[OVERVIEW]
Silvally-Steel presents a unique blend of utility in the UU metagame, most notably bringing Defog and Parting Shot. These traits combined with its solid defensive typing and respectable bulk make Silvally-Steel an effective defensive pivot for bulky offense and balance teams. Common Pokemon checked or pivoted into by Silvally-Steel include the ever-present Scizor, Latias, and Hydreigon. However, Silvally-Steel finds itself more passive than it would prefer, often relying on Toxic to pressure foes itself. Silvally-Steel also possesses no means of recovery, making it easily worn down when pivoting into entry hazards and foes' attacks. Additionally, common Stealth Rock users such as Hippowdon, Swampert, Stakataka, and Terrakion threaten Silvally-Steel and can usually keep up their entry hazards on it.
[SET]
name: Defog Pivot
move 1: Defog
move 2: Parting Shot
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Flamethrower
item: Steel Memory
ability: RKS System
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Defog removes all entry hazards, helping out teammates that may be vulnerable to them. Parting Shot allows Silvally-Steel to act as a solid pivot, lowering foes' offensive stats and potentially offering teammates free switch opportunities. Toxic cripples Pokemon such as Slowbro, Swampert, and Latias, helping to mitigate Silvally-Steel's lack of offensive presence. Flamethrower threatens opposing Steel-types, most notably letting Silvally-Steel check Scizor.
Set Details
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Maximum HP investment combined with 240 Special Defense EVs and a Calm nature make Silvally-Steel as specially bulky as possible, letting it more effectively pivot into common threats like Latias, Nihilego, and Hydreigon. 16 Speed EVs are necessary to outrun maximum Speed Adamant Scizor and threaten it with Flamethrower. RKS System in tandem with Steel Memory gives Silvally-Steel its typing.
Usage Tips
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Silvally-Steel's primary role is acting as a solid defensive pivot early- to mid-game, commonly switching into Pokemon whose STAB moves it resists like Latias, Scizor, Crobat, and Nihilego. These generally favorable matchups offer Silvally-Steel opportunities to clear entry hazards with Defog or to keep up momentum with Parting Shot. Given its lack of recovery, Spikes is especially annoying for Silvally-Steel and often makes clearing entry hazards a bigger priority. Parting Shot is best utilized either when predicting a switch or to escape an unfavorable one-on-one matchup, providing teammates with safer opportunities to switch in. Toxic lets Silvally-Steel fare better against offensive threats like Latias and Hydreigon while also crippling bulky foes such as Hippowdon and Swampert that threaten to keep up Stealth Rock. Silvally-Steel is worn down fairly easily when performing its roles, so gauge when it is necessary to let it take damage if it is needed later on to check a specific threat like Scizor.
Team Options
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Silvally-Steel fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate its ability to pivot and remove entry hazards. Entry hazard-weak wallbreakers like Moltres, Volcanion, and Kyurem take advantage of Silvally-Steel's Defog support and the safe switches from Parting Shot. Dragon-types like Latias, Hydreigon, and Mega Altaria possess great defensive synergy with Silvally-Steel, absorbing various attacks that hit it super effectively. In return, Silvally-Steel can pivot into the Ice- and Fairy-type moves aimed at them. Flying-types such as Togekiss and Crobat share similarly solid synergy while also appreciating Silvally-Steel's ability to free up one of their moveslots by running Defog itself. Rhyperior, Nihilego, and Diancie can all set up Stealth Rock while covering opposing Flying-types like Moltres and Mega Pidgeot that threaten Silvally-Steel. Wish users such as Alomomola and Sylveon help to mitigate Silvally-Steel’s tendency to get worn down easily, making them solid options alongside it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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U-turn is an option over Parting Shot to do a bit of damage when pivoting out, but it is generally less useful than dropping foes' attacking stats. Steel-type STAB moves like Flash Cannon and Multi-Attack let Silvally-Steel deal decent damage to Fairy- and Rock-types, though they are hard to justify over other options. Thunder Wave cripples offensive foes more than Toxic, but it is much less useful overall. Protect lets Silvally-Steel scout Choice item users such as Krookodile and Infernape, pairing nicely with Parting Shot as a means of gaining momentum, though it is difficult to find room for on usual sets.
Checks and Counters
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**Residual Damage**: Commonly pivoting in and out while lacking any form of recovery makes Silvally-Steel incredibly vulnerable to residual damage, at times leaving it too weak to perform its intended roles.
**Fighting-types**: Pokemon like Terrakion, Infernape, and Heracross threaten Silvally-Steel with their powerful Fighting-type STAB moves, forcing it out.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Chandelure, Volcanion, and Moltres fear little from Silvally-Steel outside of Toxic and can deal huge damage to it.
**Ground-types**: Nidoking, Mamoswine, and Krookodile all present a huge threat to Silvally-Steel with their super effective STAB moves.
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