Though it looks like it would fold to any special attack, the paper sword Kartana has seen a surge in viability recently, especially proving successful in Smogon's first-ever Snake Tournament. Its claims to fame are an insane base 181 Attack and its ability to set up on OU's most common defensive Pokemon, including defensive Landorus-T and Toxapex, with Substitute and Swords Dance. Kartana also has a few other options in Defog for utility, Choice Scarf to act as a revenge killer, and Black Hole Eclipse for certain switch-ins.
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 8 HP / 188 Atk / 60 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
With Substitute and Swords Dance, Kartana can use Ferrothorn, Toxapex, defensive Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Mega Sableye as setup bait. Unboosted Kartana can be easy to wall, but at +2, Leaf Blade does huge damage to neutral targets; Sacred Sword OHKOes Kyurem-B; and All-Out Pummeling even OHKOes foes that resist it like Volcarona and, most of the time, Mega Charizard Y. Make sure to utilize Beast Boost to grab a +1 whenever possible! The bulk EVs ensure Toxapex's Scald cannot break Kartana's Substitutes. Finally, support from slow pivots and hazard removers is greatly appreciated to ease Kartana's setup.
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike / Defog
A more standard sweeping set is also effective, as Kartana's good defensive typing and Defense stat still give it many opportunities to set up. Beast Boost means Swords Dance Kartana is incredibly difficult to stop once it gets started. Fightinium Z + Sacred Sword allows Kartana to break through Pokemon that can easily take its STAB moves such as Celesteela, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor. At +2, it even OHKOes Volcarona without risking a Flame Body burn. Kartana also forces out hazard setters like defensive Landorus-T and Ferrothorn, so if your team appreciates the role compression, it can run Defog. Alternatively, Darkinium Z + Night Slash can help against foes like Zapdos and Mega Venusaur.
While Kartana's Grass / Steel typing lets it threaten many metagame staples, it also leaves Kartana walled by Pokemon such as Zapdos and Mega Charizard Y unless it has the appropriate Z-Move at its disposal. Additionally, its base 31 Special Defense means it is easily revenge killed by faster special attackers and cannot set up on virtually any special attacker. Despite this, Kartana is still a powerful threat in OU—get out there and give it a try!
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 8 HP / 188 Atk / 60 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
With Substitute and Swords Dance, Kartana can use Ferrothorn, Toxapex, defensive Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Mega Sableye as setup bait. Unboosted Kartana can be easy to wall, but at +2, Leaf Blade does huge damage to neutral targets; Sacred Sword OHKOes Kyurem-B; and All-Out Pummeling even OHKOes foes that resist it like Volcarona and, most of the time, Mega Charizard Y. Make sure to utilize Beast Boost to grab a +1 whenever possible! The bulk EVs ensure Toxapex's Scald cannot break Kartana's Substitutes. Finally, support from slow pivots and hazard removers is greatly appreciated to ease Kartana's setup.
Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike / Defog
A more standard sweeping set is also effective, as Kartana's good defensive typing and Defense stat still give it many opportunities to set up. Beast Boost means Swords Dance Kartana is incredibly difficult to stop once it gets started. Fightinium Z + Sacred Sword allows Kartana to break through Pokemon that can easily take its STAB moves such as Celesteela, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor. At +2, it even OHKOes Volcarona without risking a Flame Body burn. Kartana also forces out hazard setters like defensive Landorus-T and Ferrothorn, so if your team appreciates the role compression, it can run Defog. Alternatively, Darkinium Z + Night Slash can help against foes like Zapdos and Mega Venusaur.
While Kartana's Grass / Steel typing lets it threaten many metagame staples, it also leaves Kartana walled by Pokemon such as Zapdos and Mega Charizard Y unless it has the appropriate Z-Move at its disposal. Additionally, its base 31 Special Defense means it is easily revenge killed by faster special attackers and cannot set up on virtually any special attacker. Despite this, Kartana is still a powerful threat in OU—get out there and give it a try!
Last edited by a moderator: