WhiteDMist
Path>Goal
Dodrio has a slightly better niche in this metagame with Jynx being so popular. Thrash is also interesting, though admittedly has a lot of flaws. I want to see what people feel about this new option.
Kacaw!
[Overview]
<p>Dodrio's combination of great Attack and Speed, which allows it to outspeed and take out unboosted base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Jynx and Haunter, makes it surprisingly effective in this metagame. It can even trap Jynx and Haunter thanks to Pursuit, giving it some extra utility on a team. Its greatest drawback is the fact that it is helpless against Rock- and Steel-types, which are common Stealth Rock setters in the metagame. Speaking of Stealth Rock, taking 25% damage when switching in makes Dodrio frailer than it already is, as it gets worn down quickly alongside Brave Bird's recoil. Still, it provides a balance between power and Speed, which gives it a niche in comparison to Braviary.</p>
[SET]
name: KACAW (Choice Band)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Quick Attack / Toxic
item: Choice Band
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest and most reliable STAB move, with the recoil being a small price to pay as Dodrio is already quite frail. Return is the safest choice for a secondary STAB move, having no drawback and decent power. Pursuit makes use of Dodrio's great power and Speed, striking any Haunter and Jynx without a Choice Scarf before they can move and taking them out whether they switch out or not. Quick Attack provides useful STAB priority to pick off weakened sweepers, and it still has some decent power behind it. Toxic is another viable option for the last slot to catch physical walls such as Alomomola and Misdreavus on the switch in, but being locked into it can be inconvenient.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Early Bird is the preferred ability as it makes Dodrio a better check against Grass-types and Butterfree. Stealth Rock is very useful for Dodrio, as it guarantees that Dodrio can OHKO Bulk Up Braviary and offensive Armaldo and 2HKO 172 HP Eelektross with Brave Bird. Golem and Seismitoad are some great options for setting Stealth Rock as their Ground typing allows them to check most Electric-types and also prevents your opponent from safely using Volt Switch. Spikes is also very beneficial because two layers alongside Stealth Rock allows Dodrio to 2HKO standard Alomomola with Brave Bird. Garbodor and Roselia are good teammates to set up Spikes, and both can set up Toxic Spikes as an added bonus. As Dodrio takes a lot of damage from Brave Bird recoil and Stealth Rock, having ways to keep Stealth Rock off the field is very beneficial. Sawk and Samurott are great offensive options to prevent most Stealth Rock users from setting up, and they also threaten the Rock- and Steel-types that Dodrio cannot easily damage. Cleric support from Musharna or Misdreavus is very useful because Dodrio is utterly crippled by paralysis and burns.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Thrash is also a viable STAB move as it has much more power behind it than Return. One must understand that being locked into the move is a problem however, as there are a few types that can easily switch into Thrash and set up, and the confusion provides only a small benefit when combined with Tangled Feet. You rarely want to keep Dodrio in after Thrash ends, as the evasion boost doesn't prevent it from hitting itself in confusion, which can be fatal due to its high Attack. A stallbreaker set is a viable option, using Taunt and Roost to break through some walls. Unfortunately, such a set is at best mediocre at accomplishing this job, with its low bulk making even weak attacks a problem. Baton Pass allows Dodrio to escape battle while maintaining momentum, but it is illegal with Brave Bird. Work Up is an option to increase Dodrio's offensive power, but Dodrio is generally too frail to set up and would prefer to simply attack. Substitute can work alongside Agility and Liechi Berry, but priority is quite common in the metagame. Faint Attack and Payback are options over Pursuit, but they lack its utility. Drill Peck is a viable option over Brave Bird if you don't like recoil, but the loss in power is very drastic. Double-Edge is a viable option over Return and Thrash, but it is illegal alongside Brave Bird. Steel Wing is Dodrio's only option to hit Rock-types, but it is rather weak and fails to defeat them before they defeat Dodrio. Acupressure can provide a random boost to one of Dodrio's stats, but it is so unreliable that it isn't worth the moveslot. Haze, Endeavor, and Torment are interesting support moves, but Dodrio cannot make use of them with its frailty and lack of resistances.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon, such as Regirock and Metang, are almost always perfect counters to Dodrio, and they can even set up Stealth Rock to limit the number of times it can switch in. Physically defensive Mandibuzz can tank repeated Brave Birds and respond with Foul Play. Alomomola can take a Brave Bird and retaliate with Toxic or its Water STAB in response; meanwhile, it can stall with Protect and pivot out to a Flying-type resistance. Weezing can take a couple of Brave Birds and respond with Will-O-Wisp or Sludge Bomb. Almost everything faster than Dodrio can revenge kill it. Faster Electric-types are notable choices because they can easily use Volt Switch to either OHKO Dodrio or gain momentum if it switches out. Because Dodrio is so frail, priority can inflict a huge amount of damage on it. It is important to note that Quick Attack variants can get around Sucker Punch users.</p>
Kacaw!
[Overview]
[SET]
name: KACAW!
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return / Thrash
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Quick Attack / Toxic
item: Choice Band
ability: Early Bird / Tangled Feet
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
[Other Options]
- Has the Speed to outpace non-Scarf Jynx, which is very useful in this metagame
- Great Attack and high powered attacks
- Has great utility in Pursuit to trap Jynx and Haunter
- Mostly helpless against Rock and Steels
- Frail and weak to Stealth Rock, so it gets worn down very quickly with residual damage
[SET]
name: KACAW!
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return / Thrash
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Quick Attack / Toxic
item: Choice Band
ability: Early Bird / Tangled Feet
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Brave Bird is main STAB move and has great power
- Return is a reliable secondary STAB
- Thrash has more power and also works with Tangled Feet, but locks you into an easily resisted move
- Pursuit is great to trap and OHKO Jynx and Haunter no matter whether they switch out or not
- QUick Attack brings helpful priority, though isn't particularly powerful
- Toxic is a good option to cripple Pokemon like Alomomola and Regirock
- Early Bird is the preferred ability if using Return and makes Dodrio more reliable when facing Grass- and Bug-types
- Tangled Feet is only useful if using Thrash, but staying in while being confused is risky
- Golem and Seismitoad are good options to set up Stealth Rock, which guarantees Dodrio OHKO SubBU Braviary, Offensive Armaldo, and 2HKO 172 HP Eelektross with Brave Bird. They also stop Volt Switch spamming
- Garbodor and Roselia are good options for Spikers, since 2 layers and Rocks allow Dodrio to 2HKO standard Alomomola with Brave Bird/Thrash
- Sawk and Samurott are good options to prevent opposing Stealth Rock users from setting up easily, especially the Rocks and Steels
- Alomomola can pass Wish, which helps Dodrio absorb Brave Bird recoil and SR damage better
- Musharna is a good teammate that can also provide Heal Bell support to deal with any burns or paralyses
[Other Options]
- Baton Pass lets Dodrio escape and still maintain momentum, but is illegal with Brave Bird
- Taunt and Roost can allow Dodrio to break through some walls, but it is mediocre at doing so.
- Work Up can amp up Dodrio's power, but Dodrio is so frail that it is better off attacking immediately
- Substitute can work with Agility and Liechi Berry, but priority is very common in the metagame
- Faint Attack and Payback are options over Pursuit, but Pursuit has more utility in trapping Jynx and Haunter
- Drill Peck is viable over Brave Bird to avoid recoil, but the loss in power is very drastic
- Double Edge is a very viable option over Return, but it is illegal with Brave Bird
- Steel Wing is Dodrio's only option to hit Rock-types but is still not enough to defeat them
- Accupressure can randomly boost one of Dodrio's stats, but is so unreliable that it isn't worth it
- Haze, Endeavor, and Torment, but none of them are very useful
- Rock- and Steel-types such as Golem and Metang wall Dodrio completely, and can usually set up Stealth Rock to limit the number of times Dodrio can switch in
- Physically Defensive Mandibuzz can tank even Brave Birds and respond with Foul Play
- Alomomola can take a Brave Bird and either attack or Toxic in response. The recoil from Brave Bird will also drain Dodrio's HP quickly
- Weezing can take a couple of Brave Birds and respond with Will-O-Wisp or Sludge Bomb
- Anything faster can easily take out Dodrio due to its frailness. Electabuzz and Tauros are just two good options to revenge kill it
- Faster Electric-types can easily gain momentum against it by using Volt Switch, or else just revenge kill it with their STAB move.
- Priority can inflict a lot of damage, but Quick Attack can usually get around most Sucker Punch users
[Overview]
<p>Dodrio's combination of great Attack and Speed, which allows it to outspeed and take out unboosted base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Jynx and Haunter, makes it surprisingly effective in this metagame. It can even trap Jynx and Haunter thanks to Pursuit, giving it some extra utility on a team. Its greatest drawback is the fact that it is helpless against Rock- and Steel-types, which are common Stealth Rock setters in the metagame. Speaking of Stealth Rock, taking 25% damage when switching in makes Dodrio frailer than it already is, as it gets worn down quickly alongside Brave Bird's recoil. Still, it provides a balance between power and Speed, which gives it a niche in comparison to Braviary.</p>
[SET]
name: KACAW (Choice Band)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Quick Attack / Toxic
item: Choice Band
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest and most reliable STAB move, with the recoil being a small price to pay as Dodrio is already quite frail. Return is the safest choice for a secondary STAB move, having no drawback and decent power. Pursuit makes use of Dodrio's great power and Speed, striking any Haunter and Jynx without a Choice Scarf before they can move and taking them out whether they switch out or not. Quick Attack provides useful STAB priority to pick off weakened sweepers, and it still has some decent power behind it. Toxic is another viable option for the last slot to catch physical walls such as Alomomola and Misdreavus on the switch in, but being locked into it can be inconvenient.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Early Bird is the preferred ability as it makes Dodrio a better check against Grass-types and Butterfree. Stealth Rock is very useful for Dodrio, as it guarantees that Dodrio can OHKO Bulk Up Braviary and offensive Armaldo and 2HKO 172 HP Eelektross with Brave Bird. Golem and Seismitoad are some great options for setting Stealth Rock as their Ground typing allows them to check most Electric-types and also prevents your opponent from safely using Volt Switch. Spikes is also very beneficial because two layers alongside Stealth Rock allows Dodrio to 2HKO standard Alomomola with Brave Bird. Garbodor and Roselia are good teammates to set up Spikes, and both can set up Toxic Spikes as an added bonus. As Dodrio takes a lot of damage from Brave Bird recoil and Stealth Rock, having ways to keep Stealth Rock off the field is very beneficial. Sawk and Samurott are great offensive options to prevent most Stealth Rock users from setting up, and they also threaten the Rock- and Steel-types that Dodrio cannot easily damage. Cleric support from Musharna or Misdreavus is very useful because Dodrio is utterly crippled by paralysis and burns.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Thrash is also a viable STAB move as it has much more power behind it than Return. One must understand that being locked into the move is a problem however, as there are a few types that can easily switch into Thrash and set up, and the confusion provides only a small benefit when combined with Tangled Feet. You rarely want to keep Dodrio in after Thrash ends, as the evasion boost doesn't prevent it from hitting itself in confusion, which can be fatal due to its high Attack. A stallbreaker set is a viable option, using Taunt and Roost to break through some walls. Unfortunately, such a set is at best mediocre at accomplishing this job, with its low bulk making even weak attacks a problem. Baton Pass allows Dodrio to escape battle while maintaining momentum, but it is illegal with Brave Bird. Work Up is an option to increase Dodrio's offensive power, but Dodrio is generally too frail to set up and would prefer to simply attack. Substitute can work alongside Agility and Liechi Berry, but priority is quite common in the metagame. Faint Attack and Payback are options over Pursuit, but they lack its utility. Drill Peck is a viable option over Brave Bird if you don't like recoil, but the loss in power is very drastic. Double-Edge is a viable option over Return and Thrash, but it is illegal alongside Brave Bird. Steel Wing is Dodrio's only option to hit Rock-types, but it is rather weak and fails to defeat them before they defeat Dodrio. Acupressure can provide a random boost to one of Dodrio's stats, but it is so unreliable that it isn't worth the moveslot. Haze, Endeavor, and Torment are interesting support moves, but Dodrio cannot make use of them with its frailty and lack of resistances.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon, such as Regirock and Metang, are almost always perfect counters to Dodrio, and they can even set up Stealth Rock to limit the number of times it can switch in. Physically defensive Mandibuzz can tank repeated Brave Birds and respond with Foul Play. Alomomola can take a Brave Bird and retaliate with Toxic or its Water STAB in response; meanwhile, it can stall with Protect and pivot out to a Flying-type resistance. Weezing can take a couple of Brave Birds and respond with Will-O-Wisp or Sludge Bomb. Almost everything faster than Dodrio can revenge kill it. Faster Electric-types are notable choices because they can easily use Volt Switch to either OHKO Dodrio or gain momentum if it switches out. Because Dodrio is so frail, priority can inflict a huge amount of damage on it. It is important to note that Quick Attack variants can get around Sucker Punch users.</p>
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