[OVERVIEW]
Moltres's typing alongside access to Defog lets it carve itself a niche on stall teams, checking Stealth Rock setters that trouble Mega Sableye such as Excadrill, offensive Heatran, and Calm Mind Clefable. An outstanding ability in Pressure in tandem with Substitute enables it to stall out would-be threats such as Tyranitar locked into Stone Edge and win the PP war most of the time. Its typing also lets it tackle a few other threats, namely Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Scizor. Nonetheless, Moltres's bulk is somewhat lackluster, especially since it can't afford to invest enough EVs into its defenses, which means it will often crumble to strong wallbreakers. Furthermore, if a skillful opponent manages to get up Stealth Rock against Moltres's team, its typing gets turned against it, putting huge pressure on Moltres.
[SET]
name: Pressure
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 208 HP / 60 Def / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flamethrower is Moltres's most reliable attacking move, notably striking Mega Mawile, Tapu Bulu, and Excadrill. Substitute lets Moltres stall out foes such as Heatran, Tyranitar, Volcanion, and Kyurem-B while letting it dodge status moves like Thunder Wave and Toxic from Clefable and Heatran. Defog enables it to remove entry hazards against several setters that force Mega Sableye out, notably Excadrill, Clefable, and Heatran. Lastly, Roost keeps Moltres healthy, enabling it to consistently check the likes of Heatran and Clefable. Hidden Power Ground over Substitute is a potential option, but more often than not, the utility of Substitute is far preferred over Hidden Power Ground's quicker method of beating down Heatran.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs alongside a Timid nature let Moltres outrun Excadrill and Heatran, and the combination of HP and Defense EVs let it take a Thunder Punch from Mega Mawile at full health. Pressure is the optimal ability choice, enabling Moltres to PP stall foes effectively. Finally, Leftovers is key to provide passive healing and enable Moltres to use Substitute with less of a drawback.
Usage Tips
========
Always switch Moltres into Stealth Rock setters it walls. Attempt to Defog after scouting for moves that could threaten it like Thunder Wave from Clefable, Toxic from Heatran, and Rock Tomb from Excadrill. If your opponent manages to get up Stealth Rock against Moltres's team, it's advisable to remove said entry hazard via a secondary Defogger before recklessly sending it in. Keep track of the PP of opposing Pokémon to know when Moltres will be able to fully PP stall them. For instance, if Calm Mind Clefable still has all of its Moonblast PP, it can beat Moltres one-on-one. Be careful of status ailments; Toxic Heatran or Thunder Wave Clefable could be annoying if your opponent can put enough pressure on your Heal Bell user. Try to pivot Moltres in when threats to stall such as Mega Mawile and Mega Heracross come in, as it can force them out with Flamethrower; however, scout for Thunder Punch on Mega Mawile, and be careful of the aforementioned move as well as Rock Blast from Mega Heracross. Likewise, pulling double switches not to let these two come in is a risky but also quite rewarding play.
Team Options
========
Moltres mostly fits on stall due to the nature of its type and utility. Further entry hazard control is imperative alongside Moltres; secondary Defog users such as Zapdos and Gliscor are notable picks. The former also makes a deadly Pressure core that is very effective at PP stalling wallbreakers that can threaten stall otherwise. In a similar manner, Mega Sableye is also an outstanding pick, as it heavily appreciates Moltres taking on Clefable, Heatran, and Excadrill, thus creating a strong backbone of hazard prevention. Pyukumuku is a solid Unaware user that can ignore boosts from most setup sweepers as well as help Moltres out when it comes to PP stalling with Spite. Chansey is a solid pick for any stall team for its ability to blanket check nearly all special attackers in the tier. Lastly, physical walls like Hippowdon, Tangrowth, and Unaware Clefable can also help with physical attackers such as Tyranitar that can overcome Moltres. The aforementioned Clefable and Chansey can also provide Heal Bell support, which is important to rid Moltres of status aliments commonly run by Pokemon it’s supposed to check
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, and Protect may seem tempting, Moltres really can't afford to forfeit any of the four moves on its main set, as all of them are imperative for its success on stall teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: While most Moltres teams have plenty of ways around Stealth Rock, if it goes up, it's extremely damaging for Moltres. Setters such as Mega Diancie and Mega Tyranitar can also force both Moltres and common partners responsible for entry hazard removal out.
**Miscellaneous Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers with both enough power to take down Moltres and enough bulk to constantly switch into its Flamethrowers, most notably Tapu Lele, Hoopa-U, and Substitute + Calm Mind Blacephalon, can be immense threats not only to Moltres but usually to all of its team.
**Setup Sweepers**: The likes of Zygarde, Mega Latias, and Volcarona can take advantage of Moltres's passiveness to get some boosts and pose somewhat of a threat to Moltres's teammates under the right conditions.
**Status Ailments**: Toxic poison completely cripples Moltres, and even regular poison can already be a nuisance. Thunder Wave from Clefable is also a pain for Moltres to deal with. Pokemon that can inflict said status and pressure Heal Bell users on Moltres's team can really cripple it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lyd, 303291]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jordy, 395754], [Feo, 328915], [LL, 144451]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [martha, 384270]]
Moltres's typing alongside access to Defog lets it carve itself a niche on stall teams, checking Stealth Rock setters that trouble Mega Sableye such as Excadrill, offensive Heatran, and Calm Mind Clefable. An outstanding ability in Pressure in tandem with Substitute enables it to stall out would-be threats such as Tyranitar locked into Stone Edge and win the PP war most of the time. Its typing also lets it tackle a few other threats, namely Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Scizor. Nonetheless, Moltres's bulk is somewhat lackluster, especially since it can't afford to invest enough EVs into its defenses, which means it will often crumble to strong wallbreakers. Furthermore, if a skillful opponent manages to get up Stealth Rock against Moltres's team, its typing gets turned against it, putting huge pressure on Moltres.
[SET]
name: Pressure
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 208 HP / 60 Def / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flamethrower is Moltres's most reliable attacking move, notably striking Mega Mawile, Tapu Bulu, and Excadrill. Substitute lets Moltres stall out foes such as Heatran, Tyranitar, Volcanion, and Kyurem-B while letting it dodge status moves like Thunder Wave and Toxic from Clefable and Heatran. Defog enables it to remove entry hazards against several setters that force Mega Sableye out, notably Excadrill, Clefable, and Heatran. Lastly, Roost keeps Moltres healthy, enabling it to consistently check the likes of Heatran and Clefable. Hidden Power Ground over Substitute is a potential option, but more often than not, the utility of Substitute is far preferred over Hidden Power Ground's quicker method of beating down Heatran.
Set Details
========
The Speed EVs alongside a Timid nature let Moltres outrun Excadrill and Heatran, and the combination of HP and Defense EVs let it take a Thunder Punch from Mega Mawile at full health. Pressure is the optimal ability choice, enabling Moltres to PP stall foes effectively. Finally, Leftovers is key to provide passive healing and enable Moltres to use Substitute with less of a drawback.
Usage Tips
========
Always switch Moltres into Stealth Rock setters it walls. Attempt to Defog after scouting for moves that could threaten it like Thunder Wave from Clefable, Toxic from Heatran, and Rock Tomb from Excadrill. If your opponent manages to get up Stealth Rock against Moltres's team, it's advisable to remove said entry hazard via a secondary Defogger before recklessly sending it in. Keep track of the PP of opposing Pokémon to know when Moltres will be able to fully PP stall them. For instance, if Calm Mind Clefable still has all of its Moonblast PP, it can beat Moltres one-on-one. Be careful of status ailments; Toxic Heatran or Thunder Wave Clefable could be annoying if your opponent can put enough pressure on your Heal Bell user. Try to pivot Moltres in when threats to stall such as Mega Mawile and Mega Heracross come in, as it can force them out with Flamethrower; however, scout for Thunder Punch on Mega Mawile, and be careful of the aforementioned move as well as Rock Blast from Mega Heracross. Likewise, pulling double switches not to let these two come in is a risky but also quite rewarding play.
Team Options
========
Moltres mostly fits on stall due to the nature of its type and utility. Further entry hazard control is imperative alongside Moltres; secondary Defog users such as Zapdos and Gliscor are notable picks. The former also makes a deadly Pressure core that is very effective at PP stalling wallbreakers that can threaten stall otherwise. In a similar manner, Mega Sableye is also an outstanding pick, as it heavily appreciates Moltres taking on Clefable, Heatran, and Excadrill, thus creating a strong backbone of hazard prevention. Pyukumuku is a solid Unaware user that can ignore boosts from most setup sweepers as well as help Moltres out when it comes to PP stalling with Spite. Chansey is a solid pick for any stall team for its ability to blanket check nearly all special attackers in the tier. Lastly, physical walls like Hippowdon, Tangrowth, and Unaware Clefable can also help with physical attackers such as Tyranitar that can overcome Moltres. The aforementioned Clefable and Chansey can also provide Heal Bell support, which is important to rid Moltres of status aliments commonly run by Pokemon it’s supposed to check
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
While Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, and Protect may seem tempting, Moltres really can't afford to forfeit any of the four moves on its main set, as all of them are imperative for its success on stall teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: While most Moltres teams have plenty of ways around Stealth Rock, if it goes up, it's extremely damaging for Moltres. Setters such as Mega Diancie and Mega Tyranitar can also force both Moltres and common partners responsible for entry hazard removal out.
**Miscellaneous Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers with both enough power to take down Moltres and enough bulk to constantly switch into its Flamethrowers, most notably Tapu Lele, Hoopa-U, and Substitute + Calm Mind Blacephalon, can be immense threats not only to Moltres but usually to all of its team.
**Setup Sweepers**: The likes of Zygarde, Mega Latias, and Volcarona can take advantage of Moltres's passiveness to get some boosts and pose somewhat of a threat to Moltres's teammates under the right conditions.
**Status Ailments**: Toxic poison completely cripples Moltres, and even regular poison can already be a nuisance. Thunder Wave from Clefable is also a pain for Moltres to deal with. Pokemon that can inflict said status and pressure Heal Bell users on Moltres's team can really cripple it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lyd, 303291]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jordy, 395754], [Feo, 328915], [LL, 144451]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [martha, 384270]]
Last edited:
(checking)
