bop written
qc 3/3: pk gaming, gary, p2
gp 2/2: dbw/p squared, cryogyro
[OVERVIEW]
Due to its access to Dragon Dance, its decent Attack and Speed, and its ability Moxie, Salamence is a very good snowball sweeper. If given the chance to set up late-game, it can clean up against many teams. It hits decently hard after a boost from Dragon Dance and can muscle through some of its checks with an extremely powerful Supersonic Skystrike. However, the popularity of Choice Scarf users with base 100 Speed or more hurts Salamence's viability because it is easily revenge killed by the large majority of them. It also has a lot of trouble setting up, especially against popular Steel- and Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile and Tapu Koko, despite its decent bulk. Furthermore, Salamence faces competition from Gyarados, which typically pulls off a Dragon Dance set better due to its better bulk, STAB moves, and typing. Most notably, everything that Salamence tries to run besides a Dragon Dance set with Flyinium Z is outclassed by another Pokemon, such as Garchomp or Mega Charizard X. As a result, it is extremely one-dimensional.
[SET]
name: Supersonic Skystrike
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Fly
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Earthquake
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance allows Salamence to become a potent sweeper, as it outspeeds all unboosted Pokemon at +1. Fly combined with Flyinium Z lets Salamence use a 175-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike. This allows Salamence to muscle past its weakened checks, such as Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Landorus-T, at +1 and kickstart a sweep by giving it an Attack boost from Moxie. Dragon Claw is Salamence's most reliable STAB move, and while it suffers from having a low Base Power, it still hits very hard after a Dragon Dance boost. Earthquake hits the Steel-types that resist Dragon Claw, such as Magearna and Heatran; it is also Salamence's best option to hit Tapu Koko. As for other options, Outrage is Salamence's strongest STAB attack besides Supersonic Skystrike and is able to clean up after Salamence's Z-Move is used. However, it is easy to take advantage of.
Set Details
========
Flyinium Z turns Fly into an absurdly powerful Supersonic Skystrike, allowing Salamence to skip Fly's charge-up turn, muscle past its checks, and begin a sweep. Moxie makes it hard to stop Salamence's sweep defensively once it starts; it also synergizes nicely with Flyinium Z. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs along with a Jolly nature are used in order to outspeed Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Choice Scarf Landorus-T after a Dragon Dance boost, as well as maximizing Salamence's power.
Usage Tips
========
Sweep in the late-game after weakening or KOing Salamence's checks, which comprise mainly of Steel- and Fairy-types, physically bulky walls, and revenge killers. Set up on things that Salamence checks, such as Mega Charizard Y, Choice Scarf Keldeo locked into Hydro Pump, and Heatran. However, do not be afraid to have Salamence take a powerful hit if it means that Salamence can set up. Finally, don't switch into Salamence at all early in the game, as it needs to be at full health in order to have a chance to set up.
Team Options
========
Magnezone is an amazing partner for Salamence; it can trap and KO the two main Pokemon that prevent Salamence from sweeping in Skarmory and Celesteela. Salamence needs chip damage on Pokemon such as defensive Landorus-T and Ferrothorn in order to sweep. Thus, Ferrothorn, Greninja, and the player's own Landorus-T, which can provide entry hazards to weaken these Pokemon, make good teammates. It is difficult to set up with Salamence when Stealth Rock is on your side of the field. As a result, remove Stealth Rock with Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Zapdos, Mew, and Mega Scizor beforehand. Finally, since Landorus-T, Steel-types, and Fairy-types can easily stop Salamence's sweep, wallbreakers that pressure these Pokemon are great partners. Life Orb Garchomp can pressure many of these Pokemon with its Outrage, Earthquake, and Fire Fang, Alolan Marowak can weaken or OHKO all of these Pokemon, and Heatran can threaten to trap and wear them down with Magma Storm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Salamence has very few other options. Running Fire Blast with a Naive nature can surprise Skarmory and Celesteela, but it is generally weak and less useful than Earthquake. Every other set that Salamence could run, such as defensive Dragon Dance, Choice Scarf, and mixed attacker, is done better by other Dragon-types in OU, such as Garchomp, Mega Charizard X, and Zygarde.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fast Choice Scarf Users and Priority**: Choice Scarf users that outspeed +1 Salamence are big threats to it. These include Garchomp, Keldeo, Terrakion, Nihilego, Greninja, and Gengar. Ice Shard users such as Mamoswine and Weavile can also easily revenge kill Salamence after it has set up.
**Steel- and Fairy-types**: Skarmory, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, Tapu Fini, Bronzong, and Clefable can all take a hit, especially from full health, and either recover the damage that was dealt, threaten Salamence with STAB moves, or use Whirlwind to phaze it.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Certain other physically bulky Pokemon, such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Slowbro, can take a hit from Salamence and threaten it with Hidden Power Ice, a Scald burn, or powerful moves.
qc 3/3: pk gaming, gary, p2
gp 2/2: dbw/p squared, cryogyro
[OVERVIEW]
Due to its access to Dragon Dance, its decent Attack and Speed, and its ability Moxie, Salamence is a very good snowball sweeper. If given the chance to set up late-game, it can clean up against many teams. It hits decently hard after a boost from Dragon Dance and can muscle through some of its checks with an extremely powerful Supersonic Skystrike. However, the popularity of Choice Scarf users with base 100 Speed or more hurts Salamence's viability because it is easily revenge killed by the large majority of them. It also has a lot of trouble setting up, especially against popular Steel- and Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile and Tapu Koko, despite its decent bulk. Furthermore, Salamence faces competition from Gyarados, which typically pulls off a Dragon Dance set better due to its better bulk, STAB moves, and typing. Most notably, everything that Salamence tries to run besides a Dragon Dance set with Flyinium Z is outclassed by another Pokemon, such as Garchomp or Mega Charizard X. As a result, it is extremely one-dimensional.
[SET]
name: Supersonic Skystrike
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Fly
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Earthquake
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Dragon Dance allows Salamence to become a potent sweeper, as it outspeeds all unboosted Pokemon at +1. Fly combined with Flyinium Z lets Salamence use a 175-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike. This allows Salamence to muscle past its weakened checks, such as Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Landorus-T, at +1 and kickstart a sweep by giving it an Attack boost from Moxie. Dragon Claw is Salamence's most reliable STAB move, and while it suffers from having a low Base Power, it still hits very hard after a Dragon Dance boost. Earthquake hits the Steel-types that resist Dragon Claw, such as Magearna and Heatran; it is also Salamence's best option to hit Tapu Koko. As for other options, Outrage is Salamence's strongest STAB attack besides Supersonic Skystrike and is able to clean up after Salamence's Z-Move is used. However, it is easy to take advantage of.
Set Details
========
Flyinium Z turns Fly into an absurdly powerful Supersonic Skystrike, allowing Salamence to skip Fly's charge-up turn, muscle past its checks, and begin a sweep. Moxie makes it hard to stop Salamence's sweep defensively once it starts; it also synergizes nicely with Flyinium Z. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs along with a Jolly nature are used in order to outspeed Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Choice Scarf Landorus-T after a Dragon Dance boost, as well as maximizing Salamence's power.
Usage Tips
========
Sweep in the late-game after weakening or KOing Salamence's checks, which comprise mainly of Steel- and Fairy-types, physically bulky walls, and revenge killers. Set up on things that Salamence checks, such as Mega Charizard Y, Choice Scarf Keldeo locked into Hydro Pump, and Heatran. However, do not be afraid to have Salamence take a powerful hit if it means that Salamence can set up. Finally, don't switch into Salamence at all early in the game, as it needs to be at full health in order to have a chance to set up.
Team Options
========
Magnezone is an amazing partner for Salamence; it can trap and KO the two main Pokemon that prevent Salamence from sweeping in Skarmory and Celesteela. Salamence needs chip damage on Pokemon such as defensive Landorus-T and Ferrothorn in order to sweep. Thus, Ferrothorn, Greninja, and the player's own Landorus-T, which can provide entry hazards to weaken these Pokemon, make good teammates. It is difficult to set up with Salamence when Stealth Rock is on your side of the field. As a result, remove Stealth Rock with Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Zapdos, Mew, and Mega Scizor beforehand. Finally, since Landorus-T, Steel-types, and Fairy-types can easily stop Salamence's sweep, wallbreakers that pressure these Pokemon are great partners. Life Orb Garchomp can pressure many of these Pokemon with its Outrage, Earthquake, and Fire Fang, Alolan Marowak can weaken or OHKO all of these Pokemon, and Heatran can threaten to trap and wear them down with Magma Storm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Salamence has very few other options. Running Fire Blast with a Naive nature can surprise Skarmory and Celesteela, but it is generally weak and less useful than Earthquake. Every other set that Salamence could run, such as defensive Dragon Dance, Choice Scarf, and mixed attacker, is done better by other Dragon-types in OU, such as Garchomp, Mega Charizard X, and Zygarde.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fast Choice Scarf Users and Priority**: Choice Scarf users that outspeed +1 Salamence are big threats to it. These include Garchomp, Keldeo, Terrakion, Nihilego, Greninja, and Gengar. Ice Shard users such as Mamoswine and Weavile can also easily revenge kill Salamence after it has set up.
**Steel- and Fairy-types**: Skarmory, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, Tapu Fini, Bronzong, and Clefable can all take a hit, especially from full health, and either recover the damage that was dealt, threaten Salamence with STAB moves, or use Whirlwind to phaze it.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Certain other physically bulky Pokemon, such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Slowbro, can take a hit from Salamence and threaten it with Hidden Power Ice, a Scald burn, or powerful moves.
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