
[SET]
Arcanine-Hisui @ Choice Band
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Head Smash
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Close Combat
[SET COMMENTS]
Hisuian Arcanine finds a modest niche in the tier as a wallbreaker thanks to its ability Rock Head. Head Smash and Flare Blitz are the STAB moves of choice, as the Rock- and Fire-type coverage is only resisted by Water / Ground types like Quagsire. Close Combat hits Ting-Lu for super effective damage and is its strongest option to hit Swampert, Quagsire, and Gastrodon. Extreme Speed can pick off frail threats that otherwise outspeed it such as Thundurus, Greninja, and Iron Moth. Choice Band lets Hisuian Arcanine achieve 2HKOs on Pokemon like Ting-Lu. An Adamant nature can be used to maximize power, dealing significantly more damage to would-be switch-ins like Ting-Lu and Swampert, while a Jolly nature can be run to outspeed Pokemon like Excadrill and Rotom-W. While Hisuian Arcanine is potent at breaking through defensive teams, it often struggles to enter the field due to its poor defensive typing. As such, it appreciates the support of bulky pivots like Rotom-W, Scizor, and Slowbro. Bulky Ground- and Water-types like Quagsire, Ting-Lu, Hippowdon, and Slowbro can all switch in on Hisuian Arcanine, making Grass-type Pokemon like Tapu Bulu, Tangrowth, and Giga Drain Mega Venusaur valuable partners. In return, Hisuian Arcanine can pressure Grass-resistant foes like Skarmory, Celesteela, and Buzzwole. When locked into its STAB moves, Hisuian Arcanine can provide free setup opportunities to dangerous revenge killers like Mega Aerodactyl, Greninja, Sand Rush Excadrill, and Keldeo. Thus, Hisuian Arcanine appreciates defensive pivots like Tapu Fini and Celesteela, which can stave off these threats. Tapu Fini and defensive Celesteela both benefit from Hisuian Arcanine threatening Grass-types like Tangrowth with Flare Blitz. Since Hisuian Arcanine cannot afford to run Heavy-Duty Boots, entry hazard removal support from Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Rotom-W, and Excadrill is necessary for Hisuian Arcanine to function effectively. Hisuian Arcanine also appreciates entry hazard support to chip down defensive answers like Quagsire and Ting-Lu, so entry hazard setters like Excadrill, Gastrodon, Greninja, and Skarmory are excellent partners for it.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/velcroc.391284/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/runo.568189/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
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