[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Can carry either Dry Skin, Sand Veil, or Solar Power, making it a good fit for rain, sand, and sun teams respectively.</li>
<li>Decent special attack and movepool to take advantage of, allowing for fairly wide coverage.</li>
<li>Speed stat allows it to outspeed many potent base 100 and 105 threats, such as Salamence and Mienshao, which it can escape with STAB Volt Switch.</li>
<li>Normal-typing grants an immunity to Ghost moves.</li>
<li>Electric-typing means it cannot be paralyzed.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<li>Pitiful Defense and HP leaves it vulnerable to priority, and unable to come in on many powerful moves.</li>
<li>The change in weather mechanics significantly lowers its potency as a sweeper, since switching in will burn one turn.</li>
<li>Normal-typing adds a Fighting weakness, with Mach Punch posing a significant problem.</li>
<li>Can still be outsped by a plethora of powerful Pokemon, as it misses the base 110 mark.</li>
<li>Can't hit bulkier threats without Life Orb or Choice Specs equipped</li>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Heliolisk @ Choice Scarf/Choice Specs<br/>
Ability: Dry Skin<br/>
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid (+Spe, -Atk) / Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)<br/>
- Volt Switch / U-Turn<br/>
- Thunderbolt / Thunder<br/>
- Hidden Power Ice / Grass Knot<br/>
- Focus Blast / Surf</p>
<p>Heliolisk is too frail to stay in for long, so carrying a Choice item is its best bet at dealing damage. Volt Switch is incredibly useful, as it allows Heliolisk to escape unfavorable match-ups while hitting the opponent with a STAB attack. U-Turn, while working off a pitiful attack stat, serves the same function without having to worry about Ground-types. Thunderbolt provides a hard hitting main STAB move, however, should Heliolisk be run in the rain to take advantage of Dry Skin, Thunder is a much more powerful alternative. Hidden Power Ice, despite its lowered power, gives Heliolisk very good neutral coverage in tandem with its STAB, and lets it hit problematic Pokemon such as Gliscor, as well as Dragon and Grass-types that could potentially wall it. Grass Knot is an alternative for hitting the likes of Quagsire and Gastrodon, however Heliolisk should not come in on bulkier opponents unless they've been withered down a bit. Focus Blast hits Steel-types and other hard hitting threats like Tyranitar, though its shaky accuracy could lead to Heliolisk's demise. Surf is an interesting option, as it can catch many Ground-types by surprise and hits most harder than Hidden Power Ice, especially if used in the rain.</p>
<p>Dry Skin is the preferred ability as it grants Heliolisk an additional immunity, as well as an opportunity to increase its HP. It's too frail to come in on much, and such an ability can lead Heliolisk to force a switch. This also makes Heliolisk one of the few Pokemon who can deal with Belly Drum Azumarill, as Heliolisk can absorb Aqua Jet and outspeed next turn with STAB Thunderbolt or Volt Switch on the predicted switch. Choice Scarf makes Heliolisk a potent revenge killer, able to outspeed a vast majority of unboosted offensive threats and pick at weakened ones. Choice Specs grants Heliolisk higher attacking power, allowing it to seriously dent slower and bulkier threats. A Timid nature is preferred in both cases to grant Heliolisk as much speed as possible, allowing Choice Scarfed variants outspeed threats such as Dragon Dance Salamence. Should one opt for power over speed, a Modest nature can be used, but should be utilized alongside the Choice Scarf if at all.</p>
<p>Entry hazards significantly aid in Heliolisk's ability to take out an opponent's team, as the prior damage makes its job much easier. Skarmory is an especially good partner, as not only does it provide sufficient Spikes support, its bulk allows it to sponge any powerful physical attacks aimed at Heliolisk, while the latter can take on Electric-type moves targeting Skarmory.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Heliolisk has terrible physical defense, so priority moves can dispatch it quickly. Breloom resists its STAB and can knock it out with a Technician Mach Punch, though it should be wary of coming in on a Hidden Power Ice. Any Pokemon that outspeeds Heliolisk can take advantage of its frail defenses as well should it run Choice Specs. Fast Fire-types in particular, such as Talonflame, can come in to revenge kill Heliolisk by utilizing its STAB to take advantage of Dry Skin. Dugtrio, immune to its Electric STAB, can trap Heliolisk and easily finish it off with an Earthquake.</p>
<p>Should they not have taken prior damage, defensive Pokemon can give Heliolisk a very hard time. Special walls, especially Blissey, can cause Heliolisk a huge amount of trouble if not weakened first, as Focus Blast will not OHKO. Ferrothorn shuts down sets not carrying Focus Blast, and can force switches to set up entry hazards or Leech Seed.</p>
<p>Speed is essential to Heliolisk's potency, as without that it cannot revenge kill effectively. Galvantula resists Heliolisk's STAB moves and can come in to force a switch, setting up a Sticky Web to severely cripple Heliolisk on future switch-ins.</p>
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