Hi, guys. I've been using this set for a couple of weeks now, and I think it should open a spot on Azelf's mostly untouched analysis.
STATUS: INCOMPLETE
Needs proofreading and some substitutions.
[SET]
Name: In-N-Out
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: U-turn
Move 3: Flamethrower
Move 4: Psychic / Hidden Power Ground / Explosion
Item: Leftovers/Expert Belt/Insect Plate
Nature: Naive
ev's: 72 Atk / 216 Spe / 222 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Azelf is mostly seen as a fast, reliable lead or a frightening coverage sweeper, this set is a different take on the speed-oriented pixie. At first glance, this Azelf may seem less hard-hitting than the usual Azelf. However, the core purpose of this set is customarily scouting and obtaining opponent information while still maintaining the potential to hit hard on both sides of the spectrum.</p>
<p>Substitute and U-turn are the keys to supplying both team support and some sweeping potential. Because you are not using this Azelf as a lead and instead as a team player, this set takes on the camouflage of the usual Azelf: a fast, hard-hitting sweeper. Since certain Pokémon, such as Infernape, Breloom, and Swampert most likely predictably switches in fear of an OHKO, to the suitable Azelf counter, you can utilize this golden opportunity to set up using Substitute. The basic strategy is from there, you can exploit U-Turn for hurting common switch-ins, or dispose of a Pokemon with Flamethower or another move in appropriate game situations. The purpose of U-turn, as briefly clarified above, is essential to the effectiveness of this set. Common switch-ins, such as Latias and Tyranitar, cannot hit Azelf upon the Substitute being set up, and are hit super-effectively by a strong U-Turn before Azelf can be revealed. The best part of this is that Azelf is outsped by the ever-common Scarf Latias, Scarf Rotom-A, and Scarf Tyranitar. Normally, this is a worse-type scenario for some frightening threats like Salamence, Gyarados, and last but not least Lucario, all of whom are stopped by revenge killing. Behind the Substitute, while utilizing a super effective U-turn, Azelf can determine whether a Pokemon is choiced or not by the order of attacks, and switch to the appropriate counter.</p>
<p>One of Azelf's best qualities is its amazing speed, which is only outshined by a small bracket of the speed tier. Should an unusually fast Pokemon (usually by Scarf) outspeed you and break your substitute, this is the perfect chance to bring in an appropriate counter and remove the supposed Scarfer from play. If used in conjunction with Pursuiters and revenge killers, what should be opponent's most valuable teammate is gone for good. If the Pokemon is not scarved, Azelf can still bring in the correct counter for that Pokemon and finish it off. Azelf’s teammates can then set up a sweep with the right Pokemon defeated, while Azelf can be kept to sweep or scout another threat. This substantially makes Azelf an excellent lure and often a killer of Latias, Rotom-A, Gengar, Scizor, and Tyranitar, several of the most common threats in the metagame.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>While it is technically difficult to counter this particular Azelf because of its ability to escape unscathed, there are a few particular mentions. If Azelf does not have a substitute available, he is prone to revenge killing from the likes of Scarved threats, faster killers, and priority-using ones. Unsurprisingly, Scizor is a threat to an Azelf that has used at least one broken substitute or has taken damage other than Stealth Rocks; it has the ability to OHKO Azelf with a Choice Banded Bullet Punch before it hits with Flamethrower. Of course, the other priority sweepers, such as Lucario, Dragonite, and Mamoswine should all be wary of trying to defeat Azelf because their priority is weaker than Scizor’s, and Azelf can dispatch of them with the right move.</p>
<p>More counters are the previously mentioned Scarved Latias and Tyranitar. Assuming Azelf is not behind a substitute, Latias can defeat Azelf using the risky Draco Meteor or Dragon Pulse, while Tyranitar easily defeats fleeing In-N-Out Azelf with Pursuit unless defeated by a Hidden Power. Azelf always must tread carefully of Weavile, Aerodactyl, Starmie, and U-Turn users. Blissey annoys this Azelf to no end because it takes little damage from all of its attacks, excluding Explosion.</p>
<p>The most effective way of countering these threats is though the use of entry hazards. Because Azelf is constantly switching out to the opponent’s counters, the opposing team will have to switch out on their own constantly in order to avoid being hit by sweepers or walled. This will allow Azelf to actually beat Blissey without Explosion, deal about over 58% damage minimum to Tyranitar (assuming Stealth Rock and three layers of spikes), and generally annoy the opponent's switch ins. Azelf’s team can use this to advantage so a sweep is more possible by Azelf’s teammates or even itself. Viable teammates include Scizor, Tyranitar, Flygon, Skarmory, and a mixed sweeper.</p>
<p>Scizor covers many threats after they take damage from both entry hazards and Azelf’s U-Turn, and also provides nice resistances to the common threats. A combination of both In-N-Out and Choice Band U-Turns should force an opponent to take considerable damage or switch out. This combination also works well with Choice Scarf Flygon, who can revenge kill opponents faster than Azelf. Should a choiced attacker try to hit Azelf, it can U-Turn to Skarmory, who also provides nice resistances in addition to entry Hazards. This Azelf in particular works best with Torment Skarmory, which can, by itself, annoy an opponent to no end using its resistance against choiced moves and Protect while utilizing Spikes. The best offensive set-up partner is Lucario, who can take a choiced Crunch or Pursuit from Tyranitar, resists many priority moves, and break many walls with his own Swords-Danced priority and Close Combat. Mixed sweepers or an anti-stall Pokemon, if facing a stall team, can compliment Azelf well due to it defeating nearly anything on stall except for Blissey. While Tentacruel, Skarmory, Roserade, Foretress, and some variations of Tyranitar are taken care of by Azelf, a mixed sweeper in conjunction can take care of Blissey and possibly some of the threats Azelf can handle in the process.</p>
<p>In late-game situations, Azelf can reminisce its role as a late-game sweeper and use its choices of Flamethrower and Psychic or any other coverage moves. Bear in mind that this particular Azelf does not sweep as effectively as a sweeper and should keep its role as a scout for most purposes. A coverage move can replace Psychic if one wants to counter something in particular.</p>
<p>The EV's are designed to power up U-Turn to soften threats in addition to maintaining a great Special Attack and Speed. The Attack investment guarantees that 4 HP Latias using Leftovers will be KO'd by a switch-in to Stealth Rock and two U-turns provided it switches out of a revenge killer. 216 Speed EV's allow Azelf to outspeed positive-natured base 110 opponents, and the rest is poured into Special attack to heighten Azelf's sweeping potential alone.</p>
STATUS: INCOMPLETE
Needs proofreading and some substitutions.
[SET]
Name: In-N-Out
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: U-turn
Move 3: Flamethrower
Move 4: Psychic / Hidden Power Ground / Explosion
Item: Leftovers/Expert Belt/Insect Plate
Nature: Naive
ev's: 72 Atk / 216 Spe / 222 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Azelf is mostly seen as a fast, reliable lead or a frightening coverage sweeper, this set is a different take on the speed-oriented pixie. At first glance, this Azelf may seem less hard-hitting than the usual Azelf. However, the core purpose of this set is customarily scouting and obtaining opponent information while still maintaining the potential to hit hard on both sides of the spectrum.</p>
<p>Substitute and U-turn are the keys to supplying both team support and some sweeping potential. Because you are not using this Azelf as a lead and instead as a team player, this set takes on the camouflage of the usual Azelf: a fast, hard-hitting sweeper. Since certain Pokémon, such as Infernape, Breloom, and Swampert most likely predictably switches in fear of an OHKO, to the suitable Azelf counter, you can utilize this golden opportunity to set up using Substitute. The basic strategy is from there, you can exploit U-Turn for hurting common switch-ins, or dispose of a Pokemon with Flamethower or another move in appropriate game situations. The purpose of U-turn, as briefly clarified above, is essential to the effectiveness of this set. Common switch-ins, such as Latias and Tyranitar, cannot hit Azelf upon the Substitute being set up, and are hit super-effectively by a strong U-Turn before Azelf can be revealed. The best part of this is that Azelf is outsped by the ever-common Scarf Latias, Scarf Rotom-A, and Scarf Tyranitar. Normally, this is a worse-type scenario for some frightening threats like Salamence, Gyarados, and last but not least Lucario, all of whom are stopped by revenge killing. Behind the Substitute, while utilizing a super effective U-turn, Azelf can determine whether a Pokemon is choiced or not by the order of attacks, and switch to the appropriate counter.</p>
<p>One of Azelf's best qualities is its amazing speed, which is only outshined by a small bracket of the speed tier. Should an unusually fast Pokemon (usually by Scarf) outspeed you and break your substitute, this is the perfect chance to bring in an appropriate counter and remove the supposed Scarfer from play. If used in conjunction with Pursuiters and revenge killers, what should be opponent's most valuable teammate is gone for good. If the Pokemon is not scarved, Azelf can still bring in the correct counter for that Pokemon and finish it off. Azelf’s teammates can then set up a sweep with the right Pokemon defeated, while Azelf can be kept to sweep or scout another threat. This substantially makes Azelf an excellent lure and often a killer of Latias, Rotom-A, Gengar, Scizor, and Tyranitar, several of the most common threats in the metagame.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>While it is technically difficult to counter this particular Azelf because of its ability to escape unscathed, there are a few particular mentions. If Azelf does not have a substitute available, he is prone to revenge killing from the likes of Scarved threats, faster killers, and priority-using ones. Unsurprisingly, Scizor is a threat to an Azelf that has used at least one broken substitute or has taken damage other than Stealth Rocks; it has the ability to OHKO Azelf with a Choice Banded Bullet Punch before it hits with Flamethrower. Of course, the other priority sweepers, such as Lucario, Dragonite, and Mamoswine should all be wary of trying to defeat Azelf because their priority is weaker than Scizor’s, and Azelf can dispatch of them with the right move.</p>
<p>More counters are the previously mentioned Scarved Latias and Tyranitar. Assuming Azelf is not behind a substitute, Latias can defeat Azelf using the risky Draco Meteor or Dragon Pulse, while Tyranitar easily defeats fleeing In-N-Out Azelf with Pursuit unless defeated by a Hidden Power. Azelf always must tread carefully of Weavile, Aerodactyl, Starmie, and U-Turn users. Blissey annoys this Azelf to no end because it takes little damage from all of its attacks, excluding Explosion.</p>
<p>The most effective way of countering these threats is though the use of entry hazards. Because Azelf is constantly switching out to the opponent’s counters, the opposing team will have to switch out on their own constantly in order to avoid being hit by sweepers or walled. This will allow Azelf to actually beat Blissey without Explosion, deal about over 58% damage minimum to Tyranitar (assuming Stealth Rock and three layers of spikes), and generally annoy the opponent's switch ins. Azelf’s team can use this to advantage so a sweep is more possible by Azelf’s teammates or even itself. Viable teammates include Scizor, Tyranitar, Flygon, Skarmory, and a mixed sweeper.</p>
<p>Scizor covers many threats after they take damage from both entry hazards and Azelf’s U-Turn, and also provides nice resistances to the common threats. A combination of both In-N-Out and Choice Band U-Turns should force an opponent to take considerable damage or switch out. This combination also works well with Choice Scarf Flygon, who can revenge kill opponents faster than Azelf. Should a choiced attacker try to hit Azelf, it can U-Turn to Skarmory, who also provides nice resistances in addition to entry Hazards. This Azelf in particular works best with Torment Skarmory, which can, by itself, annoy an opponent to no end using its resistance against choiced moves and Protect while utilizing Spikes. The best offensive set-up partner is Lucario, who can take a choiced Crunch or Pursuit from Tyranitar, resists many priority moves, and break many walls with his own Swords-Danced priority and Close Combat. Mixed sweepers or an anti-stall Pokemon, if facing a stall team, can compliment Azelf well due to it defeating nearly anything on stall except for Blissey. While Tentacruel, Skarmory, Roserade, Foretress, and some variations of Tyranitar are taken care of by Azelf, a mixed sweeper in conjunction can take care of Blissey and possibly some of the threats Azelf can handle in the process.</p>
<p>In late-game situations, Azelf can reminisce its role as a late-game sweeper and use its choices of Flamethrower and Psychic or any other coverage moves. Bear in mind that this particular Azelf does not sweep as effectively as a sweeper and should keep its role as a scout for most purposes. A coverage move can replace Psychic if one wants to counter something in particular.</p>
<p>The EV's are designed to power up U-Turn to soften threats in addition to maintaining a great Special Attack and Speed. The Attack investment guarantees that 4 HP Latias using Leftovers will be KO'd by a switch-in to Stealth Rock and two U-turns provided it switches out of a revenge killer. 216 Speed EV's allow Azelf to outspeed positive-natured base 110 opponents, and the rest is poured into Special attack to heighten Azelf's sweeping potential alone.</p>
