Tomohawk [QC: 1/3]

Status
Not open for further replies.

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
[OVERVIEW]

- Well placed stats, a great movepool, and the ability Prankster make Tomohawk one of the most versatile and potent Pokémon in the metagame.
- Useful typing allows it to check Ground-types like Colossoil and Landorus-T as well as Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Ferrothorn, as well as avoid Spikes and Toxic Spikes.
- Tomohawk is flexible enough in stats and movepool to fit on any team archetype from stall or semi-stall to bulky offensive or hyper offense.
- For stall, balance, and even bulky offensive, it can act as one of the best physical walls in the metagame with Haze and Roost, stalling out many setup sweepers like Zygarde, Kartana, Naviathan, and Mega Gyarados and hard hitting physical attackers like Flame Orb Colossoil.
- For balance, bulky offense, and offensive teams, it can provide staple utility like Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and Healing Wish while boasting great offensive presence between just STAB coverage. Prankster Nature Power even allows Tomohawk not to forfeit too much momentum to offensive teams.
- For Rain teams, Tomohawk can act as the best secondary setter by providing hazard control, Prankster Rain Dance, and Healing Wish
- Tomohawk can also stallbreak efficiently with Prankster Taunt and powerful STAB attacks.

- However, Tomohawk's typing leaves it with bad matchups against top metagame threats like Mega Pinsir, Mega Medicham, Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Magearna.
- While Prankster Nature Power is a huge boon for Tomohawk's wallbreaking sets, its average speed leaves it to be revenge killed by Greninja, Mega Pinsir, Tapu Lele, Syclant, and Tapu Koko.
- Offensive sets are largely reliant on Hurricane and Focus Blast, both of which have 70% accuracy.

[SET]
name: Defensive Support
move 1: Haze
move 2: Roost
move 3: Rapid Spin / Stealth Rock
move 4: Air Slash
item: Rocky Helmet / Coba Berry / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Haze neuters setup sweepers like Dragon Dance Naviathan, Belly Drum Cawmodore, non-Flyinium Swords Dance Landorus-T, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Shell Smash Necturna.
- Roost keeps Tomohawk healthy, walling any setup sweepers that cannot 2HKO it unboosted. Roost removes Tomohawk's weaknesses to Ice- and Electric-type moves, meaning Pokemon like Focus Sash Syclant cannot break it as easily, and it can dodge super effective damage from Volt Switch from Tapu Koko or Krilowatt. Roost also allows Tomohawk to maximize Rocky Helmet damage against Cawmodore and Hawlucha, who can eventually KO with Acrobatics.
- Because this set is so bulky, Tomohawk can remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin many times during a match.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative to Rapid Spin if its teammates don't have access to the move, which provides chip damage for its other teammates. Tomohawk can also use it as a last ditch effort if Tomohawk needs to be sacked, as it has priority.
- Air Slash provides Tomohawk a way to chip down opponents that it walls like Colossoil and Pyroak. While another offensive move like Nature Power or Aura Sphere could be chosen, Air Slash's neutral coverage is hard to pass up.
- Hurricane is an alternative option to Air Slash that lets Tomohawk 2HKO Assault Vest Tapu Bulu, bulky Trace Jumbao, and Arghonaut after Stealth Rock damage. However, its chance to miss, lack of Special Attack EV investment, and Drought Jumbao's sun usually makes Air Slash the more reliable choice.

- Prankster Taunt can be run in conjunction with Haze to prevent set up sweepers from setting up again, or in conjunction with Rapid Spin to prevent hazard setters from setting more down as Tomohawk switches out.
- Running both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock is a viable option if Tomohawk has good revenge killing partners, which do not require Tomohawk's Haze or Taunt.

Set Details
========

- 252 HP EVs and 252 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximize Tomohawk's physical bulk.
- Prankster gives priority to Haze, Roost, and Stealth Rock and is why this set is so effective.
- Rocky Helmet punishes U-turn users, faster contact priority users that try to KO it before it can use Roost, and other physical attackers that it walls. This item allows Tomohawk to use Roost every turn to wear down these attackers and circumvents Tomohawk's lower offensive presence. It notably allows Tomohawk to wear down Cawmodore and Hawlucha after removing their boosts.
- Coba Berry allows Tomohawk to tank a Flying-type attack with ease, which can prevent Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Gyarados, and Salamence from being able to muscle past Tomohawk or KO Mega Pinsir as it uses Aerilate Return or Quick Attack.
- Alternatively, Leftovers can provide additional recovery and ease 2HKOes.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap Tomohawk into set up sweepers that it walls unboosted like Garchomp and Tapu Bulu as they set up or Pokemon it naturally checks like Colossoil, non-Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Mega Crucibelle, Mega Lopunny, or Mega Scizor.
- Use Haze to remove their boosts if an opposing sweeper has boosted. Note that some sweepers that can break through Tomohawk unboosted like Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Shift Gear Magearna, Mega Pinsir, or Volcarona can take out Tomohawk and attempt a sweep later in the match.
- However, if a switch is predicted, switch to an appropriate teammate or use Roost or Air Slash.
- If the opponent has a sweeper with powerful or super effective priority such as Swords Dance Syclant, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, Ash-Greninja, be sure to keep Tomohawk out of KO range or try to take them out before hand, otherwise they'll take out Tomohawk before it can Roost or Haze.
- Tomohawk can bait Supersonic Skystrikes from Gyarados, Landorus-T, and Salamence and swap to a Steel-, Rock-, or Electric-type partner to tank these powerful hits. After this, Tomohawk can effectively wall these Pokemon because they rely on two-turn moves to break Tomohawk, which Tomohawk can stall out with Rocky Helmet.

Team Options
========

- Defensive Tomohawk fits very well on balance teams, as it relieves pressure off of Choice Scarf users to handle set up sweepers. However, Tomohawk still appreciates Pokemon like Choice Scarf Kartana, Choice Scarf Volkraken, Choice Band Zygarde, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele to help hold back set up sweepers too.
- Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Heatran, Magearna, Celesteela, and Jirachi appreciate Tomohawk's ability to check Ground-types like Landorus-T, Colossoil, and Zygarde. In return, they take the Flying-, Ice-, and Fairy-type moves aimed at Tomohawk.
- The aforementioned Steel-types or Electric-types like Zapdos, Krilowatt, and Tapu Koko can stomach Supersonic Skystrike from Landorus-T, Gyarados, and Salamence so that Tomohawk can wall it without giving up Rocky Helmet for Coba Berry.
- Pursuit trappers like Colossoil and Tyranitar can remove Pajantom before Pajantom traps Tomohawk itself.
- Chansey makes for a good partner on balance teams, complementing Tomohawk's defensive bias. However, Psyshock users like Mega Gardevoir and Tapu Lele can usually break through this core, so Pursuit users like Colossoil or the aforementioned Steel-types can help out with this core.
- Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Fidgit, Syclant, and Greninja can set up Spikes, and Mollux, Pajantom, and Toxapex can set up Toxic Spikes to form great hazard stacking cores for balance teams.

[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Aura Sphere / Taunt
move 3: Healing Wish / Memento / Roost
move 4: Stealth Rock / Haze / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Flyinium Z / Focus Sash
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane, especially when boosted by an item, hits very hard due to its great neutral coverage in one move. Air Slash should not be run as a replacement for Hurricane, as Air Slash is very weak.
- Aura Sphere hits a good chunk of Flying-type resists for neutral or super effective damage, including Skarmory, Magnezone, Heatran, and Rotom-W and reliably 2HKOes Ferrothorn. Focus Blast is an option over Aura Sphere, as it OHKOes Rotom-W and 2HKOes Specially Defensive Celesteela when factoring Stealth Rock damage.
- Taunt can be used on lead sets to prevent other leads from setting their own hazards or using Defog against Tomohawk.
- Healing Wish is a key move on this set, as it allows Tomohawk to heal up a weakened teammate. On the other hand, Memento allows one of Tomohawk's partners to set up more easily. Both block Defog and Rapid Spin for a turn and maintain offensive momentum, as they usually move before the opponent and can easily force switches on the turn after.
- However, Roost is an option on bulky offense teams to keep Tomohawk healthy.
- Tomohawk is a great Stealth Rock setter; running this move achieves massive role compression for hyper offensive teams who don't need a Rapid Spin user. Stall teams struggle to keep Stealth Rock off the field with Life Orb-boosted Hurricane threatening Mega Sableye.
- Haze allows Tomohawk to act as an emergency check to set-up sweepers like Quiver Dance Aurumoth, Shift Gear Magearna, and Shell Smash Necturna.
- Though, Rapid Spin is a good option as well. Alongside Roost, Tomohawk achieves a balance of offensive pressure and utility for bulky offensive teams.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature maximizes Tomohawk's Speed, allowing it to outspeed Modest Choice Specs Volkraken, Modest Choice Specs Tapu Lele, neutral-nature Aurumoth, and Adamant Landorus-T.
- 252 Special Attack EVs maximize Tomohawk's offensive presence. A Modest nature can be used for extra power but outspeeding the aforementioned wallbreakers is fairly important.
- Life Orb boosts the power of Hurricane and Aura Sphere, which allows Tomohawk to pressure switch-ins very hard. 29 HP IVs should be run with Life Orb, as it minimizes recoil damage.
- Flyinium Z, if the Z-Crystal is available, can be used to avoid recoil damage from Rapid Spin and have a strong Supersonic Skystrike.
- Focus Sash allows Tomohawk to act not only as a safe lead for Stealth Rock and Memento sets but also ensures that Tomohawk can live to get Stealth Rock up on turn 1 and use Memento later on in the match.
- Leftovers can be used with Roost sets if the passive recovery is appreciated.
- Prankster gives priority to Tomohawk's status moves, which is important to the success of this set.

Usage Tips
========

- Tomohawk's mix of power and utility can make guessing the set really difficult. Using a damaging move in conjunction with Life Orb or Flyinium Z can bluff a more offensive set, which can make a subsequent utility move more surprising. On the other hand, Leftovers can bluff a more defensive set, only for Hurricane to hit harder than Air Slash from a defensive set.
- Healing Wish or Memento should be used primarily if Tomohawk is about to faint and no teammate can switch in or if a weakened sweeper can set up again after being healed. Note that in a pinch Healing Wish can be used so that the opponent whiffs a Z-Move, Rapid Spin, or Defog.
- Tomohawk appreciates switching in with VoltTurn cores and or on double switches, as it can surprise the opponent with a powerful Hurricane. If it takes more damage than a defensive set, the surprise factor is largely lost.
- Hazard control should be taken care of early on in the match if possible.
- If running Haze, remember that Tomohawk can be KOed on the switch-in by a boosted threat, so a teammate might have to be sacked to get Tomohawk in safely.

Team Options
========

- This Pokemon acts as glue for a wide range of balance and offensive teams, depending on which utility moves are picked.
- Tomohawk likes to switch in off of a VoltTurn core. Good partners on VoltTurn cores include Krilowatt, Cyclohm, Mega Scizor, and Mega Crucibelle.
- If moves like Healing Wish and Stealth Rock are picked, sweepers like Magearna, Mega Crucibelle, Ash-Greninja, Syclant, and Zygarde appreciate Tomohawk's ease of setting up Stealth Rock and Healing Wish support to give them another chance at sweeping.
- If moves like Rapid Spin and Roost are chosen, bulkier teammates like Pyroak and hazard-weak wallbreakers or sweepers like Mega Pinsir or Volcarona appreciate Tomohawk's hazard removal while still retaining offensive presence.
- Pajantom can trap, spinblock, and remove Tomohawk, so Pursuit trappers like Colossoil and Tyranitar are good partners.
- This set works very well on Sticky Web teams, as Pokemon like Volkraken and Kyurem-B appreciate Healing Wish support, while Tomohawk appreciates having opposing Pokemon slowed down to hit with a powerful Hurricane or STAB Fighting-type move.

[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
move 3: Nature Power
move 4: Healing Wish / Roost
item: Life Orb / Flyinium Z / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Timid / Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane hits most of the metagame neutrally on its own and hits extremely hard; although it comes with bad accuracy. Air Slash should not be used to remedy this issue, however, as the drop in power is too great for it to be worth running.
- Focus Blast covers many of the targets that Hurricane does not. It OHKOes Rotom-W and Cyclohm after some prior damage and 2HKOes Celesteela and 3HKOs Assault Vest Magearna.
- Aura Sphere is weaker than Focus Blast, which means it can't break open specially bulky Steel-types as easily, but it's a more reliable STAB move if you don't want two very inaccurate STAB moves.
- Nature Power, in conjunction with Tomohawk's high powered STAB moves, can place immense pressure on offensive teams since it's granted priority by Prankster. Life Orb Hurricane on the switch-in followed up by Nature Power can 2HKO Latios and Choice Scarf Volkraken. Electric Terrain is particularly helpful for it, as it becomes priority Thunderbolt, which can revenge kill Hawlucha in the Electric Terrain it usually sets up in. It also OHKOs Tornadus-T, which would otherwise OHKO first with Hurricane.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk retain offensive momentum after it fires off powerful attacks, bringing in a teammate fully healed, and prevents the opponent's Rapid Spin or Defog.
- Roost is otherwise a solid option to keep Tomohawk healthy with its solid natural bulk, but it's hard to use on anything but forced switches, turns when Tomohawk usually uses Hurricane better.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature lets Tomohawk outspeed other key wallbreakers that opt for a damage-boosting nature such as Volkraken and Zygarde, as well as bulkier Jumbao variants and Heatran. A Modest nature could be used for more power behind Nature Power, but the speed is generally more important for Tomohawk's STAB moves.
- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible with a boosting item.
- Life Orb usually the best, as it boosts the power of all of Tomohawk's moves while letting it switch moves as necessary. 29 HP IVs should be run in this case. However, Flyinium Z gives Tomohawk a guaranteed hit with a strong Supersonic Skystrike. Finally, Normalium Z is a good option if a 160 Base Power priority Breakneck Blitz is desired. As it changes type with terrain, it can even OHKO Celesteela and Toxapex with prior damage under Electric Terrain. These two Z Crystals don't boost Tomohawk's Fighting-type STAB move like Life Orb does, so Focus Blast is usually the move of choice with a Z-Crystal to make up for the lost power.
- Prankster is an important ability so Nature Power, Healing Wish, and Roost all have priority.

Usage Tips
========

- If running on a balance or bulky offense team, bluff playing like a defensive Tomohawk, switching it into boosting wallbreakers like Swords Dance Landorus-T on the switch. Either they don't switch and get annihilated by Hurricane, or the switch-in gets put into kill range with Nature Power.
- Focus Blast or Aura Sphere should be used early-game to wear down specially defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna, as well as other Flying-type resists such as Cyclohm and Heatran to make spamming Hurricane much easier.
- Nature Power should be used when Tomohawk can pick off a faster threat. However, watch out when the opponent has Flame Orb Colossoil, Hoopa-U, or Greninja, as they can get a free switch-in to Tomohawk and can hit hard with their respective moves. Similarly, remember to avoid trying to finish Dark-types with Nature Power, as it is a wasted move.
- Healing Wish should be used either when Tomohawk cannot do much to the opposing team or if a weakened teammate needs to have a free switch-in; whereas Roost should be used carefully, usually on forced switches.

Team Options
========

- This Tomohawk set can find its way onto balance and offensive teams alike.
- Offensive Tomohawk appreciates Pursuit support to remove faster Psychic-types and Ghost-types that might stomach a Nature Power like Mega Latios and Pajantom. Colossoil and Tyranitar fills the role well. Tomohawk takes on the Fighting-types and Grass-types that threaten both of these Pokemon, and can wear down the Steel-types that given Tyranitar some trouble. A Steel-type like Magearna or Celesteela can cover the Fairy-type weakness that this core creates.
- Tapu Koko lures in Grass-types for Tomohawk to destroy while Tomohawk draws in Flying-types. In addition, Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain changes Nature Power to Thunderbolt, which can pressure some of Tomohawk's usual checks like Specially Defensive Celesteela, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Tornadus-T.
- Sweepers that appreciate bulky Steel-types and bulky Grass-types weakened or KOed appreciate Tomohawk's wallbreaking prowess. Examples include Shift Gear Magearna, Ash-Greninja, Krilowatt, and Mega Crucibelle.
- Tomohawk can be run with Flying-type wallbreakers and sweepers like Mega Pinsir, Hawlucha, or Salamence to wear down each other's checks, allowing one or the other to sweep.
- Tomohawk appreciates Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Mega Crucibelle, Spikes support from Ferrothorn, Syclant, or Greninja, or Toxic Spikes support from Fidgit or Toxapex. These hazards allow Tomohawk to net KOes easier and knock foes into Nature Power range sooner.
- Tapu Lele makes for a good teammate since alongside Tomohawk conventional specially defensive tanks get overwhelmed. However, Tomohawk's Nature Power gets shut down most of the time while Psychic Terrain is up.

[SET]
name: Rain Setter
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Stealth Rock / Nature Power
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Damp Rock / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Rain Dance lets Tomohawk set up rain very effectively, as the opponent can KO Tomohawk after it set up rain, granting a teammate's switch initiative.
- Hurricane has 100% accuracy in Rain and hits Grass-types for its fellow Swift Swim-abusing partners.
- Stealth Rock provides valuable chip damage and has priority with Prankster. Running Stealth Rock allows Mega Swampert, one of Tomohawk's very common teammates, to run another coverage move.
- Otherwise, Nature Power has priority from Prankster, which is useful for picking off weakened threats.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk scout one of the opponent's moves, revive a rain abuser or other teammate, and blocks opposing Defoggers and Spinners from removing Stealth Rock.
- Focus Blast or Aura Sphere can be used to pressure Ferrothorn, a common Rain check. However, Hurricane can usually work well enough so Tomohawk does not have to use up the moveslot.

Set Details
========

- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as it can.
- 252 Speed EVs and Timid Nature gets the jump on Pokemon that can't tank a Hurricane easily, such as Jumbao, Modest Choice Specs Volkraken, and Choice Band Zygarde.
- A Modest Nature can be used for extra power, as Hurricane is the only move on the set not affected by Prankster.
- Damp Rock lets Tomohawk set up Rain for 8 turns, which gives Pelipper the freedom to run Choice Specs instead. Alternatively, Normalium Z gives Tomohawk a 160 Base Power Breakneck Blitz to surprise an opponent.

Usage Tips
========

- Tomohawk should switch in when Rain turns are running out so that it can set up Rain again midgame.
- It can switch in against Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde or Tapu Bulu, which can give Rain teams trouble if Rain isn't active.
- While Tomohawk can act as a lead Rain setter, Tomohawk's utility is maximized when it is used as a secondary setter: after Pelipper's Rain has expired and one of the rain abusers has been heavily damaged, paralyzed, or badly poisoned, Tomohawk can set up Rain again and fully heal the weakened abuser.
- Each move Tomohawk uses extremely important on fast-paced Rain teams, so think ahead. How many turns is Tomohawk going to get on the field? Is the opponent going to switch, attack but not KO Tomohawk, or KO Tomohawk on this turn? These are important questions to ask because Tomohawk's second-to-last and last turns are best used when it sets up Rain Dance and then uses Healing Wish on the next turn.
- Hurricane is spammable if Rain is up and Tomohawk has free turns. However, Tomohawk should not waste these turns if one of its teammates can switch in instead.
- If a fast offensive threat picks off one of Tomohawk's teammates, Tomohawk can use Nature Power to revenge kill.
- However, be mindful when using Nature Power. Dark-types are immune to it, so Tomohawk can give Flame Orb Colossoil or Greninja-Ash a free switch-in and force Tomohawk out or force Tomohawk to use Rain Dance and potentially miss out on using Healing Wish.

Team Options
========

- Pelipper is a mandatory teammate, as this Tomohawk set appears only on dedicated rain teams. Though they stack weaknesses, together they can keep rain up throughout the match and can help remove Grass-types for their Swift Swim abusing partners.
- Speaking of these partners, Mega Swampert and Kingdra are excellent teammates, hitting hard under Rain with doubled Speed. In return, Tomohawk can provide valuable chip damage with Stealth Rock, pick off a faster foe when Rain isn't up with Nature Power, or give them a second chance at tearing through teams with Healing Wish.
- Ash-Greninja and Volkraken very much appreciate the rain that Tomohawk sets up. Not only does it help Ash-Greninja nab a KO better pre-transformation, it makes Ash-Greninja's Choice Specs Hydro Pump nearly unwallable, and Choice Specs Volkraken's Hydro Pump can almost 2HKO a Chansey switch-in with the help of Analytic.
- Ferrothorn and Tomohawk cover each other's weaknesses pretty well. Ferrothron can use Knock Off to remove damage boosting items, which could let Tomohawk live for an extra turn, or set up Spikes, which makes it easier for Tomohawk to pick up KOes with Nature Power. In return, Tomohawk removes opposing Grass-types that absorb Leech Seed and sets up Rain to weaken Ferrothorn's Fire-type weakness. While not as useful for rain teams as Ferrothorn, other Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Trace Jumbao appreciate Tomohawk's rain.
- Tapu Koko lures in Ground-types and can use Volt Switch to give Tomohawk a free switch-in. Additionally, it lets Tomohawk have access to priority Thunderbolt while Electric Terrain is active, which is useful for removing opposing Water-types for Kingdra, Mega Swampert, or Ash-Greninja.
- Hawlucha, even though it shares the same typing as Tomohawk, appreciates Tomohawk's ability to preserve offensive momentum, which makes breaking the opposing team easier and Hawlucha's job as a cleaner easier. Be sure to pair Hawlucha with Tapu Koko, though.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Few Pokemon found commonly on stall and balance teams can stand up to Life Orb-boosted Hurricane. For example, it 2HKOs Mega Sableye, Toxapex, and Clefable, Arghonaut, and it OHKOes Pyroak and Landorus-T after Stealth Rock.
- Focus Blast can 2HKO Chansey and OHKOes Skarmory, two common members of stall teams that would shrug off a Hurricane. It also 2HKOs Celesteela and dents Assault Vest Magearna. Aura Sphere doesn't achieve the power that Focus Blast has, so even though it hits more often, it doesn't do what this Tomohawk wants to do.
- Taunt prevents Chansey from using Softboiled and Toxapex from using Recover, shuts down opposing Defoggers, stops Celesteela from using Leech Seed + Protect, and prevents Tomohawk from being hit by Toxic, which would otherwise wear it down too fast.
- Roost allows Tomohawk to shrug off Chansey's Seismic Toss, heal off hazard damage and other weak attacks such as Celesteela's Heavy Slam, and burn damage from Toxapex's Scald and Pyroak's Lava Plume.

Set Details
========

- Modest is necessary to guarantee the damage rolls necessary to effectively break through stall teams and maximizes the damage dealt against balance teams.
- Maximum Special Attack and Speed EV investment lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible while also outspeeding slower offensive threats like Tapu Bulu and SubCoil Zygarde.
- Life Orb is mandatory to exert full offensive pressure on the opposing team. 29 HP IVs should be run to minimize recoil damage.
- Prankster allows Tomohawk to use priority Taunt and Roost.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap in Tomohawk into weak attacks except for Knock Off. Losing Life Orb ruins Tomohawk's offensive potential. Because of this, Tomohawk should be careful against Mega Sableye, Toxapex, and Arghonaut.
- Taunt should be used against Chansey, Celesteela, or other attackers that do not use Knock Off.
- When facing Chansey, count Taunt turns carefully. Don't get worn down to the point where you have to use Roost to live the next Seismic Toss or Taunt to prevent a Softboiled.
- If Tomohawk isn't directly threatened by Toxic or Knock Off, spam Hurricane or Focus Blast for neutral damage.
- If the opponent has Kitsunoh or Zapdos, two Pokemon that force Tomohawk out, switch to a teammate that can effectively deal with these two. If they are low on health, a well-placed Taunt on the switch-in or on the first turn out can prevent them from using Wish or Roost.

Team Options
========

- Pokemon that can beat Zapdos and Kitsunoh appreciate how they are commonly forced in by Tomohawk. Colossoil fits excellently here, and in return it can remove fast Psychic-types and specially defensive Mollux for Tomohawk.
- Pursuit trappers like Colossoil and Tyranitar are great teammates for this Tomohawk set because it has little counterplay for Psychic-types, Zapdos, and Pajantom. Tomohawk wears down their checks for them in return.
- Tapu Lele makes for a great teammate since it can overload specially defensive checks alongside Tomohawk, but its Psychic Terrain prevents Taunt from working a lot of the time.
- Other wallbreakers like Choice Specs Volkraken, Guts Naviathan, and Guts Colossoil appreciate how Tomohawk can disable opposing walls' recovery.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

- Toxic can be used to wear down its common switch-ins like Tapu Koko and Tyranitar, but its aforementioned utility options are usually better.
- Substitute + Haze, Substitute + Taunt, or Substitute + Toxic can be run, as using Substitute on the switch can mess up an incoming Pokemon's strategy. At least 212 HP EVs should be run so not to be broken by Chansey's Seismic Toss. Substitute is also a great work-around for tanking Z-Moves that would otherwise KO Tomohawk.
- Yawn puts pressure on Tomohawk's checks as they switch in, but Tomohawk generally has better moves to use.
- Darkinium Z + Memento can give a weakened sweeper a really great chance to set up, but it's generally not worth the Z-Crystal.
- Intimidate allows Tomohawk to tank more physical hits, but generally, this would be an option for more offensive sets that don't need Prankster Roost or utility moves. Additionally, using Intimidate prevents Tomohawk from using priority Nature Power.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types generally have good Special Defense, which allows them to tank Air Slashes, with the exception of Mega Medicham and Aurumoth. Tapu Lele, Mega Latios, Aurumoth, and Mega Medicham all threaten Tomohawk with their respective Psychic-type STABs, but some have trouble tackling Hurricane + Nature Power or more than one Hurricane.

**Steel-types**: Magearna, Celesteela, Skarmory, Mega Mawile, and Jirachi resist Hurricane + Nature Power, allowing them to wall any set that doesn't run Focus Blast or Aura Sphere. Specially Defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna can tank two Life Orb-boosted Focus Blasts, but they get worn down fast. They wall the defensive set with ease as well.

**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, Magnezone, Krilowatt, and Plasmanta resist Air Slash and Hurricane and can threaten Tomohawk with their STAB moves. However, Magnezone and Krilowatt must watch out for Focus Blast.

**Z-Move Abusers**: Landorus-T, Salamence, Gyarados, and Cawmodore can nuke Tomohawk with Supersonic Skystrike, usually OHKOing defensive sets unboosted. Pokemon like Firium Z or Psychium Z Volcarona, Icium Z Kyurem-B, and Electrium Z Shift Gear Magearna, which would normally waste PP breaking through Tomohawk's Roost stall, can use their Z moves to break past it faster.

**Fairy-types**: Clefable can tank Air Slash fine but has trouble against an offensive set's Hurricane. Jumbao's sun can make Hurricane really inaccurate, but Jumbao doesn't like tanking Flying-type STAB hits. However, both threaten Tomohawk out with Moonblast.

**Toxic**: Tomohawk's high bulk can be compromised when badly poisoned. Be careful to switch into a potential Choice Band Zygarde or Pajantom, which commonly run Toxic.

**Other Faster Pokemon**: Greninja, Tornadus-T, and Syclant, can outspeed Tomohawk can threaten it out with powerful, super effective moves. However, they must watch out with Nature Power on offensive sets. Volkraken's natural bulk lets it switch into Air Slash 3 times, but it falls to Hurricane + Nature Power.

**Faster Priority**: Ash-Greninja, Mega Pinsir, and Syclant can use priority before Tomohawk can and pick off a weakened Tomohawk, but they have a hard time switching into Tomohawk's Flying-type STAB.

**Chansey**: Chansey walls Tomohawk, but Focus Blast can 2HKO a weakened Chansey, and Taunt, Toxic, or Substitute variants can catch it off guard.

**Rock-types**: Because Rock-types resist the combination of Hurricane and Nature Power, and sometimes Tomohawk forgoes a Fighting-type STAB in favor of utility moves, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Crucibelle-Mega, Stratagem, and Aerodactyl-Mega can be effective switch-ins if needed. However, Tyranitar can't break through defensive Tomohawk's Roost stall, Mega Crucibelle has to rely on Gunk Shot's poison chance to force Tomohawk to use Roost over and over, and the latter two have a harder time switching into offensive Tomohawk more than once.
 
Last edited:

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
This feels like the Gen 6 Aurumoth analysis all over again...

Questions, comments, and concerns from anyone welcome! Of course QC comments from the great checkers HeaL and cbro are welcome too :)
 

LucarioOfLegends

Master Procraster
is a CAP Contributor
Not QC (obviously), so take my comments as you would like.

First off, I propose that Icium Z Kyurem-B be added to the list of Z-move related C&C, as Subzero Slammer can OHKO Tomohawk outright. This tactic fails if Tomohawk uses Roost before hand, but Electrium Z Magearna faces this same problem as well, so it would seem fair to include Kyurem-B to this list as well.
252+ Atk Teravolt Kyurem-Black Subzero Slammer (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tomohawk: 678-798 (163.7 - 192.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO with Z-Freeze Shock
4 SpA Teravolt Kyurem-Black Subzero Slammer (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tomohawk: 528-624 (127.5 - 150.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO with Z-Ice Beam


snake_rattler said:
- Tomohawk appreciates switching in with VoltTurn cores and or on double switches, as it can surprise the opponent with a powerful Hurricane or Nature Power. If it takes more damage than a defensive set, the surprise factor is largely lost. Good partners on VoltTurn cores include Krilowatt, Cyclohm, Mega Scizor, and Mega Crucibelle.
The bolded seems more fitting for the Team Options section instead of Usage tips. The rest of the tip works because it highlights a strategy that Tomohawk can utlize well against its foes and the pros and cons of it. The bolded gives examples of what Pokemon help Tomohawk execute this strategy, but this kinda of information should instead be in Team Options. Tomohawk likes VoltTurn anyways, so it would be worth it to make a section about it as well.

snake_rattler said:
- Outside of breaking stall teams, this Tomohawk hits most of the metagame for neutral damage, achieving 2HKOs against most of the metagame.
Should be moved to Usage Tips, as it has nothing mentioning any of the moves and more focuses on Tomohawk's role for that set. Usage Tips is a far better home for that information to be provided.

snake_rattler said:
Mega Charizard Y can cook Tomohawk with Flamethrower, tank Air Slash pretty well, ruin Hurricane's accuracy, and mess with Rain on Rain teams.
Changed the bolded to Fire STAB in general, as MegaZord Y can obliterate Tomohawk with both Fire type attacks it carries.

Everything else looks solid. :D
 

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
Not QC (obviously), so take my comments as you would like.

First off, I propose that Icium Z Kyurem-B be added to the list of Z-move related C&C, as Subzero Slammer can OHKO Tomohawk outright. This tactic fails if Tomohawk uses Roost before hand, but Electrium Z Magearna faces this same problem as well, so it would seem fair to include Kyurem-B to this list as well.
252+ Atk Teravolt Kyurem-Black Subzero Slammer (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tomohawk: 678-798 (163.7 - 192.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO with Z-Freeze Shock
4 SpA Teravolt Kyurem-Black Subzero Slammer (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tomohawk: 528-624 (127.5 - 150.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO with Z-Ice Beam



The bolded seems more fitting for the Team Options section instead of Usage tips. The rest of the tip works because it highlights a strategy that Tomohawk can utlize well against its foes and the pros and cons of it. The bolded gives examples of what Pokemon help Tomohawk execute this strategy, but this kinda of information should instead be in Team Options. Tomohawk likes VoltTurn anyways, so it would be worth it to make a section about it as well.


Should be moved to Usage Tips, as it has nothing mentioning any of the moves and more focuses on Tomohawk's role for that set. Usage Tips is a far better home for that information to be provided.


Changed the bolded to Fire STAB in general, as MegaZord Y can obliterate Tomohawk with both Fire type attacks it carries.

Everything else looks solid. :D
Note to self, don't finish analyses at 2 in the morning again ;;

I like all the changes, I'll implement them when I get to a computer

EDIT: whew finally fixed, ty Luc
 
Last edited:

HeaLnDeaL

Let's Keep Fighting
is an Artistis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a CAP Contributor Alumnus
Comments in bold or something.

[OVERVIEW]

- Tomohawk's well placed stats, great movepool, and ability Prankster make it a top notch Pokémon in the metagame.
- Depending on what set Tomohawk runs, it can act as an almost impenetrable physical wall with Haze and Roost don't oversell? "one of the best physical walls" sounds a bit better than almost impenetrable, provide offensive teams with staple utility options and role compression, boasts great offensive presence between just STAB coverage and Prankster Nature Power, and can stallbreak efficiently, meaning Tomohawk can fit on almost any team. Additionally, Rain teams appreciate its prescense to set up Rain before the opponent can attack most of the time.
- Flying typing comes with a few benefits: Tomohawk's bulk cannot be compromised by Spikes and Toxic Spies, and it can check Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp.

- However, Tomohawk carries some very common weaknesses to Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-type moves.
- Additionally, while Tomohawk doesn't have bad speed, its wallbreaking sets can be forced out when it's too slow to use Hurricane but isn't powerful enough to KO the faster threat with priority Nature Power.
- Sometimes it can be difficult to fit every move Tomohawk wants to run on a set.
- With the metagame somewhat geared around beating defensive Tomohawk, it can have some trouble doing it's job sometimes. idk this sounds a bit weird, like you're trying to say "hey tomohawk can be countered so it's not all bad"

[SET]
name: Defensive Support
move 1: Haze
move 2: Roost
move 3: Rapid Spin / Stealth Rock
move 4: Air Slash / Hurricane - the extra power is def worth the slash
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Haze makes this set extremely effective, as Tomohawk's bulk limits many unboosted attacks to 3HKOes. In addition, 48 PP means it can check setup throughout an entire match.
- In conjunction with Prankster Roost, Tomohawk can neuter any setup sweepers that cannot 2HKO it unboosted. It also removes Tomohawk's weaknesses to Ice- and Electric- moves, meaning Pokemon like Kyurem-B can be stalled out.
- Rapid Spin allows Tomohawk to remove entry hazards, which is useful because it's immune to Toxic Spikes, which would neuter this set's effectiveness.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative to Rapid Spin if its teammates don't have access to the move, which provides chip damage for its other teammates. Tomohawk can also use it as a last ditch effort if Tomohawk needs to be sacked, as it has priority.
- Air Slash provides Tomohawk a way to chip down opponents that it walls like Colossoil and Pyroak. While another offensive move like Nature Power or Aura Sphere could be chosen, Air Slash's neutral coverage is hard to pass up.

-Prankster Taunt can outpace all Taunt users and set-up sweepers, but this prevents Tomohawk from walling sweepers after they've set up. Additionally, most set up sweepers don't set up against Tomohawk.
-Hurricane is an option if Tomohawk wants to have a little more offensive presence, but its generally weak without investment or a boosting item.

Set Details
========

- 252 HP EVs and 252 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximizes Tomohawk's physical bulk.
- Prankster gives priority to Haze, Roost, and Stealth Rock and is why this set is so effective.
- Rocky Helmet punishes U-turn users, faster contact priority users that try to KO it before it can use Roost, and other physical attackers that it walls, which is important because this set lacks good offensive presence. Alternatively, Leftovers can provide additional recovery and ease 2HKOes.
- Tomohawk can run 140 Speed EVs to outspeed SubCoil Zygarde. Because Air Slash 2HKOes Zygarde's Substitutes, the extra Speed can pressure the Zygarde user out. However, this does cut into some of Tomohawk's bulk.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap Tomohawk into set up sweepers that it walls unboosted like Garchomp and Tapu Bulu as they set up or Pokemon it naturally checks like Colossoil, non-Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Mega Crucibelle, Mega Lopunny, or Mega Scizor.
- Use Haze to remove their boosts if an opposing sweeper has boosted. Note that some sweepers that can break through Tomohawk unboosted like Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Cawmodore, Shift Gear Magearna, Pinsir Mega, or Volcarona can take out Tomohawk and attempt a sweep later in the match.
- However, if a switch is predicted, switch to an appropriate teammate or use Roost or Air Slash.
- Roost should be used to keep Tomohawk healthy.
- If the opponent has a sweeper with powerful or super effective priority such as Swords Dance Syclant, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, Ash-Greninja, be sure to keep Tomohawk out of KO range or try to take them out before hand, otherwise they'll take out Tomohawk before it can Roost or Haze.
- If Landorus-T is swapped into Tomohawk, switching to a Steel-type partner is usually a safe play, as it could use Supersonic Skystrike to nuke Tomohawk. After this Z-Move has been used, Tomohawk can effectively wall Landorus-T. I disagree with this insofar as the landog user could just be playing the tomo user. something like celesteela is safe since it resists ground, but most steels don't resist and it's risky... it's an OPTION to follow your advice as listed, but not the only option :s

Team Options
========

- Most balance teams can just slap this thing on and not even care because it's just that good.
- Steel-types like Assault Vest Magearna, Celesteela, and Jirachi appreciate Tomohawk's ability to check Ground-types like Landorus-T, Colossoil, and Zygarde. In return, they take the Flying- and Fairy-type moves aimed at Tomohawk.
- Chansey makes for a good partner on balance teams, complementing Tomohawk's defensive bias. However, Psyshock users like Mega Gardevoir and Tapu Lele can usually break through this core, so Pursuit users like Colossoil or the aforementioned Steel-types can help out with this core.

[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Nature Power / Aura Sphere
move 3: Healing Wish / Roost
move 4: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin / Haze
item: Life Orb / Sky Plate / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane, especially when boosted by an item, hits very hard due to its great neutral coverage in one move. It should be noted that Air Slash should not be run as a replacement for Hurricane, as Air Slash is very weak.
- Prankster Nature Power, in conjunction with Hurricane, pressures faster switch-ins hard with priority Tri Attack. While Tomohawk will not receive terrain-boosted Nature Power due to Tomohawk's Flying typing, terrains will affect what move Nature Power calls. Most notable is Electric Terrain's Thunderbolt, which hits certain Flying-type checks like Celesteela, Tornadus-T, or +1 Gyarados.
- Aura Sphere is an alternative to Nature Power, as it hits a good chunk of Flying-type resists for neutral or super effective damage, including Skarmory, offensive Celesteela, Magnezone, Mawile-Mega, Cyclohm, offensive Magearna, Heatran, and Rotom-W. It also guarantees the 2HKO on Ferrothorn. Focus Blast is an option over Aura Sphere, but the general reliability of Aura Sphere makes it the better option, especially on supporting set.
- Prankster Healing Wish is a key move on this set, as it allows Tomohawk to revive a weakened teammate while usually moving before the opponent. This retains offensive momentum and can easily force out the opposing Pokemon, making this an excellent option on offensive teams.
- However, Roost is an option on slightly bulkier teams since priority healing is very good.
- Tomohawk is a great Stealth Rock setter; running this move achieves massive role compression for hyper offensive teams who don't need a Rapid Spin user.
- Though, Rapid Spin is a good option as well. Alongside Roost, Tomohawk achieves a balance of offensive pressure and utility for bulky offensive teams.
- If hazard control isn't desired, Haze can erase a stat boosts from a set-up sweeper.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature maximizes Tomohawk's Speed, allowing it to outspeed Modest (not all specs kraken are modest) Choice Specs Volkraken, Choice Specs Tapu Lele, neutral-nature Aurumoth, and Adamant Landorus-T.
- 252 Special Attack EVs maximize Tomohawk's offensive presence. A Modest nature can be used for extra power but outspeeding those wallbreakers is fairly important.
- Item choice is very key on this set. Life Orb should definitely be used alongside Stealth Rock or Healing Wish to hit as hard as possible. However, Sky Plate is an alternative to Life Orb if running Rapid Spin + Roost: taking Life Orb recoil using Rapid Spin isn't worth the extra damage because it chips Tomohawk down, forcing it to use Roost prematurely. Normalium Z should be run with Nature Power, as it gives Tomohawk access to a 160 Base Power Breakneck Blitz under normal conditions. It also turns Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, and Moonblast into their respective Z moves, which are all 175 Base Power.
- 29 HP IVs should be run with Life Orb only, as it minimizes recoil damage.
- Prankster gives priority to Tomohawk's status moves, which is important to the success of this set.

Usage Tips
========

- Healing Wish should be used primarily if Tomohawk is about to faint and no teammate can switch in or if a weakened sweeper can set up again after being healed. Note that in a pinch Healing Wish can be used so that the opponent whiffs a Z-Move, Rapid Spin, or Defog.
- Tomohawk appreciates switching in with VoltTurn cores and or on double switches, as it can surprise the opponent with a powerful Hurricane or Nature Power. If it takes more damage than a defensive set, the surprise factor is largely lost.
- Hurricane should be used to dent a switch-in, followed up with Nature Power to finish it off.
- Hazard control should be taken care of early on in the match if possible.
- If running Haze, remember that Tomohawk can be KOed on the switch-in by a boosted threat, so a teammate might have to be sacked to get Tomohawk in safely.

Team Options
========

- This Pokemon acts as glue for a wide range of balance and offensive teams, depending on which utility moves are picked.
- Tomohawk likes to switch in off of a VoltTurn core. Good partners on VoltTurn cores include Krilowatt, Cyclohm, Mega Scizor, and Mega Crucibelle.
- If moves like Healing Wish and Stealth Rock are picked, sweepers like Magearna, Mega Crucibelle, Ash-Greninja, Syclant, and Zygarde appreciate Tomohawk's ease of setting up Stealth Rock and Healing Wish support to give them another chance at sweeping.
- If moves like Rapid Spin and Roost are chosen, bulkier teammates like Pyroak, Mollux, or Tapu Fini and hazard-weak wallbreakers or sweepers like Mega Pinsir or Volcarona appreciate Tomohawk's hazard removal while still retaining offensive presence.
- This set works very well on Sticky Web teams, as Pokemon like Volkraken and Kyurem-B appreciate Healing Wish support, while Tomohawk appreciates having opposing Pokemon slowed down to hit with a powerful Hurricane or STAB Fighting-type move. If Necturna is your Sticky Web setter, run Stealth Rock for extra chip damage, but if Smeargle is run, Rapid Spin or Haze are better choices, as Smeargle can set up Stealth Rock.

[SET]This seems eerinly similar to the above set but idk... may or may not be different enough
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
move 3: Nature Power
move 4: Healing Wish / Roost
item: Life Orb / Normalium Z / Flyinium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Timid / Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane hits most of the metagame neutrally on its own and hits extremely hard; although it comes with bad accuracy. Air Slash should not be used to remedy this issue, however, as the drop in power is too great for it to be worth running.
- Focus Blast covers many of the targets that Hurricane does not. For example, it 2HKOes Specially Defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna after some prior damage.
- Aura Sphere is weaker than Focus Blast, but it's a reliable STAB move
- Nature Power, in conjunction with Tomohawk's high powered STAB moves, can place immense pressure on offensive teams since it's granted priority by Prankster.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk retain offensive momentum after it fires off powerful attacks, bringing in a teammate fully healed.
- Roost is a solid option to keep Tomohawk healthy with its solid natural bulk, but it's hard to use on anything but forced switches, which is when Tomohawk should be using Hurricane.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature lets Tomohawk outspeed other key wallbreakers that opt for a damage-boosting nature such as Volkraken, Tapu Lele, Tail Glow Aurumoth, and Heatran.
- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible, though a Modest nature is preferred if running Taunt.
- Prankster is an important ability so Healing Wish, Roost, Nature Power, and Taunt all have priority.
- Life Orb is this set's best item, as it boosts the power of all of Tomohawk's moves while letting it switch moves as necessary. 29 HP IVs should be run in this case. However, Normalium Z is a good option if a 160 Base Power priority Breakneck Blitz is desired. Finally, Flyinium Z gives Tomohawk a guaranteed hit with a strong Flying-type move, which minimizes Hurricanes missed. These two Z Crystals weaken the power of Tomohawk's Fighting-type STAB move, so Focus Blast should usually move of choice.

Usage Tips
========

- If running on a more defensive team, bluff playing like a defensive Tomohawk, switching it into boosted wallbreakersDo you mean switching into things like these on the turn they are boosting? cuz rn it seems like you're saying after they've boosted like SD Tapu Bulu and SD Landorus-T. Either they don't switch and get annihilated by Hurricane, or the switch-in gets put into kill range with Nature Power.
- Focus Blast or Aura Sphere should be used early-game to wear down specially defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna, as well as other Flying-type resists such as Cyclohm and Heatran to make spamming Hurricane much easier.
- Nature Power should be used when Tomohawk can pick off a faster threat. However, watch out when the opponent has Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom, as they can get a free switch-in to Tomohawk can can hit hard with their respective moves. Similarly, remember to avoid trying to finish Dark-types with Nature Power, as it is a wasted move.
- Healing Wish should be used either when Tomohawk cannot do much to the opposing team or if a weakened teammate needs to have a free switch-in; whereas Roost should be used carefully, usually on forced switches.
- Taunt can be used to make Tomohawk an effective counterlead. When the opponent knows nothing of Tomohawk's set, Taunt can prevent hazard setters like Fidgit or Ferrothorn from setting up Spikes.

Team Options
========

- This Tomohawk set can find its way onto balance and offensive teams alike.
- Offensive Tomohawk appreciates Pursuit support to remove faster Psychic-types and Ghost-types that might stomach a Nature Power. Colossoil and Tyranitar fills the role well: Tomohawk takes on the Fighting-types and Grass-types that threaten both of these Pokemon, and can wear down the Steel-types that given Tyranitar some trouble. A Steel-type like Magearna or Celesteela can cover the Fairy-type weakness that this core creates.
- Tapu Koko lures in Grass-types for Tomohawk to destroy while Tomohawk draws in Flying-types. In addition, Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain changes Nature Power to Thunderbolt, which can pressure some of Tomohawk's usual checks. like wut?
- Sweepers that appreciate bulky Steel-types and bulky Grass-types weakened or KOed appreciate Tomohawk's wallbreaking prowess. Examples include Shift Gear Magearna, Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Ash-Greninja, Krilowatt, and Mega Crucibelle.
- Tomohawk can be run with Mega Pinsir or Salamence to wear down each other's checks, allowing one or the other to sweep.
- Tomohawk appreciates Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Mega Crucibelle, Spikes support from Ferrothorn, Syclant, or Greninja, or Toxic Spikes support from Fidgit or Toxapex. These hazards allow Tomohawk to net KOes easier and knock foes into Nature Power range sooner.
- Tapu Lele makes for a good teammate since alongside Tomohawk conventional specially defensive tanks get overwhelmed. However, Tomohawk's Nature Power gets shut down most of the time while Psychic Terrain is up.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Flyinium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Few Pokemon found commonly on stall teams can stand up to Hurricane. It 2HKOes Mega Sableye, Toxapex, and Clefable, and it OHKOes Arghonaut. Despite Air Slash's flinch chance, it is not an effective option to stallbreak with due to its low Base Power.
- Focus Blast hits can 2HKOes Chansey and OHKOes Skarmory with Life Orb, but if Flyinium Z is run, these match ups are reduced to a 3HKO and a 2HKO, respectively..
- Aura Sphere is a weaker but more accurate alternative for Life Orb sets.
- Taunt prevents the opposing stall team from healing or using Toxic. It notably makes Dugtrio useless against Tomohawk, as it cannot stall it out with Toxic and Substitute or hit it with Earthquake.
- Roost allows Tomohawk to win the Chansey match up and heal off weak hits and potential burn damage.

Set Details
========

- Modest is necessary to guarantee the damage rolls necessary to effectively break through stall teams.
- Maximum Special Attack and Speed EV investment lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible while also outspeeding slower offensive threats like Tapu Bulu and SubCoil Zygarde. However, since Tomohawk naturally outspeeds most Pokemon found on stall teams, it can move Speed EVs into HP for extra bulk. 144 EVs is the lowest amount of Speed EVs Tomohawk should run, as it outspeeds speed invested AV Colossoil.
- Life Orb is generally the better item to run to reliably 2HKO Pokemon on stall teams. 29 HP IVs should be run to minimize recoil damage.
- Flyinium Z is an alternative option that gives very specific benefits. First, it eases Tomohawk's switch opportunities against Knock Off users and notably makes Mega Sableye basically useless against Tomohawk. Second, it enables Tomohawk to 2HKO one threat more reliably, as it means you have to hit only one Hurricane. Third, it doesn't deal annoying chip damage like Life Orb does. However, the lack of Life Orb means that it takes more turns of hitting Focus Blast to KO Chansey and Skarmory. Additinoally, Tomohawk cannot reliably remove Clefable and Mega Sableye by itself without Life Orb boosted Hurricane, as they require the combination Hurricane and Supersonic Skystrike to 2HKO. Mega Sableye can stall out against Hurricane by itself, while Clefable will severly damage, if not KO, Tomohawk as it uses Taunt. It should be noted that Aura Sphere is not a very good option to run with Flyinium Z, as the power forfeited by not running both Life Orb and Focus Blast is too great.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap in Tomohawk against weak attacks aside from Knock Off or against switch-ins. If running Life Orb, avoid swapping into Knock Off from Mega Sableye, as that will ruin Tomohawk's effectiveness as a stallbreaker.
- Taunt should be used against Toxapex, Chansey, Kitsunoh, Arhognaut, Dugtrio, or Pokémon on stall teams that don't directly threaten Tomohawk.
- When facing Chansey, count Taunt turns. Don't get worn down to the point where you have to use Roost to live the next Seismic Toss or Taunt to prevent a Softboiled.
- If Tomohawk isn't directly threatened by Toxic or Knock Off, spam Hurricane or Focus Blast for neutral damage.
- Flyinium Z sets have an easy time against Mega Sableye. However, Supersonic Skystrike has to be well placed for it to be effective: if it doesn't KO Mega Sableye or Clefable after a Hurricane, Tomohawk becomes deadweight against these two. Watch out for Protect as well.
- If the opponent has Kitsunoh or Zapdos, two Pokemon that force Tomohawk out, switch to a teammate that can effectively deal with these two.
- Outside of breaking stall teams, this Tomohawk hits most of the metagame for neutral damage, achieving 2HKOs against most of the metagame.

Team Options
========

- Pokemon that can beat Zapdos and Kitsunoh appreciate how they are commonly forced in by Tomohawk. Colossoil fits excellently here, and in return it can remove fast Psychic-types and specially defensive Mollux for Tomohawk.
- Pursuit trappers like Colossoil and Tyranitar are great teammates for this Tomohawk set because it has no counterplay for Psychic-types. Tomohawk wears down their checks for them in return.
- Tapu Lele makes for a great teammate since it can overload specially defensive checks alongside Tomohawk, but its Psychic Terrain prevents Taunt from working a lot of the time.
-Any mons that appreciate the taunt that you can mention? idk

[SET]
name: Rain Setter
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Nature Power / Stealth Rock
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Damp Rock / Life Orb / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Rain Dance lets Tomohawk set up rain very effectively, as the opponent can KO Tomohawk after it set up rain, granting a teammate's switch initiative.
- Hurricane has 100% accuracy in Rain and hits Grass-types for its fellow Swift Swim-abusing partners.
- Nature Power has priority from Prankster, which is useful for picking off weakened threats in case Tomohawk's teammates cannot outspeed.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative if the team needs the chip damage.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk scout one of the opponent's moves, revive a rain abuser or other teammate, and gives switch initiative.
- Roost is an alternative if Tomohawk needs to be kept healthy, though on such fast paced teams Healing Wish is generally preferred.
- A Fighting-type STAB move like Focus Blast or Aura Sphere would be helpful so not to let Cyclohm and other rain checks in so easily, though such a move is hard to fit onto the set.

Set Details
========

- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as it can.
- 252 Speed EVs and Timid Nature gets the jump on wallbreakers that can't tank a Hurricane easily.
- A Modest Nature can be used for extra power, as Hurricane is the only move on the set not affected by Prankster.
- 36 Special Defense EVs can be run to live Mega Charizard Y's Flamethrower from full health. This allows Tomohawk to switch in directly from Mega Swampert or Kingdra and set up rain again in case Pelipper has already fainted.
- Damp Rock lets Tomohawk set up Rain for 8 turns, which gives Pelipper the freedom to run Choice Specs instead. However, if Damp Rock Pelipper is desired, running a different item on Tomohawk is generally better. Life Orb is a good item to run with Tomohawk's impressive damage output. 29 HP IVs should be run if this item is chosen. Alternatively, Normalium Z gives Tomohawk a 160 Base Power Breakneck Blitz to throw out.

Usage Tips
========

- Tomohawk should switch in when Rain turns are running out so that it can set up Rain again midgame.
- It can switch in against Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde or Tapu Bulu, which can give Rain teams trouble if Rain isn't active.
- While Tomohawk can act as a lead Rain setter, Tomohawk's utility is maximized when it is used as a secondary setter: after Pelipper's Rain has expired and one of the rain abusers has been heavily damaged, paralyzed, or badly poisoned, Tomohawk can set up Rain again and fully heal the weakened abuser.
- Each move Tomohawk uses extremely important on fast-paced Rain teams, so think ahead. How many turns is Tomohawk going to get on the field? Is the opponent going to switch, attack but not KO Tomohawk or KO Tomohawk on this turn? These are important questions to ask because Tomohawk's second-to-last and last turns are best used when it sets up Rain Dance and then uses Healing Wish on the next turn.
- Hurricane is spammable if Rain is up and Tomohawk has free turns. However, Tomohawk should not waste these turns if one of its teammates can switch in instead.
- If a fast offensive threat picks off one of Tomohawk's teammates, Tomohawk can switch in and use Nature Power to revenge kill.
- However, be mindful when using Nature Power. Dark-types are immune to it, so Tomohawk can give Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom a free switch-in and force Tomohawk out or force Tomohawk to use Rain Dance and potentially miss out on using Healing Wish.

Team Options
========

- Pelipper or in rare alternative cases Politoed?is a mandatory teammate, as this Tomohawk set appears only on dedicated Rain teams. Though they stack weaknesses, together they can keep rain up throughout the match and can help remove Grass-types for their Swift Swim abusing partners.
- Speaking of these partners, Mega Swampert and Kingdra are excellent teammates, hitting hard under Rain with doubled Speed. In return, Tomohawk can provide valuable chip damage with Stealth Rock, pick off a faster foe when Rain isn't up with Nature Power, or give them a second chance at tearing through teams with Healing Wish.
- Ash-Greninja very much appreciates the Rain that Tomohawk sets up. Not only does it help Ash-Greninja nab a KO better pre-transformation, it makes Ash-Greninja's Choice Specs Hydro Pump nearly unwallable.
- Ferrothorn and Tomohawk cover each other's weaknesses pretty well. Ferrothron can use Knock Off to remove damage boosting items, which could let Tomohawk live for an extra turn, or set up Spikes, which makes it easier for Tomohawk to pick up KOes with Nature Power.
- Finally, Tapu Koko lures in Ground-types and can use U-turn to give Tomohawk a free switch-in. Additionally, it lets Tomohawk have access to priority Thunderbolt while Electric Terrain is active, which is useful for removing opposing Water-types for Kingdra, Mega Swampert, or Ash-Greninja.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

- Memento acts similarly to Healing Wish in that it helps to scout out an opponent's move and gives Tomohawk's teammates switch initiative, while allowing a teammate to set up against a weakened opponent. In addition, with Darkinium Z equipped, Memento also mimics Healing Wish's healing effect, but that takes up your Z Crystal, and it doesn't address status inflictions.
- Substitute + Haze, Substitute + Taunt, or Substitute + Toxic can be run, as using Substitute on the switch can mess up the incoming Pokemon's strategy. At least 200 HP EVs should be run so not to be broken by Chansey's substitute. Substitue is a great work-around for tanking Z-Moves that would otherwise KO Tomohawk.
- Choice Specs could be run to hit as hard as Tomohawk can, but in general it's extremely valuable to be able to hit a switch-in with Hurricane and follow up with priority Nature Power.
- Whirlwind allows Tomohawk to scout for switch-ins and rack up hazard damage, but Prankster Haze or Prankster Taunt generally does a better job at checking set up sweepers, and Whirlwind still has -5 priority after Prankster.
- Yawn puts pressure on Tomohawk's checks as they switch in, but Tomohawk generally has better moves to use.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types generally have good Special Defense, which allows them to tank Air Slashes, with the exception of Mega Medicham and Aurumoth. Tapu Lele, Mega Gardevoir, Alakazam, Aurumoth, Mega Medicham, and Hoopa-U all threaten Tomohawk with their respective Psychic-type STABs, but some have trouble tackling Hurricane + Nature Power or more than one Hurricane.

**Steel-types**: Magearna, Celesteela, Skarmory, Mega Mawile, and Jirachi resist Hurricane + Nature Power, allowing them to wall any set that doesn't run Focus Blast or Aura Sphere. They wall the defensive set with ease as well. some mage and cele can tank focus blast too?

**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, Magnezone, Rotom-W, and Plasmanta resist Air Slash and Hurricane and can threaten Tomohawk with their STAB moves. However, Magnezone and Rotom-W must watch out for Focus Blast.

**Z-Move Abusers**: Landorus-T, Salamence, Gyarados, and Cawmodore can nuke Tomohawk with Supersonic Skystrike, usually OHKOing defensive sets unboosted. Pokemon like Firium Z or Psychium Z Volcarona, Icium Z Kyurem-Black, and Electrium Z Shift Gear Magearna, which would normally waste PP breaking through Tomohawk's Roost stall, can use their Z moves to break past it faster.

**Fairy-types**: Clefable and Tapu Fini can tank Air Slash fine, but have trouble against Hurricane. Both threaten Tomohawk with Moonblast.

**Other Faster Pokemon**: Greninja, Tornadus-T, and Syclant, can outspeed Tomohawk can threaten it out with powerful, super effective moves. However, they must watch out with Nature Power on offensive sets. Mega Charizard Y can cook Tomohawk with its Fire-type STAB, tank Air Slash pretty well, ruin Hurricane's accuracy, and mess with Rain on Rain teams.

**Faster Priority**: Ash-Greninja, Mega Pinsir, and Syclant can use priority before Tomohawk can and pick off a weakened Tomohawk.

**Other Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey and Mollux can tank Tomohawk's moves pretty well, though Taunt variants give them trouble. Volkraken's natural bulk lets it switch into Air Slash 3 times, but it falls to Hurricane + Nature Power.

**Toxic**: Tomohawk's high bulk can be compromised when badly poisoned. Avoid staying in on users such as Choice Band Zygarde and Cyclohm.

**Rock-types**: Because Rock-types resist the combination of Hurricane and Nature Power, and sometimes Tomohawk forgoes a Fighting-type STAB in favor of utility moves, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Crucibelle-Mega, Stratagem, and Aerodactyl-Mega can be effective switch-ins if needed. However, the former two have trouble against any Tomohawk running Roost Honestly mega cruci doesn't have that much of problem with roost since gunk shot usually can psn, and the latter two have a harder time switching into Tomohawk more than once.
As expected, for the most part it looks good. Still early so I'll give you comments and suggestions but I don't want to give QC quite yet.
 

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
Thx HeaL, comments are great. Just wanted to elaborate on a couple though. I see the point with the ZFly thing and switching to a Steel-type. It's a risky play that can work out pretty well, but I'll be sure to make it sound like an option.

With regards to the wallbreaker vs offensive support, I actually started this analysis with 3 sets: defensive, offensive, and rain setter. However, the offensive one had soooo many slashes and was so complicated to explain that eventually I realized that sometimes with I teambuild HO I end up going with SR / HW + 2 attacks a lot, so I separated those out, and then after that I separated the wallbreaker and stallbreaker sets out. They're all very similar in terms of moves, but how they play / what role they play are different imo. Consider offensive support a compromise between half wallbreaker and a half support mon, and then the wallbreaking set being a full on wallbreaking set that doesn't have that flex utility slot. Since Tomohawk is a pretty complicated Pokemon, I wanted to have as straightforward sets as I could make.

I should have your comments implemented shortly :)
 

cbrevan

spin, spin, spin
is a CAP Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnus
[OVERVIEW]

- Tomohawk's well placed stats, great movepool, and ability Prankster make it a top notch Pokémon in the metagame. Might as well just come out and say "it's pretty much tied with best fucking mon". Doesn't matter in the end tho so your choice.
- Depending on what set Tomohawk runs, it can act as one of the best physical walls in the metagame with Haze and Roost, provide offensive teams with staple utility options and role compression, boasts great offensive presence between just STAB coverage and Prankster Nature Power, and can stallbreak efficiently, meaning Tomohawk can fit on almost any team. Additionally, Rain teams appreciate its prescense to set up Rain before the opponent can attack most of the time. Maybe summing this up as like, all in all it's flexible enough to see usage on every team archetype from Stall to Hyper Offense, since i feel like that's part of what you're trying to convey w/ this point.
- Flying typing comes with a few benefits: Tomohawk's bulk cannot be compromised by Spikes and Toxic Spies, and it can check Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp. I don't think you need to really point out it's a flying type, these points still stand even without saying to the reader "This flying fighting type can switch into ground types because it's part flying".

- However, Tomohawk carries some very common weaknesses to Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-type moves. Okay cool, but I can see that by looking at it's typing. Tell me why this is particularly negative for it in the metagame (Pinsir-Mega, Tapue Lele, Medicham-Mega, Magearna, etc.) Also throw in a mention of Tapu Koko (it's not nearly weak enough to get stalled out by Roost, so there's no reason to act like Tomohawk doesn't have an Electric weakness. Even better, just scrap this whole point and replace it with something like "Weakness to common attacking types leaves it with bad matchups against some top metagame threats, X, Y, Z."
- Additionally, while Tomohawk doesn't have bad speed, its wallbreaking sets can be forced out when it's too slow to use Hurricane but isn't powerful enough to KO the faster threat with priority Nature Power. We're talking about a wallbreaking set right? It's purpose is to break walls not revenge kill offense, so I don't see why you need to act like it's some big downside that it's not able to do that. In fact, I'd say access to Nature Power is a huge plus for offensive hawk since it's able to retain it's wallbreaking abilities without being dead weight against offense like other breakers (hoopa, herra, manaphy, etc.). Maybe just say that overall it's average speed leaves it prone to being revenge killed by faster threats such as X, Y, Z, but it still functions as a powerful wallbreaker despite it nature power blah blah blah you get the ghist.
- Sometimes it can be difficult to fit every move Tomohawk wants to run on a set. Make sure you don't oversell this point- claiming tomohawk has 4mss is a bit of a simplified truth because it's realistically able to run whatever your team needs it to. Teams that have troubles because tomo can't run haze roost rocks spin slash taunt w/e else you need it to fail because the builder fucked up, not because tomohawk doesn't have 10 moveslots.

[SET]
name: Defensive Support
move 1: Haze
move 2: Roost
move 3: Rapid Spin / Stealth Rock
move 4: Air Slash / Hurricane
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Haze makes this set extremely effective, as Tomohawk's bulk limits many unboosted attacks to 3HKOes. In addition, 48 PP means it can check setup throughout an entire match. The 48 pp part is a bit overkill imo, the only matchups where you'll ever reach that limit is against stall, which run like, Cm clef at most really as a wincon? Also, be a cool dude and mention some notable setup mons it checks handily.
- In conjunction with Prankster Roost, Tomohawk can neuter any setup sweepers that cannot 2HKO it unboosted. It also removes Tomohawk's weaknesses to Ice- and Electric- moves, meaning Pokemon like Kyurem-B can be stalled out. I think the kyub mention is out of place. Icium Z sets do way too much damage w/ sub zero to claim it can be stalled out (you need to be roosting into above 90% health to have a favorable roll to win, and even after that if they run Outrage it's a clear 2hko- you end up relying on confusion hax for that matchup. Lo sets are just as bad since outrage does enough to ko tomo after 3-4 hits, and if they're specially biased ice beam will do over half even w/ a roost up. In a perfect situation you can stall out a subzero and get lucky with them not running outrage, but i don't think thats a likely enogh situatuon to include in an analysis. Something like, using prankster roost to dodge the super effective damage from mons like sash clant or volt switch from mega man/koko is more apt.
- Rapid Spin allows Tomohawk to remove entry hazards, which is useful because it's immune to Toxic Spikes, which would neuter this set's effectiveness.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative to Rapid Spin if its teammates don't have access to the move, which provides chip damage for its other teammates. Tomohawk can also use it as a last ditch effort if Tomohawk needs to be sacked, as it has priority.
- Air Slash provides Tomohawk a way to chip down opponents that it walls like Colossoil and Pyroak. While another offensive move like Nature Power or Aura Sphere could be chosen, Air Slash's neutral coverage is hard to pass up.
- Hurricane is an alternative option to Air Slash that lets Tomohawk KO opposing Pokemon faster, but its chance to miss and lack of Special Attack investment usually makes Air Slash, a more reliable move, the better choice. I'm interested in seeing what benchmarks hurricane hits that air slash doesn't.

-Prankster Taunt can outpace all Taunt users and set-up sweepers, but this prevents Tomohawk from walling sweepers after they've set up. Additionally, most set up sweepers don't set up against Tomohawk. Not everny hawk needs to run haze and hazards, so don't write it like it does. Taunt and Haze is a fine combination if you have other mons running hazard control, similiarly running both spin and rocks is a viable option to completely role compress hazard control in one slot if you're running a reliable revenge killer core such as keldeo + cb zyg, etc.
-Hurricane is an option if Tomohawk wants to have a little more offensive presence, but its generally weak without investment or a boosting item. wasn't this already talked about

Set Details
========

- 252 HP EVs and 252 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximizes Tomohawk's physical bulk.
- Prankster gives priority to Haze, Roost, and Stealth Rock and is why this set is so effective.
- Rocky Helmet punishes U-turn users, faster contact priority users that try to KO it before it can use Roost, and other physical attackers that it walls, which is important because this set lacks good offensive presence. Alternatively, Leftovers can provide additional recovery and ease 2HKOes.
- Tomohawk can run 140 Speed EVs to outspeed SubCoil Zygarde. Because Air Slash 2HKOes Zygarde's Substitutes, the extra Speed can pressure the Zygarde user out. However, this does cut into some of Tomohawk's bulk.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap Tomohawk into set up sweepers that it walls unboosted like Garchomp and Tapu Bulu as they set up or Pokemon it naturally checks like Colossoil, non-Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Mega Crucibelle, Mega Lopunny, or Mega Scizor.
- Use Haze to remove their boosts if an opposing sweeper has boosted. Note that some sweepers that can break through Tomohawk unboosted like Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Cawmodore, Shift Gear Magearna, Pinsir Mega, or Volcarona can take out Tomohawk and attempt a sweep later in the match. Cawmodore is an interesting case- you can reliable switch tomo into it with the sole exception of z sets, which haven't taken off yet in the metagame iirc. it also beats tomo 1v1 w/ acro but it needs to boost and have been hazed before that. idk if it's really a good mention right here.
- However, if a switch is predicted, switch to an appropriate teammate or use Roost or Air Slash. or set rocks/spin
- Roost should be used to keep Tomohawk healthy. honestly do you need to put this in usage tips? it's more apt to just jam this into the move description because like, what else am i going to do with roost?
- If the opponent has a sweeper with powerful or super effective priority such as Swords Dance Syclant, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, Ash-Greninja, be sure to keep Tomohawk out of KO range or try to take them out before hand, otherwise they'll take out Tomohawk before it can Roost or Haze.
- If Landorus-T is swapped into Tomohawk, switching to a Steel-type partner can be a safe play, as it could use Supersonic Skystrike to nuke Tomohawk. After this Z-Move has been used, Tomohawk can effectively wall Landorus-T. However, note that it's equally likely that Landorus-T can EQ the Steel-type switch-in. If Tomohawk is more valuable than the Steel-type, then switching is usually the better play. Just talk about baiting the z moves from mence/gyara/lando etc- it doesn't need to be celesteela to be a fine play. Rotom-w/even a ballsy tapu koko switch can work if you need to keep tomo alive, since all of those mons rely on two turn moves to attack tomo, which means they eventually lose to helmet.

Team Options
========

- Most balance teams can just slap this thing on and not even care because it's just that good. This is a really sloppy point and you better expand on it in some way. Don't brush it under the rug with "Tomo is good lol".
- Steel-types like Assault Vest Magearna, Celesteela, and Jirachi appreciate Tomohawk's ability to check Ground-types like Landorus-T, Colossoil, and Zygarde. In return, they take the Flying- and Fairy-type moves aimed at Tomohawk.
- Chansey makes for a good partner on balance teams, complementing Tomohawk's defensive bias. However, Psyshock users like Mega Gardevoir and Tapu Lele can usually break through this core, so Pursuit users like Colossoil or the aforementioned Steel-types can help out with this core.
mention some hazard control cores, and other synergistic teammates like tran/mollux/ferro

[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Nature Power / Aura Sphere
move 3: Healing Wish / Roost
move 4: Stealth Rock / Rapid Spin / Haze
item: Life Orb / Sky Plate / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane, especially when boosted by an item, hits very hard due to its great neutral coverage in one move. It should be noted that Air Slash should not be run as a replacement for Hurricane, as Air Slash is very weak.
- Prankster Nature Power, in conjunction with Hurricane, pressures faster switch-ins hard with priority Tri Attack. While Tomohawk will not receive terrain-boosted Nature Power due to Tomohawk's Flying typing, terrains will affect what move Nature Power calls. Most notable is Electric Terrain's Thunderbolt, which hits certain Flying-type checks like Celesteela, Tornadus-T, or +1 Gyarados. it also does some cool af shit like allow a 2hko on latios w/ hurricane, there's a couple other ones like thundy too but its your choice if you want to include it.
- Aura Sphere is an alternative to Nature Power, as it hits a good chunk of Flying-type resists for neutral or super effective damage, including Skarmory, offensive Celesteela, Magnezone, Mawile-Mega, Cyclohm, offensive Magearna, Heatran, and Rotom-W. It also guarantees the 2HKO on Ferrothorn. Focus Blast is an option over Aura Sphere, but the general reliability of Aura Sphere makes it the better option, especially on supporting set. Don't undersell focus blast- the 20 bp difference is the difference between ohkoing rotom-w w/ rocks, 2hkoing steela cleanly w/ rocks, etc.
- Prankster Healing Wish is a key move on this set, as it allows Tomohawk to revive a weakened teammate while usually moving before the opponent. This retains offensive momentum and can easily force out the opposing Pokemon, making this an excellent option on offensive teams.
- However, Roost is an option on slightly bulkier teams since priority healing is very good.
- Tomohawk is a great Stealth Rock setter; running this move achieves massive role compression for hyper offensive teams who don't need a Rapid Spin user. for both rocks/spin, you can mention how they help capitalize on the switches lo hurricanes cause
- Though, Rapid Spin is a good option as well. Alongside Roost, Tomohawk achieves a balance of offensive pressure and utility for bulky offensive teams.
- If hazard control isn't desired, Haze can erase a stat boosts from a set-up sweeper.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature maximizes Tomohawk's Speed, allowing it to outspeed Modest Choice Specs Volkraken, Modest Choice Specs Tapu Lele, neutral-nature Aurumoth, and Adamant Landorus-T.
- 252 Special Attack EVs maximize Tomohawk's offensive presence. A Modest nature can be used for extra power but outspeeding those wallbreakers is fairly important. Those wallbreakers? Which ones?
- Item choice is very key on this set. Life Orb should definitely be used alongside Stealth Rock or Healing Wish to hit as hard as possible. However, Sky Plate is an alternative to Life Orb if running Rapid Spin + Roost: taking Life Orb recoil using Rapid Spin isn't worth the extra damage because it chips Tomohawk down, forcing it to use Roost prematurely. Normalium Z should be run with Nature Power, as it gives Tomohawk access to a 160 Base Power Breakneck Blitz under normal conditions. It also turns Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, and Moonblast into their respective Z moves, which are all 175 Base Power.
- 29 HP IVs should be run with Life Orb only, as it minimizes recoil damage.
- Prankster gives priority to Tomohawk's status moves, which is important to the success of this set.

Usage Tips
========

- Healing Wish should be used primarily if Tomohawk is about to faint and no teammate can switch in or if a weakened sweeper can set up again after being healed. Note that in a pinch Healing Wish can be used so that the opponent whiffs a Z-Move, Rapid Spin, or Defog.
- Tomohawk appreciates switching in with VoltTurn cores and or on double switches, as it can surprise the opponent with a powerful Hurricane or Nature Power. If it takes more damage than a defensive set, the surprise factor is largely lost.
- Hurricane should be used to dent a switch-in, followed up with Nature Power to finish it off.
- Hazard control should be taken care of early on in the match if possible.
- If running Haze, remember that Tomohawk can be KOed on the switch-in by a boosted threat, so a teammate might have to be sacked to get Tomohawk in safely.

Team Options
========

- This Pokemon acts as glue for a wide range of balance and offensive teams, depending on which utility moves are picked.
- Tomohawk likes to switch in off of a VoltTurn core. Good partners on VoltTurn cores include Krilowatt, Cyclohm, Mega Scizor, and Mega Crucibelle.
- If moves like Healing Wish and Stealth Rock are picked, sweepers like Magearna, Mega Crucibelle, Ash-Greninja, Syclant, and Zygarde appreciate Tomohawk's ease of setting up Stealth Rock and Healing Wish support to give them another chance at sweeping.
- If moves like Rapid Spin and Roost are chosen, bulkier teammates like Pyroak, Mollux, or Tapu Fini and hazard-weak wallbreakers or sweepers like Mega Pinsir or Volcarona appreciate Tomohawk's hazard removal while still retaining offensive presence.
- This set works very well on Sticky Web teams, as Pokemon like Volkraken and Kyurem-B appreciate Healing Wish support, while Tomohawk appreciates having opposing Pokemon slowed down to hit with a powerful Hurricane or STAB Fighting-type move. If Necturna is your Sticky Web setter, run Stealth Rock for extra chip damage, but if Smeargle is run, Rapid Spin or Haze are better choices, as Smeargle can set up Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
move 3: Nature Power
move 4: Healing Wish / Roost
item: Life Orb / Normalium Z / Flyinium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Timid / Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane hits most of the metagame neutrally on its own and hits extremely hard; although it comes with bad accuracy. Air Slash should not be used to remedy this issue, however, as the drop in power is too great for it to be worth running.
- Focus Blast covers many of the targets that Hurricane does not. For example, it 2HKOes Specially Defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna after some prior damage.
- Aura Sphere is weaker than Focus Blast, but it's a reliable STAB move
- Nature Power, in conjunction with Tomohawk's high powered STAB moves, can place immense pressure on offensive teams since it's granted priority by Prankster.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk retain offensive momentum after it fires off powerful attacks, bringing in a teammate fully healed.
- Roost is a solid option to keep Tomohawk healthy with its solid natural bulk, but it's hard to use on anything but forced switches, which is when Tomohawk should be using Hurricane.
I feel like the moves descriptions could be more fleshed out to be on par with the offensive utility set, but i'm sure you'll rmemdy that in the write up.
Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature lets Tomohawk outspeed other key wallbreakers that opt for a damage-boosting nature such as Volkraken, Tapu Lele, Tail Glow Aurumoth, and Heatran.
- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible, though a Modest nature is preferred if running Taunt.
- Prankster is an important ability so Healing Wish, Roost, Nature Power, and Taunt all have priority.
- Life Orb is this set's best item, as it boosts the power of all of Tomohawk's moves while letting it switch moves as necessary. 29 HP IVs should be run in this case. However, Normalium Z is a good option if a 160 Base Power priority Breakneck Blitz is desired. Finally, Flyinium Z gives Tomohawk a guaranteed hit with a strong Flying-type move, which minimizes Hurricanes missed. These two Z Crystals weaken the power of Tomohawk's Fighting-type STAB move, so Focus Blast should usually move of choice.

Usage Tips
========

- If running on a more defensive team, bluff playing like a defensive Tomohawk, switching it into boosting wallbreakers like SD Tapu Bulu and SD Landorus-T on the switch. Either they don't switch and get annihilated by Hurricane, or the switch-in gets put into kill range with Nature Power.
- Focus Blast or Aura Sphere should be used early-game to wear down specially defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna, as well as other Flying-type resists such as Cyclohm and Heatran to make spamming Hurricane much easier.
- Nature Power should be used when Tomohawk can pick off a faster threat. However, watch out when the opponent has Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom, as they can get a free switch-in to Tomohawk can can hit hard with their respective moves. Similarly, remember to avoid trying to finish Dark-types with Nature Power, as it is a wasted move.
- Healing Wish should be used either when Tomohawk cannot do much to the opposing team or if a weakened teammate needs to have a free switch-in; whereas Roost should be used carefully, usually on forced switches.
- Taunt can be used to make Tomohawk an effective counterlead. When the opponent knows nothing of Tomohawk's set, Taunt can prevent hazard setters like Fidgit or Ferrothorn from setting up Spikes.

Team Options
========

- This Tomohawk set can find its way onto balance and offensive teams alike.
- Offensive Tomohawk appreciates Pursuit support to remove faster Psychic-types and Ghost-types that might stomach a Nature Power. Colossoil and Tyranitar fills the role well: Tomohawk takes on the Fighting-types and Grass-types that threaten both of these Pokemon, and can wear down the Steel-types that given Tyranitar some trouble. A Steel-type like Magearna or Celesteela can cover the Fairy-type weakness that this core creates.
- Tapu Koko lures in Grass-types for Tomohawk to destroy while Tomohawk draws in Flying-types. In addition, Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain changes Nature Power to Thunderbolt, which can pressure some of Tomohawk's usual checks like Specially Defensive Celesteela, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Tornadus-T.
- Sweepers that appreciate bulky Steel-types and bulky Grass-types weakened or KOed appreciate Tomohawk's wallbreaking prowess. Examples include Shift Gear Magearna, Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Ash-Greninja, Krilowatt, and Mega Crucibelle.
- Tomohawk can be run with Mega Pinsir or Salamence to wear down each other's checks, allowing one or the other to sweep.
- Tomohawk appreciates Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Mega Crucibelle, Spikes support from Ferrothorn, Syclant, or Greninja, or Toxic Spikes support from Fidgit or Toxapex. These hazards allow Tomohawk to net KOes easier and knock foes into Nature Power range sooner.
- Tapu Lele makes for a good teammate since alongside Tomohawk conventional specially defensive tanks get overwhelmed. However, Tomohawk's Nature Power gets shut down most of the time while Psychic Terrain is up.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Flyinium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Few Pokemon found commonly on stall teams can stand up to Hurricane. It 2HKOes Mega Sableye, Toxapex, and Clefable, and it OHKOes Arghonaut. Despite Air Slash's flinch chance, it is not an effective option to stallbreak with due to its low Base Power.
- Focus Blast hits can 2HKOes Chansey and OHKOes Skarmory with Life Orb, but if Flyinium Z is run, these match ups are reduced to a 3HKO and a 2HKO, respectively..
- Aura Sphere is a weaker but more accurate alternative for Life Orb sets.
- Taunt prevents the opposing stall team from healing or using Toxic. It notably makes Dugtrio useless against Tomohawk, as it cannot stall it out with Toxic and Substitute or hit it with Earthquake.
- Roost allows Tomohawk to win the Chansey match up and heal off weak hits and potential burn damage.

Set Details
========

- Modest is necessary to guarantee the damage rolls necessary to effectively break through stall teams.
- Maximum Special Attack and Speed EV investment lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible while also outspeeding slower offensive threats like Tapu Bulu and SubCoil Zygarde. However, since Tomohawk naturally outspeeds most Pokemon found on stall teams, it can move Speed EVs into HP for extra bulk. 144 EVs is the lowest amount of Speed EVs Tomohawk should run, as it outspeeds speed invested AV Colossoil.
- Life Orb is generally the better item to run to reliably 2HKO Pokemon on stall teams. 29 HP IVs should be run to minimize recoil damage.
- Flyinium Z is an alternative option that gives very specific benefits. First, it eases Tomohawk's switch opportunities against Knock Off users and notably makes Mega Sableye basically useless against Tomohawk. Second, it enables Tomohawk to 2HKO one threat more reliably, as it means you have to hit only one Hurricane. Third, it doesn't deal annoying chip damage like Life Orb does. However, the lack of Life Orb means that it takes more turns of hitting Focus Blast to KO Chansey and Skarmory. Additinoally, Tomohawk cannot reliably remove Clefable and Mega Sableye by itself without Life Orb boosted Hurricane, as they require the combination Hurricane and Supersonic Skystrike to 2HKO. Mega Sableye can stall out against Hurricane by itself, while Clefable will severly damage, if not KO, Tomohawk as it uses Taunt. It should be noted that Aura Sphere is not a very good option to run with Flyinium Z, as the power forfeited by not running both Life Orb and Focus Blast is too great.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap in Tomohawk against weak attacks aside from Knock Off or against switch-ins. If running Life Orb, avoid swapping into Knock Off from Mega Sableye, as that will ruin Tomohawk's effectiveness as a stallbreaker.
- Taunt should be used against Toxapex, Chansey, Kitsunoh, Arhognaut, Dugtrio, or Pokémon on stall teams that don't directly threaten Tomohawk.
- When facing Chansey, count Taunt turns. Don't get worn down to the point where you have to use Roost to live the next Seismic Toss or Taunt to prevent a Softboiled.
- If Tomohawk isn't directly threatened by Toxic or Knock Off, spam Hurricane or Focus Blast for neutral damage.
- Flyinium Z sets have an easy time against Mega Sableye. However, Supersonic Skystrike has to be well placed for it to be effective: if it doesn't KO Mega Sableye or Clefable after a Hurricane, Tomohawk becomes deadweight against these two. Watch out for Protect as well.
- If the opponent has Kitsunoh or Zapdos, two Pokemon that force Tomohawk out, switch to a teammate that can effectively deal with these two.
- Outside of breaking stall teams, this Tomohawk hits most of the metagame for neutral damage, achieving 2HKOs against most of the metagame.

Team Options
========

- Pokemon that can beat Zapdos and Kitsunoh appreciate how they are commonly forced in by Tomohawk. Colossoil fits excellently here, and in return it can remove fast Psychic-types and specially defensive Mollux for Tomohawk.
- Pursuit trappers like Colossoil and Tyranitar are great teammates for this Tomohawk set because it has no counterplay for Psychic-types. Tomohawk wears down their checks for them in return.
- Tapu Lele makes for a great teammate since it can overload specially defensive checks alongside Tomohawk, but its Psychic Terrain prevents Taunt from working a lot of the time.
- Other wallbreakers like Choice Specs Volkraken, Guts Naviathan, and Guts Colossoil appreciate how Tomohawk can disable opposing walls' recovery.

[SET]
name: Rain Setter
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Nature Power / Stealth Rock
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Damp Rock / Life Orb / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Rain Dance lets Tomohawk set up rain very effectively, as the opponent can KO Tomohawk after it set up rain, granting a teammate's switch initiative.
- Hurricane has 100% accuracy in Rain and hits Grass-types for its fellow Swift Swim-abusing partners.
- Nature Power has priority from Prankster, which is useful for picking off weakened threats in case Tomohawk's teammates cannot outspeed.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative if the team needs the chip damage.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk scout one of the opponent's moves, revive a rain abuser or other teammate, and gives switch initiative.
- Roost is an alternative if Tomohawk needs to be kept healthy, though on such fast paced teams Healing Wish is generally preferred.
- A Fighting-type STAB move like Focus Blast or Aura Sphere would be helpful so not to let Cyclohm and other rain checks in so easily, though such a move is hard to fit onto the set.

Set Details
========

- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as it can.
- 252 Speed EVs and Timid Nature gets the jump on wallbreakers that can't tank a Hurricane easily.
- A Modest Nature can be used for extra power, as Hurricane is the only move on the set not affected by Prankster.
- 36 Special Defense EVs can be run to live Mega Charizard Y's Flamethrower from full health. This allows Tomohawk to switch in directly from Mega Swampert or Kingdra and set up rain again in case Pelipper has already fainted.
- Damp Rock lets Tomohawk set up Rain for 8 turns, which gives Pelipper the freedom to run Choice Specs instead. However, if Damp Rock Pelipper is desired, running a different item on Tomohawk is generally better. Life Orb is a good item to run with Tomohawk's impressive damage output. 29 HP IVs should be run if this item is chosen. Alternatively, Normalium Z gives Tomohawk a 160 Base Power Breakneck Blitz to throw out.

Usage Tips
========

- Tomohawk should switch in when Rain turns are running out so that it can set up Rain again midgame.
- It can switch in against Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde or Tapu Bulu, which can give Rain teams trouble if Rain isn't active.
- While Tomohawk can act as a lead Rain setter, Tomohawk's utility is maximized when it is used as a secondary setter: after Pelipper's Rain has expired and one of the rain abusers has been heavily damaged, paralyzed, or badly poisoned, Tomohawk can set up Rain again and fully heal the weakened abuser.
- Each move Tomohawk uses extremely important on fast-paced Rain teams, so think ahead. How many turns is Tomohawk going to get on the field? Is the opponent going to switch, attack but not KO Tomohawk or KO Tomohawk on this turn? These are important questions to ask because Tomohawk's second-to-last and last turns are best used when it sets up Rain Dance and then uses Healing Wish on the next turn.
- Hurricane is spammable if Rain is up and Tomohawk has free turns. However, Tomohawk should not waste these turns if one of its teammates can switch in instead.
- If a fast offensive threat picks off one of Tomohawk's teammates, Tomohawk can switch in and use Nature Power to revenge kill.
- However, be mindful when using Nature Power. Dark-types are immune to it, so Tomohawk can give Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom a free switch-in and force Tomohawk out or force Tomohawk to use Rain Dance and potentially miss out on using Healing Wish.

Team Options
========

- Pelipper is a mandatory teammate, as this Tomohawk set appears only on dedicated Rain teams. Though they stack weaknesses, together they can keep rain up throughout the match and can help remove Grass-types for their Swift Swim abusing partners.
- Speaking of these partners, Mega Swampert and Kingdra are excellent teammates, hitting hard under Rain with doubled Speed. In return, Tomohawk can provide valuable chip damage with Stealth Rock, pick off a faster foe when Rain isn't up with Nature Power, or give them a second chance at tearing through teams with Healing Wish.
- Ash-Greninja very much appreciates the Rain that Tomohawk sets up. Not only does it help Ash-Greninja nab a KO better pre-transformation, it makes Ash-Greninja's Choice Specs Hydro Pump nearly unwallable. also beats up av tangrowth for gren
- Ferrothorn and Tomohawk cover each other's weaknesses pretty well. Ferrothron can use Knock Off to remove damage boosting items, which could let Tomohawk live for an extra turn, or set up Spikes, which makes it easier for Tomohawk to pick up KOes with Nature Power.
- Finally, Tapu Koko lures in Ground-types and can use U-turn to give Tomohawk a free switch-in. Additionally, it lets Tomohawk have access to priority Thunderbolt while Electric Terrain is active, which is useful for removing opposing Water-types for Kingdra, Mega Swampert, or Ash-Greninja.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Toxic is worth a bp of it's own imo.

- Memento acts similarly to Healing Wish in that it helps to scout out an opponent's move and gives Tomohawk's teammates switch initiative, while allowing a teammate to set up against a weakened opponent. In addition, with Darkinium Z equipped, Memento also mimics Healing Wish's healing effect, but that takes up your Z Crystal, and it doesn't address status inflictions.
- Substitute + Haze, Substitute + Taunt, or Substitute + Toxic can be run, as using Substitute on the switch can mess up the incoming Pokemon's strategy. At least 200 HP EVs should be run so not to be broken by Chansey's substitute. Substitue is a great work-around for tanking Z-Moves that would otherwise KO Tomohawk.
- Choice Specs could be run to hit as hard as Tomohawk can, but in general it's extremely valuable to be able to hit a switch-in with Hurricane and follow up with priority Nature Power.
- Whirlwind allows Tomohawk to scout for switch-ins and rack up hazard damage, but Prankster Haze or Prankster Taunt generally does a better job at checking set up sweepers, and Whirlwind still has -5 priority after Prankster.
- Yawn puts pressure on Tomohawk's checks as they switch in, but Tomohawk generally has better moves to use.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types generally have good Special Defense, which allows them to tank Air Slashes, with the exception of Mega Medicham and Aurumoth. Tapu Lele, Mega Gardevoir, Alakazam, Aurumoth, Mega Medicham, and Hoopa-U all threaten Tomohawk with their respective Psychic-type STABs, but some have trouble tackling Hurricane + Nature Power or more than one Hurricane.

**Steel-types**: Magearna, Celesteela, Skarmory, Mega Mawile, and Jirachi resist Hurricane + Nature Power, allowing them to wall any set that doesn't run Focus Blast or Aura Sphere. Specially Defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna can tank two Life Orb-boosted Focus Blasts, but they get worn down fast. They wall the defensive set with ease as well.

**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, Magnezone, Rotom-W, and Plasmanta resist Air Slash and Hurricane and can threaten Tomohawk with their STAB moves. However, Magnezone and Rotom-W must watch out for Focus Blast.

**Z-Move Abusers**: Landorus-T, Salamence, Gyarados, and Cawmodore can nuke Tomohawk with Supersonic Skystrike, usually OHKOing defensive sets unboosted. Pokemon like Firium Z or Psychium Z Volcarona, Icium Z Kyurem-B, and Electrium Z Shift Gear Magearna, which would normally waste PP breaking through Tomohawk's Roost stall, can use their Z moves to break past it faster.

**Fairy-types**: Clefable and Tapu Fini can tank Air Slash fine, but have trouble against Hurricane. Both threaten Tomohawk with Moonblast.

**Other Faster Pokemon**: Greninja, Tornadus-T, and Syclant, can outspeed Tomohawk can threaten it out with powerful, super effective moves. However, they must watch out with Nature Power on offensive sets. Mega Charizard Y can cook Tomohawk with its Fire-type STAB, tank Air Slash pretty well, ruin Hurricane's accuracy, and mess with Rain on Rain teams.

**Faster Priority**: Ash-Greninja, Mega Pinsir, and Syclant can use priority before Tomohawk can and pick off a weakened Tomohawk.

**Other Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey and Mollux can tank Tomohawk's moves pretty well, though Taunt variants give them trouble. Volkraken's natural bulk lets it switch into Air Slash 3 times, but it falls to Hurricane + Nature Power.

**Toxic**: Tomohawk's high bulk can be compromised when badly poisoned. Avoid staying in on users such as Choice Band Zygarde and Cyclohm.

**Rock-types**: Because Rock-types resist the combination of Hurricane and Nature Power, and sometimes Tomohawk forgoes a Fighting-type STAB in favor of utility moves, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Crucibelle-Mega, Stratagem, and Aerodactyl-Mega can be effective switch-ins if needed. However, Tyranitar can't break through defensive Tomohawk's Roost stall, Mega Crucibelle has to rely on Gunk Shot's poison chance to force Tomohawk to use Roost over and over, and the latter two have a harder time switching into offensive Tomohawk more than once.
Hey there snake, finally got that check I promised you. Most of my comments are for the first half of the analysis since the last half looked pretty solid, if you have any questions feel free to ask me them. Great work btw, your mother and father are proud of you.
 

cbrevan

spin, spin, spin
is a CAP Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnus
Yo snake. I have something for you.
- Tomohawk's well placed stats, great movepool, and ability Prankster make Tomohawk the most versatile and potent Pokémon in the metagame. I realize I told you to just say its the best, but I think we could agree that people have adapted to it better since then. Most of or something along those lines would be more accurate.
- Tomohawk is flexible enough in stats and movepool to fit on any team archetype from stall or semi-stall to bulky offensive or hyper offense. It can act as one of the best physical walls in the metagame with Haze and Roost, stalling out many set up sweepers like Swords Dance Garchomp, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Gyarados. SD Chomp isn't relevant anymore, change to DD Zygarde perhaps. It can provide offensive teams with staple utility options and role compression or boast great offensive presence between just STAB coverage and Prankster Nature Power, which makes it not useless against offensive teams. Tomohawk can also stallbreak efficiently with Prankster Taunt and powerful STAB attacks. Finally, Rain teams appreciate its prescense to set up Rain before the opponent can attack most of the time.
- Tomohawk's bulk cannot be compromised by Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and it can check Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp. Colo over chompers?

- However, Tomohawk's typing leaves it with bad matchups against top metagame threats like Mega Pinsir, Mega Medicham, Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Magearna.
- While Prankster Nature Power is a huge boon for Tomohawk's wallbreaking sets, its average speed leaves it to be revenge killed by Greninja, Mega Pinsir, Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Mega Charizard Y.
- Offensive sets are largely reliant on Hurricane and Focus Blast, both of which have 70% accuracy.
- Even though Tomohawk boasts extreme versatility, it is important not to rely on it perform all of its roles at once. Okay so, we need to decide if we want Tomohawk having a dozen options as a bad thing. I personally don't think it should be, you realistically only see four, maybe five moves on the majority of Tomohawks and its still sees the highest usage at all levels of play and is still an S rank mon for like the fourth year in a row. I think it's safe to say that more options have turned out well for the Hawk. So lets stop trying to imply 4mss when it obviously hasn't impacted the mon heavily. Even then, the fact that this is a five set analysis should drive home the fact that Tomohawk has different sets for different roles without you needing to explicitly say it in the overview.

Note: every team option should include Pursuit Trappers to account for Pajantom being meta. I just felt like saying this here instead of every single set.

[SET]
name: Defensive Support
move 1: Haze
move 2: Roost
move 3: Rapid Spin / Stealth Rock
move 4: Air Slash
item: Rocky Helmet / Coba Berry / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Haze makes this set extremely effective, as Tomohawk's bulk limits many unboosted attacks to 3HKOs. With this move alone, Tomohawk neuters Swords Dance Garchomp, Swords Dance Landorus-T having already used Supersonic Skystrike, Dragon Dance Zygarde, Shell Smash Necturna, and Swords Dance Terrakion. Try to update the mentions for current meta, pretty sure SD terrak is virtually nonexistent rn.
- In conjunction with Prankster Roost, Tomohawk can neuter any setup sweepers that cannot 2HKO it unboosted.This sentence was confusing intially because it felt like you were describing haze. I suggest removing the mention of setup sweepers for something else, like Pokemon. Maybe I'm misinterpretting it and you're talking about Haze+Roost, if so, you probably want a single bullet point for that in addition to what the moves do individually. Roost removes Tomohawk's weaknesses to Ice- and Electric- moves, meaning Pokemon like Focus Sash Syclant cannot break it as easily and it can dodge super effective damage from Volt Switch from Tapu Koko, Mega Manectric, or Krilowatt.
- Rapid Spin allows Tomohawk to remove entry hazards, which is useful because it's immune to Toxic Spikes, which would neuter this set's effectiveness. Defensive nature of the set combined with Prankster Roost often gives Tomohawk multiple oppurtunities to use Spin.
- Stealth Rock is an alternative to Rapid Spin if its teammates don't have access to the move, which provides chip damage for its other teammates. Tomohawk can also use it as a last ditch effort if Tomohawk needs to be sacked, as it has priority.
- Air Slash provides Tomohawk a way to chip down opponents that it walls like Colossoil and Pyroak. While another offensive move like Nature Power or Aura Sphere could be chosen, Air Slash's neutral coverage is hard to pass up.
- Hurricane is an alternative option to Air Slash that lets Tomohawk OHKO Tapu Bulu and Necturna after Stealth Rock damage and 2HKO Arghonaut, but its chance to miss and lack of Special Attack investment usually makes Air Slash the better choice. I'm just wondering how good Hurricane is now that Drought Jumbao exists.

- Prankster Taunt can be run in conjunction with Haze to prevent set up sweepers from setting up again, or in conjunction with Rapid Spin to prevent hazard setters from setting more down as Tomohawk switches out. However, Tomohawk will have to deal with a boosted sweeper if the sweeper boosts on the turn Tomohawk switches in. What is this last sentence trying to convey aside from the obvious? Tomohawk is running Haze, this shouldn't be an issue, especially if you're switching Tomohawk in.
- Running both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock is a viable option if Tomohawk has good revenge killing partners, which do not require Tomohawk's Haze or Taunt.

Set Details
========

- 252 HP EVs and 252 Defense EVs with a Bold nature maximize Tomohawk's physical bulk.
- Prankster gives priority to Haze, Roost, and Stealth Rock and is why this set is so effective.
- Rocky Helmet punishes U-turn users, faster contact priority users that try to KO it before it can use Roost, and other physical attackers that it walls. This item allows Tomohawk to use Roost every turn to wear down these attackers and circumvents Tomohawk's lower offensive presence. Allows it to swing certain key matchups more in it's favor, such as vs Hawlucha and Cawmodore.
- Coba Berry allows Tomohawk to tank a Flying-type attack with ease, which can stop prevent!!! Flyinium Z Landorus-T or Salamence or Gyara from being able to muscle past Tomohawk or KO Mega Pinsir as it uses Aerilate Return.
- Alternatively, Leftovers can provide additional recovery and ease 2HKOes.
- Tomohawk can run 140 Speed EVs to outspeed SubCoil Zygarde. Because Air Slash 2HKOes Zygarde's Substitutes, the extra Speed can pressure the Zygarde user out. However, this does cut into some of Tomohawk's bulk.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap Tomohawk into set up sweepers that it walls unboosted like Garchomp and Tapu Bulu as they set up or Pokemon it naturally checks like Colossoil, non-Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Mega Crucibelle, Mega Lopunny, or Mega Scizor.
- Use Haze to remove their boosts if an opposing sweeper has boosted. Note that some sweepers that can break through Tomohawk unboosted like Flyinium Z Landorus-T, Shift Gear Magearna, Mega Pinsir, or Volcarona can take out Tomohawk and attempt a sweep later in the match.
- However, if a switch is predicted, switch to an appropriate teammate or use Roost or Air Slash.
- If the opponent has a sweeper with powerful or super effective priority such as Swords Dance Syclant, Swords Dance Mega Pinsir, Ash-Greninja, be sure to keep Tomohawk out of KO range or try to take them out before hand, otherwise they'll take out Tomohawk before it can Roost or Haze.
- Tomohawk can bait Supersonic Skystrikes from Gyarados, Landorus-T, and Salamence and swap to a Steel-, Rock-, or Electric-type partner to tank these powerful hits. After this, Tomohawk can effectively wall these Pokemon because they rely on two-turn moves to break Tomohawk, which Tomohawk can stall out with Rocky Helmet.

Team Options
========

- Defensive Tomohawk fits very well on balance teams, as it relieves pressure off of Choice Scarf users to handle set up sweepers. However, Tomohawk still appreciates Pokemon like Choice Scarf Keldeo, Choice Band Zygarde, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele to help hold back set up sweepers too.
- Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Heatran, Assault Vest Magearna, Celesteela, and Jirachi appreciate Tomohawk's ability to check Ground-types like Landorus-T, Colossoil, and Zygarde. In return, they take the Flying-, Ice-, and Fairy-type moves aimed at Tomohawk.
- The aforementioned Steel-types alongside Electric-types like Rotom-W, Krilowatt, and Tapu Koko can stomach Landorus-T's Supersonic Skystrike so that Tomohawk can properly wall it.
- Chansey makes for a good partner on balance teams, complementing Tomohawk's defensive bias. However, Psyshock users like Mega Gardevoir and Tapu Lele can usually break through this core, so Pursuit users like Colossoil or the aforementioned Steel-types can help out with this core.
- Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Fidgit, Syclant, and Greninja can set up Spikes, and Mollux, Crucibelle, and Toxapex can set up Toxic Spikes to form great hazard stacking cores for balance teams. Pajantom for Tspikes
Make sure you go through not only the Pokemon listed here, but the rest of the analysis. Try to mention the most relevant Pokemon you can. For example, Scarf Volk over Keldeo.


[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Aura Sphere / Taunt
move 3: Healing Wish / Memento / Roost
move 4: Stealth Rock / Haze / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash I feel like Fly Z should be slashed here, primarily to avoid losing health everytime you Spin. Helps maintain overall bulk in the long run and is more of a fall back against offensive jum sets. Hell, even lefties would work on a set with roost. Slash them or mention them as you see fit.
ability: Prankster
nature: Modest Slash Timid first here
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane, especially when boosted by an item, hits very hard due to its great neutral coverage in one move. It should be noted that Air Slash should not be run as a replacement for Hurricane, as Air Slash is very weak.
- Aura Sphere hits a good chunk of Flying-type resists for neutral or super effective damage, including Skarmory, Magnezone, Heatran, and Rotom-W and reliably 2HKOes Ferrothorn. Focus Blast is an option over Aura Sphere, as it OHKOes Rotom-W and 2HKOes Specially Defensive Celesteela when factoring Stealth Rock damage.
- Taunt can be used on lead sets to prevent other leads from setting their own hazards or using Defog against Tomohawk.
- Healing Wish is a key move on this set, as it allows Tomohawk to revive a weakened teammate. Memento allows one of Tomohawk's partners to set up. Both maintain offensive momentum, as they usually move before the opponent and can easily force switches on the turn after. Also gives Tomohawk an option to use alongside Aura Sphere to play around Defog.
- However, Roost is an option on bulky offense teams to keep Tomohawk healthy.
- Tomohawk is a great Stealth Rock setter; running this move achieves massive role compression for hyper offensive teams who don't need a Rapid Spin user. Stall teams struggle to keep Stealth Rock off the field with Life Orb-boosted Hurricane threatening Mega Sableye.
- Haze allows Tomohawk to act as an emergency check to set-up sweepers.
- Though, Rapid Spin is a good option as well. Alongside Roost, Tomohawk achieves a balance of offensive pressure and utility for bulky offensive teams.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature maximizes Tomohawk's Speed, allowing it to outspeed Modest Choice Specs Volkraken, Modest Choice Specs Tapu Lele, neutral-nature Aurumoth, and Adamant Landorus-T.
- 252 Special Attack EVs maximize Tomohawk's offensive presence. A Modest nature can be used for extra power but outspeeding the aforementioned wallbreakers is fairly important.
- Life Orb boosts the power of Hurricane and Aura Sphere, which allows Tomohawk to pressure switch-ins very hard. On the other hand, Focus Sash allows Tomohawk to act as a great lead.
- 29 HP IVs should be run with Life Orb only, as it minimizes recoil damage.
- Prankster gives priority to Tomohawk's status moves, which is important to the success of this set.
Mention Fly z
Usage Tips
========

- Healing Wish should be used primarily if Tomohawk is about to faint and no teammate can switch in or if a weakened sweeper can set up again after being healed. Note that in a pinch Healing Wish can be used so that the opponent whiffs a Z-Move, Rapid Spin, or Defog.
- Tomohawk appreciates switching in with VoltTurn cores and or on double switches, as it can surprise the opponent with a powerful Hurricane or Nature Power. If it takes more damage than a defensive set, the surprise factor is largely lost. Nature Power isn't on this set.
- Hurricane should be used to dent a switch-in, followed up with Nature Power to finish it off. ^
- Hazard control should be taken care of early on in the match if possible.
- If running Haze, remember that Tomohawk can be KOed on the switch-in by a boosted threat, so a teammate might have to be sacked to get Tomohawk in safely.

Team Options
========

- This Pokemon acts as glue for a wide range of balance and offensive teams, depending on which utility moves are picked.
- Tomohawk likes to switch in off of a VoltTurn core. Good partners on VoltTurn cores include Krilowatt, Cyclohm, Mega Scizor, and Mega Crucibelle.
- If moves like Healing Wish and Stealth Rock are picked, sweepers like Magearna, Mega Crucibelle, Ash-Greninja, Syclant, and Zygarde appreciate Tomohawk's ease of setting up Stealth Rock and Healing Wish support to give them another chance at sweeping.
- If moves like Rapid Spin and Roost are chosen, bulkier teammates like Pyroak, Mollux, or Tapu Fini and hazard-weak wallbreakers or sweepers like Mega Pinsir or Volcarona appreciate Tomohawk's hazard removal while still retaining offensive presence.
- This set works very well on Sticky Web teams, as Pokemon like Volkraken and Kyurem-B appreciate Healing Wish support, while Tomohawk appreciates having opposing Pokemon slowed down to hit with a powerful Hurricane or STAB Fighting-type move. If Necturna is your Sticky Web setter, run Stealth Rock for extra chip damage, but if Smeargle is run, Rapid Spin or Haze are better choices, as Smeargle can set up Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
move 3: Nature Power
move 4: Healing Wish / Roost
item: Life Orb / Normalium Z / Flyinium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Timid / Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Hurricane hits most of the metagame neutrally on its own and hits extremely hard; although it comes with bad accuracy. Air Slash should not be used to remedy this issue, however, as the drop in power is too great for it to be worth running.
- Focus Blast covers many of the targets that Hurricane does not. It OHKOes Rotom-W and Cyclohm after some prior damage and 2HKOes Specially Defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna after some prior damage.
- Aura Sphere is weaker than Focus Blast, but it's a more reliable STAB move if you don't want two very inaccurate STAB moves.
- Nature Power, in conjunction with Tomohawk's high powered STAB moves, can place immense pressure on offensive teams since it's granted priority by Prankster. Hurricane on the switch-in followed up by Nature Power can 2HKO Latios and Choice Scarf Volkraken. Electric Terrain is particularly helpful for it, as it becomes priority Thunderbolt. I feel like totally fucking Hawlucha over in it's own terrain deserves a mention. Torn-t as well.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk retain offensive momentum after it fires off powerful attacks, bringing in a teammate fully healed.
- Roost is a solid option to keep Tomohawk healthy with its solid natural bulk, but it's hard to use on anything but forced switches, which is when Tomohawk should be using Hurricane.

Set Details
========

- 252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature lets Tomohawk outspeed other key wallbreakers that opt for a damage-boosting nature such as Volkraken, Tapu Lele, Tail Glow Aurumoth, and Heatran.
- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible, though a Modest nature is preferred if running Taunt. Did you mean to put this on the prior set? There's no Taunt on this one.
- Prankster is an important ability so Healing Wish, Roost, Nature Power, and Taunt all have priority. Taunt again.
- Life Orb is this set's best item, as it boosts the power of all of Tomohawk's moves while letting it switch moves as necessary. 29 HP IVs should be run in this case. However, Normalium Z is a good option if a 160 Base Power priority Breakneck Blitz is desired. Should note that it also changes type with terrain, allows Tomohawk to pull off some feats such as OHKOing Steela w/ sr, Gastrodon, and 2hko specially defensive Pex. Finally, Flyinium Z gives Tomohawk a guaranteed hit with a strong Flying-type move, which minimizes Hurricanes missed. These two Z Crystals weaken the power of Tomohawk's Fighting-type STAB move, so Focus Blast should usually move of choice.

Usage Tips
========

- If running on a more defensive team aka not offense (what i'm saying is that it would work on bulky offense and balance, not just "defensive teams"), bluff playing like a defensive Tomohawk, switching it into boosting wallbreakers like SD Tapu Bulu and SD Landorus-T on the switch. Either they don't switch and get annihilated by Hurricane, or the switch-in gets put into kill range with Nature Power.
- Focus Blast or Aura Sphere should be used early-game to wear down specially defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna, as well as other Flying-type resists such as Cyclohm and Heatran to make spamming Hurricane much easier.
- Nature Power should be used when Tomohawk can pick off a faster threat. However, watch out when the opponent has Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom, as they can get a free switch-in to Tomohawk can can hit hard with their respective moves. Similarly, remember to avoid trying to finish Dark-types with Nature Power, as it is a wasted move.
- Healing Wish should be used either when Tomohawk cannot do much to the opposing team or if a weakened teammate needs to have a free switch-in; whereas Roost should be used carefully, usually on forced switches.
- Taunt can be used to make Tomohawk an effective counterlead. When the opponent knows nothing of Tomohawk's set, Taunt can prevent hazard setters like Fidgit or Ferrothorn from setting up Spikes. Three strikes, Taunts out!

Team Options
========

- This Tomohawk set can find its way onto balance and offensive teams alike.
- Offensive Tomohawk appreciates Pursuit support to remove faster Psychic-types and Ghost-types that might stomach a Nature Power. Pajantom Colossoil and Tyranitar fills the role well: Tomohawk takes on the Fighting-types and Grass-types that threaten both of these Pokemon, and can wear down the Steel-types that given Tyranitar some trouble. A Steel-type like Magearna or Celesteela can cover the Fairy-type weakness that this core creates.
- Tapu Koko lures in Grass-types for Tomohawk to destroy while Tomohawk draws in Flying-types. In addition, Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain changes Nature Power to Thunderbolt, which can pressure some of Tomohawk's usual checks like Specially Defensive Celesteela, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Tornadus-T.
- Sweepers that appreciate bulky Steel-types and bulky Grass-types weakened or KOed appreciate Tomohawk's wallbreaking prowess. Examples include Shift Gear Magearna, Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Ash-Greninja, Krilowatt, and Mega Crucibelle.
- Tomohawk can be run with Mega Pinsir or Salamence to wear down each other's checks, allowing one or the other to sweep. Hawlucha even more so
- Tomohawk appreciates Stealth Rock support from Landorus-T or Mega Crucibelle, Spikes support from Ferrothorn, Syclant, or Greninja, or Toxic Spikes support from Fidgit or Toxapex. These hazards allow Tomohawk to net KOes easier and knock foes into Nature Power range sooner. Spikes support especially important in breaking down Magearna, one layers all but guarantees a 3hko with Focus Blast
- Tapu Lele makes for a good teammate since alongside Tomohawk conventional specially defensive tanks get overwhelmed. However, Tomohawk's Nature Power gets shut down most of the time while Psychic Terrain is up. Might as well throw this mention out for something like Specs Volkraken.

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
evs: Modest
ivs: 29 HP / 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Few Pokemon found commonly on stall and balance teams can stand up to Life Orb-boosted Hurricane. For example, it 2HKOs Mega Sableye, Toxapex, and Clefable, Arghonaut, and it OHKOes Pyroak and Landorus-T after Stealth Rock.
- Focus Blast can 2HKO Chansey and OHKOes Skarmory, two common members of stall teams that would shrug off a Hurricane. It also 2HKOs Celesteela and dents Assault Vest Magearna. Aura Sphere doesn't achieve the power that Focus Blast has, so even though it hits more often, it doesn't do what this Tomohawk wants to do.
- Taunt prevents Chansey from using Softboiled and Toxapex from using Recover, shuts down opposing Defoggers, stops Celesteela from using Leech Seed + Protect, and prevents Tomohawk from being hit by Toxic, which would otherwise wear it down too fast.
- Roost allows Tomohawk to shrug off Chansey's Seismic Toss, heal off hazard damage and other weak attacks such as Celesteela's Heavy Slam, and burn damage from Toxapex's Scald and Pyroak's Lava Plume.

Set Details
========

- Modest is necessary to guarantee the damage rolls necessary to effectively break through stall teams and maximizes the damage dealt against balance teams.
- Maximum Special Attack and Speed EV investment lets Tomohawk hit as hard as possible while also outspeeding slower offensive threats like Tapu Bulu and SubCoil Zygarde.
- Life Orb is mandatory to exert full offensive pressure on the opposing team. 29 HP IVs should be run to minimize recoil damage.
- Prankster allows Tomohawk to use priority Taunt and Roost.

Usage Tips
========

- Swap in Tomohawk into weak attacks except for Knock Off. Losing Life Orb ruins Tomohawk's offensive potential. Because of this, Tomohawk should be careful against Mega Sableye, Toxapex, and Arghonaut.
- Taunt should be used against Chansey, Celesteela, or other attackers that do not use Knock Off.
- When facing Chansey, count Taunt turns carefully. Don't get worn down to the point where you have to use Roost to live the next Seismic Toss or Taunt to prevent a Softboiled.
- If Tomohawk isn't directly threatened by Toxic or Knock Off, spam Hurricane or Focus Blast for neutral damage.
- If the opponent has Kitsunoh or Zapdos, two Pokemon that force Tomohawk out, switch to a teammate that can effectively deal with these two. If they are low on health, a well-placed Taunt on the switch-in or on the first turn out can prevent them from using Wish or Roost.

Team Options
========

- Pokemon that can beat Zapdos and Kitsunoh appreciate how they are commonly forced in by Tomohawk. Colossoil fits excellently here, and in return it can remove fast Psychic-types and specially defensive Mollux for Tomohawk.
- Pursuit trappers like Colossoil and Tyranitar are great teammates for this Tomohawk set because it has no counterplay for Psychic-types. Tomohawk wears down their checks for them in return. Banded Ttar in particular pressures Zapdos heavily.
- Tapu Lele makes for a great teammate since it can overload specially defensive checks alongside Tomohawk, but its Psychic Terrain prevents Taunt from working a lot of the time.
- Other wallbreakers like Choice Specs Volkraken, Guts Naviathan, and Guts Colossoil appreciate how Tomohawk can disable opposing walls' recovery.

[SET]
name: Rain Setter Move this above stallbreaker imo.
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Stealth Rock / Nature Power
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Damp Rock / Normalium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

- Prankster Rain Dance lets Tomohawk set up rain very effectively, as the opponent can KO Tomohawk after it set up rain, granting a teammate's switch initiative.
- Hurricane has 100% accuracy in Rain and hits Grass-types for its fellow Swift Swim-abusing partners.
- Stealth Rock provides valuable chip damage and has priority with Prankster. Running Stealth Rock allows Mega Swampert, one of Tomohawk's very common teammates, to run another coverage move.
- Otherwise, Nature Power has priority from Prankster, which is useful for picking off weakened threats.
- Healing Wish lets Tomohawk scout one of the opponent's moves, revive a rain abuser or other teammate (Pelipper), and blocks opposing Defoggers and Spinners from removing Stealth Rock.
- Focus Blast or Aura Sphere can be used to pressure Ferrothorn, a common Rain check. However, Hurricane can usually work well enough so Tomohawk does not have to use up the moveslot.

Set Details
========

- 252 Special Attack EVs lets Tomohawk hit as hard as it can.
- 252 Speed EVs and Timid Nature gets the jump on wallbreakers that can't tank a Hurricane easily.
- A Modest Nature can be used for extra power, as Hurricane is the only move on the set not affected by Prankster.
- Damp Rock lets Tomohawk set up Rain for 8 turns, which gives Pelipper the freedom to run Choice Specs instead. Alternatively, Normalium Z gives Tomohawk a 160 Base Power Breakneck Blitz to surprise an opponent.

Usage Tips
========

- Tomohawk should switch in when Rain turns are running out so that it can set up Rain again midgame.
- It can switch in against Ground-types like Landorus-T and Zygarde or Tapu Bulu, which can give Rain teams trouble if Rain isn't active.
- While Tomohawk can act as a lead Rain setter, Tomohawk's utility is maximized when it is used as a secondary setter: after Pelipper's Rain has expired and one of the rain abusers has been heavily damaged, paralyzed, or badly poisoned, Tomohawk can set up Rain again and fully heal the weakened abuser.
- Each move Tomohawk uses extremely important on fast-paced Rain teams, so think ahead. How many turns is Tomohawk going to get on the field? Is the opponent going to switch, attack but not KO Tomohawk, or KO Tomohawk on this turn? These are important questions to ask because Tomohawk's second-to-last and last turns are best used when it sets up Rain Dance and then uses Healing Wish on the next turn.
- Hurricane is spammable if Rain is up and Tomohawk has free turns. However, Tomohawk should not waste these turns if one of its teammates can switch in instead.
- If a fast offensive threat picks off one of Tomohawk's teammates, Tomohawk can use Nature Power to revenge kill.
- However, be mindful when using Nature Power. Dark-types are immune to it, so Tomohawk can give Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom a free switch-in and force Tomohawk out or force Tomohawk to use Rain Dance and potentially miss out on using Healing Wish.

Team Options
========

- Pelipper is a mandatory teammate, as this Tomohawk set appears only on dedicated Rain teams. Though they stack weaknesses, together they can keep rain up throughout the match and can help remove Grass-types for their Swift Swim abusing partners.
- Speaking of these partners, Mega Swampert and Kingdra are excellent teammates, hitting hard under Rain with doubled Speed. In return, Tomohawk can provide valuable chip damage with Stealth Rock, pick off a faster foe when Rain isn't up with Nature Power, or give them a second chance at tearing through teams with Healing Wish.
- Ash-Greninja very much appreciates the Rain that Tomohawk sets up. Not only does it help Ash-Greninja nab a KO better pre-transformation, it makes Ash-Greninja's Choice Specs Hydro Pump nearly unwallable.
- Ferrothorn and Tomohawk cover each other's weaknesses pretty well. Ferrothron can use Knock Off to remove damage boosting items, which could let Tomohawk live for an extra turn, or set up Spikes, which makes it easier for Tomohawk to pick up KOes with Nature Power.
- Finally, Tapu Koko lures in Ground-types and can use U-turn to give Tomohawk a free switch-in. Additionally, it lets Tomohawk have access to priority Thunderbolt while Electric Terrain is active, which is useful for removing opposing Water-types for Kingdra, Mega Swampert, or Ash-Greninja.
Hawlucha
Volkraken
Other grasses (bulu/trace jum)

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

- Darkinium Z + Memento can give a weakened sweeper a really great chance to set up, but it's generally not worth the Z-Crystal. Then why is this listed first.
- Substitute + Haze, Substitute + Taunt, or Substitute + Toxic can be run, as using Substitute on the switch can mess up the incoming Pokemon's strategy. At least 200 HP EVs should be run so not to be broken by Chansey's substitute. Substitue is a great work-around for tanking Z-Moves that would otherwise KO Tomohawk.
- Choice Specs could be run to hit as hard as Tomohawk can, but in general it's extremely valuable to be able to hit a switch-in with Hurricane and follow up with priority Nature Power.
- Whirlwind allows Tomohawk to scout for switch-ins and rack up hazard damage, but Prankster Haze or Prankster Taunt generally does a better job at checking set up sweepers because Whirlwind has -5 priority after Prankster.
- Yawn puts pressure on Tomohawk's checks as they switch in, but Tomohawk generally has better moves to use.
- Intimidate allows Tomohawk to tank more physical hits, but generally, this would be an option for more offensive sets that don't need Prankster Roost or utility moves. Additionally, using Intimidate prevents Tomohawk from using priority Nature Power.
Toxic is good enough for its own mention at the top of the list. Do it this time please.
Checks and Counters
===================
Mention Pajantom somewhere.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types generally have good Special Defense, which allows them to tank Air Slashes, with the exception of Mega Medicham and Aurumoth. Tapu Lele, Mega Gardevoir, Alakazam, Aurumoth, Mega Medicham, and Hoopa-U all threaten Tomohawk with their respective Psychic-type STABs, but some have trouble tackling Hurricane + Nature Power or more than one Hurricane. Mega Lati@s

**Steel-types**: Magearna, Celesteela, Skarmory, Mega Mawile, and Jirachi resist Hurricane + Nature Power, allowing them to wall any set that doesn't run Focus Blast or Aura Sphere. Specially Defensive Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna can tank two Life Orb-boosted Focus Blasts, but they get worn down fast. They wall the defensive set with ease as well.

**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Zapdos, Magnezone, Rotom-W, and Plasmanta resist Air Slash and Hurricane and can threaten Tomohawk with their STAB moves. However, Magnezone and Rotom-W must watch out for Focus Blast.

**Z-Move Abusers**: Landorus-T, Salamence, Gyarados, and Cawmodore can nuke Tomohawk with Supersonic Skystrike, usually OHKOing defensive sets unboosted. Pokemon like Firium Z or Psychium Z Volcarona, Icium Z Kyurem-B, and Electrium Z Shift Gear Magearna, which would normally waste PP breaking through Tomohawk's Roost stall, can use their Z moves to break past it faster.

**Fairy-types**: Clefable and Tapu Fini can tank Air Slash fine, but have trouble against Hurricane. Both threaten Tomohawk with Moonblast. Offensive fairies worth a mention.

**Other Faster Pokemon**: Greninja, Tornadus-T, and Syclant, can outspeed Tomohawk can threaten it out with powerful, super effective moves. However, they must watch out with Nature Power on offensive sets. Mega Charizard Y can cook Tomohawk with its Fire-type STAB, tank Air Slash pretty well, ruin Hurricane's accuracy, and mess with Rain on Rain teams.

**Faster Priority**: Ash-Greninja, Mega Pinsir, and Syclant can use priority before Tomohawk can and pick off a weakened Tomohawk.

**Other Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey and Mollux can tank Tomohawk's moves pretty well, though Taunt variants give them trouble. Volkraken's natural bulk lets it switch into Air Slash 3 times, but it falls to Hurricane + Nature Power. Does volkraken really fall under specially bulky pokemon?

**Toxic**: Tomohawk's high bulk can be compromised when badly poisoned. Avoid staying in on users such as Choice Band Zygarde and Cyclohm.

**Rock-types**: Because Rock-types resist the combination of Hurricane and Nature Power, and sometimes Tomohawk forgoes a Fighting-type STAB in favor of utility moves, Rock-types such as Tyranitar, Crucibelle-Mega, Stratagem, and Aerodactyl-Mega can be effective switch-ins if needed. However, Tyranitar can't break through defensive Tomohawk's Roost stall, Mega Crucibelle has to rely on Gunk Shot's poison chance to force Tomohawk to use Roost over and over, and the latter two have a harder time switching into offensive Tomohawk more than once.
 

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
I implemented

CBEDIT: I'll look over the implementation most likely on Tuesday, Thursday at latest. Finals week so I can't be prompt about this big check!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

cbrevan

spin, spin, spin
is a CAP Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnus
After looking at the set, I think leftovers is more appropriate as a mention than a slash on the offensive support set. Make the change and you can consider this analysis QC 1/3.
 

LucarioOfLegends

Master Procraster
is a CAP Contributor
I'm not QC, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt if you'd like, but here's a few of my notes on this.

Overview
- Tomohawk is flexible enough in stats and movepool to fit on any team archetype from stall or semi-stall to bulky offensive or hyper offense. It can act as one of the best physical walls in the metagame with Haze and Roost, stalling out many setup sweepers like Zygarde, Kartana, Naviathan, and Mega Gyarados and hard hitting physical attackers like Flame Orb Colossoil.
I just don't feel like it flows well together, since you put them under the same point. You are talking about how easy it is to fit on any team archetype, and then talking about how good of a physical wall it is. If you are saying that it fits on any team because of how good a physical wall it is, I'm not getting that connection. If you are not saying that, I don't think the "good physical wall" point is related to the "fits on any team" point at all and the former should maybe be a different bullet altogether.
It can provide offensive teams with staple utility options and role compression...
What are these staple utility options?
- While Prankster Nature Power is a huge boon for Tomohawk's wallbreaking sets, its average speed leaves it to be revenge killed by Greninja, Mega Pinsir, Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Mega Charizard Y.
Mega Zard Y is not relevant, replace it with something else.

Defensive Support
- Prankster Haze makes this set extremely effective, as Tomohawk's bulk limits many unboosted attacks to 3HKOs. With this move alone, Tomohawk neuters setup sweepers like non-Flyinium Swords Dance Landorus-T, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Shell Smash Necturna.
I felt that this point never got anywhere, as it never told me what Haze actually did, which is remove boosts from setup sweepers 9 times out of 10. Why does limiting most unboosted attacks to 3HKOs matter, I don't even know what it does yet. There are also many other setup sweepers not covered here that I would call relevant, like Cawm and DD Naviathan. That's why I added the bold text there.
Cawmodore and Hawlucha, two threatening setup sweepers, can overpower Tomohawk with Acrobatics, but if Tomohawk spams Roost, they will take significant damage from Rocky Helmet.
I don't know exactly what to do here, but this statement in the Roost section bugs me. It feels very "Usage Tips"-like, and is already kinda mentioned in a way in Set Details. Keep it probably since I can't offer a replacement, but something is off about it.
- The aforementioned Steel-types alongside Electric-types like Rotom-W, Krilowatt, and Tapu Koko can stomach Landorus-T's Supersonic Skystrike so that Tomohawk can properly wall it.
I'd either replace Lando-T's SSSS with "Flyinium Z users" or list the other users here, since Lando isn't the only Fly-Z user.

Offensive Support
- Haze allows Tomohawk to act as an emergency check to set-up sweepers.
Which set-up sweepers?
- If moves like Rapid Spin and Roost are chosen, bulkier teammates like Pyroak, Mollux, or Tapu Fini and hazard-weak wallbreakers or sweepers like Mega Pinsir or Volcarona appreciate Tomohawk's hazard removal while still retaining offensive presence.
I haven't seen a Tapu Fini in CAP for twelve and a half years, replace it with another mon.

Wallbreaker
These two Z Crystals don't boost Tomohawk's Fighting-type STAB move like Life Orb does, so Focus Blast should usually be picked as the move of choice with a Z-Crystal to make up for the lost power.
Grammatical fix :D
- Nature Power should be used when Tomohawk can pick off a faster threat. However, watch out when the opponent has Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom, as they can get a free switch-in to Tomohawk and can hit hard with their respective moves. Similarly, remember to avoid trying to finish Dark-types with Nature Power, as it is a wasted move.
Grammatical fix and Voodoom is bottom of D tier last I checked, so replace it with something if you can.
- Sweepers that appreciate bulky Steel-types and bulky Grass-types weakened or KOed appreciate Tomohawk's wallbreaking prowess. Examples include Shift Gear Magearna, Calm Mind Tapu Fini, Ash-Greninja, Krilowatt, and Mega Crucibelle.
Refer to Offensive Support comment about Tapu Fini, I think it should be replaced.

Rain Setter
- 252 Speed EVs and Timid Nature gets the jump on wallbreakers that can't tank a Hurricane easily.
Which wallbreakers do you speak of?
- However, be mindful when using Nature Power. Dark-types are immune to it, so Tomohawk can give Flame Orb Colossoil, Greninja, or Voodoom a free switch-in and force Tomohawk out or force Tomohawk to use Rain Dance and potentially miss out on using Healing Wish.
Refer to previous statement about Voodoom; remove it if possible.

OO
At least 200 HP EVs should be run so not to be broken by Chansey's Seismic Toss.
Easy fix caused by too much thought of Substitutes.
- Choice Specs could be run to hit as hard as Tomohawk can, but in general it's extremely valuable to be able to hit a switch-in with Hurricane and follow up with priority Nature Power.
I'd probably also mention how it can make using utility moves a lot harder for Tomo on offensive sets, especially if already locked into a move.

Checks & Counters

Add Krilowatt to Electric-types; it can outspeed all sets, take a suprising amount of hits from most sets, and can 2HKO minumum with T-Bolt.


Otherwise, solid analysis and incredible job. If you have any questions let me know.
 

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
I'm not QC, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt if you'd like, but here's a few of my notes on this.

Overview

I just don't feel like it flows well together, since you put them under the same point. You are talking about how easy it is to fit on any team archetype, and then talking about how good of a physical wall it is. If you are saying that it fits on any team because of how good a physical wall it is, I'm not getting that connection. If you are not saying that, I don't think the "good physical wall" point is related to the "fits on any team" point at all and the former should maybe be a different bullet altogether.

What are these staple utility options?

Mega Zard Y is not relevant, replace it with something else.

Defensive Support

I felt that this point never got anywhere, as it never told me what Haze actually did, which is remove boosts from setup sweepers 9 times out of 10. Why does limiting most unboosted attacks to 3HKOs matter, I don't even know what it does yet. There are also many other setup sweepers not covered here that I would call relevant, like Cawm and DD Naviathan. That's why I added the bold text there.

I don't know exactly what to do here, but this statement in the Roost section bugs me. It feels very "Usage Tips"-like, and is already kinda mentioned in a way in Set Details. Keep it probably since I can't offer a replacement, but something is off about it.

I'd either replace Lando-T's SSSS with "Flyinium Z users" or list the other users here, since Lando isn't the only Fly-Z user.

Offensive Support

Which set-up sweepers?

I haven't seen a Tapu Fini in CAP for twelve and a half years, replace it with another mon.

Wallbreaker

Grammatical fix :D

Grammatical fix and Voodoom is bottom of D tier last I checked, so replace it with something if you can.

Refer to Offensive Support comment about Tapu Fini, I think it should be replaced.

Rain Setter

Which wallbreakers do you speak of?

Refer to previous statement about Voodoom; remove it if possible.

OO

Easy fix caused by too much thought of Substitutes.

I'd probably also mention how it can make using utility moves a lot harder for Tomo on offensive sets, especially if already locked into a move.

Checks & Counters

Add Krilowatt to Electric-types; it can outspeed all sets, take a suprising amount of hits from most sets, and can 2HKO minumum with T-Bolt.


Otherwise, solid analysis and incredible job. If you have any questions let me know.
Thanks! I’ll definitely look at these later today. Hard to see everything on a long analysis like this.

EDIT: Implemented, finally.
 
Last edited:

snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
This analysis has gotten so many edits since I started it that I just want to restart it. Expect another thread soon.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top