[SET]
Iron Boulder @ Rockium Z / Fightinium Z
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mighty Cleave
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Iron Boulder is a great addition for Psychic teams, boasting a diverse movepool and high Speed tier, making it a potent wallbreaker and cleaner as well as a valuable asset against Fire, Flying, and Bug matchups. Mighty Cleave is a strong and spammable STAB option that threatens Flying‑, Fire‑, Bug‑, and Ice‑types such as the Mega Charizard formes, Volcarona, and Kyurem. Continental Crush provides Iron Boulder with an incredible nuke, outright OHKOing Gliscor and Celesteela at +2 and OHKOing Slowbro and Mega Venusaur at +2 after minimal chip damage. Close Combat targets Steel‑, Rock-, and Dark‑types such as Hisuian Goodra, Mega Tyranitar, and Hydreigon, while All-Out Pummeling allows Iron Boulder to OHKO Archaludon and physically defensive Ting‑Lu at +2. Earthquake, in addition to hitting the aforementioned Steel‑ and Rock-types, also threatens Gholdengo, and Poison‑ and Electric‑types like Alolan Muk and Iron Hands. If running Rockium Z, Iron Boulder can struggle against Archaludon and Ting-Lu, and if it opts for Fightinium Z, it struggles to break through bulky foes like Slowbro, Celesteela, Gliscor, and Mega Venusaur. Teammates such as Mega Gallade, Tapu Lele, Mega Alakazam, Victini, and Deoxys-S can help circumvent these threats. Alternatively, Deoxys-S can set up dual screens for easier setup and provide entry hazard support, making it easier for Iron Boulder to break through them. Tapu Lele eliminates Mega Sableye and sets up Psychic Terrain to block priority moves like Sucker Punch from Bisharp and Cinderace, Aqua Jet from Azumarill, and even Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor; it can also remove Mega Scizor outright if it runs Hidden Power Fire or make it easier for teammates to handle it. Similarly, Victini can support Iron Boulder by eliminating Mega Scizor. Choice Scarf Latias provides excellent speed control, handling Choice Scarf users like Blacephalon while also offering valuable utility in Healing Wish and Trick, giving Iron Boulder a second chance to sweep or neuter its checks like Skarmory. Slowbro leverages its physical bulk and access to Scald to take on faster threats like Mega Aerodactyl and weather abusers like Excadrill and Mega Swampert. It can also opt to run Colbur Berry along with Body Press or Thunder Wave to either remove or cripple Dark-type Choice Scarf users like Meowscarada and Dragon Dance users like Mega Tyranitar and Roaring Moon, or it can go itemless to counter Ceruledge, which also lets it take reduced damage from Knock Off. Calm Mind Hatterene is a niche pick that possesses a secondary Fairy typing, solid bulk, and reliable recovery in Draining Kiss, making it a decent answer to the aforementioned Dark-types while also providing hazard control through Magic Bounce or spreading paralysis with Nuzzle.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/murphy-lawden.594972/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited: