[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Frustration
move 4: Earthquake
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Adamant
evs: 88 HP / 180 Atk / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Dragon Dance turns Mega Altaria into a deadly sweeper. Substitute allows it to turn its checks into setup fodder by ignoring burn or Toxic attempts from the likes of Cofagrigus, Rotom-W, and Slowbro. Frustration allows Mega Altaria to threaten Pokemon like Keldeo, Latios, Latias, Mega Medicham, and Mega Lopunny super effectively. Finally, Earthquake busts through Fire- and Steel-types like Volcanion, Heatran, and Excadrill.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread ensures that Cofagrigus's Hex does not break Mega Altaria's Substitute in one hit while also letting it outspeed Weavile at +1. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Attack alongside an Adamant nature so that it can still hit as hard as possible. Natural Cure is Altaria's preferred pre-Mega ability, allowing it to act as a status sponge before Mega Evolving and preventing it from being crippled by status before setting up.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Altaria fills the role of a primary late-game cleaner while also additionally being able to function as an early-game wallbreaker. Mega Altaria should conserve as much HP as possible so that its chance at sweeping isn't ruined. Therefore, the best scenarios to bring it in are aggressive switches and after a teammate has fainted. It should not attempt a sweep if checks and counters such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur are still active; therefore, it is best to ensure they are removed or weakened before Mega Altaria can attempt to sweep late-game. If it is used early-game, it should be used to wallbreak for its teammates, as not many Pokemon aside from Mega Lopunny, Mega Alakazam, and Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill and Volcanion can outrun Mega Altaria at +1. However, Mega Altaria should be mindful of the presence of certain checks such as Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Talonflame, as they can take Frustration and Earthquake very easily and threaten it out with their STAB moves. The best setup opportunities for Mega Altaria are safe switch-ins and against defensive Pokemon that cannot break its Substitute easily such as Cofagrigus and Rotom-W. When Altaria should Mega Evolve depends on the current situation; delaying Mega Evolution has benefits such as keeping Natural Cure to switch into status from the likes of Rotom-W, Lava Plume Heatran, and Glare Serperior and setting up against Ground-types such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T locked into Earthquake. Unless Altaria needs to make use of Nature Cure and its Ground immunity, it should Mega Evolve immediately. Keep in mind that regular Altaria is vulnerable to Stealth Rock and is weak to Dragon-type moves before Mega Evolving. Once Altaria Mega Evolves, it removes the Stealth Rock weakness and greatly augments its typing, letting it set up against the likes of Latios and Dragonite.
Team Options
========
This set shines best on hyper offense teams. As a result, a dedicated lead such as Excadrill, Taunt Mew, Imprison Landorus-T, or Rocky Helmet Aerodactyl is helpful, as it can prevent entry hazards from being set up on the opening turn while setting up crucial hazards of their own. Serperior is a fantastic partner for Mega Altaria, providing great utility through dual screens, while preventing any setup attempts or hazards with Taunt or providing Glare support to cripple faster threats such as Mega Alakazam. Additionally, it can run Hidden Power Fire or Rock to lure one of Mega Altaria's checks such as Ferrothorn or Talonflame. Mega Altaria appreciates partners such as Volcarona, Manaphy, and Bisharp, as they can overwhelm each other's checks to sweep later in the game. Volcarona is a fearsome sweeper with great coverage, getting relatively free entries against Pokemon like Mega Scizor, which allows easy setup opportunities while threatening Flame Body burns. Manaphy can set up with Tail Glow, letting it break past bulkier Pokemon that Mega Altaria struggles to deal with such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur with Psychic and Quagsire with Energy Ball, while Mega Altaria handles the likes of Serperior, which threatens Manaphy. Bisharp acts as a potent setup sweeper, dissuading hazard removal and Intimidate while threatening checks such as Clefable and Slowbro. It also chips Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Rocky Helmet Landorus-T and threatens revenge killers like Excadrill with Sucker Punch, allowing Mega Altaria to wallbreak more easily. Magnezone can trap and remove Steel-types like Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor, relieving a lot of pressure for Mega Altaria. Hazard removal is also mandatory, so partners like Defog Latias are highly recommended. Notably, Latias can provide Healing Wish support so that Mega Altaria has another chance at sweeping, as well as potentially acting as a backup dual screens setter.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/favmon-garchomp.653095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/noname6293.604378/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Frustration
move 4: Earthquake
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Adamant
evs: 88 HP / 180 Atk / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Dragon Dance turns Mega Altaria into a deadly sweeper. Substitute allows it to turn its checks into setup fodder by ignoring burn or Toxic attempts from the likes of Cofagrigus, Rotom-W, and Slowbro. Frustration allows Mega Altaria to threaten Pokemon like Keldeo, Latios, Latias, Mega Medicham, and Mega Lopunny super effectively. Finally, Earthquake busts through Fire- and Steel-types like Volcanion, Heatran, and Excadrill.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread ensures that Cofagrigus's Hex does not break Mega Altaria's Substitute in one hit while also letting it outspeed Weavile at +1. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Attack alongside an Adamant nature so that it can still hit as hard as possible. Natural Cure is Altaria's preferred pre-Mega ability, allowing it to act as a status sponge before Mega Evolving and preventing it from being crippled by status before setting up.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Altaria fills the role of a primary late-game cleaner while also additionally being able to function as an early-game wallbreaker. Mega Altaria should conserve as much HP as possible so that its chance at sweeping isn't ruined. Therefore, the best scenarios to bring it in are aggressive switches and after a teammate has fainted. It should not attempt a sweep if checks and counters such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur are still active; therefore, it is best to ensure they are removed or weakened before Mega Altaria can attempt to sweep late-game. If it is used early-game, it should be used to wallbreak for its teammates, as not many Pokemon aside from Mega Lopunny, Mega Alakazam, and Choice Scarf users such as Excadrill and Volcanion can outrun Mega Altaria at +1. However, Mega Altaria should be mindful of the presence of certain checks such as Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Talonflame, as they can take Frustration and Earthquake very easily and threaten it out with their STAB moves. The best setup opportunities for Mega Altaria are safe switch-ins and against defensive Pokemon that cannot break its Substitute easily such as Cofagrigus and Rotom-W. When Altaria should Mega Evolve depends on the current situation; delaying Mega Evolution has benefits such as keeping Natural Cure to switch into status from the likes of Rotom-W, Lava Plume Heatran, and Glare Serperior and setting up against Ground-types such as Choice Scarf Landorus-T locked into Earthquake. Unless Altaria needs to make use of Nature Cure and its Ground immunity, it should Mega Evolve immediately. Keep in mind that regular Altaria is vulnerable to Stealth Rock and is weak to Dragon-type moves before Mega Evolving. Once Altaria Mega Evolves, it removes the Stealth Rock weakness and greatly augments its typing, letting it set up against the likes of Latios and Dragonite.
Team Options
========
This set shines best on hyper offense teams. As a result, a dedicated lead such as Excadrill, Taunt Mew, Imprison Landorus-T, or Rocky Helmet Aerodactyl is helpful, as it can prevent entry hazards from being set up on the opening turn while setting up crucial hazards of their own. Serperior is a fantastic partner for Mega Altaria, providing great utility through dual screens, while preventing any setup attempts or hazards with Taunt or providing Glare support to cripple faster threats such as Mega Alakazam. Additionally, it can run Hidden Power Fire or Rock to lure one of Mega Altaria's checks such as Ferrothorn or Talonflame. Mega Altaria appreciates partners such as Volcarona, Manaphy, and Bisharp, as they can overwhelm each other's checks to sweep later in the game. Volcarona is a fearsome sweeper with great coverage, getting relatively free entries against Pokemon like Mega Scizor, which allows easy setup opportunities while threatening Flame Body burns. Manaphy can set up with Tail Glow, letting it break past bulkier Pokemon that Mega Altaria struggles to deal with such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur with Psychic and Quagsire with Energy Ball, while Mega Altaria handles the likes of Serperior, which threatens Manaphy. Bisharp acts as a potent setup sweeper, dissuading hazard removal and Intimidate while threatening checks such as Clefable and Slowbro. It also chips Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Rocky Helmet Landorus-T and threatens revenge killers like Excadrill with Sucker Punch, allowing Mega Altaria to wallbreak more easily. Magnezone can trap and remove Steel-types like Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor, relieving a lot of pressure for Mega Altaria. Hazard removal is also mandatory, so partners like Defog Latias are highly recommended. Notably, Latias can provide Healing Wish support so that Mega Altaria has another chance at sweeping, as well as potentially acting as a backup dual screens setter.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/favmon-garchomp.653095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/noname6293.604378/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
Last edited:
