[OVERVIEW]
Azelf's good Speed, good coverage, bevy of utility moves, and access to Nasty Plot carve it several modest niches as an offensive threat and lead. Azelf is one of the only relevant leads that can compress all of Stealth Rock, Taunt, and pivoting with Explosion onto one set, while opposing leads, such as Terrakion and Kleavor, are slower than Azelf and let it set up its entry hazards or deter their hazards freely. Even fast offensive Pokemon like Jirachi, Gengar, and Salamence are all prone to being outsped by Azelf, and Choice Scarf or boosted variants of them are still vulnerable to Azelf's Choice Scarf set. However, Azelf is unfortunately outsped by metagame staples like Cyclizar, Noivern, and Barraskewda, and its poor bulk is a major liability against Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile if Azelf isn't holding a Choice Scarf itself. Bulky Steel-types like Jirachi, Bisharp, Hisuian Goodra, and Empoleon are all common and turn Azelf into a momentum sink, while Krookodile and Slither Wing are common revenge killers that inhibit Azelf from cleaning effectively.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Flamethrower / Endeavor / Drain Punch
item: Focus Sash
ability: Levitate
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Azelf is the fastest relevant Stealth Rock and Taunt user in the metagame, giving it the edge against opposing entry hazard leads like Terrakion and Lycanroc-D. Additionally, Taunt prevents Galarian Weezing from removing Azelf's hazards. Explosion gets Azelf off the field quickly, letting a teammate take over and put the free switch to good use; breaks Focus Sashes on opposing leads like Terrakion; and prevents moves like Rapid Spin, Defog, and Kleavor's Stone Axe and Trailblaze from succeeding. Flamethrower chunks down Bisharp, Magnezone, and Klefki, and it chips other Steel-types like Jirachi and Registeel looking to tank Explosion. Endeavor weaponizes Azelf's poor bulk and brings foes to extremely low HP once it has been brought down to its Focus Sash. Drain Punch 2HKOes Cyclizar and Bisharp to deter them from switching in, and it also 2HKOes Terrakion. Although Levitate is Azelf's only ability, the Ground immunity it provides is a perk against Hippowdon and its Focus Sash-breaking Sand Stream, especially if it isn't running Stone Edge. Azelf should run a Naive nature if it carries Flamethrower. Tera Ghost is used to spinblock Cyclizar, and the Bug resistance and Fighting immunity it grants can be situationally useful against Slither Wing.
Lead Azelf is used on hyper offense teams to start off games at a quick tempo and control the entry hazard situation of a battle. Setup sweepers like Armarouge, Bisharp, and Oricorio-E appreciate the free switch they receive from Azelf's Explosion. Moxie sweepers like Salamence and Gyarados can especially take advantage of the chip damage done by Explosion. Mimikyu can block Rapid Spin to preserve Azelf's Stealth Rock, and it notably checks Cyclizar and Maushold. Similarly, Bisharp can punish Defog users like Galarian Weezing. Rock-weak Pokemon, including Salamence, Armarouge, Gyarados, and Oricorio-E, benefit from Azelf's ability to deny Stealth Rock, as they then have the flexibility to run items other than Heavy-Duty Boots.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Although Azelf has Nasty Plot, its poor bulk leaves it both struggling to set up safely and easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile, priority users like Slither Wing and Bisharp, and faster metagame staples like Cyclizar and Noivern. Psychic Noise can be considered instead of Psychic and Psyshock on offensive sets to inhibit walls like Jirachi, Empoleon, and Vaporeon. Psyshock hits specially bulky foes like Assault Vest Cyclizar and Calm Mind Fezandipiti harder. Encore disrupts slower setup users like Bisharp, Calm Mind Jirachi, and Fezandipiti, and it similarly puts defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon, Empoleon, and Slowbro into bad positions. However, Azelf both struggles to find room for Encore and leverage its poor bulk well enough to use it safely. Thunder Wave hinders Cyclizar and faster Pokemon like Talonflame and Noivern, which can let Azelf outspeed them and effectively use Taunt to stop them from using Defog.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: All Steel-types must be wary of Azelf's Fire-type coverage moves, but ones like Bisharp and Assault Vest Magnezone can generally tank a hit and KO Azelf in return. Empoleon, Hisuian Goodra, and Registeel shrug off hits from Azelf, and the first even has reliable recovery. Jirachi's defensive sets have Protect + Wish and Serene Grace + Body Slam to ease their matchups against Azelf.
**Dark-types**: Umbreon easily tanks Azelf's attacks, heals off any damage with Wish, has Protect to block Explosion, and OHKOes Azelf with Foul Play, but it is vulnerable to Taunt. Krookodile can't stomach Azelf's coverage moves, but Choice Scarf sets can revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Azelf reliably. Wo-Chien has the bulk to survive any of Azelf's coverage moves and hit it back hard with Knock Off and Foul Play, though it takes a ton of damage from U-turn.
**Faster Revenge Killers and Priority**: Strong Choice Scarf users like Basculegion-F, Gengar, Hisuian Zoroark, and Kleavor can reliably outspeed Azelf and OHKO it with their super effective attacks. Choice Scarf Gardevoir can tank two attacks from most Azelf sets and 2HKO it with Moonblast. Slither Wing and Mimiyku hit Azelf hard with their super effective priority, and other priority users like Entei and Crawdaunt can pick off Azelf when it's weakened. Noivern requires little chip damage to reliably OHKO it with Draco Meteor, and Cyclizar can tank its hits repeatedly while threatening to 2HKO it with Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sneakyplanner.598717/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Azelf's good Speed, good coverage, bevy of utility moves, and access to Nasty Plot carve it several modest niches as an offensive threat and lead. Azelf is one of the only relevant leads that can compress all of Stealth Rock, Taunt, and pivoting with Explosion onto one set, while opposing leads, such as Terrakion and Kleavor, are slower than Azelf and let it set up its entry hazards or deter their hazards freely. Even fast offensive Pokemon like Jirachi, Gengar, and Salamence are all prone to being outsped by Azelf, and Choice Scarf or boosted variants of them are still vulnerable to Azelf's Choice Scarf set. However, Azelf is unfortunately outsped by metagame staples like Cyclizar, Noivern, and Barraskewda, and its poor bulk is a major liability against Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile if Azelf isn't holding a Choice Scarf itself. Bulky Steel-types like Jirachi, Bisharp, Hisuian Goodra, and Empoleon are all common and turn Azelf into a momentum sink, while Krookodile and Slither Wing are common revenge killers that inhibit Azelf from cleaning effectively.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Flamethrower / Endeavor / Drain Punch
item: Focus Sash
ability: Levitate
nature: Naive / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Azelf is the fastest relevant Stealth Rock and Taunt user in the metagame, giving it the edge against opposing entry hazard leads like Terrakion and Lycanroc-D. Additionally, Taunt prevents Galarian Weezing from removing Azelf's hazards. Explosion gets Azelf off the field quickly, letting a teammate take over and put the free switch to good use; breaks Focus Sashes on opposing leads like Terrakion; and prevents moves like Rapid Spin, Defog, and Kleavor's Stone Axe and Trailblaze from succeeding. Flamethrower chunks down Bisharp, Magnezone, and Klefki, and it chips other Steel-types like Jirachi and Registeel looking to tank Explosion. Endeavor weaponizes Azelf's poor bulk and brings foes to extremely low HP once it has been brought down to its Focus Sash. Drain Punch 2HKOes Cyclizar and Bisharp to deter them from switching in, and it also 2HKOes Terrakion. Although Levitate is Azelf's only ability, the Ground immunity it provides is a perk against Hippowdon and its Focus Sash-breaking Sand Stream, especially if it isn't running Stone Edge. Azelf should run a Naive nature if it carries Flamethrower. Tera Ghost is used to spinblock Cyclizar, and the Bug resistance and Fighting immunity it grants can be situationally useful against Slither Wing.
Lead Azelf is used on hyper offense teams to start off games at a quick tempo and control the entry hazard situation of a battle. Setup sweepers like Armarouge, Bisharp, and Oricorio-E appreciate the free switch they receive from Azelf's Explosion. Moxie sweepers like Salamence and Gyarados can especially take advantage of the chip damage done by Explosion. Mimikyu can block Rapid Spin to preserve Azelf's Stealth Rock, and it notably checks Cyclizar and Maushold. Similarly, Bisharp can punish Defog users like Galarian Weezing. Rock-weak Pokemon, including Salamence, Armarouge, Gyarados, and Oricorio-E, benefit from Azelf's ability to deny Stealth Rock, as they then have the flexibility to run items other than Heavy-Duty Boots.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Although Azelf has Nasty Plot, its poor bulk leaves it both struggling to set up safely and easily revenge killed by Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile, priority users like Slither Wing and Bisharp, and faster metagame staples like Cyclizar and Noivern. Psychic Noise can be considered instead of Psychic and Psyshock on offensive sets to inhibit walls like Jirachi, Empoleon, and Vaporeon. Psyshock hits specially bulky foes like Assault Vest Cyclizar and Calm Mind Fezandipiti harder. Encore disrupts slower setup users like Bisharp, Calm Mind Jirachi, and Fezandipiti, and it similarly puts defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon, Empoleon, and Slowbro into bad positions. However, Azelf both struggles to find room for Encore and leverage its poor bulk well enough to use it safely. Thunder Wave hinders Cyclizar and faster Pokemon like Talonflame and Noivern, which can let Azelf outspeed them and effectively use Taunt to stop them from using Defog.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: All Steel-types must be wary of Azelf's Fire-type coverage moves, but ones like Bisharp and Assault Vest Magnezone can generally tank a hit and KO Azelf in return. Empoleon, Hisuian Goodra, and Registeel shrug off hits from Azelf, and the first even has reliable recovery. Jirachi's defensive sets have Protect + Wish and Serene Grace + Body Slam to ease their matchups against Azelf.
**Dark-types**: Umbreon easily tanks Azelf's attacks, heals off any damage with Wish, has Protect to block Explosion, and OHKOes Azelf with Foul Play, but it is vulnerable to Taunt. Krookodile can't stomach Azelf's coverage moves, but Choice Scarf sets can revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Azelf reliably. Wo-Chien has the bulk to survive any of Azelf's coverage moves and hit it back hard with Knock Off and Foul Play, though it takes a ton of damage from U-turn.
**Faster Revenge Killers and Priority**: Strong Choice Scarf users like Basculegion-F, Gengar, Hisuian Zoroark, and Kleavor can reliably outspeed Azelf and OHKO it with their super effective attacks. Choice Scarf Gardevoir can tank two attacks from most Azelf sets and 2HKO it with Moonblast. Slither Wing and Mimiyku hit Azelf hard with their super effective priority, and other priority users like Entei and Crawdaunt can pick off Azelf when it's weakened. Noivern requires little chip damage to reliably OHKO it with Draco Meteor, and Cyclizar can tank its hits repeatedly while threatening to 2HKO it with Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sneakyplanner.598717/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
