[SET]
Name: Attacking Lead
Move 1: Dynamic Punch
Move 2: Toxic
Move 3: Bullet Punch
Move 4: Rock Slide
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: No Guard
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Machoke is an effective anti-lead, similar to its evolution Machamp, with its combination of No Guard + Dynamic Punch to land guaranteed confusion with its strong Fighting-type STAB move to potentially prevent opposing leads from responding to its pressure. Machoke can threaten Fighting-weak leads such as Regirock, Tauros, Sharpedo, and Glalie, and it can pressure common switch-ins, such as Nidoqueen and Vileplume, with Dynamic Punch confusion. However, due to Machoke's status as a non-fully-evolved Pokemon, its stats are fairly underwhelming with its slow Speed and middling bulk, and faster attacking leads have ways of responding to it with Fake Out, a sleep-inducing move, or better hit-trading. No Guard is both a blessing and a curse, as it makes opposing moves that rely on mediocre accuracy such as Sharpedo's Hydro Pump and Jynx's Lovely Kiss consistent at hitting Machoke. Toxic allows Machoke to take advantage of common Dynamic Punch switch-ins such as Slowking and Dusclops and put them on a timer. Toxic-immune Pokemon also don't like taking Dynamic Punch or its confusion, and Haunter is hit hard by Machoke's coverage. Bullet Punch allows Machoke to finish off opposing Focus Sash leads and land a hit before it is KOed or put to sleep. Rock Slide can OHKO Charizard and can hit other Flying-types, such as Drifblim and Articuno, hard as well, while benefitting from No Guard making it fully accurate. Other moves can be considered for alternative coverage or utility; Payback puts better pressure against faster Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, Ice Punch can hit Nidoqueen, Vileplume, and Gligar, and Protect prevents Machoke from being hit by Fake Out. The given EV spread allows Machoke to outspeed Sandslash and make it harder to use Stealth Rock or Rapid Spin when confused.
While Machoke can hinder Slowking's longevity with Toxic, Slowking can still check this Machoke set with Own Tempo to prevent Dynamic Punch confusion, and Dusclops is similar while taking advantage of No Guard with a fully accurate Will-O-Wisp. However, since Machoke tends to draw in these Pokemon, having Skuntank to Pursuit trap them is beneficial to let a second Fighting-type such as Hitmonchan or Medicham pick up the pace. Other Dark-types such as Cacturne and Shiftry can switch in on Machoke's checks to set Spikes for the former or threaten to sweep for the latter. Since Machoke can prevent Regirock and Cradily from setting Stealth Rock early in the match and can give entry to Dusclops, Nidoqueen, and Vileplume, it makes a great pairing with Charizard, which can take advantage of Dynamic Punch confusion with Substitute.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/amity.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vivalospride.151509/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lustre.567354/
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