[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Poison Jab
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Crunch
item: Choice Band
ability: Sniper
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Drapion's small niche lies primarily in a powerful and spammable Knock Off, a useful Speed tier, and a decent defensive typing that lets it soft check Zarude and Galarian Slowbro. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Cobalion, Steelix, and Klefki and Rock-types like Diancie and Stakataka. Crunch hits Pokemon that have already lost their item from Knock Off for more consistent damage, which is useful for Pokemon that can recover off the initial Knock Off damage like Galarian Slowbro and Milotic. Aqua Tail can be used instead to safely 2HKO Rhyperior. A Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed Guts Heracross and Roserade while Speed tying with non-Choice Scarf Darmanitan and Obstagoon, although an Adamant nature can be used on teams with Spikes to OHKO non-Colbur Berry Galarian Slowbro, 2HKO Steelix, and require less chip to OHKO Rhyperior if running Aqua Tail. Choice Band Drapion can capitalize on critical hits because it has more opportunities to come in and attack immediately, which makes Sniper optimal.
Drapion should be paired with Pokemon that can capitalize on it removing items from the opposing team. Consistent entry hazard setters such as Metagross, Diancie, and Roserade synergize well with Drapion removing items from its switch-ins like Steelix, Crobat, and Milotic. Pivots like Raikou and Milotic can allow Drapion to take advantage of Pokemon like Porygon2 and Zarude. Although Drapion's defensive typing lets it check several Pokemon in a pinch, it is not a sufficient long-term answer, so other checks to Zarude, Roserade, and Galarian Slowbro are necessary. These could include Pokemon like Togekiss, Metagross, and Alolan Marowak. Similarly, sweepers such as Mimikyu and Zygarde-10% can clean after Drapion has weakened the opposing team. Ground-resistant Pokemon like Golisopod, bulky Togekiss, and Dhelmise are necessary counterplay to Zygarde-10%.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Earthquake
item: Lum Berry / Shuca Berry
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Drapion can use its good defensive typing to set up on the likes of Roserade, Zarude, and Galarian Slowbro and attempt to wallbreak through the opposing team. Earthquake is used to hit Steel- and Rock-types like Cobalion, Steelix, and Diancie. Aqua Tail maintains coverage on Diancie and Steelix and OHKOes Rhyperior at +2 after some chip, but it misses out on Steel-types like Cobalion. Lum Berry is preferred to safely set up on Galarian Slowbro and other status users like Togekiss and Milotic. Shuca Berry can be used instead to consistently beat Steelix and prevent Zygarde-10% from revenge killing Drapion. Battle Armor is preferred because Swords Dance Drapion tends to take hits while setting up.
Other wallbreakers such as Choice Band Metagross and Zygarde-10% can take advantage of Drapion weakening the opposing team and potentially clean with Bullet Punch and Thousand Arrows. Spikes setters like Golisopod and Klefki can weaken Lum Berry Drapion's primary checks in Ground-types such as Steelix and Rhyperior. Pokemon that are walled by Milotic and Galarian Slowbro like Darmanitan and Choice Scarf Gardevoir appreciate Lum Berry Drapion taking advantage of these Pokemon. Similarly, Shuca Berry variants should be paired with Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tyrantrum and Xurkitree that appreciate Drapion luring Ground-types. Pivots such as Zarude and Milotic allow Drapion to take advantage of Pokemon like Togekiss and Zarude to set up. Cleaners such as Mimikyu and Sharpedo can take advantage of Drapion weakening or removing bulky Pokemon like Steelix and Milotic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zizalith, 410251]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jmash, 363823], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Poison Jab
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Crunch
item: Choice Band
ability: Sniper
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Drapion's small niche lies primarily in a powerful and spammable Knock Off, a useful Speed tier, and a decent defensive typing that lets it soft check Zarude and Galarian Slowbro. Earthquake hits Steel-types like Cobalion, Steelix, and Klefki and Rock-types like Diancie and Stakataka. Crunch hits Pokemon that have already lost their item from Knock Off for more consistent damage, which is useful for Pokemon that can recover off the initial Knock Off damage like Galarian Slowbro and Milotic. Aqua Tail can be used instead to safely 2HKO Rhyperior. A Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed Guts Heracross and Roserade while Speed tying with non-Choice Scarf Darmanitan and Obstagoon, although an Adamant nature can be used on teams with Spikes to OHKO non-Colbur Berry Galarian Slowbro, 2HKO Steelix, and require less chip to OHKO Rhyperior if running Aqua Tail. Choice Band Drapion can capitalize on critical hits because it has more opportunities to come in and attack immediately, which makes Sniper optimal.
Drapion should be paired with Pokemon that can capitalize on it removing items from the opposing team. Consistent entry hazard setters such as Metagross, Diancie, and Roserade synergize well with Drapion removing items from its switch-ins like Steelix, Crobat, and Milotic. Pivots like Raikou and Milotic can allow Drapion to take advantage of Pokemon like Porygon2 and Zarude. Although Drapion's defensive typing lets it check several Pokemon in a pinch, it is not a sufficient long-term answer, so other checks to Zarude, Roserade, and Galarian Slowbro are necessary. These could include Pokemon like Togekiss, Metagross, and Alolan Marowak. Similarly, sweepers such as Mimikyu and Zygarde-10% can clean after Drapion has weakened the opposing team. Ground-resistant Pokemon like Golisopod, bulky Togekiss, and Dhelmise are necessary counterplay to Zygarde-10%.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Earthquake
item: Lum Berry / Shuca Berry
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Drapion can use its good defensive typing to set up on the likes of Roserade, Zarude, and Galarian Slowbro and attempt to wallbreak through the opposing team. Earthquake is used to hit Steel- and Rock-types like Cobalion, Steelix, and Diancie. Aqua Tail maintains coverage on Diancie and Steelix and OHKOes Rhyperior at +2 after some chip, but it misses out on Steel-types like Cobalion. Lum Berry is preferred to safely set up on Galarian Slowbro and other status users like Togekiss and Milotic. Shuca Berry can be used instead to consistently beat Steelix and prevent Zygarde-10% from revenge killing Drapion. Battle Armor is preferred because Swords Dance Drapion tends to take hits while setting up.
Other wallbreakers such as Choice Band Metagross and Zygarde-10% can take advantage of Drapion weakening the opposing team and potentially clean with Bullet Punch and Thousand Arrows. Spikes setters like Golisopod and Klefki can weaken Lum Berry Drapion's primary checks in Ground-types such as Steelix and Rhyperior. Pokemon that are walled by Milotic and Galarian Slowbro like Darmanitan and Choice Scarf Gardevoir appreciate Lum Berry Drapion taking advantage of these Pokemon. Similarly, Shuca Berry variants should be paired with Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tyrantrum and Xurkitree that appreciate Drapion luring Ground-types. Pivots such as Zarude and Milotic allow Drapion to take advantage of Pokemon like Togekiss and Zarude to set up. Cleaners such as Mimikyu and Sharpedo can take advantage of Drapion weakening or removing bulky Pokemon like Steelix and Milotic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zizalith, 410251]]
- Quality checked by: [[Jmash, 363823], [GoldCat, 359771]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
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