[OVERVIEW]
Kartana is one of the tier's most potent wallbreakers thanks to its titanic Attack and a Speed tier that allows it to outspeed a significant portion of the unboosted metagame. Beast Boost compounds Kartana's offensive capabilities, letting it take advantage of weakened foes to get Attack boosts and tear through opposing teams. Swords Dance and Choice Band sets let it threaten even switch-ins like Zapdos and Corviknight, while Choice Scarf sets utilize its already-high Speed to make it a threatening revenge killer and late-game sweeper. Despite its huge offensive presence, Kartana is extremely frail, especially specially, making finding opportunities to set up a potential challenge and requiring pivot support, since it shouldn't be switching into attacks. Additionally, Choice Band and Choice Scarf sets are vulnerable to being punished by contact-based abilities like Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, Heatran's Flame Body, and Zapdos's Static, all of which have the ability to severely hinder Kartana's wallbreaking capabilities.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Sacred Sword
item: Protective Pads
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Swords Dance in conjunction with excellent coverage, a solid Speed tier, and Protective Pads keeping it from getting damaged, burned, or paralyzed by contact abilities make Kartana a terrifying wallbreaker. Leaf Blade can OHKO a number of defensive staples like Gastrodon, Rotom-W, and Tapu Fini, as well as offensive Pokemon such as Urshifu-R and Tapu Lele, threatening them and forcing them out. Knock Off can cripple common switch-ins like Zapdos and Tornadus-T by removing their Heavy-Duty Boots, making them easier to wear down, as well as hitting Ghost-types like Dragapult and Aegislash that would otherwise resist Kartana's attacks. Sacred Sword threatens Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Melmetal that would otherwise wall Kartana, potentially OHKOing all of them after a Swords Dance.
Team Options
========
Swords Dance Kartana fits well on bulky offense and balance teams thanks to its massive wallbreaking power helping against bulkier teams, in turn benefitting from the presence of slow pivots to get it in safely. Kartana provides potent Knock Off support for its team, as it can easily force repeated switches and gradually wear down checks that are required to be as healthy as possible to handle it. Due to this, it pairs well with entry hazard setters like Landorus-T and Heatran, the former helping weaken Zapdos and Tornadus-T and the latter easily keeping up Stealth Rock against them to maintain pressure after Kartana removes their Heavy-Duty Boots. Due to its frailty, Kartana also benefits from slow pivots like Landorus-T and Slowbro that can safely bring it in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
On more offensively oriented teams, Swords Dance Kartana sets can opt to run Life Orb instead of Protective Pads to further enhance its offensive potency, allowing it to OHKO Clefable and Toxapex after Stealth Rock, though this runs the risk of triggering Static or Flame Body. It can also run a Timid nature with 19 Attack IVs and no Attack investment to get Speed boosts from Beast Boost, letting it outspeed Pokemon like Dragapult and Tapu Koko that might otherwise revenge kill it, though this comes at the cost of a huge part of its power. Adrenaline Orb is also a niche option on offensive teams to receive a one-time Speed boost without sacrificing any of Kartana's power. Aerial Ace can be run on Swords Dance variants to hit Kartana's most common check in Buzzwole, which otherwise resists Kartana's commonly run moves. Defog can be run, most commonly on Choice Scarf sets, to allow Kartana to provide entry hazard removal support, though Kartana's general frailty can make this difficult to pull off.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Most of Kartana's common checks are Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Zapdos, Corviknight, and Skarmory, as they resist most of its attacks. They are, however, susceptible to being weakened with the combination of Knock Off and entry hazards, and they can also be overwhelmed by Swords Dance sets.
**Buzzwole**: Buzzwole can check most Kartana variants thanks to its huge Defense and resistance to Kartana's most commonly run moves, but it doesn't appreciate taking Knock Off, as it is vulnerable to entry hazard damage, and it can also be overwhelmed by Swords Dance + Aerial Ace sets.
**Contact Abilities and Rocky Helmet**: Abilities like Static and Flame Body from Zapdos and Heatran can instantly cripple Kartana if it's not running Protective Pads, drastically reducing its wallbreaking capabilities. Iron Barbs from Ferrothorn, Rough Skin from Garchomp, and Rocky Helmet from users like Buzzwole and Clefable can all also wear down Kartana.
**Revenge Killers**: Kartana's frailty means that it's susceptible to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Dragapult and Tornadus-T, as well as Choice Scarf users like Urshifu-R.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theia.439018/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tpp.260369/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Kartana is one of the tier's most potent wallbreakers thanks to its titanic Attack and a Speed tier that allows it to outspeed a significant portion of the unboosted metagame. Beast Boost compounds Kartana's offensive capabilities, letting it take advantage of weakened foes to get Attack boosts and tear through opposing teams. Swords Dance and Choice Band sets let it threaten even switch-ins like Zapdos and Corviknight, while Choice Scarf sets utilize its already-high Speed to make it a threatening revenge killer and late-game sweeper. Despite its huge offensive presence, Kartana is extremely frail, especially specially, making finding opportunities to set up a potential challenge and requiring pivot support, since it shouldn't be switching into attacks. Additionally, Choice Band and Choice Scarf sets are vulnerable to being punished by contact-based abilities like Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, Heatran's Flame Body, and Zapdos's Static, all of which have the ability to severely hinder Kartana's wallbreaking capabilities.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Sacred Sword
item: Protective Pads
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Swords Dance in conjunction with excellent coverage, a solid Speed tier, and Protective Pads keeping it from getting damaged, burned, or paralyzed by contact abilities make Kartana a terrifying wallbreaker. Leaf Blade can OHKO a number of defensive staples like Gastrodon, Rotom-W, and Tapu Fini, as well as offensive Pokemon such as Urshifu-R and Tapu Lele, threatening them and forcing them out. Knock Off can cripple common switch-ins like Zapdos and Tornadus-T by removing their Heavy-Duty Boots, making them easier to wear down, as well as hitting Ghost-types like Dragapult and Aegislash that would otherwise resist Kartana's attacks. Sacred Sword threatens Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Melmetal that would otherwise wall Kartana, potentially OHKOing all of them after a Swords Dance.
Team Options
========
Swords Dance Kartana fits well on bulky offense and balance teams thanks to its massive wallbreaking power helping against bulkier teams, in turn benefitting from the presence of slow pivots to get it in safely. Kartana provides potent Knock Off support for its team, as it can easily force repeated switches and gradually wear down checks that are required to be as healthy as possible to handle it. Due to this, it pairs well with entry hazard setters like Landorus-T and Heatran, the former helping weaken Zapdos and Tornadus-T and the latter easily keeping up Stealth Rock against them to maintain pressure after Kartana removes their Heavy-Duty Boots. Due to its frailty, Kartana also benefits from slow pivots like Landorus-T and Slowbro that can safely bring it in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
On more offensively oriented teams, Swords Dance Kartana sets can opt to run Life Orb instead of Protective Pads to further enhance its offensive potency, allowing it to OHKO Clefable and Toxapex after Stealth Rock, though this runs the risk of triggering Static or Flame Body. It can also run a Timid nature with 19 Attack IVs and no Attack investment to get Speed boosts from Beast Boost, letting it outspeed Pokemon like Dragapult and Tapu Koko that might otherwise revenge kill it, though this comes at the cost of a huge part of its power. Adrenaline Orb is also a niche option on offensive teams to receive a one-time Speed boost without sacrificing any of Kartana's power. Aerial Ace can be run on Swords Dance variants to hit Kartana's most common check in Buzzwole, which otherwise resists Kartana's commonly run moves. Defog can be run, most commonly on Choice Scarf sets, to allow Kartana to provide entry hazard removal support, though Kartana's general frailty can make this difficult to pull off.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Most of Kartana's common checks are Flying-types like Tornadus-T, Zapdos, Corviknight, and Skarmory, as they resist most of its attacks. They are, however, susceptible to being weakened with the combination of Knock Off and entry hazards, and they can also be overwhelmed by Swords Dance sets.
**Buzzwole**: Buzzwole can check most Kartana variants thanks to its huge Defense and resistance to Kartana's most commonly run moves, but it doesn't appreciate taking Knock Off, as it is vulnerable to entry hazard damage, and it can also be overwhelmed by Swords Dance + Aerial Ace sets.
**Contact Abilities and Rocky Helmet**: Abilities like Static and Flame Body from Zapdos and Heatran can instantly cripple Kartana if it's not running Protective Pads, drastically reducing its wallbreaking capabilities. Iron Barbs from Ferrothorn, Rough Skin from Garchomp, and Rocky Helmet from users like Buzzwole and Clefable can all also wear down Kartana.
**Revenge Killers**: Kartana's frailty means that it's susceptible to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Dragapult and Tornadus-T, as well as Choice Scarf users like Urshifu-R.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theia.439018/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tpp.260369/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
