[SET]
name: IntimHawk
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Intimidate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Tomohawk's role compression, excellent bulk, and Intimidate allow it to check a myriad of physical attackers such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Revenankh. Despite these attributes, Tomohawk struggles due to how common Flying-types are in the tier and its inability to switch into some of the metagame's most common physical attackers, such as Zeraora, Venomicon-E, and Weavile. It has excellent neutral coverage with Hurricane and Aura Sphere, and these moves hit the aforementioned physical attackers it checks, along with others like Urshifu-R and Melmetal, super effectively. Tomohawk is an adequate Stealth Rock setter, though common Defoggers like Zapdos and Tornadus-T force it out. Similarly, it can utilize Rapid Spin, though entry hazard setters like Clefable and Astrolotl fear little from it, and others like Landorus-T and Heatran can cripple it with Toxic.
While Tomohawk is a passable wall, it is incapable of checking some of the more prevalent physical attackers in the tier, such as Zeraora, Weavile, and Venomicon-E. Therefore, alternative defensive options like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and Zapdos are must-haves alongside it. Equilibra and Heatran are intriguing partners that can switch into the strong Fairy- and Psychic-type attacks that plague Tomohawk; they also form nice defensive entry hazard setting and removing cores. Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Colossoil are helpful as checks to Electric-types like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Zapdos, with Garchomp and Landorus-T taking some of the burden off of Tomohawk to check physical threats and Colossoil taking on special attackers like Dragapult and Heatran that pressure it. Tomohawk must be paired with a check to Flying-types, as it often invites in Zapdos and Tornadus-T; accordingly, Zapdos, Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Weavile all make for good partners.
[SET]
name: HazeHawk
move 1: Haze
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin / Aura Sphere
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
This set makes use of a unique trait that Tomohawk possesses: Prankster Haze. This lets Tomohawk act as a backstop against setup sweepers like Kartana, Garchomp, and Cawmodore. Prankster also gives Roost priority, allowing Tomohawk to check Urshifu-R by racking up Rocky Helmet chip damage and lessen the damage it takes from Zeraora's Electric-type moves. However, due to it lacking Intimidate, this set performs much worse in the face of strong physical wallbreakers like Melmetal. Haze also leaves Tomohawk with only one available moveslot to choose between Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Aura Sphere, leaving it deficient in either its coverage or utility. Tomohawk can set and remove entry hazards on physical attackers like Kartana and Rillaboom; however, it is forced out by common Defoggers like Zapdos and Tornadus-T and Stealth Rock setters like Landorus-T and Heatran. Alternatively, Aura Sphere can be run to not be useless against Steel-types like Heatran and Melmetal; however, this takes away from the role compression that justifies Tomohawk's use in the first place.
HazeHawk is best used on teams that are weak to a particular setup sweeper. Ground-types like Landorus-T and Equilibra can switch into Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko for Tomohawk and appreciate it checking Cawmodore. Additionally, Landorus-T and Equilibra provide Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, respectively, freeing Tomohawk to run Aura Sphere. Tapu Fini enjoys Tomohawk's ability to check Swords Dance Kartana and Ferrothorn, and in return it deals with Weavile. Specially defensive Pokemon like Blissey, Slowking, and Toxapex are excellent teammates, as they can deal with the many special attackers that threaten Tomohawk like Dragapult, Tapu Lele, and Tornadus-T. Furthermore, this Tomohawk set is walled by Heatran if it's not running Aura Sphere, making consistent switch-ins to it like Astrolotl and Colossoil mandatory.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Toxic can be run on Tomohawk's Intimidate set to punish Zapdos and Tornadus-T; however, it is incredibly difficult to justify using it over Aura Sphere or Stealth Rock. Tomohawk can run a dedicated Stealth Rock lead set on hyper offense teams with Prankster using Healing Wish, Taunt, and Rapid Spin, ensuring that Stealth Rock stays up while denying the opponent from both setting and removing entry hazards; however, this set is generally seen as gimmicky and is usually accomplished better by Landorus-T.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Zapdos, Corviknight, and Tornadus-T can easily switch into Tomohawk, remove Stealth Rock with Defog, and force it out with Hurricane or Brave Bird. Galarian Zapdos cleanly OHKOes Tomohawk and can gain a Defiant boost from Intimidate on a predicted switch, though it cannot safely switch in. Both Venomicon formes threaten Tomohawk, though Venomicon-E is easily chipped.
**Fairy-types**: Tapu Fini, Clefable, Jumbao, and Tapu Lele all force Tomohawk out with Moonblast. The latter two do not enjoy switching into Hurricane, however.
**Electric-types**: Zeraora, Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Krilowatt all threaten Tomohawk with their super effective Electric-type STAB moves. Tapu Koko, in particular, resists both of Tomohawk's STAB options and can heal off its weak attacks with Roost.
**Ice-types**: Weavile is one of the most notable physical attackers that Tomohawk cannot check. It must be wary about repeatedly activating Tomohawk's Rocky Helmet, however. Hail teams often render Tomohawk incapable of checking anything due to how well Alolan Ninetales and Arctozolt match up against it.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special attackers like Dragapult and Blacephalon can break through Tomohawk with little to no support.
**Special Walls**: Special walls like Galarian Slowking, Toxapex, and Blissey take little to no damage from Tomohawk and force it out with the threat of Future Sight and status.
**Toxic**: Tomohawk is easily worn down by Toxic. Melmetal, Colossoil, Landorus-T, and Garchomp can all bait Tomohawk in and cripple it with the move.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[dex, 277988]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lasen, 273339], [spoo, 251944]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: IntimHawk
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Aura Sphere
move 3: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Intimidate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Tomohawk's role compression, excellent bulk, and Intimidate allow it to check a myriad of physical attackers such as Rillaboom, Kartana, and Revenankh. Despite these attributes, Tomohawk struggles due to how common Flying-types are in the tier and its inability to switch into some of the metagame's most common physical attackers, such as Zeraora, Venomicon-E, and Weavile. It has excellent neutral coverage with Hurricane and Aura Sphere, and these moves hit the aforementioned physical attackers it checks, along with others like Urshifu-R and Melmetal, super effectively. Tomohawk is an adequate Stealth Rock setter, though common Defoggers like Zapdos and Tornadus-T force it out. Similarly, it can utilize Rapid Spin, though entry hazard setters like Clefable and Astrolotl fear little from it, and others like Landorus-T and Heatran can cripple it with Toxic.
While Tomohawk is a passable wall, it is incapable of checking some of the more prevalent physical attackers in the tier, such as Zeraora, Weavile, and Venomicon-E. Therefore, alternative defensive options like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and Zapdos are must-haves alongside it. Equilibra and Heatran are intriguing partners that can switch into the strong Fairy- and Psychic-type attacks that plague Tomohawk; they also form nice defensive entry hazard setting and removing cores. Ground-types such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Colossoil are helpful as checks to Electric-types like Tapu Koko, Zeraora, and Zapdos, with Garchomp and Landorus-T taking some of the burden off of Tomohawk to check physical threats and Colossoil taking on special attackers like Dragapult and Heatran that pressure it. Tomohawk must be paired with a check to Flying-types, as it often invites in Zapdos and Tornadus-T; accordingly, Zapdos, Zeraora, Tapu Koko, and Weavile all make for good partners.
[SET]
name: HazeHawk
move 1: Haze
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin / Aura Sphere
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
This set makes use of a unique trait that Tomohawk possesses: Prankster Haze. This lets Tomohawk act as a backstop against setup sweepers like Kartana, Garchomp, and Cawmodore. Prankster also gives Roost priority, allowing Tomohawk to check Urshifu-R by racking up Rocky Helmet chip damage and lessen the damage it takes from Zeraora's Electric-type moves. However, due to it lacking Intimidate, this set performs much worse in the face of strong physical wallbreakers like Melmetal. Haze also leaves Tomohawk with only one available moveslot to choose between Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Aura Sphere, leaving it deficient in either its coverage or utility. Tomohawk can set and remove entry hazards on physical attackers like Kartana and Rillaboom; however, it is forced out by common Defoggers like Zapdos and Tornadus-T and Stealth Rock setters like Landorus-T and Heatran. Alternatively, Aura Sphere can be run to not be useless against Steel-types like Heatran and Melmetal; however, this takes away from the role compression that justifies Tomohawk's use in the first place.
HazeHawk is best used on teams that are weak to a particular setup sweeper. Ground-types like Landorus-T and Equilibra can switch into Electric-types like Zeraora and Tapu Koko for Tomohawk and appreciate it checking Cawmodore. Additionally, Landorus-T and Equilibra provide Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, respectively, freeing Tomohawk to run Aura Sphere. Tapu Fini enjoys Tomohawk's ability to check Swords Dance Kartana and Ferrothorn, and in return it deals with Weavile. Specially defensive Pokemon like Blissey, Slowking, and Toxapex are excellent teammates, as they can deal with the many special attackers that threaten Tomohawk like Dragapult, Tapu Lele, and Tornadus-T. Furthermore, this Tomohawk set is walled by Heatran if it's not running Aura Sphere, making consistent switch-ins to it like Astrolotl and Colossoil mandatory.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Toxic can be run on Tomohawk's Intimidate set to punish Zapdos and Tornadus-T; however, it is incredibly difficult to justify using it over Aura Sphere or Stealth Rock. Tomohawk can run a dedicated Stealth Rock lead set on hyper offense teams with Prankster using Healing Wish, Taunt, and Rapid Spin, ensuring that Stealth Rock stays up while denying the opponent from both setting and removing entry hazards; however, this set is generally seen as gimmicky and is usually accomplished better by Landorus-T.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Zapdos, Corviknight, and Tornadus-T can easily switch into Tomohawk, remove Stealth Rock with Defog, and force it out with Hurricane or Brave Bird. Galarian Zapdos cleanly OHKOes Tomohawk and can gain a Defiant boost from Intimidate on a predicted switch, though it cannot safely switch in. Both Venomicon formes threaten Tomohawk, though Venomicon-E is easily chipped.
**Fairy-types**: Tapu Fini, Clefable, Jumbao, and Tapu Lele all force Tomohawk out with Moonblast. The latter two do not enjoy switching into Hurricane, however.
**Electric-types**: Zeraora, Tapu Koko, Magnezone, and Krilowatt all threaten Tomohawk with their super effective Electric-type STAB moves. Tapu Koko, in particular, resists both of Tomohawk's STAB options and can heal off its weak attacks with Roost.
**Ice-types**: Weavile is one of the most notable physical attackers that Tomohawk cannot check. It must be wary about repeatedly activating Tomohawk's Rocky Helmet, however. Hail teams often render Tomohawk incapable of checking anything due to how well Alolan Ninetales and Arctozolt match up against it.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Strong special attackers like Dragapult and Blacephalon can break through Tomohawk with little to no support.
**Special Walls**: Special walls like Galarian Slowking, Toxapex, and Blissey take little to no damage from Tomohawk and force it out with the threat of Future Sight and status.
**Toxic**: Tomohawk is easily worn down by Toxic. Melmetal, Colossoil, Landorus-T, and Garchomp can all bait Tomohawk in and cripple it with the move.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[dex, 277988]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lasen, 273339], [spoo, 251944]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
