Swanna
[Overview]
• Swanna unfortunately has poor dual typing combined with mediocre base 87 Special Attack, giving it little reason to be used.
• Has quite a shallow movepool to choose from.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Boiling Water / Surf
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden power Fire / Hidden Power Grass / Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Pigeon Heart
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[Set Comments]
• Has decent Speed and good dual STAB moves. This set aims to dish out as much damage before frail Swanna goes down.
• Boiling Water has a respectable base 80 power and can sometimes inflict burns, which is always good. Surf can be used if you prefer the extra boost in power rather than relying on getting a burn.
• Air Slash has good coverage with Boiling Water / Surf which is only resisted by a small minority of Pokemon.
• Ice Beam is to hit Dragon-types such as Ononokusu and Sazando for solid damage while also severely denting fragile Flying-types such as Shinpora.
• The last moveslot is up to you. Hidden power Fire allows you to hit the very-common Nattorei for 4x super effective damage as well as other pure Steel-types. Hidden Power Grass allows you to dispense of Swampert and other Water / Ground type Pokemon. Roost is to regain health lost due to Stealth Rock damage but since Swanna is quite fragile and has poor typing, finding an opening to Roost off won't be easy.
[Additional Comments]
• It is important to use a Timid nature as to outpace +ve base 95 Speed Pokemon. Rest of the Evs are dumped into SpA to get as much fire-power as possible.
• Both of Swanna's abilities aren't that great, but at least Pigeon Heart prevents any Defense drop, which Swanna will definitely not like having especially since it already has poor defenses in the first place.
[Team Options]
• Swanna can lure Electric-types in for Dugtrio to switch in on and trap, then proceed to kill with STAB Earthquake. Ground-types in general make good partners as they resist Rock-type moves and are immune to Electric-type attacks aimed at Swanna.
• Rapid Spin support is much appreciated as Swanna cannot afford to lose 25% in each switch-in. Hitmontop and Donphan make great spinners, possessing a great amount of bulk whilst having respectable offensive stats.
• Electivire makes a great partner as it benefits from Electric-type attacks aimed at Swanna, and in return Swanna is immune to Electivire's sole weakness.
[Optional Changes]
• Gale lacks reliable accuracy but can be used instead of Air Slash if you long for the extra 45 base power.
[Counters]
• Due to its somewhat mediocre offensive stats, Swanna unfortunately has quite alot of counters.
• Blissey can take any attack
[Dream World]
• Swanna receives Hydration from the Dream World.
• It outclasses its other two abilities and can be useful provided Rain is up.