[OVERVIEW]
With its high Speed, good movepool, (AC) and powerful offensive typing, Lycanroc has secured a great spot in ZU as a positively potent offensive sweeper as well as an adept entry hazard lead. Its access to a unique priority move in Accelerock lets it bury faster targets like Sneasel as well as boosted threats like Quiver Dance Frosmoth and Oricorio formes. Swords Dance Lycanroc is a prolific wallbreaker and sweeper, while lead sets can start games off with Stealth Rock, deny opposing hazards with Taunt, and severely weaken foes with Endeavor. However, Lycanroc is hounded by several issues. Its severe lack of bulk means that any strong neutral attack will likely take it out, hampering its opportunities to set up and sweep. Lycanroc also lacks in power if it can't hit a foe super effectively, which can leave it defenseless against certain foes like Regirock, Palossand, and especially Dipplin. Lycanroc's sweep is easily put down by many revenge killers like Whimsicott, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Qwilfish, which aren't as afraid of Accelerock. The dedicated lead set faces competition from Froslass, which has access to Spikes and a more effective trading tool in Destiny Bond, and Hisuian Avalugg, which has Rapid Spin, hits harder, and a free item slot due to Sturdy freeing its need for a Focus Sash.
[SET]
Lycanroc @ Life Orb / Loaded Dice
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Fighting / Ghost
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge / Rock Blast
- Close Combat
- Accelerock
Lycanroc's high Speed and excellent Attack make it a deadly revenge killer, wallbreaker, and setup sweeper. The many switches it forces on foes like Charizard and Sneasel lets it grab a Swords Dance boost and potentially sweep. Stone Edge, while innacurate, is Lycanroc's strongest STAB attack. Alternatively, Rock Blast in conjunction with Loaded Dice is more accurate, but it results in Lycanroc losing Life Orb's extra power boost on its other moves. Lycanroc has a wide array of coverage moves to pick and choose from, with Close Combat being the most reliable choice for its high power and coverage against foes like Orthworm, Regirock, and Brute Bonnet. Accelerock lets Lycanroc pick off Rock-weak foes like Sneasel and Choice Scarf Typhlosion as well as weakened targets like Floatzel, Qwilfish, and Jolteon. Sand Rush is the optimal ability for Lycanroc, as on sand teams, Sand Rush allows Lycanroc to outspeed everything in the metagame, while on non-sand teams, it gives Lycanroc a positive matchup into opposing sand teams. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to outrun Charizard, Mismagius, and Froslass, but Adamant is an option on sand teams because of Sand Rush doubling Lycanroc's Speed. Tera Fighting gives Lycanroc immense power on Close Combat, notably cleanly OHKOing Orthworm and Regirock at +2, with the added benefit of resisting Sucker Punch from Brute Bonnet and Hisuain Decidueye. Tera Ghost flips Lycanroc's Fighting weakness, letting it blank a Choice Scarf Passimian's and Hisuian Sneasel's Close Combat as well as Hitmonlee's Mach Punch.
Offense and hyper offense teams enjoy Lycanroc's powerful wallbreaking and sweeping potential as well as the assurance it provides against opposing offense with Accelerock, especially against sun teams. Pivots like Passimian, Mesprit, (AC) and Whimsicott help Lycanroc hit the field safely.Whimsicott is a particularly good partner, as it handles many of Lycanroc's answers like Hisuian Decidueye, Dipplin, and Sandaconda, and its Prankster Encore can give Lycanroc a chance to sweep. In return, Lycanroc threatens many of Whimsicott's checks like Charizard, Magneton, and Articuno Other physical wallbreakers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Qwilfish, Choice Band Sneasel and Floatzel, and Booster Energy Brute Bonnet all play well with Lycanroc, working to create gaping holes in the opponent's team for each other to exploit. Dipplin is a near-perfect wall to Lycanroc, so teammates that can exploit it like Charizard and Magneton are quite handy. Lycanroc is quite frail, so defensive teammates like Qwilfish, Weezing, and Palossand are all helpful for it to fall back on. Lycanroc loves entry hazard setters like Sandslash, Hisuian Qwilfish, and Orthworm, as the chip damage from Spikes softens up many of its answers like Dipplin, Sandaconda, and Palossand, helping Lycanroc secure its KOs much more easily. On sand teams, Sand Spit Sandaconda is necessary to set sand, and fellow sand sweepers like Sandslash can band together with Lycanroc to break the opposing team down. As Lycanroc struggles with Fighting-types, teammates that can deal with them like Oricorio formes and Whimsicott are its best friends. Other sweepers on hyper offense teams are useful partners for Lycanroc as well, since many of them like Nasty Plot Mesprit, Swords Dance Qwilfish, and Frosmoth can exploit Lycanroc's answers in Sandaconda, Regirock, and Palossand, respectively. Physical sweepers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Virizion benefit from the holes in the opponent's team left behind by Lycanroc, easing their sweeps. Healing Wish support from Mesprit and Shaymin allows Lycanroc to go for a second round of sweeping.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lycanroc can opt out of Accelerock on sand teams, since it outruns everything with Sand Rush active. Choice Band may seem tempting to use on Lycanroc; however, none of its moves are spammable, making the set heavily prediction reliant, and Lycanroc prefers switching moves to deal super effective damage. Crunch allows Lycanroc to hit Palossand hard, which would otherwise be a perfect counter, while Psychic Fangs nails other common physically defensive Pokemon such as Hisuian Decidueye, Weezing, and Qwilfish. Play Rough hits Fighting-types slightly harder than Psychic Fangs and is Lycanroc's best bet at breaking past Dipplin. However, dropping Close Combat leaves Lycanroc unable to break past Orthworm, Magneton, and Regirock, which are generally more common.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Faster Fighting-types like Choice Scarf Passimian and Hisuian Sneasel resist Accelerock and can cleanly take Lycanroc out with Close Combat. Hisuian Decidueye has enough bulk on defensive sets to take one attack and retaliate with an OHKO, while Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan have a strong Mach Punch to pick it off.
**Ground-types**: Sandaconda, Palossand, and Sandslash resist Lycanroc's Rock-type attacks and can all tank a boosted move from Lycanroc before KOing it back in return with a Ground-type attack.
**Water-types**: Floatzel outspeeds Lycanroc and threatens it immensely, being able to pivot on it with Flip Turn or pick it off with priority in Aqua Jet. Qwilfish hinders Lycanroc with Intimidate and can pick it off with Aqua Jet or surprise it with a Choice Scarf. Lanturn doesn't switch into Lycanroc well but can take an unboosted attack and retaliate with a Water-type attack or inflict it with status.
**Physical Walls**: A healthy Dipplin completely walls Lycanroc and threatens it back with Giga Drain. Weezing isn't very keen on taking Stone Edge but can burn Lycanroc in retaliation. Orthworm and Regirock can Terastallize out of their Fighting-type weakness and threaten Lycanroc back with Body Press.
**Status Conditions**: Burn from Weezing and Charizard hampers Lycanroc's offensive capabilities, while paralysis from Lanturn and Magnetom worsens its great Speed while , (AC) as well as potentially stopping it from attacking, which is fatal for a Pokemon as frail as Lycanroc. Poison chip damage from Poison Touch Grafaiai and Toxic Hisuian Qwilfish rapidly wears away at Lycanroc's health, especially together with Life Orb recoil and entry hazards.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sinnabyss.626095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
With its high Speed, good movepool, (AC) and powerful offensive typing, Lycanroc has secured a great spot in ZU as a positively potent offensive sweeper as well as an adept entry hazard lead. Its access to a unique priority move in Accelerock lets it bury faster targets like Sneasel as well as boosted threats like Quiver Dance Frosmoth and Oricorio formes. Swords Dance Lycanroc is a prolific wallbreaker and sweeper, while lead sets can start games off with Stealth Rock, deny opposing hazards with Taunt, and severely weaken foes with Endeavor. However, Lycanroc is hounded by several issues. Its severe lack of bulk means that any strong neutral attack will likely take it out, hampering its opportunities to set up and sweep. Lycanroc also lacks in power if it can't hit a foe super effectively, which can leave it defenseless against certain foes like Regirock, Palossand, and especially Dipplin. Lycanroc's sweep is easily put down by many revenge killers like Whimsicott, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Qwilfish, which aren't as afraid of Accelerock. The dedicated lead set faces competition from Froslass, which has access to Spikes and a more effective trading tool in Destiny Bond, and Hisuian Avalugg, which has Rapid Spin, hits harder, and a free item slot due to Sturdy freeing its need for a Focus Sash.
[SET]
Lycanroc @ Life Orb / Loaded Dice
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Fighting / Ghost
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge / Rock Blast
- Close Combat
- Accelerock
Lycanroc's high Speed and excellent Attack make it a deadly revenge killer, wallbreaker, and setup sweeper. The many switches it forces on foes like Charizard and Sneasel lets it grab a Swords Dance boost and potentially sweep. Stone Edge, while innacurate, is Lycanroc's strongest STAB attack. Alternatively, Rock Blast in conjunction with Loaded Dice is more accurate, but it results in Lycanroc losing Life Orb's extra power boost on its other moves. Lycanroc has a wide array of coverage moves to pick and choose from, with Close Combat being the most reliable choice for its high power and coverage against foes like Orthworm, Regirock, and Brute Bonnet. Accelerock lets Lycanroc pick off Rock-weak foes like Sneasel and Choice Scarf Typhlosion as well as weakened targets like Floatzel, Qwilfish, and Jolteon. Sand Rush is the optimal ability for Lycanroc, as on sand teams, Sand Rush allows Lycanroc to outspeed everything in the metagame, while on non-sand teams, it gives Lycanroc a positive matchup into opposing sand teams. A Jolly nature is generally preferred to outrun Charizard, Mismagius, and Froslass, but Adamant is an option on sand teams because of Sand Rush doubling Lycanroc's Speed. Tera Fighting gives Lycanroc immense power on Close Combat, notably cleanly OHKOing Orthworm and Regirock at +2, with the added benefit of resisting Sucker Punch from Brute Bonnet and Hisuain Decidueye. Tera Ghost flips Lycanroc's Fighting weakness, letting it blank a Choice Scarf Passimian's and Hisuian Sneasel's Close Combat as well as Hitmonlee's Mach Punch.
Offense and hyper offense teams enjoy Lycanroc's powerful wallbreaking and sweeping potential as well as the assurance it provides against opposing offense with Accelerock, especially against sun teams. Pivots like Passimian, Mesprit, (AC) and Whimsicott help Lycanroc hit the field safely.Whimsicott is a particularly good partner, as it handles many of Lycanroc's answers like Hisuian Decidueye, Dipplin, and Sandaconda, and its Prankster Encore can give Lycanroc a chance to sweep. In return, Lycanroc threatens many of Whimsicott's checks like Charizard, Magneton, and Articuno Other physical wallbreakers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Qwilfish, Choice Band Sneasel and Floatzel, and Booster Energy Brute Bonnet all play well with Lycanroc, working to create gaping holes in the opponent's team for each other to exploit. Dipplin is a near-perfect wall to Lycanroc, so teammates that can exploit it like Charizard and Magneton are quite handy. Lycanroc is quite frail, so defensive teammates like Qwilfish, Weezing, and Palossand are all helpful for it to fall back on. Lycanroc loves entry hazard setters like Sandslash, Hisuian Qwilfish, and Orthworm, as the chip damage from Spikes softens up many of its answers like Dipplin, Sandaconda, and Palossand, helping Lycanroc secure its KOs much more easily. On sand teams, Sand Spit Sandaconda is necessary to set sand, and fellow sand sweepers like Sandslash can band together with Lycanroc to break the opposing team down. As Lycanroc struggles with Fighting-types, teammates that can deal with them like Oricorio formes and Whimsicott are its best friends. Other sweepers on hyper offense teams are useful partners for Lycanroc as well, since many of them like Nasty Plot Mesprit, Swords Dance Qwilfish, and Frosmoth can exploit Lycanroc's answers in Sandaconda, Regirock, and Palossand, respectively. Physical sweepers like Swords Dance Hisuian Decidueye and Virizion benefit from the holes in the opponent's team left behind by Lycanroc, easing their sweeps. Healing Wish support from Mesprit and Shaymin allows Lycanroc to go for a second round of sweeping.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lycanroc can opt out of Accelerock on sand teams, since it outruns everything with Sand Rush active. Choice Band may seem tempting to use on Lycanroc; however, none of its moves are spammable, making the set heavily prediction reliant, and Lycanroc prefers switching moves to deal super effective damage. Crunch allows Lycanroc to hit Palossand hard, which would otherwise be a perfect counter, while Psychic Fangs nails other common physically defensive Pokemon such as Hisuian Decidueye, Weezing, and Qwilfish. Play Rough hits Fighting-types slightly harder than Psychic Fangs and is Lycanroc's best bet at breaking past Dipplin. However, dropping Close Combat leaves Lycanroc unable to break past Orthworm, Magneton, and Regirock, which are generally more common.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Faster Fighting-types like Choice Scarf Passimian and Hisuian Sneasel resist Accelerock and can cleanly take Lycanroc out with Close Combat. Hisuian Decidueye has enough bulk on defensive sets to take one attack and retaliate with an OHKO, while Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan have a strong Mach Punch to pick it off.
**Ground-types**: Sandaconda, Palossand, and Sandslash resist Lycanroc's Rock-type attacks and can all tank a boosted move from Lycanroc before KOing it back in return with a Ground-type attack.
**Water-types**: Floatzel outspeeds Lycanroc and threatens it immensely, being able to pivot on it with Flip Turn or pick it off with priority in Aqua Jet. Qwilfish hinders Lycanroc with Intimidate and can pick it off with Aqua Jet or surprise it with a Choice Scarf. Lanturn doesn't switch into Lycanroc well but can take an unboosted attack and retaliate with a Water-type attack or inflict it with status.
**Physical Walls**: A healthy Dipplin completely walls Lycanroc and threatens it back with Giga Drain. Weezing isn't very keen on taking Stone Edge but can burn Lycanroc in retaliation. Orthworm and Regirock can Terastallize out of their Fighting-type weakness and threaten Lycanroc back with Body Press.
**Status Conditions**: Burn from Weezing and Charizard hampers Lycanroc's offensive capabilities, while paralysis from Lanturn and Magnetom worsens its great Speed while , (AC) as well as potentially stopping it from attacking, which is fatal for a Pokemon as frail as Lycanroc. Poison chip damage from Poison Touch Grafaiai and Toxic Hisuian Qwilfish rapidly wears away at Lycanroc's health, especially together with Life Orb recoil and entry hazards.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sinnabyss.626095/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Last edited:
