tondas
Guess who's going to jail tonight
got it -mz
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Sky Uppercut / Low Kick
move 4: Protect / Thunder Punch
item: Firium Z / Fightinium Z / Eviolite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Combusken's Attack by two stages, allowing it to plow through walls such as Weezing and Regirock and clean late-game with its near-unresisted STAB combination. Flare Blitz is Combusken's strongest STAB move, dealing significant damage to targets like Spiritomb and Clefairy. Sky Uppercut targets those that resist Flare Blitz such as Regirock and Omastar, enabling Combusken to OHKO both with a Swords Dance-boosted All-Out Pummeling. Low Kick is a more consistent option thanks to its perfect accuracy and can deal much more damage to targets such as Aggron, Regirock, and Mudsdale. This allows Combusken to break through these Pokemon after a Swords Dance boost and slight residual damage beforehand. Do note, however, that it is less consistent against lightweight Pokemon like Omastar and Lanturn without Fightinium Z. Using Protect allows Combusken to safely get an extra turn of Speed Boost while also scouting for moves and Choice-locked Pokemon like Primeape and burning turns of Trick Room and weather. Thunder Punch can be utilized to target Qwilfish and Swanna, which otherwise have an easy time switching in. This gives up Protect's ability to outspeed foes in a pinch but can be used to lure in and KO two of Combusken's best checks. Substitute can be used in place of Protect to provide Combusken with a shield from status moves while easing prediction. However, a lack of Protect means that Combusken struggles when directly facing faster Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Pinsir, which can OHKO Combusken if it's lacking Eviolite. Fire Punch is a safer Fire-type STAB option over Flare Blitz that has no recoil, which allows it to be used multiple times without wearing down Combusken. Unfortunately, the drawback in power is highly significant, leaving Combusken unable to OHKO physically bulky Pokemon such as Weezing with a Swords Dance-boosted Inferno Overdrive.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Combusken to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. Using a Jolly nature allows Combusken to outspeed the likes of Jynx, Scyther, and Haunter after a Speed boost, whereas an Adamant nature can be used instead to increase Combusken's firepower and secure important KOs. This is especially significant on Firium Z variants, as this ensures that a Swords Dance-boosted Inferno Overdrive always OHKOes Weezing and defensive Mesprit. Speed Boost allows Combusken to thrive against offensive teams that have a difficult time taking on boosted attacks and are often outsped due to the snowballing effect that Speed Boosts creates. Firium Z converts Flare Blitz into Inferno Overdrive, an insanely powerful nuke when boosted with Swords Dance. Inferno Overdrive can also comfortably OHKO Skuntank and Oricorio-E after Stealth Rock damage without any Swords Dance boosts. This additionally lacks Flare Blitz's high recoil. Alternatively, Fightinium Z turns Sky Uppercut and Low Kick into All-Out Pummeling, doing significant damage to Pokemon that resist Flare Blitz like Lanturn and Carracosta. Combusken can trade off a Z-Crystal for an Eviolite, which enhances its bulk and eases the tension of setting up while also allowing Combusken to stomach priority moves that are weaker against it like Sucker Punch and Mach Punch.
Usage Tips
========
Combusken excels the most late-game due to its decent power and speed after Swords Dance and Speed Boost. However, it can be effective both as an early-game wallbreaker and as a revenge killer, utilizing Protect to gain a free Speed Boost and using its potent STAB moves to punch through walls. Protect can also provide utility, being able to burn turns of Trick Room and weather or scout for Choice-locked Pokemon such as Scyther. Combusken can be used earlier on against frailer offensive teams, which struggle to take boosted hits. It performs well later in a match versus bulky teams, where Combusken can power through teams where checks like Altaria are weakened. Being relatively frail, especially when lacking Eviolite, means that Combusken should only be brought in through pivoting moves like Volt Switch and U-turn, moves that heal it such as Healing Wish and Z-Parting Shot, into weak resisted attacks like Froslass's Ice Beam, or into moves that have no effect whatsoever, such as Gourgeist-XL's Will-O-Wisp. Double switching can also grant Combusken favorable matchups against threats like Bellossom and Shiftry, giving it a valuable chance to use Swords Dance. Use Swords Dance for when physically bulky threats such as Audino and Clefairy are still relatively healthy, as this grants Combusken the ability to KO them through their high Defense. Combusken can much more easily break through the likes of Weezing, Mesprit, and Lanturn when using the Z-Crystal respective to the Pokemon Combusken intends to break through. Combusken can use opportune matchups as setup time, as the prospect of its powerful STAB moves often forces switches. Examples of Pokemon that can't do much to Combusken include Audino, Gourgeist-XL, and Clefairy lacking Thunder Wave, though the Pokemon listed can potentially carry Toxic, which limits the number of turns Combusken can sweep. It's often a good idea to not reveal Swords Dance until absolutely necessary, as this can be used to bait in specially bulky Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Eelektross to take a hit, expecting a specially offensive set. If lacking the appropriate coverage, have Pokemon such as Qwilfish and Altaria weakened or removed before attempting to sweep, as this facilitates Combusken's ability to set up with Swords Dance and utilize Speed Boost.
Team Options
========
Grass- and Electric-types like Lilligant, Abomasnow, and Manectric can threaten bulky Ground- and Water-types like Mudsdale and Pyukumuku with their respective super effective STAB moves. The likes of Togedemaru, Eelektross, and Rotom-F can additionally provide momentum for Combusken with U-turn or Volt Switch. Wallbreakers such as Drampa, Mesprit, and Aggron can severely weaken bulky threats, which Combusken greatly enjoys in order to secure KOs. In return, Combusken can combat the Ice-, Dark- and Grass-types that threaten these Pokemon, like Alolan Sandslash, Absol, and Lurantis. Slower pivots such as Type: Null and Eelektross can bring Combusken in safely, with the latter being able to switch into Ground-type attacks directed at Combusken. Other defensive pivots like Silvally-Water and Lanturn can lure in Grass-types such as Bellossom and Lurantis. If using Eviolite variants of Combusken, Z-Parting Shot and Z-Memento from Alolan Persian and Skuntank can be used to lower the foe's offensive stats and fully heal Combusken, enabling easier setup. Entry hazard support from the likes of Regirock, Qwilfish, and Froslass can aid Combusken by whittling at its checks. Mesprit and Clefairy provide additional support through Healing Wish, giving Combusken a second chance at sweeping if it is used earlier in a match. Inversely, Pokemon that can remove entry hazards such as Hitmonchan and Swanna can keep entry hazards off Combusken's side, increasing the number of times it can use Flare Blitz and easing the tension of setup. Silvally-Dragon can additionally generate momentum with Parting Shot and bait in specially defensive Pokemon like Audino and Probopass. Additionally, these Pokemon naturally threaten Psychic-types such as Mesprit and Musharna. Defensive walls such as Gourgeist-XL and Weezing can sponge priority moves directed at Combusken like Aqua Jet and Mach Punch. Weezing can also set up Toxic Spikes to inflict residual damage on bulky Pokemon. Both of these examples can burn users of such priority moves like Kabutops and Hitmonchan with Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[tondas, 442732]]
- Quality checked by: [[allstarapology, 400192], [yogi, 252106], [UberSkitty, 355061]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [lotiasite, 302985]]
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Sky Uppercut / Low Kick
move 4: Protect / Thunder Punch
item: Firium Z / Fightinium Z / Eviolite
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Combusken's Attack by two stages, allowing it to plow through walls such as Weezing and Regirock and clean late-game with its near-unresisted STAB combination. Flare Blitz is Combusken's strongest STAB move, dealing significant damage to targets like Spiritomb and Clefairy. Sky Uppercut targets those that resist Flare Blitz such as Regirock and Omastar, enabling Combusken to OHKO both with a Swords Dance-boosted All-Out Pummeling. Low Kick is a more consistent option thanks to its perfect accuracy and can deal much more damage to targets such as Aggron, Regirock, and Mudsdale. This allows Combusken to break through these Pokemon after a Swords Dance boost and slight residual damage beforehand. Do note, however, that it is less consistent against lightweight Pokemon like Omastar and Lanturn without Fightinium Z. Using Protect allows Combusken to safely get an extra turn of Speed Boost while also scouting for moves and Choice-locked Pokemon like Primeape and burning turns of Trick Room and weather. Thunder Punch can be utilized to target Qwilfish and Swanna, which otherwise have an easy time switching in. This gives up Protect's ability to outspeed foes in a pinch but can be used to lure in and KO two of Combusken's best checks. Substitute can be used in place of Protect to provide Combusken with a shield from status moves while easing prediction. However, a lack of Protect means that Combusken struggles when directly facing faster Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Pinsir, which can OHKO Combusken if it's lacking Eviolite. Fire Punch is a safer Fire-type STAB option over Flare Blitz that has no recoil, which allows it to be used multiple times without wearing down Combusken. Unfortunately, the drawback in power is highly significant, leaving Combusken unable to OHKO physically bulky Pokemon such as Weezing with a Swords Dance-boosted Inferno Overdrive.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Combusken to hit as hard and as quickly as possible. Using a Jolly nature allows Combusken to outspeed the likes of Jynx, Scyther, and Haunter after a Speed boost, whereas an Adamant nature can be used instead to increase Combusken's firepower and secure important KOs. This is especially significant on Firium Z variants, as this ensures that a Swords Dance-boosted Inferno Overdrive always OHKOes Weezing and defensive Mesprit. Speed Boost allows Combusken to thrive against offensive teams that have a difficult time taking on boosted attacks and are often outsped due to the snowballing effect that Speed Boosts creates. Firium Z converts Flare Blitz into Inferno Overdrive, an insanely powerful nuke when boosted with Swords Dance. Inferno Overdrive can also comfortably OHKO Skuntank and Oricorio-E after Stealth Rock damage without any Swords Dance boosts. This additionally lacks Flare Blitz's high recoil. Alternatively, Fightinium Z turns Sky Uppercut and Low Kick into All-Out Pummeling, doing significant damage to Pokemon that resist Flare Blitz like Lanturn and Carracosta. Combusken can trade off a Z-Crystal for an Eviolite, which enhances its bulk and eases the tension of setting up while also allowing Combusken to stomach priority moves that are weaker against it like Sucker Punch and Mach Punch.
Usage Tips
========
Combusken excels the most late-game due to its decent power and speed after Swords Dance and Speed Boost. However, it can be effective both as an early-game wallbreaker and as a revenge killer, utilizing Protect to gain a free Speed Boost and using its potent STAB moves to punch through walls. Protect can also provide utility, being able to burn turns of Trick Room and weather or scout for Choice-locked Pokemon such as Scyther. Combusken can be used earlier on against frailer offensive teams, which struggle to take boosted hits. It performs well later in a match versus bulky teams, where Combusken can power through teams where checks like Altaria are weakened. Being relatively frail, especially when lacking Eviolite, means that Combusken should only be brought in through pivoting moves like Volt Switch and U-turn, moves that heal it such as Healing Wish and Z-Parting Shot, into weak resisted attacks like Froslass's Ice Beam, or into moves that have no effect whatsoever, such as Gourgeist-XL's Will-O-Wisp. Double switching can also grant Combusken favorable matchups against threats like Bellossom and Shiftry, giving it a valuable chance to use Swords Dance. Use Swords Dance for when physically bulky threats such as Audino and Clefairy are still relatively healthy, as this grants Combusken the ability to KO them through their high Defense. Combusken can much more easily break through the likes of Weezing, Mesprit, and Lanturn when using the Z-Crystal respective to the Pokemon Combusken intends to break through. Combusken can use opportune matchups as setup time, as the prospect of its powerful STAB moves often forces switches. Examples of Pokemon that can't do much to Combusken include Audino, Gourgeist-XL, and Clefairy lacking Thunder Wave, though the Pokemon listed can potentially carry Toxic, which limits the number of turns Combusken can sweep. It's often a good idea to not reveal Swords Dance until absolutely necessary, as this can be used to bait in specially bulky Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Eelektross to take a hit, expecting a specially offensive set. If lacking the appropriate coverage, have Pokemon such as Qwilfish and Altaria weakened or removed before attempting to sweep, as this facilitates Combusken's ability to set up with Swords Dance and utilize Speed Boost.
Team Options
========
Grass- and Electric-types like Lilligant, Abomasnow, and Manectric can threaten bulky Ground- and Water-types like Mudsdale and Pyukumuku with their respective super effective STAB moves. The likes of Togedemaru, Eelektross, and Rotom-F can additionally provide momentum for Combusken with U-turn or Volt Switch. Wallbreakers such as Drampa, Mesprit, and Aggron can severely weaken bulky threats, which Combusken greatly enjoys in order to secure KOs. In return, Combusken can combat the Ice-, Dark- and Grass-types that threaten these Pokemon, like Alolan Sandslash, Absol, and Lurantis. Slower pivots such as Type: Null and Eelektross can bring Combusken in safely, with the latter being able to switch into Ground-type attacks directed at Combusken. Other defensive pivots like Silvally-Water and Lanturn can lure in Grass-types such as Bellossom and Lurantis. If using Eviolite variants of Combusken, Z-Parting Shot and Z-Memento from Alolan Persian and Skuntank can be used to lower the foe's offensive stats and fully heal Combusken, enabling easier setup. Entry hazard support from the likes of Regirock, Qwilfish, and Froslass can aid Combusken by whittling at its checks. Mesprit and Clefairy provide additional support through Healing Wish, giving Combusken a second chance at sweeping if it is used earlier in a match. Inversely, Pokemon that can remove entry hazards such as Hitmonchan and Swanna can keep entry hazards off Combusken's side, increasing the number of times it can use Flare Blitz and easing the tension of setup. Silvally-Dragon can additionally generate momentum with Parting Shot and bait in specially defensive Pokemon like Audino and Probopass. Additionally, these Pokemon naturally threaten Psychic-types such as Mesprit and Musharna. Defensive walls such as Gourgeist-XL and Weezing can sponge priority moves directed at Combusken like Aqua Jet and Mach Punch. Weezing can also set up Toxic Spikes to inflict residual damage on bulky Pokemon. Both of these examples can burn users of such priority moves like Kabutops and Hitmonchan with Will-O-Wisp.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[tondas, 442732]]
- Quality checked by: [[allstarapology, 400192], [yogi, 252106], [UberSkitty, 355061]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [lotiasite, 302985]]
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