[OVERVIEW]
* Reshiram's excellent STAB combination is backed by a high base 150 Special Attack and powerful STAB moves in Blue Flare and Draco Meteor, allowing it to do a lot of damage to most Pokemon.
* Unfortunately, this is where the positives end: Reshiram suffers from mediocre Speed, vulnerability to all entry hazards, and common weaknesses to Ground- and Dragon-type attacks, leaving it with little defensive niche and giving it a poor matchup against offensive teams.
* In addition, Reshiram has traditionally been outclassed by other Pokemon in the metagame: Kyurem-W benefits from more power and slightly higher Speed as well as a more spammable STAB option in Ice Beam, while other Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh offer significant defensive utility in addition to substantial wallbreaking abilities.
* However, the introduction of Z-Moves has increased Reshiram's usefulness somewhat; in particular, Solar Beam-fueled Bloom Doom allows Reshiram to destroy many of its old checks in one moveslot.
* While Reshiram's lack of defensive utility still makes it very difficult to fit onto a team, its ability to efficiently break apart most defensive cores in the metagame with one moveset can make it worth some consideration to fill a wallbreaker role.
[SET]
name: Z-Move Wallbreaker
move 1: Blue Flare
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Solar Beam
move 4: Stone Edge / Roost
item: Grassium Z
ability: Turboblaze
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Blue Flare is Reshiram's primary STAB move. It does great damage to anything that doesn't resist it and enjoys a 20% burn rate to potentially hamper switch-ins.
* Draco Meteor provides a powerful STAB option to complement Blue Flare, wrecking most Dragon-types and doing solid damage to many Pokemon that resist Fire-type moves.
* Solar Beam is the key move of the set that allows Reshiram to wallbreak effectively: with Grassium Z, it turns into 190-BP Bloom Doom and skips the charge turn, allowing Reshiram to OHKO defensive Arceus-Water, Arceus-Ground, and defensive Primal Kyogre after Stealth Rock. It also does enough damage to specially defensive Tyranitar to put it in range of Draco Meteor.
* Stone Edge OHKOes Ho-Oh, which otherwise completely walls Reshiram.
* If Ho-Oh isn't a concern, Reshiram can use Roost to heal off entry hazard damage, allowing it to last longer against defensive teams.
Set Details
========
* Special Attack and Speed are maxed out to maximize Reshiram's wallbreaking ability. There isn't really a reason to run any other spread.
* Modest nature is chosen to allow Bloom Doom to get the necessary KOs, and it goes some way towards making up for Reshiram lacking a damage-boosting item.
* You can use Timid to outspeed anything slower than Modest Palkia, but Reshiram will then miss the necessary Bloom Doom damage ranges, so it will need more prior damage to secure KOs on critical targets.
Usage Tips
========
* Getting Reshiram into battle can be a bit of a challenge, but bulky Steel-types offer a good switch-in opportunity. Double switches into Pokemon Reshiram can force out is also an option.
* You only have one shot to use Bloom Doom on its intended target, so choosing the right moment to use it is critical. One possibility is having Reshiram come in on a defensive Steel-type or slower Dragon-type it can force out—if you have something else on your team the opponent needs this Pokemon to check, it will likely switch out in fear of Reshiram's STAB attacks, granting a prime opportunity to let Bloom Doom loose.
* In the same vein, do not use Bloom Doom if the opponent has a Blissey or Chansey. You absolutely must remove these first before you can use the Z-Move safely.
* If you want to get a feel for your opponent's switching habits before unleashing Bloom Doom, Blue Flare is generally a safe option if the opposing team lacks Primal Kyogre or a bulky Rock-type. Draco Meteor is also usually a safe option, as switching Xerneas into Reshiram is quite risky.
* Reshiram is often deadweight against offensive teams due to its mediocre Speed and common weaknesses, so try to get value out of it by throwing out damage whenever possible.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that enjoy having bulky Water-types and Rock-types destroyed make fine partners. Mega Salamence stands out as a partner for this purpose, and it can take Ground-type moves aimed at Reshiram. Swords Dance Arceus formes also appreciate having these Pokemon removed in general.
* Primal Groudon provides Stealth Rock support and a switch into Primal Kyogre. It also appreciates having Arceus-Water and Arceus-Ground out of the way.
* A way to take out Blissey reliable is mandatory. Mega Gengar can easily trap and KO sets without Shed Shell, or you can use a strong physical or mixed attacker such as Primal Groudon, Mega Salamence, Swords Dance Arceus, or Knock Off Yveltal.
* Reshiram enjoys having entry hazard removal support so Stealth Rock is less of a pain—Arceus-Water and Giratina-O can provide Defog support as well as a switch into faster Ground-types that can easily revenge kill Reshiram.
* Reshiram cannot check Fairy-types despite being a Fire-type, so partners that can check Fairy-types such as Magearna, Klefki, Ferrothorn, Solgaleo, Mega Scizor, and Bronzong are beneficial.
* Reshiram benefits a fair amount from paralysis support so it can't be revenge killed as easily; Thunder Wave Giratina-O and Glare Zygarde-C can work for this purpose.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Firium Z can be used in tandem with Sunny Day, granting Reshiram +1 Speed, a massive damage increase to Blue Flare, and the ability to freely use Solar Beam on defensive Arceus-Water and Arceus-Rock, giving Reshiram some sweeping potential late-game. However, this set is easily gimped by Primal formes and Tyranitar, which makes it difficult to use.
* Dragonium Z is an alternative with Draco Meteor-based Devastating Drake, giving Reshiram a strong attack against many Bloom Doom targets with more general use. It can also be paired with Outrage and a Hasty nature to KO Blissey with Devastating Drake after Stealth Rock damage and Blue Flare. However, Reshiram will have a harder time getting past bulky Water- and Rock-types without Bloom Doom.
* Life Orb gives Reshiram more consistent power across all its attacks, but the recoil damage combined with entry hazards will exhaust Reshiram extremely quickly.
* Focus Blast OHKOes Tyranitar but doesn't do much else.
* Toxic can be used on a bulkier Roost to to wear down defensive Arceus formes, though it does not bother Primal Kyogre much if it has Rest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Blissey**: Reshiram cannot beat Blissey no matter what it tries to do and will succumb eventually to Toxic.
**Bulky Rock-types**: Arceus-Rock can take any of Reshiram's attacks barring Bloom Doom and will OHKO it with Judgment in return. It can also Recover off any damage taken if Reshiram opts to switch out. A healthy Tyranitar can survive Bloom Doom and take out Reshiram with Stone Edge. Nihilego is not weak to Bloom Doom and takes Reshiram's other attacks well with its high Special Defense, KOing Reshiram with Power Gem.
**Bulky Water-types**: Primal Kyogre and Arceus-Water take little damage from Fire-type attacks and can stall out and KO Reshiram fairly easily if it misfires Bloom Doom.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh completely walls any Reshiram set if it lacks Stone Edge.
**Revenge Killers**: Almost anything faster than Reshiram can KO it easily if it's been weakened somewhat. Lunala can also take out Reshiram fairly easily, since Shadow Shield is not affected by Turboblaze.
**Entry Hazards**: Reshiram loses 25% of its health upon every switch-in when Stealth Rock is on the field, and it also takes damage from Spikes, so entry hazards will wear Reshiram down extremely quickly.
Last edited:
