Draft Iron Bundle

Status
Not open for further replies.
Scribble

Scribble

formerly Dartrix - Joker
is a Metagame Resource Contributoris a Top Contributor
[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards

**Price range**: 16-17 points

**Overview**: Iron Bundle has almost everything one could want in an offensive Pokemon; it has a good base 124 Special Attack, it has a virtually unresisted STAB combination in the form of Water-type move + Freeze-Dry, and its base 136 Speed allows it to outpace almost the entire unboosted metagame. It even has solid physical bulk, which allows it to comfortably survive most common priority attacks. However, Iron Bundle has one fatal flaw: its only viable offensive Water-type attack is the not completely accurate Hydro Pump. As a result, Iron Bundle is an inherently inconsistent Pokemon. It can be incredibly strong and overwhelming at times, but its unreliability makes it unappealing to many drafts and leaves it most often used as an enabler for its teammates.


[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Offensive pivot**: Iron Bundle's threatening offenses combined with its Speed tier allows it to force many switches, as not many Pokemon can comfortably switch into an Iron Bundle that's threatening to use Hydro Pump or Freeze-Dry. Iron Bundle can exploit this by using Flip Turn, taking advantage of the foes switching out and gaining momentum.

**Wallbreaker**: Of course, Iron Bundle can also just use its threatening offenses to break holes in the opponent's team. As it's usually paired with Choice Specs or Special Attack Booster Energy, Iron Bundle's STAB moves are all it needs to do serious damage, and its Speed tier makes it difficult to revenge kill.

**Speed control**: Aside from a couple rare exceptions, Iron Bundle is the fastest Pokemon allowed in the format. In the vast majority of matchups, Iron Bundle will be the fastest Pokemon from either team. Therefore, with a Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy, Iron Bundle will outspeed nearly every +1 Speed Pokemon, so it can be used to offensively check many Speed-boosted threats. This set can also be used to sweep late-game when the opponent's team is weakened, as it is very difficult to revenge kill.

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Hydro Pump, Freeze-Dry, Ice Beam

**Setup moves**: Agility, Substitute

**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Encore, Taunt

**Coverage**: Bye bye!

Niche Moves
========
**U-turn**: U-turn is usually chosen over Flip Turn against teams that have Water-immune Pokemon like Ogerpon-W or Vaporeon.

**Blizzard**: When paired with snow support, Blizzard can be used to give Iron Bundle a reliable high Base Power Ice-type attack.

Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots is used on Iron Bundle's offensive pivot sets so it can avoid taking entry hazard damage when switching in and out of battle.

**Booster Energy**: Special Attack and Speed Booster Energy are both viable and are alternate options to the Choice items. Both give Iron Bundle the flexibility to switch up its moves, but they only work the first time Iron Bundle is sent out into battle, which may be a worthwhile tradeoff in some matchups.

**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs is used to maximize Iron Bundle's damage output and break holes in the opponent's team.

**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf is mainly used if Iron Bundle needs to outpace other Speed-boosted threats.

Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berry**: While Iron Bundle's special bulk is pitiful and a resistance Berry won't save it from a very strong special attack, its physical bulk is surprisingly decent and resistance Berries could be used to let Iron Bundle survive an attack it otherwise wouldn't.

**Damage-boosting items**: These are usually outclassed by Choice Specs, but Life Orb, Mystic Water, and Never-Melt Ice can all be used to increase Iron Bundle's damage output without locking it into any one move.

Tera
========
Iron Bundle is generally Tera-banned in Draft. If allowed to Terastallize, it makes excellent use of Tera Water and uses Tera Water far more than any other type. Tera Water removes Iron Bundle's weakness to Stealth Rock, powers up the damage of its Water-type STAB moves, and gives Iron Bundle access to Tera Blast Water, which is more accurate and preferred to Hydro Pump in many situations.

Draft Strategy
========
Iron Bundle's inconsistent Water-type STAB move leads to it being used far more as an offensive Ice-type rather than an offensive Water-type. To be consistent with Iron Bundle, it should be drafted on a team that does not rely on Iron Bundle landing Hydro Pump.

**Strong physical wallbreaker**: When Iron Bundle forces foes to switch out and uses Flip Turn on the switch, the incoming Pokemon will most often be a specially defensive wall. This makes strong physical attackers great partners for Iron Bundle, as they can break these specially defensive walls.

**Other pivots**: Iron Bundle's tendency to use Flip Turn makes it a great fit for teams that can utilize a VoltTurn playstyle. More Pokemon with pivot moves like U-turn that can also force switches work great with Iron Bundle. A more specific strategy that Iron Bundle teams will often look for is Chilly Reception support from Slowking or Galarian Slowking. They provide a slow pivot to help get Iron Bundle onto the field, the snow from Chilly Reception increases Iron Bundle's already good Defense, and allows it to use Blizzard as its Ice-type STAB move.

**Entry hazard removal**: Iron Bundle is fine with running Heavy-Duty Boots, but it appreciates hazard control support from its teammates so that using a different item like Choice Specs isn't as risky. Some examples of good hazard control options are Iron Treads and Cyclizar.

Checks and Counters
========
**Assault Vest Pokemon**: Iron Bundle's Special Attack is good but not absurdly so. When paired with an Assault Vest, many Pokemon with decent special bulk can withstand multiple attacks from Iron Bundle, provided that they aren't weak to Iron Bundle's STAB moves. Iron Bundle will have to find support from its teammates to break through these Pokemon or deal with slowly wearing down the Assault Vest wall throughout the battle. This can be accomplished through entry hazards, since Assault Vest users are left vulnerable to damage from hazards.

**Resistance Berry lures**: Iron Bundle's lack of coverage moves makes it easy for a foe to use Passho Berry or Yache Berry to survive a super effective hit from Iron Bundle. Notably, Water-type Pokemon can use Yache Berry to halve the damage from Freeze-Dry, which leaves them safely protected from all of Iron Bundle's attacks thanks to their natural resistances to Water- and Ice-type attacks. Resistance Berries can be scouted for, but Iron Bundle alone has no counterplay aside from attacking the foe to consume the resistance Berry.

**Entry hazards**: As previously mentioned, Iron Bundle is weak to Stealth Rock, but it is also vulnerable to all other entry hazards. It doesn't appreciate Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Sticky Web, as they all severely limit what Iron Bundle wants to accomplish during a match. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Iron Bundle ignore hazards, but this still gives information to the opponent. A common strategy vs Iron Bundle teams is to set up hazards as quickly as possible, so when Iron Bundle comes onto the field its item can be confirmed as having Heavy-Duty Boots or not. This can be a very important distinction for the opponent, since a Choice Specs Iron Bundle deals significantly more damage than a Heavy-Duty Boots Iron Bundle.

**Choice Scarf users**: Most teams won't have a way to naturally outspeed Iron Bundle, so they make use of Choice Scarf to outspeed and revenge kill non-Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy Iron Bundle sets.

[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
 
Last edited:
Dartrix - Joker said:
[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards

**Price range**: 16-17 points

**Overview**: Iron Bundle has almost everything one could want in an offensive Pokemon. It has a good base 124 Special Attack stat, a virtually unresisted STAB combination in the form of Water + Freeze-Dry, and its base 136 Speed stat allows it to outpace almost the entire metagame. It even has weirdly high physical bulk, which allows it to comfortably survive common priority attacks. However, Iron Bundle has one fatal flaw: its only viable offensive Water-type attack is Hydro Pump, an 80% accurate move. As a result, Iron Bundle is an inherently inconsistent Pokemon. It can be incredibly strong and overwhelming at times, but its unreliability makes it unappealing to many drafts, and leaves it most often used as an enabler for its teammates.

[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Offensive pivot**: Iron Bundle's threatening offenses combined with its Speed tier allow it to force many switches, as not many Pokemon can comfortably switch into an Iron Bundle that's threatening to click Hydro Pump and Freeze-Dry. Iron Bundle can take advantage of this by clicking Flip Turn, taking advantage of the opponent's switches and gaining momentum. this sentence feels clunky, taking advantage twice in one sentence reads wrong, might just be me. These sets will almost always run Heavy-Duty Boots to avoid taking entry hazard damage. just add this line onto the boots section later

**Breaker**: Of course, Iron Bundle can also just use its threatening offenses to break holes in the opponent's team. Usually paired with a Choice Specs or Special Attack Booster Energy, Iron Bundle's STAB moves are all it needs to do serious damage, and its Speed tier makes it difficult to revenge kill.

**Elite speed control**: Aside from Electrode and its Hisuian counterpart, Iron Bundle is the fastest Pokemon allowed in the format. In the vast majority of matchups, Iron Bundle will be the fastest Pokemon across both teams. Therefore, with a Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy, Iron Bundle will outspeed nearly every +1 Speed Pokemon, so it can be used to offensively check many relevant Speed-boosted threats like Battle Bond Greninja and Choice Scarf Meowscarada. It also has access to an incredibly fast Encore, which is helpful for dealing with opposing setup sweepers. In addition, this set can be used to sweep late-game when the opponent's team is weakened, as essentially nothing will be able to outspeed a +1 Iron Bundle. i get what ur saying here but it feels repetitive of itself, can keep encore line if u want but i think thats alright as is since encore is listed below, our job isnt to explain what the move is able of doing, not fussed if u do keep it tho

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Hydro Pump, Freeze-Dry, Ice Beam

**Setup moves**: Agility, Substitute

**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Encore, Taunt

**Coverage**: Bye bye!

Niche Moves
========
**U-turn**: U-turn is usually chosen over Flip Turn against teams that have Water-immune Pokemon like Ogerpon-W or Vaporeon.

**Blizzard**: When paired with Snow support, Blizzard can be used to give Iron Bundle a reliable high Base Power Ice-type attack.

Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Iron Bundle is weak to Stealth Rock and often switches in and out of the field via pivot moves, so it uses Heavy-Duty Boots to avoid entry hazard damage entirely.

**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs are used to maximize Iron Bundle's damage output and break holes in the opponent's team.

**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf is mainly used if Speed control of other Speed-boosted threats is needed.

**Booster Energy**: Special Attack and Speed Booster Energy are both viable, and are alternate options to the Choice items. Both give Iron Bundle the flexibility to switch up its moves, but only work the first time Iron Bundle is sent out into battle, which may be a worthwhile tradeoff in some matchups.

Niche Items
========
**Resist Berries**: While Iron Bundle's special bulk is pitiful and a Resist Berry won't save it from a very strong special attack, its physical bulk is surprisingly decent and Resist Berries could be run to let Iron Bundle survive an attack it otherwise wouldn't.

just add lo/nmi/mystic, discussed on discord

Tera
========
Iron Bundle is generally Tera banned in Draft. If allowed to Terastalize, it makes excellent use of Tera Water, and uses Tera Water far more than any other type. Tera Water removes Iron Bundle's weakness to Stealth Rock, powers up the damage of its STAB Water moves, and gives Iron Bundle access to Water-type Tera Blast, a 100% accurate strong Water-type attack

Draft Strategy
========
Iron Bundle's inconsistent Water STAB leads to it being used far more as an offensive Ice-type rather than an offensive Water-type. To be consistent with Iron Bundle, it should be drafted on a team that does not rely on Iron Bundle landing Hydro Pump.

**Strong physical wallbreaker**: When Iron Bundle forces switches from the opponent and uses Flip Turn on the switch, the incoming Pokemon will most often be a specially defensive wall. This makes strong physical attackers great partners for Iron Bundle, as they can break these specially defensive walls. could name a couple of examples

**Other pivots**: Iron Bundle's tendency to click Flip Turn makes it a great fit for teams that can utilize a VoltTurn playstyle. More Pokemon with pivot moves like U-turn that can also force switches work great with Iron Bundle. A more specific strategy that Iron Bundle teams will often look for is Chilly Reception support from Slowking or Galarian Slowking. They provide a slow pivot to help get Iron Bundle onto the field, the Snow from Chilly Reception increases Iron Bundle's already good Defense, and gives it access to 100% accurate Blizzard.

**Hazard control**: Iron Bundle is fine with running Heavy-Duty Boots often, but it appreciates hazard control support from its teammates so using a different item like Choice Specs isn't as risky. same here, just gotta be blatantly obvious x-x

Checks and Counters
========
**Assault Vest Pokemon**: Iron Bundle's Special Attack is good, but not absurdly so. When paired with an Assault Vest, many Pokemon with decent special bulk can withstand multiple attacks from Iron Bundle, provided that they aren't weak to Iron Bundle's STABs. Iron Bundle will have to find support from its teammates to break through these Pokemon, or deal with slowly wearing down the Assault Vest wall throughout the game.

**Yache Berry Water-types**: Water-type Pokemon can use Yache Berry to halve the damage from Freeze-Dry, which leaves them safely protected from all of Iron Bundle's attacks thanks to their natural resistances to Water- and Ice-types. This tech can be scouted for, but Iron Bundle alone has no counterplay aside from using Freeze-Dry to consume the Yache Berry.

**Entry hazards**: As previously mentioned, Iron Bundle is weak to Stealth Rock, but it is also vulnerable to all other entry hazards. It doesn't appreciate Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Sticky Web, and they all severely limit what Iron Bundle wants to accomplish during a match. Heavy-Duty Boots let Iron Bundle ignore hazards, but this still gives information to the opponent. A common strategy vs Iron Bundle teams is to set up hazards as quickly as possible, so when Iron Bundle comes onto the field its item can be confirmed as "Heavy-Duty Boots" or "not Heavy-Duty Boots." This can be a very important distinction for the opponent, since a Choice Specs Iron Bundle deals significantly more damage than a Heavy-Duty Boots Iron Bundle. this feel a little wordy but idk how to reduce it, if anything comes to mind give it a go but im equally confused at how to xd

[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Quality checked by:


Grammar checked by:
Click to expand...
QC 1/2
 
amqc, implement what you want

Dartrix - Joker said:
[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards

**Price range**: 16-17 points

**Overview**: Iron Bundle has almost everything one could want in an offensive Pokemon. It has a good base 124 Special Attack stat, a virtually unresisted STAB combination in the form of Water + Freeze-Dry, and its base 136 Speed stat allows it to outpace almost the entire metagame. It even has weirdly high physical bulk maybe say something like good or solid, weirdly high feels stylistically off, which allows it to comfortably survive common priority attacks specify most, glide and vacuum wave exist. However, Iron Bundle has one fatal flaw: its only viable offensive Water-type attack is Hydro Pump, an 80% accurate move. As a result, Iron Bundle is an inherently inconsistent Pokemon. It can be incredibly strong and overwhelming at times, but its unreliability makes it unappealing to many drafts, and leaves it most often used as an enabler for its teammates. tough to do this in a way that fits the intro format, but maybe find a way to mention things like paper-thin special bulk, opposing prep like scarf/av/resist berries, hazard vulnerability if not running boots, etc as weaknesses? accuracy is a huge problem but it has other weakness and implying its only problem is missing doesn't feel sufficient


[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Offensive pivot**: Iron Bundle's threatening offenses combined with its Speed tier allow it to force many switches, as not many Pokemon can comfortably switch into an Iron Bundle that's threatening to click Hydro Pump and Freeze-Dry. Iron Bundle can exploit this by clicking Flip Turn, taking advantage of the opponent's switches and gaining momentum.

**Breaker**: Of course, Iron Bundle can also just use its threatening offenses to break holes in the opponent's team. Usually paired with a Choice Specs or Special Attack Booster Energy, Iron Bundle's STAB moves are all it needs to do serious damage, and its Speed tier makes it difficult to revenge kill.

maybe just call it speed control to fit in with others **Elite speed control**: Aside from Electrode and its Hisuian counterpart, Iron Bundle is the fastest Pokemon allowed in the format. edit this to rare exceptions, ik we're assuming seasonal tiering but these still should be general enough for formats where Dragapult is allowed In the vast majority of matchups, Iron Bundle will be the fastest Pokemon across both teams. Therefore, with a Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy, Iron Bundle will outspeed nearly every +1 Speed Pokemon, so it can be used to offensively check many Speed-boosted threats. This set can also be used to sweep late-game when the opponent's team is weakened, as it is very difficult to revenge kill.

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Hydro Pump, Freeze-Dry, Ice Beam

**Setup moves**: Agility, Substitute

**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Encore, Taunt

**Coverage**: Bye bye! mention Tera Blast

Niche Moves
========
**U-turn**: U-turn is usually chosen over Flip Turn against teams that have Water-immune Pokemon like Ogerpon-W or Vaporeon.

**Blizzard**: When paired with Snow support, Blizzard can be used to give Iron Bundle a reliable high Base Power Ice-type attack.

Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots is used on Iron Bundle's offensive pivots sets so it can avoid taking entry hazard damage when switching in and out of battle.

**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs are used to maximize Iron Bundle's damage output and break holes in the opponent's team.

**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf is mainly used if Speed control of other Speed-boosted threats is needed.

**Booster Energy**: Special Attack and Speed Booster Energy are both viable, and are alternate options to the Choice items. Both give Iron Bundle the flexibility to switch up its moves, but only work the first time Iron Bundle is sent out into battle, which may be a worthwhile tradeoff in some matchups.

Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries**: While Iron Bundle's special bulk is pitiful and a Resistance Berry won't save it from a very strong special attack, its physical bulk is surprisingly decent and Resist Berries could be run to let Iron Bundle survive an attack it otherwise wouldn't.

**Damage-boosting items**: Usually outclassed by Choice Specs, but Life Orb/Mystic Water/Never-Melt Ice separate with commas instead can all be used to increase Iron Bundle's damage output without locking it into any one move.

Tera
========
Iron Bundle is generally Tera banned in Draft. If allowed to Terastalize Terastallize, it makes excellent use of Tera Water, and uses Tera Water far more than any other type. Tera Water removes Iron Bundle's weakness to Stealth Rock, powers up the damage of its STAB Water moves, and gives Iron Bundle access to Water-type Tera Blast, a 100% accurate strong Water-type attack.

Draft Strategy
========
Iron Bundle's inconsistent Water STAB leads to it being used far more as an offensive Ice-type rather than an offensive Water-type. To be consistent with Iron Bundle, it should be drafted on a team that does not rely on Iron Bundle landing Hydro Pump.

**Strong physical wallbreaker**: When Iron Bundle forces switches from the opponent and uses Flip Turn on the switch, the incoming Pokemon will most often be a specially defensive wall. This makes strong physical attackers great partners for Iron Bundle, as they can break these specially defensive walls.

**Other pivots**: Iron Bundle's tendency to click Flip Turn makes it a great fit for teams that can utilize a VoltTurn playstyle. More Pokemon with pivot moves like U-turn that can also force switches work great with Iron Bundle. A more specific strategy that Iron Bundle teams will often look for is Chilly Reception support from Slowking or Galarian Slowking. They provide a slow pivot to help get Iron Bundle onto the field, the Snow from Chilly Reception increases Iron Bundle's already good Defense, and gives it access to 100% accurate Blizzard.

**Hazard control**: Iron Bundle is fine with running Heavy-Duty Boots, but it appreciates hazard control support from its teammates so that using a different item like Choice Specs isn't as risky. Some examples of good hazard control options are Iron Treads and Cyclizar. would like a mention of good hazard setters as well, most techs for bundle are vulnerable to hazards

Checks and Counters
========
**Assault Vest Pokemon**: Iron Bundle's Special Attack is good, but not absurdly so. When paired with an Assault Vest, many Pokemon with decent special bulk can withstand multiple attacks from Iron Bundle, provided that they aren't weak to Iron Bundle's STAB moves. Iron Bundle will have to find support from its teammates to break through these Pokemon, or deal with slowly wearing down the Assault Vest wall throughout the game.

**Yache Berry Water-types**: Water-type Pokemon can use Yache Berry to halve the damage from Freeze-Dry, which leaves them safely protected from all of Iron Bundle's attacks thanks to their natural resistances to Water- and Ice-types. This tech can be scouted for, but Iron Bundle alone has no counterplay aside from using Freeze-Dry to consume the Yache Berry. would make this more general, a larger pool of pokemon weak to water or ice can do this

**Entry hazards**: As previously mentioned, Iron Bundle is weak to Stealth Rock, but it is also vulnerable to all other entry hazards. It doesn't appreciate Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Sticky Web, as they all severely limit what Iron Bundle wants to accomplish during a match. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Iron Bundle ignore hazards, but this still gives information to the opponent. A common strategy vs Iron Bundle teams is to set up hazards as quickly as possible, so when Iron Bundle comes onto the field its item can be confirmed as "Heavy-Duty Boots" or "not Heavy-Duty Boots." say this in fewer words, this feels like fluff that can be cut down This can be a very important distinction for the opponent, since a Choice Specs Iron Bundle deals significantly more damage than a Heavy-Duty Boots Iron Bundle.

can mention scarfers and select priority moves as counterplay

[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/

Grammar checked by:
Click to expand...
 
1/1 GP Team done
add remove comment

[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 2 onwards

**Price range**: 16-17 points

**Overview**: Iron Bundle has almost everything one could want in an offensive Pokemon; it has a good base 124 Special Attack stat, it has a virtually unresisted STAB combination in the form of Water-type move + Freeze-Dry, and its base 136 Speed stat allows it to outpace almost the entire unboosted metagame. It even has solid physical bulk, which allows it to comfortably survive most common priority attacks. However, Iron Bundle has one fatal flaw: its only viable offensive Water-type attack is the not completely accurate Hydro Pump, an 80% accurate move. As a result, Iron Bundle is an inherently inconsistent Pokemon. It can be incredibly strong and overwhelming at times, but its unreliability makes it unappealing to many drafts (rc) and leaves it most often used as an enabler for its teammates.


[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Offensive pivot**: Iron Bundle's threatening offenses combined with its Speed tier allows it to force many switches, as not many Pokemon can comfortably switch into an Iron Bundle that's threatening to click use Hydro Pump and or Freeze-Dry. Iron Bundle can exploit this by clicking using Flip Turn, taking advantage of the opponent's switches foes switching out and gaining momentum.

**Wallbreaker**: Of course, Iron Bundle can also just use its threatening offenses to break holes in the opponent's team. As it's usually paired with a Choice Specs or Special Attack Booster Energy, Iron Bundle's STAB moves are all it needs to do serious damage, and its Speed tier makes it difficult to revenge kill.

**Speed control**: Aside from a couple rare exceptions, Iron Bundle is the fastest Pokemon allowed in the format. In the vast majority of matchups, Iron Bundle will be the fastest Pokemon across both teams from either team. Therefore, with a Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy, Iron Bundle will outspeed nearly every +1 Speed Pokemon, so it can be used to offensively check many Speed-boosted threats. This set can also be used to sweep late-game when the opponent's team is weakened, as it is very difficult to revenge kill.

Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Hydro Pump, Freeze-Dry, Ice Beam

**Setup moves**: Agility, Substitute

**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Encore, Taunt

**Coverage**: Bye bye!

Niche Moves
========
**U-turn**: U-turn is usually chosen over Flip Turn against teams that have Water-immune Pokemon like Ogerpon-W or Vaporeon.

**Blizzard**: When paired with Snow snow support, Blizzard can be used to give Iron Bundle a reliable high Base Power Ice-type attack.

Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots is used on Iron Bundle's offensive pivots pivot sets so it can avoid taking entry hazard damage when switching in and out of battle.

**Booster Energy**: Special Attack and Speed Booster Energy are both viable (rc) and are alternate options to the Choice items. Both give Iron Bundle the flexibility to switch up its moves, but they only work the first time Iron Bundle is sent out into battle, which may be a worthwhile tradeoff in some matchups.

**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs are is used to maximize Iron Bundle's damage output and break holes in the opponent's team.

**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf is mainly used if Speed control of Iron Bundle needs to outpace other Speed-boosted threats is needed.

Niche Items
========
**Resistance Berries Berry**: While Iron Bundle's special bulk is pitiful and a resistance Berry won't save it from a very strong special attack, its physical bulk is surprisingly decent and Resist resistance Berries could be run used to let Iron Bundle survive an attack it otherwise wouldn't.

**Damage-boosting items**: Usually These are usually outclassed by Choice Specs, but Life Orb, Mystic Water, and Never-Melt Ice can all be used to increase Iron Bundle's damage output without locking it into any one move.

Tera
========
Iron Bundle is generally Tera-banned (ah) in Draft. If allowed to Terastallize, it makes excellent use of Tera Water (rc) and uses Tera Water far more than any other type. Tera Water removes Iron Bundle's weakness to Stealth Rock, powers up the damage of its Water-type STAB Water moves, and gives Iron Bundle access to Water-type Tera Blast Water, a 100% accurate strong Water-type attack which is more accurate and preferred to Hydro Pump in these situations. (ap) note: instead of reciting dex info, i made this go a step further; we can workshop on discord if you want it to be changed

Draft Strategy
========
Iron Bundle's inconsistent Water-type STAB move leads to it being used far more as an offensive Ice-type rather than an offensive Water-type. To be consistent with Iron Bundle, it should be drafted on a team that does not rely on Iron Bundle landing Hydro Pump.

**Strong physical wallbreaker**: When Iron Bundle forces switches from the opponent foes to switch out and uses Flip Turn on the switch, the incoming Pokemon will most often be a specially defensive wall. This makes strong physical attackers great partners for Iron Bundle, as they can break these specially defensive walls.

**Other pivots**: Iron Bundle's tendency to click use Flip Turn makes it a great fit for teams that can utilize a VoltTurn playstyle. More Pokemon with pivot moves like U-turn that can also force switches work great with Iron Bundle. A more specific strategy that Iron Bundle teams will often look for is Chilly Reception support from Slowking or Galarian Slowking. They provide a slow pivot to help get Iron Bundle onto the field, the Snow snow from Chilly Reception increases Iron Bundle's already good Defense, and gives it access to 100% accurate Blizzard allows it to use Blizzard as its Ice-type STAB move. kept the reference w/o reciting dex info; leaving defense boost since it had some added context

**Entry hazard control removal**: Iron Bundle is fine with running Heavy-Duty Boots, but it appreciates hazard control support from its teammates so that using a different item like Choice Specs isn't as risky. Some examples of good hazard control options are Iron Treads and Cyclizar.

Checks and Counters
========
**Assault Vest Pokemon**: Iron Bundle's Special Attack is good (rc) but not absurdly so. When paired with an Assault Vest, many Pokemon with decent special bulk can withstand multiple attacks from Iron Bundle, provided that they aren't weak to Iron Bundle's STAB moves. Iron Bundle will have to find support from its teammates to break through these Pokemon (rc) or deal with slowly wearing down the Assault Vest wall throughout the game battle. This can be accomplished through entry hazards, since Assault Vest users are left vulnerable to hazards' chip damage from hazards.

**Resistance Berry lures**: Iron Bundle's lack of coverage moves makes it easy for a foe to use Passho Berry or Yache Berry to survive a super effective hit from Iron Bundle. Notably, Water-type Pokemon can use Yache Berry to halve the damage from Freeze-Dry, which leaves them safely protected from all of Iron Bundle's attacks thanks to their natural resistances to Water- and Ice-types Ice-type attacks. Resistance Berries can be scouted for, but Iron Bundle alone has no counterplay aside from attacking the opponent foe to consume the resistance Berry.

**Entry hazards**: As previously mentioned, Iron Bundle is weak to Stealth Rock, but it is also vulnerable to all other entry hazards. It doesn't appreciate Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Sticky Web, as they all severely limit what Iron Bundle wants to accomplish during a match. Heavy-Duty Boots lets Iron Bundle ignore hazards, but this still gives information to the opponent. A common strategy vs Iron Bundle teams is to set up hazards as quickly as possible, so when Iron Bundle comes onto the field its item can be confirmed as "Heavy-Duty Boots" or "not Heavy-Duty Boots." having Heavy-Duty Boots or not. This can be a very important distinction for the opponent, since a Choice Specs Iron Bundle deals significantly more damage than a Heavy-Duty Boots Iron Bundle.

**Choice Scarf users**: Most teams won't have a way to naturally outspeed Iron Bundle, so they make use of Choice Scarf to outspeed and revenge kill non-Choice Scarf or Speed Booster Energy Iron Bundle sets.

[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top