OU Kartana [QC 2/2] [GP 1/1]

Though it looks like it would fold to any special attack, the paper sword Kartana has seen a surge in viability recently, especially proving successful in Smogon's first-ever Snake Tournament. Its claims to fame are an insane base 181 Attack and its ability to set up on OU's most common defensive Pokemon, including defensive Landorus-T and Toxapex, with Substitute and Swords Dance. Kartana also has a few other options in Defog for utility, Choice Scarf to act as a revenge killer, and Black Hole Eclipse for certain switch-ins.

Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 8 HP / 188 Atk / 60 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword

With Substitute and Swords Dance, Kartana can use Ferrothorn, Toxapex, defensive Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Mega Sableye as setup bait. Unboosted Kartana can be easy to wall, but at +2, Leaf Blade does huge damage to neutral targets; Sacred Sword OHKOes Kyurem-B; and All-Out Pummeling even OHKOes foes that resist it like Volcarona and, most of the time, Mega Charizard Y. Make sure to utilize Beast Boost to grab a +1 whenever possible! The bulk EVs ensure Toxapex's Scald cannot break Kartana's Substitutes. Finally, support from slow pivots and hazard removers is greatly appreciated to ease Kartana's setup.

Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike / Defog

A more standard sweeping set is also effective, as Kartana's good defensive typing and Defense stat still give it many opportunities to set up. Beast Boost means Swords Dance Kartana is incredibly difficult to stop once it gets started. Fightinium Z + Sacred Sword allows Kartana to break through Pokemon that can easily take its STAB moves such as Celesteela, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor. At +2, it even OHKOes Volcarona without risking a Flame Body burn. Kartana also forces out hazard setters like defensive Landorus-T and Ferrothorn, so if your team appreciates the role compression, it can run Defog. Alternatively, Darkinium Z + Night Slash can help against foes like Zapdos and Mega Venusaur.

While Kartana's Grass / Steel typing lets it threaten many metagame staples, it also leaves Kartana walled by Pokemon such as Zapdos and Mega Charizard Y unless it has the appropriate Z-Move at its disposal. Additionally, its base 31 Special Defense means it is easily revenge killed by faster special attackers and cannot set up on virtually any special attacker. Despite this, Kartana is still a powerful threat in OU—get out there and give it a try!
 
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GMars

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I'd mention Beast Boost earlier, in the line "Its above-average Speed tier and ability, Beast Boost, allow it to function as a volatile revenge killer and late-game cleaner with a Choice Scarf..."

Mega Mawile often runs Fire Fang, and Tapu Bulu's Superpower can deal a massive chunk to Kartana if it risks staying in. I'd change these two mentions to more reliable setup targets like Tapu Fini and Ferrothorn, or even Mimikyu

Swap the Magnezone and Ferrothorn mentions in the Fightinium Z sentence w/ Mega Scizor, since Kartana only needs SD to beat magnezone and ferro

add in a qualifier in the "preventing it from setting up on any special attacker" line, like "preventing it from setting up on virtually any special attacker", since Kartana can set up on Tapu Fini

QC 1/2


 
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Gary

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With a Choice Scarf, Kartana can fully take advantage of its great Speed tier to act as a revenge killer for threatening Pokemon such as Keldeo, Adamant Mega Swampert under rain, non-Choice Scarf Greninja, Ash-Greninja, and Alolan Ninetales.
Alolan Ninetales isn't really considered a threat because it's a team supporter, so I would change this to something like Mega Diancie.

while Sacred Sword is its best option for the bulky Steel-types that can easily switch into it otherwise such as Heatran and Mega Scizor.
Mega Scizor isn't a really good example, because it can still switch into Scared Sword pretty comfortably because of its bulk. Ferrothorn is probably a better example, cause it resists both STABs.

  • Although it sounds odd mention Giga Impact in the set details of Scarf, as an alternative to Aerial Ace for its ability to almost always OHKO Volcarona from full, as well as Zard-Y which it can't touch otherwise.
  • You mention how Fightinium Z can help it break through certain Pokemon, but some of those you mentioned such as Zone and Ferrothorn, are already nailed by a +2 Sacred Sword regardless (Gmars also already pointed that out in his check so you probably missed it). It's important to point out what exactly makes Fightinium Z so appealing. You mentioned Skarm and Steela which is fine, but also mention Mega Scizor and Volcarona (yes that dies to a +2 All Out Pummeling, and doesn't risk the burn due to no contact).
Make sure you double check both Gmars' and this check to make sure you didn't miss anything again.

QC 2/2
 

GMars

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Great job dbw
Between its decent Speed, ridiculously high Attack stat, and access to Swords Dance, the paper sword Kartana has made a huge splash in the OU metagame. Its above-average Speed tier and ability Beast Boost allows allow it to function as a volatile revenge killer and late-game cleaner with a Choice Scarf, while Swords Dance sets are also an option options to break bulkier teams thanks to Kartana's amazing power and great Defense stat. These many good traits are backed up by a decent Grass / Steel typing that allows Kartana to set up on and threaten pressure many common threats [threaten many common threats sounds a bit odd with the repetition, feel free to use any other change between threaten and threats] such as Mega Scizor, Tapu Fini, and Ferrothorn, making Kartana a force to be reckoned with in SM OU.

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Aerial Ace / Defog

With a Choice Scarf, Kartana can fully take advantage of its great Speed tier to act as a revenge killer for against [optional, for sounds a bit like these pokemon would be kartana's teammates] threatening Pokemon such as Keldeo, Adamant Mega Swampert under rain, non-Choice Scarf Greninja, Ash-Greninja, and Mega Diancie. Leaf Blade and Smart Strike are Kartana's best STAB options and hit most of the metagame neutrally, while Sacred Sword is its best option for the bulky Steel-types that can easily switch into it otherwise such as Heatran and Ferrothorn. Aerial Ace may seem like an odd option, but it allows Kartana to revenge kill a slightly weakened +1 Volcarona. Giga Impact can also be placed into the last slot, as it provides more reliability in taking care of Volcarona while also OHKOing Mega Charizard Y after a small amount of chip damage, which can otherwise switch in freely. However, it has the drawback of coming with a recharge turn. If Volcarona is not an issue, Defog can be used, as it provides excellent role compression between revenge killing and removing hazards.

Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword

Kartana can also run a Swords Dance set because of its amazing Attack stat, (RC) as well as its good defensive typing and Defense stat, which give it many opportunities to set up. Thanks to Beast Boost, Swords Dance Kartana is also incredibly difficult to stop [consider adding the word "defensively" here, since SD kartana is prone to being revenge killed] once it gets started. Such a set almost always runs Fightinium Z because in combination with Sacred Sword, this allows Kartana to break through Pokemon that can easily take its STAB moves such as Celesteela, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor. At +2, it also OHKOes Volcarona without risking a Flame Body burn.

Kartana is not, however, without its flaws. While its Grass / Steel typing lets it threaten many metagame staples, it also leaves it Kartana walled by Pokemon such as Zapdos and Mega Charizard Y. Additionally, its base 31 Special Defense stat leaves much to be desired, preventing it from setting up on virtually any special attacker. Despite this, Kartana is still a powerful threat in OU, (RC)—(Add mdash, no spaces between OU, the mdash, and get)get out there and give it a try!

GP 1/1
 
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