[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Lycanroc-D carves itself a niche in the format as one of the most threatening Pokemon to switch in to. Carrying a STAB-boosted Stone Edge, strong coverage such as Close Combat that gains a boost from Tough Claws, and a wide array of other coverage attacks to hit most foes for super effective damage, it can be incredibly deadly as both a wallbreaker and a cleaner. However, its drawbacks are numerous, ranging from virtually zero role compression to incredibly poor bulk as well as a reliance on damage-boosting items making it prone to hazards. It can often be a momentum sink, especially if it makes the wrong prediction or relies on Choice items. It also finds itself prone to being OHKO'd by other faster Pokemon and Choice Scarf users. For these reasons, it's far from easy to fit into drafts as it requires a lot of specific support but, it can be deadly to deal with under ideal circumstances.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: When paired with a damage-boosting item, Lycanroc-D turns into an incredibly hard threat to switch into. The combination of Stone Edge and Close Combat, in conjunction with its diverse movepool mean that very few defensive pieces want to switch in, with even fewer offensive Pokemon being able to take a hit in the first place. This set can also occasionally fit Stealth Rock as it's able to safely set them when it forces the opponent to switch out.
**Setup Sweeper**: Thanks to the move Swords Dance and its signature move Accelerock, Lycanroc-D can turn itself into a threatening setup sweeper. Being able to break through almost all of its usual defensive counterplay with even stronger attacks, while also being able to punish faster threats, setup Lycanroc-D can end games on the spot if positioned correctly.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Stone Edge, Accelerock, Rock Slide, Rock Blast
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Taunt, Roar, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Close Combat, Crunch, Drill Run, Fire Fang, Iron Head, Outrage, Play Rough, Psychic Fangs, Sucker Punch, Throat Chop, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Endeavor**: Lycanroc-D can be used as sacrificial lead with Focus Sash + Stealth Rock. On these sets, it can use Endeavor to bring the opponent down to 1HP, allowing a teammate to comfortably revenge it.
**Reversal**: Usually found on Swords Dance sets with Focus Sash, Reversal is a stronger alternative to Close Combat that can pick up KOs on even the bulkiest of defensive walls. It's hard to justify though as it makes Lycanroc-D even more vulnerable to priority and is also reliant on the opponent knocking it down to 1 HP.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting items**: Lycanroc-D can effectively utilize any damage-boosting item to help enhance its wallbreaking and cleaning ability. From Choice Band, to Life Orb, to Expert Belt, Lycanroc-D will always appreciate the boost to its damage output.
**Focus Sash**: Typically paired with Swords Dance, Focus Sash can allow Lycanroc-D a safe opportunity to set up and try to sweep. It must be paired with strong hazard removal to be able to do this effectively.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: In matchups where Accelerock/Sucker Punch are not enough to revenge kill, Choice Scarf can allow Lycanroc-D to outspeed most offensive threats.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: If Lycanroc-D does not need the power boost to wallbreak, Heavy-Duty Boots help give it some longevity to try be effective across the entire duration of the battle.
Tera
========
While Lycanroc-D does benefit massively from being a Tera Captain, it should rarely be considered as an option since is typically outclassed by higher-priced Tera Captains. If you do decide to make it a Tera Captain, Tera Fighting is generally the best since it boosts the already boosted Close Combat, but it also benefits Tera Fairy and Steel to boost Play Rough and Iron Head, respectively. It can also benefit from Tera Ice against Gliscor and Landorus-T to help muscle past them.
Draft Strategy
========
Lycanroc-D finds itself fitting best onto two distinct styles of teams, hyper offense where it can work as a strong enabler for its teammates, or balance where it can be used more effectively as a breaker.
**Entry Hazard Control**: Strong hazard setters and removers are preferable with Lycanroc-D as it wants hazards up on the opponent's side to help with its wallbreaking/cleaning, as well as wanting them off of its side to maximize its number of entry opportunities throughout the game. Solid options for setters can include Ting-Lu, Hisuian Samurott, and Deoxys-D; removers range from Rapid Spin users such as Cyclizar to Defoggers such as Scizor. Some Pokemon are able to do both reliably, such as Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Donphan.
**Bulky Pivots**: Lycanroc-D appreciates safe entry onto the field from slower, bulky pivots that are able to take hits for it reliably. Corviknight, Alomomola, and Mandibuzz can function well in this role.
**Special Offense**: As it is solely a physically offensive threat, it pairs well with special wallbreakers and cleaners, to allow them to break one another's checks in tandem. Some examples include Darkrai, Gholdengo, and Chi-Yu.
Checks and Counters
========
**Priority**: Due to its frailty, Lycanroc-D can easily be revenged by most priority moves such as Bullet Punch Scizor, Vacuum Wave Keldeo, and Aqua Jet Hisuian Samurott.
**Faster Pokemon**: Lycanroc-D often finds itself vulnerable to faster Pokemon, especially in the early game, since its forced out by them and will tend to lose the momentum of the game for a few turns because of it. Examples include Iron Valiant, Sneasler, and Roaring Moon.
**Chip Damage**: The combination of hazards and Rocky Helmet can punish Lycanroc-D incredibly hard, even more so if it holds a Life Orb. They put it in range of weaker priority moves, as well as limit its chances to enter the field.
**Bulky Ground- / Water-types**: Lycanroc-D often finds itself forced out by bulky Ground- and Water-types that can comfortably take its Close Combat and Stone Edge. Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Great Tusk, and Alomomola can all be a nuisance for it.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Lycanroc-D carves itself a niche in the format as one of the most threatening Pokemon to switch in to. Carrying a STAB-boosted Stone Edge, strong coverage such as Close Combat that gains a boost from Tough Claws, and a wide array of other coverage attacks to hit most foes for super effective damage, it can be incredibly deadly as both a wallbreaker and a cleaner. However, its drawbacks are numerous, ranging from virtually zero role compression to incredibly poor bulk as well as a reliance on damage-boosting items making it prone to hazards. It can often be a momentum sink, especially if it makes the wrong prediction or relies on Choice items. It also finds itself prone to being OHKO'd by other faster Pokemon and Choice Scarf users. For these reasons, it's far from easy to fit into drafts as it requires a lot of specific support but, it can be deadly to deal with under ideal circumstances.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: When paired with a damage-boosting item, Lycanroc-D turns into an incredibly hard threat to switch into. The combination of Stone Edge and Close Combat, in conjunction with its diverse movepool mean that very few defensive pieces want to switch in, with even fewer offensive Pokemon being able to take a hit in the first place. This set can also occasionally fit Stealth Rock as it's able to safely set them when it forces the opponent to switch out.
**Setup Sweeper**: Thanks to the move Swords Dance and its signature move Accelerock, Lycanroc-D can turn itself into a threatening setup sweeper. Being able to break through almost all of its usual defensive counterplay with even stronger attacks, while also being able to punish faster threats, setup Lycanroc-D can end games on the spot if positioned correctly.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Stone Edge, Accelerock, Rock Slide, Rock Blast
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Taunt, Roar, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Close Combat, Crunch, Drill Run, Fire Fang, Iron Head, Outrage, Play Rough, Psychic Fangs, Sucker Punch, Throat Chop, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Endeavor**: Lycanroc-D can be used as sacrificial lead with Focus Sash + Stealth Rock. On these sets, it can use Endeavor to bring the opponent down to 1HP, allowing a teammate to comfortably revenge it.
**Reversal**: Usually found on Swords Dance sets with Focus Sash, Reversal is a stronger alternative to Close Combat that can pick up KOs on even the bulkiest of defensive walls. It's hard to justify though as it makes Lycanroc-D even more vulnerable to priority and is also reliant on the opponent knocking it down to 1 HP.
Common Items
========
**Damage-boosting items**: Lycanroc-D can effectively utilize any damage-boosting item to help enhance its wallbreaking and cleaning ability. From Choice Band, to Life Orb, to Expert Belt, Lycanroc-D will always appreciate the boost to its damage output.
**Focus Sash**: Typically paired with Swords Dance, Focus Sash can allow Lycanroc-D a safe opportunity to set up and try to sweep. It must be paired with strong hazard removal to be able to do this effectively.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: In matchups where Accelerock/Sucker Punch are not enough to revenge kill, Choice Scarf can allow Lycanroc-D to outspeed most offensive threats.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: If Lycanroc-D does not need the power boost to wallbreak, Heavy-Duty Boots help give it some longevity to try be effective across the entire duration of the battle.
Tera
========
While Lycanroc-D does benefit massively from being a Tera Captain, it should rarely be considered as an option since is typically outclassed by higher-priced Tera Captains. If you do decide to make it a Tera Captain, Tera Fighting is generally the best since it boosts the already boosted Close Combat, but it also benefits Tera Fairy and Steel to boost Play Rough and Iron Head, respectively. It can also benefit from Tera Ice against Gliscor and Landorus-T to help muscle past them.
Draft Strategy
========
Lycanroc-D finds itself fitting best onto two distinct styles of teams, hyper offense where it can work as a strong enabler for its teammates, or balance where it can be used more effectively as a breaker.
**Entry Hazard Control**: Strong hazard setters and removers are preferable with Lycanroc-D as it wants hazards up on the opponent's side to help with its wallbreaking/cleaning, as well as wanting them off of its side to maximize its number of entry opportunities throughout the game. Solid options for setters can include Ting-Lu, Hisuian Samurott, and Deoxys-D; removers range from Rapid Spin users such as Cyclizar to Defoggers such as Scizor. Some Pokemon are able to do both reliably, such as Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Donphan.
**Bulky Pivots**: Lycanroc-D appreciates safe entry onto the field from slower, bulky pivots that are able to take hits for it reliably. Corviknight, Alomomola, and Mandibuzz can function well in this role.
**Special Offense**: As it is solely a physically offensive threat, it pairs well with special wallbreakers and cleaners, to allow them to break one another's checks in tandem. Some examples include Darkrai, Gholdengo, and Chi-Yu.
Checks and Counters
========
**Priority**: Due to its frailty, Lycanroc-D can easily be revenged by most priority moves such as Bullet Punch Scizor, Vacuum Wave Keldeo, and Aqua Jet Hisuian Samurott.
**Faster Pokemon**: Lycanroc-D often finds itself vulnerable to faster Pokemon, especially in the early game, since its forced out by them and will tend to lose the momentum of the game for a few turns because of it. Examples include Iron Valiant, Sneasler, and Roaring Moon.
**Chip Damage**: The combination of hazards and Rocky Helmet can punish Lycanroc-D incredibly hard, even more so if it holds a Life Orb. They put it in range of weaker priority moves, as well as limit its chances to enter the field.
**Bulky Ground- / Water-types**: Lycanroc-D often finds itself forced out by bulky Ground- and Water-types that can comfortably take its Close Combat and Stone Edge. Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Great Tusk, and Alomomola can all be a nuisance for it.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000
Last edited:
