Gen 5 Fraxure [QC 1/1] [GP 1/1] [DONE]

[Akir]

[OVERVIEW]

Fraxure is a Pokemon that finds itself outclassed on multiple fronts in PU. Fraxure has Dragon Dance to be an endgame sweeper but doesn't have the Speed to sweep after just one boost, and it runs into immediate competition from other sweepers like Huntail. Fraxure could also use a Choice Band to wallbreak, but its lack of Earthquake and awkward Speed mean that Gabite is the better option. Despite these downsides, Fraxure does have one unique niche: Taunt and Swords Dance allow Fraxure to break stall decently well, but Fraxure's limited coverage and subpar Speed mean that it struggles to accomplish much outside of the stall matchup.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 4: Superpower
item: Eviolite
ability: Mold Breaker / Unnerve
nature: Adamant
evs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Fraxure to boost its Attack enough to break through walls while Taunt stops all disruption besides basic attacks. Dragon Claw is the chosen STAB option solely due to the lack of downsides while still achieving multiple 2HKOs on threats like Frillish after one Swords Dance. Outrage is an alternate STAB move that is significantly stronger than Dragon Claw and achieves multiple 2HKOs on high-value targets like Machoke and Torterra and possible a OHKO on Frillish after Stealth Rock with only one Swords Dance, but locking into Outrage invites in a Klang or Bronzor that Fraxure cannot use Taunt on until Outrage is done. One last thing to consider while choosing the STAB option is to keep in mind that Fraxure with Taunt is sometimes able to get off another Swords Dance and make Dragon Claw just as powerful as Outrage in the same amount of time Fraxure spends being locked into Outrage. Superpower is the preferred coverage option for hitting Steel-types like Klang while also surprising other walls like Audino that take super effective damage from it. Mold Breaker would be great if Fraxure had Earthquake but only has use for breaking through Sturdy. Unnerve can be used for blocking potential Berry activations but those are very rare; both options come down to personal preference, as they have very low impact most of the time. Fraxure's Speed investment allows Fraxure to outspeed uninvested base 70 Pokemon like Natu; the rest of the EVs invested into HP and the Eviolite let it take plenty of hits from the Taunted walls.

Fraxure belongs on teams that value breaking down stall cores extremely highly, so teammates like Huntail or Zebstrika that can take advantage of destroyed walls are excellent choices. Fraxure is also weak to Ice- and Dragon-type attacks, so Bronzor in particular can make an excellent pick for a partner. Klang also can be a great alternative thanks to Fraxure really appreciating the slow Volt Switch to bring it in safely. Fraxure also resists to Fire, Water, and Electric, making for some interesting defensive synergy with Pokemon like Maractus, Monferno, and Swanna that really appreciate having a Pokemon soak up some of those hits even though Fraxure would prefer not to.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/

 

[Bella]

GP Team

[OVERVIEW]

Fraxure is a Pokemon that finds itself outclassed on multiple fronts in PU. Fraxure has Dragon Dance to be an endgame sweeper, but doesn't have the Speed to sweep after just one boost and it runs into immediate competition from other sweepers like Huntail. Fraxure could also use a Choice Band to wallbreak, but lack of Earthquake and awkward Speed means that Gabite is immediately the better option. Despite all these downsides, Fraxure does have one unique niche: Taunt and Swords Dance allows Fraxure to break stall decently well, but Fraxure's limited coverage and subpar Speed means that it struggles to accomplish much outside of the stall matchup.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 4: Superpower
item: Eviolite
ability: Mold Breaker / Unnerve
nature: Adamant
evs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Fraxure to boost its Attack enough to break through walls while Taunt stops all disruption besides basic attacks. Fraxure's EV spread and Eviolite also plays into this, allowing Fraxure to outspeed uninvested base 70 Pokemon like Natu with the rest invested into HP to easily take plenty of hits from the Taunted walls. (This should be moved into after the moves and ability sections.) Dragon Claw is the chosen STAB option solely due to the lack of downsides while still achieving multiple 2HKOs on threats like Frillish after one Swords Dance. Outrage is an alternative STAB as it is significantly stronger than Dragon Claw and achieves multiple 2HKOs on high value targets like Machoke or Torterra and possible OHKOs on Frillish after Stealth Rock with only one Swords Dance, but locking into Outrage only invites in a Klang or Bronzor that Fraxure cannot Taunt until Outrage is done. One last thing to consider while choosing the STAB option is to keep in mind that Fraxure with Taunt is sometimes able to perform another Swords Dance and make Dragon Claw just as powerful as Outrage in the same amount of time Fraxure spends being locked into Outrage. Superpower is the preferred coverage option for hitting Steel-types like Klang while also surprising other walls like Audino that take super-effective damage from it. Mold Breaker would be great if Fraxure had Earthquake but now only has use for breaking through Sturdy, whereas Unnerve can also be used for blocking potential Berry activations but those are very rare; so both options come down to personal preference as they have very low impact most of the time.

Fraxure belongs on teams that value breaking down defensive stall cores (changing this to stall as its extremely hard to justify Fraxure outside of this matchup) extremely highly, so teammates that can utilize destroyed walls like Huntail or Zebstrika are excellent choices. Fraxure also sometimes relies on Stealth Rock damage to achieve some 2HKOs, so Pokemon that can reliably set Stealth Rock like Bronzor or Stunfisk are helpful.(This feels like something any attacker appreciates, maybe mention 2HKOs on certain threats it needs rocks for to keep this sentence.) Fraxure is also weak to Ice-type and Dragon-type attacks, so Bronzor in particular can make an excellent pick for a partner. Klang also can be a great alternative thanks to Fraxure really appreicating the slow Volt Switch to bring in Fraxure safely. Fraxure also hosts some interesting resistances to Fire, Water, and Electric, making for some interesting defensive synergy with Pokemon like Maractus, Monferno, and Swanna that really appreciate having a Pokemon soak up some of those hits even though Fraxure would prefer not to.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/

 

[Tbolt]

GP 1/1

add remove comment

[OVERVIEW]

Fraxure is a Pokemon that finds itself outclassed on multiple fronts in PU. Fraxure has Dragon Dance to be an endgame sweeper, (RC) but doesn't have the Speed to sweep after just one boost, (AC) and it runs into immediate competition from other sweepers like Huntail. Fraxure could also use a Choice Band to wallbreak, but its lack of Earthquake and awkward Speed means mean that Gabite is immediately the better option. Despite these downsides, Fraxure does have one unique niche: Taunt and Swords Dance allows allow Fraxure to break stall decently well, but Fraxure's limited coverage and subpar Speed means mean that it struggles to accomplish much outside of the stall matchup.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 4: Superpower
item: Eviolite
ability: Mold Breaker / Unnerve
nature: Adamant
evs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Fraxure to boost its Attack enough to break through walls while Taunt stops all disruption besides basic attacks. Dragon Claw is the chosen STAB option solely due to the lack of downsides while still achieving multiple 2HKOs on threats like Frillish after one Swords Dance. Outrage aan is an alternate STAB move that is significantly stronger than Dragon Claw and achieves multiple 2HKOs on high value high-value targets like Machoke or and Torterra and a possible OHKOs OHKO on Frillish after Stealth Rock with only one Swords Dance, but locking into Outrage only invites in a Klang or Bronzor that Fraxure cannot use Taunt on until Outrage is done. One last thing to consider while choosing the STAB option is to keep in mind that Fraxure with Taunt is sometimes able to perform get off another Swords Dance and make Dragon Claw just as powerful as Outrage in the same amount of time Fraxure spends being locked into Outrage. Superpower is the preferred coverage option for hitting Steel-types like Klang while also surprising other walls like Audino that take super-effective super effective damage from it. Mold Breaker would be great if Fraxure had Earthquake but now only has use for breaking through Sturdy, (RC). (AP) whereas Unnerve can also be used for blocking potential Berry activations, (AC) but those are very rare; so both options come down to personal preference, (AC) as they have very low impact most of the time. (Split a very long sentence into two.) Fraxure's EV spread and Eviolite allow Speed investment allows Fraxure to outspeed uninvested base 70 Pokemon like Natu; (ASC) with the rest of the EVs invested into HP to easily and the Eviolite let it take plenty of hits from the Taunted walls. (Reorganizing the subjects so they accurately describe what they do.)

Fraxure belongs on teams that value breaking down stall cores extremely highly, so teammates like Huntail and Zebstrika (Consulted in Discord DMs) that can utilize take advantage of destroyed walls like Huntail or Zebstrika are excellent choices. Fraxure is also weak to Ice-type Ice- and Dragon-type attacks, so Bronzor in particular can make an excellent pick for a partner. Klang also can be a great alternative thanks to Fraxure really appreicating appreciating the slow Volt Switch to bring it in Fraxure safely. Fraxure also hosts some interesting resistances to resists (Active voice, brevity, redundant use of "interesting") Fire, Water, and Electric, making for some interesting defensive synergy with Pokemon like Maractus, Monferno, and Swanna that really appreciate having a Pokemon soak up some of those hits even though Fraxure would prefer not to.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/

GP Team done