[OVERVIEW]
Conkeldurr is a powerful physical attacker with an enormous base 140 Attack and solid physical bulk backed by high HP. The combination of Iron Fist-boosted Drain Punch, vast coverage options like Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Payback, and priority in Mach Punch allows it to hit nearly every foe for heavy damage, letting it trade in most one-on-one matchups. Conkeldurr is also capable of utilizing its other ability, Guts, with a specially defensive set and Bulk Up in order to take advantage of its regular counters such as Landorus-T and Gliscor, making it highly unpredictable. However, its weak Special Defense leaves it vulnerable to strong special attackers like Alakazam and Latios, which can force it out before it gets a chance to attack. Additionally, while its bulk helps it take physical hits, it lacks recovery outside of Drain Punch, making it reliant on team support. Despite these drawbacks, its sheer power and strong matchup spread against common staples of sand teams make it a dominant force in the metagame.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Conkeldurr lacks access to Close Combat, forcing it to rely on other Fighting-type moves for power. Hammer Arm alongside Iron Fist and Life Orb matches Close Combat's power while avoiding defense drops, with the Speed drop being a much better trade-off in most situations. It also allows Conkeldurr to secure key KOs with a follow up Mach Punch on Pokemon such as physically defensive Rotom-W and Starmie after Stealth Rock. However, losing out on either Drain Punch's recovery or a coverage move is problematic for Conkeldurr. A Choice Band set allows Conkeldurr to function as a strong revenge killer with Mach Punch and hit hard with Superpower or Hammer Arm. However, it struggles against the plethora of Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Gliscor, Slowbro, and Latios, making it heavily reliant on prediction. A Life Orb Sheer Force set is another strong option, taking advantage of boosted moves like Thunder Punch and Ice Punch while still having access to Mach Punch and Drain Punch for priority and recovery. However, Sheer Force does not enhance Conkeldurr's STAB moves; this makes the set less efficient compared to others, as it sacrifices durability for a power boost thatdoesn't apply to some of its most important attacks. Drain Punch helps mitigate Life Orb recoil, but it isn't ideal due to the ever-present chip damage from weather, limiting Conkeldurr's longevity. Force Palm provides a paralysis chance to help with its low Speed, but besides being an unreliable form of status, it can't be used alongside Mach Punch—an essential priority move that takes full advantage of Conkeldurr's high base Attack.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic- and Ghost-types**: Conkeldurr relies heavily on its Fighting-type STAB moves, making it vulnerable to Pokemon that resist or are immune to them. Bulky Psychic-types like Reuniclus, Slowbro, and Celebi are the best answers, as they can take its attacks reasonably well, retaliate with STAB Psychic-type moves, and cripple non-Guts variants with status. Alakazam is mostly unable to switch into any attacks safely, but it is one of the most reliable revenge killers against Conkeldurr. Latios and Starmie can switch into a Drain Punch and exploit its much lower Special Defense, while Jellicent is immune to Drain Punch, denying it recovery, and can wear it down with Scald or Night Shade while shutting down setup attempts with Taunt. Although Payback can hit these Pokemon hard, bulkier variants or faster attackers can still pose a problem.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Even with Special Defense investment, Conkeldurr struggles against powerful special attackers. While they may struggle to switch in to varying degrees, Keldeo, Thundurus-T, Volcarona, and Rotom-W are all mostly unbothered by Mach Punch and heavily damage or OHKO Conkeldurr.
**Physical Walls**: Conkeldurr struggles to break through certain physical walls that can withstand its attacks and wear it down. Gliscor is one of the toughest matchups for Payback Conkeldurr, as it resists Fighting, heals off Payback with Poison Heal, and can either shut down Bulk Up attempts with Taunt or take on Conkeldurr one-on-one with Swords Dance. Slowbro is difficult to muscle past for Ice Punch Conkeldurr, tanking hits with its high Defense and gaining health back with Regenerator + Slack Off while threatening damage with STAB Psychic. Skarmory can be annoying with Brave Bird and Whirlwind, preventing Conkeldurr from setting up. However, if Skarmory heals at the wrong time with Roost, it momentarily allows Conkeldurr to hit it super effectively with Drain Punch. Landorus-T and Hippowdon are other physical checks that help limit non-Ice Punch Bulk Up sets with Intimidate and Sand Stream + Whirlwind, respectively.
**Entry Hazards & Residual Damage**: While Conkeldurr's Drain Punch and Leftovers provide recovery, it still dislikes taking repeated chip damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Sand and hail also wear it down over time, forcing it to rely more on Drain Punch for healing. Although burn and poison grant Conkeldurr's Guts + Bulk Up sets a boost in power, they accelerate the already fast pace these sets are worn down in sand. Moreover, these status effects completely shut down Iron Fist Conkeldurr, so that set must avoid them at all costs. Even paralysis can be problematic for Conkeldurr, as a move lost to full paralysis can lead to it missing recovery from Drain Punch or a KO with Mach Punch.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/strictsceptile.583025/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chomp29.265410/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/magialice.624724/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Conkeldurr is a powerful physical attacker with an enormous base 140 Attack and solid physical bulk backed by high HP. The combination of Iron Fist-boosted Drain Punch, vast coverage options like Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Payback, and priority in Mach Punch allows it to hit nearly every foe for heavy damage, letting it trade in most one-on-one matchups. Conkeldurr is also capable of utilizing its other ability, Guts, with a specially defensive set and Bulk Up in order to take advantage of its regular counters such as Landorus-T and Gliscor, making it highly unpredictable. However, its weak Special Defense leaves it vulnerable to strong special attackers like Alakazam and Latios, which can force it out before it gets a chance to attack. Additionally, while its bulk helps it take physical hits, it lacks recovery outside of Drain Punch, making it reliant on team support. Despite these drawbacks, its sheer power and strong matchup spread against common staples of sand teams make it a dominant force in the metagame.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Conkeldurr lacks access to Close Combat, forcing it to rely on other Fighting-type moves for power. Hammer Arm alongside Iron Fist and Life Orb matches Close Combat's power while avoiding defense drops, with the Speed drop being a much better trade-off in most situations. It also allows Conkeldurr to secure key KOs with a follow up Mach Punch on Pokemon such as physically defensive Rotom-W and Starmie after Stealth Rock. However, losing out on either Drain Punch's recovery or a coverage move is problematic for Conkeldurr. A Choice Band set allows Conkeldurr to function as a strong revenge killer with Mach Punch and hit hard with Superpower or Hammer Arm. However, it struggles against the plethora of Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Gliscor, Slowbro, and Latios, making it heavily reliant on prediction. A Life Orb Sheer Force set is another strong option, taking advantage of boosted moves like Thunder Punch and Ice Punch while still having access to Mach Punch and Drain Punch for priority and recovery. However, Sheer Force does not enhance Conkeldurr's STAB moves; this makes the set less efficient compared to others, as it sacrifices durability for a power boost thatdoesn't apply to some of its most important attacks. Drain Punch helps mitigate Life Orb recoil, but it isn't ideal due to the ever-present chip damage from weather, limiting Conkeldurr's longevity. Force Palm provides a paralysis chance to help with its low Speed, but besides being an unreliable form of status, it can't be used alongside Mach Punch—an essential priority move that takes full advantage of Conkeldurr's high base Attack.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic- and Ghost-types**: Conkeldurr relies heavily on its Fighting-type STAB moves, making it vulnerable to Pokemon that resist or are immune to them. Bulky Psychic-types like Reuniclus, Slowbro, and Celebi are the best answers, as they can take its attacks reasonably well, retaliate with STAB Psychic-type moves, and cripple non-Guts variants with status. Alakazam is mostly unable to switch into any attacks safely, but it is one of the most reliable revenge killers against Conkeldurr. Latios and Starmie can switch into a Drain Punch and exploit its much lower Special Defense, while Jellicent is immune to Drain Punch, denying it recovery, and can wear it down with Scald or Night Shade while shutting down setup attempts with Taunt. Although Payback can hit these Pokemon hard, bulkier variants or faster attackers can still pose a problem.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Even with Special Defense investment, Conkeldurr struggles against powerful special attackers. While they may struggle to switch in to varying degrees, Keldeo, Thundurus-T, Volcarona, and Rotom-W are all mostly unbothered by Mach Punch and heavily damage or OHKO Conkeldurr.
**Physical Walls**: Conkeldurr struggles to break through certain physical walls that can withstand its attacks and wear it down. Gliscor is one of the toughest matchups for Payback Conkeldurr, as it resists Fighting, heals off Payback with Poison Heal, and can either shut down Bulk Up attempts with Taunt or take on Conkeldurr one-on-one with Swords Dance. Slowbro is difficult to muscle past for Ice Punch Conkeldurr, tanking hits with its high Defense and gaining health back with Regenerator + Slack Off while threatening damage with STAB Psychic. Skarmory can be annoying with Brave Bird and Whirlwind, preventing Conkeldurr from setting up. However, if Skarmory heals at the wrong time with Roost, it momentarily allows Conkeldurr to hit it super effectively with Drain Punch. Landorus-T and Hippowdon are other physical checks that help limit non-Ice Punch Bulk Up sets with Intimidate and Sand Stream + Whirlwind, respectively.
**Entry Hazards & Residual Damage**: While Conkeldurr's Drain Punch and Leftovers provide recovery, it still dislikes taking repeated chip damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Sand and hail also wear it down over time, forcing it to rely more on Drain Punch for healing. Although burn and poison grant Conkeldurr's Guts + Bulk Up sets a boost in power, they accelerate the already fast pace these sets are worn down in sand. Moreover, these status effects completely shut down Iron Fist Conkeldurr, so that set must avoid them at all costs. Even paralysis can be problematic for Conkeldurr, as a move lost to full paralysis can lead to it missing recovery from Drain Punch or a KO with Mach Punch.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/strictsceptile.583025/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chomp29.265410/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/magialice.624724/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
