[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Three Attacks Wallbreaker
move 1: Double Iron Bash
move 2: Superpower / Earthquake
move 3: Thunder Punch / Ice Punch
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Protective Pads / Choice Band
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Melmetal sports a sky-high base 143 Attack and a diverse movepool to threaten almost every Pokemon in the tier. Melmetal also has a useful ability in Iron Fist to boost coverage options and its signature move Double Iron Bash — a 120 BP STAB attack with a 51% chance to flinch slower opponents. Moreover, Melmetal's immense 135 HP / 143 Def physical bulk gives it staying power throughout the match and allows it to revenge notable physical attackers like Mega Mawile and Rillaboom. An investment of 252 Speed EVs improves Melmetal's terrible base 34 speed to hit 167, outspeeding uninvested base 65 Pokemon and below like as Magearna, Tyranitar, Clefable, Blissey, and 124 Spe Mega Mawile. An Adamant nature is always preferred over Jolly to make the most out of Melmetal's wallbreaking capabilities, securing an OHKO on 244 HP / 52 Def Gliscor with Ice Punch. Double Iron Bash provides terrific midground for Melmetal to wallbreak with on unresisted targets. Thunder Punch is preferred to hit Slowbro and Corviknight, and Ice Punch for Zapdos and Gliscor. Superpower and Earthquake hits other opposing steels and either Ferrothorn or Toxapex. Thunder Wave is an excellent fourth move, crippling faster opponents to hit with Double Iron Bash, while Toxic whittles down Zapdos and defensive Ground-types like Gastrodon and Swampert. Leftovers is the preferred option to make the most of Melmetal's terrific HP over the course of a match, while Protective Pads is another option to comfortably attack Rocky Helmet users such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, Slowbro, and even defensive Garchomp.
Melmetal fits on balance teams that can support its poor speed tier, and cover its mono Steel typing against common Fire-, Ground- and Fighting-type coverage. Melmetal has excellent synergy with Dragon-types such as Kommo-o and Hydreigon, who patch up the Fire weakness while also appreciating Melmetal's ability to punish Fairy-types. The former protects Melmetal against troublesome Fire-types such as Charizard-Mega-Y and Heatran, while the latter provides a Ground immunity. Melmetal also appreciates bulky Ground and Flying teammates such as Gliscor, Landorus-Therian, Moltres, and Zapdos, all of which check common Ground and Fighting types. Water-types such as Slowbro and Swampert make excellent slow pivots that ward off Cinderace while providing Melmetal with more opportunities to wallbreak. Rillaboom is a potent offensive partner, offering additional Grassy terrain recovery, mitigating Melmetal's Earthquake weakness, and directly its threatening Ground-type checks.
[SET]
name: Bulky Protect
move 1: Double Iron Bash
move 2: Earthquake / Superpower
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
This set capitalizes on Melmetal's massive bulk, spreading status while being difficult to take down. Melmetal can wear down many of its checks through Toxic status and Double Iron Bash, even as it stays healthy through Protect and Leftovers. Double Iron Bash is an incredible STAB move with few drawbacks besides passive Rocky Helmet damage, status from Static or Flame Body, and low PP. Combined with Toxic chip, Double Iron Bash's high flinch chance enables Melmetal to break through would-be checks such as Slowbro. Earthquake and Superpower 2HKO Toxapex and Ferrothorn, respectively, while hitting other Steel-types. An Adamant nature with full attack investment ensure Melmetal pressures a plethora of defensive Pokemon, while an investment of 16 Speed EVs outspeeds Toxapex by 2 points, and creeps 44 Speed Reuniclus; the remaining EVs are invested into Special Defense due to Melmetal's naturally high physical bulk.
Melmetal with Protect functions well in diverse defensive cores. Common blanket checks such as Zapdos and Slowbro make excellent partners for Melmetal's weakness to Fire and Fighting. Bulky Ground types like Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Landorus appreciate Melmetal's ability to scout coverage from Electric types and in return can switch into its weaknesses or set hazards. Defensive Kommo-o pairs particularly well with Melmetal in a Dragon-Steel core. Thunder Wave Clefable also provides a solid Fighting-type resist while spreading status and hazards, so that Melmetal can make full use of Double Iron Bash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zapdos and Moltres**: both of the Kanto birds resists Double Iron Bash and can Roost off damage from elemental punch coverage, while passively threatening status on Melmetal with Static or Flame Body.
**Corviknight**: Corviknight is immune to Toxic and shrugs off all of Melmetal's attacks.
**Bulky Ground Types**: Gastrodon, Swampert, Hippowdon, Gliscor and the uncommon Quagsire tank most of Melmetal's hits comfortably, although Double Iron Bash has a sporting chance to flinch and break through a weakened Ground-type.
**Slowbro** Slowbro tanks all of Melmetal's attacks except Thunder Punch and can chip it with Rocky Helmet, while out-recovering Toxic chip through Regenerator.
**Heatran**: Heatran comfortably resists Double Iron Bash and massively dents Melmetal with Magma Storm or Lava Plume.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn counters non-Superpower variants, using Melmetal as an opprtunity to set its own hazards and/or Leech Seed.
**Faster Special Attackers**: powerful special attackers such as Charizard-Mega-Y and Specs / Fightinium Z Tapu Lele or Magearna OHKO Melmetal even with Special Defense investment.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band can be run to increase Melmetal's damage output, comfortably 2HKOing Slowbro with Thunder Punch and heavily denting Corviknight, while also making Double Iron Bash painful to switch into even for resists such as Toxapex, who takes a minimum of 72% over two uses of the move. However, Melmetal is countered by common Slowbro, Corviknight and Zapdos when choice-locked into the wrong coverage move. An alternative spread of 252 Atk / 36 SpD / 220 Spe offers marginally higher bulk and still outspeeds uninvested Clefable, but is slower than uninvested Magearna. Similarly, a different spread of 252 Atk / 156 SpD / 100 Spe can be run to outspeed paralyzed Modest Heatran.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[sigmatecture, 501070]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
[SET]
name: Three Attacks Wallbreaker
move 1: Double Iron Bash
move 2: Superpower / Earthquake
move 3: Thunder Punch / Ice Punch
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers / Protective Pads / Choice Band
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Melmetal sports a sky-high base 143 Attack and a diverse movepool to threaten almost every Pokemon in the tier. Melmetal also has a useful ability in Iron Fist to boost coverage options and its signature move Double Iron Bash — a 120 BP STAB attack with a 51% chance to flinch slower opponents. Moreover, Melmetal's immense 135 HP / 143 Def physical bulk gives it staying power throughout the match and allows it to revenge notable physical attackers like Mega Mawile and Rillaboom. An investment of 252 Speed EVs improves Melmetal's terrible base 34 speed to hit 167, outspeeding uninvested base 65 Pokemon and below like as Magearna, Tyranitar, Clefable, Blissey, and 124 Spe Mega Mawile. An Adamant nature is always preferred over Jolly to make the most out of Melmetal's wallbreaking capabilities, securing an OHKO on 244 HP / 52 Def Gliscor with Ice Punch. Double Iron Bash provides terrific midground for Melmetal to wallbreak with on unresisted targets. Thunder Punch is preferred to hit Slowbro and Corviknight, and Ice Punch for Zapdos and Gliscor. Superpower and Earthquake hits other opposing steels and either Ferrothorn or Toxapex. Thunder Wave is an excellent fourth move, crippling faster opponents to hit with Double Iron Bash, while Toxic whittles down Zapdos and defensive Ground-types like Gastrodon and Swampert. Leftovers is the preferred option to make the most of Melmetal's terrific HP over the course of a match, while Protective Pads is another option to comfortably attack Rocky Helmet users such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, Slowbro, and even defensive Garchomp.
Melmetal fits on balance teams that can support its poor speed tier, and cover its mono Steel typing against common Fire-, Ground- and Fighting-type coverage. Melmetal has excellent synergy with Dragon-types such as Kommo-o and Hydreigon, who patch up the Fire weakness while also appreciating Melmetal's ability to punish Fairy-types. The former protects Melmetal against troublesome Fire-types such as Charizard-Mega-Y and Heatran, while the latter provides a Ground immunity. Melmetal also appreciates bulky Ground and Flying teammates such as Gliscor, Landorus-Therian, Moltres, and Zapdos, all of which check common Ground and Fighting types. Water-types such as Slowbro and Swampert make excellent slow pivots that ward off Cinderace while providing Melmetal with more opportunities to wallbreak. Rillaboom is a potent offensive partner, offering additional Grassy terrain recovery, mitigating Melmetal's Earthquake weakness, and directly its threatening Ground-type checks.
[SET]
name: Bulky Protect
move 1: Double Iron Bash
move 2: Earthquake / Superpower
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
This set capitalizes on Melmetal's massive bulk, spreading status while being difficult to take down. Melmetal can wear down many of its checks through Toxic status and Double Iron Bash, even as it stays healthy through Protect and Leftovers. Double Iron Bash is an incredible STAB move with few drawbacks besides passive Rocky Helmet damage, status from Static or Flame Body, and low PP. Combined with Toxic chip, Double Iron Bash's high flinch chance enables Melmetal to break through would-be checks such as Slowbro. Earthquake and Superpower 2HKO Toxapex and Ferrothorn, respectively, while hitting other Steel-types. An Adamant nature with full attack investment ensure Melmetal pressures a plethora of defensive Pokemon, while an investment of 16 Speed EVs outspeeds Toxapex by 2 points, and creeps 44 Speed Reuniclus; the remaining EVs are invested into Special Defense due to Melmetal's naturally high physical bulk.
Melmetal with Protect functions well in diverse defensive cores. Common blanket checks such as Zapdos and Slowbro make excellent partners for Melmetal's weakness to Fire and Fighting. Bulky Ground types like Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Landorus appreciate Melmetal's ability to scout coverage from Electric types and in return can switch into its weaknesses or set hazards. Defensive Kommo-o pairs particularly well with Melmetal in a Dragon-Steel core. Thunder Wave Clefable also provides a solid Fighting-type resist while spreading status and hazards, so that Melmetal can make full use of Double Iron Bash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zapdos and Moltres**: both of the Kanto birds resists Double Iron Bash and can Roost off damage from elemental punch coverage, while passively threatening status on Melmetal with Static or Flame Body.
**Corviknight**: Corviknight is immune to Toxic and shrugs off all of Melmetal's attacks.
**Bulky Ground Types**: Gastrodon, Swampert, Hippowdon, Gliscor and the uncommon Quagsire tank most of Melmetal's hits comfortably, although Double Iron Bash has a sporting chance to flinch and break through a weakened Ground-type.
**Slowbro** Slowbro tanks all of Melmetal's attacks except Thunder Punch and can chip it with Rocky Helmet, while out-recovering Toxic chip through Regenerator.
**Heatran**: Heatran comfortably resists Double Iron Bash and massively dents Melmetal with Magma Storm or Lava Plume.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn counters non-Superpower variants, using Melmetal as an opprtunity to set its own hazards and/or Leech Seed.
**Faster Special Attackers**: powerful special attackers such as Charizard-Mega-Y and Specs / Fightinium Z Tapu Lele or Magearna OHKO Melmetal even with Special Defense investment.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band can be run to increase Melmetal's damage output, comfortably 2HKOing Slowbro with Thunder Punch and heavily denting Corviknight, while also making Double Iron Bash painful to switch into even for resists such as Toxapex, who takes a minimum of 72% over two uses of the move. However, Melmetal is countered by common Slowbro, Corviknight and Zapdos when choice-locked into the wrong coverage move. An alternative spread of 252 Atk / 36 SpD / 220 Spe offers marginally higher bulk and still outspeeds uninvested Clefable, but is slower than uninvested Magearna. Similarly, a different spread of 252 Atk / 156 SpD / 100 Spe can be run to outspeed paralyzed Modest Heatran.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[sigmatecture, 501070]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited:
