[SET]
Choice Band (Chien-Pao) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sword of Ruin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Crunch
- Sacred Sword / Sucker Punch
- Ice Shard / Sucker Punch
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its high Attack boosted further by Sword of Ruin, strong STAB combination, and access to priority moves, Choice Band Chien-Pao is one of the metagame's deadliest wallbreakers and revenge killers. On top of a valuable Speed tier to threaten and chase out common tier staples like Roaring Moon, Cinderace, and Iron Boulder, it has the immediate power to 2HKO walls like physically defensive Manaphy as well as Fluffy Corviknight and Skarmory after Stealth Rock. Sacred Sword immediately threatens Steel-type foes such as Kingambit, Cobalion, Heatran, and Iron Treads. Either priority move allows Chien-Pao to revenge kill faster threats like Hisuian Electrode and Choice Scarf Latios; Sucker Punch is more punishable but targets non-Psychic Surge Deoxys-S, Choice Scarf Gholdengo, and Agility Iron Crown hard, while Ice Shard handles foes like Choice Scarf Roaring Moon, Meowscarada, and weakened Zamazenta.
Though it can function on a wide range of team styles, Chien-Pao fits best on fast-paced offensive teams that can best take advantage of its wallbreaking prowess while mitigating its lack of defensive utility. Powerful special wallbreakers like Deoxys-S, Gholdengo, and Primarine stand out as star teammates for their ability to immediately threaten physical walls like physically defensive Manaphy, Skarmory, and Iron Hands that can give Chien-Pao trouble. Also notable are Latios, Iron Moth, and Iron Crown, which are powerful special pivots able to bring Chien-Pao in to threaten their switch-ins like Swampert, Ting-Lu, and Roaring Moon. Chien-Pao also works well in tandem with other powerful wallbreakers like Roaring Moon, Zamazenta, and Iron Boulder, with Chien-Pao wearing down their checks like non-Intimidate Corviknight, Landorus, and Pecharunt, while its teammates pressure Manaphy, Iron Hands, and defensive Primarina. Bulky pivots like Pecharunt, Swampert, and Corviknight can also make good teammates, tanking hits and allowing the frail Chien-Pao to more easily get on the field against foes like Roaring Moon, Zapdos, and Scream Tail; Pecharunt is especially notable for its ability to wall Zamazenta, which is otherwise a great check to Chien-Pao, while Corviknight alongside Great Tusk and Iron Treads are noteworthy for their entry hazard removing capabilities, making it far easier for Chien-Pao to repeatedly hit the field.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/marnie.493260/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gimmicky.540420/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gambit.652656/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lordbox.611238/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Adaptability can be used on non-Sacred Sword sets, obtaining a similar power boost while allowing Chien-Pao's teammates like Roaring Moon and Ceruledge to run the ability instead; it has the notable benefit of hiding Chien-Pao's ability from the opponent. Lash Out is an option on the Choice Band set to immediately dent Intimidate users like Corviknight and Skarmory on the switch but lacks power otherwise while missing out on valuable Defense drops. Psychic Fangs is another option for Choice Band variants to punish Zamazenta and Iron Hands on the switch, potentially 2HKO a would-be check in physically defensive Primarina after Stealth Rock, and remove dual screens set by foes like Regieleki and Corviknight, letting its team match up better against dual screens hyper offense teams. Ice Spinner may seem like an appealing option on Swords Dance sets for a little extra consistency, but the additional power, contact avoidance, and flinch chance of Icicle Crash makes it entirely preferable, leaving Ice Spinner unviable. Serene Grace sets are an option to fish for Icicle Crash flinches or Crunch Defense drops, but this set lacks power and is generally inferior to damage amplification abilities.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Threats**: Foes like Zamazenta and Psychic Surge Deoxys-S can outspeed and OHKO Chien-Pao while not being particularly afraid of its priority moves.
**Bulky Fighting-types**: Bulky foes like Iron Hands, Cobalion, and Zamazenta can often easily switch in on Chien-Pao's Dark-type moves and use it to either pivot with Volt Switch or as setup fodder.
**Primarina**: Bulkier Primarina sets can switch in easily against Chien-Pao's STAB moves and either force it out with Moonblast or use it as Calm Mind fodder.
**Entry Hazards**: Entry hazard setters like Skarmory, Great Tusk, and Heatran can cause immense problems for non-Magic Guard sets due to their frailty being compounded by their hazard vulnerability.
Choice Band (Chien-Pao) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sword of Ruin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Crash
- Crunch
- Sacred Sword / Sucker Punch
- Ice Shard / Sucker Punch
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its high Attack boosted further by Sword of Ruin, strong STAB combination, and access to priority moves, Choice Band Chien-Pao is one of the metagame's deadliest wallbreakers and revenge killers. On top of a valuable Speed tier to threaten and chase out common tier staples like Roaring Moon, Cinderace, and Iron Boulder, it has the immediate power to 2HKO walls like physically defensive Manaphy as well as Fluffy Corviknight and Skarmory after Stealth Rock. Sacred Sword immediately threatens Steel-type foes such as Kingambit, Cobalion, Heatran, and Iron Treads. Either priority move allows Chien-Pao to revenge kill faster threats like Hisuian Electrode and Choice Scarf Latios; Sucker Punch is more punishable but targets non-Psychic Surge Deoxys-S, Choice Scarf Gholdengo, and Agility Iron Crown hard, while Ice Shard handles foes like Choice Scarf Roaring Moon, Meowscarada, and weakened Zamazenta.
Though it can function on a wide range of team styles, Chien-Pao fits best on fast-paced offensive teams that can best take advantage of its wallbreaking prowess while mitigating its lack of defensive utility. Powerful special wallbreakers like Deoxys-S, Gholdengo, and Primarine stand out as star teammates for their ability to immediately threaten physical walls like physically defensive Manaphy, Skarmory, and Iron Hands that can give Chien-Pao trouble. Also notable are Latios, Iron Moth, and Iron Crown, which are powerful special pivots able to bring Chien-Pao in to threaten their switch-ins like Swampert, Ting-Lu, and Roaring Moon. Chien-Pao also works well in tandem with other powerful wallbreakers like Roaring Moon, Zamazenta, and Iron Boulder, with Chien-Pao wearing down their checks like non-Intimidate Corviknight, Landorus, and Pecharunt, while its teammates pressure Manaphy, Iron Hands, and defensive Primarina. Bulky pivots like Pecharunt, Swampert, and Corviknight can also make good teammates, tanking hits and allowing the frail Chien-Pao to more easily get on the field against foes like Roaring Moon, Zapdos, and Scream Tail; Pecharunt is especially notable for its ability to wall Zamazenta, which is otherwise a great check to Chien-Pao, while Corviknight alongside Great Tusk and Iron Treads are noteworthy for their entry hazard removing capabilities, making it far easier for Chien-Pao to repeatedly hit the field.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/marnie.493260/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gimmicky.540420/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gambit.652656/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lordbox.611238/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Adaptability can be used on non-Sacred Sword sets, obtaining a similar power boost while allowing Chien-Pao's teammates like Roaring Moon and Ceruledge to run the ability instead; it has the notable benefit of hiding Chien-Pao's ability from the opponent. Lash Out is an option on the Choice Band set to immediately dent Intimidate users like Corviknight and Skarmory on the switch but lacks power otherwise while missing out on valuable Defense drops. Psychic Fangs is another option for Choice Band variants to punish Zamazenta and Iron Hands on the switch, potentially 2HKO a would-be check in physically defensive Primarina after Stealth Rock, and remove dual screens set by foes like Regieleki and Corviknight, letting its team match up better against dual screens hyper offense teams. Ice Spinner may seem like an appealing option on Swords Dance sets for a little extra consistency, but the additional power, contact avoidance, and flinch chance of Icicle Crash makes it entirely preferable, leaving Ice Spinner unviable. Serene Grace sets are an option to fish for Icicle Crash flinches or Crunch Defense drops, but this set lacks power and is generally inferior to damage amplification abilities.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Threats**: Foes like Zamazenta and Psychic Surge Deoxys-S can outspeed and OHKO Chien-Pao while not being particularly afraid of its priority moves.
**Bulky Fighting-types**: Bulky foes like Iron Hands, Cobalion, and Zamazenta can often easily switch in on Chien-Pao's Dark-type moves and use it to either pivot with Volt Switch or as setup fodder.
**Primarina**: Bulkier Primarina sets can switch in easily against Chien-Pao's STAB moves and either force it out with Moonblast or use it as Calm Mind fodder.
**Entry Hazards**: Entry hazard setters like Skarmory, Great Tusk, and Heatran can cause immense problems for non-Magic Guard sets due to their frailty being compounded by their hazard vulnerability.
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