UU Rotom-W (Revamp)

A Cake Wearing A Hat

moist and crusty
is a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Battle Simulator Moderatoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Community Leader
qc: nuked, dodmen, eyan
gp: marthaa, eien

[OVERVIEW]

Rotom-W is one of the primary Pokemon used on VoltTurn teams due to its excellence as a pivot that can pressure Ground-types, and it is also a good source of entry hazard removal for offensive teams. Its Speed tier can be used in a variety of ways in order to outpace slow Pokemon such as Crawdaunt and Scizor or to outspeed Pokemon such as Nidoking and Timid Suicune when Rotom-W runs maximum Speed investment. Rotom-W's ability Levitate combined with its set of resistances lets it deal with many Pokemon in UU like Mega Pidgeot, Scizor, Gliscor, and Mega Aerodactyl. Its Electric / Water typing also works well offensively, letting Rotom-W pressure Ground-types aside from Seismitoad, such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Mega Steelix, which block its Volt Switch, with fear of a super effective Hydro Pump. Rotom-W has many status options in Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, which give it many methods to cripple foes that would otherwise check it like Alolan Muk and Latias. Unfortunately, its typing gives it an especially bad matchup versus common Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Serperior, Amoonguss, and Mega Altaria. Rotom-W has good defenses, but its low HP stat undermines this, and its only semi-reliable recovery makes staying healthy throughout a match difficult.

[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic / Defog
move 4: Defog / Pain Split
item: Iapapa Berry / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Volt Switch is used to gain momentum for the team while dealing damage to foes and pressuring Water-types like Mantine and Starmie. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's only Water-type STAB attack, and it gives Rotom-W the ability to threaten Ground-types like Hippowdon, Mamoswine, and Gliscor, which otherwise stop it from switching out with Volt Switch. Will-O-Wisp can be used to hinder physical attackers like Scizor, Azumarill, and Alolan Muk. Will-O-Wisp also lets Rotom-W deal minor chip damage to other switch-ins like Hydreigon and Seismitoad. Toxic allows Rotom-W to cripple common switch-ins like Latias, Seismitoad, and Serperior with much more chip damage than Will-O-Wisp. However, lacking Will-O-Wisp leaves Rotom-W mostly useless versus Alolan Muk and Scizor. Defog gives Rotom-W the ability to remove entry hazards. Pain Split lets Rotom-W recover health relatively well due to its low HP stat, but it is easily exploitable and somewhat unreliable. It is also possible to run both Defog and Pain Split if Rotom-W forgoes using Will-O-Wisp and Toxic. Thunder Wave is an option for Rotom-W that lets it cut the Speed of faster attackers like Hydreigon and Latias.

Set Details
========

A spread of 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe with a Bold nature grants Rotom-W a good amount of physical bulk while outspeeding maximum Speed Adamant Scizor and Jolly Crawdaunt. A faster spread of 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 Spe with a Bold nature can also be used, which lets Rotom-W outspeed Timid Primarina at the cost of having noticeably less physical bulk. Another alternative spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe with a Bold nature can let Rotom-W outspeed everything up to Jolly Azumarill if the rest of the team does not need it to outspeed the aforementioned faster threats. An Iapapa Berry is a good option for an item if not running Pain Split, as this gives a one-time 50% health recovery when Rotom-W is below 25% of its maximum HP. Leftovers is an alternative option that lets Rotom-W recover health over time, and it is best used in conjunction with Pain Split. Waterium Z can also be used in order to help versus Scizor and Gliscor, but the loss of any form of passive recovery makes Rotom-W more easily worn down than with its other item options.

Usage Tips
========

The combination of Volt Switch and Hydro Pump to threaten Ground-types lets Rotom-W be potent at gaining momentum for your team. Send Rotom-W in on resisted attacks such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Mega Pidgeot's attacks or on free switches from another team member's U-turn or Volt Switch. Be cautious, though, because Rotom-W is not as bulky as it seems at first glance, and its flawed recovery leaves it prone to being damaged and worn down quickly by unresisted attacks like Choice Band Scizor's U-turn and Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge, so be careful deciding when to switch Rotom-W directly into attacks. If a switch into a threat like Latias or Serperior is predicted, use Volt Switch to gain momentum by switching in your own check to the aforementioned threat. Use your status move of choice as a safe middle-ground play for when you are unsure whether your opponent will switch to a Ground-type or stay in. Rotom-W can easily come in on most Stealth Rock users and remove entry hazards with Defog when needed due to its good bulk and immunity to all hazards except for Stealth Rock, but beware that using it often causes the team to lose some momentum.

Team Options
========

Rotom-W functions well on bulky offense teams, and it works especially well on VoltTurn teams. As a byproduct, U-turn and Volt Switch users like Scizor, Mega Beedrill, Hydreigon, and Infernape are great partners for Rotom-W, as they keep the momentum that Rotom-W provides and give more opportunities for it to switch in. Mega Manectric enjoys having Rotom-W as a partner because Rotom-W can switch into Ground-type attacks for Mega Manectric and threaten most Ground-types with the use of Hydro Pump, and the momentum Rotom-W provides also helps to bring Mega Manectric in safely. In addition, Rotom-W benefits from the offensive pressure provided by another, more offensive Electric-type. Rotom-W partners well with Pursuit trappers such as Mega Absol, Krookodile, and Alolan Muk, as Rotom-W can bait in Pokemon like Latias and Celebi then switch out with Volt Switch into the Pursuit user to trap them. Wallbreakers like Terrakion and Mamoswine make good partners, as they can beat special walls like Blissey and Alolan Muk, and they can also take advantage of the free switches provided by Rotom-W's slow Volt Switch. Pokemon that enjoy entry hazard removal like Talonflame and Mega Aerodactyl make good use of having Rotom-W as a partner if it is running Defog. Setup sweepers like Scizor, Cobalion, Gliscor, and Mega Altaria make good partners for Rotom-W, as they can take advantage of the residual damage that Rotom-W inflicts on the opposing team with Volt Switch and its status options. Hazard support from Pokemon like Gliscor, Cobalion, and Klefki makes Rotom-W's job of wearing down the opposing team easier to perform. Klefki also has good overall synergy with Rotom-W due to its ability to check opposing Grass- and Dragon-types for Rotom-W, and Rotom-W checks Fire- and Ground-types for Klefki.

[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Thunder Wave / Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fire
item: Waterium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Volt Switch lets Rotom-W create momentum for the team while dealing impressive damage to foes. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's Water-type STAB move and strongest regular attack that lets Rotom-W threaten Ground-types like Mamoswine, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, which would otherwise prevent it from using Volt Switch. The 185-Base Power Hydro Vortex that Rotom-W can use thanks to Waterium Z allows it to OHKO Pokemon that it normally couldn't such as Cobalion and Scizor, and it also allows Rotom-W to 2HKO Pokemon such as Swampert. In addition, it gives Rotom-W a one-time perfectly accurate Water-type STAB attack. Thunderbolt is Rotom-W's stronger Electric-type STAB move that lets it 2HKO Empoleon and other bulky Water-type Pokemon without making it switch out in the process. Thunderbolt is also more reliable as an attack than Hydro Pump due to its perfect accuracy. Thunder Wave gives Rotom-W the ability to paralyze faster Pokemon like Latias, Hydreigon, and Haxorus. Hidden Power Grass can be used in order to beat Seismitoad because none of Rotom-W's other attacks can touch it. Hidden Power Fire is an alternative option that allows Rotom-W to have a secure way to 2HKO bulky Scizor, OHKO offensive Scizor, and deal super effective damage to Grass-types like Serperior and Celebi.

Set Details
========

A simple spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature lets Rotom-W hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Pokemon like Nidoking and Heracross. Waterium Z allows Rotom-W to use Hydro Vortex. It also reduces the damage Rotom-W takes from Knock Off, which assists Rotom-W against Dark-types like Mega Absol.

Usage Tips
========

If Rotom-W is not attempting to KO the foe, it should be using Volt Switch to generate momentum for your team. Send Rotom-W in primarily on free switches from other Volt Switch or U-turn users to minimize the amount of residual damage Rotom-W takes. It can also be sent in on Pokemon that cannot damage it much if needed, such as Gliscor and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Thunderbolt and Hydro Pump should be used to KO or heavily damage weakened Pokemon or Pokemon weak to Electric- and Water-type attacks without switching out. Rotom-W should save its Z-Move for when it would be most useful for KOing or heavily damaging an opposing Pokemon that is unlikely to switch out, such as Klefki, Nihilego, or Scizor. It can also save its Z-Move for when it would be important to have a perfectly accurate Water-type attack, such as versus Pokemon like Gliscor and Hippowdon.

Team Options
========

Bulky offense teams appreciate having Rotom-W, and it performs exceptionally well on VoltTurn teams that do not have Mega Manectric. Rotom-W partners well with other U-turn and Volt Switch users like Mega Beedrill, Scizor, Infernape, and Hydreigon, since they give Rotom-W more opportunities to come in. Pursuit users like Krookodile, Mega Absol, and Alolan Muk appreciate the free switches Rotom-W provides in order to trap threats such as Celebi and Latias more easily. Strong physical attackers like Mega Beedrill and Crawdaunt can help to break past the special walls like Alolan Muk and Blissey that Rotom-W struggles to defeat. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Klefki, and Gliscor is appreciated by Rotom-W, as the residual damage provided by hazards can help Rotom-W get KOs.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Rotom-W can viably use Choice items like Choice Scarf and Choice Specs with Trick to permanently hinder defensive switch-ins like Blissey and Amoonguss. A Choice Scarf set is especially decent due to its good matchup against offense teams. Offensive Rotom-W can use Psychium Z with Dream Eater in order to KO Amoonguss. However, this is largely team dependent due to its overall uselessness if the opponent does not have Amoonguss. This also makes Rotom-W give up the utility and power provided by Waterium Z, and it forces Rotom-W to forgo either Thunderbolt or its fourth move options, which limits its reliability and utility.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Seismitoad and Gastrodon**: Seismitoad and Gastrodon completely wall any Rotom-W lacking both Toxic and Hidden Power Grass, and Seismitoad can also viably run Refresh to counteract Toxic.

**Grass-types**: Rotom-W's only weakness is to Grass-type attacks, and it cannot do much to Pokemon like Amoonguss, Celebi, Serperior, and Mega Sceptile with its STAB attacks. Amoonguss is immune to Toxic and gets free Regenerator recovery off of Rotom-W, Celebi can cure its own status with Natural Cure, and Mega Sceptile is immune to Rotom-W's Electric-type attacks while being 4x resistant to Hydro Pump. Serperior is also notable because it is able to avoid having its Substitute broken by bulky Rotom-W's attacks, and Serperior can switch into and use Leaf Storm on Rotom-W to gain an easy +2 Special Attack boost.

**Dragon-types**: Rotom-W has difficulty dealing damage to Dragon-types like Latias, Hydreigon, Haxorus, and Mega Altaria because they resist all of Rotom-W's STAB attacks. However, most of these Dragon-types are very vulnerable to Thunder Wave. Mega Altaria is a notable exception due to its ability to either avoid Rotom-W's status options with its pre-Mega ability of Natural Cure and its access to Heal Bell and Refresh or take advantage of the statuses with Facade.

**Wallbreakers**: Strong offensive Pokemon like Heracross and Terrakion, while not necessarily able to switch in, can break past Rotom-W or otherwise wear it down very quickly.
 
Last edited:
Moves
  • Mention that Toxic is better against Facade Mega Altaria as well because it wears it down over time.
Team Options (Defensive)
  • Nidoking is a weird example here since it isn't commonly seen running rocks. You could probably mention Cobalion or Terrakion instead.
Team Options (Offensive)
  • You should mention physical attackers here again because offensive Rotom-W struggles too against special walls.
Checks and Counters
  • Mention that Amoonguss has Regenerator as well so it just recovers for free on rotom
QC 1/3, nice write
 
241 speed is more than Rotom really needs, Timid Primarina isn't used and at that point stuff like Aero's Stone Edge digs into Rotom too much for comfort. I think a better benchmark would be 230 (Adamant Scizor) with the Azu benchmark in set details like you've already got.

Iapapa Berry is also really nice on Defog + status variants, better than Lefties by far imo.

Also think Wisp should be slashed before Toxic, without it Rotom just loses to stuff like Scizor and Coba, and half the Seismitoads I've seen run Refresh anyway.

OO shouldn't trash Scarf so hard, it's a decent set that performs well against offense and if it's not getting its own set, it should at least get a full line describing that it's decent.
 

autumn

only i will remain
is a Site Content Manageris a Member of Senior Staffis a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis an Administrator Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
C&C Leader
GP 1/2
add remove comments

[OVERVIEW]

Rotom-W is one of the primary Pokemon used on VoltTurn teams due to its excellence as a pivot that can pressure Ground-types, and it is also a good source of entry hazard removal for offensive teams. Its Speed tier can be used in a variety of ways in order to outpace slow Pokemon such as Crawdaunt and Scizor, (RC) or to outspeed Pokemon such as Nidoking and Timid Suicune when Rotom-W runs maximum Speed investment. Rotom-W's ability Levitate combined with its set of resistances lets it Rotom-W deal with many Pokemon in UU like Mega Pidgeot, Scizor, Gliscor, and Mega Aerodactyl. Its Electric / Water typing also works well offensively, letting Rotom-W pressure Ground-types aside from Seismitoad, such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Mega Steelix, which block its Volt Switch, with fear of a super effective Hydro Pump. Rotom-W has many status options in Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, which give it many methods to cripple foes that would otherwise check it like Alolan Muk and Latias. Unfortunately, its typing gives it an especially bad matchup versus common Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Serperior, Amoonguss, Latias, and Mega Altaria, Serperior, and Amoonguss. Rotom-W has good defenses, but its low HP stat undermines this, and its only semi-reliable recovery makes staying healthy throughout a match difficult.

[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic / Defog
move 4: Defog / Pain Split
item: Iapapa Berry / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Volt Switch is used to gain momentum for the team while dealing damage to foes and pressuring Water-types like Mantine and Starmie. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's only Water-type STAB attack, and it gives Rotom-W the ability to threaten Ground-types like Hippowdon, Mamoswine, and Gliscor, which would otherwise stop it from switching out with Volt Switch. Will-O-Wisp can be used to hinder physical attackers like Scizor, Azumarill, and Alolan Muk. Will-O-Wisp also lets Rotom-W deal minor chip damage to other switch-ins like Hydreigon and Seismitoad. Toxic allows Rotom-W to cripple common switch-ins like Latias, Seismitoad, and Serperior with much higher more chip damage than Will-O-Wisp. However, lacking Will-O-Wisp leaves Rotom-W mostly useless versus Alolan Muk and Scizor. Defog gives Rotom-W the ability to remove entry hazards, but it either has to give up the ability to status common checks to it or the ability to recover health in order to use it. Pain Split lets Rotom-W recover health relatively well due to its low HP stat, but it is easily exploitable and somewhat unreliable. Thunder Wave is an option for Rotom-W that lets it cut the Speed of faster attackers like Hydreigon and Latias.

Set Details
========

A spread of 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe with a Bold nature grants Rotom-W a good amount of physical bulk while outspeeding maximum Speed Adamant Scizor and Jolly Crawdaunt. A faster spread of 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 Spe with a Bold nature can also be used, which lets Rotom-W outspeed Timid Primarina at the cost of having noticeably less physical bulk. Another alternative spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe with a Bold nature can let Rotom-W outspeed everything up to Jolly Azumarill if the rest of the team does not need it Rotom-W to outspeed the aforementioned faster threats. An Iapapa Berry is a good option for an item if not running Pain Split, as this gives a one-time 50% health recovery when Rotom-W is below 25% of its maximum HP. Leftovers is an alternative option which that lets Rotom-W recover health over time, and it is best used in conjunction with Pain Split. Waterium Z can also be used in order to help versus Scizor and Gliscor, but the loss of any form of passive recovery makes Rotom-W more easily worn down than with its other item options.

Usage Tips
========

The combination of Volt Switch and Hydro Pump to threaten Ground-types lets Rotom-W be potent at gaining momentum for your team. Send Rotom-W in on resisted attacks such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Mega Pidgeot's attacks or on free switches from another team member's U-turn or Volt Switch. Be cautious, though, that Rotom-W is not as bulky as it seems at first glance, and its flawed recovery leaves it prone to being damaged and worn down quickly by unresisted attacks like Choice Band Scizor's U-turn and Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge, so be careful deciding when to switch Rotom-W directly into attacks. If a switch-in to a threat like Latias or Serperior is predicted, use Volt Switch to gain momentum by switching in your own check to the aforementioned threat. Use your status move of choice as a safe middle-ground play for when you are unsure whether your opponent will switch to a Ground-type or stay in. Rotom-W can easily come in on most Stealth Rock users and remove entry hazards with Defog when needed due to its good bulk and immunity to all hazards except for Stealth Rock, but beware that using it often causes the team to lose some momentum.

Team Options
========

Rotom-W functions well on bulky offense teams, (AC) and it works especially well on VoltTurn teams. As a byproduct, U-turn and Volt Switch users like Scizor, Mega Beedrill, Hydreigon, and Infernape are great partners for Rotom-W, as they keep the momentum that Rotom-W provides and they also give more opportunities for Rotom-W it to switch in. Mega Manectric enjoys having Rotom-W as a partner because Rotom-W can switch into Ground-type attacks for Mega Manectric and threaten most Ground-types with the use of Hydro Pump, and the momentum Rotom-W provides also helps to bring Mega Manectric in safely. In addition, Rotom-W benefits from the offensive pressure provided by another, more offensive Electric-type. Rotom-W partners well with Pursuit trappers such as Mega Absol, Krookodile, and Alolan Muk, as Rotom-W can bait in Pokemon like Latias and Celebi then switch out with Volt Switch into the Pursuit user to trap them. Wallbreakers like Terrakion and Mamoswine make good partners, as they can beat special walls like Blissey and Alolan Muk, and they can also take advantage of the free switches provided by Rotom-W's slow Volt Switch. Pokemon that enjoy entry hazard removal support like Talonflame and Mega Aerodactyl make good use of having Rotom-W as a partner if it is running Defog. Setup sweepers like Scizor, Cobalion, Gliscor, and Mega Altaria make good partners for Rotom-W, as they can take advantage of the residual damage that Rotom-W inflicts on the opposing team with Volt Switch and its status options. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Gliscor, Cobalion, and Klefki makes Rotom-W's job of wearing down the opposing team easier to perform. Klefki also has good overall synergy with Rotom-W due to its ability to check opposing Grass- and Dragon-types for Rotom-W, and Rotom-W checks Fire- and Ground-types for Klefki.

[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Thunder Wave / Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fire
item: Waterium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Volt Switch lets Rotom-W create momentum for the team while dealing impressive damage to foes. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's Water-type STAB move and strongest regular attack that lets Rotom-W threaten Ground-types like Mamoswine, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, which would otherwise prevent it from using Volt Switch. The 185-Base Power Hydro Vortex that Rotom-W can use thanks to Waterium Z lets it allows it to OHKO Pokemon that it normally couldn't such as Cobalion and Scizor, and it also allows Rotom-W to 2HKO Pokemon such as Swampert. In addition, it gives Rotom-W a one-time perfectly accurate Water-type STAB attack. Thunderbolt is Rotom-W's stronger Electric-type STAB move that lets Rotom-W it 2HKO Empoleon and other bulky Water-type Pokemon without making it switch out in the process. Thunderbolt is also more reliable as an attack than Hydro Pump due to its perfect accuracy. Thunder Wave gives Rotom-W the ability to paralyze faster Pokemon like Latias, Hydreigon, and Haxorus. Hidden Power Grass can be used in order to beat Seismitoad because none of Rotom-W's other attacks can touch it. Hidden Power Fire is an alternative option that allows Rotom-W to have a secure way to 2HKO bulky Scizor, OHKO offensive Scizor, and deal super effective damage to Grass-types like Serperior and Celebi.

Set Details
========

A simple spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature lets Rotom-W hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Pokemon like Nidoking and Heracross. Waterium Z allows Rotom-W to use Hydro Vortex. It also reduces the damage Rotom-W takes from Knock Off, which assists Rotom-W against Dark-types like Mega Absol.

Usage Tips
========

If Rotom-W is not attempting to KO the foe or remove hazards, it should be using Volt Switch to generate momentum for your team. Send Rotom-W in primarily on free switches from other Volt Switch or U-turn users to minimize the amount of residual damage Rotom-W takes. It can also be sent in on Pokemon that cannot damage it much if needed, such as Gliscor and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Thunderbolt and Hydro Pump should be used to KO or heavily damage weakened Pokemon or Pokemon weak to Electric- and Water-type attacks without switching out. Rotom-W should save its Z-Move for when it would be most useful for KOing or heavily damaging an opposing Pokemon that is unlikely to switch out, such as Klefki, Nihilego, or Scizor. It can also save its Z-Move for when it would be important to have a perfectly accurate Water-type attack, such as versus Pokemon like Gliscor and Hippowdon.

Team Options
========

Bulky offense teams appreciate having Rotom-W, and it performs exceptionally well on VoltTurn teams that do not have Mega Manectric. Rotom-W partners well with other U-turn and Volt Switch users like Mega Beedrill, Scizor, Infernape, and Hydreigon, (AC) since they give Rotom-W more opportunities to come in. Pursuit users like Krookodile, Mega Absol, and Alolan Muk appreciate can take advantage of the free switches Rotom-W provides in order to trap threats such as Celebi and Latias more easily. Strong physical attackers like Mega Beedrill and Crawdaunt can help to break past the special walls like Alolan Muk and Blissey that Rotom-W struggles to defeat. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Klefki, and Gliscor is appreciated by Rotom-W, as the residual damage provided by entry hazards can help Rotom-W get KOs.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Rotom-W can viably use Choice items like Choice Scarf and Choice Specs with Trick to permanently hinder defensive switch-(AH)ins like Blissey and Amoonguss. A Choice Scarf set is especially decent due to its good matchup against offense teams. Offensive Rotom-W can use Psychium Z with Dream Eater in order to KO Amoonguss. However, this is largely team dependent due to its overall uselessness if the opponent does not have Amoonguss. This also makes Rotom-W give up the utility and power provided by Waterium Z, and it forces Rotom-W to forgo either Thunderbolt or its other fourth move options, which limits its reliability and utility.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Seismitoad and Gastrodon**: Seismitoad and Gastrodon completely wall any Rotom-W lacking Toxic or Hidden Power Grass, and Seismitoad can also viably run Refresh to counteract Toxic.

**Grass-types**: Rotom-W's only weakness is to Grass-type attacks, and it cannot do much to Pokemon like Amoonguss, Celebi, Serperior, and Mega Sceptile with its STAB attacks. Amoonguss is immune to Toxic and gets free Regenerator recovery off of Rotom-W, Celebi can cure its own status with Natural Cure, and Mega Sceptile is immune to Rotom-W's Electric-type attacks while being 4x resistant to Hydro Pump. Serperior is also notable because it is able to avoid having its Substitute broken by bulky Rotom-W's attacks, and Serperior can switch into and use Leaf Storm on Rotom-W to gain an easy +2 Special Attack boost.

**Dragon-types**: Rotom-W has difficulty dealing damage to Dragon-types like Latias, Hydreigon, Haxorus, and Mega Altaria because they resist all of Rotom-W's STAB attacks. However, most of these Dragon-types are very vulnerable to Thunder Wave. Mega Altaria is a notable exception due to its ability to either avoid Rotom-W's status options with its pre-Mega ability of Natural Cure and its access to Heal Bell and Refresh or take advantage of the statuses with Facade.

**Wallbreakers**: Strong offensive Pokemon like Heracross and Terrakion, while not necessarily able to switch in, can break past Rotom-W or otherwise wear it down very quickly.
 
add
remove
(comment)

[OVERVIEW]

Rotom-W is one of the primary Pokemon used on VoltTurn teams due to its excellence as a pivot that can pressure Ground-types, and it is also a good source of entry hazard removal for offensive teams. Its Speed tier can be used in a variety of ways in order to outpace slow Pokemon such as Crawdaunt and Scizor or to outspeed Pokemon such as Nidoking and Timid Suicune when Rotom-W runs maximum Speed investment. Rotom-W's ability Levitate combined with its set of resistances lets it deal with many Pokemon in UU like Mega Pidgeot, Scizor, Gliscor, and Mega Aerodactyl. Its Electric / Water typing also works well offensively, letting Rotom-W pressure Ground-types aside from Seismitoad, such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, and Mega Steelix, which block its Volt Switch, with fear of a super effective Hydro Pump. Rotom-W has many status options in Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, which give it many methods to cripple foes that would otherwise check it like Alolan Muk and Latias. Unfortunately, its typing gives it an especially bad matchup versus common Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Serperior, Amoonguss, Latias (Content comment: you just said Rotom-W can cripple this, though?) , and Mega Altaria. Rotom-W has good defenses, but its low HP stat undermines this, and its only semi-reliable recovery makes staying healthy throughout a match difficult.

[SET]
name: Bulky Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic / Defog
move 4: Defog / Pain Split
item: Iapapa Berry / Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Volt Switch is used to gain momentum for the team while dealing damage to foes and pressuring Water-types like Mantine and Starmie. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's only Water-type STAB attack, and it gives Rotom-W the ability to threaten Ground-types like Hippowdon, Mamoswine, and Gliscor, which otherwise stop it from switching out with Volt Switch. Will-O-Wisp can be used to hinder physical attackers like Scizor, Azumarill, and Alolan Muk. Will-O-Wisp also lets Rotom-W deal minor chip damage to other switch-ins like Hydreigon and Seismitoad. Toxic allows Rotom-W to cripple common switch-ins like Latias, Seismitoad, and Serperior with much more chip damage than Will-O-Wisp. However, lacking Will-O-Wisp leaves Rotom-W mostly useless versus Alolan Muk and Scizor. Defog gives Rotom-W the ability to remove entry hazards, but it either has to give up the ability to status common checks to it or the ability to recover health in order to use it. Pain Split lets Rotom-W recover health relatively well due to its low HP stat, but it is easily exploitable and somewhat unreliable. (The Defog versus Pain Split sentence makes it sound like Pain Split is the preferred option in spite of being slashed behind Defog because "give up... the ability to recover health" implies the natural state is without giving it up. My suggestion would be to remove the bolded section, and then after discussing Pain Split, discuss how it's possible to run both Pain Split and Defog if you drop a status move) Thunder Wave is an option for Rotom-W that lets it cut the Speed of faster attackers like Hydreigon and Latias.

Set Details
========

A spread of 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe with a Bold nature grants Rotom-W a good amount of physical bulk while outspeeding maximum Speed Adamant Scizor and Jolly Crawdaunt. A faster spread of 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 Spe with a Bold nature can also be used, which lets Rotom-W outspeed Timid Primarina at the cost of having noticeably less physical bulk. Another alternative spread of 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe with a Bold nature can let Rotom-W outspeed everything up to Jolly Azumarill if the rest of the team does not need it to outspeed the aforementioned faster threats. An Iapapa Berry is a good option for an item if not running Pain Split, as this gives a one-time 50% health recovery when Rotom-W is below 25% of its maximum HP. Leftovers is an alternative option that lets Rotom-W recover health over time, and it is best used in conjunction with Pain Split. Waterium Z can also be used in order to help versus Scizor and Gliscor, but the loss of any form of passive recovery makes Rotom-W more easily worn down than with its other item options.

Usage Tips
========

The combination of Volt Switch and Hydro Pump to threaten Ground-types lets Rotom-W be potent at gaining momentum for your team. Send Rotom-W in on resisted attacks such as Scizor's Bullet Punch and Mega Pidgeot's attacks or on free switches from another team member's U-turn or Volt Switch. Be cautious, though, that because Rotom-W is not as bulky as it seems at first glance, and its flawed recovery leaves it prone to being damaged and worn down quickly by unresisted attacks like Choice Band Scizor's U-turn and Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge, so be careful deciding when to switch Rotom-W directly into attacks. If a switch-in switch into a threat like Latias or Serperior is predicted, use Volt Switch to gain momentum by switching in your own check to the aforementioned threat. Use your status move of choice as a safe middle-ground play for when you are unsure whether your opponent will switch to a Ground-type or stay in. Rotom-W can easily come in on most Stealth Rock users and remove entry hazards with Defog when needed due to its good bulk and immunity to all hazards except for Stealth Rock, but beware that using it often causes the team to lose some momentum.

Team Options
========

Rotom-W functions well on bulky offense teams, and it works especially well on VoltTurn teams. As a byproduct, U-turn and Volt Switch users like Scizor, Mega Beedrill, Hydreigon, and Infernape are great partners for Rotom-W, as they keep the momentum that Rotom-W provides and give more opportunities for it to switch in. Mega Manectric enjoys having Rotom-W as a partner because Rotom-W can switch into Ground-type attacks for Mega Manectric and threaten most Ground-types with the use of Hydro Pump, and the momentum Rotom-W provides also helps to bring Mega Manectric in safely. In addition, Rotom-W benefits from the offensive pressure provided by another, more offensive Electric-type. Rotom-W partners well with Pursuit trappers such as Mega Absol, Krookodile, and Alolan Muk, as Rotom-W can bait in Pokemon like Latias and Celebi then switch out with Volt Switch into the Pursuit user to trap them. Wallbreakers like Terrakion and Mamoswine make good partners, as they can beat special walls like Blissey and Alolan Muk, and they can also take advantage of the free switches provided by Rotom-W's slow Volt Switch. Pokemon that enjoy entry hazard removal support like Talonflame and Mega Aerodactyl make good use of having Rotom-W as a partner if it is running Defog. Setup sweepers like Scizor, Cobalion, Gliscor, and Mega Altaria make good partners for Rotom-W, as they can take advantage of the residual damage that Rotom-W inflicts on the opposing team with Volt Switch and its status options. Entry Hazard support from Pokemon like Gliscor, Cobalion, and Klefki makes Rotom-W's job of wearing down the opposing team easier to perform. Klefki also has good overall synergy with Rotom-W due to its ability to check opposing Grass- and Dragon-types for Rotom-W, and Rotom-W checks Fire- and Ground-types for Klefki.

[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Thunder Wave / Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fire
item: Waterium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Volt Switch lets Rotom-W create momentum for the team while dealing impressive damage to foes. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's Water-type STAB move and strongest regular attack that lets Rotom-W threaten Ground-types like Mamoswine, Hippowdon, and Gliscor, which would otherwise prevent it from using Volt Switch. The 185-Base Power Hydro Vortex that Rotom-W can use thanks to Waterium Z allows it to OHKO Pokemon that it normally couldn't such as Cobalion and Scizor, and it also allows Rotom-W to 2HKO Pokemon such as Swampert. In addition, it gives Rotom-W a one-time perfectly accurate Water-type STAB attack. Thunderbolt is Rotom-W's stronger Electric-type STAB move that lets it 2HKO Empoleon and other bulky Water-type Pokemon without making it switch out in the process. Thunderbolt is also more reliable as an attack than Hydro Pump due to its perfect accuracy. Thunder Wave gives Rotom-W the ability to paralyze faster Pokemon like Latias, Hydreigon, and Haxorus. Hidden Power Grass can be used in order to beat Seismitoad because none of Rotom-W's other attacks can touch it. Hidden Power Fire is an alternative option that allows Rotom-W to have a secure way to 2HKO bulky Scizor, OHKO offensive Scizor, and deal super effective damage to Grass-types like Serperior and Celebi.

Set Details
========

A simple spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid nature lets Rotom-W hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Pokemon like Nidoking and Heracross. Waterium Z allows Rotom-W to use Hydro Vortex. It also reduces the damage Rotom-W takes from Knock Off, which assists Rotom-W against Dark-types like Mega Absol.

Usage Tips
========

If Rotom-W is not attempting to KO the foe or remove entry hazards (Content comment: this set doesn't have Defog, though?), it should be using Volt Switch to generate momentum for your team. Send Rotom-W in primarily on free switches from other Volt Switch or U-turn users to minimize the amount of residual damage Rotom-W takes. It can also be sent in on Pokemon that cannot damage it much if needed, such as Gliscor and Choice Scarf Krookodile. Thunderbolt and Hydro Pump should be used to KO or heavily damage weakened Pokemon or Pokemon weak to Electric- and Water-type attacks without switching out. Rotom-W should save its Z-Move for when it would be most useful for KOing or heavily damaging an opposing Pokemon that is unlikely to switch out, such as Klefki, Nihilego, or Scizor. It can also save its Z-Move for when it would be important to have a perfectly accurate Water-type attack, such as versus Pokemon like Gliscor and Hippowdon.

Team Options
========

Bulky offense teams appreciate having Rotom-W, and it performs exceptionally well on VoltTurn teams that do not have Mega Manectric. Rotom-W partners well with other U-turn and Volt Switch users like Mega Beedrill, Scizor, Infernape, and Hydreigon, since they give Rotom-W more opportunities to come in. Pursuit users like Krookodile, Mega Absol, and Alolan Muk appreciate the free switches Rotom-W provides in order to trap threats such as Celebi and Latias more easily. Strong physical attackers like Mega Beedrill and Crawdaunt can help to break past the special walls like Alolan Muk and Blissey that Rotom-W struggles to defeat. Entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mamoswine, Klefki, and Gliscor is appreciated by Rotom-W, as the residual damage provided by entry hazards can help Rotom-W get KOs.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Rotom-W can viably use Choice items like Choice Scarf and Choice Specs with Trick to permanently hinder defensive switch-ins like Blissey and Amoonguss. A Choice Scarf set is especially decent due to its good matchup against offense teams. Offensive Rotom-W can use Psychium Z with Dream Eater in order to KO Amoonguss. However, this is largely team dependent due to its overall uselessness if the opponent does not have Amoonguss. This also makes Rotom-W give up the utility and power provided by Waterium Z, and it forces Rotom-W to forgo either Thunderbolt or its other fourth move options, which limits its reliability and utility.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Seismitoad and Gastrodon**: Seismitoad and Gastrodon completely wall any Rotom-W lacking both Toxic or and Hidden Power Grass (Currently implies you need both), and Seismitoad can also viably run Refresh to counteract Toxic.

**Grass-types**: Rotom-W's only weakness is to Grass-type attacks, and it cannot do much to Pokemon like Amoonguss, Celebi, Serperior, and Mega Sceptile with its STAB attacks. Amoonguss is immune to Toxic and gets free Regenerator recovery off of Rotom-W, Celebi can cure its own status with Natural Cure, and Mega Sceptile is immune to Rotom-W's Electric-type attacks while being 4x resistant to Hydro Pump. Serperior is also notable because it is able to avoid having its Substitute broken by bulky Rotom-W's attacks, and Serperior can switch into and use Leaf Storm on Rotom-W to gain an easy +2 Special Attack boost.

**Dragon-types**: Rotom-W has difficulty dealing damage to Dragon-types like Latias, Hydreigon, Haxorus, and Mega Altaria because they resist all of Rotom-W's STAB attacks. However, most of these Dragon-types are very vulnerable to Thunder Wave. Mega Altaria is a notable exception due to its ability to either avoid Rotom-W's status options with its pre-Mega ability of Natural Cure and its access to Heal Bell and Refresh or take advantage of the statuses with Facade.

**Wallbreakers**: Strong offensive Pokemon like Heracross and Terrakion, while not necessarily able to switch in, can break past Rotom-W or otherwise wear it down very quickly.


Good job GP 2/2
 
Last edited:

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top