[Overview]
Corviknight boasts great defensive typing allowing it to pivot into notable Pokemon in the metagame well like Rillaboom, Tapu Lele, Garchomp, and Landorus-T. Corviknight is able to switch into Stealth Rock setters like Garchomp, Excadrill, and Landorus-T using its great bulk and typing to 1v1 them in the long run. It isn't very fruitful for any of the aforementioned Pokemon to stay in as they can't threaten Corviknight well and as a result, can give Corviknight a free switch-in to remove any hazards with Defog or generate momentum on them with U-turn. Its typing in particular also lets it take neutral damage from Stealth Rock and be immune to Spikes, and so if its item is removed by Knock Off, it won't be as hindered compared to other Defog users that rely on Heavy-Duty Boots. It can also use Pressure to its advantage in the hazard wars to PP stall opposing hazards. However, Corviknight is vulnerable to Fire- and Electric-types like Heatran, Zeraora, Tapu Koko respectively. Magnezone and Heatran, in particular, can threaten to trap Corviknight, causing the team to be at a deficit when losing Corviknight's ability to check notable threatening Pokemon in the metagame, along with losing a great pivot and Defog user. Calm Mind Clefable, Dragapult, Nidoking, and Tornadus-T are Pokemon that seem to be checked by Corviknight, but access to Fire-type coverage can be detrimental to Corviknight's ability in checking them. With all of these threatening wallbreakers, Corviknight is relied on to check all of them, which may lead to its downfall as it is forced to keep itself healthy in the face of these many threats and stay pressured a lot of the time to function otherwise.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Brave Bird / Body Press
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Relaxed / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Its great defensive typing and natural bulk gives it ample opportunities to switch in on common setters of Stealth Rock like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Excadrill and use Defog appropriately. Roost gives a form of recovery for longevity, letting Corviknight constantly switch into Pokemon like Rillaboom, Excadrill, and Kartana to check them or pivot out and to be present in the long run to help a team with hazard control. U-turn can be used to pivot out of Pokemon that threaten Corviknight like Tapu Koko, Heatran, and Zeraora, being able to generate momentum and preventing Corviknight from allowing free switch-ins into these threats. Brave Bird gives Corviknight a way of threatening Pokemon like Rillaboom, Hawlucha, and Galarian Zapdos, as well as providing a strong STAB option. Body Press can also be used to threaten Pokemon like Excadrill, Kartana, and Ferrothorn more effectively, but losing Brave Bird loses a way of effectively hitting targets like Rillaboom and Hawlucha. Pressure is able to reduce the amount of PP on opposing hazards, allowing Corviknight to win PP wars with Defog. An Impish nature is chosen to get the most out of Corviknight's defense, while maintaining speed. Relaxed nature acts as a slower pivot, being able to take hits and pivot out into another Pokemon safely, however, the lowered speed also prevents Corviknight from potentially revenging certain Pokemon, most notably Calm Mind Clefable who can otherwise outspeed and damage Corviknight greatly with Flamethrower or Thunder.
Corviknight can pivot out into Slowking, Slowbro, and Toxapex, allowing them to get off a Future Sight or Knock Off respectively to make progress during a battle. The former two can also use Teleport to pivot around and generate momentum alongside Corviknight, as well as helping out its Fire-type weakness, while Corviknight covers the aforementioned Water-types' Grass-type vulnerability in Kartana and Rillaboom. Ground-types in Nidoking, Landorus-T, and Garchomp can benefit greatly from Corviknight's slow U-turn on Pokemon like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Heatran, coming in and threatening them. Ground-types also do well to defensively compliment Corviknight in helping check Electric-types. The aforementioned Water- and Ground-types both appreciate Corviknight covering their abusable vulnerability in Grass-type wallbreakers like Rillaboom and Kartana. Tangrowth, Tornadus-T, and Tapu Bulu can help alleviate the pressure given out by some of the Pokemon Corviknight tries to check like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Rillaboom, and being able to provide other things to the team like Knock Off support, as well as setup options in Nasty Plot and Swords Dance. Hydreigon, and Garchomp both share the benefit of easing the Heatran matchup for Corviknight, being able to switch-in and take advantage of it by setting up or setting up hazards by the latter. Corviknight can also keep a handle on Tapu Lele and other Dragon-types that would otherwise threaten the aforementioned teammates.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Roost
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up allows it to boost its attack to break past defensive walls, while boosting its defense to live hits more comfortably. This can especially come into effect when setting up on bulkier Pokemon like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and opposing defensive Corviknight so it can't be KOed as easily in the future. Alongside its solid special bulk, Corviknight can become rather hard to kill overtime in a battle after boosting. Bulk Up also lets it function as a great win condition for a team. Brave Bird is a reliable damage source being able to threaten a wide variety of Pokemon and most notably being able to shut down setup sweepers like Rillaboom and Kartana, along with having no immunities and little resistances. Substitute allows Corviknight to avoid gaining status during the battle from Toxapex, Slowbro, and Ferrothorn, along with being able to avoid potential threatening moves from other Pokemon after setting up a Substitute in advance. Pressure can PP stall certain moves like Haze, Scald, Taunt, and super-effective attacks overtime, when supported by Substitute, leading Corviknight to strive in an environment where none of these detriments can hinder it. Haze in particular can be PP stalled, allowing other setup sweepers to strive.
Ground-types like Nidoking, Garchomp, and Landorus-T also pair well alongside Corviknight, being able to handle its Electric-type weakness and threaten Fire-types, while Corviknight can help out the aforementioned Pokemons' ability to be abused by Grass-types. The latter two can also pressure Zapdos and Volcarona with Rock-type moves, who can be a nuisance to Corviknight by spreading status with their abilities. Slowking, Slowbro, and Toxapex also help out with Corviknight's Fire-type weakness. The former two can also pivot out with Teleport on Grass-types like Ferrothorn, Rillaboom, and Kartana that can come in to threaten them, allowing Corviknight to come in and take advantage of them using Bulk Up or Substitute. Tangrowth, Tornadus-T, and Slowbro can help alleviate the pressure given out by some of the Pokemon Corviknight tries to check like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Rillaboom, and being able to provide other things to the team like Knock Off and Scald support to break down defensive Pokemon and pave a pathway for Corviknight to strive in given this support. Hydreigon, Garchomp, and Moltres are also great switch-ins to Heatran that can shut down Corviknight completely otherwise. Taunt users like Tapu Fini and Heatran can shut down Corviknight from functioning, so teammates like Nidoking and Rotom-W can capitalize on this free turn and apply pressure against the team.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Iron Head can be used on Defog sets to shut down Pokemon like Clefable and Tapu Lele more immediately but losing Body Press or Brave Bird loses significant coverage against Excadrill, Kartana, and Rillaboom. Taunt can also be used on Bulk Up sets over Substitute to shut down Haze Toxapex and other setup sweepers. However, losing Substitute also means status can't be blocked as reliably. Shed Shell is an item that can be ran to avoid the trapping effect from Magnet Pull or Magma Storm, letting Corviknight freely function during a battle. Defensive Corviknight can also use Body Press over U-turn, but this loses a main way of pivoting out and generating momentum on Pokemon that try to benefit from Corviknight's presence. Rocky Helmet can also be used to apply chip damage to contact moves and specifically U-turn Pokemon like Landorus-T and Choice Band Rillaboom.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fire-types and Fire-type coverage**: Victini, Moltres, and Volcarona do well against Corviknight and threaten it quite well with Fire-type moves, making it unfavorable to stay in. Heatran in particular is able to use Magma Storm and Taunt to shut down Corviknight well from performing its normal roles. Fire-type coverage from Calm Mind Clefable, Choice Specs Latios and Dragapult, Nidoking, and Tornadus-T can also threaten Corviknight greatly.
**Electric-types and Electric-type coverage**: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, and Zeraora do well against Corviknight, being able to threaten it with Electric-type moves, along with abusing the switch out to get in a more favorable position be it generating momentum with Knock Off from Zeraora or using Volt Switch to keep up the pressure. The former two can also use Roost to heal if needed, along with Zapdos getting an opportunity to Defog hazards. They also threaten Corviknight whenever they come in, so they can allow Stealth Rock chip to build up on Corviknight overtime, while also not giving Corviknight an opportunity to Defog or Roost. Electric-type coverage from Nidoking, Calm Mind Clefable, Choice Specs Dragapult and Tapu Lele can pose as a significant way of threatening Corviknight as well.
**Long-term pressure**: Corviknight is constantly forced to stay healthy in order to keep in check all it has to, and chip from Rocky Helmet, Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, and the burned status from Will-O-Wisp and Flame Body pressure it immensely in keeping healthy. This can be detrimental to Corviknight and enough pressure can be applied to where the Pokemon it normally checks start to break it down much easier.
**Trapping**: Without Shed Shell, Corviknight is extremely vulnerable to being trapped by Heatran and Magnezone. This can create a big hole in teams with Corviknight's absence, leaving the opposition to take advantage fully with hazards stacking, offensive Grass- and Ground-types.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Aurodian, 483087]]
- Quality checked by: [[ausma, 360720], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
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