Pheromosa can be a threatening attacker in the right conditions, usually on hyper offensive teams, with powerful attacking stats, colorful coverage, and a deadly All-Out Pummeling that helps with weakening Steel-types for its allies as well as dealing a huge blow or even threatening an OHKO against many Trick Room setters such as Diancie, Bronzong, and Porygon2. Its ability to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame naturally is also very positive, and this holds especially true when Pheromosa is backed up with Tailwind support. U-turn is also a very helpful tool, letting it pivot out of rough matchups while still doing notable amounts of damage. However, non-existent bulk makes Pheromosa susceptible to drop to nearly any hit it takes; U-turn and Protect help mitigate this issue, but it's still not enough to make up for it. This is especially glaring when the opponent manages to successfully use up their method of speed control, be it Tailwind, Icy Wind, or Trick Room, as an outsped Pheromosa is a fainted Pheromosa most of the time.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker (not entirely sure about how doubles works but aoa = 4 attacks)
move 1: Focus Blast
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Protect
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Focus Blast can be powered up into a devastatingly strong All-Out Pummeling that achieves impressive feats such as OHKOing Mega Metagross, Mega Scizor, and Volcanion after Stealth Rock. It also helps tear apart Steel-types, as the type of team Pheromosa commonly finds itself on, Psychic-type spam, really appreciates Steel-types being taken care of. Ice Beam is important for Flying-types that resist Pheromosa's STAB combination, such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Mega Salamence. U-turn lets Pheromosa pivot out of rough matchups and pressure the likes of Cresselia and Mega Latias. Protect is mandatory, as Pheromosa's complete lack of bulk would make it very easy to deal with otherwise; for example, Fake Out, other priority moves, and double targeting makes it not hard to beat it. It's also great for stalling out the opponent's field conditions should they go up, such as Trick Room, rain, or opposing Tailwind.
Set Details
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Full investment in Speed makes Pheromosa capable of outspeeding several other Pokemon that could OHKO it otherwise, with a Naive nature being preferred to outspeed Naive Deoxys-A and Mega Manectric as well as reduce damage taken from Fake Out and tank a hit from Kartana when compared to a Hasty nature. The investment in Special Attack guarantees more damage on Steel-types with Focus Blast and Flying-types with Ice Beam. A Rash nature can be run, however, for even more power in that department, especially if your own Deoxys-A is an ally to Pheromosa, giving it a notable damage boost that allows it to guarantee OHKOs on the likes of Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor without prior chip damage and providing very useful Special Attack boosts thanks to Beast Boost. Beast Boost grants Speed boosts with a Naive nature, giving Pheromosa a way to circumvent Choice Scarf users and some middling-Speed Pokemon when opposing Tailwind is set.
Usage Tips
========
Pheromosa is a great choice for a lead more often than not, matching up well against common leads like Incineroar and Landorus-T and being able to pivot out if necessary. To use Pheromosa effectively, it's important to make good use of Protect and redirection to keep it safe from attacks. You can also use U-turn to switch out of rough matchups, but be careful to not be stopped by a Protect, as that will stop Pheromosa from switching out. Use your Z-Move on Steel-types to open up room for teammates such as Tapu Lele and Deoxys-A to clean up, but be careful of Protect from the likes of Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor, as they can reduce the damage of Pheromosa's Z-Move. Also, be wary of priority if Psychic Terrain isn't up and Choice Scarf users, as they can outspeed and knock out Pheromosa.
Team Options
========
Pheromosa requires very specific team support in order to work to its fullest potential. Tapu Lele is a notable teammate, not only shielding Pheromosa from occasional priority moves, but also denying Trick Room via Taunt. Deoxys-A works rather well with the core of Pheromosa and Tapu Lele, as it appreciates Pheromosa's ability to threaten Steel-types and prey on each other's checks, but keep in mind both are rather frail. Tailwind users are very helpful in order to help Pheromosa and its team against opposing Tailwind teams, with notable setters including Zapdos, Mega Charizard Y, and Suicune. Zapdos is a very reliable setter, Mega Charizard Y helps pressure Steel-types for the Psychic-type spam core, and Suicune helps to prevent Trick Room with Roar. Trick Room prevention is very important with Pheromosa. Zapdos and Suicune can use Roar to help prevent Trick Room, with the latter being even better at doing so thanks to Inner Focus blocking Fake Out. Taunt users like Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, and the aforementioned Tapu Lele and Fake Out users like Incineroar help as well. Redirection is also very useful for supporting Pheromosa courtesy of its frailty. Amoonguss doubles up as a Trick Room check with a very slow Spore, whereas Togekiss and Volcarona also provide Tailwind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Sash mitigates Pheromosa's frailty, but a decent chunk of Pheromosa's niche comes from Fightinium Z, so you often want to keep the Z-Move slot for it. Rapid Spin is a plausible option for Mega Charizard Y or Volcarona teams, but missing out on an attacking move with Pheromosa is a bit undesirable. Poison Jab can be run to target Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Lele, but missing out on any of the four above moves have massive drawbacks and implications for Pheromosa's viability. High Jump Kick with Fightinium Z can be used for a stronger hit on Chansey, but High Jump Kick is extremely unreliable, and the Z-Move is extremely prone to Intimidate.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Most Attacking Moves**: Pheromosa's complete lack of bulk and terrible defensive typing means it's very vulnerable to nearly any attack, meaning it should often be pivoting with U-turn or using Protect.
**Speed Control**: Sticky Web, opposing Tailwind, Trick Room, Icy Wind, and Electroweb are all massive issues for Pheromosa, as it is likely getting KOed if it is outsped.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Genesect can be a big issue to Pheromosa, as they outspeed it without any need for speed control. Priority users like Mega Scizor and Zygarde can also be a notable issue provided that Psychic Terrain isn't up. Lastly, Mega Swampert, Kingdra, Ludicolo, and Excadrill can also outspeed Pheromosa under their respective weather and threaten to KO it.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types resisting Pheromosa's dual STAB combo and not minding Ice Beam make them a big annoyance. Tapu Fini is the most notable one, stomaching hits with ease and threatening to OHKO back, but Electroweb Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele can also diminish Pheromosa's Speed. Additionally, Mega Gardevoir, with spread Hyper Voice, avoiding redirection, and Trick Room in its arsenal, can be deadly as well.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[lyd, 303291]]
- Quality checked by: [[talkingtree, 232101], [MajorBowman, 188164]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [martha, 384270]]
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