[OVERVIEW]
Cobalion's typing makes it one of the best defensive answers to common threats such as Nihilego, Jirachi, and Zarude, with its ability Justified also punishing the former for using Knock Off. Its Speed tier allows it to revenge kill Pokemon such as Nihilego and non-Choice Scarf Mienshao as well as set itself apart from other Stealth Rock setters like Jirachi and Nihilego, allowing it to pivot out of its checks and counters such as Salamence and Aegislash with Volt Switch more easily. Cobalion's Swords Dance set also stands out among other physical setup sweepers such as Aegislash and Ice Fang Gyarados by not fearing any of Amoonguss's attacks, becoming a fierce wallbreaker after Sleep Clause has been activated. Cobalion's typing has its drawbacks, though, as it is not Fairy or Flying resistant like other Steel-types, making Cobalion unreliable at switching into threats such as Hatterene and Galarian Moltres. Without Swords Dance, its offensive prowess also is underwhelming compared to its Fighting-type competition such as Mienshao and Kommo-o. Lastly, Cobalion's lack of recovery means it is susceptible to being worn down by repeated attacks and Rocky Helmet chip from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Buzzwole, while its mediocre Special Defense means even uninvested attacks from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Primarina will deal considerable damage.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Iron Head / Stone Edge
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Cobalion has plenty of opportunities to set up Stealth Rock against Pokemon like Zarude and Jirachi thanks to its typing and bulk. Iron Head provides consistent damage against foes like Nidoqueen and Hatterene, while Stone Edge threatens Moltres, preventing it from removing entry hazards freely, and makes Cobalion a better revenge killer to Thundurus-T. Volt Switch is useful for helping Cobalion gain momentum against switch-ins like Moltres and giving safe entry to teammates such as Primarina. Rocky Helmet is primarily used to punish contact moves from Jirachi and Zarude, while Leftovers allows Cobalion to remain healthy while checking Chansey and non-Knock Off Nihilego.
Cobalion fits on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate its role compression and ability to check to threats such as Zarude. Because Cobalion fills the role of a Stealth Rock setter, it allows teammates like Krookodile to run Choice Scarf and Nihilego to run Toxic Spikes; Krookodile deals with revenge killers like Azelf, while Nihilego handles Moltres and Salamence. Rotom-H and Moltres burn through checks like Amoonguss and Tangrowth for Cobalion and act as Defoggers so Cobalion can continue to act as a pivot. Both enjoy Cobalion deterring Knock Off and forming a VoltTurn core with them so they can provide a pivoting core for an offensive teammate like Lycanroc-D, which is also a solid revenge killer to threats such as Keldeo and Nidoking. Sylveon provides cleric support with Wish and Heal Bell while checking Keldeo and Salamence for it; in return, thanks to Sylveon's support, Cobalion is able to check Sylveon's answers like Jirachi and Nihilego more reliably throughout the match. Other Steel-types like Aegislash can pair up with Cobalion to circumvent its neutrality to Fairy and Flying, though this stacks weaknesses to Fire and Ground. Teammates such as Zarude and Azumarill deal with problematic Ground-types such as Zygarde-10% and Nidoking. Zarude is also great for its ability to check Aegislash, while Azumarill is able to revenge kill Rotom-H and Entei.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Leftovers / Safety Goggles
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Cobalion to become a more significant threat, as +2 Close Combat 2HKOes Celesteela and OHKOes Rotom-W after Stealth Rock, while +2 Iron Head obliterates Hatterene and Sylveon and hits Amoonguss, Primarina, and Nidoking hard. Stone Edge is useful for KOing Moltres, preventing free setup from Gyarados, and OHKOing other threats such as Rotom-H and Chandelure after Swords Dance. Leftovers prevents Amoonguss from wearing down Cobalion as it sets up and also makes Cobalion a more reliable check to foes such as Chansey and Zarude. Safety Goggles is an option for teams that cannot afford having something put to sleep by Amoonguss's Spore, making it easier in general for Cobalion to set up on Amoonguss.
This set is more suited towards offense and bulky offense teams as a fast wallbreaker with defensive utility. Knock Off support from teammates such as Mamoswine and Seismitoad is appreciated to leave threats like Rotom-H and Salamence vulnerable to entry hazards, wearing them down into range of Cobalion's attacks; Mamoswine also breaks through Aegislash, while Seismitoad checks both Rotom-H and Rotom-W and provides Stealth Rock support to further weaken foes such as Celesteela. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth provide utility with Spore and Knock Off and are also able to check special attackers such as Keldeo and Primarina. In return, Cobalion is able to break through opposing Amoonguss for them so they won't have to stall each other out. Cobalion cannot break through Aegislash and Buzzwole, so teammates such as Salamence and Chandelure are options. Salamence additionally provides Defog support and checks Choice Scarf Mienshao and Kommo-o, while Chandelure has a better matchup against Hatterene; both teammates appreciate Cobalion removing Nihilego and Rhyperior. Zarude helps break through bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and takes care of threats such as Krookodile and Zygarde-10%. In return, Zarude appreciates Cobalion removing Amoonguss. Rotom-W is also a good pivot for Safety Goggles Cobalion because it lures in Amoonguss to give Cobalion easy entry and setup.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Megahorn can be used over Iron Head to heavily damage Reuniclus, which otherwise takes advantage of Cobalion, although Reuniclus is uncommon and giving up on Iron Head means sacrificing consistent damage on threats such as Primarina, Nidoking, and Amoonguss. Shuca Berry makes Cobalion less vulnerable to being revenge killed by Krookodile and Zygarde-10%, but its use is otherwise limited. A Calm Mind set is able to bait Pokemon such as Buzzwole and give Cobalion a boost to its lackluster Special Defense. However, Focus Blast is a less reliable STAB move than Close Combat and gives Cobalion a worse matchup against Chansey. Life Orb makes Cobalion more immediately threatening, as it enables Close Combat to OHKO Mienshao without a boost and guarantees other OHKOs against Pokemon such as offensive Kommo-o with +2 Close Combat and Salamence with +1 Stone Edge. However, this leaves Cobalion much more susceptible to being worn down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-resistant Foes** Pokemon that resist Close Combat such as Buzzwole and Galarian Slowbro are able to take advantage of Cobalion's usual lack of power by either firing back with their own attacks or using Cobalion as setup fodder. Aegislash completely walls Cobalion and can use the opportunity to attack with Shadow Ball or set up with Substitute or Swords Dance as Cobalion is forced out.
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Seismitoad can burn Cobalion with Scald and block Volt Switch. Other threats such as Rotom-W, Starmie, and Tentacruel don't mind Cobalion's attacks very much and can remove Cobalion's entry hazards.
**Fire-types**: Moltres and Rotom-H target Cobalion's Fire weakness, and the former has Flame Body to potentially cripple Cobalion with a burn. Chandelure is able to switch into either of Cobalion's STAB moves and launch a powerful attack. However, Fire-types risk being KOed by Stone Edge. Pokemon that carry Fire-type coverage such as Celesteela can also threaten Cobalion.
**Ground-types**: Nidoking can switch in on either Volt Switch or Close Combat and threaten Cobalion with Earth Power, while Zygarde-10% outspeeds Cobalion and slams it with Thousand Arrows. Krookodile commonly carries Chople Berry or Choice Scarf, letting it get the upper hand on Cobalion.
**Faster Threats**: Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Lycanroc-D outspeed and consistently revenge kill Cobalion with Close Combat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Mystras Leoxses, 530118]]
- Quality checked by: [[Bandkrook, 301217], [Twilight, 344575], [Monky25, 515132]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Lumari, 232216]]
Cobalion's typing makes it one of the best defensive answers to common threats such as Nihilego, Jirachi, and Zarude, with its ability Justified also punishing the former for using Knock Off. Its Speed tier allows it to revenge kill Pokemon such as Nihilego and non-Choice Scarf Mienshao as well as set itself apart from other Stealth Rock setters like Jirachi and Nihilego, allowing it to pivot out of its checks and counters such as Salamence and Aegislash with Volt Switch more easily. Cobalion's Swords Dance set also stands out among other physical setup sweepers such as Aegislash and Ice Fang Gyarados by not fearing any of Amoonguss's attacks, becoming a fierce wallbreaker after Sleep Clause has been activated. Cobalion's typing has its drawbacks, though, as it is not Fairy or Flying resistant like other Steel-types, making Cobalion unreliable at switching into threats such as Hatterene and Galarian Moltres. Without Swords Dance, its offensive prowess also is underwhelming compared to its Fighting-type competition such as Mienshao and Kommo-o. Lastly, Cobalion's lack of recovery means it is susceptible to being worn down by repeated attacks and Rocky Helmet chip from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Buzzwole, while its mediocre Special Defense means even uninvested attacks from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Primarina will deal considerable damage.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Iron Head / Stone Edge
move 4: Volt Switch
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Cobalion has plenty of opportunities to set up Stealth Rock against Pokemon like Zarude and Jirachi thanks to its typing and bulk. Iron Head provides consistent damage against foes like Nidoqueen and Hatterene, while Stone Edge threatens Moltres, preventing it from removing entry hazards freely, and makes Cobalion a better revenge killer to Thundurus-T. Volt Switch is useful for helping Cobalion gain momentum against switch-ins like Moltres and giving safe entry to teammates such as Primarina. Rocky Helmet is primarily used to punish contact moves from Jirachi and Zarude, while Leftovers allows Cobalion to remain healthy while checking Chansey and non-Knock Off Nihilego.
Cobalion fits on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate its role compression and ability to check to threats such as Zarude. Because Cobalion fills the role of a Stealth Rock setter, it allows teammates like Krookodile to run Choice Scarf and Nihilego to run Toxic Spikes; Krookodile deals with revenge killers like Azelf, while Nihilego handles Moltres and Salamence. Rotom-H and Moltres burn through checks like Amoonguss and Tangrowth for Cobalion and act as Defoggers so Cobalion can continue to act as a pivot. Both enjoy Cobalion deterring Knock Off and forming a VoltTurn core with them so they can provide a pivoting core for an offensive teammate like Lycanroc-D, which is also a solid revenge killer to threats such as Keldeo and Nidoking. Sylveon provides cleric support with Wish and Heal Bell while checking Keldeo and Salamence for it; in return, thanks to Sylveon's support, Cobalion is able to check Sylveon's answers like Jirachi and Nihilego more reliably throughout the match. Other Steel-types like Aegislash can pair up with Cobalion to circumvent its neutrality to Fairy and Flying, though this stacks weaknesses to Fire and Ground. Teammates such as Zarude and Azumarill deal with problematic Ground-types such as Zygarde-10% and Nidoking. Zarude is also great for its ability to check Aegislash, while Azumarill is able to revenge kill Rotom-H and Entei.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Leftovers / Safety Goggles
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Cobalion to become a more significant threat, as +2 Close Combat 2HKOes Celesteela and OHKOes Rotom-W after Stealth Rock, while +2 Iron Head obliterates Hatterene and Sylveon and hits Amoonguss, Primarina, and Nidoking hard. Stone Edge is useful for KOing Moltres, preventing free setup from Gyarados, and OHKOing other threats such as Rotom-H and Chandelure after Swords Dance. Leftovers prevents Amoonguss from wearing down Cobalion as it sets up and also makes Cobalion a more reliable check to foes such as Chansey and Zarude. Safety Goggles is an option for teams that cannot afford having something put to sleep by Amoonguss's Spore, making it easier in general for Cobalion to set up on Amoonguss.
This set is more suited towards offense and bulky offense teams as a fast wallbreaker with defensive utility. Knock Off support from teammates such as Mamoswine and Seismitoad is appreciated to leave threats like Rotom-H and Salamence vulnerable to entry hazards, wearing them down into range of Cobalion's attacks; Mamoswine also breaks through Aegislash, while Seismitoad checks both Rotom-H and Rotom-W and provides Stealth Rock support to further weaken foes such as Celesteela. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth provide utility with Spore and Knock Off and are also able to check special attackers such as Keldeo and Primarina. In return, Cobalion is able to break through opposing Amoonguss for them so they won't have to stall each other out. Cobalion cannot break through Aegislash and Buzzwole, so teammates such as Salamence and Chandelure are options. Salamence additionally provides Defog support and checks Choice Scarf Mienshao and Kommo-o, while Chandelure has a better matchup against Hatterene; both teammates appreciate Cobalion removing Nihilego and Rhyperior. Zarude helps break through bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and takes care of threats such as Krookodile and Zygarde-10%. In return, Zarude appreciates Cobalion removing Amoonguss. Rotom-W is also a good pivot for Safety Goggles Cobalion because it lures in Amoonguss to give Cobalion easy entry and setup.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Megahorn can be used over Iron Head to heavily damage Reuniclus, which otherwise takes advantage of Cobalion, although Reuniclus is uncommon and giving up on Iron Head means sacrificing consistent damage on threats such as Primarina, Nidoking, and Amoonguss. Shuca Berry makes Cobalion less vulnerable to being revenge killed by Krookodile and Zygarde-10%, but its use is otherwise limited. A Calm Mind set is able to bait Pokemon such as Buzzwole and give Cobalion a boost to its lackluster Special Defense. However, Focus Blast is a less reliable STAB move than Close Combat and gives Cobalion a worse matchup against Chansey. Life Orb makes Cobalion more immediately threatening, as it enables Close Combat to OHKO Mienshao without a boost and guarantees other OHKOs against Pokemon such as offensive Kommo-o with +2 Close Combat and Salamence with +1 Stone Edge. However, this leaves Cobalion much more susceptible to being worn down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-resistant Foes** Pokemon that resist Close Combat such as Buzzwole and Galarian Slowbro are able to take advantage of Cobalion's usual lack of power by either firing back with their own attacks or using Cobalion as setup fodder. Aegislash completely walls Cobalion and can use the opportunity to attack with Shadow Ball or set up with Substitute or Swords Dance as Cobalion is forced out.
**Bulky Water-types**: Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Quagsire, and Seismitoad can burn Cobalion with Scald and block Volt Switch. Other threats such as Rotom-W, Starmie, and Tentacruel don't mind Cobalion's attacks very much and can remove Cobalion's entry hazards.
**Fire-types**: Moltres and Rotom-H target Cobalion's Fire weakness, and the former has Flame Body to potentially cripple Cobalion with a burn. Chandelure is able to switch into either of Cobalion's STAB moves and launch a powerful attack. However, Fire-types risk being KOed by Stone Edge. Pokemon that carry Fire-type coverage such as Celesteela can also threaten Cobalion.
**Ground-types**: Nidoking can switch in on either Volt Switch or Close Combat and threaten Cobalion with Earth Power, while Zygarde-10% outspeeds Cobalion and slams it with Thousand Arrows. Krookodile commonly carries Chople Berry or Choice Scarf, letting it get the upper hand on Cobalion.
**Faster Threats**: Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Lycanroc-D outspeed and consistently revenge kill Cobalion with Close Combat.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Mystras Leoxses, 530118]]
- Quality checked by: [[Bandkrook, 301217], [Twilight, 344575], [Monky25, 515132]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Lumari, 232216]]
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