[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Trick
move 4: Thunderbolt / Will-O-Wisp / Defog
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf improves Rotom's revenge killing capabilities at the cost of some wallbreaking power; it outpaces foes like Cinccino, Silvally-Poison, and Choice Scarf Sawk. Volt Switch can be used to pick off weakened foes while also keeping momentum against potential switch-ins. Trick can be used once there isn't a need for Rotom's revenge killing purposes and punishes passive walls like Galarian Stunfisk and Articuno. Thunderbolt makes for a great cleaning move, as it is a stronger Electric-type STAB move that doesn't force Rotom out. Alternatively, Will-O-Wisp cripples opposing targets, namely physical Ground-types like Rhydon, Piloswine, and Galarian Stunfisk, while Defog is useful on teams that cannot fit entry hazard removal elsewhere.
Rotom enjoys the luxury of being able to use Volt Switch as often as possible, so having a entry hazard remover such as Articuno, Altaria, or Coalossal is a good idea. Pairing Rotom with Pokemon that can deal with Ground-types like Poliwrath and Gourgeist-S is also recommended to achieve this goal. Rotom also benefits greatly from entry hazard support, as it wants to use Volt Switch often to force out common Pokemon like Qwilfish and Articuno and wear down common switch-ins such as Throh and Audino. Good examples of entry hazard setters include Miltank, Qwilfish, and Alolan Sandslash. Physically offensive threats such as Sawk, Rapidash, and Silvally-Dark benefit from Rotom's ability to bring them in safely after forcing out their checks. Rotom is great on VoltTurn cores and works well with other pivots such as Articuno, Wishiwashi, and Thwackey.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Defog / Pain Split
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Hex
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Colbur Berry / Heavy-Duty Boots / Sitrus Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With great status moves and Volt Switch, Rotom is a great offensive pivot that offers solid utility. Defog is great on teams that need entry hazard control, while Pain Split provides Rotom with a form of recovery. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers and Ground-types such as Rhydon, Kangaskhan, Thwackey, and Piloswine, and it also boosts the power of Hex. Colbur Berry prevents Rotom from being KOed by Sawk's Knock Off, which gives Rotom a chance to cripple it with a burn, while Heavy-Duty Boots allows Rotom to avoid taking Stealth Rock damage when pivoting. Sitrus Berry can be used for more general increased longevity and is preferred over Leftovers due to the constant pivoting.
Rotom is best used on bulky offense and balance teams that benefit from its ability to disrupt opposing teams and offer support with Defog. Pokemon such as Kangaskhan, Thwackey, and Sawk that appreciate Rotom's ability to bring them in safely; and in return, they can make up for Rotom's lack of immediate power, as it is reliant on spreading burns in order to maximize its power. Offensive threats such as Rapidash, Ninetales, and Skuntank appreciate Rotom's ability to lure in Ground-types and cripple them with burns. Rapidash and Ninetales also benefit from Defog and Rotom forcing out Water-types like Wishiwashi and Cramorant. Skuntank helps Rotom by checking faster Ghost-types such as Gourgeist-S and Choice Scarf Rotom and Dark-types like Shiftry and Thievul. Other status inducers like Thunder Wave Qwilfish and Toxic Rapidash pair well with Hex.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Volt Switch
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Rotom is one of the most threatening special attackers in ZU due to the lack of Pokemon that resist its STAB combination. Choice Specs further facilitates Rotom's wallbreaking power by letting it nab 2HKOs on most walls, while its solid Speed allows it to revenge kill a weakened Skuntank or Rotom-S. Volt Switch lets Rotom gain momentum on Water- and Flying-types and get out of bad matchups against threats such as Eldegoss and Appletun. Trick can be used not only to immediately cripple the aforementioned specially defensive walls but also to punish Ground-types that may attempt to block its Volt Switch attempts, such as Stunfisk and Piloswine.
Rotom is susceptible to being revenge killed by faster Dark-types like Alolan Persian and Silvally-Dark if it is locked into Shadow Ball; therefore, it is imperative that you pair Rotom with Fighting- or Fairy-types such as Sawk, Gurdurr, Alcremie, and Clefairy. The aforementioned Fighting-types also benefit from Rotom's ability to break past physical walls such as Tangela and Uxie and can deal with Normal-types like Kangaskhan and Miltank so Rotom can use Shadow Ball more freely. Pivots such as Wishiwashi and Silvally formes make for great partners, as they can bring Rotom in safely and form a solid VoltTurn core. Tangela and Appletun can switch into Ground-types like Stunfisk and Rhydon should Rotom lock into an Electric-type move.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Substitute / Pain Split
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nasty Plot Rotom is a great wallbreaker on offensive teams. With a single boost, Rotom OHKOes physical walls such as Tangela and Cofagrigus and has a chance to 2HKO specially defensive walls such as Alolan Sandslash and Articuno. Substitute lets Rotom block status attempts from Altaria and Miltank and set up on them freely. Alternatively, Pain Split can be used to give Rotom semi-reliable recovery, which helps it set up against foes like Rotom-S and Clefairy lacking Toxic more easily.
Thwackey can lure in Flying-types and bring in Rotom safely so it can freely set up with Nasty Plot. In return, Rotom can break past physical walls such as Tangela, Cofagrigus, and Altaria, which Thwackey struggles with. Late-game cleaners such Alcremie and Quiver Dance Frosmoth benefit greatly from Rotom's ability to weaken special walls such as Galarian Stunfisk and Articuno. Teleport Clefairy and physically defensive Wishiwashi are great defensive pivots that can absorb Dark-type attacks from revenge killers like Silvally-Dark and Choice Scarf Sawk. Rotom also appreciates having Knock Off users like Shiftry and Alolan Persian to weaken special walls such as Throh and Clefairy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic can be used over Will-O-Wisp to better cripple defensive walls like Eldegoss and Coalossal at the expense of not punishing physical attackers as hard. Discharge is an alternative to Thunderbolt on sets with Hex. Rotom can forgo Special Attack investment and run a more bulky set with maximum HP investment to better check physical Ground- and Fighting-types like Piloswine and Sawk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Silvally-Dark and Alolan Persian are faster than non-Choice Scarf Rotom and can revenge kill it easily. Skuntank can use Rotom as setup fodder if it has locked itself into Shadow Ball. Shiftry and Morpeko resist Rotom's STAB attacks but must be wary of switching into Will-O-Wisp or being pivoted upon, as they are quite frail.
**Electric-immune Pokemon**: Rhydon, Piloswine, Stunfisk, and Manectric can safely switch into Rotom's Electric-type attacks, especially if it has a Choice item. However, Rhydon and Piloswine dislike Will-O-Wisp and Trick, and all of the aforementioned Pokemon do not enjoy switching into Choice Specs Shadow Ball.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Despite Rotom having a decent Special Attack stat, it struggles to break past Pokemon with solid special bulk, as they can take a hit and retaliate. Frosmoth can set up relatively freely on Rotom as long as it avoids Trick, while Throh can threaten Rotom immediately with Knock Off. Specially defensive walls such as Clefairy, Appletun, and Malamar are great long-term checks, as they have reliable recovery; Clefairy can also pivot into a revenge killer, while the latter two threaten Rotom immediately.
**Faster Threats**: Non-Choice Scarf Rotom is very susceptible to being revenge killed by Choice Scarf users such as Sawk and Basculin. Faster Pokemon such as Rapidash, Cinccino, and Gourgeist-S threaten Rotom. Pokemon with priority moves such as Thwackey and Kangaskhan can also threaten to revenge kill Rotom after some prior chip damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Jett, 226429]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tuthur, 369076], [S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990]]
Last edited:
