[OVERVIEW]
Tsareena is NU's best entry hazard removal, and for good reason. It easily beats the plethora of Grass-weak hazard setters like Rhyperior, Swampert, and Diancie, and even Steel-types such as Klefki and Registeel are inconsistent at beating it one-on-one. While offensive Tsareena profiles as a solid wallbreaker that can take over games thanks to Rapid Spin's Speed boost, defensive sets are fantastic at checking the swathes of offensive Ground-types in NU, especially Krookodile and Flygon, and its access to Synthesis is a huge factor in it outclassing Brambleghast, its primary competition. Tsareena faces some very real struggles defensively, though, as almost every Ground-type it aims to check carries super effective coverage, like Gunk Shot from Krookodile and Megahorn from Rhyperior, that threatens to KO it with minimal chip damage required. Offensive sets aren't very fast without a Speed boost and easily pressured by other wallbreakers like Chandelure and Munkidori as well as fast utility options in Noivern and Talonflame. Meanwhile, defensive sets are quite easy to exploit due to their reliance on Knock Off with Pokemon like RestTalk Alolan Muk, Vileplume, and Dragalge.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Triple Axel / U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Lum Berry
ability: Queenly Majesty
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Dragon / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Tsareena doubles as a source of entry hazard removal and a potent wallbreaker. Knock Off punishes switch-ins such as Talonflame and Magnezone while obliterating Chandelure, and Triple Axel deletes opposing Grass-types like Vileplume, Venusaur, and Rotom-C as well as Noivern. If you wish to tap further into Tsareena's utility movepool, U-turn is optional over Triple Axel, still giving it an out against any of its checks while enabling its stronger teammates. High Jump Kick is another coverage move you can try, as it's Tsareena's best option for hitting Steel-type hazard setters like Copperajah and Registeel and does good damage to Incineroar. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Tsareena bypass hazards damage, which increases its proficiency as a spinner, but Lum Berry helps against Talonflame's Flame Body and Slowbro's Scald. Tsareena usually shouldn't be Terastallizing, but Dragon potentially lets it KO a Chandelure or Hisuian Typhlosion with Knock Off and gives Tsareena a good sun matchup, while Steel blanks Munkidori's STAB moves, potentially lets Tsareena beat Cloyster, and helps it against Alolan Muk.
Tsareena is great at luring in and beating certain Poison-types like Dragalge, Vileplume, and Venusaur with Triple Axel; make sure to pair it with teammates like Mienshao, Thundurus, and Sylveon that can take advantage of this. Furthermore, Mienshao especially, as well as other physical attackers like Gallade and Infernape, appreciate Tsareena removing Talonflame's Heavy-Duty Boots and making it easier to overwhelm with Stealth Rock up. Similarly, teammates like Choice Specs Noivern, Chandelure, and Hisuian Typhlosion all appreciate Tsareena's Rapid Spin, and the latter two can beat Steel-type checks like Klefki, Registeel, and Magnezone for Tsareena. Talonflame is perhaps the most common switch-in to Tsareena, so Pokemon like Diancie and Slowbro that easily switch into it are helpful to have.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Power Whip / Trop Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Synthesis
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Queenly Majesty
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 Spe
tera type: Poison / Dragon / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Bulky Tsareena is one of the tier's few good answers to the plethora of offensive Ground-types in NU, such as Flygon, Krookodile, and Rhyperior. Although they possess super effective coverage moves for it, they can't OHKO it, and Synthesis keeps Tsareena healthy throughout the game so it can stay out of KO range from these threats. The biggest boon to this set, though, is destroying Klefki; it can't do enough damage with Foul Play thanks to the bulk investment, and Power Whip will slowly beat it down. The Speed EVs ensure Tsareena outspeeds Modest Diancie before it can attack with Meteor Beam, but Tsareena can go even faster if it wants, with relevant targets including Modest Magnezone, Torterra, and Adamant Feraligatr. Tsareena will rarely want to Terastallize, but Poison is nice to consistently answer Fighting-types like Mienshao and non-Meteor Mash Lucario and makes Tsareena immune to poison from Alolan Muk at the cost of becoming weak to Earthquake; Dragon aids against Fire-types like Hisuian Typhlosion and retains several resistances to types like Water, Grass, and Electric; and Steel is useful for checking Fairy- and Poison-types such as Sylveon and Munkidori as well as Cloyster.
Tsareena creates great defensive cores with common entry hazard setters like Diancie and Rhyperior. They resist Fire and Flying for Tsareena, while it takes on Water- and Ground-type attacks in return. Its Knock Off support is also favored by many offensive Pokemon, specifically Fighting-types like Mienshao, Gallade, and Infernape, since Tsareena so frequently draws in Talonflame and removes its Heavy-Duty Boots. Any Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon like Choice Specs Chandelure, Choice Specs Noivern, and itemless Thundurus also desires Tsareena for its Rapid Spin.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tsareena has other usable Tera-types than the ones listed, but they lack consistency across teams. Dark is good for teams that lack a Ghost resistance and amps up Knock Off's damage, but it offers little else. Ghost is a harder answer to Fighting-types than Poison, but it's just as bad into Krookodile and gives Tsareena a horrible Alolan Muk matchup. Fire is similar to Dragon in helping Tsareena against Fire-types, although Tsareena gains a Water weakness. Choice Scarf sets are good at revenge killing priority-reliant setup sweepers like Lycanroc-D and Lucario and don't have to worry about Klefki's Thunder Wave.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: All of Talonflame, Noivern, and Thundurus outspeed Tsareena and beat it with relative ease. Talonflame hates losing its item, though, and both Noivern and Thundurus are vulnerable to Triple Axel from offensive sets.
**Poison-types**: Alolan Muk is a great Tsareena answer, especially if it's RestTalk. Other Poison-types like Dragalge, Vileplume, and Munkidori are good checks but less consistent. The former two cannot survive Knock Off followed by Triple Axel, while the latter is too frail to take Knock Off from either Tsareena set.
**Fire-types**: Incineroar counters Tsareena with ease, only fearing the rare High Jump Kick. Although Knock Off obliterates Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion, they both can spinblock Tsareena, tank its Power Whip, and OHKO it with their Fire-type attacks barring a well-timed Terastallization.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/etern.295647/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Tsareena is NU's best entry hazard removal, and for good reason. It easily beats the plethora of Grass-weak hazard setters like Rhyperior, Swampert, and Diancie, and even Steel-types such as Klefki and Registeel are inconsistent at beating it one-on-one. While offensive Tsareena profiles as a solid wallbreaker that can take over games thanks to Rapid Spin's Speed boost, defensive sets are fantastic at checking the swathes of offensive Ground-types in NU, especially Krookodile and Flygon, and its access to Synthesis is a huge factor in it outclassing Brambleghast, its primary competition. Tsareena faces some very real struggles defensively, though, as almost every Ground-type it aims to check carries super effective coverage, like Gunk Shot from Krookodile and Megahorn from Rhyperior, that threatens to KO it with minimal chip damage required. Offensive sets aren't very fast without a Speed boost and easily pressured by other wallbreakers like Chandelure and Munkidori as well as fast utility options in Noivern and Talonflame. Meanwhile, defensive sets are quite easy to exploit due to their reliance on Knock Off with Pokemon like RestTalk Alolan Muk, Vileplume, and Dragalge.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Power Whip
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Triple Axel / U-turn
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Lum Berry
ability: Queenly Majesty
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Dragon / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Tsareena doubles as a source of entry hazard removal and a potent wallbreaker. Knock Off punishes switch-ins such as Talonflame and Magnezone while obliterating Chandelure, and Triple Axel deletes opposing Grass-types like Vileplume, Venusaur, and Rotom-C as well as Noivern. If you wish to tap further into Tsareena's utility movepool, U-turn is optional over Triple Axel, still giving it an out against any of its checks while enabling its stronger teammates. High Jump Kick is another coverage move you can try, as it's Tsareena's best option for hitting Steel-type hazard setters like Copperajah and Registeel and does good damage to Incineroar. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Tsareena bypass hazards damage, which increases its proficiency as a spinner, but Lum Berry helps against Talonflame's Flame Body and Slowbro's Scald. Tsareena usually shouldn't be Terastallizing, but Dragon potentially lets it KO a Chandelure or Hisuian Typhlosion with Knock Off and gives Tsareena a good sun matchup, while Steel blanks Munkidori's STAB moves, potentially lets Tsareena beat Cloyster, and helps it against Alolan Muk.
Tsareena is great at luring in and beating certain Poison-types like Dragalge, Vileplume, and Venusaur with Triple Axel; make sure to pair it with teammates like Mienshao, Thundurus, and Sylveon that can take advantage of this. Furthermore, Mienshao especially, as well as other physical attackers like Gallade and Infernape, appreciate Tsareena removing Talonflame's Heavy-Duty Boots and making it easier to overwhelm with Stealth Rock up. Similarly, teammates like Choice Specs Noivern, Chandelure, and Hisuian Typhlosion all appreciate Tsareena's Rapid Spin, and the latter two can beat Steel-type checks like Klefki, Registeel, and Magnezone for Tsareena. Talonflame is perhaps the most common switch-in to Tsareena, so Pokemon like Diancie and Slowbro that easily switch into it are helpful to have.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Power Whip / Trop Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Synthesis
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Queenly Majesty
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 Spe
tera type: Poison / Dragon / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Bulky Tsareena is one of the tier's few good answers to the plethora of offensive Ground-types in NU, such as Flygon, Krookodile, and Rhyperior. Although they possess super effective coverage moves for it, they can't OHKO it, and Synthesis keeps Tsareena healthy throughout the game so it can stay out of KO range from these threats. The biggest boon to this set, though, is destroying Klefki; it can't do enough damage with Foul Play thanks to the bulk investment, and Power Whip will slowly beat it down. The Speed EVs ensure Tsareena outspeeds Modest Diancie before it can attack with Meteor Beam, but Tsareena can go even faster if it wants, with relevant targets including Modest Magnezone, Torterra, and Adamant Feraligatr. Tsareena will rarely want to Terastallize, but Poison is nice to consistently answer Fighting-types like Mienshao and non-Meteor Mash Lucario and makes Tsareena immune to poison from Alolan Muk at the cost of becoming weak to Earthquake; Dragon aids against Fire-types like Hisuian Typhlosion and retains several resistances to types like Water, Grass, and Electric; and Steel is useful for checking Fairy- and Poison-types such as Sylveon and Munkidori as well as Cloyster.
Tsareena creates great defensive cores with common entry hazard setters like Diancie and Rhyperior. They resist Fire and Flying for Tsareena, while it takes on Water- and Ground-type attacks in return. Its Knock Off support is also favored by many offensive Pokemon, specifically Fighting-types like Mienshao, Gallade, and Infernape, since Tsareena so frequently draws in Talonflame and removes its Heavy-Duty Boots. Any Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon like Choice Specs Chandelure, Choice Specs Noivern, and itemless Thundurus also desires Tsareena for its Rapid Spin.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tsareena has other usable Tera-types than the ones listed, but they lack consistency across teams. Dark is good for teams that lack a Ghost resistance and amps up Knock Off's damage, but it offers little else. Ghost is a harder answer to Fighting-types than Poison, but it's just as bad into Krookodile and gives Tsareena a horrible Alolan Muk matchup. Fire is similar to Dragon in helping Tsareena against Fire-types, although Tsareena gains a Water weakness. Choice Scarf sets are good at revenge killing priority-reliant setup sweepers like Lycanroc-D and Lucario and don't have to worry about Klefki's Thunder Wave.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: All of Talonflame, Noivern, and Thundurus outspeed Tsareena and beat it with relative ease. Talonflame hates losing its item, though, and both Noivern and Thundurus are vulnerable to Triple Axel from offensive sets.
**Poison-types**: Alolan Muk is a great Tsareena answer, especially if it's RestTalk. Other Poison-types like Dragalge, Vileplume, and Munkidori are good checks but less consistent. The former two cannot survive Knock Off followed by Triple Axel, while the latter is too frail to take Knock Off from either Tsareena set.
**Fire-types**: Incineroar counters Tsareena with ease, only fearing the rare High Jump Kick. Although Knock Off obliterates Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion, they both can spinblock Tsareena, tank its Power Whip, and OHKO it with their Fire-type attacks barring a well-timed Terastallization.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rabia.336073/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/etern.295647/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
