UU Moltres

[Band]

[OVERVIEW]

Moltres's Fire typing threatens major defensive staples like Amoonguss and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively. Defensively, it's a reliable switch-in to Fighting- and Steel-types like Buzzwole and Aegislash, and its immunity to Ground lets it pivot into foes like Mamoswine. It can also punish physical attackers like Krookodile and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set gives it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Rhyperior, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H way better due to Toxic and PP stalling. However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively. Its crippling 4x weakness to Rock also leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, and foes like Krookodile and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. It also overly relies on its Heavy-Duty Boots and entry hazard removal to not be extremely crippled by Stealth Rock and Knock Off from foes like Scizor and Krookodile, and its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 88 HP / 168 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Aegislash, and Celesteela. Fire Blast can be used to hit neutral targets like Mew and Hatterene, as well as the aforementioned Grass-types, just as hard as Hurricane but with better accuracy. It also OHKOes offensive Jirachi. Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire like Keldeo, Kommo-o, Salamence, and Primarina either super effectively or quite hard neutrally. U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of entry hazard removal, but it has to be extremely careful not to lose its item to foes like Mew, especially if Mew is paired with Pokemon like Rhyperior and Nihilego. Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and it keeps Moltres healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots is removed and Stealth Rock is up. Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole, Jirachi, and Scizor from using contact moves due to a potential burn. 88 HP EVs let Moltres avoid the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat.

Bulky offense and balance teams appreciate Moltres pressuring Pokemon like Amoonguss, Kommo-o, and Buzzwole. Knock Off absorbers like Buzzwole and Amoonguss make excellent teammates. They're also secondary checks to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk taking the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types such as Aegislash and Cobalion for them in return. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Primarina for Moltres. Jungle Healing Zarude also checks Raikou and Rotom-W, and Choice Scarf variants can revenge kill them and others like Keldeo. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela. Water-types like Keldeo appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Rhyperior for it. Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W, and Zarude can form a pivoting core with U-turn Moltres, bringing it in against Grass-types like Tangrowth and Steel-types like Scizor, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina. If Moltres foregoes Defog, entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them. Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like Moltres's U-turn bringing them in safely against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence.

[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Rhyperior's Stone Edge and lets it PP stall them. It also eases prediction when foes switch out and blocks status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Aegislash. Mystical Fire hits Toxic-immune foes like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and it weakens special attacks from switch-ins such as Primarina and Nihilego, letting teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash come into the field more safely. For example, after Stealth Rock, Assault Vest Tangrowth is no longer 2HKOed by Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast at -1. Toxic is Moltres's main way of harming foes like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Kommo-o. Pressure lets Moltres stall moves with low PP like Primarina's Hydro Pump and Buzzwole's Stone Edge. The given EV spread lets it avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.

This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down checks like Rotom-H and Rhyperior with Toxic and PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole. Zarude and Amoonguss can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which limits Moltres from making progress throughout the game. Moltres in return deals with Grass-types that bother Zarude, like Amoonguss. Scizor, specially defensive Aegislash, and Choice Scarf Krookodile check Nihilego, a major roadblock to this set, and deal with Lycanroc-D. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash. Moltres is especially helpful for Aegislash, removing its main checks in Celesteela and specially defensive Scizor. Entry hazard removers like Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the latter appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling Milotic and Quagsire. Chansey takes care of the special attackers Moltres can't handle, like Nihilego and Thundurus-T. On stall teams, Umbreon provides cleric support, easing off the pressure from Mew's Synchronize, especially because it can use Toxic and simply use Heal Bell right after. It also deals with Gyarados, and together they cover both Swords Dance Scizor variants: Umbreon deals with Knock Off and Moltres with U-turn. Quagsire walls Electric- and Rock-types like Thundurus-T and Lycanroc-D, and Amoonguss acts as a Knock Off absorber and secondary check to Keldeo and Primarina. They appreciate Moltres spreading Toxic and threatening Buzzwole and other physical attackers with Flame Body.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

An Agility set with Flamethrower, Hurricane, and Roost can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego. Scorching Sands over U-turn or Defog lets offensive Moltres lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it as well as punish switch-ins like Rhyperior with a burn, but it is very niche compared to its alternatives

Checks and Counters
===================

**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock off of the field. It also has to wary of Pokemon it should have no trouble coming into, like Scizor and Tangrowth, due to their access to Knock Off.

**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can punish Defog attempts by putting Stealth Rock back on the field. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic set. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.

**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, though the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.

**Electric-types**: Rotom-H and Rotom-W check the offensive set well, but they can't keep the defensive set at bay for very long, as they are forced to take a Toxic to break the Substitute with Volt Switch. Both Thundurus formes can KO Moltres with Thunderbolt, while Raikou can pivot on it or set up a Substitute as it switches out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Lumari, 232216]]

 

[Estarossa]

Moltres @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Mystical Fire
- Roost
- Toxic

After discussion on Discord we came up with an EV spread that hit a justifiable benchmark for the analysis for SubTox that attempted to minmax the damage taken from rotom volts and your phys bulk. Posting it here so its easy for you to find and doesn't get buried under lots of chat in Discord.

Two important calcs to bear in mind for this spread,

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 152 HP / 0 Def Moltres: 152-179 (42.3 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Volt Switch vs. 152 HP / 132 SpD Moltres: 78-93 (21.7 - 25.9%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

Avoids OHKO from +2 LO Scizor if you've been Knocked, and minimises the chance of Rotom breaking Sub after roosting, at 25%. Spread also still has enough HP to not be 2HKO'd by Zarude still.

 

[Twilight]

Bandkrook get this out of wip soon

 

[Monky25]

Rubber chicken

• Moltres's good Fire / Flying typing threatens major defensive staples picks like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively and gives it way to hit neutral targets, such as Primarina.
• It can threaten opposing teams with its valuable offensive typing, good Speed tier, and has the ability to punish physical attackers like Buzzwole and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. try to talk about its defensive typing and bulk a bit more and how it can pivot in on Fighting, steel, and fire attacks.
• Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set give it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Gastrodon and Rotom-W way better due to Toxic and PP stalling.
• However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively, while its crippling 4x weakness to Rock leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, while foes like Krookodile (find a diff example since krook can still knock it) and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. It also has to over rely on hazard removal to not be rendered useless by Stealth Rock. make sure to talk about how it hates losing its boots, you can combine this point with the previous sentence with how
• Its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

• Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Zarude, Aegislash, and Celesteela. talk about fire blast as an alternative with more power but less accuracy. find a KO or 2HKO it achieves with Fire Blast>flamethrower
• Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire, like Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively and gives Moltres a way to hit other Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Salamence and Primarina quite hard.
• U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon it struggles to damage like Rotom-W and Rhyperior.
• Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of hazard removal, as Moltres has a good matchup against entry hazard setters like Jirachi and Kommo-o, but has to be extremely careful to not lose its item, as it makes Moltres's job of removing hazards extremely difficult if Stealth Rock is up.
• Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and keep itself healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots are removed and Stealth Rock is up.
• Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole and Scizor from using their STAB moves, and dissuades the latter and others like Zarude and Jirachi from spamming U-turn. maybe mention how flame body can cause a burn since some players might not know that. its a small detail but no harm in mentioning it

• Playstyles like bulky offense and balance appreciate Moltres's raw power letting it remove Pokemon like Amoonguss and Buzzwole for teammates and its ability to also remove hazards.
• Knock Off absorbers like Amoonguss and Buzzwole make excellent teammates, as they prevent Moltres from losing its Heavy-Duty Boots and being crippled by its Stealth Rock weakness. They also give a secondary check to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk losing its item to the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types (like?) for them in return.
• Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Water-types like Rotom-W and Primarina for Moltres. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela for them.
• Water-types like Keldeo and Rotom-W appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Nihilego and Rhyperior for it.
• If U-turn is opted for, Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W and Zarude can form a pivoting core with Moltres, and can bring it in against Grass-types like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Aegislash, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina.
• In the same vein, if Moltres foregoes Defog, hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them.
• Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like being brought safely by Moltres's U-turn against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence.
• talk about checks to electric-types like rotom-H and thundurus
• mention entry hazard support to help moltres break through Pokemon like Primarina easier

[SET]
name: Substitute + Toxic SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

• Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Hydro Pump and Stone Edge, and lets it PP stall them out of Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. It's also a good tool to ease prediction when foes switch out, letting Moltres choose if it wants to recover with Roost, attack, or use Toxic accordingly to the foe it's facing. Finally, it gives Moltres a way to avoid status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Galarian Slowbro.
• Mystical Fire gives Moltres a way to hit Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and weakens special attacks from foes on the switch in, such as Primarina and Nihilego, for teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash. expand on this point, how do tang and aegi benefit from the special attack drop? Make sure to clarify this
• Roost lets Moltres recover health lost from Substitute and occasional chip damage from foes like Jirachi to PP stall them even more.
• Toxic is Moltres's main form of crippling foes like Primarina, Rotom-W, Salamence, Gastrodon, and Kommo-o.
• Pressure lets Moltres rapidly stall moves with low PP like Hydro Pump from Rotom-W and Stone Edge from Buzzwole, but also lets it stall other moves throughout the match.
• The given EV spread lets Moltres avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs still let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.

• This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down traditional checks like Rotom-H and Chansey with Toxic and also PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole, potentially leaving them unable to hit it and its teammates hard enough.
• Teammates like Zarude and Thundurus can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which can be quite annoying for this set. (I think its more than just annoying for molt lmao) Moltres in return deals with the Grass-types that bother them, like Tangrowth.
• Scizor and Choice Scarf Krookodile keep Nihilego in check, which is a major roadblock to this set, while also dealing with Lycanroc-D. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash.
• The aforementioned Scizor and other sweepers such as Thundurus and Buzzwole appreciate Moltres weakening and PP stalling foes like both Rotom formes and Gastrodon.
• Hazard removal is absolutely needed why? Moltres has boots. Reword to say how secondary hazard control is appreciated so it makes more sense, so Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres being capable of crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the former appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling foes like Milotic and Mew with Toxic.
• talk about pokemon on stall who can help moltres out. Quagsire can shut down electrics, chansey owns fast special attackers and prim, amoonguss can act as a Knock off absorber

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• An Agility set with Flamethrower / Hurricane / U-turn can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego.
• Scorching Sands acts as a way to lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it, but is very niche, and it only serves this purpose since Rhyperior takes it just fine. (rhyp hates a possible burn though, reword to how it's better of running U-turn to pivot out of a predicted switch in)
• A set for rain teams with Hurricane / Weather Ball / Roost / U-turn acts as a wallbreaker with good neutral Water and Flying coverage to lure checks like Rhyperior and Gastrodon, but is quite inconsistent due to depending on rain, a playstyle that's not very viable.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock out of the field. I'd bring up how Pokemon it would normally check like Scizor and Tangrowth can knock off its boots

**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can use it to put Stealth Rock back on the field if it tries to remove it with Defog. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks, but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.

**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, but the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.

add a section on electric-types, pokemon that are worth mentioning are rotom-H and the thundurus forms

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

QC 1/3
add remove comment

 

[Twilight]

Bandkrook, post: 8871344, member: 301217

• Moltres's good Fire / Flying typing threatens major defensive staples like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively and gives it way to hit neutral targets, such as Primarina.
• It can threaten opposing teams with its valuable offensive typing, good Speed tier, The typing part is repetitive info. Just keep it to Flame Body and has the ability to punish physical attackers like Buzzwole and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Defensively, it's a reliable switch-in to Fighting-, Steel-, and Fire-types like Buzzwole, Aegislash, and Rotom-H, and its immunity to Ground lets it pivot into foes like Mamoswine.
• Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set give it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Gastrodon and Rotom-W way better due to Toxic and PP stalling.
• However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively, while its crippling 4x weakness to Rock leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, while foes like Krookodile and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. It also has to over rely on hazard removal and its Heavy-Duty Boots to not be extremely crippled by Stealth Rock.
• Its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe 88 HP / 168 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

• Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Aegislash, and Celesteela.
• Fire Blast can be used to hit neutral targets like Mew and Hatterene and the aforementioned Grass-types just as hard as Hurricane but with better accuracy. It also OHKOes offensive Jirachi.
• Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire, like Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively and gives Moltres a way to hit other Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Salamence and Primarina quite hard.
• U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior.
• Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of hazard removal, as Moltres has a good matchup against entry hazard setters like Jirachi and Kommo-o, but has to be extremely careful to not lose its item, as it makes Moltres's job of removing hazards extremely difficult if Stealth Rock is up.
• Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and keep itself healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots are removed and Stealth Rock is up.
• Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole, Jirachi, and Scizor from using contact their STAB moves, and dissuades the latter and others like Zarude and Jirachi from spamming U-turn due to a potential burn.

The given HP lets you avoid the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat

• Playstyles like bulky offense and balance appreciate Moltres's raw power letting it remove Pokemon like Amoonguss and Buzzwole for teammates and its ability to also remove hazards.
• Knock Off absorbers like Amoonguss and Buzzwole make excellent teammates. They also give a secondary check to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk losing its item to the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types such as Aegislash and Cobalion swap them around to reflect amoong wants coba gone and buzz aegi for them in return.
• Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Water-types like Rotom-W and Primarina for Moltres. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela for them.
• Water-types like Keldeo and Rotom-W appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Nihilego and Rhyperior for it.
• If U-turn is opted for, Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W and Zarude can form a pivoting core with Moltres, and can bring it in against Grass-types like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Aegislash, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina.
• In the same vein, if Moltres foregoes Defog, hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them.
• Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like being brought safely by Moltres's U-turn against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence.
• Checks to Electric-types like Rotom-H, Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Raikou are appreciated. Assault Vest Tangrowth checks the former three, while Amoonguss checks the latter two. Jungle Healing Zarude can check Raikou and Rotom-W, while Choice Scarf variants revenge kill all of them. Rhyperior walls Rotom-H, while Gastrodon and Seismitoad wall all of them, and they can block their Volt Switch attempts. You mentioned amoong and tang in your third point, just bring it up there. Zarude can also be added into that point.
• Kommo-o and Seismitoad can set Stealth Rock to let Moltres break throguh checks like Primarina and Nihilego more easily.

[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

• Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Hydro Pump and Stone Edge, and lets it PP stall them out of Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. It's also a good tool to ease prediction when foes switch out, letting Moltres choose if it wants to recover with Roost, attack, or use Toxic accordingly to the foe it's facing. Finally, it gives Moltres a way to avoid status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Galarian Slowbro.
• Mystical Fire gives Moltres a way to hit Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and weakens special attacks from foes on the switch in, such as Primarina and Nihilego, for teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash. The drop lets them come into the field more safely. For example, Assault Vest Tangrowth is no longer 2HKOed by Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast at -1, while Aegislash will be able to set up a Substitute more easily against Nihilego.
• Roost lets Moltres recover health lost from Substitute and occasional chip damage from foes like Jirachi to PP stall them even more.
• Toxic is Moltres's main form of crippling foes like Primarina, Rotom-W, Salamence, Gastrodon, and Kommo-o. cut the number of examples down
• Pressure lets Moltres rapidly stall moves with low PP like Hydro Pump from Rotom-W and Stone Edge from Buzzwole, but also lets it stall other moves throughout the match.
• The given EV spread lets Moltres avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs still let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.

• This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down traditional checks like Rotom-H and Chansey with Toxic and also PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole, potentially leaving them unable to hit it and its teammates hard enough.
• Teammates like Zarude and Thundurus Thundurus isn't really a mon I'd consider for balance. I'd just use Amoong as the example instead, then fix the last part of this point to be about Zarude only can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which prevents limits Moltres from making progress throughout the game. Moltres in return deals with the Grass-types that bother them, like Tangrowth.
• Scizor and Choice Scarf Krookodile keep Nihilego in check, which is a major roadblock to this set, while also dealing with Lycanroc-D. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash.
• The aforementioned Scizor and other sweepers such as Thundurus and Buzzwole appreciate Moltres weakening and PP stalling foes like both Rotom formes and Gastrodon.
• Hazard removal is absolutely needed so Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres being capable of crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the former appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling foes like Milotic and Mew with Toxic. It doesn't really want to cripple Mew because of Synchronize, as it would just limit Moltes's role too.
• On stall teams, Chansey takes care of the special attackers Moltres can't handle, like Nihilego and Thundurus-T. I'd move chansey out of this because it isn't stall exclusive Quagsire walls Electric- and Rock-types like Thundurus and Lycanroc-D, and Amoonguss acts as a Knock Off absorber and secondary check to Keldeo and Primarina. They appreciate Moltres spreading Toxic and threatening Buzzwole and other physical attackers with Flame Body. Mention Umbreon as it provides cleric support, Toxic being a huge factor in limiting Moltres

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

• An Agility set with Flamethrower / Hurricane / U-turn can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego. If I am using Agility it's over U-turn not Roost.
• Scorching Sands acts as a way to lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it and punish switch-ins like Rhyperior with a burn, but is very niche, and the ability to keep momentum with U-turn or removing hazards is more appreciated.
• A set for rain teams with Hurricane / Weather Ball / Roost / U-turn acts as a wallbreaker with good neutral Water and Flying coverage to lure checks like Rhyperior and Gastrodon, but is quite inconsistent due to depending on rain, a playstyle that's not very viable. This sounds pretty bad

Checks and Counters
===================

**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock out of the field. It also has to wary of Pokemon it should have no trouble coming into, like Scizor and Tangrowth, due to their access to Knock Off.

**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can use it to put Stealth Rock back on the field if it tries to remove it with Defog. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks, but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.

**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, but the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.

**Electric-types**: The Rotom formes don't care for any of Moltres's moves except for Toxic. Both Thundurus formes can KO Moltres with Thunderbolt, while Raikou can pivot on it or set up a Substitute as it switches out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]][/SPOILER][/QUOTE]

2/3

 

[Estarossa]

Moltres's good Fire / Flying typing threatens major defensive staples like Amoonguss and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively. It has the ability to punish physical attackers like Krookodile and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Defensively, it's a reliable switch-in to Fighting-, Steel-, and Fire-types like Buzzwole, Aegislash, and Rotom-H, ee (though in general it just doens't switch in to any fire types tbh cause its only rly molt/rotom/chandy anyway) and its immunity to Ground lets it pivot into foes like Mamoswine. Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set give it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Gastrodon and Rotom-W way better due to Toxic and PP stalling. Include Rhyperior and Rotom-H instead of Gastro here imo, since Gastro is fairly rare) However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively, while its crippling 4x weakness to Rock leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, while foes like Krookodile and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. Should add a bit about vulnerability to Knock Off here too, stuff it'd want to check like Scizor can kinda cripple it when paired with rockers it loses to because of this. It also has to over rely on hazard removal and its Heavy-Duty Boots to not be extremely crippled by Stealth Rock. Its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 88 HP / 168 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Aegislash, and Celesteela. Fire Blast can be used to hit neutral targets like Mew and Hatterene and the aforementioned Grass-types just as hard as Hurricane but with better accuracy. It also OHKOes offensive Jirachi. Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire, like Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively and gives Moltres a way to hit other Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Salamence and Primarina quite hard. U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of hazard removal, as Moltres has a good matchup against entry hazard setters like Jirachi and Kommo-o, but has to be extremely careful to not lose its item, as it makes Moltres's job of removing hazards extremely difficult if Stealth Rock is up. Honestly this probably makes its rocks mu sound better than it is, because nihi/rhyp are on like most teams right now and those rocks setters are much more uncommon, if anything i'd talk about the negatives here, and give a brief mention to how it struggles vs spikes mew if it has knock and is paired with one of them too. Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and keep itself healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots are removed and Stealth Rock is up.Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole, Jirachi, and Scizor from using contact moves due to a potential burn. 88 HP EVs let Moltres avoid the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat.

Playstyles like bulky offense and balance appreciate Moltres's raw power letting it remove Pokemon like Amoonguss and Buzzwole for teammates and its ability to also remove hazards. Knock Off absorbers like Buzzwole and Amoonguss make excellent teammates. They also give a secondary check to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk losing its item to the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types such as Aegislash and Cobalion for them in return. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Electric- and Water-types like Raikou, Thundurus, Rotom-W, Keldeo, and Primarina for Moltres. Jungle Healing Zarude also checks Raikou and Rotom-W, and Choice Scarf variants can revenge kill all of them. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela for them. Water-types like Keldeo and Rotom-W appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Nihilego and Rhyperior for it. If U-turn is opted for, Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W and Zarude can form a pivoting core with Moltres, and can bring it in against Grass-types like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Aegislash, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina. In the same vein, if Moltres foregoes Defog, hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them. Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like being brought safely by Moltres's U-turn against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence. Kommo-o and Seismitoad can set Stealth Rock to let Moltres break through checks like Primarina and Nihilego more easily.

[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Hydro Pump and Stone Edge, and lets it PP stall them out of Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. It's also a good tool to ease prediction when foes switch out, letting Moltres choose if it wants to recover with Roost, attack, or use Toxic accordingly to the foe it's facing. Finally, it gives Moltres a way to avoid status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Galarian Slowbro. not my favouriite example because its never a one v one you want to try and take realistically, cm sets up on you and has more pp than mfire and AV takes too little if you havent knocked it and can set up future sight comboes. something like aegi might be a better choice here. Mystical Fire gives Moltres a way to hit Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and weakens special attacks from foes on the switch in and letting them coming into the field more safely, such as Primarina and Nihilego, for teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash. For example, after Stealth Rock, Assault Vest Tangrowth is no longer 2HKOed by Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast at -1. Roost lets Moltres recover health lost from Substitute and occasional chip damage from foes like Jirachi to PP stall them even more. Toxic is Moltres's main form of crippling foes like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Kommo-o. Pressure lets Moltres rapidly stall moves with low PP like Hydro Pump from Rotom-W and Stone Edge from Buzzwole, but also lets it stall other moves throughout the match. The given EV spread lets Moltres avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch after Roost while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs still let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.

I feel this paragraph just reads a bit too long, you cuold maybe cut down on some bits, like the roost line doesn't really give any important info imo.

This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down traditional checks like Rotom-H and Chansey idk about this one, you sorta wear it down but you dont have 101 hp subs and it just pp stalls you, you play a very dangerous game into it too unless you have cleric support because trying to roost safely can be full of 50/50s. with Toxic and also PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole, potentially leaving them unable to hit it and its teammates hard enough. Teammates like Zarude and Amoonguss can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which limits Moltres from making progress throughout the game. Moltres in return deals with the Grass-types that bother Zarude, like opposing Amoonguss. Scizor and Choice Scarf Krookodile keep Nihilego in check, which is a major roadblock to this set, while also dealing with Lycanroc-D. Aegislash should get a mention here as one o the nicest Nihi checks, mentioning the double SubTox pair is cool here too because they can really help overwhelm stuff together and Molt pressures a lot of Subtox's aegi's better answers like steela/spdef sciz. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash. Hazard removal is absolutely needed, so Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres being capable of crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the latter appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling foes like Milotic and Quagsire with Toxic. Chansey takes care of the special attackers Moltres can't handle, like Nihilego and Thundurus-T. On stall teams, Quagsire walls Electric- and Rock-types like Thundurus-T and Lycanroc-D, and Amoonguss acts as a Knock Off absorber and secondary check to Keldeo and Primarina. They appreciate Moltres spreading Toxic and threatening Buzzwole and other physical attackers with Flame Body. Umbreon provides cleric support, preventing Toxic from limiting Moltres and keeping it healthy with Wish. It also deals with Gyarados. I'd push umbreon up to be the first mention for stall teams, its one of the most important partners to Moltres. Make sure to comment more specifically on why its cleric support is useful here too, as moltres needs to throw a toxic onto mew to pressure it but that gets it synchro'd back. Also comment on the pairing dealing with SD sciz very well together, as umbreon handles SD knock and moltres SD u-turn.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

An Agility set with Flamethrower / Hurricane / Roost can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego. Scorching Sands acts as a way to lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it and punish switch-ins like Rhyperior with a burn, but is very niche, and the ability to keep momentum with U-turn or removing hazards is more appreciated. I know twi told you to remove it but I'd personally put the Rain set back in here. We can discuss that in QC channel anyway.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock out of the field. It also has to wary of Pokemon it should have no trouble coming into, like Scizor and Tangrowth, due to their access to Knock Off.

**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can use it to put Stealth Rock back on the field if it tries to remove it with Defog. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks, but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.

**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, but the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.

**Electric-types**: The Rotom formes don't care for any of Moltres's moves except for Toxic. Both Thundurus formes can KO Moltres with Thunderbolt, while Raikou can pivot on it or set up a Substitute as it switches out. Mention however that the rotom formes aren't good long term checks to SubTox, the first time they come in they break sub and generate momentum in exchange for toxic, but afterwards Moltres has a high chance of its subs living volt switch when it roosts.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [username2, userid2], [username3, userid3]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]

QC 3/3.

 

[Adeleine]

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Moltres's good Fire / Flying Fire typing threatens major defensive staples like Amoonguss and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively. It has the ability to can punish physical attackers like Krookodile and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Defensively, it's a reliable switch-in to Fighting- and Steel-types like Buzzwole and Aegislash, (AC) and its immunity to Ground lets it pivot into foes like Mamoswine. Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set gives it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Rhyperior, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H way better due to Toxic and PP stalling. However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively. (comma -> period) while Its crippling 4x weakness to Rock leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, while and foes like Krookodile and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. It also has to over rely on hazard removal and its Heavy-Duty Boots and hazard removal to not be extremely crippled by Stealth Rock and Knock Off from foes like Scizor and Krookodile. Its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 88 HP / 168 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Aegislash, and Celesteela. Fire Blast can be used to hit neutral targets like Mew and Hatterene, (AC) and the aforementioned Grass-types, (AC) just as hard as Hurricane but with better accuracy. It also OHKOes offensive Jirachi. Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire, like Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively and gives Moltres a way to hit other Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Salamence and Primarina quite hard. Keldeo, Kommo-o, Salamence, and Primarina, either super effectively or quite hard neutrally. U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of hazard removal, but it has to be extremely careful to not lose its item to foes like Mew, as it makes Moltres's job of removing hazards extremely difficult, especially if Mew is paired with Pokemon Rock-type Stealth Rock setters (or modify this specification as appropriate) like Rhyperior and Nihilego. Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and keep itself it keeps Moltres healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots are is removed and Stealth Rock is up. (added missing space) Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole, Jirachi, and Scizor from using contact moves due to a potential burn. 88 HP EVs let Moltres avoid the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat.

Bulky offense and balance teams appreciate Moltres pressuring Pokemon like Amoonguss, Kommo-o, and Buzzwole. Knock Off absorbers like Buzzwole and Amoonguss make excellent teammates. They're also a secondary checks to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk losing its item to taking the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types such as Aegislash and Cobalion for them in return. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Primarina for Moltres. Jungle Healing Zarude also checks Raikou and Rotom-W, and Choice Scarf variants can revenge kill them and others like Keldeo. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela. Water-types like Keldeo appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Rhyperior for it. If U-turn is opted for, Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W, and Zarude can form a pivoting core with U-turn Moltres, and can bring bringing it in against Grass-types like Tangrowth and Steel-types like Scizor, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina. If Moltres foregoes Defog, entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them. Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like being brought safely by Moltres's U-turn bringing them in safely against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence. Kommo-o and Seismitoad can set Stealth Rock to let Moltres break through checks like Primarina and Nihilego more easily. (this seems applicable to every partially offensive pokemon, but lmk if i'm missing smth here or if you want to add more as to why these two help moltres specifically)

[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Rhyperior's Stone Edge and lets it PP stall them. It also eases prediction when foes switch out, letting Moltres act accordingly. It also gives Moltres a way to avoid and blocks status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Aegislash. Mystical Fire hits Toxic-immune foes like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and it weakens special attacks from foes such as Primarina and Nihilego on the switch in, such as Primarina and Nihilego, letting teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash come into the field more safely. For example, after Stealth Rock, Assault Vest Tangrowth is no longer 2HKOed by Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast at -1. Toxic is Moltres's main form of crippling way of harming foes like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Kommo-o. Pressure lets Moltres stall moves with low PP like Primarina's Hydro Pump and Buzzwole's Stone Edge. The given EV spread lets Moltres it avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.

This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down checks like Rotom-H and Rhyperior with Toxic and PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole. Zarude and Amoonguss can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which limits Moltres from making progress throughout the game. Moltres in return deals with Grass-types that bother Zarude, like Amoonguss. Scizor, specially defensive Aegislash, and Choice Scarf Krookodile check Nihilego, a major roadblock to this set, and deal with Lycanroc-D. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash. Moltres is especially helpful for Aegislash, as it removes removing its main checks in Celesteela and specially defensive Scizor. Hazard removal removers like Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the latter appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling Milotic and Quagsire. Chansey takes care of the special attackers Moltres can't handle, like Nihilego and Thundurus-T. On stall teams, Umbreon provides cleric support, easing off the pressure from Moltres to use Toxic on Mew and get affected by its Synchronize, while Umbreon Mew's Synchronize, especially because it (i imagine this checks out, lmk if not tho) can use Toxic and simply use Heal Bell right after. It also deals with Gyarados, (AC) and together they cover both Swords Dance Scizor variants: Umbreon deals with Knock Off and Moltres with U-turn. Quagsire walls Electric- and Rock-types like Thundurus-T and Lycanroc-D, and Amoonguss acts as a Knock Off absorber and secondary check to Keldeo and Primarina. They appreciate Moltres spreading Toxic and threatening Buzzwole and other physical attackers with Flame Body.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

An Agility set with Flamethrower / Hurricane / Roost Flamethrower, Hurricane, and Roost can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego. Scorching Sands acts as a way to over U-turn or Defog lets offensive Moltres lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it and punish switch-ins like Rhyperior with a burn, but it is very niche, and the ability to keep momentum with U-turn or removing hazards is more appreciated. compared to its alternatives

Checks and Counters
===================

**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock out off of the field. It also has to wary of Pokemon it should have no trouble coming into, like Scizor and Tangrowth, due to their access to Knock Off.

**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can use it its Defog to put Stealth Rock back on the field if it tries to remove it with Defog. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic set. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks (RC) but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.

**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, but the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.

**Electric-types**: Rotom-H and Rotom-W check the offensive set well, but they can't check the SubTox defensive set for very long, as they are forced to take a Toxic to break the Substitute with Volt Switch. Both Thundurus formes can KO Moltres with Thunderbolt, while Raikou can pivot on it or set up a Substitute as it switches out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [username2, userid2]]

1/2, remember you dont need comma for phrases like "it does this, but doesn't do that" that don't repeat a subject in the post-comma clause :)

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2

check

[OVERVIEW]
Moltres's Fire typing threatens major defensive staples like Amoonguss and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively. It can punish physical attackers like Krookodile and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Defensively, it's a reliable switch-in to Fighting- and Steel-types like Buzzwole and Aegislash, and its immunity to Ground lets it pivot into foes like Mamoswine. It can also punish physical attackers like Krookodile and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set gives it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Rhyperior, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H way better due to Toxic and PP stalling. However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively. Its crippling 4x weakness to Rock also leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, and foes like Krookodile and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. It also has to over rely overly relies on its Heavy-Duty Boots and entry hazard removal to not be extremely crippled by Stealth Rock and Knock Off from foes like Scizor and Krookodile, (comma) and its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 88 HP / 168 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Aegislash, and Celesteela. Fire Blast can be used to hit neutral targets like Mew and Hatterene, and as well as the aforementioned Grass-types, just as hard as Hurricane but with better accuracy. It also OHKOes offensive Jirachi. Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire (RC) like Keldeo, Kommo-o, Salamence, and Primarina (RC) either super effectively or quite hard neutrally. U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of entry hazard removal, but it has to be extremely careful not to not lose its item to foes like Mew, especially if Mew is paired with Pokemon like Rhyperior and Nihilego. Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and it keeps Moltres healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots is removed and Stealth Rock is up. Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole, Jirachi, and Scizor from using contact moves due to a potential burn. 88 HP EVs let Moltres avoid the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat.

Bulky offense and balance teams appreciate Moltres pressuring Pokemon like Amoonguss, Kommo-o, and Buzzwole. Knock Off absorbers like Buzzwole and Amoonguss make excellent teammates. They're also secondary checks to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk taking the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types such as Aegislash and Cobalion for them in return. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Primarina for Moltres. Jungle Healing Zarude also checks Raikou and Rotom-W, and Choice Scarf variants can revenge kill them and others like Keldeo. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela. Water-types like Keldeo appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Rhyperior for it. Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W, and Zarude can form a pivoting core with U-turn Moltres, bringing it in against Grass-types like Tangrowth and Steel-types like Scizor, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina. If Moltres foregoes Defog, entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them. Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like Moltres's U-turn bringing them in safely against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence.

[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Rhyperior's Stone Edge and lets it PP stall them. It also eases prediction when foes switch out and blocks status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Aegislash. Mystical Fire hits Toxic-immune foes like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and it weakens special attacks from foes switch-ins such as Primarina and Nihilego on the switch, letting teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash come into the field more safely. For example, after Stealth Rock, Assault Vest Tangrowth is no longer 2HKOed by Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast at -1. Toxic is Moltres's main way of harming foes like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Kommo-o. Pressure lets Moltres stall moves with low PP like Primarina's Hydro Pump and Buzzwole's Stone Edge. The given EV spread lets it avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.

This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down checks like Rotom-H and Rhyperior with Toxic and PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole. Zarude and Amoonguss can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which limits Moltres from making progress throughout the game. Moltres in return deals with Grass-types that bother Zarude, like Amoonguss. Scizor, specially defensive Aegislash, and Choice Scarf Krookodile check Nihilego, a major roadblock to this set, and deal with Lycanroc-D. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash. Moltres is especially helpful for Aegislash, removing its main checks in Celesteela and specially defensive Scizor. Entry hazard removers like Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the latter appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling Milotic and Quagsire. Chansey takes care of the special attackers Moltres can't handle, like Nihilego and Thundurus-T. On stall teams, Umbreon provides cleric support, easing off the pressure from Mew's Synchronize, especially because it can use Toxic and simply use Heal Bell right after. It also deals with Gyarados, and together they cover both Swords Dance Scizor variants: Umbreon deals with Knock Off and Moltres with U-turn. Quagsire walls Electric- and Rock-types like Thundurus-T and Lycanroc-D, and Amoonguss acts as a Knock Off absorber and secondary check to Keldeo and Primarina. They appreciate Moltres spreading Toxic and threatening Buzzwole and other physical attackers with Flame Body.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

An Agility set with Flamethrower, Hurricane, and Roost can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego. Scorching Sands over U-turn or Defog lets offensive Moltres lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it and as well as punish switch-ins like Rhyperior with a burn, but it is very niche compared to its alternatives

Checks and Counters
===================

**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock off of the field. It also has to wary of Pokemon it should have no trouble coming into, like Scizor and Tangrowth, due to their access to Knock Off.

**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can use it switch into (?) its Defog to put Stealth Rock back on the field. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic set. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.

**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, but though the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.

**Electric-types**: Rotom-H and Rotom-W check the offensive set well, but they can't check keep the defensive set at bay for very long, as they are forced to take a Toxic to break the Substitute with Volt Switch. Both Thundurus formes can KO Moltres with Thunderbolt, while Raikou can pivot on it or set up a Substitute as it switches out.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [username2, userid2]]