[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Roaring Moon is a solid setup sweeper, combining great Speed and Attack with solid bulk, good coverage, and Protosynthesis. Even when not setting up, Roaring Moon can be a strong wallbreaker, using Knock Off to remove foes' items and punching holes in teams with solid coverage. Even with all of these great traits, Roaring Moon can struggle against faster physical threats, can run into difficulty because of phazing moves, and its common weaknesses mean it can get Koed before it can setup.
Common Roles
**Setup Sweeper**: Combining Booster Energy, strong STAB attacks, and coverage moves allows Roaring Moon to threaten foes out and create opportunities for itself to set up. Thanks to its special bulk, Roost can also fit on these sets, allowing Roaring Moon to stay healthy and set up further. and commit to a sweep.
**Wallbreaker**: Roaring Moon can use its high base Attack to be an immediate threat to teams even without setup. Thanks to its easily spammable STAB moves, Roaring Moon can wear down opposing teams and force many switches. It can take advantage of the switches it forces by using U-turn to pivot teammates in for better matchups.
**Revenge Killer**: Because of its naturally high Speed, Roaring Moon can have good success as a revenge killer. Utilizing items like Choice Scarf or Booster Energy, Roaring Moon can be great speed control, forcing many foes out and regaining momentum.
Common Moves
**Primary STAB Moves**: Knock Off, Crunch, Throat Chop, Outrage, Dragon Claw, Scale Shot
**Setup Moves**: Dragon Dance
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Roost, Substitute, Taunt
**Coverage**: Acrobatics, Earthquake, Brick Break, Fire Fang, Iron Head, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Zen Headbutt, X-Scissor, Thunder Fang
Niche Moves
**Jaw Lock**: Jaw Lock is a niche option that lets Roaring Moon trap a passive Pokemon on the field, allowing it to set up freely.
**Phazing Moves**: Dragon Tail or Roar can be used to phaze foes on bulkier sets that aim to take advantage of Roaring Moon's special bulk in order to check special threats.
Common Items
**Booster Energy**: Booster Energy can viably boost Attack or Speed depending on what the matchup requires. This also enables Roaring Moon to effectively use Acrobatics, which can be a great coverage move, as well as turning it into a strong win condition.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band lets Roaring Moon be an amazing wallbreaker, spamming Knock Off and other powerful STAB moves to weaken opposing teams and using U-turn to pivot out on defensive switch-ins.
**Choice Scarf**: When speed control is needed more reliably than a single Booster Energy activation, Choice Scarf allows Roaring Moon to be a speedy threat for the duration of the game. It also enables Roaring Moon to function as a highly effective revenge killer.
Niche Items
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items are highly effective options for Roaring Moon. By boosting damage consistently throughout a match, these items can enable Roaring Moon to hit important damage thresholds without the one-time use drawback of Booster Energy or the Choice-lock from Choice items.
**Clear Amulet**: When facing Intimidate or Parting Shot users, Clear Amulet can be useful to maintain a boosted Attack stat and prevent switches from Parting Shot.
**Lum Berry**: As a physical attacker, Lum Berry can allow Roaring Moon circumvent status that may hinder it throughout the match. Lum Berry can also enable Outrage by curing its confusion.
**Assault Vest**: Due to its naturally high special bulk, Roaring Moon can be an effective user of Assault Vest, allowing it to be a soft check to many special threats.
**Loaded Dice**: Scale Shot is a solid move in Roaring Moon's arsenal, and Loaded Dice allows for more consistent damage output when using it.
**Leftovers**: Extra longevity through passive healing can do a lot for Roaring Moon, especially if it's going to be on the battlefield for many turns or is taking on a bulkier role in a team.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: When facing teams with a lot of entry hazard support, Heavy-Duty Boots can be a valuable item for preserving health on Roaring Moon, allowing it to be effective throughout a game.
Tera
Roaring Moon is near-universally banned as a Tera Captain, since the ability to change its type to a favorable matchup gives it near unparalleled setup ability. If you are able to make Roaring Moon your Tera Captain, Using Tera Poison or Steel to create setup opportunities in front of a Fairy-type is one of the best ways for Roaring Moon to use Terastallization. Tera can also be used to boost the power of coverage moves, like combining Tera Flying with Acrobatics. If Roaring Moon is available as a Tera Captain, it is a viable early-to-mid-round 1 pick and should be the centerpiece of your draft.
Draft Strategy
When drafting Roaring Moon, it is important to think about partners that enable Roaring Moon's ability to get in and deal damage. While it has amazing stats and access to great setup options, Roaring Moon struggles getting through an entire team on its own. Things like reliable entry hazard support and solid pivots to get Roaring Moon on the field in favorable matchups go a long way in helping Roaring Moon reach its maximum potential.
**Bulky Pivots**: Roaring Moon never wants to be switching out, but if it is, Pokemon like Slowking or Corviknight can take hits and pivot back into Roaring Moon, which make them great partners. By using these partners, Roaring Moon can safely avoid damage and get back on the field in a more advantageous position.
**Fairy-type Answers**: One of Roaring Moon's biggest weaknesses is Fairy-type Pokemon and attacks. Pokemon that can switch into Fairy-type moves and threaten Fairy-types like Iron treads or Gholdengo make great partners for Roaring Moon.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Any extra damage helps in enabling Roaring Moon which makes partners like Ogerpon-Cornerstone and Meowscarada who excel at setting entry hazards great teammates. In addition, since Roaring Moon is one of the best Knock Off users in Draft, it can even help itself by removing pesky Heavy-Duty Boots from foes.
**Special Attackers**: Having teammates that can force in specially defensive Pokemon and then pivot into Roaring Moon, such as Landorus or Enamorus, or vice versa, helps to maximize each other's wallbreaking potential.
Checks and Counters
**Fairy- and Steel-types**: While individually Roaring Moon has coverage for both of these types, many teams pair these types together, and Roaring Moon can find it difficult to fit moves to hit both defensive types for super effective damage. A pair like Corviknight and Azumarill can both threaten Roaring Moon, and it is very difficult to fit coverage for both Pokemon into a single Roaring Moon set.
**Priority Moves / Fast Revenge Killers**: Roaring Moon has a good HP stat and solid Special Defense, but its Defense leaves much to be desired. Because of this, priority moves can be one of the best ways to deal with Roaring Moon, such as Bullet Punch from Scizor or Ice Shard from Weavile. Even Pokemon without priority moves that are naturally faster than Roaring Moon, like Meowscarada and Greninja, can threaten to revenge kill Roaring Moon—even if it has a Speed boost.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Dondozo, Gliscor and Great Tusk, among other strong defensive walls, can be difficult for Roaring Moon to take down. They are effective because they are able to survive a hit from Roaring Moon and either phaze it or hinder it with status or damage.
Credits
Written by
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/termnal.404799/
Quality checked by
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
Grammar checked by
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Roaring Moon is a solid setup sweeper, combining great Speed and Attack with solid bulk, good coverage, and Protosynthesis. Even when not setting up, Roaring Moon can be a strong wallbreaker, using Knock Off to remove foes' items and punching holes in teams with solid coverage. Even with all of these great traits, Roaring Moon can struggle against faster physical threats, can run into difficulty because of phazing moves, and its common weaknesses mean it can get Koed before it can setup.
Common Roles
**Setup Sweeper**: Combining Booster Energy, strong STAB attacks, and coverage moves allows Roaring Moon to threaten foes out and create opportunities for itself to set up. Thanks to its special bulk, Roost can also fit on these sets, allowing Roaring Moon to stay healthy and set up further. and commit to a sweep.
**Wallbreaker**: Roaring Moon can use its high base Attack to be an immediate threat to teams even without setup. Thanks to its easily spammable STAB moves, Roaring Moon can wear down opposing teams and force many switches. It can take advantage of the switches it forces by using U-turn to pivot teammates in for better matchups.
**Revenge Killer**: Because of its naturally high Speed, Roaring Moon can have good success as a revenge killer. Utilizing items like Choice Scarf or Booster Energy, Roaring Moon can be great speed control, forcing many foes out and regaining momentum.
Common Moves
**Primary STAB Moves**: Knock Off, Crunch, Throat Chop, Outrage, Dragon Claw, Scale Shot
**Setup Moves**: Dragon Dance
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Roost, Substitute, Taunt
**Coverage**: Acrobatics, Earthquake, Brick Break, Fire Fang, Iron Head, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Zen Headbutt, X-Scissor, Thunder Fang
Niche Moves
**Jaw Lock**: Jaw Lock is a niche option that lets Roaring Moon trap a passive Pokemon on the field, allowing it to set up freely.
**Phazing Moves**: Dragon Tail or Roar can be used to phaze foes on bulkier sets that aim to take advantage of Roaring Moon's special bulk in order to check special threats.
Common Items
**Booster Energy**: Booster Energy can viably boost Attack or Speed depending on what the matchup requires. This also enables Roaring Moon to effectively use Acrobatics, which can be a great coverage move, as well as turning it into a strong win condition.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band lets Roaring Moon be an amazing wallbreaker, spamming Knock Off and other powerful STAB moves to weaken opposing teams and using U-turn to pivot out on defensive switch-ins.
**Choice Scarf**: When speed control is needed more reliably than a single Booster Energy activation, Choice Scarf allows Roaring Moon to be a speedy threat for the duration of the game. It also enables Roaring Moon to function as a highly effective revenge killer.
Niche Items
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items are highly effective options for Roaring Moon. By boosting damage consistently throughout a match, these items can enable Roaring Moon to hit important damage thresholds without the one-time use drawback of Booster Energy or the Choice-lock from Choice items.
**Clear Amulet**: When facing Intimidate or Parting Shot users, Clear Amulet can be useful to maintain a boosted Attack stat and prevent switches from Parting Shot.
**Lum Berry**: As a physical attacker, Lum Berry can allow Roaring Moon circumvent status that may hinder it throughout the match. Lum Berry can also enable Outrage by curing its confusion.
**Assault Vest**: Due to its naturally high special bulk, Roaring Moon can be an effective user of Assault Vest, allowing it to be a soft check to many special threats.
**Loaded Dice**: Scale Shot is a solid move in Roaring Moon's arsenal, and Loaded Dice allows for more consistent damage output when using it.
**Leftovers**: Extra longevity through passive healing can do a lot for Roaring Moon, especially if it's going to be on the battlefield for many turns or is taking on a bulkier role in a team.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: When facing teams with a lot of entry hazard support, Heavy-Duty Boots can be a valuable item for preserving health on Roaring Moon, allowing it to be effective throughout a game.
Tera
Roaring Moon is near-universally banned as a Tera Captain, since the ability to change its type to a favorable matchup gives it near unparalleled setup ability. If you are able to make Roaring Moon your Tera Captain, Using Tera Poison or Steel to create setup opportunities in front of a Fairy-type is one of the best ways for Roaring Moon to use Terastallization. Tera can also be used to boost the power of coverage moves, like combining Tera Flying with Acrobatics. If Roaring Moon is available as a Tera Captain, it is a viable early-to-mid-round 1 pick and should be the centerpiece of your draft.
Draft Strategy
When drafting Roaring Moon, it is important to think about partners that enable Roaring Moon's ability to get in and deal damage. While it has amazing stats and access to great setup options, Roaring Moon struggles getting through an entire team on its own. Things like reliable entry hazard support and solid pivots to get Roaring Moon on the field in favorable matchups go a long way in helping Roaring Moon reach its maximum potential.
**Bulky Pivots**: Roaring Moon never wants to be switching out, but if it is, Pokemon like Slowking or Corviknight can take hits and pivot back into Roaring Moon, which make them great partners. By using these partners, Roaring Moon can safely avoid damage and get back on the field in a more advantageous position.
**Fairy-type Answers**: One of Roaring Moon's biggest weaknesses is Fairy-type Pokemon and attacks. Pokemon that can switch into Fairy-type moves and threaten Fairy-types like Iron treads or Gholdengo make great partners for Roaring Moon.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Any extra damage helps in enabling Roaring Moon which makes partners like Ogerpon-Cornerstone and Meowscarada who excel at setting entry hazards great teammates. In addition, since Roaring Moon is one of the best Knock Off users in Draft, it can even help itself by removing pesky Heavy-Duty Boots from foes.
**Special Attackers**: Having teammates that can force in specially defensive Pokemon and then pivot into Roaring Moon, such as Landorus or Enamorus, or vice versa, helps to maximize each other's wallbreaking potential.
Checks and Counters
**Fairy- and Steel-types**: While individually Roaring Moon has coverage for both of these types, many teams pair these types together, and Roaring Moon can find it difficult to fit moves to hit both defensive types for super effective damage. A pair like Corviknight and Azumarill can both threaten Roaring Moon, and it is very difficult to fit coverage for both Pokemon into a single Roaring Moon set.
**Priority Moves / Fast Revenge Killers**: Roaring Moon has a good HP stat and solid Special Defense, but its Defense leaves much to be desired. Because of this, priority moves can be one of the best ways to deal with Roaring Moon, such as Bullet Punch from Scizor or Ice Shard from Weavile. Even Pokemon without priority moves that are naturally faster than Roaring Moon, like Meowscarada and Greninja, can threaten to revenge kill Roaring Moon—even if it has a Speed boost.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Dondozo, Gliscor and Great Tusk, among other strong defensive walls, can be difficult for Roaring Moon to take down. They are effective because they are able to survive a hit from Roaring Moon and either phaze it or hinder it with status or damage.
Credits
Written by
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/termnal.404799/
Quality checked by
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/vmnunes.613460/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845/
Grammar checked by
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
