qc: kreme / cynde / nuked
gp: a cake wearing a hat / fireflame479
SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Flash Cannon
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Electric
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Calm Mind boosts Cobalion's Special Attack, allowing it to sweep after a few boosts. It also boosts Cobalion's Special Defense, which makes it easier to set up on special attackers. Focus Blast is Cobalion's main STAB attack, albeit inaccurate, and it allows Cobalion to heavily damage any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Focus Blast turns into a 190-Base Power All-Out Pummeling that allows Cobalion to break through walls like Quagsire and Hippowdon and bypass Focus Blast's accuracy issue. Flash Cannon is Cobalion's reliable secondary STAB attack that lets it deal with Fairy-types, which resist Focus Blast, while simultaneously providing decent neutral coverage against a large portion of the tier. Hidden Power Ice lets Cobalion OHKO Gliscor after one Calm Mind boost. Hidden Power Electric allows Cobalion to deal with Mantine, which resists its dual STAB combination and most coverage moves. Hidden Power Grass is Cobalion's main way of dealing with Gastrodon, Seismitoad, and Swampert, since they can take on its dual STAB combination. But most importantly, it allows Cobalion to deal with Quagsire, which means that it doesn't have to waste All-Out Pummeling on it. Substitute can be used to avoid Spore from Amoonguss and see if Scizor has Superpower in its arsenal. Magnet Rise lets Cobalion set up on Ground-types like Krookodile, Swampert, Gastrodon, and Gliscor, which can otherwise beat it.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack investment in tandem with maximum Speed investment and a Timid nature maximizes Cobalion's offensive presence and allows it to outpace threats like Nihilego and Speed tie with Terrakion. Fightinium Z gives Cobalion a very powerful All-Out Pummeling in tandem with Focus Blast, which allows it to effectively break through specially defensive walls like Blissey. Steelium Z can be used instead of Fightinium Z for better and stronger neutral coverage; Steelium Z also allows Cobalion to run another Hidden Power instead of Hidden Power Ice without much cost. Leftovers should be used if Cobalion is using Substitute, as it allows Cobalion to avoid status ailments while also scouting certain moves. Unfortunately, Blissey can break Cobalion's Substitute, which makes it harder to break stall. A Shuca Berry can also be used to set up on Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Quagsire without having to give up Hidden Power coverage for Magnet Rise. Justified is Cobalion's only available ability.
Usage Tips
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Cobalion is best utilized as a late-game sweeper, but it can also be used as a stallbreaker as well as to wallbreak for another teammate to clean up. Faster Pokemon like Mega Manectric and Zygarde-10% and Choice Scarf users like Terrakion and Infernape should be removed from the match before attempting to set up with Cobalion. Try to set up Calm Mind on passive Pokemon that can't threaten Cobalion such as Blissey, Umbreon, and Alomomola. Cobalion often gets a free setup opportunity against Pokemon like Alomomola and Empoleon because they tend to fish for a Scald burn thinking that Cobalion is utilizing Swords Dance, so you should capitalize on these opportunities.
Team Options
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Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock like Mamoswine, Gliscor, Nihilego, and Swampert are greatly appreciated because Stealth Rock support aids Cobalion in getting KOs. Calm Mind Cobalion has a good matchup against stall, which makes it a valuable asset to teams with Pokemon like Mega Manectric and Primarina that generally tend to struggle against stall. Cobalion has to choose between its coverage moves, so if Cobalion is using Hidden Power Ice, it's good to have Pokemon like Mega Sceptile and Serperior that can deal with Seismitoad, Gastrodon, Swampert, and Quagsire. Similarly, if Cobalion is using Hidden Power Grass, pair it with Pokemon like Azumarill and Ice Fang Mega Aerodactyl that can weaken Gliscor for it. Cobalion appreciates the presence of wallbreakers like Mega Sharpedo, Mamoswine, and Nidoking on its team because they can open up an opportunity for it to sweep late-game. Pokemon like Krookodile, Mega Aerodactyl, and Alolan Muk can Pursuit trap Psychic-types and Ghost-types that Cobalion tends to struggle against. Fairy-types like Azumarill, Mega Altaria, Primarina, and Florges can take care of the Fighting-types that can threaten Cobalion. Water-types like Swampert, Primarina, and Azumarill can cover the Fire-types that Cobalion tends to struggle against. Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo, Mega Manectric, and Raikou are good teammates because they can weaken Tentacruel and Mantine to ease Cobalion's attempts at sweeping.
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