[OVERVIEW]
Rayquaza poses quite a threat to offense and defense teams alike in Ubers. With sky-high offenses, a strong and spammable STAB move in Dragon Ascent, and two great setup move choices in Dragon Dance and Swords Dance, Rayquaza excels at dismantling bulky teams. A decent defensive profile, including a resistance to Water-type moves that lets it pivot into Kyogre's STAB moves and grants it an immunity to Ground-type moves and Sticky Web, and access to a strong Extreme Speed give Rayquaza valuable utility against offensive teams. However, its below-average Speed and weaknesses to some of the most threatening Pokemon in the tier, like Koraidon, Miraidon, and Extreme Killer Arceus, hold it back against offensive teams, while physically defensive Arceus formes hold it back against defensive teams. Additionally, it is hurt by Ho-Oh's presence, as it is weak to the Rock-type moves many Pokemon run to hit Ho-Oh, like Arceus-Ground's Stone Edge or Power Gem.
[SET]
Dragon Dance (Rayquaza) @ Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Air Lock
Tera Type: Flying / Normal / Ground / Steel
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Ascent
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
With Dragon Dance, Rayquaza can fix its Speed issue while boosting its already mighty Attack. In conjunction with Tera Flying, Dragon Ascent plows through sturdy physical walls like Ho-Oh, Arceus-Fairy, and Arceus-Water with minor chip damage. Earthquake hits Miraidon, Zacian-C, and Necrozma-DM, the few Flying-resistant Pokemon in the tier. Extreme Speed is valuable for threatening non-Tera Ghost Koraidon after a Scale Shot and picking off weakened foes like Chien-Pao and Miraidon. Jolly is usually the preferred nature to outspeed Zacian-C after a Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf Koraidon after two, but on Sticky Web teams that mitigate its Speed issue, Adamant is better for the extra power. Adamant Rayquaza also has the benefit of OHKOing Miraidon and Zacian-C with unboosted Earthquake from full health with Life Orb. Life Orb strengthens Dragon Ascent while allowing Rayquaza to 2HKO defensive Necrozma-DM with +1 Earthquake. Focus Sash allows Rayquaza to survive a hit from Pokemon that would normally destroy it like Miraidon and Calyrex-I, allowing Rayquaza to beat them one-on-one. Tera Flying strengthens Rayquaza's already spammable Dragon Ascent, allowing it to get KOs it normally wouldn't. Tera Normal powers up Rayquaza's Extreme Speed, making it a fearsome late-game cleaner. Tera Ground allows Earthquake to 2HKO Necrozma-DM and always OHKO Zacian-C and Miraidon at +1 without Life Orb. Tera Steel gives Rayquaza setup opportunities and avoids revenge killing attempts against Pokemon that would normally trouble it, like Zacian-C, Choice Scarf Koraidon, Extreme Killer Arceus, Arceus-Fairy, and Eternatus.
Rayquaza fits on hyper offense teams that value its great initial power alongside strong priority. Ribombee's Sticky Web helps with Rayquaza's Speed issue, allowing it to run an Adamant nature. In return, Rayquaza's great power and immunity to Sticky Web allow it to threaten opposing Sticky Web teams. Glimmora can both set Spikes and deal with Stealth Rock with Mortal Spin, helping Rayquaza set up or get KOs without needing to Terastallize. Rayquaza shares many checks with Koraidon, making them natural partners that can wear down their checks for the other. Zacian-C can help Rayquaza against Koraidon and Miraidon, threatening to put Miraidon into range of Rayquaza's Extreme Speed and forcing Choice Scarf Koraidon to lock into Flare Blitz for Rayquaza to freely set up on.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to ignore Stealth Rock entirely. However, hyper offense teams, which Rayquaza finds itself on, can generally deal with Stealth Rock. Tera Fire can be used on the Dragon Dance set to gain an immunity to Will-O-Wisp. However, it is generally outclassed by Tera Steel.
Checks and Counters
====
**Faster Pokemon**: Without a Dragon Dance, many Pokemon in Ubers outspeed Rayquaza and threaten it in return, including, but not limited to, Koraidon, Miraidon, Eternatus, and Chien-Pao. Choice Scarf Koraidon also outspeeds Rayquaza even after one Dragon Dance.
**Ice-types**: Calyrex-I is more than bulky enough to survive boosted Dragon Ascents from Rayquaza and threaten it back. Chien-Pao and Kyurem-B also outspeed and threaten unboosted Rayquaza but must be wary of Extreme Speed.
**Priority**: Rayquaza is quite susceptible to getting picked off by strong priority moves from the likes of Extreme Killer Arceus, Chien-Pao, and Kingambit.
**Ice-type Coverage:** Kyogre, Arceus-Water, and Calm Mind Arceus-Ground can run Ice Beam to OHKO Rayquaza, making setting up against them unsafe.
**Rock-type Coverage**: Calm Mind Arceus-Ground commonly runs Power Gem, while Necrozma-DM, Landorus-T, and Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground run Stone Edge, which can hinder Rayquaza's opportunities to set up.
**Bulky Arceus Formes:** Bulky Arceus formes like Fairy, Ground, and Water can survive +1 Dragon Ascent from full health and threaten Will-O-Wisp or Thunder Wave, severely hurting Rayquaza's ability to sweep. Arceus-Fairy in particular can threaten an OHKO with Judgment.
**Corviknight:** Although Corviknight is rare, it walls Rayquaza and can set up Iron Defense all over it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/oreospeedruns.597293/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/katerina.306317/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
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