![:Salamence:](/forums/media/minisprites/salamence.png.m.1716648629)
[SET]
Salamence @ Flyinium Z / Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Fly / Outrage
- Earthquake
- Substitute / Fire Blast
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its great Attack, good coverage options, and ability to outpace Mega Aerodactyl, Meowscarada, and Choice Scarf Hydreigon at +1, Salamence is a good setup sweeper on offense and hyper offense teams, being able to serve as both a mid-game wallbreaker and late-game cleaner. Fly alongside Flyinium Z provides Salamence a powerful one-time nuke that can outright OHKO Flying-weak foes like Mega Venusaur and Buzzwole and neutral targets like Mega Sableye, Tapu Fini, and Gastrodon at +1. Outrage is an alternative when not using Flyinium Z that helps deal with opposing Dragon-types like Mega Latias, Latios, and Hydreigon, though it does have the downside of locking in Salamence, which can allow the opponent to respond with a Fairy-type like Tapu Fini, Clefable, or Enamorus. Earthquake helps against Steel-types like Excadrill, Iron Treads, and Bisharp that resist both its STAB moves, and it can also help to chip down other Ground-weak foes like Skeledirge and Mega Tyranitar. Substitute lets Salamence make use of switches it forces against foes like Mega Venusaur and Buzzwole and take advantage of some defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon and Amoonguss; it can also provide a safety net for mispositioning with Fly or Outrage and avoids status from targets like Chansey, Mega Sableye, and Mew. Alternatively Fire Blast hits Skarmory, and can also hit Grass- and Steel-types like physically defensive Tangrowth, Celesteela, and Scizor. if Salamence isn't using Fly, Life Orb boosts the damage of all of its moves, OHKOing Mega Latias and Rotom-W with Outrage. Salamence prefers running Moxie as opposed to Intimidate, due to its usefulness on offensively-oriented teams. Salamence has a hard time breaking through Fairy-types like Tapu Fini and Clefable, due to their typing and super effective moves, making it pair well with other offensive Pokemon like Thundurus and Swords Dance Cinderace, which can overwhelm these foes. When not running Fly Salamence can also struggle to break through Grass-types like Tangrowth and Mega Venusaur, making Fire-types like Ceruledge and Victini also good partners. Salamence can also pair well with entry hazards from setters like Ting-Lu, Mega Tyranitar, and Skarmory, as Fly and Outrage are guaranteed to OHKO foes like Buzzwole and Serperior after Stealth Rock chip. Due to Salamence's Stealth Rock weakness, it appreciates Pokemon that can provide anti-hazard measures, notably dedicated leads like Excadrill, as well as Taunt Mew and Meowscarada, while Salamence can deal with Pokemon that can threaten them like Celesteela, Hydreigon, and Cinderace. Salamence can be very prone to getting revenge killed by faster targets like Mega Aerodactyl, Alakazam, and Choice Scarf Enamorus, meaning it appreciates bulky partners like Slowbro and Mega Venusaur, appreciating the former's pivoting and the latter's tank-like nature, as well as Pokemon that can set up on the aforementioned targets like Scizor, Mega Latias, and Celesteela.
[CREDITS] (will add later)
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/yoko.617542/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
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