[SET]
Choice Specs (Blacephalon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Overheat / Mind Blown
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Choice Specs Blacephalon is one of the tier's most frightening wallbreakers with the strong neutral coverage of Shadow Ball and the extra power of Flamethrower that can overwhelm checks such as Hippowdon and Landorus-T while destroying bulky Pokemon like Melmetal that can otherwise stomach Shadow Ball. Trick disrupts switch-ins like Blissey, Toxapex, and Tyranitar by limiting their move options when they enter the field, and it comes with the extra bonus of weakening Choice Band Tyranitar's attacks while still Choice-locking it. The final moveslot has a couple of options; Overheat is preferred choice due to its fairly manageable drawback, and it is still a nuclear option that can wear down checks like Tyranitar and Assault Vest Tornadus-T while beating would-be checks such as Flame Body Heatran. However, Mind Blown is capable of outrageous feats, such as OHKOing specially defensive Landorus-T and Assault Vest Tornadus-T after Stealth Rock and guaranteeing the OHKO on physically defensive Clefable and bulky Quiver Dance Volcarona, so it is a viable alternative on teams that desire Blacephalon to do as much damage as possible to open up opportunities for teammates and do not mind it sacrificing itself to do so. Blacephalon usually runs maximum Special Attack investment to hit as hard as possible, but an EV spread of 236 HP / 20 SpA / 252 Spe with a Timid Nature allows Blacephalon to boost its Speed with Beast Boost and sweep weakened teams. Blacephalon can also avoid being 2HKOed by Scald from Toxapex with the HP investment.
Team Options
========
Choice Specs Blacephalon fits on offensive teams that appreciate Blacephalon's wallbreaking prowess and disruptive potential. Slow pivots that can bring in Blacephalon safely are incredibly important, such as Landorus-T and Slowbro. Landorus-T can check Heatran and Tapu Koko, while Slowbro can wall threats like Garchomp, Urshifu-R, and Barraskewda. Landorus-T has the bonus of being able to remove entry hazards with Defog to maximize Blacephalon's switch-in opportunities or set up its own Stealth Rock to wear down checks to Blacephalon like Heatran and Tapu Fini. Tornadus-T and Zapdos also provide pivoting support with U-turn and Volt Switch respectively while being strong Defoggers in their own right. Moreover, they are reliable checks to the dangerous Kartana and can help out against Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-T, which can stomach a hit from Blacephalon before retaliating with Earthquake. Rillaboom is a good offensive teammate, as Grassy Terrain gives Blacephalon a form of passive recovery and weakens the power of Earthquake, allowing it to stay in on Pokemon like Hippowdon that would otherwise KO it. Rillaboom can also threaten Water- and Ground-types that check Blacephalon like Tapu Fini, Gastrodon, and Garchomp with Grassy Glide. In return, Blacephalon can break through Rillaboom's checks, such as Zapdos, Tornadus-T, and Buzzwole. Dragapult is also a fantastic offensive teammate that can form a Ghost-type spam core with Blacephalon, breaking through shared checks such as Tyranitar, Gastrodon, and Heatran while providing pivoting support with U-turn. Weavile benefits from Blacephalon's wallbreaking power and ability to threaten its checks, such as Corviknight, Buzzwole, and Ferrothorn, and it is a good offensive check against Pokemon that outspeed and threaten Blacephalon like Dragapult and Tornadus-T. Finally, adequate checks to Tyranitar are mandatory, as it resists all of Blacephalon's attacks and can punch through defensive cores with Choice Band sets or generate progress via entry hazards and status with specially defensive sets despite its weakness to Trick. Melmetal, Ferrothorn, and Buzzwole can all stomach Tyranitar's moves relatively well and threaten it out with Double Iron Bash, Body Press, and Close Combat respectively. All of them can also check Weavile, which outspeeds Blacephalon and KOes it with Knock Off. Melmetal has the bonus of being a solid Dragapult check, while Ferrothorn can wear down grounded checks to Blacephalon like Gastrodon and Toxapex with Spikes.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/veti.612907/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Choice Specs (Blacephalon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Trick
- Overheat / Mind Blown
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Choice Specs Blacephalon is one of the tier's most frightening wallbreakers with the strong neutral coverage of Shadow Ball and the extra power of Flamethrower that can overwhelm checks such as Hippowdon and Landorus-T while destroying bulky Pokemon like Melmetal that can otherwise stomach Shadow Ball. Trick disrupts switch-ins like Blissey, Toxapex, and Tyranitar by limiting their move options when they enter the field, and it comes with the extra bonus of weakening Choice Band Tyranitar's attacks while still Choice-locking it. The final moveslot has a couple of options; Overheat is preferred choice due to its fairly manageable drawback, and it is still a nuclear option that can wear down checks like Tyranitar and Assault Vest Tornadus-T while beating would-be checks such as Flame Body Heatran. However, Mind Blown is capable of outrageous feats, such as OHKOing specially defensive Landorus-T and Assault Vest Tornadus-T after Stealth Rock and guaranteeing the OHKO on physically defensive Clefable and bulky Quiver Dance Volcarona, so it is a viable alternative on teams that desire Blacephalon to do as much damage as possible to open up opportunities for teammates and do not mind it sacrificing itself to do so. Blacephalon usually runs maximum Special Attack investment to hit as hard as possible, but an EV spread of 236 HP / 20 SpA / 252 Spe with a Timid Nature allows Blacephalon to boost its Speed with Beast Boost and sweep weakened teams. Blacephalon can also avoid being 2HKOed by Scald from Toxapex with the HP investment.
Team Options
========
Choice Specs Blacephalon fits on offensive teams that appreciate Blacephalon's wallbreaking prowess and disruptive potential. Slow pivots that can bring in Blacephalon safely are incredibly important, such as Landorus-T and Slowbro. Landorus-T can check Heatran and Tapu Koko, while Slowbro can wall threats like Garchomp, Urshifu-R, and Barraskewda. Landorus-T has the bonus of being able to remove entry hazards with Defog to maximize Blacephalon's switch-in opportunities or set up its own Stealth Rock to wear down checks to Blacephalon like Heatran and Tapu Fini. Tornadus-T and Zapdos also provide pivoting support with U-turn and Volt Switch respectively while being strong Defoggers in their own right. Moreover, they are reliable checks to the dangerous Kartana and can help out against Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-T, which can stomach a hit from Blacephalon before retaliating with Earthquake. Rillaboom is a good offensive teammate, as Grassy Terrain gives Blacephalon a form of passive recovery and weakens the power of Earthquake, allowing it to stay in on Pokemon like Hippowdon that would otherwise KO it. Rillaboom can also threaten Water- and Ground-types that check Blacephalon like Tapu Fini, Gastrodon, and Garchomp with Grassy Glide. In return, Blacephalon can break through Rillaboom's checks, such as Zapdos, Tornadus-T, and Buzzwole. Dragapult is also a fantastic offensive teammate that can form a Ghost-type spam core with Blacephalon, breaking through shared checks such as Tyranitar, Gastrodon, and Heatran while providing pivoting support with U-turn. Weavile benefits from Blacephalon's wallbreaking power and ability to threaten its checks, such as Corviknight, Buzzwole, and Ferrothorn, and it is a good offensive check against Pokemon that outspeed and threaten Blacephalon like Dragapult and Tornadus-T. Finally, adequate checks to Tyranitar are mandatory, as it resists all of Blacephalon's attacks and can punch through defensive cores with Choice Band sets or generate progress via entry hazards and status with specially defensive sets despite its weakness to Trick. Melmetal, Ferrothorn, and Buzzwole can all stomach Tyranitar's moves relatively well and threaten it out with Double Iron Bash, Body Press, and Close Combat respectively. All of them can also check Weavile, which outspeeds Blacephalon and KOes it with Knock Off. Melmetal has the bonus of being a solid Dragapult check, while Ferrothorn can wear down grounded checks to Blacephalon like Gastrodon and Toxapex with Spikes.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/veti.612907/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
