[OVERVIEW]
Chandelure's amazing Special Attack stat, threatening STAB combination, and wide utility movepool make it a strong offensive presence capable of working around most of its checks. Choice Specs is an excellent option for its immediate wallbreaking prowess and ability to utilize utility moves like Sleep Talk and Trick. Alternatively, Hex Chandelure can take advantage of the switches it forces to burden switch-ins like Primarina and Kommo-o with status, wearing them down with chip damage and STAB Hex throughout the match. Chandelure's typing also offers a few defensive benefits, letting it soft check popular Pokemon like Celesteela and Amoonguss. Unfortunately, Chandelure's rather average Speed and common weaknesses allow UU's many faster threats, including Keldeo, Krookodile, and Nihilego, to overwhelm it. Moreover, it is weak to Stealth Rock, which can significantly damage its longevity on sets that aren't running Heavy-Duty Boots. The other Fire- and Ghost-types available in UU also give Chandelure fair competition, with Moltres offering greater utility through its typing, recovery, and pivoting capabilities, and Aegislash both lacking a Stealth Rock weakness and being more versatile overall.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Sleep Talk / Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flash Fire / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Fire Blast is an immensely powerful STAB move that can significantly damage even resisted foes, threatening to 2HKO Salamence and Keldeo. Overheat is also an option, offering even more power and notably damaging foes like Bulletproof Kommo-o and Incineroar more reliably. However, its Special Attack drop makes Fire Blast more spammable. Flamethrower is strong and accurate, preventing foes like Aegislash, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss from utilizing a lucky Fire Blast miss to cripple Chandelure. Psychic is an option that provides coverage against Kommo-o and Nihilego, though both these targets are adequately worn down by Chandelure's other attacks. Sleep Talk lets Chandelure act as a sleep absorber for its team, pivoting in on Amoonguss's Spore without being entirely crippled. Trick is another option in the fourth moveslot, however, to cripple defensive switch-ins like Chansey, Incineroar, and Tentacruel. Flash Fire allows Chandelure to pivot in on Fire-type attacks from foes like Moltres and Choice-locked Entei, boosting its damage output. Flame Body is also an option, however, to potentially punish physical attackers such as Buzzwole.
This set is a solid fit on offense and balance teams for the massive wallbreaking prowess it offers. Chandelure appreciates entry hazard support for furthering damage on foes alongside its attacks; Rhyperior and Seismitoad are solid choices, additionally pivoting in on foes that can revenge kill it like Lycanroc-D and Thundurus. Entry hazard removal is also important due to this set's vulnerability to Stealth Rock. Tentacruel can pivot in on foes like Keldeo and Primarina while utilizing Rapid Spin. Rotom-W is a particularly strong teammate, as it can lure in Grass-types and pivot Chandelure into them with Volt Switch while also making use of Defog. Pivots that can bring Chandelure in safely for opportunities to wallbreak make good teammates. Thundurus can weaken foes with Knock Off and take on Water-types while bringing Chandelure in against foes like Tangrowth with Volt Switch. Zarude is another strong partner, pressuring foes like Primarina and Nihilego for Chandelure and bringing it in against Pokemon like Buzzwole and Amoonguss. Sweepers like Swords Dance Cobalion and Calm Mind Keldeo appreciate this set's wallbreaking prowess weakening teams for them to more easily clean up late-game. This set can struggle breaking past a few specially defensive Pokemon, such as Chansey and Tentacruel, making physically offensive Pokemon like Mienshao and Mamoswine decent partners to complement Chandelure's pressure.
[SET]
name: Hex
move 1: Hex
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Protect
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flash Fire / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hex severely damages foes that Chandelure hits with Toxic. However, it should be noted that it isn't too powerful on non-statused foes, which can require careful play. Toxic burdens potential switch-ins like Bulletproof Kommo-o, Gastrodon, and Salamence, putting them on a timer and allowing Chandelure to potentially whittle them down with Hex. Protect allows Chandelure to rack up poison damage and can also scout Choice item users, such as Zarude and Primarina. Fire Blast is an option over Flamethrower, providing more power for breaking past foes like Galarian Moltres and Nidoqueen more reliably. Its lower accuracy can be a burden, however, against foes like Amoonguss and Tangrowth that can punish a miss. Taunt is an option over Protect, allowing Chandelure to pressure Chansey more effectively by blocking Chansey's recovery and Toxic, which boosts its stall matchup. However, Protect is often too valuable thanks to its stronger applications against offensive Pokemon. Heavy-Duty Boots significantly boosts this set's longevity and self-sufficiency. Flash Fire allows Chandelure to take advantage of foes like opposing Choice-locked Chandelure. Flame Body is also an option, however, allowing it to pivot into and threaten a burn against foes like Jirachi and Celesteela. It can also let Chandelure cripple Pokemon that revenge kill it, like Knock Off Thundurus, as it faints.
This set is a strong fit on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate Chandelure's ability to wear down defensive threats early- to mid-game. Chandelure notably struggles breaking past the likes of Nihilego and Tentacruel with this set's listed options, making Pokemon more equipped to handle them, like Nidoqueen and Seismitoad, good teammates. Both can also set Stealth Rock for Chandelure, whittling down its checks. Other entry hazard setters can work well too; Rhyperior can also ease the matchup against foes like Moltres and Thundurus, and Kommo-o can pivot in on opposing Chandelure. Sweepers like Cobalion, Keldeo, and Lycanroc-D appreciate Chandelure's ability to weaken bulky foes like Rhyperior and Primarina throughout a match with Toxic, allowing them to clean up more easily late-game. Chandelure appreciates them compensating for its slightly paltry Speed. Chandelure also enjoys pivots as teammates, as it doesn't often enjoy directly switching into play. In addition to providing pivoting support, Choice Scarf Jirachi can pressure faster Pokemon like Lycanroc-D and Nihilego, while Electric-types like Thundurus and Rotom-W can lure in Pokemon for Chandelure to take advantage of, like Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Rotom-W can also pivot in on various Ground-types, like Rhyperior and Krookodile. Other status spreaders can work well as teammates, alleviating Chandelure's need for prediction regarding Hex. Galarian Slowbro is particularly good at spreading status due to its tendency to run both Scald and Sludge Bomb. Tentacruel does this as well and can also utilize Knock Off to further cripple foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute + Calm Mind is an okay option for a set, taking advantage of defensive foes like Chansey to find setup opportunities. However, Chandelure's other sets are more immediately powerful, which is often more valuable for it. Will-O-Wisp is an option over Toxic on the Hex set, inflicting status on foes immune to poison like Tentacruel and Nihilego. However, Toxic is usually more valuable due to its greater long-term chip damage on Pokemon like Primarina and Gastrodon, as well as its ability to hit Fire-types like Rotom-H and Moltres. Energy Ball is a situational option for powering through various Pokemon, like Rhyperior, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad, in one hit. It also deals super effective damage to foes like Primarina and Suicune. Chandelure can still hit all the aforementioned targets hard with its Ghost-type moves, however. Choice Scarf Chandelure is an adequate revenge killer with its potent offensive typing, even still having the option of crippling defensive checks with Trick, though it notably lacks power and is usually only standout on sun teams. Memento allows Chandelure to grab momentum for its team after it's been weakened while potentially positioning a teammate to sweep. This is rather situational and gives up better utility, though, usually only working well on Choice item sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon and Priority**: Chandelure's rather average Speed leaves it vulnerable to most faster Pokemon, such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and Mienshao, which can smack it with super effective attacks. Various priority attacks, such as Azumarill and Crawdaunt's Aqua Jet, can also revenge kill it.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Various specially bulky Pokemon can tank hits from Chandelure and cripple it in return. Chansey doesn't risk major damage from any attack, but it needs to look out for Trick or Taunt on the switch; Taunt leaves it completely unable to touch Chandelure. Nihilego can always take at least one Shadow Ball from full and pressure Chandelure with a super effective STAB moves. It's a particularly strong check to the Hex set, bearing an immunity to Toxic and taking minimal damage from Fire-type moves.
**Water-types**: Several Water-types can often find ways to give Chandelure trouble. Azumarill and Crawdaunt can apply serious pressure with their powerful STAB Aqua Jet. Primarina can take any hit from full health and power through Chandelure with its Water-type STAB moves. Tentacruel can be particularly annoying, tanking attacks with its good special bulk and checking the Hex set well thanks to its Toxic immunity. Although they fear Toxic, Milotic and Mantine make for solid answers thanks to their reliable recovery. Both can also often take two Choice Specs-boosted Shadow Balls from full, but they should be wary of being too worn down to reliably pivot in.
**Dark-types**: Krookodile and Zarude often struggle to reliably switch in, but they can outspeed Chandelure and pick it off with super effective STAB moves. Incineroar, albeit uncommon, resists both of Chandelure's STAB moves and can take advantage of it to annoy a switch-in with either Knock Off or status. Galarian Moltres's high Special Defense allows it to tank hits from Chandelure to then set up. Umbreon is another good check thanks to its superb special bulk and Heal Bell, which allow it to handle Hex sets on its own.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [avarice, 346653], [Monky25, 515132]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Chandelure's amazing Special Attack stat, threatening STAB combination, and wide utility movepool make it a strong offensive presence capable of working around most of its checks. Choice Specs is an excellent option for its immediate wallbreaking prowess and ability to utilize utility moves like Sleep Talk and Trick. Alternatively, Hex Chandelure can take advantage of the switches it forces to burden switch-ins like Primarina and Kommo-o with status, wearing them down with chip damage and STAB Hex throughout the match. Chandelure's typing also offers a few defensive benefits, letting it soft check popular Pokemon like Celesteela and Amoonguss. Unfortunately, Chandelure's rather average Speed and common weaknesses allow UU's many faster threats, including Keldeo, Krookodile, and Nihilego, to overwhelm it. Moreover, it is weak to Stealth Rock, which can significantly damage its longevity on sets that aren't running Heavy-Duty Boots. The other Fire- and Ghost-types available in UU also give Chandelure fair competition, with Moltres offering greater utility through its typing, recovery, and pivoting capabilities, and Aegislash both lacking a Stealth Rock weakness and being more versatile overall.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast / Overheat
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Sleep Talk / Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flash Fire / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Fire Blast is an immensely powerful STAB move that can significantly damage even resisted foes, threatening to 2HKO Salamence and Keldeo. Overheat is also an option, offering even more power and notably damaging foes like Bulletproof Kommo-o and Incineroar more reliably. However, its Special Attack drop makes Fire Blast more spammable. Flamethrower is strong and accurate, preventing foes like Aegislash, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss from utilizing a lucky Fire Blast miss to cripple Chandelure. Psychic is an option that provides coverage against Kommo-o and Nihilego, though both these targets are adequately worn down by Chandelure's other attacks. Sleep Talk lets Chandelure act as a sleep absorber for its team, pivoting in on Amoonguss's Spore without being entirely crippled. Trick is another option in the fourth moveslot, however, to cripple defensive switch-ins like Chansey, Incineroar, and Tentacruel. Flash Fire allows Chandelure to pivot in on Fire-type attacks from foes like Moltres and Choice-locked Entei, boosting its damage output. Flame Body is also an option, however, to potentially punish physical attackers such as Buzzwole.
This set is a solid fit on offense and balance teams for the massive wallbreaking prowess it offers. Chandelure appreciates entry hazard support for furthering damage on foes alongside its attacks; Rhyperior and Seismitoad are solid choices, additionally pivoting in on foes that can revenge kill it like Lycanroc-D and Thundurus. Entry hazard removal is also important due to this set's vulnerability to Stealth Rock. Tentacruel can pivot in on foes like Keldeo and Primarina while utilizing Rapid Spin. Rotom-W is a particularly strong teammate, as it can lure in Grass-types and pivot Chandelure into them with Volt Switch while also making use of Defog. Pivots that can bring Chandelure in safely for opportunities to wallbreak make good teammates. Thundurus can weaken foes with Knock Off and take on Water-types while bringing Chandelure in against foes like Tangrowth with Volt Switch. Zarude is another strong partner, pressuring foes like Primarina and Nihilego for Chandelure and bringing it in against Pokemon like Buzzwole and Amoonguss. Sweepers like Swords Dance Cobalion and Calm Mind Keldeo appreciate this set's wallbreaking prowess weakening teams for them to more easily clean up late-game. This set can struggle breaking past a few specially defensive Pokemon, such as Chansey and Tentacruel, making physically offensive Pokemon like Mienshao and Mamoswine decent partners to complement Chandelure's pressure.
[SET]
name: Hex
move 1: Hex
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Protect
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flash Fire / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hex severely damages foes that Chandelure hits with Toxic. However, it should be noted that it isn't too powerful on non-statused foes, which can require careful play. Toxic burdens potential switch-ins like Bulletproof Kommo-o, Gastrodon, and Salamence, putting them on a timer and allowing Chandelure to potentially whittle them down with Hex. Protect allows Chandelure to rack up poison damage and can also scout Choice item users, such as Zarude and Primarina. Fire Blast is an option over Flamethrower, providing more power for breaking past foes like Galarian Moltres and Nidoqueen more reliably. Its lower accuracy can be a burden, however, against foes like Amoonguss and Tangrowth that can punish a miss. Taunt is an option over Protect, allowing Chandelure to pressure Chansey more effectively by blocking Chansey's recovery and Toxic, which boosts its stall matchup. However, Protect is often too valuable thanks to its stronger applications against offensive Pokemon. Heavy-Duty Boots significantly boosts this set's longevity and self-sufficiency. Flash Fire allows Chandelure to take advantage of foes like opposing Choice-locked Chandelure. Flame Body is also an option, however, allowing it to pivot into and threaten a burn against foes like Jirachi and Celesteela. It can also let Chandelure cripple Pokemon that revenge kill it, like Knock Off Thundurus, as it faints.
This set is a strong fit on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate Chandelure's ability to wear down defensive threats early- to mid-game. Chandelure notably struggles breaking past the likes of Nihilego and Tentacruel with this set's listed options, making Pokemon more equipped to handle them, like Nidoqueen and Seismitoad, good teammates. Both can also set Stealth Rock for Chandelure, whittling down its checks. Other entry hazard setters can work well too; Rhyperior can also ease the matchup against foes like Moltres and Thundurus, and Kommo-o can pivot in on opposing Chandelure. Sweepers like Cobalion, Keldeo, and Lycanroc-D appreciate Chandelure's ability to weaken bulky foes like Rhyperior and Primarina throughout a match with Toxic, allowing them to clean up more easily late-game. Chandelure appreciates them compensating for its slightly paltry Speed. Chandelure also enjoys pivots as teammates, as it doesn't often enjoy directly switching into play. In addition to providing pivoting support, Choice Scarf Jirachi can pressure faster Pokemon like Lycanroc-D and Nihilego, while Electric-types like Thundurus and Rotom-W can lure in Pokemon for Chandelure to take advantage of, like Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Rotom-W can also pivot in on various Ground-types, like Rhyperior and Krookodile. Other status spreaders can work well as teammates, alleviating Chandelure's need for prediction regarding Hex. Galarian Slowbro is particularly good at spreading status due to its tendency to run both Scald and Sludge Bomb. Tentacruel does this as well and can also utilize Knock Off to further cripple foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute + Calm Mind is an okay option for a set, taking advantage of defensive foes like Chansey to find setup opportunities. However, Chandelure's other sets are more immediately powerful, which is often more valuable for it. Will-O-Wisp is an option over Toxic on the Hex set, inflicting status on foes immune to poison like Tentacruel and Nihilego. However, Toxic is usually more valuable due to its greater long-term chip damage on Pokemon like Primarina and Gastrodon, as well as its ability to hit Fire-types like Rotom-H and Moltres. Energy Ball is a situational option for powering through various Pokemon, like Rhyperior, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad, in one hit. It also deals super effective damage to foes like Primarina and Suicune. Chandelure can still hit all the aforementioned targets hard with its Ghost-type moves, however. Choice Scarf Chandelure is an adequate revenge killer with its potent offensive typing, even still having the option of crippling defensive checks with Trick, though it notably lacks power and is usually only standout on sun teams. Memento allows Chandelure to grab momentum for its team after it's been weakened while potentially positioning a teammate to sweep. This is rather situational and gives up better utility, though, usually only working well on Choice item sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon and Priority**: Chandelure's rather average Speed leaves it vulnerable to most faster Pokemon, such as Keldeo, Thundurus, and Mienshao, which can smack it with super effective attacks. Various priority attacks, such as Azumarill and Crawdaunt's Aqua Jet, can also revenge kill it.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Various specially bulky Pokemon can tank hits from Chandelure and cripple it in return. Chansey doesn't risk major damage from any attack, but it needs to look out for Trick or Taunt on the switch; Taunt leaves it completely unable to touch Chandelure. Nihilego can always take at least one Shadow Ball from full and pressure Chandelure with a super effective STAB moves. It's a particularly strong check to the Hex set, bearing an immunity to Toxic and taking minimal damage from Fire-type moves.
**Water-types**: Several Water-types can often find ways to give Chandelure trouble. Azumarill and Crawdaunt can apply serious pressure with their powerful STAB Aqua Jet. Primarina can take any hit from full health and power through Chandelure with its Water-type STAB moves. Tentacruel can be particularly annoying, tanking attacks with its good special bulk and checking the Hex set well thanks to its Toxic immunity. Although they fear Toxic, Milotic and Mantine make for solid answers thanks to their reliable recovery. Both can also often take two Choice Specs-boosted Shadow Balls from full, but they should be wary of being too worn down to reliably pivot in.
**Dark-types**: Krookodile and Zarude often struggle to reliably switch in, but they can outspeed Chandelure and pick it off with super effective STAB moves. Incineroar, albeit uncommon, resists both of Chandelure's STAB moves and can take advantage of it to annoy a switch-in with either Knock Off or status. Galarian Moltres's high Special Defense allows it to tank hits from Chandelure to then set up. Umbreon is another good check thanks to its superb special bulk and Heal Bell, which allow it to handle Hex sets on its own.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [avarice, 346653], [Monky25, 515132]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
