[OVERVIEW]
Fraxure is an excellent wallbreaker and setup sweeper, possessing one of NFE's highest Attack stats and an offensive typing narrowly resisted. Access to Scale Shot enables it to bypass its low Speed and outspeed revenge killers like Frogadier and Girafarig, and its defensive typing allows it to set up on staples like Quaxwell and Thwackey. Choice Band sets are extremely threatening for its immediate power and access to First Impression, while Swords Dance sets terrify structures with its immense power after setup and Scale Shot to bypass its mediocre Speed and ability to threaten revenge killers. However, Fraxure is held back by it low Speed and bulk; if it cannot use First Impression, much of the metagame can easily outspeed it, and even after a boost, Choice Scarf users like Frogadier and Monferno can easily revenge kill it. Fraxure's typing is a double-edged sword: while it is fantastic offensively and can set up against weaker walls, its typing also leaves it very vulnerable against metagame staples like Piloswine and Wartortle.
[SET]
Setup Sweeper (Fraxure) @ Eviolite
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Outrage
- Scale Shot
- Stomping Tantrum
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Jolly nature, after a Swords Dance boost, Outrage is able to OHKO threats like Pignite and Wartortle, the latter after Stealth Rock. It also 2HKOes defensive staples like Quaxwell and Hattrem. Scale Shot can avoid Outrage's trapping effects, and is used to finish off weakened foes or capitalize on Pokemon that can potentially switch out against it, like Quaxwell and Ivysaur. Stomping Tantrum provides key coverage against Tinkatuff and Pawniard, while still hitting hard against Fire-types like Pignite and Monferno without locking into Outrage. While a Jolly nature is helpful to outspeed Glimmet and Hakamo-O, an Adamant nature strengthens Fraxure's attacks and has improved odds of OHKOing threats like Piloswine after a Swords Dance boost.
Fairy-types like Tinkatuff and Clefairy are some Fraxure's biggest threats, being immune to Fraxure's STAB moves and having ways to work around its coverage. Pokemon like Piloswine and Koffing are excellent partners, with both providing hazards and absorbing paralysis, and the latter even providing Toxic Spikes and Will-O-Wisp support to wear down foes. Paralysis spreaders like Tinkatuff and Hattrem remain similarly good partners, slowing down faster foes like Frogadier and Girafarig that would otherwise easily revenge kill it. Tinkatuff also provides Knock Off support and Hattrem can provide Healing Wish to give Fraxure a second chance at sweeping. Other wallbreakers and cleaners, like Thwackey and Raboot, are also helpful in working together with Fraxure to more easily break down the opposition. Popular revenge killers like Frogadier, Piloswine, and Drakloak can threaten out without too much trouble, so teammates like Clefairy, Quaxwell and Dunsparce can provide defensive backbones against these threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison Jab can be used over Scale Shot to target Clefairy and the uncommon Morgrem while potentially poisoning bulky threats like Piloswine and Dunsparce, though the low poison chance combined with the move's narrower coverage makes it difficult to fit over another attack. Loaded Dice on Swords Dance sets can be used to buff Scale Shot's power, though this gives up some of Fraxure's already mediocre bulk. Dragon Dance sets can be an alternative way of setting up, though Scale Shot's immediate damage output makes Swords Dance the preferred option.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Tinkatuff, Clefairy, and the uncommon Morgrem are some of Fraxure's biggest threats; barring the rare Poison Jab, they can switch into Fraxure relatively easily and threaten it with either Thunder Wave or STAB attacks. Tinkatuff can even run Air Balloon to completely wall Fraxure barring First Impression.
**Physical Walls**: Physical walls like Koffing, Dunsparce, and Naclstack can comfortably stomach even a boosted Fraxure, threaten it with status, and heal off the damage with their recovery moves, with the latter two even using it as setup fodder. Koffing and Mareanie can set up Toxic Spikes to cut into Fraxure's sweeping potential, while Dunsparce can threaten it out with Ice Beam or set up Coil against it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Without First Impression, Fraxure's mediocre Speed leaves it vulnerable to most faster Pokemon, with threats like Girafarig, Frogadier, Drakloak, and Raboot easily able to pick it off with some prior damage.
**Piloswine**: Piloswine has good odds of surviving a +2 Outrage after Stealth Rock and can retaliate with its STAB moves, picking it off with Ice Shard after some chip damage or after defense drops from Scale Shot.
**Residual Damage and Status**: Fraxure is vulnerable to all entry hazards and its sweeping potential can be dashed through burn or paralysis. Examples of common paralysis-spreading users include Hattrem, Servine, and Dunsparce, while Koffing and Drakloak can burn it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
