[SET]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Thunder Punch
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 104 Def / 112 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Due to its stellar Defense stat, Buzzwole is an excellent physical wall that checks a plethora of common physical attackers such as Weavile, Gliscor, Rillaboom, and Garchomp, resisting common offensive types such as Dark, Ground, and Grass. Its high Attack also gives it a great offensive presence with its nearly perfect coverage. Close Combat has the power to vaporize nearly every non-resistant Pokemon. Ice Punch allows Buzzwole to efficiently check Ground-types like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor while threatening possible switch-ins such as Flyinium-Z Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Mega Latios. Meanwhile, Thunder Punch is able to pressure bulky Water-types, such as Slowbro, Tapu Fini, and Toxapex.
The given EV spread lets Buzzwole tank some notable physical hits like +2 boosted Z-moves from Kartana and Weavile, while outspeeding Adamant Tyranitar.
Teammates that appreciate Buzzwole's ability to check Dark-, Grass- and Ground-types such as Weavile, Bisharp, Kartana, and Gliscor, such as Mega Latias, Tyranitar, Tapu Koko, and Heatran, make for stellar teammates. Faster teammates such as Weavile, Tapu Koko, and Mega Lopunny help Buzzwole overwhelm mutual checks such as Toxapex, Tangrowth, and Slowbro. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Blissey, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Slowking are able to handle the likes of Ash-Greninja, Kyurem, and Heatran, which Buzzwole struggles with due to its poor Special Defense. In return, it's able to handle physical attackers such as Kartana, Gliscor, and Zeraora for these Pokemon, creating a potent defensive core. Tapu Fini makes for a particularly fantastic partner, as its Misty Terrain also helps Buzzwole switch into moves that can status it like Scald from Toxapex and Slowbro. Slowbro's and Slowking's Future Sight heightens Buzzwole's offensive capabilities, discouraging the likes of Toxapex, Zapdos, and Clefable from switching into it Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Mega Latias and Gastrodon are able to handle the likes of Mega Charizard Y and Heatran. Psychic-resistant Pokemon like Heatran, Corviknight, and Slowbro can handle the likes of Reuniclus, Tapu Lele, and Mega Medicham, and Fairy-resistant Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Galarian Slowking are good for Tapu Koko, Mega Diancie, and Clefable. Flying-resistant teammates are especially good, as any Flying-type move will threaten to KO Buzzwole. The likes of Tapu Koko, Heatran, Corviknight, and Mega Tyranitar are able to handle opposing Corviknight, Hawlucha, Flyinum-Z Landorus-T, and Zapdos for Buzzwole.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up might seem appealing at first, boosting Buzzwole's already obscenely high Defense and Attack stats even higher. However. this set doesn't solve Buzzwole's poor special bulk and can't run all the coverage moves it wants. A more defensive EV spread can be used, but this doesn't heavily improve any relevant matchups and leaves Buzzwole far more passive. Taunt can be used to prevent the likes of Corviknight, Mega Scizor, and Slowking from healing up on Buzzwole, but it's generally not as useful as an attacking move. Other coverage options such as Earthquake for Toxapex, Galarian Slowking, and Heatran, Leech Life for Reuniclus, Slowbro, and its passive recovery, and Stone Edge for Zapdos and Volcarona are also feasible options. Poison Jab can also be used to threaten Fairy-types like Tapu Fini and Clefable. However, dropping either Ice Punch or Thunder Punch will make Buzzwole much worse against bulky Flying- and Water-types. Drain Punch is also an option, sacrificing offensive prowess for an additional source of recovery, but it notably misses out on the OHKO on Heatran and the 2HKO on Mega Mawile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Due to Buzzwole's incredibly poor Special Defense, special attacks from the likes of Ash-Greninja, Kyurem, Aegislash, and Magnezone are able to seriously threaten it.
**Flying-types**: Buzzwole's crippling weakness to Flying makes it easily scared out by Zapdos, Corviknight, Flyinum Z variants of Landorus-T, and Hawlucha. However, they have a hard time finding opportunities to switch in given Buzzwole's super effective coverage.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Victini all force out Buzzwole with their Fire-type attacks and wall it; bar Mega Charizard Y, which doesn't appreciate switching into Thunder Punch.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele, Mega Latios, Mega Latias, and Reuniclus resist Close Combat and threaten Buzzwole out. The latter two can also set up on Buzzwole. However, the former two cannot switch in safely, as they take a lot from Ice Punch.
**Fairy-types**: The likes of Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Tapu Koko resist Close Combat and force Buzzwole out with their own STAB attacks, although Tapu Fini doesn't like switching into a Thunder Punch. Fighting-neutral Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile and Mega Diancie also threaten Buzzwole but have a much harder time switching in.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Quality checked by: [[The Dragon Master, 521275], [adem, 529732], [Avery, 497633]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Physical Wall
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Ice Punch
move 3: Thunder Punch
move 4: Roost
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 104 Def / 112 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Due to its stellar Defense stat, Buzzwole is an excellent physical wall that checks a plethora of common physical attackers such as Weavile, Gliscor, Rillaboom, and Garchomp, resisting common offensive types such as Dark, Ground, and Grass. Its high Attack also gives it a great offensive presence with its nearly perfect coverage. Close Combat has the power to vaporize nearly every non-resistant Pokemon. Ice Punch allows Buzzwole to efficiently check Ground-types like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Gliscor while threatening possible switch-ins such as Flyinium-Z Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Mega Latios. Meanwhile, Thunder Punch is able to pressure bulky Water-types, such as Slowbro, Tapu Fini, and Toxapex.
The given EV spread lets Buzzwole tank some notable physical hits like +2 boosted Z-moves from Kartana and Weavile, while outspeeding Adamant Tyranitar.
Teammates that appreciate Buzzwole's ability to check Dark-, Grass- and Ground-types such as Weavile, Bisharp, Kartana, and Gliscor, such as Mega Latias, Tyranitar, Tapu Koko, and Heatran, make for stellar teammates. Faster teammates such as Weavile, Tapu Koko, and Mega Lopunny help Buzzwole overwhelm mutual checks such as Toxapex, Tangrowth, and Slowbro. Specially defensive Pokemon such as Blissey, Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Slowking are able to handle the likes of Ash-Greninja, Kyurem, and Heatran, which Buzzwole struggles with due to its poor Special Defense. In return, it's able to handle physical attackers such as Kartana, Gliscor, and Zeraora for these Pokemon, creating a potent defensive core. Tapu Fini makes for a particularly fantastic partner, as its Misty Terrain also helps Buzzwole switch into moves that can status it like Scald from Toxapex and Slowbro. Slowbro's and Slowking's Future Sight heightens Buzzwole's offensive capabilities, discouraging the likes of Toxapex, Zapdos, and Clefable from switching into it Fire-resistant Pokemon such as Mega Latias and Gastrodon are able to handle the likes of Mega Charizard Y and Heatran. Psychic-resistant Pokemon like Heatran, Corviknight, and Slowbro can handle the likes of Reuniclus, Tapu Lele, and Mega Medicham, and Fairy-resistant Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Galarian Slowking are good for Tapu Koko, Mega Diancie, and Clefable. Flying-resistant teammates are especially good, as any Flying-type move will threaten to KO Buzzwole. The likes of Tapu Koko, Heatran, Corviknight, and Mega Tyranitar are able to handle opposing Corviknight, Hawlucha, Flyinum-Z Landorus-T, and Zapdos for Buzzwole.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up might seem appealing at first, boosting Buzzwole's already obscenely high Defense and Attack stats even higher. However. this set doesn't solve Buzzwole's poor special bulk and can't run all the coverage moves it wants. A more defensive EV spread can be used, but this doesn't heavily improve any relevant matchups and leaves Buzzwole far more passive. Taunt can be used to prevent the likes of Corviknight, Mega Scizor, and Slowking from healing up on Buzzwole, but it's generally not as useful as an attacking move. Other coverage options such as Earthquake for Toxapex, Galarian Slowking, and Heatran, Leech Life for Reuniclus, Slowbro, and its passive recovery, and Stone Edge for Zapdos and Volcarona are also feasible options. Poison Jab can also be used to threaten Fairy-types like Tapu Fini and Clefable. However, dropping either Ice Punch or Thunder Punch will make Buzzwole much worse against bulky Flying- and Water-types. Drain Punch is also an option, sacrificing offensive prowess for an additional source of recovery, but it notably misses out on the OHKO on Heatran and the 2HKO on Mega Mawile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Attackers**: Due to Buzzwole's incredibly poor Special Defense, special attacks from the likes of Ash-Greninja, Kyurem, Aegislash, and Magnezone are able to seriously threaten it.
**Flying-types**: Buzzwole's crippling weakness to Flying makes it easily scared out by Zapdos, Corviknight, Flyinum Z variants of Landorus-T, and Hawlucha. However, they have a hard time finding opportunities to switch in given Buzzwole's super effective coverage.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Victini all force out Buzzwole with their Fire-type attacks and wall it; bar Mega Charizard Y, which doesn't appreciate switching into Thunder Punch.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele, Mega Latios, Mega Latias, and Reuniclus resist Close Combat and threaten Buzzwole out. The latter two can also set up on Buzzwole. However, the former two cannot switch in safely, as they take a lot from Ice Punch.
**Fairy-types**: The likes of Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Tapu Koko resist Close Combat and force Buzzwole out with their own STAB attacks, although Tapu Fini doesn't like switching into a Thunder Punch. Fighting-neutral Fairy-types such as Mega Mawile and Mega Diancie also threaten Buzzwole but have a much harder time switching in.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Quality checked by: [[The Dragon Master, 521275], [adem, 529732], [Avery, 497633]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited by a moderator:
