karate kid
[Overview]
<p>Of all the Fighting-type Pokemon found in NU, Sawk secures its spot on many teams thanks to its incredible immediate power; its base 125 Attack makes it the strongest Fighting-type in the tier. Sawk's immense power isn't all that it has up its sleeve, though. It also has two great abilities, Sturdy and Mold Breaker, that help it perform its job. Additionally, thanks to its great coverage moves, it can be very difficult to wall. For these reasons, Sawk is often found on teams wielding a Choice item, meaning it can be rather predictable. Ultimately, despite its great power, its Speed, while above average, does not allow it to beat out other common offensive threats, such as Jynx and Charizard.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sawk performs best with a Choice Band, serving as a wallbreaker that can punch holes through entire teams. Its fantastic Attack stat means that not much wants to switch in; even some of the tier's premier physical walls, particularly Alomomola and Tangela, cannot switch into Close Combat without fearing a 2HKO. Close Combat is chosen for this reason; it is Sawk's best STAB, thanks to its high Base Power with limited drawbacks. Earthquake can hit three of the most common switches into Sawk—Garbodor, Misdreavus, and Weezing—thanks to Mold Breaker. Ice Punch is the best way that Sawk has to deal with Golurk and Vileplume, and it also provides great coverage alongside its STAB. Finally, Stone Edge is used in the last slot as a move that can hit Bug- and Flying-types on the switch, though its accuracy is a bit off-putting.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>An Adamant nature is used on this set in order for Sawk to 2HKO Alomomola and Tangela after Stealth Rock. A Jolly nature can be used to tie with opposing Pokemon with base 85 Speed and outspeed all slower ones, though the 2HKO on Alomomola and Tangela is much more important. Mold Breaker is by far the best ability on the set, as it allows Sawk to bypass abilities such as Sturdy and Levitate, which would otherwise give this set problems. In particular, Sawk can OHKO common Stealth Rock leads, such as Probopass and Golem, keeping entry hazards off your side of the field.</p>
<p>When considering partners for this set, the first thing to consider is entry hazards of your own. Metang and Regirock can switch into Psychic- and Flying-type attacks directed at Sawk and set up Stealth Rock. Spikes support is also helpful, making Scolipede a good partner, although you should watch out for shared Psychic- and Flying-type weaknesses. Because this set struggles against Ghost- and Psychic-types, Skuntank makes a good partner due to its ability to trap and kill those Pokemon. Ultimately, anything that appreciates physical walls taken out plays well with Sawk. Late-game cleaners in particular, such as Carracosta and Swellow, both work well with Sawk for this reason.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Toxic / Earthquake / Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sturdy
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though not as strong as the Choice Band set, Sawk can still run an effective Choice Scarf set. Although many common Choice Scarf users in the tier sport a higher base Speed, none of them can hit as hard as Sawk. With a Choice Scarf equipped, Sawk can serve as a revenge killer and a late game cleaner. Once again, Close Combat is chosen as Sawk's STAB of choice because of its high Base Power. Ice Punch is used for its coverage and reliability once more, as it hits Golurk and Vileplume harder than the other moves of this set. Stone Edge hits Flying- and Bug-types that resist Close Combat, while also hitting Ghost-types outside of Golurk for greater damage. The last slot is open to your choice, although Toxic is typically the best option here. While it is not the best move to lock Sawk into, it can cripple switch-ins that would brush off the rest of the set, while also potentially fooling your opponent into thinking Sawk is not Choice-locked. Earthquake can be used instead to hit Poison-types, such as Garbodor, but it's a much more dangerous move to lock into without Mold Breaker since two of the most common switches into Sawk, Weezing and Misdreavus, have Levitate. Finally, Knock Off can bother common switch-ins such as Misdreavus, Tangela, and Alomomola, either through decreasing the bulk of Tangela and Misdreavus by removing Eviolite, or ridding Alomomola of passive recovery from Leftovers.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set runs an Adamant nature in lieu of a Jolly nature, as the only Pokemon that are outsped with a Jolly nature are +2 Modest Gorebyss and Choice Scarf users with base 80 Speed or above. Since all of these Pokemon are rare enough in the metagame, the extra power is preferred over the extra Speed in order to help Sawk clean up later in the game. However, a Jolly nature can still be used if you feel as though outspeeding these Pokemon is worth the loss in power. Sturdy is the chosen ability on this set, as it allows Sawk a fail-safe against faster foes.</p>
<p>For this reason, anti-leads such as Misdreavus and Serperior, both of which can beat common Stealth Rock leads with Taunt and either Will-O-Wisp or a strong STAB move, are appreciated to keep entry hazards off the field and keep Sawk's Sturdy intact. Armaldo can use Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards from your side of the field while also carrying STAB X-Scissor to help beat Psychic-types that threaten Sawk. The only problem with Armaldo is that, much like Sawk, it struggles to beat Ghost-types that can block its Rapid Spin. Skuntank can be used to remedy this problem, as it can trap and beat many of the Ghost- and Psychic-types in the tier. Since this set aims to clean up the opponent's team later in the game, it appreciates partners that can wear down the opponent's team and break down the Pokemon that wall it. For the former, Pokemon that can set entry hazards, such as Scolipede and Golem, are appreciated, while Eelektross and Taunt Serperior can beat many common walls in the tier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>The above sets do the best job of utilizing Sawk's potential, but it does have some other options at its disposal. First off, Reversal can be used in the last slot on the Choice Scarf set; if Sawk is brought down to 1 HP due to Sturdy, it has a 200 Base Power STAB it can use to clean up the opposing team. A dedicated set with Reversal, Endure, and a Salac Berry can also be used, but it is unreliable due to its inability to beat Ghost-types and common priority users. A Fist Plate set with Fling can be used to bluff a Choice set and lure in common checks and counters, but once it uses Fling, it loses out on its item for the rest of the match. Additionally, Sawk can try out a Life Orb set with Pain Split, but it generally prefers to keep attacking rather than trying to recover its HP. Fire Punch and ThunderPunch are options to consider, though they don't add much in terms of coverage that the sets listed don't already provide. Sawk can also try an anti-lead set with Taunt, but Mold Breaker on the Choice Band set usually performs well enough when trying to prevent hazards from being set. Bulk Up is an option, but Sawk usually prefers the immediate power that the Choice Band set provides and Gurdurr usually performs this role better thanks to its priority and greater bulk. Finally, Counter can be used alongside Sturdy, but Sawk hits hard enough as it is.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Sawk is generally difficult to counter because of its sheer power, but there are a few Pokemon that handle it well enough. The best way to beat Sawk is identifying its set and knowing what it's going to lock itself into. Protect users are fairly reliable at doing this, since almost every Sawk will be wielding a Choice item. Pokemon with Regenerator, such as Tangela and Alomomola, can also switch into Sawk to scout, then switch into an appropriate check based on whichever move it is using. Misdreavus can switch into the majority of its sets; a Choice Band-boosted Earthquake is a 3HKO at best, and Misdreavus can retaliate with Will-O-Wisp. Musharna can also take any hit that Sawk has to dish out and recover the damage with Moonlight. Scolipede and Garbodor can both switch into a Close Combat and set up Spikes against Sawk, but the former must watch out for Stone Edge while the latter must watch out for Earthquake. Similarly, Weezing only fears Earthquake and can burn Sawk with Will-O-Wisp. Golbat takes little damage from Close Combat and no damage from Earthquake, and it can OHKO Sawk with Brave Bird. Offensively, strong priority moves, such as Fake Out from Kangaskhan or Mach Punch from Gurdurr, can deal a sizable amount of damage to Sawk, but it does have some bulk behind it—a simple Bullet Punch from Metang won't take it out alone. Finally, Swellow and Jynx can both KO Sawk easily, though Swellow cannot outspeed Choice Scarf sets, and neither of them can switch directly into Sawk.</p>
[Overview]
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Toxic / Earthquake / Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[Other Options]
[Checks and Counters]
- Strongest Fighting-type in NU
- Two great abilities
- Awesome coverage moves, partially thanks to BW2 tutor
- Usually Choiced
- Speed holds it back a bit in this meta
- Predictable, but doesn't matter much because of how hard it hits
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Fantastic Atk stat means w/ CB not much can take a hit
- One of the best wallbreakers due to Mold Breaker, Atk, great coverage
- CC for best STAB w/ great power
- Ice Punch for coverage and reliability, hits Golurk hardest on the set
- Stone Edge for power and to hit Bug- and Flying-types
- Earthquake is also reliable and can hit Pokemon like Eelektross, Weezing, and Misdreavus harder than the rest of the set thanks to Mold Breaker
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Adamant nature is needed to 2HKO switch ins like Tangela and Alomomola
- Jolly nature can be used, but not as useful for wallbreaking
- Serves as a great way to stop hazards, bypassing Sturdy w/ Mold Breaker and having a chance to OHKO Pokemon like Adamant Regirock, Probopass, and Golem
- Hazards are needed to 2HKO Tangela and Alomomola on the switch, making Pokemon like Metang and Regirock good partner since they some of Sawk's weaknesses
- Spikes support can accomplish the same thing, so Scolipede is a good partner, although it does share both of Sawk's weaknesses
- Ghosts and Psychics are a bother, so Skuntank is a good partner to trap and beat them
- Anything that appreciates physical walls gone is a good partner: late game cleaners like Carracosta, Swellow, Pinsir are some examples
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Toxic / Earthquake / Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Serves as a revenge killer/late game cleaner
- Not quite as fast as most Scarfers, but still viable due to power
- Loses out on wallbreaking potential in order to beat frail foes
- Close Combat best STAB, great for hit-and-run sets like these
- Ice Punch for coverage and reliability, only thing that can damage Golurk
- Stone Edge for coverage against Flying- and Bug-types and hits Ghosts for good damage
- Toxic to status common switch-ins that this set cannot beat
- Earthquake can be used, but more difficult to lock into w/o Mold Breaker
- Knock Off also bothers bulky switch-ins like Misdreavus, Tangela, and Alomomola which either lose passive recovery or a good amount of bulk w/o their items
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Jolly is used to outspeed +2 Modest Gorebyss, +2 Fraxure, and +2 Combusken, as well as base 80 Speed Scarf users
- Adamant can be used if you have other ways of handling these Pokemon
- Uses Sturdy to its advantage to revenge faster Pokemon while guaranteed to survive a hit
- Anti-leads like Misdreavus and Serperior are nice to keep hazards from being placed on your side which would break Sturdy
- Armaldo can beat Psychic-types and spin, but struggles against Ghosts just like this set
- Since it's not a wallbreaker, appreciates ways of wearing down walls such as hazards and other wallbreakers (mixed Eelektross, Taunt Serperior, etc)
- Skuntank beats Ghosts and Psychics
[Other Options]
- Above sets are best utilizing Sawk's potential
- Reversal can be used over Toxic or Earthquake on Scarf set, as if Sawk is brought down to its Sturdy, it has a 200 BP STAB move to use
- Reversal set with Endure and Salac Berry can also be used, but it loses to common priority users
- Fist Plate + Fling can lure in conventional counters such as Misdreavus but loses out on an item for the rest of the match
- Fire Punch & Thunder Punch, don't do a lot in terms of coverage
- Anti-lead with Taunt, though Mold Breaker does this well enough
- Bulk Up, but prefers immediate power of CB
- Sturdy + Counter, but super gimmicky
- Knock Off, but Gurdurr does it better thanks to bulk
[Checks and Counters]
- Hard to counter because it's hard to wall
- Misdreavus doesn't fear much and can burn
- Musharna can take any hit and recover it with Moonlight
- Protect lets you know what to expect since almost all Sawks are choiced
- Strong priority can beat both sets, but Sawk does has some bulk to it so don't expect it to die to a simple Bullet Punch from Metang
- Swellow can outspeed and OHKO CB sets but can't switch in on anything but EQ
- Scolipede can come in on Close Combat and set up Spikes
- Garbodor and Weezing only really fear EQ and can set up Spikes or Burn Sawk, respectively
- Golbat can switch into EQ, Toxic, and Close Combat and threaten with a Brave Bird
- Scarf Jynx can outspeed and beat both sets with Psychic but can't switch in on anything
