[OVERVIEW]
Conkeldurr is an interesting Pokemon in Doubles OU. Due to a combination of high Attack and low Speed, which is something most viable Fighting-types in the tier lack, it makes for an ideal Trick Room attacker. It possesses two fantastic abilities in Iron Fist and Guts to boost its already great attacking prowess, as well as decent bulk to allow it to play outside of Trick Room. Conkeldurr's movepool ranges from good STAB attacks in Drain Punch, Hammer Arm, and Mach Punch to good coverage and support options in moves like Wide Guard and Knock Off. However, Conkeldurr faces stiff competition from other Fighting-types like Keldeo and Scrafty, due to a lack of secondary typing and poor Speed, making it the preferred choice only on Trick Room teams or on a team in need of a bulky Fighting-type.
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Hammer Arm
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Ice Punch / Knock Off
move 4: Detect
item: Life Orb
ability: Iron Fist / Guts
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hammer Arm is ridiculously strong with boosts from Iron Fist and Life Orb, and it can deal massive chunks of damage to most of the metagame. Mach Punch serves as a nice priority STAB attack and helps make up for Conkeldurr's low Speed. Ice Punch provides great coverage to deal heavy damage to Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Amoonguss. Knock Off is mainly for Aegislash, and it has the nice utility of removing important items. Conkeldurr should be wary of using Knock Off into Aegislash's King's Shield, however. Whichever move is used depends on what the team is in most need of. Lastly, Detect keeps Conkeldurr safe during turns without Trick Room from incoming attacks.
Set Details
========
The EVs are simple enough; the spread allows Conkeldurr to hit hard while adding overall bulk through HP. The 0 Speed IVs let Conkeldurr underspeed Amoonguss at -1, giving it a great advantage against the tier's most common Trick Room answer. Iron Fist boosts the punch moves Conkeldurr is running, causing Hammer Arm to become extremely powerful. Guts is another ability option, as it allows Conkeldurr to soak up burns and paralysis to receive an Attack boost and makes for great utility to protect other teammates that would be otherwise devastated by status. Life Orb aids in increasing Conkeldurr's power, as well as boosting Knock Off, which Iron Fist does not.
Usage Tips
========
This set is designed for teams utilizing Trick Room. Due to Conkeldurr's low speed, it ideally should only be played when Trick Room is active. It does, however, have utility outside of Trick Room thanks to its bulk, using Mach Punch to clean up weakened foes. As for when it should be played, Conkeldurr is pretty versatile, performing well early-, mid-, and late-game. However, common Trick Room checks such as Talonflame and Amoonguss should ideally be removed before Conkeldurr enters the field; then it can begin to wreak havoc.
Team Options
========
Trick Room setters such as Cresselia allow Conkeldurr to outspeed a majority of the metagame and ruin lives. Conkeldurr has a problem with Talonflame, so Pokemon such as Azumarill and Diancie that can beat Talonflame help it immensely. Amoonguss is a common Trick Room check, so having Pokemon like Heatran and Reuniclus to stop it is nice. Reuniclus in particular is good, as Overcoat makes it immune to Spore and Rage Powder. Conkeldurr can, however, deal heavy damage to Amoonguss on its own with Ice Punch. Fairy-types are also a problem, so Heatran, Aegislash, and other slow Steel-types can aid Conkeldurr greatly. Lastly, common Trick Room Pokemon that struggle against Bisharp such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, and Mega Abomasnow are good partners, as Conkeldurr can easily switch in on Bisharp and KO it with Mach Punch.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Knock Off / Wide Guard / Detect
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Guts / Iron Fist
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 240 Atk / 16 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Drain Punch acts as both a reliable STAB attack and a form of recovery to increase Conkeldurr's longevity. Mach Punch serves as nice priority and helps make up for Conkeldurr's low Speed. Ice Punch is a great coverage move to deal heavy damage to Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Amoonguss. Knock Off is mainly for Aegislash, and it has nice utility in removing important items. It should be wary of using Knock Off against Aegislash's King's Shield, however. Wide Guard could be used instead to support teammates weak to common spread moves such as Earthquake and Heat Wave. Lastly, Detect can be used instead to make strategic plays around threats to Conkeldurr.
Set Details
========
Sitrus Berry increases Conkeldurr's bulk and allows it to survive Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Fake Out + Return. The EVs are designed to let Conkeldurr survive a Psyshock from Life Orb Latios. An alternative spread of 252 HP / 184 Atk / 72 SpD can be used instead to let it survive maximum Special Attack Mega Charizard Y's Overheat with Assault Vest. Guts allows Conkeldurr to soak up burns and paralysis to receive an Attack boost, and it makes for great utility to protect other teammates that would be otherwise devastated by status. Iron Fist boosts the power of the punch moves Conkeldurr is running and is also a good option. A Brave nature helps with the team's Trick Room matchup even if Conkeldurr is used on a non-Trick Room team.
Usage Tips
========
This Conkeldurr set functions well mid-game to act as a switch-in for weakened teammates and punch some serious holes in the opponent's team. Mach Punch can help finish off weakened foes quickly and effortlessly. Be cautious of super effective attacks if you're using Knock Off or Wide Guard, as Conkeldurr won't be able to use Detect. Lastly, use Wide Guard against Pokemon that typically spam spread moves, such as Mega Charizard Y and Sylveon.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate Wide Guard's protection and are weak to spread moves like Rock Slide, such as Mega Charizard Y, make for good partners. Intimidate users such as Gyarados and Landorus-T pair well with Conkeldurr too, as they can weaken opposing physical attackers, particularly Talonflame, a big threat to Conkeldurr. Steel-types can take Fairy-, Psychic-, and Flying-type attacks aimed at Conkeldurr. Jirachi is especially good at this, as it can redirect them with Follow Me and absorb the hits with ease while also hitting Fairy-types for super effective damage. Heatran is another good partner, as it completely walls Talonflame. Electric-types pair well with Conkeldurr too, as they can beat the Flying-types that cause such problems to Conkeldurr. Rotom-W is a solid option, as it resists Talonflame's STAB Flare Blitz and Brave Bird.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Conkeldurr is an excellent user of Assault Vest, as it has good bulk aside from Special Defense, and the boost really aids in its ability to tank hits from other Pokemon. Conkeldurr also has a lot of coverage options and isn't too affected by the inability to run Detect and Wide Guard. Conkeldurr has many different Rock-type coverage options, including Rock Slide, Rock Tomb, and Stone Edge. Rock Tomb even provides a bit of speed control. These can be used to surprise Talonflame and other Flying-types, but because Conkeldurr is slow, it doesn't make for that great of a lure; usually, Ice Punch or Knock Off is far more useful. Poison Jab is another option, as it can hit Fairy-types for super effective damage, but it's only useful if you can predict a Fairy-type switching in or are under Trick Room, as most Fairy-types outspeed Conkeldurr and can hit it hard with a super effective attack of their own. Conkeldurr also gets access to the other elemental punches, Thunder Punch and Fire Punch, which can give it a different array of coverage. Typically, Ice Punch is the most versatile and generally the best option, as Thunder Punch really only hits Gyarados harder than any of Conkeldurr's other moves, while Fire Punch provides a single coverage move to hit both Amoonguss and Aegislash rather than making Conkeldurr run both Ice Punch and Knock Off. Flame Orb and Guts can work on Trick Room to get the Guts boost and avoid other status, particularly Spore from Amoonguss.
Checks and Counters
==================
**Typing Advantage**: Most Fairy-types, such as Sylveon and Azumarill, take very little damage from any of Conkeldurr's STAB attacks or coverage options and can then OHKO it with their STAB moves. In addition, Talonflame is one of the single best checks to Conkeldurr. It resists Conkeldurr's Fighting-type STAB attacks, takes neutral damage from all of Conkeldurr's other common moves, and can hit it for super effective damage with a priority STAB Brave Bird. Talonflame also beats Conkeldurr while Trick Room is active, as its Brave Bird ignores its effect, and its resistance to Mach Punch makes it difficult to check. It should, however, be wary of Rock Slide or Stone Edge.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Common Intimidate users such as Landorus-T and Gyarados lower Conkeldurr's attacking prowess. Landorus-T should be wary of Ice Punch, though. Burns from the likes of Rotom-W and Gengar also neuter Conkeldurr's attacking prowess if it's not running Guts.
**Speed**: Due to its low Speed, nearly every notable threat to Conkeldurr outspeeds it outside of Trick Room. A few examples include Sylveon and Diancie.
**Speed Control**: Trick Room greatly aids Conkeldurr's ability to deal with opposing threats, and the lack of it can severely damage its viability.
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