[OVERVIEW]
* Drifblim is one of the few good Tailwind setters in VGC 2017.
* With a high base HP of 150, it has tremendous bulk, and when combined with Terrain Seeds, it becomes one difficult Pokemon for your opponent to bring down.
* With access to a unique Ghost / Flying typing, Drifblim becomes the only Tailwind setter of the format that is immune to Fake Out, and it has the capability to wall a regular Snorlax set.
* Drifblim has access to a huge support movepool in Will-O-Wisp, Disable, Haze, Swagger, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Memento and Tailwind, thus serving its role primarily as a support Pokemon.
* What makes Drifblim viable over other Tailwind setters is its ability Unburden, which doubles its Speed upon consumption of its held item. Combined with either Misty Seed or Psychic Seed, this allows Drifblim to gain more bulk and Speed before the turn player even makes a move, enabling it to greatly pressure your opponent.
* Its Flying typing partly becomes a source for its downfall, as it's not protected against priority moves in Psychic Terrain, allowing Pokemon like Whimsicott and Sableye to cripple it with Taunt before it can set up a Tailwind.
* Being purely a support Pokemon, Drifblim fails to deal sufficient damage once Tailwind is set up, and switching it out makes it lose both its defensive boosts, as well as the Speed boost from Unburden.
[SET]
name: Tailwind Disruptor
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Tailwind
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Swagger
move 4: Disable / Sunny Day
item: Psychic Seed / Misty Seed
ability: Unburden
nature: Timid
evs: 12 HP / 236 Def / 12 SpA / 236 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Shadow Ball is Drifblim's primary offensive asset, being able to 2HKO less bulky Tapu Lele and Kartana while having a slight chance for the Special Defense drop.
* Tailwind defines Drifblim's viability in VGC 2017, and it is used to provide speed control for your team. Combined with the Unburden speed boost, Drifblim can almost always set up Tailwind easily.
* Will-O-Wisp is used to weaken opposing physical attackers like Kartana and Garchomp and is usually run when using Psychic Seed.
* Swagger can be used instead of Will-O-Wisp if Drifblim is holding Misty Seed to Swagger your own physical attackers like Garchomp and Snorlax, greatly increasing their offensive capabilities, as Misty Terrain prevents Confusion.
* There are a lot of support options for the last slot, and Sunny Day is often used to reset the weather in your favor to ease up the rain matchup or to stop an opponent's Alolan Ninetales from setting up Aurora Veil.
* Disable can be used in this slot as well, which can come in handy when disrupting the foe.
Set Details
========
* Psychic Seed is used as the primary item, as it boosts Drifblim's Special Defense when in Psychic Terrain and activates Unburden, increasing Drifblim's Speed greatly.
* Misty Seed if often used as well, and similar to Psychic Seed, it boosts Drifblim's Special Defense, hence activating Unburden.
* Unburden is the ability of choice, since it has extremely good synergy with Terrain Seeds, greatly powering up Drifblim the moment it hits the Terrain.
* The EVs are primarily invested in bulk to ensure that Drifblim stays alive long enough to potentially set up a second Tailwind.
* 12 HP EVs and 236 Special Defense EVs allow Drifblim to survive Tapu Lele's Shattered Psyche in Psychic Terrain, as well as surviving Tapu Koko's Gigavolt Havoc outside of in Electric Terrain.
* 12 HP EVs and 236 Defense EVs help Drifblim survive a 140-Base Power Continental Crush from burned Gigalith, as well as turning a burned Kartana Smart Strike into a 4HKO 99.3% of the time.
* 12 EVs are invested in Speed, as they enable Drifblim to outspeed Timid Pheromosa after Unburden's Speed boost.
* The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Attack to increase Drifblim's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
* Drifblim is often chosen as a potential lead along with the Terrain setter respective to its Terrain Seed, as this is an offensive lead that can easily set up and pick up KOs easily.
* It is also possible to set up Tailwind at the final turn of Trick Room, as it ensures that your team doesn't lose momentum.
* While Drifblim is extremely bulky, it is not unbeatable, and powerful Z-Moves like Gigalith's Tectonic Rage can OHKO it unless it's burned first. Hence, it is advisable to burn it first before attempting to set up Tailwind.
* One should be careful not to use Will-O-Wisp in Misty Terrain, when facing Tapu Fini, and should be aware of potential Tapu Fini switch-ins.
* Sunny Day can be used to reset sand that is set by Gigalith. After which, powerful special attackers like Tapu Lele can OHKO it with Psychic Terrain-boosted Psychic. This move also comes in handy against Tapu Fini, greatly weakening their offensive powers while boosting Drifblim's teammate's Fire-type attacks.
* Just like Will-O-Wisp, one should be careful about potential Terrain switch-ins when using Swagger on ally Pokemon, as it that can negate Misty Terrain, which would make Swagger confuse an ally.
* It is not advisable to set up Tailwind against Nihilego and Porygon-Z, as they can use Trick Room to instantly gain enormous momentum.
Team Options
========
* Since the primary strategy to using Drifblim is Psychic Seed and Misty Seed, Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini, respectively, are essential to activate them.
* Powerful attackers that can take advantage of Tailwind's Speed boost like Buzzwole and Nihilego are recommended to swiftly deal with threats.
* As Drifblim mostly gets walled by Celesteela, Pokemon like Arcanine and Xurkitree work well with it.
* Physical attackers that can take advantage of fast Swaggers are recommended, such as Garchomp, Buzzwole and Snorlax.
* As Tailwind is easily countered by Trick Room, slow Pokemon like Alolan Muk and Snorlax are encouraged, as they work well inside Trick Room.
* Additionally, Taunt users can prevent any set up and can potentially shut down most Trick Room teams quite easily.
* Intimidate users like Arcanine and Gyarados can further weaken physical attackers that can threaten Drifblim like Gigalith and Alolan Marowak.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
.
* Electric Seed and Grassy Seed can also be used to activate Unburden, although this makes Drifblim much more weak against certain special Z-Moves.
* 204 EVs can be invested in Speed to outspeed Modest Golduck in rain, after which it can use Sunny Day before Golduck uses Hydro Vortex, greatly weakening the damage output.
* For the fourth move slot, Rain Dance can be used as well to control the weather, but it makes Drifblim much more susceptible to rain archetypes. Investing 236 EVs in Speed enables Drifblim to outspeed Modest Lilligant in sun and set up a Rain Dance before they use After You, though one must be careful about incoming Sleep Powders.
* Memento too can be run here to provide a safe switch once Tailwind is set up, greatly weakening an opposing threat in the process.
* Acrobatics is used at times as Drifblim's offensive attack, but isn't very effective against Kartana, and it makes Drifblim weaker to Intimidate, but gives Drifblim a way to damage Snorlax and Porygon2 without relying on burns.
* Finally, Haze can be used to shut down any set up attempts like Extreme Evoboost, Curse Snorlax, and Swords Dance, although this will get rid of Drifblim's Seed boost as well. Clear Smog can work as a substitute for Haze, as it only negates the target's boosts, but can be redirected by Follow Me and Rage Powder and may prove to be inefficient.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: While Drifblim is faster than most Taunt users, if it's crippled by Taunt, its support options are shut down, and it must rely on Shadow Ball for damage. Moreover, Prankster Taunt from Whimsicott and Sableye can prevent Tailwind from being set up.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Powerful physical attackers like Gigalith can OHKO Drifblim with their Z-Moves, even after burns (if Stone Edge is used as the catalyst).
**Bulky Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-type Pokemon like Celesteela wall Drifblim and can proceed to stall it with Leech Seed and Heavy Slams.
**Trick Room**: As mentioned above, Drifblim suffers greatly against Trick Room, as its Speed is extremely high thanks to Unburden, effectively making it the slowest Pokemon on the field in Trick Room.
* Drifblim is one of the few good Tailwind setters in VGC 2017.
* With a high base HP of 150, it has tremendous bulk, and when combined with Terrain Seeds, it becomes one difficult Pokemon for your opponent to bring down.
* With access to a unique Ghost / Flying typing, Drifblim becomes the only Tailwind setter of the format that is immune to Fake Out, and it has the capability to wall a regular Snorlax set.
* Drifblim has access to a huge support movepool in Will-O-Wisp, Disable, Haze, Swagger, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Memento and Tailwind, thus serving its role primarily as a support Pokemon.
* What makes Drifblim viable over other Tailwind setters is its ability Unburden, which doubles its Speed upon consumption of its held item. Combined with either Misty Seed or Psychic Seed, this allows Drifblim to gain more bulk and Speed before the turn player even makes a move, enabling it to greatly pressure your opponent.
* Its Flying typing partly becomes a source for its downfall, as it's not protected against priority moves in Psychic Terrain, allowing Pokemon like Whimsicott and Sableye to cripple it with Taunt before it can set up a Tailwind.
* Being purely a support Pokemon, Drifblim fails to deal sufficient damage once Tailwind is set up, and switching it out makes it lose both its defensive boosts, as well as the Speed boost from Unburden.
[SET]
name: Tailwind Disruptor
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Tailwind
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Swagger
move 4: Disable / Sunny Day
item: Psychic Seed / Misty Seed
ability: Unburden
nature: Timid
evs: 12 HP / 236 Def / 12 SpA / 236 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Shadow Ball is Drifblim's primary offensive asset, being able to 2HKO less bulky Tapu Lele and Kartana while having a slight chance for the Special Defense drop.
* Tailwind defines Drifblim's viability in VGC 2017, and it is used to provide speed control for your team. Combined with the Unburden speed boost, Drifblim can almost always set up Tailwind easily.
* Will-O-Wisp is used to weaken opposing physical attackers like Kartana and Garchomp and is usually run when using Psychic Seed.
* Swagger can be used instead of Will-O-Wisp if Drifblim is holding Misty Seed to Swagger your own physical attackers like Garchomp and Snorlax, greatly increasing their offensive capabilities, as Misty Terrain prevents Confusion.
* There are a lot of support options for the last slot, and Sunny Day is often used to reset the weather in your favor to ease up the rain matchup or to stop an opponent's Alolan Ninetales from setting up Aurora Veil.
* Disable can be used in this slot as well, which can come in handy when disrupting the foe.
Set Details
========
* Psychic Seed is used as the primary item, as it boosts Drifblim's Special Defense when in Psychic Terrain and activates Unburden, increasing Drifblim's Speed greatly.
* Misty Seed if often used as well, and similar to Psychic Seed, it boosts Drifblim's Special Defense, hence activating Unburden.
* Unburden is the ability of choice, since it has extremely good synergy with Terrain Seeds, greatly powering up Drifblim the moment it hits the Terrain.
* The EVs are primarily invested in bulk to ensure that Drifblim stays alive long enough to potentially set up a second Tailwind.
* 12 HP EVs and 236 Special Defense EVs allow Drifblim to survive Tapu Lele's Shattered Psyche in Psychic Terrain, as well as surviving Tapu Koko's Gigavolt Havoc outside of in Electric Terrain.
* 12 HP EVs and 236 Defense EVs help Drifblim survive a 140-Base Power Continental Crush from burned Gigalith, as well as turning a burned Kartana Smart Strike into a 4HKO 99.3% of the time.
* 12 EVs are invested in Speed, as they enable Drifblim to outspeed Timid Pheromosa after Unburden's Speed boost.
* The remaining EVs are dumped into Special Attack to increase Drifblim's damage output.
Usage Tips
========
* Drifblim is often chosen as a potential lead along with the Terrain setter respective to its Terrain Seed, as this is an offensive lead that can easily set up and pick up KOs easily.
* It is also possible to set up Tailwind at the final turn of Trick Room, as it ensures that your team doesn't lose momentum.
* While Drifblim is extremely bulky, it is not unbeatable, and powerful Z-Moves like Gigalith's Tectonic Rage can OHKO it unless it's burned first. Hence, it is advisable to burn it first before attempting to set up Tailwind.
* One should be careful not to use Will-O-Wisp in Misty Terrain, when facing Tapu Fini, and should be aware of potential Tapu Fini switch-ins.
* Sunny Day can be used to reset sand that is set by Gigalith. After which, powerful special attackers like Tapu Lele can OHKO it with Psychic Terrain-boosted Psychic. This move also comes in handy against Tapu Fini, greatly weakening their offensive powers while boosting Drifblim's teammate's Fire-type attacks.
* Just like Will-O-Wisp, one should be careful about potential Terrain switch-ins when using Swagger on ally Pokemon, as it that can negate Misty Terrain, which would make Swagger confuse an ally.
* It is not advisable to set up Tailwind against Nihilego and Porygon-Z, as they can use Trick Room to instantly gain enormous momentum.
Team Options
========
* Since the primary strategy to using Drifblim is Psychic Seed and Misty Seed, Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini, respectively, are essential to activate them.
* Powerful attackers that can take advantage of Tailwind's Speed boost like Buzzwole and Nihilego are recommended to swiftly deal with threats.
* As Drifblim mostly gets walled by Celesteela, Pokemon like Arcanine and Xurkitree work well with it.
* Physical attackers that can take advantage of fast Swaggers are recommended, such as Garchomp, Buzzwole and Snorlax.
* As Tailwind is easily countered by Trick Room, slow Pokemon like Alolan Muk and Snorlax are encouraged, as they work well inside Trick Room.
* Additionally, Taunt users can prevent any set up and can potentially shut down most Trick Room teams quite easily.
* Intimidate users like Arcanine and Gyarados can further weaken physical attackers that can threaten Drifblim like Gigalith and Alolan Marowak.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
.
* Electric Seed and Grassy Seed can also be used to activate Unburden, although this makes Drifblim much more weak against certain special Z-Moves.
* 204 EVs can be invested in Speed to outspeed Modest Golduck in rain, after which it can use Sunny Day before Golduck uses Hydro Vortex, greatly weakening the damage output.
* For the fourth move slot, Rain Dance can be used as well to control the weather, but it makes Drifblim much more susceptible to rain archetypes. Investing 236 EVs in Speed enables Drifblim to outspeed Modest Lilligant in sun and set up a Rain Dance before they use After You, though one must be careful about incoming Sleep Powders.
* Memento too can be run here to provide a safe switch once Tailwind is set up, greatly weakening an opposing threat in the process.
* Acrobatics is used at times as Drifblim's offensive attack, but isn't very effective against Kartana, and it makes Drifblim weaker to Intimidate, but gives Drifblim a way to damage Snorlax and Porygon2 without relying on burns.
* Finally, Haze can be used to shut down any set up attempts like Extreme Evoboost, Curse Snorlax, and Swords Dance, although this will get rid of Drifblim's Seed boost as well. Clear Smog can work as a substitute for Haze, as it only negates the target's boosts, but can be redirected by Follow Me and Rage Powder and may prove to be inefficient.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt**: While Drifblim is faster than most Taunt users, if it's crippled by Taunt, its support options are shut down, and it must rely on Shadow Ball for damage. Moreover, Prankster Taunt from Whimsicott and Sableye can prevent Tailwind from being set up.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Powerful physical attackers like Gigalith can OHKO Drifblim with their Z-Moves, even after burns (if Stone Edge is used as the catalyst).
**Bulky Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-type Pokemon like Celesteela wall Drifblim and can proceed to stall it with Leech Seed and Heavy Slams.
**Trick Room**: As mentioned above, Drifblim suffers greatly against Trick Room, as its Speed is extremely high thanks to Unburden, effectively making it the slowest Pokemon on the field in Trick Room.
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