[OVERVIEW]
Altaria is a good entry hazard control option with a great defensive typing and decent mixed bulk, allowing it to consistently remove hazards. Altaria also has amazing defensive utility, as it can wall powerful threats such as both Paldean Tauros formes, Basculegion-M, and Infernape. Natural Cure allows Altaria to double up as a status absorber, enabling status-hating Pokemon like Diancie, Incineroar, and Substitute Basculegion-M. With Perish trapping sets, Altaria can surprise bulky walls and offensive foes alike that plan to take advantage of it like Bronzong, Porygon2, and Scrafty, and by removing these foes, Altaria can open up its teammates to more easily break through as well as take on the opposing team. However, utility sets are very passive, meaning many Pokemon such as Toxtricity, Diancie, and Alolan Ninetales can capitalize on it by switching in freely. Additionally, Altaria's 4x Ice weakness means that it must be extremely careful around Pokemon carrying Ice-type coverage like Inteleon, Porygon2, and Milotic as well as common Ice-types like Alolan Ninetales and Avalugg. Altaria requires its Heavy-Duty Boots so that it can reliably use Defog, which forces it to be cautious around Knock Off users it would check otherwise such as Infernape and Scrafty.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: Brave Bird
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Haze / Roar
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Impish / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe or 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
tera type: Steel / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Will-O-Wisp lets Altaria burn physical attackers such as Basculegion-M, Flamigo, and Scyther. Alternatively, Altaria can use Haze to prevent setup sweepers like Arcanine and Incineroar from taking advantage of it. Roar works similarly, and it can rack up entry hazard damage on foes, though it's worse in one-on-one scenarios. Natural Cure allows Altaria to be a very valuable status absorber, being able to take Vaporeon's Scald burns, Amoonguss's Toxic, and Porygon2's Thunder Wave. Both EV spreads allow Altaria to be faster than Thwackey, Milotic, and Bulk Up Scrafty, but the first one improves its matchup against physical attackers like Paldean Tauros-W, Flamigo, and Basculegion-M whereas the second lets it better handle powerful special attackers such as Chandelure, Munkidori, and Kilowattrel. However, a physically defensive set is generally preferred due to the lack of Pokemon in the tier that can also handle both STAB attacks from powerful wallbreakers like Paldean Tauros-W, Infernape, and Paldean Tauros-F. Tera Steel complements Altaria's base typing quite well, gifting Altaria resistances to attacks it would take big damage from otherwise like Alolan Ninetales's Blizzard and Moonblast, Diancie's Rock- and Fairy-type STAB attacks, and Flygon's Dragon-type STAB moves. On the other hand, Tera Fairy grants Altaria a Dragon immunity to help its matchup against Flygon while still maintaining Altaria's Fighting resistance.
Altaria appreciates Steel- and Fairy-type defensive partners which cover Altaria's weaknesses, such as Bronzong, Sylveon, and Diancie, which can switch into Ice-, Dragon-, and Fairy-types that threaten Altaria, such as Alolan Ninetales, Flygon, and opposing Sylveon. Powerful Special wallbreakers such as Chandelure, Inteleon, and Porygon-Z can overwhelm Altaria, especially if they have Ice-type coverage, making special walls such as Porygon2 and Alolan Muk good partners. In return, Altaria's great defensive typing lets it switch into Fighting- and Ground-type attacks that threaten them. Altaria's typing also has great synergy with other defensive Pokemon, such as Avalugg, Diancie, Incineroar, and Gastrodon, switching into attacks from Pokemon that threaten them like Infernape, Swampert, Paldean Tauros-W, and Breloom. Altaria's entry hazard removal further helps keep these defensive cores healthy. However, Altaria is very susceptible to item displacement, making Knock Off absorbers such as Amoonguss, Paldean Tauros-W, Paldean Tauros-F, Sylveon, and Sticky Hold Gastrodon good partners. Finally, Altaria's passivity makes it vulnerable to bulky setup sweepers, especially Special attackers that do not care about Will-O-Wisp such as Oricorio-P, Calm Mind Scream Tail, and Nasty Plot Porygon-Z, making Pokemon that can disrupt them with Encore, such as Whimsicott and Grafaiai, or phazers and Haze users such as Roar Sylveon and Vaporeon as well as Haze Overqwil and Milotic good partners.
[SET]
name: Perish Trap
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Fire Spin
move 3: Roost / Rest
move 4: Defog / Brave Bird / Will-O-Wisp / Haze
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold or Calm
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe or 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
tera type: Steel / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Perish Song and Fire Spin let Altaria trap and KO foes who lack pivot moves, such as Bronzong, Amoonguss, and Gastrodon. Roost is a good recovery move, letting it heal up and stall turns until Perish Song kicks in. However, Rest can also be used, since Altaria's Natural Cure allows it to heal to full and then switch out while removing the sleep. Altaria's fourth move is very flexible. Defog can allows Altaria to remove entry hazards, which it can find opportunities to use when stalling turns for Perish Song. Brave Bird makes Altaria a bit more threatening and not entirely reliant on Perish Song for KOing foes, aiding it against Pokemon who either don't care about Fire Spin or can pivot out of it like Chandelure and Incineroar. Will-O-Wisp lets Altaria cripple physical attackers, allowing it to more easily weather their attacks while waiting for Perish Song. Finally, Haze lets Altaria remove stat boosts from the opponent, which prevents setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Incineroar and Bulk Up Scrafty from breaking through Altaria. Natural Cure removes status such as poison from Alolan Muk and Amoonguss or paralysis from Klefki and Porygon2 when it switches out. A Bold or Calm nature should be used if Fire Spin is Altaria's only attack, but Impish or Careful can be used if Altaria has Brave Bird. Altaria can run either a physically defensive or a specially defensive EV spread, depending on what its team requires defensively. The given Speed investment lets it outpace Milotic, Thwackey, and Bulk Up Scrafty, though. Tera Steel flips Altaria's matchup into Ice- and Fairy-types such as Alolan Ninetales and Sylveon as well as Pokemon with Ice-type coverage, such as Ice Beam Porygon2 and Inteleon. Alternatively, Tera Fairy can be used, as it lets Altaria more reliably handle Dragon-types and continue checking Fighting-types after Terastallizing.
Perish Trap Altaria pairs well with offensive teammates that struggle to break through bulky foes, such as Paldean Tauros-W, Chandelure, Diancie, and Munkidori. These Pokemon can bait in their bulky checks, such as Amoonguss, Porygon2, Bronzong, and Copperajah, letting Altaria trap and KO them. Altaria also pairs well with defensive partners who struggle to make progress against bulky teams, such as Porygon2, Vaporeon, and Gastrodon, helping very passive teams make progress against opposing walls. Knock Off and entry hazard support is very useful for Altaria, as Altaria can force a lot of switches once it is revealed to be Perish Trap. This makes Altaria useful on hazard stack teams, with partners such as Gligar, Diancie, and Bronzong. As Pokemon with pivot moves like Volt Switch Kilowattrel, Flip Turn Basculegion-M, and U-turn Infernape don't fear Perish Song + Fire Spin, teammates that can punish these attacks such as Electric-immune Pokemon like Gastrodon and Volt Absorb Kilowattrel, Water-immune Pokemon like Vaporeon, and Rocky Helmet users like Milotic and Galarian Slowbro have great synergy. Diancie, Decidueye, Basculegion-M, and Incineroar enjoy Altaria's great defensive profile that allows it to switch into checks of theirs like Paldean Tauros-W, Arcanine, Scrafty, and Heracross. Steel- and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Bronzong, Copperajah, Sylveon, and Alolan Ninetales naturally complement Altaria quite well with the former two providing specially defensive partners and the latter two offensively handling Dragon-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Cloud Nine lets Altaria be a very potent counter to rain and sun teams by disabling the weather and resisting their attacks. However, Alolan Ninetales's snow is the most prevalent weather, and Altaria's 4x Ice weakness makes it struggle against Snow teams without Terastallizing. Perish trap Altaria sets can utilize Protect to stall out Perish Song turns, but this forces it to give up some much-needed utility.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ice-types and Ice-type coverage**: Altaria's 4x Ice weakness makes it very vulnerable to Ice-type Pokemon, such as Alolan Ninetales and Avalugg, as well as Pokemon carrying Ice-type coverage, such as Inteleon, Golurk, and Porygon2.
**Fairy-types**: Diancie, Sylveon, and Scream Tail can all capitalize on Altaria by using it as a free switch in to wallbreak, set up entry hazards, or boost their stats, though they dislike the pressure that Perish Song puts on them.
**Steel-types**: Bronzong, Duraludon, and Copperajah can use Altaria as an opportunity to set their entry hazards. However, Bronzong as well as Copperajah hate Will-O-Wisp and easily get taken advantage of by Perish Song sets. Additionally, if Altaria Terastallizes or Duraludon already dropped its Special Attack by using Draco Meteor, Altaria can beat Duraludon as well.
**Item displacement**: Altaria relies on Heavy-Duty Boots so that switch in repeatedly to remove hazards and wall foes, meaning Knock Off users such as Incineroar, Gligar, and Alolan Muk are threatening. Trick users such as Munkidori and Chandelure can also give Altaria a Choice item, permanently crippling it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/emikatana.680530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Altaria is a good entry hazard control option with a great defensive typing and decent mixed bulk, allowing it to consistently remove hazards. Altaria also has amazing defensive utility, as it can wall powerful threats such as both Paldean Tauros formes, Basculegion-M, and Infernape. Natural Cure allows Altaria to double up as a status absorber, enabling status-hating Pokemon like Diancie, Incineroar, and Substitute Basculegion-M. With Perish trapping sets, Altaria can surprise bulky walls and offensive foes alike that plan to take advantage of it like Bronzong, Porygon2, and Scrafty, and by removing these foes, Altaria can open up its teammates to more easily break through as well as take on the opposing team. However, utility sets are very passive, meaning many Pokemon such as Toxtricity, Diancie, and Alolan Ninetales can capitalize on it by switching in freely. Additionally, Altaria's 4x Ice weakness means that it must be extremely careful around Pokemon carrying Ice-type coverage like Inteleon, Porygon2, and Milotic as well as common Ice-types like Alolan Ninetales and Avalugg. Altaria requires its Heavy-Duty Boots so that it can reliably use Defog, which forces it to be cautious around Knock Off users it would check otherwise such as Infernape and Scrafty.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: Brave Bird
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Haze / Roar
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Impish / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe or 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
tera type: Steel / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Will-O-Wisp lets Altaria burn physical attackers such as Basculegion-M, Flamigo, and Scyther. Alternatively, Altaria can use Haze to prevent setup sweepers like Arcanine and Incineroar from taking advantage of it. Roar works similarly, and it can rack up entry hazard damage on foes, though it's worse in one-on-one scenarios. Natural Cure allows Altaria to be a very valuable status absorber, being able to take Vaporeon's Scald burns, Amoonguss's Toxic, and Porygon2's Thunder Wave. Both EV spreads allow Altaria to be faster than Thwackey, Milotic, and Bulk Up Scrafty, but the first one improves its matchup against physical attackers like Paldean Tauros-W, Flamigo, and Basculegion-M whereas the second lets it better handle powerful special attackers such as Chandelure, Munkidori, and Kilowattrel. However, a physically defensive set is generally preferred due to the lack of Pokemon in the tier that can also handle both STAB attacks from powerful wallbreakers like Paldean Tauros-W, Infernape, and Paldean Tauros-F. Tera Steel complements Altaria's base typing quite well, gifting Altaria resistances to attacks it would take big damage from otherwise like Alolan Ninetales's Blizzard and Moonblast, Diancie's Rock- and Fairy-type STAB attacks, and Flygon's Dragon-type STAB moves. On the other hand, Tera Fairy grants Altaria a Dragon immunity to help its matchup against Flygon while still maintaining Altaria's Fighting resistance.
Altaria appreciates Steel- and Fairy-type defensive partners which cover Altaria's weaknesses, such as Bronzong, Sylveon, and Diancie, which can switch into Ice-, Dragon-, and Fairy-types that threaten Altaria, such as Alolan Ninetales, Flygon, and opposing Sylveon. Powerful Special wallbreakers such as Chandelure, Inteleon, and Porygon-Z can overwhelm Altaria, especially if they have Ice-type coverage, making special walls such as Porygon2 and Alolan Muk good partners. In return, Altaria's great defensive typing lets it switch into Fighting- and Ground-type attacks that threaten them. Altaria's typing also has great synergy with other defensive Pokemon, such as Avalugg, Diancie, Incineroar, and Gastrodon, switching into attacks from Pokemon that threaten them like Infernape, Swampert, Paldean Tauros-W, and Breloom. Altaria's entry hazard removal further helps keep these defensive cores healthy. However, Altaria is very susceptible to item displacement, making Knock Off absorbers such as Amoonguss, Paldean Tauros-W, Paldean Tauros-F, Sylveon, and Sticky Hold Gastrodon good partners. Finally, Altaria's passivity makes it vulnerable to bulky setup sweepers, especially Special attackers that do not care about Will-O-Wisp such as Oricorio-P, Calm Mind Scream Tail, and Nasty Plot Porygon-Z, making Pokemon that can disrupt them with Encore, such as Whimsicott and Grafaiai, or phazers and Haze users such as Roar Sylveon and Vaporeon as well as Haze Overqwil and Milotic good partners.
[SET]
name: Perish Trap
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Fire Spin
move 3: Roost / Rest
move 4: Defog / Brave Bird / Will-O-Wisp / Haze
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold or Calm
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe or 252 HP / 240 SpD / 16 Spe
tera type: Steel / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Perish Song and Fire Spin let Altaria trap and KO foes who lack pivot moves, such as Bronzong, Amoonguss, and Gastrodon. Roost is a good recovery move, letting it heal up and stall turns until Perish Song kicks in. However, Rest can also be used, since Altaria's Natural Cure allows it to heal to full and then switch out while removing the sleep. Altaria's fourth move is very flexible. Defog can allows Altaria to remove entry hazards, which it can find opportunities to use when stalling turns for Perish Song. Brave Bird makes Altaria a bit more threatening and not entirely reliant on Perish Song for KOing foes, aiding it against Pokemon who either don't care about Fire Spin or can pivot out of it like Chandelure and Incineroar. Will-O-Wisp lets Altaria cripple physical attackers, allowing it to more easily weather their attacks while waiting for Perish Song. Finally, Haze lets Altaria remove stat boosts from the opponent, which prevents setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Incineroar and Bulk Up Scrafty from breaking through Altaria. Natural Cure removes status such as poison from Alolan Muk and Amoonguss or paralysis from Klefki and Porygon2 when it switches out. A Bold or Calm nature should be used if Fire Spin is Altaria's only attack, but Impish or Careful can be used if Altaria has Brave Bird. Altaria can run either a physically defensive or a specially defensive EV spread, depending on what its team requires defensively. The given Speed investment lets it outpace Milotic, Thwackey, and Bulk Up Scrafty, though. Tera Steel flips Altaria's matchup into Ice- and Fairy-types such as Alolan Ninetales and Sylveon as well as Pokemon with Ice-type coverage, such as Ice Beam Porygon2 and Inteleon. Alternatively, Tera Fairy can be used, as it lets Altaria more reliably handle Dragon-types and continue checking Fighting-types after Terastallizing.
Perish Trap Altaria pairs well with offensive teammates that struggle to break through bulky foes, such as Paldean Tauros-W, Chandelure, Diancie, and Munkidori. These Pokemon can bait in their bulky checks, such as Amoonguss, Porygon2, Bronzong, and Copperajah, letting Altaria trap and KO them. Altaria also pairs well with defensive partners who struggle to make progress against bulky teams, such as Porygon2, Vaporeon, and Gastrodon, helping very passive teams make progress against opposing walls. Knock Off and entry hazard support is very useful for Altaria, as Altaria can force a lot of switches once it is revealed to be Perish Trap. This makes Altaria useful on hazard stack teams, with partners such as Gligar, Diancie, and Bronzong. As Pokemon with pivot moves like Volt Switch Kilowattrel, Flip Turn Basculegion-M, and U-turn Infernape don't fear Perish Song + Fire Spin, teammates that can punish these attacks such as Electric-immune Pokemon like Gastrodon and Volt Absorb Kilowattrel, Water-immune Pokemon like Vaporeon, and Rocky Helmet users like Milotic and Galarian Slowbro have great synergy. Diancie, Decidueye, Basculegion-M, and Incineroar enjoy Altaria's great defensive profile that allows it to switch into checks of theirs like Paldean Tauros-W, Arcanine, Scrafty, and Heracross. Steel- and Fairy-type Pokemon such as Bronzong, Copperajah, Sylveon, and Alolan Ninetales naturally complement Altaria quite well with the former two providing specially defensive partners and the latter two offensively handling Dragon-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Cloud Nine lets Altaria be a very potent counter to rain and sun teams by disabling the weather and resisting their attacks. However, Alolan Ninetales's snow is the most prevalent weather, and Altaria's 4x Ice weakness makes it struggle against Snow teams without Terastallizing. Perish trap Altaria sets can utilize Protect to stall out Perish Song turns, but this forces it to give up some much-needed utility.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ice-types and Ice-type coverage**: Altaria's 4x Ice weakness makes it very vulnerable to Ice-type Pokemon, such as Alolan Ninetales and Avalugg, as well as Pokemon carrying Ice-type coverage, such as Inteleon, Golurk, and Porygon2.
**Fairy-types**: Diancie, Sylveon, and Scream Tail can all capitalize on Altaria by using it as a free switch in to wallbreak, set up entry hazards, or boost their stats, though they dislike the pressure that Perish Song puts on them.
**Steel-types**: Bronzong, Duraludon, and Copperajah can use Altaria as an opportunity to set their entry hazards. However, Bronzong as well as Copperajah hate Will-O-Wisp and easily get taken advantage of by Perish Song sets. Additionally, if Altaria Terastallizes or Duraludon already dropped its Special Attack by using Draco Meteor, Altaria can beat Duraludon as well.
**Item displacement**: Altaria relies on Heavy-Duty Boots so that switch in repeatedly to remove hazards and wall foes, meaning Knock Off users such as Incineroar, Gligar, and Alolan Muk are threatening. Trick users such as Munkidori and Chandelure can also give Altaria a Choice item, permanently crippling it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/emikatana.680530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited by a moderator:
