[SET]
Swords Dance (Ceruledge) @ Ghostium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bitter Blade
- Poltergeist
- Endure / Close Combat
[SET COMMENTS]
Ceruledge is a devastating wallbreaker and sweeper that, if left unchecked, can cut through opposing teams with ease, creating opportunities for its teammates or itself to sweep. Endure, while seemingly niche, allows Ceruledge to tank super effective physical attacks from the likes of Urshifu-R and Landorus-T and activate Weak Armor. This prevents them from reliably revenge killing Ceruledge and possibly even allows for a sweep. Close Combat is an alternative that hits Mega Tyranitar and Garganacl as well as dealing more damage to Ting-Lu. Ghostium Z is often paired with Endure to give Ceruledge a one-time nuke, allowing it to OHKO would-be checks after a Swords Dance boost, such as Toxapex, Great Tusk, and Gliscor. Life Orb is an alternative that enables more consistent damage; with it, Ceruledge notably OHKOes Ting-Lu with Close Combat while still OHKOing Gliscor with Poltergeist. However, it's typically less consistent than Ghostium Z, as Ceruledge misses out on important KO benchmarks on the aforementioned Great Tusk and Landorus-T as well as Zamazenta. Life Orb also dissuades running Endure, as Ceruledge will KO itself upon using Poltergeist after being left on one HP.
Ceruledge is most often found on offensive teams, hyper offense in particular, that can capitalize off of its incredible wallbreaking capabilities. Entry hazard setters like Mega Diancie and Landorus-T are greatly appreciated, as hazards can chip opposing Pokemon into KO range, such as allowing Swords Dance-boosted Ceruledge to OHKO opposing Landorus-T after Intimidate with Never-Ending Nightmare and Raging Bolt with Poltergeist. Sticky Web from Araquanid or Ribombee is also helpful, since Ceruledge is rather slow before activating Weak Armor, so it allows Ceruledge to outspeed threats such as Ogerpon-W and Choice Scarf Gholdengo while unboosted. Similarly, Mega Charizard Y and Torkoal can set sun, allowing Ceruledge to survive Water-type attacks from Ogerpon-W and Urshifu-R as well as boosting Bitter Blade's damage, securing OHKOs on bulkier Pokemon like Melmetal and letting Ceruledge 2HKO Terapagos with Tera Shell after a Swords Dance boost. Ceruledge is also extremely weak to priority, especially Kingambit's Sucker Punch, so Fighting-type Pokemon like Zamazenta and Great Tusk make good teammates. Additionally, they also threaten Dark-types like Mega Tyranitar and Hisuian Samurott, which Ceruledge can struggle with. In return, Ceruledge weakens, or even outright KOes, their checks, like Toxapex and Alomomola, enabling them to sweep. Great Tusk, in particular, makes a good partner due to its ability to remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin. Similarly, Terapagos also serves as excellent hazard control and, in return, appreciates Ceruledge helping to break through Ting-Lu and the aforementioned Toxapex. Other Pokemon such as Raging Bolt, Kingambit, Zamazenta, and Gholdengo also benefit from Ceruledge overwhelming their checks such as Ting-Lu, Gliscor, and Great Tusk. Ceruledge also tends to struggle to set up versus strong special attackers, such as Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko, since they avoid activating Weak Armor, so Pokemon that can set up on them, like Mega Scizor and Volcarona, also make good teammates.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gigabytes7.660324/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sputnik.475916/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/medasus.632421/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wisteriapurple.664887/
Swords Dance (Ceruledge) @ Ghostium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bitter Blade
- Poltergeist
- Endure / Close Combat
[SET COMMENTS]
Ceruledge is a devastating wallbreaker and sweeper that, if left unchecked, can cut through opposing teams with ease, creating opportunities for its teammates or itself to sweep. Endure, while seemingly niche, allows Ceruledge to tank super effective physical attacks from the likes of Urshifu-R and Landorus-T and activate Weak Armor. This prevents them from reliably revenge killing Ceruledge and possibly even allows for a sweep. Close Combat is an alternative that hits Mega Tyranitar and Garganacl as well as dealing more damage to Ting-Lu. Ghostium Z is often paired with Endure to give Ceruledge a one-time nuke, allowing it to OHKO would-be checks after a Swords Dance boost, such as Toxapex, Great Tusk, and Gliscor. Life Orb is an alternative that enables more consistent damage; with it, Ceruledge notably OHKOes Ting-Lu with Close Combat while still OHKOing Gliscor with Poltergeist. However, it's typically less consistent than Ghostium Z, as Ceruledge misses out on important KO benchmarks on the aforementioned Great Tusk and Landorus-T as well as Zamazenta. Life Orb also dissuades running Endure, as Ceruledge will KO itself upon using Poltergeist after being left on one HP.
Ceruledge is most often found on offensive teams, hyper offense in particular, that can capitalize off of its incredible wallbreaking capabilities. Entry hazard setters like Mega Diancie and Landorus-T are greatly appreciated, as hazards can chip opposing Pokemon into KO range, such as allowing Swords Dance-boosted Ceruledge to OHKO opposing Landorus-T after Intimidate with Never-Ending Nightmare and Raging Bolt with Poltergeist. Sticky Web from Araquanid or Ribombee is also helpful, since Ceruledge is rather slow before activating Weak Armor, so it allows Ceruledge to outspeed threats such as Ogerpon-W and Choice Scarf Gholdengo while unboosted. Similarly, Mega Charizard Y and Torkoal can set sun, allowing Ceruledge to survive Water-type attacks from Ogerpon-W and Urshifu-R as well as boosting Bitter Blade's damage, securing OHKOs on bulkier Pokemon like Melmetal and letting Ceruledge 2HKO Terapagos with Tera Shell after a Swords Dance boost. Ceruledge is also extremely weak to priority, especially Kingambit's Sucker Punch, so Fighting-type Pokemon like Zamazenta and Great Tusk make good teammates. Additionally, they also threaten Dark-types like Mega Tyranitar and Hisuian Samurott, which Ceruledge can struggle with. In return, Ceruledge weakens, or even outright KOes, their checks, like Toxapex and Alomomola, enabling them to sweep. Great Tusk, in particular, makes a good partner due to its ability to remove Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin. Similarly, Terapagos also serves as excellent hazard control and, in return, appreciates Ceruledge helping to break through Ting-Lu and the aforementioned Toxapex. Other Pokemon such as Raging Bolt, Kingambit, Zamazenta, and Gholdengo also benefit from Ceruledge overwhelming their checks such as Ting-Lu, Gliscor, and Great Tusk. Ceruledge also tends to struggle to set up versus strong special attackers, such as Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko, since they avoid activating Weak Armor, so Pokemon that can set up on them, like Mega Scizor and Volcarona, also make good teammates.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gigabytes7.660324/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sputnik.475916/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/medasus.632421/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wisteriapurple.664887/
Last edited:
