[OVERVIEW]
Kommo-o's access to an array of viable moves and good mixed attacking stats make it one of the tier's most versatile Pokemon, as it can serve as a sweeper, Stealth Rock setter, or wallbreaker. Its Dragon / Fighting typing and ability Bulletproof give it a unique set of resistances, that allows it to check Pokemon like Mega Manectric, Chandelure, Crawdaunt, and Krookodile. It also has access to boosting moves in Dragon Dance and Swords Dance alongside a great base Defense and Special Defense, which give it many opportunities to set up and make it difficult to revenge kill. Kommo-o's excellent STAB combination and access to coverage moves like Poison Jab, Flamethrower, and Ice Punch make it difficult to switch into and let it hit the entire tier super effectively or neutrally. However, Kommo-o's average base Attack and Special Attack stats make it difficult to nab OHKOs without using a Z-Move, even with a boost. Kommo-o is susceptible to being revenge killed, as it is outsped by most Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Latias even at +1 Speed and it also dislikes priority from Scizor and Mamoswine. Its typing also gives it a 4x weakness to Fairy and a 2x weakness to Psychic and Flying, which leaves it vulnerable to some of the tier's best Pokemon in Togekiss, Mega Altaria, Latias, and Mega Aerodactyl.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Poison Jab / Ice Punch
item: Dragonium Z / Fightinium Z / Life Orb
ability: Bulletproof
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Drain Punch is an alternative to Close Combat that improves Kommo-o's longevity. It increases setup opportunities by recovering from some of the damage it takes while using Dragon Dance while also avoiding the Defense and Special Defense drop from Close Combat. However, it is significantly weaker than Close Combat. Poison Jab nails Fairy-types that resist Kommo-o's STAB moves, such as Mega Altaria, Primarina, and Togekiss. Ice Punch hits some of the aforementioned Fairy-types while also allowing it to hit Flying- and Dragon-types like Crobat and Latias without using its Z-Move or locking itself into Outrage. However, it fails to hit Sylveon, Florges, and Primarina for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Bulletproof provides Kommo-o with an immunity to moves like Shadow Ball and Gyro Ball, letting it counter Chandelure and Stakataka and giving it more setup opportunities. Gengar is another example, but Kommo-o can take heavy damage from a fast Never-Ending Nightmare or Sludge Wave. Soundproof grants an immunity to Roar and Sylveon and Mega Altaria's Hyper Voice, but it is less useful than Bulletproof, as offensive teams prefer Kommo-o's ability to deal with Chandelure and Stakataka. Also, Sylveon and Mega Altaria may respectively opt to run Moonblast and Return to circumvent Soundproof. Dragonium Z turns outrage into Devastating Drake, a powerful Dragon-type attack that doesn't lock Kommo-o into Outrage. +1 Devastating Drake OHKOes Celebi, Tentacruel, and Suicune after Stealth Rock while also dealing a large amount of damage to Slowbro. Fightinium Z secures the OHKO on Mega Steelix and Klefki at +1 while also doing significant damage to Mega Aggron. However, opting for Fightinium Z forces Kommo-o to completely rely on and get locked into Outrage, which isn't ideal against Psychic- and Ghost-types like Latias and Chandelure. Life Orb boosts the power of all of Kommo-o's moves and secures the KO on Fairy-types like Choice Specs Primarina and Togekiss after Stealth Rock with Poison Jab.
Usage Tips
========
Use Kommo-o's large bulk and good typing to set up on resisted hits and proceed to sweep mid- or late-game. For example, Chandelure, Crawdaunt, and Mega Manectric are some Pokemon that are helpless against it. Kommo-o can also set up on neutral hits from Pokemon like Cobalion and Krookodile, but only do so if there are no easier targets. Be wary of status moves and secondary effects from Pokemon that you might set up on, such as Scald burns and Toxic from Swampert and Empoleon as well as Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-H and Chandelure. Try to avoid switching Kommo-o in early to take hits if it cannot immediately punish the opponent, as chip damage hampers its ability to set up later and puts it in range of Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch and Mamoswine's Ice Shard. In a pinch, Kommo-o can set up on weak super effective hits such as Mega Aerodactyl's Wing Attack and Starmie's Psyshock, since it avoids the OHKO from these attacks. Avoid using Outrage after using Devastating Drake unless absolutely needed or if Steel- and Fairy-types are KOed.
Team Options
========
Steel-types are excellent partners, as they resist everything Kommo-o is weak to. Scizor and Mega Aggron are some partners that can take advantage of the Fairy-, Dragon-, and Flying-types that threaten Kommo-o. Fairy-type checks are crucial when using Kommo-o. In addition to the aforementioned Steel-types, Poison-types like Gengar and Nihilego can take on most Fairy-types and threaten them with a powerful Sludge Wave. Pokemon that punish Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Latias, such as Cobalion, Scizor, and Primarina, make for good partners. Spikes support from Klefki puts Kommo-o's grounded Fairy-type checks into KO range faster, and Klefki is also capable of checking Hydreigon and Latias very well. Prankster Thunder Wave can also create setup opportunities later on. Kommo-o punishes Fire-types that come in on Klefki, too. Toxic Spikes support from Nidoking, Nihilego, and Tentacruel can also help wear Kommo-o's checks down. These Pokemon can also switch into the Fairy-types Kommo-o draws in like Primarina and Klefki. Pokemon that can lure Choice Scarf Krookodile like Nihilego and Gengar provide Kommo-o with free setup opportunities if it opts to Pursuit trap them or use Knock Off.
[SET]
name: Mixed Wallbreaker
move 1: Clanging Scales
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Flamethrower / Stealth Rock / Taunt
item: Life Orb / Dragonium Z
ability: Bulletproof
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flamethrower OHKOes Scizor and hits physically defensive Steel-types like Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix harder while avoiding Close Combat's stat drops. Stealth Rock is a powerful move that Kommo-o excels at using due to its bulk and ability to force many Pokemon out. Taunt denies recovery and status moves from bulky Pokemon like Alomomola, Quagsire, and Amoonguss. It also can stop slower Stealth Rock users like Swampert and Hippowdon from setting hazards. Work Up is an alternative that boosts both Kommo-o's Attack and Special Attack, which bolsters its wallbreaking capabilities.
Set Details
========
Life Orb is the preferred item, as it boosts the power of all of Kommo-o's moves and does not take up the Z-Move slot, but Dragonium Z is an option to give a powerful Dragon-type nuke that also avoids dropping its Defense. Bulletproof lets Kommo-o serve as an offensive counter to Chandelure and Stakataka as well as punish Gengar if it is locked into Shadow Ball.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Kommo-o in early on a Pokemon it checks such as Chandelure and Empoleon, to dish out damage as soon as possible. VoltTurn users are also great for bringing in Kommo-o unscathed. Spam Clanging Scales as much as possible if the opponent's team does not have a Fairy-type. If the opposing team does have a Fairy-type like Primarina or Togekiss, try and predict it to switch in and hit it with Poison Jab for a 2HKO. If running Stealth Rock, use Kommo-o's great bulk and typing to find an opportunity to set it early. Kommo-o has a great matchup against most Stealth Rock users, such as Swampert and Empoleon, so leading with it to prevent the opponent's hazards with Taunt is a good idea. Unleash a Devastating Drake on any team lacking a Fairy-type when presented with the opportunity. Be wary, however, that it fails to nab OHKOs on Pokemon like Hippowdon and Alomomola, so they may simply heal off the damage.
Team Options
========
Sweepers that appreciate Kommo-o luring in Fairy-types and taking them out with Poison Jab, such as Mega Sharpedo and Lucario, make for good partners. Other sweepers, like Swords Dance Cobalion and Scizor, that struggle against Fire- and bulky Water-types pair nicely with Kommo-o. Kommo-o appreciates Volt Switch support from Mega Manectric and Rotom-H, since they help it pivot in safely and resist Flying-type attacks that threaten Kommo-o. Kommo-o struggles against Fairy-types, so Nidoking and Nihilego partner well with it, as they can switch into most Fairy-type attacks easily. However, they have to be wary coverage moves such as Mega Altaria's Earthquake and Primarina's Hydro Pump. Stakataka can set up Trick Room and proceed to sweep, especially if Choice Specs Primarina locks itself into Moonblast. Spikes support from Klefki and Stealth Rock support from Pokemon like Hippowdon and Mega Aggron help Kommo-o power through bulky Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Offensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Swords Dance
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Outrage
item: Dragonium Z
ability: Bulletproof
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Kommo's Attack two stages, turning it into a terrifying wallbreaker. Poison Jab can be used instead of Swords Dance to round out its coverage by hitting Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Dragonium Z lets Kommo-o unleash an extremely powerful Dragon-type attack without locking itself into Outrage. It is particularly useful for Fighting-immune or -resistant foes, such as Chandelure and Amoonguss. Bulletproof makes Kommo-o an excellent offensive check to Stakataka, Chandelure, and Choice-locked Gengar due to its immunity to Gyro Ball and Shadow Ball. Soundproof is an option to prevent Sylveon and Hyper Voice Mega Altaria from coming in freely, but Kommo-o needs to boost multiple times to actually threaten them without Poison Jab.
Usage Tips
========
Utilize Kommo-o's amazing bulk to bring it in early and set up Stealth Rock. Tier staples like Empoleon, Mega Manectric, and Krookodile are some Pokemon it can take advantage of to set Stealth Rock. Once Stealth Rock is set, start firing off strong attacks. Kommo-o hits hard enough even without a Swords Dance boost, so sometimes firing an unboosted Devastating Drake on frailer Pokemon like Chandelure is a fine play. If the opponent has a Fairy-type such as Togekiss or Mega Altaria, try to predict their switch in and make a double switch after bringing in Kommo-o. Use Swords Dance against more defensive teams lacking a bulky Fairy-type and begin punching holes in their team. Don't waste a turn setting up if they do have one. Avoid locking Kommo-o into Outrage if the opponent has a Pokemon that can set up on it, namely the tier's Steel-type sweepers such as Swords Dance Scizor and Swords Dance Cobalion.
Team Options
========
This set fits well on offensive teams looking for a reliable Stealth Rock user that can check threats to offense such as Mega Manectric, Chandelure, and Stakataka while also dishing out damage. A solid Fairy-type answer is a must, since this set invites the majority of them in. Mega Aggron and Scizor are excellent partners that take most Fairy-types on, with notable examples being Mega Altaria, Klefki, and Togekiss. Other Steel-types, such as Empoleon and Klefki, make for good partners as well, since they resist every type Kommo-o is weak to. Empoleon gets a special mention as a Steel-type that can switch into Primarina. Mega Aerodactyl takes on Flying-types like Crobat, Togekiss, and Mega Pidgeot trying to revenge kill Kommo-o. Pursuit trappers like Choice Scarf Krookodile and Alolan Muk can trap faster Psychic-types such as Latias, Starmie, and Celebi. Kommo-o often lures in Ground-types such as Swampert and Hippowdon, so sweepers that appreciate them being weakened form an excellent offensive core with it. Some examples are Cobalion, Mega Sharpedo, and Terrakion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Substitute + Belly Drum set with Salac Berry is another viable boosting set, since Kommo-o can recover lost health with Drain Punch. However, even with +1 Speed, it is outsped by common Choice Scarf users like Krookodile, Hydreigon, and Latias. A set with Autotomize, Focus Blast, Clanging Scales, and Flash Cannon with Life Orb can serve as a late-game cleaner against offensive teams. However, without a way to boost its Special Attack, it struggles to obtain KOs against bulkier Pokemon like Florges, Sylveon, and Hippowdon. Kommo-o can wield both Choice Band and Choice Specs effectively. The Choice Specs set can run Overcoat with Sleep Talk to serve as a great pivot into Amoonguss, but the Choice Band set prefers Bulletproof, since getting locked into Outrage from Sleep Talk can be disastrous. A defensive set with Rest + Sleep Talk is an option for defensive teams looking for a counter to Crawdaunt and Calm Mind Chandelure. However, Rest is an unreliable form of recovery, and it faces competition from Chesnaught and Mega Altaria, which check similar Pokemon. Kommo-o can also run Overcoat, which is useful for pivoting into Amoonguss's Spore. However, it is useless in every other matchup.
Kommo-o has a number of alternate yet viable attack moves. Earthquake on Dragon Dance sets is useful to nail Doublade and Klefki while also hitting Primarina for neutral damage but leaves Kommo-o helpless against other Fairy-types. Iron Tail is Kommo-o's strongest move to hit Fairy-types, but it suffers from unreliable accuracy. Draco Meteor is Kommo-o's most power STAB move and can be used on mixed or special sets, but it is not as spammable as Clanging Scales due to the Special Attack drop. Lum Berry can be used on Dragon Dance sets to mitigate Scald burns, confusion from Outrage, and Toxic from Pokemon like Empoleon and Blissey. It sorely misses a Z-Move, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Mega Altaria, Togekiss, Primarina, and Sylveon, can switch into both of Kommo-o's STAB moves and avoid the OHKO from its coverage moves while easily OHKOing it back. However, Kommo-o does outspeed all of them and can thus power through if carrying Poison Jab or Flash Cannon late-game.
**Faster Dragon-types**: Even after a Dragon Dance, Kommo-o is outsped and OHKOed by Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Latias using Draco Meteor or Psychic.
**Mixed Walls**: Mixed and special sets struggle to break through walls like Hippowdon, Mega Slowbro, Mantine, and Alolan Muk without sustaining heavy damage through Life Orb recoil and their attacks. They all need to be wary of Devastating Drake, however.
**Doublade**: Doublade completely walls and safely uses Swords Dance against the standard Dragon Dance set, as it does not often carry Earthquake. However, it cannot switch into mixed or fully special sets, as it takes significant damage from Clanging Scales and Flamethrower.
**Strong Priority**: While Kommo-o has good physical bulk, both Clanging Scales and Close Combat drop its Defense. Using these moves often puts Kommo-o in range of being killed by Mamoswine's Ice Shard and Scizor's Bullet Punch.
**Unaware Users**: Quagsire and Pyukumuku get a mention for shutting down Dragon Dance sets due to their ability Unaware. Kommo-o's special sets can break through, however, as neither takes Clanging Scales or Focus Blast well.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Adaam, 257361]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [Nuked, 382658], [martha, 384270]]
- Grammar checked by: - Grammar checked by: [[allstarapology, 400292], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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