[OVERVIEW]
Aipom is a potent threat due to its access to STAB Fury Swipes. Between the ridiculous power of Fury Swipes and its high base Speed, it is able to threaten bulky and offensive teams alike. Although its Normal typing isn't very good offensively, Aipom makes up for it with its numerous coverage options. However, its typing is also detrimental defensively, as Aipom can be difficult to get into play due to its lack of resistances. Furthermore, it is easily forced out after getting a KO due to its average bulk and weakness to common Fighting-type attacks.
[SET]
name: Fury Swipes
move 1: Fury Swipes
move 2: Shadow Claw
move 3: Brick Break / Fire Punch
move 4: Fake Out / Seed Bomb / Thunder Punch
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Fury Swipes is Aipom's main source of damage, dealing at least 20 HP damage to anything that does not resist Normal-type attacks and has fewer than 24 Defense points if Aipom is holding Life Orb. For example, it OHKOes 21 HP Mienfoo after any prior damage. Shadow Claw hits Ghost-types, primarily Misdreavus, for decent damage. Brick Break heavily damages Steel-types such as Pawniard and 2HKOes Porygon. On the other hand, Fire Punch grants the OHKO on Ferroseed after one layer of Spikes and threatens Bronzor; however, this will leave Aipom walled by Porygon. Fake Out is helpful to bring certain Pokemon, such as Timburr, into Fury Swipes's KO range; it also serves as a moderately powerful priority attack and lets Aipom get off some free damage, especially against weakened setup sweepers. Seed Bomb heavily damages Tirtouga and 2HKOes Slowpoke after Stealth Rock. Thunder Punch provides the same damage rolls against Slowpoke but can additionally 2HKO Vullaby and OHKO offensive Archen after Stealth Rock.
[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
The given EVs and nature allow Aipom to hit the coveted 19 Speed tier while being as strong as possible; the remaining EVs are dumped into HP for slightly more bulk. An Adamant nature grants Aipom significantly better Fury Swipes rolls against Pokemon with exactly 24 Defense points, but being able to Speed tie with Misdreavus, Staryu, and Abra and outrun Gastly is usually more useful. Life Orb is the preferred item, as the extra damage provided (Fury Swipes deals 20 and 15 HP damage to most Pokemon when Aipom is holding Life Orb and Eviolite, respectively) will often mean the difference between a OHKO and a 2HKO; however, Eviolite is a solid alternative, as it gives Aipom the bulk needed to avoid most OHKOs, making it more difficult to revenge kill. Skill Link is what makes Fury Swipes so threatening.
Entry hazards are vital to help Aipom obtain KOs that it otherwise could not. Additionally, switch-ins to the Fighting-types, Sand Rush users, and Choice Scarf users that force Aipom out are appreciated. Hippopotas and Shelmet are able to set up Stealth Rock and Spikes, respectively, and can soft check Fighting-types. Slow Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Chinchou and Mienfoo are useful to get Aipom into play safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Despite Aipom's large movepool, its options outside of those listed above tend to be gimmicky at best. Knock Off can cripple Eviolite-carrying walls on the switch, drastically increasing damage dealt by Fury Swipes, but may be difficult to pull off due to Aipom's mediocre bulk. Aipom generally does not need U-turn when it can 2HKO everything that attempts to switch in. Thunder Wave and Taunt are useful utility moves, but Aipom is much better off attempting to outright KO foes. Aipom has access to the combination of Nasty Plot and Baton Pass, but this is done better by Togepi due to the latter's significantly lower Speed, which allows it to pass to the recipient safely. Hone Claws is difficult to set up due to Aipom's frailty; for the same reason, such a set would also be easily revenge killed. Pursuit is ineffective at trapping Ghost-types, as most of them would rather stay in and try to burn Aipom. Sets utilizing Gems and Pickup do not have anywhere near the consistent damage output of Skill Link variants. Last Resort is never worth using, as Aipom badly needs its coverage moves, and Fury Swipes does similar damage to most enemies.
Checks and Counters
============
Pokemon with at least 24 Defense points, or 12 Defense points and a resistance to Normal-type attacks, take 5 HP damage from Fury Swipes, as opposed to 20 or 15 depending on Aipom's item; however, most of these Pokemon should be wary of Aipom's coverage moves. Eviolite Hippopotas and Lileep are notable because they are bulky enough to shrug off any of Aipom's coverage moves as well. Eviolite Misdreavus is immune to Fury Swipes and bulky enough to take a single Shadow Claw; however, if it comes in on Shadow Claw, it will have to go for a Speed tie to attempt to burn or KO Aipom. With that being said, the easiest way to deal with Aipom is usually simply to take advantage of its lack of defensive capability—Timburr, Croagunk, Sand Rush users, and various Choice Scarf users such as Snover are able to revenge kill Aipom, although it will often need to be slightly weakened beforehand.
Aipom is a potent threat due to its access to STAB Fury Swipes. Between the ridiculous power of Fury Swipes and its high base Speed, it is able to threaten bulky and offensive teams alike. Although its Normal typing isn't very good offensively, Aipom makes up for it with its numerous coverage options. However, its typing is also detrimental defensively, as Aipom can be difficult to get into play due to its lack of resistances. Furthermore, it is easily forced out after getting a KO due to its average bulk and weakness to common Fighting-type attacks.
[SET]
name: Fury Swipes
move 1: Fury Swipes
move 2: Shadow Claw
move 3: Brick Break / Fire Punch
move 4: Fake Out / Seed Bomb / Thunder Punch
item: Life Orb / Eviolite
ability: Skill Link
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Fury Swipes is Aipom's main source of damage, dealing at least 20 HP damage to anything that does not resist Normal-type attacks and has fewer than 24 Defense points if Aipom is holding Life Orb. For example, it OHKOes 21 HP Mienfoo after any prior damage. Shadow Claw hits Ghost-types, primarily Misdreavus, for decent damage. Brick Break heavily damages Steel-types such as Pawniard and 2HKOes Porygon. On the other hand, Fire Punch grants the OHKO on Ferroseed after one layer of Spikes and threatens Bronzor; however, this will leave Aipom walled by Porygon. Fake Out is helpful to bring certain Pokemon, such as Timburr, into Fury Swipes's KO range; it also serves as a moderately powerful priority attack and lets Aipom get off some free damage, especially against weakened setup sweepers. Seed Bomb heavily damages Tirtouga and 2HKOes Slowpoke after Stealth Rock. Thunder Punch provides the same damage rolls against Slowpoke but can additionally 2HKO Vullaby and OHKO offensive Archen after Stealth Rock.
[ADDITIONAL SET COMMENTS]
The given EVs and nature allow Aipom to hit the coveted 19 Speed tier while being as strong as possible; the remaining EVs are dumped into HP for slightly more bulk. An Adamant nature grants Aipom significantly better Fury Swipes rolls against Pokemon with exactly 24 Defense points, but being able to Speed tie with Misdreavus, Staryu, and Abra and outrun Gastly is usually more useful. Life Orb is the preferred item, as the extra damage provided (Fury Swipes deals 20 and 15 HP damage to most Pokemon when Aipom is holding Life Orb and Eviolite, respectively) will often mean the difference between a OHKO and a 2HKO; however, Eviolite is a solid alternative, as it gives Aipom the bulk needed to avoid most OHKOs, making it more difficult to revenge kill. Skill Link is what makes Fury Swipes so threatening.
Entry hazards are vital to help Aipom obtain KOs that it otherwise could not. Additionally, switch-ins to the Fighting-types, Sand Rush users, and Choice Scarf users that force Aipom out are appreciated. Hippopotas and Shelmet are able to set up Stealth Rock and Spikes, respectively, and can soft check Fighting-types. Slow Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Chinchou and Mienfoo are useful to get Aipom into play safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
Despite Aipom's large movepool, its options outside of those listed above tend to be gimmicky at best. Knock Off can cripple Eviolite-carrying walls on the switch, drastically increasing damage dealt by Fury Swipes, but may be difficult to pull off due to Aipom's mediocre bulk. Aipom generally does not need U-turn when it can 2HKO everything that attempts to switch in. Thunder Wave and Taunt are useful utility moves, but Aipom is much better off attempting to outright KO foes. Aipom has access to the combination of Nasty Plot and Baton Pass, but this is done better by Togepi due to the latter's significantly lower Speed, which allows it to pass to the recipient safely. Hone Claws is difficult to set up due to Aipom's frailty; for the same reason, such a set would also be easily revenge killed. Pursuit is ineffective at trapping Ghost-types, as most of them would rather stay in and try to burn Aipom. Sets utilizing Gems and Pickup do not have anywhere near the consistent damage output of Skill Link variants. Last Resort is never worth using, as Aipom badly needs its coverage moves, and Fury Swipes does similar damage to most enemies.
Checks and Counters
============
Pokemon with at least 24 Defense points, or 12 Defense points and a resistance to Normal-type attacks, take 5 HP damage from Fury Swipes, as opposed to 20 or 15 depending on Aipom's item; however, most of these Pokemon should be wary of Aipom's coverage moves. Eviolite Hippopotas and Lileep are notable because they are bulky enough to shrug off any of Aipom's coverage moves as well. Eviolite Misdreavus is immune to Fury Swipes and bulky enough to take a single Shadow Claw; however, if it comes in on Shadow Claw, it will have to go for a Speed tie to attempt to burn or KO Aipom. With that being said, the easiest way to deal with Aipom is usually simply to take advantage of its lack of defensive capability—Timburr, Croagunk, Sand Rush users, and various Choice Scarf users such as Snover are able to revenge kill Aipom, although it will often need to be slightly weakened beforehand.
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other qc memebers might disagree though.
