[OVERVIEW]
Rillaboom is a premier offensive threat in generation 8 OverUsed, terrorizing teams with its deadly combination of Grassy Glide and Grassy Surge that can even muscle past Grass resists such as Dragapult and Tornadus-Therian once they are chipped. Its good natural bulk, decent Speed tier, and expansive movepool allow it to take on a variety of offensive roles: it can act as a long-term setup threat with a bulky Swords Dance set that heals an incredible amount HP every turn through Leftovers and Grassy Terrain, opt for incredible sweeping potential with offensive Life Orb sets, or even be an immediate wallbreaker with a Choice Band equipped. Its aforementioned movepool also makes it a great progress maker: Knock Off can remove items like Heavy-Duty Boots from checks like Buzzwole, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T to wear them down in the long-run with entry hazard support while U-turn takes advantage of predicted switch-ins and generates momentum for offensive teammates to take advantage of. Moreover, Grassy Terrain makes it a fantastic glue on numerous structures, weakening the power of Earthquake while providing passive recovery to Pokemon like Heatran, Melmetal, specially defensive Garchomp, and Galarian Slowking. However, Grass being a lackluster offensive typing means that there are plenty of checks to Rillaboom - Flying-type Pokemon such as Skarmory, Corviknight, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T can all stomach hits from it and retaliate with their STAB moves and coverage. Buzzwole completely stops Rillaboom in its tracks as it resists nearly all of Rillaboom's moves and ability to deal significant damage back. Rillaboom is also vulnerable to status and chip damage from entry hazards, the former of which is exacerbated by the prevalence of Scald on Water-type Pokemon such as Gastrodon and Slowking that it wants to threaten out. But the Galarian silverback is still one of the most dangerous threats in the tier, and it will pummel its opponents to submission as long as it has teammates can compensate for its weaknesses.
[SET]
Bulky Swords Dance (Rillaboom) @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Grassy Glide
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch / Superpower
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Bulky Swords Dance Rillaboom is a terrific offensive Pokemon that can fill a variety of roles: it makes progress in the early-game by removing items with Knock Off, can revenge kill offensive threats like Scale Shot Garchomp and Urshifu-R with Grassy Glide, and sweep late-game after a Swords Dance boost once its checks are weakened. Grassy Glide gives Rillaboom the aforementioned revenge-killing and sweeping capabilities as the strongest priority move in the metagame after a Grassy Terrain boost, allowing Rillaboom to pick off weakened would be checks such as Dragapult and Tornadus-T, especially after a Swords Dance boost. Knock Off punishes switch-ins by removing crucial items from checks like Tornadus-T, Zapdos, Buzzwole, Corviknight, and Skarmory. Rillaboom's choice of Fighting-type coverage depends on what it requires: Drain Punch gives Rillaboom another form of recovery and further increases its longevity, while Superpower allows Rillaboom to break through Steel-types such as Melmetal, Heatran, and Ferrothorn after a Swords Dance boost. The above nature and EV spread maximizes Rillaboom's offensive output and bulk, and the Speed investment ensures that it can outspeed Adamant Crawdaunt if Grassy Terrain is down. Leftovers is the item of choice on this set to provide Rillaboom with significant passive recovery when combined with Grassy Terrain so it can reliably survive until the late-game where it can threaten a sweep.
Team Options
========
Bulky Swords Dance Rillaboom fits best on bulkier structures that appreciate its ability to generate progress while giving Rillaboom the defensive backbone needed to slowly whittle down opposing teams and open up an opportunity for it to sweep late-game. Rillaboom can also form potent cores with Pokemon weak to Earthquake, such as Heatran and Melmetal since its Grassy Surge weakens the power of Earthquake and provides a form of passive recovery. Heatran is one of its best partners, as it can pressure the likes of Zapdos, Tornadus-T, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Buzzwole for Rillaboom while appreciating Rillaboom's ability to force out Ground- and Water-types such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Hippowdon, Rotom-W, Tapu Fini, and Gastrodon. Both Pokemon can also wear down their greatest shared check in Dragonite with Toxic and Knock Off respectively. Defensively, Heatran's access to Flash Fire allows it to be a sturdy check to dangerous Fire-types like Volcarona and Blacephalon that threaten Rillaboom. Melmetal is an alternative Steel-type teammate that provides a different defensive profile, as it can check Weavile and Dragonite at the cost of being weak to the above Fire-types. Melmetal can also overwhelm shared checks like Zapdos, Corviknight, Skarmory and Buzzwole with its access to Toxic, Thunder Punch, and Thunder Wave while Rillaboom items from the above Pokemon with Knock Off. Slowking-Galar can either provide Future Sight support with Assault Vest sets or be a sweeper if it runs Nasty Plot, with disruptive options such as Trick + Black Sludge and Thunder Wave that can weaken Steel-types that check Rillaboom, such as Melmetal and Heatran. Toxapex can check Weavile, Blacephalon, Tornadus-T, and Buzzwole for Rillaboom, while Shed Shell variants can even annoy opposing Heatran with Knock Off. Garchomp is a Ground-type that can check Fire-types like Heatran, Volcarona, Blacephalon, and Victini while providing Stealth Rock and Toxic support against Flying-types like Zapdos and Tornadus-T. Garchomp also greatly appreciates Grassy Surge recovery in conjunction with its access to Protect despite it weakening Earthquake, as it allows Garchomp to recover significant amounts of HP, maximizing its longevity. Tornadus-T is a reliable Defogger that can remove entry hazards from the likes of Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Ferrothorn that negate Rillaboom's combination of Leftovers + Grassy Terrain recovery. Its Speed tier and access to Knock Off also allow it to cripple threats like Tapu Lele and Blacephalon which can threaten Rillaboom. Rotom-W can check threats like Victini, Volcanion, and Heatran while being able to generate momentum with Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Acrobatics can be used on offensive Swords Dance sets to take out Buzzwole so it can enable teammates such as Kartana, but dropping either Knock Off or Superpower would mean that Rillaboom will be unable to take out Steel-types like Melmetal, Ferrothorn, and Heatran or make progress against Flying-types like Zapdos and Tornadus-T. Terrain Extender allows Grassy Terrain to stay on the field for more turns so Grassy Seed sweepers like Hawlucha can have more opportunities to set up, while Coba Berry allows Rillaboom to live Hurricane from Zapdos and Tornadus-T and Brave Bird from Corviknight and Zapdos-Galar, but Rillaboom greatly appreciates the extra recovery from Leftovers or the additional power provided by Life Orb. Assault Vest sets leveraging Rillaboom's solid natural bulk, good typing, and access to Knock Off and U-turn make for a solid offensive pivot, but Rillaboom will sorely miss the immediate power of Choice Band. Wood Hammer on Swords Dance variants give Rillaboom an incredibly powerful STAB move, capable of OHKOing Clefable and Toxapex after a Swords Dance boost, but it would require Rillaboom to drop a coverage move or Grassy Glide.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Buzzwole**: With fantastic physical bulk, resistances to all of Rillaboom's common moves, and reliable recovery, Buzzwole can simply shrug off Rillaboom's attacks while retaliating with Ice Punch or STAB Close Combat. However, Buzzwole has to be wary of the rare Acrobatics sets that target Buzzwole's 4x weakness to Flying-type moves.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Zapdos, Tornadus-T, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Dragonite all resist Grassy Glide and have the bulk to absorb Knock Off even after a Swords Dance boost. However, Knock Off greatly annoys Zapdos, Tornadus-T and Dragonite by making them vulnerable to Stealth Rock, while Corviknight and Skarmory appreciate the passive recovery of Leftovers or the contact-punishing effects brought by Rocky Helmet. Offensive Flying-types like Moltres- and Zapdos-Galar can also stomach Rillaboom's hits in a pinch while threatening it with Hurricane and Brave Bird respectively, but their lack of reliable recovery and subpar bulk make them vulnerable to boosted Grassy Glides after some chip damage.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Volcarona, Blacephalon, and Victini all outspeed Rillaboom and can survive Grassy Glide while obliterating the latter with their Fire STAB. However, Volcarona, Blacephalon, and Victini cannot freely switch into Rillaboom due to fearing Knock Off.
**Steel-types**: Melmetal and Heatran are largely unbothered by Grassy Glide and have the bulk to stomach unboosted Superpower before threatening a KO on Rillaboom with Double Iron Bash and Magma Storm respectively. Offensive variants of Heatran can even outspeed Rillaboom, making it a good offensive check. Ferrothorn is another Steel-type that can cripple Rillaboom with Thunder Wave or weaken it with Gyro Ball and Iron Barbs. However, Superpower will KO all three Pokemon after a Swords Dance boost, and they do not appreciate Knock Off removing their items.
**Contact Effects**: Contact-punishing abilities like Static and Flame Body greatly annoy Rillaboom, as it can often make contact with Pokemon like Zapdos and Flame Body Heatran during its attempts to make progress or sweep, and getting paralyzed or burned can stop a potential sweep in its tracks. Other abilities such as Iron Barbs from Ferrothorn and Rough Skin on Garchomp can wear down Rillaboom quickly, and Rocky Helmet can also contribute in this way as Pokemon like the Corviknight, Skarmory, Clefable, Buzzwole, and the aforementioned Ferrothorn often run the item.
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele can cancel out Rillaboom's Grassy Terrain with Psychic Surge and then threaten the latter with its STAB moves. However, Tapu Lele's abysmal physical bulk means that it can never switch into Rillaboom, while Rillaboom can also cancel out Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain with Grassy Surge.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/veti.612907/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Rillaboom is a premier offensive threat in generation 8 OverUsed, terrorizing teams with its deadly combination of Grassy Glide and Grassy Surge that can even muscle past Grass resists such as Dragapult and Tornadus-Therian once they are chipped. Its good natural bulk, decent Speed tier, and expansive movepool allow it to take on a variety of offensive roles: it can act as a long-term setup threat with a bulky Swords Dance set that heals an incredible amount HP every turn through Leftovers and Grassy Terrain, opt for incredible sweeping potential with offensive Life Orb sets, or even be an immediate wallbreaker with a Choice Band equipped. Its aforementioned movepool also makes it a great progress maker: Knock Off can remove items like Heavy-Duty Boots from checks like Buzzwole, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T to wear them down in the long-run with entry hazard support while U-turn takes advantage of predicted switch-ins and generates momentum for offensive teammates to take advantage of. Moreover, Grassy Terrain makes it a fantastic glue on numerous structures, weakening the power of Earthquake while providing passive recovery to Pokemon like Heatran, Melmetal, specially defensive Garchomp, and Galarian Slowking. However, Grass being a lackluster offensive typing means that there are plenty of checks to Rillaboom - Flying-type Pokemon such as Skarmory, Corviknight, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T can all stomach hits from it and retaliate with their STAB moves and coverage. Buzzwole completely stops Rillaboom in its tracks as it resists nearly all of Rillaboom's moves and ability to deal significant damage back. Rillaboom is also vulnerable to status and chip damage from entry hazards, the former of which is exacerbated by the prevalence of Scald on Water-type Pokemon such as Gastrodon and Slowking that it wants to threaten out. But the Galarian silverback is still one of the most dangerous threats in the tier, and it will pummel its opponents to submission as long as it has teammates can compensate for its weaknesses.
[SET]
Bulky Swords Dance (Rillaboom) @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Grassy Glide
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch / Superpower
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Bulky Swords Dance Rillaboom is a terrific offensive Pokemon that can fill a variety of roles: it makes progress in the early-game by removing items with Knock Off, can revenge kill offensive threats like Scale Shot Garchomp and Urshifu-R with Grassy Glide, and sweep late-game after a Swords Dance boost once its checks are weakened. Grassy Glide gives Rillaboom the aforementioned revenge-killing and sweeping capabilities as the strongest priority move in the metagame after a Grassy Terrain boost, allowing Rillaboom to pick off weakened would be checks such as Dragapult and Tornadus-T, especially after a Swords Dance boost. Knock Off punishes switch-ins by removing crucial items from checks like Tornadus-T, Zapdos, Buzzwole, Corviknight, and Skarmory. Rillaboom's choice of Fighting-type coverage depends on what it requires: Drain Punch gives Rillaboom another form of recovery and further increases its longevity, while Superpower allows Rillaboom to break through Steel-types such as Melmetal, Heatran, and Ferrothorn after a Swords Dance boost. The above nature and EV spread maximizes Rillaboom's offensive output and bulk, and the Speed investment ensures that it can outspeed Adamant Crawdaunt if Grassy Terrain is down. Leftovers is the item of choice on this set to provide Rillaboom with significant passive recovery when combined with Grassy Terrain so it can reliably survive until the late-game where it can threaten a sweep.
Team Options
========
Bulky Swords Dance Rillaboom fits best on bulkier structures that appreciate its ability to generate progress while giving Rillaboom the defensive backbone needed to slowly whittle down opposing teams and open up an opportunity for it to sweep late-game. Rillaboom can also form potent cores with Pokemon weak to Earthquake, such as Heatran and Melmetal since its Grassy Surge weakens the power of Earthquake and provides a form of passive recovery. Heatran is one of its best partners, as it can pressure the likes of Zapdos, Tornadus-T, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Buzzwole for Rillaboom while appreciating Rillaboom's ability to force out Ground- and Water-types such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Hippowdon, Rotom-W, Tapu Fini, and Gastrodon. Both Pokemon can also wear down their greatest shared check in Dragonite with Toxic and Knock Off respectively. Defensively, Heatran's access to Flash Fire allows it to be a sturdy check to dangerous Fire-types like Volcarona and Blacephalon that threaten Rillaboom. Melmetal is an alternative Steel-type teammate that provides a different defensive profile, as it can check Weavile and Dragonite at the cost of being weak to the above Fire-types. Melmetal can also overwhelm shared checks like Zapdos, Corviknight, Skarmory and Buzzwole with its access to Toxic, Thunder Punch, and Thunder Wave while Rillaboom items from the above Pokemon with Knock Off. Slowking-Galar can either provide Future Sight support with Assault Vest sets or be a sweeper if it runs Nasty Plot, with disruptive options such as Trick + Black Sludge and Thunder Wave that can weaken Steel-types that check Rillaboom, such as Melmetal and Heatran. Toxapex can check Weavile, Blacephalon, Tornadus-T, and Buzzwole for Rillaboom, while Shed Shell variants can even annoy opposing Heatran with Knock Off. Garchomp is a Ground-type that can check Fire-types like Heatran, Volcarona, Blacephalon, and Victini while providing Stealth Rock and Toxic support against Flying-types like Zapdos and Tornadus-T. Garchomp also greatly appreciates Grassy Surge recovery in conjunction with its access to Protect despite it weakening Earthquake, as it allows Garchomp to recover significant amounts of HP, maximizing its longevity. Tornadus-T is a reliable Defogger that can remove entry hazards from the likes of Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Ferrothorn that negate Rillaboom's combination of Leftovers + Grassy Terrain recovery. Its Speed tier and access to Knock Off also allow it to cripple threats like Tapu Lele and Blacephalon which can threaten Rillaboom. Rotom-W can check threats like Victini, Volcanion, and Heatran while being able to generate momentum with Volt Switch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Acrobatics can be used on offensive Swords Dance sets to take out Buzzwole so it can enable teammates such as Kartana, but dropping either Knock Off or Superpower would mean that Rillaboom will be unable to take out Steel-types like Melmetal, Ferrothorn, and Heatran or make progress against Flying-types like Zapdos and Tornadus-T. Terrain Extender allows Grassy Terrain to stay on the field for more turns so Grassy Seed sweepers like Hawlucha can have more opportunities to set up, while Coba Berry allows Rillaboom to live Hurricane from Zapdos and Tornadus-T and Brave Bird from Corviknight and Zapdos-Galar, but Rillaboom greatly appreciates the extra recovery from Leftovers or the additional power provided by Life Orb. Assault Vest sets leveraging Rillaboom's solid natural bulk, good typing, and access to Knock Off and U-turn make for a solid offensive pivot, but Rillaboom will sorely miss the immediate power of Choice Band. Wood Hammer on Swords Dance variants give Rillaboom an incredibly powerful STAB move, capable of OHKOing Clefable and Toxapex after a Swords Dance boost, but it would require Rillaboom to drop a coverage move or Grassy Glide.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Buzzwole**: With fantastic physical bulk, resistances to all of Rillaboom's common moves, and reliable recovery, Buzzwole can simply shrug off Rillaboom's attacks while retaliating with Ice Punch or STAB Close Combat. However, Buzzwole has to be wary of the rare Acrobatics sets that target Buzzwole's 4x weakness to Flying-type moves.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Zapdos, Tornadus-T, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Dragonite all resist Grassy Glide and have the bulk to absorb Knock Off even after a Swords Dance boost. However, Knock Off greatly annoys Zapdos, Tornadus-T and Dragonite by making them vulnerable to Stealth Rock, while Corviknight and Skarmory appreciate the passive recovery of Leftovers or the contact-punishing effects brought by Rocky Helmet. Offensive Flying-types like Moltres- and Zapdos-Galar can also stomach Rillaboom's hits in a pinch while threatening it with Hurricane and Brave Bird respectively, but their lack of reliable recovery and subpar bulk make them vulnerable to boosted Grassy Glides after some chip damage.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Volcarona, Blacephalon, and Victini all outspeed Rillaboom and can survive Grassy Glide while obliterating the latter with their Fire STAB. However, Volcarona, Blacephalon, and Victini cannot freely switch into Rillaboom due to fearing Knock Off.
**Steel-types**: Melmetal and Heatran are largely unbothered by Grassy Glide and have the bulk to stomach unboosted Superpower before threatening a KO on Rillaboom with Double Iron Bash and Magma Storm respectively. Offensive variants of Heatran can even outspeed Rillaboom, making it a good offensive check. Ferrothorn is another Steel-type that can cripple Rillaboom with Thunder Wave or weaken it with Gyro Ball and Iron Barbs. However, Superpower will KO all three Pokemon after a Swords Dance boost, and they do not appreciate Knock Off removing their items.
**Contact Effects**: Contact-punishing abilities like Static and Flame Body greatly annoy Rillaboom, as it can often make contact with Pokemon like Zapdos and Flame Body Heatran during its attempts to make progress or sweep, and getting paralyzed or burned can stop a potential sweep in its tracks. Other abilities such as Iron Barbs from Ferrothorn and Rough Skin on Garchomp can wear down Rillaboom quickly, and Rocky Helmet can also contribute in this way as Pokemon like the Corviknight, Skarmory, Clefable, Buzzwole, and the aforementioned Ferrothorn often run the item.
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele can cancel out Rillaboom's Grassy Terrain with Psychic Surge and then threaten the latter with its STAB moves. However, Tapu Lele's abysmal physical bulk means that it can never switch into Rillaboom, while Rillaboom can also cancel out Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain with Grassy Surge.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/veti.612907/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
