


[OVERVIEW]
Terrakion is a fearsome wallbreaker that can decimate balance and stall teams thanks to its amazing STAB attacks that offer it almost perfect coverage alongside great natural power, cementing itself as a popular threat on offensive teams. After Mega Evolving with Lucarionite, Terrakion can single-handedly break through most walls in the tier, while Diancite enables it to outspeed the majority of the unboosted metagame. Thus, Terrakion is a difficult threat to check both defensively and offensively. Terrakion may also run utility options such as Swords Dance, Stealth Rock, and Taunt or even change its typing entirely by running Pinsirite, further enhancing its capabilities in disrupting the opposing team apart from simply wallbreaking with its STAB moves alone and preventing usual checks such as Primal Groudon and Buzzwole from withstanding its attacks. However, Terrakion is susceptible to most forms of priority due to its low defenses, especially when holding Diancite, meaning it can often be forced out by offensive threats such as Zygarde and Entei. An unfortunate weakness to common types such as Fairy, Ground, Fighting, and Water leaves Terrakion unable to switch in against most offensive threats, while Pinsirite variants' susceptibility to Stealth Rock means they can have limited opportunities to come in safely. The presence of common bulky threats such as Manectite Magearna, Arceus-Fairy, and Lunala also hampers Terrakion's capability to break through balance teams, since they can threaten Terrakion with an OHKO if they have not been worn down a bit in advance or if Terrakion is unable to acquire a Swords Dance boost. As is the case, Terrakion may require some additional support from its teammates at times to perform its role; however, it can still apply enough offensive pressure on opposing teams to independently dismantle most defensive cores regardless.
[SET]
name: Pinsirite
move 1: Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Swords Dance
move 4: Stone Edge / Facade / Quick Attack
item: Pinsirite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Return is Terrakion's most reliable and powerful STAB option when boosted by Aerilate, enabling it to break through checks to Lucarionite variants such as Arceus-Fairy and Sablenite Buzzwole. Earthquake pairs wonderfully with Terrakion's Flying-type STAB attacks, targeting Steel-, and Rock-types that resist its main STAB option, such as Magearna, Arceus-Rock, and Aggronite Mew. Swords Dance enables Terrakion to muscle through checks such as Mandibuzz, Manectite Magearna, and bulky Arceus formes. Stone Edge can be considered as a secondary STAB option, mainly targeting the likes of Zapdos, Pinsirite Magearna, and Mandibuzz. Facade enables Terrakion to exploit its tendency to get statused by foes such as Ho-Oh, Mew, Will-O-Wisp Arceus formes, Pinsirite Entei, and Toxapex and proceed to deal significant amounts of damage with boosted attacks. This is significant when considering the burn status, as Terrakion can be severely crippled if it does not carry Facade to compensate for the Attack drop. Quick Attack is a useful option when combating faster foes, as Terrakion can threaten to KO weakened targets such as Diancite Darkrai, Kartana, and opposing Terrakion. This can be especially useful against Diancite users, as the decrease in bulk upon Mega Evolution enables foes such as the aforementioned Darkrai and Terrakion to be OHKOed at +2 after Stealth Rock. Taunt is a great tool in shutting down common walls and preventing the likes of Aggronite Mew and bulky Arceus formes from statusing Terrakion while preventing attempts to recover or set up entry hazards. However, this means Terrakion must rely on predictions in order to avoid the negative effects of status as opposed to Facade, which enables it to switch into threats such as Ho-Oh more safely. Substitute can capitalize on Terrakion's ability to force many switches, helping it set up more securely or fire off hits against faster foes without the fear of being revenge killed. Stealth Rock is an alternative utility option that enables Terrakion to support its teammates, and Terrakion is a great user of the move thanks to its ability to force out opposing Pokemon quite well and its great matchup versus common Defoggers such as Mandibuzz and Sablenite users such as Blissey.
Set Details
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Pinsirite provides Terrakion with the necessary typing change and stat boosts to turn it into a threatening wallbreaker and lure, while Aerilate allows it to utilize Flying-type STAB attacks. Its newfound secondary typing can also help it check dangerous threats such as Rock Polish Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Noivern while potentially enabling it to bait Ground-types into using their STAB moves before it Mega Evolves. Thus, Terrakion can secure ample opportunities to set up or fire off a powerful attack. This new typing also elevates Terrakion's wallbreaking potential, as it can now face off against threats such as Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Ground without fearing super effective STAB moves while easing its matchup versus common revenge killers such as Altarianite Zygarde and Entei. Justified is a niche ability before Mega Evolving, potentially enabling Terrakion to get Attack boosts off Dark-type STAB moves from the likes of Mandibuzz, Darkrai, and Gyaradosite Toxapex.
Usage Tips
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Knowing when to Mega Evolve is crucial when using Pinsirite Terrakion, as the change in typing and boosts in stats can change its matchups versus threats such as Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and Noivern. However, it must be noted that Terrakion should only be switching into Ho-Oh if it carries Facade, as otherwise getting burned via Sacred Fire is too costly. Generally, Terrakion should preserve its secondary Fighting typing when facing off against opposing walls such as Mandibuzz and Gyaradosite Toxapex in order to take advantage of their common coverage options such as Foul Play for the former and Payback for the latter. Furthermore, Terrakion should hold off on Mega Evolving if the new typing is not needed to check certain threats, as the lure factor it brings can often catch many of Terrakion's conventional checks off guard and ease a potential sweep. While Terrakion can effectively sweep after obtaining a Swords Dance boost, it is advised to properly wear down checks such as Zapdos, Latiasite Magearna, and Kartana to prevent Terrakion from being revenge killed. Therefore, spamming its STAB and coverage options against the aforementioned threats or double switching to appropriate teammates in order to gain momentum is vital to secure a sweep late-game. Substitute is best used when forcing a switch against threats that cannot target Terrakion for significant damage once it has Mega Evolved, such as defensive Primal Groudon, Pinsirite Entei, and Ho-Oh. Terrakion does not have the best bulk, so bringing it in via slow pivoting, through double switches, or after sacrificing a teammate is important in order to sustain it. If running Facade, Terrakion can be used to switch into common status spreaders such as Ho-Oh and Giratina to potentially secure a sweep late-game with boosted attacks.
Team Options
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Defensive teammates such as Manectite Magearna, Mandibuzz, and Defog Lunala that can threaten out opposing offensive checks to Terrakion such as Altarianite Zygarde, Kartana, and Tapu Lele are extremely beneficial. Manectite Magearna and Mandibuzz can also provide slow pivoting, which Terrakion benefits from greatly. Offensive checks such as Entei, Ho-Oh, and Calm Mind Lunala to the aforementioned threats are also appreciated. Other wallbreakers such as Kartana, Primal Groudon, and Tapu Lele can apply additional offensive pressure towards Terrakion's checks, forming a potent offensive core that can be hard to counteract defensively. Entry hazard counteraction is key to sustain Terrakion's health after it Mega Evolves, whether it be through a Sablenite user or a Defog supporter. Examples of such partners may include Zapdos, Blissey, Slowbro, and Arceus-Ground. Terrakion also appreciates entry hazard support of its own to weaken checks such as Zapdos and Lunala, which common Stealth Rock setters such as Primal Groudon, Red Orb Mew, Mamoswine and Arceus-Fairy, can supply while synergizing with Terrakion offensively as well.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Funbot28, 255984]]
- Quality checked by: [[Andyboy, 257571], [xavgb, 231402], [In The Hills, 324242]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216, ], [Rabia, 336073]]
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