[SET]
Archaludon @ Leftovers
name: Physically Defensive (Steel)
Ability: Stamina
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Bold Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Body Press
- Thunder Wave
- Stealth Rock / Foul Play / Thunderbolt
[SET COMMENTS]
Archaludon is the defensive glue for Steel teams, taking on threats such as Gouging Fire, Ogerpon-W, and Kingambit. Draco Meteor lets Archaludon pressure Gouging Fire and gain the upper hand against Dragon teams. Body Press complements Draco Meteor well by heavily damaging Hisuian Goodra, the main check to Draco Meteor for Dragon teams. Aside from this, Body Press also weakens Steel-types such as Kingambit and Heatran, which can comfortably take Draco Meteor. The synergy between Body Press and Stamina allows Archaludon to handle bulky threats like Ting-Lu and Gliscor effectively. Thunder Wave slows down threats like the Ogerpon formes, Keldeo, and Iron Valiant, which Archaludon can survive a hit from but cannot OHKO back, and also lets Archaludon take further advantage of the switches it forces. Stealth Rock lets Archaludon capitalize on forcing out physical attackers like Dragonite and Iron Boulder further. Alternatively, one can forgo Stealth Rock to broaden the number of targets Archaludon checks. Foul Play enables Archaludon to OHKO Ceruledge and dissuade Dragon Dance Dragonite from boosting further. It can also use Thunderbolt to revenge kill Azumarill and dissuade Skarmory from setting entry hazards against it. 52 Speed EVs let Archaludon outspeed Jolly Azumarill and Kingambit while using the remaining EVs to maximize Archaludon‘s bulk.
Archaludon's lackluster Special Defense is its glaring weakness, so specially defensive teammates like Hisuian Goodra, Heatran, and Empoleon are appreciated. Hisuian Goodra can trade blows with Raging Bolt and Primarina; Heatran provides an immunity to Fire moves that lets it check Volcarona and deal with Gholdengo, Spectrier, and Flutter Mane; and Empoleon provides Stealth Rock, checks Walking Wake and Heatran, and is able to Knock Off Choice Specs from Hydreigon. Gholdengo provides a Fighting immunity, prevents opposing teams from removing Stealth Rock that Archaludon sets, and can choose to utilize a specially defensive spread to improve the matchup against Dragapult and Keldeo. Gholdengo and Heatran can also choose to run more offensive sets, with Air Balloon Heatran helping Archaludon check Gouging Fire and Nasty Plot Gholdengo dealing with Ursaluna-B and Iron Valiant. Skarmory is a physical wall that complements Archaludon, as it swaps into predicted Ground-type moves from Excadrill and Great Tusk, sets Spikes to pair with Archaludon's Stealth Rock, and has Whirlwind to further chip down opposing teams and to phaze IronPress users like Zamazenta and opposing Skarmory. Kingambit appreciates Archaludon's ability to check Gouging Fire, Encore Ogerpon-W, and Chien-Pao, as well as the entry hazards Archaludon sets to set up and attempt to sweep Dragon, Water, and Dark teams late-game. Iron Treads can soft check Raging Bolt, remove entry hazards, pivot, and outspeed and remove Landorus and Garchomp with Ice Spinner in a pinch. Corviknight is an alternative Ground-immune teammate that loves Archaludon's ability to put a stop to Gouging Fire and Ogerpon-W, potentially overpowering Dragon and Water teams afterward when using a Bulk Up set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Steel
-----------
Flash Cannon lets Archaludon deal with Iron Valiant and Enamorus, while also providing a consistent source of damage against Gliscor. However, Archaludon's teammates, like Gholdengo and Iron Treads, usually have these these threats covered, and they would rather Archaludon check Ceruledge or Azumarill instead.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/captaindaimyo.602431/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lumari.232216/
Archaludon @ Leftovers
name: Physically Defensive (Steel)
Ability: Stamina
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Bold Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Body Press
- Thunder Wave
- Stealth Rock / Foul Play / Thunderbolt
[SET COMMENTS]
Archaludon is the defensive glue for Steel teams, taking on threats such as Gouging Fire, Ogerpon-W, and Kingambit. Draco Meteor lets Archaludon pressure Gouging Fire and gain the upper hand against Dragon teams. Body Press complements Draco Meteor well by heavily damaging Hisuian Goodra, the main check to Draco Meteor for Dragon teams. Aside from this, Body Press also weakens Steel-types such as Kingambit and Heatran, which can comfortably take Draco Meteor. The synergy between Body Press and Stamina allows Archaludon to handle bulky threats like Ting-Lu and Gliscor effectively. Thunder Wave slows down threats like the Ogerpon formes, Keldeo, and Iron Valiant, which Archaludon can survive a hit from but cannot OHKO back, and also lets Archaludon take further advantage of the switches it forces. Stealth Rock lets Archaludon capitalize on forcing out physical attackers like Dragonite and Iron Boulder further. Alternatively, one can forgo Stealth Rock to broaden the number of targets Archaludon checks. Foul Play enables Archaludon to OHKO Ceruledge and dissuade Dragon Dance Dragonite from boosting further. It can also use Thunderbolt to revenge kill Azumarill and dissuade Skarmory from setting entry hazards against it. 52 Speed EVs let Archaludon outspeed Jolly Azumarill and Kingambit while using the remaining EVs to maximize Archaludon‘s bulk.
Archaludon's lackluster Special Defense is its glaring weakness, so specially defensive teammates like Hisuian Goodra, Heatran, and Empoleon are appreciated. Hisuian Goodra can trade blows with Raging Bolt and Primarina; Heatran provides an immunity to Fire moves that lets it check Volcarona and deal with Gholdengo, Spectrier, and Flutter Mane; and Empoleon provides Stealth Rock, checks Walking Wake and Heatran, and is able to Knock Off Choice Specs from Hydreigon. Gholdengo provides a Fighting immunity, prevents opposing teams from removing Stealth Rock that Archaludon sets, and can choose to utilize a specially defensive spread to improve the matchup against Dragapult and Keldeo. Gholdengo and Heatran can also choose to run more offensive sets, with Air Balloon Heatran helping Archaludon check Gouging Fire and Nasty Plot Gholdengo dealing with Ursaluna-B and Iron Valiant. Skarmory is a physical wall that complements Archaludon, as it swaps into predicted Ground-type moves from Excadrill and Great Tusk, sets Spikes to pair with Archaludon's Stealth Rock, and has Whirlwind to further chip down opposing teams and to phaze IronPress users like Zamazenta and opposing Skarmory. Kingambit appreciates Archaludon's ability to check Gouging Fire, Encore Ogerpon-W, and Chien-Pao, as well as the entry hazards Archaludon sets to set up and attempt to sweep Dragon, Water, and Dark teams late-game. Iron Treads can soft check Raging Bolt, remove entry hazards, pivot, and outspeed and remove Landorus and Garchomp with Ice Spinner in a pinch. Corviknight is an alternative Ground-immune teammate that loves Archaludon's ability to put a stop to Gouging Fire and Ogerpon-W, potentially overpowering Dragon and Water teams afterward when using a Bulk Up set.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Steel
-----------
Flash Cannon lets Archaludon deal with Iron Valiant and Enamorus, while also providing a consistent source of damage against Gliscor. However, Archaludon's teammates, like Gholdengo and Iron Treads, usually have these these threats covered, and they would rather Archaludon check Ceruledge or Azumarill instead.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/boomp.637295/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/captaindaimyo.602431/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lumari.232216/
Last edited: