Clone
Free Gliscor
[Overview]
Through the combination of an excellent defensive typing, fantastic bulk, and good movepool, Corviknight serves as one of the best defensive pivots in the tier, being able to check troublesome offensive threats such as Landorus-T, Rillaboom, and Weavile. Furthermore, a neutrality to Stealth Rock and the ability to switch in favorably against most entry hazard setters in the metagame, such as Landorus-T, Clefable, and Garchomp, makes Corviknight a great Defog user. Unlike Zapdos and Tornadus-T, it is not reliant on Heavy-Duty Boots, so it is effective even after being hit with Knock Off. Corviknight's best ability, Pressure, in tandem with Roost, lets it stall out moves such as hazards and weak attacks from the Pokemon it checks effectively. However, Corviknight is often forced to click Roost to stay healthy, leading to a loss of momentum. It also exhibits very little offensive pressure, often relying on one offensive moveslot to help it check foes. Opting for Body Press makes Rillaboom more difficult to deal with, while Brave Bird weakens its matchup against Kartana and Bisharp. Opponents can take advantage of this by sending out Pokemon that resist its main move, forcing Corviknight to switch. Furthermore, Corviknight is especially prone to being trapped by Magnezone, which can open up a major hole in its team.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Body Press
move 2: U-turn / Brave Bird
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Pressure
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
The listed EV spread allows Corviknight to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Tapu Lele's Psychic after Stealth Rock damage as well as the 2HKO from Choice Specs Dragapult's Shadow Ball from full HP. Maximum HP and Defense EVs is an alternative, although it takes considerably more damage from special attacks. Body Press OHKOes Bisharp and Weavile while also dealing decent damage to incoming Steel-types such as Heatran and Magnezone. U-turn is what makes Corviknight a great pivot, allowing it to keep momentum against Pokemon that switch in to it. Brave Bird is an alternative that hits Rillaboom, Urshifu-R, and Volcarona for super effective damage and prevents it from being setup fodder for the latter. However, teams especially weak to physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Garchomp and Kartana can make use of Iron Defense to completely wall those Pokemon while also making Body Press stronger. Corviknight's ability to wall most hazard setters makes it an excellent Defog user. Leftovers helps check more Pokemon in the long run thanks to the passive recovery. Rocky Helmet deals chip damage to U-turn and Knock Off spam and dissuades Urshifu-R from using Surging Strikes. Corviknight is often switching in on Knock Off from Pokemon such as Weavile, Bisharp, Rillaboom, and Kartana, so its item rarely lasts the entire match.
Many team archetypes appreciate Corviknight as a Defogger thanks to its strong defensive presence and pivoting ability. Defensive teams greatly appreciate its longevity and ability to take Knock Off, while more offensive teams take great advantage of its pivoting. Corviknight appreciates Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Hippowdon switching into Electric-type attacks from Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Zapdos that threaten it. These Pokemon also threaten Heatran, one of the few Stealth Rock setters able to beat Corviknight. Slowking, Toxapex, and Heatran switch into Fire-types that threaten Corviknight such as Heatran for the former two and Volcarona for the latter two. Slowking and Blissey also sponge special attacks from Pokemon such as Nidoking that Corviknight has trouble repeatedly taking, and they can safely pivot into it with Teleport against strong physical attackers that threaten them like Kartana, Rillaboom, and Urshifu-R. Another great teammate is Clefable, as it appreciates Corviknight's ability to take on physical attackers that threaten it like Rillaboom, Bisharp, and Kartana, while Clefable takes on Dragon-types such as Hydreigon, Dragapult, and Kyurem that threaten Corviknight. It also can heal status with Aromatherapy. Strong wallbreakers such as Tapu Lele, Urshifu-R, Bisharp, and Dragapult appreciate Corviknight's slow pivoting with U-turn getting them in safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A Bulk Up set with maximum HP and Special Defense EVs, a Careful nature, and a moveset of Brave Bird / Bulk Up / Substitute / Roost is an option for a bulky wincon. This set is especially effective at Pressure stalling opposing Pokemon thanks to its sturdy Substitutes. 200 Speed EVs on the Defog set allow Corviknight to outspeed maximum Speed Modest Magnezone and use U-turn to avoid getting trapped. The loss of bulk is very noticeable, however. Iron Head is also an option to deal super effective damage to Fairy-types. However, it is very weak outside of this and an inferior option overall. Taunt can be used to prevent status moves like Leech Seed from Ferrothorn and Thunder Wave from Clefable, and it can also defend the team against setup sweepers in a pinch, but it has very little use otherwise.
Checks and Counters
====
**Strong Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special attackers such as Choice Specs Kyurem and Thunderbolt Tapu Lele easily 2HKO Corviknight. Dragapult can also fish for a Special Defense drop with Shadow Ball if it gets in safely. However, Kyurem dislikes Body Press, and Dragapult and Tapu Lele take a big chunk from Brave Bird.
**Electric-types and Electric-type Coverage**: Common Pokemon such as Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Zapdos threaten Corviknight with super effective moves. Electric-type coverage moves on Clefable, Melmetal, and Tapu Lele allow these Pokemon to break through Corviknight as well. Magnezone gets a special mention because it traps Corviknight with Magnet Pull and easily beats it, which can open up a major hole in its team.
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Heatran is one of the few Stealth Rock users able to beat Corviknight and keep entry hazards on the field. Volcarona threatens Corviknight with its STAB attacks and sets up on variants lacking Brave Bird. Corviknight also invites in Victini, giving it a free turn to use one of its strong attacking moves. Fire-type coverage lets Dragapult and Garchomp break through Corviknight as well. However, Heatran takes a good chunk from Body Press and Volcarona and Dragapult dislike Brave Bird.
**Chip Damage**: Contact punishment from Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin or Iron Barbs is problematic for Corviknight. Furthermore, if hazards are on the field and Corviknight keeps getting forced out before being able to use Defog, the repeated Stealth Rock damage makes its job of switching into Pokemon it's supposed to check more difficult.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Clone, 218318]]
- Quality checked by: [[Katy, 415305], [curiosity, 443485]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Finland, 517429]]
Through the combination of an excellent defensive typing, fantastic bulk, and good movepool, Corviknight serves as one of the best defensive pivots in the tier, being able to check troublesome offensive threats such as Landorus-T, Rillaboom, and Weavile. Furthermore, a neutrality to Stealth Rock and the ability to switch in favorably against most entry hazard setters in the metagame, such as Landorus-T, Clefable, and Garchomp, makes Corviknight a great Defog user. Unlike Zapdos and Tornadus-T, it is not reliant on Heavy-Duty Boots, so it is effective even after being hit with Knock Off. Corviknight's best ability, Pressure, in tandem with Roost, lets it stall out moves such as hazards and weak attacks from the Pokemon it checks effectively. However, Corviknight is often forced to click Roost to stay healthy, leading to a loss of momentum. It also exhibits very little offensive pressure, often relying on one offensive moveslot to help it check foes. Opting for Body Press makes Rillaboom more difficult to deal with, while Brave Bird weakens its matchup against Kartana and Bisharp. Opponents can take advantage of this by sending out Pokemon that resist its main move, forcing Corviknight to switch. Furthermore, Corviknight is especially prone to being trapped by Magnezone, which can open up a major hole in its team.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Body Press
move 2: U-turn / Brave Bird
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Pressure
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
The listed EV spread allows Corviknight to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Tapu Lele's Psychic after Stealth Rock damage as well as the 2HKO from Choice Specs Dragapult's Shadow Ball from full HP. Maximum HP and Defense EVs is an alternative, although it takes considerably more damage from special attacks. Body Press OHKOes Bisharp and Weavile while also dealing decent damage to incoming Steel-types such as Heatran and Magnezone. U-turn is what makes Corviknight a great pivot, allowing it to keep momentum against Pokemon that switch in to it. Brave Bird is an alternative that hits Rillaboom, Urshifu-R, and Volcarona for super effective damage and prevents it from being setup fodder for the latter. However, teams especially weak to physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Garchomp and Kartana can make use of Iron Defense to completely wall those Pokemon while also making Body Press stronger. Corviknight's ability to wall most hazard setters makes it an excellent Defog user. Leftovers helps check more Pokemon in the long run thanks to the passive recovery. Rocky Helmet deals chip damage to U-turn and Knock Off spam and dissuades Urshifu-R from using Surging Strikes. Corviknight is often switching in on Knock Off from Pokemon such as Weavile, Bisharp, Rillaboom, and Kartana, so its item rarely lasts the entire match.
Many team archetypes appreciate Corviknight as a Defogger thanks to its strong defensive presence and pivoting ability. Defensive teams greatly appreciate its longevity and ability to take Knock Off, while more offensive teams take great advantage of its pivoting. Corviknight appreciates Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Hippowdon switching into Electric-type attacks from Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Zapdos that threaten it. These Pokemon also threaten Heatran, one of the few Stealth Rock setters able to beat Corviknight. Slowking, Toxapex, and Heatran switch into Fire-types that threaten Corviknight such as Heatran for the former two and Volcarona for the latter two. Slowking and Blissey also sponge special attacks from Pokemon such as Nidoking that Corviknight has trouble repeatedly taking, and they can safely pivot into it with Teleport against strong physical attackers that threaten them like Kartana, Rillaboom, and Urshifu-R. Another great teammate is Clefable, as it appreciates Corviknight's ability to take on physical attackers that threaten it like Rillaboom, Bisharp, and Kartana, while Clefable takes on Dragon-types such as Hydreigon, Dragapult, and Kyurem that threaten Corviknight. It also can heal status with Aromatherapy. Strong wallbreakers such as Tapu Lele, Urshifu-R, Bisharp, and Dragapult appreciate Corviknight's slow pivoting with U-turn getting them in safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A Bulk Up set with maximum HP and Special Defense EVs, a Careful nature, and a moveset of Brave Bird / Bulk Up / Substitute / Roost is an option for a bulky wincon. This set is especially effective at Pressure stalling opposing Pokemon thanks to its sturdy Substitutes. 200 Speed EVs on the Defog set allow Corviknight to outspeed maximum Speed Modest Magnezone and use U-turn to avoid getting trapped. The loss of bulk is very noticeable, however. Iron Head is also an option to deal super effective damage to Fairy-types. However, it is very weak outside of this and an inferior option overall. Taunt can be used to prevent status moves like Leech Seed from Ferrothorn and Thunder Wave from Clefable, and it can also defend the team against setup sweepers in a pinch, but it has very little use otherwise.
Checks and Counters
====
**Strong Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special attackers such as Choice Specs Kyurem and Thunderbolt Tapu Lele easily 2HKO Corviknight. Dragapult can also fish for a Special Defense drop with Shadow Ball if it gets in safely. However, Kyurem dislikes Body Press, and Dragapult and Tapu Lele take a big chunk from Brave Bird.
**Electric-types and Electric-type Coverage**: Common Pokemon such as Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Zapdos threaten Corviknight with super effective moves. Electric-type coverage moves on Clefable, Melmetal, and Tapu Lele allow these Pokemon to break through Corviknight as well. Magnezone gets a special mention because it traps Corviknight with Magnet Pull and easily beats it, which can open up a major hole in its team.
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Heatran is one of the few Stealth Rock users able to beat Corviknight and keep entry hazards on the field. Volcarona threatens Corviknight with its STAB attacks and sets up on variants lacking Brave Bird. Corviknight also invites in Victini, giving it a free turn to use one of its strong attacking moves. Fire-type coverage lets Dragapult and Garchomp break through Corviknight as well. However, Heatran takes a good chunk from Body Press and Volcarona and Dragapult dislike Brave Bird.
**Chip Damage**: Contact punishment from Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin or Iron Barbs is problematic for Corviknight. Furthermore, if hazards are on the field and Corviknight keeps getting forced out before being able to use Defog, the repeated Stealth Rock damage makes its job of switching into Pokemon it's supposed to check more difficult.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Clone, 218318]]
- Quality checked by: [[Katy, 415305], [curiosity, 443485]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Finland, 517429]]
Last edited: