[OVERVIEW]
* Honchkrow's 125 Attack base stat and good offensive typing allows it to be one of the scariest offensive threats in the metagame, which is capable to break Stall teams and clean weakened offensive teams in late-game
* It has access to the excellent talent Moxie coupled to Mirror Move, which used with the adequate Z-Stone gives a +2 Attack, making it more threatening than before
* It also has access to a priority move, Sucker Punch, which pactchs out its average Speed and helps it to beat faster threats such as Mega Aerodactyl, and a base 120 STAB attack, Brave Bird, beating out anything that doesn't resist Flying-type. Honchkrow has also access to some useful moves in Superpower, Pursuit, or even Heat Wave and Dark Pulse when utilizing its Special Attack stat
* Althought all those good points, Honchkrow has also many flaws, one of those is its mediocre bulk, even with a good PV base stat, its suffers of it's bad defensive typing and its average speed, making it easily worn down by Stealth Rock and Brave Bird recoil, or easily Revenge Killed
* Honchkrow tends to be kinda irrelevant in the metagame due to the omnipresence of Fighting-types such as Cobalion or Keldeo, or being outclassed by better Dark-types such as Bisharp or Mega Sharpedo or better Pokémon in the role of wallbreaker, such as Haxorus or Keldeo
[SET]
name: Z-Mirror Move
move 1: Mirror Move
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Brave Bird
move 4: Superpower
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Z-Mirror Move boosts Honchkrow's Attack, once Honchkrow is at +2, it becomes very difficult to stop for the opponent, and it can clean-out the opposing team
* Sucker Punch is Honchkrow's first STAB, it's weaker than Brave Bird but it makes up for Honchkrow's Speed and hit faster threats
* Brave Bird deal huge damage to everything that doesn't resist it, and nearly 2HKO almost the metagame after a boost
* Superpower hits Rock, Dark- and Steel-types super effectively, such as Bisharp, Klefki or Gigalith
Set Details
========
* An Adamant nature and 252 EVs in Attack to maximize its firepower
* The rest goes to Speed, as it allows Honchkrow to outspeed Primarina, Adamant Bisharp and most of the defensive threats
* A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed other Honchkrow, Jolly Bisharp, Gliscor and Defensive Mew, but you lose roo much power so it's not recommanded
* Flyinium Z allows Honchkrow to use Z-Mirror Move and boost its Attack
* Moxie is Honchkrow's best ability, as it boost its Attack every kill it does
Usage Tips
========
* Honchkrow should be used as a late-game cleaner, when the opposing team is weakened enough, or to revenge kill if it garantee a kill with Sucker Punch, or Brave Bird if its a slower threat
* Honchkrow plays an important role against bulkier teams, Z-Mirror Move and its coverage allows it to break almost any stall / bulky teams defensive cores, however, it should be played carefully since its crippled by Toxic poison and Scald burn
* Z-Mirror Move should be used against Pokémon that can't too much to Honchkrow, such as choice user locked into a Ground- or Psychic-type move, or passive walls such as Amoonguss or Blissey, be sure faster threats are weakened enough to get KO'd by Sucker Punch at +2, especially ones that resist Dark-type such as Krookodile
* In some scenarios, Z-Mirror Move can be used to revenge kill a slower weakened threat, since it will boost Honchkrow's attack and use the opponent's last attack with its Z-Move base power, which garantee a +3 boost if used well
* If using Z-Mirror Move is impossible or way too risky don't waste your Z-Stone and use Supersonic Skystrike, as it can KO the foe or put it in the range of Brave Bird in almost the cases, and grant, at least, Moxie's attack boost
* Don't click Sucker Punch unless you're sure the foe is attacking, as the opponent can Subsitute or recover on you or make you wasting your few PPs with switchs
* Don't bring Honchkrow on Stealth Rock, as it makes it weaker, avoid also hard switch-ons with Honchkrow, it's safer to use a pivot or send it after a kill
* Avoid facing priority users, especially Extrem Speed users or ones that resist Sucker Punch, threats such as Choice Band Zygarde-10% or Mega Absol can easily revenge kill Honchkrow or pressure it with mindgames and 50/50s
Team Options
========
* Honchkrow absolutely needs hazard control, Tsareena fits well with Honchkrow, as it can keep off Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin, pivot into Honchkrow thanks to its slow U-Turn, and stop priority moves with its ability, while Honchkrow can pressure Ghost-types that may switch-in on Rapid Spin
* Latias is also a good hazard removal to pair with Honchkrow, as it can remove hazard and check Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Cobalion and hit them hardly with its Psychic-type STAB, Latias can run Healing Wish to recovery Honchkrow
* Cobalion is an ideal teammate to Honchkrow, as it can set Stealth Rock for Honchkrow, check most of Dark-types threats and beat them, and pivot into Honchkrow with Volt Switch
* Honchkrow appreciates hazard stack to sweep opponent's team easily, Pokémon such as Klefki or Froslass makes good Spikes setter
* Fairy-types such as Clefable and Whimsicott can check Dark- and Fighting-types and forces them out, making Honchkrow sweeping easily, both also gives support features such as Stealth Rock, speed control with Thunder Wave and Stun Spore, Encore or Unaware to stop setup sweepers, Tailwind and U-Turn
* On more offensive teams fast Fairy- and Fighting-types such as Ninetales-Alola, Scarf Keldeo or Scarf Mienshao can be used to pressure opposing Dark-types or clean out after Honchkrow, Ninetales can also set Aurora Veil to make Honchkrow's setup easier
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Life Orb is an option over Flyinium-Z if you already have a Z-move user in your team, use either of Pursuit or Night Slash over Mirror Move
* Choice Scarf Honchkrow is also a viable set, as it reach an good speed tier and outspeed fast threats such as Raikou, Latias and Keldeo
* If using Life Orb, some moves such as Substitute or Roost can be used, Substitute can block status and prevent Honchkrow from getting revenge killed while Roost mitigates the recoil caused by Brave Bird and Life Orb
* Z-Snatch can be used over Z-Mirror Move, as it gives a +2 boost in Speed to Honchrow, allowing it to outspeed 110s base +1 with a Jolly nature
* Heat Wave can be used on Life Orb variant with a Naive nature, but it doesn't add an important coverage
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokémon That Resist Dark**: Togekiss, Cobalion and Krookodile all resist Sucker Punch and can revenge kill Honchkrow with their powerful hits
**Physically Defensive Pokémon**: Physical walls such as Swampert, Hippowdon or Unaware Clefable can, in most of the time, switch-in on Honchkrow while this last is using Z-Mirror Move and tanks a +2 Brave Bird if at full, and cripple it back with hits or phazing it with Roar
**Fast Support Pokémon**: Fast Utility such as Mew and Tentacruel can outspeed Honchkrow and serve as emergency check to prevent it from sweep, the former can use Will-o-Wisp to cripple it and the latter can neutralize it with Haze
**Priority**: Priority attacks can beat down Honchkrow without trouble, Golisopod, Lucario and Zygarde-10% can revenge kill it after a Brave Bird recoil with First Impression or Extrem Speed, while Choice Band Scizor tanks Sucker Punch at +2 and OKHO back with Bullet Punch, Mega Absol can force Honchkrow into a Sucker Punch mind-game and OHKO with Play Rough
**Residual Damage**: Honchkrow is worn down easily by residual damage. With the combined Stealth Rock and Brave Bird damage, Honchkrow won't last very long
* Honchkrow's 125 Attack base stat and good offensive typing allows it to be one of the scariest offensive threats in the metagame, which is capable to break Stall teams and clean weakened offensive teams in late-game
* It has access to the excellent talent Moxie coupled to Mirror Move, which used with the adequate Z-Stone gives a +2 Attack, making it more threatening than before
* It also has access to a priority move, Sucker Punch, which pactchs out its average Speed and helps it to beat faster threats such as Mega Aerodactyl, and a base 120 STAB attack, Brave Bird, beating out anything that doesn't resist Flying-type. Honchkrow has also access to some useful moves in Superpower, Pursuit, or even Heat Wave and Dark Pulse when utilizing its Special Attack stat
* Althought all those good points, Honchkrow has also many flaws, one of those is its mediocre bulk, even with a good PV base stat, its suffers of it's bad defensive typing and its average speed, making it easily worn down by Stealth Rock and Brave Bird recoil, or easily Revenge Killed
* Honchkrow tends to be kinda irrelevant in the metagame due to the omnipresence of Fighting-types such as Cobalion or Keldeo, or being outclassed by better Dark-types such as Bisharp or Mega Sharpedo or better Pokémon in the role of wallbreaker, such as Haxorus or Keldeo
[SET]
name: Z-Mirror Move
move 1: Mirror Move
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Brave Bird
move 4: Superpower
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Z-Mirror Move boosts Honchkrow's Attack, once Honchkrow is at +2, it becomes very difficult to stop for the opponent, and it can clean-out the opposing team
* Sucker Punch is Honchkrow's first STAB, it's weaker than Brave Bird but it makes up for Honchkrow's Speed and hit faster threats
* Brave Bird deal huge damage to everything that doesn't resist it, and nearly 2HKO almost the metagame after a boost
* Superpower hits Rock, Dark- and Steel-types super effectively, such as Bisharp, Klefki or Gigalith
Set Details
========
* An Adamant nature and 252 EVs in Attack to maximize its firepower
* The rest goes to Speed, as it allows Honchkrow to outspeed Primarina, Adamant Bisharp and most of the defensive threats
* A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed other Honchkrow, Jolly Bisharp, Gliscor and Defensive Mew, but you lose roo much power so it's not recommanded
* Flyinium Z allows Honchkrow to use Z-Mirror Move and boost its Attack
* Moxie is Honchkrow's best ability, as it boost its Attack every kill it does
Usage Tips
========
* Honchkrow should be used as a late-game cleaner, when the opposing team is weakened enough, or to revenge kill if it garantee a kill with Sucker Punch, or Brave Bird if its a slower threat
* Honchkrow plays an important role against bulkier teams, Z-Mirror Move and its coverage allows it to break almost any stall / bulky teams defensive cores, however, it should be played carefully since its crippled by Toxic poison and Scald burn
* Z-Mirror Move should be used against Pokémon that can't too much to Honchkrow, such as choice user locked into a Ground- or Psychic-type move, or passive walls such as Amoonguss or Blissey, be sure faster threats are weakened enough to get KO'd by Sucker Punch at +2, especially ones that resist Dark-type such as Krookodile
* In some scenarios, Z-Mirror Move can be used to revenge kill a slower weakened threat, since it will boost Honchkrow's attack and use the opponent's last attack with its Z-Move base power, which garantee a +3 boost if used well
* If using Z-Mirror Move is impossible or way too risky don't waste your Z-Stone and use Supersonic Skystrike, as it can KO the foe or put it in the range of Brave Bird in almost the cases, and grant, at least, Moxie's attack boost
* Don't click Sucker Punch unless you're sure the foe is attacking, as the opponent can Subsitute or recover on you or make you wasting your few PPs with switchs
* Don't bring Honchkrow on Stealth Rock, as it makes it weaker, avoid also hard switch-ons with Honchkrow, it's safer to use a pivot or send it after a kill
* Avoid facing priority users, especially Extrem Speed users or ones that resist Sucker Punch, threats such as Choice Band Zygarde-10% or Mega Absol can easily revenge kill Honchkrow or pressure it with mindgames and 50/50s
Team Options
========
* Honchkrow absolutely needs hazard control, Tsareena fits well with Honchkrow, as it can keep off Stealth Rock with Rapid Spin, pivot into Honchkrow thanks to its slow U-Turn, and stop priority moves with its ability, while Honchkrow can pressure Ghost-types that may switch-in on Rapid Spin
* Latias is also a good hazard removal to pair with Honchkrow, as it can remove hazard and check Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Cobalion and hit them hardly with its Psychic-type STAB, Latias can run Healing Wish to recovery Honchkrow
* Cobalion is an ideal teammate to Honchkrow, as it can set Stealth Rock for Honchkrow, check most of Dark-types threats and beat them, and pivot into Honchkrow with Volt Switch
* Honchkrow appreciates hazard stack to sweep opponent's team easily, Pokémon such as Klefki or Froslass makes good Spikes setter
* Fairy-types such as Clefable and Whimsicott can check Dark- and Fighting-types and forces them out, making Honchkrow sweeping easily, both also gives support features such as Stealth Rock, speed control with Thunder Wave and Stun Spore, Encore or Unaware to stop setup sweepers, Tailwind and U-Turn
* On more offensive teams fast Fairy- and Fighting-types such as Ninetales-Alola, Scarf Keldeo or Scarf Mienshao can be used to pressure opposing Dark-types or clean out after Honchkrow, Ninetales can also set Aurora Veil to make Honchkrow's setup easier
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Life Orb is an option over Flyinium-Z if you already have a Z-move user in your team, use either of Pursuit or Night Slash over Mirror Move
* Choice Scarf Honchkrow is also a viable set, as it reach an good speed tier and outspeed fast threats such as Raikou, Latias and Keldeo
* If using Life Orb, some moves such as Substitute or Roost can be used, Substitute can block status and prevent Honchkrow from getting revenge killed while Roost mitigates the recoil caused by Brave Bird and Life Orb
* Z-Snatch can be used over Z-Mirror Move, as it gives a +2 boost in Speed to Honchrow, allowing it to outspeed 110s base +1 with a Jolly nature
* Heat Wave can be used on Life Orb variant with a Naive nature, but it doesn't add an important coverage
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokémon That Resist Dark**: Togekiss, Cobalion and Krookodile all resist Sucker Punch and can revenge kill Honchkrow with their powerful hits
**Physically Defensive Pokémon**: Physical walls such as Swampert, Hippowdon or Unaware Clefable can, in most of the time, switch-in on Honchkrow while this last is using Z-Mirror Move and tanks a +2 Brave Bird if at full, and cripple it back with hits or phazing it with Roar
**Fast Support Pokémon**: Fast Utility such as Mew and Tentacruel can outspeed Honchkrow and serve as emergency check to prevent it from sweep, the former can use Will-o-Wisp to cripple it and the latter can neutralize it with Haze
**Priority**: Priority attacks can beat down Honchkrow without trouble, Golisopod, Lucario and Zygarde-10% can revenge kill it after a Brave Bird recoil with First Impression or Extrem Speed, while Choice Band Scizor tanks Sucker Punch at +2 and OKHO back with Bullet Punch, Mega Absol can force Honchkrow into a Sucker Punch mind-game and OHKO with Play Rough
**Residual Damage**: Honchkrow is worn down easily by residual damage. With the combined Stealth Rock and Brave Bird damage, Honchkrow won't last very long
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