QC #1 - Cynde
QC #2 - dodmen
QC #3 - Eyan (through Discord)
GP #1 - ???
GP #2 - ???
Chandelure's massive Special Attack stat along with a great STAB combination in Fire and Ghost makes it a notable threat in the UU metagame. Its typing also allows it to be an offensive check to the likes of Serperior, Cobalion, non-Knock Off Scizor, and non-Stone Edge Infernape. Furthermore, an immunity to Seismic Toss from Blissey and the ability to cripple bulky walls with Trick or avoid status with Substitute also defines its role as a stallbreaker, allowing it to take advantage of numerous bulky Pokemon in the tier; in general, it matches up outstandingly against bulkier teams, carving through them without much effort. Unfortunately, its poor bulk and lackluster Speed tier mean that even Choice Scarf variants are outsped and KOed by most of the tier's Choice Scarf users, such as Krookodile, Hydreigon, and Terrakion, and by very fast Mega Evolutions such as Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, and Mega Aerodactyl. Non-Choice Scarf variants have to worry even more about being outrun, as even the likes of Heracross, Nidoking, and Entei are faster. Additionally, a vulnerability to all entry hazards, but most notably Stealth Rock, compromises Chandelure's ability to pivot into the few Pokemon it checks and gives it fewer opportunities to wallbreak.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Memento / Hidden Power Ice / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick / Memento
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Infiltrator / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast allows Chandelure to revenge kill Cobalion and Swords Dance Scizor and dent any slower Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Shadow Ball is used to revenge kill Latias and is overall a very reliable STAB move. Memento allows Chandelure to punish the likes of Hydreigon and Krookodile once it has done its job already, potentially allowing teammates to set up on these Pokemon. Hidden Power Ice can be used to OHKO faster variants of Gliscor and gives Chandelure a better matchup against the likes of Hydreigon and Mega Sceptile, but it does lose out on Memento's utility. Energy Ball, on the other hand, is an option to dent the plethora of Water-types in the tier, such as Primarina, Mega Blastoise, physically defensive Jellicent, and Gastrodon, which are all 2HKOed, and physically defensive Suicune, which needs some prior damage for Chandelure to guarantee a 2HKO. Finally, Trick is used to cripple the likes of Blissey, Florges, Porygon2, and Umbreon if Chandelure's Choice Scarf is not needed.
Set Details
========
A Choice Scarf allows Chandelure to outrun the likes of Mega Manectric, Mega Pidgeot, Serperior, Cobalion, and Gliscor. Chandelure's EVs are fully invested in Special Attack and Speed to allow Chandelure to hit as hard and as fast as possible, while a Timid nature is mandatory for Chandelure to outspeed what it needs to, as it's not worth missing out on Mega Manectric for a slight power boost. As for the ability, Infiltrator is the preferred one because it allows Chandelure to overcome Substitute users such as Gliscor, Serperior, and opposing Chandelure. Flame Body, on the other hand, dissuades and punishes Pursuit users such as Alolan Muk and U-turn users such as Scizor by having the chance to burn them. Finally, Flash Fire can boost Chandelure's own firepower and make it more of a threat to switch into if it successfully pivots into a Fire-type move from the likes of Entei or Infernape.
Usage Tips
========
Chandelure can switch into Cobalion and Infernape pretty safely. Other methods of bringing it in include double switching or doing so after a teammate is KOed. You should save Chandelure for revenge killing troublesome Pokemon, such as the likes of Cobalion, Infernape, and Serperior; however, keep in mind that faster Mega Evolutions such as Aerodactyl, Sceptile, and Beedrill still get the jump on it. Similarly, once Chandelure has fulfilled its role, you may want to use Memento on Pokemon that it can't KO and use them as setup bait for another teammate; the likes of Hydreigon, Krookodile, and Swampert are notable targets. If Chandelure is still useful to the team, however, avoid switching it into entry hazards, as Chandelure would get weakened and fail to accomplish its role. If Chandelure is facing a stall or balance team and doesn't need its Choice Scarf, feel free to use Trick, as the likes of Blissey, Porygon2 and Umbreon switch in; do keep in mind that this does require some prediction, as by looking at your team archetype, an opponent might identify Chandelure as a Choice Scarf user and pivot into something else to scout for Trick. Overall, due to it holding Choice Scarf, Chandelure is a little prediction reliant; for example, by sending Chandelure in to revenge kill a Serperior, you might want to use Shadow Ball instead of Fire Blast to 2HKO a weakened Mantine that could try to switch in. Considering Chandelure's passable Speed tier with Choice Scarf, keep in mind Shadow Ball can clean up most weakened teams that lack a Ghost-resistant Pokemon or have had their Ghost-resistant Pokemon KOed or weakened already, so in these scenarios, it's important to preserve Chandelure.
Team Options
========
Chandelure fits well on balance and bulky offense archetypes; therefore, wallbreakers such as Heracross, Mamoswine, Serperior, and Nidoking can take advantage of Chandelure's switch-ins, making it easier for it to clean up late-game. Chandelure appreciates entry hazard removal, so the likes of Gliscor, Starmie, and Empoleon are great partners. Also, Belly Drum Azumarill, Shell Smash Barbaracle, Calm Mind Latias, and other sweepers that appreciate Chandelure's Memento support are great picks. Dragonium Z Latias variants and SubSeed Serperior also appreciate Chandelure weakening their checks, as the likes of Alolan Muk can be worn down by Chandelure. Switch-ins to common Choice Scarf users and fast Mega Evolutions are also appreciated, as they outspeed Chandelure and threaten to OHKO or 2HKO it. As such, Scizor, which can threaten all the faster Mega Evolutions with an offensive set, and the likes of Gliscor, Amoonguss, Suicune, and Alolan Muk all pair nicely with it and cover these offensive threats.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Substitute
item: Ghostium Z / Leftovers
ability: Infiltrator / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast hits outstandingly hard at +1 or +2; Ghost-type checks such as Mandibuzz, Umbreon, and Alolan Muk are heavily threatened by a boosted Fire Blast. Similarly, Flamethrower can be used over Fire Blast for consistency. Shadow Ball allows Chandelure to take advantage of the lack of reliable Ghost-resistant Pokemon in the tier and allows it to hit the likes of Latias, Jellicent, and Tentacruel for solid damage. It is also powered into a one-time Never-Ending Nightmare, which very often nets KOs on the likes of Tentacruel and physically defensive Suicune after Shadow Ball damage and always OHKOes Azumarril and Mega Altaria after Stealth Rock. With Calm Mind, Chandelure can be a big nuisance to bulkier teams and finds setup opportunities against Pokemon that can't really touch it, such as Sylveon and Amoonguss. Substitute gives Chandelure a notable setup opportunity on Blissey, which is generally a blanket check to most special attackers on stall archetypes. Similarly, the move can be used when forcing out a Pokemon to avoid having to rely on prediction.
Set Details
========
Ghostium Z powers up Shadow Ball into a 160-Base Power Never-Ending Nightmare, but Leftovers can be used if a teammate is already holding a Z-Crystal, and its recovery is important for matchups against bulkier teams. Special Attack and Speed are fully invested to allow Chandelure to hit harder and faster, and a Timid nature is preferred for Chandelure to outspeed base 70s such as Decidueye, Volcanion, Cloyster, and Magneton. Abilitywise, Infiltrator allows Chandelure to bypass Substitutes from the likes of Serperior and Gliscor; Flame Body has the potential to burn and punish Pursuit users such as Krookodile and Alolan Muk as well as U-turn users such as Scizor; and Flash Fire boosts Chandelure's Fire-type moves to surprising levels after a Calm Mind boost or two, but triggering it may be a little situational.
Usage Tips
========
When forcing switches, especially in situations where the opponent can pivot into both of Chandelure's moves by having a Mega Absol and an Azumarill, for example, Chandelure should use Substitute to avoid mind games. Against Pokemon that can't really touch Chandelure outside of status moves, such as Blissey, Amoonguss, and the odd Toxic Florges, Chandelure should use Substitute as well to avoid Toxic and proceed to dent any incoming Pokemon or use Calm Mind to make it even more of a threat. A risky but possible situation is to bluff a Choice Scarf by sending Chandelure into Serperior or Cobalion and proceed to set up a Substitute or a Calm Mind from there. Overall, if you're facing stall or balance, Chandelure's HP should be preserved for it to really wallbreak and stallbreak the opposing team; it's also worth preserving it's Z-Move for Unaware and Haze users such as Quagsire and Tentacruel. Against more offensive teams, Chandelure should use its Z-Move if behind a Substitute and facing something that none of its other attacks can KO, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Altaria after Stealth Rock damage.
Team Options
========
This Chandelure set fits on bulky offense and balance teams looking for a stallbreaker. Entry hazard removal is extremely important, with the likes of Gliscor, Latias, Scizor, and Starmie being great picks. Fighting-types such as Heracross, Cobalion, and Terrakion and Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Klefki, and Primarina have great matchups against the Dark-types that annoy Chandelure. Since Chandelure already matches up exceptionally well against bulkier teams, defensive partners that can deal with offense are great options, with Suicune, Hippowdon, Florges, being some examples. Similarly, revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon, Choice Scarf Mienshao, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Manectric, and Mega Sharpedo, as well as sweepers that appreciate Chandelure's ability to decimate bulkier teams are very welcome as teammates. Belly Drum Azumarill, Serperior, and Mega Sharpedo are great examples.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Memento / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Specs
ability: Infiltrator / Flame Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast hits incredibly hard when boosted by Choice Specs and is capable of denting even Pokemon that resist Fire such as Hydreigon and Mega Sharpedo. Shadow Ball is a reliable STAB move and hits most of the tier for neutral damage. Memento is useful for creating setup opportunities for teammates but should only be used once Chandelure has played its role of breaking through bulkier teams. Alternatively, Energy Ball is important, as it prevents specially defensive Water-types, such as Suicune and Gastrodon, from walling Chandelure. Finally, Trick is key for crippling the likes of Blissey and Mantine against teams where Chandelure appreciates switching moves over the added power.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs allows Chandelure to hit insanely hard and is especially useful for breaking down the opponent's walls for its teammates. Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment allows Chandelure to be as strong and fast as possible, while a Timid nature is preferred to get the jump on Cloyster, Decidueye, Magneton, Volcanion, Feraligatr, and Necrozma. Chandelure has a variety of viable abilities: Infiltrator is preferred for dealing with Substitute users such as Serperior and Gliscor; Flame Body has the chance to burn Pursuit and U-turn users such as Alolan Muk and Scizor respectively; and Flash Fire makes it difficult for an opponent to switch anything into Chandelure after the ability is triggered, especially since Chandlure can pivot into Fire-types such as Infernape and Entei with some prediction.
Usage Tips
========
Chandelure can plow through balance teams, so it's important to keep it healthy in matchups against those; however, against more offensive teams where its wallbreaking capabilities aren't as appreciated, Chandelure should be used as a pivot to the likes of Cobalion, Infernape, and Scizor, but it can also be brought in via U-turn or Volt Switch, through doubles switches, or after a teammate is KOed. Be sure to keep your prediction game at its best when using Chandelure, as Choice Specs variants do require some prediction to work to its fullest potential. On a team with Mandibuzz, Latias, Crawdaunt, and Porygon2, for example, it might be difficult to decide which move to pick to still keep the momentum.
Team Options
========
Klefki is a great teammate, as Chandelure really appreciates the speed control provided by Thunder Wave and the residual damage from Spikes. In a similar vein, Stealth Rock users such as Cobalion, Mamoswine, Krookodile, Nihilego, Swampert, and Hippowdon are very much appreciated by Chandelure, as the residual damage weakens the few Chandelure switch-ins to the point where the opponent struggles to reliably pivot into it. Defog users such as Gliscor, Latias, and Scizor are heavily appreciated, as Chandelure's crippling Stealth Rock weakness really limits its effectiveness; similarly, Rapid Spin users such as Starmie, Mega Blastoise, and Tentacruel also pair well with it and give more freedom for allies to set entry hazards. Fighting-types like Cobalion, Heracross, and Terrakion pose a threat to most of Chandelure's switch-ins and appreciate Chandelure weakening their switch-ins, while Fairy-types also threaten the Dark-types that annoy Chandelure, with Togekiss, Primarina, and the aforementioned Klefki falling into this category nicely. Finally, late-game cleaners such as Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, Belly Drum Azumarill, Calm Mind Latias, and Swords Dance Cobalion are benefited by Chandelure's efforts in wallbreaking and wearing their checks down, and they also appreciate Memento, which gives them a solid setup opportunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Taunt is an option to further haunt (pun AND rhyme in one, not bad at all) bulkier teams; however, Substitute is generally conceived perceived as slightly better overall due to the better matchup against offense. A set consisting of running Will-O-Wisp and Hex can be used to punish incoming Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Muk and Krookodile, but Chandelure is much more effective using one of the aforementioned sets. Overheat is an option on Choice Specs sets, making Chandelure hit a lot harder, but it is rather inconvenient for Chandelure to be forced out when attacking. Finally, Pain Split can be used in conjunction with Substitute, but overall, Substitute sets are rather strapped for moveslots.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Hydreigon**: Hydreigon not only is not only the safest switch-in to Chandelure in the tier but also threatens it with a super effective Dark Pulse.
**Revenge Killers**: Due to Chandelure's middling Speed, the likes of Mega Aerodacyl, +1 Mega Sharpedo, Choice Scarf Krookodile, and countless other notable Pokemon can outspeed and either OHKO or 2HKO it. Nihilego, Mega Manectric, and Mega Pidgoet outspeed Chandelure as well, but they should be careful of Choice Scarf variants.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Alolan Muk, Mega Aerodactyl, and Krookodile, despite the latter two failing to reliably switch in, can Pursuit trap Chandelure without much struggle.
**Entry Hazards**: Chandelure's susceptibility to Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, and Spikes prevent prevents it from acting as an offensive pivot, as they severely hinder Chandelure's ability to take hits.
**Walls**: Specially Defensive Umbreon and Snorlax can switch in even on Choice Specs sets and often 2HKO Chandelure with Foul Play and Earthquake, respectively. Blissey can use Toxic against non-Substitute sets and stall out Chandelure. Tentacruel and Suicune avoid the 2HKO from sets other than Choice Specs. Still, Chandelure can cripple all of these with Trick.
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