[OVERVIEW]
Heliolisk is an effective wallbreaker on rain teams thanks to its great ability in Dry Skin keeping it healthy, offsetting its Life Orb recoil and letting it freely throw out its powerful STAB Thunder. Its main selling point is its Water immunity; this allows it to provide relief against Pokemon that would otherwise serve as enormous threats to rain teams like Keldeo and Belly Drum Azumarill. Its great Speed tier also makes it faster than the aforementioned Keldeo in addition to other threats like Zarude and Salamence, and its typing alongside its decent special bulk lets it beat special Aegislash and Regieleki one-on-one, which are typically huge threats for rain teams. Heliolisk's main downfall is its pitiful physical bulk; just about any strong physical attack will OHKO it or come very close, somewhat diminishing its ability to check the likes of Azumarill and Barraskewda. It's also weak to Keldeo's Fighting STAB, so switching Heliolisk into Keldeo can be quite risky. While Heliolisk is extremely potent under rain and arguably the best Electric-type one can use in this role, it struggles to set itself apart from the likes of Thundurus and Rotom-W on other teams, restricting it almost solely to the rain archetype.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Hyper Voice
move 4: Surf / Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Volt Switch allows Heliolisk to pivot out on threats it can't break through easily like Assault Vest Tangrowth and Chansey. Thunder is used over Thunderbolt because this set is always used on rain teams, with the extra power allowing Heliolisk to perform feats such as OHKOing defensive Primarina after Stealth Rock. Hyper Voice hits Electric-resistant Pokemon like Zarude and Kommo-o hard in addition to 2HKOing Amoonguss after Stealth Rock damage. Surf nukes Ground-types like Krookodile, Rhyperior, and Nidoking with ease in the rain. Grass Knot can be used instead for its ability to hit Ground-types outside of rain while also hitting Seismitoad and Gastrodon, but its lower power against the likes of Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Krookodile means it isn't preferred.
Heliolisk is only used on rain teams as an effective wallbreaker and check to opposing rain. As a result, Pelipper is a mandatory teammate, setting up the rain to boost Heliolisk's power and longevity. They also have decent defensive synergy, with Pelipper pivoting into Ground-types like Seismitoad and Gastrodon for Heliolisk, while Heliolisk can check the likes of Regieleki and Rotom-W in return. Barraskewda is an exceptional wallbreaker and sweeper on rain teams that appreciates Heliolisk's ability to weaken Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Zarude and is capable of outspeeding and KOing faster threats for Heliolisk in return, such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Dragon Dance Salamence. It also muscles through specially bulky Pokemon like Chansey and Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro. Other Water-type wallbreakers like Keldeo and Crawdaunt can trade with the Grass-types Heliolisk struggles with or take advantage of Heliolisk's ability to weaken them itself before going down, making them very effective partners. Flying-types such as Salamence and Tornadus appreciate Heliolisk's ability to bring them in safely on Grass-type Pokemon so that they can launch their mighty Hurricanes. Grass-types of your own like Tangrowth and Amoonguss are also appreciated teammates for Heliolisk, being able to check threats such as Keldeo locked into Secret Sword, Lycanroc-D, and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Entry hazard support from the likes of Jirachi and Chansey is necessary for Heliolisk to get a lot of OHKOs and 2HKOs on Pokemon like Primarina and Amoonguss. They can also pivot with U-turn or Teleport to bring Heliolisk onto the field safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Heavy-Duty Boots set can be used outside of rain teams, functioning as a decent offensive pivot that can still check Pokemon like Keldeo while being decent against opposing rain. It faces large competition from Thundurus, though, which outclasses it in most non-rain matchups thanks to its better bulk, power, typing, and Speed. Weather Ball can be used over Surf or Grass Knot for its greater power in the rain and ability to OHKO Venusaur in sun, but it's less reliable and doesn't obtain any notable OHKOs.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: While the former two fear Surf, Ground-types like Choice Scarf Krookodile, Nidoking, and Seismitoad can check Heliolisk fairly well outside of rain thanks to their ability to stomach a Hyper Voice. Gastrodon counters Heliolisk lacking Grass Knot without much trouble.
**Grass-types**: Assault Vest Tangrowth and Amoonguss can check Heliolisk quite well, though the latter must be wary of switching into Hyper Voice as it is a 2HKO after Stealth Rock. Zarude can tank any hit from Heliolisk and OHKO it with Power Whip.
**Special Walls**: While they don't like switching into repeated Volt Switches, Pokemon like Chansey, Umbreon, and Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro can handle Heliolisk quite easily.
**Faster Pokemon**: Heliolisk's Speed tier is good, but faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Mienshao, Zarude, and Lycanroc-D all cause massive issues for it, preying on its terrible physical bulk to easily KO it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lilburr, 481709]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132]], [Hilomilo, 313384], [Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Lumari, 232216]
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