[OVERVIEW]
Iron Valiant stands out as a top tier offensive Pokemon in the tier, able to utilise its wide movepool to devestate any Pokemon that might attempt to check it. Options such as Swords Dance, Calm Mind, Mixed, or Choice Specs have very different counterplay, and thus a well played Iron Valiant can take out Pokemon such as Zapdos or Galarian Slowking that might want to check it. Iron Valiant is also an incredible revenge killer with Booster Energy, able to massively threaten Pokemon such as Zamazenta, Dragon Dance Dragonite, and Swords Dance Ogerpon-Wellspring while also outspeeding them. Iron Valiant can furthermore dip into its utility movepool, with options such as Encore and Destiny Bond either giving it more setup turns or allowing it to surprise typical counterplay even further. However, Iron Valiant does have its flaws. Pokemon such as Hatterene, Gholdengo, and Tornadus-T can check the vast majority of its sets, while Pokemon such as Dondozo and Iron Crown are able to take on specific sets once they have been identified. Furthermore, while it can typically take most strong neutral hits in a pinch, its low bulk does impede its sweeping potential, as priority users such as Dragonite, Weavile, Rillaboom, and especially Scizor can revenge kill it once it has been weakened.
Other Options
=============
Heavy Duty Boots allows Iron Valiant to consistently switch into battle over the course of a longer game by ignoring entry hazards. Choice Scarf gives Iron Valiant a permanent speed boost so it can consistently revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Darkrai and Zamazenta, though locking into a moveslot can be awkward for its teammates. Tera Blast Ground allows Iron Valiant to smack Pokemon such as Raging Bolt, Galarian Weezing, and Iron Moth for super effective damage. Choice Band sets can be used to lure in and break through traditional physical walls such as Great Tusk and Zamazenta due to its access to Spirit Break, while also being able to use Trick against walls such as Moltres and Dondozo it may not threaten as easily, which can also help teammates such as Iron Treads and Dragonite that are otherwise walled by them. Life Orb or Expert Belt is an option to increase the power of Iron Valiants Mixed sets, though the recoil damage from Life Orb can hurt its ability to stay out of revenge killing range from Pokemon such as Dragonite, while Expert Belt doesn't help it against Pokemon such as Galarian Weezing that already wall Iron Valiant. Substitute is an option on Swords Dance and Calm Mind sets to allow Iron Valiant to scout opposing Pokemon to give it a free turn of setup while also protecting it against revenge killers such as Extreme Speed Dragonite or Choice Scarf Darkrai. An Adamant nature alongside Shadow Sneak can be used to give Iron Valiant a lot more power while still retaining some of its revenge killing capabilities, though typically this is best used on Sticky Web teams.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Iron Valiant stands out as a top tier offensive Pokemon in the tier, able to utilise its wide movepool to devestate any Pokemon that might attempt to check it. Options such as Swords Dance, Calm Mind, Mixed, or Choice Specs have very different counterplay, and thus a well played Iron Valiant can take out Pokemon such as Zapdos or Galarian Slowking that might want to check it. Iron Valiant is also an incredible revenge killer with Booster Energy, able to massively threaten Pokemon such as Zamazenta, Dragon Dance Dragonite, and Swords Dance Ogerpon-Wellspring while also outspeeding them. Iron Valiant can furthermore dip into its utility movepool, with options such as Encore and Destiny Bond either giving it more setup turns or allowing it to surprise typical counterplay even further. However, Iron Valiant does have its flaws. Pokemon such as Hatterene, Gholdengo, and Tornadus-T can check the vast majority of its sets, while Pokemon such as Dondozo and Iron Crown are able to take on specific sets once they have been identified. Furthermore, while it can typically take most strong neutral hits in a pinch, its low bulk does impede its sweeping potential, as priority users such as Dragonite, Weavile, Rillaboom, and especially Scizor can revenge kill it once it has been weakened.
Other Options
=============
Heavy Duty Boots allows Iron Valiant to consistently switch into battle over the course of a longer game by ignoring entry hazards. Choice Scarf gives Iron Valiant a permanent speed boost so it can consistently revenge kill faster Pokemon such as Darkrai and Zamazenta, though locking into a moveslot can be awkward for its teammates. Tera Blast Ground allows Iron Valiant to smack Pokemon such as Raging Bolt, Galarian Weezing, and Iron Moth for super effective damage. Choice Band sets can be used to lure in and break through traditional physical walls such as Great Tusk and Zamazenta due to its access to Spirit Break, while also being able to use Trick against walls such as Moltres and Dondozo it may not threaten as easily, which can also help teammates such as Iron Treads and Dragonite that are otherwise walled by them. Life Orb or Expert Belt is an option to increase the power of Iron Valiants Mixed sets, though the recoil damage from Life Orb can hurt its ability to stay out of revenge killing range from Pokemon such as Dragonite, while Expert Belt doesn't help it against Pokemon such as Galarian Weezing that already wall Iron Valiant. Substitute is an option on Swords Dance and Calm Mind sets to allow Iron Valiant to scout opposing Pokemon to give it a free turn of setup while also protecting it against revenge killers such as Extreme Speed Dragonite or Choice Scarf Darkrai. An Adamant nature alongside Shadow Sneak can be used to give Iron Valiant a lot more power while still retaining some of its revenge killing capabilities, though typically this is best used on Sticky Web teams.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
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