UU Moltres (Choice Specs)

[TSR]

QC (3/3): Eyan / Amaroq / Pak
GP (2/2): martha / Eyan

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Flamethrower / Fire Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass / Fire Blast
move 4: Sleep Talk / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flame Body / Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Hurricane is the most powerful Flying-type STAB move at Moltres's disposal, allowing it to hit a large portion of the UU tier, including many staples such as Alomomola, Swampert, Infernape, Hydreigon, and Mega Altaria, for at least neutral damage. Moltres's secondary STAB move, Flamethrower, can nail potential Steel-type switch-ins to Hurricane like Mega Aggron. It also helps check threats like Scizor and Breloom. However, Fire Blast can be run instead, since it is significantly more powerful, with added benefits such as cleanly 2HKOing Empoleon. Hidden Power Ice OHKOes specially defensive Gliscor and allows Moltres to reliably OHKO Breloom with any move it can roll from Sleep Talk. Hidden Power Grass can be used instead to deal heavy damage to 4x weak targets such as Rhyperior and Swampert but deals little damage to an opposing Breloom if Moltres rolls it with Sleep Talk. Sleep Talk allows Moltres to become an excellent check to Breloom, as it can still function as a potent wallbreaker while also being able to effectively absorb Spore from it. Moltres can fit U-turn onto its set in place of Sleep Talk if its teammates do not need it to reliably absorb Spore from Breloom, allowing it to gain momentum against the opposing team, most often against common switch-ins such as Mega Aerodactyl, Rhyperior, Blissey, and Nihilego.

Set Details
========

Maximum investment in Special Attack ensures that Moltres can strike its targets as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is required on Moltres, since its valuable Speed tier allows it to outpace common UU threats like Heracross, Kommo-o, Nidoking, Mega Altaria, Togekiss, and Suicune. Choice Specs bolsters Moltres's offensive power even further, allowing it to become a fearsome wallbreaker with virtually unresisted coverage outside of Rock-type Pokemon like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl. Since Moltres is not aiming to clean teams with Agility or remove Stealth Rock with Defog, it can afford to run Flame Body, which can effectively punish Scizor that attempt to U-turn on an expected switch, as well as any Pokemon that might seek to chip Moltres with contact moves. However, Moltres can still viably run Pressure to drain the PP of Stealth Rock users it can switch into, like Gliscor and Mega Aggron, to open the path for its teammates to effectively remove entry hazards later in the game.

Usage Tips
========

Avoid switching Moltres into many strong attacks directly, since it lacks a form of recovery it would usually have in Roost. However, Moltres should seek to come in as often as possible throughout the entire duration of a game in order to break through as much of the opposing team as possible, ideally via momentum from Volt Switch or U-turn to avoid taking damage or against Pokemon that cannot damage it significantly, such as Breloom, Scizor, and non-Toxic variants of Gliscor. When sponging Spore from Breloom, be careful to not switch Moltres into a Rock Tomb or Facade, as Breloom's Rock Tomb will OHKO Moltres, and poison-boosted Facade from a Poison Heal variant will also deal heavy damage. Moltres should also avoid switching in with Stealth Rock on its side of the field when possible, since Choice Specs Moltres has no way to recover health on its own and the entry hazard will cut into its already shortened longevity. Attempt to keep Moltres relatively healthy throughout a game as well, as it can be chipped into range of priority like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Breloom's Mach Punch and will not properly check them in a late-game scenario if played carelessly.

Team Options
========

The ability to remove hazards is a must for teams carrying Moltres—even more so for its Choice Specs set, as Moltres can be worn down even more easily lacking a recovery move. As such, Pokemon that can consistently remove entry hazards via Defog are mandatory partners for Choice Specs Moltres. Gliscor, Empoleon, Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, and Serperior can provide consistent entry hazard removal to support Moltres. Rapid Spin users such as Tentacruel and Starmie are also usable but are typically less consistent at removing entry hazards than a Defog user. However, Rapid Spin users do not clear entry hazards from the opposite side of the field, which greatly assists Moltres's wallbreaking capabilities. Tentacruel's access to Toxic Spikes is also particularly useful for Moltres, as their presence can greatly cripple Moltres's grounded checks such as Blissey and Rhyperior. Support from Volt Switch or U-turn users that can gain momentum for their team like Mega Manectric, Scizor, and Gliscor is also often useful to help Moltres switch in freely more often. Moltres is threatened by common Rock-types in UU like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl, so it will appreciate teammates such as Mega Aggron, Swampert, Scizor, and Cobalion that can check or punish these Pokemon. Electric-type Pokemon such as Rotom-C, Raikou, and Mega Manecrtric are capable of outspeeding Moltres and threatening it with their super effective STAB moves as well. Thus, Dragon- and Ground-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Latias, Hippowdon, and Gliscor can be helpful to Moltres, as they can sponge many Electric-type moves aimed at it. Since Water-type Pokemon such as Volcanion, Starmie, and Suicune can take advantage of turns where Moltres is locked into its Fire-type STAB move, answers to common Water-type threats, such as Latias, Hydreigon, Celebi, Mega Altaria, and Serperior, can prove to be useful teammates. Breloom has the most potent sleep-inducing capabilities with Spore, essentially guaranteeing that an opposing team will have to choose a team member to fodder to sleep, also due to many Spore-immune choices like Serperior being unable to safely pivot into it. Thus, it makes a useful partner for Moltres, as a sleeping member of the opponent's team will usually give up free turns to it. Breloom can also threaten common checks to Moltres such as Empoleon, Blissey, and Rhyperior. Moltres can be beneficial to sweeper teammates such as Swords Dance Scizor or Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, as high-powered Fire-type STAB moves will melt many common Steel-types that stand in the way of their sweep.

 

[autumn]

hey, amcheck here, feel free to wait for qc input before implementing.

Hide

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flame Body / Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Hurricane is the most powerful Flying-type STAB at Moltres's disposal, allowing it to hit a large portion of the UU tier for at least neutral damage. (mention some key targets, mainly fighting-types like infernape/terrakion despite neutrality and fire resists like lati/alomomola)
* Moltres's second STAB Fire Blast can nail potential Steel-type switchins to Hurricane like Mega Aggron and Empoleon.
* Flamethrower, while much weaker than Fire Blast, is necessary for Moltres to properly check threats like Breloom and Scizor without relying on the shaky accuracy of Fire Blast and Hurricane.
* Sleep Talk allows Moltres to become an excellent check to Amoonguss and Breloom, as it can still function as a potent wallbreaker while also being able to effectively absorb Spore from the two.
* Moltres can fit U-turn onto its set in place of Sleep Talk if it is paired with a Spore-immune teammate that checks Breloom well, such as Amoonguss or Sap Sipper Azumarill. (talk about the advantages of this like gaining momentum and pivoting ability so it isn't as prediction-reliant)
* Alternatively, Moltres can use Hidden Power Ice instead of Sleep Talk to reliably OHKO Specially Defensive variants of Gliscor.

Set Details
========

* Maximum investment in Special Attack assures that Moltres can strike its targets as hard as possible.
* Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is required on Moltres, since it's valuable Speed tier allows it to outpace common UU threats like Heracross, Kommo-o, Nidoking, Mega Altaria, Togekiss, and fast variants of Suicune. (you don't need to specify fast variants because if it outspeeds fast variants, it outspeeds slow variants by default)
* Choice Specs bolsters Moltres's offensive power even further, allowing it to become a fearsome wallbreaker that many common Pokemon in UU cannot safely switch into due to its unique STAB combination. (not unique techinically because talonflame shares it; instead. i'd talk about how it's nearly unresisted outside of rock-types, which is one of the reasons why this set is effective)
* Since Moltres is not aiming to clean teams with Agility or remove Stealth Rock with Defog, it can afford to run Flame Body, which can effectively punish Scizor that attempt to U-turn on an expected switch, as well as any Pokemon that might seek to chip Moltres with contact moves. However, Moltres can still viably run Pressure to drain the PP of Stealth Rock users it can switch into like Gliscor and Mega Aggron, to open the path for its teammates to effectively remove entry hazards later in the game.

Usage Tips
========

* Avoid switching Moltres into many strong attacks directly, since it lacks a form of recovery it would usually have in Roost.
* Moltres should seek to come in as often as possible in order to break through as much of the opposing team as possible. (this can read as kind of contradictory by saying don't switch it in then switch it in in the next point, so expand by saying how it can take advantage of free turns and pivot support to come in and force stuff out and break)
* When sponging Spore from Breloom or Amoonguss, be careful to not switch Moltres into a Rock Tomb or Sludge Bomb, respectively, as Breloom's Rock Tomb will OHKO Moltres, and Amoonguss's Sludge Bomb will do considerable damage to Moltres and potentially severely hurt its longevity with a poison.
* Moltres should also avoid switching in with Stealth Rock on its side of the field at all costs, since Choice Specs Moltres have no way to recover health on their own and the entry hazard will cut into its already shortened longevity.
* Attempt to keep Moltres relatively healthy throughout a game as well, as it can be chipped into range of priority like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Breloom's Mach Punch, and will not properly check them in a lategame scenario if played carelessly.
would talk a bit about which moves are more beneficial to lock into by talking about reliability of flamethrower, power of fireblast//hurricane

Team Options
========

* Additional Flying-type sweepers like Hone Claws Mega Aerodactyl and Nasty Plot Togekiss will often appreciate the sheer power of Choice Specs Moltres being able to break down common Flying-type checks like Empoleon, Mega Manectric, and opposing Mega Aerodactyl. (mega aerodactyl isn't the best mention due to its ability to switch in, live a hit, outspeed, and ohko)
* The ability to remove hazards is a must for teams carrying Moltres - as such, Pokemon that can consistently remove entry hazards via Defog are mandatory partners for Choice Specs Moltres. Gliscor, Empoleon, Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, Crobat, and Serperior can provide consistent entry hazard removal to support Moltres. Rapid Spin users such as Tentacruel and Starmie are also useable, but are typically less consistent at removing entry hazards than a Defog user. (i would potentially cut down on the long list on examples here; crobat could go due to stacking weaknesses, especially when giving other flying-type sweepers as team options. additionally, when talking about spinners, you can touch on tentacruel's tspikes and ability to check azumarill)
* Support from Volt Switch or U-turn users that can gain momentum for their team like Mega Manectric, Scizor, and Gliscor are also often useful to give Moltres free switch ins more often.
* Moltres is threatened by common Rock-types in UU like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl, so Moltres will appreciate teammates such as Mega Aggron, Swampert, Scizor, and Cobalion that can check or punish these Pokemon.
* Pokemon that can afflict the opposing team with Sleep or Paralysis are also useful partners for Moltres, as this can slow down faster threats or incapacitate many Pokemon that could tank Moltres's attacks. Amoonguss and Breloom have the most potent Sleep-inducing capabilities with Spore, essentially guaranteeing that a Pokemon on any opposing team without an Amoonguss will have to choose a team member to fodder to Sleep (that isn't true; change to "teams without a grass-type" because you're implying amoon is the only mon immune), while more niche options like Hypnosis Gengar can also be effective. Togekiss, Slowbro, (potentially remove this due to being niche and the fact that its mega doesnt use it to avoid confusion) Starmie, Klefki, and Mega Aggron can all potentially provide support via Thunder Wave, and Amoonguss and Breloom can both viably run Stun Spore. (not sure about mentioning loom here because its very very niche due to it lacking the moveslot generally and spore being far more effective on it. you've also talked about it with spore and while double spore amoon works, double spore loom does not)
mention entry hazard users to capitalise on the switches that moltres forces

 

[Freeroamer]

NItpick but if HP Ice is worth a mention, HP Grass probably is too

 

[Eyan]

I'd take note of martha's am check outside of this point:

• (potentially remove this due to being niche and the fact that its mega doesnt use it to avoid confusion) - Mega Slowbro can just as viably run Thunder Wave and regular Slowbro isn't as much of a niche as it used to be anymore, granted this am check was a while ago.
• I'd remove Breloom's Stun Spore mention, though

• Moves

You explained what Flamethrower offers over Fire Blast, i.e. its accuracy, but you never really explained what the point of even having Fire Blast is then, so tell me what significant KOes or 2HKOes Moltres nets you. Remove the Amoonguss mention in the Sleep Talk line. Hidden Power Grass is fine to mention considering Rhyperior's rising popularity and I suppose it doesn't force you to hit Hurricane against Swampert, although that's secondary.

• Usage Tips

For the second point, I'd say bringing it in early is just as important as bringing it in often, since you want to really punish usual Flying-type checks early on like Empoleon to make way for its teammates. If you wait till late-game for that, Moltres probably isn't doing much in the game. Remove Amoonguss mention from the third point and mention Facade from Poison Heal Breloom as well. The last point can be merged with the first one to be honest. They cover pretty much the exact same thing, with the last point being a little more specific.

• Team Options

I'd exercise a bit more caution in recommending complementary Flying-type sweepers, since Moltres on its own already mandates a considerable amount of hazard control, and carrying a Mega Aerodactyl or Togekiss makes that even more annoying, so add in that bit. For the hazard remover line, mention how it's particular essential to this set due to the lack of recovery. While I agree that spinners aren't as consistent for the most part, keeping hazards on the opponent's side of the field is beneficial for Moltres to wallbreak, so make note of that. That paralysis support line lmao

QC 1/3

 

[TSR]

done with am and qc checks finally

 

[Amaroq]

Moves:

"* Moltres can use Hidden Power Ice instead of Sleep Talk to reliably OHKO Specially Defensive variants of Gliscor. Hidden Power Grass can be used to OHKO 4x weak targets such as Rhyperior and Swampert. "

Sleep Talk isn't slashed with these moves, so mentioning it seems odd here. Just talk about what the two Hidden Powers do. Mention other targets that Hidden Power Ice lets Moltres damage semi-reliably (Latias, Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, etc.).

Talk more about the synergy between Hidden Power Ice and Sleep Talk and emphasize the tradeoffs associated with the choice of Hidden Power.

Usage Tips:

In the fourth bullet point, I would say "when possible" instead of "at all costs".

Team Options:

Hazard removal should be the first bullet point. Move the Flying-type sweeper bullet point down near the bottom (frankly, I would consider removing it entirely, considering how hard you get punished if you can't remove Stealth Rock in this scenario). Mention Pokemon that can pressure the Electric-types that resist Moltres's primary STAB and the Water-types that resist its secondary STAB (stuff like Celebi, Krookodile, etc.). Include hazard setters and general offensive Pokemon that can take advantage of Moltres's wallbreaking capabilities.

QC 2/3.

Edit: Implement the thing Freeroamer said.

 

[Freeroamer]

Nitpicking again but Hidden Power Grass doesn't OHKO Rhyperior, although as most of the time you'll be aiming to catch it on the switch this is perfectly acceptable as it'll be all but useless the rest of the game if they choose to switch out, might just be worth clearing up the wording though.

252 SpA Choice Specs Moltres Hidden Power Grass vs. 248 HP / 244 SpD Solid Rock Rhyperior: 327-387 (75.5 - 89.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

 

[Kink]

TSR have you implemented Amaroq's check? if so I can do this tomorrow and we can get an analyses up soon!

 

[TSR]

done with Amaroq's check + added freeroamer's thing, will write up tomorrow / Wednesday I PROMISE

 

[Pak]

Moves

• Slash Fire Blast with Flamethrower, but keep Flamethrower first. Fire Blast is still a good enough option to warrant the slot and you already touch on it. I've even run dual Fire STAB in the past and it has been good, so slash it with the Hidden Powers too. You retain the firepower of Fire Blast with the reliability of Flamethrower, as well as rolling anything to kill Breloom/Scizor with Sleep Talk so that's cool.
• Not a huge deal but imo U-turn is generally a better option than Sleep Talk atm with Amoonguss's departure so consider putting it first
• This is another nitpick but mention Blissey when talking about U-turn

Team Options

• The lines about status seem like they can be pretty easily condensed. Breloom is really the only sleep user worth mentioning and doubles as a way of threatening Rhyperior/Blissey/Empoleon so it could get its own line. The TWave examples are a bit excessive. I'd say remove Starmie and Mega Bro since it's not too common on either of them. But yeah, these things then you could probably take out the first line just so things are more concise.
• Specify that Moltres can cook the Steel-types in the way of DD Alt or SD Sciz sweeping

QC 3/3 sir

 

[TSR]

finished with pak's check - I just removed the part about TWavers since it was wordy and kinda unneccessary, I just wanted to teach everyone about my favorite move ;__;

 

[autumn]

follow this video for a quick and easy implementation method that should take 5 minutes at most. also, if you have any questions regarding the check, feel free to message me.

GP 1/2
add remove comments (AC/RC = add/remove comma; AH/RH = add/remove hyphen; AP/RP = add/remove period; ASC/RSC = add/remove semicolon)

Hide

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Flamethrower / (space) Fire Blast
move 3: HIdden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass / Fire Blast
move 4: Sleep Talk / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flame Body / Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Hurricane is the most powerful Flying-type STAB move at Moltres's disposal, allowing it to hit a large portion of the UU tier, inculding many staples such as Alomomola, Swampert, Infernape, Hydreigon, and Mega Altaria for at least neutral damage. Moltres's secondary STAB move, (AC) Flamethrower, (AC) can nail potential Steel-type switch-(AH)ins to Hurricane like Mega Aggron and Empoleon. (consider removing this example because you say later to use blast to 2hko it) It also helps check threats like Scizor and Breloom. Flam ethrower, while much weaker than Fire Blast, is necessary for Moltres to properly check threats like Breloom and Scizor without relying on the shaky accuracy of Fire Blast and Hurricane. (looks like a remnant of when fire blast was first slash; i rewrote it but if you wanna word differently go for it) However, Fire Blast can be run instead, (AC) since it is significantly more powerful, with added benefits such as cleanly 2HKOing Empoleon. Moltres can use Hidden Power Ice to reliably OHKO specially defensive variants of Gliscor. Running Hidden Power Ice will OHKOes specially defensive Gliscor and allows Moltres to reliably OHKO Breloom with any move it can roll from Sleep Talk. Hidden Power Grass can be used to deal heavy damage to 4x weak targets such as Rhyperior and Swampert, (RC) but gives a one-third chance that Moltres will roll it with Sleep Talk, dealing little damage to an opposing Breloom. Sleep Talk allows Moltres to become an excellent check to and Breloom, as it can still function as a potent wallbreaker while also being able to effectively absorb Spore from it. Moltres can fit U-turn onto its set in place of Sleep Talk if its teammates do not need it to reliably absorb Spore from Breloom, allowing it to gain momentum against the opposing team, most often against common switch-(AH)ins such as Mega Aerodactyl, Rhyperior, Blissey, and Nihilego.

Set Details
========

Maximum investment in Special Attack assures ensures that Moltres can strike its targets as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is required on Moltres, since it's its valuable Speed tier allows it to outpace common UU threats like Heracross, Kommo-o, Nidoking, Mega Altaria, Togekiss, and fast variants of Suicune. (if it outpaces fast variants, it outpaces slow ones too) Choice Specs bolsters Moltres's offensive power even further, allowing it to become a fearsome wallbreaker that is virtually unresisted outside of Rock-type Pokemon in the metagame like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl. Since Moltres is not aiming to clean teams with Agility (fwiw agility set on the dex is flame body) or remove Stealth Rock with Defog, it can afford to run Flame Body, which can effectively punish Scizor that attempt to U-turn on an expected switch, as well as any Pokemon that might seek to chip Moltres with contact moves. However, Moltres can still viably run Pressure to drain the PP of Stealth Rock users it can switch into, like Gliscor and Mega Aggron, to open the path for its teammates to effectively remove entry hazards later in the game.

Usage Tips
========

Avoid switching Moltres into many strong attacks directly, since it lacks a form of recovery it would usually have in Roost. However, Moltres should seek to come in as often as possible throughout the entire duration of a game in order to break through as much of the opposing team as possible. Moltres should attempt to come in without taking damage via momentum from Volt Switch or U-turn, (RC) or against Pokemon that cannot damage it significantly, such as Breloom, Scizor, and non-Toxic variants of Gliscor. When sponging Spore from Breloom, be careful to not switch Moltres into a Rock Tomb or Facade, as Breloom's Rock Tomb will OHKO Moltres, and poison-boosted Facade from a Poison Heal variant will also deal heavy damage. Moltres should also avoid switching in with Stealth Rock on its side of the field when possible, since Choice Specs Moltres have has no way to recover health on their its own and the entry hazard will cut into its already shortened longevity. Attempt to keep Moltres relatively healthy throughout a game as well, as it can be chipped into range of priority like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Breloom's Mach Punch, and will not properly check them in a late-(AH)game scenario if played carelessly.

Team Options
========

The ability to remove hazards is a must for teams carrying Moltres—even more so for its Choice Specs set, as Moltres can be worn down even easier more easily lacking a recovery move. As such, Pokemon that can consistently remove entry hazards via Defog are mandatory partners for Choice Specs Moltres. Gliscor, Empoleon, Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, and Serperior can provide consistent entry hazard removal to support Moltres. Rapid Spin users such as Tentacruel and Starmie are also useable, (RC) usable but are typically less consistent at removing entry hazards than a Defog user. However, Rapid Spin users do not clear entry hazards from the opposite side of the field, which greatly assists Moltres's wallbreaking capabilities. Tentacruel's access to Toxic Spikes is also particularly useful for Moltres, as their presence can greatly cripple Moltres's grounded checks such as Blissey and Rhyperior. Support from Volt Switch or U-turn users that can gain momentum for their team like Mega Manectric, Scizor, and Gliscor are also often useful to give Moltres free switch-(AH)ins more often. Moltres is threatened by common Rock-types in UU like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl, so Moltres will appreciate teammates such as Mega Aggron, Swampert, Scizor, and Cobalion that can check or punish these Pokemon. Electric-type Pokemon such as Rotom-Mow Rotom-C, Raikou, and Mega Manecrtric are capable of outspeeding Moltres and threatening it with their super effective STAB moves as well. Dragon- and Ground-type Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Hydreigon, Latias, and Gliscor Hydreigon, Latias, Hippowdon, and Gliscor can be helpful to Moltres, as they can sponge many Electric-type moves aimed at it. Water-type Pokemon such as Volcanion, Starmie, and Suicune can abuse take advantage of turns where Moltres is locked into its Fire-type STAB move. Pokemon that can be used as an answer Answers to common Water-type threats, such as Latias, Hydreigon, Celebi, Mega Altaria, and Serperior, (AC) can prove to be useful teammates. Breloom has the most potent Sleep-inducing capabilities with Spore, essentially guaranteeing that an opposing team will have to choose a team member to fodder to sleep, due to many Spore-(AH)immune choices like Serperior cannot safely pivot into Breloom. Thus, it makes a useful partner for Moltres, as a sleeping member of the opponents opponent's team will usually give up free turns to it. Breloom can also threaten common checks to Moltres such as Empoleon, Blissey, and Rhyperior. Moltres's Moltres can be beneficial to sweeper teammates such as Swords Dance Scizor or Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, as high-powered Fire-type STAB moves will melt many common Steel-types that stand in the way of their sweep.

 

[Eyan]

I implemented the above because TSR is busy being busy

 

[Lumari]

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2

check

[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hurricane
move 2: Flamethrower / Fire Blast
move 3: HIdden Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass / Fire Blast
move 4: Sleep Talk / U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flame Body / Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe


[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Hurricane is the most powerful Flying-type STAB move at Moltres's disposal, allowing it to hit a large portion of the UU tier, inculding including many staples such as Alomomola, Swampert, Infernape, Hydreigon, and Mega Altaria, (AC) for at least neutral damage. Moltres's secondary STAB move, Flamethrower, can nail potential Steel-type switch-ins to Hurricane like Mega Aggron. It also helps check threats like Scizor and Breloom. However, Fire Blast can be run instead, since it is significantly more powerful, with added benefits such as cleanly 2HKOing Empoleon. Hidden Power Ice OHKOes specially defensive Gliscor and allows Moltres to reliably OHKO Breloom with any move it can roll from Sleep Talk. Hidden Power Grass can be used instead to deal heavy damage to 4x weak targets such as Rhyperior and Swampert but gives a one-third chance that Moltres will roll it with Sleep Talk, dealing deals little damage to an opposing Breloom if Moltres rolls it with Sleep Talk. Sleep Talk allows Moltres to become an excellent check to Breloom, as it can still function as a potent wallbreaker while also being able to effectively absorb Spore from it. Moltres can fit U-turn onto its set in place of Sleep Talk if its teammates do not need it to reliably absorb Spore from Breloom, allowing it to gain momentum against the opposing team, most often against common switch-ins such as Mega Aerodactyl, Rhyperior, Blissey, and Nihilego.

Set Details
========

Maximum investment in Special Attack ensures that Moltres can strike its targets as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is required on Moltres, since its valuable Speed tier allows it to outpace common UU threats like Heracross, Kommo-o, Nidoking, Mega Altaria, Togekiss, and Suicune. Choice Specs bolsters Moltres's offensive power even further, allowing it to become a fearsome wallbreaker that is with virtually unresisted coverage outside of Rock-type Pokemon like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl. Since Moltres is not aiming to clean teams with Agility or remove Stealth Rock with Defog, it can afford to run Flame Body, (don't get the logic here tbh, first thought was a legality issue but that's not it) which can effectively punish Scizor that attempt to U-turn on an expected switch, as well as any Pokemon that might seek to chip Moltres with contact moves. However, Moltres can still viably run Pressure to drain the PP of Stealth Rock users it can switch into, like Gliscor and Mega Aggron, to open the path for its teammates to effectively remove entry hazards later in the game.

Usage Tips
========

Avoid switching Moltres into many strong attacks directly, since it lacks a form of recovery it would usually have in Roost. However, Moltres should seek to come in as often as possible throughout the entire duration of a game in order to break through as much of the opposing team as possible, (comma) Moltres should attempt to come in ideally without taking damage via momentum from Volt Switch or U-turn to avoid taking damage or against Pokemon that cannot damage it significantly, such as Breloom, Scizor, and non-Toxic variants of Gliscor. When sponging Spore from Breloom, be careful to not switch Moltres into a Rock Tomb or Facade, as Breloom's Rock Tomb will OHKO Moltres, and poison-boosted Facade from a Poison Heal variant will also deal heavy damage. Moltres should also avoid switching in with Stealth Rock on its side of the field when possible, since Choice Specs Moltres has no way to recover health on its own and the entry hazard will cut into its already shortened longevity. Attempt to keep Moltres relatively healthy throughout a game as well, as it can be chipped into range of priority like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Breloom's Mach Punch (RC) and will not properly check them in a late-game scenario if played carelessly.

Team Options
========

The ability to remove hazards is a must for teams carrying Moltres—even more so for its Choice Specs set, as Moltres can be worn down even more easily lacking a recovery move. As such, Pokemon that can consistently remove entry hazards via Defog are mandatory partners for Choice Specs Moltres. Gliscor, Empoleon, Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, and Serperior can provide consistent entry hazard removal to support Moltres. Rapid Spin users such as Tentacruel and Starmie are also usable but are typically less consistent at removing entry hazards than a Defog user. However, Rapid Spin users do not clear entry hazards from the opposite side of the field, which greatly assists Moltres's wallbreaking capabilities. Tentacruel's access to Toxic Spikes is also particularly useful for Moltres, as their presence can greatly cripple Moltres's grounded checks such as Blissey and Rhyperior. Support from Volt Switch or U-turn users that can gain momentum for their team like Mega Manectric, Scizor, and Gliscor are is also often useful to give help Moltres free switch-ins switch in freely more often. Moltres is threatened by common Rock-types in UU like Nihilego and Mega Aerodactyl, so Moltres it will appreciate teammates such as Mega Aggron, Swampert, Scizor, and Cobalion that can check or punish these Pokemon. Electric-type Pokemon such as Rotom-C, Raikou, and Mega Manecrtric are capable of outspeeding Moltres and threatening it with their super effective STAB moves as well. Thus, Dragon- and Ground-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Latias, Hippowdon, and Gliscor can be helpful to Moltres, as they can sponge many Electric-type moves aimed at it. Since Water-type Pokemon such as Volcanion, Starmie, and Suicune can take advantage of turns where Moltres is locked into its Fire-type STAB move, (comma) answers to common Water-type threats, such as Latias, Hydreigon, Celebi, Mega Altaria, and Serperior, can prove to be useful teammates. Breloom has the most potent sleep-inducing capabilities with Spore, essentially guaranteeing that an opposing team will have to choose a team member to fodder to sleep, also due to many Spore-immune choices like Serperior cannot being unable to safely pivot into Breloom it. Thus, it makes a useful partner for Moltres, as a sleeping member of the opponent's team will usually give up free turns to it. Breloom can also threaten common checks to Moltres such as Empoleon, Blissey, and Rhyperior. Moltres can be beneficial to sweeper teammates such as Swords Dance Scizor or Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, as high-powered Fire-type STAB moves will melt many common Steel-types that stand in the way of their sweep.

 

[TSR]

done :3

I implemented the above because TSR is busy being busy

:blobkms: