[SET]
name: Sun Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Lava Plume
move 4: Toxic / Yawn
item: Heat Rock
ability: Drought
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Torkoal is an important member on sun teams thanks to its ability to set sun with Drought. Unlike Ninetales, Torkoal provides valuable role compression due to its access to both Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin. This allows it to both pressure traditional checks to sun teams like Gigalith and Milotic with entry hazard damage and prevent teammates like Choice Band Darmanitan from getting worn down by entry hazards. Its higher physical bulk compared to Ninetales also means that it has more opportunities to switch in and set sun against Pokemon like Cobalion. However, Torkoal's lackluster Speed means that it cannot offensively check and force out faster Pokemon like Toxtricity and Roserade unlike Ninetails. Its poor special bulk also means that Torkoal struggles to switch into Pokemon like Sylveon and Galarian Weezing, which Ninetales otherwise takes advantage of. Lava Plume's 30% burn chance allows Torkoal to punish switch-ins like Rhyperior and Gigalith, as well as deter Pokemon like Dragon Dance Necrozma from taking advantage of its passiveness. Toxic is the best option in the last slot, as it allows Torkoal to punish Gigalith, Rhyperior, as well as prevent entry hazard removers like Noivern and Rotom-W from coming in freely. Alternatively, Yawn forces switches, which is useful to rack up Stealth Rock damage, deter entry hazard removers like Noivern and Rotom-W, and create potential setup opportunities for teammates like Shiftry. However, the ability to immediately punish checks like Rhyperior, Rotom-W, and the sandstorm-setting Gigalith with Toxic is usually more valuable. Heat Rock maximizes the number of sun turns for Torkoal's teammates like Shiftry, Heliolisk, and Darmanitan to take advantage of, but Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to increase the number of times Torkoal can come in on entry hazards.
Since Torkoal fits exclusively on sun teams, Pokemon that take advantage of the sun that Torkoal brings are mandatory teammates. Shiftry is a fantastic partner that benefits from the added Speed from Chlorophyll, which prevents Pokemon like Noivern and Choice Scarf Flygon from revenge killing it while helping it clean late game. The boost given by Growth also lets Shiftry break through otherwise sturdy checks like Sylveon more reliably. Shiftry is also able to take advantage of and pressure bulky Water-types and Rock-types that check Torkoal like Milotic, Rotom-W, Rhyperior, and Gigalith with its powerful Solar Blade or Leaf Blade. Darmanitan is also a great partner that greatly benefits from both the sun powering up its already strong Flare Blitz and the entry hazard support Torkoal provides, which allows Darmanitan to break through otherwise sturdy checks like Gigalith and Rotom-W, 2HKOing both after minimal prior damage. Swords Dance Incineroar is another partner that is able to check Chandelure, which is otherwise a major problem for sun teams due to its ability to switch into Torkoal and other teammates thanks to Flash Fire. Incineroar can also surprise and KO a weakened Gigalith or Rhyperior with Close Combat, and it can break through Galarian Weezing and Sylveon more easily with a sun-boosted Flare Blitz. Heliolisk is another partner that pressures bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, if brought in safely, and greatly benefits from Solar Power's Special Attack boost and Weather Ball's Fire-type coverage, letting it break through Bronzong, Escavalier, Sylveon, and Celebi. Pokemon that can directly switch into and pressure Gigalith in particular are extremely important due to Gigalith's Sand Stream negating Torkoal's sun. Swords Dance Cobalion takes advantage of Gigalith and can switch in semi-reliably if holding a Shuca Berry or Air Balloon, while it appreciates the pressure placed on Milotic, Noivern, and other switch-ins by Torkoal and teammates like Darmanitan, helping it clean late-game.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Panther-T, 304829]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709]], [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[kt3, 228482]]
name: Sun Setter
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Lava Plume
move 4: Toxic / Yawn
item: Heat Rock
ability: Drought
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Torkoal is an important member on sun teams thanks to its ability to set sun with Drought. Unlike Ninetales, Torkoal provides valuable role compression due to its access to both Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin. This allows it to both pressure traditional checks to sun teams like Gigalith and Milotic with entry hazard damage and prevent teammates like Choice Band Darmanitan from getting worn down by entry hazards. Its higher physical bulk compared to Ninetales also means that it has more opportunities to switch in and set sun against Pokemon like Cobalion. However, Torkoal's lackluster Speed means that it cannot offensively check and force out faster Pokemon like Toxtricity and Roserade unlike Ninetails. Its poor special bulk also means that Torkoal struggles to switch into Pokemon like Sylveon and Galarian Weezing, which Ninetales otherwise takes advantage of. Lava Plume's 30% burn chance allows Torkoal to punish switch-ins like Rhyperior and Gigalith, as well as deter Pokemon like Dragon Dance Necrozma from taking advantage of its passiveness. Toxic is the best option in the last slot, as it allows Torkoal to punish Gigalith, Rhyperior, as well as prevent entry hazard removers like Noivern and Rotom-W from coming in freely. Alternatively, Yawn forces switches, which is useful to rack up Stealth Rock damage, deter entry hazard removers like Noivern and Rotom-W, and create potential setup opportunities for teammates like Shiftry. However, the ability to immediately punish checks like Rhyperior, Rotom-W, and the sandstorm-setting Gigalith with Toxic is usually more valuable. Heat Rock maximizes the number of sun turns for Torkoal's teammates like Shiftry, Heliolisk, and Darmanitan to take advantage of, but Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to increase the number of times Torkoal can come in on entry hazards.
Since Torkoal fits exclusively on sun teams, Pokemon that take advantage of the sun that Torkoal brings are mandatory teammates. Shiftry is a fantastic partner that benefits from the added Speed from Chlorophyll, which prevents Pokemon like Noivern and Choice Scarf Flygon from revenge killing it while helping it clean late game. The boost given by Growth also lets Shiftry break through otherwise sturdy checks like Sylveon more reliably. Shiftry is also able to take advantage of and pressure bulky Water-types and Rock-types that check Torkoal like Milotic, Rotom-W, Rhyperior, and Gigalith with its powerful Solar Blade or Leaf Blade. Darmanitan is also a great partner that greatly benefits from both the sun powering up its already strong Flare Blitz and the entry hazard support Torkoal provides, which allows Darmanitan to break through otherwise sturdy checks like Gigalith and Rotom-W, 2HKOing both after minimal prior damage. Swords Dance Incineroar is another partner that is able to check Chandelure, which is otherwise a major problem for sun teams due to its ability to switch into Torkoal and other teammates thanks to Flash Fire. Incineroar can also surprise and KO a weakened Gigalith or Rhyperior with Close Combat, and it can break through Galarian Weezing and Sylveon more easily with a sun-boosted Flare Blitz. Heliolisk is another partner that pressures bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, if brought in safely, and greatly benefits from Solar Power's Special Attack boost and Weather Ball's Fire-type coverage, letting it break through Bronzong, Escavalier, Sylveon, and Celebi. Pokemon that can directly switch into and pressure Gigalith in particular are extremely important due to Gigalith's Sand Stream negating Torkoal's sun. Swords Dance Cobalion takes advantage of Gigalith and can switch in semi-reliably if holding a Shuca Berry or Air Balloon, while it appreciates the pressure placed on Milotic, Noivern, and other switch-ins by Torkoal and teammates like Darmanitan, helping it clean late-game.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Panther-T, 304829]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lilburr, 481709]], [[Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[kt3, 228482]]
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