[OVERVIEW]
* While Red Orb Groudon may seem like a superior Fire-type wallbreaker due to its greater power, Mega Blaziken has fewer concerns about dealing with Flash Fire Steel-types without making it difficult to viably imposterproof. In addition, Mega Blaziken differentiates itself from Red Orb Groudon with a freedom to choose an item and an ability. This allows Mega Blaziken to be a wallbreaker that capitalizes on the ubiquity of Steel-types in Balanced Hackmons while punishing Pokemon that resist Fire with Choice Band and Tinted Lens.
* However, Mega Blaziken suffers from the prominence of the -ate users and inability to take on most faster Pokemon.
* Mega Blaziken is also defensively checked by other physically defensive threats like Zygarde-C and Mega Slowbro, as well as other Pokemon like Flash Fire Aegislash.
* Although Mega Blaziken can throw a wrench in a matchup against its checks with a room to customize two of its moves, its lack of defensive presence, vulnerability against other wallbreakers like Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Mega Gengar, and heavier reliance on prediction combine to make Mega Blaziken an inconsistent wallbreaker that needs many conditions fulfilled to be effective against slower teams and does little against offensive teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: V-create
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Ice Hammer / Trick
item: Choice Band
ability: Tinted Lens / Mold Breaker
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* V-create's damage output when factoring in Mega Blaziken's high base Attack stat and Choice Band is very formidable. Even foes that resist V-create, such as Giratina and Zygarde-C are 2HKOed due to Tinted Lens.
* Close Combat is the secondary STAB move that enables Mega Blaziken to threaten Dark-types like Mega Tyranitar and Mega Gyarados, as well as Flash Fire Steel-types.
* U-turn enables Mega Blaziken to take advantage of predicted switches and generate momentum, retaining its usefulness when a switch-in is present.
* Ice Hammer has the highest damage output against Zygarde-C. Ice Hammer’s importance comes from it nearly OHKOing Prankster Zygarde-C, which can PP stall V-create when at full health. Variants using Fur Coat also struggle to switch into a Choice Band-boosted Ice Hammer.
* Trick can alternatively used to cripple a check by giving them Choice Band, but this significantly hinders Mega Blaziken's wallbreaking prowess and there is one chance for Trick to be successful.
* Sunsteel Strike can be used to bypass Sturdy Shedinja as well as the rare Fur Coat Mega Audino that has a high chance to avoid 2HKO from V-create, but the move doesn't hold too much usefulness outside of this.
* Pursuit can be used to in tandem remove Sturdy Shedinja from play. It can also come in handy when weakening Prankster Aegislash and Regenvest Solgaleo and Necrozma-DM.
Set Details
========
* An Adamant nature is typically preferred for Mega Blaziken to have as much power as possible and guarantee OHKO on Mega Rayquaza with V-create. However, Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Primal Kyogre and Xerneas so that Mega Blaziken can attack then first, though a slight prior damage is required to OHKO the latter. Jolly nature also allows Mega Blaziken to at worst Speed tie with Regigigas.
* Choice Band and Tinted Lens combine to make Blaziken a physical attacker with high raw power and an effective punisher of Pokemon that resists its attack, thus narrowing options for its defensive counterplay.
* Mold Breaker is a viable alternative to bypass Sturdy Shedinja without relying on less viable Sunsteel Strike and bypass Mold Breaker, but Tinted Lens is generally preferred against common Fire-type checks like Giratina.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Blaziken can threaten a large pool of Pokemon with a firepower great enough to 2HKO common walls like Giratina lacking Fur Coat and STAB moves that will obliterate Steel-types. To fully take advantage of Mega Blaziken's wallbreaking prowess, bring it safely against Pokemon like Registeel or Mega Gyarados that it can easily OHKO. This will be important as Mega Blaziken will be too frail to handle retaliation if it fails to outright OHKO or 2HKO a foeon switch, especially with the lowered bulk from the use of V-create.
* Depending on the opposing team's structure, Mega Blaziken's ideal level of aggression may vary. Balanced and frailer teams will struggle handling this set, but slower and bulkier teams will at worst have an effective pivot or a reliable check to this set. Conserve V-create's PP if the game is going to take long enough where Mega Blaziken's wallbreaking capability will be needed for a long time, and take advantage of U-turn early game to scout a reactive switch-in to Mega Blaziken and potentially identify whether a wall has Fur Coat or not.
* Even if Mega Blaziken is in a matchup where it can threaten a lot of foes, be attentive about the whole sequence of the game. Mega Blaziken's lower Speed compared to faster threats like Mega Rayquaza and Mega Mewtwo Y, lackluster defensive typing, and a poor bulk will mean that it will almost always lean on hit-and-run style and will need its defensive partners to be healthy to be on a ground where its loss of momentum won't burden the team too much.
* If there is a strong check like Fur Coat Mega Slowbro present on the other team, consider using Mega Blaziken to lure them and take advantage of them with different teammates after U-turn. Repeated behavior like this can potentially lead an opponent to having a false sense of security about Mega Blaziken being overly cautious about losing momentum, and an opportunity to net a surprise burst damage or cripple a wall with Trick will eventually arise.
Team Options
========
* -ate users, particularly Mega Diancie, has an excellent synergy with Mega Blaziken. Mega Blaziken can use U-turn to bring Mega Diancie against ideal targets it can prey on, such as Giratina, Zygarde, and Fur Coat Mega Slowbro. -ate users also serve as an offensive countermeasure against faster foes like Mega Rayquaza or Mega Mewtwo Y that can take advantage of Mega Blaziken after getting a safe switch-in.
* Offensive Poison Heal user of any kind can have Mega Blaziken handle their checks. Regigigas massively appreciates Mega Blaziken putting a serious dent on Giratina or outright running over it with some prior damage, and Primal Kyogre and Xerneas appreciate Mega Blaziken threatening practically every Unaware and Regenvest users. These Pokemon typically have superior matchup against Imposter, which Mega Blaziken cannot hold down alone but can wear down to a considerable degree.
* Steels-types like Registeel and Celesteela are good checks to -ate users and Triage Mega Rayquaza that will proceed to threaten Mega Blaziken after it makes an attack. Some of them can even use Prankster in tandem with Destiny Bond to remain as a safety insurance against a deadly sweeper from opposing team that their team cannot effectively cover due to the team's offensive nature with the employment of Mega Blaziken.
* Dark-types like Mega Tyranitar, Mega Gyarados, and Yveltal, whether running offensive or defensive variant, can effectively threaten Flash Fire Aegislash and pressure Mega Slowbro. These Pokemon can also weaken Giratina beforehand so that Mega Blaziken can have better odds to OHKO it on switch, completely denying the potential attempt to make a trade with Prankster-boosted Destiny Bond or scout a move that Mega Blaziken locks itself into if running a Regenvest set. These Dark-types can also check Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Gengar quite effectively.
* Bulky Pokemon like Giratina, Zygarde-C, and Mega Slowbro can imposterproof Mega Blaziken depending on its moveset and viably justify a move to remove entry hazards, which will otherwise shorten Mega Blaziken's longevity.
* Imposter Chansey is handy with scouting defensive Pokemon's ability, potentially identifying Flash Fire, Fur Coat, and Prankster users to ease Mega Blaziken's breakthrough.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A set using Contrary and V-create / Superpower / Draco Meteor / Ice Hammer, Taunt, or Spore can catch foes like Fur Coat Giratina and Slowbro offguard, but this set is difficult to viably imposterproof and protect from priority users.
* Choice Scarf set can surprise Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Mega Gengar, but this also greatly hinders Mega Blaziken's wallbreaking ability.
* Knock Off hits Flash Fire Aegislash, removes Eviolite from Imposter, and does sizeable damage to Giratina and Mega Slowbro, but its coverage is generally lackluster.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fur Coat users**: Mega Blaziken's raw power with Choice Band is quite short of breaking through physically defensive walls further reinforcing their durability with the use of Fur Coat. Fur Coat Giratina, Zygarde-C, and Mega Slowbro are examples that can avoid 2HKO from Mega Blaziken and force hesitation from Mega Blaziken about the use of its limited V-create with their presence. However, Mega Blaziken has a chance to bypass Zygarde-C with Ice Hammer, as it will net 2HKO after a slight prior damage. The correct use of U-turn and Trick can also reverse the situation against these Pokemon.
**Priority**: -ate users and Triage Mega Rayquaza can very easily dispose of Mega Blaziken due to their superior typing and Mega Blaziken's frailty that can be further worsened by the use of V-create and Close Combat. Note that Kyurem-B needs a slight prior damage to take out Mega Blaziken with a combination of Refrigerate-boosted Fake Out and Extreme Speed, and just about every offensive check that was mentioned is OHKOed if they switch into V-create.
**Flash Fire Aegislash**: Flash Fire Aegislash possess immunity to Mega Blaziken's STAB moves and takes little damage from other attacks.
**Sturdy Shedinja**: Mega Blaziken typically cannot afford to viably carry moves that can be used to defeat Sturdy Shedinja without using Sunsteel Strike or running a Mold Breaker set.
**Faster Foes**: Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Gengar can threaten out or revenge kill Mega Blaziken due to their superior Speed.
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