[SET]
name: Flame Orb Aerilate
move 1: Facade
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Roost
move 4: Dragon Dance
item: Flame Orb
ability: Aerilate
nature: Naughty
evs: 236 Atk / 48 Def / 76 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Salamence is a threatening wallbreaker and setup sweeper thanks to a very spammable and immensely strong STAB move in Aerilate-boosted Facade, which 2HKOes common walls like Unaware Mew, Mandibuzz, and Ferrothorn. Moreover, after activating Flame Orb, Salamence ignores status attempts from users like Mew, Toxapex, and Blissey, making it a menace to slower-paced teams; it can even switch in and absorb Knock Off from foes like Ferrothorn and Landorus-T for its teammates. Fire Blast complements Facade to significantly weaken common Steel-type checks such as Intimidate Corviknight and Dauntless Shield Skarmory, and it is not weakened by burn. The combination of Flying-type Facade + Fire Blast grants it sufficient coverage, which means Salamence can afford to run utility moves. Roost keeps it healthy by compensating for its Stealth Rock weakness and chip damage from burn. Dragon Dance lets Salamence sweep late-game, outspeeding faster foes like Tapu Koko, Cinderace, and Terrakion and OHKOing specially defensive Ferrothorn and Garchomp. The EV spread allows Salamence to avoid the 2HKO from Corviknight's Brave Bird after burn damage, 2HKO physically defensive Corviknight with Fire Blast through Leftovers recovery, and outspeed Barraskewda after a Dragon Dance.
Salamence fits perfectly on bulky and hyper offensive teams that appreciate its wallbreaking and sweeping ability while providing it with the necessary support in return. Even with Roost, Salamence still requires good Stealth Rock removers like Excadrill and Mandibuzz; even running both together is a decent option to consistently keep Stealth Rock off the field. Defensive pivots such as RegenVest Jirachi and Dauntless Shield Slowbro can bring Salamence in safely on foes like Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu, respectively, as well as compensating for Salamence's lack of defensive value: Jirachi checks Tapu Lele and Latios, while Slowbro deals with Terrakion and Garchomp. Offensive pivots like Barraskewda, Cinderace, and Azelf outspeed foes that would otherwise KO Salamence before a Dragon Dance such as Terrakion and Zarude. They can also immensely pressure the opposing team early-game for Salamence to sweep more easily. Even if Salamence is unable to sweep, it is still an effective wallbreaker that can force huge damage on foes like Skarmory, Mandbuzz, and Mew for the likes of Swords Dance Dhelmise and Triage Tapu Bulu to clean up late-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Magic Guard + Life Orb can give Salamence more longevity by blocking Stealth Rock damage and improve Fire Blast damage; however, this misses out on Salamence's biggest selling point of a devastating physical Flying-type attack, and lacking Facade makes Salamence vulnerable to burn Attack drops and more harmed by paralysis. A special set consisting of Hurricane, Draco Meteor, Fire Blast, and Roost alongside Magic Guard + Life Orb can let Salamence lure in and bypass would-be checks like Dauntless Shield Hippowdown, Unaware Mandibuzz, and Corviknight; however, relying on Hurricane makes it inconsistent, it's generally outclassed by Primordial Sea Zapdos, and it's completely walled by Chansey and Blissey.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Certain Fire-immune Pokemon**: Primordial Sea Zapdos and Flash Fire Corviknight and Skarmory completely wall Salamence, as they're immune to Fire, bulky, and resistant to Flying, with Bulk Up variants of Corviknight turning it into setup fodder.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Dauntless Shield Mew, Slowbro, and Hippowdon have the physical bulk to withstand Salamence's boosted attacks; moreover, the former two can immediately threaten it with Ice Beam, while the latter can phaze it with Whirlwind.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Terrakion, Garchomp, and Tapu Koko can naturally outspeed and threaten Salamence with their super effective STAB attacks. Even after a Dragon Dance, Choice Scarf users like Azelf and Latios can still revenge kill it. Priority attacks like Triage Tapu Lele's Draining Kiss and Mamoswine's Ice Shard OHKO it.
**Chip Damage**: Salamence's Stealth Rock weakness and burn damage cut significantly into its longevity, putting it in KO range of revenge killers like Choice Band Zygarde-10% and Choice Scarf Galarian Zapdos. It alleviates this issue with Roost, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260], [beauts, 484270]]
- Quality checked by: [[beauts, 484270], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
name: Flame Orb Aerilate
move 1: Facade
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Roost
move 4: Dragon Dance
item: Flame Orb
ability: Aerilate
nature: Naughty
evs: 236 Atk / 48 Def / 76 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Salamence is a threatening wallbreaker and setup sweeper thanks to a very spammable and immensely strong STAB move in Aerilate-boosted Facade, which 2HKOes common walls like Unaware Mew, Mandibuzz, and Ferrothorn. Moreover, after activating Flame Orb, Salamence ignores status attempts from users like Mew, Toxapex, and Blissey, making it a menace to slower-paced teams; it can even switch in and absorb Knock Off from foes like Ferrothorn and Landorus-T for its teammates. Fire Blast complements Facade to significantly weaken common Steel-type checks such as Intimidate Corviknight and Dauntless Shield Skarmory, and it is not weakened by burn. The combination of Flying-type Facade + Fire Blast grants it sufficient coverage, which means Salamence can afford to run utility moves. Roost keeps it healthy by compensating for its Stealth Rock weakness and chip damage from burn. Dragon Dance lets Salamence sweep late-game, outspeeding faster foes like Tapu Koko, Cinderace, and Terrakion and OHKOing specially defensive Ferrothorn and Garchomp. The EV spread allows Salamence to avoid the 2HKO from Corviknight's Brave Bird after burn damage, 2HKO physically defensive Corviknight with Fire Blast through Leftovers recovery, and outspeed Barraskewda after a Dragon Dance.
Salamence fits perfectly on bulky and hyper offensive teams that appreciate its wallbreaking and sweeping ability while providing it with the necessary support in return. Even with Roost, Salamence still requires good Stealth Rock removers like Excadrill and Mandibuzz; even running both together is a decent option to consistently keep Stealth Rock off the field. Defensive pivots such as RegenVest Jirachi and Dauntless Shield Slowbro can bring Salamence in safely on foes like Landorus-T and Tapu Bulu, respectively, as well as compensating for Salamence's lack of defensive value: Jirachi checks Tapu Lele and Latios, while Slowbro deals with Terrakion and Garchomp. Offensive pivots like Barraskewda, Cinderace, and Azelf outspeed foes that would otherwise KO Salamence before a Dragon Dance such as Terrakion and Zarude. They can also immensely pressure the opposing team early-game for Salamence to sweep more easily. Even if Salamence is unable to sweep, it is still an effective wallbreaker that can force huge damage on foes like Skarmory, Mandbuzz, and Mew for the likes of Swords Dance Dhelmise and Triage Tapu Bulu to clean up late-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Magic Guard + Life Orb can give Salamence more longevity by blocking Stealth Rock damage and improve Fire Blast damage; however, this misses out on Salamence's biggest selling point of a devastating physical Flying-type attack, and lacking Facade makes Salamence vulnerable to burn Attack drops and more harmed by paralysis. A special set consisting of Hurricane, Draco Meteor, Fire Blast, and Roost alongside Magic Guard + Life Orb can let Salamence lure in and bypass would-be checks like Dauntless Shield Hippowdown, Unaware Mandibuzz, and Corviknight; however, relying on Hurricane makes it inconsistent, it's generally outclassed by Primordial Sea Zapdos, and it's completely walled by Chansey and Blissey.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Certain Fire-immune Pokemon**: Primordial Sea Zapdos and Flash Fire Corviknight and Skarmory completely wall Salamence, as they're immune to Fire, bulky, and resistant to Flying, with Bulk Up variants of Corviknight turning it into setup fodder.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Dauntless Shield Mew, Slowbro, and Hippowdon have the physical bulk to withstand Salamence's boosted attacks; moreover, the former two can immediately threaten it with Ice Beam, while the latter can phaze it with Whirlwind.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Terrakion, Garchomp, and Tapu Koko can naturally outspeed and threaten Salamence with their super effective STAB attacks. Even after a Dragon Dance, Choice Scarf users like Azelf and Latios can still revenge kill it. Priority attacks like Triage Tapu Lele's Draining Kiss and Mamoswine's Ice Shard OHKO it.
**Chip Damage**: Salamence's Stealth Rock weakness and burn damage cut significantly into its longevity, putting it in KO range of revenge killers like Choice Band Zygarde-10% and Choice Scarf Galarian Zapdos. It alleviates this issue with Roost, however.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260], [beauts, 484270]]
- Quality checked by: [[beauts, 484270], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Last edited: