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Overview########
Durant is certainly not to be underestimated. Thanks to its ability Hustle, which gives its attacks a 50% boost in power, Durant enters the battle with an effective Attack stat of around 500. With a high base 109 speed, Durant makes for a fast and powerful sweeper that can even wallbreak thanks to its tremendous power and great coverage. Although Hustle comes with an unfortunate accuracy drop, Hone Claws is a perfect remedy, patching up accuracy while at the same time raising Durant's already-terrifying Attack. However, while Durant is certainly a force to look out for, it has several shortcomings that can stop it cold. Although it has good Speed, Attack, and Defense stats, its other stats are extremely low, to the point where nearly any unresisted special attack will OHKO Durant. With many powerful special attackers like Latios, Thundurus, and Greninja surpassing it in Speed, Durant may quickly find itself forced out before it can do much. With a reliability on Life Orb and a susceptibility to entry hazards, Durant may only get a single chance to sweep, especially if it has to take a powerful hit while setting up. In a metagame where other powerful (and often more reliable) sweepers like Mega Scizor and Mega Charizard X exist, Durant finds it hard to justify its existence, given the amount of team support it requires to succeed. However, if played right, you'll find that Durant can pull its weight as one of the strongest attackers available in OU.
Standard
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name: Standard
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Hone Claws / Thunder Fang / Rock Slide
ability: Hustle
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves
========
Iron Head is Durant's main STAB attack, carrying with it a nifty flinch chance that Durant is in a good position to utilize. Crunch gets great neutral coverage with Iron Head, allowing Durant to muscle through Steel-resistant foes without lowering its stats. Superpower will lower Durant's attack when used, but it is crucial for getting past foes like Excadrill, Heatran, Chansey, and Rotom-W, should they not be weakened enough for Crunch to pick them off. It's also helpful for getting past Keldeo and Bisharp, who resist both Iron Head and Crunch. The fourth slot largely depends on the needs of Durant's team. Hone Claws turns Durant into a perfectly accurate and absurdly powerful late-game sweeper, muscling through nearly any slightly weakened team with a boost. However, the next two moves allow Durant to pick off specific threats without having to boost, making it more of a mid-game threat. Thunder Fang will 2HKO Mandibuzz and Skarmory after a bit of prior damage (in Mandibuzz's case, only Stealth Rock is needed), and allows Durant to similarly OHKO Keldeo after just a bit of residual damage. Rock Slide, on the other hand, allows Durant to take out Mega Pinsir, Mega Charizard Y, and non-boosted Mega Charizard X with ease. Although not listed, X-Scissor is an alternate attack that allows Durant to 2HKO Rotom-W.
Set Details
========
The EVs maximize Attack and Speed, Durant's two most important stats. In order to preserve its great speed tier, a Jolly nature is chosen, allowing it to outspeed and threaten Keldeo, Terrakion, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Garchomp, as well as the slew of Pokemon sitting at the 100 Speed benchmark. Life Orb is Durant's best item choice, as it provides a consistent power boost that affects all attacks. Since Durant isn't really meant to take hits, the recoil isn't a huge deal.
Usage Tips
========
Depending on the move in Durant's final moveslot, Durant can be sent out either in the mid-game or late-game, either using Hone Claws to secure an endgame sweep or using its powerful attacks and great coverage to act as a hole-puncher. In the case of Hone Claws, it's best to preserve Durant for its sweep, as Life Orb recoil and switching will easily take its toll and may prevent Durant from setting up later in the match. Similarly, before a sweep is attempted, certain Pokemon should already be removed, particularly faster special attackers such as Greninja or users of Prankster status like Thundurus or Klefki. Although it's nice to have walls weakened, do note that most of them already take huge damage from Durant's attacks and do not necessarily have to be eliminated completely. If Durant is being used more as hole-puncher, however, utilize smart prediction skills to prevent the aforementioned threats from switching in. Nearly all Pokemon faster than Durant can be OHKO'd by one of Durant's moves, and most walls will be 2HKO'd by the right move.
Team Options
========
Choice Band or Choice Scarf Tyranitar is one of Durant's best partners, Pursuit-trapping and eliminating most of Durant's offensive checks, including Talonflame, Latias and Latios, Gengar, and weakened Greninja. Entry hazard support, particularly Stealth Rock, is greatly appreciated as it not only softens up opponents for a sweep but also punishes opponents who switch their Pokemon around in an attempt to wear Durant down through Life Orb. Rapid Spin or Defog support will greatly lengthen Durant's time on the battlefield, as entry hazards will quickly stack with Life Orb recoil and possibly hamper Durant's performance. Starmie in particular synergizes well with Durant, as it threatens most faster special attackers that threaten to end Durant's sweep, although it will create a dual vulnerability to Greninja. Although Durant is powerful on its own, a good wallbreaker should be provided anyway if Durant is being relied upon as a sweeper. Both Kyurem-B and Aegislash will wear down most of the Pokemon that Durant will need weakened before a sweep. Dual Screens support from the likes of Deoxys-S can be tremendously helpful, allowing Durant a degree of safety when setting up. Healing Wish support is also beneficial, allowing Durant to take risks mid-game but be healthy again for a late-game sweep. Sticky Web allows Durant to beat a few of its checks, such as Greninja, but is still useless against Latias, Latios, Talonflame, Thundurus, Gengar, and many other important threats.
Other Options
########
Wide Lens patches up accuracy issues, but the severe drop in damage output as compared to Life Orb is huge, and Hone Claws fixes accuracy anyway. Agility lets Durant beat most of its faster special checks, but the low accuracy of Durant's moves without Hone Claws makes sweeping unreliable. Choice Band isn't optimal because Durant really likes to switch moves. Choice Scarf is usable, but is for the most part outclassed by Choice Scarf Excadrill, who fulfills nearly the same role. Entrainment + Truant is an interesting niche, although hard to abuse in competitive play.
Checks & Counters
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**Status**: Burns and paralysis will almost ensure that Durant will be useless. Thundurus, Klefki, and Sableye in particular are dangerous, as they all possess priority on their status moves, easily ruining a sweep.
**Special attacks**: Nearly all will OHKO or come extremely close. Faster special attackers such as Greninja, Latias, Latios, Gengar, and Thundurus are the most dangerous.
**Talonflame**: Talonflame's Flare Blitz is a swift KO, as Choice Band variants can still outspeed even with an Adamant nature.
**Physical walls**: Namely a healthy Skarmory, although it will still take a beating from +1 Durant. Most other physical walls can be safely 2HKO'd by a boosted Durant.
**Unaware Quagsire**: It counters Hone Claws sets, but can be 2HKO’d by X-scissor after Stealth Rock.
**Healthy bulky attackers**: A healthy bulky attacker can live a hit from Durant and proceed to deal heavy damage to it. Good examples include Mega Charizard X, Gyarados, and Mega Scizor.
Overview
########
• Hustle gives it ridiculous unboosted power, reaching an attack stat of nearly 500.
• Good base 109 attack and speed gives it great offensive presence.
• Although Hustle's accuracy drop is extremely unappealing, Hone Claws is a remedy.
• Steel-type STAB allows it to bypass Unaware Clefable with ease.
• Good base 112 Defense and decent defensive typing allows it to set up against common physical attackers
• Sufficient coverage options
• Faces competition from other similar late-game sweepers, such as Swords Dance Scizor/Aegislash and Mega Charizard X.
• Durant's higher speed and significantly stronger unboosted power, however, is a powerful draw.
• Severely lacking Special Defense, almost any special attacker will OHKO (even defensive ones like Rotom-W)
• Requires high degree of team support to sweep.
• Reliability on Life Orb makes it easy to wear down.
Standard
########
name: Standard
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Hone Claws / Thunder Fang / Rock Slide
ability: Hustle
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves
========
• Iron Head is mandatory STAB, flinch chance is great, and targets fairies nicely
• Crunch gets coverage on most threats that Iron Head does not hit, reliable and does not lower attack/defense like Superpower
• Superpower hits Excadrill, Lucario, Keldeo, Bisharp, Heatran, and Chansey for super effective damage, can 2HKO Skarmory at +1, and KOs defensive Rotom-W at +1 after little prior damage
• Hone Claws boosts attack & fixes accuracy issues, and turns Durant into a terrifyingly powerful sweeper with an insane attack stat after one boost (plus life orb). IT’S OVER 900
• Rock Slide lets Durant take out Mega Pinsir, Mandibuzz, and Mega Charizard X and Y with ease.
• Thunder Fang is Durant's strongest attack against Skarmory, does a number to Mandibuzz, and can KO Keldeo after little prior damage.
• X-Scissor, though not listed, can 2HKO Rotom-W even if Durant is unboosted, and will 2HKO Quagsire after a single layer of Spikes.
Set Details
========
• EVs maximize attack and speed, two most important stats
• Jolly nature to preserve good base 109 speed tier
• Life Orb is the best item, as it provides a consistent power boost that affects all attacks, although the recoil can be a pain.
Usage Tips
========
• Durant functions best as a mid- to late-game sweeper, it can easily wallbreak as well if needed.
• It can be sent out early- to mid-game, however, to check Pokemon such as Tyranitar, particularly if four attacks are being run. In the case of Hone Claws, however, it’s best to preserve Durant for a sweep.
• Once faster special attackers and users of prankster status are gone, Hone Claws can secure a sweep.
• Try to wear down physical walls before attempting a sweep—however, most still take heavy damage from Durant and do not necessarily need to be eliminated.
• Note that Life Orb greatly limits Durant's longevity—if there's not a good reason to send it out before it can safely sweep, it's advisable not to do so, as it will get worn down very quickly.
Team Options
========
• Choice Band Tyranitar with is quite possibly the best partner, as it Pursuit-traps and eliminates most of Durant's checks (Talonflame, Latias/Latios, Gengar, weakened Greninja, etc.)
• Entry hazard support from the likes of Deoxys-D is greatly recommended to wear down the opponent's team.
• Defog or Rapid Spin support will greatly lengthen Durant's time on the battlefield, as entry hazards will quickly stack with Life Orb recoil.
• A good wallbreaker such as Kyurem-B or Aegislash is recommended to wear down physical walls.
• Dual Screens support from the likes of Deoxys-S is tremendously helpful, particularly Reflect. Although most special attacks will still cripple Durant, Reflect allows it to set up on almost any non-Fire-type physical attack.
• Healing Wish support can be extremely effective on Durant, as it allows Durant to punch holes in the opponent's team early-game and safely be brought back later for a sweep.
• Sticky Web allows Durant to beat a few of its checks such as Greninja, but is still useless against Latais/Latios, Talonflame, Thundurus, Gengar, etc.
Other Options
########
• Wide Lens patches up accuracy issues, but the severe drop in damage output as compared to Life Orb is huge, and Hone Claws fixes accuracy anyway.
• While Agility lets Durant beat most of its checks, the accuracy drop makes it extremely unappealing.
• Choice Band isn't optimal because Durant really likes to switch moves. Also accuracy issues.
• Choice Scarf is outclassed by Scarf Excadrill. Still accuracy issues.
• Entrainment + Truant is an interesting niche, although hard to abuse in competitive play.
Checks & Counters
########
• Status, although Prankster status is all Durant really has to watch out for
• Special attacks (especially on a faster attacker, almost all are a full stop to a Durant sweep.)
• Talonflame's Flare Blitz is a swift KO, as Choice Band variants can still outspeed even with an Adamant nature.
• Physical walls, namely a healthy Skarmory, although most will still take a beating from +1 Durant.
• Unaware Quagsire counters Hone Claws sets, but can be 2HKO’d by X-scissor after Stealth Rock.
########
• Hustle gives it ridiculous unboosted power, reaching an attack stat of nearly 500.
• Good base 109 attack and speed gives it great offensive presence.
• Although Hustle's accuracy drop is extremely unappealing, Hone Claws is a remedy.
• Steel-type STAB allows it to bypass Unaware Clefable with ease.
• Good base 112 Defense and decent defensive typing allows it to set up against common physical attackers
• Sufficient coverage options
• Faces competition from other similar late-game sweepers, such as Swords Dance Scizor/Aegislash and Mega Charizard X.
• Durant's higher speed and significantly stronger unboosted power, however, is a powerful draw.
• Severely lacking Special Defense, almost any special attacker will OHKO (even defensive ones like Rotom-W)
• Requires high degree of team support to sweep.
• Reliability on Life Orb makes it easy to wear down.
Standard
########
name: Standard
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Hone Claws / Thunder Fang / Rock Slide
ability: Hustle
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moves
========
• Iron Head is mandatory STAB, flinch chance is great, and targets fairies nicely
• Crunch gets coverage on most threats that Iron Head does not hit, reliable and does not lower attack/defense like Superpower
• Superpower hits Excadrill, Lucario, Keldeo, Bisharp, Heatran, and Chansey for super effective damage, can 2HKO Skarmory at +1, and KOs defensive Rotom-W at +1 after little prior damage
• Hone Claws boosts attack & fixes accuracy issues, and turns Durant into a terrifyingly powerful sweeper with an insane attack stat after one boost (plus life orb). IT’S OVER 900
• Rock Slide lets Durant take out Mega Pinsir, Mandibuzz, and Mega Charizard X and Y with ease.
• Thunder Fang is Durant's strongest attack against Skarmory, does a number to Mandibuzz, and can KO Keldeo after little prior damage.
• X-Scissor, though not listed, can 2HKO Rotom-W even if Durant is unboosted, and will 2HKO Quagsire after a single layer of Spikes.
Set Details
========
• EVs maximize attack and speed, two most important stats
• Jolly nature to preserve good base 109 speed tier
• Life Orb is the best item, as it provides a consistent power boost that affects all attacks, although the recoil can be a pain.
Usage Tips
========
• Durant functions best as a mid- to late-game sweeper, it can easily wallbreak as well if needed.
• It can be sent out early- to mid-game, however, to check Pokemon such as Tyranitar, particularly if four attacks are being run. In the case of Hone Claws, however, it’s best to preserve Durant for a sweep.
• Once faster special attackers and users of prankster status are gone, Hone Claws can secure a sweep.
• Try to wear down physical walls before attempting a sweep—however, most still take heavy damage from Durant and do not necessarily need to be eliminated.
• Note that Life Orb greatly limits Durant's longevity—if there's not a good reason to send it out before it can safely sweep, it's advisable not to do so, as it will get worn down very quickly.
Team Options
========
• Choice Band Tyranitar with is quite possibly the best partner, as it Pursuit-traps and eliminates most of Durant's checks (Talonflame, Latias/Latios, Gengar, weakened Greninja, etc.)
• Entry hazard support from the likes of Deoxys-D is greatly recommended to wear down the opponent's team.
• Defog or Rapid Spin support will greatly lengthen Durant's time on the battlefield, as entry hazards will quickly stack with Life Orb recoil.
• A good wallbreaker such as Kyurem-B or Aegislash is recommended to wear down physical walls.
• Dual Screens support from the likes of Deoxys-S is tremendously helpful, particularly Reflect. Although most special attacks will still cripple Durant, Reflect allows it to set up on almost any non-Fire-type physical attack.
• Healing Wish support can be extremely effective on Durant, as it allows Durant to punch holes in the opponent's team early-game and safely be brought back later for a sweep.
• Sticky Web allows Durant to beat a few of its checks such as Greninja, but is still useless against Latais/Latios, Talonflame, Thundurus, Gengar, etc.
Other Options
########
• Wide Lens patches up accuracy issues, but the severe drop in damage output as compared to Life Orb is huge, and Hone Claws fixes accuracy anyway.
• While Agility lets Durant beat most of its checks, the accuracy drop makes it extremely unappealing.
• Choice Band isn't optimal because Durant really likes to switch moves. Also accuracy issues.
• Choice Scarf is outclassed by Scarf Excadrill. Still accuracy issues.
• Entrainment + Truant is an interesting niche, although hard to abuse in competitive play.
Checks & Counters
########
• Status, although Prankster status is all Durant really has to watch out for
• Special attacks (especially on a faster attacker, almost all are a full stop to a Durant sweep.)
• Talonflame's Flare Blitz is a swift KO, as Choice Band variants can still outspeed even with an Adamant nature.
• Physical walls, namely a healthy Skarmory, although most will still take a beating from +1 Durant.
• Unaware Quagsire counters Hone Claws sets, but can be 2HKO’d by X-scissor after Stealth Rock.
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