[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Grassy Glide
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Wood Hammer
item: Choice Band
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Rillaboom provides fantastic wallbreaking alongside utility in pivoting and powerful priority. Grassy Glide allows Rillaboom to revenge kill several offensive threats that would otherwise KO it, such as Ash-Greninja, Mega Medicham, Mega Garchomp, and Excadrill. Knock Off removes Ferrothorn’s and Heatran’s Leftovers, as well as Volcarona’s and Zapdos’s Heavy-Duty Boots, causing them to get worn down more quickly against Rillaboom and its teammates. With U-turn, Rillaboom can escape losing matchups, such as against the aforementioned Pokemon, without letting its team lose pace. However, both of these moves can cripple or damage Rillaboom by activating Static, Flame Body, or Iron Barbs. Wood Hammer is a powerful nuke that makes sure Rillaboom isn’t slacking against defensive teams, achieving feats such as 2HKOing Zapdos after Stealth Rock. An Adamant nature maximizes Rillaboom's power and outperforms a Speed-boosting nature thanks to Grassy Glide’s priority.
Rillaboom fits naturally on bulky offensive teams that need a solid wallbreaker also able to revenge kill Pokemon like Ash-Greninja. Magnezone is a stellar teammate, as removing Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Mega Scizor allows Rillaboom to become even more lethal. Electrium Z Magnezone can also remove Heatran and Mega Mawile. Rillaboom is capable of checking Ground-types in return. Similarly, Heatran appreciates Rillaboom’s ability to check Ground-types, while it checks Grass- and Steel-types in return. Rillaboom can struggle with offensive Fire-types like Heatran and Mega Charizard Y, so Pokemon that can handle them like Toxapex and Slowking make great partners. They also benefit from Rillaboom’s Grassy Terrain support. Rillaboom appreciates pivots that can bring it in unscathed, like Corviknight, Landorus-T, and the aforementioned Slowking. Stealth Rock setters like Mega Diancie and the aforementioned Heatran have great offensive synergy with Rillaboom, as Knock Off can remove Heavy-Duty Boots to make Stealth Rock more effective.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Grassy Glide
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Rillaboom is an incredible wallbreaker and sweeper on hyper offense teams, which appreciate its strong priority and ability to revenge kill Ash-Greninja. Superpower is used to slam Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran looking to take a Grassy Glide, and it's also the best move to use against Corviknight and Skarmory. A boosted Knock Off stings Zapdos, Volcarona, and Moltres while removing their Heavy-Duty Boots, allowing them to be broken through more easily. However, it can activate Static or Flame Body, burning or paralyzing Rillaboom.
Swords Dance Rillaboom shines on offensive teams, where its ludicrously strong priority can keep several opposing offensive threats in check. Landorus-T and Mew set up entry hazards, letting Rillaboom break through Pokemon like Mega Scizor and Mega Mawile much more easily. Further, Landorus-T can lure in many of the Flying-types that deal with Rillaboom and nail them with Explosion. Victini can bring Rillaboom in against bulky Water-types for a possible free setup opportunity, or it can eliminate Steel-types with V-create for Rillaboom to clean up. Various setup sweepers, such as Volcarona and Mega Gyarados, can partner up with Rillaboom to provide an easy way to overwhelm defensive cores. Hawlucha enjoys Rillaboom’s Grassy Terrain activating Grassy Seed to let it sweep very easily, as well as its ability to cripple Zapdos and Corviknight.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Superpower is an option on the Choice Band set to hit Heatran and Ferrothorn, but its Attack drop makes it less spammable than Wood Hammer, and it still leaves Rillaboom unable to break Corviknight. Grassy Seed + Acrobatics can be used on the Swords Dance set to defeat Tangrowth and Amoonguss, but it has little use otherwise and takes up a valuable move and item slot, which also cuts into Rillaboom’s power. High Horsepower can be used on Swords Dance sets to slam Mega Mawile and Heatran, but Superpower is preferred for its greater neutral coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Tangrowth and Amoonguss can shrug off most of Rillaboom’s attacks thanks to their bulk and Grass resistances. They can both threaten RIllaboom with Sludge Bomb, with Tangrowth also having Knock Off to make it less threatening. However, they should watch out for Acrobatics, which can potentially KO both.
**Flying-types**: Skarmory, Corviknight, Zapdos, and Moltres easily take Rillaboom’s attacks and strike back with super effective moves. Corviknight needs to be wary of a boosted Superpower, while Zapdos and Moltres are irreparably crippled by Knock Off.
**Steel-types**: Mega Mawile, Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor don’t mind Rillaboom’s STAB moves, making them safe switch-ins. The former two need to watch for a boosted High Horsepower, while a boosted Superpower can threaten to KO all of them, even.Mega Scizor and Mega Mawile if they are chipped.
**Fire-types**: Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y easily tank Rillaboom’s attacks, with the latter not minding Knock Off thanks to its Mega Stone. Volcarona can also cripple Rillaboom with Flame Body, but it must watch for Knock Off to keep its Heavy-Duty Boots.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Solaros & Lunaris, 471780]]
- Quality checked by: [[Aurodian, 483087], [The Dragon Master, 521275]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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