[OVERVIEW]
Moltres's Fire typing threatens major defensive staples like Amoonguss and Aegislash, and its Flying typing lets it hit common Fire-type answers, such as Keldeo and Kommo-o, super effectively. Defensively, it's a reliable switch-in to Fighting- and Steel-types like Buzzwole and Aegislash, and its immunity to Ground lets it pivot into foes like Mamoswine. It can also punish physical attackers like Krookodile and U-turn users like Scizor and Zarude due to Flame Body. Its option to run a more defensive Substitute + Toxic set gives it certain versatility too, dealing with conventional checks like Rhyperior, Rotom-W, and Rotom-H way better due to Toxic and PP stalling. However, Moltres's weakness to common offensive typings like Water and Electric hinders it defensively. Its crippling 4x weakness to Rock also leaves it extremely vulnerable to tier staples like Nihilego and Rhyperior, and foes like Krookodile and Zarude can circumvent their vulnerability to Moltres with Rock-type coverage. It also overly relies on its Heavy-Duty Boots and entry hazard removal to not be extremely crippled by Stealth Rock and Knock Off from foes like Scizor and Krookodile, and its Speed tier, while good, falls short of others like Krookodile and Thundurus-T.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: U-turn / Defog
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 88 HP / 168 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Flamethrower targets Grass- and Steel-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, Aegislash, and Celesteela. Fire Blast can be used to hit neutral targets like Mew and Hatterene, as well as the aforementioned Grass-types, just as hard as Hurricane but with better accuracy. It also OHKOes offensive Jirachi. Hurricane hits Pokemon that resist Fire like Keldeo, Kommo-o, Salamence, and Primarina either super effectively or quite hard neutrally. U-turn lets Moltres keep momentum on Pokemon like Rotom-W and Rhyperior. Defog can be used if Moltres's team can't afford other forms of entry hazard removal, but it has to be extremely careful not to lose its item to foes like Mew, especially if Mew is paired with Pokemon like Rhyperior and Nihilego. Roost gives Moltres longevity to keep threats like Jirachi and Zarude in check throughout the game, and it keeps Moltres healthy if its Heavy-Duty Boots is removed and Stealth Rock is up. Flame Body is chosen to scare away Pokemon such as Buzzwole, Jirachi, and Scizor from using contact moves due to a potential burn. 88 HP EVs let Moltres avoid the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat.
Bulky offense and balance teams appreciate Moltres pressuring Pokemon like Amoonguss, Kommo-o, and Buzzwole. Knock Off absorbers like Buzzwole and Amoonguss make excellent teammates. They're also secondary checks to Scizor and Zarude so Moltres isn't overwhelmed by them and doesn't have to constantly risk taking the former's Knock Off. Moltres can remove Steel-types such as Aegislash and Cobalion for them in return. Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth check Electric- and Water-types like Thundurus, Rotom-W, and Primarina for Moltres. Jungle Healing Zarude also checks Raikou and Rotom-W, and Choice Scarf variants can revenge kill them and others like Keldeo. In return, Moltres melts Steel-types like Aegislash and Celesteela. Water-types like Keldeo appreciate Moltres dealing with Grass-types like Amoonguss for them, and in return they can pressure Rock-types like Rhyperior for it. Pokemon such as Scizor, Rotom-W, and Zarude can form a pivoting core with U-turn Moltres, bringing it in against Grass-types like Tangrowth and Steel-types like Scizor, and it brings them in against foes such as Nihilego and Primarina. If Moltres foregoes Defog, entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Starmie can help it by keeping Stealth Rock off of the field, and they like Moltres threatening Tangrowth for them. Frail wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Primarina and Thundurus like Moltres's U-turn bringing them in safely against foes like Rhyperior and Salamence.
[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Mystical Fire
move 3: Roost
move 4: Toxic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 152 HP / 132 SpD / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute gives Moltres a decoy against moves like Rotom-W's Hydro Pump and Rhyperior's Stone Edge and lets it PP stall them. It also eases prediction when foes switch out and blocks status from Pokemon like Amoonguss and Aegislash. Mystical Fire hits Toxic-immune foes like Amoonguss and Steel-types like Scizor and Aegislash, and it weakens special attacks from switch-ins such as Primarina and Nihilego, letting teammates like Tangrowth and Aegislash come into the field more safely. For example, after Stealth Rock, Assault Vest Tangrowth is no longer 2HKOed by Choice Specs Primarina's Moonblast at -1. Toxic is Moltres's main way of harming foes like Rotom-W, Salamence, and Kommo-o. Pressure lets Moltres stall moves with low PP like Primarina's Hydro Pump and Buzzwole's Stone Edge. The given EV spread lets it avoid the 2HKO from +2 Life Orb Scizor's Bullet Punch after Stealth Rock damage from full health. It also minimizes the chance of the Rotom formes breaking Moltres's Substitute with Volt Switch while still avoiding the 2HKO from Zarude's Darkest Lariat. 224 Speed EVs let Moltres outspeed the Rotom formes and Buzzwole.
This set fits on balance and stall teams, where Moltres can slowly wear down checks like Rotom-H and Rhyperior with Toxic and PP stall others like Rotom-W and Buzzwole. Zarude and Amoonguss can pressure RestTalk Primarina, which limits Moltres from making progress throughout the game. Moltres in return deals with Grass-types that bother Zarude, like Amoonguss. Scizor, specially defensive Aegislash, and Choice Scarf Krookodile check Nihilego, a major roadblock to this set, and deal with Lycanroc-D. The former can also bring Moltres safely against Steel-types like Aegislash. Moltres is especially helpful for Aegislash, removing its main checks in Celesteela and specially defensive Scizor. Entry hazard removers like Salamence and Starmie make for great partners. The former likes Moltres crippling Primarina and Rhyperior, while the latter appreciates Moltres threatening Tangrowth and crippling Milotic and Quagsire. Chansey takes care of the special attackers Moltres can't handle, like Nihilego and Thundurus-T. On stall teams, Umbreon provides cleric support, easing off the pressure from Mew's Synchronize, especially because it can use Toxic and simply use Heal Bell right after. It also deals with Gyarados, and together they cover both Swords Dance Scizor variants: Umbreon deals with Knock Off and Moltres with U-turn. Quagsire walls Electric- and Rock-types like Thundurus-T and Lycanroc-D, and Amoonguss acts as a Knock Off absorber and secondary check to Keldeo and Primarina. They appreciate Moltres spreading Toxic and threatening Buzzwole and other physical attackers with Flame Body.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Agility set with Flamethrower, Hurricane, and Roost can act as a late-game cleaner, but finding opportunities to set up Agility can be hard, and Moltres still can't touch Rock-types like Nihilego. Scorching Sands over U-turn or Defog lets offensive Moltres lure in Nihilego and 2HKO it as well as punish switch-ins like Rhyperior with a burn, but it is very niche compared to its alternatives
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off and Stealth Rock**: Moltres's 4x weakness to Stealth Rock severely hampers its defensive utility, and losing its Heavy-Duty Boots compromises it for the rest of the game if its teammates can't keep Stealth Rock off of the field. It also has to wary of Pokemon it should have no trouble coming into, like Scizor and Tangrowth, due to their access to Knock Off.
**Rock-types**: Nihilego and Rhyperior wall Moltres extremely well, threaten it back with their Rock-type STAB moves, and can punish Defog attempts by putting Stealth Rock back on the field. Nihilego also has the added benefit of walling the Substitute + Toxic set. Lycanroc-D destroys Moltres with its Rock-type STAB attacks but has to be wary of Flame Body if using Accelerock.
**Water-types**: Primarina and Keldeo can switch into Moltres's Fire-type attacks and threaten it with their Water-type moves, but Keldeo has to be wary of Hurricane, and both hate taking Toxic. RestTalk Primarina, however, has a better matchup against it. Rotom-W doesn't care about any of Moltres's moves other than Toxic and threatens it with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump. It needs to be careful with Hydro Pump's PP if facing the Pressure set, though. Other Water-types like Barraskewda and Starmie are faster than Moltres and can threaten it out of the field, while Milotic and Gastrodon can easily take hits from it, though the former can't switch into Hurricane and the latter two dislike Toxic.
**Electric-types**: Rotom-H and Rotom-W check the offensive set well, but they can't keep the defensive set at bay for very long, as they are forced to take a Toxic to break the Substitute with Volt Switch. Both Thundurus formes can KO Moltres with Thunderbolt, while Raikou can pivot on it or set up a Substitute as it switches out.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Twilight, 344575], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Lumari, 232216]]
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