[SET]
Offensive Utility (Salamence) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hurricane
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Toxic / Draco Meteor / Defog
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Leveraging its respectable stat spread, Intimidate, and useful set of resistances, Salamence makes for a decent offensive pivot able to consistently check the likes of Excadrill, Scizor, and Rillaboom. It can use these opportunities to fire off its strong attacks capable of ripping through significant portions of the defensive metagame, including the likes of Clefable, Slowbro, and Mega Venusaur. However, Salamence struggles to fit on teams in practice due to significant competition from other offensive pivots, notably Mega Aerodactyl, Hydrapple, Mega Latias, which possess similar defensive utility turned offensive potential. Mega Aerodactyl's much higher speed tier also lets it outpace and revenge kill notable offensive threats such as Iron Moth, Alakazam, and Thundurus, while Hydrapple and Mega Latias's immense bulk and lack of exploitable weaknesses make it a much more sturdy defensive check to the aforementioned Pokemon. Flamethrower's better accuracy and PP make it the preferred coverage move to hit Steel-type Pokemon, notably maximizing its effectiveness at checking Scizor and Skarmory long-term. Fire Blast is a stronger alternative that improves Salamence's odds to 2HKO Aegislash and Celesteela through Leftovers, while also potentially OHKOing offensive Excadrill from full. Toxic is best used as a way to cripple specially defensive answers such as Tyranitar and Hippowdon in the long-term, opening them up for Salamence to get past them later on in the match. Alternatively, Draco Meteor provides Salamence with a stronger STAB option that applies immediate pressure to Flying-resistant Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl and Rotom-W, preventing them from switching into it for free. Lastly, Salamence can use Defog in the slot to provide crucial hazard removal for its team. 136 Speed EVs allow Salamence to outpace Adamant Rillaboom, while a Modest nature in conjunction with maximum Special Attack investment allows it to potentially 2HKO physically defensive Clefable with Hurricane. However, maximum Speed investment in conjunction with a Timid nature can be used instead if outspeeding offensive threats such as Hydreigon proves to be too much of a necessity. Salamence fits best on offensive teams that appreciate its unique defensive profile and ability to conserve offensive momentum in return. Good examples of wallbreakers that complement Salamence well include Life Orb Mienshao, Swords Dance Aegislash, and Choice Band Rillaboom; these Pokemon can easily take advantage of specially defensive checks such as Celesteela and Garganacl that Salamence tends to invite in. In return, Salamence can provide them with a soft answer to the likes of Keldeo and Victini. Salamence also heavily appreciates hazards and Knock Off support, which goes a long way in overwhelming the likes of Celesteela, specially defensive Hippowdon, and Rotom-W. Teammates such as Clefable, Scizor, and Swampert can assist in this regard, Scizor and Swampert can also U-turn and Flip Turn to bring Salamence in safely against the likes of Okidogi and Hydrapple, which are otherwise able to potentially threaten it on the switch, whereas Clefable also provides an amazing defensive answer to Knock Off users such as Life Orb Mienshao and Lokix, which are otherwise capable of wearing down Salamence in conjunction with Stealth Rock. Lastly, hazard removal options such as Defog Rotom-W and Rapid Spin Excadrill are highly valuable for their ability to alleviate Salamence's moveslot constraints, while also ensuring that it can manage its HP in the face of its Stealth Rock weakness after losing Heavy-Duty Boots to Knock Off.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/iride.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/danbear02.589016/
Grammar checked by:
Insert user here
Offensive Utility (Salamence) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hurricane
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Toxic / Draco Meteor / Defog
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
Leveraging its respectable stat spread, Intimidate, and useful set of resistances, Salamence makes for a decent offensive pivot able to consistently check the likes of Excadrill, Scizor, and Rillaboom. It can use these opportunities to fire off its strong attacks capable of ripping through significant portions of the defensive metagame, including the likes of Clefable, Slowbro, and Mega Venusaur. However, Salamence struggles to fit on teams in practice due to significant competition from other offensive pivots, notably Mega Aerodactyl, Hydrapple, Mega Latias, which possess similar defensive utility turned offensive potential. Mega Aerodactyl's much higher speed tier also lets it outpace and revenge kill notable offensive threats such as Iron Moth, Alakazam, and Thundurus, while Hydrapple and Mega Latias's immense bulk and lack of exploitable weaknesses make it a much more sturdy defensive check to the aforementioned Pokemon. Flamethrower's better accuracy and PP make it the preferred coverage move to hit Steel-type Pokemon, notably maximizing its effectiveness at checking Scizor and Skarmory long-term. Fire Blast is a stronger alternative that improves Salamence's odds to 2HKO Aegislash and Celesteela through Leftovers, while also potentially OHKOing offensive Excadrill from full. Toxic is best used as a way to cripple specially defensive answers such as Tyranitar and Hippowdon in the long-term, opening them up for Salamence to get past them later on in the match. Alternatively, Draco Meteor provides Salamence with a stronger STAB option that applies immediate pressure to Flying-resistant Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl and Rotom-W, preventing them from switching into it for free. Lastly, Salamence can use Defog in the slot to provide crucial hazard removal for its team. 136 Speed EVs allow Salamence to outpace Adamant Rillaboom, while a Modest nature in conjunction with maximum Special Attack investment allows it to potentially 2HKO physically defensive Clefable with Hurricane. However, maximum Speed investment in conjunction with a Timid nature can be used instead if outspeeding offensive threats such as Hydreigon proves to be too much of a necessity. Salamence fits best on offensive teams that appreciate its unique defensive profile and ability to conserve offensive momentum in return. Good examples of wallbreakers that complement Salamence well include Life Orb Mienshao, Swords Dance Aegislash, and Choice Band Rillaboom; these Pokemon can easily take advantage of specially defensive checks such as Celesteela and Garganacl that Salamence tends to invite in. In return, Salamence can provide them with a soft answer to the likes of Keldeo and Victini. Salamence also heavily appreciates hazards and Knock Off support, which goes a long way in overwhelming the likes of Celesteela, specially defensive Hippowdon, and Rotom-W. Teammates such as Clefable, Scizor, and Swampert can assist in this regard, Scizor and Swampert can also U-turn and Flip Turn to bring Salamence in safely against the likes of Okidogi and Hydrapple, which are otherwise able to potentially threaten it on the switch, whereas Clefable also provides an amazing defensive answer to Knock Off users such as Life Orb Mienshao and Lokix, which are otherwise capable of wearing down Salamence in conjunction with Stealth Rock. Lastly, hazard removal options such as Defog Rotom-W and Rapid Spin Excadrill are highly valuable for their ability to alleviate Salamence's moveslot constraints, while also ensuring that it can manage its HP in the face of its Stealth Rock weakness after losing Heavy-Duty Boots to Knock Off.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/iride.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/danbear02.589016/
Grammar checked by:
Insert user here
Last edited:
