Just a note: This was made assuming we'd use the same preview system here as Battle Spot Singles. If we don't, I'll change the format! Also, Jhon and Demantoid looked over this on Discord, feel free to post more stuff here! I already edited in your changes.
[OVERVIEW]
* Blacephalon is among the fastest usable Fire-types in VGC, and it's access to Beast Boost and Heat Wave can allow it to sweep through weakened teams.
* Blacephalon has enough Special Attack to deal serious damage even before a Beast Boost
* Ghost is a good secondary offensive typing that allows Blacephalon to hit Cresselia and Tapu Lele hard, and avoid Fake Out (with the exception of Kangaskhan's Scrappy Fake Out).
* Blacephalon's defenses are pathetic, with most strong neutral hits at least 2HKOing it.
* Blacephalon has a poor offensive movepool that mostly limits it to Fire and Ghost-type coverage in addition to a Hidden Power, so it'll almost always be walled by something.
* Blacephalon becomes much easier to handle when rain is up, which is fairly common in VGC.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Heat Wave
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Flamethrower / FIre Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* With a Choice Scarf, Blacephalon will outspeed many prominent threats, such as Tapu Koko, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Mega Salamence.
* Heat Wave is Blacephalon's spread move of choice. Mind Blown may be tempting, but its extremely awkward to be locked into, since it 2HKOs Blacephalon and it hits your teammate.
* Shadow Ball is Blacephalon's strongest Ghost-type attack, 2HKOing offensive Cresselia and being Blacephalon's strongest attack in the rain.
* Hidden Power Ice is hard to pass up, since it OHKOs offensive Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Hidden Power Ground can be used to severely damage Heatran, but it doesn't take advantage of Choice Scarf as well.
* Blacephalon will need a single target Fire-type attack to deal with Wide Guard. Flamethrower is the most reliable option, OHKOing Mega Metagross, but Fire Blast is extremely powerful at the cost of accuracy.
* While Blacephalon can be used early game to pressure certain leads, it often works best late game where it can use Heat Wave to clean weakened teams, or get a reliable Beast Boost.
* Pairing Blacephalon with sun support is a good idea, making its Fire-type STABs extremely powerful, and making Water-types more manageable. Mega Charizard Y is an easy option for this due to drought, but manual users of Sunny Day such as Cresselia and Whimsicott can also work to surprise rain teams.
* Tapu Lele is another teammate to consider, since its Psychic Terrain blocks deadly Sucker Punches from the likes of Mega Kangaskhan, and it can scout for leading Choice Scarf Landorus-T for Blacephalon to target.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Heat Wave
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Substitute / Flamethrower / Overheat
move 4: Protect
item: Ghostium Z / Life Orb / Firium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
* Heat Wave is Blacephalon's most reliable spread attack.
* Shadow Ball hits Cresselia hard, especially if using Ghostium Z, and is also a good STAB to use if it's raining.
* Hidden Power Ice gets a OHKO on Mega Salamence and offensive Landorus-T, while Substitute helps Blacephalon against Sucker Punch. Flamethrower can also be used as a back-up Fire-type attack if Wide Guard is in play from the likes of Celesteela or Aegislash, though Overheat is a more powerful option for use with Firium Z.
* Protect allows Blacephalon to take advantage of its tendency to become the target of attacks.
* Ghostium Z allows Blacephalon to OHKO offensive Cresselia, and deal 81% minimum to specially defensive Cresselia.
* Life Orb is a reliable item for dealing extra damage, at the cost of the recoil making Blacephalon more vulnerable to weak priority attacks.
* Firium Z is also an acceptable option, especially if Overheat or Mind Blown is chosen as a secondary Fire-type attack, since Inferno Overdrive boosted from these moves will OHKO Mega Kangaskhan.
* Speed control of some sort is highly recommended for Blacephalon, since it helps it deal with common speedy Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Tailwind is a prime example of this with plenty of possible users such as Mega Charizard Y, Suicune, and Mega Salamence. Icy Wind from the likes of Cresselia and Tapu Fini can also be useful.
[OVERVIEW]
* Blacephalon is among the fastest usable Fire-types in VGC, and it's access to Beast Boost and Heat Wave can allow it to sweep through weakened teams.
* Blacephalon has enough Special Attack to deal serious damage even before a Beast Boost
* Ghost is a good secondary offensive typing that allows Blacephalon to hit Cresselia and Tapu Lele hard, and avoid Fake Out (with the exception of Kangaskhan's Scrappy Fake Out).
* Blacephalon's defenses are pathetic, with most strong neutral hits at least 2HKOing it.
* Blacephalon has a poor offensive movepool that mostly limits it to Fire and Ghost-type coverage in addition to a Hidden Power, so it'll almost always be walled by something.
* Blacephalon becomes much easier to handle when rain is up, which is fairly common in VGC.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Heat Wave
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Flamethrower / FIre Blast
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* With a Choice Scarf, Blacephalon will outspeed many prominent threats, such as Tapu Koko, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Mega Salamence.
* Heat Wave is Blacephalon's spread move of choice. Mind Blown may be tempting, but its extremely awkward to be locked into, since it 2HKOs Blacephalon and it hits your teammate.
* Shadow Ball is Blacephalon's strongest Ghost-type attack, 2HKOing offensive Cresselia and being Blacephalon's strongest attack in the rain.
* Hidden Power Ice is hard to pass up, since it OHKOs offensive Landorus-T and Mega Salamence. Hidden Power Ground can be used to severely damage Heatran, but it doesn't take advantage of Choice Scarf as well.
* Blacephalon will need a single target Fire-type attack to deal with Wide Guard. Flamethrower is the most reliable option, OHKOing Mega Metagross, but Fire Blast is extremely powerful at the cost of accuracy.
* While Blacephalon can be used early game to pressure certain leads, it often works best late game where it can use Heat Wave to clean weakened teams, or get a reliable Beast Boost.
* Pairing Blacephalon with sun support is a good idea, making its Fire-type STABs extremely powerful, and making Water-types more manageable. Mega Charizard Y is an easy option for this due to drought, but manual users of Sunny Day such as Cresselia and Whimsicott can also work to surprise rain teams.
* Tapu Lele is another teammate to consider, since its Psychic Terrain blocks deadly Sucker Punches from the likes of Mega Kangaskhan, and it can scout for leading Choice Scarf Landorus-T for Blacephalon to target.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Heat Wave
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Substitute / Flamethrower / Overheat
move 4: Protect
item: Ghostium Z / Life Orb / Firium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
* Heat Wave is Blacephalon's most reliable spread attack.
* Shadow Ball hits Cresselia hard, especially if using Ghostium Z, and is also a good STAB to use if it's raining.
* Hidden Power Ice gets a OHKO on Mega Salamence and offensive Landorus-T, while Substitute helps Blacephalon against Sucker Punch. Flamethrower can also be used as a back-up Fire-type attack if Wide Guard is in play from the likes of Celesteela or Aegislash, though Overheat is a more powerful option for use with Firium Z.
* Protect allows Blacephalon to take advantage of its tendency to become the target of attacks.
* Ghostium Z allows Blacephalon to OHKO offensive Cresselia, and deal 81% minimum to specially defensive Cresselia.
* Life Orb is a reliable item for dealing extra damage, at the cost of the recoil making Blacephalon more vulnerable to weak priority attacks.
* Firium Z is also an acceptable option, especially if Overheat or Mind Blown is chosen as a secondary Fire-type attack, since Inferno Overdrive boosted from these moves will OHKO Mega Kangaskhan.
* Speed control of some sort is highly recommended for Blacephalon, since it helps it deal with common speedy Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Landorus-T. Tailwind is a prime example of this with plenty of possible users such as Mega Charizard Y, Suicune, and Mega Salamence. Icy Wind from the likes of Cresselia and Tapu Fini can also be useful.
