[SET]
Offensive Pivot (Raboot) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Sucker Punch
[SET COMMENTS]
Raboot makes for a threatening offensive pivot with its great Speed and powerful Ability accompanied with strong coverage moves. High Jump Kick slams Fire-resistant Pokemon like Gabite, Pignite, and Naclstack. U-Turn helps Raboot pivot out of bad matchups versus the likes of Quaxwell, Mareanie, and Koffing. Sucker Punch is great at picking off faster foes like Frogadier and Drakloak, as well as Choice Scarf Girafarig. Heavy-Duty Boots is chosen as its item over the normally popular Eviolite in order to keep Raboot healthy as it will be pivoting in and out many times, usually trying to avoid taking attacks due to it being frail with no Eviolite.
Raboot works well on balance and offensive teams looking to form a pivot core. Thwackey, Frogadier, and Drakloak are all great partners since they can pressure checks to Raboot like Quaxwell, Gabite, and Koffing, respectively. Quaxwell, Mareanie, and Clefairy pose a great threat to Raboot since they can eat up all of its coverage and have reliable recovery, so checks to them like Ivysaur and Sliggoo-Hisui are helpful to combat them. Knock Off users like Pignite and Tinkatuff are also helpful versus these defensive walls since Raboot can have an easier time removing them if they get chipped. Frogadier and Drakloak naturally outspeed and threaten Raboot, so teammates to combat them like Servine, Vigoroth, and Clefairy are appreciated. Paralysis inflicting moves from Misdreavus, Servine, and Drakloak can greatly inhibit Raboot's ability to perform as a pivot, making Thunder Wave absorbers like Naclstack, Sliggoo-Hisui, and Dunsparce are helpful. Wallbreakers like Girafarig, Sliggoo-Hisui, and Pikachu all appreciate Raboot bringing them into good matchups against its passive checks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot is an option to blast through Clefairy, but it's usually not worth dropping Sucker Punch for. Quick Attack is a solid option over Sucker Punch since it doesn't have to rely on the foe to attack you, but the difference in power is hard to justify especially since you lose out on doing any significant damage to Drakloak. Choice Band can be used on its Offensive Pivot set, but being choice locked and not having Heavy-Duty Boots for entry hazards is generally not worth the extra power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-Types**: Quaxwell and Mareanie can eat up attacks from Raboot and heal off with no issue. Wartortle and Frogadier can pressure Raboot well offensively, but can't take repeated hits and need to watch out for being in Sucker Punch range.
**Physical Tanks**: Clefairy can switch into any of Raboot's attacks without fear and threaten it with Thunder Wave or Night Shade, but it has to be aware of the Swords Dance set overpowering it. Koffing is a little less passive with Sludge Bomb and can take hits very well too while being able to heal up with Pain Split. Gabite can punish Raboot's U-turn with Rough Skin and takes hits well enough, it just unfortunately doesn't have any form of recovery.
**Fast Attackers**: Frogadier and Drakloak naturally outspeed Raboot and can pressure with their STAB attacks, or Thunder Wave in the case of Drakloak. Choice Scarf users like Girafarig, Monferno, and Misdreavus can also get the jump on Raboot and threaten it for big damage.
**Thunder Wave**: Raboot has to be careful of switching into paralysis inflicting moves from Tinkatuff, Servine, Misdreavus can really hurt its ability to perform as a strong pivot. Dunsparce, Drakloak, and Clefairy also carry paralysis inflicting moves, but Raboot rarely wants to stay in versus them.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Offensive Pivot (Raboot) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Sucker Punch
[SET COMMENTS]
Raboot makes for a threatening offensive pivot with its great Speed and powerful Ability accompanied with strong coverage moves. High Jump Kick slams Fire-resistant Pokemon like Gabite, Pignite, and Naclstack. U-Turn helps Raboot pivot out of bad matchups versus the likes of Quaxwell, Mareanie, and Koffing. Sucker Punch is great at picking off faster foes like Frogadier and Drakloak, as well as Choice Scarf Girafarig. Heavy-Duty Boots is chosen as its item over the normally popular Eviolite in order to keep Raboot healthy as it will be pivoting in and out many times, usually trying to avoid taking attacks due to it being frail with no Eviolite.
Raboot works well on balance and offensive teams looking to form a pivot core. Thwackey, Frogadier, and Drakloak are all great partners since they can pressure checks to Raboot like Quaxwell, Gabite, and Koffing, respectively. Quaxwell, Mareanie, and Clefairy pose a great threat to Raboot since they can eat up all of its coverage and have reliable recovery, so checks to them like Ivysaur and Sliggoo-Hisui are helpful to combat them. Knock Off users like Pignite and Tinkatuff are also helpful versus these defensive walls since Raboot can have an easier time removing them if they get chipped. Frogadier and Drakloak naturally outspeed and threaten Raboot, so teammates to combat them like Servine, Vigoroth, and Clefairy are appreciated. Paralysis inflicting moves from Misdreavus, Servine, and Drakloak can greatly inhibit Raboot's ability to perform as a pivot, making Thunder Wave absorbers like Naclstack, Sliggoo-Hisui, and Dunsparce are helpful. Wallbreakers like Girafarig, Sliggoo-Hisui, and Pikachu all appreciate Raboot bringing them into good matchups against its passive checks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot is an option to blast through Clefairy, but it's usually not worth dropping Sucker Punch for. Quick Attack is a solid option over Sucker Punch since it doesn't have to rely on the foe to attack you, but the difference in power is hard to justify especially since you lose out on doing any significant damage to Drakloak. Choice Band can be used on its Offensive Pivot set, but being choice locked and not having Heavy-Duty Boots for entry hazards is generally not worth the extra power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-Types**: Quaxwell and Mareanie can eat up attacks from Raboot and heal off with no issue. Wartortle and Frogadier can pressure Raboot well offensively, but can't take repeated hits and need to watch out for being in Sucker Punch range.
**Physical Tanks**: Clefairy can switch into any of Raboot's attacks without fear and threaten it with Thunder Wave or Night Shade, but it has to be aware of the Swords Dance set overpowering it. Koffing is a little less passive with Sludge Bomb and can take hits very well too while being able to heal up with Pain Split. Gabite can punish Raboot's U-turn with Rough Skin and takes hits well enough, it just unfortunately doesn't have any form of recovery.
**Fast Attackers**: Frogadier and Drakloak naturally outspeed Raboot and can pressure with their STAB attacks, or Thunder Wave in the case of Drakloak. Choice Scarf users like Girafarig, Monferno, and Misdreavus can also get the jump on Raboot and threaten it for big damage.
**Thunder Wave**: Raboot has to be careful of switching into paralysis inflicting moves from Tinkatuff, Servine, Misdreavus can really hurt its ability to perform as a strong pivot. Dunsparce, Drakloak, and Clefairy also carry paralysis inflicting moves, but Raboot rarely wants to stay in versus them.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Last edited:
