Hello. Figured I can bring this up since its around 10-15% usage in last month, so while used it might still not be the best known stuff.
One of the big issues with standard lead Stealth Rock Iron Treads is its awful mu against Great Tusk, since it doesn't do much damage and can't keep hazards up unless it uses its tera. Steel Beam fixes this. Even if they lead Tusk and OHKO turn 1, you would have done massive damage for a teammate such as Kingambit to take advantage of. Steel Beam is of course also good for momentum. Some mu's and calcs
- Defensive Tusk won't OHKO so you can try to get Stealth Rock in case they Eq instead of spinning first. Either way you are faster thanks to Booster Energy so even if they do Rapid Spin you still get to Steel Beam next turn.
SZ's set
vs defensive 4 SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Great Tusk: 192-226 (44.2 - 52%)
vs offensive 4 SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Great Tusk: 192-226 (51.7 - 60.9%)
My set
vs defensive 252+ SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Great Tusk: 283-334 (65.2 - 76.9%)
vs offensive 252+ SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Great Tusk: 283-334 (76.2 - 90%)
- You outspeed so you can set up Stealth Rock and negate their Spikes. With my set if they happen to put up Spikes first then you Spin until they attack you (hence negating hazards) and then Steel Beam. You can also do this with SZ's set but it will take 2 spins
My set
0- Atk Iron Treads Rapid Spin vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Meowscarada: 48-57 (16.3 - 19.4%)
252+ SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Meowscarada: 255-300 (87 - 102.3%)
SZ's set
252 Atk Iron Treads Rapid Spin vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Meowscarada: 67-79 (22.8 - 26.9%)
4 SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Meowscarada: 172-204 (58.7 - 69.6%)
- My set OHKOs, SZ's KOs after an Earthquake
My set
252+ SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hatterene: 332-392 (104.4 - 123.2%)
SZ's set
252 Atk Iron Treads Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Hatterene: 109-130 (34.2 - 40.8%)
4 SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hatterene: 224-266 (70.4 - 83.6%)
- Thunder with Modest is able to 2HKO PhysDef. In general even against SpDef you can scare it out and keep hazards up.
252+ SpA Iron Treads Thunder vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Corviknight: 204-240 (51.1 - 60.1%) -- 88.3% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
- Against opposing Iron Treads the Earthquake set is ofc a battle of speed ties. The Thunder set hard loses.
-Both do well. Naive does have a chance to get OHKOd by Earth Power variants.
252 SpA Glimmora Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Iron Treads: 294-346 (91.5 - 107.7%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
Some other funny interactions: The Thunder set is hard walled by Cinderace, Gholdengo, Kingambit, and Sandy Shocks, but can surprise Pelipper or Dondozo. Steel Beam always OHKOs Iron Valiant and you live a non Fighting-type attack.
Even if they know its Steel Beam and don't let Great Tusk take damage then that's fine cause you will be able to set up Stealth Rock, which the physical set can't do against Tusk. Hope some of you can try it out:)