QC: MrAldo //
CP:
CP:
[OVERVIEW]
- Bearing a good offensive and defensive typing, above average Speed, access to Swords Dance, and in tandem with useful coverage moves such as Aqua Tail or Earthquake, it carves itself a niche to break or sweep unprepared teams. Additionally, it's decent Speed allows it to outspeed common Pokemon like Gardevoir, Moltres and Roserade to exploit them super-effectively with either it's STAB attacks or convenient coverage moves.
- With the introduction of Z-Moves, it gave Drapion a new tool to counter and exploit its weaknesses much easier. Specifically, being able to break down prominent bulky Ground types, for instance it can penetrate through common Stealth Rockers, such as Diance and Rhyperior.
- While it has decent speed, without a Choice Scarf it falls short to the likes of Flygon exploiting it super-effectively with their STAB attacks. Additionally, due to it's low Special Defence, it's highly susceptible to strong Special Attackers that outpace it like Salazzle and Swellow.
- It also struggles a great deal to break through many Defensive Pokemon such as Mantine, Quagsire, and Haze Milotic.
- It inherently faces competition from other offensive Dark-tyes in the tier such as Zoroark, Sharpedo, Pangoro and Honchkrow, all having more offensive utility as well as fitting onto a lot of teams better. Additionally, due to it's somewhat lacklustre Attack stat in comparison to other Swords Dance users, it finds itself being outclassed by a sizeable amount of Pokemon in the tier.
- Relies heavily on Swords Dance and Z-Moves to boost its damage output, sitting at a mediocre base 90 Attack is slightly underwhelming for a Sweeper or Breaker.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Aqua Tail
item: Waterium Z
ability: Sniper
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Swords dance is to boost Drapion's average Attack stat to greater levels, and to really fulfil the role of a sweeper breaking down bulkier opponents.
- Knock Off is a very spammable, strong STAB-move which allows it to remove the opponent's item to sometimes cripple their niche, and deal massive damage to un-resisted foes.
- Poison Jab is always a reliable, powerful STAB-move which threatens a lot of common threats, such as; Shaymin, Gardevoir, Florges, Comfey, Slurpuff, Chesnaught and Virizion. Poison Jab also has a 30% chance to poison opposing targets, which could really come in clutch in certain situations. Furthermore, Poison Jab hits opposing swith-ins into Knock Off for super effecitive damage, to the likes of; Florges, Virizion and Chesanught.
- Aqua Tail is to try and take care of Drapion's only weakness, Ground-types. It provides amazing coverage towards its counters and checks, such as Nidoqueen, Gligar, Rhyperior, Mega Camerupt, and Donphan
Set Details
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- Maximum Attack and Speed EVs maximise Drapion's offensive presence.
- Jolly is the mandatory nature in order for Drapion to outspeed base 85 and 90 Speed Pokemon such as Heracross, Rotom, Gardevoir and Roserade.
- Waterium Z provides Drapion with the ability to lure in and OHKO Pokemon that would otherwise check it, such as bulky Ground-types.
- Sniper can be used to power up Drapion's critical hits which can OHKO certain pokemon, to the likes of Doublade and Feraligatr.
- Alternatively, Battle Armor can also be used, preventing Drapion from struck by a critical hit, which can be useful during setting up Swords Dance.
- If there is already another Z-Stone user on your team, Shuca Berry lets Drapion halve damage from a super effective Ground-type attack from the likes of Gligar and Flygon, giving it an opportunity to set up Swords Dance or attack.
- Lum Berry can also be utilised to cure Drapion from a Scald or Will-o-Wisp burn, which could stop a potential sweep.
Usage Tips
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- Drapion can be sent out first to chip away at bulkier hazard setters with Aqua Tail and Knock Off.
- Can also be used late-game to really clean up the game once all of its dominant checks have been eliminated.
- Due to being immune to Toxic, it can set up at ease against bulkier foes, but yet again be cautious of Paralysis, Burns and Foul Play.
- Due to Drapion's extremely underwhelming special Defense, strong special attackers like Salazzle and Shaymin can outpace Drapion and dent it severely with their STAB attacks or super effective coverage moves, so it's advised to not stay in against these types of foes.
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- Shaymin is a notable partner for Drapion, with its ability to take care of of rivalling Ground-types, resisting Ground moves, and being able to hit them super-effectively with it's STAB attacks.
- Cresselia is also worth a good partner due to the fact that it has the ability levitate, and can provide healing wish support.
- Due to its somewhat lacklustre speed stat compared to other sweepers, Sticky Webs are a viable play-style to support its role in sweeping.
- Wallbreakers like Decidueye, Mega Abomasnow, Mold Breaker Pangoro, Roserade, and Ninetales can make nice partners for Drapion, as they can break through walls such as Quagsire, Umbreon, and Milotic.
- Offensive Water-types to the likes of Feraligatr and Cloyster can be utilised well on a team including Drapion, since it can beat common Grass-types like Roserade and Rotom-C. These can beat other Ground-types and pressure Poison-resistances.
- Pokemon that can beat Steel-types are also worthy partners for Drapion, such as; Ground-types to the likes of Flygon and Rhyperior, Fighting-types such as Heracross and Kommo-o and Fire-types like Rotom-Heat and Salazzle.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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- Pursuit is also a viable choice, enabling it to trap opposing mons that are weak to its STAB attacks, some of which are; Mismagius, Espeon, Frosslass and Hoopa. Whereas other common Pursuit trappers tend to fulfil the role better, such as; Sneasel, Honchkrow and Zorark.
- Choice Scarf is additionally a feasible set that can operate somewhat well, allowing it to out run the vast majority of the meta, meaning it can revenge kill frailer mons, namely; Zoroark, Sneasel, Scarf Gardevoir, Salazzle, Virizion and Shaymin. An Adamant nature is recommended with Scarf, enabling it to hit as hard as possible while still out speeding the majority of the meta.
- Ice Fang is a very solid pick on the moveslot, as it enables Drapion to lure in Flygon, which is the only relevant ground type that isn't weak to Aqua Tail.
- Aerial Ace could also be worth a slot, but only on a Choice Scarf set due to the fact that Choice Scarf is the item that Heracross frequently utilises the most. Being able to hit one of the top tier threats quad-effectively can be extremely niche. Although generally seem as a bit of a wasted slot.
- Specially Defensive is another set that could be ran fairly efficiently, with it being able to remove Toxic Spikes upon switch-in and also being able to set them up.
- Or alternatively, Earthquake could be ran over Aqua Tail for Steel-Types, Poison-types and some common Ground-types, but is generally underwhelming compared to Aqua Tail.
Checks and Counters
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**Faster Attackers**: Faster and hard hitting Pokemon can really halt and shut down its presence entirely, for example; Yanmega (at +1), Swellow, Salazzle, Flygon, Durant and Shaymin can both out speed and OHKO Drapion.
**Status Conditions**: Burns can cripple its ability to function as a hard hitter. Paralysis can also be very detrimental, hindering its effectiveness in truly sweeping, lowering its speed by 50%.
**Ground-types**: Even though Aqua Tail is utilised to try and better check Ground-types, some can still take an unboosted Hydro Vortex, like Donphan and Rhyperior and fire back with super-effective STAB Earthquakes.
**Unaware Pokemon**: Quagsire and Pyukumuku can completely shut down Swords Dance Drapion, the former of 2hko'ing it with Earthquake or burning it with Scald and the latter crippling it with Soak + Toxic.
**Pokemon with high Physically Defensive Stats**: Pokemon with sustainable bulk can check Drapion, such as; Mantine and Umbreon and offensive Pokemon with natural high Defence like Cloyster and Tyrantrum can take Drapion's hits and hit back harder.
**Poison-Types**: Poison-types resist one of Drapion's STAB-attacks and can struggle against the likes of Toxicroak and Dragalge if it were lacking the correct coverage. Salazzle and Venusaur in the sun can over overwhelm Drapion with their STAB attacks, coverage moves or cripple it with status infliction.
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