[SET]
name: Contrary Tank
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Giga Drain / Aromatherapy
move 4: Synthesis
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Contrary
nature: Modest
evs: 216 SpA / 252 SpD / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
Pyroak is a massively threatening wallbreaker due to its access to Contrary Overheat, great bulk, and near-perfect coverage options; however, its vulnerability to Knock Off, poor Speed, and awkward defensive typing limit its effectiveness at times. Earth Power complements Overheat as a way to break past Toxapex and Heatran, while Giga Drain lets Pyroak pop Heatran's Air Balloon and stay healthy against more offensive Water-types like Rotom-W and Tapu Fini. Aromatherapy can be run to completely bypass Toxic Landorus-T and the occasional Thunder Wave user such as Clefable and Rotom-W, but leaves Pyroak unable to touch Air Balloon Heatran. Pyroak's EVs allow it to 2HKO Assault Vest Tornadus-T with Overheat and outrun Venomicon, with the rest in Special Defense to take on Zapdos, Galarian Slowking, and Heatran better.
Teammates like Weavile and Garchomp can lure in defensive foes such as Ferrothorn, Clefable, and Slowbro that Pyroak can easily switch in on and take advantage of; moreover, Pyroak can take pressure off of these Pokemon by answering Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko. It's incredibly common for Pyroak to lose its Heavy-Duty Boots soon into the game, so entry hazard control from the likes of Landorus-T, Equilibra, and Corviknight is crucial. While Pyroak hardly has any consistent switch-ins, it can still find itself annoyed by bulky Flying-types like Zapdos and Tornadus-T; Electric-type partners like Tapu Koko or Rotom-W are great teammates for this reason, with Pyroak also easily denying Ferrothorn's Leech Seed for them. Pyroak is most often seen on bulky offense, but it can even fit onto faster-paced offense teams that struggle against threats like Astrolotl, Melmetal, and Choice Scarf Kartana; with Alolan Ninetales's Aurora Veil, Pyroak becomes nigh impossible to force out and can easily claim multiple KOs or break significant holes in the opposition.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
On hyper offense teams utilizing dual screens or Aurora Veil, Pyroak has the freedom to EV itself more offensively with a Modest or Timid nature and greater speed investment. Pyroak is viable on weather teams utilizing sun or hail, as the former powers up its Overheat and Synthesis while the latter appreciates its defensive utility against Steel-types and its ability to lure in bulky Flying-types. Dragon Pulse can be used over Giga Drain to lure foes like Dragonite, Dragapult, and Pajantom, while Leech Seed improves Pyroak's overall longevity but usually isn't worth missing out on the immediate damage and ability to beat Air Balloon Heatran that Giga Drain offers. Toxic or Substitute can be used over Giga Drain as well, but they tend to be inconsistent at best. Pyroak is also a decent Stealth Rock setter due to its ability to force switches, but this option suffers the same issue of forfeiting immediate offensive pressure.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pajantom**: Pajantom resists Pyroak's STAB moves, shrugs hits off with its high Special Defense, and can 2HKO Pyroak with its own STAB options; however, its lack of recovery leaves it quickly worn down, especially if entry hazards are on the field.
**Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage**: Tyranitar, Nihilego, and Stratagem are usually reliable answers to Pyroak, as they resist its Overheat and can immediately force it out; however, they are heavily threatened by Pyroak's coverage options, and the latter two must use up their valuable Power Herb to OHKO Pyroak with Meteor Beam.
**Flying-types**: Bulky Flying-types like Zapdos, Assault Vest Tornadus-T, and Venomicon can pressure Pyroak with their strong Hurricanes, but they will often lose to Pyroak if they switch directly into Overheat. Dual Wingbeat Dragonite is a strong answer to Pyroak no matter what, but other variants of Dragonite are ineffective answers.
**Passive Damage**: Pokemon like Clefable, Zeraora, Kartana, Weavile, and Ferrothorn can cripple Pyroak with Knock Off on a predicted switch, severely limiting how much Pyroak can accomplish throughout a match. Likewise, Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Melmetal can inflict Pyroak with Toxic as it switches in to limit the number of turns it can spend freely attacking.
**Special Walls**: Assault Vest Slowking and Galarian Slowking are both decent stopgaps to Pyroak; the former can phaze it out with Dragon Tail, while the latter can accrue chip damage with Sludge Bomb, though they are both prone to being overwhelmed. Blissey can switch into Pyroak and safely Teleport into something that can force Pyroak out, but it cannot do much to Pyroak itself.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[spoo, 251944]]
- Quality checked by: [[dex, 277988], [quziel, 297859]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
name: Contrary Tank
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Giga Drain / Aromatherapy
move 4: Synthesis
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Contrary
nature: Modest
evs: 216 SpA / 252 SpD / 40 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
Pyroak is a massively threatening wallbreaker due to its access to Contrary Overheat, great bulk, and near-perfect coverage options; however, its vulnerability to Knock Off, poor Speed, and awkward defensive typing limit its effectiveness at times. Earth Power complements Overheat as a way to break past Toxapex and Heatran, while Giga Drain lets Pyroak pop Heatran's Air Balloon and stay healthy against more offensive Water-types like Rotom-W and Tapu Fini. Aromatherapy can be run to completely bypass Toxic Landorus-T and the occasional Thunder Wave user such as Clefable and Rotom-W
Teammates like Weavile and Garchomp can lure in defensive foes such as Ferrothorn, Clefable, and Slowbro that Pyroak can easily switch in on and take advantage of; moreover, Pyroak can take pressure off of these Pokemon by answering Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko. It's incredibly common for Pyroak to lose its Heavy-Duty Boots soon into the game, so entry hazard control from the likes of Landorus-T, Equilibra, and Corviknight is crucial. While Pyroak hardly has any consistent switch-ins, it can still find itself annoyed by bulky Flying-types like Zapdos and Tornadus-T; Electric-type partners like Tapu Koko or Rotom-W are great teammates for this reason, with Pyroak also easily denying Ferrothorn's Leech Seed for them. Pyroak is most often seen on bulky offense, but it can even fit onto faster-paced offense teams that struggle against threats like Astrolotl, Melmetal, and Choice Scarf Kartana; with Alolan Ninetales's Aurora Veil, Pyroak becomes nigh impossible to force out and can easily claim multiple KOs or break significant holes in the opposition.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
On hyper offense teams utilizing dual screens or Aurora Veil, Pyroak has the freedom to EV itself more offensively with a Modest or Timid nature and greater speed investment. Pyroak is viable on weather teams utilizing sun or hail, as the former powers up its Overheat and Synthesis while the latter appreciates its defensive utility against Steel-types and its ability to lure in bulky Flying-types. Dragon Pulse can be used over Giga Drain to lure foes like Dragonite, Dragapult, and Pajantom, while Leech Seed improves Pyroak's overall longevity but usually isn't worth missing out on the immediate damage and ability to beat Air Balloon Heatran that Giga Drain offers. Toxic or Substitute can be used over Giga Drain as well, but they tend to be inconsistent at best. Pyroak is also a decent Stealth Rock setter due to its ability to force switches, but this option suffers the same issue of forfeiting immediate offensive pressure.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pajantom**: Pajantom resists Pyroak's STAB moves, shrugs hits off with its high Special Defense, and can 2HKO Pyroak with its own STAB options; however, its lack of recovery leaves it quickly worn down, especially if entry hazards are on the field.
**Rock-types and Rock-type Coverage**: Tyranitar, Nihilego, and Stratagem are usually reliable answers to Pyroak, as they resist its Overheat and can immediately force it out; however, they are heavily threatened by Pyroak's coverage options, and the latter two must use up their valuable Power Herb to OHKO Pyroak with Meteor Beam.
**Flying-types**: Bulky Flying-types like Zapdos, Assault Vest Tornadus-T, and Venomicon can pressure Pyroak with their strong Hurricanes, but they will often lose to Pyroak if they switch directly into Overheat. Dual Wingbeat Dragonite is a strong answer to Pyroak no matter what, but other variants of Dragonite are ineffective answers.
**Passive Damage**: Pokemon like Clefable, Zeraora, Kartana, Weavile, and Ferrothorn can cripple Pyroak with Knock Off on a predicted switch, severely limiting how much Pyroak can accomplish throughout a match. Likewise, Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Melmetal can inflict Pyroak with Toxic as it switches in to limit the number of turns it can spend freely attacking.
**Special Walls**: Assault Vest Slowking and Galarian Slowking are both decent stopgaps to Pyroak; the former can phaze it out with Dragon Tail, while the latter can accrue chip damage with Sludge Bomb, though they are both prone to being overwhelmed. Blissey can switch into Pyroak and safely Teleport into something that can force Pyroak out, but it cannot do much to Pyroak itself.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[spoo, 251944]]
- Quality checked by: [[dex, 277988], [quziel, 297859]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
Last edited:
