THE LION KING
[OVERVIEW]
Solgaleo carves itself a niche in BH due to being a Steel-type that isn't weak to Fighting-type coverage, allowing it to take on threats that may use Fighting-type moves in order to hit Steel-types which would otherwise check them. These threats include Kyurem-B, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Mega Mewtwo X. Solgaleo can also run Flash Fire without risking being lured by Fighting-type coverage, allowing it to take on -ate users more consistently. However, it is still weak to Ground-type moves. Its high bulk allows Solgaleo to run a multitude of defensive sets and become a check to whatever the team may need. Solgaleo's resistance to Stealth Rock and immunity to Poison means it can switch into the threats it wants to check more consistently without fear of being worn down. Solgaleo's offensive stats, while not impressive, is strong enough to force out threats it checks such as Mega Audino, Mega Diancie, and Mega Tyranitar. This grants Solgaleo a niche over other, more passive Steel-types such as Aegislash and Registeel. Solgaleo's high speed allows it to outspeed common defensive threats, but it cannot reliably generate slow momentum for the team.
However, Solgaleo has a weakness to common coverage moves such as Moongeist Beam, Earth Power, and Blue Flare, meaning it's susceptible to being lured by Pokemon which may run those. Solgaleo also has a weakness to common utility moves such as Spectral Thief, Knock Off, and Thousand Waves, hindering its ability to take on defensive threats such as Mega Gyarados, Zygarde-C and Giratina. Its weakness to Pursuit users such as Mega Tyranitar, Yveltal and Mega Gyarados hinders its ability to switch into threats while they are on the field, as a double switch or the opponent pivoting can damage Solgaleo enough that it can no longer reliably take on the threats it may wish to. In addition, it's not very rare to see Pursuit support with Mega Mewtwo Y, as Pursuit helps soften Solgaleo and other Psychic-types up so that Mega Mewtwo Y can break them. Solgaleo faces incredible competition from Necrozma-DM, which shares Solgaleo's typing while boasting higher offensive power and lower speed which makes it a better pivot generally. Necrozma-Dusk-Mane can also change forme into Ultra Necrozma, which Solgaleo cannot. However, Solgaleo has better bulk, which lets it not be fully outclassed by Necrozma-DM.
[SET]
name: Flash Fire
move 1: Anchor Shot / Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Topsy-Turvy / Defog
move 3: Shore Up
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / U-turn / Entrainment
item: Safety Goggles / Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Anchor Shot is the Steel-type STAB move chosen due to its ability to trap the threats Solgaleo checks, such as Mega Diancie and Mega Mewtwo Y, while also having a high enough BP to 2HKO Mega Audino after Stealth Rock. Anchor Shot also traps non-Shed Shell Imposter Pokemon and beats them, should you opt to not use U-turn. Sunsteel Strike can alternatively be used to surprise Sturdy Shedinja as well as 2HKO Mega Audino and Mega Tyranitar without Stealth Rock, but the PP and trapping effect from Anchor Shot is generally more valuable. Topsy-Turvy can be used to check setup sweepers such as Xerneas, Mega Mewtwo Y or Mega Sceptile better. Defog can be used over Stealth Rock or Topsy-Turvy to provide hazard removal support to your team. However, Solgaleo prefers having the ability to set hazards or check setup sweepers, so it may be difficult to justify using Defog. Solgaleo also has a difficult time against other setters such as Primal Groudon and Giratina, which makes it difficult for Solgaleo to function as a consistent Defogger. Shore Up provides reliable recovery.
Will-O-Wisp can be freely used to scout for Magic Bounce on Pokemon such as Giratina and Registeel, while also burning physical threats or defensive Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo X and Giratina that may switch in. If Sunsteel Strike is used, U-turn can be used in order to create an opportunity for teammates that require a slow pivot to come in. However, with Anchor Shot, U-turn shouldn't be used in order to ensure that Solgaleo can trap Imposter users such as Chansey. Entrainment can be used to replace the opposing Pokemon's ability, allowing Solgaleo to take on threats such as -ate users and Poison Heal users better. Entrainment should be used with Topsy-Turvy to fully stop setup sweepers, while also giving Solgaleo an easier time against Contrary sweepers such as Mega Mewtwo Y.
Set Details
========
Solgaleo doesn't require Special Attack investment, and Speed is minimized to grant slow momentum on as many foes as it can. Flash Fire is used due to Solgaleo appreciating the immunity to common Fire-type coverage moves such as V-create, Blue Flare, and Lava Plume. Flash Fire also lets Solgaleo Imposterproof teammates with Fire-type coverage such as Mega Diancie. A Sassy nature is used in order to better check special and mixed threats such as -ate users and Mega Mewtwo Y better, while also minimizing Solgaleo's speed in order to use a slow U-turn on as much as it can. Safety Goggles is used for an immunity to Spore, so it can check threats such as Xerneas and Mega Mewtwo Y more reliably. Leftovers can be used to grant Solgaleo passive recovery.
Steelium Z can be used in order to let Solgaleo take less damage from Knock Off while also granting Solgaleo the ability to OHKO Xerneas with Corkscrew Crash after Stealth Rock. However, Solgaleo deals with Xerneas reliably anyways and prefers to have the passive recovery or sleep immunity. It also costs Solgaleo's teammates the opportunity to use a Z-Move, and Z-Moves are generally preferred on more offensive Pokemon. If using Sunsteel Strike, Solganium Z should be used over Steelium Z because of Searing Sunraze Smash's higher power, which allows it to OHKO Mega Audino. Searing Sunraze Smash also ignores abilities, which lets it bypass Fur Coat users that would not take much damage from Corkscrew Crash.
Usage Tips
========
Make sure to scout for Ground-type coverage on -ate users it can otherwise check such as Mega Diancie and Kyurem-Black. Refrain from revealing Anchor Shot until you have trapped and KOed Imposter, as otherwise Imposter will not switch into Solgaleo. Once it has been revealed, however, don't be afraid to use Anchor Shot liberally. Its high PP allows it to PP stall Pokemon better. If using Stealth Rock, be wary of Pokemon that commonly use Magic Bounce, such as Zygarde-C, Giratina and Registeel as having Stealth Rock bounced back can be inconvenient and they can easily switch in. Scouting for Magic Bounce Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp can help with this. Be sure to use Solgaleo to check offensive Pokemon only - Attempting to check defensive Pokemon is a bad idea, as Solgaleo is weak to common utility moves such as Spectral Thief, Knock Off, and Yveltal's Revelation Dance, and cannot threaten defensive Pokemon with much. Be wary of Pursuit users such as Mega Gyarados, Mega Tyranitar or Yveltal. Attempt to use double switches to get Pokemon such as Mega Diancie or Mega Mewtwo X in on them, in order to eliminate them from the battle early on. Solgaleo can also attempt to outslow the Pursuit user and use U-turn in order to bring in a Pokemon that can deal with the aforementioned threats.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Kartana can break opposing defensive Pokemon that Solgaleo may struggle with, such as Giratina, Ferrothorn and Zygarde-C. They can also beat Primal Groudon as well as other defensive Ground-types, such as Mega Steelix and Mega Swampert. In return, Solgaleo can wall common offensive Pokemon that may give them trouble. Solgaleo can also Imposterproof them Imposter Chansey can be used in order to scout for surprise coverage. In return, Solgaleo can provide Stealth Rock support to attain chip damage on many of the switches Imposter Chansey forces. Defensive Ghost-type Pokemon such as Aegislash, Mega Sableye, and Giratina can provide a check to Mega Mewtwo X while also providing a switch-in to Shedinja. Pokemon that can deal with Mega Gengar such as Yveltal, Primal Kyogre and Slaking are ideal as Solgaleo needs checks to it. Zygarde-C is a fantastic option as Solgaleo deals with Pokemon that threaten Zygarde-C such as Mega Diancie and Kyurem-B. In return, Zygarde-C can provide Magic Bounce support, while also being able to come in on Pokemon such as Registeel, Mega Tyranitar and Yveltal.
[SET]
name: RegenVest
move 1: Core Enforcer
move 2: Spectral Thief
move 3: Sunsteel Strike / Knock Off / Rapid Spin
move 4: U-turn
item: Assault Vest
ability: Regenerator
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Core Enforcer suppresses abilities such as Poison Heal, Contrary and Prankster while also breaking Focus Sash. Spectral Thief is used to steal boosts from faster foes such as Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Primal Kyogre. Sunsteel Strike is used to OHKO Mega Diancie and 2HKO Xerneas, as the set cannot deal with them otherwise. It also KOs Shedinja. Knock Off can be used over Sunsteel Strike in order to remove items from foes such as Choice items, Leftovers, and Eviolite from Chansey. Rapid Spin can be used over Sunsteel Strike in order to remove hazards. However, Solgaleo generally has difficulty with Giratina, so it is not recommended to have Rapid Spin be the only instance of hazard removal. U-turn is used in order to provide slow momentum to the team. Nuzzle can be used in the 3rd slot in order to provide some semblance of speed control to the team.
Set Details
========
- A Sassy nature and an Assault Vest is used to take less damage from moves on special sweepers such as Moongeist Beam, Earth Power, and Water Spout. This lets Solgaleo deal with threats such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Primal Kyogre.
- Regenerator allows Solgaleo to have a form of reliable recovery, which helps Solgaleo fulfill the role of a defensive Pokemon while also letting it pressure opponents with its offensive stats as well.
- 0 Speed IVs and a Sassy nature are used in order to make sure you outslow as many foes as possible, so that Solgaleo's U-turn can grant momentum to the team as often as possible.
========
Avoid switching Solgaleo into defensive Pokemon such as Giratina, Zygarde-C and Yveltal, as these Pokemon carry super-effective utility moves that can harm Solgaleo. such as Spectral Thief, Thousand Waves and Revelation Dance. Be careful of switching Solgaleo into Pokemon which carry Trick or Knock Off, as Solgaleo requires Assault Vest to wall the specially offensive Pokemon it would like to, such as Kyurem-W and Mega Diancie. Use other teammates to scout for super-effective physical coverage such as V-Create, Precipice Blades and Thousand Arrows from Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Diancie. Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Diancie tend to carry moves such as Earth Power, Blue Flare and Moongeist Beam. Solgaleo can take these, but it should still be treated with care as it can only afford to take one to two hits.
Team Options
========
Checks to strong Physical wallbreakers such as Mega Mewtwo X, Kyurem-B and Mega Tyranitar are appreciated. Pokemon such as Zygarde-C, Mega Sableye, and Fur Coat Chansey can do this job. Imposter Pokemon such as Chansey can help scout for coverage moves from common threats. Prankster Pokemon such as Giratina, Cresselia or Registeel can take care of setup sweepers that may give Solgaleo trouble. Checks to Normalize Mega Gengar such as Yveltal, Dialga and Primal Kyogre can be very useful, as Solgaleo struggles to beat every variant of it. Checks to Fire-types like Mega Blaziken and Primal Groudon, such as Celesteela, Zygarde-C and Giratina work very well as Solgaleo cannot handle either. More reliable checks to Shedinja, such as Mold Breaker Ghost-types, are useful as Sunsteel Strike has only 8 PP meaning it is very easy to PP stall Solgaleo out of Sunsteel Strike. Special wallbreakers such as Mega Diancie can be used due to Solgaleo Imposter-proofing them. Special wallbreakers can also break down defensive Pokemon Solgaleo struggles with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Solgaleo can use a Fur Coat set with Anchor Shot, Shore Up, Topsy-Turvy and Ice Hammer to function as a Mega Mewtwo X check while still checking some -ate Pokemon and some setup sweepers. However, a Fire immunity is largely preferred and Solgaleo isn't very reliable as a Mega Mewtwo X check. In addition, Solgaleo's weakness to Ghost- and Dark-type moves makes it weaker. Solgaleo can use a Levitate set with Anchor Shot, Shore Up, Defog and Ice Hammer in order to check Pokemon that opt to use Ground-coverage to hit Steel-type Pokemon. However, Solgaleo largely prefers being immune to Fire-type moves, as those are more ubiquitous, and Thousand Arrows can bypass Solgaleo's immunity. Solgaleo can use a Prankster set with Haze, Shore Up, Destiny Bond and U-turn to function as a blanket check to setup sweepers. However, other Prankster Pokemon are generally preferred, as the only thing Solgaleo offers from other Pokemon in this role is its typing, such as Registeel and Aegislash.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Physically offensive Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Tyranitar threaten Solgaleo with their strong Physical STAB. Primal Groudon in particular can threaten Solgaleo with a strong V-Create or Precipice Blades, and will almost infallibly force Solgaleo out.
**Physical Walls**: Physically bulky Pokemon such as Giratina, Zygarde-C and Registeel wall Solgaleo completely, while threatening to either damage Solgaleo with super-effective utility moves or cripple it with status.
**Strong Special Coverage**: Strong special coverage on Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Diancie can leave Solgaleo struggling to wall them. Moongeist Beam in particular is a common coverage move which Solgaleo struggles to take on from these Pokemon. However, other common coverage moves such as Blue Flare, V-create and Precipice Blades all have abilities which Solgaleo can use to be immune to the specific coverage move.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GL Volkner, 330455]]
- Quality checked by: [[Electrolyte, 148071], [Funbot28, 255984], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited by a moderator:
