no fun art for this mon ;_;
[OVERVIEW]
Klinklang is an unusual but effective sweeper that excels against conventional offensive teams. Magnet Rise allows it to surprise and set up on slower staple Pokemon that use Ground-type moves to beat Steel like Donphan, Metagross, Nidoqueen, and Rhyperior. Other common setup fodder includes Florges, non-Thunder Wave Cresselia, and Choice-locked attackers like Gardevoir, Goodra, and Noivern. A single Shift Gear boost makes Klinklang faster than every Choice Scarf user except Noivern, and its typing grants resistance to common priority moves like First Impression and Ice Shard, so it's incredibly difficult to offensively check after setting up. Frailer teams are often unable to handle Klinklang's Steel + Electric coverage late-game, as it is only resisted by Electric-types and Water / Ground types. Balance teams without such Pokemon can be in trouble too. However, Klinklang's mediocre Attack forces it to run an Adamant nature, and it might need multiple boosts to take out bulky Pokemon like Registeel. A poor Speed tier that lies below Timid Mega Blastoise before a boost keeps Klinklang from being useful outside of late-game, when it sets up to sweep. Being a Steel-type gives Klinklang a lot of competition from Pokemon like Metagross and Registeel, which can use their valuable typing to handle Fairy- and Rock-types throughout the whole game. Using a Steel-type sweeper makes teambuilding with Klinklang much more difficult, as you miss out on that defensive presence. Gear Grind's shaky accuracy means bad luck alone can stop a Klinklang sweep, reducing Klinklang's consistency.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Gear Grind
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Magnet Rise
item: Electrium Z
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shift Gear makes Klinklang nearly impossible to outspeed. Gear Grind and Wild Charge make for Klinklang's best two-move coverage. Magnet Rise lets Klinklang set up on Donphan, Metagross, non-Fire Blast Nidoqueen, and Rhyperior.
Set Details
========
Electrium Z gives Klinklang the best chance at beating bulky Water- and Steel-types like Slowbro, Milotic, Registeel, and Bronzong. An Adamant nature is necessary to compensate for Klinklang's unremarkable Attack.
Usage Tips
========
From Team Preview, identify the Pokemon Klinklang can set up on late-game to win. These typically include team staples like Donphan, Metagross, and Nidoqueen as well as Choice-locked Pokemon like Gardevoir. Once the opposition is weakened enough for Klinklang to OHKO or 2HKO them all, lure the identified setup fodder into play. Against the Pokemon reliant on Ground-type moves, Magnet Rise should be free to use, as opponents unfamiliar with the rare Klinklang will likely just go for the super effective attack. Be careful against players you know are familiar with Klinklang, however, as they might switch to an offensive check on the turn Magnet Rise is used, taking momentum. A frailer offensive check will lose if Klinklang uses Shift Gear on the switch, though, so the opponent will have to win some mind games. Save Gigavolt Havoc for the bulkiest foe. Against typical offensive teams, this usually means Metagross, which is a source of setup but difficult to quickly take out from high HP. Defensive Steel- and Water-types like Registeel, Bronzong, Slowbro, and Milotic are ideal targets as well. Gigavolt Havoc might not even be necessary in some frail offense matchups. In such cases, you can try using Z-Magnet Rise to get an evasion boost, possibly circumventing Sucker Punch as well as Ground-types' and Metagross' attempts to weaken Klinklang. Pick weakened foes off with Wild Charge whenever possible, as Gear Grind can miss. Just make sure the recoil doesn't leave Klinklang vulnerable to priority. More defensive teams that feature Registeel and a Water-type are much harder for Klinklang to sweep, so unless a convenient KO happens, it should primarily be used to force switches from Steel-weak walls such as Florges and Cresselia to give wallbreaking teammates chances to come in.
Team Options
========
Klinklang needs exploitable Pokemon to come in so it can set up; teammates that encourage Ground-types or Metagross to switch in include Tyrantrum, Raikou, and Mega Sceptile (Donphan likes to threaten it with Ice Shard), while Salazzle, Noivern, and Virizion are fast threats that demand attacks from Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir. Fighting-types like Virizion, Machamp, and Bewear excel at threatening Steel-types and breaking defensive cores, which Klinklang tends to falter against. A Spikes setter such as Golisopod or Roserade provides chip damage that makes sweeping with the somewhat weak Klinklang easier. If you can compensate for the stacked weaknesses, fitting a Metagross or Registeel on Klinklang's team for their greater defensive presence is still possible.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Steelium Z gives Klinklang an objectively stronger Z-Move, better pressuring Electric-types, but the ability to hit Steel- and Water-types makes Electrium Z superior in the great majority of situations. Return over Magnet Rise provides a neutral hit on Electric- and Water / Ground types, but exploiting a Ground immunity is a large part of Klinklang's niche.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-resistant Ground-types**: Water / Ground types Gastrodon and Seismitoad make sweeping with Klinklang all but impossible. Steelix also walls Klinklang's attacks.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Registeel and Bronzong must have taken significant prior damage to lose to +1 Gigavolt Havoc, often forcing Klinklang to use Shift Gear against them multiple times. They quickly weaken Klinklang back with Seismic Toss or Psywave. Even a healthy Metagross can rack up a lot of damage with Meteor Mash.
**Sucker Punch**: Life Orb-boosted Sucker Punch from Toxicroak, Lycanroc-D, or Honchkrow is the only priority attack that threatens much damage to Klinklang.
**Offensive Pressure**: Depending on the matchup, Klinklang might not get any particularly safe setup opportunities. If it must use Magnet Rise, aggressive switches by the opponent can keep it from boosting in time to win. Klinklang can also get surprised by coverage moves such as Fire Blast on Nidoqueen.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[CryoGyro, 331519]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [phantom, 180300], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Empress, 175616], [P Squared, 168392]]
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