[OVERVIEW]
Slither Wing is one of the strongest Fighting-type wallbreakers and pivots in the tier. With access to decent bulk, recovery in the form of Morning Sun, and status moves in Will-O-Wisp and Stun Spore, Slither Wing can prove to be extremely reliable and hard to take down as a pivot, thereby offering its teammates many chances to come in and take advantage of physical walls that may switch into it like Galarian Weezing and Hippowdon. Its naturally high Attack can also be skyrocketed by Choice Band to allow Slither Wing to easily blow holes in the opposing team. However, Slither Wing suffers from a STAB combination that is resisted by common Flying-, Poison-, and Fairy-type Pokemon like Talonflame, Galarian Weezing, and Mimikyu. While this can be somewhat mitigated by coverage attacks like Wild Charge and Heavy Slam, it significantly reduces Slither Wing's ability to threaten progress, as there are almost always Pokemon on the opposing team that can shrug off its attacks. Slither Wing's middling Speed stat also leaves it vulnerable to the numerous fast Flying-, Fairy-, and Psychic-type Pokemon in the tier such as Galarian Zapdos, Choice Scarf Gardevoir, and Jirachi.
[SET]
Pivot (Slither Wing) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Protective Pads
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Bug / Steel
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- First Impression
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Morning Sun / Stun Spore / Will-O-Wisp / Heavy Slam
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Slither Wing is a reliable pivot that aims to make progress by chipping away at its checks via U-turn and repeatedly providing its teammates with opportunities to switch in safely. First Impression is valuable strong priority that can pick off weakened offensive Pokemon like Armarouge, Maushold, and Gardevoir. Morning Sun improves Slither Wing's longevity by allowing it to heal off chip damage. Stun Spore is useful for crippling Slither Wing's switch-ins like Hippowdon, Fezandipiti, and Galarian Weezing, while Will-O-Wisp can shut down its offensive checks like Galarian Zapdos, Mimikyu, and Dragon Dance Salamence. Heavy Slam is an alternative that hits Fairy-types like Galarian Weezing and Fezandipiti for decent damage. Heavy-Duty Boots allows Slither Wing to switch in more often by ignoring entry hazards, whereas Protective Pads is useful to prevent it from being worn down by opposing Rocky Helmet and crippled by Talonflame's Flame Body. Jolly can be run over Adamant to outspeed Armarouge and Necrozma. Tera Bug secures OHKOs on Pokemon like Cyclizar, Slowbro, and Gardevoir with First Impression, as well as a KO on Slowbro after some chip damage. Tera Steel boosts Heavy Slam to OHKO Galarian Weezing after Stealth Rock damage and flips Slither Wing's Fairy, Flying, and Psychic weaknesses, enabling it to tank hits from Pokemon like Fezandipiti, Noivern, and Reuniclus.
Pivot Slither Wing fits best on offense and balance structures that appreciate a Fighting-type wallbreaker with good defensive utility thanks to its resistances to Ground-, Dark- and Fighting-type attacks from common threats like Krookodile, Bisharp, and Mienshao, as well as strong priority. Its ability to lure in bulky Pokemon like Galarian Weezing, Talonflame, and Hippowdon and pivot out with U-turn can provide safe entry to strong special wallbreakers like Volcanion, Armarouge, and Hisuian Zoroark that can proceed to blow holes in the opposing team. Slither Wing can also form VoltTurn cores with many specially offensive Pokemon, including the likes of Basculegion-F, Magnezone, Noivern, and Fezandipiti, that can similarly take advantage of its defensive switch-ins to fire off attacks safely, while they themselves attract specially defensive Pokemon like Hisuian Goodra and Umbreon that can be exploited by Slither Wing. Entry hazard support from teammates like Krookodile, Jirachi, and Chesnaught can supplement this by chipping away at the opposing team while they pivot around to survive the onslaught of Slither Wing and its teammates. On bulkier structures, Slither Wing appreciates defensive Pokemon like Jirachi, Cyclizar, and Slowbro that can tank attacks from threats like Gardevoir, Volcanion, and Galarian Zapdos that may attempt to take out Slither Wing. Many setup sweepers like Dragon Dance Gyarados, Quiver Dance Oricorio-E, and Calm Mind Fezandipiti can take advantage of Slither Wing, as they resist its STAB combination; therefore, anti-setup tools wielded by partners such as Choice Scarf + Trick Gardevoir, Encore Jirachi, and Whirlwind Hippowdon are greatly appreciated. However, Morning Sun Slither Wing has an anti-synergy when paired with weather setters like the aforementioned Sand Stream Hippowdon as well as Alolan Ninetales, which is worth considering when choosing its partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A setup sweeper set can be used, particularly on sun teams, with Bulk Up and Flame Charge; however, Slither Wing can be prevented from sweeping easily, as it takes several turns to get going. Pivot sets can run a bulkier EV spread in 252 HP / 16 Atk / 72 Def / 168 Spe that survives a +2 Iron Head from Adamant Bisharp while still outspeeding it, though the lack of power can be detrimental in making progress. A Choice Scarf with a Jolly nature allows Slither Wing to outspeed common Pokemon like Jirachi, Cyclizar, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir. Tera Fire, often in conjunction with Flame Charge or Flare Blitz under sun, can prevent Slither Wing from getting crippled and eliminated by Will-O-Wisp Galarian Weezing and Talonflame.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Common Flying-type Pokemon, like Noivern, Talonflame, and Galarian Zapdos, resist Slither Wing's attacks, outspeed it, and threaten it back with an OHKO.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Mimikyu, Fezandipiti, and Gardevoir threaten Slither Wing, with the former two being able to easily take its STAB attacks. Galarian Weezing similarly completely blanks Slither Wing lacking Heavy Slam and threatens it back with status and super effective damage.
**Physical Walls**: Physical walls like Hippowdon, Chesnaught, and Galarian Weezing take little damage from Slither Wing's attacks and can chip it down with Rocky Helmet if it's not holding Protective Pads. Hippowdon in particular can be annoying for pivot Slither Wing, as Sand Stream weakens Morning Sun. While Chesnaught can't do much to Slither Wing, it can make progress against its team by setting up Spikes with little risk. Even Slowbro can threaten Slither Wing with super effective damage and a possible burn, though it should be wary of taking too much damage from Slither Wing's Bug-type attacks.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Slither Wing is one of the strongest Fighting-type wallbreakers and pivots in the tier. With access to decent bulk, recovery in the form of Morning Sun, and status moves in Will-O-Wisp and Stun Spore, Slither Wing can prove to be extremely reliable and hard to take down as a pivot, thereby offering its teammates many chances to come in and take advantage of physical walls that may switch into it like Galarian Weezing and Hippowdon. Its naturally high Attack can also be skyrocketed by Choice Band to allow Slither Wing to easily blow holes in the opposing team. However, Slither Wing suffers from a STAB combination that is resisted by common Flying-, Poison-, and Fairy-type Pokemon like Talonflame, Galarian Weezing, and Mimikyu. While this can be somewhat mitigated by coverage attacks like Wild Charge and Heavy Slam, it significantly reduces Slither Wing's ability to threaten progress, as there are almost always Pokemon on the opposing team that can shrug off its attacks. Slither Wing's middling Speed stat also leaves it vulnerable to the numerous fast Flying-, Fairy-, and Psychic-type Pokemon in the tier such as Galarian Zapdos, Choice Scarf Gardevoir, and Jirachi.
[SET]
Pivot (Slither Wing) @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Protective Pads
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Bug / Steel
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- First Impression
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Morning Sun / Stun Spore / Will-O-Wisp / Heavy Slam
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Slither Wing is a reliable pivot that aims to make progress by chipping away at its checks via U-turn and repeatedly providing its teammates with opportunities to switch in safely. First Impression is valuable strong priority that can pick off weakened offensive Pokemon like Armarouge, Maushold, and Gardevoir. Morning Sun improves Slither Wing's longevity by allowing it to heal off chip damage. Stun Spore is useful for crippling Slither Wing's switch-ins like Hippowdon, Fezandipiti, and Galarian Weezing, while Will-O-Wisp can shut down its offensive checks like Galarian Zapdos, Mimikyu, and Dragon Dance Salamence. Heavy Slam is an alternative that hits Fairy-types like Galarian Weezing and Fezandipiti for decent damage. Heavy-Duty Boots allows Slither Wing to switch in more often by ignoring entry hazards, whereas Protective Pads is useful to prevent it from being worn down by opposing Rocky Helmet and crippled by Talonflame's Flame Body. Jolly can be run over Adamant to outspeed Armarouge and Necrozma. Tera Bug secures OHKOs on Pokemon like Cyclizar, Slowbro, and Gardevoir with First Impression, as well as a KO on Slowbro after some chip damage. Tera Steel boosts Heavy Slam to OHKO Galarian Weezing after Stealth Rock damage and flips Slither Wing's Fairy, Flying, and Psychic weaknesses, enabling it to tank hits from Pokemon like Fezandipiti, Noivern, and Reuniclus.
Pivot Slither Wing fits best on offense and balance structures that appreciate a Fighting-type wallbreaker with good defensive utility thanks to its resistances to Ground-, Dark- and Fighting-type attacks from common threats like Krookodile, Bisharp, and Mienshao, as well as strong priority. Its ability to lure in bulky Pokemon like Galarian Weezing, Talonflame, and Hippowdon and pivot out with U-turn can provide safe entry to strong special wallbreakers like Volcanion, Armarouge, and Hisuian Zoroark that can proceed to blow holes in the opposing team. Slither Wing can also form VoltTurn cores with many specially offensive Pokemon, including the likes of Basculegion-F, Magnezone, Noivern, and Fezandipiti, that can similarly take advantage of its defensive switch-ins to fire off attacks safely, while they themselves attract specially defensive Pokemon like Hisuian Goodra and Umbreon that can be exploited by Slither Wing. Entry hazard support from teammates like Krookodile, Jirachi, and Chesnaught can supplement this by chipping away at the opposing team while they pivot around to survive the onslaught of Slither Wing and its teammates. On bulkier structures, Slither Wing appreciates defensive Pokemon like Jirachi, Cyclizar, and Slowbro that can tank attacks from threats like Gardevoir, Volcanion, and Galarian Zapdos that may attempt to take out Slither Wing. Many setup sweepers like Dragon Dance Gyarados, Quiver Dance Oricorio-E, and Calm Mind Fezandipiti can take advantage of Slither Wing, as they resist its STAB combination; therefore, anti-setup tools wielded by partners such as Choice Scarf + Trick Gardevoir, Encore Jirachi, and Whirlwind Hippowdon are greatly appreciated. However, Morning Sun Slither Wing has an anti-synergy when paired with weather setters like the aforementioned Sand Stream Hippowdon as well as Alolan Ninetales, which is worth considering when choosing its partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
A setup sweeper set can be used, particularly on sun teams, with Bulk Up and Flame Charge; however, Slither Wing can be prevented from sweeping easily, as it takes several turns to get going. Pivot sets can run a bulkier EV spread in 252 HP / 16 Atk / 72 Def / 168 Spe that survives a +2 Iron Head from Adamant Bisharp while still outspeeding it, though the lack of power can be detrimental in making progress. A Choice Scarf with a Jolly nature allows Slither Wing to outspeed common Pokemon like Jirachi, Cyclizar, and Choice Scarf Gardevoir. Tera Fire, often in conjunction with Flame Charge or Flare Blitz under sun, can prevent Slither Wing from getting crippled and eliminated by Will-O-Wisp Galarian Weezing and Talonflame.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Common Flying-type Pokemon, like Noivern, Talonflame, and Galarian Zapdos, resist Slither Wing's attacks, outspeed it, and threaten it back with an OHKO.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Mimikyu, Fezandipiti, and Gardevoir threaten Slither Wing, with the former two being able to easily take its STAB attacks. Galarian Weezing similarly completely blanks Slither Wing lacking Heavy Slam and threatens it back with status and super effective damage.
**Physical Walls**: Physical walls like Hippowdon, Chesnaught, and Galarian Weezing take little damage from Slither Wing's attacks and can chip it down with Rocky Helmet if it's not holding Protective Pads. Hippowdon in particular can be annoying for pivot Slither Wing, as Sand Stream weakens Morning Sun. While Chesnaught can't do much to Slither Wing, it can make progress against its team by setting up Spikes with little risk. Even Slowbro can threaten Slither Wing with super effective damage and a possible burn, though it should be wary of taking too much damage from Slither Wing's Bug-type attacks.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
