[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sacred Sword
move 4: Smart Strike
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Kartana is one of the most threatening cleaners in CAP, leveraging Beast Boost and its sky-high attack excellently as the second fastest Choice Scarf user in the metagame. Knock Off importantly hits Dragapult and Blacephalon super effectively while removing Heavy-Duty Boots from Tornadus-T, Venomicon, Astrolotl, and Zapdos. Sacred Sword allows Kartana to get past bulky Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn. Defog is an option over Smart Strike on teams that require entry hazard removal that otherwise lack it, but it is a significant opportunity cost, as Smart Strike is often an excellent midground option that also hits Clefable and Tapu Lele super effectively.
Choice Scarf Kartana is most commonly found on offense and bulky offense teams. Due to its extremely poor bulk, pivots like Dragapult and Landorus-T are excellent choices for safely getting Kartana in on foes like Blissey and Tapu Fini. Dragapult threatens physically defensive walls like Zapdos and Ferrothorn for Kartana, while Landorus-T can force out Heatran and cripple Zapdos and Tornadus-T with Toxic. Air Balloon Heatran is another excellent teammate that can stonewall opposing Heatran and Astrolotl and trap and eliminate Toxapex. Pairing Kartana up with similarly menacing physical attackers like Weavile and Venomicon-E allows them to weaken their shared checks. Venomicon-E is particularly notable for its ability to guarantee damage on Zapdos. Entry hazards from Pokemon like Garchomp and Astrolotl do amazing work towards enabling Kartana to sweep late-game, particularly Stealth Rock. Both are notable choices for their ability to switch into Heatran effectively. Trick + Sticky Barb Clefable is another excellent option that excels at guaranteeing chip onto foes that normally check Kartana like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and Heatran. Finally, setup sweepers like Volcarona, Stratagem, and Dragonite greatly enjoy Kartana chipping foes into range of a sweep.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Sacred Sword
item: Life Orb / Protective Pads
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance turns Kartana into the most powerful attacker in the metagame. After one Swords Dance, Kartana is capable of OHKOing Toxapex, and it can make quick work of teams that lack a faster Pokemon. Knock Off is necessary coverage that hits Corviknight, Zapdos, Venomicon, and Tornadus-T neutrally. Sacred Sword is necessary for bulky Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn. Life Orb is the preferred item to give Kartana a chance to OHKO Toxapex with +2 Leaf Blade; however, Protective Pads is another option that prevents Kartana having its sweep ended early by contact effects like Zapdos's Static or Heatran's Flame Body.
Swords Dance Kartana fits best on offensive teams that appreciate the holes it creates. Because Swords Dance Kartana is easier to revenge kill, specially bulky teammates like Landorus-T and Melmetal are necessary for dealing with potential revenge killers like Dragapult, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Melmetal, in particular, is a good option that does quite well at breaking for Kartana. Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele are great offensive teammates that threaten revenge killers like Zeraora and Dragapult and physical walls like Buzzwole. Bulk Up Zeraora and Dragon Dance Dragonite both appreciate the fact that, if Kartana's sweep is unsuccessful, it will have done enough damage to open up a sweep opportunity for them. Aurora Veil support from Alolan Ninetales can ease Kartana's setup, particularly in the face of special attackers whose moves it resists like Clefable and Tapu Koko.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Sacred Sword
item: Choice Band
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Kartana is an immensely threatening wallbreaker that can burst through the opposition with the correct read. Knock Off importantly cripples Flying-types like Zapdos, Venomicon, and Tornadus-T while hitting Dragapult on the switch. Sacred Sword demolishes bulky Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal.
Choice Band Kartana excels at breaking open opposing walls; accordingly, faster wallbreakers like Dragapult and Blacephalon and sweepers like Weavile and Zeraora are good teammate options. Kartana immensely enjoys pivot support from Pokemon like Corviknight and Landorus-T due to its frailty. Tapu Fini is another good teammate that can switch into Heatran while providing Misty Terrain, protecting Kartana from status it would incur from Zapdos's Static or Heatran's Flame Body. Future Sight support from Tapu Lele or Slowbro makes Kartana near unwallable and lessen how reliant Choice Band Kartana is on prediction. Eject Button Toxapex is an interesting option that can give Kartana a free switch; this is especially potent with Tapu Lele's Future Sight support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
On the Swords Dance set, Kartana can run a Timid nature with 19 Attack IVs to receive a Speed boost from Beast Boost; however, this causes Kartana to lack critical immediate breaking power. Aerial Ace is an option over Smart Strike on the Choice Band set to lure Buzzwole; however, its usefulness is limited to this one matchup. Similarly, Psycho Cut can be used to bait Venomicon and Buzzwole, but it OHKOes neither.
Checks and Counters
====
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Kartana has an incredibly difficult time breaking through physically bulky walls like Buzzwole, Skarmory, and Corviknight. Corviknight and Skarmory can be KOed by Swords Dance variants if they have been chipped, but Buzzwole is nigh impossible to break through.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Zapdos, Venomicon, and Tornadus-T can switch into Kartana's STAB moves safely and force it out with their strong special attacks. Venomicon is particularly difficult to break due to Stamina. None of these Pokemon enjoy losing their Heavy-Duty Boots to Knock Off, however.
**Contact Effects**: Zapdos's Static, Volcarona and Heatran's Flame Body, Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, Garchomp's Rough Skin, and Toxapex's Rocky Helmet all can either cripple Kartana with status or accrue meaningful chip damage.
**Revenge Killers**: Non-Choice Scarf Kartana can be revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Dragapult, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, Astrolotl, and Tornadus-T. Choice Scarf variants of Astrolotl even outspeed Choice Scarf Kartana, making it a particularly good check.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[dex, 277988]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lasen, 273339], [spoo, 251944]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Astra, 240732]]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sacred Sword
move 4: Smart Strike
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Kartana is one of the most threatening cleaners in CAP, leveraging Beast Boost and its sky-high attack excellently as the second fastest Choice Scarf user in the metagame. Knock Off importantly hits Dragapult and Blacephalon super effectively while removing Heavy-Duty Boots from Tornadus-T, Venomicon, Astrolotl, and Zapdos. Sacred Sword allows Kartana to get past bulky Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn. Defog is an option over Smart Strike on teams that require entry hazard removal that otherwise lack it, but it is a significant opportunity cost, as Smart Strike is often an excellent midground option that also hits Clefable and Tapu Lele super effectively.
Choice Scarf Kartana is most commonly found on offense and bulky offense teams. Due to its extremely poor bulk, pivots like Dragapult and Landorus-T are excellent choices for safely getting Kartana in on foes like Blissey and Tapu Fini. Dragapult threatens physically defensive walls like Zapdos and Ferrothorn for Kartana, while Landorus-T can force out Heatran and cripple Zapdos and Tornadus-T with Toxic. Air Balloon Heatran is another excellent teammate that can stonewall opposing Heatran and Astrolotl and trap and eliminate Toxapex. Pairing Kartana up with similarly menacing physical attackers like Weavile and Venomicon-E allows them to weaken their shared checks. Venomicon-E is particularly notable for its ability to guarantee damage on Zapdos. Entry hazards from Pokemon like Garchomp and Astrolotl do amazing work towards enabling Kartana to sweep late-game, particularly Stealth Rock. Both are notable choices for their ability to switch into Heatran effectively. Trick + Sticky Barb Clefable is another excellent option that excels at guaranteeing chip onto foes that normally check Kartana like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and Heatran. Finally, setup sweepers like Volcarona, Stratagem, and Dragonite greatly enjoy Kartana chipping foes into range of a sweep.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Sacred Sword
item: Life Orb / Protective Pads
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance turns Kartana into the most powerful attacker in the metagame. After one Swords Dance, Kartana is capable of OHKOing Toxapex, and it can make quick work of teams that lack a faster Pokemon. Knock Off is necessary coverage that hits Corviknight, Zapdos, Venomicon, and Tornadus-T neutrally. Sacred Sword is necessary for bulky Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn. Life Orb is the preferred item to give Kartana a chance to OHKO Toxapex with +2 Leaf Blade; however, Protective Pads is another option that prevents Kartana having its sweep ended early by contact effects like Zapdos's Static or Heatran's Flame Body.
Swords Dance Kartana fits best on offensive teams that appreciate the holes it creates. Because Swords Dance Kartana is easier to revenge kill, specially bulky teammates like Landorus-T and Melmetal are necessary for dealing with potential revenge killers like Dragapult, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Melmetal, in particular, is a good option that does quite well at breaking for Kartana. Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele are great offensive teammates that threaten revenge killers like Zeraora and Dragapult and physical walls like Buzzwole. Bulk Up Zeraora and Dragon Dance Dragonite both appreciate the fact that, if Kartana's sweep is unsuccessful, it will have done enough damage to open up a sweep opportunity for them. Aurora Veil support from Alolan Ninetales can ease Kartana's setup, particularly in the face of special attackers whose moves it resists like Clefable and Tapu Koko.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Leaf Blade
move 2: Smart Strike
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Sacred Sword
item: Choice Band
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Kartana is an immensely threatening wallbreaker that can burst through the opposition with the correct read. Knock Off importantly cripples Flying-types like Zapdos, Venomicon, and Tornadus-T while hitting Dragapult on the switch. Sacred Sword demolishes bulky Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal.
Choice Band Kartana excels at breaking open opposing walls; accordingly, faster wallbreakers like Dragapult and Blacephalon and sweepers like Weavile and Zeraora are good teammate options. Kartana immensely enjoys pivot support from Pokemon like Corviknight and Landorus-T due to its frailty. Tapu Fini is another good teammate that can switch into Heatran while providing Misty Terrain, protecting Kartana from status it would incur from Zapdos's Static or Heatran's Flame Body. Future Sight support from Tapu Lele or Slowbro makes Kartana near unwallable and lessen how reliant Choice Band Kartana is on prediction. Eject Button Toxapex is an interesting option that can give Kartana a free switch; this is especially potent with Tapu Lele's Future Sight support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
On the Swords Dance set, Kartana can run a Timid nature with 19 Attack IVs to receive a Speed boost from Beast Boost; however, this causes Kartana to lack critical immediate breaking power. Aerial Ace is an option over Smart Strike on the Choice Band set to lure Buzzwole; however, its usefulness is limited to this one matchup. Similarly, Psycho Cut can be used to bait Venomicon and Buzzwole, but it OHKOes neither.
Checks and Counters
====
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Kartana has an incredibly difficult time breaking through physically bulky walls like Buzzwole, Skarmory, and Corviknight. Corviknight and Skarmory can be KOed by Swords Dance variants if they have been chipped, but Buzzwole is nigh impossible to break through.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types like Zapdos, Venomicon, and Tornadus-T can switch into Kartana's STAB moves safely and force it out with their strong special attacks. Venomicon is particularly difficult to break due to Stamina. None of these Pokemon enjoy losing their Heavy-Duty Boots to Knock Off, however.
**Contact Effects**: Zapdos's Static, Volcarona and Heatran's Flame Body, Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, Garchomp's Rough Skin, and Toxapex's Rocky Helmet all can either cripple Kartana with status or accrue meaningful chip damage.
**Revenge Killers**: Non-Choice Scarf Kartana can be revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Dragapult, Choice Scarf Blacephalon, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, Astrolotl, and Tornadus-T. Choice Scarf variants of Astrolotl even outspeed Choice Scarf Kartana, making it a particularly good check.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[dex, 277988]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lasen, 273339], [spoo, 251944]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Astra, 240732]]
Last edited by a moderator:
