[OVERVIEW]
Bronzong is an elite Steel-type in NU thanks to both its great mixed bulk and an excellent ability in Levitate, which, unlike other Steel-types, allows it to check many Ground-types like Flygon and Gligar, along with other Pokémon that rely on Ground-type coverage to hit Steel-types like Diancie. Bronzong is remarkably resistant to entry hazards, as it simultaneously resists Stealth Rock and has an immunity to Spikes, making it a centerpiece on teams with little to no hazard removal. Furthermore, Bronzong excels at being a great hazard setter thanks to its ability to check threats like Munkidori, Sylveon, and Porygon-Z. It can take advantage of these positive matchups and its already tremendous bulk by instead being a bulky setup sweeper, becoming very difficult to take out. However, Bronzong's only form of recovery is Leftovers, meaning that it has to be even more wary about switching into the already threatening Knock Off from Pokemon that it would check otherwise like Copperajah, Tsareena, and Toxicroak. Additionally, foes that Bronzong is typically expected to check like Munkidori, Florges, and Rotom-C often run Trick to cripple it severely and especially hurts its setup sets.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Psychic Noise
move 3: Body Press / Earthquake
move 4: Heavy Slam / Iron Defense / Night Shade
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD or 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
tera type: Fairy / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Body Press pairs well with Bronzong's good Defense, letting it threaten Dark- and Steel-types like Incineroar, Scrafty, and Copperajah. Earthquake lets Bronzong target Fire- and Poison-types like Chandelure and Galarian Slowbro, and even after Intimidate, it hits Overqwil harder than Body Press can. Heavy Slam allows Bronzong to hit Fairy-types like Sylveon, Florges, and Diancie. Night Shade can be used over Heavy Slam, allowing Bronzong to make solid progress against Ghost- and Dark-types like Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Alolan Muk. Optionally, Bronzong can invest 164 Defense EVs in order to 2HKO offensive Incineroar with Body Press while better taking hits from physical attackers like Flygon. Tera Fairy gives Bronzong a useful resistance to Dark- and Fighting-type attacks from Incineroar and Mienshao. Tera Water, on the other hand, provides it a resistance to Water- and Fire-type attacks, helping it against Pokemon like Inteleon and Chandelure.
Bronzong pairs well with Fighting-types like Mienshao, Scrafty, Toxicroak, and Paldean Tauros-W, as they can handle Dark-types like Incineroar and Alolan Muk, and the last three are great switch-ins to Knock Off; in return, Bronzong checks Fairy- and Psychic-types such as Sylveon, Florges, and Munkidori. Ghost-types like Chandelure, Decidueye, and Brambleghast can take Bronzong's attacks fairly easily and threaten it back with their own STAB attacks. Thus, it best partners with Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, Overqwil, and Bombirdier to check the aforementioned Ghost-types. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Tentacruel can beat Fire-types like Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion for Bronzong. Spikes users like Overqwil, Brambleghast, and Heracross are excellent partners for Bronzong, as they can spread entry hazards to help each other wear down their checks. Wish passers like Vaporeon and Sylveon let Bronzong repeatedly switch in against special wallbreakers like Kilowattrel and Dragalge by offsetting its lack of recovery. Bronzong synergizes well with physical walls like Gligar, Vileplume, and Vaporeon for their positive matchups against physical attackers like Toxicroak, Paldean Tauros-W, and Incineroar. In return, Bronzong handles special wallbreakers like Munkidori, Toxtricity, and Sylveon.
[SET]
name: Bulky Setup Sweeper
move 1: Iron Defense
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Body Press
move 4: Stored Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 204 SpD / 52 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Water / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Body Press lets Bronzong pressure Steel- and Dark-types like Copperajah, Klefki, and Incineroar. Stored Power lets it more easily break through Fighting-resistant and -immune Pokemon that try to switch in like Sylveon, Vileplume, and Decidueye, while the scaling power from both Bronzong's boosted offenses and defenses helps it break past opposing Calm Mind setup from the likes of Sylveon, Florges, and Galarian Slowbro. The EV spread allows Bronzong to outspeed Gastrodon so that when Bronzong Terastallizes, it can attack before being hit by a Clear Smog while giving it enough special bulk to tank many hits. Tera Fairy gives it a resistance to Fighting-, Dark-, and Dragon-type attacks from Heracross, Scrafty, and Flygon. However, Tera Water lets it better handle foes like Inteleon, Chandelure, and Hisuian Typhlosion. Tera Poison could also be used, as it allows Bronzong to check Fighting- and Poison-types like Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Alolan Muk, and it maintains Bronzong's immunity to both Toxic and the latter's Poison Touch.
Wish passers like Vaporeon and Sylveon appreciate Bronzong for checking threats like Munkidori, Kilowattrel, and Porygon-Z. In return, they provide it recovery by passing it Wish. Bronzong greatly appreciates partners like Florges, Mienshao, Scrafty, and Alolan Muk, as they often bring in foes like Munkidori, Sylveon, and Flygon for Bronzong to take advantage of. Fighting- and Fairy-types like Mienshao, Paldean Tauros-F, Florges, and Diancie are great partners for Bronzong, as they can handle Dark-types like Incineroar and Scrafty, and the last three are good Knock Off absorbers; in return, Bronzong checks and can capitalize on bulky Poison-types like Galarian Slowbro, Vileplume, and Dragalge. Bronzong partners well with Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Overqwil, as they can check Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Decidueye, and Brambleghast and bulky Psychic-types like Uxie and opposing Bronzong that it can struggle with. Fire-types like Hisuian Typhlosion, Rotom-H, and Incineroar can force Bronzong to switch out, so it best pairs with bulky Water- and Dragon-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Goodra to check them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Bronzong can opt to run a fully physically defensive EV spread, letting it handle physical wallbreakers like Flygon, Staraptor, and Breloom a bit better, but this makes it worse against Pokemon like Kilowattrel, Inteleon, and Munkidori. Heatproof allows Bronzong to handle Pokemon that carry Fire-type coverage like Fire Punch Flygon and Flamethrower Galarian Slowbro, but the Ground immunity from Levitate is almost always superior. Future Sight lets it limit switch-ins for wallbreakers like Flygon, Breloom, and Paldean Tauros-W. Gyro Ball lets Bronzong hit faster opponents like Mienshao, Tornadus, and Flygon much harder. Protect can be used on utility sets, providing Bronzong a bit more Leftovers recovery and letting it scout out Choice item users like Flygon and Munkidori; however, it struggles to fit it because it prefers to run other utility moves. Trick alongside Toxic Orb allows Bronzong to cripple defensive tanks like Incineroar, Cresselia, and Vaporeon. Colbur Berry lets Bronzong tank Dark-type attacks like Dark Pulse Inteleon and Knock Off Tsareena, but it prefers Leftovers for gaining extra recovery.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types and Dark-type Coverage**: Incineroar, Alolan Muk, Overqwil, and Scrafty can tank Bronzong’s attacks very well and threaten it back with their STAB attacks. However, none of them want to switch into a +2 Body Press. Pokemon that have Dark-type coverage like Throat Chop Flygon, Dark Pulse Inteleon, and Knock Off from Tornadus or Cinccino can put a lot of pressure on Bronzong as well.
**Ghost-types**: Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, Decidueye, and Brambleghast easily destroy Bronzong with their STAB attacks, and the former can cripple it with Trick. However, the first two have to be mindful about switching into Bronzong variants that run Earthquake.
**Item Removal**: Knock Off users like Copperajah, Tsareena, Gligar, and Mienshao can threaten Bronzong by getting rid of its Leftovers, cutting into its longevity over the course of the battle. Choice Scarf users like Munkidori, Florges, and Rotom-C can both bother utility sets and ruin Bronzong's sweeping attempts by crippling it with Trick.
**Fire-types**: Paldean Tauros-F, Rotom-H, and Salazzle threaten Bronzong with their high-Base Power attacks or take advantage of it by getting free turns to set up. Salazzle is especially annoying with its access to Encore and, thanks to Corrosion, can threaten Bronzong with Toxic.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/shengineer.312113/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Bronzong is an elite Steel-type in NU thanks to both its great mixed bulk and an excellent ability in Levitate, which, unlike other Steel-types, allows it to check many Ground-types like Flygon and Gligar, along with other Pokémon that rely on Ground-type coverage to hit Steel-types like Diancie. Bronzong is remarkably resistant to entry hazards, as it simultaneously resists Stealth Rock and has an immunity to Spikes, making it a centerpiece on teams with little to no hazard removal. Furthermore, Bronzong excels at being a great hazard setter thanks to its ability to check threats like Munkidori, Sylveon, and Porygon-Z. It can take advantage of these positive matchups and its already tremendous bulk by instead being a bulky setup sweeper, becoming very difficult to take out. However, Bronzong's only form of recovery is Leftovers, meaning that it has to be even more wary about switching into the already threatening Knock Off from Pokemon that it would check otherwise like Copperajah, Tsareena, and Toxicroak. Additionally, foes that Bronzong is typically expected to check like Munkidori, Florges, and Rotom-C often run Trick to cripple it severely and especially hurts its setup sets.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Psychic Noise
move 3: Body Press / Earthquake
move 4: Heavy Slam / Iron Defense / Night Shade
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD or 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 SpD
tera type: Fairy / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Body Press pairs well with Bronzong's good Defense, letting it threaten Dark- and Steel-types like Incineroar, Scrafty, and Copperajah. Earthquake lets Bronzong target Fire- and Poison-types like Chandelure and Galarian Slowbro, and even after Intimidate, it hits Overqwil harder than Body Press can. Heavy Slam allows Bronzong to hit Fairy-types like Sylveon, Florges, and Diancie. Night Shade can be used over Heavy Slam, allowing Bronzong to make solid progress against Ghost- and Dark-types like Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Alolan Muk. Optionally, Bronzong can invest 164 Defense EVs in order to 2HKO offensive Incineroar with Body Press while better taking hits from physical attackers like Flygon. Tera Fairy gives Bronzong a useful resistance to Dark- and Fighting-type attacks from Incineroar and Mienshao. Tera Water, on the other hand, provides it a resistance to Water- and Fire-type attacks, helping it against Pokemon like Inteleon and Chandelure.
Bronzong pairs well with Fighting-types like Mienshao, Scrafty, Toxicroak, and Paldean Tauros-W, as they can handle Dark-types like Incineroar and Alolan Muk, and the last three are great switch-ins to Knock Off; in return, Bronzong checks Fairy- and Psychic-types such as Sylveon, Florges, and Munkidori. Ghost-types like Chandelure, Decidueye, and Brambleghast can take Bronzong's attacks fairly easily and threaten it back with their own STAB attacks. Thus, it best partners with Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, Overqwil, and Bombirdier to check the aforementioned Ghost-types. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Tentacruel can beat Fire-types like Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion for Bronzong. Spikes users like Overqwil, Brambleghast, and Heracross are excellent partners for Bronzong, as they can spread entry hazards to help each other wear down their checks. Wish passers like Vaporeon and Sylveon let Bronzong repeatedly switch in against special wallbreakers like Kilowattrel and Dragalge by offsetting its lack of recovery. Bronzong synergizes well with physical walls like Gligar, Vileplume, and Vaporeon for their positive matchups against physical attackers like Toxicroak, Paldean Tauros-W, and Incineroar. In return, Bronzong handles special wallbreakers like Munkidori, Toxtricity, and Sylveon.
[SET]
name: Bulky Setup Sweeper
move 1: Iron Defense
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Body Press
move 4: Stored Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 204 SpD / 52 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Water / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Body Press lets Bronzong pressure Steel- and Dark-types like Copperajah, Klefki, and Incineroar. Stored Power lets it more easily break through Fighting-resistant and -immune Pokemon that try to switch in like Sylveon, Vileplume, and Decidueye, while the scaling power from both Bronzong's boosted offenses and defenses helps it break past opposing Calm Mind setup from the likes of Sylveon, Florges, and Galarian Slowbro. The EV spread allows Bronzong to outspeed Gastrodon so that when Bronzong Terastallizes, it can attack before being hit by a Clear Smog while giving it enough special bulk to tank many hits. Tera Fairy gives it a resistance to Fighting-, Dark-, and Dragon-type attacks from Heracross, Scrafty, and Flygon. However, Tera Water lets it better handle foes like Inteleon, Chandelure, and Hisuian Typhlosion. Tera Poison could also be used, as it allows Bronzong to check Fighting- and Poison-types like Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Alolan Muk, and it maintains Bronzong's immunity to both Toxic and the latter's Poison Touch.
Wish passers like Vaporeon and Sylveon appreciate Bronzong for checking threats like Munkidori, Kilowattrel, and Porygon-Z. In return, they provide it recovery by passing it Wish. Bronzong greatly appreciates partners like Florges, Mienshao, Scrafty, and Alolan Muk, as they often bring in foes like Munkidori, Sylveon, and Flygon for Bronzong to take advantage of. Fighting- and Fairy-types like Mienshao, Paldean Tauros-F, Florges, and Diancie are great partners for Bronzong, as they can handle Dark-types like Incineroar and Scrafty, and the last three are good Knock Off absorbers; in return, Bronzong checks and can capitalize on bulky Poison-types like Galarian Slowbro, Vileplume, and Dragalge. Bronzong partners well with Dark-types like Incineroar, Alolan Muk, and Overqwil, as they can check Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Decidueye, and Brambleghast and bulky Psychic-types like Uxie and opposing Bronzong that it can struggle with. Fire-types like Hisuian Typhlosion, Rotom-H, and Incineroar can force Bronzong to switch out, so it best pairs with bulky Water- and Dragon-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Goodra to check them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Bronzong can opt to run a fully physically defensive EV spread, letting it handle physical wallbreakers like Flygon, Staraptor, and Breloom a bit better, but this makes it worse against Pokemon like Kilowattrel, Inteleon, and Munkidori. Heatproof allows Bronzong to handle Pokemon that carry Fire-type coverage like Fire Punch Flygon and Flamethrower Galarian Slowbro, but the Ground immunity from Levitate is almost always superior. Future Sight lets it limit switch-ins for wallbreakers like Flygon, Breloom, and Paldean Tauros-W. Gyro Ball lets Bronzong hit faster opponents like Mienshao, Tornadus, and Flygon much harder. Protect can be used on utility sets, providing Bronzong a bit more Leftovers recovery and letting it scout out Choice item users like Flygon and Munkidori; however, it struggles to fit it because it prefers to run other utility moves. Trick alongside Toxic Orb allows Bronzong to cripple defensive tanks like Incineroar, Cresselia, and Vaporeon. Colbur Berry lets Bronzong tank Dark-type attacks like Dark Pulse Inteleon and Knock Off Tsareena, but it prefers Leftovers for gaining extra recovery.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types and Dark-type Coverage**: Incineroar, Alolan Muk, Overqwil, and Scrafty can tank Bronzong’s attacks very well and threaten it back with their STAB attacks. However, none of them want to switch into a +2 Body Press. Pokemon that have Dark-type coverage like Throat Chop Flygon, Dark Pulse Inteleon, and Knock Off from Tornadus or Cinccino can put a lot of pressure on Bronzong as well.
**Ghost-types**: Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, Decidueye, and Brambleghast easily destroy Bronzong with their STAB attacks, and the former can cripple it with Trick. However, the first two have to be mindful about switching into Bronzong variants that run Earthquake.
**Item Removal**: Knock Off users like Copperajah, Tsareena, Gligar, and Mienshao can threaten Bronzong by getting rid of its Leftovers, cutting into its longevity over the course of the battle. Choice Scarf users like Munkidori, Florges, and Rotom-C can both bother utility sets and ruin Bronzong's sweeping attempts by crippling it with Trick.
**Fire-types**: Paldean Tauros-F, Rotom-H, and Salazzle threaten Bronzong with their high-Base Power attacks or take advantage of it by getting free turns to set up. Salazzle is especially annoying with its access to Encore and, thanks to Corrosion, can threaten Bronzong with Toxic.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/shengineer.312113/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
