[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 a useful utility pivot, and its excellent movepool gives it a solid niche on many teams. An excellent typing and high Defense make it one of the better checks to Zarude, as well as a great switch-in to the ever-present Knock Off. Cobalion's also an effective Stealth Rock setter, pivoting checks to Defoggers in with Volt Switch or even shutting them down via Taunt. Close Combat damages Pokemon like Barraskewda and Zarude that would otherwise stay in on Cobalion, and it can also deter Magic Bounce Blissey. Toxic damages Pokemon like Zapdos and Swampert, which would otherwise use Defog or damage and status Cobalion with their STAB moves, while Taunt instead stops Defog or status moves from Pokemon like Corviknight and Ferrothorn. 112 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Timid Heatran as well as neutral Lucario. Rocky Helmet significantly damages many physical attackers and punishes pivot moves from Pokemon like Swampert and Corviknight. Chople Berry allows Cobalion to survive a single powerful Fighting-type attack, including a Close Combat from Terrakion or Zarude, for a surprise KO back.
As a pivot and entry hazard setter, Cobalion is easy to fit on most AAA teams, which highly value both qualities, espeically in one package. It forms a great defensive pivoting core with RegenVest Swampert, which is 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, which can switch into Pokemon that overwhelm and force Cobalion out. Mew, Zapdos, and Tapu Fini all perform this job well, and they appreciate Cobalion switching into Knock Off 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. Like AAA's other pivots, Cobalion pairs well with offensive Pokemon that struggle to switch in, such as Talonflame, Tapu Koko, and Genesect. Ground-types like Swampert will often switch into Cobalion as it attempts to pivot with Volt Switch, blocking the pivot and forcing a manual switch. Teammates like Zarude and Dhelmise can handle them. Magic Bounce users like Mew stop Cobalion from setting Stealth Rock, forcing it to switch to a teammate like Corviknight that can deal with them. Lastly, there are several physical attackers like Terrakion and Talonflame that exploit Cobalion's weaknesses, so additional physically defensive partners like Tapu Fini are appreciated.
[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, acting as an excellent offensive pivot. Cobalion's average offenses are shored up by a recoil-free Life Orb boost and strong STAB moves in Steel Beam and Close Combat, giving it a surprisingly high damage output. Steel Beam hits incredibly hard, even more so with Calm Mind, and can OHKO offensive threats like Landorus-T after Stealth Rock and Tapu Koko outright. It also heavily damages defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Mew. Close Combat reliably nails Steel Beam switch-ins like Heatran and Blissey. Volt Switch deals decent damage to Water- and Flying-types while also gaining momentum for the team. The last moveslot is flexible; Magic Guard and Cobalion's high Speed make it an effective user of Taunt and Stealth Rock, especially since it can threaten common Magic Bounce users like Blissey, while Calm Mind and Rock Polish wincon. A Naive nature and maximum Speed investment are used to outspeed offensive Pokemon like Zarude and Garchomp while not weakening Close Combat. While it's still a usable Knock Off switch-in, Magic Guard Cobalion relies on its Life Orb to nab crucial OHKOs and 2HKOs on Pokemon like Landorus-T and Mew, and it would prefer not to lose it.
As always, Cobalion forms a solid pivoting core with Primordial Sea Zapdos and RegenVest Swampert, both of which resist Cobalion's weaknesses and appreciate its wallbreaking power, utility, and Speed. Cobalion also forms great offensive VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Cinderace, Azelf, and Zarude, all of which deal with common Cobalion switch-ins and appreciate the support it can provide. If running Calm Mind or Rock Polish, entry hazard support is vital to chip checks like Zapdos and Swampert into 2HKO range; Landorus-T and Mew are excellent entry hazard setters that pair well with Cobalion. While Cobalion still has a good defensive typing and bulk, it cannot consistently check attackers like Zarude due to its lack of recovery. Defensive partners like Corviknight are thus useful.
[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. Roar and Thunder Wave are options on the Utility Pivot set for teams that appreciate them more, but Toxic and Taunt are more useful in most situations. Iron Head and 152 Speed EVs form an option to safely revenge kill Tapu Lele, but Cobalion is still a poor switch-in to it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Cobalion relies on Volt Switch to gain momentum for its team, and Ground Types like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Swampert can block a Volt Switch and force Cobalion out with their super effective STAB moves.
**Faster Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Azelf outspeed Cobalion and prey on its weaker Special Defense, forcing it out.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos takes little damage from Close Combat or Steel Beam, and it can both force Cobalion out with its STAB moves and remove its Stealth Rock. Defensive Zapdos sets are also slower than Cobalion, allowing them to gain momentum on a pivoting Cobalion via U-turn or Volt Switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eggs, 517099], [UT, 523866]]
- Quality checked by: [[atha, 450411], [Osake, 524664]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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 a useful utility pivot, and its excellent movepool gives it a solid niche on many teams. An excellent typing and high Defense make it one of the better checks to Zarude, as well as a great switch-in to the ever-present Knock Off. Cobalion's also an effective Stealth Rock setter, pivoting checks to Defoggers in with Volt Switch or even shutting them down via Taunt. Close Combat damages Pokemon like Barraskewda and Zarude that would otherwise stay in on Cobalion, and it can also deter Magic Bounce Blissey. Toxic damages Pokemon like Zapdos and Swampert, which would otherwise use Defog or damage and status Cobalion with their STAB moves, while Taunt instead stops Defog or status moves from Pokemon like Corviknight and Ferrothorn. 112 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Timid Heatran as well as neutral Lucario. Rocky Helmet significantly damages many physical attackers and punishes pivot moves from Pokemon like Swampert and Corviknight. Chople Berry allows Cobalion to survive a single powerful Fighting-type attack, including a Close Combat from Terrakion or Zarude, for a surprise KO back.
As a pivot and entry hazard setter, Cobalion is easy to fit on most AAA teams, which highly value both qualities, espeically in one package. It forms a great defensive pivoting core with RegenVest Swampert, which is 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, which can switch into Pokemon that overwhelm and force Cobalion out. Mew, Zapdos, and Tapu Fini all perform this job well, and they appreciate Cobalion switching into Knock Off 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. Like AAA's other pivots, Cobalion pairs well with offensive Pokemon that struggle to switch in, such as Talonflame, Tapu Koko, and Genesect. Ground-types like Swampert will often switch into Cobalion as it attempts to pivot with Volt Switch, blocking the pivot and forcing a manual switch. Teammates like Zarude and Dhelmise can handle them. Magic Bounce users like Mew stop Cobalion from setting Stealth Rock, forcing it to switch to a teammate like Corviknight that can deal with them. Lastly, there are several physical attackers like Terrakion and Talonflame that exploit Cobalion's weaknesses, so additional physically defensive partners like Tapu Fini are appreciated.
[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, acting as an excellent offensive pivot. Cobalion's average offenses are shored up by a recoil-free Life Orb boost and strong STAB moves in Steel Beam and Close Combat, giving it a surprisingly high damage output. Steel Beam hits incredibly hard, even more so with Calm Mind, and can OHKO offensive threats like Landorus-T after Stealth Rock and Tapu Koko outright. It also heavily damages defensive Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Mew. Close Combat reliably nails Steel Beam switch-ins like Heatran and Blissey. Volt Switch deals decent damage to Water- and Flying-types while also gaining momentum for the team. The last moveslot is flexible; Magic Guard and Cobalion's high Speed make it an effective user of Taunt and Stealth Rock, especially since it can threaten common Magic Bounce users like Blissey, while Calm Mind and Rock Polish wincon. A Naive nature and maximum Speed investment are used to outspeed offensive Pokemon like Zarude and Garchomp while not weakening Close Combat. While it's still a usable Knock Off switch-in, Magic Guard Cobalion relies on its Life Orb to nab crucial OHKOs and 2HKOs on Pokemon like Landorus-T and Mew, and it would prefer not to lose it.
As always, Cobalion forms a solid pivoting core with Primordial Sea Zapdos and RegenVest Swampert, both of which resist Cobalion's weaknesses and appreciate its wallbreaking power, utility, and Speed. Cobalion also forms great offensive VoltTurn cores with Pokemon like Cinderace, Azelf, and Zarude, all of which deal with common Cobalion switch-ins and appreciate the support it can provide. If running Calm Mind or Rock Polish, entry hazard support is vital to chip checks like Zapdos and Swampert into 2HKO range; Landorus-T and Mew are excellent entry hazard setters that pair well with Cobalion. While Cobalion still has a good defensive typing and bulk, it cannot consistently check attackers like Zarude due to its lack of recovery. Defensive partners like Corviknight are thus useful.
[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. Roar and Thunder Wave are options on the Utility Pivot set for teams that appreciate them more, but Toxic and Taunt are more useful in most situations. Iron Head and 152 Speed EVs form an option to safely revenge kill Tapu Lele, but Cobalion is still a poor switch-in to it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Cobalion relies on Volt Switch to gain momentum for its team, and Ground Types like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Swampert can block a Volt Switch and force Cobalion out with their super effective STAB moves.
**Faster Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Azelf outspeed Cobalion and prey on its weaker Special Defense, forcing it out.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos takes little damage from Close Combat or Steel Beam, and it can both force Cobalion out with its STAB moves and remove its Stealth Rock. Defensive Zapdos sets are also slower than Cobalion, allowing them to gain momentum on a pivoting Cobalion via U-turn or Volt Switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eggs, 517099], [UT, 523866]]
- Quality checked by: [[atha, 450411], [Osake, 524664]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
