[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dual Wingbeat
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Knock Off / Rock Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Defeatist
nature: Jolly / Naive
evs: 76 HP / 180 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Archen finds a niche as a cleaner and offensive pivot, outspeeding the unboosted metagame and posing a major threat with its ability to capitalize on forced switches. Dual Wingbeat is especially threatening due to the potency of Flying STAB in LC, and it also breaks Focus Sash from Abra and Diglett. Earthquake hits Flying-resistant foes like Pawniard, Onix, and Tyrunt and bulky walls such as Koffing and Mareanie. U-turn allows Archen to take advantage of forced switches or pivot on would-be checks. Knock Off helps Archen break down defensive Pokemon such as Porygon and Ferroseed, while Rock Blast hits Larvesta without risking a Flame Body burn and also breaks through Focus Sash Abra.
Choice Scarf Archen should clean or sweep weakened foes late-game, coming onto the field via slow pivoting or as a revenge killer. This set should also utilize U-turn and Knock Off to accumulate chip damage on forced switch-ins. Due to Defeatist, Choice Scarf Archen mandates entry hazard control, such as Rapid Spin from Drilbur or Staryu, to pivot freely. Magic Bounce Natu provides secondary insurance against hazards and checks Ferroseed. Mienfoo and Grookey help prevent hazards by checking Steel-types like Ferroseed and Pawniard. Archen appreciates Koffing and Larvesta keeping threatening priority attacks from Grookey, Timburr, and Pawniard in check. In turn, Archen can help break down opposing Koffing. Pivoting from Mienfoo, Grookey, Larvesta, and Porygon helps Archen enter the field safely. Trappers like Diglett and Trapinch can beat Stealth Rock setters and Flying-type checks such as Pawniard and Onix. Archen pairs well with strong special attackers like Porygon and Abra to overwhelm Steel-type switch-ins.
[SET]
name: Berry Juice
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Acrobatics / Dual Wingbeat
move 3: Earthquake / Heat Wave / Protect
move 4: Substitute
item: Berry Juice
ability: Defeatist
nature: Jolly / Naive
evs: 180 Atk / 4 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Berry Juice Archen capitalizes on Archen's ability to force switches by becoming a dangerous wallbreaker. Head Smash is very powerful but has recoil; recoil can activate Berry Juice for Acrobatics, but it can also put Archen into Defeatist range. Acrobatics synergizes with Berry Juice and has higher damage output, but Dual Wingbeat deals more immediate damage and breaks Focus Sash. Earthquake deals solid damage to Flying-resistant foes like Pawniard, Onix, and Tyrunt. Heat Wave allows Archen to beat Ferroseed while providing mid-ground coverage for Pawniard and Magnemite. Protect blocks Fake Out from Mienfoo and First Impression from Trapinch, stalls out Grassy Terrain turns against Grookey, and punishes High Jump Kick from Mienfoo. Substitute allows Archen to capitalize on forced switches, avoid status moves and Sucker Punch from Pawniard, and threaten faster offensive threats like Diglett, Abra, and Staryu while also synergizing with Berry Juice.
Pivoting, specifically from Mienfoo and Grookey, is important for Berry Juice Archen to set up on switch-ins such as Larvesta and Foongus. In turn, Archen helps break down Koffing, but be careful with Grassy Terrain decreasing the power of Earthquake. Berry Juice Archen is limited by Stealth Rock and appreciates entry hazard control from Drilbur, Staryu, and Natu. Koffing checks strong priority from Grookey and Timburr. Mienfoo, Grookey, and Larvesta can check and remove Pawniard. Larvesta also deters and punishes Grookey and Pawniard with Flame Body. Trappers like Diglett and Trapinch can trap Stealth Rock setters and Flying-type checks such as Pawniard and Onix. Strong special attackers like Abra and Porygon appreciate Berry Juice Archen's ability to help break through Steel-types.
Other Options
=============
Archen can lure in Ground- and Rock-type switch-ins and hit them with Aqua Tail, OHKOing non-Sturdy Onix and punishing Mudbray, though these foes are less common. Rock Tomb punishes forced switches for Archen's teammates. Stealth Rock and Defog can be used on forced switches, but Archen matches up poorly against Rapid Spin Drilbur and Staryu and prefers to wallbreak.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Rock-, Steel-, and Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Onix, Pawniard, and Mudbray can switch into Archen's STAB moves and KO it, but they must be wary of its coverage options.
**Priority Users**: Priority users such as Grookey, Timber, and Pawniard can limit Archen's effectiveness by putting it into Defeatist range. Grookey in particular threatens to OHKO Archen with Grassy Glide after Stealth Rock.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Naturally faster Pokemon such as Abra, Staryu, and Diglett; Choice Scarf users like Mienfoo, Magnemite, and Porygon; and +1 Carvanha, Tyrunt, and Ponyta outspeed and threaten non-Choice Scarf Archen.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zeroouttathere, 519108]]
- Quality checked by: [[DC, 4499901], [San Tomas, 255030]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 4499901], [P Squared, 168392]]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dual Wingbeat
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Knock Off / Rock Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Defeatist
nature: Jolly / Naive
evs: 76 HP / 180 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Archen finds a niche as a cleaner and offensive pivot, outspeeding the unboosted metagame and posing a major threat with its ability to capitalize on forced switches. Dual Wingbeat is especially threatening due to the potency of Flying STAB in LC, and it also breaks Focus Sash from Abra and Diglett. Earthquake hits Flying-resistant foes like Pawniard, Onix, and Tyrunt and bulky walls such as Koffing and Mareanie. U-turn allows Archen to take advantage of forced switches or pivot on would-be checks. Knock Off helps Archen break down defensive Pokemon such as Porygon and Ferroseed, while Rock Blast hits Larvesta without risking a Flame Body burn and also breaks through Focus Sash Abra.
Choice Scarf Archen should clean or sweep weakened foes late-game, coming onto the field via slow pivoting or as a revenge killer. This set should also utilize U-turn and Knock Off to accumulate chip damage on forced switch-ins. Due to Defeatist, Choice Scarf Archen mandates entry hazard control, such as Rapid Spin from Drilbur or Staryu, to pivot freely. Magic Bounce Natu provides secondary insurance against hazards and checks Ferroseed. Mienfoo and Grookey help prevent hazards by checking Steel-types like Ferroseed and Pawniard. Archen appreciates Koffing and Larvesta keeping threatening priority attacks from Grookey, Timburr, and Pawniard in check. In turn, Archen can help break down opposing Koffing. Pivoting from Mienfoo, Grookey, Larvesta, and Porygon helps Archen enter the field safely. Trappers like Diglett and Trapinch can beat Stealth Rock setters and Flying-type checks such as Pawniard and Onix. Archen pairs well with strong special attackers like Porygon and Abra to overwhelm Steel-type switch-ins.
[SET]
name: Berry Juice
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Acrobatics / Dual Wingbeat
move 3: Earthquake / Heat Wave / Protect
move 4: Substitute
item: Berry Juice
ability: Defeatist
nature: Jolly / Naive
evs: 180 Atk / 4 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Berry Juice Archen capitalizes on Archen's ability to force switches by becoming a dangerous wallbreaker. Head Smash is very powerful but has recoil; recoil can activate Berry Juice for Acrobatics, but it can also put Archen into Defeatist range. Acrobatics synergizes with Berry Juice and has higher damage output, but Dual Wingbeat deals more immediate damage and breaks Focus Sash. Earthquake deals solid damage to Flying-resistant foes like Pawniard, Onix, and Tyrunt. Heat Wave allows Archen to beat Ferroseed while providing mid-ground coverage for Pawniard and Magnemite. Protect blocks Fake Out from Mienfoo and First Impression from Trapinch, stalls out Grassy Terrain turns against Grookey, and punishes High Jump Kick from Mienfoo. Substitute allows Archen to capitalize on forced switches, avoid status moves and Sucker Punch from Pawniard, and threaten faster offensive threats like Diglett, Abra, and Staryu while also synergizing with Berry Juice.
Pivoting, specifically from Mienfoo and Grookey, is important for Berry Juice Archen to set up on switch-ins such as Larvesta and Foongus. In turn, Archen helps break down Koffing, but be careful with Grassy Terrain decreasing the power of Earthquake. Berry Juice Archen is limited by Stealth Rock and appreciates entry hazard control from Drilbur, Staryu, and Natu. Koffing checks strong priority from Grookey and Timburr. Mienfoo, Grookey, and Larvesta can check and remove Pawniard. Larvesta also deters and punishes Grookey and Pawniard with Flame Body. Trappers like Diglett and Trapinch can trap Stealth Rock setters and Flying-type checks such as Pawniard and Onix. Strong special attackers like Abra and Porygon appreciate Berry Juice Archen's ability to help break through Steel-types.
Other Options
=============
Archen can lure in Ground- and Rock-type switch-ins and hit them with Aqua Tail, OHKOing non-Sturdy Onix and punishing Mudbray, though these foes are less common. Rock Tomb punishes forced switches for Archen's teammates. Stealth Rock and Defog can be used on forced switches, but Archen matches up poorly against Rapid Spin Drilbur and Staryu and prefers to wallbreak.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Rock-, Steel-, and Ground-types**: Pokemon such as Onix, Pawniard, and Mudbray can switch into Archen's STAB moves and KO it, but they must be wary of its coverage options.
**Priority Users**: Priority users such as Grookey, Timber, and Pawniard can limit Archen's effectiveness by putting it into Defeatist range. Grookey in particular threatens to OHKO Archen with Grassy Glide after Stealth Rock.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Naturally faster Pokemon such as Abra, Staryu, and Diglett; Choice Scarf users like Mienfoo, Magnemite, and Porygon; and +1 Carvanha, Tyrunt, and Ponyta outspeed and threaten non-Choice Scarf Archen.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zeroouttathere, 519108]]
- Quality checked by: [[DC, 4499901], [San Tomas, 255030]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 4499901], [P Squared, 168392]]
Last edited:
