[OVERVIEW]
Terrakion is one of the strongest wallbreakers in the UU tier thanks to its high Attack stat and amazing STAB combination. It can also work as a fearsome setup sweeper with Swords Dance, as it's able to pressure and break through a lot of stall and balance teams. Despite facing competition from other Fighting-types like Infernape and Heracross, Terrakion sets itself apart from them due to its ability to beat common Fighting-type answers like Togekiss and Moltres, its better Speed tier, and its access to Justified. However, Terrakion's typing is very poor defensively, making it easily exploitable and weak to a lot of priority moves like Bullet Punch, Mach Punch, and Aqua Jet and common typings, such as Steel, Psychic, Ground, and Fighting. The Defense and Special Defense drops caused by using Close Combat only aggravate this weakness. On sets utilizing a Z-Move, Terrakion can be easily exploited by bulky threats like Swampert and Alomomola that can tank a hit from it and cripple it after it has used its Z-Move. Terrakion is also outsped by a lot of common threats in the metagame, such as Latias and Gengar, meaning it can have a hard time sweeping.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rock Slide / Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Terrakion's strongest and most accurate STAB move, dealing a great amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Stone Edge complements Close Combat by hitting Pokemon that resist Fighting-type attacks, such as Latias and Sylveon, hard. Earthquake allows Terrakion to hit Doublade, which would otherwise be able to completely wall it. It can also be used to revenge kill Pokemon like Nidoking and Tentacruel, which usually avoid the OHKO from any of Terrakion's other moves. Rock Slide is a more reliable Rock-type STAB move that should be used to always OHKO Chandelure and Moltres, as it has a much smaller chance of missing in comparison to Stone Edge. However, it's important to note that it is also much weaker and shouldn't be used in any other situations, as it misses out on the OHKO or 2HKO on a lot of Pokemon, such as Primarina and Starmie. Quick Attack could also be used in the last slot to pick off weakened faster threats such as Latias and Mega Sharpedo at +1. However, it's important to note that Quick Attack should only be used if it can absolutely revenge kill the foe, as it's a very weak move. Toxic also deserves to be mentioned, as it allows Terrakion to cripple non-Rest Mega Slowbro, which can usually switch into it fairly easily.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment coupled with a Choice Band allows Terrakion to be as strong as it can be with a neutral nature, making it extremely difficult to switch into. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature provide Terrakion with the ability to outspeed Pokemon like Nihilego, Hydreigon, and Celebi and Speed tie with Cobalion and non-Choice Scarf Infernape. Justified is the only available ability for Terrakion. However, it can give Terrakion an Attack boost whenever it is hit by a Dark-type attack, like Hydreigon's Choice-locked Dark Pulse or Mega Houndoom's Dark Pulse.
Usage Tips
========
While using Terrakion, it's advised to make predictions often, as the opponent can take advantage of the fact that Terrakion has to be locked into a move whenever it fires off an attack. For instance, if the opponent is predicted to switch into a Pokemon that resists Close Combat, such as Latias, then Stone Edge should be used, and vice versa. Making a bad prediction may cause a loss of momentum and give the opponent an advantage, so Terrakion should be used carefully. Additionally, Terrakion should not switch into attacks directly, as its typing is very poor defensively. Instead, it should be brought in via double switches, via pivots, or when a Pokemon has fainted. Even with Justified, it shouldn't switch into Dark-type moves most of the time, as most Dark-type Pokemon can still threaten Terrakion with their other moves; Terrakion should be especially wary of Knock Off users, which cause it to lose its Choice Band. It should only switch in on attacks like a Choice-locked Hydreigon's Dark Pulse or Mandibuzz's Foul Play. Earthquake should be used on a predicted switch to Doublade, while Toxic should be used to cripple bulky Pokemon that try to switch into Terrakion, specifically Mega Slowbro, as they can avoid being 2HKOed by any of its moves. Only use Rock Slide over Stone Edge when it's guaranteed to OHKO the foe, such as against a Pokemon like Moltres, to decrease the chance of a miss. Use Quick Attack to pick off a weakened target that usually outspeeds Terrakion, such as a weakened Latias or Choice Scarf Infernape.
Team Options
========
Terrakion is best used on offensive teams that appreciate its ability to break through walls and weaken foes. Terrakion has a very had time switching in due to its poor defensive typing, so it pairs well with U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scizor and Mega Manectric that can bring it in safely. Cleaners such as Mega Sharpedo and Dragon Dance Kommo-o make good teammates, as they can take advantage of Terrakion's ability to weaken the opposing team. Entry hazard setters such as Hippowdon and Klefki also pair well with Terrakion, as it can force a lot of switches and hazards may also secure OHKOs or 2HKOs on certain Pokemon, such as Latias and Slowbro. Klefki in particular is a great partner for Terrakion due to its ability to cripple faster Pokemon like Latias and Mega Aerodactyl with Thunder Wave. Grass-types such as Rotom-C and Tsareena also make good partners, as they can check most bulky Ground- and Water-types that threaten Terrakion, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola. Terrakion appreciates being paired with Pokemon that can check Psychic-types like Slowbro and Latias, as they can threaten it a lot. Examples of such Pokemon include Empoleon, Alolan Muk, and Mega Aggron. Alolan Muk is an especially good teammate, since it can reliably trap and remove faster Psychic-types like Latias and Starmie with Pursuit. Ground-immune Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Togekiss also make good partners, as they can switch into Ground-types like Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Krookodile that usually threaten Terrakion. Pokemon like Moltres, Chandelure, and Rotom-H also pair well with Terrakion because they're able to sponge the priority moves aimed at it such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Infernape's Mach Punch. Rotom-H is a especially good partner, as it can also bring Terrakion in with Volt Switch. Magneton, although situational, can be a very useful partner, as it can bring Terrakion in with Volt Switch, check Fairy-types, and most importantly, trap and remove Pokemon like Scizor, which can threaten Terrakion a lot.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Earthquake / Stealth Rock
item: Life Orb / Fightinium Z / Rockium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Terrakion's Attack by two stages, allowing it to break through bulkier teams with ease. Stone Edge is Terrakion's strongest Rock-type STAB attack, and after a Swords Dance and Life Orb boost, it's capable of OHKOing Pokemon like Latias and offensive variants of Celebi. Additionally, in combination with Rockium Z, it can turn into a very powerful Continental Crush, which can OHKO Pokemon like Mega Slowbro after some prior damage. Close Combat is a stronger and more reliable STAB move that hits Pokemon that resist Stone Edge like Quagsire hard. It can also OHKO Pokemon like Hippowdon and Swampert if used in combination with Fightinium Z to turn into a very strong All-Out Pummeling. Earthquake allows Terrakion to OHKO Pokemon like Volcanion and Chandelure without having to risk missing Stone Edge. It can also KO Doublade at +2 after some some prior damage. Stealth Rock is also a viable option on the last slot if no other Pokemon on the team can afford to use it. Protect can also be used to scout for moves and Choice-locked Pokemon, such as Choice Band Scizor and Choice Scarf Infernape.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack allows Terrakion to hit as hard as it can without a boosting nature. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Terrakion outspeed Pokemon like Nihilego and non-Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Speed tie with Pokemon like Cobalion. Life Orb is the preferred item, allowing it to pressure bulkier teams far more easily by 2HKOing Pokemon like Quagsire with Close Combat. Fightinium Z could also be used, as it allows Terrakion to OHKO Pokemon that resist Stone Edge like Swampert and Hippowdon with +2 All-Out Pummeling. Rockium Z is another alternative for a Z-Move, as it can turn Stone Edge into a powerful Continental Crush, which would allow Terrakion to break through some of its checks such as Mega Slowbro after some prior damage. Justified is Terrakion's only available ability, allowing it to get an Attack boost whenever it is hit by a Dark-type attack. Additionally, if holding a Z-Move, it also allows Terrakion to act as a Knock Off absorber from Pokemon like Alolan Muk and Choice-locked Krookodile.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Terrakion should focus on attacking instead of setting up with Swords Dance so it can whittle down the opposing team. Setting up with Terrakion before Pokemon with access to priority moves like Scizor or that usually hold a Choice Scarf like Krookodile are removed is not advised, as Terrakion will most likely not be able to sweep. Terrakion should be brought in via double switches, via pivoting, or if a Pokemon has fainted, as it has a poor defensive typing and cannot afford to switch in directly to most Pokemon. However, if holding a Z-Move, as it can't lose its item, Terrakion can be used to switch into a predicted Knock Off to get a +1 boost in Attack from Justified. Both Continental Crush and All-Out Pummeling should be used carefully, as they can only be used once and are necessary for Terrakion to be able to break through Pokemon like Mega Slowbro and Hippowdon. Using them against the wrong Pokemon can be very costly. Finally, once the Pokemon that can threaten Terrakion are removed, it should try to find opportunities to set up by making predictions and double switches in order to break through and potentially sweep the opposing team.
Team Options
========
Terrakion fits best on offensive teams that appreciate its ability to break through bulkier builds. Due to its bad defensive typing, Terrakion has a very hard time directly switching in and thus pairs well with U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scizor and Rotom-C that can bring it in safely. Entry hazard setters such as Mega Aggron and Klefki make good teammates for Terrakion, as hazards can secure OHKOs on certain Pokemon, such as Mega Slowbro and Hippowdon. Pokemon like Moltres and Chandelure are able to tank most priority moves aimed at Terrakion, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Infernape's Mach Punch. Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk and Choice Band Scizor are able to trap threatening Pokemon for Terrakion like Latias and Starmie. Ground-immune Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Togekiss make good partners, since they're able to easily switch into Pokemon like Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Krookodile, which can usually threaten Terrakion. Grass-types like Rotom-C and Tsareena also pair well with it for the same reason. Choice Scarf Latias has good synergy with Terrakion, as it can check faster Pokemon that usually threaten Terrakion such as Choice Scarf Infernape, and it has access to Healing Wish, which can heal Terrakion back up after it has weakened the opposing team. In return, Terrakion can take advantage of Pokemon that lock themselves into Dark-type moves such as Choice Scarf Krookodile and Choice Band Scizor and try to set up. Pokemon like Chandelure and Gengar can also force the same situation and thus pair well with Terrakion. Magneton pairs very well with Terrakion, as it can check Fairy-types such as Sylveon, bring Terrakion in safely via Volt Switch, and most importantly, trap and remove Scizor, which can prevent Terrakion from sweeping with Bullet Punch.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Terrakion's strongest and most reliable STAB move and allows it to OHKO Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo, Cobalion, and Mega Houndoom. Stone Edge is another powerful STAB move that allows Terrakion to revenge kill Pokemon like Togekiss and Mega Pidgeot. Earthquake provides Terrakion with the ability to hit Pokemon like Nidoking and Nidoqueen without having to risk Stone Edge missing. It also lets Terrakion hit Doublade. Rock Slide is a more reliable, albeit weaker, Rock-type STAB move that allows Terrakion to pick off weakened threats and frailer Rock-weak foes without having to rely on Stone Edge. Toxic can also be used in the last slot, as it can cripple bulky Pokemon that usually try to tank hits from Terrakion such as Hippowdon and Slowbro.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature coupled with a Choice Scarf makes Terrakion as fast as possible, allowing it to outspeed Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Hydreigon. 252 Attack EVs allow Terrakion to hit as hard as it can without a boosting nature. Despite Justified being Terrakion's only available ability, it can be useful, as it boosts Terrakion's Attack by one stage every time it's hit by a Dark-type move.
Usage Tips
========
Terrakion should mainly be used as a revenge killer, as it's able to outspeed and OHKO Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Pidgeot. It could also be used as a late-game cleaner, but the opposing team needs to be severely weakened for that to happen. Terrakion has a very poor defensive typing and has a hard time switching in directly, so it should only try to come in when another Pokemon faints or via U-turn or Volt Switch. This also applies to Dark-type moves, specifically Knock Off, because even with Justified, most Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Krookodile can still threaten Terrakion with their other moves, and if it's ever hit by Knock Off, it will lose its Choice Scarf. Rock Slide should only be used over Stone Edge against Pokemon where it's guaranteed to OHKO such as against Moltres and Mega Pidgeot. Toxic should be used on a predicted switch to a bulky Pokemon like Slowbro or Hippowdon that might try to sponge hits from Terrakion. However, be careful whenever locking Terrakion into it, as it can be taken advantage of.
Team Options
========
Terrakion mostly fits on more fast-paced teams, where its ability to revenge kill a number of threats is appreciated. It pairs well with U-turn and Volt Switch users like Scizor and Rotom-H, as it has a hard time switching in. Entry hazards can severely weaken opposing Pokemon such as Swampert and Suicune to the point where they can be OHKOed or 2HKOed by Terrakion. As such, entry hazard setters such as Hippowdon and Klefki make good partners for it. Psychic-types such as Latias and Necrozma can threaten Terrakion a lot, so Pokemon that can check them like Mega Aggron and Empoleon pair well with it. Pursuit users like Alolan Muk and Choice Band Scizor are especially good teammates, as they're able to reliably trap and remove faster Psychic-types such as the aforementioned Latias and Starmie. Pokemon that can sponge the priority moves aimed at Terrakion like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Infernape's Mach Punch make good partners. Chandelure and Moltres are examples of such Pokemon. Grass-types such as Tsareena and Rotom-C are able to switch into bulky Ground- and Water-types like Hippowdon and Alomomola, which usually try to sponge hits from Terrakion. Water-types like Tentacruel and Volcanion pair well with Terrakion for their ability to check Pokemon that usually threaten it, such as Scizor and Choice Scarf Infernape. Offensive Water-types such as Primarina and the aforementioned Volcanion can also break through Ground-types and pave the way for Terrakion to sweep. Wallbreakers such as Nidoking and Heracross can pave the way for Terrakion to potentially clean late-game, making them very useful partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Buginium Z could be used in combination with X-Scissor so Terrakion can OHKO Mega Slowbro with +2 Savage Spin-Out, but Fightinium Z and Rockium Z are usually better options, since they can hit a wider array of threats. A Double Dance set utilizing both Swords Dance and Rock Polish can be used to punish more fast-paced teams, but it's not very reliable, as it's still prone to being revenge killed by priority users and has a hard time setting up. It also faces competition from Cobalion, which has an easier time setting up. A set utilizing the combination of Substitute and Salac Berry is an option, as Terrakion could have more opportunities to set up a Swords Dance behind a Substitute, while the Speed boost could allow it to threaten offensive teams more easily, but it's still very hard to set up with this set. A dedicated Stealth Rock set with Focus Sash could be used on very fast-paced teams, as Terrakion can threaten the opposing team with Swords Dance boosts, but it faces heavy competition with Azelf, which has access to Explosion.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Threats**: Pokemon like Latias and Choice Scarf Infernape are able to outspeed and revenge kill Terrakion with ease due to its mediocre defensive typing. Priority moves from Pokemon like Scizor, Infernape, and Crawdaunt can also threaten it, especially after the stat drops from Close Combat.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Pokemon like Hippowdon and Swampert can tank any hit from Terrakion bar +2 All-Out Pummeling and OHKO it in return with their STAB moves, while Quagsire and Palossand only have to fear Toxic. All of them bar Palossand struggle to switch into a Choice Band- or Life Orb-boosted Close Combat, however.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mega Slowbro is one of the best checks to Terrakion, as it can switch into any of Terrakion's sets without fearing anything bar Toxic and deal heavy damage in return with its STAB moves. Other bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Suicune can also beat it one-on-one, but they are usually unable to directly switch into a Choice Band- or Life Orb-boosted attack.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Latias and Starmie can outspeed Terrakion and OHKO it with their STAB moves. Bulkier Psychic-types like Slowbro are also able to tank many hits from Terrakion and KO it.
**Doublade**: Doublade can easily switch into any of Terrakion's STAB attacks, being immune to Close Combat and resisting Stone Edge, and threaten to OHKO Terrakion with STAB Gyro Ball. However, it must be wary of Earthquake.
Terrakion is one of the strongest wallbreakers in the UU tier thanks to its high Attack stat and amazing STAB combination. It can also work as a fearsome setup sweeper with Swords Dance, as it's able to pressure and break through a lot of stall and balance teams. Despite facing competition from other Fighting-types like Infernape and Heracross, Terrakion sets itself apart from them due to its ability to beat common Fighting-type answers like Togekiss and Moltres, its better Speed tier, and its access to Justified. However, Terrakion's typing is very poor defensively, making it easily exploitable and weak to a lot of priority moves like Bullet Punch, Mach Punch, and Aqua Jet and common typings, such as Steel, Psychic, Ground, and Fighting. The Defense and Special Defense drops caused by using Close Combat only aggravate this weakness. On sets utilizing a Z-Move, Terrakion can be easily exploited by bulky threats like Swampert and Alomomola that can tank a hit from it and cripple it after it has used its Z-Move. Terrakion is also outsped by a lot of common threats in the metagame, such as Latias and Gengar, meaning it can have a hard time sweeping.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rock Slide / Quick Attack
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Terrakion's strongest and most accurate STAB move, dealing a great amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Stone Edge complements Close Combat by hitting Pokemon that resist Fighting-type attacks, such as Latias and Sylveon, hard. Earthquake allows Terrakion to hit Doublade, which would otherwise be able to completely wall it. It can also be used to revenge kill Pokemon like Nidoking and Tentacruel, which usually avoid the OHKO from any of Terrakion's other moves. Rock Slide is a more reliable Rock-type STAB move that should be used to always OHKO Chandelure and Moltres, as it has a much smaller chance of missing in comparison to Stone Edge. However, it's important to note that it is also much weaker and shouldn't be used in any other situations, as it misses out on the OHKO or 2HKO on a lot of Pokemon, such as Primarina and Starmie. Quick Attack could also be used in the last slot to pick off weakened faster threats such as Latias and Mega Sharpedo at +1. However, it's important to note that Quick Attack should only be used if it can absolutely revenge kill the foe, as it's a very weak move. Toxic also deserves to be mentioned, as it allows Terrakion to cripple non-Rest Mega Slowbro, which can usually switch into it fairly easily.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment coupled with a Choice Band allows Terrakion to be as strong as it can be with a neutral nature, making it extremely difficult to switch into. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature provide Terrakion with the ability to outspeed Pokemon like Nihilego, Hydreigon, and Celebi and Speed tie with Cobalion and non-Choice Scarf Infernape. Justified is the only available ability for Terrakion. However, it can give Terrakion an Attack boost whenever it is hit by a Dark-type attack, like Hydreigon's Choice-locked Dark Pulse or Mega Houndoom's Dark Pulse.
Usage Tips
========
While using Terrakion, it's advised to make predictions often, as the opponent can take advantage of the fact that Terrakion has to be locked into a move whenever it fires off an attack. For instance, if the opponent is predicted to switch into a Pokemon that resists Close Combat, such as Latias, then Stone Edge should be used, and vice versa. Making a bad prediction may cause a loss of momentum and give the opponent an advantage, so Terrakion should be used carefully. Additionally, Terrakion should not switch into attacks directly, as its typing is very poor defensively. Instead, it should be brought in via double switches, via pivots, or when a Pokemon has fainted. Even with Justified, it shouldn't switch into Dark-type moves most of the time, as most Dark-type Pokemon can still threaten Terrakion with their other moves; Terrakion should be especially wary of Knock Off users, which cause it to lose its Choice Band. It should only switch in on attacks like a Choice-locked Hydreigon's Dark Pulse or Mandibuzz's Foul Play. Earthquake should be used on a predicted switch to Doublade, while Toxic should be used to cripple bulky Pokemon that try to switch into Terrakion, specifically Mega Slowbro, as they can avoid being 2HKOed by any of its moves. Only use Rock Slide over Stone Edge when it's guaranteed to OHKO the foe, such as against a Pokemon like Moltres, to decrease the chance of a miss. Use Quick Attack to pick off a weakened target that usually outspeeds Terrakion, such as a weakened Latias or Choice Scarf Infernape.
Team Options
========
Terrakion is best used on offensive teams that appreciate its ability to break through walls and weaken foes. Terrakion has a very had time switching in due to its poor defensive typing, so it pairs well with U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scizor and Mega Manectric that can bring it in safely. Cleaners such as Mega Sharpedo and Dragon Dance Kommo-o make good teammates, as they can take advantage of Terrakion's ability to weaken the opposing team. Entry hazard setters such as Hippowdon and Klefki also pair well with Terrakion, as it can force a lot of switches and hazards may also secure OHKOs or 2HKOs on certain Pokemon, such as Latias and Slowbro. Klefki in particular is a great partner for Terrakion due to its ability to cripple faster Pokemon like Latias and Mega Aerodactyl with Thunder Wave. Grass-types such as Rotom-C and Tsareena also make good partners, as they can check most bulky Ground- and Water-types that threaten Terrakion, such as Hippowdon and Alomomola. Terrakion appreciates being paired with Pokemon that can check Psychic-types like Slowbro and Latias, as they can threaten it a lot. Examples of such Pokemon include Empoleon, Alolan Muk, and Mega Aggron. Alolan Muk is an especially good teammate, since it can reliably trap and remove faster Psychic-types like Latias and Starmie with Pursuit. Ground-immune Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Togekiss also make good partners, as they can switch into Ground-types like Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Krookodile that usually threaten Terrakion. Pokemon like Moltres, Chandelure, and Rotom-H also pair well with Terrakion because they're able to sponge the priority moves aimed at it such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Infernape's Mach Punch. Rotom-H is a especially good partner, as it can also bring Terrakion in with Volt Switch. Magneton, although situational, can be a very useful partner, as it can bring Terrakion in with Volt Switch, check Fairy-types, and most importantly, trap and remove Pokemon like Scizor, which can threaten Terrakion a lot.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Earthquake / Stealth Rock
item: Life Orb / Fightinium Z / Rockium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Terrakion's Attack by two stages, allowing it to break through bulkier teams with ease. Stone Edge is Terrakion's strongest Rock-type STAB attack, and after a Swords Dance and Life Orb boost, it's capable of OHKOing Pokemon like Latias and offensive variants of Celebi. Additionally, in combination with Rockium Z, it can turn into a very powerful Continental Crush, which can OHKO Pokemon like Mega Slowbro after some prior damage. Close Combat is a stronger and more reliable STAB move that hits Pokemon that resist Stone Edge like Quagsire hard. It can also OHKO Pokemon like Hippowdon and Swampert if used in combination with Fightinium Z to turn into a very strong All-Out Pummeling. Earthquake allows Terrakion to OHKO Pokemon like Volcanion and Chandelure without having to risk missing Stone Edge. It can also KO Doublade at +2 after some some prior damage. Stealth Rock is also a viable option on the last slot if no other Pokemon on the team can afford to use it. Protect can also be used to scout for moves and Choice-locked Pokemon, such as Choice Band Scizor and Choice Scarf Infernape.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack allows Terrakion to hit as hard as it can without a boosting nature. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Terrakion outspeed Pokemon like Nihilego and non-Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Speed tie with Pokemon like Cobalion. Life Orb is the preferred item, allowing it to pressure bulkier teams far more easily by 2HKOing Pokemon like Quagsire with Close Combat. Fightinium Z could also be used, as it allows Terrakion to OHKO Pokemon that resist Stone Edge like Swampert and Hippowdon with +2 All-Out Pummeling. Rockium Z is another alternative for a Z-Move, as it can turn Stone Edge into a powerful Continental Crush, which would allow Terrakion to break through some of its checks such as Mega Slowbro after some prior damage. Justified is Terrakion's only available ability, allowing it to get an Attack boost whenever it is hit by a Dark-type attack. Additionally, if holding a Z-Move, it also allows Terrakion to act as a Knock Off absorber from Pokemon like Alolan Muk and Choice-locked Krookodile.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Terrakion should focus on attacking instead of setting up with Swords Dance so it can whittle down the opposing team. Setting up with Terrakion before Pokemon with access to priority moves like Scizor or that usually hold a Choice Scarf like Krookodile are removed is not advised, as Terrakion will most likely not be able to sweep. Terrakion should be brought in via double switches, via pivoting, or if a Pokemon has fainted, as it has a poor defensive typing and cannot afford to switch in directly to most Pokemon. However, if holding a Z-Move, as it can't lose its item, Terrakion can be used to switch into a predicted Knock Off to get a +1 boost in Attack from Justified. Both Continental Crush and All-Out Pummeling should be used carefully, as they can only be used once and are necessary for Terrakion to be able to break through Pokemon like Mega Slowbro and Hippowdon. Using them against the wrong Pokemon can be very costly. Finally, once the Pokemon that can threaten Terrakion are removed, it should try to find opportunities to set up by making predictions and double switches in order to break through and potentially sweep the opposing team.
Team Options
========
Terrakion fits best on offensive teams that appreciate its ability to break through bulkier builds. Due to its bad defensive typing, Terrakion has a very hard time directly switching in and thus pairs well with U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scizor and Rotom-C that can bring it in safely. Entry hazard setters such as Mega Aggron and Klefki make good teammates for Terrakion, as hazards can secure OHKOs on certain Pokemon, such as Mega Slowbro and Hippowdon. Pokemon like Moltres and Chandelure are able to tank most priority moves aimed at Terrakion, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Infernape's Mach Punch. Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk and Choice Band Scizor are able to trap threatening Pokemon for Terrakion like Latias and Starmie. Ground-immune Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Togekiss make good partners, since they're able to easily switch into Pokemon like Hippowdon and Choice Scarf Krookodile, which can usually threaten Terrakion. Grass-types like Rotom-C and Tsareena also pair well with it for the same reason. Choice Scarf Latias has good synergy with Terrakion, as it can check faster Pokemon that usually threaten Terrakion such as Choice Scarf Infernape, and it has access to Healing Wish, which can heal Terrakion back up after it has weakened the opposing team. In return, Terrakion can take advantage of Pokemon that lock themselves into Dark-type moves such as Choice Scarf Krookodile and Choice Band Scizor and try to set up. Pokemon like Chandelure and Gengar can also force the same situation and thus pair well with Terrakion. Magneton pairs very well with Terrakion, as it can check Fairy-types such as Sylveon, bring Terrakion in safely via Volt Switch, and most importantly, trap and remove Scizor, which can prevent Terrakion from sweeping with Bullet Punch.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Rock Slide / Toxic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Terrakion's strongest and most reliable STAB move and allows it to OHKO Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo, Cobalion, and Mega Houndoom. Stone Edge is another powerful STAB move that allows Terrakion to revenge kill Pokemon like Togekiss and Mega Pidgeot. Earthquake provides Terrakion with the ability to hit Pokemon like Nidoking and Nidoqueen without having to risk Stone Edge missing. It also lets Terrakion hit Doublade. Rock Slide is a more reliable, albeit weaker, Rock-type STAB move that allows Terrakion to pick off weakened threats and frailer Rock-weak foes without having to rely on Stone Edge. Toxic can also be used in the last slot, as it can cripple bulky Pokemon that usually try to tank hits from Terrakion such as Hippowdon and Slowbro.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature coupled with a Choice Scarf makes Terrakion as fast as possible, allowing it to outspeed Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Hydreigon. 252 Attack EVs allow Terrakion to hit as hard as it can without a boosting nature. Despite Justified being Terrakion's only available ability, it can be useful, as it boosts Terrakion's Attack by one stage every time it's hit by a Dark-type move.
Usage Tips
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Terrakion should mainly be used as a revenge killer, as it's able to outspeed and OHKO Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Pidgeot. It could also be used as a late-game cleaner, but the opposing team needs to be severely weakened for that to happen. Terrakion has a very poor defensive typing and has a hard time switching in directly, so it should only try to come in when another Pokemon faints or via U-turn or Volt Switch. This also applies to Dark-type moves, specifically Knock Off, because even with Justified, most Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Krookodile can still threaten Terrakion with their other moves, and if it's ever hit by Knock Off, it will lose its Choice Scarf. Rock Slide should only be used over Stone Edge against Pokemon where it's guaranteed to OHKO such as against Moltres and Mega Pidgeot. Toxic should be used on a predicted switch to a bulky Pokemon like Slowbro or Hippowdon that might try to sponge hits from Terrakion. However, be careful whenever locking Terrakion into it, as it can be taken advantage of.
Team Options
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Terrakion mostly fits on more fast-paced teams, where its ability to revenge kill a number of threats is appreciated. It pairs well with U-turn and Volt Switch users like Scizor and Rotom-H, as it has a hard time switching in. Entry hazards can severely weaken opposing Pokemon such as Swampert and Suicune to the point where they can be OHKOed or 2HKOed by Terrakion. As such, entry hazard setters such as Hippowdon and Klefki make good partners for it. Psychic-types such as Latias and Necrozma can threaten Terrakion a lot, so Pokemon that can check them like Mega Aggron and Empoleon pair well with it. Pursuit users like Alolan Muk and Choice Band Scizor are especially good teammates, as they're able to reliably trap and remove faster Psychic-types such as the aforementioned Latias and Starmie. Pokemon that can sponge the priority moves aimed at Terrakion like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Infernape's Mach Punch make good partners. Chandelure and Moltres are examples of such Pokemon. Grass-types such as Tsareena and Rotom-C are able to switch into bulky Ground- and Water-types like Hippowdon and Alomomola, which usually try to sponge hits from Terrakion. Water-types like Tentacruel and Volcanion pair well with Terrakion for their ability to check Pokemon that usually threaten it, such as Scizor and Choice Scarf Infernape. Offensive Water-types such as Primarina and the aforementioned Volcanion can also break through Ground-types and pave the way for Terrakion to sweep. Wallbreakers such as Nidoking and Heracross can pave the way for Terrakion to potentially clean late-game, making them very useful partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Buginium Z could be used in combination with X-Scissor so Terrakion can OHKO Mega Slowbro with +2 Savage Spin-Out, but Fightinium Z and Rockium Z are usually better options, since they can hit a wider array of threats. A Double Dance set utilizing both Swords Dance and Rock Polish can be used to punish more fast-paced teams, but it's not very reliable, as it's still prone to being revenge killed by priority users and has a hard time setting up. It also faces competition from Cobalion, which has an easier time setting up. A set utilizing the combination of Substitute and Salac Berry is an option, as Terrakion could have more opportunities to set up a Swords Dance behind a Substitute, while the Speed boost could allow it to threaten offensive teams more easily, but it's still very hard to set up with this set. A dedicated Stealth Rock set with Focus Sash could be used on very fast-paced teams, as Terrakion can threaten the opposing team with Swords Dance boosts, but it faces heavy competition with Azelf, which has access to Explosion.
Checks and Counters
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**Faster Threats**: Pokemon like Latias and Choice Scarf Infernape are able to outspeed and revenge kill Terrakion with ease due to its mediocre defensive typing. Priority moves from Pokemon like Scizor, Infernape, and Crawdaunt can also threaten it, especially after the stat drops from Close Combat.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Pokemon like Hippowdon and Swampert can tank any hit from Terrakion bar +2 All-Out Pummeling and OHKO it in return with their STAB moves, while Quagsire and Palossand only have to fear Toxic. All of them bar Palossand struggle to switch into a Choice Band- or Life Orb-boosted Close Combat, however.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mega Slowbro is one of the best checks to Terrakion, as it can switch into any of Terrakion's sets without fearing anything bar Toxic and deal heavy damage in return with its STAB moves. Other bulky Water-types such as Alomomola and Suicune can also beat it one-on-one, but they are usually unable to directly switch into a Choice Band- or Life Orb-boosted attack.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types like Latias and Starmie can outspeed Terrakion and OHKO it with their STAB moves. Bulkier Psychic-types like Slowbro are also able to tank many hits from Terrakion and KO it.
**Doublade**: Doublade can easily switch into any of Terrakion's STAB attacks, being immune to Close Combat and resisting Stone Edge, and threaten to OHKO Terrakion with STAB Gyro Ball. However, it must be wary of Earthquake.
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