[MnM] Kartana

Taken over with permission from kris.
Kartana [QC 3/3] [GP 2/2]

Overview

Kartana's sky-high post-Mega Speed of 149 allows it to outspeed nearly every offensive Pokemon and function as an excellent sweeper and revenge killer, while its excellent base 191 Attack and Tough Claws ability allow it to hit extremely hard. Kartana's solid base 151 Defense allows it to live common physical attacks such as Extreme Speed and Precipice Blades, and it has a solid defensive typing that grants it resistances to Water-, Steel-, and Electric-type attacks. However, Kartana has mediocre HP and Special Defense stats, preventing it from surviving any non-resisted special attack and reducing setup opportunities. Kartana's offensive movepool lacks in high-powered options for STAB or coverage moves, which lowers its damage output and makes it extremely predictable at Team Preview.

Metagrossite Sweeper
Kartana @ Metagrossite
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Swords Dance
- Return / Smart Strike

Moves

Leaf Blade is Kartana's most powerful move, severely denting any Pokemon that does not resist it. Sacred Sword is the ideal coverage move to maximize Kartana's sweeping capabilities, as it hits the Steel-types that might otherwise wall Kartana such as Skarmory and opposing Kartana. Swords Dance allows Kartana to boost its Attack either versus physical attackers or on forced switches and allows it to deal with bulky Pokemon such as Zapdos that might otherwise wall it. Return rounds out Kartana's moveset by offering it neutral coverage versus foes such as Zapdos and Red Orb Raikou. Smart Strike is another, slightly more powerful option that lets Kartana deal with Xerneas more reliably but leaves it walled by the common Zapdos.

Set Details

Metagrossite is the preferred item on Kartana, as it boosts Kartana's Attack and Speed while giving it access to Tough Claws. 252 Attack EVs maximize Kartana's damage output, allowing it to function as a massively powerful wallbreaker and sweeper. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are used to ensure Kartana outspeeds threats such as Manaphy, Shaymin-S, and Absolite Tapu Lele. Beast Boost is Kartana's only natural ability and may be used to gain a boost when KOing weakened foes before Mega Evolving.

Usage Tips

Kartana is best used late in the game as a cleaner once all its checks are weakened, so preserve it for then when possible. However, it can still function as a revenge killer, and should it not be required for cleaning, it can act as an excellent wallbreaker. Be careful when setting up should the foe readily force Kartana out, however, as Swords Dance may simply be a free opportunity to switch in. Be exceedingly careful with switching Kartana in, as it has difficulties when setting up at less than full health. Whenever possible, get Kartana in on passive Pokemon such as Blissey or those that it forces out such as Manaphy, as it can use them to freely set up. Keep Stealth Rock on the field whenever possible, as they reduce the opportunities for foes such as Zapdos and Mandibuzz to switch in.

Team Options

Stealth Rock users such as Deoxys-S and Primal Groudon pair well with Kartana, as Kartana appreciates their aid in defeating annoying Flying-type Pokemon like Zapdos. In a similar vein, checks to Flying-types such as Arceus-Rock and Tapu Koko are handy to force them out and rack up entry hazard damage. Sticky Web support from Shuckle allows Kartana to outpace Tapu Koko and ensures that it doesn't lose Speed ties with other Kartana. Other wallbreakers such as Manaphy also pair well with Kartana, as they can take advantage of holes supplied by the other; in particular, other physical attackers such as Terrakion and Swords Dance Primal Groudon are handy to wear down shared checks and counters.

Other Options

Pinsirite gives Kartana a new and vastly superior STAB move in Return, but the Grass / Flying typing is considerably worse defensively, and Pinsirite supplies less of a Speed boost. Night Slash is a decent coverage option to hit Pokemon such as Aegislash and Giratina but is generally inferior to the above coverage. Mewtwonite X is an option for greater power, allowing Kartana to bypass Skarmory and Mandibuzz, but leaves Kartana slower than many common threats. Glalitite may be used to lure in and smack Pokemon such as Zygarde and Zapdos for teammates, but the reduced speed and power makes the increase in coverage suboptimal.

Checks and Counters

**Skarmory and Zapdos**: Both Skarmory and Zapdos can easily switch into and take on any kind of Kartana set, even after taking entry hazard damage. Skarmory can stay in and manage entry hazards before phazing Kartana and its boosts, while Zapdos can either OHKO Kartana with Heat Wave or pivot to a revenge killer or secondary wall with Volt Switch.

**Faster Attackers**: While Kartana is fast, it still has difficulty dealing with those Pokemon that can attack first. Tapu Koko can force out Kartana before pivoting out, while boosted sweepers such as Xerneas can simply OHKO it. Priority attacks are less of a concern due to Kartana's physical bulk and Water-type resistance, but Extreme Speed can also be an issue after Kartana has been worn down.

**Bulky Pokemon**: Defensive tanks such as Primal Groudon and Mandibuzz can stomach hits from Kartana before retaliating for heavy damage. Boosting will allow Kartana to remove some of these walls, but not all, and as long as they remain on the field, Kartana has difficulty setting up to that point.
 
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InfernapeTropius11

get on my level
Set Details
Mention that it outspeeds Skymin as that is very good due to the Pidgeotite release and Kartana just outspeeds it.

Usage Tips/Team Options/Checks and Counters (applicable to all 3)
I'd remove the Phero mention and replace with something else, but you can wait until after the suspect if you'd like.

Other Options
Add a sentence about MMX, if we're gonna mention Glalitite might as well mention this too as it makes it an insane wallbreaker with STAB Sacred Sword that takes on Skarm.

This is great,
QC 3/3
 

Sobi

Banned deucer.
Additions
Removals
Comments
Overview

Kartana's sky-high postmega post-Mega speed Speed of 149 allows it to outspeed nearly every offensive Pokemon and function as an excellent sweeper and revenge killer, while its excellent base 191 attack Attack and Tough Claws ability allow it to hit extremely hard. Kartana's solid base defense Defense allows it to live survive common physical attacks such as Extreme Speed and Precepice blades, Precipice Blades, and it has a solid defensive typing that greats it resistances to Water-, Steel-, and Electric-type attacks. However, Kartana has mediocre HP and Special Defense stats, preventing it from living surviving any non-resisted special attack and reducing setup opportunities. Kartana's offensive movepool lacks in high powered high-powered options for STAB or coverage moves, which lowers its damage output and makes it extremely predictable at team preview. Team Preview.

Metagrossite Sweeper
Kartana @ Metagrossite
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Swords Dance
- Return / Smart Strike

Moves
Leaf Blade is Kartana's most powerful move, severely denting any unresisted Pokemon. Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Sacred Sword is the ideal coverage move to maximize Kartana's sweeping capabilities, as it hits Steel types Steel-types that might otherwise wall Kartana such as Skarmory and opposing Kartana. Swords Dance allows Kartana to set up and boost its Attack, either versus physical attackers or forced switches, and allows it to deal with bulky Pokemon such as Zapdos that might otherwise wall it. Return rounds out Kartana's moveset by offering it neutral coverage versus foes such as Zapdos and Red Orb Raikou. Smart Strike is another, another slightly more powerful option that lets Kartana deal with Xerneas more reliably, but leaves Kartana it walled by the common Zapdos.

Set Details
Metagrossite is the preferred item on Kartana, as it boosts Kartana's Attack and Speed while giving it access to Tough Claws. 252 Attack EVs maximize Kartana's damage output, allowing it to function as a massively powerful wallbreaker and sweeper all. sweeper. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are used to ensure Kartana outspeeds threats such as Manaphy, Shaymin-S, and Absolite Tapu Lele. Beast Boost is Kartana's only natural ability, and may be used to gain a boost when KOing weakened foes before Mega Evolving.

Usage Tips
Kartana is best used late game late-game as a cleaner once all its checks are weakened, so preserve it for then when possible. However, it can still function as a revenge killer, and should it not be required for cleaning cleaning, it acts as an excellent wallbreaker. be Be careful setting up should the foe readily force Kartana out, however, as Swords Dance may simply be a free switch-in opportunity. opportunity to switch in. Be exceedingly careful switching Kartana in, as it has difficulties setting up at less than full health. Whenever possible, get Kartana in on passive Pokemon such as Blissey or those it forces out such as Manaphy, as it can use them to freely set up. Keep Stealth Rocks Rock on the field whenever possible, as they reduce the opportunities for foes such as Zapdos and Mandibuzz to switch in.

Team Options

Stealth Rock users such as Deoxys-S and Primal Groudon pair well with Kartana, as Kartana appreciates their aid in defeating annoying Flying-type Pokemon like Zapdos. In a similar vein, checks to flying types Flying-types such as Arceus-Rock and Tapu Koko are handy to force them out and rack up entry hazard damage. Sticky Web support from Shuckle allows Kartana to outpace Tapu Koko and ensures it doesn't lose Speed ties with other Kartana. Other wallbreakers such as Manaphy also pair well with Kartana, as they can take advantage of holes supplied by the other; in particular, other physical attackers such as Terrakion and Swords Dance Primal Groudon are handy to wear down shared checks and counters.

Other Options

Pinsirite gives Kartana a new and vastly superior STAB in Return, but the Grass / Flying typing is considerably worse defensively and Pinsirite supplies less of a speed Speed boost. Night Slash is a decent coverage option to hit Pokemon such as Aegislash and Giratina, but is generally inferior to the above coverage. Mewtwonite X is an option for greater power, allowing Kartana to bypass Skarmory and Mandibuzz, but leaves Kartana slower than many common threats. Glalilite may be used to lure in and smack Pokemon such as Zygarde and Zapdos for teammates, but the reduced speed and power makes the increase in coverage suboptimal.

Checks and Counters
**Skarmory and Zapdos**: Both Skarmory and Zapdos can easily switch into and take on any kind of Kartana set, even after entry hazards. Skarmory can stay in and manage entry hazards before whirlwinding phazing away Kartana and its boosts, while Zapdos can OHKO Kartana with Heat Wave or Volt Switch to a revenge killer or secondary wall.

**Faster attacks**: Attacks**: While Kartana is fast, it still has difficulty dealing with those Pokemon that can attack first. Tapu Koko can force out Kartana before pivoting out, while boosted sweepers such as Xerneas can simply OHKO it. Priority Attacks attacks are less of a concern due to Kartana's physical bulk and water Water resistance, but Extreme Speed can also be an issue after Kartana has been worn down.

**Bulky Pokemon**: Defensive tanks such as Primal Groudon and Mandibuzz can stomach hits from Kartana before retaliating for heavy damage. Boosting will allow Kartana to remove some of these walls, but not all, and as long as they remain on the field field, Kartana has difficulty setting up to that point.


2/2 by kris
 
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