Doubles Kartana

[miltankmilk]

[OVERVIEW]

Kartana defines the role of a glass cannon; it hits incredibly hard at the cost of having no special bulk. Possessing a very strong Attack stat and a helpful ability, Kartana is very difficult to switch into or stop from sweeping through teams of slower Pokemon. Access to utility options in Tailwind and Knock Off helps Kartana support a team beyond its immediate offensive threat. It also possesses a good overall defensive typing that gives it good matchups versus many common Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, Metagross, and Amoonguss. Despite its good typing, a terrible Special Defense stat makes it very difficult to manoeuvre Kartana during a game, only being able to pivot in on physical attackers. Grass and Steel STAB moves also leave Kartana walled by many Pokemon such as Mega Salamence and Zapdos while relying on non-STAB options such as Knock Off to break through Metagross and Aegislash.

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike / Sacred Sword
move 3: Tailwind / Sacred Sword / Knock Off
move 4: Protect
item: Flyinium Z / Steelium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 248 Atk / 112 SpD / 112 Spe

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

Leaf Blade is the primary STAB move, doing tons of damage to neutral and super effective targets. Smart Strike is a secondary STAB move that hits Grass-resistant foes like Salamence and Amoonguss as well as Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu. Sacred Sword lets Kartana get past Heatran and Ferrothorn. Tailwind gives more utility to Kartana, letting it help its team even in bad offensive matchups. Knock Off is generally a great move in a metagame dominated by Berries and also gives Kartana a better move to hit Metagross. Protect keeps Kartana safe while its partners deal with any possible threats.

Set Details
========

The given EVs allow Kartana to survive some special attacks such as Kyurem-B's Ice Beam, Tapu Lele's Psychic, and Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt while still outspeeding neutral-natured Landorus-T and having enough Attack to pick up the OHKO on Lonely Stakataka. An Adamant nature is used to boost Kartana's already high Attack to absurd levels. Flyinium Z is the primary item of choice paired with Tailwind to boost Kartana's critical hit rate, guaranteeing a critical hit with the already powerful Leaf Blade. Steelium Z is a solid alternative, as it allows Kartana to OHKO targets such as Kyurem-B. An alternative EV spread including a Jolly nature and 144 EVs in Speed allows Kartana to outspeed maximum Speed Kyurem-B and Tapu Lele, which may be more useful on some teams than the OHKO on Stakataka.

Usage Tips
========

Kartana has abysmal Special Defense, so it's important to only bring Kartana in on free switches or on Pokemon that it walls like Ferrothorn. Despite its terrible Special Defense, Kartana actually has quite good Defense, which allows it to switch in on some resisted attacks from foes like Metagross, Zygarde, Snorlax, and Tapu Bulu. While Kartana does check these Pokemon, it must watch out for coverage options such as Hammer Arm, Superpower, and Fire Punch. Kartana thrives late-game when it can take out weakened targets and rack up Beast Boosts. Using its own Tailwind or a teammate's makes Kartana very difficult to revenge kill. Do not let Kartana take special hits in order to trade damage; it's important to keep Kartana's HP high so that it can take down bulkier targets late-game. When using Z-Tailwind, Kartana does not have to worry about Intimidate when using Leaf Blade because of the guaranteed critical hit, allowing Kartana to manoeuvre a bit more freely around Intimidate.

Team Options
========

Some important teammates for Kartana to have are Pokemon that remove Fire-types such as Landorus-T, Volcanion, and Tapu Fini. Pokemon that can remove Flying-types such as Kyurem-B and Tyranitar are also very important to enable Kartana to sweep late-game. Tailwind support from Salamence or Zapdos is very helpful for Kartana sets that lack Tailwind of their own. Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Heatran helps chip targets into range of its Smart Strike or Z-Move as well as generally weakening Kartana’s Fire-type checks. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge powers up Kartana's Leaf Blade to very high levels, but Tapu Bulu does stack many weaknesses with Kartana. Kartana's Tailwind also provides good support to teammates with middling Speed stats such as Volcanion and Kyurem-B.

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

Life Orb powers Kartana up while also not taking up the team's Z-Move; Kartana does not really require a ton of HP due to its terrible bulk. Swords Dance makes Kartana even harder to switch into and aids it in breaking through bulkier teams, but it is very difficult for Kartana to find a situation to use Swords Dance in battle. Substitute lets Kartana fire off attacks without risking being KOed by faster attackers and also blocks Intimidate. Focus Sash guarantees that Kartana can survive at least one hit, which it may otherwise struggle with. Choice Scarf makes Kartana one of the fastest Pokemon in the format, outpacing boosted Mega Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Grassium Z is generally inferior to Steelium Z in terms of neutral coverage, but it ensures KOs on bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Milotic, and Rotom-W, guarantees an OHKO on Landorus-T, which Steelium Z falls short of, and is also very potent when paired with Soak support.

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

**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Zapdos and Salamence, both of which often carry Fire-type coverage moves, resist all of Kartana's options and threaten it back with strong special attacks.

**Fire-types**: Volcanion, Heatran, and Mega Charizard Y all can handle Kartana's attacks and threaten to OHKO it in return with their Fire-type moves.

**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar and Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele all threaten to KO Kartana, and Mega Gengar can also trap it. These Pokemon not only threaten Kartana with their Speed but also by taking advantage of Kartana's low Special Defense stat.

**Strong Special Attackers**: Kartana has a hard time taking on even resisted attacks from opposing special attackers, especially from the likes of Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, and various Z-Move users.

**Opposing Speed Control**: Tailwind, Trick Room, Icy Wind, and Electroweb all can stop Kartana from pressuring an opposing team, as it's much more threatening when hitting first.

**Intimidate**: Kartana is a physical attacker, so it will be hindered by Intimidate. However, Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scrafty have to be careful switching in, as both still take a lot of damage from Leaf Blade and Sacred Sword, respectively, while also being outsped. Intimidate can be mitigated with the help of Z-Tailwind, but it still stops Kartana from boosting further.

 

[GenOne]

QC 1/2 pending the below.

Overview:

• The lede sentence should make it clear that Kartana is basically a glass cannon, in that it's really strong but really weak against special attacks (despite actually tanking physical hits relatively well). You mention this already - I just think it's worth mentioning sooner since it's pretty much the defining characteristic of what Kartana is.

Set:

• I talked with the QC gang and consensus was that Flyinium Z should be the main item, with Steelium-Z slashed behind it. Tailwind is a good utility move in its own right and its Z effect is deadly on Kartana. Likewise, Tailwind should be the first move in the slash order for the third slot.
• AuraRayquaza posted a clean EV spread in the EV Compendium that I think is worth mentioning, possibly in place of the one that survives Koko's tbolt: EVs: 36 HP / 244 Atk / 112 SpD / 116 Spe Adamant Nature. Here's what it does:
  • 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 36 HP / 112 SpD Kartana in Psychic Terrain: 227-267 (84.7 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • 52 SpA Teravolt Kyurem-Black Ice Beam vs. 36 HP / 112 SpD Kartana: 222-262 (82.8 - 97.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • 252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 36 HP / 112 SpD Kartana in Electric Terrain: 216-255 (80.5 - 95.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • Outspeed max speed adamant Landorus-T. Can afford to drop speed since running with tailwind.
  • Attack dump + adamant
  • 244+ Atk Kartana Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 0- Def Stakataka: 328-388 (100.6 - 119%) -- guaranteed OHKO (15 IVs)

Usage Tips:

• Kartana can also switch in passibly on a neutral physical hit.

Team Options:

• When you mention Pokemon that remove Fire-types, Tapu Fini should be listed last in that sentence, if at all. Volcanion walls Victini, Charizard Y's Drought cancels out Tapu Fini's super effective advantage, and without a Calm Mind boost Tapu Fini isn't exactly OHKOing most other Fire-types.
• Just a grammar nitpick, but Kyurem-B and Tyranitar aren't Flying-types :)

Other Options:

• I already talked about Flyinium Z - that should be in the main set

Checks and Counters:

• Under Flying-types, it's worth noting that Zapdos often times carries Heat Wave, and Salamence sometimes carries Fire Blast, both of which make Kartana click X
• When you mention faster Pokemon, mention that they are a threat not only because they are faster, but because they also exploit Kartana's terrible SpD stat
• Intimidate can also be mitigated if Kartana runs Flyinium Z, although Intimidate still prevents Kartana from benefiting from +1 and > attack boosts.

 

[miltankmilk]

QC 1/2 pending the below.

Overview:

• The lede sentence should make it clear that Kartana is basically a glass cannon, in that it's really strong but really weak against special attacks (despite actually tanking physical hits relatively well). You mention this already - I just think it's worth mentioning sooner since it's pretty much the defining characteristic of what Kartana is.

Set:

• I talked with the QC gang and consensus was that Flyinium Z should be the main item, with Steelium-Z slashed behind it. Tailwind is a good utility move in its own right and its Z effect is deadly on Kartana. Likewise, Tailwind should be the first move in the slash order for the third slot.
• AuraRayquaza posted a clean EV spread in the EV Compendium that I think is worth mentioning, possibly in place of the one that survives Koko's tbolt: EVs: 36 HP / 244 Atk / 112 SpD / 116 Spe Adamant Nature. Here's what it does:
  • 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 36 HP / 112 SpD Kartana in Psychic Terrain: 227-267 (84.7 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • 52 SpA Teravolt Kyurem-Black Ice Beam vs. 36 HP / 112 SpD Kartana: 222-262 (82.8 - 97.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • 252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 36 HP / 112 SpD Kartana in Electric Terrain: 216-255 (80.5 - 95.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • Outspeed max speed adamant Landorus-T. Can afford to drop speed since running with tailwind.
  • Attack dump + adamant
  • 244+ Atk Kartana Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 0- Def Stakataka: 328-388 (100.6 - 119%) -- guaranteed OHKO (15 IVs)

Usage Tips:

• Kartana can also switch in passibly on a neutral physical hit.

Team Options:

• When you mention Pokemon that remove Fire-types, Tapu Fini should be listed last in that sentence, if at all. Volcanion walls Victini, Charizard Y's Drought cancels out Tapu Fini's super effective advantage, and without a Calm Mind boost Tapu Fini isn't exactly OHKOing most other Fire-types.
• Just a grammar nitpick, but Kyurem-B and Tyranitar aren't Flying-types :)

Other Options:

• I already talked about Flyinium Z - that should be in the main set

Checks and Counters:

• Under Flying-types, it's worth noting that Zapdos often times carries Heat Wave, and Salamence sometimes carries Fire Blast, both of which make Kartana click X
• When you mention faster Pokemon, mention that they are a threat not only because they are faster, but because they also exploit Kartana's terrible SpD stat
• Intimidate can also be mitigated if Kartana runs Flyinium Z, although Intimidate still prevents Kartana from benefiting from +1 and > attack boosts.

did this and wrote it up

 

[talkingtree]

• [General Note] Make sure to convert this to full sentences before sending it off to GP or I'll be crucified
• [Set] Shift 4 EVs from Speed to Attack, only need 112 Speed Adamant to outrun neutral-natured Lando-T
• [Set Details] Add in a mention for 144 Speed Jolly to outrun offensive Kyurem-B and LO Tapu Lele, on some teams that will be more helpful than the OHKO on Stakataka
• [Usage Tips] Your bit about avoiding surprise coverage moves is a little unclear, comparing the list of four mons with three moves that don't perfectly match up. Reword that please
• [Usage Tips] Add in something about not worrying about drops from Intimidate weakening Kartana's Leaf Blade if you're using Z-TW
• [Team Options] Tailwind support is only really necessary for sets that aren't already running it themselves, and add in something about offensive teammates with middling Speed like LO Kyurem-B or Volcanion
• [Other Options] When discussing Grassium-Z, also point out that it gets you the OHKO on bulky Lando-T, which Corkscrew Crash falls short of
• [Checks and Counters] With how low Kartana's Special Defense is, I'd add in a tag for **Strong Special Attackers**. Even if the hit is resisted, Kart goes down to stronger special attackers like Deo-A, Specs Koko, or a variety of Z-Moves

Do the above for 2/2, tag me before you send it off to GP though

 

[miltankmilk]

talkingtree alright I did these now

 

[talkingtree]

Well done, take this stamp and send it off to GP!

 

[Mr. Uncompetitive]

GP 1/2

Additions, (AC) = add comma
Removals, (RC) = remove comma
Comments

shwing

[OVERVIEW]

Kartana defines the role of 'glass cannon' a glass cannon, (RC) : (add colon) it hits incredibly hard at the cost of having no specially defensive special bulk. Possessing a very strong attack Attack stat and a helpful ability, Kartana is very difficult to switch into or stop from sweeping through teams of slower Pokemon. Access to utility options in Tailwind and Knock Off help helps Kartana to support a team beyond its immediate offensive threat. (add period) while It also possessing possesses a good overall defensive typing that gives it good matchups vs versus many common pokemon Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, Metagross, (AC) and Amoonguss. Despite its good typing, a terrible Special Defense stat makes it very difficult to maneuver Kartana during a game, only being able to pivot in on physical attackers. Grass and Steel STABs STAB moves also leave Kartana walled by many pokemon such as Mega Salamence and Zapdos, (RC) while relying on non-STAB options such as Knock Off to break through Metagross and Aegislash.

[SET]
name: All Out Attacker
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike / Sacred Sword
move 3: Tailwind / Sacred Sword / Knock Off
move 4: Protect
item: Flyinium-Z Flyinium Z / Steelium-Z Steelium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 248 Atk / 112 SpD / 112 Spe

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

Leaf Blade is the primary STAB move, doing tons of damage to neutral and Super Effective super effective targets. Smart Strike is a Secondary secondary STAB that hits Grass resists Grass-resistant foes like Salamence and Amoonguss as well as Fairies Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu. Sacred Sword lets Kartana get past Heatran and Ferrothorn. Tailwind gives more utility to Kartana, (AC) improving its usefulness to the team even when its offensive matchup is lacking (feels like really awkward and unclear, I think this is more of what you meant?) letting it help its team even in bad offensive matchups. Knock Off is generally a great move in a meta dominated by berries Berries and also gives Kartana a better move to hit Metagross. Protect keeps Kartana safe while its partners deal with any possible threats.

Set Details
========

The EVs allow Kartana to survive some special attacks such as Kyurem-B's Ice Beam, Tapu Lele's Psychic, (AC) and Tapu Koko'sThunderbolt while still outspeeding non-boosting nature Landorus-t neutral natured Landorus-T and having enough attack Attack to pick up the OHKO on Lonely Stakataka. An Adamant nature is used to boost Kartana's already high attack to absurd levels. Flyinium-ZFlyinium Z is the primary item of choice paired with Tailwind to boost Kartana's critical hit rate, guaranteeing a critical hit with the already powerful Leaf Blade. Steelium-Z Steelium Z is a solid alternative, (AC) as it allows Kartana to OHKO targets such as Kyurem-B. An alternative EV spread including a Jolly nature and 144 EVs in Speed allows Kartana to outspeed maximum Speed Kyurem-B and Tapu Lele, (AC) which may be more useful on some teams than the OHKO on Stakataka.

Usage Tips
========

Kartana has abysmal special defense Special Defense, (AC) so itsit's important to only bring Kartana in on free switches or on pokemon Pokemon that it walls like Ferrothorn. Despite its terrible Special Defense, Kartana actually has quite good Defense, (AC) which allows it to switch in on some resisted opponents attacks from foes like Metagross, Zygarde(remove space), Snorlax, (AC) and Tapu Bulu. While Kartana does check these pokemon Pokemon, (AC) it must watch out for coverage options such as Hammer Arm, Superpower, (AC) and Fire Punch, (RC) respectively. Kartana thrives in the late game late-game when it can take out weakened targets and rack up Beast Boosts. Using its own tailwind Tailwind or a teammates teammate's makes Kartana very difficult to revenge kill. Do not let Kartana take special hits in order to trade damage, (RC); (add semicolon) its important to keep Kartana's HP high so that it can take down bulkier targets in the late game. When using the Z-Tailwind set Kartana does not have to worry about Intimidate when using Leaf Blade because of the guaranteed Critical Hit critical hit, allowing Kartana to maneuver a bit more freely through Intimidate.

Team Options
========

Some important teammates for Kartan Kartana to have are Pokemon that remove Fire-types such as Landorus-t Landorus-T, Volcanion or , (AC) and Tapu Fini. Pokemon that can remove Flying-types such as Kyurem-B and Tyranitar which can remove Flying-types (flow and that/which usage) are also very important to enable Kartana (to sweep?) in the late game late-game. Tailwind support from Salamence or Zapdos is very helpful for Kartana sets that lack Tailwind of their own. Stealth Rock support from Landorus-t Landorus-T or Heatran helps chip targets into range of its Smart Strike or Z-move as well as generally weakening Kartana’s Fire-type checks. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge powers up Kartana's Leaf Blade to very high levels but does stack many weaknesses with Kartana. Kartana Kartana's Tailwind also provides good support to teammates with middling speed Speed stats such as Volcanion and Kyurem-B with its Tailwind support (feels a bit cleaner imo).

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

Life Orb powers Kartana up and it does not really require a ton of HP due to its terrible bulk while also not taking up the team's Z move; (add semicolon) Kartana does not really require a ton of HP due to its terrible bulk. Swords Dance makes Kartana even harder to switch into and aids it in breaking through bulkier teams, but it is very difficult for Kartana to find a situation to Swords Dance in battle. Substitute lets Kartana fire off attacks without risking beingKO'd KOed by faster attackers and also blocks Intimidate. Focus Sash guarantees that Kartana can survive at least one hit, (AC) which it may otherwise struggle with. Choice Scarf makes Kartana one of the fastest pokemon Pokemon in the format, outpacing boosted Mega Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Grassium-Z Grassium Z is generally inferior to Steelium-Z Steelium Z in terms of neutral coverage, but it does ensure KOs on bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Milotic and Rotom-W, ensuring guarantees an OHKO on Landorus-tLandorus-T, (AC)which Steelium-Z Steelium Z falls short of, andalso being is also very potent when paired with Soak support.

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

**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Zapdos and Salamence, both of which often carry Fire-type coverage moves, resist all of Kartana's options (wait what about Smart Strike and Knock Off...) and threaten it back with strong Special Attacks special attacks.

**Fire-types**: Volcanion, Heatran and Mega Charizard-YCharizard Y all can handle Kartana's attacks and threaten to OHKO it in return with their Fire-moves Fire-type moves.

**Faster Pokemon**: Faster pokemon Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, (RC)and Mega Gengar or Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele all threaten to KO Kartana, (AC) while Mega Gengar can also trap it. These pokemon Pokemon not only threaten Kartana with their speed Speed but also by taking advantage of Kartana's low SpD Special Defense stat.

**Strong Special Attackers**: Even when moves are resisted Kartana Kartana has a hard time taking on even resisted attacks from opposing Special Attackers special attackers, especially from the likes of Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, (AC) and various Z-move users.

**Opposing Speed Control**: Tailwind, Trick Room and Icy Wind/Electroweb , (AC) Icy Wind, (AC) and Electroweb all can stop Kartana from threatening pressuring an opposing team, (AC) as most of its power is derived from it's much more threatening when hitting first (another awkward sentence, I think this is what you meant?).

**Intimidate**: Kartana is a physical attacker, (AC) so it will be hindered by Intimidate, (RC) but . (add period) However, (AC)pokemon Pokemon such as Landorus-t Landorus-T and Scrafty have to be careful switching in, (AC) as both still take a lot of damage from Leaf Blade and Sacred Sword respectively while also being outsped. Intimidate can be mitigated with the help of Z-Tailwind, (AC) but it still stops Kartana from boosting further.

 

[miltankmilk]

GP 1/2

Additions, (AC) = add comma
Removals, (RC) = remove comma
Comments

shwing

[OVERVIEW]

Kartana defines the role of a glass cannon: it hits incredibly hard at the cost of having no special bulk. Possessing a very strong Attack stat and a helpful ability, Kartana is very difficult to switch into or stop from sweeping through teams of slower Pokemon. Access to utility options in Tailwind and Knock Off helps Kartana to support a team beyond its immediate offensive threat. It also possesses a good overall defensive typing that gives it good matchups versus many common Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, Metagross, and Amoonguss. Despite its good typing, a terrible Special Defense stat makes it very difficult to maneuver Kartana during a game, only being able to pivot in on physical attackers. Grass and Steel STAB moves also leave Kartana walled by many pokemon such as Mega Salamence and Zapdos while relying on non-STAB options such as Knock Off to break through Metagross and Aegislash.

[SET]
name: All Out Attacker
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike / Sacred Sword
move 3: Tailwind / Sacred Sword / Knock Off
move 4: Protect
item: Flyinium Z / Steelium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 248 Atk / 112 SpD / 112 Spe

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

Leaf Blade is the primary STAB move, doing tons of damage to neutral and super effective targets. Smart Strike is a secondary STAB that hits Grass-resistant foes like Salamence and Amoonguss as well as Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu. Sacred Sword lets Kartana get past Heatran and Ferrothorn. Tailwind gives more utility to Kartana, letting it help its team even in bad offensive matchups. Knock Off is generally a great move in a meta dominated by Berries and also gives Kartana a better move to hit Metagross. Protect keeps Kartana safe while its partners deal with any possible threats.

Set Details
========

The EVs allow Kartana to survive some special attacks such as Kyurem-B's Ice Beam, Tapu Lele's Psychic, and Tapu Koko'sThunderbolt while still outspeeding neutral natured Landorus-T and having enough Attack to pick up the OHKO on Lonely Stakataka. An Adamant nature is used to boost Kartana's already high attack to absurd levels. Flyinium Z is the primary item of choice paired with Tailwind to boost Kartana's critical hit rate, guaranteeing a critical hit with the already powerful Leaf Blade. Steelium Z is a solid alternative, as it allows Kartana to OHKO targets such as Kyurem-B. An alternative EV spread including a Jolly nature and 144 EVs in Speed allows Kartana to outspeed maximum Speed Kyurem-B and Tapu Lele, which may be more useful on some teams than the OHKO on Stakataka.

Usage Tips
========

Kartana has abysmal Special Defense, so it's important to only bring Kartana in on free switches or on Pokemon that it walls like Ferrothorn. Despite its terrible Special Defense, Kartana actually has quite good Defense, which allows it to switch in on some resisted attacks from foes like Metagross, Zygarde, Snorlax, and Tapu Bulu. While Kartana does check these Pokemon, it must watch out for coverage options such as Hammer Arm, Superpower, and Fire Punch. Kartana thrives in the late-game when it can take out weakened targets and rack up Beast Boosts. Using its own Tailwind or a teammate's makes Kartana very difficult to revenge kill. Do not let Kartana take special hits in order to trade damage; its important to keep Kartana's HP high so that it can take down bulkier targets in the late game. When using Z-Tailwind Kartana does not have to worry about Intimidate when using Leaf Blade because of the guaranteed critical hit, allowing Kartana to maneuver a bit more freely through Intimidate.

Team Options
========

Some important teammates for Kartana to have are Pokemon that remove Fire-types such as Landorus-T, Volcanion, and Tapu Fini. Pokemon that can remove Flying-types such as Kyurem-B and Tyranitar are also very important to enable Kartana to sweep in the late-game. Tailwind support from Salamence or Zapdos is very helpful for Kartana sets that lack Tailwind of their own. Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Heatran helps chip targets into range of its Smart Strike or Z-move as well as generally weakening Kartana’s Fire-type checks. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge powers up Kartana's Leaf Blade to very high levels but does stack many weaknesses with Kartana. Kartana's Tailwind also provides good support to teammates with middling Speed stats such as Volcanion and Kyurem-B.

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

Life Orb powers Kartana up while also not taking up the team's Z move; Kartana does not really require a ton of HP due to its terrible bulk. Swords Dance makes Kartana even harder to switch into and aids it in breaking through bulkier teams, but it is very difficult for Kartana to find a situation to Swords Dance in battle. Substitute lets Kartana fire off attacks without risking being KOed by faster attackers and also blocks Intimidate. Focus Sash guarantees that Kartana can survive at least one hit, which it may otherwise struggle with. Choice Scarf makes Kartana one of the fastest Pokemon in the format, outpacing boosted Mega Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Grassium Z is generally inferior to Steelium Z in terms of neutral coverage, but it does ensure KOs on bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Milotic and Rotom-W, guarantees an OHKO on Landorus-T, which Steelium Z falls short of, and is also very potent when paired with Soak support.

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

**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Zapdos and Salamence, both of which often carry Fire-type coverage moves, resist all of Kartana's options and threaten it back with strong special attacks.

**Fire-types**: Volcanion, Heatran and Mega Charizard Y all can handle Kartana's attacks and threaten to OHKO it in return with their Fire-type moves.

**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar or Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele all threaten to KO Kartana, while Mega Gengar can also trap it. These Pokemon not only threaten Kartana with their Speed but also by taking advantage of Kartana's low Special Defense stat.

**Strong Special Attackers**: Kartana has a hard time taking on even resisted attacks from opposing special attackers, especially from the likes of Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, and various Z-move users.

**Opposing Speed Control**: Tailwind, Trick Room, Icy Wind, and Electroweb all can stop Kartana from pressuring an opposing team, as it's much more threatening whenhitting first.

**Intimidate**: Kartana is a physical attacker, so it will be hindered by Intimidate. However, Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scrafty have to be careful switching in, as both still take a lot of damage from Leaf Blade and Sacred Sword respectively while also being outsped. Intimidate can be mitigated with the help of Z-Tailwind, but it still stops Kartana from boosting further.

did, thanks!

 

[lotiasite]

check

[OVERVIEW]

Kartana defines the role of a glass cannon:;(semicolon) it hits incredibly hard at the cost of having no special bulk. Possessing a very strong Attack stat and a helpful ability, Kartana is very difficult to switch into or stop from sweeping through teams of slower Pokemon. Access to utility options in Tailwind and Knock Off helps Kartana to support a team beyond its immediate offensive threat.(add space)It also(add space)possesses a good overall defensive typing that gives it good matchups(add space)versus many common Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, Metagross, and Amoonguss. Despite its good typing, a terrible Special Defense stat makes it very difficult to manoeuvrer Kartana during a game, only being able to pivot in on physical attackers. Grass and Steel STAB moves also leave Kartana walled by many pPokemon such as Mega Salamence and Zapdos while relying on non-STAB options such as Knock Off to break through Metagross and Aegislash.

[SET]
name: All O-out Attacker
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike / Sacred Sword
move 3: Tailwind / Sacred Sword / Knock Off
move 4: Protect
item: Flyinium Z / Steelium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 248 Atk / 112 SpD / 112 Spe

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

Leaf Blade is the primary STAB move, doing tons of damage to neutral and super effective targets. Smart Strike is a secondary STAB move that hits Grass-resistant foes like Salamence and Amoonguss as well as Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu. Sacred Sword lets Kartana get past Heatran and Ferrothorn. Tailwind gives more utility to Kartana, letting it help its team even in bad offensive matchups. Knock Off is generally a great move in a metagame dominated by Berries and also gives Kartana a better move to hit Metagross. Protect keeps Kartana safe while its partners deal with any possible threats.

Set Details
========

The given EVs allow Kartana to survive some special attacks such as Kyurem-B's Ice Beam, Tapu Lele's Psychic, and Tapu Koko's(add space)Thunderbolt while still outspeeding neutral-(AH)natured Landorus-T and having enough Attack to pick up the OHKO on Lonely Stakataka. An Adamant nature is used to boost Kartana's already high aAttack to absurd levels. Flyinium Z is the primary item of choice paired with Tailwind to boost Kartana's critical hit rate, guaranteeing a critical hit with the already powerful Leaf Blade. Steelium Z is a solid alternative, as it allows Kartana to OHKO targets such as Kyurem-B. An alternative EV spread including a Jolly nature and 144 EVs in Speed allows Kartana to outspeed maximum Speed Kyurem-B and Tapu Lele, which may be more useful on some teams than the OHKO on Stakataka.

Usage Tips
========

Kartana has abysmal Special Defense, so it's important to only bring Kartana in on free switches or on Pokemon that it walls like Ferrothorn. Despite its terrible Special Defense, Kartana actually has quite good Defense, which allows it to switch in on some resisted attacks from foes like Metagross, Zygarde, Snorlax, and Tapu Bulu. While Kartana does check these Pokemon, it must watch out for coverage options such as Hammer Arm, Superpower, and Fire Punch. Kartana thrives in the late-game when it can take out weakened targets and rack up Beast Boosts. Using its own Tailwind or a teammate's makes Kartana very difficult to revenge kill. Do not let Kartana take special hits in order to trade damage; it'(apostrophe)s important to keep Kartana's HP high so that it can take down bulkier targets in the late late-(AH)game. When using Z-Tailwind, (AC) Kartana does not have to worry about Intimidate when using Leaf Blade because of the guaranteed critical hit, allowing Kartana to manoeuvere a bit more freely througharound Intimidate.

Team Options
========

Some important teammates for Kartana to have are Pokemon that remove Fire-types such as Landorus-T, Volcanion, and Tapu Fini. Pokemon that can remove Flying-types such as Kyurem-B and Tyranitar are also very important to enable Kartana to sweep in the late-game. Tailwind support from Salamence or Zapdos is very helpful for Kartana sets that lack Tailwind of their own. Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Heatran helps chip targets into range of its Smart Strike or Z-mMove as well as generally weakening Kartana’s Fire-type checks. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge powers up Kartana's Leaf Blade to very high levels, (AC) but Tapu Bulu does stack many weaknesses with Kartana. Kartana's Tailwind also provides good support to teammates with middling(add space)Speed stats such as Volcanion and Kyurem-B.

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

Life Orb powers Kartana up while also not taking up the team's Z m-Move; Kartana does not really require a ton of HP due to its terrible bulk. Swords Dance makes Kartana even harder to switch into and aids it in breaking through bulkier teams, but it is very difficult for Kartana to find a situation to use Swords Dance in battle. Substitute lets Kartana fire off attacks without risking being KOed by faster attackers and also blocks Intimidate. Focus Sash guarantees that Kartana can survive at least one hit, which it may otherwise struggle with. Choice Scarf makes Kartana one of the fastest Pokemon in the format, outpacing boosted Mega Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Grassium Z is generally inferior to Steelium Z in terms of neutral coverage, but it does ensures KOs on bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Milotic, (AC) and Rotom-W, guarantees an OHKO on Landorus-T, which Steelium Z falls short of, and is also very potent when paired with Soak support.

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

**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Zapdos and Salamence, both of which often carry Fire-type coverage moves, resist all of Kartana's options and threaten it back with strong special attacks.

**Fire-types**: Volcanion, Heatran, (AC) and Mega Charizard Y all can handle Kartana's attacks and threaten to OHKO it in return with their Fire-type moves.

**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar orand Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele all threaten to KO Kartana, whileand Mega Gengar can also trap it. These Pokemon not only threaten Kartana with their Speed but also by taking advantage of Kartana's low Special Defense stat.

**Strong Special Attackers**: Kartana has a hard time taking on even resisted attacks from opposing special attackers, especially from the likes of Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, and various Z-mMove users.

**Opposing Speed Control**: Tailwind, Trick Room, Icy Wind, and Electroweb all can stop Kartana from pressuring an opposing team, as it's much more threatening when(add space)hitting first.

**Intimidate**: Kartana is a physical attacker, so it will be hindered by Intimidate. However, Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scrafty have to be careful switching in, as both still take a lot of damage from Leaf Blade and Sacred Sword, respectively, while also being outsped. Intimidate can be mitigated with the help of Z-Tailwind, but it still stops Kartana from boosting further.

gp 2/2
a bunch of words that had no space in between them like Tapu Koko'sThunderbolt maybe just be careful implementing but otherwise nice

 

[miltankmilk]

check

[OVERVIEW]

Kartana defines the role of a glass cannon; it hits incredibly hard at the cost of having no special bulk. Possessing a very strong Attack stat and a helpful ability, Kartana is very difficult to switch into or stop from sweeping through teams of slower Pokemon. Access to utility options in Tailwind and Knock Off helps Kartana support a team beyond its immediate offensive threat. It also possesses a good overall defensive typing that gives it good matchups versus many common Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Tapu Fini, Metagross, and Amoonguss. Despite its good typing, a terrible Special Defense stat makes it very difficult to manoeuvre Kartana during a game, only being able to pivot in on physical attackers. Grass and Steel STAB moves also leave Kartana walled by many Pokemon such as Mega Salamence and Zapdos while relying on non-STAB options such as Knock Off to break through Metagross and Aegislash.

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike / Sacred Sword
move 3: Tailwind / Sacred Sword / Knock Off
move 4: Protect
item: Flyinium Z / Steelium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 248 Atk / 112 SpD / 112 Spe

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

Leaf Blade is the primary STAB move, doing tons of damage to neutral and super effective targets. Smart Strike is a secondary STAB move that hits Grass-resistant foes like Salamence and Amoonguss as well as Fairy-types like Tapu Lele and Tapu Bulu. Sacred Sword lets Kartana get past Heatran and Ferrothorn. Tailwind gives more utility to Kartana, letting it help its team even in bad offensive matchups. Knock Off is generally a great move in a metagame dominated by Berries and also gives Kartana a better move to hit Metagross. Protect keeps Kartana safe while its partners deal with any possible threats.

Set Details
========

The given EVs allow Kartana to survive some special attacks such as Kyurem-B's Ice Beam, Tapu Lele's Psychic, and Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt while still outspeeding neutral-natured Landorus-T and having enough Attack to pick up the OHKO on Lonely Stakataka. An Adamant nature is used to boost Kartana's already high Attack to absurd levels. Flyinium Z is the primary item of choice paired with Tailwind to boost Kartana's critical hit rate, guaranteeing a critical hit with the already powerful Leaf Blade. Steelium Z is a solid alternative, as it allows Kartana to OHKO targets such as Kyurem-B. An alternative EV spread including a Jolly nature and 144 EVs in Speed allows Kartana to outspeed maximum Speed Kyurem-B and Tapu Lele, which may be more useful on some teams than the OHKO on Stakataka.

Usage Tips
========

Kartana has abysmal Special Defense, so it's important to only bring Kartana in on free switches or on Pokemon that it walls like Ferrothorn. Despite its terrible Special Defense, Kartana actually has quite good Defense, which allows it to switch in on some resisted attacks from foes like Metagross, Zygarde, Snorlax, and Tapu Bulu. While Kartana does check these Pokemon, it must watch out for coverage options such as Hammer Arm, Superpower, and Fire Punch. Kartana thrives late-game when it can take out weakened targets and rack up Beast Boosts. Using its own Tailwind or a teammate's makes Kartana very difficult to revenge kill. Do not let Kartana take special hits in order to trade damage; it's important to keep Kartana's HP high so that it can take down bulkier targets late-game. When using Z-Tailwind, Kartana does not have to worry about Intimidate when using Leaf Blade because of the guaranteed critical hit, allowing Kartana to manoeuvre a bit more freely around Intimidate.

Team Options
========

Some important teammates for Kartana to have are Pokemon that remove Fire-types such as Landorus-T, Volcanion, and Tapu Fini. Pokemon that can remove Flying-types such as Kyurem-B and Tyranitar are also very important to enable Kartana to sweep late-game. Tailwind support from Salamence or Zapdos is very helpful for Kartana sets that lack Tailwind of their own. Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Heatran helps chip targets into range of its Smart Strike or Z-Move as well as generally weakening Kartana’s Fire-type checks. Tapu Bulu's Grassy Surge powers up Kartana's Leaf Blade to very high levels, but Tapu Bulu does stack many weaknesses with Kartana. Kartana's Tailwind also provides good support to teammates with middling Speed stats such as Volcanion and Kyurem-B.

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

Life Orb powers Kartana up while also not taking up the team's Z-Move; Kartana does not really require a ton of HP due to its terrible bulk. Swords Dance makes Kartana even harder to switch into and aids it in breaking through bulkier teams, but it is very difficult for Kartana to find a situation to use Swords Dance in battle. Substitute lets Kartana fire off attacks without risking being KOed by faster attackers and also blocks Intimidate. Focus Sash guarantees that Kartana can survive at least one hit, which it may otherwise struggle with. Choice Scarf makes Kartana one of the fastest Pokemon in the format, outpacing boosted Mega Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Grassium Z is generally inferior to Steelium Z in terms of neutral coverage, but it ensures KOs on bulky Water-types such as Tapu Fini, Milotic, and Rotom-W, guarantees an OHKO on Landorus-T, which Steelium Z falls short of, and is also very potent when paired with Soak support.

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

**Flying-types**: Pokemon such as Zapdos and Salamence, both of which often carry Fire-type coverage moves, resist all of Kartana's options and threaten it back with strong special attacks.

**Fire-types**: Volcanion, Heatran, and Mega Charizard Y all can handle Kartana's attacks and threaten to OHKO it in return with their Fire-type moves.

**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Mega Gengar and Choice Scarf users like Tapu Lele all threaten to KO Kartana, and Mega Gengar can also trap it. These Pokemon not only threaten Kartana with their Speed but also by taking advantage of Kartana's low Special Defense stat.

**Strong Special Attackers**: Kartana has a hard time taking on even resisted attacks from opposing special attackers, especially from the likes of Deoxys-A, Tapu Koko, and various Z-Move users.

**Opposing Speed Control**: Tailwind, Trick Room, Icy Wind, and Electroweb all can stop Kartana from pressuring an opposing team, as it's much more threatening when hitting first.

**Intimidate**: Kartana is a physical attacker, so it will be hindered by Intimidate. However, Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Scrafty have to be careful switching in, as both still take a lot of damage from Leaf Blade and Sacred Sword, respectively, while also being outsped. Intimidate can be mitigated with the help of Z-Tailwind, but it still stops Kartana from boosting further.

gp 2/2
a bunch of words that had no space in between them like Tapu Koko'sThunderbolt maybe just be careful implementing but otherwise nice

done, thank you!