[OVERVIEW]
Normal
========
Swellow has access to a strong STAB attack in Boomburst, which it can freely spam for massive damage even against Ghost-types thanks to its useful ability in Scrappy. Despite Swellow's average Special Attack stat, it's still able to deal great damage with Boomburst. Furthermore, Swellow's impressive Speed stat allows it to outpace a variety of threats such as Keldeo, Latios, and non-Choice Scarf users such as Gengar and Greninja. Swellow's Flying typing allows it to come in on a resisted Bug- or Grass-type attack while also granting it immunity to Ground-type moves. Swellow also has a good coverage move in Heat Wave, which is great for checking Steel-types. Unfortunately, Swellow's lackluster bulk makes it easier to be KOed by priority and revenge killed by Choice Scarf users. Swellow's special movepool is very limited, leaving it with weak coverage options such as Hidden Power. Swellow's Flying typing also comes with a cost in giving it a Stealth Rock weakness, limiting its opportunities to switch in and use U-turn when needed. With average offenses, Swellow requires team support to effectively secure KOs, as it needs foes to be weakened by its teammates and entry hazards to clean effectively. It also faces huge competition from Mega Pidgeot, which fits on Normal teams more easily, is also able to outspeed threats under base 121 Speed, has a better STAB move in Hurricane, and comes with better bulk, making it less prone to being revenge killed.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs Attacker
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Scrappy
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Boomburst serves as Swellow's most powerful STAB attack, which deals enormous damage to threats that don't resist the move. Heat Wave is a decent coverage move that allows Swellow to hit Steel-types such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, which resist Boomburst. Air Slash is a secondary STAB move able to OHKO Keldeo and Tapu Bulu after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn provides Swellow with momentum and allows it to function as a pivot, escaping unfavorable matchups for its teammates to handle them. Hidden Power Ground can be used instead of Air Slash to hit Heatran, which would otherwise wall Swellow.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature bolsters Swellow's Speed, allowing it to outspeed threats such as Latios, Gengar, and Greninja. 252 Special Attack EVs with a Choice Specs boost Swellow's capabilities as a cleaner and ensure it hits as hard as possible when wearing down its checks. Scrappy is necessary for Swellow to hit Ghost-types such as Mega Sableye and Alolan Marowak with a powerful Boomburst. Without Scrappy, Swellow would be forced to switch out once locked into Boomburst.
Usage Tips
========
Swellow should spam Boomburst as much as possible thanks to its very high Base Power when combined with Choice Specs. With Swellow's Speed and powerful STAB move, it becomes a decent late-game cleaner and a wallbreaker. Don't be afraid to use Boomburst even if there's a threat that resists the attack because the move still does decent damage. Due to Swellow's lackluster bulk, it should be brought in after a fainted teammate, on a double switch, or via Volt Switch and U-turn. Swellow can function well as a lead due to its access to U-turn and its impressive Speed stat. Instead of aggressively attacking, it should utilize U-turn as a way to pivot out of threats that it can't break through or into a teammate that best takes on its checks and counters. Don't leave Swellow in on Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T, Greninja, and Victini, as they can all revenge kill it. Swellow should avoid Knock Off users because Choice Specs is the main reason why its attacks are strong. Once its Choice Specs is removed, Swellow will have difficulty cleaning and wallbreaking. Make sure to keep Swellow away from status such as poison and paralysis, as the former shortens its longevity on the field, and the latter ruins its ability to outspeed foes. Swellow should be wary of priority users such as Scizor, Mamoswine, Breloom, and Bisharp, as they can KO it. Swellow relies on entry hazards to secure KOs, so it's best to have them on the field as early as possible so the residual damage can make things easier for Swellow to remove threats from the field.
Team Options
========
Swellow needs entry hazard support in order to apply pressure on the opposing team, so Smeargle is a great partner, setting down Stealth Rock to make it easier to KO other threats and Sticky Web to help Swellow outpace grounded threats, which also allows it to run a Modest nature over Timid. Mega Lopunny is a great partner for Swellow thanks to its ability to break down special walls such as Alolan Muk, Steel-types such as Heatran, and Rock-types such as Tyranitar. Meloetta and Porygon-Z are great options for Swellow. Porygon-Z serves as a special sweeper and helps Swellow check Fighting teams effectively and dismantle offensive teams. Meloetta, especially a Choice Specs variant, is a great wallbreaker to apply pressure alongside Swellow against defensive teams. Meloetta can also assist Swellow in taking on Fighting teams. Heliolisk creates a VoltTurn core with Swellow, as both can pivot in and out to each other while applying pressure when Stealth Rock and Sticky Web are on the field. Heliolisk can also check Flying- and Water-types such as Skarmory and Empoleon. Staraptor makes for a great partner for Swellow, as it can apply pressure on specially defensive walls and help during Fighting matchups that Swellow would have trouble against. Diggersby is another great partner for Swellow, being able to take on Rock- and Steel-types such as Nihilego, Tyranitar, and Heatran. Thanks to its ability Huge Power, Diggersby becomes a nice physical wallbreaker. Ditto is a fantastic partner for Swellow, checking strong setup sweepers such as Dragonite and performing as a great revenge killer to offensive threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Normal
--------
Guts with Flame Orb and Protect to ensure its activation can be used to boost Swellow's Attack and let it deal great damage with Facade and Brave Bird; however, Choice Specs is still more useful, and the burn shortens Swellow's longevity. Also, the Guts set brings Swellow no coverage, and most physical attackers such as Staraptor and Diggersby are better options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Normal
--------
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive walls such as Chansey, Mantine, and Alolan Muk can easily tank Swellow's attacks. Chansey and Mantine can recover off damage from Boomburst, while Alolan Muk can cripple Swellow with Knock Off or deal a lot of damage with Pursuit if it intends on switching out.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types such as Nihilego, Mega Diancie, and Tyranitar can easily shrug off Swellow's attacks and KO it with their STAB attacks.
**Steel-types**: The majority of Steel-types resist both of Swellow's STAB attacks; however, they need to be wary of Heat Wave. Heatran deserves a special mention because its Flash Fire ability grants it immunity to Heat Wave, thus resisting all of Swellow's attacks.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini, Terrakion, and Landorus-T are able to outspeed Swellow and make quick work of it with their super effective attacks.
**Faster Electric- and Ice-types**: Faster threats such as Tapu Koko, Weavile, Alolan Raichu under Electric Terrain, and Alolan Sandslash under hail easily outspeed Swellow and remove it off the field with their super effective attacks.
**Priority**: With Swellow's bad defenses, priority users such as Choice Band Bullet Punch Scizor and Life Orb Ice Shard Mamoswine have no problem getting rid of it.
Normal
========
Swellow has access to a strong STAB attack in Boomburst, which it can freely spam for massive damage even against Ghost-types thanks to its useful ability in Scrappy. Despite Swellow's average Special Attack stat, it's still able to deal great damage with Boomburst. Furthermore, Swellow's impressive Speed stat allows it to outpace a variety of threats such as Keldeo, Latios, and non-Choice Scarf users such as Gengar and Greninja. Swellow's Flying typing allows it to come in on a resisted Bug- or Grass-type attack while also granting it immunity to Ground-type moves. Swellow also has a good coverage move in Heat Wave, which is great for checking Steel-types. Unfortunately, Swellow's lackluster bulk makes it easier to be KOed by priority and revenge killed by Choice Scarf users. Swellow's special movepool is very limited, leaving it with weak coverage options such as Hidden Power. Swellow's Flying typing also comes with a cost in giving it a Stealth Rock weakness, limiting its opportunities to switch in and use U-turn when needed. With average offenses, Swellow requires team support to effectively secure KOs, as it needs foes to be weakened by its teammates and entry hazards to clean effectively. It also faces huge competition from Mega Pidgeot, which fits on Normal teams more easily, is also able to outspeed threats under base 121 Speed, has a better STAB move in Hurricane, and comes with better bulk, making it less prone to being revenge killed.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs Attacker
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Scrappy
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Boomburst serves as Swellow's most powerful STAB attack, which deals enormous damage to threats that don't resist the move. Heat Wave is a decent coverage move that allows Swellow to hit Steel-types such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, which resist Boomburst. Air Slash is a secondary STAB move able to OHKO Keldeo and Tapu Bulu after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn provides Swellow with momentum and allows it to function as a pivot, escaping unfavorable matchups for its teammates to handle them. Hidden Power Ground can be used instead of Air Slash to hit Heatran, which would otherwise wall Swellow.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature bolsters Swellow's Speed, allowing it to outspeed threats such as Latios, Gengar, and Greninja. 252 Special Attack EVs with a Choice Specs boost Swellow's capabilities as a cleaner and ensure it hits as hard as possible when wearing down its checks. Scrappy is necessary for Swellow to hit Ghost-types such as Mega Sableye and Alolan Marowak with a powerful Boomburst. Without Scrappy, Swellow would be forced to switch out once locked into Boomburst.
Usage Tips
========
Swellow should spam Boomburst as much as possible thanks to its very high Base Power when combined with Choice Specs. With Swellow's Speed and powerful STAB move, it becomes a decent late-game cleaner and a wallbreaker. Don't be afraid to use Boomburst even if there's a threat that resists the attack because the move still does decent damage. Due to Swellow's lackluster bulk, it should be brought in after a fainted teammate, on a double switch, or via Volt Switch and U-turn. Swellow can function well as a lead due to its access to U-turn and its impressive Speed stat. Instead of aggressively attacking, it should utilize U-turn as a way to pivot out of threats that it can't break through or into a teammate that best takes on its checks and counters. Don't leave Swellow in on Choice Scarf users such as Landorus-T, Greninja, and Victini, as they can all revenge kill it. Swellow should avoid Knock Off users because Choice Specs is the main reason why its attacks are strong. Once its Choice Specs is removed, Swellow will have difficulty cleaning and wallbreaking. Make sure to keep Swellow away from status such as poison and paralysis, as the former shortens its longevity on the field, and the latter ruins its ability to outspeed foes. Swellow should be wary of priority users such as Scizor, Mamoswine, Breloom, and Bisharp, as they can KO it. Swellow relies on entry hazards to secure KOs, so it's best to have them on the field as early as possible so the residual damage can make things easier for Swellow to remove threats from the field.
Team Options
========
Swellow needs entry hazard support in order to apply pressure on the opposing team, so Smeargle is a great partner, setting down Stealth Rock to make it easier to KO other threats and Sticky Web to help Swellow outpace grounded threats, which also allows it to run a Modest nature over Timid. Mega Lopunny is a great partner for Swellow thanks to its ability to break down special walls such as Alolan Muk, Steel-types such as Heatran, and Rock-types such as Tyranitar. Meloetta and Porygon-Z are great options for Swellow. Porygon-Z serves as a special sweeper and helps Swellow check Fighting teams effectively and dismantle offensive teams. Meloetta, especially a Choice Specs variant, is a great wallbreaker to apply pressure alongside Swellow against defensive teams. Meloetta can also assist Swellow in taking on Fighting teams. Heliolisk creates a VoltTurn core with Swellow, as both can pivot in and out to each other while applying pressure when Stealth Rock and Sticky Web are on the field. Heliolisk can also check Flying- and Water-types such as Skarmory and Empoleon. Staraptor makes for a great partner for Swellow, as it can apply pressure on specially defensive walls and help during Fighting matchups that Swellow would have trouble against. Diggersby is another great partner for Swellow, being able to take on Rock- and Steel-types such as Nihilego, Tyranitar, and Heatran. Thanks to its ability Huge Power, Diggersby becomes a nice physical wallbreaker. Ditto is a fantastic partner for Swellow, checking strong setup sweepers such as Dragonite and performing as a great revenge killer to offensive threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Normal
--------
Guts with Flame Orb and Protect to ensure its activation can be used to boost Swellow's Attack and let it deal great damage with Facade and Brave Bird; however, Choice Specs is still more useful, and the burn shortens Swellow's longevity. Also, the Guts set brings Swellow no coverage, and most physical attackers such as Staraptor and Diggersby are better options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Normal
--------
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive walls such as Chansey, Mantine, and Alolan Muk can easily tank Swellow's attacks. Chansey and Mantine can recover off damage from Boomburst, while Alolan Muk can cripple Swellow with Knock Off or deal a lot of damage with Pursuit if it intends on switching out.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types such as Nihilego, Mega Diancie, and Tyranitar can easily shrug off Swellow's attacks and KO it with their STAB attacks.
**Steel-types**: The majority of Steel-types resist both of Swellow's STAB attacks; however, they need to be wary of Heat Wave. Heatran deserves a special mention because its Flash Fire ability grants it immunity to Heat Wave, thus resisting all of Swellow's attacks.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Victini, Terrakion, and Landorus-T are able to outspeed Swellow and make quick work of it with their super effective attacks.
**Faster Electric- and Ice-types**: Faster threats such as Tapu Koko, Weavile, Alolan Raichu under Electric Terrain, and Alolan Sandslash under hail easily outspeed Swellow and remove it off the field with their super effective attacks.
**Priority**: With Swellow's bad defenses, priority users such as Choice Band Bullet Punch Scizor and Life Orb Ice Shard Mamoswine have no problem getting rid of it.
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