QC: Arikado | atomicllamas | EonX
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack | Snobalt
[OVERVIEW]
Sawk has access to a strong STAB move in the form of Close Combat, as well as useful coverage moves in Knock Off, Zen Headbutt, Poison Jab, and Stone Edge, so it doesn't have many switch-ins. Coupled with its high Attack stat, this makes Sawk a good wallbreaker. Furthermore, it has a decent Speed stat, allowing it to outspeed all defensive Pokemon in the tier such as Uxie and Aromatisse, as well as some offensive ones such as Gallade and Tyrantrum. Sawk also has a good ability in Sturdy, allowing Sawk to take any one hit and retaliate, so it isn't completely useless against offensive teams.
However, Sawk faces stiff competition from other offensive Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee. It is also relatively frail and, as a result, it is susceptible to being revenge killed, which is compounded by its less than stellar Speed stat that leaves it outsped by offensive Pokemon such as Mega Glalie, Houndoom, and Delphox.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Sturdy
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Sawk's main STAB move and severely dents even Pokemon neutral to it. Knock Off deals with Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Reuniclus and Jellicent, which resist or are immune to Close Combat, in addition to providing useful utility in depriving the foe of its item. Poison Jab targets Fairy-types such as Granbull, Togetic, and Aromatisse, which resist both Close Combat and Knock Off. Zen Headbutt hits Poison-types such as Weezing, Amoonguss, and Qwilfish.
Set Details
========
Choice Band greatly improves Sawk's damage output, making it a fearsome wallbreaker. An Adamant nature in tandem with maximum Attack investment makes Sawk extremely powerful, as it needs all the power it can get, while 252 Speed EVs make Sawk as fast as possible. Sturdy allows Sawk to take any one hit and retaliate.
Usage Tips
========
Close Combat is an extremely spammable move and ,coupled with its high Base Power and Choice Band, it will severely dent even Pokemon neutral to it. As Sawk has quite underwhelming bulk, try to bring it in on a double switch or after a teammate has fainted to preserve Sturdy. Try to predict opposing Pokemon switching in - for example, use Knock Off as the opponent switches to Reuniclus - as Sawk does not have too many chances to attack and mispredicting means Sawk will get forced out. Entry hazards will break Sturdy, so it is advised to remove them. If Sturdy is intact, Sawk can function as a good emergency stop to opposing setup sweepers such as Drapion and Houndoom.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support from the likes of Accelgor, Cobalion, and Rhyperior is helpful, as Sawk appreciates the extra damage on the ample switches it forces. Sawk does not like entry hazards breaking Sturdy, so entry hazard removers such as Flygon, Skuntank, and Hitmonlee are appreciated; in particular, Flygon pressures hazard setters such as Qwilfish, Cobalion, and Mega Camerupt with its Ground-type coverage. Sawk is a great wallbreaker, so late-game cleaners such as Fletchinder, Jolteon, and Tyrantrum are good partners to take advantage of the large dents Sawk puts in the opponent's team. As Sawk has poor bulk and switches in and out a lot, pivots such as Eelektross and Rotom-C can provide Sawk with free switches. Fast Fighting-types, such as Swords Dance Cobalion and Choice Scarf Medicham, are good partners, as Sawk can punch holes in the opponent's team early on for them to clean up. Uxie is a great partner in general, providing momentum with U-turn, Stealth Rock support to whittle down switch-ins, and Thunder Wave to slow down faster threats such as Noivern and Durant. Pursuit support from the likes of Houndoom, Drapion, and Sneasel is also appreciated to deal with Psychic-types that take Close Combat relatively easy. Pokemon that resist Flying, such as Eelektross, Registeel, and Bronzong, are good partners to mitigate Sawk's weakness to Flying-types such as Noivern and Braviary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mold Breaker in tandem with Earthquake can be used to bait in Weezing and KO it, but it is a predictable lure because the Mold Breaker message shows up; Mold Breaker also allows Sawk to guarantee the OHKO on Rhyperior, however. Life Orb can be used if you want Sawk to hit hard and have the possibility to switch moves, but it breaks Sturdy, so Mold Breaker will be the superior ability if you opt for this. Expert Belt can be used to bluff a Choice Band set and have the possibility of switching moves, too, but then Sawk loses power on its moves. A Jolly nature allows Sawk to outpace Shiftry, Medicham, and Mesprit, but it causes Sawk to lose significant power. Ice Punch is a catch-all move, allowing Sawk to hit Flygon and Noivern for great damage, as well as Amoonguss and Togetic. Choice Scarf allows Sawk to be a good revenge killer, but Hitmonlee is more adept at that. Stone Edge is an option to hit Flying- or Bug-types such as Pelipper and Pinsir hard, but it is rather useless otherwise.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pokemon that Take Advantage of Choice-locked Sawk**: Sawk is easily taken advantage of when locked into certain moves. When locked into Close Combat, the move that Sawk will be using most of the time, Pokemon that resist it, such as Togetic and Noivern, can take advantage of that and use Sawk as setup fodder or outright KO it. Uxie also deserves a special mention, as it switches into Close Combat comfortably and can cripple Sawk with Thunder Wave or outright KO a weakened Sawk with Psychic.
**Faster Pokemon**: Because Sawk has underwhelming Speed and bulk, faster threats such as Delphox, Fletchinder, and Meloetta can all come in on a free switch and proceed to OHKO Sawk with their respective moves.
**Status**: Sawk is heavily crippled by status ailments such as burn or paralysis, as this makes it even easier to pick off.
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