[OVERVIEW]
Fraxure is a Pokemon that finds itself outclassed on multiple fronts in PU. Fraxure has Dragon Dance to be an endgame sweeper, but doesn't have the Speed to sweep after just one boost and it runs into immediate competition from other sweepers like Huntail. Fraxure could also use a Choice Band to wallbreak, but lack of Earthquake and awkward Speed means that Gabite is immediately the better option. Fraxure does have one unique niche: Taunt and Swords Dance allows Fraxure to break stall decently well, but Fraxure's limited coverage and subpar Speed means that it struggles to accomplish much outside of the stall matchup.
[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 4: Superpower
item: Eviolite
ability: Mold Breaker / Unnerve
nature: Adamant
evs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Fraxure to boost its Attack enough to break through walls while Taunt stops all disruption besides basic attacks. Fraxure's EV spread and Eviolite also plays into this, allowing Fraxure to outspeed uninvested base 70 Pokemon like Natu with the rest invested into HP to easily take plenty of hits from the Taunted walls. Dragon Claw is the chosen STAB option solely due to the lack of downsides while still achieving multiple 2HKOs on threats like Frillish after one Swords Dance. Outrage is significantly stronger than Dragon Claw and achieves multiple 2HKOs on high value targets like Machoke or Torterra and possible OHKOs on Frillish after Stealth Rock with only one Swords Dance, but locking into Outrage only invites in a Klang or Bronzor that Fraxure cannot Taunt until Outrage is done. One last thing to consider while choosing the STAB option is to keep in mind that Fraxure with Taunt is sometimes able to perform another Swords Dance and make Dragon Claw just as powerful as Outrage in the same amount of time Fraxure spends being locked into Outrage. Superpower is the preferred coverage option for hitting Steel-types like Klang while also surprising other walls like Audino that take super-effective damage from it. Mold Breaker would be great if Fraxure had Earthquake but now only has use for breaking through Sturdy, whereas Unnerve can also be used for blocking potential Berry activations but those are very rare; so both options come down to personal preference as they have very low impact most of the time.
Fraxure belongs on teams that value breaking down defensive cores extremely highly, so teammates that can utilize destroyed walls like Huntail or Zebstrika are excellent choices. Fraxure also sometimes relies on Stealth Rock damage to achieve some 2HKOs, so Pokemon that can reliably set Stealth Rock like Bronzor or Stunfisk are helpful. Fraxure is also weak to Ice-type and Dragon-type attacks, so Bronzor in particular can make an excellent pick for a partner. Klang also can be a great alternative thanks to Fraxure really appreicating the slow Volt Switch to bring in Fraxure safely. Fraxure also hosts some interesting resistances to Fire, Water, and Electric, making for some interesting defensive synergy with Pokemon like Maractus, Monferno, and Swanna that really appreciate having a Pokemon soak up some of those hits even though Fraxure would prefer not to.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Fraxure is a Pokemon that finds itself outclassed on multiple fronts in PU. Fraxure has Dragon Dance to be an endgame sweeper, but doesn't have the Speed to sweep after just one boost and it runs into immediate competition from other sweepers like Huntail. Fraxure could also use a Choice Band to wallbreak, but lack of Earthquake and awkward Speed means that Gabite is immediately the better option. Fraxure does have one unique niche: Taunt and Swords Dance allows Fraxure to break stall decently well, but Fraxure's limited coverage and subpar Speed means that it struggles to accomplish much outside of the stall matchup.
[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Dragon Claw / Outrage
move 4: Superpower
item: Eviolite
ability: Mold Breaker / Unnerve
nature: Adamant
evs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance allows Fraxure to boost its Attack enough to break through walls while Taunt stops all disruption besides basic attacks. Fraxure's EV spread and Eviolite also plays into this, allowing Fraxure to outspeed uninvested base 70 Pokemon like Natu with the rest invested into HP to easily take plenty of hits from the Taunted walls. Dragon Claw is the chosen STAB option solely due to the lack of downsides while still achieving multiple 2HKOs on threats like Frillish after one Swords Dance. Outrage is significantly stronger than Dragon Claw and achieves multiple 2HKOs on high value targets like Machoke or Torterra and possible OHKOs on Frillish after Stealth Rock with only one Swords Dance, but locking into Outrage only invites in a Klang or Bronzor that Fraxure cannot Taunt until Outrage is done. One last thing to consider while choosing the STAB option is to keep in mind that Fraxure with Taunt is sometimes able to perform another Swords Dance and make Dragon Claw just as powerful as Outrage in the same amount of time Fraxure spends being locked into Outrage. Superpower is the preferred coverage option for hitting Steel-types like Klang while also surprising other walls like Audino that take super-effective damage from it. Mold Breaker would be great if Fraxure had Earthquake but now only has use for breaking through Sturdy, whereas Unnerve can also be used for blocking potential Berry activations but those are very rare; so both options come down to personal preference as they have very low impact most of the time.
Fraxure belongs on teams that value breaking down defensive cores extremely highly, so teammates that can utilize destroyed walls like Huntail or Zebstrika are excellent choices. Fraxure also sometimes relies on Stealth Rock damage to achieve some 2HKOs, so Pokemon that can reliably set Stealth Rock like Bronzor or Stunfisk are helpful. Fraxure is also weak to Ice-type and Dragon-type attacks, so Bronzor in particular can make an excellent pick for a partner. Klang also can be a great alternative thanks to Fraxure really appreicating the slow Volt Switch to bring in Fraxure safely. Fraxure also hosts some interesting resistances to Fire, Water, and Electric, making for some interesting defensive synergy with Pokemon like Maractus, Monferno, and Swanna that really appreciate having a Pokemon soak up some of those hits even though Fraxure would prefer not to.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Last edited: