[OVERVIEW]
With the rise of powerful Steel- and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Mega Metagross and Sylveon, Fire became a really good defensive typing. Because of this, Arcanine is a really good pick for a supporting Fire-type, as it has good defensive stats coupled with Intimidate. Arcanine also has access to a great support movepool, containing moves such as Helping Hand, Snarl, and Will-O-Wisp alongside its decent bulk. It is a great check to a lot of common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Syveon, Mega Metagross, and Bisharp. Arcanine, however, faces competition from other defensive Fire-types, such as Rotom-H and Entei. Arcanine is also fairly easy to wear down if it is not running Morning Sun.
[SET]
name: Bulky Support
move 1: Flamethrower / Overheat
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Snarl / Helping Hand
move 4: Protect / Morning Sun
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 36 SpA / 12 SpD / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flamethrower is Arcanine's choice for an offensive move and can provide nice chip damage especially against Steel-types; however, Overheat is a more powerful alternative. Support Arcanine generally does not mind the drops from Overheat, as it is mainly there to support its partner. Will-O-Wisp allows Arcanine to further cripple physical attackers while Snarl allows Arcanine to cripple special attackers; it also provides nice chip damage. Helping Hand is an option to boost Arcanine's partner's power, as Arcanine won't be attacking much. Protect shields Arcanine from attacks, as most people will tend to double target Arcanine to take it out before it can spread too many Will-O-Wisps; however, Morning Sun is also an option, as it can increase Arcanine's longevity.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment with 148 Defense EVs and a Bold nature makes Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Return, Jolly Terrakion's Close Combat, and Jolly Terrakion's Rock Slide, if spread damage, 3HKOs. 60 Speed EVs allow Arcanine to outrun Adamant Bisharp. 36 Special Attack EVs allow Arcanine to OHKO 4 HP Bisharp with Flamethrower, while the leftover EVs are put into Special Defense. Sitrus Berry is the preferred item, as it increases Arcanine's longevity; however, if another Pokemon is running Sitrus Berry, Leftovers can be used instead for Arcanine. A Timid nature can be used to outspeed non-Choice Scarf Landorus-T and Jolly Breloom so that Arcanine can burn them.
Usage Tips
========
Intimidate can allow Arcanine to switch into attacks and cripple opposing physical attackers; however, Arcanine can get worn down pretty easily if it isn't running any form of recovery, so be wary of how much damage it has taken.
Team Options
========
Bulky Water-types are good partners for Arcanine, as they can switch into Water-type attacks aimed at it and threaten out Rock- and Ground-types. Arcanine, in turn, checks Grass-types that threaten those bulky Water-types. Rotom-W is a great partner in that sense, as it can also threaten out opposing Water-types. Mega Gyarados is also a good partner for Arcanine, as Arcanine's support can add to Mega Gyarados's bulk, thus allowing it to set up Dragon Dances more easily. Gyarados also threatens out Rock- and Ground-types, while Arcanine checks Ferrothorn and Grass-types in general that Gyarados has trouble breaking through. Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Virizion pair really well with Arcanine, as they can switch into Water-type attacks aimed at Arcanine and threaten them out. Virizion takes it a step further by resisting both Ground and Rock too. Arcanine's Will-O-Wisp and Snarl support can make bulkier Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss even harder to take down. Dragon-types such as Hydreigon, Garchomp, and Salamence are good partners for Arcanine, as it can easily switch into Fairy- and Ice-type attacks aimed at them, also being able to force out Ice-types. Garchomp can check opposing Rock-types, while the support that Arcanine provides can add to Salamence's bulk and thus give it an easier time to set up Dragon Dances.
[SET]
name: Choiced
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Wild Charge
item: Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Arcanine's strongest STAB move. Close Combat provides coverage for Rock-types that resist Flare Blitz. Extreme Speed gives Arcanine a priority move and can allow it to pick off weakened Talonflame and opposing Choice Scarf users. Wild Charge hits bulky Water-types, such as Suicune, that take minimal damage from Arcanine's other attacks.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature is preferred because it maximizes Arcanine's offensive power, as its base Attack stat isn't that high to begin with. It also allows Arcanine to 2HKO Suicune with Wild Charge. Maximum Speed EVs are used because Choice Band Arcanine prefers to hit hard and fast, and investing in bulk isn't needed that much for Choice Band Arcanine. Choice Band takes Arcanine's middling Attack stat to scary levels, making it a fearsome wallbreaker. It also allows Arcanine to pick up OHKOs that the Choice Scarf set couldn't, such as being able to OHKO Heatran with Close Combat.
Usage Tips
========
Arcanine gets worn down easily, especially with its recoil moves, so it is best not to switch it into attacks so that it can fire off more Flare Blitz and Wild Charge.
Team Options
========
Offensive Grass-types, such as Breloom and Virizion, are good partners for Arcanine, as they are able to switch into Ground-, Rock-, and Water-type attacks aimed at Arcanine and force the foe out. Arcanine can check Grass-types that Breloom and Virizion have trouble hitting, such as Amoonguss and Venusaur. Water-types in general work really well as Arcanine's partner because they are able to switch into Water-type attacks aimed at Arcanine and force out Rock- and Ground-types. Rotom-W, in particular, is a really great partner in that it is able to counter Landorus-T, one of Arcanine's biggest checks, as well as being able to switch into Ground-type attacks and force out Water-types. Choice Band Arcanine is also greatly benefited by speed control. Thundurus works well with Arcanine in that sense, as it can provide speed control while also being able to check Water-types. Arcanine, in turn, checks Steel-types that Thundurus has trouble hitting for good damage; however, if using that pair, be wary of Rock-type attacks. Dragon-types such as Garchomp, Hydreigon, and Latios are great partners for Arcanine. Garchomp can switch into Rock-type attacks aimed at Arcanine and force the foe out. Garchomp, most notably, can easily switch into Heatran and force it out with an Earthquake. Hydreigon and Latios can switch into Water- and Ground-type attacks aimed at Arcanine, with Hydreigon being able to force out Heatran with Earth Power while Latios can force out Terrakion. Arcanine, in turn, can switch into Fairy- and Ice-type attacks aimed at Dragon-types while also being able to force out opposing Ice-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rocky Helmet is an alternative item for support Arcanine. Flare Blitz can be an alternative STAB move for the support set, while Safeguard is an alternative support move. Crunch can be used to hit Cresselia and Chandelure. A Life Orb physical Arcanine set can be used should Arcanine not want to lock itself into one of its moves.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types can shrug off most of Arcanine's attacks while being able to force it out with a Water-type attack. Milotic is a Pokemon that Arcanine should watch out for, as it both gets a free +2 Special Attack boost from Intimidate and is unaffected by the drops from Snarl due to its ability Competitive.
**Taunt**: Taunt completely shuts down support Arcanine, forcing it either to use its weak attacks and risk being worn down or to switch, potentially allowing your opponent to net a KO.
**Ground-types**: Common Ground-type Pokemon, such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Excadrill, and Mamoswine, can force out or deal massive damage to Arcanine. Those Pokemon have to be wary of Will-O-Wisp, however.
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