[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
As a bulky offensive threat, Pignite ends up being the offensive glue that holds a lot of teams together, with its good all-around bulk and solid offensive coverage always coming in handy. The many Grass-types of the tier have hard time trading hits and preventing Pignite from coming in versus them, whereas many other walls and sweepers alike such as like Dustox, Bronzor, Klang, and Scraggy all struggle versus it. Sucker Punch means that even when Pignite is at low HP, it can still pose a threat to revenge killers, especially frailer examples like Swoobat and Pikachu. For bulkier targets it fails to break through, like Regenerator Duosion, Marshtomp, and Hippopotas, Pignite still can threaten them with Toxic on the switch-in. Thick Fat is an asset for discouraging the STAB attacks from wallbreakers like Choice Specs Magmar and Vanilluxe. The given EV spread creeps Adamant Lairon, although a faster spread to creep Adamant Klang is also viable.
Grass- and Water-types are some of the best teammates for Pignite, as they complete the Fire/Grass/Water core with Pignite. Servine and Politoed work on bulky offense, being able to spread status and position Pignite in on Grass-types like Ivysaur and Gogoat. Alternatively, the likes of Simisage and Frogadier will support Pignite with their revenge killing capabilities, where it in return will force heavy hits on important walls. Duosion's Future Sight support is a great way to make sure Pignite will net hefty damage, given walls like Swalot would no longer be a safe switch-in to Superpower. Pivots like Volt Switch Electabuzz and Klang can force out Water-types and bring Pignite in on susceptible special walls.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Pignite poses as a threatening defensive setup sweeper thanks to Curse. In the early-game, Pignite has the special bulk to tank hits from a slew of special attackers like Servine, Magmar, and Vanilluxe. It can tank these hits and even absorb status like Servine's Glare, only for the late-game to recover with Rest and start to setup with Sleep Talk + Curse. Given the lack of viable Flash Fire users, Fire Punch suffices as Pignite's only attack. Brick Break can also work either over Sleep Talk or, seldomly, by itself over Fire Punch, but being unable to force out Gourgiest-L is usually too much of a liability.
Water-types like Politoed and Whishcash make for great teammates, as they can eliminate the Rock-types like Gigalith and Carbink that Pignite struggles to setup versus. Sticky Hold Swalot is a solid teammate, as both Trick and Knock Off can stop Curse sweeps. Electabuzz also is great for being a great way to punish Encore users such as Jumpluff and Politoed. Ivysaur and Servine can spread Knock Off and status, making it easier for Pignite to sweep, and in return they rely on Pignite to tank the strong Fire- and Ice-type attacks that force them out.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A faster set with Taunt + Toxic can shutdown some walls and switch-ins, but it comes at the cost of Pignite's coverage, which is generally more valuable. Power-Up-Punch is an alternative option on the tank set to potentially pick off a weakened target, and then use the extra power to sweep with a stronger Sucker Punch. Flame Charge with extra Speed investment will allow Pignite to potentially clean late-game, although Curse + Sucker Punch offers a more reliable vehicle for success. Wild Charge nails Water-types attempting to switch in, although all notable examples will be just as vulnerable to Superpower, which also comes at the perk of lacking recoil. Normal-type attacks like Body Slam and Facade work here too, with the former being a decent midground attack with a rewarding effect of spreading paralysis, and the latter being a tool to take advantage of Servine's Glare. Roar works as some bulky setup sweepers like Scraggy and Iron Defense Klang can become too hard for Pignite to break itself. Bulldoze is helpful for the mirror, and works like Flame Charge to a lesser extent in regards to getting the jump on faster attackers like Magmar and Electabuzz. In some regards, the offensive gambit of Blaze can be worth forfeiting the better Vanilluxe switch-in that Thick Fat provides, especially given the good synergy of Flare Blitz recoil.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Vibrava, Hippopotas, and Marshtomp are hard for Pignite to trade hits versus, even if they lose their Eviolites.
**Water-types**: Most Water-types would not want to switch-in against Pignite's strong coverage, but the likes of Simipour and Whiscash can come in against Fire Punch and force it out. Politoed's bulk and access to Encore makes it one of the hardest to deal with.
**Swalot**: Physically defensive Swalot is a pain for Pignite to get through, especially when Flare Blitz recoil is compounded with Rocky Helmet chip damage. Some variants also carry Encore to shut down Curse Pignite.
**Duosion**: Duosion's overall bulk and access to either STAB Psychic or Future Sight makes it a good check to Pignite, even absorbing the strong Flare Blitz thanks to Regenerator.
**Wallbreakers**: Faster, hard-hitting attackers like Life Orb Murkrow and Choice Specs Electabuzz can force out Pignite. Even some of the wallbreakers that Pignite can discourage, like Vanilluxe and Magmar, run coverage in Hidden Power Ground and Psychic, respectively, that can 2HKO Pignite.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
name: Tank
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe
As a bulky offensive threat, Pignite ends up being the offensive glue that holds a lot of teams together, with its good all-around bulk and solid offensive coverage always coming in handy. The many Grass-types of the tier have hard time trading hits and preventing Pignite from coming in versus them, whereas many other walls and sweepers alike such as like Dustox, Bronzor, Klang, and Scraggy all struggle versus it. Sucker Punch means that even when Pignite is at low HP, it can still pose a threat to revenge killers, especially frailer examples like Swoobat and Pikachu. For bulkier targets it fails to break through, like Regenerator Duosion, Marshtomp, and Hippopotas, Pignite still can threaten them with Toxic on the switch-in. Thick Fat is an asset for discouraging the STAB attacks from wallbreakers like Choice Specs Magmar and Vanilluxe. The given EV spread creeps Adamant Lairon, although a faster spread to creep Adamant Klang is also viable.
Grass- and Water-types are some of the best teammates for Pignite, as they complete the Fire/Grass/Water core with Pignite. Servine and Politoed work on bulky offense, being able to spread status and position Pignite in on Grass-types like Ivysaur and Gogoat. Alternatively, the likes of Simisage and Frogadier will support Pignite with their revenge killing capabilities, where it in return will force heavy hits on important walls. Duosion's Future Sight support is a great way to make sure Pignite will net hefty damage, given walls like Swalot would no longer be a safe switch-in to Superpower. Pivots like Volt Switch Electabuzz and Klang can force out Water-types and bring Pignite in on susceptible special walls.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Pignite poses as a threatening defensive setup sweeper thanks to Curse. In the early-game, Pignite has the special bulk to tank hits from a slew of special attackers like Servine, Magmar, and Vanilluxe. It can tank these hits and even absorb status like Servine's Glare, only for the late-game to recover with Rest and start to setup with Sleep Talk + Curse. Given the lack of viable Flash Fire users, Fire Punch suffices as Pignite's only attack. Brick Break can also work either over Sleep Talk or, seldomly, by itself over Fire Punch, but being unable to force out Gourgiest-L is usually too much of a liability.
Water-types like Politoed and Whishcash make for great teammates, as they can eliminate the Rock-types like Gigalith and Carbink that Pignite struggles to setup versus. Sticky Hold Swalot is a solid teammate, as both Trick and Knock Off can stop Curse sweeps. Electabuzz also is great for being a great way to punish Encore users such as Jumpluff and Politoed. Ivysaur and Servine can spread Knock Off and status, making it easier for Pignite to sweep, and in return they rely on Pignite to tank the strong Fire- and Ice-type attacks that force them out.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A faster set with Taunt + Toxic can shutdown some walls and switch-ins, but it comes at the cost of Pignite's coverage, which is generally more valuable. Power-Up-Punch is an alternative option on the tank set to potentially pick off a weakened target, and then use the extra power to sweep with a stronger Sucker Punch. Flame Charge with extra Speed investment will allow Pignite to potentially clean late-game, although Curse + Sucker Punch offers a more reliable vehicle for success. Wild Charge nails Water-types attempting to switch in, although all notable examples will be just as vulnerable to Superpower, which also comes at the perk of lacking recoil. Normal-type attacks like Body Slam and Facade work here too, with the former being a decent midground attack with a rewarding effect of spreading paralysis, and the latter being a tool to take advantage of Servine's Glare. Roar works as some bulky setup sweepers like Scraggy and Iron Defense Klang can become too hard for Pignite to break itself. Bulldoze is helpful for the mirror, and works like Flame Charge to a lesser extent in regards to getting the jump on faster attackers like Magmar and Electabuzz. In some regards, the offensive gambit of Blaze can be worth forfeiting the better Vanilluxe switch-in that Thick Fat provides, especially given the good synergy of Flare Blitz recoil.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Vibrava, Hippopotas, and Marshtomp are hard for Pignite to trade hits versus, even if they lose their Eviolites.
**Water-types**: Most Water-types would not want to switch-in against Pignite's strong coverage, but the likes of Simipour and Whiscash can come in against Fire Punch and force it out. Politoed's bulk and access to Encore makes it one of the hardest to deal with.
**Swalot**: Physically defensive Swalot is a pain for Pignite to get through, especially when Flare Blitz recoil is compounded with Rocky Helmet chip damage. Some variants also carry Encore to shut down Curse Pignite.
**Duosion**: Duosion's overall bulk and access to either STAB Psychic or Future Sight makes it a good check to Pignite, even absorbing the strong Flare Blitz thanks to Regenerator.
**Wallbreakers**: Faster, hard-hitting attackers like Life Orb Murkrow and Choice Specs Electabuzz can force out Pignite. Even some of the wallbreakers that Pignite can discourage, like Vanilluxe and Magmar, run coverage in Hidden Power Ground and Psychic, respectively, that can 2HKO Pignite.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
