[OVERVIEW]
With its high speed, good movepool and powerful offensive typing, Lycanroc has leashed itself to a great spot in ZU as a paw-sitively potent offensive sweeper as well as an adept hazard lead. It's access to a unique Rock-type priority move in Accelerock lets it bury faster targets like Sneasel as well as boosted threats like Quiver Dance Frosmoth and Agillity Braviary. Swords Dance Lycanroc is a prolific wallbreaker and sweeper enabled by its amazing Speed and Accelerock. The lead set can start games off with Stealth Rocks, deny opposing hazards with Taunt, and severely weaken an opponent with Endeavor. However, Lycanroc is hounded by several issued. Its severe lack of bulk means that any strong neutral attack will likely take it out, hampering its opportunities to set up and sweep. Lycanroc also lacks in power if it can't hit a foe super effectively, which can leave it with all bark and no bite against certain foes like Regirock, Palossand and especially Dipplin. Lycanroc's sweep is easily put down by many revenge killers like Passimian, Whimsicott, and Qwilfish, which aren't as afraid of Accelerock. The suicide lead set faces competition from Froslass, which has access to Spikes and a more effective trade-down tool in Destiny Bond, and Hisuian Avalugg, which has Rapid Spin, hits harder, and a free item slot due to Sturdy freeing its need for a Focus Sash.
[SET]
Lycanroc @ Life Orb / Loaded Dice
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Fighting / Ghost
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge / Rock Blast
- Close Combat
- Accelerock
Lycanroc's high Speed and excellent Attack make it a deadly revenge killer, wallbreaker, and setup sweeper. The many switches it forces on foes like Charizard and Sneasel lets it grab a Swords Dance boost and potentially sweep. Stone Edge, while innacurate, is Lycanroc's strongest STAB attack. Rock Blast in conjunction with Loaded Dice is more accurate, but results in Lycanroc losing Life Orb's extra power on its other moves. Lycanroc has a wide array of coverage moves to pick and choose from, with Close Combat being the most reliable choice for its high power and coverage against foes like Orthworm, Regirock and Brute Bonnet. Accelerock lets Lycanroc pick off Rock-weak foes like Sneasel and Choice Scarf Typhlosion, as well as weakened targets like Floatzel, Qwilfish and Hisuian Sneasel. Sand Rush is the best choice of ability for Lycanroc, as on Sand teams, Sand Rush allows Lycanroc to outspeed everything in the metagame, while on non-sand teams it gives a positive matchup into opposing Sand. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to outrun Charizard, Mismagius and Froslass, but Adamant is an option on Sand teams because of the double speed from Sand Rush. Tera Fighting gives Lycanroc immense power on Close Combat, notably cleanly OHKOing Orthworm and Regirock at +2, with the added benefit of resisting Sucker Punch from Brute Bonnet and Hisuain Decidueye. Tera Ghost flips Lycanroc's Fighting weakness, letting it eat a Close Combat from Choice Scarf Passimian and Hisuian Sneasel and avoid Hitmonlee's Mach Punch.
Offense and Hyper Offense teams enjoy Lycanroc's powerful wallbreaking and sweeping potential as well as the assurance it provides against opposing offense with Accelerock, especially against Sun teams. Pivots like Passimian, Mesprit and Whimsicott help Lycanroc hit the field safely against its prey. Whimsicott is a particularly good partner, as it handles many of Lycanroc's answers like Hisuian Decidueye, Dipplin, and Sandaconda, and it's Prankster Encore can give Lycanroc it's chance to sweep. In return, Whimsicott can bring Lycanroc in against its own checks like Charizard, Magneton, and Articuno, all of which Lycanroc threatens to bury six feet under. Other physical breakers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Qwilfish, Choice Band Sneasel and Floatzel, and Booster Energy Brute Bonnet all play well with Lycanroc, digging open gaping holes in the foes' defenses for each other to exploit. (Mention special attackers that can also take advantage of Lycanroc's checks and counters.) Dipplin is a near perfect wall to Lycanroc, so teammates that can exploit it like Charizard and Magneton are quite handy. Lycanroc is quite frail, so defensive teammates like Qwilfish, Weezing, and Dudunsparce are all helpful for it to fall back on. Lycanroc loves entry hazard setters like Sandslash, Hisuian Qwilfish and Orthworm, as the chip damage from Spikes soften up many of its answers like Dipplin, Sandaconda and Palossand, helping Lycanroc secure its kills much more easily. On sand teams, Sand Spit Sandaconda is necessary to set Sandstorm, and fellow sand abusers like Sandslash can band together with Lycanroc to hunt the opposing team down. As Lycanroc struggles with Fighting-types, teammates that can deal with them like Oricorio forms and Whimsicott are its best friends. Other sweepers on hyper offense teams are useful partners for Lycanroc as well, since many of them like Nasty Plot Mesprit, Swords Dance Qwilfish and Frosmoth can exploit Lycanroc's answers in Sandaconda, Regirock and Palossand respectively. Physical sweepers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Virizion benefit from the holes in the enemy team left behind by Lycanroc, easing their sweeps. Healing Wish support from Mesprit and Shaymin allow Lycanroc to lick its wounds and go for a second round of sweeping.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lycanroc can opt out of Accelerock on Sand teams since it outruns everything with Sand Rush active. Choice Band may seem tempting to slap on Lycanroc, but none of its moves are spammable, making the set heavily prediction reliant, and Lycanroc prefers on switching moves to deal super effective damage. Crunch allows Lycanroc to hit Palossand hard, which would otherwise be a perfect counter, while Psychic Fangs nails other common physically defensive Pokmeon such as Hisuian Decidueye, Weezing and Qwilfish. Play Rough hits Fighting-types slightly harder than Psychic Fangs and is Lycanroc's best bet at breaking past Dipplin However, dropping Close Combat leave Lycanroc unable to break past Orthworm, Magneton and Regirock, which are generally more common.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Faster Fighting-types like Choice Scarf Passimian and Hisuian Sneasel resist Accelerock and can cleanly take Lycanroc out with Close Combat. Hisuian Decidueye has enough bulk on defensive sets to take one attack and retaliate by OHKOing Lycanroc, and Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan have a strong Mach Punch to pick it off.
**Ground Types**: Sandaconda, Palossand and Sandslash resist Lycanroc's Rock-type attacks, and can all tank a boosted attack from Lycanroc before KOing it back in return with a Ground-type attack.
**Water-types**: Floatzel outspeeds Lycanroc and threatens it immensely, being able to pivot on it with Flip Turn or picking it off with faster priority in Aqua Jet. Qwilfish hinders Lycanroc with Intimidate, and can pick it off with Aqua Jet or surprise it with a Choice Scarf. Lanturn doesn't switch into Lycanroc well but can take an unboosted attack and retaliate with a Water-type attack or status.
**Physical Walls**: A healthy Dipplin completely walls Lycanroc and threatens it back with Giga Drain. Weezing isn't very keen on taking Stone Edge but can burn Lycanroc in retaliation. Orthworm and Regirock can Terastillize out of their Fighting-type weakness, collaring Lycanroc and threatening it back with Body Press.
**Status Conditions**: Burn from Weezing and Charizard muzzles Lycanroc's offensive capabilities, while Paralysis from Lanturn and Dudunsparce cuffs its great speed while potentially stopping it from attacking, which is fatal for something as frail as Lycanroc. Poison and Toxic chip from Poison Touch Grafaiai and Hisuian Qwilfish rapidly wear away at Lycanroc's health, especially together with Life Orb recoil and entry hazards.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sinnabyss.626095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Grammar checked by:
[/COPYEDIT]
With its high speed, good movepool and powerful offensive typing, Lycanroc has leashed itself to a great spot in ZU as a paw-sitively potent offensive sweeper as well as an adept hazard lead. It's access to a unique Rock-type priority move in Accelerock lets it bury faster targets like Sneasel as well as boosted threats like Quiver Dance Frosmoth and Agillity Braviary. Swords Dance Lycanroc is a prolific wallbreaker and sweeper enabled by its amazing Speed and Accelerock. The lead set can start games off with Stealth Rocks, deny opposing hazards with Taunt, and severely weaken an opponent with Endeavor. However, Lycanroc is hounded by several issued. Its severe lack of bulk means that any strong neutral attack will likely take it out, hampering its opportunities to set up and sweep. Lycanroc also lacks in power if it can't hit a foe super effectively, which can leave it with all bark and no bite against certain foes like Regirock, Palossand and especially Dipplin. Lycanroc's sweep is easily put down by many revenge killers like Passimian, Whimsicott, and Qwilfish, which aren't as afraid of Accelerock. The suicide lead set faces competition from Froslass, which has access to Spikes and a more effective trade-down tool in Destiny Bond, and Hisuian Avalugg, which has Rapid Spin, hits harder, and a free item slot due to Sturdy freeing its need for a Focus Sash.
[SET]
Lycanroc @ Life Orb / Loaded Dice
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Fighting / Ghost
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge / Rock Blast
- Close Combat
- Accelerock
Lycanroc's high Speed and excellent Attack make it a deadly revenge killer, wallbreaker, and setup sweeper. The many switches it forces on foes like Charizard and Sneasel lets it grab a Swords Dance boost and potentially sweep. Stone Edge, while innacurate, is Lycanroc's strongest STAB attack. Rock Blast in conjunction with Loaded Dice is more accurate, but results in Lycanroc losing Life Orb's extra power on its other moves. Lycanroc has a wide array of coverage moves to pick and choose from, with Close Combat being the most reliable choice for its high power and coverage against foes like Orthworm, Regirock and Brute Bonnet. Accelerock lets Lycanroc pick off Rock-weak foes like Sneasel and Choice Scarf Typhlosion, as well as weakened targets like Floatzel, Qwilfish and Hisuian Sneasel. Sand Rush is the best choice of ability for Lycanroc, as on Sand teams, Sand Rush allows Lycanroc to outspeed everything in the metagame, while on non-sand teams it gives a positive matchup into opposing Sand. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to outrun Charizard, Mismagius and Froslass, but Adamant is an option on Sand teams because of the double speed from Sand Rush. Tera Fighting gives Lycanroc immense power on Close Combat, notably cleanly OHKOing Orthworm and Regirock at +2, with the added benefit of resisting Sucker Punch from Brute Bonnet and Hisuain Decidueye. Tera Ghost flips Lycanroc's Fighting weakness, letting it eat a Close Combat from Choice Scarf Passimian and Hisuian Sneasel and avoid Hitmonlee's Mach Punch.
Offense and Hyper Offense teams enjoy Lycanroc's powerful wallbreaking and sweeping potential as well as the assurance it provides against opposing offense with Accelerock, especially against Sun teams. Pivots like Passimian, Mesprit and Whimsicott help Lycanroc hit the field safely against its prey. Whimsicott is a particularly good partner, as it handles many of Lycanroc's answers like Hisuian Decidueye, Dipplin, and Sandaconda, and it's Prankster Encore can give Lycanroc it's chance to sweep. In return, Whimsicott can bring Lycanroc in against its own checks like Charizard, Magneton, and Articuno, all of which Lycanroc threatens to bury six feet under. Other physical breakers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Qwilfish, Choice Band Sneasel and Floatzel, and Booster Energy Brute Bonnet all play well with Lycanroc, digging open gaping holes in the foes' defenses for each other to exploit. (Mention special attackers that can also take advantage of Lycanroc's checks and counters.) Dipplin is a near perfect wall to Lycanroc, so teammates that can exploit it like Charizard and Magneton are quite handy. Lycanroc is quite frail, so defensive teammates like Qwilfish, Weezing, and Dudunsparce are all helpful for it to fall back on. Lycanroc loves entry hazard setters like Sandslash, Hisuian Qwilfish and Orthworm, as the chip damage from Spikes soften up many of its answers like Dipplin, Sandaconda and Palossand, helping Lycanroc secure its kills much more easily. On sand teams, Sand Spit Sandaconda is necessary to set Sandstorm, and fellow sand abusers like Sandslash can band together with Lycanroc to hunt the opposing team down. As Lycanroc struggles with Fighting-types, teammates that can deal with them like Oricorio forms and Whimsicott are its best friends. Other sweepers on hyper offense teams are useful partners for Lycanroc as well, since many of them like Nasty Plot Mesprit, Swords Dance Qwilfish and Frosmoth can exploit Lycanroc's answers in Sandaconda, Regirock and Palossand respectively. Physical sweepers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Virizion benefit from the holes in the enemy team left behind by Lycanroc, easing their sweeps. Healing Wish support from Mesprit and Shaymin allow Lycanroc to lick its wounds and go for a second round of sweeping.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lycanroc can opt out of Accelerock on Sand teams since it outruns everything with Sand Rush active. Choice Band may seem tempting to slap on Lycanroc, but none of its moves are spammable, making the set heavily prediction reliant, and Lycanroc prefers on switching moves to deal super effective damage. Crunch allows Lycanroc to hit Palossand hard, which would otherwise be a perfect counter, while Psychic Fangs nails other common physically defensive Pokmeon such as Hisuian Decidueye, Weezing and Qwilfish. Play Rough hits Fighting-types slightly harder than Psychic Fangs and is Lycanroc's best bet at breaking past Dipplin However, dropping Close Combat leave Lycanroc unable to break past Orthworm, Magneton and Regirock, which are generally more common.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Faster Fighting-types like Choice Scarf Passimian and Hisuian Sneasel resist Accelerock and can cleanly take Lycanroc out with Close Combat. Hisuian Decidueye has enough bulk on defensive sets to take one attack and retaliate by OHKOing Lycanroc, and Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan have a strong Mach Punch to pick it off.
**Ground Types**: Sandaconda, Palossand and Sandslash resist Lycanroc's Rock-type attacks, and can all tank a boosted attack from Lycanroc before KOing it back in return with a Ground-type attack.
**Water-types**: Floatzel outspeeds Lycanroc and threatens it immensely, being able to pivot on it with Flip Turn or picking it off with faster priority in Aqua Jet. Qwilfish hinders Lycanroc with Intimidate, and can pick it off with Aqua Jet or surprise it with a Choice Scarf. Lanturn doesn't switch into Lycanroc well but can take an unboosted attack and retaliate with a Water-type attack or status.
**Physical Walls**: A healthy Dipplin completely walls Lycanroc and threatens it back with Giga Drain. Weezing isn't very keen on taking Stone Edge but can burn Lycanroc in retaliation. Orthworm and Regirock can Terastillize out of their Fighting-type weakness, collaring Lycanroc and threatening it back with Body Press.
**Status Conditions**: Burn from Weezing and Charizard muzzles Lycanroc's offensive capabilities, while Paralysis from Lanturn and Dudunsparce cuffs its great speed while potentially stopping it from attacking, which is fatal for something as frail as Lycanroc. Poison and Toxic chip from Poison Touch Grafaiai and Hisuian Qwilfish rapidly wear away at Lycanroc's health, especially together with Life Orb recoil and entry hazards.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sinnabyss.626095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Grammar checked by:
[/COPYEDIT]
Last edited:
