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[OVERVIEW]
With strong STAB moves in Brave Bird and Return, Dodrio is able to threaten a large portion of the BW PU metagame, including the Grass- and Fighting-type threats of the tier like Torterra and Monferno, while its high base 100 Speed allows it to outrun threats such as Swanna and Leafeon. Choice Scarf Dodrio functions as a great late-game cleaner, while Choice Band sets can greatly threaten slower teams and are able to threaten Pokemon like Scraggy even after a few boosts. Unfortunately, Dodrio is incredibly linear, as aside from its STAB attacks, it only sports Pursuit as viable coverage; this means that defensive Pokemon that switch into its attacks such as Klang, Bronzor, and Stunfisk will completely wall Dodrio, while other Pokemon with good defensive stats such as physically defensive Articuno don't mind switching in in a pinch as well. Secondly, Dodrio's main STAB move in Brave Bird causes recoil, which further lessens its already meager longevity when coupled with its weakness to Stealth Rock. Dodrio's dependence on Choice items also makes it extremely prediction reliant, and clicking the wrong move on the wrong turn can turn it into easy setup for the opponent. Finally, while Dodrio's Speed is very good for the tier, it is still slower than Pokemon like Zebstrika and Sneasel, so sets without a Choice Scarf can struggle against these faster foes.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Pursuit / Quick Attack
move 4: Drill Peck / Quick Attack
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Brave Bird and Return are Dodrio's main STAB moves, helping to check Monferno and Torterra while still being able to hit Zebstrika neutrally. Quick Attack is a decently strong priority move to pick off faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Rapidash, weather sweepers like Golduck and Shiftry, and other priority users like Monferno. Pursuit is an option to take advantage of the switches that Dodrio forces against Pokemon like Natu, Jumpluff, and Zebstrika that don't appreciate taking strong Brave Birds. Drill Peck is used as a significantly weaker Flying-type STAB move that can still pick off weakened Pokemon without the recoil of Brave Bird. Steel Wing is Dodrio's only real coverage option and has the niche of hitting Rock-types harder, but is hard to justify using over the utility of the other moves. Tangled Feet is the most useable of Dodrio's abilities, giving it an evasion boost if it gets confused. An Adamant nature is preferred for much-needed power, but a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed opposing Choice Scarf users such as Swanna and Mr. Mime.
Choice Scarf Dodrio functions well as a late-game cleaner, after bulkier Pokemon such as Beheeyem, Mantine, and Frillish have been worn down in range of its attacks. Due to its lack of coverage, Dodrio needs partners that can help deal with the likes of Mawile, Klang, and Stunfisk. Ground-types like Gabite and Torterra fill this role quite nicely while also helping Dodrio against Electric-types such as Zebstrika, and they can also set up Stealth Rock to wear down Dodrio's checks. Dodrio's own susceptibility to Stealth Rock also makes Tentacool and Natu good partners for being able to keep entry hazards off the field, giving Dodrio the ability to switch in more times over longer games. Dodrio also appreciates momentum support from Pokemon like Monferno, Natu, and Zebstrika so that it can more easily switch into the threats that it would like to check.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Pursuit / Drill Peck
item: Choice Band
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
The added power of Choice Band pushes the power of Brave Bird and Return high enough to now OHKO Pokemon like defensive Torterra and most Gabite sets, as well as getting a 2HKO on defensive Pokemon like Pelipper. Quick Attack is preferred on Choice Band Dodrio for its ability to pick off weakened threats with much more reliability. Pursuit is extremely useful to damage opposing Pokemon that would normally be threatened by Dodrio, while Drill Peck can be used as a STAB move without recoil.
Choice Band Dodrio works very well as an early-game wallbreaker, as its high-powered moves can severely weaken even some of its sturdier checks and a strong, well-timed Pursuit can help weaken Pokemon for Dodrio's teammates such as Jumpluff and Zebstrika. Many of the same Pokemon that work well with Choice Scarf Dodrio also work well with its Choice Band set such as Natu, Tentacool, and momentum users. However, Choice Band Dodrio also appreciates some extra support to handle Zebstrika and Sneasel, since it has no chance of outspeeding them normally. Ground-types like Gabite and Torterra work well to help against Zebstrika, with special mention to Stunfisk, as it doesn't have a 4x weakness to Hidden Power Ice. Ice-type checks such as Monferno and defensive Mawile help to keep Sneasel under control. Pokemon like Stunfisk, Dwebble, or Maractus can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes, which can help make Dodrio's attacks guarantee OHKOs on Pokemon like defensive Beheeyem and Audino. Pokemon like Torterra and Scraggy greatly fear Choice Band Dodrio, so Pokemon that can take advantage of them being knocked out like one's own Torterra, Gabite, and Beheeyem make great partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-types**: Though there are few, Steel-types such as Mawile and Klang are not particularly threatened by Dodrio due to its lack of even neutral coverage to hit them with. These two examples can easily switch into Dodrio and either damage it or cripple it with status, while Bronzor and Mawile freely set up Stealth Rock on it. Only an offensive Mawile set is particularly threatened by Choice Band Dodrio, and even then it can usually switch into one Brave Bird and threaten to do a lot of damage back with Sucker Punch.
**Ice-types**: Bulky Articuno doesn't mind switching into Choice Scarf variants of Dodrio, as it can fire back with super effective STAB attacks. Additionally, Sneasel and Choice Scarf Vanilluxe threaten to outspeed and take out Choice Band Dodrio while also being able to scare off Choice Scarf with their powerful Ice Shards.
**Electric-types**: Zebstrika outspeeds and KOes Choice Band Dodrio, while Choice Scarf Dodrio doesn't always KO Zebstrika with Return. Stunfisk in particular counters Dodrio and can freely switch into it, always threatening to paralyze it with Static or almost KO it with Discharge, while Dodrio's moves do fairly little to it.
**Revenge killers**: The recoil damage on Dodrio's main STAB move paired with its mediocre bulk and weakness to Stealth Rock leaves it very open to faster Choice Scarf users like Rapidash as well as priority users like Monferno, Shiftry, and Purugly. These Pokemon, while unable to switch into strong Brave Birds, can easily threaten Dodrio in return after it has knocked out one of their teammates.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[SergioRules, 265399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Akir, 231726], [SBPC, 468904]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Lumari, 232216]]
[OVERVIEW]
With strong STAB moves in Brave Bird and Return, Dodrio is able to threaten a large portion of the BW PU metagame, including the Grass- and Fighting-type threats of the tier like Torterra and Monferno, while its high base 100 Speed allows it to outrun threats such as Swanna and Leafeon. Choice Scarf Dodrio functions as a great late-game cleaner, while Choice Band sets can greatly threaten slower teams and are able to threaten Pokemon like Scraggy even after a few boosts. Unfortunately, Dodrio is incredibly linear, as aside from its STAB attacks, it only sports Pursuit as viable coverage; this means that defensive Pokemon that switch into its attacks such as Klang, Bronzor, and Stunfisk will completely wall Dodrio, while other Pokemon with good defensive stats such as physically defensive Articuno don't mind switching in in a pinch as well. Secondly, Dodrio's main STAB move in Brave Bird causes recoil, which further lessens its already meager longevity when coupled with its weakness to Stealth Rock. Dodrio's dependence on Choice items also makes it extremely prediction reliant, and clicking the wrong move on the wrong turn can turn it into easy setup for the opponent. Finally, while Dodrio's Speed is very good for the tier, it is still slower than Pokemon like Zebstrika and Sneasel, so sets without a Choice Scarf can struggle against these faster foes.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Pursuit / Quick Attack
move 4: Drill Peck / Quick Attack
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Brave Bird and Return are Dodrio's main STAB moves, helping to check Monferno and Torterra while still being able to hit Zebstrika neutrally. Quick Attack is a decently strong priority move to pick off faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Rapidash, weather sweepers like Golduck and Shiftry, and other priority users like Monferno. Pursuit is an option to take advantage of the switches that Dodrio forces against Pokemon like Natu, Jumpluff, and Zebstrika that don't appreciate taking strong Brave Birds. Drill Peck is used as a significantly weaker Flying-type STAB move that can still pick off weakened Pokemon without the recoil of Brave Bird. Steel Wing is Dodrio's only real coverage option and has the niche of hitting Rock-types harder, but is hard to justify using over the utility of the other moves. Tangled Feet is the most useable of Dodrio's abilities, giving it an evasion boost if it gets confused. An Adamant nature is preferred for much-needed power, but a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed opposing Choice Scarf users such as Swanna and Mr. Mime.
Choice Scarf Dodrio functions well as a late-game cleaner, after bulkier Pokemon such as Beheeyem, Mantine, and Frillish have been worn down in range of its attacks. Due to its lack of coverage, Dodrio needs partners that can help deal with the likes of Mawile, Klang, and Stunfisk. Ground-types like Gabite and Torterra fill this role quite nicely while also helping Dodrio against Electric-types such as Zebstrika, and they can also set up Stealth Rock to wear down Dodrio's checks. Dodrio's own susceptibility to Stealth Rock also makes Tentacool and Natu good partners for being able to keep entry hazards off the field, giving Dodrio the ability to switch in more times over longer games. Dodrio also appreciates momentum support from Pokemon like Monferno, Natu, and Zebstrika so that it can more easily switch into the threats that it would like to check.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Return
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Pursuit / Drill Peck
item: Choice Band
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
The added power of Choice Band pushes the power of Brave Bird and Return high enough to now OHKO Pokemon like defensive Torterra and most Gabite sets, as well as getting a 2HKO on defensive Pokemon like Pelipper. Quick Attack is preferred on Choice Band Dodrio for its ability to pick off weakened threats with much more reliability. Pursuit is extremely useful to damage opposing Pokemon that would normally be threatened by Dodrio, while Drill Peck can be used as a STAB move without recoil.
Choice Band Dodrio works very well as an early-game wallbreaker, as its high-powered moves can severely weaken even some of its sturdier checks and a strong, well-timed Pursuit can help weaken Pokemon for Dodrio's teammates such as Jumpluff and Zebstrika. Many of the same Pokemon that work well with Choice Scarf Dodrio also work well with its Choice Band set such as Natu, Tentacool, and momentum users. However, Choice Band Dodrio also appreciates some extra support to handle Zebstrika and Sneasel, since it has no chance of outspeeding them normally. Ground-types like Gabite and Torterra work well to help against Zebstrika, with special mention to Stunfisk, as it doesn't have a 4x weakness to Hidden Power Ice. Ice-type checks such as Monferno and defensive Mawile help to keep Sneasel under control. Pokemon like Stunfisk, Dwebble, or Maractus can set up Stealth Rock or Spikes, which can help make Dodrio's attacks guarantee OHKOs on Pokemon like defensive Beheeyem and Audino. Pokemon like Torterra and Scraggy greatly fear Choice Band Dodrio, so Pokemon that can take advantage of them being knocked out like one's own Torterra, Gabite, and Beheeyem make great partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-types**: Though there are few, Steel-types such as Mawile and Klang are not particularly threatened by Dodrio due to its lack of even neutral coverage to hit them with. These two examples can easily switch into Dodrio and either damage it or cripple it with status, while Bronzor and Mawile freely set up Stealth Rock on it. Only an offensive Mawile set is particularly threatened by Choice Band Dodrio, and even then it can usually switch into one Brave Bird and threaten to do a lot of damage back with Sucker Punch.
**Ice-types**: Bulky Articuno doesn't mind switching into Choice Scarf variants of Dodrio, as it can fire back with super effective STAB attacks. Additionally, Sneasel and Choice Scarf Vanilluxe threaten to outspeed and take out Choice Band Dodrio while also being able to scare off Choice Scarf with their powerful Ice Shards.
**Electric-types**: Zebstrika outspeeds and KOes Choice Band Dodrio, while Choice Scarf Dodrio doesn't always KO Zebstrika with Return. Stunfisk in particular counters Dodrio and can freely switch into it, always threatening to paralyze it with Static or almost KO it with Discharge, while Dodrio's moves do fairly little to it.
**Revenge killers**: The recoil damage on Dodrio's main STAB move paired with its mediocre bulk and weakness to Stealth Rock leaves it very open to faster Choice Scarf users like Rapidash as well as priority users like Monferno, Shiftry, and Purugly. These Pokemon, while unable to switch into strong Brave Birds, can easily threaten Dodrio in return after it has knocked out one of their teammates.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[SergioRules, 265399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Akir, 231726], [SBPC, 468904]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Lumari, 232216]]
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