[OVERVIEW]
Supreme Overlord, a high Attack stat, access to Swords Dance and Sucker Punch, and a wide variety of items and Tera types at its disposal make Kingambit one of the most dangerous late-game sweepers in the tier, being able to use Terastallization to lure in and beat Pokemon that would normally check it and completely take games at the drop of a hat. It also has an amazing defensive typing that lets it easily set up on metagame staples like Lunala and Necrozma-DM to start its sweep. However, the abundance of common Dark-resistant Pokemon in the tier makes making complete comebacks harder, as Pokemon like Koraidon, Zacian-C, and Arceus-Fairy, among others, can take a Sucker Punch and end its attempt at a sweep either by OHKOing it or burning it, though this can be circumvented with Terastallization. Kingambit is also forced into not coming in for the majority of the game, as it's heavily reliant on using up its HP or Terastallization to sweep, and when no teammates have fainted, it is weak compared to the rest of the metagame.
[SET]
Swords Dance (Kingambit) @ Black Glasses / Air Balloon / Lum Berry
Ability: Supreme Overlord
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Tera Type: Dark / Fire
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Kowtow Cleave
- Iron Head
[SET COMMENTS]
Every part of this set aims to make sure Kingambit can finish off the opposing team with Sucker Punch, as due to the massive damage output of Ubers, Kingambit only gets one chance to sweep. Black Glasses makes Kingambit's Dark- type moves hit astronomically hard, especially with Tera Dark, being able to OHKO Tera Fire Calyrex-I and Zacian-C as well as Koraidon with minimal chip with Sucker Punch after a Swords Dance boost and 5 allies fainted. Air Balloon allows Kingambit to come in on the multitude of Ground-type attacks from Arceus-Ground, Landorus-T, and Necrozma-DM, allowing it an opportunity to set up. Lum Berry allows it to absorb burns from Ho-Oh and defensive Arceus formes, allowing Kingambit to forgo Tera Fire for another Tera type. Tera Dark powers up Kingambit's Dark- type moves even further, allowing Kingambit to get crucial kills like OHKOing Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground with a Swords Dance boosted Sucker Punch with 5 Supreme Overlord boosts. Tera Fire grants Kingambit a burn immunity and a Fire resistance while removing its Fighting weakness, which allow it to set up on Pokemon like Ho-Oh, Koraidon, and Zacian-C.
Kingambit fits best on hyper offensive teams that need a late-game cleaner and a revenge killer for Pokemon like Calyrex-I, Necrozma-DM, and Eternatus. As it's fairly weak without a significant amount of teammates fainted, entry hazard setters like Glimmora and Deoxys-S are useful for weakening checks like Zacian-C and Koraidon for Kingambit to sweep. In terms of offensive teammates, Koraidon and Zacian-C are amazing teammates, (AC) as they can wear down or force common checks such as Ho-Oh, Landorus-T, and defensive Arceus forms to Terastallize, allowing Kingambit to sweep later. Extreme Killer Arceus can force Koraidon and Kyogre to Terastallize into a Ghost-type, allowing Kingambit to beat them with Sucker Punch, and one can wear down checks like Kyogre and defensive Arceus formes for the other to break through. Necrozma-DM can lure in Ho-Oh and cripple it with either Knock Off or Stone Edge, allowing Kingambit to muscle through. Meteor Beam Eternatus can also lure in Ho-Oh while also threatening Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water, while Kingambit can deal with Mewtwo and Necrozma-DM for Eternatus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Flying can be used to become immune to Ground, allowing it to constantly come in on Ground attacks from Arceus-Ground and Landorus-T without sacrificing the item slot for Air Balloon. Tera Ghost can also be used for an immunity to Fighting-type attacks and Extreme Speed, but Kingambit is resistant to Extreme Speed anyway and the Fighting immunity isn't that worth it over other Tera types like Fire. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to prevent Kingambit from being chipped down by entry hazards over the course of a game on a bulky offense team.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Kingambit's Sucker Punch, like Koraidon, Zacian-C, and Arceus-Fairy, are very common, so Kingambit can have a hard time breaking through these Pokémon. There are also a lot of Pokémon that can Terastallize into a Dark-resistant type, like Lunala and Ho-Oh, among others.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-oh can easily shrug off Kingambit's Sucker Punches, outspeed it, (AC) and retaliate with Sacred Fire. Kingambit can circumvent this with Lum Berry or Tera Fire, but it still needs to be wary of Whirlwind.
**Defensive Arceus Formes**: Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Water can all easily take Kingambit’s attack and threaten Kingambit with either burn from Will-O-Wisp or damage it with Judgement, especially if Kingambit has already Terastallized into a Dark- or Fire-type. Kingambit has ways of playing around these, (AC) though, like Lum Berry, Air Balloon, or just pressuring them with entry hazard chip damage. (AP)
**Landorus-T**: Landorus-T’s Intimidate can make Kingambit thud in the face of it, and can use these free turns to set up Stealth Rock, stop it from setting up with Taunt, or just threatening an Earthquake, all while racking up chip with Rocky Helmet. However, Landorus-T lacks reliable recovery, so it can get chipped down over the course of the game to the point where Kingambit is able to break through.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lightniong.591294/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lana.374620/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Supreme Overlord, a high Attack stat, access to Swords Dance and Sucker Punch, and a wide variety of items and Tera types at its disposal make Kingambit one of the most dangerous late-game sweepers in the tier, being able to use Terastallization to lure in and beat Pokemon that would normally check it and completely take games at the drop of a hat. It also has an amazing defensive typing that lets it easily set up on metagame staples like Lunala and Necrozma-DM to start its sweep. However, the abundance of common Dark-resistant Pokemon in the tier makes making complete comebacks harder, as Pokemon like Koraidon, Zacian-C, and Arceus-Fairy, among others, can take a Sucker Punch and end its attempt at a sweep either by OHKOing it or burning it, though this can be circumvented with Terastallization. Kingambit is also forced into not coming in for the majority of the game, as it's heavily reliant on using up its HP or Terastallization to sweep, and when no teammates have fainted, it is weak compared to the rest of the metagame.
[SET]
Swords Dance (Kingambit) @ Black Glasses / Air Balloon / Lum Berry
Ability: Supreme Overlord
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Tera Type: Dark / Fire
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Kowtow Cleave
- Iron Head
[SET COMMENTS]
Every part of this set aims to make sure Kingambit can finish off the opposing team with Sucker Punch, as due to the massive damage output of Ubers, Kingambit only gets one chance to sweep. Black Glasses makes Kingambit's Dark- type moves hit astronomically hard, especially with Tera Dark, being able to OHKO Tera Fire Calyrex-I and Zacian-C as well as Koraidon with minimal chip with Sucker Punch after a Swords Dance boost and 5 allies fainted. Air Balloon allows Kingambit to come in on the multitude of Ground-type attacks from Arceus-Ground, Landorus-T, and Necrozma-DM, allowing it an opportunity to set up. Lum Berry allows it to absorb burns from Ho-Oh and defensive Arceus formes, allowing Kingambit to forgo Tera Fire for another Tera type. Tera Dark powers up Kingambit's Dark- type moves even further, allowing Kingambit to get crucial kills like OHKOing Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground with a Swords Dance boosted Sucker Punch with 5 Supreme Overlord boosts. Tera Fire grants Kingambit a burn immunity and a Fire resistance while removing its Fighting weakness, which allow it to set up on Pokemon like Ho-Oh, Koraidon, and Zacian-C.
Kingambit fits best on hyper offensive teams that need a late-game cleaner and a revenge killer for Pokemon like Calyrex-I, Necrozma-DM, and Eternatus. As it's fairly weak without a significant amount of teammates fainted, entry hazard setters like Glimmora and Deoxys-S are useful for weakening checks like Zacian-C and Koraidon for Kingambit to sweep. In terms of offensive teammates, Koraidon and Zacian-C are amazing teammates, (AC) as they can wear down or force common checks such as Ho-Oh, Landorus-T, and defensive Arceus forms to Terastallize, allowing Kingambit to sweep later. Extreme Killer Arceus can force Koraidon and Kyogre to Terastallize into a Ghost-type, allowing Kingambit to beat them with Sucker Punch, and one can wear down checks like Kyogre and defensive Arceus formes for the other to break through. Necrozma-DM can lure in Ho-Oh and cripple it with either Knock Off or Stone Edge, allowing Kingambit to muscle through. Meteor Beam Eternatus can also lure in Ho-Oh while also threatening Arceus-Fairy and Arceus-Water, while Kingambit can deal with Mewtwo and Necrozma-DM for Eternatus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tera Flying can be used to become immune to Ground, allowing it to constantly come in on Ground attacks from Arceus-Ground and Landorus-T without sacrificing the item slot for Air Balloon. Tera Ghost can also be used for an immunity to Fighting-type attacks and Extreme Speed, but Kingambit is resistant to Extreme Speed anyway and the Fighting immunity isn't that worth it over other Tera types like Fire. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to prevent Kingambit from being chipped down by entry hazards over the course of a game on a bulky offense team.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-resistant Pokemon**: Pokemon that resist Kingambit's Sucker Punch, like Koraidon, Zacian-C, and Arceus-Fairy, are very common, so Kingambit can have a hard time breaking through these Pokémon. There are also a lot of Pokémon that can Terastallize into a Dark-resistant type, like Lunala and Ho-Oh, among others.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-oh can easily shrug off Kingambit's Sucker Punches, outspeed it, (AC) and retaliate with Sacred Fire. Kingambit can circumvent this with Lum Berry or Tera Fire, but it still needs to be wary of Whirlwind.
**Defensive Arceus Formes**: Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Water can all easily take Kingambit’s attack and threaten Kingambit with either burn from Will-O-Wisp or damage it with Judgement, especially if Kingambit has already Terastallized into a Dark- or Fire-type. Kingambit has ways of playing around these, (AC) though, like Lum Berry, Air Balloon, or just pressuring them with entry hazard chip damage. (AP)
**Landorus-T**: Landorus-T’s Intimidate can make Kingambit thud in the face of it, and can use these free turns to set up Stealth Rock, stop it from setting up with Taunt, or just threatening an Earthquake, all while racking up chip with Rocky Helmet. However, Landorus-T lacks reliable recovery, so it can get chipped down over the course of the game to the point where Kingambit is able to break through.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lightniong.591294/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lasen.273339/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lana.374620/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
