rotom-f wip

[Overview]

- Previously somewhat mediocre but got a big buff when hail returned to the tier
- Excellent dual STABs, barely resisted by anything
- The Pokemon that do resist its STAB combinations are somewhat easy to wear down, especially in hail, making it even more potent.
- Can run a choice scarf set like the other Rotom-formes, good revenge killer on hail teams
- Subsplit is a monster when used correctly
- Requires hail to function to its full potential
- Non scarf sets have some trouble with Speed
- Ice is a terrible defensive typing
- Rotom-F owns

[SET]
name: Subsplit
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Blizzard
move 4: Pain Split
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Spa / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

- Excellent dual STABs make subsplit a great option on rotom-f
- forces a lot of switches thanks to its STABs and the threat of the Scarf set, giving it ample opportunity to set up a substitute
- Pain Split helps wear down Rotom-f's checks and gives it a way to recover, works especially well with rotom-f's low HP stat
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- Night Slash so you don't have to rely on prediction, or get owned by Substitute users who can lower your attack and defense by forcing Superpower
- Still prediction heavy set
- Hard to set up

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

As Absol is so frail, investing in its bulk is pointless as it will still be 2HKOed if not OHKOed by any decently strong attack. Instead, all EV investment should go to Absol's Attack and Speed stats. If Absol is going to sweep, it shouldn't have to take hits anyway. The extra Attack lets Absol hit harder while the Speed, although a bit redundant alongside a priority move, lets Absol use coverage moves more quickly. Although Adamant is the default nature for its noticable power boost, Jolly can be used if outspeeding Adamant Braviary and others that sit around that Speed tier is imprtant for you. Life Orb is by far the best item for Absol, as it gives its moves a noticeable power boost at the cost of Absol's hitpoints. As Absol is so frail anyway, these hitpoints hardly matter. Substitute can be used in place of Night Slash to evade status and help with prediction; opponents who hope to stall away Sucker Punch will be met with an Absol that can safely move from behind a Substitute. However, as Absol will be relying far more on Sucker Punch, most Ghost-types will be able to PP stall Absol out of Sucker Punch. If Absol chooses tho run Sucker Punch then it should hold Leftovers instead of Life Orb; the residual damage from Life Orb and Substitute makes it extremely hard for Absol to sweep as it will easily kill itself. Lum Berry is another viable item as it allows Absol to set up a Swords Dance for free against status moves such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp, both of which are commonly used against Absol.

Megahorn is a strong alternative to Night Slash, having greater base power and also being able to hit common counter such as Tangrowth super effectively. However, it doesn't come with its own critical hit chance and can miss in crucial situations. Psycho Cut is Absol's best weapon against Fighting-types, and can easily eliminate the most common threats to Absol's sweep. However, aside from its usefulness against Fighting-types, it has fairly low base power and little coverage against other threats. Even with a super effective hit on Fighting-types, Absol still struggles to defeat Mach Punch wielders such as Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee who can move before Absol and inflict heavy damage with priority.

- Standard EV spread is standard
- Requires Life Orb as otherwise Absol doesn't hit hard enough
- Absol is too frail to really use Leftovers
- Can use Substitute instead of Night Slash, in this case use Leftovers
- Substitute helps with prediction
- Lum Berry for status effects such as Will-O-Wisp and Toxic
- Super Luck + Night Slash = Crit
- Jolly can be used if you want to always outspeed Adamant Braviary and others
- Megahorn is stronger than Night Slash and hits Psychic-types and Tangrowth for heavy damage and normally a OHKO with +2
- Psycho Cut if you want to hit Fighting-types super effectively
- However, the most common Fighting-type, Gallade, takes neutral damage from Night Slash / Sucker Punch and Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee and beat Absol with super effective priority
- Hazards are hazards

[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Night Slash
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Fire Blast / Pursuit
item: Life Orb
ability: Super Luck
nature: Naughty / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Although Absol is a competent set up sweeper, it often finds itself unable to reliable set up. Instead, Absol can choose to run an all out attacking set that takes advantage of its unique Dark-type attacks and powerful coverage moves that can decimate common walls. Sucker Punch disposes of faster sweepers and Choice Scarf holding revenge killers, meaning Absol can play the role of revenge killer without having to lock itself into a move with Choice Scarf. Night Slash is a more reliable STAB move that has a good chance to land a critical hit. Superpower provides perfect neutral coverage alongside Absol's Dark-type STAB and severely damages the likes of Steelix and fellow Dark-types. However, due to the lack of any boosting moves such as Swords Dance, repeated uses of Superpower will lead to Absol becoming set up bait. Although Absol's Attack stat is far superior to its Special Attack stat, Fire Blast is still useful for frying Absol's biggest enemies. Tangrowth, Escavalier, Steelix, and Ferroseed all succumb to Fire Blast which does not force Absol's Attack stat to drop. However, Pursuit is also a viable option if you have ways of dealing with the aforementioned checks or just want Absol to be able to cleanly remove frail Ghost- and Psychic-types.

- Pursuit owns Ghost-types who are afraid of Absol, does heavy damage to Uxie and Musharna
- Sucker Punch is Sucker Punch
- Fire Blast fries Tangrowth, Steelix, Escavalier, Ferroseed
- Superpower for much needed coverage (however, it should be used carefully as it can leave Absol set up fodder
- Night Slash for reliable Critting STAB
- Megahorn hits harder than Night Slash and still gets Psychic-types, Ghosts are normally dealt with Pursuit / Sucker Punch
- Megahorn owns Tangrowth

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

- Standard EV spread
- Standard Nature
- Adamant
- Life Orb
- Super Luck
- Fire Blast if you want to break through Tangrowth, Durant and Steelix more easily
- Psycho Cut beats Poliwrath and Qwilfish
- Dread Plate
- HP Grass for pwning Quagsire


[Other Options]

Although locking Absol into one move has no synergy with Sucker Punch, Absol can still make use of Choice Band and Choice Scarf to boost Absol's wallbreaking and revenge killing abilities respectively. With a Choice Band, Absol can hit hard without having to take the risk of setting up, with a Choice Scarf, Absol can surprise common sweepers and hit them hard with a variety of powerful coverage moves. Aside from the special moves already mentioned, Absol can also use Thunderbolt, which is Absol's only hope against Alomomola. Absol's movepool also boasts of support moves such as Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, Toxic, Perish Song, and Baton Pass. While all of these moves have their niches, they are generally too unreliable to be of regular use.

- Scarf
- Band
- Random Support moves
- Other special moves, eg Thunderbolt which beats Alomomola

[Checks and Counters]

Although Absol easily disposes of faster sweepers with its powerful priority, it struggles against bulkier walls and fellow priority users. Bulky Fighting-types are the bane of Absol's existence; Gurdurr, Hariyama, and Poliwrath all resist Absol's Dark-type STAB and can OHKO with super effective Fighting-type attacks. Mach Punch from the likes of Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee and easily slay a weakened Absol as their priority goes before Absol's due to their better Speed. Quagsire ignores all of Absol's boosts and can stomach anything bar a critical hit or Hidden Power Grass. Other bulky walls such as Tangrowth and Steelix can also stop Absol by virtue of their immense physical bulk but struggle against Fire Blast which hits them on their much weaker special side. Alomomola is impervious to almost anything Absol can do except for the rare Thunderbolt or debilitating status such as Toxic.

- Bulky Fighting-types
- Mach Punch
- Quagsire
- Pokemon with Substitute / Will-Wisp
- Tangrowth / Tangela
- Steelix
- Amoonguss
- Alomomomomola

WIP