firecape
This is the end...
Good ol' Skarmory.
WIP
I know there may be use of a "gimmick sturdy" lead set or the like, but for now I'm not putting that it. If anyone has any suggestions, feel free to comment. I purposely left out physically defensive and put mention of more Defense in AC too, if anyone objects I guess I can add it....they still play pretty similarly though.
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[Overview]
- Still seems to be a prominent wall
- Great at supporting the team with Spikes and phazing
- Steel typing is great
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Roost
move 3: Whirlwind
move 4: Brave Bird
item: Leftovers
ability: Sturdy
nature: Careful / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Set Comments:
- Great base 140 Defense lets it maximize Special Defense to be a more balanced wall
- Steel typing lets it take Dragon-type attacks really well
- Spikes are great for team support; they limit the switches an opponent can preform
- Whirlwind compliments Spikes great as it allows Skamory to phaze out threats for added damage
- Brave Bird allows Skarmory to dish out some decent damage
- Roost gives Skarmory a way to heal itself
- Skarmory can also use Stealth Rock
- Drill Peck is useable over Brave Bird if you dislike the recoil
- Toxic is also an option over Brave Bird to attempt to give Skarmory a chance to stall things out, but then its complete Taunt bait
- An Impish nature is useable for more physical bulk, and more Defense EVs are also useable
- A spinblocker is pretty much required with Skarmory to prevent its hard work from being spun away; Giratina-O makes a nice spinblocker
- While Skarmory can take physical attacks well, most powerful special attackers give Skarmory a run for its money, so Blissey makes a great teammate
- Kyogre can weaken the power of Fire-type attacks aimed at Skarmory, and checks the multitude of Fire-types that give it trouble
- Tons of sweepers like Rock Polish Terakion and Lucario love Spikes support, so Skarmory makes a great teammate for them
- Ho-Oh is immune to any Spikes Skarmory can set up, and roasts it with Sacred Fire (although it isn't always an OHKO)
- Reshiram and Zekrom can give Skarmory a run for its money with their Fire and Electric STABs respectively. Reshiram can even get a Speed boost off Skarmory with Nitro Charge
- A spinblocker is pretty much needed alongside any Skarmory set; Giratina-O, and possibly Berungeru (Water/Ghost) make great teammates to prevent Skarmory's Spikes from being blown away
- Blissey makes a great teammate to sponge powerful special attacks
- Skarmory is best used on a team with an extra phazer or two or sweepers that benefit from Spikes support so its talents aren't wasted
- A Ground-type such as Doryuuzu can switch into Electric-type attacks and proceed to set up
- Tyranitar can provide a sandstorm to power up the aforementioned Doryuuzu and inflict more residual damage upon the opponent
- Skarmory also needs a Pokemon to take Fire-type attacks for it, which Tyranitar can also do
- A gimmicky Swords Dance set can be used for fun
- A "Sturdy Lead" allows you to get at least 1 layer of entry hazards down, barring Taunt or status
- Physically Defensive set if, of course, viable
- Most powerful special attackers (Kyogre, Dialga, Palkia, Reshiram, Shandera, ect.) give Skarmory a run for its money
- It can't do much if it gets Taunted, so Mewtwo and the like can put it in a tough position
- Zekrom and Ho-Oh give it some trouble with their super effective STAB
- Skarmory gets a pretty useless ability from the Dream World that lowers its Defense for more Speed...it doesn't seem like anybody would ever use it