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To-Do List: ✓
I. Fix any errors pertaining to the content of the analysis. []
II. Receive two QC Checks, fixing any mistakes along the way. []
III. Fully write out the analysis after the 2nd QC Check. []
IV. Receive the final QC Check when the written work has been looked over. []
V. Correct any obvious grammar-prose mistakes before handing it to GP. []
VI. Receive two GP Checks, and have this analysis on-site. []Combusken
[Overview]
- One of the very few Pokemon that gets Speed Boost in the tier
- It has powerful STAB moves
- Mediocre offenses at best
- Very frail and weak to common priority
- Works best late-game so it can finish off weakened opponents
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Protect
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Sky Uppercut
item: Eviolite
nature: Jolly
ability: Speed Boost
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
- Swords Dance is the crux of this set: it gives Combusken a huge boost in Attack, allowing it to dent many Pokemon in tier
- Protect allows you to rack up Speed boosts, and beat priority such as Fake Out from Kangaskhan and Persian
- Flare Blitz is the preferred Fire-type STAB as it has very high base power and hits hard
- Sky Uppercut is the secondary STAB that allows it to hit Pokemon that resist Fire, such as Rock- and Water-types
- Eviolite is the best item for this set because it gives Combusken some bulk to allow it to setup and is useful to take weak and resisted priority, such as Sucker Punch
- Life Orb can be used though, at the cost of high recoil when it is combined with Flare Blitz
- Jolly is better than Adamant because Combusken needs the additional Speed to outspeed base 95s at +1
- Fire Punch is a good alternative to Flare Blitz because it doesn't have any recoil, but it isn't recommended because of its low base power
- Brick Break is a more accurate alternative to Sky Uppercut, but it is also slightly weak
- ThunderPunch is a good move to eliminate Frillish who otherwise counters it
- Good teammates to this set are Pokemon that can give Combusken some opportunities to setup
- Gothorita removes walls such as Weezing and Alomomola so Combusken's path is clear
- Pokemon that can setup dual screens such as Gardevoir, Serperior, Ampharos and Solrock are appreciated because even with Eviolite, Combusken is frail
- Teammates that can eliminate problematic Ghost-types such as Misdreavus are good partners, like Skuntank
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Protect
move 4: Substitute
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest
ability: Speed Boost
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
- This set has its advantages over the physical one, because it attacks right off the bat
- Fire Blast is chosen over Flamethrower for the additional power
- Focus Blast hits a lot of things that Fire Blast wouldn't hit as hard, such as Rock-types and Miltank
- Protect is used to scout the opponent's move and raise Combusken's speed
- Substitute is the preferred move in fourth moveslot because it allows Combusken to avoid nasty status ailments and scout moves as well
- Combusken's powerful moves come at a cost: they have moderately low accuracy
- It could use Hidden Power Grass to beat Alomomola and Seismitoad without having to resort to the very inaccurate Focus Blast
- Flamethrower can be used over Fire Blast and Hidden Power Fighting can be used over Focus Blast for the additional accuracy but they are very weak and should not be used
- Timid over Modest makes Combusken outspeed base 95s after one boost
- Skuntank is a good teammate as it gets rid of Lampent and Frillish and it has good synergy with Combusken
- Spikes support from Scolipede and Cacturne is appreciated
- Golurk can destroy the Psychic-types that threaten Combusken such as Grumpig, Gardevoir and Musharna
[Other Options]
- Combusken doesn't have many other good options
- Heat Wave is a good compromise for the special set: it is less accurate than Flamethrower, but more powerful
- Bulk Up can be used to boost its defenses but Combusken is still very frail and Swords Dance is better
- Hone Claws can be used to give an accuracy boost but the inaccurate moves are specially based
- Baton Pass but it is illegal with Speed Boost
- ThunderPunch and Rock Slide can be used but they don't provide much additional coverage
- Vacumm Wave can be used for priority butr Combusken has Speed Boosts anyways
- Shadow Claw can be used on the physical set to hit Frillish and Lampent hard
- Finally, Will-O-Wisp and FeatherDance can compose a gimmicky support set, but there are much better options out there
- Frillish and Lampent are sure counters because they resist both of Combusken's STAB moves, and Frillish can threaten Combusken with Scald
- Weezing and Garbodor can handily wall the Swords Dance set
- Mantine and Specially defensive Ludicolo can also easily tank the attacks from the special set
- Alomomola can tank any moves that the physical set throws at it and threaten it with a super-effective Waterfall
- Grumpig, Gothorita and Hypno can tank moves from both sets and hit back hard with Psychic
- Offensive Water-types such as Samurott and Basculin can threaten him with Hydro Pump or Waterfall
- Priority users such as Kangaskhan and Swords Dance Samurott can pick off on Combusken if it is weakened enough
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