AM QC check: Decemm
QC checks: Eien / Moosical / KevinELF
AM GP check: banks
GP checks: The Dutch Plumberjack / Electrolyte
[OVERVIEW]
Electric
========
Rotom-W is one of the best defensive options for Electric thanks to its decent mixed bulk, fantastic pivoting abilities with slow Volt Switches, and immunity to Ground-type moves. Its Electric / Water typing, in conjunction with Levitate, lets it wall numerous threats to Electric, such as Mamoswine and Mega Swampert. STAB Hydro Pump also gives a way for Rotom-W to threaten numerous Ground-types that bother Electric teams, such as Hippowdon and Sand Rush Excadrill. Access to Will-O-Wisp lets Rotom-W cripple various physical threats, such as Dragonite and Curse Alolan Muk, while its nice special bulk allows it to withstand strong hits from dangerous foes like Volcarona and Hydreigon. Rotom-W can also use Pain Split or Defog for semi-reliable recovery and additional utility to clear entry hazards and screens. Although Rotom-W's low Speed stat is useful for safely bringing a teammate on the field with Volt Switch, it also comes at the cost of being outsped by numerous threats like Tapu Bulu. Finally, Rotom-W has no reliable way to recover its HP, which means it can't recklessly pivot around and can get easily worn down.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Pain Split / Defog
item: Leftovers / Wiki Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Rotom-W to gain momentum by pivoting out into a teammate safely thanks to its low Speed stat. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's way to deal with Ground-types like Hippowdon and Sand Rush Excadrill and is its strongest STAB move. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers like Dragonite and Alolan Muk that Rotom-W couldn't seriously hurt otherwise. Pain Split allows Rotom-W to regain some HP, letting it tank more attacks from the opposing team, and enables Rotom-W to take advantage of defensive Pokemon such as Chansey by regaining most of its HP after each use thanks to Rotom-W's low HP stat. Defog is a nice alternative over Pain Split to clear entry hazards and screens and works well on Rotom-W thanks to its neutrality to Stealth Rock and immunity to Spikes and Toxic Spikes.
Set Details
========
The suggested EV spread and nature let Rotom-W be as specially defensive as possible while also enabling it to outspeed Jolly Azumarill and -1 Choice Band Victini. Leftovers is Rotom-W's preferred item, as it offers better longevity over the course of a long-lasting game. Wiki Berry, on the other hand, gives Rotom-W a single burst of healing, which can be pretty useful if Defog is used over Pain Split, as Rotom-W wouldn't have access to any kind of recovery otherwise. It can also recover some damage from strong moves like Hydreigon's Devastating Drake. Levitate is Rotom-W's only ability and grants it a much-needed immunity to Ground-type moves, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-W is one of the few defensive Pokemon on Electric, so it must be preserved throughout the game if threatening special attackers like Heatran are still alive. In fact, Rotom-W is best used when switched into weak moves or resisted hits before pivoting to a teammate with a slow Volt Switch to gain momentum as the opposing Pokemon switches out. Rotom-W can burn incoming physical attackers that threaten Electric teams and take little damage from its STAB moves, such as Dragonite and Tapu Bulu, making them much easier for Electric to deal with. In specific matchups, Rotom-W can be played differently. For example, against rain teams, Rotom-W walls both Seismitoad and Mega Swampert, so it can be switched into them without much to worry about. Against Ground teams with Landorus, it is essential that Rotom-W face Landorus before it can use Gravity so that it can KO it with Hydro Pump. If not, Rotom-W will be outsped and OHKOed by almost any Ground-type STAB move. Also, against Bug teams, Rotom-W must be kept healthy in order to check threats to Electric like Volcarona, since Volcarona won't 2HKO Rotom-W when unboosted or OHKO it when at +1. When facing defensive Pokemon, it is usually best for Rotom-W to Volt Switch out to a teammate that can better handle them, since most of them are too bulky to be seriously harmed by its STAB moves, and they're generally not threatened by Will-O-Wisp as much as Toxic. If Rotom-W is carrying Defog, don't pivot too much on enemy moves, as Rotom-W lacks Pain Split for recovery and Electric depends on it to clear entry hazards and screens. Finally, as a defensive Pokemon, Rotom-W must avoid Toxic and Knock Off as much as possible, as that would jeopardize its longevity and deny it passive recovery. If Wiki Berry is used over Leftovers, it is imperative for Rotom-W to not be hit by Knock Off, since that would leave it without any form of recovery whatsoever.
Team Options
========
Every Electric team member appreciates Rotom-W's ability to slowly pivot with Volt Switch and bring them safely onto the field. Physically defensive Zapdos perfectly complements Rotom-W, as they cover almost all of each other's weaknesses. Furthermore, Rotom-W and Zapdos form a reliable defensive backbone that virtually all Electric teams rely on, thanks to their utility options, recovery, and great bulk. For example, Zapdos can reliably check Tapu Bulu for Rotom-W, and in return, Rotom-W supports Zapdos by switching into Mamoswine's STAB moves. Also, either Zapdos or Rotom-W can run Defog to free up a slot for Pain Split on Rotom-W or for Toxic on Zapdos. Tapu Koko takes on problematic Dragon-types like Kyurem-B and Kommo-o with Dazzling Gleam. Additionally, if Tapu Koko carries Grass Knot, it can take on Seismitoad and Gastrodon, both of which completely counter Rotom-W. In return, Rotom-W can switch into Ground-type moves aimed at Tapu Koko and bring it safely on the field with its slow Volt Switch. Alolan Golem and Magnezone are both useful teammates that are able to trap threatening Steel-types like Excadrill and Ferrothorn for Rotom-W, with the former also being able to set up Stealth Rock. Rotom-W can even use Volt Switch to bring either trapper against Ferrothorn to reliably KO it. Zeraora is a valued partner that handily beats Normal teams and Tapu Bulu, which give a lot of problems to Rotom-W. In return, Rotom-W acts as a great defensive pivot for Zeraora, which is often forced to switch out after locking into a move. Alolan Raichu can KO Mega Venusaur, while Rotom-W can burn Alolan Muk, which is typically paired with Mega Venusaur on Poison. Thundurus is another physical attacker that helps Rotom-W take down Mega Venusaur and Normal teams. In exchange, Rotom-W can tank Ice-type moves aimed at Thundurus, such as Ice Shard from Mamoswine, and safely bring Thundurus on the field with its slow Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
A physically defensive spread can be used instead to pivot into physical attackers and survive hits from stronger Pokemon like Choice Band Dragonite and Diggersby. However, such variants are left completely open to most special attackers, while a specially defensive Rotom-W can threaten physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp. Toxic can be used over one of the utility options to lure and cripple defensive answers, such as Gastrodon and Seismitoad, as well as setup sweepers like Mega Charizard X. Unfortunately, giving up on two moves between Will-O-Wisp, Pain Split, and Defog would make Rotom-W much less useful for Electric teams, as the two former moves are unique to Rotom-W while Toxic can be better used by a teammate like Zapdos.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon, such as Mega Venusaur and Celebi, comfortably switch into Rotom-W's STAB moves and can hit it back super effectively. On the other hand, physical Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Breloom are threatened by Rotom-W's Will-O-Wisp, so they can't reliably switch into it.
**Gastrodon and Seismitoad**: Both of these Pokemon completely counter Rotom-W, as they are immune to its STAB moves and don't really care about being burned.
**Dragon-types**: Rotom-W struggles against the numerous Dragon-types in the metagame due to their typing and natural bulk. For example, Kyurem-B and Latios easily switch into Rotom-W's moves before dealing a great amount of damage to it, while Mega Latias and Mega Charizard X can set up on it and sweep the team.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Powerful attackers like Choice Band Diggersby and Zeraora can OHKO Rotom-W, but they must be careful as to not get burned by Will-O-Wisp.
**Mold Breaker and Teravolt Users**: Due to their respective abilities, Excadrill and Kyurem-B ignore Rotom-W's Levitate and can threaten it with a Ground-type move.
**Stallbreakers**: Taunt users such as Hydreigon and Mew can prevent Rotom-W from using Defog or Will-O-Wisp to clear entry hazards and screens or cripple physical attackers. Those Pokemon also take minimal damage from Rotom-W's STAB moves.
**Residual Damage**: Rotom-W's lack of reliable recovery makes it very susceptible to Toxic and Stealth Rock. Having its Leftovers recovery canceled out by burn or sand damage can also be very detrimental for Rotom-W's longevity.
**Walls**: Since it lacks power and doesn't usually carry Toxic, certain walls like Zapdos and Normal's Eviolite core aren't threatened by Rotom-W at all. However, letting Rotom-W use Volt Switch too often to pivot out to a teammate could lead to fruitful results for the Electric team.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GnralLao]]
- Electric analysis by: [[GnralLao]]
- Quality checked by: [[Eien, 100418], [Moosical, 215618], [KevinELF, 314540]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Electrolyte, 148071]]
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