In-battle formes
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| HP: | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 107 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 86 |
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Overview
Rotom-H's unique Fire / Electric typing provides key resistances to common offensive typings, such as Electric, Fire, Flying, Fairy, and Steel, allowing it to check Togekiss, Scizor, Mamoswine, and Mega Manectric all at once. When combined with its ability and access to Defog, this makes Rotom-H effective at role compression. With Defog, Rotom-H functions as an effective means of entry hazard removal and is able to threaten common hazard setters such as Klefki, Mega Aggron, and Hippowdon with Overheat and Toxic. Rotom-H's Speed tier allows it to outspeed important Pokemon in the tier like Mamoswine and Togekiss and just barely outspeed Nidoking, but it is slower than Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Moltres. Rotom-H also has a hard time removing hazards against setters such as Nihilego and Swampert, but Swampert does not like to be badly poisoned. It's often hard for Rotom-H to perform all of its roles effectively, as it is used to check many popular Pokemon in the metagame and has no reliable recovery, which causes it to be worn down easily. Rotom-H is also easily set up on by Dragon-types such as Haxorus and Latias, as they resist its STAB moves; they do have to be wary of status conditions on the switch, though.
Fast Bulky Pivot
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Moves
Defog lets Rotom-H take advantage of its ability to force out common entry hazard setters such as Mega Aggron, Chesnaught, and Klefki to remove hazards uninterrupted. Volt Switch allows Rotom-H to gain momentum and provide a safe switch for a teammate while dishing out respectable damage in the process. Toxic allows Rotom-H to cripple Pokemon that would normally give it trouble, such as Hippowdon, Swampert, and Latias. Will-O-Wisp can be used to cripple popular physical attackers such as Mega Aerodactyl, dropping their power and providing decent chip damage. Pain Split can be used to give Rotom-H a form of recovery, gaining back significant amounts of health when used against common switch-ins such as Blissey and Hydreigon, but Rotom-H has to give up either Defog or status to make room for it. Thunderbolt is another offensive option for Rotom-H, letting it heavily damage Flying-types such as Togekiss and Moltres without switching out, although carrying the move means giving up defensive utility.
Set Details
Rotom-H runs maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature to be able to outspeed Nidoking, Togekiss, and Mamoswine, allowing it to hit these threats hard or cripple them. 20 Special Attack EVs allow Rotom-H to OHKO Celebi with Overheat after Stealth Rock damage. 236 HP EVs improve Rotom-H's bulk so it can check threats more reliably and also let Rotom-H activate its Wiki Berry after switching into Stealth Rock three times. Wiki Berry gives Rotom-H a form of burst recovery when its HP is low, increasing its longevity greatly with proper play. Leftovers can be used instead for a more reliable but less significant form of passive recovery. However, when using Leftovers, Rotom-H should use a spread of 232 HP / 24 SpA / 252 Spe so that it can switch into Stealth Rock more easily.
Usage Tips
Switch Rotom-H into common entry hazard setters such as Chesnaught and Mega Aggron frequently, but be wary of switching into moves like Leech Seed and Toxic. If you expect a switch, use Will-O-Wisp, Toxic, or Volt Switch. This allows Rotom-H to either inflict status conditions or send out a check to common switch-ins such as Nihilego and Latias without leaving either Rotom-H or your team vulnerable. Before deciding which move to use in these cases, consider the opponent's team and decide if you need to pivot or cripple a potential switch-in. Rotom-H's typing allows it to effectively check many of the top Pokemon of the tier, but it is easily worn down because of its abysmal HP stat, weakness to Stealth Rock, and lack of reliable options of recovery. Keep an eye on Rotom-H's HP, as it dropping down to 25% or below allows Wiki Berry to activate and restore its health back up to 75%. Be careful of using Volt Switch when Pokemon such as Swampert and Gligar are on the opposing team, as they can stop Rotom-H from gaining momentum. Be wary of the Special Attack drop caused by Overheat, as it usually allows wallbreakers to switch in inconsequentially, gives foes a free turn to set up, and lets Pokemon like Alolan Muk Pursuit trap Rotom-H without taking much damage.
Team Options
Rotom-H is able to fit easily onto bulky offense or balance because of its role compression and defensive utility. It is easily able to fit into VoltTurn teams as well, being able to pair effectively with both Scizor and Hydreigon because of its defensive utility and access to Volt Switch. Scizor enjoys having Rotom-H as a partner, as it can check Moltres, which Scizor struggles with. In return, Scizor is able to check Pokemon Rotom-H struggles with, such as Nihilego, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Altaria, and Terrakion. Rotom-H appreciates Pokemon like Nidoqueen and defensive Primarina that can take hits well from its checks such as Terrakion and Hydreigon, threaten them out, and absorb otherwise crippling status conditions. Rotom-H can pair well with Mega Altaria because of Rotom-H's utility as a Defogger and check to Scizor and Moltres. Mega Altaria can beat strong Dragon-types that would check Rotom-H, such as Hydreigon and Latias, to support Rotom-H in return. Rotom-H appreciates Wish and cleric support, as it has problems with recovery and status. Alomomola, Sylveon, and Florges are great Pokemon for the job. Rotom-H's job as a pivot allows it to safely bring in wallbreakers such as Crawdaunt, Mamoswine, and Choice Specs Primarina. Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Muk, Mega Aerodactyl, and Krookodile are able to take advantage of Rotom-H's ability to lure in Latias and physically frail Pokemon such as Nihilego and Blissey to trap them much more easily. While Rotom-H matches up well against Scizor, it is useful to include another check to it on your team, as Quick Attack and All-Out Pummeling variants of it can KO Rotom-H and leave your team open to being swept.
Offensive Pivot
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Moves
Overheat is Rotom-H's strongest STAB move, and when combined with Firium Z, it has a solid chance to OHKO offensive Nidoqueen after Stealth Rock and Hippowdon and Gligar with Inferno Overdrive into Overheat on the switch. Volt Switch lets Rotom-H generate momentum against its switch-ins like Latias and Hydreigon. Toxic lets it cripple these checks instead so they struggle to deal with it in the long term. Pain Split allows Rotom-H to keep itself healthy throughout a match, healing off against its switch-ins like Latias, Swampert, Chansey, and Rhyperior.
Set Details
Maximum Speed investment allows Rotom-H to outspeed targets like Togekiss and Nidoking. If another teammate is using a Z-Crystal, Leftovers is an option to give Rotom-H some passive recovery to check Pokemon like Scizor better. However, without Firium Z, Rotom-H struggles to properly break through Pokemon that can stop it from using Volt Switch, like Gligar and Hippowdon
Usage Tips
Due to running a more offensive spread, this Rotom-H set struggles to check foes like Scizor as reliably as other variants. For example, Swords Dance Scizor's Life Orb-boosted Quick Attack has a high chance to OHKO Rotom-H after a Swords Dance and Stealth Rock damage. Rotom-H should therefore try to preserve its HP if it is needed to check such Pokemon, either through using Pain Split more often or avoiding taking unnecessary chip damage. Rotom-H's Z-move allows it to break through Pokemon that could otherwise live a hit and either force it out or block its Volt Switch, like Nidoqueen. It also allows it to more consistently break through Electric-immune foes like Gligar and Hippowdon. Against Gligar, Rotom-H should be careful to not waste its Z-move, as it won't be able to break through it without it. Rotom-H should therefore be careful to not throw away its Z-move out randomly when other switch-ins like Latias are present. It is often wiser to use Pain Split, Toxic, or attempt to Volt Switch beforehand and wait for Electric-immune Pokemon to be in range of its Z-move. Pain Split and Toxic are great options to cripple switch-ins like Latias and Hydreigon, as well as Fire-resistant Ground-types like Swampert and Rhyperior. Notably, Pain Split also allows Rotom-H to remove a large portion of Blissey's HP while fully healing itself, letting it put in more consistent work versus stall teams.
Team Options
Dragon-types like Mega Altaria, Hydreigon, and Latias tend to switch into Rotom-H very consistently, especially when they are running recovery moves. Teammates like Krookodile and Mega Aerodactyl can take advantage of this to get free opportunities to trap Latias with Pursuit. Mega Aerodactyl in particular appreciates Rotom-H crippling and breaking through Ground-types like Gligar and Hippowdon that it struggles with. Teammates like Scizor and Primarina are also helpful in this regard. Scizor is able to threaten Dragon Dance Mega Altaria that attempts to set up on Rotom-H and potentially Pursuit trap Latias. Primarina can pressure Hydreigon and either provide a defensive check to threats like Mega Aerodactyl and Nasty Plot Infernape or a wallbreaker that can help pressure Rotom-H's checks, especially those like Swampert and Rhyperior that can safely block its Volt Switch. Other wallbreakers, like mixed Infernape and Gengar, can pressure Ground-types for Rotom-H and appreciate being brought in against Pokemon like Hydreigon and Mega Altaria. Rotom-H's weakness to Stealth Rock means it benefits greatly from Defog and Rapid Spin support from Pokemon like Hydreigon, Tentacruel, and Empoleon. Hydreigon appreciates Rotom-H checking Togekiss, while Tentacruel and Empoleon provide reliable Primarina switch-ins. Tentacruel also provides a secondary Scizor check, while Empoleon can help Rotom-H break through Wish passers like Florges and Sylveon with Roar.
Other Options
Rotom-H can run a Choice Scarf set, but it often finds itself heavily outclassed by Mega Manectric and Infernape as a fast offensive pivot, especially due to Rotom-H's STAB combination being walled by Dragon-types. Trick is a good option for this set, as it allows Rotom-H to shut down walls such as Hippowdon and Blissey, locking them into moves and limiting their usefulness. The set is able to work if you are having heavy issues with the Pokemon Rotom-H checks and desperately need a Choice Scarf user, but only in very rare situations is the Choice Scarf set better than either of the aforementioned Pokemon. Thunder Wave is able to slow down often-problematic Pokemon such as Latias and Hydreigon, to allow slower Pokemon such as Crawdaunt and Lucario to sweep more easily.
Checks and Counters
Rock-types and Stealth Rock: Rock-types such as Terrakion, Nihilego, Mega Aerodactyl, and Rhyperior give Rotom-H a hard time, as they can OHKO it with their super effective STAB moves. Rotom-H's weakness to Stealth Rock is often detrimental because of its lack of reliable recovery, limiting Rotom-H's longevity.
Dragon-types: Dragon-types such as Latias, Hydreigon, and Haxorus resist Rotom-H's STAB moves and are able to set up on Rotom-H, and Rotom-H must pivot out of them or risk being KOed. Many of them dislike Toxic, however.
Toxic Poison: Toxic poison completely cripples Rotom-H, as it cancels out its recovery and chips it considerably, leaving it forced to switch out to a cleric or limit its use even further.
Strong Offensive Threats: Pokemon such as Infernape, Terrakion, Mega Sharpedo, and Gengar can significantly wear down or outright KO Rotom-H, leaving it in a severely weakened state with only an unreliable Pain Split to recover HP.
Bulky Ground-types: Pokemon such as Swampert, Seismitoad, and Gligar are able to give Rotom-H trouble. All of these Pokemon except Gligar have to be wary of Toxic, though.
Credits
- Written by SacredLatias and Estarossa
- Quality checked by TSR, Surgeon, vivalospride, Twilight, Hilomilo, and avarice
- Grammar checked by A Cake Wearing A Hat, autumn, Milak, and Band
