Eggs
some days, you just can't get rid of an egg
[SET]
name: Utility Pivot
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Toxic / Taunt
item: Rocky Helmet / Chople Berry
ability: Regenerator
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Cobalion is one of the premier pivots in the metagame, and its excellent movepool makes it a great utility Pokemon for many teams. An excellent Fighting/Steel typing and a high Defense stat make it one of the best Weavile checks in the format, as well as a great switch in to the ever-present Knock Off. Cobalion also serves as an effective Stealth Rock setter, as it can shut down Defog attempts via Taunt, or use Volt Switch to pivot into a teammate that can deal with the opponent's Defogger. Close Combat is Cobalion's most reliable STAB move, and is used to damage Pokemon like Weavile, Barraskewda, and Zarude that stay in on Cobalion. Toxic is used to damage Pokemon like Zapdos and Tapu Fini, who would otherwise Defog or threaten to damage and status Cobalion with their STAB moves, while Taunt can be chosen to stop opposing Hazard Control or status moves. 112 Speed Evs are used to outspeed Timid Heatran as well as Neutral Lucario, while the remaining EVs are placed in HP and Defense to maximize physical bulk. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item, as it deals significant damage to Weavile not using Magic Guard, as well as punishing pivot moves from Pokemon like Swampert and Corviknight with chip. Chople Berry allows Cobalion to live a single powerful Fighting attack, often a +2 Low Kick from Weavile, but it is also useful for tanking Close Combats from Pokemon such as Barraskewda and Terrakion, and KOing back with another Close Combat.
As a pivot, hazard setter, and Weavile check, Cobalion is easily to fit on most AAA teams, who value all of those qualities and the role compression that Cobalion provides. It forms a great defensive pivoting core with Regenvest Swampert, who acts as a great blanket check to many of the special attackers that would take advantage of Cobalion's weaker Special Defense. Because Cobalion's only form of recovery is Regenerator, it synergizes well with physical walls who can switch into Pokemon that force Cobalion out. Mew, Zapdos, and Tapu Fini all perform this job well, and appreciate Cobalion switching into Knock Offs for them. Zapdos deserves special mention, as Primordial Sea Zapdos is immune to or resists all of Cobalion's weaknesses (and vice versa), while providing Defog and Status support as well. As one of AAA's many pivots, Cobalion pairs well with offensive Pokemon that have difficulty switching in by themselves, such as Talonflame, Tapu Koko, and Genesect. Cobalion is usually forced out by Fighting, Fire, and Ground Types, who can threaten it out with their supereffective STABs. Ground types will often switch into Cobalion as it attempts to pivot with Volt Switch, blocking the pivot and forcing a manual switch. Magic Bounce users like Mew and Slowbro stop Cobalion from setting Stealth Rock, forcing it to switch to a teammate who can deal with them. While Cobalion doesn't mind if Stealth Rock is on its side, Spikes will noticeably offset the recovery from Regenerator; Cobalion appreciates Defog support from teammates like Zapdos and Tapu Fini.
[SET]
name: Magic Guard
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Steel Beam
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt / Calm Mind / Rock Polish
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Cobalion trades longevity and bulk for speed and power, allowing it to act as an excellent offensive pivot. Cobalion's average 90 base offenses are shored up by a recoil-free Life Orb boost and excellent high Base Power STABs in Steel Beam and Close Combat, giving it a surprisingly high damage output. Steel Beam hits incredibly hard, even more after a Calm Mind boost, and is capable of OHKOing offensive threats like Landorus-Therian and Tapu Koko, while dealing heavy damage to defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Mew. Close Combat serves as a reliable and powerful STAB move, nailing switch ins like Heatran and Blissey. Volt Switch deals decent damage to Water and Flying types, while also letting Cobalion gain momentum for its team. The last move is flexible; Magic Guard Cobalion's high Speed make it an effective user of Taunt and Stealth Rock, while Calm Mind and Rock Polish can be used to make it a solid wallbreaker or win condition. A Naive nature is used alongside maximum Special Attack and Speed investment to maximize Steel Beam's damage and outspeed offensive Pokemon like Zarude and Garchomp, while not weakening Close Combat. While it's still a Knock Off switchin, Magic Guard Cobalion relies on its Life Orb to nab crucial OHKOs and 2HKOs on Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Mew, and would prefer not to lose it.
This set fits best on teams that appreciate Cobalion's speed and power, while still providing utility or momentum. As always. Cobalion forms a solid pivoting core with Zapdos and Swampert, both of whom resist Cobalion's weaknesses and appreciate its breaking power, utility, and speed. Cobalion also forms great offensive VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Cinderace, Azelf, and Zarude, all of whom deal with common Cobalion switchins and appreciate the support it provides. Because it lacks Regenerator, Cobalion cannot repeatedly check Weavile throughout a game, another Weavile switchin like Tapu Fini or Corviknight ensures that a team won't get run over by a set that can beat Cobalion. If opting to run Calm Mind or Rock Polish, entry hazard support is vital to chip checks like Zapdos and Swampert into 2HKO range; Landorus-Therian and Mew are excellent hazard setters who can also pivot into Cobalion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Cobalion is capable of running Physically offensive sets with Swords Dance / Iron Head / Close Combat / Stone Edge, but aside from the surprise factor it has little to offer over Terrakion or Lucario. Thunder Wave and Roar are options on the Utility Pivot set for teams that value Speed Control or need Phasing, but Toxic and Taunt are more useful in most situations.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground Types**: Cobalion relies on Volt Switch to gain momentum for its team, and Ground Types like Garchomp, Landorus-Therian and Swampert can block a Volt Switch and force Cobalion out with their supereffective STAB.
**Faster Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Azelf, and Blacephalon outspeed Cobalion and prey on its weaker Special Defense, forcing it out into a teammate.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos takes little damage from Close Combat or Steel Beam, and can both force Cobalion out with its STABs and remove Stealth Rock that it set. Defensive Zapdos sets are also slower than Cobalion, allowing Zapdos to gain momentum on a pivoting Cobalion via U-Turn or Volt Switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eggs, 517099]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
name: Utility Pivot
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Toxic / Taunt
item: Rocky Helmet / Chople Berry
ability: Regenerator
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Cobalion is one of the premier pivots in the metagame, and its excellent movepool makes it a great utility Pokemon for many teams. An excellent Fighting/Steel typing and a high Defense stat make it one of the best Weavile checks in the format, as well as a great switch in to the ever-present Knock Off. Cobalion also serves as an effective Stealth Rock setter, as it can shut down Defog attempts via Taunt, or use Volt Switch to pivot into a teammate that can deal with the opponent's Defogger. Close Combat is Cobalion's most reliable STAB move, and is used to damage Pokemon like Weavile, Barraskewda, and Zarude that stay in on Cobalion. Toxic is used to damage Pokemon like Zapdos and Tapu Fini, who would otherwise Defog or threaten to damage and status Cobalion with their STAB moves, while Taunt can be chosen to stop opposing Hazard Control or status moves. 112 Speed Evs are used to outspeed Timid Heatran as well as Neutral Lucario, while the remaining EVs are placed in HP and Defense to maximize physical bulk. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item, as it deals significant damage to Weavile not using Magic Guard, as well as punishing pivot moves from Pokemon like Swampert and Corviknight with chip. Chople Berry allows Cobalion to live a single powerful Fighting attack, often a +2 Low Kick from Weavile, but it is also useful for tanking Close Combats from Pokemon such as Barraskewda and Terrakion, and KOing back with another Close Combat.
As a pivot, hazard setter, and Weavile check, Cobalion is easily to fit on most AAA teams, who value all of those qualities and the role compression that Cobalion provides. It forms a great defensive pivoting core with Regenvest Swampert, who acts as a great blanket check to many of the special attackers that would take advantage of Cobalion's weaker Special Defense. Because Cobalion's only form of recovery is Regenerator, it synergizes well with physical walls who can switch into Pokemon that force Cobalion out. Mew, Zapdos, and Tapu Fini all perform this job well, and appreciate Cobalion switching into Knock Offs for them. Zapdos deserves special mention, as Primordial Sea Zapdos is immune to or resists all of Cobalion's weaknesses (and vice versa), while providing Defog and Status support as well. As one of AAA's many pivots, Cobalion pairs well with offensive Pokemon that have difficulty switching in by themselves, such as Talonflame, Tapu Koko, and Genesect. Cobalion is usually forced out by Fighting, Fire, and Ground Types, who can threaten it out with their supereffective STABs. Ground types will often switch into Cobalion as it attempts to pivot with Volt Switch, blocking the pivot and forcing a manual switch. Magic Bounce users like Mew and Slowbro stop Cobalion from setting Stealth Rock, forcing it to switch to a teammate who can deal with them. While Cobalion doesn't mind if Stealth Rock is on its side, Spikes will noticeably offset the recovery from Regenerator; Cobalion appreciates Defog support from teammates like Zapdos and Tapu Fini.
[SET]
name: Magic Guard
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Steel Beam
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt / Calm Mind / Rock Polish
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Cobalion trades longevity and bulk for speed and power, allowing it to act as an excellent offensive pivot. Cobalion's average 90 base offenses are shored up by a recoil-free Life Orb boost and excellent high Base Power STABs in Steel Beam and Close Combat, giving it a surprisingly high damage output. Steel Beam hits incredibly hard, even more after a Calm Mind boost, and is capable of OHKOing offensive threats like Landorus-Therian and Tapu Koko, while dealing heavy damage to defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Mew. Close Combat serves as a reliable and powerful STAB move, nailing switch ins like Heatran and Blissey. Volt Switch deals decent damage to Water and Flying types, while also letting Cobalion gain momentum for its team. The last move is flexible; Magic Guard Cobalion's high Speed make it an effective user of Taunt and Stealth Rock, while Calm Mind and Rock Polish can be used to make it a solid wallbreaker or win condition. A Naive nature is used alongside maximum Special Attack and Speed investment to maximize Steel Beam's damage and outspeed offensive Pokemon like Zarude and Garchomp, while not weakening Close Combat. While it's still a Knock Off switchin, Magic Guard Cobalion relies on its Life Orb to nab crucial OHKOs and 2HKOs on Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Mew, and would prefer not to lose it.
This set fits best on teams that appreciate Cobalion's speed and power, while still providing utility or momentum. As always. Cobalion forms a solid pivoting core with Zapdos and Swampert, both of whom resist Cobalion's weaknesses and appreciate its breaking power, utility, and speed. Cobalion also forms great offensive VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Cinderace, Azelf, and Zarude, all of whom deal with common Cobalion switchins and appreciate the support it provides. Because it lacks Regenerator, Cobalion cannot repeatedly check Weavile throughout a game, another Weavile switchin like Tapu Fini or Corviknight ensures that a team won't get run over by a set that can beat Cobalion. If opting to run Calm Mind or Rock Polish, entry hazard support is vital to chip checks like Zapdos and Swampert into 2HKO range; Landorus-Therian and Mew are excellent hazard setters who can also pivot into Cobalion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Cobalion is capable of running Physically offensive sets with Swords Dance / Iron Head / Close Combat / Stone Edge, but aside from the surprise factor it has little to offer over Terrakion or Lucario. Thunder Wave and Roar are options on the Utility Pivot set for teams that value Speed Control or need Phasing, but Toxic and Taunt are more useful in most situations.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground Types**: Cobalion relies on Volt Switch to gain momentum for its team, and Ground Types like Garchomp, Landorus-Therian and Swampert can block a Volt Switch and force Cobalion out with their supereffective STAB.
**Faster Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Azelf, and Blacephalon outspeed Cobalion and prey on its weaker Special Defense, forcing it out into a teammate.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos takes little damage from Close Combat or Steel Beam, and can both force Cobalion out with its STABs and remove Stealth Rock that it set. Defensive Zapdos sets are also slower than Cobalion, allowing Zapdos to gain momentum on a pivoting Cobalion via U-Turn or Volt Switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eggs, 517099]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
Last edited:
