[OVERVIEW]
Monferno is the best Pokemon in BW PU thanks to its phenomenal STAB combination, versatility, and ability to break through a majority of defensive Pokemon in the tier, such as Torterra, Bronzor, and Mawile. Close Combat and Flare Blitz both have huge Base Powers, Thunder Punch acts as good coverage for Water-types, and an Iron Fist-boosted Mach Punch can help clean up offensive teams late-game, especially when boosted by Swords Dance. Monferno also has decent support options such as Stealth Rock, U-turn, Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, and reliable recovery in Slack Off. Monferno is, however, somewhat let down by its stats. Its Speed, while decent, still leaves it outpaced by Pokemon like Dodrio and Swanna, without a boost from Swords Dance or Choice Band, its Attack is very middling, and its bulk is low enough that it can't usually take even more than one or two neutral hits in a game. Despite these shortcomings, Monferno is still a fierce wallbreaker in the tier and every team has to prepare for it.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Mach Punch
move 4: U-turn / Thunder Punch
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Even without a boost, the combination of Close Combat and Flare Blitz can handle Pokemon such as Scraggy, Stoutland, Shiftry, Torterra, Klang, and Maractus. Mach Punch is used as an anti-offense measure, picking off weakened faster threats like Zebstrika. U-turn can be used to take advantage of the switches that Monferno forces against Pokemon like Audino and Mawile and gain momentum, while Thunder Punch can be used as extra coverage to punish Water- and Flying-types like Mantine and Swanna that might expect a relatively easy switch into Monferno's STAB moves. Eviolite helps to improve Monferno's meager bulk to allow it to take hits better from the likes of Zebstrika, Shiftry, and Sneasel, while Life Orb boosts the power of its moves substantially. With base 81 Speed, a Jolly nature is needed to make sure that Monferno outspeeds several threats like Shiftry, Stoutland, and Arbok.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
move 4: Mach Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance takes advantage of Monferno's ability to force switches and boosts its power level sky high, allowing it to crush defensive staples like Beheeyem, Tentacool, and Stunfisk after one round of Stealth Rock damage, though it needs to be wary of Static from the latter. Fire Punch has significantly lower power than Flare Blitz but lacks recoil, making it a potentially useful option, especially for Life Orb sets. Mach Punch functions as a great anti-offense tool, knocking out Zebstrika and Dodrio with slight chip after a Swords Dance. Thunder Punch, on the other hand, allows Monferno to KO Frillish and Mantine. Swords Dance Monferno appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon like Maractus, Stunfisk, Torterra, and Bronzor in order to ensure it gets the KOs it needs. Stunfisk works as a good Pokemon that resists Flying and Maractus or Torterra can also set up hazards while helping to check Water- and Ground-types.
[SET]
name: Choiced Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Thunder Punch / Mach Punch
move 4: U-turn / Mach Punch
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Monferno's high Base Power STAB moves and decent Speed make it a fantastic choice as a Choice Scarf user, outspeeding every other unboosted Pokemon in the tier. Choice Band, on the other hand, makes Monferno a powerful breaker without needing a turn to boost. U-turn has more viability on these sets, as Monferno undoubtedly will force switches and seeing an opponent's initial switch into it can help immensely as the game goes on. Mach Punch allows Monferno to damage faster Choice Scarf users like Dodrio while also making up for the lower Speed on the Choice Band set. These sets function well with other Volt Switch and U-turn users like Zebstrika and Jumpluff, as they can wear down mutual checks and continue forcing switches from the opponent. Because of this, hazard-stacking Pokemon like Dwebble, Maractus, and Stealth Rock users help to rack up damage and get opposing Pokemon into KO range.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Swanna, Dodrio, Swoobat, Zebstrika, and Jumpluff all outspeed and threaten non-Choice Scarf Monferno with KOs or at least heavy damage. Only some of these Pokemon can switch into Monferno depending on Monferno's moveset, and some can be picked off by a boosted Mach Punch but overall can at least force Monferno out.
**Stunfisk and Beheeyem**: While a bit shaky against the Swords Dance set, physically defensive Pokemon like Beheeyem and Stunfisk can take at least one hit from Monferno usually and threaten it with super-effective moves after. Stunfisk specifically makes Monferno tread carefully, even when using U-turn, due to the threat of Static paralysis shutting Monferno down completely.
**Frillish**: Frillish is the most reliable Monferno check, being immune to one STAB move and resisting the other. However, Frillish does have to worry about being chipped into range of a +2 Flare Blitz and the possibility of Thunder Punch, which OHKOes after a Swords Dance.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sergiorules.265399/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
