Lairon (NU Analysis)

Oglemi

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http://www.smogon.com/rs/pokemon/lairon

[Overview]

As one of the few Steel-types residing in the tier, Lairon has an immediate niche. A great Defense stat backed by a decent typing allows Lairon to almost completely wall a few Choice Band users, particularly Normal- and Flying-types like Raticate, Pidgeot, and Murkrow. However, Lairon comes with awful, terrible, horrible 4x weaknesses to Ground- and Fighting-type attacks, which are found on virtually all Choice Band users' sets, diminishing its overall effectiveness as a physical wall, which is compounded by its rather low Special Defense stat. Ultimately, Lairon is a subpar choice in the metagame but a neat Pokemon to use regardless if you want a super solid switch-in to Normal-, Flying-, Ghost-, and Rock-type attacks.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Hidden Power Rock / Hidden Power Steel
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Roar
move 4: Protect / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Rock Head
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Lairon's typing and huge base Defense stat mean that it doesn't even need any investment in order to wall the physical attacks it needs to. Therefore, its Special Defense is invested to make use of the resistances it has, allowing it to check certain special attackers like Haunter, Chimecho, and Venomoth effectively. Hidden Power Rock or Hidden Power Steel is used as a STAB move depending on which Pokemon you'd like to target; Hidden Power Rock gets better super effective coverage, while Hidden Power Steel hits Hitmonchan and Ground-types neutrally, the latter of which are common switch-ins to Lairon.

Toxic is the best way Lairon can spread damage around on the opponent's team considering Poison-types are unlikely to switch into it. Roar phazes the foe, prevents setup, exposes more Pokemon to Toxic damage, and racks up Spikes damage. Protect can be used in the last slot to further build up Toxic damage, scout for Fighting- and Ground-type attacks, and get some Leftovers recovery. However, Earthquake is a nice safety move to have that generally prevents Lairon from getting walled by a few Pokemon its STAB coverage misses out on, namely Water-types if using Hidden Power Steel and Ground-types if using Hidden Power Rock.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A physically defensive EV spread can be run, as it decreases the damage from Hidden Power Ground from the likes of Choice Band Murkrow and Pidgeot pretty substantially, but it won't prevent Hidden Power or any Ground- or Fighting-type attack from 2HKOing Lairon, which is why the specially defensive EV spread is recommended. RestTalk can be used to greatly increase Lairon's longevity; however, due to Lairon's susceptibility to being easily OHKOed by common moves and the great utility of both Roar and Protect, it's hard to justify using it over the presented set. Both Rock Slide and Hidden Power Steel can be used on this set to give Lairon a bit more coverage, but it's largely unneeded and Protect is still an overall better choice considering the large number of Choice Band users in the tier.

A switch-in to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks is needed for this set to be effective, making Pelipper, Tangela, and Chimecho valued teammates. Lairon can check a myriad of special attackers, but it's super weak to Water-type attacks and some special attackers can still break through, making special walls like Kecleon, Lickitung, and Bellossom great teammates. Spikes support is pretty crucial to this set's success, making Glalie, Cacturne, or particularly Roselia a needed teammate.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hidden Power Rock / Rock Slide
move 2: Iron Tail / Hidden Power Steel
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Thanks to a great base 90 Attack stat, a typing that allows some free switches, and decent coverage, a Choice Band set is very viable. Lairon's Steel typing gives it a bit of a niche over the other Rock-types in the tier, making it a bit less susceptible to the special attackers they are normally forced to switch out of like Chimecho, Roselia, and Haunter. Lairon also still completely walls the physical attackers it needs to. Hidden Power Rock and Iron Tail are the recommended STAB moves due to the former's reliability and the latter's sheer power. However, if you're uncomfortable using Iron Tail due to its accuracy, Rock Slide can be used over Hidden Power Rock and Hidden Power Steel can be used over Iron Tail. Earthquake and Double-Edge complete the set's coverage, with Double-Edge chosen in the last slot over Return thanks to the lack of recoil due to Rock Head.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Some Speed EVs can be run to let Lairon outpace minimum Speed base 50s; however, Lairon needs all the bulk it can get in order to tank special attacks like Chimecho's Psychic. A switch-in to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks is needed for this set to be effective, making Pelipper, defensive Tangela, and Whiscash valued teammates. Lairon is extremely weak to most special attackers with this set even with its many resistances. Kecleon, Dewgong, and Lickitung are good specially defensive teammates that can take on a large portion of the special attackers in the tier, though they stack a major weakness to Hitmonchan with Lairon. Swalot is another option to switch into special attackers, and it can also take on the likes of Hitmonchan very well, though it too stacks a weakness to Ground-type attacks. An offensively inclined teammate like your own Hitmonchan is recommended, as Lairon effectively walls a number of Pokemon that normally force Hitmonchan out, particularly Pidgeot, Murkrow, and Raticate.

[Other Options]

Lairon has a pretty shallow movepool outside of the recommended sets above. Body Slam is a neat alternative that can help spread paralysis to allow a slow teammate like Octillery to sweep late-game. Endeavor is available but is hard to use and doesn't accomplish much for Lairon in the long run. Finally, Rock Tomb is an OK move when used with some Speed investment to allow Lairon or another teammate to get the jump on the foe. However, Lairon has trouble making use of it itself due to its low Speed and lack of very strong STAB attacks.

[Checks and Counters]

Hitmonchan is the best check and counter to Lairon, as it really only fears a Choice Band-boosted Double-Edge and can threaten Lairon with a quick OHKO with either Sky Uppercut or Earthquake in return. From there, really any Fighting- or Ground-type attack will remove Lairon from of the game, even weak, non-STAB Hidden Powers. Water-types, particularly Relicanth, Huntail, and Whiscash, have an easy time of switching in and disposing of Lairon. Tangela can easily switch in, tank anything Lairon can throw at it, and remove it with its strong STAB Grass-type moves. Mawile almost completely walls all that Lairon can throw at it, even being immune to Toxic, and can threaten it in return with Focus Punch. Piloswine doesn't get in as safely as other checks but easily annihilates Lairon with Earthquake. Finally, while Diglett can't switch in easily, it can trap and cleanly OHKO Lairon with its own Earthquake.
 
Last edited:

frenzyplant

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1/2 :)

add remove (comments)

[Overview]

As one of the few Steel-types residing in the tier, Lairon has an immediate niche. A great Defense stat backed by a decent typing allows Lairon to almost completely wall a few Choice Band users, particularly Normal- and Flying-types like Raticate, Pidgeot, and Murkrow. However, Lairon comes with awful, terrible, horrible 4x weaknesses ("Lairon and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 4x weaknesses") to Ground- and Fighting-types Fighting-type attacks, which are found on virtually every Choice Band users' sets, diminishing its overall effectiveness as a physical wall, which is compounded by its rather low Special Defense stat. Ultimately, Lairon is a subpar choice in the metagame, (remove comma) but a neat Pokemon to use regardless if you want a super solid switch-in to Normal-, Flying-, Ghost-, and Rock-type attacks.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Hidden Power Rock / Hidden Power Steel
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Roar
move 4: Protect / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Rock Head
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Lairon's typing and huge base Defense stat means mean that it doesn't even need any investment in order to wall the physical attacks it needs to. Therefore, its Special Defense is invested in to make use of the resistances it has, allowing it to check certain special attackers like Haunter, Chimecho, and Venomoth effectively. Hidden Power Rock or Hidden Power Steel is used as a STAB move depending on which Pokemon you'd like to target; Hidden Power Rock gets better super effective coverage, (comma) while Hidden Power Steel hits Hitmonchan and Ground-types neutrally, the latter of which are common switch-ins to Lairon.

Toxic is the best way Lairon can spread damage around on the opponent's team considering Poison-types are unlikely to switch into Lairon. Roar phazes out the foe, opponent, prevents setup, exposes more Pokemon to Toxic damage, and racks up Spikes damage. Protect can be used in the last slot to further build up Toxic damage, scout for Fighting- and Ground-type attacks, and get some Leftovers recovery. However, Earthquake is a nice safety move to have that generally prevents Lairon from getting walled by a few Pokemon its STAB coverage misses out on, namely Water-types if using Hidden Power Steel and Ground-types if using Hidden Power Rock.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A physically defensive EV spread can be run, (comma) as it decreases the damage from Hidden Power Ground from the likes of Choice Band Murkrow and Pidgeot pretty substantially, but it won't prevent it Hidden Power or any other Ground- or Fighting-type attack from 2HKOing Lairon, nor any other Ground- or Fighting-type attack, (moved closer to what this is talking about) which is why the specially defensive EV spread is recommended. RestTalk can be used to greatly increase Lairon's longevity; however, due to its Lairon's susceptibility to being easily OHKOed by common moves, (remove comma) and the great utility of both Roar and Protect, it's hard to justify using it over the presented set. Both Rock Slide and Hidden Power Steel can be used on this set to give Lairon a bit more coverage, but it's largely unneeded and Protect is still an overall better choice considering the large number of Choice Band users in the tier.

A switch into switch-in to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks is needed for this set to be effective, making Pelipper, Tangela, and Whiscash valued teammates. Lairon can check a myriad of special attackers, but it's super weak to Water-type attacks and some special attackers can still break through, making special walls like Kecleon, Lickitung, and Bellossom great teammates. Spikes support is pretty crucial to this set's success, making Glalie, Cacturne, and or (you would only use one Spikes user, right?) particularly Roselia a needed teammate.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hidden Power Rock / Rock Slide
move 2: Iron Tail / Hidden Power Steel
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Thanks to a great base 90 Attack stat, a typing that allows some free switches, and decent coverage, a Choice Band set is very viable. Lairon's Steel typing gives it a bit of a niche over the other Rock-types in the tier, making it a bit less susceptible to the special attackers they are normally forced to switch out of. (maybe give examples of these special attackers or their types?) Lairon also still completely walls the physical attackers it needs to. Hidden Power Rock and Iron Tail are the recommended STAB moves due to the former's reliability and the latter's sheer power. However, if you're uncomfortable using Iron Tail due to its accuracy, Rock Slide can be used over Hidden Power Rock and Hidden Power Steel can be used over Iron Tail. Earthquake and Double-Edge complete the set's coverage, with Double-Edge chosen in the last slot over Return thanks to the lack of recoil due to Rock Head.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Some Speed EVs can be run to let Lairon outpace minimum base 50s; however, Lairon needs all the bulk it can get in order to tank special attacks like Chimecho's Psychic. A switch into switch-in to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks is needed for this set to be effective, making Pelipper, defensive Tangela, and Whiscash valued teammates. Lairon is extremely weak to most special attackers with this set even with its many resistances. Kecleon, Dewgong, and Lickitung are good specially defensive teammates that can take on a large portion of the special attackers in the tier, though they stack a major weakness to Hitmonchan with Lairon. Swalot is another option to switch into special attackers, (comma) and it can also take on the likes of Hitmonchan very well, though it too stacks a weakness to Ground-type attacks. An offensively inclined teammate like your own Hitmonchan is recommended, (comma) as Lairon effectively walls a number of Pokemon that normally force the former Hitmonchan (?) out, particularly Pidgeot, Murkrow, and Raticate.

[Other Options]

Lairon has a pretty shallow movepool outside of the recommended sets above. Body Slam is a neat alternative that can help spread paralysis to allow a slow teammate like Octillery to sweep late-game. Endeavor is available but is hard to use and doesn't accomplish much for Lairon in the long-run. Finally, Rock Tomb is an OK move when used with some Speed investment to allow Lairon or another teammate to get a the jump on the foe. opponent. However, Lairon has trouble making use of it itself due to its low Speed and lack of very strong STAB moves. (or do you mean Rock Tomb's lack of Base Power or Lairon's lack of power? saying that STAB itself is not very strong doesn't make much sense, because the actual bonus of STAB is the same for all Pokemon)

[Checks and Counters]

Hitmonchan is the best check and counter to Lairon, (comma) as it really only fears a Choice Band Double-Edge and can threaten Lairon with a quick OHKO with either Sky Uppercut or Earthquake in return. From there, really any Fighting- and or Ground-type attack will do wonders for removing (to do wonders for something is to have a beneficial effect on it, so this is a little confusing) Lairon out of from the game, even weak, (comma) non-STAB Hidden Powers. Water-types, particularly Relicanth, Huntail, and Whiscash, have an easy time of switching in and disposing of Lairon. Tangela can easily switch in, (comma) and tank anything Lairon can throw at it, (comma) and remove it with its strong STAB Grass-type moves. Mawile almost completely walls all that Lairon can throw at it, even being immune to Toxic, and can threaten it in return with Focus Punch. Piloswine doesn't get in as safely as other checks, (remove comma) but easily annihilates Lairon with Earthquake. Finally, while Diglett can't switch in easily, it can trap and cleanly OHKO Lairon with its own Earthquake.
 

Lumari

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[Overview]

As one of the few Steel-types residing in the tier, Lairon has an immediate niche. A great Defense stat backed by a decent typing allows Lairon to almost completely wall a few Choice Band users, particularly Normal- and Flying-types like Raticate, Pidgeot, and Murkrow. However, Lairon comes with awful, terrible, horrible 4x weaknesses to Ground- and Fighting-type attacks, which are found on virtually every all Choice Band users' sets, diminishing its overall effectiveness as a physical wall, which is compounded by its rather low Special Defense stat. Ultimately, Lairon is a subpar choice in the metagame but a neat Pokemon to use regardless if you want a super solid switch-in to Normal-, Flying-, Ghost-, and Rock-type attacks.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Hidden Power Rock / Hidden Power Steel
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Roar
move 4: Protect / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Rock Head
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

Lairon's typing and huge base Defense stat mean that it doesn't even need any investment in order to wall the physical attacks it needs to. Therefore, its Special Defense is invested to make use of the resistances it has, allowing it to check certain special attackers like Haunter, Chimecho, and Venomoth effectively. Hidden Power Rock or Hidden Power Steel is used as a STAB move depending on which Pokemon you'd like to target; Hidden Power Rock gets better super effective coverage, while Hidden Power Steel hits Hitmonchan and Ground-types neutrally, the latter of which are common switch-ins to Lairon.

Toxic is the best way Lairon can spread damage around on the opponent's team considering Poison-types are unlikely to switch into Lairon it. Roar phazes out the foe, prevents setup, exposes more Pokemon to Toxic damage, and racks up Spikes damage. Protect can be used in the last slot to further build up Toxic damage, scout for Fighting- and Ground-type attacks, and get some Leftovers recovery. However, Earthquake is a nice safety move to have that generally prevents Lairon from getting walled by a few Pokemon its STAB coverage misses out on, namely Water-types if using Hidden Power Steel and Ground-types if using Hidden Power Rock.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A physically defensive EV spread can be run, as it decreases the damage from Hidden Power Ground from the likes of Choice Band Murkrow and Pidgeot pretty substantially, but it won't prevent Hidden Power or any Ground- or Fighting-type attack from 2HKOing Lairon, which is why the specially defensive EV spread is recommended. RestTalk can be used to greatly increase Lairon's longevity; however, due to Lairon's susceptibility to being easily OHKOed by common moves and the great utility of both Roar and Protect, it's hard to justify using it over the presented set. Both Rock Slide and Hidden Power Steel can be used on this set to give Lairon a bit more coverage, but it's largely unneeded and Protect is still an overall better choice considering the large number of Choice Band users in the tier.

A switch-in to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks is needed for this set to be effective, making Pelipper, Tangela, and Chimecho valued teammates. Lairon can check a myriad of special attackers, but it's super weak to Water-type attacks and some special attackers can still break through, making special walls like Kecleon, Lickitung, and Bellossom great teammates. Spikes support is pretty crucial to this set's success, making Glalie, Cacturne, or particularly Roselia a needed teammate.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hidden Power Rock / Rock Slide
move 2: Iron Tail / Hidden Power Steel
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Double-Edge
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Thanks to a great base 90 Attack stat, a typing that allows some free switches, and decent coverage, a Choice Band set is very viable. Lairon's Steel typing gives it a bit of a niche over the other Rock-types in the tier, making it a bit less susceptible to the special attackers they are normally forced to switch out of like Chimecho, Roselia, and Haunter. Lairon also still completely walls the physical attackers it needs to. Hidden Power Rock and Iron Tail are the recommended STAB moves due to the former's reliability and the latter's sheer power. However, if you're uncomfortable using Iron Tail due to its accuracy, Rock Slide can be used over Hidden Power Rock and Hidden Power Steel can be used over Iron Tail. Earthquake and Double-Edge complete the set's coverage, with Double-Edge chosen in the last slot over Return thanks to the lack of recoil due to Rock Head.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Some Speed EVs can be run to let Lairon outpace minimum Speed (or "uninvested" if the repetition is an issue, or keep minimum if that's more common than i'm thinking it is rn) base 50s; however, Lairon needs all the bulk it can get in order to tank special attacks like Chimecho's Psychic. A switch-in to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks is needed for this set to be effective, making Pelipper, defensive Tangela, and Whiscash valued teammates. Lairon is extremely weak to most special attackers with this set even with its many resistances. Kecleon, Dewgong, and Lickitung are good specially defensive teammates that can take on a large portion of the special attackers in the tier, though they stack a major weakness to Hitmonchan with Lairon. Swalot is another option to switch into special attackers, and it can also take on the likes of Hitmonchan very well, though it too stacks a weakness to Ground-type attacks. An offensively inclined teammate like your own Hitmonchan is recommended, as Lairon effectively walls a number of Pokemon that normally force Hitmonchan out, particularly Pidgeot, Murkrow, and Raticate.

[Other Options]

Lairon has a pretty shallow movepool outside of the recommended sets above. Body Slam is a neat alternative that can help spread paralysis to allow a slow teammate like Octillery to sweep late-game. Endeavor is available but is hard to use and doesn't accomplish much for Lairon in the long run. (RH) Finally, Rock Tomb is an OK move when used with some Speed investment to allow Lairon or another teammate to get the jump on the foe. However, Lairon has trouble making use of it itself due to its low Speed and lack of very strong STAB attacks.

[Checks and Counters]

Hitmonchan is the best check and counter to Lairon, as it really only fears a Choice Band-boosted Double-Edge and can threaten Lairon with a quick OHKO with either Sky Uppercut or Earthquake in return. From there, really any Fighting- or Ground-type attack will remove Lairon from of the game, even weak, non-STAB Hidden Powers. Water-types, particularly Relicanth, Huntail, and Whiscash, have an easy time of switching in and disposing of Lairon. Tangela can easily switch in, tank anything Lairon can throw at it, and remove it with its strong STAB Grass-type moves. Mawile almost completely walls all that Lairon can throw at it, even being immune to Toxic, and can threaten it in return with Focus Punch. Piloswine doesn't get in as safely as other checks but easily annihilates Lairon with Earthquake. Finally, while Diglett can't switch in easily, it can trap and cleanly OHKO Lairon with its own Earthquake.
 
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