Rotom-H (QC 2/3) (started by Nollan)

[noobcubed]

[Overview]

<p>With Rotom-W presenting itself as a top tier threat in the Doubles metagame, one would obviously wonder why anyone would use Rotom-H instead. The answer is in its unique Fire - Electric typing, which in tandem with Levitate gives it a Ground-type immunity as well as resistances to Electric-, Flying-, Ice-, Grass-, Bug-, Fire-, and Steel-type attacks, many of which are very common in the metagame. Thanks to Rotom-H's large array of resistances, it can reliably check a lot of common threats, including Zapdos, Thundurus, Metagross, Scizor, and Volcarona that lack Quiver Dance. Additionally, it is also one of the few Fire-types in the Doubles metagame that isn't reliably countered by Water-types, courtesy of its Electric-type STAB. It is also efficient offensively, as a Fire Gem-boosted Overheat is capable of frying common threats in the tier such as Scizor, Metagross, and Mamoswine.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, Rotom-H has a lot of factors that hold it back from fame. Common sand and rain teams can easily work around it thanks to bulky Rock-types and speedy Swift Swim attackers, respectively. This is further compounded by its two weaknesses to the Rock- and Water-type, which will often seem perfectly chosen to set Rotom-H up for failure against the aforementioned types of teams. These problems aren't enough to stop Rotom-H though, as its niche of handling threats such as Zapdos and Thundurus is one that very few other Pokemon can reliably fill.</p>

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Protect
item: Fire Gem
nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set aims to use Rotom-H's offensive potential and large set of resistances to function as a bulky hit-and-run attacker. The typical plan is simple: switch in on something that can do very little to Rotom-H, such as Thundurus, slam it with a Fire Gem-boosted Overheat and then make a hasty exit. Then the set can come back in late-game and proceed to pick off whatever remains with Thunderbolt and Hidden Power. The Hidden Power of choice usually depends on what your team needs help with; Hidden Power Ice is a good option for picking off Dragon-types, especially Garchomp, while Hidden Power Grass hits the majority of Ground-types, notably Gastrodon. Protect rounds off the set, allowing Rotom-H to scout for dangerous attacks while stalling out field effects like Tailwind and Trick Room. It also lets Rotom-H function as bait for attacks while its partner takes out a threat or two.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Choice Specs is an option for this set, as it allows you to repeatedly dish out heavy damage. However, Fire Gem is preferred so that you can make use of Protect, which is very useful on Rotom-H due to its weakness to the ever-so-common Water- and Rock-types. An alternative spread of 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe and a Timid nature is also possible, as it allows Rotom-H to move before opposing Rotom-W, Heracross, Mamoswine, Suicune, Chandelure, and bulky Thundurus. It is not favorable though, as Rotom-H loses a lot of bulk, which is one of its most valuable assets. Another option is an alternative spread of 252 HP / 104 SpA / 148 SpD and a Calm nature, which allows Rotom-H to survive a Dragon Gem-boosted Draco Meteor off of Timid Latios 100% of the time. However, this spread is not preferred because Rotom-H loses a lot of offensive power and can't do much back to Latios anyway. Finally, Volt Switch can be used over Thunderbolt, allowing Rotom-H to do some damage while switching out and can potentially allow for a teammate to get a safe switch in assuming Rotom-H uses Volt Switch after the opposition has moved.</p>

<p>When it comes to teammates, Hydreigon one of the best for Rotom-H offensively, as their combined STAB attacks can dish out heavy damage to the majority of the Doubles metagame. Additionally, Fighting-types such as Hitmontop, Breloom, and Conkeldurr, and any other Pokemon that have a hatred of Flying-types will work well alongside this set, as Rotom-H can reliably handle the majority of Flying-types in the tier. </p>

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[Overview]

• Benefits from an amazing Electric/Fire typing that comes with a Ground-type immunity, and a plethora of resistances including Electric, Ice, Grass, Fire, Steel, Flying, and Bug, which allows it to check many threats in the metagame, such as Volcarona, Zapdos, Thundurus, Metagross and more
• One of the few Fire-types in the metagame who cannot be reliably checked by Water-types
• Offensively, it packs quite a punch, Overheat and Thunderbolt are great offensive STAB attacks to have
• Has a lot of trouble with rain & sand, and faces competition from Rotom-W, who can operate against rain & sand teams
• Also is tortured in that its two weaknesses, Rock-type and Water-type, are common attacking types

[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Protect
item: Fire Gem
nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

• This set aims to make the most of Rotom-H's offensive potential
• Fire Gem Overheat is a powerful attack, and deals heavy damage to anything that doesn't resist it or is not named Cresselia
• Thunderbolt provides secondary STAB and forms good offensive coverage alongside Overheat, hitting Water-types that Overheat can't dent
• The third slot is best filled by Hidden Power Ice, as it can handle Dragons and deal consistent damage to Thundurus and Zapdos, who can't hit Rotom-H very hard in return; however, Hidden Power Grass can hit Gastrodon, who would otherwise wall this set, and also hits various Rock- and Ground-types that your STABs can't reliably dent harder
• Protect rounds off the set with needed protection against harmful attacks

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• Fire Gem is the preferred item, as it allows Overheat to put a sizable dent in everything.
• A speedier spread of 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe with a Timid Nature can be used to outspeed things like Heracross, Mamoswine, Suicune, Chandelure, and bulky Thundurus, but Rotom-H's large array of resistances will usually make the bulk preferable
• A bulkier spread of 252 HP / 104 SpA / 148 SpD and a Calm nature can be used, which allows you to survive a Dragon Gem-boosted Draco Meteor from Timid natured Latios. Unfortunately, you lose a lot of offensive power, so it generally isn't preferred, especially when your only Fire-type STAB will cripple your offensive power even further after you use it
• Volt Switch in an option over Thunderbolt for this set, allowing Rotom-H to at least do some damage while switching out following the use of Overheat
• This set pairs well with Hydreigon, who can form a powerful attacking core with Rotom-H (Their STABs cover the weak points of the other; Heatran is one the few pokemon that can tank their combined STABs, and even then it has to beware Earth Power from Hydreigon). Anything with Flying-type weakness (Hitmontop, Conkeldurr, Amoonguss) also appreciates Rotom-H's support, as it can reliably counter the majority of Flying-type attackers in the tier. Conkeldurr and Hitmontop are also helpful to Rotom-H, as they remove dangerous Rock-types (like TTar) and can protect it from spread moves like Muddy Water and Rock Slide via Wide Guard. Similarly, anything with Bug-type weakness (Cresselia, Tyranitar) will pair well with it, as it walls non-QD variants of Volcarona, Genesect and Scizor (as well as other not as common Bug-types) very well too. However, Quiver Dance Volcarona can get past it thanks to the increase in Special Defense after a boost, so speedy Pokemon with access to Rock Slide (Garchomp, Terrakion, Choice Scarf Lando-T) will make helpful partners for Rotom-H. Sunny Day Cresselia gets a special mention, as it can give Overheat a notable boost while giving trouble to the sand and rain teams that Rotom-H hates.

[Other Options]

• ChestoRest can be used over Hidden Power to take advantage of all those resistances, but Rotom-H will lose out on precious coverage as a result (this applies to almost any support option)
• Thunder Wave can slow down fast threats like Latios and Terrakion that would otherwise fear you very little
• Will O' Wisp can cripple TTar and Garchomp among other things, which is the main selling point of why you would use it
• Dual Screens
• Sunny Day
• Swagger
• Psych Up, so you can remove the SpA drops from Overheat, though tbh switching will probably be better in most cases
• Discharge, so you cna be the ultimate noob user of DisQuake
• Choice Scarf or Choice Specs w/ Trick

[Checks and Counters]

• Rain teams
• Water types who laugh at Thunderbolt, like Gastrodon (assuming no Hidden Power Grass)
• Fast Rock- or Water-types, like Terrakion and umm... offensive Suicune under Tailwind?
• Rock types who won't die to Thunderbolt, like Tyranitar and Rhyperior
• Dragon-types, such as Hydreigon and Latios, resist its STAB attacks and don't take much damage from Hidden Power Ice. They can proceed to blow the oven apart with Dragon Gem Draco Meteor

 

[Enki]

in my opinion, is really great, then if it turns with char Y, its weakness in rotom-W dramatically reduced, since its problems are mainly those, I would say to try, I personally have always used Rotom-W.
Rotom-H is to use scarf / specs I think you get the maximum, in core with hydreigon is really not bad.
I am going to try it ;)

 

[noobcubed]

in my opinion, is really great, then if it turns with char Y, its weakness in rotom-W dramatically reduced, since its problems are mainly those, I would say to try, I personally have always used Rotom-W.
Rotom-H is to use scarf / specs I think you get the maximum, in core with hydreigon is really not bad.
I am going to try it ;)

Thank you for your input. Unfortunately this is a Gen V analysis, a metagame with which I am more familiar with but which was a bit slow getting off the ground and hence we have catch-up work to do (that's also why the recommended item is a Fire Gem, an item not available in Kalos). Still, even if it was a slightly odd way of it happening, I'm glad I've encouraged you to give Rotom-H a try.

 

[Stratos]

please put the skeleton in hide tags so i have a basis to qc this writeup from

 

[noobcubed]

Pwnemon Oops, rookie error. Fixed now.

 

[Magcargo]

Pocket Noobcubed allowed me to take this over.