Honchkrow [1/3]

Amane Misa

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QC Checks: Hilomilo, -, -
GP Checks: -, -

[OVERVIEW]

*A great offensive typing and high base Attack, Honchkrow a threatening wallbreaker. Additionally, its switch-ins are further limited, thanks to coverage in Superpower, and Heat Wave.

*Honchkrow has a great ability, Moxie, which makes it a threatening late-game cleaner. With Sucker Punch, Honchkrow is capable of OHKOing, after a Moxie boost and a bit of chip, the majority of the unresisted, faster metagame.

* Honchkrow's moderate Speed tier makes it susceptible to most Fighting- and Dark-types in the tier, such as Cobalion and Hydreigon. This, also means, that Honchkrow is reliant on Sucker Punch to beat faster foes, which invites in faster set-up sweepers, such as Mega Altaria and Lucario, and Substitute users, such as Nidoking and Kyurem.

*Despite its good offensive typing, a below average bulk leaves it weak to VoltTurn staples, such as Mega Manectric and Scizor. Furthermore, its typing leaves it weak to common types, such as Fairy-, Electric- and Rock-types.

*Honchkrow also finds it hard to remain longevity, with a weakness to Stealth Rock, and reliance on Life Orb and Brave Bird to break.

[SET]
name: Murderkrow (All-out Attacker)
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Superpower / Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

*Brave Bird is Honchkrow's main STAB move, which hits really hard Pokemon that doesn't resist Flying, such as Swampert and Scizor.

*Sucker Punch Honchkrow's secondary STAB move, that mainly hits foes that attempt to revenge kill it, such as Latias and Crobat.

*Pursuit targets forced switches, such as Gengar locked into Shadow Ball, and Latias. Furthermore, it can create mind-games between Pursuit and Sucker Punch.

*Superpower is its best coverage move Honchkrow has to offer, as it hits bulky Steel-types, such as Empoleon and Stakataka for super effective damage.

*Heat Wave makes use of Honchkrow's passable Special attack and hits Steel-types that do are not hit super effectively by Superpower, such as Klefki and Doublade.

Set Details
========

*252 Attack EVs maximize Honchkrow's wallbreaking potential.

*252 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed key threats, such as Timid Primarina and Adamant Scizor.

*A positive Attack Nature is preferred over a positive Speed Nature to maximize Honchkrow's offensive presence.

*Life Orb is the best item option on Honchkrow, as it guaranteed some KOs, such as on Empoleon with Superpower and on Mega Aerodactyl with Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock damage and a Moxie boost.

*Moxie is Honchkrow's best ability, because it raises Honchkrow's attack by one stage every KO, further enhancing its wallbreaking capabilities and making it harder to revenge kill it.

Usage Tips
========

*Although Honchkrow is best-used late-game as a cleaner, it can be used as an early-game wallbreaker to weaken Pokemon, such as Swampert and Empoleon.

*Before cleaning with Honchkrow, faster Fighting- and Dark-types, such as Infernape and Hydreigon must be weakened to be in a range of Sucker Punch KOing.

*Honchkrow can Pursuit trap choice-locked Pokemon, such as Gengar and Latias, especially if they are locked into a move Honchkrow resists or is immune to.

*Bulky Pokemon who resist Honchkrow's main STAB, Brave Bird, such as Mega Aggron or physical walls, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola, should be weakened before Honchkrow attempts to sweep. Not only Honchkrow struggles to beat those, it also takes a lot of recoil damage from attempting so.

*Honchkrow below average bulk means it can not switch-in directly on moves, not even on resisted ones. Therefore, bringing it in safely via Volt Switch or U-turn is the most efficient way.

Team Options
========

*Entry hazard setters, such as Azelf and Swampert make good partners because their entry hazards guarantee KOs, such as on Aerodactyl-Mega with Sucker Punch after an Attack boost, and 2HKOs, such as on Alomomola with Brave Bird.

*Physical wallbreakers and cleaners, such as Terrakion and Mega Sharpedo, weaken walls for Honchkrow and also appreciate Honchkrow weakening walls such as Swampert and Sylveon for them.

*Other set-up sweepers, such as Scizor and Talonflame, also appreciate Honchkrow weakening walls for them.

*Honchkrow's bad bulk means it can't be brought in directly, even not on resisted attacks. Hence, Pokemon such as Infernape, Mega Manectric, and Azelf, that can bring Honchkrow in safely via either U-turn, Volt Switch or Explosion, respectively, make good partners.

*Because Honchkrow is weak to Stealth Rock, entry hazards removers, such as Starmie and Tentacruel, make good partners for it.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

*Taunt is an option that allows Honchkrow to shut down walls that are reliant on recovery to beat it reliably, such as Hippowdon, and shut down Defog users, such as Mantine, that may try to use Honchkrow to use Defog. However, Honchkrow generally does not have a moveslot for that.

*Honchkrow can utilize Flyinium Z with Mirror Move, as this increases its Attack by two stages, and potentially mimics an opponent's Z move.

*Icy Wind allows Honchkrow to hit Gliscor super effectively, but Honchkrow generally does not have the moveslot for it.

*Honchkrow can use Darkinium Z alongside Snatch to boost its Speed by two stages to have a better matchup against faster teams. However, the decrease in damage output is notable.

*Choice Band can boost Honchkrow's already great Attack, allowing it to 2HKO Hippowdon and Alomomola from full. Honchkrow hates being locked into Sucker Punch, though, because that may open a door for set-up sweepers to abuse it.

*Choice Scarf can patch up Honchkrow's below average Speed, although even after a Choice Scarf boost, Honchkrow is still outsped Pokemon, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Manectric and other common Choice Scarf holders, such as Hydreigon and Infernape.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Physical Walls**: Hippowdon and Mega Aggron can take almost every attack Honchkrow may potentially hit them with. The former can force Honchkrow to die by recoil by continually spamming Slack Off against it and the latter resists Honchkrow's main STAB move and has Filter to weaken Honchkrow's coverage move.

**Faster Dark-resistant Pokemon**: Infernape, Cobalion, and Terrakion outspeed Honchkrow, resist Sucker Punch, and OHKO back in return. The two can even boost their Attack if Honchkrow may try to chip them with Sucker Punch. All of them, however, can't be directly brought in on Honchkrow, fearing a powerful Brave Bird.

**Residual Damage**: Residual damage caused by Stealth Rock, Life Orb, and recoil from Brave Bird all prevent Honchkrow for maintaining longevity.

**Electric-types**: Mega Manectric and Rotom-C resist Honchkrow's main STAB move and threaten it back with the STAB of their own to OHKO Honchkrow. The latter weakens Honchkrow's Attack with Intimidate, allowing it to take hits better, and the latter threatens Honchkrow with a Will-O-Wisp to cut its Attack and reliably beat it.
 
Last edited:

autumn

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amcheck, feel free to wait for qc input before implementing anything

Overview
- Merge the first and second points because they're both linked by coverage.
- Wouldn't mention Heat Wave here because its only an OO.
- Remove Rotom-W mention in Volt Turn cores and replace it with Mega Manectric.
- Mention that its weakness to Stealth Rock also contributes to the fact it gets worn down quickly as well as Brave Bird.

Moves
- Give examples of revenge killers such as Mega Beedrill and Mega Aerodactyl (+1 252+ Atk Honchkrow Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aerodactyl-Mega: 210-247 (69.7 - 82%) -- guaranteed 2HKO)
- Mention Blissey in Superpower targets.
- Mention that Mirror Move is entirely useless without a Z-Move, and also move this point to Usage Tips "Alternatively, the Z-move could be used on Brave Bird, which lets it dent common switch-ins, such as Alomomola and Hippowdon."

Set Details
- I don't really think that Adamant Scizor is the best example here because it will most likely be clicking Bullet Punch anyway.
- Specify which moves can KO Empoleon and Mega Aerodactyl.
- Specify that Naughty should be used wuth Icy Wind and Adamant otherwise.

Usage Tips
- Remove Rotom-W mention.
- Specify that it should be used primarily as a cleaner against offense and a breaker against bulkier teams.
- Add a point about when to set up with Z-Mirror Move if using it. Say that it's best to set up on forced switches or against Pokemon that can't do much to Honchkrow, especially when Honchkrow is used as a breaker.
- Add a point about using Supersonic Skystrike only when a wall cannot be broken otherwise, as it renders Mirror Move completely useless.

Team Options
- Mention how using Azelf allows Honchkrow to come in for free through Explosion's free switch to wallbreak early-game.
- I would also give Swampert and Hippowdon a mention as entry hazard setters, as they provide sturdier check to Electric-types than Mamoswine, easing the matchup against Volt Switch users.
- Reword the point about physical wallbreakers to add that Honchkrow appreciates this when used as a cleaner, not as much as a breaker itself.
- Talonflame wouldn't really work with Honchkrow at all, as you're stacking weaknesses especially to Stealth Rock, and Honchkrow's use of Flyinium Z means that Talonflame can't use it. I would replace this witt=h Dragon Dance Mega Altaria for a physical setup sweeper or Calm Mind Latias for special.
- Add a point about Choice Scarf users, such as Infernape and Hydreigon, checking faster threats like Mega Manectric that Honchkrow strugges against.
- I would give more viable examples of entry hazard removal, as Defog is very common. Users such as Gliscor, Empoleon, and Mega Altaria can work well with Honchkrow.

Other Options
- Latias doesn't get Nasty Plot, so I would reword this point to give the examples as special boosters in general, or replace the Latias mention with Togekiss.
- Mention Roost. Even though it's not the best for such a frail Pokemon, it can work situationally, especially against less offensive teams.

Checks and Counters
- Add a section about status moves, particularly burns, These reduce Honchkrow's effectiveness as a breaker and/or cleaner.
- Remove the Rotom-W mention in Electric-types.
 

Hilomilo

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Overview
* Your first line isn't a coherent sentence so be sure to fix that up.
* As Marthaa said, you should find a way to put the first two lines together since its coverage is already mentioned prior to when you elaborate on it.
* I'd only list Superpower and maybe Heat Wave as its good coverage options, not too big a fan of Icy Wind.
* Replace the Rotom-W mention.
* When you're talking about how easy Honchkrow is to wear down, bring up its Stealth Rock weakness and lack of room on its set for Roost.
* Honchkrow's defensive typing needs to be expanded on here. Talk about its weaknesses to common types in Electric, Fairy, and Rock.

Set
Set should look like this:
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Pursuit
move 4: Superpower / Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe

Reasoning behind these changes is that Z-Mirror Move is really situational considering Honchkrow is forced out so easily, so you're really better off just firing off attacks while you can. Pursuit is really useful for taking care of some Pokemon you force out, like choice-locked Latias and Gengar, while Heat Wave is preferable as your special coverage over Icy Wind for reliably hitting Scizor, Mega Aggron, Klefki, and Doublade hard.
Moves
* 'which shreds the most unresisted metagame.' - This part of your line is really confusing and I'm not sure what it's trying to say, so try cleaning it up a bit.
* Give some examples of Sucker Punch targets.
* Correctly place your Pursuit line under the Sucker Punch line to reflect the new set order. Also, give examples of Pokemon Honchkrow can trap with Pursuit and say that it can force mind games with Pursuit and Sucker Punch.
* Replace the Mega Aggron example with Stakataka when you bring up Superpower.
* Add in a line on Heat Wave, using the Pokemon I mentioned earlier as examples of its targets.
* Remove the lines on Icy Wind and Z-Mirror Move.

Set Details
* Don't bring up Flyinium Z here.
* Modify your Life Orb line to reflect that it is the most preferable item on Honchkrow.
* Move your line on Honchkrow's nature up under the lines on EV configuration, since it's most fitting if mentioned directly afterward. Also be sure to modify your current wording on its nature to form a complete sentence, as right now it isn't one.
* Be specific in saying that Moxie boosts Honchkrow's Attack by one stage after it nets a KO.

Usage Tips
* Change your Rotom-W and Mega Aggron examples. Rotom-W is OU now and Mega Aggron really isn't very adequately weakened by Honchkrow.
* Talk about using Pursuit to trap foes like Latias and Gengar here, especially if they're choice-locked into an attack Honchkrow resists or is immune to.

Team Options
* Replace Mamoswine in your entry hazard setters line and specify which moves Honchkrow can use to KO Mega Aerodactyl and Alomomola respectively.
* Alomomola and Mega Aggron are too frequently brought up as examples, so find something else to use as examples for walls here.
* Replace your Scizor example, as you continue to use it as an example of a pivot when there are plenty of other Pokemon that can bring Honchkrow in with U-turn. The Rotom-W example also needs to be replaced.

Other Options
* Put Icy Wind and Z-Mirror Move in here while removing Heat Wave.
* Explain why Z-Snatch is suboptimal.
* Remove the Nasty Plot line entirely, NP Honchkrow is almost entirely outclassed.

Checks and Counters
* Replace Rotom-W as an example and adjust the rest of the sentence, as it likely won't apply to whatever you replace it with (your best options are Rotom-C and Raikou).
 

Amane Misa

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Just realized how atrocious this analysis was, my bad. In any case, thanks for the check; I updated everything.

I also added Taunt in OOs, because this allows Honchkrow to beat certain Physical walls that otherwise beat it, such as Hippowdon, and shut down Defog users, such as Mantine. I hope it's fine.
 

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