pancake
movement and location
qc 2/3: Meganerd, yogibears weeb edition
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[OVERVIEW]
Swanna has both a great offensive and defensive typing; it is difficult to switch into and is also a decent check to the many popular Fighting-types like Gurdurr, Primeape and Hitmonchan. It is also a good hazard remover for offensive teams due to its access to Defog. It also has a higher-than-average Speed tier that lets it outspeed threats like Jynx, non-Scarf Primeape and Haunter. Unfortunately, even though Swanna is an effective hazard remover, it is weak to Stealth Rock, which when combined with a Life Orb wears it down quickly. Finally, its Special Attack stat is mediocre, so even with a Life Orb it fails to even 2HKO most defensive Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Offensive Defog
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Scald
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Flyinium Z
ability: Hydration
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hurricane is Swanna's most powerful STAB move; even though it is unreliable, many Flying resists do not take powerful special attacks well so it is worth it. Scald is a much more reliable STAB move which hits the Rock- and Steel-types that resist Hurricane and is able to threaten most physical attackers with its chance to burn. Defog is one of the main reasons to use Swanna; it allows it to support its teammates by removing entry hazards. Stealth Rock, as well as Life Orb if it is used and attackers that Swanna switches into, can wear it down throughout the match. Roost helps with this issue by providing it with reliable recovery.
Set Details
========
Life Orb makes Swanna even harder to switch into than it already is. However, Flyinium Z is an option which gives Swanna access to Supersonic Skystrike, a more reliable and powerful Flying-type move allowing it to be a better check to Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan. Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs are used in order to let Swanna hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Pokemon like Togedemaru, Jynx and Haunter. None of Swanna's abilities are particularly useful; Hydration is helpful in fringe situations against rain teams.
Usage Tips
========
Switch into Pokemon that Swanna threatens or checks, such as Gurdurr, Hitmonchan and Qwilfish in order to use Defog or threaten them with a powerful STAB move. When going for an attacking move against a Pokemon that will definitely switch out, go for the move to which your opponent has the least amount of resists on their team. This will help capitalize on Swanna's hard-to-switch-into STAB moves. However, if your opponent has a Pokemon like Lanturn, Clefairy, or Type: Null that walls Swanna, go for Scald so you can attempt to burn it or double out into a physical attacker who can better handle them. Utilize Roost in order to check Pokemon like Gurdurr throughout the match. However, be careful of using Defog against teams with Primeape, especially if Swanna or your other Fighting-type checks are weakened, as at +2 Scarf Primeape can easily sweep through teams.
Team Options
========
One of Swanna's main functions is to use Defog, so Oricorio-G, Magmortar, Regice and Archeops make good partners. Swanna is a decent offensive check to Fighting-types like Gurdurr, Hitmonchan and Primeape, so Pokemon that appreciate this like Absol, Type: Null and Jynx make decent pairs. Physical wallbreakers like Primeape, Zangoose, and Aggron are good partners because they pressure the specially defensive Pokemon that wall Swanna, including Lanturn, Clefairy and Type: Null. Despite Swanna being a decent check to Fighting-types, it should not be your main check unless your team is very offensive, as it gets worn down very quickly. Therefore, Mesprit, Weezing and Clefairy make good teammates because they take some of the pressure off Swanna. Finally, Electric-types like Eelektross and Lanturn give Swanna a lot of trouble because they can use Volt Switch to gain momentum while easily KOing it, so Pokemon immune to Electric-type moves like Gastrodon or one's own Lanturn make great partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf set is somewhat decent, as it outspeeds Choice Scarf Primeape and Jynx after it uses Z-Lovely Kiss, but the set lacks power and a reliable Flying-type STAB move. A Defensive set with Leftovers could make a better check to Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan, but is significantly weaker. Waterium Z in conjunction with Rain Dance could be used and is a good cleaner, but is rather outclassed by Ludicolo. Substitute is yet another option, but it defeats the purpose of using Swanna, Defog, in some respects. Toxic lets it surprise Pokemon like Musharna and Miltank lacking Heal Bell, but it is hard to give up Roost or Defog.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Lanturn, Clefairy, Type: Null, Musharna, Eelektross and Specially Defensive Miltank aren't 2HKO'd by any of Swanna's moves and they can retaliate with their STAB moves, cripple it with status, or set up with Calm Mind or Swords Dance. Many of them even have recovery, which allows them to ignore even the small bit of damage that Swanna's moves do to them.
**Electric-types**: Alolan Raichu, Manectric, Togedemaru and Oricorio-E make great checks to Swanna. Many of them can't switch in but they can all OHKO Swanna with their STAB moves and the former two can outspeed it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Swanna's Speed tier is good, but not amazing, so it is checked by the faster Pokemon that can OHKO it, like Choice Specs Pyroar and Archeops.
gp 0/2:
[OVERVIEW]
Swanna has both a great offensive and defensive typing; it is difficult to switch into and is also a decent check to the many popular Fighting-types like Gurdurr, Primeape and Hitmonchan. It is also a good hazard remover for offensive teams due to its access to Defog. It also has a higher-than-average Speed tier that lets it outspeed threats like Jynx, non-Scarf Primeape and Haunter. Unfortunately, even though Swanna is an effective hazard remover, it is weak to Stealth Rock, which when combined with a Life Orb wears it down quickly. Finally, its Special Attack stat is mediocre, so even with a Life Orb it fails to even 2HKO most defensive Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Offensive Defog
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Scald
move 3: Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb / Flyinium Z
ability: Hydration
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hurricane is Swanna's most powerful STAB move; even though it is unreliable, many Flying resists do not take powerful special attacks well so it is worth it. Scald is a much more reliable STAB move which hits the Rock- and Steel-types that resist Hurricane and is able to threaten most physical attackers with its chance to burn. Defog is one of the main reasons to use Swanna; it allows it to support its teammates by removing entry hazards. Stealth Rock, as well as Life Orb if it is used and attackers that Swanna switches into, can wear it down throughout the match. Roost helps with this issue by providing it with reliable recovery.
Set Details
========
Life Orb makes Swanna even harder to switch into than it already is. However, Flyinium Z is an option which gives Swanna access to Supersonic Skystrike, a more reliable and powerful Flying-type move allowing it to be a better check to Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan. Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs are used in order to let Swanna hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Pokemon like Togedemaru, Jynx and Haunter. None of Swanna's abilities are particularly useful; Hydration is helpful in fringe situations against rain teams.
Usage Tips
========
Switch into Pokemon that Swanna threatens or checks, such as Gurdurr, Hitmonchan and Qwilfish in order to use Defog or threaten them with a powerful STAB move. When going for an attacking move against a Pokemon that will definitely switch out, go for the move to which your opponent has the least amount of resists on their team. This will help capitalize on Swanna's hard-to-switch-into STAB moves. However, if your opponent has a Pokemon like Lanturn, Clefairy, or Type: Null that walls Swanna, go for Scald so you can attempt to burn it or double out into a physical attacker who can better handle them. Utilize Roost in order to check Pokemon like Gurdurr throughout the match. However, be careful of using Defog against teams with Primeape, especially if Swanna or your other Fighting-type checks are weakened, as at +2 Scarf Primeape can easily sweep through teams.
Team Options
========
One of Swanna's main functions is to use Defog, so Oricorio-G, Magmortar, Regice and Archeops make good partners. Swanna is a decent offensive check to Fighting-types like Gurdurr, Hitmonchan and Primeape, so Pokemon that appreciate this like Absol, Type: Null and Jynx make decent pairs. Physical wallbreakers like Primeape, Zangoose, and Aggron are good partners because they pressure the specially defensive Pokemon that wall Swanna, including Lanturn, Clefairy and Type: Null. Despite Swanna being a decent check to Fighting-types, it should not be your main check unless your team is very offensive, as it gets worn down very quickly. Therefore, Mesprit, Weezing and Clefairy make good teammates because they take some of the pressure off Swanna. Finally, Electric-types like Eelektross and Lanturn give Swanna a lot of trouble because they can use Volt Switch to gain momentum while easily KOing it, so Pokemon immune to Electric-type moves like Gastrodon or one's own Lanturn make great partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Scarf set is somewhat decent, as it outspeeds Choice Scarf Primeape and Jynx after it uses Z-Lovely Kiss, but the set lacks power and a reliable Flying-type STAB move. A Defensive set with Leftovers could make a better check to Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan, but is significantly weaker. Waterium Z in conjunction with Rain Dance could be used and is a good cleaner, but is rather outclassed by Ludicolo. Substitute is yet another option, but it defeats the purpose of using Swanna, Defog, in some respects. Toxic lets it surprise Pokemon like Musharna and Miltank lacking Heal Bell, but it is hard to give up Roost or Defog.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Lanturn, Clefairy, Type: Null, Musharna, Eelektross and Specially Defensive Miltank aren't 2HKO'd by any of Swanna's moves and they can retaliate with their STAB moves, cripple it with status, or set up with Calm Mind or Swords Dance. Many of them even have recovery, which allows them to ignore even the small bit of damage that Swanna's moves do to them.
**Electric-types**: Alolan Raichu, Manectric, Togedemaru and Oricorio-E make great checks to Swanna. Many of them can't switch in but they can all OHKO Swanna with their STAB moves and the former two can outspeed it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Swanna's Speed tier is good, but not amazing, so it is checked by the faster Pokemon that can OHKO it, like Choice Specs Pyroar and Archeops.
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