[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Protect
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Forecast
nature: Brave
evs: 248 HP / 112 Atk / 120 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Castform cements itself as a meta-defining threat thanks to its exceptional stats— for the tier— and plethora of coverage moves. It excels as a specially defensive tank can threaten a wide variety of Pokemon. Furthermore, Forecast makes Castform the most reliable answer to teams that use weather, letting automatically resist a majority of their primary moves. Protect allows Castform to scout would-be revenge killers that use Choice Band such as Aipom and Pidgeotto, while also netting recovery from Leftovers. Castform's STAB Double-Edge removes Pokemon that resist its coverage, such as Chinchou and Elekid, while threatening special walls such as Dustox, Delcatty, and Sunflora. Thunderbolt allows Castform to nail Water- and Flying-types such as Horsea, Seaking, and Pidgeotto. Ice Beam enables Castform to threaten Ground- and Grass-types such as Rhyhorn and physically defensive Lileep. Flamethrower is an option to threaten Magnemite, but it requires Castform to forgo Thunderbolt, which limits its effectiveness against rain teams. Castform's EVs allow it to outpace maximum Speed Rhyhorn while still maintaining enough Attack to threaten special attackers such as Growlithe, Elekid, and Seaking. Castform's Special Defense investment allows it to avoid 2HKOs by Seaking, Horsea, and Cyndaquil, and possibly Growlithe with favorable Fire Blast damage.
Castform excels on balance and offensive teams that appreciate an answer to weather or a special sponge. Physical wallbreakers such as Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Tailow appreciate Castform's effectiveness against Elekid. Special attackers such as Growlithe, Elekid, and Staryu enjoy the pressure that Castform puts on special walls like Dustox and Delcatty with Double-Edge. Elekid pairs particularly well with Castform, as it is able to threaten physical wallbreakers such as Aipom and Pidgeotto. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, Castform preforms best with secondary defensive support from Pokemon such as Dustox, Delcatty, and Sunflora. Delcatty provides Castform with recovery in Wish while also keeping it safe from status thanks to Heal Bell. Physically defensive Pokemon such as Lileep, Koffing, and Magnemite prevent Castform from being revenge killed by Aipom, Pidgeotto, or Taillow. Koffing and Castform form a great core, as Koffing can cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, while Castform can tank special attacks for Koffing.
[SET]
name: Weather Boy
move 1: Rain Dance / Sunny Day
move 2: Weather Ball / Fire Blast
move 3: Ice Beam / Solar Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Thunder / Hidden Power Grass
item: Mystic Water / Charcoal / Lum Berry
ability: Forecast
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Castform's exceptional bulk and special attack, fantastic special movepool, and ability in Forecast allow it to function as an excellent weather setter and wallbreaker. Under rain or sun, its boosted STAB move 2HKOes nearly every viable special wall and OHKOes virtually every other neutral target. If it's using Rain Dance, Castform's only viable STAB move is Weather Ball, but if it's using Sunny Day, Castform may use Fire Blast instead, which is strong even outside of sun and still does more damage than Weather Ball in sun at the cost of having an imperfect accuracy. If it's using Rain Dance, Ice Beam is crucial for targeting Grass-types while also threatening Flying- and Ground-types outside of rain. When using Sunny Day, Solar Beam is used instead, as it OHKOes most Rock- and Water-types, which can usually tank a boosted Fire Blast and try to threaten Castform with their STAB moves or status. Castform's moveset is rounded off by Thunderbolt, which threatens opposing Water-types regardless of the weather and is Sunny Day Castform's strongest attack against Flash Fire Growlithe. Rain Dance has the option to instead use Thunder, which is even stronger at the cost of having shaky Accuracy outside of rain, or Hidden Power Grass, which threatens Chinchou, a Pokemon that otherwise resists or is immune to all of Castform's attacks. Mystic Water or Charcoal can be used to augment the power of Castform's STAB move, notably hitting special walls, such as Delcatty and Dustox, harder and 2HKO the rare specially defensive Lileep. A Lum Berry can be used instead to prevent Castform from being crippled by status.
Castform fits best on offensive teams looking for a powerful wallbreaker. Specifically, it is a fantastic option on dedicated weather teams, as it's among their best setters and one of their only answers to the other weather due to Forecast. On dedicated rain teams, Swift Swim users, such as Seaking and Horsea, and Rain setters, such as Voltorb, make great partners. On dedicated sun teams, Chlorophyll users, such as Exeggcute and Sunflora, and sun setters, such as Onix, pair well with Castform. On all types of offensive teams, fast physical threats such as Aipom and Taillow appreciate Castform's ability to break physical walls, while they in return can break through the remainder of the opposing team. Fast physical attackers are also Castform's biggest threat, as they can revenge kill it, so physical tanks and walls, such as Rhyhorn and Nosepass, also make great partners.
[SET]
name: Substitute Special Attacker
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Forecast
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute special attacker Castform is a dangerous special wallbreaker that takes advantage of Castform's ability to force switches to set up a Substitute and further its already immense wallbreaking power. Ice Beam threatens ZU's plethora of Grass-types, notably including Lileep. Thunderbolt, meanwhile, threatens the majority of Water-types while providing solid damage against the Steel- and Fire-types that resist Ice Beam. Both moves handle Flying-types such as Taillow and Pidgeotto. Hidden Power Grass rounds off Castform's coverage by threatening Chinchou while also preventing specially defensive Rhyhorn from attempting to tank a hit and retaliate. Alternatively, Fire Blast can be used to threaten Dustox and Magnemite, which otherwise wall this set.
This set fits best on offensive and balance teams looking for a powerful and bulky special wallbreaker. Special walls that don't fear its coverage, such as Delcatty, wall it completely, so strong physical wallbreakers such as Aipom and Taillow make great partners, and Castform handles the physical walls they dislike in return. If it's running Fire Blast, Grass-types are important partners for their ability to break through Chinchou. Even if Castform is running Hidden Power Grass, it still appreciates their support. Psychic-types are notable partners for their ability to threaten specially defensive Poison-types like Dustox and Grimer, which Castform struggles to break through. Exeggcute is noteworthy for having both Grass- and Psychic-type STAB while also spreading sleep, which makes it easier for Castform to set up a Substitute. Fire-types like Cyndaquil and Growlithe pair well with Castform's coverage and break through Dustox and Magnemite for it, which is essential if it's running Hidden Power Grass. Physical walls and tanks, like Nosepass, Rhyhorn and Lileep, are also greatly appreciated, as faster physical wallbreakers, such as Choice Band Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Taillow, can easily revenge kill Castform, and the former can even survive all of this set's moves when at full HP. Finally, Forecast and Castform's good bulk makes it the best weather answer, and this set's coverage often lets it handle weather sweepers for teams that would otherwise struggle with them.
[SET]
name: Substitute Mixed Attacker
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Leftovers
ability: Forecast
nature: Naughty / Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute mixed attacker Castform is a potent wallbreaker that is capable of threatening both physical and special walls alike. Substitute uses Castform's ability to force switches to set up a Substitute and further its wallbreaking prowess. Return threatens common special walls such as Dustox and Delcatty with a 2HKO. Alternatively, Double-Edge can be used to increase Castorm's damage at the cost of hurting its longevity. Flamethrower threatens Steel-types, such as Magnemite, and physically bulky Grass-types, such as Exeggcute and Bayleef. Hidden Power Grass threatens Rock-types, notably annihilating the exceptionally dangerous Rhyhorn. A Naughty nature allows Castform to increase the power of its STAB moves without compromising its Special Attack or Speed, though at the cost of worsening its matchups against special attackers like Elekid and Staryu. A Lonely nature can be used to check those threats, preserving those matchups at the cost of worsening Castform's matchups against physical attackers like Aipom and Taillow.
Castform best fits on offensive and balance teams that appreciate the wide range of Pokemon it can check. Lileep is the one wall this set cannot threaten at all, and thus Toxic support from the likes of Dustox and Koffing is greatly appreciated. Fast physical attackers, such as Choice Band Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Taillow, can easily outspeed and revenge kill Castform if it's not behind a Substitute, and thus physically defensive Pokemon such as Lileep and Rhyhorn can help Castform fight off these threats. Special walls such as Dustox and Delcatty are also good partners if this Castform is using a Naughty nature, as it's easily put into range of faster special attackers such as Elekid and Staryu. Given this Castform's ability to break through special walls, additional special attackers such as Chinchou and Growlithe form potent offensive cores alongside it. Finally, Forecast lets this Castform check weather sweepers for its team, but it cannot be a team's sole weather check due to its lack of strong coverage, especially if it's running a Naughty nature.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A physical wallbreaker set utilizing Choice Band is an option, though this is largely outclassed by Choice Band Aipom. Toxic can be used to catch potential switch-ins off guard, such as Lileep; however, this means Castform has to forego Protect or one of its coverage options. Castform also has some set-specific options. Castform's Tank set may use Hidden Power Grass to OHKO Rhyhorn, but the coverage of Ice Beam is important to target Lileep. On Substitute mixed attacker Castform, Ice Beam can be used over Hidden Power Grass, as it still 2HKOes Rhyhorn while threatening Lileep with a 3HKO, though Hidden Power Grass OHKOing Rhyhorn is generally more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Status Users**: Pokemon that run status such as Butterfree, Lileep, and Koffing can all severely limit Castform's effectiveness. Toxic discourages Castform from using Double-Edge or Protect and greatly reduces its opportunities to switch in. Will-O-Wisp does the same while also halving Castform's Attack, effectively voiding its capabilities as a tank, since it can no longer threaten special attackers.
**Magnemite**: If Castform lacks Fire-type coverage it cannot threaten Magnemite, which can cripple Castform with a status move or 3HKO it with Thunderbolt.
**Water-types**: If Castform lacks Thunderbolt, it has a harder time dealing with Water-types, such as Seaking, Horsea, and Staryu. Staryu deserves a special mention, as it slowly wears down Castform through its own recoil, healing off Double-Edge damage with Recover. Notably, the lack of Thunderbolt means Horsea can withstand at least one attack from Castform at full HP, which lets it fire off Hydro Pump multiple times.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Pokemon such as Aipom, Taillow, and Pidgeotto outpace Castform and 2HKO it with their STAB moves. If it lacks Ice Beam or Hidden Power Grass, Castform is unable to threaten Rhyhorn. Cubone can KO Castform after the slightest amount of chip, while Castform can only 2HKO with Ice Beam and Double-Edge if Cubone is healthy.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/medeia.312146/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/deezcastforms.423085/
name: Tank
move 1: Protect
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Forecast
nature: Brave
evs: 248 HP / 112 Atk / 120 SpD / 28 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Castform cements itself as a meta-defining threat thanks to its exceptional stats— for the tier— and plethora of coverage moves. It excels as a specially defensive tank can threaten a wide variety of Pokemon. Furthermore, Forecast makes Castform the most reliable answer to teams that use weather, letting automatically resist a majority of their primary moves. Protect allows Castform to scout would-be revenge killers that use Choice Band such as Aipom and Pidgeotto, while also netting recovery from Leftovers. Castform's STAB Double-Edge removes Pokemon that resist its coverage, such as Chinchou and Elekid, while threatening special walls such as Dustox, Delcatty, and Sunflora. Thunderbolt allows Castform to nail Water- and Flying-types such as Horsea, Seaking, and Pidgeotto. Ice Beam enables Castform to threaten Ground- and Grass-types such as Rhyhorn and physically defensive Lileep. Flamethrower is an option to threaten Magnemite, but it requires Castform to forgo Thunderbolt, which limits its effectiveness against rain teams. Castform's EVs allow it to outpace maximum Speed Rhyhorn while still maintaining enough Attack to threaten special attackers such as Growlithe, Elekid, and Seaking. Castform's Special Defense investment allows it to avoid 2HKOs by Seaking, Horsea, and Cyndaquil, and possibly Growlithe with favorable Fire Blast damage.
Castform excels on balance and offensive teams that appreciate an answer to weather or a special sponge. Physical wallbreakers such as Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Tailow appreciate Castform's effectiveness against Elekid. Special attackers such as Growlithe, Elekid, and Staryu enjoy the pressure that Castform puts on special walls like Dustox and Delcatty with Double-Edge. Elekid pairs particularly well with Castform, as it is able to threaten physical wallbreakers such as Aipom and Pidgeotto. Due to its lack of reliable recovery, Castform preforms best with secondary defensive support from Pokemon such as Dustox, Delcatty, and Sunflora. Delcatty provides Castform with recovery in Wish while also keeping it safe from status thanks to Heal Bell. Physically defensive Pokemon such as Lileep, Koffing, and Magnemite prevent Castform from being revenge killed by Aipom, Pidgeotto, or Taillow. Koffing and Castform form a great core, as Koffing can cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, while Castform can tank special attacks for Koffing.
[SET]
name: Weather Boy
move 1: Rain Dance / Sunny Day
move 2: Weather Ball / Fire Blast
move 3: Ice Beam / Solar Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Thunder / Hidden Power Grass
item: Mystic Water / Charcoal / Lum Berry
ability: Forecast
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Castform's exceptional bulk and special attack, fantastic special movepool, and ability in Forecast allow it to function as an excellent weather setter and wallbreaker. Under rain or sun, its boosted STAB move 2HKOes nearly every viable special wall and OHKOes virtually every other neutral target. If it's using Rain Dance, Castform's only viable STAB move is Weather Ball, but if it's using Sunny Day, Castform may use Fire Blast instead, which is strong even outside of sun and still does more damage than Weather Ball in sun at the cost of having an imperfect accuracy. If it's using Rain Dance, Ice Beam is crucial for targeting Grass-types while also threatening Flying- and Ground-types outside of rain. When using Sunny Day, Solar Beam is used instead, as it OHKOes most Rock- and Water-types, which can usually tank a boosted Fire Blast and try to threaten Castform with their STAB moves or status. Castform's moveset is rounded off by Thunderbolt, which threatens opposing Water-types regardless of the weather and is Sunny Day Castform's strongest attack against Flash Fire Growlithe. Rain Dance has the option to instead use Thunder, which is even stronger at the cost of having shaky Accuracy outside of rain, or Hidden Power Grass, which threatens Chinchou, a Pokemon that otherwise resists or is immune to all of Castform's attacks. Mystic Water or Charcoal can be used to augment the power of Castform's STAB move, notably hitting special walls, such as Delcatty and Dustox, harder and 2HKO the rare specially defensive Lileep. A Lum Berry can be used instead to prevent Castform from being crippled by status.
Castform fits best on offensive teams looking for a powerful wallbreaker. Specifically, it is a fantastic option on dedicated weather teams, as it's among their best setters and one of their only answers to the other weather due to Forecast. On dedicated rain teams, Swift Swim users, such as Seaking and Horsea, and Rain setters, such as Voltorb, make great partners. On dedicated sun teams, Chlorophyll users, such as Exeggcute and Sunflora, and sun setters, such as Onix, pair well with Castform. On all types of offensive teams, fast physical threats such as Aipom and Taillow appreciate Castform's ability to break physical walls, while they in return can break through the remainder of the opposing team. Fast physical attackers are also Castform's biggest threat, as they can revenge kill it, so physical tanks and walls, such as Rhyhorn and Nosepass, also make great partners.
[SET]
name: Substitute Special Attacker
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Fire Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Forecast
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute special attacker Castform is a dangerous special wallbreaker that takes advantage of Castform's ability to force switches to set up a Substitute and further its already immense wallbreaking power. Ice Beam threatens ZU's plethora of Grass-types, notably including Lileep. Thunderbolt, meanwhile, threatens the majority of Water-types while providing solid damage against the Steel- and Fire-types that resist Ice Beam. Both moves handle Flying-types such as Taillow and Pidgeotto. Hidden Power Grass rounds off Castform's coverage by threatening Chinchou while also preventing specially defensive Rhyhorn from attempting to tank a hit and retaliate. Alternatively, Fire Blast can be used to threaten Dustox and Magnemite, which otherwise wall this set.
This set fits best on offensive and balance teams looking for a powerful and bulky special wallbreaker. Special walls that don't fear its coverage, such as Delcatty, wall it completely, so strong physical wallbreakers such as Aipom and Taillow make great partners, and Castform handles the physical walls they dislike in return. If it's running Fire Blast, Grass-types are important partners for their ability to break through Chinchou. Even if Castform is running Hidden Power Grass, it still appreciates their support. Psychic-types are notable partners for their ability to threaten specially defensive Poison-types like Dustox and Grimer, which Castform struggles to break through. Exeggcute is noteworthy for having both Grass- and Psychic-type STAB while also spreading sleep, which makes it easier for Castform to set up a Substitute. Fire-types like Cyndaquil and Growlithe pair well with Castform's coverage and break through Dustox and Magnemite for it, which is essential if it's running Hidden Power Grass. Physical walls and tanks, like Nosepass, Rhyhorn and Lileep, are also greatly appreciated, as faster physical wallbreakers, such as Choice Band Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Taillow, can easily revenge kill Castform, and the former can even survive all of this set's moves when at full HP. Finally, Forecast and Castform's good bulk makes it the best weather answer, and this set's coverage often lets it handle weather sweepers for teams that would otherwise struggle with them.
[SET]
name: Substitute Mixed Attacker
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Return / Double-Edge
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Leftovers
ability: Forecast
nature: Naughty / Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute mixed attacker Castform is a potent wallbreaker that is capable of threatening both physical and special walls alike. Substitute uses Castform's ability to force switches to set up a Substitute and further its wallbreaking prowess. Return threatens common special walls such as Dustox and Delcatty with a 2HKO. Alternatively, Double-Edge can be used to increase Castorm's damage at the cost of hurting its longevity. Flamethrower threatens Steel-types, such as Magnemite, and physically bulky Grass-types, such as Exeggcute and Bayleef. Hidden Power Grass threatens Rock-types, notably annihilating the exceptionally dangerous Rhyhorn. A Naughty nature allows Castform to increase the power of its STAB moves without compromising its Special Attack or Speed, though at the cost of worsening its matchups against special attackers like Elekid and Staryu. A Lonely nature can be used to check those threats, preserving those matchups at the cost of worsening Castform's matchups against physical attackers like Aipom and Taillow.
Castform best fits on offensive and balance teams that appreciate the wide range of Pokemon it can check. Lileep is the one wall this set cannot threaten at all, and thus Toxic support from the likes of Dustox and Koffing is greatly appreciated. Fast physical attackers, such as Choice Band Aipom, Pidgeotto, and Taillow, can easily outspeed and revenge kill Castform if it's not behind a Substitute, and thus physically defensive Pokemon such as Lileep and Rhyhorn can help Castform fight off these threats. Special walls such as Dustox and Delcatty are also good partners if this Castform is using a Naughty nature, as it's easily put into range of faster special attackers such as Elekid and Staryu. Given this Castform's ability to break through special walls, additional special attackers such as Chinchou and Growlithe form potent offensive cores alongside it. Finally, Forecast lets this Castform check weather sweepers for its team, but it cannot be a team's sole weather check due to its lack of strong coverage, especially if it's running a Naughty nature.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A physical wallbreaker set utilizing Choice Band is an option, though this is largely outclassed by Choice Band Aipom. Toxic can be used to catch potential switch-ins off guard, such as Lileep; however, this means Castform has to forego Protect or one of its coverage options. Castform also has some set-specific options. Castform's Tank set may use Hidden Power Grass to OHKO Rhyhorn, but the coverage of Ice Beam is important to target Lileep. On Substitute mixed attacker Castform, Ice Beam can be used over Hidden Power Grass, as it still 2HKOes Rhyhorn while threatening Lileep with a 3HKO, though Hidden Power Grass OHKOing Rhyhorn is generally more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Status Users**: Pokemon that run status such as Butterfree, Lileep, and Koffing can all severely limit Castform's effectiveness. Toxic discourages Castform from using Double-Edge or Protect and greatly reduces its opportunities to switch in. Will-O-Wisp does the same while also halving Castform's Attack, effectively voiding its capabilities as a tank, since it can no longer threaten special attackers.
**Magnemite**: If Castform lacks Fire-type coverage it cannot threaten Magnemite, which can cripple Castform with a status move or 3HKO it with Thunderbolt.
**Water-types**: If Castform lacks Thunderbolt, it has a harder time dealing with Water-types, such as Seaking, Horsea, and Staryu. Staryu deserves a special mention, as it slowly wears down Castform through its own recoil, healing off Double-Edge damage with Recover. Notably, the lack of Thunderbolt means Horsea can withstand at least one attack from Castform at full HP, which lets it fire off Hydro Pump multiple times.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Pokemon such as Aipom, Taillow, and Pidgeotto outpace Castform and 2HKO it with their STAB moves. If it lacks Ice Beam or Hidden Power Grass, Castform is unable to threaten Rhyhorn. Cubone can KO Castform after the slightest amount of chip, while Castform can only 2HKO with Ice Beam and Double-Edge if Cubone is healthy.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/medeia.312146/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sabelette.583793/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/deezcastforms.423085/
Last edited:
