[OVERVIEW]
Sawk manages to carve a niche for itself among RU's Fighting-type Pokemon for a few reasons. It hits pretty hard and has solid coverage overall with moves like Knock Off and Poison Jab, and a solid Speed tier places it above common metagame threats like Mega Blastoise and Nidoqueen. Sawk's Sturdy ability gives it a huge niche in general as a catch-all answer to many offensive threats and also allows it to check setup sweepers like Barbaracle in a pinch. Due to its good Speed tier, Sawk can afford to run utility moves like Taunt that other Fighting-types in the tier cannot. However, Sawk is pretty frail and outpaced by many offensive threats such as Swellow, Roserade, and Zygarde-10%. Lastly, it faces competition with other Fighting-type wallbreakers like Flame Orb Machamp and Bewear. As a faster Fighting-type, it also faces competition with Virizion, Toxicroak, Medicham, and Passimian.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Poison Jab / Earthquake
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Sawk's primary STAB move and is useful for both taking down numerous Steel- and Rock-types in the tier and for inflicting heavy damage when used as All-Out Pummeling. Knock Off is good for getting rid of items from Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Gardevoir and is also used to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types like Metagross, Bronzong, and Mismagius. Taunt cripples defensive Pokemon such as Mandibuzz and Bronzong, and Poison Jab rounds off the set, hitting Fairy-types like Gardevoir and Florges super effectively. Earthquake can be used to hit Poison-type Pokemon that otherwise resist Sawk's STAB move such as Toxicroak, Dragalge, and Salazzle, as well as to hit Fire-types such as Alolan Marowak and Arcanine.
Set Details
========
Sturdy is the ability of choice due to its utility against setup sweepers like Barbaracle and Nasty Plot Ninetales. A Jolly nature lets Sawk outspeed Pokemon such as Jolly Feraligatr and, more importantly, Mega Blastoise. Fightinium Z turns Close Combat into an extremely powerful All-Out Pummeling, capable of KOing Mega Blastoise after Stealth Rock the majority of the time, while also making Sawk rely less on prediction due to the lack of Choice-locking.
Usage Tips
========
It's usually best not to directly switch Sawk in due to its frailty and the risk of breaking its Sturdy. It is especially not recommended to switch Sawk in when there are entry hazards or status users on the field or when a hail or sand setter such as Gigalith or Mega Abomasnow is present. Sawk's Sturdy ability can be utilized to safely get a hit in on any Pokemon, even Pokemon that hit it super effectively. Taunt is most effectively used when a defensive Pokemon such as Mandibuzz or Bronzong is on the field, preventing them from using moves like Toxic, Defog, or Stealth Rock in the case of the latter. Finally, All-Out Pummeling should be utilized when you want to unleash a powerful STAB attack against the opponent, but note that using it when a Pokemon that resists it is on the field is not recommended.
Team Options
========
Sawk fits wells on more offensive teams due to its frailty and lack of defensive presence. Sawk's Sturdy ability can most commonly be broken with entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes. To combat this, hazard removers such as Mega Blastoise, Sigilyph, and Tsareena are a must. Pokemon such as Raikou, Mega Ampharos, and Noivern can easily pivot Sawk into play, giving it free turns to break down teams and keep Sturdy intact. Since Flying-types are a thorn in Sawk's side, checks to these Pokemon such as Tyrantrum, Barbaracle, and Raikou can be useful partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band can be used over Fightinium Z on the main set, but the item makes Sawk rely more on prediction and doesn't allow it to run utility moves like Taunt. A Choice Scarf set can be utilized, but it is often outperformed by other Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir, and Passimian performs the role of a Fighting-type Choice Scarf user better due to its access to U-turn. Stone Edge can be utilized to hit Flying-types such as Noivern, Mantine, and Mandibuzz, as well as Bug-types like Golisopod and Ribombee.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: When Sawk's Sturdy ability isn't active, its low bulk makes it susceptible to faster Pokemon including Virizion, Noivern, Ribombee, and Roserade.
**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Noivern, Mantine, and Yanmega can easily switch in on Close Combat or All-Out Pummeling and take Sawk out with ease with their STAB moves.
**Psychic-types**: While none of them appreciate switching in on a Knock Off, Pokemon such as Metagross, Slowbro, and Sigilyph can take most other hits Sawk can dish out and either KO it or wall it outright in the case of Slowbro.
**Residual Damage**: Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic Spikes can easily whittle Sawk down and break its Sturdy. Although neither is very common, abilities such as Sand Stream and Snow Warning from Pokemon like Gigalith and Mega Abomasnow can also break Sawk's Sturdy with ease and make it easier to knock out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Melons-N-Soda, 206635]]
- Quality checked by: [[MrAldo, 227521], [zizalith, 410251], [roman, 396169]]
- Grammar checked by: [[estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Sawk manages to carve a niche for itself among RU's Fighting-type Pokemon for a few reasons. It hits pretty hard and has solid coverage overall with moves like Knock Off and Poison Jab, and a solid Speed tier places it above common metagame threats like Mega Blastoise and Nidoqueen. Sawk's Sturdy ability gives it a huge niche in general as a catch-all answer to many offensive threats and also allows it to check setup sweepers like Barbaracle in a pinch. Due to its good Speed tier, Sawk can afford to run utility moves like Taunt that other Fighting-types in the tier cannot. However, Sawk is pretty frail and outpaced by many offensive threats such as Swellow, Roserade, and Zygarde-10%. Lastly, it faces competition with other Fighting-type wallbreakers like Flame Orb Machamp and Bewear. As a faster Fighting-type, it also faces competition with Virizion, Toxicroak, Medicham, and Passimian.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Poison Jab / Earthquake
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Sawk's primary STAB move and is useful for both taking down numerous Steel- and Rock-types in the tier and for inflicting heavy damage when used as All-Out Pummeling. Knock Off is good for getting rid of items from Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Gardevoir and is also used to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types like Metagross, Bronzong, and Mismagius. Taunt cripples defensive Pokemon such as Mandibuzz and Bronzong, and Poison Jab rounds off the set, hitting Fairy-types like Gardevoir and Florges super effectively. Earthquake can be used to hit Poison-type Pokemon that otherwise resist Sawk's STAB move such as Toxicroak, Dragalge, and Salazzle, as well as to hit Fire-types such as Alolan Marowak and Arcanine.
Set Details
========
Sturdy is the ability of choice due to its utility against setup sweepers like Barbaracle and Nasty Plot Ninetales. A Jolly nature lets Sawk outspeed Pokemon such as Jolly Feraligatr and, more importantly, Mega Blastoise. Fightinium Z turns Close Combat into an extremely powerful All-Out Pummeling, capable of KOing Mega Blastoise after Stealth Rock the majority of the time, while also making Sawk rely less on prediction due to the lack of Choice-locking.
Usage Tips
========
It's usually best not to directly switch Sawk in due to its frailty and the risk of breaking its Sturdy. It is especially not recommended to switch Sawk in when there are entry hazards or status users on the field or when a hail or sand setter such as Gigalith or Mega Abomasnow is present. Sawk's Sturdy ability can be utilized to safely get a hit in on any Pokemon, even Pokemon that hit it super effectively. Taunt is most effectively used when a defensive Pokemon such as Mandibuzz or Bronzong is on the field, preventing them from using moves like Toxic, Defog, or Stealth Rock in the case of the latter. Finally, All-Out Pummeling should be utilized when you want to unleash a powerful STAB attack against the opponent, but note that using it when a Pokemon that resists it is on the field is not recommended.
Team Options
========
Sawk fits wells on more offensive teams due to its frailty and lack of defensive presence. Sawk's Sturdy ability can most commonly be broken with entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes. To combat this, hazard removers such as Mega Blastoise, Sigilyph, and Tsareena are a must. Pokemon such as Raikou, Mega Ampharos, and Noivern can easily pivot Sawk into play, giving it free turns to break down teams and keep Sturdy intact. Since Flying-types are a thorn in Sawk's side, checks to these Pokemon such as Tyrantrum, Barbaracle, and Raikou can be useful partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band can be used over Fightinium Z on the main set, but the item makes Sawk rely more on prediction and doesn't allow it to run utility moves like Taunt. A Choice Scarf set can be utilized, but it is often outperformed by other Choice Scarf users like Gardevoir, and Passimian performs the role of a Fighting-type Choice Scarf user better due to its access to U-turn. Stone Edge can be utilized to hit Flying-types such as Noivern, Mantine, and Mandibuzz, as well as Bug-types like Golisopod and Ribombee.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: When Sawk's Sturdy ability isn't active, its low bulk makes it susceptible to faster Pokemon including Virizion, Noivern, Ribombee, and Roserade.
**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Noivern, Mantine, and Yanmega can easily switch in on Close Combat or All-Out Pummeling and take Sawk out with ease with their STAB moves.
**Psychic-types**: While none of them appreciate switching in on a Knock Off, Pokemon such as Metagross, Slowbro, and Sigilyph can take most other hits Sawk can dish out and either KO it or wall it outright in the case of Slowbro.
**Residual Damage**: Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic Spikes can easily whittle Sawk down and break its Sturdy. Although neither is very common, abilities such as Sand Stream and Snow Warning from Pokemon like Gigalith and Mega Abomasnow can also break Sawk's Sturdy with ease and make it easier to knock out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Melons-N-Soda, 206635]]
- Quality checked by: [[MrAldo, 227521], [zizalith, 410251], [roman, 396169]]
- Grammar checked by: [[estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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