[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 15 points
**Overview**: Rotom-W is one of the best pivots in the format, offering excellent bulk, a great typing, and a wide variety of utility, which can enable offensive structures. It does a great job getting threatening wallbreakers on the field off the back of a Volt Switch that cannot be easily blocked by common Ground-types due to the threat of STAB Hydro Pump. It can also threaten its checks via Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic. It boasts key resistances to Fire, Water, and Flying alongside an immunity to Ground while not sharing weaknesses with its Flying-type teammates. It has access to usable recovery via Pain Split, and it can support entry hazard-weak teams with Defog. Rotom-W is also offensively threatening in its own right against teams lacking solid Grass-types.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Bulky Pivot**: Making use of Rotom-W's impressive defensive profile, bulky pivot sets aim to take hits, threaten status, and pivot to wallbreaking teammates with Volt Switch multiple times throughout the game.
**Offensive Attacker**: Against teams that struggle resisting its STAB combination, Rotom-W can run a more offensive set to break through teams with Hydro Pump and quickly wear down checks with Volt Switch. It can utilize many items from Leftovers to Choice Specs and anything in-between, and it can also function as a revenge killer when holding a Choice Scarf.
**Fast Pivot**: Rotom-W is relatively fast for a defensive Pokemon, but some situations call for it to outspeed its checks. A Choice Scarf can be used on a bulky set to get the surprise factor of outspeeding a foe that it normally wouldn't. The ability to cripple a foe with Trick is also a great unique offering of this set, as it rarely needs much coverage.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Hydro Pump, Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch
**Setup Moves**: N/A
**Utility Moves**: Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Defog, Trick, Reflect, Light Screen, Pain Split, Substitute, Protect, Rest
**Coverage**: Hidden Power, Signal Beam, Shadow Ball, Foul Play
Niche Moves
========
**Sucker Punch**: While Rotom-W usually has better moves to slot in, it can sometimes surprise faster foes with Sucker Punch.
**Hex**: On rare occasions, Rotom-W enjoys running Hex alongside one or more status moves to do extra damage to foes that resist its STAB moves or are weak to Ghost.
Common Items
========
**Pinch Berries**: Pinch Berries, such as Iapapa Berry, are commonly used as a decent way to recover HP while not relying on a moveslot to do so.
**Leftovers**: Rotom-W gets great value out of Leftovers in games where it wants to pivot in on weaker attacks many times throughout a game while maintaining high HP.
**Choice Scarf**: Rotom-W sometimes opts for a Choice Scarf in order to outspeed faster threats while also having the option to use Trick to hinder passive Pokemon that want to switch in on it. This can be used on either bulky or offensive sets.
**Rocky Helmet**: As Rotom-W often finds itself taking on physical threats or getting hit by Knock Off early in the game, Rocky Helmet can be used to punish the foe.
**Light Clay**: On offensive teams, Rotom-W can use Light Clay in conjunction with dual screens to aid its teammates, especially wincons that aim to safely set up.
Niche Items
========
**Chesto Berry**: Used alongside Rest, Chesto Berry offers Rotom-W the opportunity to go back to full HP after taking large hits and absorbing status effects. This is typically more impactful in fast-paced games.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Choice Specs is occasionally a good option when the opponent lacks the ability to switch into Rotom-W's boosted STAB moves and in matchups where the option to use Trick is valuable. It can also take advantage of items like Magnet and Mystic Water to get a noticeable buff to its power. Expert Belt is useful in some niche scenarios. Life Orb is usually not recommended, as taking recoil damage cuts into Rotom-W's strong defensive utility, even on offensive sets.
**Assault Vest**: While Rotom-W is a bulky Pokemon, it sometimes finds itself needing to tank especially powerful special attacks. In these games, Assault Vest may be used, although it does take away the option of utility moves, which is one of its greatest strengths.
**Custap Berry**: Rotom-W often finds itself hanging on at low HP, so Custap Berry can be a great way to get extra value out of it. This can also surprise opponents and swing a match into its favor.
**Z-Crystals**: It is rare that Rotom-W is a team's ideal Z-Move user, but if it does find itself in that situation, it usually runs Waterium Z to boost its Hydro Pump with the added bonus of perfect accuracy. Electrium Z may also see some usage, but it is exceedingly rare to use a non-STAB Z-Move.
**Rindo Berry**: Rotom-W can get good use out of a Rindo Berry if it is expecting to take a strong Grass-type move during the game.
Draft Strategy
========
Rotom-W tends to fit best on offensive teams where it is paired with powerful wallbreakers that it supports by pivoting with Volt Switch and spreading paralysis. It appreciates a faster pace of play, as it can tend to get overwhelmed by opposing threats if the game goes too long. It enjoys common build structures like VoltTurn + Spikes, and it can function well on bulky offense styles too.
**Ground-types**: Elite Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp greatly appreciate Rotom-W's ability to switch into Water- and Ice-type attacks and absorb burns from Will-O-Wisp and Scald aimed at these physical attackers.
**Fire- and Flying-type Wallbreakers**: Rotom-W often invites opposing Grass-types onto the field, which can be immediately taken advantage of by strong Fire-types like Victini and Infernape or powerful Flying-types like Mega Pidgeot and Tornadus-T.
**Entry Hazard Support**: As painful as it is to switch into Rotom-W's myriad of status options alongside its great STAB combination, forcing the foes to step on Stealth Rock and Spikes while doing it can force progress extremely quickly.
**Faster Pokemon**: Rotom-W is a relatively fast Pokemon for a defensive piece, but it is not very fast in the grand scheme of things. It appreciates teammates that can cover this weakness like Mega Lopunny, Greninja, and Serperior.
**Sturdy Steel- and Fairy-types**: While it does threaten to cripple them with status, Rotom-W cannot directly threaten many common Dragon-types simply through coverage. Thus, the ability to switch into Draco Meteor is an absolute must for any Rotom-W team.
**Setup Sweepers**: Rotom-W's ability to spread status and set up dual screens is well appreciated by teammates that can set up and win games.
Checks and Counters
========
**Grass-types**: The vast majority of Grass-types have little issue switching into Rotom-W, though it can easily use Volt Switch to pivot to one of the many Grass-type answers that any draft will possess.
**Dragon-types**: Pokemon like Latios, Kyurem-B, and Hydreigon are all extremely scary to allow in for free, especially since it can allow them to set a free Substitute the following turn. While they tend to hate status, they resist Rotom-W's STAB combination and can threaten strong attacks if they are able to catch a Hydro Pump on the switch.
**Strong Neutral Attacks**: Rotom-W is bulky, but it can't hold off everything forever. As the game progresses, it can quickly find itself in 2HKO range of Pokemon like Choice Specs Greninja's Dark Pulse, Infernape's Close Combat, and Nidoking's Sludge Wave.
**Volt Absorb / Lightning Rod**: Pokemon like Thundurus-T, Lanturn, and Mega Sceptile can block Volt Switch and Thunder Wave while not particularly minding taking a Will-O-Wisp. Their mere presence can introduce unwanted mindgames for Rotom-W.
**Clerics**: Rotom-W loves spreading status, but all that progress can be erased by a simple well-timed Heal Bell or Aromatherapy.
**Chip Damage**: A weakness of Rotom-W is its longevity. Small hits tend to add up, such as repeated Stealth Rock damage, a Scald burn, a stray Toxic, or damage from pivoting moves. Pain Split is great on it, but it is relatively easy for opponents to play around to ensure Rotom-W's health remains low.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/king-l5.440126/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 3 onwards
**Price Range**: 15 points
**Overview**: Rotom-W is one of the best pivots in the format, offering excellent bulk, a great typing, and a wide variety of utility, which can enable offensive structures. It does a great job getting threatening wallbreakers on the field off the back of a Volt Switch that cannot be easily blocked by common Ground-types due to the threat of STAB Hydro Pump. It can also threaten its checks via Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic. It boasts key resistances to Fire, Water, and Flying alongside an immunity to Ground while not sharing weaknesses with its Flying-type teammates. It has access to usable recovery via Pain Split, and it can support entry hazard-weak teams with Defog. Rotom-W is also offensively threatening in its own right against teams lacking solid Grass-types.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Bulky Pivot**: Making use of Rotom-W's impressive defensive profile, bulky pivot sets aim to take hits, threaten status, and pivot to wallbreaking teammates with Volt Switch multiple times throughout the game.
**Offensive Attacker**: Against teams that struggle resisting its STAB combination, Rotom-W can run a more offensive set to break through teams with Hydro Pump and quickly wear down checks with Volt Switch. It can utilize many items from Leftovers to Choice Specs and anything in-between, and it can also function as a revenge killer when holding a Choice Scarf.
**Fast Pivot**: Rotom-W is relatively fast for a defensive Pokemon, but some situations call for it to outspeed its checks. A Choice Scarf can be used on a bulky set to get the surprise factor of outspeeding a foe that it normally wouldn't. The ability to cripple a foe with Trick is also a great unique offering of this set, as it rarely needs much coverage.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Hydro Pump, Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch
**Setup Moves**: N/A
**Utility Moves**: Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Defog, Trick, Reflect, Light Screen, Pain Split, Substitute, Protect, Rest
**Coverage**: Hidden Power, Signal Beam, Shadow Ball, Foul Play
Niche Moves
========
**Sucker Punch**: While Rotom-W usually has better moves to slot in, it can sometimes surprise faster foes with Sucker Punch.
**Hex**: On rare occasions, Rotom-W enjoys running Hex alongside one or more status moves to do extra damage to foes that resist its STAB moves or are weak to Ghost.
Common Items
========
**Pinch Berries**: Pinch Berries, such as Iapapa Berry, are commonly used as a decent way to recover HP while not relying on a moveslot to do so.
**Leftovers**: Rotom-W gets great value out of Leftovers in games where it wants to pivot in on weaker attacks many times throughout a game while maintaining high HP.
**Choice Scarf**: Rotom-W sometimes opts for a Choice Scarf in order to outspeed faster threats while also having the option to use Trick to hinder passive Pokemon that want to switch in on it. This can be used on either bulky or offensive sets.
**Rocky Helmet**: As Rotom-W often finds itself taking on physical threats or getting hit by Knock Off early in the game, Rocky Helmet can be used to punish the foe.
**Light Clay**: On offensive teams, Rotom-W can use Light Clay in conjunction with dual screens to aid its teammates, especially wincons that aim to safely set up.
Niche Items
========
**Chesto Berry**: Used alongside Rest, Chesto Berry offers Rotom-W the opportunity to go back to full HP after taking large hits and absorbing status effects. This is typically more impactful in fast-paced games.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Choice Specs is occasionally a good option when the opponent lacks the ability to switch into Rotom-W's boosted STAB moves and in matchups where the option to use Trick is valuable. It can also take advantage of items like Magnet and Mystic Water to get a noticeable buff to its power. Expert Belt is useful in some niche scenarios. Life Orb is usually not recommended, as taking recoil damage cuts into Rotom-W's strong defensive utility, even on offensive sets.
**Assault Vest**: While Rotom-W is a bulky Pokemon, it sometimes finds itself needing to tank especially powerful special attacks. In these games, Assault Vest may be used, although it does take away the option of utility moves, which is one of its greatest strengths.
**Custap Berry**: Rotom-W often finds itself hanging on at low HP, so Custap Berry can be a great way to get extra value out of it. This can also surprise opponents and swing a match into its favor.
**Z-Crystals**: It is rare that Rotom-W is a team's ideal Z-Move user, but if it does find itself in that situation, it usually runs Waterium Z to boost its Hydro Pump with the added bonus of perfect accuracy. Electrium Z may also see some usage, but it is exceedingly rare to use a non-STAB Z-Move.
**Rindo Berry**: Rotom-W can get good use out of a Rindo Berry if it is expecting to take a strong Grass-type move during the game.
Draft Strategy
========
Rotom-W tends to fit best on offensive teams where it is paired with powerful wallbreakers that it supports by pivoting with Volt Switch and spreading paralysis. It appreciates a faster pace of play, as it can tend to get overwhelmed by opposing threats if the game goes too long. It enjoys common build structures like VoltTurn + Spikes, and it can function well on bulky offense styles too.
**Ground-types**: Elite Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp greatly appreciate Rotom-W's ability to switch into Water- and Ice-type attacks and absorb burns from Will-O-Wisp and Scald aimed at these physical attackers.
**Fire- and Flying-type Wallbreakers**: Rotom-W often invites opposing Grass-types onto the field, which can be immediately taken advantage of by strong Fire-types like Victini and Infernape or powerful Flying-types like Mega Pidgeot and Tornadus-T.
**Entry Hazard Support**: As painful as it is to switch into Rotom-W's myriad of status options alongside its great STAB combination, forcing the foes to step on Stealth Rock and Spikes while doing it can force progress extremely quickly.
**Faster Pokemon**: Rotom-W is a relatively fast Pokemon for a defensive piece, but it is not very fast in the grand scheme of things. It appreciates teammates that can cover this weakness like Mega Lopunny, Greninja, and Serperior.
**Sturdy Steel- and Fairy-types**: While it does threaten to cripple them with status, Rotom-W cannot directly threaten many common Dragon-types simply through coverage. Thus, the ability to switch into Draco Meteor is an absolute must for any Rotom-W team.
**Setup Sweepers**: Rotom-W's ability to spread status and set up dual screens is well appreciated by teammates that can set up and win games.
Checks and Counters
========
**Grass-types**: The vast majority of Grass-types have little issue switching into Rotom-W, though it can easily use Volt Switch to pivot to one of the many Grass-type answers that any draft will possess.
**Dragon-types**: Pokemon like Latios, Kyurem-B, and Hydreigon are all extremely scary to allow in for free, especially since it can allow them to set a free Substitute the following turn. While they tend to hate status, they resist Rotom-W's STAB combination and can threaten strong attacks if they are able to catch a Hydro Pump on the switch.
**Strong Neutral Attacks**: Rotom-W is bulky, but it can't hold off everything forever. As the game progresses, it can quickly find itself in 2HKO range of Pokemon like Choice Specs Greninja's Dark Pulse, Infernape's Close Combat, and Nidoking's Sludge Wave.
**Volt Absorb / Lightning Rod**: Pokemon like Thundurus-T, Lanturn, and Mega Sceptile can block Volt Switch and Thunder Wave while not particularly minding taking a Will-O-Wisp. Their mere presence can introduce unwanted mindgames for Rotom-W.
**Clerics**: Rotom-W loves spreading status, but all that progress can be erased by a simple well-timed Heal Bell or Aromatherapy.
**Chip Damage**: A weakness of Rotom-W is its longevity. Small hits tend to add up, such as repeated Stealth Rock damage, a Scald burn, a stray Toxic, or damage from pivoting moves. Pain Split is great on it, but it is relatively easy for opponents to play around to ensure Rotom-W's health remains low.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/king-l5.440126/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited by a moderator:
