Cobalion
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt
item: Expert Belt
nature: Naive
evs: 28 Atk / 228 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Cobalion has great typing and an excellent Speed stat, and this set takes advantage of these traits. Close Combat is a strong STAB move that OHKOes offensive threats such as Heatran and Hydreigon, as well as Blissey, after Stealth Rock. Hidden Power Ice is what allows Cobalion to be such a superb offensive check to physical Dragon-types such as Dragonite, and Salamence; Cobalion can OHKO them (the first two after Stealth Rock) while easily tanking Outrage, even if they have boosted two or three times. It also OHKOes any Gliscor and Landorus(-T), expecting a physical set, making Cobalion a good lure for these three. Volt Switch is a perfect scouting tool for offensive teams that lets Cobalion damage common checks, such as Gengar, Latios, and Tornadus-T, while gaining switch advantage; it also OHKOes Gyarados after Stealth Rock and deals upwards of 50% to standard Skarmory and Starmie. Stealth Rock is an excellent move for offensive teams, and Cobalion finds plenty opportunities to set it up, but Taunt prevents Pokemon such as Skarmory, Forretress, Deoxys-D, and Ferrothorn from setting up.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> Maximum Speed with a Naive nature are used to outspeed Landorus and speed tie with the base 108 group. The following damage calculations highlight the effectiveness of the offensive EVs:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>- Hidden Power Ice vs 252 HP Gliscor: 100.28 - 119.2%</li>
<li>- Hidden Power Ice vs 200 HP Landorus-T: 102.71 - 120.86%</li>
<li>- Hidden Power Ice vs 4 SpD Dragonite (without Multiscale): 86.06 - 102.47%</li>
<li> - Hidden Power Ice vs 0 HP Naive Salamence: 114.5 - 134.74%</li>
<li>- Hidden Power Ice vs 4 HP Breloom: 80.53 - 95.41%</li>
<li>- Volt Switch vs 56 HP Gyarados: 82.02 - 97.39% (OHKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers)</li>
<li>- Volt Switch vs 252 HP Skarmory: 56.88 - 66.76%</li>
<li>- Volt Switch vs 4 SpD Starmie: 62.45 - 74.32%</li>
<li>- Close Combat vs 4 HP / 252 Blissey: 88.65 - 104.9% (OHKO after Stealth Rock)</li>
<li>- Close Combat vs 4 HP Terrakion: 100 - 117.9%</li>
<li>- Close Combat vs 0 HP Heatran: 86.99 - 102.47% (OHKO after Stealth Rock 93.75% of the time)</li></ul>
<p>Expert Belt is the item of choice because Cobalion relies on super effective coverage to hurt its targets; Expert Belt also preserves Cobalion's fantastic physical bulk and helps take advantage of its resilience to passive damage courtesy of its Steel typing. Stone Edge can be used if you want to OHKO offensive Volcarona and seriously dent bulky ones. Thunder Wave is also a good option as most of Cobalion's checks and counters, such as Latios, Latias, Gengar, Choice Scarf Genesect, Tornadus-T, and Volcarona, despise it. X-Scissor allows Cobalion to deal with Celebi and Latios and is its strongest option against Latias and Reuniclus. Finally, Leftovers is an acceptable item choice if you want Cobalion to act more as a tank, although the lack of power is really noticeable; without Expert Belt, Cobalion will also miss out on all the OHKOs mentioned above.</p>
<p>As with most Steel-types, Dragon-types are very nice partners, as they have great synergy; in particular, Dragonite, Salamence, Latios, and Latias, resist or are immune to every weakness of Cobalion, while Cobalion covers every single one of their weaknesses. Rotom-W is another good partner, as it resists Fire and is immune to Ground and also checks many threats that outspeed and KO Cobalion, such as Starmie, Tornadus-T and Choice Scarf Genesect. It also has Volt Switch, enabling the two to shuffle the opponent's team, force out each others counters, and rack up hazards damage. In the same vein, Choice Scarf Genesect handles many threats that Cobalion struggles against, such as Latios, Latias, Celebi, Gengar, Alakazam, Tornadus-T, and Starmie, and gets a free switch against any of them with a well-timed Volt Switch from Cobalion, forming an annoying Volt-turn core. Anything that is remotely bulky and not weak to Cobalion's moves easily walls it, unfortunately. For this reason, Latios, Latias, Celebi, Volcarona, Reuniclus, Gastrodon, specially defensive Jirachi, Tentacruel, and specially defensive Hippowdon are all good counters provided Cobalion doesn't carry a move they are afraid of, such as Stone Edge or X-Scissor. Choice Scarf Genesect, Gengar, Alakazam, Tornadus-T, Starmie, Jolteon, and any special attacker faster than Cobalion that can take some of its attacks and OHKO back is a good check.</p>