Taking this over for EonADS. Of course, credit of the skeleton goes to him. I edited the skeleton with some minor changes that were mentioned in the previous thread, but nothing too huge.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 232 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Scrafty is most commonly seen as a setup sweeper, but it can take a more unconventional route with a Choice Band set. This variant of Scrafty is capable of hitting hard right off the bat and using its solid bulk, decent defensive typing, and Intimidate to good use, which opens up more switch-in opportunities for Scrafty. Another perk that makes this set worthwhile is that it can lure in phazers, such as Blastoise and Swampert, and traditional checks to Scrafty, such as Crobat and Heracross, and damage them heavily. Hi Jump Kick is the main attack used, as it is Scrafty's strongest STAB attack, and with a Choice Band boost, it is capable of 2HKOing defensive Swampert as well as OHKOing standard Kingdra. Crunch is a secondary STAB that hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types that brush off Hi Jump Kick such as Cofagrigus and Slowbro, respectively. In the third slot, Scrafty can opt for Ice Punch, hitting Gligar for major damage while also covering other Flying-types. However, Stone Edge is a good alternative that maintains coverage on Flying-types and can nab KOs on offensive Zapdos as well as stallbreaker Crobat. In the last slot, Drain Punch is preferred, as it is a reliable STAB for when Scrafty can't afford to miss and provides a way to recover lost health. Zen Headbutt is another alternative that allows Scrafty to hit Poison-types and Heracross, which resists Scrafty's STABs.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs maximize Scrafty's Attack while allowing it to outspeed minimum Speed base 60s, such as Swampert and Porygon2. The rest of the EVs are invested in bulk, with four placed in Special Defense to prevent Porygon2 and Porygon-Z from getting a Special Attack boost from Download. While neither of them want to switch into Scrafty, it is better to not give them that boost so they don't become big threats when Scrafty is locked into an unfavorable move in Porygon2's case, or low on health in Porygon-Z's case. An Adamant nature is needed on this variant of Scrafty, seeing as it gains valuable KOs with the nature, such as against Heracross with Zen Headbutt and Crobat with Stone Edge. Intimidate is the preferred ability because it gives a nice buffer against physical attacks. Neither Moxie nor Shed Skin is as beneficial as Intimidate on this variant of Scrafty, as it is too slow to take advantage of Moxie boosts and while Shed Skin heals Scrafty of deliberating status, Intimidate is generally more useful overall, considering that it allows Scrafty to come into physical attackers with more ease. An alternative spread of 32 HP / 252 Atk / 224 Spe allows Scrafty to outspeed and 2HKO Gligar switch-ins with Ice Punch before they can Roost; however, this drastically reduces Scrafty's bulk, lowering its longevity and switch-in opportunities. Head Smash is an option over Ice Punch and Stone Edge, as it allows Scrafty to OHKO Togekiss and physically defensive Zapdos after Stealth Rock, but the heavy recoil is undesirable.</p>
<p>Scrafty really appreciates entry hazard support, given that even with a Choice Band, it sometimes lacks the raw power to muscle past some defensive Pokemon. With Stealth Rock on the opposing side, Scrafty can OHKO SubRoost Zapdos with Stone Edge and guarantee an OHKO on Heracross with Zen Headbutt. With Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, Qwilfish is 2HKOed by Zen Headbutt, and offensive Trick Room Cofagrigus is OHKOed by Crunch. Rhyperior makes for a great partner, being able to set up Stealth Rock and combat Togekiss. Qwilfish is another great partner, being able to lure in Psychic-type attacks, a Fighting resistance for Scrafty, and set up layers of Spikes. Pokemon that appreciate physical walls such as Slowbro, Cofagrigus, and Golurk removed make excellent partners for Scrafty. Several examples are Choice Scarf Mienshao, Heracross, and Darmanitan. In general, any Pokemon that appreciates the elimination of bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types is an excellent partner with Scrafty. Raikou and Zapdos make fantastic partners as well, considering they can easily deal with Togekiss and Tornadus and can also use Volt Switch to bait in their counters, such as Snorlax, Porygon2, and Umbreon, for Scrafty to easily deal with. Lastly, Scrafty loves paralysis support, as it patches up Scrafty's low Speed and keeps it from being revenge killed as easily. Togekiss is an excellent Pokemon for the job, as it has well rounded bulk that allows it to easily spread paralysis around.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 232 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- This variant of Scrafty is capable of attacking hard right off the bat without set up, as well as do major damage to the majority of Scarfty's common counters thanks to the extra coverage.
- Solid bulk and good defensive typing allows Scrafty many switch-in opportunities.
- Use Scrafty to punch holes in the opposing team or weaken bulky defensive Pokemon. It's essentially a tank buster.
- Hi-Jump Kick is Scrafty's most powerful STAB move, and it deals a lot of damage with a Choice Band behind it. Be careful about using it if there are Ghost-types on the opposing team, however.
- Crunch is a more stable STAB that gives near-perfect coverage with Fighting-type STAB.
- The last two slots are variable. Scrafty can run Ice Punch to deal heavy damage to Flying-types (particularly Gligar, though you cannot 2HKO it because it is faster and has Roost) and Roserade, or it can run Stone Edge, which allows for an OHKO on Crobat and both Offensive and SubRoost Zapdos after Stealth Rock.
- Drain Punch goes in the last slot because it allows Scrafty to heal off some damage, which is always useful. It is also a Fighting-type STAB that is less risky than Hi Jump Kick, so it is possible to be somewhat more reckless with it if necessary. Zen Headbutt can be used over Drain Punch if you want coverage against Poison-types as well as opposing Fighting-types (particularly Heracross, which it OHKO's after SR). This is best paired with Stone Edge, as Roserade will be covered by Zen Headbutt.
- Using Choice Band Scrafty to its fullest extent requires a lot of prediction. It's not a set for amateurs. If you aren't confident in your ability to out-predict your opponent, give this set a pass.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- The given EV spread outpaces minimum speed Base 60's while maximizing attack and bulk with what is left, while having 4 special defense EVs to keep Porygon2 and Porygon-Z from getting a Special Attack boost. While neither want to switch into Scrafty, a +1 Porygon-Z can potentially become very threatening.
- Intimidate is the preferred ability, because neither Moxie or Shed Skin are particularly useful on this variant of Scrafty, while Intimidate can come handy when up against physical attackers.
- A spread of 32 Hp / 252 Atk / 224 Spe with an Adamant nature is possible if you want to 2HKO Gligar with Ice Punch, but it drastically reduces Scrafty's bulk and thus cuts down on both its longevity and its switch-in opportunities.
- Head Smash is an option over Ice Punch or Stone Edge. It can OHKO Togekiss outright, and even Physically-defensive Zapdos after SR, but the recoil can severely damage Scrafty.
- Shed Skin can be given consideration given how much Choice Band Scrafty hates status moves, and since it may allow Scrafty to fake a Dragon Dance or Bulk Up set for a turn. However, it is unreliable, and Intimidate is generally more useful.
- Really loves entry hazard support; Qwilfish is an excellent partner for because it resists Fighting-type moves while drawing in Psychic-types, and it has Intimidate as well, making them a good physically-defensive pair. Generally, Qwilfish is better on balanced or bulky teams because of its defensive synergy with Scrafty as well as its bulk.
- Rhyperior also pairs well with Scrafty, making it capable dealing with Togekiss while being able to set up Stealth Rock. This is good, because Stealth Rock really helps Scrafty deal with many of its usual counters (Heracross, Togekiss, and Zapdos, to name a few).
- Pokemon that enjoy the removal of tanks like Slowbro, Golurk, and Cofagrigus make excellent Scrafty partners. Scarf Darmanitan is a prime example; Arcanine, Heracross, and Mienshao are others. In general, most Pokemon that enjoy the removal of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon are good offensive partners to keep in mind when using Choice Band Scrafty.
- Zapdos is good as both an offensive partner and a defensive one, as it resists both Flying- and Fighting-type attacks and greatly enjoys the removal of Snorlax.
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 232 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- This variant of Scrafty is capable of attacking hard right off the bat without set up, as well as do major damage to the majority of Scarfty's common counters thanks to the extra coverage.
- Solid bulk and good defensive typing allows Scrafty many switch-in opportunities.
- Use Scrafty to punch holes in the opposing team or weaken bulky defensive Pokemon. It's essentially a tank buster.
- Hi-Jump Kick is Scrafty's most powerful STAB move, and it deals a lot of damage with a Choice Band behind it. Be careful about using it if there are Ghost-types on the opposing team, however.
- Crunch is a more stable STAB that gives near-perfect coverage with Fighting-type STAB.
- The last two slots are variable. Scrafty can run Ice Punch to deal heavy damage to Flying-types (particularly Gligar, though you cannot 2HKO it because it is faster and has Roost) and Roserade, or it can run Stone Edge, which allows for an OHKO on Crobat and both Offensive and SubRoost Zapdos after Stealth Rock.
- Drain Punch goes in the last slot because it allows Scrafty to heal off some damage, which is always useful. It is also a Fighting-type STAB that is less risky than Hi Jump Kick, so it is possible to be somewhat more reckless with it if necessary. Zen Headbutt can be used over Drain Punch if you want coverage against Poison-types as well as opposing Fighting-types (particularly Heracross, which it OHKO's after SR). This is best paired with Stone Edge, as Roserade will be covered by Zen Headbutt.
- Using Choice Band Scrafty to its fullest extent requires a lot of prediction. It's not a set for amateurs. If you aren't confident in your ability to out-predict your opponent, give this set a pass.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- The given EV spread outpaces minimum speed Base 60's while maximizing attack and bulk with what is left, while having 4 special defense EVs to keep Porygon2 and Porygon-Z from getting a Special Attack boost. While neither want to switch into Scrafty, a +1 Porygon-Z can potentially become very threatening.
- Intimidate is the preferred ability, because neither Moxie or Shed Skin are particularly useful on this variant of Scrafty, while Intimidate can come handy when up against physical attackers.
- A spread of 32 Hp / 252 Atk / 224 Spe with an Adamant nature is possible if you want to 2HKO Gligar with Ice Punch, but it drastically reduces Scrafty's bulk and thus cuts down on both its longevity and its switch-in opportunities.
- Head Smash is an option over Ice Punch or Stone Edge. It can OHKO Togekiss outright, and even Physically-defensive Zapdos after SR, but the recoil can severely damage Scrafty.
- Shed Skin can be given consideration given how much Choice Band Scrafty hates status moves, and since it may allow Scrafty to fake a Dragon Dance or Bulk Up set for a turn. However, it is unreliable, and Intimidate is generally more useful.
- Really loves entry hazard support; Qwilfish is an excellent partner for because it resists Fighting-type moves while drawing in Psychic-types, and it has Intimidate as well, making them a good physically-defensive pair. Generally, Qwilfish is better on balanced or bulky teams because of its defensive synergy with Scrafty as well as its bulk.
- Rhyperior also pairs well with Scrafty, making it capable dealing with Togekiss while being able to set up Stealth Rock. This is good, because Stealth Rock really helps Scrafty deal with many of its usual counters (Heracross, Togekiss, and Zapdos, to name a few).
- Pokemon that enjoy the removal of tanks like Slowbro, Golurk, and Cofagrigus make excellent Scrafty partners. Scarf Darmanitan is a prime example; Arcanine, Heracross, and Mienshao are others. In general, most Pokemon that enjoy the removal of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon are good offensive partners to keep in mind when using Choice Band Scrafty.
- Zapdos is good as both an offensive partner and a defensive one, as it resists both Flying- and Fighting-type attacks and greatly enjoys the removal of Snorlax.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Ice Punch / Stone Edge
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 232 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Scrafty is most commonly seen as a setup sweeper, but it can take a more unconventional route with a Choice Band set. This variant of Scrafty is capable of hitting hard right off the bat and using its solid bulk, decent defensive typing, and Intimidate to good use, which opens up more switch-in opportunities for Scrafty. Another perk that makes this set worthwhile is that it can lure in phazers, such as Blastoise and Swampert, and traditional checks to Scrafty, such as Crobat and Heracross, and damage them heavily. Hi Jump Kick is the main attack used, as it is Scrafty's strongest STAB attack, and with a Choice Band boost, it is capable of 2HKOing defensive Swampert as well as OHKOing standard Kingdra. Crunch is a secondary STAB that hits opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types that brush off Hi Jump Kick such as Cofagrigus and Slowbro, respectively. In the third slot, Scrafty can opt for Ice Punch, hitting Gligar for major damage while also covering other Flying-types. However, Stone Edge is a good alternative that maintains coverage on Flying-types and can nab KOs on offensive Zapdos as well as stallbreaker Crobat. In the last slot, Drain Punch is preferred, as it is a reliable STAB for when Scrafty can't afford to miss and provides a way to recover lost health. Zen Headbutt is another alternative that allows Scrafty to hit Poison-types and Heracross, which resists Scrafty's STABs.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EVs maximize Scrafty's Attack while allowing it to outspeed minimum Speed base 60s, such as Swampert and Porygon2. The rest of the EVs are invested in bulk, with four placed in Special Defense to prevent Porygon2 and Porygon-Z from getting a Special Attack boost from Download. While neither of them want to switch into Scrafty, it is better to not give them that boost so they don't become big threats when Scrafty is locked into an unfavorable move in Porygon2's case, or low on health in Porygon-Z's case. An Adamant nature is needed on this variant of Scrafty, seeing as it gains valuable KOs with the nature, such as against Heracross with Zen Headbutt and Crobat with Stone Edge. Intimidate is the preferred ability because it gives a nice buffer against physical attacks. Neither Moxie nor Shed Skin is as beneficial as Intimidate on this variant of Scrafty, as it is too slow to take advantage of Moxie boosts and while Shed Skin heals Scrafty of deliberating status, Intimidate is generally more useful overall, considering that it allows Scrafty to come into physical attackers with more ease. An alternative spread of 32 HP / 252 Atk / 224 Spe allows Scrafty to outspeed and 2HKO Gligar switch-ins with Ice Punch before they can Roost; however, this drastically reduces Scrafty's bulk, lowering its longevity and switch-in opportunities. Head Smash is an option over Ice Punch and Stone Edge, as it allows Scrafty to OHKO Togekiss and physically defensive Zapdos after Stealth Rock, but the heavy recoil is undesirable.</p>
<p>Scrafty really appreciates entry hazard support, given that even with a Choice Band, it sometimes lacks the raw power to muscle past some defensive Pokemon. With Stealth Rock on the opposing side, Scrafty can OHKO SubRoost Zapdos with Stone Edge and guarantee an OHKO on Heracross with Zen Headbutt. With Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes, Qwilfish is 2HKOed by Zen Headbutt, and offensive Trick Room Cofagrigus is OHKOed by Crunch. Rhyperior makes for a great partner, being able to set up Stealth Rock and combat Togekiss. Qwilfish is another great partner, being able to lure in Psychic-type attacks, a Fighting resistance for Scrafty, and set up layers of Spikes. Pokemon that appreciate physical walls such as Slowbro, Cofagrigus, and Golurk removed make excellent partners for Scrafty. Several examples are Choice Scarf Mienshao, Heracross, and Darmanitan. In general, any Pokemon that appreciates the elimination of bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types is an excellent partner with Scrafty. Raikou and Zapdos make fantastic partners as well, considering they can easily deal with Togekiss and Tornadus and can also use Volt Switch to bait in their counters, such as Snorlax, Porygon2, and Umbreon, for Scrafty to easily deal with. Lastly, Scrafty loves paralysis support, as it patches up Scrafty's low Speed and keeps it from being revenge killed as easily. Togekiss is an excellent Pokemon for the job, as it has well rounded bulk that allows it to easily spread paralysis around.</p>
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