NU Dodrio (revamp)

[Rabia]

[OVERVIEW]

Dodrio's impressive Attack and Speed stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent sweeper capable of outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe while also breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer, threatening out Pokemon like Dhelmise, Medicham, and Decidueye with Brave Bird. However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defenses, making it hard to directly switch into even resisted attacks from Pokemon like Dhelmise and Decidueye. This is compounded by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock making it quickly worn down. Additionally, while Dodrio is very fast, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine. Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility due to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up to boost its Defense and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant that lets it punish common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Knock Off / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance lets Dodrio OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate coverage move. Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Incineroar, Garbodor, and Palossand after a Swords Dance boost. Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage. Knock Off is an option that gives Dodrio extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Druddigon. Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Choice Scarf Braviary but is weak unboosted. Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie and OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature maximizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets it outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius. Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also OHKOing Slowbro and avoiding contact damage from Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet Pokemon like Druddigon. Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon. Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already has a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack. Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability, reducing the number of turns Dodrio must remain asleep due to moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched into Scald from Pokemon like Vaporeon and Slowbro, as it risks being burned and takes too much damage. Dodrio's poor bulk also makes it difficult to find many opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. Therefore, it is best to get Dodrio in against a Pokemon it forces out such as Decidueye or Alolan Exeggutor. Dodrio can also set up against passive Pokemon that cannot easily threaten it like Xatu and Mega Audino. Thanks to the strength of Dodrio's +2 Z-Move, it is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon like Slowbro and Palossand to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status to impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep. It is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike followed by Brave Bird has a decent change to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire. If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon. Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a consistent switch-in to it.

Team Options
========

It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as Dodrio is able to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO from Steelix's Gyro Ball and Rhydon's Rock Blast in return. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock and check faster Flying-types like Scyther, Choice Scarf Braviary, and +1 Vivillon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, defensive Slowbro, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, which prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it with Return. Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, helping with Dodrio's longevity. Other forms of hazard control such as Blastoise and Silvally-Steel are good partners, helping mitigate the amount of passive damage Dodrio must take by clearing hazards from the field. Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Similarly, checks to Choice Scarf users like Slowbro and Druddigon help Dodrio immensely, as Dodrio is very prone to being revenge killed by faster threats like Choice Scarf Passimian, Heliolisk, and Rotom. Other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, which retains the same coverage Jump Kick provides. Additionally, Stomping Tantrum is more reliable than Jump Kick is, as Stomping Tantrum does not cause Dodrio to take recoil damage if a Ghost-type like Rotom or Decidueye switches into it. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2. A Choice item set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can easily take an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their respective abilities.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Earlier versions by: [[MamoJustWins, 376487]]
- Quality checked by: [[Punchshroom, 169054], [quziel, 297859], [Eternally, 295647]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [CryoGyro, 331519]]

 

[Rabia]

this is ready

 

[Punchshroom]

* Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Klinklang, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, which resists both of its STAB attacks.

Mention Silvally-Steel as another Jump Kick target; you may even note how +2 Jump Kick can OHKO SteelVally (and Klinklang). Also bring up the fact that +2 All-Out Pummeling enables Dodrio to OHKO Rhydon and Steelix after Stealth Rock damage.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, allowing Dodrio to retain the same coverage Jump Kick provides. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants.
* Roost allows Dodrio to stave off recoil damage from Brave Bird, but Dodrio misses out on the coverage against Rock- and Steel-types Jump Kick provides.
* Knock Off provides Dodrio with extra utility and allows it to remove items from Pokemon, like Rocky Helmet from Druddigon. However, the coverage from Jump Kick is a necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix.
* A Choice item set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker.
* Z-Mirror Move is a usable set that provides Dodrio with a +2 Attack boost while also firing back a Z-Move at the foe, but Dodrio's low bulk makes such a set hard to pull off, as Dodrio will take a heavy hit prior to obtaining its Attack boost.

- Also emphasize Groundium's power drop compared to Fightinium, as it now needs significantly more chip damage on Rhydon and Steelix to take them down after +2.
- Roosting with Dodrio is risky considering its poor bulk.
- Knock Off also targets Rotom.
- Mention Dodrio's best opportunities to use Z-Mirror Move, such as switching into Earthquake from Rhydon and Steelix or Spirit Shackle from Decidueye and immediately smacking them with a +2 super effective Z-Move, or could simply used to revenge kill slower physical attackers that don't resist their own attacks, such as Medicham and Braviary. Of course, mention this tactic's unreliability when compared to Swords Dance and being able to use its Z-Move at the appropriate time, as well as potentially telegraphing your intentions when switching into the aforementioned Earthquake users.

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return.

Ferroseed doesn't stand up to Z-Moves well, but can be annoying for Dodrio otherwise as Iron Barbs punishes Brave Bird while Protect punishes Jump Kick. Klinklang can check unboosted Dodrio.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily live an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis.

Garbodor can be mentioned as well. Note that both Druddigon and Garbodor can punish Brave Bird well.

QC 1/3

 

[Rabia]

Mention Silvally-Steel as another Jump Kick target; you may even note how +2 Jump Kick can OHKO SteelVally (and Klinklang). Also bring up the fact that +2 All-Out Pummeling enables Dodrio to OHKO Rhydon and Steelix after Stealth Rock damage.

- Also emphasize Groundium's power drop compared to Fightinium, as it now needs significantly more chip damage on Rhydon and Steelix to take them down after +2.
- Roosting with Dodrio is risky considering its poor bulk.
- Knock Off also targets Rotom.
- Mention Dodrio's best opportunities to use Z-Mirror Move, such as switching into Earthquake from Rhydon and Steelix or Spirit Shackle from Decidueye and immediately smacking them with a +2 super effective Z-Move, or could simply used to revenge kill slower physical attackers that don't resist their own attacks, such as Medicham and Braviary. Of course, mention this tactic's unreliability when compared to Swords Dance and being able to use its Z-Move at the appropriate time, as well as potentially telegraphing your intentions when switching into the aforementioned Earthquake users.

Ferroseed doesn't stand up to Z-Moves well, but can be annoying for Dodrio otherwise as Iron Barbs punishes Brave Bird while Protect punishes Jump Kick. Klinklang can check unboosted Dodrio.

Garbodor can be mentioned as well. Note that both Druddigon and Garbodor can punish Brave Bird well.

QC 1/3

implemented and ready for next check

 

[Yoshi]

amcheck here, feel free to implement what you'd like!

(p.s. I suck at these so don't murder me if I get anything messed up)

Comments

[OVERVIEW]

* Dodrio's impressive Speed and Attack stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent Swords Dance sweeper capable of both outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe and breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. I wouldn't necessarily call Incineroar itself a strictly defensive Pokémon, be sure to specify what set. Perhaps even Vaporeon in this instance as well.
* Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer thanks to its great Speed stat, threatening out Pokemon like Decidueye, Medicham, and Dhelmise with super effective Brave Bird.
* However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defensive stats, making it hard to directly switch Dodrio into opposing Pokemon like Decidueye and Dhelmise. This is further compounded upon by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock, making it easy to wear down.
* Additionally, while Dodrio has a great Speed stat, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine. I feel like you don't need Vanilluxe and Braviary here, as they don't often run Choice Scarf. If you were going to get rid of one, drop Vanilluxe in my opinion.
* Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility thanks to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up, allowing it to boost its Defense and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant, which lets Braviary switch into common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel and gain an Attack boost. Note that Braviary struggles to hit Pokemon like Diancie because of the lack of Ground coverage. Also, Braviary lacks in priority, and is easier to revenge kill in some instances.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Swords Dance boosts Dodrio's Attack stat by two stages and gives it the ability to OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate move.
* Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Slowbro, Incineroar, Garbodor, and Mega Audino after a Swords Dance boost. Don't use Slowbro as an example here, as well as Mega Audino. Slowbro because you just used it, and Mega Audino since it isn't very relevant at all right now.
* Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage.
* Alternatively, Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Braviary.
* Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Rhydon, and Klinklang, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, which resists both of its STAB attacks, as well as enabling Dodrio to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage. I feel like you should note that Jump Kick comes at the risk of missing, meaning you'll take 50% in that situation.
Set Details
========

* Maximum Attack and Speed investment optimizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets Dodrio outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius.
* Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Slowbro, Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also not making contact with Rough Skin Pokemon like Druddigon. Again, don't mention Mega Audino here.
* Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon.
* Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already have a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack stat.
* Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability and reduces the amount of turns it must remain asleep due to Sleep-inducing moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

* Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn and Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched in on weak Scalds from Pokemon like defensive Slowbro and Vaporeon, as Dodrio not only risks being burned, but takes too much damage even from uninvested Scald.
* Thanks to the strength of its +2 Z-Move, Dodrio is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon such as Slowbro, Palossand, and Mega Audino to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status and impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep.
* Furthermore, it is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike into Brave Bird has a decent chance to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire.
* If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon.
* Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than looking to use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a solid defensive switch-in to Dodrio.

Team Options
========

* It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as it allows Dodrio to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO in return from Steelix's Gyro Ball or Rhydon's Rock Blast. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock up and check Flying-types like Braviary, Vivillon, and Scyther. Scyther isn't really relevant right now, so I'm not sure how much the example holds up here.
* Bulky Water-types like defensive Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, which prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal in Rapid Spin. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye, Whimsicott, and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it with Return. Dodrio is slower than Whimsicott, use a different example.
* Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. U-turn and Volt Switch support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide entry hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, respectively, helping with Dodrio's longevity.
* Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Additionally, other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.
Mention hazard removal as its own bullet here, I feel like it needs more of a mention than a little blurb at the end of U-Turn and Volt Switch support.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, allowing Dodrio to retain the same coverage Jump Kick provides. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2.
* Roost allows Dodrio to stave off recoil damage from Brave Bird, but Dodrio misses out on the coverage against Rock- and Steel-types Jump Kick provides and struggles to find opportunities to use Roost because of its poor bulk.
* Knock Off provides Dodrio with extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet from Druddigon. However, the coverage from Jump Kick is a necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix. I'm not sure if you want to mention that +2 Brave Bird OHKOs Rotom after Stealth Rock, it's up to you.
* A Choice Band set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker. Braviary doesn't run Choice Band so this sort of feels weird here as an example.
* Z-Mirror Move is a usable set that provides Dodrio with a +2 Attack boost while also firing back a Z-Move at the foe. Dodrio should try to switch into moves it is immune to like Earthquake from Steelix and Spirit Shackle from Decidueye and immediately retaliate with a +2 super effective Z-Move. Additionally, Dodrio can use Z-Mirror Move to revenge kill Pokemon that don't resist their own coverage like Medicham's Psycho Cut. However, Dodrio's low bulk makes such a set hard to pull off, as Dodrio will take a heavy hit prior to obtaining its Attack boost, and this strategy is very telegraphed and easy to predict against. I thought Medicham ran Zen Headbutt more than Psycho Cut since Garbodor and Druddigon haven't been commonish until recently, but I mean I guess so.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move, but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily live an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their abilities Aftermath and Rough Skin, respectively.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino all naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary, can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio. I mean Dodrio can eat a Bullet Punch, also I'd remove the Braviary example here too.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Punchshroom, 169054], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

 

[Rabia]

amcheck here, feel free to implement what you'd like!

(p.s. I suck at these so don't murder me if I get anything messed up)

Comments

implemented what I was good with

 

[Rabia]

made oo shorter to remove stuff that is either never seen or just not worth running even if it has some niche

 

[quziel]

[OVERVIEW]

• Dodrio's impressive Speed and Attack stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent Swords Dance sweeper capable of both outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe and breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost.
• Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer thanks to its great Speed stat, threatening out Pokemon like Decidueye, Medicham, and Dhelmise with super effective Brave Bird.
• However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defensive stats, making it hard to directly switch Dodrio into opposing Pokemon like Decidueye and Dhelmise. This is further compounded upon by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock, making it easy to wear down.
• Additionally, while Dodrio has a great Speed stat, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine.
• Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility thanks to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up, allowing it to boost its Defense and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant, which lets Braviary switch into common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel and gain an Attack boost.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

• Swords Dance boosts Dodrio's Attack stat by two stages and gives it the ability to OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate move.
• Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Incineroar, Garbodor, and Palossand after a Swords Dance boost.
• Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage.
• Alternatively, Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Braviary.
• Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Rhydon, and Klinklang, which resist both of its STAB attacks, can miss and cause Dodrio to take 50% of its maximum health in recoil damage, and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, which resists both of its STAB attacks, as well as enabling Dodrio to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.
• Mention Knock Off; I'd lean towards a full slash with Return, but am open to just a mention in moves. Being able to actually hit rotom when rotom has pretty high usage is important.

Set Details
========

• Maximum Attack and Speed investment optimizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets Dodrio outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius. Mention a Jolly nature here.
• Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Slowbro, Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also not making contact with Rough Skin Pokemon like Druddigon.The fact that it OHKOs bro at +2 should be explicitly mentioned.
• Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon.
• Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already have a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack stat.
• Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability and reduces the amount of turns it must remain asleep due to Sleep-inducing moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

• Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn and Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched in on weak Scalds from Pokemon like defensive Slowbro and Vaporeon, as Dodrio not only risks being burned, but takes too much damage even from uninvested Scald.
• Thanks to the strength of its +2 Z-Move, Dodrio is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon such as Slowbro, Palossand, and Mega Audino to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status and impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep.
• Furthermore, it is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike into Brave Bird has a decent chance to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire.
• If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon.
• Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than looking to use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a solid defensive switch-in to Dodrio.
• When/how can it set up, mention a few things that it can force out, and a few situations where it can use SD with minimal risk.

Team Options
========

• It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as it allows Dodrio to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO in return from Steelix's Gyro Ball or Rhydon's Rock Blast. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock up and check Flying-types like Braviary, Vivillon, and Scyther.
• Bulky Water-types like defensive Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, which prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal in Rapid Spin. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it with Return.
• Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. U-turn and Volt Switch support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide entry hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, respectively, helping with Dodrio's longevity.
• Other forms of entry hazard control such as Blastoise and Silvally-Steel are good partners, helping mitigate the amount of passive damage Dodrio must take by clearing entry hazards from the field.
• Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Additionally, other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.
• Mention some answers to common scarfers, aka Dodrio's biggest enemies. Some examples include Druddigon, Slowbro, etc. I feel this should be explicitly mentioned, as a dodrio team really needs that kind of support.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, allowing Dodrio to retain the same coverage Jump Kick provides. Additionally, Stomping Tantrum is more reliable than Jump Kick is, as Stomping Tantrum does not cause Dodrio to take recoil damage if a Ghost-type like Rotom or Decidueye switches into it. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2.
• Knock Off provides Dodrio with extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet from Druddigon. However, the coverage from Jump Kick is a necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix. As Mentioned, I want this as a slash or move option on main set, Rotom is too common for it only to be an OO
• Mention Choiced Sets.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move, but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily live an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their abilities Aftermath and Rough Skin, respectively.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino all naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Punchshroom, 169054], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

Implement then 2/3

 

[Rabia]

Implement then 2/3

implemented, will write up soontm

 

[Rabia]

written up and ready for last check

 

[etern]

Great as always, nothing to change. QC 3/3

 

[Rabia]

Great as always, nothing to change. QC 3/3

sending to gp

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 1/2

check

[OVERVIEW]

Dodrio's impressive Attack and Speed stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent sweeper capable of outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe while also breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer thanks to its great Speed stat, threatening out Pokemon like Dhelmise, Medicham, and Decidueye with Brave Bird. However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defenses, making it hard to directly switch Dodrio even into resisted attacks from Pokemon like Dhelmise and Decidueye. This is further compounded upon by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock, making Dodrio easy to wear down. Additionally, while Dodrio is very fast, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine. Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility due to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up (RC) allowing it to boost its Defense to and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant, which lets Braviary switch into common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel and gain an Attack boost.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Knock Off / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance boosts Dodrio's Attack by two stages and lets Dodrio it OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate coverage move. Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Incineroar, Garbodor, and Palossand after a Swords Dance boost. Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage. Knock Off is an option that gives Dodrio extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Druddigon. However, the Jump Kick is necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix. Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Choice Scarf Braviary, but it is weak unboosted. Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which resist both of its STAB attacks, can miss and cause Dodrio to take 50% of its maximum health in recoil damage, (dex info + doesn't seem to have any immediate relevance here) and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, which resists both of its STAB attacks, as well as enabling Dodrio to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature optimizes maximizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets Dodrio it outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius. Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also OHKOing Slowbro and not making avoiding contact with damage from (optional) Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet Pokemon like Druddigon. Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon. Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already have has a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack. Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability and reduces the amount number of turns Dodrio must remain asleep due to sleep-inducing moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched into Scald from Pokemon like Vaporeon and Slowbro, as Dodrio it risks being burned and takes too much damage even from uninvested Scald. Dodrio's poor bulk also makes it difficult to find many opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. Therefore, it is best to get Dodrio in a favorable matchup against a Pokemon Dodrio it forces out such as Decidueye or Alolan Exeggutor. Dodrio can also set up against passive Pokemon that cannot easily threaten it like Xatu and Mega Audino. Thanks to the strength of Dodrio's +2 Z-Move, Dodrio it is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon such as Slowbro and Palossand to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status and impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep. It is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike into followed by Brave Bird has a decent change to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire. If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon. Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a solid defensive switch-in to Dodrio it.

Team Options
========

It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as it allows Dodrio is able to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO from Steelix's Gyro Ball and Rhydon's Rock Blast in return. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock and check faster Flying-types like Scyther, Choice Scarf Braviary, and +1 Vivillon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, defensive Slowbro, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon that prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it and with Return. Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, respectively, helping with Dodrio's longevity. Other forms of hazard control such as Blastoise and Silvally-Steel are good partners, helping mitigate the amount of passive damage Dodrio must take by clearing hazards from the field. Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Similarly, checks to Choice Scarf users like Slowbro and Druddigon help Dodrio immensely, as Dodrio is very prone to being revenge killed by faster threats like Choice Scarf Passimian, Heliolisk, and Rotom. Other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, allowing Dodrio to retain which retains the same coverage Jump Kick provides. Additionally, Stomping Tantrum is more reliable than Jump Kick is, as Stomping Tantrum does not cause Dodrio to take recoil damage if a Ghost-type like Rotom or Decidueye switches into it. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2. A Choice item set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move (RC) but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily live take an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their respective abilities Aftermath and Rough Skin, respectively.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino all naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Punchshroom, 169054], [quziel, 297859], [Eternally, 295647]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

 

[Rabia]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 1/2

check

[OVERVIEW]

Dodrio's impressive Attack and Speed stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent sweeper capable of outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe while also breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer thanks to its great Speed stat, threatening out Pokemon like Dhelmise, Medicham, and Decidueye with Brave Bird. However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defenses, making it hard to directly switch Dodrio even into resisted attacks from Pokemon like Dhelmise and Decidueye. This is further compounded upon by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock, making Dodrio easy to wear down. Additionally, while Dodrio is very fast, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine. Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility due to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up (RC) allowing it to boost its Defense to and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant, which lets Braviary switch into common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel and gain an Attack boost.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Knock Off / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance boosts Dodrio's Attack by two stages and lets Dodrio it OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate coverage move. Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Incineroar, Garbodor, and Palossand after a Swords Dance boost. Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage. Knock Off is an option that gives Dodrio extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Druddigon. However, the Jump Kick is necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix. Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Choice Scarf Braviary, but it is weak unboosted. Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which resist both of its STAB attacks, can miss and cause Dodrio to take 50% of its maximum health in recoil damage, (dex info + doesn't seem to have any immediate relevance here) and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, which resists both of its STAB attacks, as well as enabling Dodrio to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature optimizes maximizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets Dodrio it outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius. Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also OHKOing Slowbro and not making avoiding contact with damage from (optional) Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet Pokemon like Druddigon. Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon. Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already have has a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack. Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability and reduces the amount number of turns Dodrio must remain asleep due to sleep-inducing moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched into Scald from Pokemon like Vaporeon and Slowbro, as Dodrio it risks being burned and takes too much damage even from uninvested Scald. Dodrio's poor bulk also makes it difficult to find many opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. Therefore, it is best to get Dodrio in a favorable matchup against a Pokemon Dodrio it forces out such as Decidueye or Alolan Exeggutor. Dodrio can also set up against passive Pokemon that cannot easily threaten it like Xatu and Mega Audino. Thanks to the strength of Dodrio's +2 Z-Move, Dodrio it is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon such as Slowbro and Palossand to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status and impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep. It is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike into followed by Brave Bird has a decent change to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire. If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon. Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a solid defensive switch-in to Dodrio it.

Team Options
========

It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as it allows Dodrio is able to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO from Steelix's Gyro Ball and Rhydon's Rock Blast in return. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock and check faster Flying-types like Scyther, Choice Scarf Braviary, and +1 Vivillon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, defensive Slowbro, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon that prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it and with Return. Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, respectively, helping with Dodrio's longevity. Other forms of hazard control such as Blastoise and Silvally-Steel are good partners, helping mitigate the amount of passive damage Dodrio must take by clearing hazards from the field. Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Similarly, checks to Choice Scarf users like Slowbro and Druddigon help Dodrio immensely, as Dodrio is very prone to being revenge killed by faster threats like Choice Scarf Passimian, Heliolisk, and Rotom. Other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, allowing Dodrio to retain which retains the same coverage Jump Kick provides. Additionally, Stomping Tantrum is more reliable than Jump Kick is, as Stomping Tantrum does not cause Dodrio to take recoil damage if a Ghost-type like Rotom or Decidueye switches into it. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2. A Choice item set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move (RC) but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily live take an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their respective abilities Aftermath and Rough Skin, respectively.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino all naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Punchshroom, 169054], [quziel, 297859], [Eternally, 295647]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]

did

 

[CryoGyro]

GP 2/2
remove add comments

Hide

[OVERVIEW]

Dodrio's impressive Attack and Speed stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent sweeper capable of outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe while also breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer thanks to its great Speed stat, (already brought up) threatening out Pokemon like Dhelmise, Medicham, and Decidueye with Brave Bird. However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defenses, making it hard to directly switch Dodrio even into even resisted attacks from Pokemon like Dhelmise and Decidueye. This is compounded by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock, (comma) making Dodrio easy to wear it quickly worn down. Additionally, while Dodrio is very fast, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine. Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility due to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up to boost its Defense and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant, (comma) which lets Braviary switch into that lets it punish common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel and gain an Attack boost.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Knock Off / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance boosts Dodrio's Attack by two stages and lets it Dodrio OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate coverage move. Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Incineroar, Garbodor, and Palossand after a Swords Dance boost. Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage. Knock Off is an option that gives Dodrio extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Druddigon. However, Jump Kick is necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix. (not sure why this is here, and it being necessary is made clear by the set format) Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Choice Scarf Braviary, but it is weak unboosted. Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, (comma) which resists both of its STAB attacks, as well as enabling Dodrio to and OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature maximizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets it outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius. Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also OHKOing Slowbro and avoiding contact damage from Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet Pokemon like Druddigon. Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon. Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already has a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack. Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability, (comma) reducing and reduces the number of turns Dodrio must remain asleep due to moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched into Scald from Pokemon like Vaporeon and Slowbro, as it risks being burned and takes too much damage even from uninvested Scald. Dodrio's poor bulk also makes it difficult to find many opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. Therefore, it is best to get Dodrio in a favorable matchup against a Pokemon it forces out such as Decidueye or Alolan Exeggutor. Dodrio can also set up against passive Pokemon that cannot easily threaten it like Xatu and Mega Audino. Thanks to the strength of Dodrio's +2 Z-Move, it is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon such as like Slowbro and Palossand to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status and to impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep. It is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike followed by Brave Bird has a decent change to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire. If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon. Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a solid defensive consistent switch-in to it.

Team Options
========

It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as Dodrio is able to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO from Steelix's Gyro Ball and Rhydon's Rock Blast in return. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock and check faster Flying-types like Scyther, Choice Scarf Braviary, and +1 Vivillon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, defensive Slowbro, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, (comma) which that prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it with Return. Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, helping with Dodrio's longevity. Other forms of hazard control such as Blastoise and Silvally-Steel are good partners, helping mitigate the amount of passive damage Dodrio must take by clearing hazards from the field. Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Similarly, checks to Choice Scarf users like Slowbro and Druddigon help Dodrio immensely, as Dodrio is very prone to being revenge killed by faster threats like Choice Scarf Passimian, Heliolisk, and Rotom. Other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, which retains the same coverage Jump Kick provides. Additionally, Stomping Tantrum is more reliable than Jump Kick is, as Stomping Tantrum does not cause Dodrio to take recoil damage if a Ghost-type like Rotom or Decidueye switches into it. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2. A Choice item set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily take an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their respective abilities.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino all naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio.

 

[Rabia]

GP 2/2
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[OVERVIEW]

Dodrio's impressive Attack and Speed stats alongside Swords Dance make it a competent sweeper capable of outspeeding threatening Pokemon like Heliolisk, Delphox, Houndoom, and Choice Specs Vanilluxe while also breaking through common defensive stalwarts like Slowbro, Incineroar, Steelix, and Vaporeon after a Swords Dance boost. Dodrio's also capable of serving as a revenge killer thanks to its great Speed stat, (already brought up) threatening out Pokemon like Dhelmise, Medicham, and Decidueye with Brave Bird. However, Dodrio possesses almost no defensive utility because of its poor defenses, making it hard to directly switch Dodrio even into even resisted attacks from Pokemon like Dhelmise and Decidueye. This is compounded by Dodrio's reliance on Brave Bird for damage and weakness to Stealth Rock, (comma) making Dodrio easy to wear it quickly worn down. Additionally, while Dodrio is very fast, it still finds itself outsped and easily KOed by Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Vanilluxe, Braviary, and Rotom. Dodrio is also vulnerable to being picked off by priority from Pokemon like Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine. Lastly, Dodrio faces immense competition from Braviary, which sports better defensive utility due to its higher defensive stats, access to Bulk Up to boost its Defense and better take on Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, and a better ability in Defiant, (comma) which lets Braviary switch into that lets it punish common Defoggers like Silvally-Steel and gain an Attack boost.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: Return / Knock Off / Quick Attack
move 4: Jump Kick
item: Flyinium Z / Fightinium Z
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Swords Dance boosts Dodrio's Attack by two stages and lets it Dodrio OHKO common defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Rhydon, and Vaporeon with the appropriate coverage move. Brave Bird is Dodrio's strongest Flying-type STAB attack and becomes Supersonic Skystrike when powered up by Flyinium Z, allowing Dodrio to OHKO Pokemon such as Incineroar, Garbodor, and Palossand after a Swords Dance boost. Return provides Dodrio with a reliable secondary STAB move that doesn't cause recoil damage. Knock Off is an option that gives Dodrio extra utility, provides super effective coverage against Rotom, and allows Dodrio to remove items from Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Druddigon. However, Jump Kick is necessity to break past Pokemon like Steelix. (not sure why this is here, and it being necessary is made clear by the set format) Quick Attack can be used to pick off faster, weakened foes like Whimsicott, Sceptile, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Choice Scarf Braviary, but it is weak unboosted. Jump Kick gives Dodrio super effective coverage against Steel- and Rock-types such as Steelix, Silvally-Steel, Klinklang, and Rhydon, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and becomes All-Out Pummeling when used alongside Fightinium Z, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to Diancie, (comma) which resists both of its STAB attacks, as well as enabling Dodrio to and OHKO Steelix and Rhydon at +2 after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

Maximum Attack and Speed investment with a Jolly nature maximizes Dodrio's offensive presence and lets it outspeed Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Delphox, and Mismagius. Flyinium Z turns Brave Bird into Supersonic Skystrike, letting Dodrio deal heavy damage to neutral targets such as Guzzlord, Mega Audino, and Golbat while also OHKOing Slowbro and avoiding contact damage from Rough Skin and Rocky Helmet Pokemon like Druddigon. Fightinium Z turns Jump Kick into All-Out Pummeling, allowing Dodrio to break past targets that resist its STAB combination such as Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon. Life Orb is a passable alternative if one of Dodrio's teammates already has a Z-Crystal and lets Dodrio make better use of its unboosted Attack. Early Bird is Dodrio's most useful ability, (comma) reducing and reduces the number of turns Dodrio must remain asleep due to moves like Sleep Powder.

Usage Tips
========

Because of Dodrio's lacking defenses, it is best to try to get Dodrio in either on a double switch or with a pivoting move like U-turn or Volt Switch. Additionally, Dodrio should not be switched into Scald from Pokemon like Vaporeon and Slowbro, as it risks being burned and takes too much damage even from uninvested Scald. Dodrio's poor bulk also makes it difficult to find many opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. Therefore, it is best to get Dodrio in a favorable matchup against a Pokemon it forces out such as Decidueye or Alolan Exeggutor. Dodrio can also set up against passive Pokemon that cannot easily threaten it like Xatu and Mega Audino. Thanks to the strength of Dodrio's +2 Z-Move, it is capable of breaking through bulky teams that rely on Pokemon such as like Slowbro and Palossand to check physical attackers. However, don't play Dodrio too aggressively against these kinds of teams, as they can cripple Dodrio with status and to impair its ability to wallbreak or sweep. It is important to time Dodrio's Z-Move well, as it is Dodrio's best way to break past many defensive Pokemon. Notably, Supersonic Skystrike followed by Brave Bird has a decent change to KO both Pyukumuku and Quagsire. If using Fightinium Z, use it to break past Diancie as well as other Steel- and Rock-types like Steelix and Rhydon. Against more offensive builds, Dodrio can rely more on its strong STAB attacks and solid Attack stat to break through teams rather than use Swords Dance, as these builds usually lack a solid defensive consistent switch-in to it.

Team Options
========

It is crucial to provide Dodrio with entry hazard support, as Dodrio is able to OHKO Steelix and Rhydon with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock damage and avoid an OHKO from Steelix's Gyro Ball and Rhydon's Rock Blast in return. Diancie, Steelix, and Rhydon all work well alongside Dodrio, as they can set Stealth Rock and check faster Flying-types like Scyther, Choice Scarf Braviary, and +1 Vivillon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, defensive Slowbro, and Blastoise can take on common priority users like Sneasel and Piloswine while also helping against Pokemon like Steelix and Rhydon, (comma) which that prevent Dodrio from using its STAB attacks as often as it wants to. Additionally, Blastoise provides a source of entry hazard removal. In return, Dodrio takes on slower Grass-types such as Decidueye and Vileplume while also outspeeding Heliolisk and OHKOing it with Return. Because of Dodrio's fragility, it has a hard time getting onto the field. VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Incineroar, Passimian, Rotom, and Xatu aids in getting Dodrio into battle. Additionally, Rotom and Xatu provide hazard control with Defog and Magic Bounce, helping with Dodrio's longevity. Other forms of hazard control such as Blastoise and Silvally-Steel are good partners, helping mitigate the amount of passive damage Dodrio must take by clearing hazards from the field. Choice Scarf users like Passimian, Braviary, and Heliolisk appreciate Dodrio's ability to wallbreak and open the gate for them to clean late-game. Similarly, checks to Choice Scarf users like Slowbro and Druddigon help Dodrio immensely, as Dodrio is very prone to being revenge killed by faster threats like Choice Scarf Passimian, Heliolisk, and Rotom. Other Swords Dance users like Decidueye appreciate the pressure Dodrio applies to common physical walls like Steelix and Golbat.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Dodrio can utilize Stomping Tantrum in conjunction with Groundium Z to turn it into Tectonic Rage, which retains the same coverage Jump Kick provides. Additionally, Stomping Tantrum is more reliable than Jump Kick is, as Stomping Tantrum does not cause Dodrio to take recoil damage if a Ghost-type like Rotom or Decidueye switches into it. However, such a set struggles more with Shuca Berry Diancie variants and is weaker than All-Out Pummeling, requiring more chip damage on Steelix and Rhydon to OHKO them at +2. A Choice item set makes Dodrio more threatening right off the bat, but Braviary generally does these sets better thanks to its higher Attack and access to U-turn, letting it function as a pivot as well as a wallbreaker.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Steel- and Rock-types**: Dodrio is heavily reliant on both Swords Dance and its Z-Move to break past Pokemon such as Steelix, Klinklang, Diancie, and Rhydon, which all easily take an unboosted hit and threaten to OHKO Dodrio in return. Ferroseed doesn't appreciate Dodrio's boosted Z-Move but punishes Brave Bird usage thanks to Iron Barbs and can use Protect against Jump Kick to make Dodrio take recoil damage.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Blastoise, and Druddigon can all easily take an unboosted hit from Dodrio and threaten to cripple it with a burn or paralysis. Additionally, Garbodor and Druddigon can cause Dodrio to take significant recoil damage from Brave Bird thanks to Rocky Helmet and their respective abilities.

**Faster Pokemon and Priority Users**: Pokemon like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Cinccino all naturally outspeed Dodrio and threaten to KO it with minimal chip damage. Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Vanilluxe, Rotom, and Braviary can revenge kill Dodrio with ease, although none can directly switch into Dodrio's attacks. Priority moves from the likes of Sneasel, Medicham, and Piloswine threaten heavy damage to Dodrio.

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