[OVERVIEW]
Escavalier offers a useful blend of offensive and defensive traits that makes it an excellent answer to common foes like Cresselia, Dragalge, and Sylveon. Its Swords Dance sets are potent wallbreakers that can easily dispatch physical walls like Vileplume, Mudsdale, and Bronzong, whereas its specially defensive set provides teams with a sturdy answer to special attackers such as Starmie and Choice Specs Decidueye. Additionally, Escavalier is fantastic at luring in and crippling defensive staples like Talonflame, Arcanine, and Mantine with Knock Off, which makes them much easier to overwhelm throughout a battle. In spite of this, however, Escavalier itself struggles to successfully deal with its counterplay on its own; it can't outduel defensive Fire-types, and bulky Water-types like Mantine and Vaporeon can force it out with the threat of a Scald burn. Additionally, Escavalier is vulnerable to being lured in and heavily damaged or OHKOed by Pokemon like Sylveon and Goodra that it otherwise is a solid answer to. Escavalier's also very reliant on its item for recovery, which makes item removal from the likes of Vileplume and Guzzlord problematic. Lastly, Escavalier's poor Speed makes it easy for faster foes like Salazzle and Zoroark to dispatch.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Close Combat provides necessary coverage for Copperajah and opposing Escavalier, while Knock Off prevents Fire-types like Talonflame, Salazzle, and Arcanine from freely switching into Escavalier. The listed EV spread allows Escavalier to outpace Dhelmise and Gastrodon, but other spreads are possible too. For example, Escavalier can also opt for much bulkier spreads so it can better take attacks like Dragalge's Draco Meteor and Rotom-C's Thunderbolt.
Escavalier appreciates the removal of Fire-types like Salazzle, Talonflame, and Arcanine so it can more freely wallbreak; teammates like Dragalge, Mantine, and Guzzlord are effective here. Late-game cleaners like Dragon Dance Tyrantrum, Flygon, and Swords Dance Decidueye benefit from Escavalier shredding opposing defensive cores and weakening physical walls like Mudsdale and Vileplume. In return, the former two help pressure Fire-types, whereas the latter can deal with Water-types. Pokemon such as Passimian and Goodra appreciate Escavalier's ability to handle Fairy-types; in return, Passimian can bring Escavalier in against such foes with U-turn, while Goodra can help pressure physical walls.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
The combination of Knock Off and Toxic makes it difficult for Pokemon like Talonflame, Mantine, and Arcanine to take advantage of Escavalier. Protect complements this move combination well, letting Escavalier poison stall foes and scout powerful Choice item attackers like Tyrantrum, Sirfetch'd, and Guzzlord.
Escavalier is very effective at luring in and crippling bulky Water-types like Mantine, Gastrodon, and Vaporeon with Toxic; this makes Pokemon like Starmie, Salazzle, and Blastoise effective teammates. In return, Starmie and Blastoise can easily get rid of Fire-types, while Salazzle can work alongside Escavalier to bypass said foes. Despite Escavalier not being helpless against opposing Fire-types, it still appreciates teammates like Dragalge, Flygon, and Diancie that can directly deal with them. Dragalge and Flygon can also bring Escavalier in against Fairy-types. Escavalier also benefits from physically defensive teammates such as Sylveon, Gastrodon, and Mudsdale to take on powerful physical attackers. Cleric support from teammates like Sylveon and Vaporeon is helpful so Escavalier doesn't have to worry as much about burns; these two can also supply Wish support for it, greatly boosting its longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Band turns Escavalier into an extremely potent wallbreaker with minimal defensive counterplay, although this set is very prediction reliant and can struggle to reliably get by bulky Fire-types like Talonflame and Arcanine. RestTalk gives Escavalier improved longevity, helps if Escavalier loses its Leftovers to Vileplume's Corrosive Gas, and can remove burn inflicted by Talonflame's Flame Body and Rotom-C's Will-O-Wisp. Heavy-Duty Boots is an especially good item on such sets, making Escavalier much harder to wear down through entry hazard damage.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Arcanine and Talonflame are consistent switch-ins to Escavalier thanks to their bulk and abilities, although Knock Off is bothersome for them both. Salazzle is a poor switch-in, but it easily OHKOes Escavalier with Flamethrower. Other Pokemon with Fire-type coverage like Sylveon and Goodra are problematic too, especially since Escavalier frequently switches into them.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mantine, Gastrodon, and Vaporeon can switch into an unboosted Escavalier with relative ease and threaten it with a Scald burn. However, if they fail at inflicting a burn, Escavalier can muscle past them with its boosted attacks. Bulky Escavalier sets can also hamper the longevity of such Water-types with Toxic.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Despite Escavalier's physical bulk being passable, powerful attackers like Choice Band Tyrantrum, Sirfetch'd, and Golurk can still muscle past it, the former not even needing prior chip damage to do so.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Abejas, 241380], [poh, 298730]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
Escavalier offers a useful blend of offensive and defensive traits that makes it an excellent answer to common foes like Cresselia, Dragalge, and Sylveon. Its Swords Dance sets are potent wallbreakers that can easily dispatch physical walls like Vileplume, Mudsdale, and Bronzong, whereas its specially defensive set provides teams with a sturdy answer to special attackers such as Starmie and Choice Specs Decidueye. Additionally, Escavalier is fantastic at luring in and crippling defensive staples like Talonflame, Arcanine, and Mantine with Knock Off, which makes them much easier to overwhelm throughout a battle. In spite of this, however, Escavalier itself struggles to successfully deal with its counterplay on its own; it can't outduel defensive Fire-types, and bulky Water-types like Mantine and Vaporeon can force it out with the threat of a Scald burn. Additionally, Escavalier is vulnerable to being lured in and heavily damaged or OHKOed by Pokemon like Sylveon and Goodra that it otherwise is a solid answer to. Escavalier's also very reliant on its item for recovery, which makes item removal from the likes of Vileplume and Guzzlord problematic. Lastly, Escavalier's poor Speed makes it easy for faster foes like Salazzle and Zoroark to dispatch.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Knock Off
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Adamant
evs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Close Combat provides necessary coverage for Copperajah and opposing Escavalier, while Knock Off prevents Fire-types like Talonflame, Salazzle, and Arcanine from freely switching into Escavalier. The listed EV spread allows Escavalier to outpace Dhelmise and Gastrodon, but other spreads are possible too. For example, Escavalier can also opt for much bulkier spreads so it can better take attacks like Dragalge's Draco Meteor and Rotom-C's Thunderbolt.
Escavalier appreciates the removal of Fire-types like Salazzle, Talonflame, and Arcanine so it can more freely wallbreak; teammates like Dragalge, Mantine, and Guzzlord are effective here. Late-game cleaners like Dragon Dance Tyrantrum, Flygon, and Swords Dance Decidueye benefit from Escavalier shredding opposing defensive cores and weakening physical walls like Mudsdale and Vileplume. In return, the former two help pressure Fire-types, whereas the latter can deal with Water-types. Pokemon such as Passimian and Goodra appreciate Escavalier's ability to handle Fairy-types; in return, Passimian can bring Escavalier in against such foes with U-turn, while Goodra can help pressure physical walls.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Overcoat
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
The combination of Knock Off and Toxic makes it difficult for Pokemon like Talonflame, Mantine, and Arcanine to take advantage of Escavalier. Protect complements this move combination well, letting Escavalier poison stall foes and scout powerful Choice item attackers like Tyrantrum, Sirfetch'd, and Guzzlord.
Escavalier is very effective at luring in and crippling bulky Water-types like Mantine, Gastrodon, and Vaporeon with Toxic; this makes Pokemon like Starmie, Salazzle, and Blastoise effective teammates. In return, Starmie and Blastoise can easily get rid of Fire-types, while Salazzle can work alongside Escavalier to bypass said foes. Despite Escavalier not being helpless against opposing Fire-types, it still appreciates teammates like Dragalge, Flygon, and Diancie that can directly deal with them. Dragalge and Flygon can also bring Escavalier in against Fairy-types. Escavalier also benefits from physically defensive teammates such as Sylveon, Gastrodon, and Mudsdale to take on powerful physical attackers. Cleric support from teammates like Sylveon and Vaporeon is helpful so Escavalier doesn't have to worry as much about burns; these two can also supply Wish support for it, greatly boosting its longevity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Band turns Escavalier into an extremely potent wallbreaker with minimal defensive counterplay, although this set is very prediction reliant and can struggle to reliably get by bulky Fire-types like Talonflame and Arcanine. RestTalk gives Escavalier improved longevity, helps if Escavalier loses its Leftovers to Vileplume's Corrosive Gas, and can remove burn inflicted by Talonflame's Flame Body and Rotom-C's Will-O-Wisp. Heavy-Duty Boots is an especially good item on such sets, making Escavalier much harder to wear down through entry hazard damage.
Checks and Counters
====
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Arcanine and Talonflame are consistent switch-ins to Escavalier thanks to their bulk and abilities, although Knock Off is bothersome for them both. Salazzle is a poor switch-in, but it easily OHKOes Escavalier with Flamethrower. Other Pokemon with Fire-type coverage like Sylveon and Goodra are problematic too, especially since Escavalier frequently switches into them.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mantine, Gastrodon, and Vaporeon can switch into an unboosted Escavalier with relative ease and threaten it with a Scald burn. However, if they fail at inflicting a burn, Escavalier can muscle past them with its boosted attacks. Bulky Escavalier sets can also hamper the longevity of such Water-types with Toxic.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Despite Escavalier's physical bulk being passable, powerful attackers like Choice Band Tyrantrum, Sirfetch'd, and Golurk can still muscle past it, the former not even needing prior chip damage to do so.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[Abejas, 241380], [poh, 298730]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
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