breathing machine go pfffffffffffft
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Thunderbolt / Steel Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Light Metal
nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Duraludon's great Special Attack in combination with its powerful STAB Draco Meteor, solid coverage, and ability to outspeed common Pokemon like Gardevoir, Rotom-W, and Chandelure, makes it a threatening wallbreaker. Flash Cannon pairs amazingly with Draco Meteor, destroying Fairy-types like Sylveon and Gardevoir that are immune to Dragon and providing a more spammable STAB move. This STAB combination is only resisted by Steel-types, many of which fall victim to Duraludon's coverage. Dark Pulse is required in order to significantly damage Bronzong and OHKO Doublade, which can otherwise hit Duraludon extremely hard with Close Combat. Thunderbolt gives Duraludon a more reliable way to break through bulky Water-types such as Mantine and Milotic, while Steel Beam provides massive power and reliably OHKOes even bulky Pokemon like Gigalith. Steel Beam can also be used as a means of maintaining momentum, letting Duraludon KO itself to give a teammate a free switch while also nuking the opposing Pokemon. Choice Specs is used to maximize Duraludon's damage output. While none of Duraludon's abilities are very useful, Light Metal's situational benefit of weakening the rare Low Kick makes it the best choice. A Timid nature lets Duraludon outpace popular Pokemon it can't otherwise, such as most Rotom-W sets, Gardevoir, and Chandelure, making it the preferred option. While Modest nature's power is impressive, allowing Duraludon to even 2HKO standard Milotic with Draco Meteor, it requires extra support for the aforementioned popular Pokemon if it sacrifices Timid nature's Speed.
Pokemon that appreciate having specific defensive answers removed heavily benefit from Duraludon's presence thanks to its good matchup against common cores. One example of this is Celebi, which often struggles with Bronzong, Incineroar, and Doublade. Roserade struggles with similar targets and its Spikes help in wearing down checks to Duraludon like Umbreon and Escavalier. Both Grass-types make for great checks to bulky Water-types like Milotic that can easily take Duraludon's Steel-type attacks. Due to Duraludon's low special bulk, teammates that can take special attacks from fast threats like Noivern, Celebi, and Choice Scarf Chandelure are extremely valuable. Gigalith covers these targets well while also providing Stealth Rock support. Sylveon is another option for this role, with Wish support allowing Duraludon to make better use of its typing and Defense to switch in on Pokemon like Araquanid, Roserade lacking Sleep Powder, and Golisopod in the long run. Pivots such as Rotom-W, Rotom-C, and Flygon are valuable teammates for Duraludon as a wallbreaker, helping it switch in against targets it threatens like defensive Rotom-W, Sylveon, and Weezing, and fire off attacks safely throughout the battle. Flygon helps further by pressuring some of Duraludon's best offensive answers, like Haxorus, Noivern, and Cobalion. Incineroar effectively checks Escavalier, one of Duraludon's best answers, and can act as a pivot to let Duraludon switch in on Rhyperior or Gigalith. Doublade acts as a good switch-in to Cobalion, Bronzong, and Lucario, appreciates Duraludon's ability to break down physical walls and pressure checks like Rotom-W and Incineroar to set the stage for a late-game sweep, and in return can help check Haxorus. Other late-game cleaners like Shift Gear Toxtricity and Polteageist make good use of Duraludon's ability to weaken or remove their limited answers. As a wallbreaker, Duraludon appreciates anything that can provide entry hazard support to ease its work, such as Bronzong and Rhyperior with Stealth Rock and Golisopod with Spikes.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eve, 375272]]
- Quality checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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