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Rotom-H
[Overview]
<p>Rotom-H's newfound Fire typing may not help it in the Overused environment where Tyranitar and Politoed lurk around every corner, but in UU, its very threatening STAB coverage and unique set of resistances let it shine. Thanks to its new typing, Rotom-H makes a safe switch-in against Mamoswine and Nidoking, both of whom are infamous for their near flawless coverage. With access to STAB Overheat and Trick, Rotom-H is a menace offensively, and respectable bulk paired with eight resistances lets it switch in easily. Sadly, Rotom-H's shallow movepool lets it down; unlike most Fire-types, it doesnt have access to Flamethrower or Fire Blast, and a lack of diversity makes it very predictable. Overall though, Rotom-H is one of the best ''glue'' Pokemon in UU, easily fitting in on nearly any team.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Rotom-H's great base 105 Special Attack paired with its newfound dual STAB combo, which is very difficult to wall efficiently, makes it a perfect candidate for a Choice user. Overheat now has STAB, and hits like a ton of bricks, with the only drawback being the Special Attack drop that follows. Rotom-H's secondary Electric-type STAB compliments Overheat nicely, because almost nothing that can switch into Overheat easily will appreciate being hit by a Volt Switch or Thunderbolt, and vice versa. Volt Switch allows Rotom-H to maintain momentum while also giving more fragile teammates an opportunity to easily switch in. Thunderbolt can be used for an extra power boost, and Rotom-H's weakness to Stealth Rock also means that switching every time it needs to hit with an Electric-type attack might put it at a disadvantage. Keep in mind that Rapid Spin users are more common in UU, though. Hidden Power Grass is essentially a filler move, but it hits some common Pokemon that resist Rotom-H's STAB attacks for 4x super effective damage, namely Quagsire and Rhyperior. Trick cripples Pokemon that give Rotom-H a hard time, Chansey being a notable example. Not only does it lock it into one move with a Choice item, it also removes its Eviolite and its boosted defenses.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Specs is also an option because of the set's sheer power, especially with Overheat. A Choice Scarf makes Rotom-H a reliable revenge killer though, and it can use its good coverage to take out faster enemies. Still, keep in mind that while a faster Volt Switch is useful, Choice Scarf Overheat becomes more of a liability than a asset. With a Timid nature, Rotom-H conveniently outpaces the likes of Heracross and Suicune, allowing it to outspeed them while still holding on to the massive power boost from Choice Specs. A Modest nature can be used to maximize its damage output though, and might be desirable for extra power on Choice Scarf variants. A bulkier EV spread is an option with Choice Specs, transforming Rotom-H from a hard, fast hitter into a tank. A spread of 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe with a Modest nature is advisable in this case. Will-O-Wisp can be used in the third slot if you find yourself relying on Trick too much to cripple walls, and the main Pokemon that are hit by Hidden Power Grass—Rhyperior and Quagsire—will not appreciate having their Attack stats halved either. Rotom-H should definitely be paired with a spinner because it is weak to Stealth Rock and has no recovery outside of Pain Split. Donphan is an option, as it can set up Stealth Rock to further aid Rotom-H, as well as sponge powerful physical attacks aimed at it. A bulky Water- or Grass-type is also advisable to cover up this combination's Water-type weakness. Milotic is a perfect example, thanks to its great special bulk and recovery.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Pain Split
item: Leftovers
nature: Modest
evs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is a better choice for balanced teams; it sacrifices power and Speed for extra bulk, recovery, and the ability to inflict status. Unfortunately, Rotom-H's only Fire-type attack is Overheat, which should be used more cautiously on this set than the Choice set due to its drawback. It is still extremely powerful, though. Thunderbolt compliments Overheat nicely, creating Rotom-H's great STAB combination that is walled by very few Pokemon. Bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Milotic and Blastoise that generally switch into Overheat will not appreciate a Thunderbolt to the face, though they can take the hit comfortably if Rotom-H has already used Overheat. Likewise, Pokemon that laugh at Thunderbolt, such as Donphan and Roserade, will be decimated by Overheat. The Pokemon that do resist Rotom-H's dual STAB—Rhyperior, Quagsire, and Flygon—are all crippled by Will-O-Wisp, punishing them for trying to switch in on resisted attacks. Pain Split rounds off the set, giving Rotom-H some form of recovery, although it is not always reliable.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs prioritize power, using max Special Attack and a Modest nature. 136 EVs in Speed allow Rotom-H to outspeed Adamant Honchkrow, while the remaining EVs are invested in HP to increase its bulk. A specially defensive spread can also be utilized (with 252 HP / 252 SpD) to exploit its great resistances. The same goes for a physically defensive spread with maximum investment in HP and Defense, which will greatly be aided by Will-O-Wisp and thus turn Rotom-H into quite the bulky physical tank. Hidden Power Grass is an option in the third slot over Will-O-Wisp, although the Pokemon that it hits are crippled with their Attack stats halved, and are as good as dead. Discharge is an option over Thunderbolt, sacrificing extra power for a high chance to paralyze the opponent, which may prove useful. Rotom-H has a choice when it comes to status moves, as it also has Thunder Wave and Toxic at its disposal. Thunder Wave could be useful for slowing down faster enemies, although many Pokemon that switch into Rotom-H are immune to Electric-type attacks. Toxic is an option to wear down bulkier opponents, although Rotom-H usually packs a punch against Pokemon that don't like being badly poisoned—bulky Water-types, for example. It is not necessary to pair Rotom-H with a spinner, but this is advised as it will greatly increase Rotom-H's longevity. Donphan is a perfect teammate. It has access to Rapid Spin to clear the field for Rotom-H, and can set up Stealth Rock to help it offensively. In return, Rotom-H can threaten Bulky Water- and Grass-types which give Donphan a hard time. As with most special attackers, Chansey can take anything that Rotom-H throws at it. Powerful physical attackers such as Hitmontop and Machamp are advisable alongside Rotom-H. Also, Roseade can switch in on Chansey, and use it as setup fodder, while resting off any damage it takes and becoming cured of sleep thanks to Natural Cure as it switches out.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>A RestTalk set can be utilized to deal with status and for reliable recovery. With it, Rotom-H can shrug off paralysis and poison, as well as recover more easily than with Pain Split. BW's new sleep mechanics and Rotom-H's Stealth Rock weakness really hinder the strategy, though. Rotom-H can also attempt a sweep with Charge Beam. SubCharge was a popular strategy in DPP because it was able to beat Blissey with an immunity to Seismic Toss and Substitute to block status. Unfortunately, the Rotom formes have lost their Ghost typing, and can no longer beat Blissey or Chansey, making the strategy less effective. Discharge is a slightly less powerful alternative to Thunderbolt, with the added benefit of a 30% paralysis chance. While it may seem like Discharge is the better option on bulky sets, most Pokemon that switch into Discharge won't mind being paralyzed (Shaymin, Roserade, Chansey) anyway. Shadow Ball is a filler move that can be used to hit Mew and Deoxys-D. Although Overheat does more damage initially, Shadow Ball is the superior option when used repeatedly. Rotom-H can also make use of Toxic and Thunder Wave to cripple opposing Pokemon. While Will-O-Wisp is usually the best option, Toxic can be useful for bulky Pokemon like Quagsire, and Thunder Wave can be used to cripple fast Pokemon to assist slow, powerful sweepers such as Escavalier and Druddigon.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Chansey takes pathetic damage from all of Rotom-H's attacks, and can freely use Wish, hit Rotom-H with Toxic which will cripple defensive sets, or even wear it down with Seismic Toss. However, it should avoid Trick, which will deprive it of Eviolite and lock it into one move, effectively neutering it; Rotom-H can also simply switch out with Volt Switch, regaining momentum. Flygon, Rhyperior, and Quagsire are all immune to Electric-type attacks and can shrug off a resisted Overheat, meaning they can easily switch in and pose an immediate threat to Rotom-H; none of them like a burn though, and apart from Flygon, the rest all take massive damage from Hidden Power Grass. Snorlax laughs at Rotom-H's attacks with its massive Special Defense and Thick Fat, and can trap Choice-locked sets with Pursuit, dealing over 50% damage. However, it is crippled by Trick, and Will-O-Wisp too if it lacks Rest. Finally, Overheat is Rotom-H's only Fire-type STAB, and if it is baited into using it, it can easily be revenge killed or set up on.</p>
