Pawniard Analysis
[OVERVIEW]
Pawniard, even though originally a LC Pokémon, is a strong niche attacker in the PU Tier due to its offensively great Dark/Steel typing, great stab Moves like Iron Head, Sucker Punch and Knock Off with the ability to set up with Swords Dance and punish Defog users due to its Ability Defiant. Unfortunately its mediocre stats overall hold it back and leave it outclassed as a generally offensive Dark Pokémon by Threats like Absol, Skunktank or even Shiftry. It's Dark/Steel typing also means it's 4x times weak to Fighting, in a meta where Pokemon of that type like Hitmonchan, Gurdurr or Primeape are very common.
Because of all this it's only viable on a team that relies on hazard stacking and that furthermore supports it with wallbreakers to compensate for its fairly limited attacking capabilities.
[SET]
Move 1: Knock Off
Move 2: Sucker Punch
Move 3: Iron Head
Move 4: Swords Dance
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk 216 Spe 40 HP
Item: Eviolite
[SETCOMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Knock Off main offensive attack with the added effect of being able to get rid of important items like Eviolites or Leftovers from it's checks like Gurdurr, Ferroseed and defensive Carracosta
*Sucker Punch is used to priority sweep late game or to revenge kill Pokemon that are faster than it
*Iron Head is a great stab moves that is able to hit most Dark resistances or common physical walls such for atleast neutral damage such as every fighting type with the exception of Poliwrath, opposing Dark types aswell as beeing able to hit fairy types like Clefairy, Granbull or Silvally-Fairy for super effective damage
*Swords Dance is to set up on Pokémon like physical Skunktank, defensive Mesprit, non Z-Move Musharna, Haunter, Raichu-A if locked into Psychic, some Jynx variants not carrying Focus Blast (if you have a sleep fodder already) or Oricorio-Sensu
Set Details
========
*Adamant nature with max Atk EVs to maximize damage output
*216 Spe EVs make it faster than neutral base 55's like Golurk, Cacturne, positive base 45 like Golem and Qwilfishs with up to 12 Speed EVs (with 16 EVs its a Speed tie)
*224 Speed with 32 HP EVs however let it outpace neutral natured Torterras or more speed Invested Qwilfishs
*the (on the standard set 40) HP EVs are meant to minimize the chance of dying from an Earthquake by a non damage boosting item Archeops aswell as giving it slightly more bulk overall
*however if you don't think any of these Benchmarks are important for your team, just run max speed EVs to minimize the reliability of Pawniard on Sucker Punch
* Defiant as Pawniards ability let it function as a Defog abuser, always gets +2 in Atk if switched in on a Defog by for example, dual stab Shiftry, physical Skunktank, Archeops (here come the hp EVs into play), the very rare Lurantis and Lumineon (be aware of Scald Burns though)
Usage Tips
========
*Set up Swords Dances when you're opponents defensive Walls have already been worn down and every faster threat that is able to kill Pawniard is eliminated or in range of Sucker Punch
*use Pokemon with minimal damage output against Pawniard like defensive Mesprit or physical skunktank or choice attackers that are locked into a not super effective or immune moves like Psychic, Ice, Poison, Ghost and Rock type attacks from for example Specs Haunter or a Primeape locked into Gunk Shot or Stone Edge as set up fodder
*it's used as a mean to prevent opponents from defogging away stacked Hazards or punish it with getting an immediate +2 boost in attack (the list of preferred Defoggers you want to switch in is above)
* it's Dark/Steel typing makes it 4x times vulnerable to Fighting, be sure to remove these fighting type threats like Hitmonchan or Gurdurr and scout for fighting type coverage with Pokemon like Mesprit, Oricorio-Sensu or others (more examples in Team options)
*Don't play too recklessly, its vulnerable to any strong special attacker or Pokémon with Ground or Fighting coverage like Kangaskhan, Oricorio-Sensu, Raichu-A, some Abomasnows, Swanna, Absol etc.
* it's so reliant on Sucker Punch, any threat that has ways to outplay Sucker Punch with Status Moves like Lilligant, Jynx, Substitute users for example Oricorio-Sensu or Healing Wish Mesprit can cause it trouble
Team Options
========
*Entry hazard stacking teammates like Qwilfish or Leavanny in case of a Sticky Webs team can make up for either one of its mediocre offensive Stats aswell as having a synergy with it's ability to punish Defog users
*Pokémon that resists/are immune against fighting type attacks or can hit back with super effective attacks against them like Mesprit, Musharna, Oricorio-Sensu, Clefairy, Golurk, Swanna etc since they can wall, set up on or straight up kill the prominent fighting types like Hitmonchan, Gurdurr or Primeape
*status absorbing Pokémon like Floatzel (for burns) or Zangoose (when Toxic Orb was already activated) that can break through defensive walls that give Pawniard trouble elsewhise like Weezing or almost any bulky ground type
* When running pursuit, Pokémon that benefit from trapping ghost or psychic types like Musharna, Hitmonchan, Primeape, Komala etc benefit from Pawniard
Other Options
========
*Brick Break/Low Kick or Stealth Rocks are other options for trapping, killing steels (Aggron, Probopass) or SR setting
Checks and Counters
========
Fighting Types: Fighting types like Hitmonchan, Gurdurr or Primeape and Fighting type coverage are the bane of Pawniards existence, able to resist it's Dark Stab moves and outspeed it with Mach Punch or just naturally like Primeape and completely obliterate it due to it's 4x times weakness and mediocre defensive stats even with Eviolite.
Ground Types: Bulky ground types like Piloswine (it's so bulky, a +2 Iron Head can't OHKO even if Eviolite was knocked of first), Gastrodon, Colbur Berry Golurk, Torterra or Golem can take a Hit and hit back with their respectable stab moves.
Strong Special Attackers: Hard hitting Special Attackers like Specs Oricorio, Floatzel, Abomasnow, Jynx, Lanturn, Raichu-A, Drampa or Swanna (what especially hinders Pawniards role as Defog punisher) can 2HKO Pawniard with neutral or even resisted moves, whilst their super effective Coverage moves (like Focus/Fire Blast) are also able to completely obliterate our poor metal friend.
Status:
*Burn prevents Pawniard from doing any serious damage, while paralysis forces it to use the unreliable Sucker Punch to hit first
*Status moves can also work around a predicted Sucker Punch, allowing foes such as Z-Lovely Kiss Jynx, Sleep Powder Lilligant to put it to sleep and set-up on it.
*Qwilfish or other bulky waters like Gastrodon can also sponge a hit and can hope for a burn with scald or just kill it due to Pawniards bad specially defensive capabilities
*Will-O-Wisp users like Weezing counter it aswell
[OVERVIEW]
Pawniard, even though originally a LC Pokémon, is a strong niche attacker in the PU Tier due to its offensively great Dark/Steel typing, great stab Moves like Iron Head, Sucker Punch and Knock Off with the ability to set up with Swords Dance and punish Defog users due to its Ability Defiant. Unfortunately its mediocre stats overall hold it back and leave it outclassed as a generally offensive Dark Pokémon by Threats like Absol, Skunktank or even Shiftry. It's Dark/Steel typing also means it's 4x times weak to Fighting, in a meta where Pokemon of that type like Hitmonchan, Gurdurr or Primeape are very common.
Because of all this it's only viable on a team that relies on hazard stacking and that furthermore supports it with wallbreakers to compensate for its fairly limited attacking capabilities.
[SET]
Move 1: Knock Off
Move 2: Sucker Punch
Move 3: Iron Head
Move 4: Swords Dance
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk 216 Spe 40 HP
Item: Eviolite
[SETCOMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Knock Off main offensive attack with the added effect of being able to get rid of important items like Eviolites or Leftovers from it's checks like Gurdurr, Ferroseed and defensive Carracosta
*Sucker Punch is used to priority sweep late game or to revenge kill Pokemon that are faster than it
*Iron Head is a great stab moves that is able to hit most Dark resistances or common physical walls such for atleast neutral damage such as every fighting type with the exception of Poliwrath, opposing Dark types aswell as beeing able to hit fairy types like Clefairy, Granbull or Silvally-Fairy for super effective damage
*Swords Dance is to set up on Pokémon like physical Skunktank, defensive Mesprit, non Z-Move Musharna, Haunter, Raichu-A if locked into Psychic, some Jynx variants not carrying Focus Blast (if you have a sleep fodder already) or Oricorio-Sensu
Set Details
========
*Adamant nature with max Atk EVs to maximize damage output
*216 Spe EVs make it faster than neutral base 55's like Golurk, Cacturne, positive base 45 like Golem and Qwilfishs with up to 12 Speed EVs (with 16 EVs its a Speed tie)
*224 Speed with 32 HP EVs however let it outpace neutral natured Torterras or more speed Invested Qwilfishs
*the (on the standard set 40) HP EVs are meant to minimize the chance of dying from an Earthquake by a non damage boosting item Archeops aswell as giving it slightly more bulk overall
*however if you don't think any of these Benchmarks are important for your team, just run max speed EVs to minimize the reliability of Pawniard on Sucker Punch
* Defiant as Pawniards ability let it function as a Defog abuser, always gets +2 in Atk if switched in on a Defog by for example, dual stab Shiftry, physical Skunktank, Archeops (here come the hp EVs into play), the very rare Lurantis and Lumineon (be aware of Scald Burns though)
Usage Tips
========
*Set up Swords Dances when you're opponents defensive Walls have already been worn down and every faster threat that is able to kill Pawniard is eliminated or in range of Sucker Punch
*use Pokemon with minimal damage output against Pawniard like defensive Mesprit or physical skunktank or choice attackers that are locked into a not super effective or immune moves like Psychic, Ice, Poison, Ghost and Rock type attacks from for example Specs Haunter or a Primeape locked into Gunk Shot or Stone Edge as set up fodder
*it's used as a mean to prevent opponents from defogging away stacked Hazards or punish it with getting an immediate +2 boost in attack (the list of preferred Defoggers you want to switch in is above)
* it's Dark/Steel typing makes it 4x times vulnerable to Fighting, be sure to remove these fighting type threats like Hitmonchan or Gurdurr and scout for fighting type coverage with Pokemon like Mesprit, Oricorio-Sensu or others (more examples in Team options)
*Don't play too recklessly, its vulnerable to any strong special attacker or Pokémon with Ground or Fighting coverage like Kangaskhan, Oricorio-Sensu, Raichu-A, some Abomasnows, Swanna, Absol etc.
* it's so reliant on Sucker Punch, any threat that has ways to outplay Sucker Punch with Status Moves like Lilligant, Jynx, Substitute users for example Oricorio-Sensu or Healing Wish Mesprit can cause it trouble
Team Options
========
*Entry hazard stacking teammates like Qwilfish or Leavanny in case of a Sticky Webs team can make up for either one of its mediocre offensive Stats aswell as having a synergy with it's ability to punish Defog users
*Pokémon that resists/are immune against fighting type attacks or can hit back with super effective attacks against them like Mesprit, Musharna, Oricorio-Sensu, Clefairy, Golurk, Swanna etc since they can wall, set up on or straight up kill the prominent fighting types like Hitmonchan, Gurdurr or Primeape
*status absorbing Pokémon like Floatzel (for burns) or Zangoose (when Toxic Orb was already activated) that can break through defensive walls that give Pawniard trouble elsewhise like Weezing or almost any bulky ground type
* When running pursuit, Pokémon that benefit from trapping ghost or psychic types like Musharna, Hitmonchan, Primeape, Komala etc benefit from Pawniard
Other Options
========
*Brick Break/Low Kick or Stealth Rocks are other options for trapping, killing steels (Aggron, Probopass) or SR setting
Checks and Counters
========
Fighting Types: Fighting types like Hitmonchan, Gurdurr or Primeape and Fighting type coverage are the bane of Pawniards existence, able to resist it's Dark Stab moves and outspeed it with Mach Punch or just naturally like Primeape and completely obliterate it due to it's 4x times weakness and mediocre defensive stats even with Eviolite.
Ground Types: Bulky ground types like Piloswine (it's so bulky, a +2 Iron Head can't OHKO even if Eviolite was knocked of first), Gastrodon, Colbur Berry Golurk, Torterra or Golem can take a Hit and hit back with their respectable stab moves.
Strong Special Attackers: Hard hitting Special Attackers like Specs Oricorio, Floatzel, Abomasnow, Jynx, Lanturn, Raichu-A, Drampa or Swanna (what especially hinders Pawniards role as Defog punisher) can 2HKO Pawniard with neutral or even resisted moves, whilst their super effective Coverage moves (like Focus/Fire Blast) are also able to completely obliterate our poor metal friend.
Status:
*Burn prevents Pawniard from doing any serious damage, while paralysis forces it to use the unreliable Sucker Punch to hit first
*Status moves can also work around a predicted Sucker Punch, allowing foes such as Z-Lovely Kiss Jynx, Sleep Powder Lilligant to put it to sleep and set-up on it.
*Qwilfish or other bulky waters like Gastrodon can also sponge a hit and can hope for a burn with scald or just kill it due to Pawniards bad specially defensive capabilities
*Will-O-Wisp users like Weezing counter it aswell
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