**art by me**
[OVERVIEW]
Passimian is a good Fighting-type in RU because it can act as a pivot, cleaner, and wallbreaker while also having good bulk to act as an offensive switch-in to the Bug-, Rock-, and Dark-types of RU such as Golisopod, Tyrantrum, and Drapion, as well as taking hits from Mega Blastoise and Virizion. It has a solid Speed tier that allows it to be faster than other Fighting-type wallbreakers like Bewear, Machamp, and Virizion with a Choice Scarf. Passimian is also the only viable Fighting-type with U-turn, making it a successful pivot and giving it a unique place among the sea of Fighting-types in RU. Defiant allows it to pressure Defog users such as Mandibuzz and Mantine as well as Sticky Web users such as Araquanid and Galvantula by boosting its Attack, so it can keep its team's entry hazards in battle. However, Passimian can't hit everything it wants in one moveset for super effective damage and its reliance on Choice items mean that Pokemon such as Slowbro, Golisopod, and Gardevoir can easily pivot against it if it goes for its Fighting-type STAB attack, making it somewhat easy to take advantage of.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Earthquake / Rock Slide
move 4: Gunk Shot / Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Defiant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Passimian's strongest STAB attack and relatively safe to use. However, it does drop Passimian's defenses with each use, which can leave it vulnerable to being revenge killed by Pokemon it can't KO. U-turn is important so that Passimian escapes bad matchups against Pokemon like Slowbro, Cresselia, Gardevoir, Noivern, and Mega Sceptile as they attempt to switch in. Earthquake hits Poison-types such as Salazzle, Nidoqueen, Toxicroak, and Dragalge much harder than its other moves. Rock Slide can be run instead to hit Pokemon that resist Close Combat such as Golisopod and Noivern. Gunk Shot is also ideal for catching Fairy-types such as Gardevoir and Florges and Grass-types such as Virizion and Shaymin off guard. Knock Off is another move to consider, since it removes the items from a defensive check such as Golbat, Sigilyph, and Florges.
Set Details
========
With a Choice Scarf and proper investment, Passimian can outspeed Pokemon such as Raikou, Salazzle, and non-Choice Scarf Noivern and Speed tie with Choice Scarf Gardevoir. Defiant is the best ability to run to pressure Defog users such as Mandibuzz and Articuno as well as Sticky Web users like Ribombee and Araquanid.
Usage Tips
========
Passimian's ability to force switches along with its access to U-turn to escape bad matchups is why it is a successful pivot in RU. It may have good bulk, but Passimian should not be used to take powerful attacks because it gets worn down enough by switching directly into entry hazards and even resisted hits. Because of this, try to bring Passimian in as a lead, after a teammate has fainted, or against more passive Pokemon such as Registeel. When making the play to come in against a passive Pokemon, be careful of potentially switching into a status move such as Toxic. Passimian's defensive typing can also be utilized to switch into Pokemon it can tank hits from such as Golisopod, Tyrantrum, and Mega Blastoise. If the foe decides to switch against Passimian, it would be wise to go for a coverage move to catch a predicted switch-in off guard, use Knock Off to remove items from a defensive switch-in, or simply use Close Combat. Although Close Combat is easy to spam, keep the drop to its defenses in mind, as they make Passimian much easier to revenge kill; be mindful of potential defensive switch-ins such as Slowbro, Gardevoir, and Golisopod as well. Knock Off is also a great move to spam throughout the game due to its lack of drawbacks and potential to remove items from defensive Pokemon like Bronzong and Golbat. If the foe is weakened enough, Passimian can act as a cleaner with its Choice Scarf. Because it needs its Choice Scarf to revenge kill and pivot successfully, Passimian needs to avoid Knock Off early- or mid-game. However, Passimian's resistance to the move can be valuable late-game if it can't do much else or has nothing left to revenge kill. Passimian also appreciates Spikes and Toxic Spikes cleared on its side, since it needs to be as healthy as it can to continue to play its part.
Team Options
========
Passimian's pivoting abilities are greatly appreciated by slow wallbreakers such as Tyrantrum, Bewear, and Gardevoir and setup sweepers such as Raikou, Salazzle, and Virizion. Virizion can also create a Fighting spam core alongside Passimian, while Raikou, Salazzle, and Gardevoir can pressure physically defensive Pokemon for Passimian, making its time revenge killing and pivoting much easier. Entry hazard setters such as Metagross, Golisopod, and Roserade love Passimian's ability to pressure Defog users like Mandibuzz and Mantine. Metagross can also double as a Flying-, Psychic-, and Fairy-resistant teammate for Passimian. Sticky Web setters such as Araquanid and Ribombee can also make Passimian even more threatening by providing extra speed control. On the same note, an entry hazard remover such as Mega Blastoise, Forretress, or Tsareena is a good idea, since they can clear entry hazards away from Passimian's side, allowing it to pivot much more throughout the game. Passimian also needs defensive checks such as Slowbro, Gardevoir, and Golbat out of the way so it can have an easier time revenge killing. Teammates such as Shaymin, Drapion, and Rhyperior can help Passimian with that. A pivoting core can also be considered to allow Passimian's team to gain and keep offensive momentum. Partners like Yanmega, Forretress, and Ribombee can be paired for this reasoning. Ribombee can also lure in Steel-types for Passimian. Pokemon such as Necrozma, Slowbro, and Noivern greatly appreciate Passimian's defensive presence. Clerics like Florges, Diancie, and Vaporeon and Healing Wish users like Shaymin and Gardevoir can heal Passimian in case it has sustained prior damage.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Earthquake / Rock Slide
item: Choice Band
ability: Defiant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Passimian's strongest STAB move that punches holes in anything that doesn't resist it. U-turn can allow Passimian to escape a potentially bad matchup such as against Slowbro, Cresselia, or Necrozma. Knock Off is a fantastic move that removes the items from defensive checks such as Golbat, Sigilyph, and Florges. Earthquake provides a wide amount of coverage and hits Pokemon such as Nidoqueen, Toxicroak, and Dragalge very hard. Rock Slide can be used instead to deal super effective damage to Pokemon such as Noivern, Golisopod, and Mantine.
Set Details
========
With the given EV spread and a Choice Band, Passimian can power through Pokemon that normally aren't threatened by the Choice Scarf set such as Donphan, Milotic, and Diancie while still being able to outspeed Pokemon such as Bewear, Tyrantrum, and Mega Blastoise and Speed tie with Choice Specs Gardevoir. Defiant allows Passimian to come in against Defog users such as Mandibuzz and Mantine and Sticky Web in order to boost its Attack.
Usage Tips
========
Passimian is a powerful wallbreaker that can be used throughout a game. It can spam Knock Off to cripple defensive checks, pivot with U-turn early-game, and potentially clean up late-game if its checks and counters are gone. Bring Passimian in against Pokemon it resists attacks from such as Golisopod and Mega Blastoise. Another method is to try to bring Passimian in against a Defog user such as Mandibuzz so that it can gain an Attack boost and punish anything that attempts to come in against it. This play can be rather risky, as the Defog user could predict this and go for a move such as Brave Bird or Scald instead. Because Passimian forces a lot of switches, it can be a good idea to go for a coverage move to catch a defensive check to Close Combat off guard, use Knock Off to remove an item, or pivot with U-turn to bring in a partner better suited to dealing with said threat. Be aware of using Close Combat because not only does the move only have 8 PP, but the defense drops can make Passimian easier to revenge kill. Keep Passimian away from status conditions, as they can shorten its time wallbreaking.
Team Options
========
Special attackers such as Raikou, Ninetales, and Mega Sceptile appreciate Passimian's ability to threaten special walls so that they have an easier time sweeping late-game. Salazzle is another great partner, since it can threaten Fairy-types for Passimian. Other offensive Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Swellow, and Shaymin love Passimian's ability to threaten Steel-types so that they can spam their STAB moves more often. Gardevoir can also help Passimian by pressuring Poison-types and providing Healing Wish support. Because Passimian can pivot with U-turn, wallbreakers such as Mismagius, Necrozma, and Zygarde-10% appreciate being brought in safely into battle. Other Pokemon such as Ribombee, Noivern, and Forretress can form a pivoting core with Passimian. Entry hazard setters such as Necrozma, Golisopod, and Roserade love that Passimian can pressure Defog users with Defiant so that their entry hazards stay in battle. Sticky Web users such as Araquanid, Ribombee, and Galvantula can also make Passimian extra threatening. Passimian appreciates support from Pokemon such as Drapion, Tyrantrum, and Donphan, as they can pressure the Fairy-, Flying-, and Poison-types that give it trouble. Anti-offense Pokemon such as Golisopod, Choice Scarf Noivern, and Mega Sceptile can help Passimian by revenge killing Pokemon faster than Passimian that would revenge kill it, which makes its time wallbreaking much easier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Drain Punch is a neat move to provide extra longevity, but the move is rather weak compared to Close Combat and Passimian will never have room for it in a moveset. Acrobatics on the Choice Scarf set is a more accurate move to use against Pokemon like Golisopod, Toxicroak, and Virizion and can allow it to act as a more effective Knock Off sponge for late-game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Since Passimian relies on Choice items to be successful, it can easily be taken advantage of by Pokemon such as Golisopod, Golbat, Cresselia, and Gardevoir. This is especially the case if Passimian goes for Close Combat, since the aforementioned Pokemon proceed to threaten Passimian out of battle with their powerful STAB attacks. They do not want to risk switching into any of Passimian's coverage moves, however. Slowbro, in particular, can stomach any attack from Passimian and threaten it with a Scald burn or Toxic or simply recover the damage dealt with Slack Off and Regenerator.
**Residual Damage**: Passimian has issues with being worn down quickly, since it doesn't have a reliable method of recovery. Choice Scarf Passimian, in particular, is continually switching into attacks that chip away at its health. Both sets cannot combat status conditions very well, either; Toxic poison puts Passimian on a timer, burns from Scald or Will-O-Wisp halve its Attack, and paralysis cuts its Speed.
**Faster Threats**: Choice Band Passimian is vulnerable to being forced out by faster Pokemon such as Ninetales, Roserade, and Toxicroak. Even with a Choice Scarf, Passimian is threatened out by Mega Sceptile and other Choice Scarf users like Flygon, Salazzle, and Noivern.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [MrAldo, 227521], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659], [Fireflame, 231476]]
Last edited:
