[SET]
name: Desolate Land
move 1: Weather Ball
move 2: Roost
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Defog / Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Desolate Land
nature: Modest
evs: 104 HP / 252 SpA / 152 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Desolate Land Moltres is a strong special pivot due to a powerful STAB Weather Ball, U-Turn, and above-average bulk that allows it to switch into several prevalent attackers such as Primordial Sea Barraskewda and Inteleon. Weather Ball is the attacking move of choice, dealing significant damage to much of the metagame. Weather Ball is preferred over Fire Blast or Flamethrower, as it can still deal damage against opposing Primordial Sea Pokemon such as Zapdos and Barraskewda. Roost gives Moltres a consistent form of recovery while U-turn lets Moltres pivot out versus switch-ins such as Garchomp, Nihilego, and Blissey. Defog makes Moltres a consistent form of entry hazard removal, while Toxic punishes common switch-ins such as Garchomp and Tapu Fini with status. The EV spread and nature make Moltres faster than maximum Speed Modest Heatran, with the rest of the EVs put into HP to maximize Moltres's natural bulk.
Moltres is best paired with a strong, physical attacker that threatens its most common checks such as Toxapex, Garchomp, and Flash Fire Corviknight; Tapu Koko and Choice Band Zygarde-10% heavily pressure all of these checks. In return, Moltres can beat faster breakers that both invite in, such as Primordial Sea Barraskewda and Inteleon. Moltres appreciates consistent entry hazard support to wear down troublesome checks such as Garchomp. Ferrothorn, Skarmory, Dauntless Shield Mew, and Stealth Rock Garchomp are good partners, as they can easily set up their own entry hazards. Ferrothorn can also check Primordial Sea Water-types and Tapu Koko, while Skarmory and Mew check Terrakion and Stone Edge Landorus-T. Swords Dance Stealth Rock Garchomp is a notable partner, as it can easily pressure Magic Guard Blissey and Chansey, which would otherwise hard wall Moltres. Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Galarian Zapdos are able to pressure opposing Ferrothorn, which can prevent Moltres from switching in due to fear of Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Mixed Magic Guard
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Naive / Rash
evs: 28 Atk / 228 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Moltres bypasses common special and physical walls such as Blissey, RegenVest Swampert, Dauntless Shield Mew, and Mandibuzz. Fire Blast is Moltres's primary STAB move, 2HKOing Dauntless Shield walls such as Mandibuzz and Mew. Brave Bird is a more consistent STAB move, 2HKOing RegenVest Swampert and Blissey after a layer of Spikes, and 2HKOing RegenVest Landorus-T after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn lets Moltres pivot out of walls such as Toxapex and Nihilego, while Roost gives Moltres a consistent form of recovery. The EV spread maximizes Moltres's damage with Fire Blast, and a Naive nature is preferred to outspeed Modest Tapu Lele, although a Rash nature better maximizes damage output.
Magic Guard Moltres is best paired with Pokemon that can break bulky walls that it struggles with, such as Magic Guard Chansey and Flash Fire Corviknight. Tapu Lele, is a great partner as it threatens the aforementioned Chansey and Flash Fire Corviknight, as well as common defensive Pokemon like Nihilego and Toxapex. Physical attackers such as Zygarde-10% and Garchomp appreciate Moltres's ability to beat Dauntless Shield Mew and Mandibuzz, and in return they can pressure Regenerator Swampert and Tapu Fini for Moltres. As this set foregoes Weather Ball for Fire Blast, Pokemon that can beat Primordial Sea Water-types and Zapdos, such as Blissey, are necessary partners. Moltres should be paired with entry hazard setters that can secure the aforementioned 2HKOs for it, such as Ferrothorn and Blissey. As Moltres is still slow compared to other offensive Pokemon, revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T pair well with it to check Pokemon such as Tapu Koko that threaten Moltres. Slow pivots like Rocky Helmet Swampert also pair well with it and shore up Moltres's lack of defensive utility.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A physical Magic Guard set can be run with Flare Blitz, Brave Bird, U-Turn, and Roost. However, this set is easily stopped by physical walls such as Dauntless Shield Mew and Mandibuzz. Will-O-Wisp can be run over Toxic on Desolate Land sets to more harshly punish Garchomp. Volt Absorb with and EV spread of 252 HP / 136 Def / 124 SpD and a Bold nature can wall Pixilate Tapu Koko, but is otherwise outclassed by the main sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Primordial Sea**: Primordial Sea Zapdos, Primarina, and Volcanion can switch into Moltres's Weather Ball and threaten it back with their super-effective moves. Zapdos can effectively switch into any of Magic Guard Moltres's attacks, although it cannot comfortably switch into Weather Ball if it is chipped.
**Item Removal**: Desolate Land and Magic Guard sets must fear Knock Off users such as Toxapex and Mew, along with Trick and Switcheroo users such as Mew and Dhelmise. Desolate Land sets require their Heavy-Duty Boots to be an effective pivot and entry hazards remover, while Magic Guard sets desire their Life Orb to increase their damage output.
**Flash Fire**: Flash Fire users such as Corviknight can prevent Moltres from freely using its Fire-type STAB moves, greatly decreasing its effectiveness.
**Fire-resistant Walls**: Pokemon such as Nihilego, Garchomp, Kommo-o, and Toxapex can switch into Moltres's Fire-type moves and force it to switch out.
**Zygarde-Complete**: Zygarde-Complete effectively stops both Moltres sets and forces it out with Thousand Arrows.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[beauts, 484270]]
- Quality checked by: [[avyrie, 476520], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
name: Desolate Land
move 1: Weather Ball
move 2: Roost
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Defog / Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Desolate Land
nature: Modest
evs: 104 HP / 252 SpA / 152 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Desolate Land Moltres is a strong special pivot due to a powerful STAB Weather Ball, U-Turn, and above-average bulk that allows it to switch into several prevalent attackers such as Primordial Sea Barraskewda and Inteleon. Weather Ball is the attacking move of choice, dealing significant damage to much of the metagame. Weather Ball is preferred over Fire Blast or Flamethrower, as it can still deal damage against opposing Primordial Sea Pokemon such as Zapdos and Barraskewda. Roost gives Moltres a consistent form of recovery while U-turn lets Moltres pivot out versus switch-ins such as Garchomp, Nihilego, and Blissey. Defog makes Moltres a consistent form of entry hazard removal, while Toxic punishes common switch-ins such as Garchomp and Tapu Fini with status. The EV spread and nature make Moltres faster than maximum Speed Modest Heatran, with the rest of the EVs put into HP to maximize Moltres's natural bulk.
Moltres is best paired with a strong, physical attacker that threatens its most common checks such as Toxapex, Garchomp, and Flash Fire Corviknight; Tapu Koko and Choice Band Zygarde-10% heavily pressure all of these checks. In return, Moltres can beat faster breakers that both invite in, such as Primordial Sea Barraskewda and Inteleon. Moltres appreciates consistent entry hazard support to wear down troublesome checks such as Garchomp. Ferrothorn, Skarmory, Dauntless Shield Mew, and Stealth Rock Garchomp are good partners, as they can easily set up their own entry hazards. Ferrothorn can also check Primordial Sea Water-types and Tapu Koko, while Skarmory and Mew check Terrakion and Stone Edge Landorus-T. Swords Dance Stealth Rock Garchomp is a notable partner, as it can easily pressure Magic Guard Blissey and Chansey, which would otherwise hard wall Moltres. Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Galarian Zapdos are able to pressure opposing Ferrothorn, which can prevent Moltres from switching in due to fear of Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Mixed Magic Guard
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Brave Bird
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Roost
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Naive / Rash
evs: 28 Atk / 228 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Moltres bypasses common special and physical walls such as Blissey, RegenVest Swampert, Dauntless Shield Mew, and Mandibuzz. Fire Blast is Moltres's primary STAB move, 2HKOing Dauntless Shield walls such as Mandibuzz and Mew. Brave Bird is a more consistent STAB move, 2HKOing RegenVest Swampert and Blissey after a layer of Spikes, and 2HKOing RegenVest Landorus-T after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn lets Moltres pivot out of walls such as Toxapex and Nihilego, while Roost gives Moltres a consistent form of recovery. The EV spread maximizes Moltres's damage with Fire Blast, and a Naive nature is preferred to outspeed Modest Tapu Lele, although a Rash nature better maximizes damage output.
Magic Guard Moltres is best paired with Pokemon that can break bulky walls that it struggles with, such as Magic Guard Chansey and Flash Fire Corviknight. Tapu Lele, is a great partner as it threatens the aforementioned Chansey and Flash Fire Corviknight, as well as common defensive Pokemon like Nihilego and Toxapex. Physical attackers such as Zygarde-10% and Garchomp appreciate Moltres's ability to beat Dauntless Shield Mew and Mandibuzz, and in return they can pressure Regenerator Swampert and Tapu Fini for Moltres. As this set foregoes Weather Ball for Fire Blast, Pokemon that can beat Primordial Sea Water-types and Zapdos, such as Blissey, are necessary partners. Moltres should be paired with entry hazard setters that can secure the aforementioned 2HKOs for it, such as Ferrothorn and Blissey. As Moltres is still slow compared to other offensive Pokemon, revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T pair well with it to check Pokemon such as Tapu Koko that threaten Moltres. Slow pivots like Rocky Helmet Swampert also pair well with it and shore up Moltres's lack of defensive utility.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A physical Magic Guard set can be run with Flare Blitz, Brave Bird, U-Turn, and Roost. However, this set is easily stopped by physical walls such as Dauntless Shield Mew and Mandibuzz. Will-O-Wisp can be run over Toxic on Desolate Land sets to more harshly punish Garchomp. Volt Absorb with and EV spread of 252 HP / 136 Def / 124 SpD and a Bold nature can wall Pixilate Tapu Koko, but is otherwise outclassed by the main sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Primordial Sea**: Primordial Sea Zapdos, Primarina, and Volcanion can switch into Moltres's Weather Ball and threaten it back with their super-effective moves. Zapdos can effectively switch into any of Magic Guard Moltres's attacks, although it cannot comfortably switch into Weather Ball if it is chipped.
**Item Removal**: Desolate Land and Magic Guard sets must fear Knock Off users such as Toxapex and Mew, along with Trick and Switcheroo users such as Mew and Dhelmise. Desolate Land sets require their Heavy-Duty Boots to be an effective pivot and entry hazards remover, while Magic Guard sets desire their Life Orb to increase their damage output.
**Flash Fire**: Flash Fire users such as Corviknight can prevent Moltres from freely using its Fire-type STAB moves, greatly decreasing its effectiveness.
**Fire-resistant Walls**: Pokemon such as Nihilego, Garchomp, Kommo-o, and Toxapex can switch into Moltres's Fire-type moves and force it to switch out.
**Zygarde-Complete**: Zygarde-Complete effectively stops both Moltres sets and forces it out with Thousand Arrows.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[beauts, 484270]]
- Quality checked by: [[avyrie, 476520], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
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