[Overview]
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs a massive punch and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 78 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you will often have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options: Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak but loses some crucial OHKOs. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as it can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive Gyarados variants can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if it is still healthy after it is switched in, as Swords Dance Toxicroak can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the aforementioned moves are used. However, without the Swords Dance set's defensive investment, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
<p>When people look at Feraligatr they often see Sheer Force and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unprepared teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in OU's merciless environment, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent least expects it.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes full advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs a massive punch and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 78 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you will often have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a spinner is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, which is by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet's KO range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options: Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak but loses some crucial OHKOs. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as it can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive Gyarados variants can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, except it has the more useful Intimidate as opposed to Multiscale.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if it is still healthy after it is switched in, as Swords Dance Toxicroak can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the aforementioned moves are used. However, without the Swords Dance set's defensive investment, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
