[OVERVIEW]
An amazing Attack stat, decent Speed, and Steel-type STAB make Kartana a fearsome Pokemon in the Balanced Hackmons metagame. Kartana's Sunsteel Strike along with Steelworker heavily limits possible switch-ins, hitting even Pokemon that resist it hard such as Registeel, Aegislash, and Primal Kyogre. It notably 2HKOes Zygarde-C and Giratina, two of the metagame's premier walls, while also bypassing Fur Coat. In addition, Sunsteel Strike OHKOes slower foes weak to it such as Xerneas, Mega Audino, and Shedinja. STAB on Sunsteel Strike as well as a decent stat spread lets Kartana also function as a Belly Drum sweeper if required due to Sunsteel Strike ignoring Fur Coat and Unaware. Its Grass typing offensively complements its Steel typing by letting it hit Water-types such as Mega Gyarados and Primal Kyogre super effectively. In addition, it makes Kartana immune to Spore, which, combined with its ability to tank common utility moves such as Core Enforcer, Revelation Dance, and Spectral Thief, grants it some degree of defensive utility. Defensively, its Steel typing as well as a decent Defense stat aids it in sweeping and wallbreaking by allowing it to take a variety of priority moves better, such as Mega Diancie's and Kyurem-B's Extreme Speed. Kartana's Speed tier also ensures it outspeeds almost every defensive Pokemon in the metagame, heavily enhancing its matchup against balance and stall teams.
Unfortunately, its Speed tier still leaves it outsped by common offensive Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Gengar. In addition, while switch-ins are rare, Kartana finds it difficult to OHKO defensive Pokemon that aren't weak to its attacks, such as Zygarde-C, Aegislash, and Giratina. Due to this, Kartana often relies on slow pivoting to be brought into targets that it can force out so it can wallbreak, as most of the targets it beats have ways to force it out if Kartana tries to switch in directly. Kartana also suffers from being one-dimensional, with its sets being largely limited to Belly Drum and Steelworker. Also, Kartana's abysmal special bulk, moderate physical bulk, and low Speed compared to other offensive Pokemon mean it will have difficulty against offensive teams.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Power Whip / Bolt Strike / Thousand Arrows
move 3: V-create / Close Combat / Precipice Blades
move 4: Bullet Punch / Trick / U-turn / V-create
item: Choice Band
ability: Steelworker
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sunsteel Strike 2HKOes defensive Pokemon such as Giratina and Zygarde-C and OHKOes many other Pokemon such as Mega Tyranitar, Mega Audino, and Fur Coat Chansey after Stealth Rock. It bypasses Fur Coat on Giratina and Zygarde-C and Sturdy, allowing Kartana to use it more liberally against teams built around Shedinja. Power Whip is the Grass-type STAB move of choice to hit Water-types that may attempt to switch into Kartana, OHKOing Primal Kyogre and Mega Gyarados and OHKOing Mega Slowbro after Stealth Rock. In addition, Power Whip 2HKOes Primal Groudon, which would otherwise comfortably switch into Kartana. Bolt Strike can be run over Power Whip, as, while it requires Stealth Rock support and prior damage to OHKO Mega Slowbro, it has the benefit of OHKOing Celesteela, which can especially be useful against Flash Fire variants. Thousand Arrows can be run to cover every Steel-type Pokemon in the tier besides Ferrothorn, which gets worn down anyway. However, it is weak and won't do much damage to neutral targets. V-create is used to OHKO Steel-types such as Registeel, Aegislash, and Magearna. It also has the benefit of OHKOing any Imposter Pokemon that attempts to switch into Kartana, but it can force Kartana out due to the stat drops. Close Combat can be run to 2HKO Flash Fire Steel-types such as Registeel and Ferrothorn, but it does not 2HKO Imposter Chansey switch-ins and cannot hit Aegislash. Precipice Blades can be used to OHKO Aegislash after minimal prior damage but does not 2HKO Ferrothorn or Imposter Chansey switch-ins and cannot hit Celesteela. Bullet Punch can be used to OHKO Mega Diancie and pick off weakened offensive foes that may attempt to stay in and KO Kartana, such as Mega Gengar and Mega Mewtwo Y. Trick can be used to ease prediction while potentially crippling a defensive Pokemon or a specially oriented Pokemon. However, Kartana loses an incredible amount of power if it loses Choice Band, failing to 2HKO Giratina and Zygarde-C. U-turn can be used to pivot on switches Kartana may force, such as against Mega Audino, Xerneas, and Mega Gyarados. However, Kartana will generally 2HKO the switch-in with Sunsteel Strike or the correct coverage move anyway, so U-turn is not often needed.
Set Details
========
Steelworker boosts Kartana's Sunsteel Strike and Bullet Punch to incredible power levels, allowing Kartana to 2HKO Zygarde-C and Giratina with the former while also helping Kartana pick off weakened offensive Pokemon more easily. Choice Band allows Kartana to 2HKO Zygarde-C and Giratina in conjunction with Steelworker as well as OHKO Mega Slowbro after Stealth Rock, OHKO Celesteela with Bolt Strike and OHKO Imposter Pokemon that may want to switch into it with V-create. An Adamant nature is used to ensure a 2HKO on Zygarde-C while improving Kartana's ability to wallbreak. The Speed boost from a Jolly nature is not required, as it is only useful for beating Mega Kangaskhan, a threat Kartana can take on regardless.
Usage Tips
========
Use slow pivoting to bring Kartana in on targets it can force out such as Kyurem-B, Shedinja, and Xerneas. Don't use Sunsteel Strike liberally unless it is safe to do so, as it only has 8 PP and is vulnerable to being PP stalled out. Be sure to scout for Prankster Pokemon such as Registeel, Giratina, and Zygarde-C. Physically bulky and Steel-resistant Prankster Pokemon can PP stall Kartana's Sunsteel Strike if they come on it, meaning you may need to predict their switch correctly to get the most out of Kartana. Alternatively, make sure you deal with any Prankster Pokemon beforehand so Kartana can freely wallbreak. Keep in mind Kartana is not made to take on offensive Pokemon, so staying in on one is unwise, especially if it's specially offensive, as Kartana's Special Defense is poor. Make sure to scout for status moves, as Kartana needs both its decent Speed stat and its colossal Attack stat to function well and being burned or paralyzed can give it difficulty. Being burned in particular can make Kartana useless as a wallbreaker, as it no longer attains many of the OHKOs and 2HKOs it wishes to get. Use Trick when you would like to lock a defensive Pokemon into a move or when you wish to be able to switch moves.
Team Options
========
Mega Mewtwo Y appreciates Kartana's ability to break down the opponent's defensive Pokemon. In return, with its Contrary and Sheer Force sets, Mega Mewtwo Y has a good matchup against many of the offensive Pokemon in the tier that may threaten Kartana. A solid defensive core with checks to fast Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza, Mega Diancie, and Mega Mewtwo X can be very useful, as Kartana is forced out by them. Flash Fire Steel-types, such as Celesteela and Registeel, can help wall Mega Diancie and Mega Rayquaza while also being able to Imposter-proof Kartana and provide slow pivoting. Bulky Psychic-types such as Mega Slowbro and Cresselia can also help check Mega Mewtwo X for Kartana. Poison Heal Pokemon, such as Regigigas, Primal Kyogre, and Xerneas are appreciated due to their ability to scout status moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Glare. They are also able to switch in on Knock Off, which is very beneficial, as Kartana requires Choice Band to be a threatening wallbreaker. In addition, they can force switches and put opposing Pokemon to sleep, granting Kartana more opportunities to come in. In return, Kartana can break walls down for them, which helps them sweep. Imposter Chansey is appreciated due to its ability to scout for Fur Coat on Pokemon that resist Sunsteel Strike, such as Mega Slowbro. This can help determine if Kartana can use a coverage move or if it needs to use Sunsteel Strike. Imposter Chansey can also scout for Flash Fire Steel-types if Kartana opts to run V-create, as well as for common utility moves that Kartana may dislike having to take such as Knock Off, Will-O-Wisp, and Glare, and it has a good matchup against the faster Pokemon that threaten Kartana. Choice Scarf Imposter Chansey in particular can reliably beat many offensive threats, even after setup. In return, Kartana can weaken opposing Pokemon meant to Imposter-proof another threat on the team, which can help facilitate an Imposter sweep. If Kartana opts to run Trick, putting a Z-Move on the Pokemon meant to Imposter-proof Kartana is a good idea, protecting them against opposing Trick. Bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Primal Kyogre, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Gyarados can be used in order to switch into Fire-type Pokemon such as Mega Blaziken.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum Sweeper
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Sunsteel Strike
move 3: Close Combat / Sacred Fire
move 4: Power Whip / Bolt Strike
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Unburden
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Belly Drum is used to maximize Kartana's Attack while also putting it in range of Sitrus Berry, activating Unburden. Sunsteel Strike is Kartana's primary STAB move, bypassing Unaware and Fur Coat to help Kartana sweep. After Belly Drum, it OHKOes every Pokemon that does not resist it except for Zygarde-C 50% of the time. Close Combat is used to hit Steel-types, including Flash Fire ones, (AC) which Fire-type coverage can't hit. It also has the benefit of OHKOing Kartana's Imposter after a Belly Drum and Stealth Rock, ensuring that Imposter cannot pull off a reverse sweep. However, it misses covering Aegislash, which can potentially stop a sweep. Sacred Fire is used to hit non-Flash Fire Steel-types while still OHKOing Kartana's Imposter. However, Close Combat is generally better, and Sacred Fire should only be used if your team lacks ways of dealing with -ate users, as the defense drops from Close Combat make Kartana more susceptible to their Extreme Speed. Power Whip is used to guarantee an OHKO versus Primal Kyogre, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Gyarados. Bolt Strike can be used over Power Whip to OHKO Celesteela while OHKOing all of the aforementioned targets, especially Flash Fire Aegislash. However, if Kartana needs to attack prior to using Belly Drum, Bolt Strike sacrifices a crucial amount of power. In addition, after a Belly Drum, Close Combat OHKOes Celesteela anyway, so Bolt Strike should only be used when your team lacks Stealth Rock and Kartana is using Sacred Fire. Icicle Crash can be used to guarantee the OHKO on Zygarde-C, but Kartana heavily prefers being able to OHKO Mega Slowbro and OHKOes Zygarde-C with Sunsteel Strike after one layer of Spikes anyway. Horn Leech can be used over Power Whip to grant some sustainability as well as more reliable accuracy, but Power Whip's power is more useful so Kartana can break down more Pokemon before Belly Drum.
Set Details
========
Unburden allows Kartana to defeat Imposter Pokemon that attempt to transform into it, as it outspeeds even Choice Scarf variants after Unburden activates. Unburden also gives Kartana a better matchup against offensive Pokemon by making it more difficult to revenge kill. Sitrus Berry is the best item for Kartana on a Belly Drum set, as it activates after a Belly Drum and thus activates Unburden. An Adamant nature is used in order to help Kartana's offensive power, as Kartana outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame after Unburden activates regardless of nature. If Kartana elects to run Close Combat, running 124 Defense EVs is an option so that it doesn't need Stealth Rock to OHKO Imposter Chansey.
Usage Tips
========
Look for Prankster Pokemon, such as Registeel, Zygarde-C, and Giratina on the opponent's team and deal with them early on. If a Prankster Pokemon is not taken early on, it may neuter Kartana's ability to sweep. Make sure to deal with Flash Fire Aegislash prior to sweeping if you are not running Bolt Strike, as it can neuter Kartana's ability to sweep. Do your best to get entry hazards up prior to setting up with Kartana, as they help facilitate a sweep due to the extra damage being useful on targets such as Zygarde-C and Celesteela while also breaking Focus Sash. Try to make sure that your opponent's -ate Mega Rayquaza or Kyurem-Black either lack Fake Out or aren't Triage, in Mega Rayquaza's case. These are the only two ways the aforementioned Pokemon can stop a Kartana sweep, so it is important to deal with them beforehand. Try not to set up on slower Pokemon that have Spectral Thief or Core Enforcer. Spectral Thief can steal Kartana's boosts as it tries to set up, and it will be unable to set up again. Core Enforcer can suppress Unburden, allowing Imposter Pokemon to beat Kartana and allowing other offensive Pokemon to beat it. Kartana only has one chance to set up and sweep, so you should not click Belly Drum until you are sure that Kartana can secure a sweep. Bluffing Kartana's Choice Band set by coming in on Mega Sableye can grant Kartana a setup opportunity.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Mega Diancie, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Mewtwo X can eliminate Prankster Pokemon for Kartana and wear down potential defensive checks. Mega Diancie can also function as entry hazard support for Kartana, helping facilitate its sweep. Other Pokemon that provide entry hazard support include Zygarde-C, Ferrothorn, and Yveltal. Imposter can be useful to scout for Prankster Pokemon as well as Flash Fire Pokemon if Kartana has Sacred Fire. A backup Pokemon that Imposter-proofs Kartana after it is set up can be useful, in case Unburden is somehow removed or suppressed. Prankster Pokemon such as Giratina, Zygarde-C, and Aegislash will generally do the job. Pokemon that check -ate users such as Flash Fire Steel-types can be useful in order to cripple -ate users or slowly defeat them. Triage Mega Rayquaza can be used to pressure and defeat opposing Prankster Pokemon, helping Kartana sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Tinted Lens set with moves from the Steelworker set can be used to 2HKO Steel-types such as Registeel and Celesteela. However, Kartana then does not 2HKO Giratina and Zygarde-C, and the Steelworker set needs very little prior damage in order to 2HKO Steel-types anyway while also being able to use coverage. Iron Plate can be run over Choice Band on the Steelworker set in order to ease prediction while still being a threatening wallbreaker. If Iron Plate is run, you may want to put Stealth Rock or Spikes over U-turn, as Kartana forces out many Magic Bounce users with this set. However, it can no longer 2HKO Zygarde-C or OHKO Registeel or Ferrothorn nor can it OHKO Mega Slowbro or Celesteela after Stealth Rock. Tough Claws can be run over Steelworker to boost its coverage moves, since Kartana 2HKOes Zygarde-C with Power Whip and still 2HKOes Giratina with Sunsteel Strike. However, Sunsteel Strike is less risk free, and the drop in power for Sunsteel Strike means Fur Coat variants of Zygarde-C can now wall Kartana. Choice Scarf can be used on the Steelworker set to surprise offensive Pokemon that may try to revenge Kartana. However, you lose the power of Choice Band, meaning you struggle to break defensive Pokemon down.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Faster offensive threats such as Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza, Zekrom, and Mega Gengar can all outspeed Kartana and revenge kill it with their special attacks, or, in Mega Mewtwo X's case, its strong Close Combat. Zekrom can OHKO Kartana with Devastating Drake from its Adaptability set after very little prior damage, so Kartana must be wary of it. Zekrom can also use its bulk and typing to take Kartana's main attacks, set up on Kartana and force it out. However, these offensive threats must be wary of Belly Drum, as Kartana can then outspeed and OHKO all of them. They must also be wary of Bullet Punch, as Kartana can potentially revenge kill them with it.
**Prankster Users**: Prankster users such as Giratina, Aegislash, and Registeel can either use Destiny Bond to bring Kartana down, or they can use Haze to take away the boosts that Belly Drum gives.
**Physical Walls**: Giratina and Zygarde-C can both take a hit and potentially status Kartana with Will-O-Wisp or Glare or remove its item if they opt to run Knock Off. However, they must be wary of Belly Drum Kartana, as Kartana is likely no longer checked by any of them after it uses Belly Drum. They must also be wary of switching into Sunsteel Strike on the Steelworker set if they are not Prankster, as they will get 2HKOed.
**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon can take almost any hit Kartana has to offer and OHKO back with a Fire-type STAB move. However, Primal Groudon must be wary of Kartana's Belly Drum set. If Kartana gets a Belly Drum up, Power Whip can OHKO.
**Flash Fire Steel-types**: Flash Fire Steel-types such as Registeel, Aegislash, and Celesteela can check every Kartana set. Flash Fire Aegislash in particular functions as an exceptional check to Kartana, due to its immunity to Fighting-type coverage. However, they must be wary of the appropriate coverage, as well as Bolt Strike on the Unburden set, as that can OHKO all of the aforementioned Steel-types.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GL Volkner, 330455]]
- Quality checked by: [[ScarfWynaut, 221682], [Gurpreet Patel (Sent you a Friend Request), 233142], [Funbot28, 255984]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Electrolyte, 148071], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
An amazing Attack stat, decent Speed, and Steel-type STAB make Kartana a fearsome Pokemon in the Balanced Hackmons metagame. Kartana's Sunsteel Strike along with Steelworker heavily limits possible switch-ins, hitting even Pokemon that resist it hard such as Registeel, Aegislash, and Primal Kyogre. It notably 2HKOes Zygarde-C and Giratina, two of the metagame's premier walls, while also bypassing Fur Coat. In addition, Sunsteel Strike OHKOes slower foes weak to it such as Xerneas, Mega Audino, and Shedinja. STAB on Sunsteel Strike as well as a decent stat spread lets Kartana also function as a Belly Drum sweeper if required due to Sunsteel Strike ignoring Fur Coat and Unaware. Its Grass typing offensively complements its Steel typing by letting it hit Water-types such as Mega Gyarados and Primal Kyogre super effectively. In addition, it makes Kartana immune to Spore, which, combined with its ability to tank common utility moves such as Core Enforcer, Revelation Dance, and Spectral Thief, grants it some degree of defensive utility. Defensively, its Steel typing as well as a decent Defense stat aids it in sweeping and wallbreaking by allowing it to take a variety of priority moves better, such as Mega Diancie's and Kyurem-B's Extreme Speed. Kartana's Speed tier also ensures it outspeeds almost every defensive Pokemon in the metagame, heavily enhancing its matchup against balance and stall teams.
Unfortunately, its Speed tier still leaves it outsped by common offensive Pokemon such as Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Gengar. In addition, while switch-ins are rare, Kartana finds it difficult to OHKO defensive Pokemon that aren't weak to its attacks, such as Zygarde-C, Aegislash, and Giratina. Due to this, Kartana often relies on slow pivoting to be brought into targets that it can force out so it can wallbreak, as most of the targets it beats have ways to force it out if Kartana tries to switch in directly. Kartana also suffers from being one-dimensional, with its sets being largely limited to Belly Drum and Steelworker. Also, Kartana's abysmal special bulk, moderate physical bulk, and low Speed compared to other offensive Pokemon mean it will have difficulty against offensive teams.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Power Whip / Bolt Strike / Thousand Arrows
move 3: V-create / Close Combat / Precipice Blades
move 4: Bullet Punch / Trick / U-turn / V-create
item: Choice Band
ability: Steelworker
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sunsteel Strike 2HKOes defensive Pokemon such as Giratina and Zygarde-C and OHKOes many other Pokemon such as Mega Tyranitar, Mega Audino, and Fur Coat Chansey after Stealth Rock. It bypasses Fur Coat on Giratina and Zygarde-C and Sturdy, allowing Kartana to use it more liberally against teams built around Shedinja. Power Whip is the Grass-type STAB move of choice to hit Water-types that may attempt to switch into Kartana, OHKOing Primal Kyogre and Mega Gyarados and OHKOing Mega Slowbro after Stealth Rock. In addition, Power Whip 2HKOes Primal Groudon, which would otherwise comfortably switch into Kartana. Bolt Strike can be run over Power Whip, as, while it requires Stealth Rock support and prior damage to OHKO Mega Slowbro, it has the benefit of OHKOing Celesteela, which can especially be useful against Flash Fire variants. Thousand Arrows can be run to cover every Steel-type Pokemon in the tier besides Ferrothorn, which gets worn down anyway. However, it is weak and won't do much damage to neutral targets. V-create is used to OHKO Steel-types such as Registeel, Aegislash, and Magearna. It also has the benefit of OHKOing any Imposter Pokemon that attempts to switch into Kartana, but it can force Kartana out due to the stat drops. Close Combat can be run to 2HKO Flash Fire Steel-types such as Registeel and Ferrothorn, but it does not 2HKO Imposter Chansey switch-ins and cannot hit Aegislash. Precipice Blades can be used to OHKO Aegislash after minimal prior damage but does not 2HKO Ferrothorn or Imposter Chansey switch-ins and cannot hit Celesteela. Bullet Punch can be used to OHKO Mega Diancie and pick off weakened offensive foes that may attempt to stay in and KO Kartana, such as Mega Gengar and Mega Mewtwo Y. Trick can be used to ease prediction while potentially crippling a defensive Pokemon or a specially oriented Pokemon. However, Kartana loses an incredible amount of power if it loses Choice Band, failing to 2HKO Giratina and Zygarde-C. U-turn can be used to pivot on switches Kartana may force, such as against Mega Audino, Xerneas, and Mega Gyarados. However, Kartana will generally 2HKO the switch-in with Sunsteel Strike or the correct coverage move anyway, so U-turn is not often needed.
Set Details
========
Steelworker boosts Kartana's Sunsteel Strike and Bullet Punch to incredible power levels, allowing Kartana to 2HKO Zygarde-C and Giratina with the former while also helping Kartana pick off weakened offensive Pokemon more easily. Choice Band allows Kartana to 2HKO Zygarde-C and Giratina in conjunction with Steelworker as well as OHKO Mega Slowbro after Stealth Rock, OHKO Celesteela with Bolt Strike and OHKO Imposter Pokemon that may want to switch into it with V-create. An Adamant nature is used to ensure a 2HKO on Zygarde-C while improving Kartana's ability to wallbreak. The Speed boost from a Jolly nature is not required, as it is only useful for beating Mega Kangaskhan, a threat Kartana can take on regardless.
Usage Tips
========
Use slow pivoting to bring Kartana in on targets it can force out such as Kyurem-B, Shedinja, and Xerneas. Don't use Sunsteel Strike liberally unless it is safe to do so, as it only has 8 PP and is vulnerable to being PP stalled out. Be sure to scout for Prankster Pokemon such as Registeel, Giratina, and Zygarde-C. Physically bulky and Steel-resistant Prankster Pokemon can PP stall Kartana's Sunsteel Strike if they come on it, meaning you may need to predict their switch correctly to get the most out of Kartana. Alternatively, make sure you deal with any Prankster Pokemon beforehand so Kartana can freely wallbreak. Keep in mind Kartana is not made to take on offensive Pokemon, so staying in on one is unwise, especially if it's specially offensive, as Kartana's Special Defense is poor. Make sure to scout for status moves, as Kartana needs both its decent Speed stat and its colossal Attack stat to function well and being burned or paralyzed can give it difficulty. Being burned in particular can make Kartana useless as a wallbreaker, as it no longer attains many of the OHKOs and 2HKOs it wishes to get. Use Trick when you would like to lock a defensive Pokemon into a move or when you wish to be able to switch moves.
Team Options
========
Mega Mewtwo Y appreciates Kartana's ability to break down the opponent's defensive Pokemon. In return, with its Contrary and Sheer Force sets, Mega Mewtwo Y has a good matchup against many of the offensive Pokemon in the tier that may threaten Kartana. A solid defensive core with checks to fast Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza, Mega Diancie, and Mega Mewtwo X can be very useful, as Kartana is forced out by them. Flash Fire Steel-types, such as Celesteela and Registeel, can help wall Mega Diancie and Mega Rayquaza while also being able to Imposter-proof Kartana and provide slow pivoting. Bulky Psychic-types such as Mega Slowbro and Cresselia can also help check Mega Mewtwo X for Kartana. Poison Heal Pokemon, such as Regigigas, Primal Kyogre, and Xerneas are appreciated due to their ability to scout status moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Glare. They are also able to switch in on Knock Off, which is very beneficial, as Kartana requires Choice Band to be a threatening wallbreaker. In addition, they can force switches and put opposing Pokemon to sleep, granting Kartana more opportunities to come in. In return, Kartana can break walls down for them, which helps them sweep. Imposter Chansey is appreciated due to its ability to scout for Fur Coat on Pokemon that resist Sunsteel Strike, such as Mega Slowbro. This can help determine if Kartana can use a coverage move or if it needs to use Sunsteel Strike. Imposter Chansey can also scout for Flash Fire Steel-types if Kartana opts to run V-create, as well as for common utility moves that Kartana may dislike having to take such as Knock Off, Will-O-Wisp, and Glare, and it has a good matchup against the faster Pokemon that threaten Kartana. Choice Scarf Imposter Chansey in particular can reliably beat many offensive threats, even after setup. In return, Kartana can weaken opposing Pokemon meant to Imposter-proof another threat on the team, which can help facilitate an Imposter sweep. If Kartana opts to run Trick, putting a Z-Move on the Pokemon meant to Imposter-proof Kartana is a good idea, protecting them against opposing Trick. Bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Primal Kyogre, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Gyarados can be used in order to switch into Fire-type Pokemon such as Mega Blaziken.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum Sweeper
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Sunsteel Strike
move 3: Close Combat / Sacred Fire
move 4: Power Whip / Bolt Strike
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Unburden
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Belly Drum is used to maximize Kartana's Attack while also putting it in range of Sitrus Berry, activating Unburden. Sunsteel Strike is Kartana's primary STAB move, bypassing Unaware and Fur Coat to help Kartana sweep. After Belly Drum, it OHKOes every Pokemon that does not resist it except for Zygarde-C 50% of the time. Close Combat is used to hit Steel-types, including Flash Fire ones, (AC) which Fire-type coverage can't hit. It also has the benefit of OHKOing Kartana's Imposter after a Belly Drum and Stealth Rock, ensuring that Imposter cannot pull off a reverse sweep. However, it misses covering Aegislash, which can potentially stop a sweep. Sacred Fire is used to hit non-Flash Fire Steel-types while still OHKOing Kartana's Imposter. However, Close Combat is generally better, and Sacred Fire should only be used if your team lacks ways of dealing with -ate users, as the defense drops from Close Combat make Kartana more susceptible to their Extreme Speed. Power Whip is used to guarantee an OHKO versus Primal Kyogre, Mega Slowbro, and Mega Gyarados. Bolt Strike can be used over Power Whip to OHKO Celesteela while OHKOing all of the aforementioned targets, especially Flash Fire Aegislash. However, if Kartana needs to attack prior to using Belly Drum, Bolt Strike sacrifices a crucial amount of power. In addition, after a Belly Drum, Close Combat OHKOes Celesteela anyway, so Bolt Strike should only be used when your team lacks Stealth Rock and Kartana is using Sacred Fire. Icicle Crash can be used to guarantee the OHKO on Zygarde-C, but Kartana heavily prefers being able to OHKO Mega Slowbro and OHKOes Zygarde-C with Sunsteel Strike after one layer of Spikes anyway. Horn Leech can be used over Power Whip to grant some sustainability as well as more reliable accuracy, but Power Whip's power is more useful so Kartana can break down more Pokemon before Belly Drum.
Set Details
========
Unburden allows Kartana to defeat Imposter Pokemon that attempt to transform into it, as it outspeeds even Choice Scarf variants after Unburden activates. Unburden also gives Kartana a better matchup against offensive Pokemon by making it more difficult to revenge kill. Sitrus Berry is the best item for Kartana on a Belly Drum set, as it activates after a Belly Drum and thus activates Unburden. An Adamant nature is used in order to help Kartana's offensive power, as Kartana outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame after Unburden activates regardless of nature. If Kartana elects to run Close Combat, running 124 Defense EVs is an option so that it doesn't need Stealth Rock to OHKO Imposter Chansey.
Usage Tips
========
Look for Prankster Pokemon, such as Registeel, Zygarde-C, and Giratina on the opponent's team and deal with them early on. If a Prankster Pokemon is not taken early on, it may neuter Kartana's ability to sweep. Make sure to deal with Flash Fire Aegislash prior to sweeping if you are not running Bolt Strike, as it can neuter Kartana's ability to sweep. Do your best to get entry hazards up prior to setting up with Kartana, as they help facilitate a sweep due to the extra damage being useful on targets such as Zygarde-C and Celesteela while also breaking Focus Sash. Try to make sure that your opponent's -ate Mega Rayquaza or Kyurem-B
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Mega Diancie, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Mewtwo X can eliminate Prankster Pokemon for Kartana and wear down potential defensive checks. Mega Diancie can also function as entry hazard support for Kartana, helping facilitate its sweep. Other Pokemon that provide entry hazard support include Zygarde-C, Ferrothorn, and Yveltal. Imposter can be useful to scout for Prankster Pokemon as well as Flash Fire Pokemon if Kartana has Sacred Fire. A backup Pokemon that Imposter-proofs Kartana after it is set up can be useful, in case Unburden is somehow removed or suppressed. Prankster Pokemon such as Giratina, Zygarde-C, and Aegislash will generally do the job. Pokemon that check -ate users such as Flash Fire Steel-types can be useful in order to cripple -ate users or slowly defeat them. Triage Mega Rayquaza can be used to pressure and defeat opposing Prankster Pokemon, helping Kartana sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Tinted Lens set with moves from the Steelworker set can be used to 2HKO Steel-types such as Registeel and Celesteela. However, Kartana then does not 2HKO Giratina and Zygarde-C, and the Steelworker set needs very little prior damage in order to 2HKO Steel-types anyway while also being able to use coverage. Iron Plate can be run over Choice Band on the Steelworker set in order to ease prediction while still being a threatening wallbreaker. If Iron Plate is run, you may want to put Stealth Rock or Spikes over U-turn, as Kartana forces out many Magic Bounce users with this set. However, it can no longer 2HKO Zygarde-C or OHKO Registeel or Ferrothorn nor can it OHKO Mega Slowbro or Celesteela after Stealth Rock. Tough Claws can be run over Steelworker to boost its coverage moves, since Kartana 2HKOes Zygarde-C with Power Whip and still 2HKOes Giratina with Sunsteel Strike. However, Sunsteel Strike is less risk free, and the drop in power for Sunsteel Strike means Fur Coat variants of Zygarde-C can now wall Kartana. Choice Scarf can be used on the Steelworker set to surprise offensive Pokemon that may try to revenge Kartana. However, you lose the power of Choice Band, meaning you struggle to break defensive Pokemon down.
Checks and Counters
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**Faster Offensive Threats**: Faster offensive threats such as Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza, Zekrom, and Mega Gengar can all outspeed Kartana and revenge kill it with their special attacks, or, in Mega Mewtwo X's case, its strong Close Combat. Zekrom can OHKO Kartana with Devastating Drake from its Adaptability set after very little prior damage, so Kartana must be wary of it. Zekrom can also use its bulk and typing to take Kartana's main attacks, set up on Kartana and force it out. However, these offensive threats must be wary of Belly Drum, as Kartana can then outspeed and OHKO all of them. They must also be wary of Bullet Punch, as Kartana can potentially revenge kill them with it.
**Prankster Users**: Prankster users such as Giratina, Aegislash, and Registeel can either use Destiny Bond to bring Kartana down, or they can use Haze to take away the boosts that Belly Drum gives.
**Physical Walls**: Giratina and Zygarde-C can both take a hit and potentially status Kartana with Will-O-Wisp or Glare or remove its item if they opt to run Knock Off. However, they must be wary of Belly Drum Kartana, as Kartana is likely no longer checked by any of them after it uses Belly Drum. They must also be wary of switching into Sunsteel Strike on the Steelworker set if they are not Prankster, as they will get 2HKOed.
**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon can take almost any hit Kartana has to offer and OHKO back with a Fire-type STAB move. However, Primal Groudon must be wary of Kartana's Belly Drum set. If Kartana gets a Belly Drum up, Power Whip can OHKO.
**Flash Fire Steel-types**: Flash Fire Steel-types such as Registeel, Aegislash, and Celesteela can check every Kartana set. Flash Fire Aegislash in particular functions as an exceptional check to Kartana, due to its immunity to Fighting-type coverage. However, they must be wary of the appropriate coverage, as well as Bolt Strike on the Unburden set, as that can OHKO all of the aforementioned Steel-types.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[GL Volkner, 330455]]
- Quality checked by: [[ScarfWynaut, 221682], [Gurpreet Patel (Sent you a Friend Request), 233142], [Funbot28, 255984]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Electrolyte, 148071], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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