Fire Chicken
[OVERVIEW]
Combusken has an outstanding STAB combination that hits almost the entire tier for at least neutral damage, as well as an amazing offensive ability in Speed Boost. Its decent typing allows it to check the plethora of Grass-types in NU such as Lilligant and Shiftry as well as Dark-types such as Liepard and Pawniard; however, its typing also leaves it weak to common Pokemon such as Rhydon, Lanturn, and Mesprit. Combusken also has a hard time choosing its item, as it has little bulk without Eviolite and little immediate power without a boosting item such as Life Orb. Additionally, Combusken's below average base 55 Speed means that, even at +1, it is outsped by common Choice Scarf users as well as unboosted Pokemon with a neutral nature, such as Jynx and Pyroar. Combusken also lacks a solid movepool with nothing outside of a few support moves and not great attacking moves outside its STAB moves, even though it doesn't need much outside of its STAB moves to be effective.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Protect
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Protect allows scouting and gives Combusken a free turn to gain +1 Speed thanks to Speed Boost. Baton Pass allows Combusken to pass its Speed to teammates as well as pivot out early- and mid-game. Fire Blast hits Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Klinklang while also nailing Grass-, Bug-, and Ice-types. Focus Blast is another good STAB move, nailing Rock-types, such as Regirock and Rhydon, as well as Water-types, such as Lanturn and Samurott, that resist Fire. Substitute can provide Combusken with a way to avoid status as well as safely pass Speed better than it would with Protect.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack EVs and Speed EVs are used to allow Combusken to hit as hard as possible. A Timid nature allows Combusken to outspeed up to base 106 Speed Pokemon such as Pyroar and Liepard after one Speed boost as well as outspeeding Jynx. However, a Modest nature is good as well, as it allows Combusken to hit a common Fire-resistant Pokemon, Lanturn, even harder. Life Orb boosts Combusken's power; it is used over Eviolite because Combusken has little bulk to begin with and wants as much power as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Combusken acts as a great pivot thanks to Baton Pass and Protect, as Baton Pass allows Combusken to get out of a bad situation while also passing Speed boosts to a Pokemon that may fare better. For example, if Combusken is in on Torterra, rather than using Fire Blast, it might be more beneficial to Baton Pass if the opponent has Magmortar and you have a Floatzel so as to keep momentum. Protect also allows Combusken to scout for the opponent's move, most notably what move Choice item users such as Sawk lock themselves into, and to gain an easy +1. Combusken must be careful about setting up when the opponent has super effective priority from the likes of Kabutops and Samurott, as even with Speed boosts, Combusken can still be outsped and OHKOed.
Team Options
========
Grass-types, such as Lilligant and Shiftry, make for great partners, as they can threaten the Water-types that tend to switch into Combusken. Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Mesprit can help Combusken wear down switch-ins such as Lanturn. Wallbreakers, such as Choice Band Sawk and Zangoose, appreciate getting Speed boosts and can help soften some of Combusken's checks, allowing Combusken to sweep or pass Speed boosts more easily. Moderately bulky Psychic-types such as Xatu and Malamar appreciate being passed Speed boosts, as they are able to take advantage of them through Magic Bounce in Xatu's case and RestTalk in Malamar's case. Skuntank is a really good partner, as it can Pursuit trap most bulky Psychic-types such as Mesprit, Musharna, and Xatu. Combusken also breaks down Rock- and Steel-types, such as Rhydon and Klinklang, for Skuntank.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Low Kick / Brick Break
move 4: Protect
item: Eviolite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Combusken to set up and, at +2, hit hard with its decent STAB moves. Flare Blitz allows Combusken to break walls such as Mega Audino and Weezing, but it comes at the cost of recoil. Fire Punch is a reliable, recoil-less Fire-type STAB move that hits Grass-, Steel-, and Ice-types such as Ferroseed, Cryogonal, and Jynx. Low Kick allows a boosted Combusken to hit heavy Pokemon such as Kangaskhan and Carracosta hard while also hitting heavy Fire-resistant foes, such as Rock Polish Rhydon, Regirock, and Thick Fat Hariyama, for more damage. Brick Break, however, provides a more consistent Fighting-type STAB move that is specifically used for picking off the lightweights, should they be a greater concern than bulky heavyweights to your team. Low Kick is actually consistently stronger (albeit slightly) than Brick Break against a large majority of Fighting-weak or Fire-resistant targets. Brick Break, however, still needs a Swords Dance boost to nab the OHKO on lightweights such as Archeops and non-Eviolite Combusken. Protect allows for scouting and gives Combusken a free turn to gain +1 Speed thanks to Speed Boost and allows it to pivot out of unfavorable matchups early-game. It also allows Combusken to scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Sawk to see what move they are going for.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Combusken to hit as hard and as fast as possible. Eviolite allows Combusken to survive weak, resisted hits and gives it an easier time setting up. A Jolly nature lets Combusken outrun base 106 Speed Pokemon such as Pyroar and Liepard after a Speed boost. An Adamant nature, however, allows Combusken to hit even harder after a Swords Dance boost.
Usage Tips
========
Combusken has better bulk with Eviolite, which allows it to set up on resisted hits such as Shiftry's and Skuntank's Sucker Punch. Combusken must be careful about setting up if the opponent has Pokemon with super effective priority, such as Kabutops and Samurott, as priority moves ignore Combusken's Speed boosts. Thanks to Eviolite, however, Combusken can survive a hit from Kabutops and Samurott if it's healthy. Combusken likes to set up on passive Pokemon that it can force out, such as Ferroseed and Audino. It also shouldn't be setting up until late-game and should generally pivot out early- and mid-game to gain momentum when it forces something out so that it can bring in a teammate that beats the switch-in.
Team Options
========
Grass-types, such as Lilligant, Shiftry, and Vileplume, make for great partners, as they can threaten the Rock- and Water-types that tend to switch into Combusken. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Mesprit can help soften up a lot Combusken's checks, giving Combusken an easier time setting up. Pokemon such as Choice Band Sawk and Life Orb Mesprit can help weaken walls for Combusken, allowing Combusken to set up more easily. Skuntank is a really good partner, as it can Pursuit trap most bulky Psychic-types such as Mesprit, Musharna, and Xatu. Combusken also breaks down Rock- and Steel-types, such as Rhydon and Klinklang, for Skuntank. Healing Wish Pokemon such as Mesprit and Lilligant can give Combusken a second chance at sweeping after it gets worn down by entry hazards and Flare Blitz recoil.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A defensive set with Will-O-Wisp and Substitute + Protect allows Combusken to work as an excellent pivot while spreading status. It allows threats such as Stored Power Xatu to take a ton of hits while setting up. However, Combusken is better off using its great STAB combination to hit hard and pivot out with Baton Pass, passing any Speed boosts it gains. Bulk Up allows Combusken to set up on physical attackers more easily; however, Swords Dance Combusken can boost faster and hit harder initially. Thunder Punch allows Combusken to hit Pelipper and Mantine, which resist Combusken's STAB combination.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Mantine and Pelipper are the only two Pokemon in the tier that resist Combusken's STAB type combination. Lanturn can be 2HKOed by Focus Blast after some prior damage; however, it is still a good check. Samurott and Kabutops have Aqua Jet to revenge kill Combusken, and they can both switch into a predicted Fire Blast. Floatzel also outspeeds +1 Combusken, allowing it to switch in on an obvious Protect and KO Combusken. Prinplup can easily shake off Combusken's STAB moves and proceed to fire back with a super effective Scald.
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Mesprit, Sawk, and Rotom-S can force +1 Combusken out, but +2 Combusken with a positive nature can outspeed them.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Assault Vest Hariyama, specially defensive Mega Audino, Musharna, Assault Vest Muk, and Assault Vest Magmortar can tank Combusken's hits while wearing it down with priority, status, and neutral coverage. This only pertains to Life Orb Combusken sets, though, as Swords Dance sets can get around these checks.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Quagsire can ignore Combusken's Swords Dance boosts and proceed to threaten Combusken with its super effective STAB moves. However, Quagsire loses to Life Orb sets.
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