[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Accelerock
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Stone Edge / Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
While it faces competition from fellow wallbreaker Terrakion, Lycanroc-D is one of the best wallbreakers in the tier due to its better Speed tier over Cobalion, Keldeo, and Terrakion, its fantastic base 117 Attack, and powerful Tough Claws-boosted coverage. Its access to Crunch and Close Combat provides Lycanroc-D with perfect coverage that, with a Life Orb, can create a powerful all-out attacking set that applies heavy pressure to many defensive cores in the tier. For example, Crunch allows Lycanroc-D to hit targets such as Slowking, Slowbro, and Doublade, while Close Combat lets Lycanroc-D hit Cobalion, Keldeo, and Terrakion hard. Lycanroc-D also has access to a limited, powerful priority option in Accelerock, enabling it to target common Choice Scarf users and faster threats such as Darmanitan, Talonflame, and Noivern that could potentially revenge kill Lycanroc-D otherwise. Additionally, Accelerock gives Lycanroc-D a fully accurate Rock-type move to hit the aforementioned threats and Scyther. Stone Edge gives Lycanroc-D the ability to apply pressure to Fairy-types such as Galarian Weezing and Sylveon. Sucker Punch also has use for its ability to both lure and prevent revenge killing from Starmie. Alternatively, Lycanroc-D can run Psychic Fangs to apply more direct pressure against Keldeo, Galarian Weezing, and Tentacruel.
Pivots such as Noivern, Slowking, and Rotom-W can help mitigate Lycanroc-D's pitiful bulk by providing it safe opportunities with U-turn, Teleport, and Volt Switch, respectively, to come in against targets like Slowking and Celebi. Furthermore, they can help to check some of its revenge killers like Starmie and Choice Scarf Mienshao. Specifically, Slowking has great offensive utility in the form of Future Sight, which puts heavy pressure against common Lycanroc-D checks like Galarian Weezing, whereas Noivern and Rotom-W provide Lycanroc-D with Defog support to ease switching in even further. Rotom-C is also a good teammate that can help pressure checks to Lycanroc-D such as Colbur Berry Palossand and Slowbro. Starmie forms a powerful offensive core with Lycanroc-D, as it exploits Lycanroc-D answers like Galarian Weezing and Palossand for wallbreaking opportunities, while Lycanroc-D threatens checks to Starmie like Celebi and Slowking. Lycanroc-D appreciates entry hazards as well to wear down its targets, making Spikes setters like Roserade good partners. Roserade specifically can apply offensive utility through Stun Spore and Sleep Powder, crippling switch-ins like Cobalion and Doublade. Cobalion is also a good option, since it can set Stealth Rock to passively aid Lycanroc-D in wallbreaking while applying pressure to Sylveon and Galarian Weezing and gaining Volt Switch momentum for Lycanroc-D against targets like Slowking. Galarian Weezing is also a solid partner that can provide Defog and Toxic Spikes support while checking Chople Berry Krookodile and Choice Scarf Mienshao.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Accelerock
move 3: Close Combat / Stone Edge
move 4: Crunch
item: Life Orb
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Lycanroc-D is dedicated to thoroughly dismantling its opponent's team, using a Swords Dance boost to blow past would-be checks. With a boost, it lacks effective counterplay outside of Accelerock-resistant Choice Scarf users like Mienshao and Krookodile, Colbur Berry Palossand and Slowbro, and defensive Galarian Weezing. However, the user is forced to choose between Close Combat or Stone Edge due to the loss of an extra moveslot. Close Combat is generally preferred over Stone Edge, as it is capable of mowing down most of the tier with the added coverage of Crunch. Although, on the other hand, Stone Edge has useful attributes, such as the ability to pressure Fairy-types that can handle its other options like Galarian Weezing and Sylveon at the egregious cost of being unable to check prominent threats like Cobalion, Terrakion, and Keldeo.
Due to the aggressive nature of Swords Dance Lycanroc-D, it mandates the support of pivots able to grab momentum. Slowking is an incredible ally, as it has the ability to safely pivot with Teleport against its switch-ins like Obstagoon. Noivern is a great pivot as well that can switch into offensive Pokemon like Keldeo and Doublade and use U-turn against switch-ins like Slowking. Rotom-C is also a good partner that can pressure Colbur Berry Palossand and Slowbro for Lycanroc-D while bringing it in against Celebi and opposing Rotom-C using Volt Switch. Lycanroc-D operates even better with the passive aid of entry hazards and appreciates the utility of Stealth Rock and Spikes setters. Cobalion is a solid Stealth Rock setter that pressures Fairy-types and is capable of providing momentum through Volt Switch. Roserade can provide Spikes support while pressuring bulky Water-, Ground-, and Fairy-types with its dual STAB moves. Lastly, due to Lycanroc-D's frailty, it fits fantastically on dual screens teams with Grimmsnarl for its ability to provide it with more setup opportunities. On these types of teams, Flame Charge Incineroar and Polteageist appreciate Lycanroc-D's ability to apply pressure onto bulky Ground- and Water-types that trouble Incineroar such as Gastrodon and Seismitoad, as well as Dark-types that wall Polteageist like opposing Incineroar and Obstagoon.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ausma, 360720]]
- Quality checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [Lilburr, 481709]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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