last slot softens physical threats to make setup easier.
- Taunt allows you to remove Phasing threats except Dragon Tail.
- Substitute forces switches.
Teammates and Counters:
- Heatran or Bulky Waters, other Pokémon that can take Fire and Ice-type moves.
- Pokémon that lure Dark-type attacks, but not Pursuit.
- Skarmory counters very well, being able to take a +2 Stone Edge and OHKOing with Brave Bird. However, Close Combat+Brave Bird recoil will kill Skarmory as well.
- Wobbuffett can Encore/Mirror Coat and easily defeat Birijion.
[Team Options]
- Heatran or Bulky Waters, or really anything that can take Fire and Ice moves.
- Pokemon that can take Flying moves, like Steel and Electric types, also come to mind.
- Wobbuffett is good bait for Dark-type foes, can take Fighting moves aimed at Birijion, and gives free setup with Encore.
[Other Options]
- Sacred Sword over Close Combat trades power for lack of Defense/Special Defense drop
- Sword of Mystery in the last slot on the Calm Mind set allows Birijion to take down Blissey with the Special set.
- Cheer Up allows it to go mixed, but is essentially an inferior SD or CM.
[Counters]
- Wobbuffett, Super Effective Scarfers (Heatran, Rotom-h, etc.), Mewtwo, Deoxys formes, other Psychic-types, as well as Flying-types for the Calm Mind set
[Dream World]
- Birijion does not receive an ability from the Dream World