In-battle formes
| Type | |
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| HP: | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 45 |
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Strategies
- en
- LC
Overview
Torchic has usable bulk and solid offensive stats, allowing it to take a hit and retaliate back with its Fire-type STAB attacks when needed. The little chicken is held back, however, by its subpar defensive typing, which gives it weaknesses to the omnipresent Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type attacks in LC, in addition to a weakness to Stealth Rock. Furthermore, Torchic can be extremely predictable, often giving the opponent free turns.
Life Orb
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Moves
Protect allows Torchic to both scout the foe's moveset and ensure that it outspeeds the foe the next turn. Life Orb-boosted STAB Fire Blast coming off of 17 Special Attack hits extremely hard; for comparison, it slightly outdamages Adamant Choice Scarf Mienfoo's High Jump Kick, one of the most powerful attacks in the metagame. Hidden Power Grass hits Water- and Rock-types and provides the best possible coverage alongside Fire Blast. Rock Slide is another viable coverage option, OHKOing Berry Juice Archen and Larvesta after Stealth Rock as well as doing serious damage to Ponyta.
Set Details
The given EV spread alongside a Modest nature maximizes Torchic's Special Attack to make its main move, Fire Blast, as strong as possible. 236 Speed EVs allow Torchic to reach 14 Speed, which is enough to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame at +1. The remaining EVs are put into Torchic's defenses, allowing it to take weak priority attacks more easily. However, if running Rock Slide, an EV spread of 36 Atk / 36 Def / 200 SpA / 236 Spe with a Rash nature should be used to give Rock Slide enough power to net the KOs it's supposed to. 0 HP IVs give Torchic an HP stat of 19, reducing recoil from Life Orb to only 1 HP. Life Orb provides a noticeable power increase while still allowing Torchic to switch moves, unlike Choice items. Speed Boost makes Torchic increasingly difficult to revenge kill the longer it stays on the field and differentiates Torchic from more powerful Fire-type wallbreakers such as Houndour and Vulpix.
Usage Tips
Life Orb Torchic is an extremely powerful wallbreaker, momentum grabber, and late-game cleaner. Fire Blast is by far its most powerful attack, 2HKOing or even OHKOing everything that doesn't resist it. This set works best if brought in via a safe switch or after a teammate has fainted against a foe that it forces out, such as Ferroseed.
Team Options
Pokemon that appreciate having bulky foes weakened, such as Choice Scarf Magnemite, work well with Life Orb Torchic. Entry hazard support allows Torchic to get significantly more OHKOs and 2HKOs, so Pokemon capable of setting entry hazards, such as Dwebble and Ferroseed, make for good teammates. Conversely, all types of entry hazards are detrimental to Torchic, so entry hazard removal, preferably in the form of Rapid Spin support from the likes of Drilbur and Staryu, is needed. Skrelp also makes for an excellent teammate, as it threatens nearly everything that beats Torchic with its Adaptability-boosted Water-type STAB moves.
Other Options
Flamethrower is a secondary STAB option that is more powerful than Flame Charge and more reliable than Fire Blast; however, it lacks Fire Blast's power and Flame Charge's utility. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers, but Torchic is hard-pressed to find a moveslot for it.
Checks and Counters
Setup Sweepers: Strong setup sweepers such as Shellder can capitalize on the free turns Torchic gives to counter sweep. They must beware of the Life Orb set or Will-O-Wisp, however.
Entry Hazards: Stealth Rock and Spikes both limit how many boosts Torchic can accumulate by lowering its HP, while Sticky Web lowers the Speed of Torchic, requiring Torchic to stay in extra turns to further boost its Speed.
Water-types: Powerful Water-type STAB attacks from the likes of Chinchou and Skrelp greatly threaten Torchic. Corphish can cleanly OHKO Torchic before it can move with Aqua Jet, while Carvanha is naturally faster than Torchic and also has access to Speed Boost.
Taunt and Encore users: Taunt and Encore both prohibit Torchic from setting up, often leaving it a sitting duck; however, most common Taunt and Encore users such as Cottonee are 2HKOed or OHKOed by the Life Orb set.
Phazers: Roar and Whirlwind users such as Hippopotas can force Torchic out and remove all its boosts.
