[OVERVIEW]
Altaria's Mega Evolution gifts it with several notable improvements, ranging from stat boosts to a strong typing in Dragon / Fairy and a fantastic ability in Pixilate. Its well-rounded stats and access to a plethora of utility options like Dragon Dance, Heal Bell, Defog, and Fire Blast among others make Mega Altaria an incredibly versatile Pokemon that can run a variety of sets viably and fit on all playstyles. Due to its fantastic defensive typing, Mega Altaria offers teams a strong answer to threats like Hydreigon, Kommo-o, and Crawdaunt, often no matter what set it opts to use itself. However, Mega Evolving in a timely manner is crucial for Altaria to fulfill these defensive responsibilities. Additionally, while its stats are well-distributed, Mega Altaria is ultimately held back by its unspectacular attacking and Speed stats. Its initial lack of formidable damage output leads to struggles against bulky foes such as Sylveon, defensive Primarina, and Mega Aggron, while its mediocre Speed leaves it easily revenge killed by threats like Nidoking, Nihilego, and Cobalion. Also, while Altaria loses its Stealth Rock weakness upon Mega Evolution, it becomes susceptible to all other entry hazards. This combines with its lack of passive recovery to make Mega Altaria easily worn down, often leading to a constant need to sacrifice momentum by using Roost.
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Return
move 3: Earthquake / Refresh
move 4: Roost
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Adamant
evs: 72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake provides nice coverage alongside Return, nailing Pokemon that resist the latter in Fire-, Poison-, and Steel-types that otherwise fare well against Mega Altaria. Alternatively, Refresh vastly improves Mega Altaria's one-on-one matchup versus status-reliant bulky foes such as Rotom-H, Empoleon, and Alomomola, though the lack of additional coverage hurts it against foes like Doublade and Choice Specs Volcanion. Roost keeps Mega Altaria healthy, allowing it to set up multiple times and serve as a solid offensive check to Pokemon like Hydreigon, Krookodile, and Infernape.
Set Details
========
184 Speed EVs let Mega Altaria outrun threats such as Adamant Bisharp and Timid Primarina, as well as faster foes like Starmie, Latias, and Azelf after a Dragon Dance boost. Prior to Mega Evolution, Natural Cure allows Altaria to pivot into status moves like Toxic and Spore and heal itself upon switching out. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature is a viable alternative at the cost of raw power, allowing Mega Altaria to always outspeed Bisharp and Volcanion, as well as Mega Manectric at +1 Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Evolve as soon as possible if Mega Altaria's defensive typing is needed to handle threats such as Hydreigon and Kommo-o. As common checks like Mega Aggron, Mega Steelix, and Choice Band Scizor lack recovery, it is often beneficial to throw out attacks early on, especially in combination with entry hazards, as they can be softened or eventually removed for a sweep late-game. Use Dragon Dance when Mega Altaria's checks have been weakened to the point where a sweep is possible; otherwise, it often results in a large loss of momentum. If running Refresh, Mega Altaria can comfortably set up on bulky status-reliant foes like Rotom-H and Alomomola, while Earthquake variants are heavily annoyed by their Toxic damage and should thus avoid such situations. Otherwise, Mega Altaria can set up fairly easily in front of foes like Hydreigon, Chesnaught, and Zeraora, which often struggle to meaningfully threaten it. As this Mega Altaria set heavily invests into its offensive capabilities, avoid switching it directly into strong neutral attacks like Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge and Latias's Psychic. While it is generally preferred to Mega Evolve as soon as possible, at times regular Altaria's defensive typing, specifically its Ground immunity, can come into play and possibly present Altaria with setup opportunities against Pokemon like Krookodile and Hippowdon.
Team Options
========
Offensive Dragon Dance Mega Altaria fits best on offensive and balanced teams that appreciate its sweeping capabilities in combination with its formidable defensive utility. Due to Steel-types being Mega Altaria's most common checks, Fire-type wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Moltres and Volcanion make for fantastic partners, punching holes for a potential sweep late-game. Similarly, Rotom-H can punish Steel-types and handle another formidable Mega Altaria check in opposing Moltres, as well as use Volt Switch to get Mega Altaria into favorable positions against Pokemon like Hydreigon and Kommo-o. Reliable Stealth Rock setters like Empoleon, Nihilego, and Krookodile also fit nicely with it, wearing down Mega Altaria's checks over time in combination with its attacking moves. Chesnaught's Spikes are also heavily appreciated, helping Mega Altaria outlast grounded checks like Doublade, Scizor, and Mega Aggron. Additionally, Chesnaught takes pressure off Mega Altaria in checking Pokemon such as Zeraora and Krookodile. Steel-types such as Scizor, Doublade, and the aforementioned Empoleon share great defensive synergy with Mega Altaria, covering all of its weaknesses in exchange for Mega Altaria handling most of theirs. Entry hazard removal is heavily appreciated from Pokemon like Gligar and Tentacruel, helping prevent Mega Altaria from being worn down quickly.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Body Slam / Return
move 2: Heal Bell / Defog
move 3: Roost
move 4: Flamethrower / Earthquake / Defog
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Relaxed / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pixilate-boosted Body Slam provides a consistent Fairy-type STAB move, potentially crippling foes with paralysis. Return is an alternative STAB option that offers more power, though it is generally less useful than Body Slam due to the defensive focus of this set. Heal Bell cures Mega Altaria and its teammates of any status conditions, helping to damper the effectiveness of opposing Tentacruel and Toxic Rotom-H. Defog lets Mega Altaria clear entry hazards for itself and the rest of the team, maximizing their longevity. Roost keeps Mega Altaria healthy over the course of the match, letting it more reliably perform its role as a defensive staple, entry hazard remover, or cleric. Flamethrower most notably allows Mega Altaria to punish Scizor, tanking any one hit from it at full health to deal huge damage in return. Alternatively, Earthquake provides better overall coverage alongside Body Slam, hitting Pokemon like Empoleon, Tentacruel, and Nihilego for respectable damage.
Set Details
========
252 Defense EVs alongside a Relaxed or Impish nature give Mega Altaria's the best one-on-one matchup possible against physical attackers like Crawdaunt, Krookodile, and Kommo-o. Additionally, its bulk investment allows Mega Altaria to tank any one hit from Choice Band Scizor and nail it with Flamethrower in return. Natural Cure lets Altaria switch into status moves like Toxic and Spore and heal itself upon pivoting back out.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Evolve Altaria as soon as possible if it is necessary to handle foes such as Hydreigon and Kommo-o. Mega Altaria also makes for a fantastic switch-in to other threats like Krookodile, Infernape, and Crawdaunt, so take advantage of Roost to keep Mega Altaria at adequate amounts of health to handle such foes. Use Heal Bell to cure teammates of status ailments that neuter their longevity. Mega Altaria is capable of stomaching Scizor's Bullet Punch if necessary to KO in return with Flamethrower, although it is best to avoid such situations if Mega Altaria is needed to adequately check other foes. At times it is advantageous to not Mega Evolve immediately, as regular Altaria's Flying typing can aid its one-on-one matchup against foes like Hippowdon, Swampert, and Krookodile, and Natural Cure can heal it of any status conditions upon switching out.
Team Options
========
Bulky Mega Altaria fits best on defensively inclined teams that take advantage of its great typing and support options. Status-vulnerable walls such as Alomomola and Slowbro make for natural partners, appreciating the Heal Bell support from Mega Altaria. Blissey does a fantastic job of covering huge threats to Mega Altaria like Nidoking, Moltres, and Nihilego, while Mega Altaria can handle Fighting-types such as Infernape and Kommo-o and potentially lure Scizor in return. Other entry hazard removers like Gligar and Tentacruel sometimes alleviate Mega Altaria of the need to run Defog itself, freeing it up to support the team in other ways. Gligar also offers a formidable check to Terrakion, while Tentacruel covers Cobalion, two Fighting-types capable of muscling past Mega Altaria. Steel-types such as Doublade and Bronzong resist all of Mega Altaria's weaknesses, making them outstanding partners defensively.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Return / Body Slam
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Roost
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 160 Atk / 4 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Body Slam is a slightly weaker alternative to Return, offering a 30% chance of paralyzing foes in exchange. Earthquake nails Pokemon like Empoleon, Tentacruel, and Nihilego that otherwise fear little from Mega Altaria. Fire Blast allows Mega Altaria to effectively threaten Scizor and Rocky Helmet Amoonguss while hitting other Steel-types like Doublade and Mega Steelix harder than Earthquake. Roost lets Mega Altaria keep itself at high amounts of HP throughout a match and act as a more effective check to what it is needed to handle.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP investment allows Mega Altaria to better serve as a solid check to threats like Infernape, Krookodile, Crawdaunt, and Kommo-o. 4 Defense EVs in combination with its HP investment let Mega Altaria always survive one Bullet Punch from Choice Band Scizor at full health, allowing it to OHKO with Fire Blast in return if necessary. 96 Speed EVs guarantee that Mega Altaria outruns Modest Choice Specs Primarina, a foe that would take advantage of it for free attacks no matter its health otherwise. The rest is dumped into Attack with an Adamant nature to maximize the damage output of Earthquake and Mega Altaria's STAB move of choice, at the cost of reducing that of Fire Blast, which secures the OHKO on most Scizor regardless of the power drop. Natural Cure allows Altaria to cure itself of status conditions upon switching out prior to Mega Evolution.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Evolve as soon as possible if Mega Altaria is necessary to handle big threats like Hydreigon, Kommo-o, and Crawdaunt. Mega Altaria can offensively check Infernape and the aforementioned foes well due to its bulk and defensive typing, but it must use Roost to remain at high enough amounts of HP to handle them consistently, often resulting in losses of momentum. Answers to Dragon Dance Mega Altaria such as Amoonguss and Steel-types make for common initial switch-ins to it, meaning Fire Blast is often a great move to use prior to revealing Mega Altaria's set. Mega Altaria is capable of stomaching one hit from any Scizor set in order to KO in return with Fire Blast, but it is often at the cost of Mega Altaria's future defensive capabilities, so decide accordingly when it is necessary to do so.
Team Options
========
Mixed attacking Mega Altaria fits best on bulky offensive or balance teams, mainly due to its fantastic defensive capabilities and ability to deal respectable damage itself. Moltres and Toxic Rotom-H present the biggest threats to this Mega Altaria variant, meaning reliable Stealth Rock setters like Nihilego, Rhyperior, and Empoleon are essential. Nihilego and Rhyperior also double down as strong answers to the aforementioned foes. Scizor is a fantastic partner, covering Mega Altaria's weaknesses and getting it into favorable positions with U-turn. Fire-types like Moltres, Volcanion, and Rotom-H handle common Mega Altaria answers like Steel-types and Amoonguss, making them natural teammates. Setup sweepers like Agility Moltres, Nasty Plot Infernape, and Swords Dance Scizor appreciate Mega Altaria's ability to weaken or remove their answers such as Empoleon, Tentacruel, and Doublade, respectively. Additional Fighting-type answers such as Amoonguss, Gligar, and Tentacruel are appreciated, taking pressure off Mega Altaria in handling them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Refresh Dragon Dance Mega Altaria can viably run sizable amounts of bulk investment, though the decreased initial power drop makes it more passive than it would prefer prior to accumulating multiple boosts. Hyper Voice makes for a decent STAB option on the support set due to it ignoring the Attack drop from burns, though it makes Mega Altaria worse off against Calm Mind Latias and Soundproof Kommo-o. Facade is an option on the Dragon Dance set to take better advantage of status conditions, more specifically potential Scald burns, but its initially decreased power can make it hard to justify.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Scizor, Mega Aggron, Mega Steelix, and Doublade all pose threats to Mega Altaria with their STAB moves. While Mega Altaria can hit them all for super effective damage with Fire Blast and Earthquake, only Scizor is OHKOed, but it also threatens Mega Altaria with priority Bullet Punch.
**Ground-immune Fire-types**: Rotom-H and Moltres resist all of Mega Altaria's attacking moves and threaten it with Toxic and Hurricane, respectively, though Refresh Dragon Dance Mega Altaria sets up on the former with ease.
**Bulky Fairy-types**: Sylveon, Florges, and Primarina can survive any unboosted hit from Mega Altaria, hitting it for super effective damage in return.
**Poison-types**: Offensive Poison-types like Nidoking, Nihilego, and Mega Beedrill outspeed and punish Mega Altaria, though they may have a hard time coming into it safely. Mega Beedrill also notably outruns Mega Altaria even after a Dragon Dance boost. Bulky Poison-types such as Amoonguss and Tentacruel can pivot in more easily, threatening it with their Spore and Sludge Bomb.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Pak, 245869]]
- Quality checked by: [[vivalospride, 151509], [Nuked, 382658], [Hilomilo, 313384]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Rabia, 336073]]
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