[OVERVIEW]
Bronzong is the go-to bulky Steel-type for many teams because it's much more consistent than the other options at answering foes that commonly carry Fire-type coverage, such as Copperajah, Exploud, and Goodra, thanks to Heatproof. Additionally, its great mixed bulk and Iron Defense make it a potent bulky setup sweeper that can ignore otherwise good revenge killers like Guzzlord and Drapion and become incredibly hard to stop once it boosts. Bronzong's also one of NU's most consistent Stealth Rock setters, matching up reasonably well against common entry hazard removers like Rotom-C and Talonflame. However, setup sets often struggle against Ghost-types like Golurk, Decidueye, and Palossand even with the help of Toxic, and many other Fighting-resistant foes like Celebi and Starmie make sweeping difficult too. Furthermore, Xatu shuts down nearly any Bronzong variant, making it really hard to get mileage out of in that matchup. Bronzong also often cedes momentum to foes like Dragalge, Rotom-C, and Heliolisk if it switches into their pivoting attacks, which can lead to it being overwhelmed by constant chip damage.
[SET]
name: Iron Defense
move 1: Iron Defense
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Rest
move 4: Psychic / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Heatproof / Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Rest helps Bronzong retain general defensive utility, lets it heal off burns from foes like Mantine and Vaporeon, and makes it even harder to KO with Pokemon like Drapion once it starts boosting. Psychic lets Bronzong get by Poison-types such as Salazzle and Vileplume, but Toxic stops Ghost-types like Golurk and Decidueye from preventing this set from sweeping. The EV spread prevents +1 Tyrantrum's Close Combat from 2HKOing Bronzong and greatly improves its matchup against special attackers like Exploud. Heatproof mitigates Fire-type coverage moves from foes like Copperajah and Exploud that Bronzong commonly switches into and even lets it take on Salazzle if it carries Psychic, but Levitate can be used if your team badly needs a switch-in to Ground-type moves.
Clerics like Vaporeon and Sylveon help greatly, letting Bronzong use Rest without having to spend turns waking up and giving it more early- and mid-game presence. In return, Bronzong checks Salazzle for Sylveon and Dragon-types like Dragalge and Goodra for Vaporeon. Dark-types like Drapion and Guzzlord are fantastic partners, taking out Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Decidueye, Silvally-Ghost, and Xatu and benefitting from Bronzong handling Fairy-types. Foes like Nasty Plot Celebi and Decidueye can take advantage of non-Toxic Bronzong, so make sure to have immediate countermeasures like Talonflame and Goodra available to take them on.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Psychic / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Heatproof / Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Bronzong's moveset is very flexible, but the combination of Body Press, Toxic, and Psychic best covers potential switch-ins to it. Protect is a good option over Psychic if Poison-types aren't a problem for your team, helping rack up additional poison damage and Leftovers recovery, but it makes Bronzong less adept at checking Salazzle and Growth Vileplume. Heavy Slam is another coverage move option if Bronzong is your team's primary answer to Diancie. Earthquake has good overlap with Body Press and Psychic, targeting foes such as Copperajah, Drapion, and Salazzle, and better enables Bronzong to run Toxic + Protect, but it still misses out on other potential nuisances like Guzzlord and Vileplume. The listed EVs let Bronzong tank two +1 Close Combats from Tyrantrum and give it extra insurance against special attackers like Exploud and Rotom-C. Heatproof is preferred so Bronzong can't be caught off guard by coverage from the likes of Exploud and Copperajah, but Levitate is fine on teams that desperately need a switch-in to Ground-type moves.
Ghost-type wallbreakers like Golurk and Decidueye easily take advantage of Bronzong and OHKO it, so teammates like Guzzlord, Braviary, and itemless Vileplume are good to have. Conversely, Bronzong is a great check to Dragon-types, making Pokemon like Rotom-C, Vaporeon, and Mantine good fits alongside it. Additionally, Vaporeon, as well as Sylveon, is a great partner because it provides Wish and cleric support, giving Bronzong much better longevity and letting it consistently handle special wallbreakers like Exploud and Goodra. Unless you opt for Levitate, Bronzong will struggle against Ground-types like Mudsdale and Silvally-Ground, so Pokemon like Celebi and Talonflame help to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Full special bulk investment is good on Stealth Rock sets if your team prefers extra insurance against special wallbreakers like Exploud, Rotom-C, and Choice Specs Sylveon at the cost of Rock-types like Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl becoming harder to check. Forgoing an item and opting for Levitate lets Bronzong wall Golurk's STAB moves and block Poltergeist from Decidueye too, but Bronzong is then much easier to weaken over time due to its lack of passive recovery. Trick + Toxic Orb is a niche way to cripple Xatu, Celebi, and clerics like Sylveon and Vaporeon with permanent poison, but it's a much less consistent option overall.
Checks and Counters
====
**Xatu**: Xatu's 4x resistance to Body Press means even +6 Bronzong will struggle to get past it, and it can safely pivot out with Teleport once Bronzong is forced to use Rest. Stealth Rock variants are even worse off against it, being incapable of ever setting their entry hazard so long as Xatu is still around.
**Ghost-types**: Foes like Golurk, Decidueye, and Palossand put a stop to Iron Defense Bronzong and don't struggle to KO it. Silvally-Ghost is an even bigger issue, since it can use Substitute to block a potential Toxic and set up with Swords Dance.
**Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Several Fighting-resistant Pokemon, including Celebi, Starmie, and Vileplume, can contend with even a set-up Bronzong. Bronzong has the potential to win these matchups depending on its coverage and how many boosts it has when these foes switch in, though.
**Unaware and Critical Hits**: Iron Defense Bronzong, especially with Heatproof, is stopped hard by Quagsire, and Leek Sirfetch'd has a high critical hit rate, letting it potentially bypass Bronzong's Defense boosts.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Abejas, 241380], [Mariannabelle, 435989]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Bronzong is the go-to bulky Steel-type for many teams because it's much more consistent than the other options at answering foes that commonly carry Fire-type coverage, such as Copperajah, Exploud, and Goodra, thanks to Heatproof. Additionally, its great mixed bulk and Iron Defense make it a potent bulky setup sweeper that can ignore otherwise good revenge killers like Guzzlord and Drapion and become incredibly hard to stop once it boosts. Bronzong's also one of NU's most consistent Stealth Rock setters, matching up reasonably well against common entry hazard removers like Rotom-C and Talonflame. However, setup sets often struggle against Ghost-types like Golurk, Decidueye, and Palossand even with the help of Toxic, and many other Fighting-resistant foes like Celebi and Starmie make sweeping difficult too. Furthermore, Xatu shuts down nearly any Bronzong variant, making it really hard to get mileage out of in that matchup. Bronzong also often cedes momentum to foes like Dragalge, Rotom-C, and Heliolisk if it switches into their pivoting attacks, which can lead to it being overwhelmed by constant chip damage.
[SET]
name: Iron Defense
move 1: Iron Defense
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Rest
move 4: Psychic / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Heatproof / Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Rest helps Bronzong retain general defensive utility, lets it heal off burns from foes like Mantine and Vaporeon, and makes it even harder to KO with Pokemon like Drapion once it starts boosting. Psychic lets Bronzong get by Poison-types such as Salazzle and Vileplume, but Toxic stops Ghost-types like Golurk and Decidueye from preventing this set from sweeping. The EV spread prevents +1 Tyrantrum's Close Combat from 2HKOing Bronzong and greatly improves its matchup against special attackers like Exploud. Heatproof mitigates Fire-type coverage moves from foes like Copperajah and Exploud that Bronzong commonly switches into and even lets it take on Salazzle if it carries Psychic, but Levitate can be used if your team badly needs a switch-in to Ground-type moves.
Clerics like Vaporeon and Sylveon help greatly, letting Bronzong use Rest without having to spend turns waking up and giving it more early- and mid-game presence. In return, Bronzong checks Salazzle for Sylveon and Dragon-types like Dragalge and Goodra for Vaporeon. Dark-types like Drapion and Guzzlord are fantastic partners, taking out Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Decidueye, Silvally-Ghost, and Xatu and benefitting from Bronzong handling Fairy-types. Foes like Nasty Plot Celebi and Decidueye can take advantage of non-Toxic Bronzong, so make sure to have immediate countermeasures like Talonflame and Goodra available to take them on.
[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Psychic / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Heatproof / Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Bronzong's moveset is very flexible, but the combination of Body Press, Toxic, and Psychic best covers potential switch-ins to it. Protect is a good option over Psychic if Poison-types aren't a problem for your team, helping rack up additional poison damage and Leftovers recovery, but it makes Bronzong less adept at checking Salazzle and Growth Vileplume. Heavy Slam is another coverage move option if Bronzong is your team's primary answer to Diancie. Earthquake has good overlap with Body Press and Psychic, targeting foes such as Copperajah, Drapion, and Salazzle, and better enables Bronzong to run Toxic + Protect, but it still misses out on other potential nuisances like Guzzlord and Vileplume. The listed EVs let Bronzong tank two +1 Close Combats from Tyrantrum and give it extra insurance against special attackers like Exploud and Rotom-C. Heatproof is preferred so Bronzong can't be caught off guard by coverage from the likes of Exploud and Copperajah, but Levitate is fine on teams that desperately need a switch-in to Ground-type moves.
Ghost-type wallbreakers like Golurk and Decidueye easily take advantage of Bronzong and OHKO it, so teammates like Guzzlord, Braviary, and itemless Vileplume are good to have. Conversely, Bronzong is a great check to Dragon-types, making Pokemon like Rotom-C, Vaporeon, and Mantine good fits alongside it. Additionally, Vaporeon, as well as Sylveon, is a great partner because it provides Wish and cleric support, giving Bronzong much better longevity and letting it consistently handle special wallbreakers like Exploud and Goodra. Unless you opt for Levitate, Bronzong will struggle against Ground-types like Mudsdale and Silvally-Ground, so Pokemon like Celebi and Talonflame help to have.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Full special bulk investment is good on Stealth Rock sets if your team prefers extra insurance against special wallbreakers like Exploud, Rotom-C, and Choice Specs Sylveon at the cost of Rock-types like Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl becoming harder to check. Forgoing an item and opting for Levitate lets Bronzong wall Golurk's STAB moves and block Poltergeist from Decidueye too, but Bronzong is then much easier to weaken over time due to its lack of passive recovery. Trick + Toxic Orb is a niche way to cripple Xatu, Celebi, and clerics like Sylveon and Vaporeon with permanent poison, but it's a much less consistent option overall.
Checks and Counters
====
**Xatu**: Xatu's 4x resistance to Body Press means even +6 Bronzong will struggle to get past it, and it can safely pivot out with Teleport once Bronzong is forced to use Rest. Stealth Rock variants are even worse off against it, being incapable of ever setting their entry hazard so long as Xatu is still around.
**Ghost-types**: Foes like Golurk, Decidueye, and Palossand put a stop to Iron Defense Bronzong and don't struggle to KO it. Silvally-Ghost is an even bigger issue, since it can use Substitute to block a potential Toxic and set up with Swords Dance.
**Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Several Fighting-resistant Pokemon, including Celebi, Starmie, and Vileplume, can contend with even a set-up Bronzong. Bronzong has the potential to win these matchups depending on its coverage and how many boosts it has when these foes switch in, though.
**Unaware and Critical Hits**: Iron Defense Bronzong, especially with Heatproof, is stopped hard by Quagsire, and Leek Sirfetch'd has a high critical hit rate, letting it potentially bypass Bronzong's Defense boosts.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Abejas, 241380], [Mariannabelle, 435989]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
