Blaziken
Status: Finished
QC Approved: [2/2] panamaxis, Eo Ut Mortus.
GP Approved: [2/2] jc104 (stamped 2 GP checks)
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[Overview]
<p>With excellent 120 / 110 mixed offensive stats and a good movepool, Blaziken has always had the potential to wreck opposing teams. However, its poor base 80 Speed relegated it to the UU tier last generation. This generation, however, Blaziken has hit the jackpot, in the form of one of the best abilities in the game-Speed Boost. With a good movepool including Swords Dance and powerful STAB attacks in Hi Jump Kick and Flare Blitz, Blaziken is now rightly regarded as one of the most fearsome sweepers in the metagame.</p>
<p>Fast Choice Scarf users and priority moves will however be Blaziken's biggest checks. Even after one Speed Boost, Blaziken will sit at a maximum of 426 Speed, outsped by Choice Scarf users with a base Speed of 81 or more. Blaziken is also vulnerable to priority from the likes of Roobushin, since with its poor 80 / 70 / 70 defenses and Life Orb recoil, it is not going to be living for long. Still, underestimate Blaziken at your own peril; if given the chance to set up, it can tear entire teams apart.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Hi Jump Kick / Sky Uppercut
move 3: Flare Blitz / Blaze Kick
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With its Fire / Fighting typing, Blaziken can easily come in on walls like Blissey and Ferrothorn and force a switch, giving it the opportunity to set up Swords Dance. After that, Blaziken can proceed to wreck the opposition's team with its dual STABs and Stone Edge which net Blaziken excellent neutral coverage.</p>
<p>Blaze Kick can be considered over Flare Blitz since the recoil damage from Flare Blitz and Life Orb will cause Blaziken's early demise. However, Flare Blitz has a good chance of OHKOing Gliscor after a Swords Dance boost assuming Blaziken is running an Adamant nature. Hi Jump Kick is a high-risk, high-return move, since Blaziken will lose half its health if the attack is rendered ineffective. For this reason, Sky Uppercut might be a safer option. Life Orb is the preferred item choice, since it helps Blaziken net some crucial OHKOs on Pokemon such as Gyarados.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Wide Lens can be used instead of Life Orb for increased accuracy, but this comes at the cost of some crucial OHKOs. 252 EVs are invested in Attack to maximise the power of Blaziken's physical attacks. A Jolly nature helps you outrun Lucario (with a neutral nature and maximum Speed) before a Speed Boost, and afterwards base 130 Pokemon such as Jolteon and Aerodactyl. Rock Slide can also be used instead of Stone Edge for slightly higher accuracy, but you will miss out on the OHKO on Physically Defensive Jellicent after a Swords Dance</p>
<p>In general, Blaziken finds it difficult to deal with Bulky Waters such as Jellicent, Slowbro and Unaware Quagsire-particularly the latter. As such, it is advisable to have a teammate to deal with these Pokemon and thus make it easier for Blaziken to sweep. A mixed stallbreaker such as Hydreigon is an excellent sweeping partner for Blaziken.</p>
[SET]
name: MixKen
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Hi Jump Kick
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Protect / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Rash / Naive
evs: 80 Atk / 200 SpA / 228 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With its excellent mixed offensive stats, Blaziken can be an effective mixed stallbreaker. Fire Blast and Hi Jump Kick are Blaziken's STAB moves and have great neutral coverage between them. Hidden Power Ice hits Garchomp, Salamence and Gliscor hard, OHKOing all of them.</p>
<p>Protect helps Blaziken to scout the opponent's move, and gain a free Speed boost. It also allows Blaziken to revenge kill Pokemon which normally outspeed it, like Terrakion. However, Stone Edge hits Jellicent, who walls Blaziken's other moves, hard. If Jellicent can be taken care of by Blaziken's teammates, then running Protect would be the better choice. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Since Blaziken is meant to be a mixed stallbreaker, its EVs are split between Attack and Special Attack. 228 Speed EVs are required to outspeed Deoxys-S and Choice SCarf Garchomp after 2 Speed boosts. 200 EVs are put in Special Attack to increase the power of Fire Blast and Hidden Power Ice, while the remaining EVs are put in Attack.</p>
<p>Blaziken can also run either Hidden Power Electric or Hidden Power Grass instead of Hidden Power Ice to deal with bulky Water-types such as Quagsire, Jellicent and Slowbro. However, keep in mind that Slowbro and Quagsire are uncommon, and that in the absence of Hidden Power Ice, Pokemon like Latios and Garchomp can pose problems for Blaziken.</p>
<p>A Naive nature can be used to outspeed Jolteon and Aerodactyl after a Speed boost. However, since these Pokemon are uncommon in the current metagame, running a Rash nature for the Special Attack boost would be the better choice.</p>
<p>In general, Blaziken has problems dealing with bulky waters-especially Jellicent. Jellicent is never OHKOed by any of Blaziken's unboosted attacks, can heal off damage taken with Recover, and can OHKO Blaziken with STAB Surf. A priority Taunt user such as Thundurus can aid Blaziken by shutting down Jellicent.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Protect and Swords Dance / Claw Sharpen can be run on the same set, but then you will have space only for Hi Jump Kick and Flare Blitz. However, this will possibly give it the chance to get boosts in both Attack and Speed, making it much easier for Blaziken to achieve a sweep.</p>
<p>Fire Punch is a viable alternative over Flare Blitz if you do not like the accuracy of Blaze Kick or the recoil damage of Flare Blitz. In doing so, Blaziken will lose a lot of power in return for slightly higher accuracy. Blaziken also has access to ThunderPunch and Baton Pass which, unfortunately, are illegal with Speed Boost. A mixed set with Cheer Up is also viable, but Blaziken is better off as a mixed stall breaker than a mixed boosting sweeper.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>In general, Blaziken has trouble with Bulky Waters. Slowbro, with its huge base Defense can comfortably take any of Blaziken's attacks barring Hidden Power Electric, and in return OHKOes with STAB Surf. Unaware Quagsire can also deal with Blaziken well, negating Blaziken's stat boosts as well as taking all of Blaziken's unboosted attacks with ease. Jellicent deserves a mention-with a 252 HP / 252 Def EV spread it can take all of Blaziken's unboosted attacks barring Shadow Claw, and OHKOes it with Surf. However, Stone Edge after a Swords Dance boost will OHKO Jellicent.</p>
<p>Choice Band Azumarill is a great check to Blaziken. A STAB, super effective Aqua Jet will bypass all Speed boosts which Blaziken might have obtained, and OHKO it. However, Azumarill will be OHKOed if it switches in on Hi Jump Kick from an Adamant Blaziken. Bulk Up Conkeldurr can take all of Blaziken's unboosted attacks at full health, and then OHKO Blaziken with Drain Punch followed by Mach Punch.</p>
