[OVERVIEW]
Duraludon curves out a great niche in NU thanks to its utility and offense. Eviolite allows it to better tank attacks from Physical attackers like Basculegion-M and Tsareena while its typing makes it a good check to Special Attackers like Inteleon and Munkidori. Duraludon great utility makes not easy taken advantage off thanks to Body Press hitting foes like Incineroar and Copperajah and Dragon Tail to stop any Calm Mind Galarian Articuno and Wish Vaporeon attempts. However, Duraludon can get overwhelmed by powerful Attackers such as Sylveon, Chandelure, and Flygon due to its poor Special bulk and lack of any recovery. Duraludon faces competition from Steel-types like Bronzong, Copperajah, and Klefki; since, they can handle the aforementioned Special Attackers and offer more utility at times with Levitate, Knock Off, and Prankster Thunder Wave, respectively. Duraludon can get potential walled depending on moveset without Flash Cannon it get walled by Sylveon, Galarian Articuno can use Duraludon as free setup fodder if it doesn’t have Dragons Tail, and no Draco Meteor can lead to a worse matchup against Bellibolt
[SET]
name: Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Thunder Wave / Roar / Draco Meteor
move 3: Flash Cannon / Body Press
move 4: Dragon Tail / Draco Meteor
item: Eviolite
ability: Light Metal
nature: Calm / Modest
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe OR 160 HP / 96 SpA / 252 SpD
tera type: Fairy / Ghost / Flying
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Thunder Wave threatens fast foes like Munkidori, Flamigo, and Paldean Tauros-W, aiding slower teammates such as Chandelure. Flash Cannon offers a decently powered STAB attack to chip foes like Gligar and Tsareena while hitting Sylveon and Scream Tail super effectively. Alternatively, Roar works to phaze out setup sweepers like Galarian Articuno and even Fairy-type ones such as Scream Tail; however, it is shut down by Taunt users like Grafaiai. Alternatively, Body Press allows Duraludon to hit Steel-types like Copperajah and Alolan Sandslash that can tank its STAB attacks while handling Dark-types such as Incineroar and Scrafty. Dragon Tail lets it phase out setup sweepers like Galarian Articuno, Scyther, Espeon, and Grafaiai. On offense sets Draco Meteor is prefer to dent bulkly walls like Bellibolt, Houndstone, and opposing Duraludon. The first EV spread allows for maximum Special Defense to better check threats like Munkidori, Dudunsparce, and Galarian Articuno, but the second one ensures Duraludon can OHKO Cinccino with Draco Meteor, matching the power of 252 EVs with a speed-boosting nature. Duraludon can opt to run 56 Speed to outpace foes like bulky Sylveon and Rhyperior. Light Metal is preferred over Heavy Metal to optimize Low Kick damage rolls against Grafaiai. Tera Fairy gives Duraludon a better matchup against Pokemon like Flygon and Flamigo while Tera Ghost gives it an immunity to Fighting-types and letting it simultaneously block and threaten Rapid Spin users like Tsareena and Brambleghast. Tera Flying maintains the Fighting-type resistance and being immune to Ground-types like Swampert, Gligar, and Flygon.
Duraludon synergize greatly with Pokemon like Incineroar, Swampert, and Milotic as they can better handle wallbreakers like Chandelure, Munkidori, and Goodra. Physical tanks like Galarian Slowbro, Houndstone, and Amoonguss help Duraludon deal with wallbreakers like Flygon, Toxicroak, and Heracross. Gligar is especially notable with it acting as a Ground- and Fighting-type check against Rhyperior and Flamigo while also providing Knock Off and Toxic support as well as extra entry hazard stacking in Spikes. On hazard stack teams Duraludon benefits from spinblockers like Brambleghast, Chandelure, and Houndstone to maintain its hazards. Wallbreakers like Toxicroak, Basulegion-M, and Munkidori support Duraludon by breaking down bulky walls like Vaporeon, Chansey, and Wo-Chien. Offensive setup sweepers like Incineroar, Munkidori, and Toxtricity appreciates Duraludon’s Thunder Wave allowing them to outspeed fast threats like Chandelure and Barraskewda. In particular Galarian Articuno is a great partner for Duraludon; since, it can freely setup Calm Mind against walls like Bronzong and Vaporeon while checking Fighting- and Ground-types like Flamigo and Gligar. In exchange, Duraludon can deal with Eletric-types like Raikou and Kilowattrel. Wish Passers such as Vaporeon, Sylveon, and Scream Tail benefit from Duraludon for checking Pokemon like Cinccino and Overqwil. In return, their wishes allow it to repeatedly switch into foes like Munkidori, Barraskewda, and Gligar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Iron Defense pairs well with Body Press while letting Duraludon to better handle physical wallbreakers like Flygon, Incineroar, and Rhyperior. However, it often prefers to run Thunder Wave or Dragon Tail for the utility they offer. An offensive set with an EV spread of 40 Def / 216 SpA / 252 Spe can be run to survive Choice Band Barraskewda's Close Combat from full, but this tosses aside Duraludon's great utility and defensive typing. Eject Pack can be used on both offense and hyper offensive teams allowing Duraludon to setting up rocks and pivot into a wallbreaker like Swords Dance Incineroar and Choice Specs Chandelure. Leftovers can be use to give Duraludon a form of recovery, but prefers to run Eviolite to get the increase bulk to its Special Defense.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Attackers**: Specially Defensive and Eviolite sets can be overwhelm by powerful wallbreakers like Choice Specs Sylveon, Chandelure, and Tornadus due to it being repetitive switching in your check them. However, they must be cautious of switching into its STAB attacks. Setup sweepers like Munkidori, Dununsparce, and Meloetta can use Duraludon switching out as free setup while being able to destroy it with their coverage. Although, none of them enjoy switching into Thunder Wave.
**Defensive Tanks**: Specially Defensive Pokemon like Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro, Incineroar, Wo-Chien, and Chansey can tank its attacks as they can attack Duraludon while both Incineroar and Wo-Chien can threaten it by removing Duraludon’s Eviolite. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon and Milotic are able to shrug off Duraludon’s attacks while being able to recover off the damage. Scrafty can tank Duraludon’s attacks being able to use it as setup fodder but doesn’t enjoy switching into a direct Body Press. However, all can worn down by Dragon Tail + hazard chip.
**Ground-types**: Flygon, Rhyperior, Gligar, and Swampert threaten Duraludon with their Earthquake while the former can use it as free setup after a Draco Meteor drop. However, Flygon and Rhyperior don’t enjoy switching into its STAB attacks while both Gligar and Swampert are cautious about repeatedly switch into its attacks.
**Steel-types**: Copperajah, Alolan Sandslash, and Bronzong are able to tank its STAB attacks allowing them to setup their own entry hazards with former two threaten to remove Duraludon’s Eviolite. However, none of them enjoy switching into Body Press. Klefki is immune to its Dragon-type attacks and neutral against Body Press, letting it setup Spikes or hit Duraludon back with Dazzling Gleam.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105
Duraludon curves out a great niche in NU thanks to its utility and offense. Eviolite allows it to better tank attacks from Physical attackers like Basculegion-M and Tsareena while its typing makes it a good check to Special Attackers like Inteleon and Munkidori. Duraludon great utility makes not easy taken advantage off thanks to Body Press hitting foes like Incineroar and Copperajah and Dragon Tail to stop any Calm Mind Galarian Articuno and Wish Vaporeon attempts. However, Duraludon can get overwhelmed by powerful Attackers such as Sylveon, Chandelure, and Flygon due to its poor Special bulk and lack of any recovery. Duraludon faces competition from Steel-types like Bronzong, Copperajah, and Klefki; since, they can handle the aforementioned Special Attackers and offer more utility at times with Levitate, Knock Off, and Prankster Thunder Wave, respectively. Duraludon can get potential walled depending on moveset without Flash Cannon it get walled by Sylveon, Galarian Articuno can use Duraludon as free setup fodder if it doesn’t have Dragons Tail, and no Draco Meteor can lead to a worse matchup against Bellibolt
[SET]
name: Hazard Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Thunder Wave / Roar / Draco Meteor
move 3: Flash Cannon / Body Press
move 4: Dragon Tail / Draco Meteor
item: Eviolite
ability: Light Metal
nature: Calm / Modest
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe OR 160 HP / 96 SpA / 252 SpD
tera type: Fairy / Ghost / Flying
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Thunder Wave threatens fast foes like Munkidori, Flamigo, and Paldean Tauros-W, aiding slower teammates such as Chandelure. Flash Cannon offers a decently powered STAB attack to chip foes like Gligar and Tsareena while hitting Sylveon and Scream Tail super effectively. Alternatively, Roar works to phaze out setup sweepers like Galarian Articuno and even Fairy-type ones such as Scream Tail; however, it is shut down by Taunt users like Grafaiai. Alternatively, Body Press allows Duraludon to hit Steel-types like Copperajah and Alolan Sandslash that can tank its STAB attacks while handling Dark-types such as Incineroar and Scrafty. Dragon Tail lets it phase out setup sweepers like Galarian Articuno, Scyther, Espeon, and Grafaiai. On offense sets Draco Meteor is prefer to dent bulkly walls like Bellibolt, Houndstone, and opposing Duraludon. The first EV spread allows for maximum Special Defense to better check threats like Munkidori, Dudunsparce, and Galarian Articuno, but the second one ensures Duraludon can OHKO Cinccino with Draco Meteor, matching the power of 252 EVs with a speed-boosting nature. Duraludon can opt to run 56 Speed to outpace foes like bulky Sylveon and Rhyperior. Light Metal is preferred over Heavy Metal to optimize Low Kick damage rolls against Grafaiai. Tera Fairy gives Duraludon a better matchup against Pokemon like Flygon and Flamigo while Tera Ghost gives it an immunity to Fighting-types and letting it simultaneously block and threaten Rapid Spin users like Tsareena and Brambleghast. Tera Flying maintains the Fighting-type resistance and being immune to Ground-types like Swampert, Gligar, and Flygon.
Duraludon synergize greatly with Pokemon like Incineroar, Swampert, and Milotic as they can better handle wallbreakers like Chandelure, Munkidori, and Goodra. Physical tanks like Galarian Slowbro, Houndstone, and Amoonguss help Duraludon deal with wallbreakers like Flygon, Toxicroak, and Heracross. Gligar is especially notable with it acting as a Ground- and Fighting-type check against Rhyperior and Flamigo while also providing Knock Off and Toxic support as well as extra entry hazard stacking in Spikes. On hazard stack teams Duraludon benefits from spinblockers like Brambleghast, Chandelure, and Houndstone to maintain its hazards. Wallbreakers like Toxicroak, Basulegion-M, and Munkidori support Duraludon by breaking down bulky walls like Vaporeon, Chansey, and Wo-Chien. Offensive setup sweepers like Incineroar, Munkidori, and Toxtricity appreciates Duraludon’s Thunder Wave allowing them to outspeed fast threats like Chandelure and Barraskewda. In particular Galarian Articuno is a great partner for Duraludon; since, it can freely setup Calm Mind against walls like Bronzong and Vaporeon while checking Fighting- and Ground-types like Flamigo and Gligar. In exchange, Duraludon can deal with Eletric-types like Raikou and Kilowattrel. Wish Passers such as Vaporeon, Sylveon, and Scream Tail benefit from Duraludon for checking Pokemon like Cinccino and Overqwil. In return, their wishes allow it to repeatedly switch into foes like Munkidori, Barraskewda, and Gligar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Iron Defense pairs well with Body Press while letting Duraludon to better handle physical wallbreakers like Flygon, Incineroar, and Rhyperior. However, it often prefers to run Thunder Wave or Dragon Tail for the utility they offer. An offensive set with an EV spread of 40 Def / 216 SpA / 252 Spe can be run to survive Choice Band Barraskewda's Close Combat from full, but this tosses aside Duraludon's great utility and defensive typing. Eject Pack can be used on both offense and hyper offensive teams allowing Duraludon to setting up rocks and pivot into a wallbreaker like Swords Dance Incineroar and Choice Specs Chandelure. Leftovers can be use to give Duraludon a form of recovery, but prefers to run Eviolite to get the increase bulk to its Special Defense.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Attackers**: Specially Defensive and Eviolite sets can be overwhelm by powerful wallbreakers like Choice Specs Sylveon, Chandelure, and Tornadus due to it being repetitive switching in your check them. However, they must be cautious of switching into its STAB attacks. Setup sweepers like Munkidori, Dununsparce, and Meloetta can use Duraludon switching out as free setup while being able to destroy it with their coverage. Although, none of them enjoy switching into Thunder Wave.
**Defensive Tanks**: Specially Defensive Pokemon like Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro, Incineroar, Wo-Chien, and Chansey can tank its attacks as they can attack Duraludon while both Incineroar and Wo-Chien can threaten it by removing Duraludon’s Eviolite. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon and Milotic are able to shrug off Duraludon’s attacks while being able to recover off the damage. Scrafty can tank Duraludon’s attacks being able to use it as setup fodder but doesn’t enjoy switching into a direct Body Press. However, all can worn down by Dragon Tail + hazard chip.
**Ground-types**: Flygon, Rhyperior, Gligar, and Swampert threaten Duraludon with their Earthquake while the former can use it as free setup after a Draco Meteor drop. However, Flygon and Rhyperior don’t enjoy switching into its STAB attacks while both Gligar and Swampert are cautious about repeatedly switch into its attacks.
**Steel-types**: Copperajah, Alolan Sandslash, and Bronzong are able to tank its STAB attacks allowing them to setup their own entry hazards with former two threaten to remove Duraludon’s Eviolite. However, none of them enjoy switching into Body Press. Klefki is immune to its Dragon-type attacks and neutral against Body Press, letting it setup Spikes or hit Duraludon back with Dazzling Gleam.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105
Last edited:
