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-W uses Levitate and its solid typing to be a nice defensive answer to strong Pokemon like Groudon and Necrozma-DM. Its main draw over other physically defensive Pokemon, like Giratina, is Volt Switch; this makes it far less passive and enables wallbreaking teammates, as it pivots on walls like Eternatus and Ferrothorn, which resist its STAB moves. Its typing is important for its Ice resistance, as not many Pokemon outside of Necrozma-DM can stand up to Icicle Crash and Triple Axel from Galarian Darmanitan and Weavile, and unlike Necrozma-DM, Rotom-W can take Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire with ease. Rotom-W has low overall bulk and below average attacking stats, though, making it fairly exploitable for any Pokemon its typing and ability don't allow it to counter.
Defensive Pivot
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Rotom-W uses Volt Switch and Will-O-Wisp to damage walls like Eternatus and Ferrothorn over time. These moves are the main draws of the set and are crucial for Rotom-W as a wall to make up for its lack of offensive stats. Pain Split is necessary for recovery and is a great help in the Ubers tier, where many Pokemon like Eternatus have very high natural HP stats, letting it reliably heal off most damage. Forcing Eternatus to recover off the resulting chip damage is important for momentum, allowing in partners that can exploit a free turn off a Volt Switch like Weavile to come in. Hydro Pump is helpful for dealing with Zygarde trying to set up Substitute before becoming Zygarde-C, as well as chipping Groudon, which takes no damage from burn over time if holding Leftovers. Alternatively, Defog can reliably clear entry hazards against the tier's best Stealth Rock setters, Necrozma-DM and Groudon, allowing for Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon like Galarian Darmanitan and Rayquaza to shine as partners. However, it makes Rotom-W even more passive.
One of Rotom-W's biggest weaknesses is status, with Toxic on Groudon or Necrozma-DM limiting how much it can pivot. It is important to pair Rotom-W with a cleric, such as Calyrex-S, Xerneas, or Blissey, to alleviate this weakness. Xerneas in particular is a good pivot into Dragon-types like Zygarde, and it adds a great Knock Off switch-in so Rotom-W can keep its Leftovers. Baiting in Ferrothorn and Eternatus and using Volt Switch is a fantastic way to get in strong wallbreakers like Galarian Darmanitan and Choice Specs Calyrex-S, which can take advantage of these Pokemon. Kyogre is another strong partner, as it appreciates the chip damage Rotom-W deals to its checks, which lets break through them with Choice Specs- or Calm Mind-boosted attacks more easily.
Other Options
Rotom-W can run Trick with a Choice Scarf to remove the threat of walls like Eternatus and Ferrothorn. Trick would most often be used instead of Hydro Pump, which leaves Rotom-W unable to touch a Zygarde behind Substitute and makes chipping Groudon difficult.
Checks and Counters
Eternatus: Eternatus walls both STAB moves from Rotom-W and is able to recover off burn damage, but it can be used as bait for Volt Switch to bring in another offensive threat.
Ferrothorn: Ferrothorn can use Rotom-W to set up entry hazards, as it has no reliable way to damage Ferrothorn. Long-term damage from Will-O-Wisp and Volt Switch can add up, though.
Passive Damage: While immune to Spikes, Rotom-W is heavily hindered if Stealth Rock stays up or if it gets poisoned.
Knock Off: Pokemon that Rotom-W can normally check like Necrozma-DM can carry Knock Off to limit it heavily, since landing it makes Rotom-W rely solely on Pain Split for recovery. Rotom-W doesn't get to use its Ice resistance as much as desired against Weavile, since it fears Knock Off.
Zygarde-C: Zygarde-C rarely has its Substitute broken by Hydro Pump from Rotom-W, even with minimal HP investment, allowing it to set up freely most of the time. Thousand Arrows also negates Levitate, Rotom-W's only way of checking most Ground-types. Zygarde can freely set up on Rotom-W lacking Hydro Pump even before transformation.
Giratina: Giratina ignores everything Rotom-W tries to do, healing off status with Rest and taking almost no damage from Volt Switch thanks to Leftovers.
Powerful Wallbreakers: Rotom-W's ability to check Pokemon comes mainly from its typing and ability, meaning strong Pokemon that can break past its average bulk are very threatening. Calyrex-S, Choice item Kyogre, Zekrom, and Xerneas can all take advantage of it to force progress by wallbreaking.
