QC Checks: Hilomilo, -, -
GP Checks: -, -
[OVERVIEW]
*A great offensive typing and high base Attack, Honchkrow a threatening wallbreaker. Additionally, its switch-ins are further limited, thanks to coverage in Superpower, and Heat Wave.
*Honchkrow has a great ability, Moxie, which makes it a threatening late-game cleaner. With Sucker Punch, Honchkrow is capable of OHKOing, after a Moxie boost and a bit of chip, the majority of the unresisted, faster metagame.
* Honchkrow's moderate Speed tier makes it susceptible to most Fighting- and Dark-types in the tier, such as Cobalion and Hydreigon. This, also means, that Honchkrow is reliant on Sucker Punch to beat faster foes, which invites in faster set-up sweepers, such as Mega Altaria and Lucario, and Substitute users, such as Nidoking and Kyurem.
*Despite its good offensive typing, a below average bulk leaves it weak to VoltTurn staples, such as Mega Manectric and Scizor. Furthermore, its typing leaves it weak to common types, such as Fairy-, Electric- and Rock-types.
*Honchkrow also finds it hard to remain longevity, with a weakness to Stealth Rock, and reliance on Life Orb and Brave Bird to break.
[SET]
name: Murderkrow (All-out Attacker)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Superpower / Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Brave Bird is Honchkrow's main STAB move, which hits really hard Pokemon that doesn't resist Flying, such as Swampert and Scizor.
*Sucker Punch Honchkrow's secondary STAB move, that mainly hits foes that attempt to revenge kill it, such as Latias and Crobat.
*Pursuit targets forced switches, such as Gengar locked into Shadow Ball, and Latias. Furthermore, it can create mind-games between Pursuit and Sucker Punch.
*Superpower is its best coverage move Honchkrow has to offer, as it hits bulky Steel-types, such as Empoleon and Stakataka for super effective damage.
*Heat Wave makes use of Honchkrow's passable Special attack and hits Steel-types that do are not hit super effectively by Superpower, such as Klefki and Doublade.
Set Details
========
*252 Attack EVs maximize Honchkrow's wallbreaking potential.
*252 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed key threats, such as Timid Primarina and Adamant Scizor.
*A positive Attack Nature is preferred over a positive Speed Nature to maximize Honchkrow's offensive presence.
*Life Orb is the best item option on Honchkrow, as it guaranteed some KOs, such as on Empoleon with Superpower and on Mega Aerodactyl with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock damage and a Moxie boost.
*Moxie is Honchkrow's best ability, because it raises Honchkrow's attack by one stage every KO, further enhancing its wallbreaking capabilities and making it harder to revenge kill it.
Usage Tips
========
*Although Honchkrow is best-used late-game as a cleaner, it can be used as an early-game wallbreaker to weaken Pokemon, such as Swampert and Empoleon.
*Before cleaning with Honchkrow, faster Fighting- and Dark-types, such as Infernape and Hydreigon must be weakened to be in a range of Sucker Punch KOing.
*Honchkrow can Pursuit trap choice-locked Pokemon, such as Gengar and Latias, especially if they are locked into a move Honchkrow resists or is immune to.
*Bulky Pokemon who resist Honchkrow's main STAB, Brave Bird, such as Mega Aggron or physical walls, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola, should be weakened before Honchkrow attempts to sweep. Not only Honchkrow struggles to beat those, it also takes a lot of recoil damage from attempting so.
*Honchkrow below average bulk means it can not switch-in directly on moves, not even on resisted ones. Therefore, bringing it in safely via Volt Switch or U-turn is the most efficient way.
Team Options
========
*Entry hazard setters, such as Azelf and Swampert make good partners because their entry hazards guarantee KOs, such as on Aerodactyl-Mega with Sucker Punch after an Attack boost, and 2HKOs, such as on Alomomola with Brave Bird.
*Physical wallbreakers and cleaners, such as Terrakion and Mega Sharpedo, weaken walls for Honchkrow and also appreciate Honchkrow weakening walls such as Swampert and Sylveon for them.
*Other set-up sweepers, such as Scizor and Talonflame, also appreciate Honchkrow weakening walls for them.
*Honchkrow's bad bulk means it can't be brought in directly, even not on resisted attacks. Hence, Pokemon such as Infernape, Mega Manectric, and Azelf, that can bring Honchkrow in safely via either U-turn, Volt Switch or Explosion, respectively, make good partners.
*Because Honchkrow is weak to Stealth Rock, entry hazards removers, such as Starmie and Tentacruel, make good partners for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Taunt is an option that allows Honchkrow to shut down walls that are reliant on recovery to beat it reliably, such as Hippowdon, and shut down Defog users, such as Mantine, that may try to use Honchkrow to use Defog. However, Honchkrow generally does not have a moveslot for that.
*Honchkrow can utilize Flyinium Z with Mirror Move, as this increases its Attack by two stages, and potentially mimics an opponent's Z move.
*Icy Wind allows Honchkrow to hit Gliscor super effectively, but Honchkrow generally does not have the moveslot for it.
*Honchkrow can use Darkinium Z alongside Snatch to boost its Speed by two stages to have a better matchup against faster teams. However, the decrease in damage output is notable.
*Choice Band can boost Honchkrow's already great Attack, allowing it to 2HKO Hippowdon and Alomomola from full. Honchkrow hates being locked into Sucker Punch, though, because that may open a door for set-up sweepers to abuse it.
*Choice Scarf can patch up Honchkrow's below average Speed, although even after a Choice Scarf boost, Honchkrow is still outsped Pokemon, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Manectric and other common Choice Scarf holders, such as Hydreigon and Infernape.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Walls**: Hippowdon and Mega Aggron can take almost every attack Honchkrow may potentially hit them with. The former can force Honchkrow to die by recoil by continually spamming Slack Off against it and the latter resists Honchkrow's main STAB move and has Filter to weaken Honchkrow's coverage move.
**Faster Dark-resistant Pokemon**: Infernape, Cobalion, and Terrakion outspeed Honchkrow, resist Sucker Punch, and OHKO back in return. The two can even boost their Attack if Honchkrow may try to chip them with Sucker Punch. All of them, however, can't be directly brought in on Honchkrow, fearing a powerful Brave Bird.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage caused by Stealth Rock, Life Orb, and recoil from Brave Bird all prevent Honchkrow for maintaining longevity.
**Electric-types**: Mega Manectric and Rotom-C resist Honchkrow's main STAB move and threaten it back with the STAB of their own to OHKO Honchkrow. The latter weakens Honchkrow's Attack with Intimidate, allowing it to take hits better, and the latter threatens Honchkrow with a Will-O-Wisp to cut its Attack and reliably beat it.
GP Checks: -, -
[OVERVIEW]
*A great offensive typing and high base Attack, Honchkrow a threatening wallbreaker. Additionally, its switch-ins are further limited, thanks to coverage in Superpower, and Heat Wave.
*Honchkrow has a great ability, Moxie, which makes it a threatening late-game cleaner. With Sucker Punch, Honchkrow is capable of OHKOing, after a Moxie boost and a bit of chip, the majority of the unresisted, faster metagame.
* Honchkrow's moderate Speed tier makes it susceptible to most Fighting- and Dark-types in the tier, such as Cobalion and Hydreigon. This, also means, that Honchkrow is reliant on Sucker Punch to beat faster foes, which invites in faster set-up sweepers, such as Mega Altaria and Lucario, and Substitute users, such as Nidoking and Kyurem.
*Despite its good offensive typing, a below average bulk leaves it weak to VoltTurn staples, such as Mega Manectric and Scizor. Furthermore, its typing leaves it weak to common types, such as Fairy-, Electric- and Rock-types.
*Honchkrow also finds it hard to remain longevity, with a weakness to Stealth Rock, and reliance on Life Orb and Brave Bird to break.
[SET]
name: Murderkrow (All-out Attacker)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Superpower / Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Brave Bird is Honchkrow's main STAB move, which hits really hard Pokemon that doesn't resist Flying, such as Swampert and Scizor.
*Sucker Punch Honchkrow's secondary STAB move, that mainly hits foes that attempt to revenge kill it, such as Latias and Crobat.
*Pursuit targets forced switches, such as Gengar locked into Shadow Ball, and Latias. Furthermore, it can create mind-games between Pursuit and Sucker Punch.
*Superpower is its best coverage move Honchkrow has to offer, as it hits bulky Steel-types, such as Empoleon and Stakataka for super effective damage.
*Heat Wave makes use of Honchkrow's passable Special attack and hits Steel-types that do are not hit super effectively by Superpower, such as Klefki and Doublade.
Set Details
========
*252 Attack EVs maximize Honchkrow's wallbreaking potential.
*252 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed key threats, such as Timid Primarina and Adamant Scizor.
*A positive Attack Nature is preferred over a positive Speed Nature to maximize Honchkrow's offensive presence.
*Life Orb is the best item option on Honchkrow, as it guaranteed some KOs, such as on Empoleon with Superpower and on Mega Aerodactyl with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock damage and a Moxie boost.
*Moxie is Honchkrow's best ability, because it raises Honchkrow's attack by one stage every KO, further enhancing its wallbreaking capabilities and making it harder to revenge kill it.
Usage Tips
========
*Although Honchkrow is best-used late-game as a cleaner, it can be used as an early-game wallbreaker to weaken Pokemon, such as Swampert and Empoleon.
*Before cleaning with Honchkrow, faster Fighting- and Dark-types, such as Infernape and Hydreigon must be weakened to be in a range of Sucker Punch KOing.
*Honchkrow can Pursuit trap choice-locked Pokemon, such as Gengar and Latias, especially if they are locked into a move Honchkrow resists or is immune to.
*Bulky Pokemon who resist Honchkrow's main STAB, Brave Bird, such as Mega Aggron or physical walls, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola, should be weakened before Honchkrow attempts to sweep. Not only Honchkrow struggles to beat those, it also takes a lot of recoil damage from attempting so.
*Honchkrow below average bulk means it can not switch-in directly on moves, not even on resisted ones. Therefore, bringing it in safely via Volt Switch or U-turn is the most efficient way.
Team Options
========
*Entry hazard setters, such as Azelf and Swampert make good partners because their entry hazards guarantee KOs, such as on Aerodactyl-Mega with Sucker Punch after an Attack boost, and 2HKOs, such as on Alomomola with Brave Bird.
*Physical wallbreakers and cleaners, such as Terrakion and Mega Sharpedo, weaken walls for Honchkrow and also appreciate Honchkrow weakening walls such as Swampert and Sylveon for them.
*Other set-up sweepers, such as Scizor and Talonflame, also appreciate Honchkrow weakening walls for them.
*Honchkrow's bad bulk means it can't be brought in directly, even not on resisted attacks. Hence, Pokemon such as Infernape, Mega Manectric, and Azelf, that can bring Honchkrow in safely via either U-turn, Volt Switch or Explosion, respectively, make good partners.
*Because Honchkrow is weak to Stealth Rock, entry hazards removers, such as Starmie and Tentacruel, make good partners for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Taunt is an option that allows Honchkrow to shut down walls that are reliant on recovery to beat it reliably, such as Hippowdon, and shut down Defog users, such as Mantine, that may try to use Honchkrow to use Defog. However, Honchkrow generally does not have a moveslot for that.
*Honchkrow can utilize Flyinium Z with Mirror Move, as this increases its Attack by two stages, and potentially mimics an opponent's Z move.
*Icy Wind allows Honchkrow to hit Gliscor super effectively, but Honchkrow generally does not have the moveslot for it.
*Honchkrow can use Darkinium Z alongside Snatch to boost its Speed by two stages to have a better matchup against faster teams. However, the decrease in damage output is notable.
*Choice Band can boost Honchkrow's already great Attack, allowing it to 2HKO Hippowdon and Alomomola from full. Honchkrow hates being locked into Sucker Punch, though, because that may open a door for set-up sweepers to abuse it.
*Choice Scarf can patch up Honchkrow's below average Speed, although even after a Choice Scarf boost, Honchkrow is still outsped Pokemon, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Manectric and other common Choice Scarf holders, such as Hydreigon and Infernape.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Walls**: Hippowdon and Mega Aggron can take almost every attack Honchkrow may potentially hit them with. The former can force Honchkrow to die by recoil by continually spamming Slack Off against it and the latter resists Honchkrow's main STAB move and has Filter to weaken Honchkrow's coverage move.
**Faster Dark-resistant Pokemon**: Infernape, Cobalion, and Terrakion outspeed Honchkrow, resist Sucker Punch, and OHKO back in return. The two can even boost their Attack if Honchkrow may try to chip them with Sucker Punch. All of them, however, can't be directly brought in on Honchkrow, fearing a powerful Brave Bird.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage caused by Stealth Rock, Life Orb, and recoil from Brave Bird all prevent Honchkrow for maintaining longevity.
**Electric-types**: Mega Manectric and Rotom-C resist Honchkrow's main STAB move and threaten it back with the STAB of their own to OHKO Honchkrow. The latter weakens Honchkrow's Attack with Intimidate, allowing it to take hits better, and the latter threatens Honchkrow with a Will-O-Wisp to cut its Attack and reliably beat it.
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