QC: galbia / 49 / Arikado
GP: Psywaves / antemortem
Overview
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Fletchinder has a unique ability in Gale Wings, which gives priority to Flying-type moves, making it a great late-game cleaner. It also has a decent defensive typing in Fire / Flying, which provides several good resistances that allow it to set up on several offensive Pokemon, such as Escavalier. Furthermore, Fletchinder has access to utility moves such as Roost, which lets it recover when needed, and Will-O-Wisp, which allows it to cripple and slowly wear down its own counters. However, Fletchinder has no secondary STAB attacks, which would be great for hitting most Pokemon resistant to Acrobatics. It is also pretty frail, which means that despite its good defensive typing, it won't have many opportunities to switch in. Lastly, Fletchinder has a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which takes away half of Fletchinder's health when it is switched in, often forcing it to Roost and requiring it to be used with some form of entry hazard control.
Swords Dance
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name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Acrobatics
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Roost
ability: Gale Wings
evs: 148 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 104 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Swords Dance boosts Fletchinder's underwhelming Attack stat to a level where it can plow through teams with Acrobatics. Acrobatics is Fletchinder's most powerful STAB attack, as it has 110 Base Power without an item and priority thanks to Gale Wings. Will-O-Wisp cripples several physical attackers that try to come in to beat Fletchinder, such as Rhyperior, by burning them. Roost provides reliable recovery for Fletchinder, letting it recover first in most situations by virtue of Gale Wings.
Set Details
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Gale Wings is one of the few reasons to use Fletchinder, as it gives priority to all of its Flying-type moves. Not using an item doubles the power of Acrobatics, which turns Fletchinder into a dangerous late-game cleaner. The EV spread gives Fletchinder's mediocre bulk a good boost and lets it avoid the 2HKO from Assault Vest Escavalier's Knock Off, while the Attack EVs and an Adamant nature greatly increase its damage output. The Speed EVs let Fletchinder's Acrobatics go before maximum Speed Emboar's Sucker Punch, making it fail. They also let Fletchinder outspeed Adamant Pangoro, Skuntank, and Golbat.
Usage Tips
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Use Swords Dance on a predicted switch, as it greatly boosts Fletchinder's Attack, allowing it to plow through opposing teams. It can also be used against Pokemon it forces out, such as Pangoro, or it can be set up on resisted hits. If Fletchinder is used early-game, use Will-O-Wisp to spread burns and weaken foes for other teammates. Fletchinder is very frail, and thus shouldn't be switched into any attack aside from those that it resists, such as Grass-type attacks. It is also very useful to remove Stealth Rock before you switch into Fletchinder, as otherwise it will have half of its HP cut upon switching in which will make set up difficult. Bringing Fletchinder in with a slow U-turn or Volt Switch is recommended, as it doesn't have enough bulk to switch into too many threats.
Team Options
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Dugtrio is a good teammate for its ability to trap and beat opposing Rock- and Electric-types for Fletchinder, as well as provide Memento support, which gives Fletchinder an easier time setting up a Swords Dance. In return, Fletchinder can take Grass-type attacks aimed at Dugtrio. Whimsicott can use U-turn to bring Fletchinder in and provide Memento support, as well as beat a handful of Water- and Rock-types. Entry hazard removal support from Pokemon such as Shiftry and Hitmonlee is mandatory, as Stealth Rock will cut half of Fletchinder's HP upon switching in. Grass-types such as Virizion and Rotom-C can take on the bulky Water-types that threaten Fletchinder. Physical wallbreakers such as Choice Band Pangoro and Choice Band Tyrantrum can break through or at least weaken physical walls such as Alomomola. Slow Volt Switch users such as Eelektross can bring in Fletchinder safely.
Other Options
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Taunt can prevent foes from using status moves, but Fletchinder has no room for it because Will-O-Wisp and Roost provide more useful utility. U-turn allows Fletchinder to do some damage, switch out of its checks and counters, and gain momentum, but Fletchinder has no space for it either. Tailwind doubles the Speed stat of Fletchinder and its teammates. Natural Gift along with a Liechi Berry is a Grass-type coverage option to use against Rhyperior and Quagsire, but only works once, which makes it situational. A bulkier set with Eviolite is a final option, but this way, Acrobatics does far less damage, and Fletchinder lacks enough initial bulk to benefit from the Eviolite boost.
Checks & Counters
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**Rock-types**: Rock-types such as Aurorus, Omastar, Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Regirock, and Kabutops do not only resist Acrobatics, but can also OHKO Fletchinder with their super effective STAB attacks. However, physically offensive Rock-types certainly don't like getting burned.
**Physical Bulky Pokemon**: Bulky Pokemon such as Mega Camerupt, Druddigon, Granbull, and Cresselia can take Fletchinder's hits with ease and beat it with a coverage attack.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Jolteon and Eelektross can beat Fletchinder with one of their STAB attacks. However, Jolteon is OHKOed by a +2 Acrobatics after Stealth Rock and a small amount of prior damage.
**Water-types**: Water-types such as Lanturn, Slowking, and Clawitzer can KO Fletchinder with their STAB attacks. Lanturn stands out as a counter, as it barely takes anything from Fletchinder's Acrobatics.
**Stealth Rock**: Stealth Rock halves Fletchinder's health when it is switched in, either leaving it at low health or forcing it to Roost.
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