Silvally-Steel (QC 2/3) WRITTEN

erisia

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Best Steel-type y/y



[OVERVIEW]
Pure Steel typing and good special bulk give Silvally-Steel a solid niche with typing alone, shoring up many defensive cores and shutting down Grass-types like Lilligant, Whimsicott, and Ice-types such as Vanilluxe, as well as some Psychic-types like Uxie, that normally lack coverage for Steel-types. A decent utility movepool with access to Parting Shot, Thunder Wave, and Roar lets Silvally-Steel function well as a defensive pivot without being setup fodder in most circumstances, and makes it somewhat difficult for offensive Pokemon to switch into, as a teammate can usually take advantage of them thereafter. However, Silvally-Steel relies on Rest + Sleep Talk or cleric support for recovery, which can make it somewhat easy to wear down over the course of a match. This is compounded by a lack of access to Leftovers or Eviolite in comparison to Steelix and Ferroseed respectively. Silvally-Steel can do decent damage to targets such as offensive Whimsicott, Sneasel, and most other Ice-types, but struggles to directly KO most other Pokemon due to its lack of power. Furthermore, Silvally-Steel is hit hard by strong physical attackers, particularly those with super-effective STAB attacks such as Emboar, Hitmonlee, and Virizion. Overall, Silvally-Steel competes strongly with Steelix, which boasts access to Stealth Rock, Leftovers, a superior Defense stat, and an immunity to Electric-type attacks; only use Silvally-Steel if your team needs its specific niches more.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Iron Head / Flash Cannon
move 2: Parting Shot
move 3: Thunder Wave / Rest
move 4: Roar / Sleep Talk
item: Steel Memory
ability: RKS System
nature: Careful / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

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

Iron Head is a decently strong physical STAB attack that hits targets such as Sneasel and Cryogonal hard. While Multi Attack is slightly stronger, it lacks the 30% chance to flinch foes that are paralysed by Thunder Wave, or against slower targets in general, which can be useful with Toxic Spikes support. The extra damage from Multi Attack is rarely consequential due to Silvally-Steel's low attacking power. Flash Cannon is similarly powerful and hits physically defensive targets such as bulky Whimsicott and Rhydon harder. It also doesn't make contact which can be handy against foes like Garbodor and Druddigon. Parting Shot debuffs offensive switch-ins to Silvally-Steel and lets it bring in responses safely and easily. It can be used to effectively scout the opponent's team, or just to make a foe setup fodder for a teammate such as Mismagius or Virizion. Thunder Wave paralyses offensive Pokemon such as Sneasel and Sceptile, letting your teammates take advantage of them, and can be used on offensive switch-ins to Silvally-Steel such as Choice Scarf Emboar, Hitmonlee, and Delphox. Roar lets Silvally-Steel force out opposing setup sweepers that might want to set up on of Silvally-Steel, such as Braviary and Calm Mind Spiritomb. It also lets Silvally-Steel spread entry hazard damage and Toxic Spikes with appropriate team support. Rest and Sleep Talk give Silvally-Steel reliable recovery, but at the cost of some of its overall utility value. A set using these two moves can alternatively use a STAB attack and Roar to be a more reliable response to setup sweepers that use Sleep moves such as Vivillon, Lilligant, and Jynx, if this is preferable to Parting Shot.
Set Details
========

Steel Memory is required for Silvally-Steel to be used in a match. Maximum special bulk and a Careful nature lets Silvally-Steel consistently check powerful Grass-types such as Lilligant and Sceptile, as well as powerful Ice-types such as Vanilluxe. It also lets Silvally-Steel capitalise on its Dragon-type resistance more effectively, being able to pivot into Draco Meteors from the likes of Exeggutor-Alola and Drampa. Silvally-Steel's special bulk is what differentiates it from Steelix, so investing in Defense is usually a sign you should be using Steelix instead. Similarly, investing Speed detracts from Silvally-Steel's bulk as it takes a lot of Speed investment to reach relevant threats such as Vanilluxe.
Usage Tips
========

Silvally-Steel usually fits best on balance teams that require a sturdy Steel-type that doesn't fall immediately to special attacks or coverage like Hidden Power Fire. Switch Silvally-Steel into powerful special attacks such as Leaf Storm from Sceptile or Rotom-Mow, Blizzard from Vanilluxe, or Draco Meteor from Drampa, to force these threats out. Silvally-Steel can then use Parting Shot to bring in a teammate on the opponent's response, to further debuff the original attacker if it stays in. Alternatively, Thunder Wave can be used to punish switch-ins if this is more helpful to its team at the time. Roar similarly does this by inflicting more entry hazard damage on key attackers such as Charizard and Sneasel if the opponent fails to control entry hazards effectively. Silvally-Steel can also be brought into setup sweepers such as Lilligant and Vivillon to force them out with Roar. Use Rest to keep Silvally-Steel healthy if your team lacks Wish support. Silvally can mostly still do its job effectively while asleep thanks to Sleep Talk, although it can be inconsistent at pivoting out at the right moments due to Sleep Talk's randomness. Silvally-Steel rarely actually needs to attack; the best moment to use your STAB attacks is when the opponent is unlikely to switch a vulnerable threat out for various reasons, at which point you can inflict chip damage or get a KO.
Team Options
========

Silvally-Steel pairs well with setup sweepers and wallbreakers that need to be brought into targets safely, such as Sceptile, Houndoom, or Barbaracle. Cleaners such as Sceptile appreciate paralysis support from Thunder Wave for dealing with Choice Scarf users, while setup sweepers such as Houndoom and Barbaracle can capitalise on foes weakened by Parting Shot. Silvally-Steel forces a lot of switches due to its bulk, Parting Shot, and Roar, so it can really capitalise on strong entry hazard support. Garbodor and Qwilfish can provide Spikes and deal with Fighting-types and physical attackers in general, but should be paired with a sturdy Ground-type check. Seismitoad and Mesprit can set up Stealth Rock while sharing good defensive synergy with Silvally-Steel. Weezing provides Toxic Spikes while also providing a Ground-type immunity and solid Fighting-type resist. If Silvally-Steel isn't running Rest and Sleep Talk, Aromatisse and Vaporeon are excellent partners that can keep it healthy with Wish while healing burns or other status conditions with Heal Bell. The former also checks Fighting-types while the latter checks Fire- and Ground-types to an extent. Silvally-Steel can also form a good pivot core with Volt Switch users such as Lanturn, Rotom-Mow, Rotom, and Scyther, keeping its team's momentum up in a wider variety of situations.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Toxic is another status move that can punish certain responses to Silvally-Steel and defensive Pokemon such as Seismitoad and Uxie that don't mind coming in otherwise. Silvally-Steel can attempt to use some of its special coverage moves to hit certain niche targets. Flamethrower lets it deal with Steelix, Ferroseed, and Grass-types more consistently. Ice Beam hits both Grass- and Dragon-types in one slot, doing particularly well against Exeggutor-Alola. Thunderbolt hits Water-types such as Kabutops and Barbaracle that may try to power through it; the latter two moves also hit Braviary if it tries to come in and block Parting Shot. However, these moves are fairly weak even against super-effective targets and come at the opportunity cost of not running a more generally useful status move. Explosion and U-turn are alternative pivoting options that can inflict chip damage on foes if that is prefered to Parting Shot's debuff for some reason. Silvally-Steel finds opportunities to set up with Swords Dance but doesn't have the power or coverage to really capitalise on the move, being somewhat outclassed in this aspect by even the likes of Klinklang and Mawile.
Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-type Pokemon such as Emboar and Incineroar can both switch into Silvally-Steel's STAB attacks with impunity and force it out with super effective STAB attacks of their own. While Delphox, Charizard, and Houndoom are less keen to switch in due to a potential Thunder Wave, they can also deal significant damage if they manage to come in safely.

**Ground-type Pokemon**: Ground-type Pokemon such as Steelix and Rhydon can hit Silvally-Steel for immense damage with their powerful Earthquakes, while also being able to block Thunder Wave without any issues. While Rhydon takes a fair amount of damage from Flash Cannon, it does not OHKO the offensive set or 2HKO the defensive set, and Iron Head does not do a meaningful amount of damage.

**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Most Fighting-type Pokemon can hit Silvally-Steel hard on its weaker Defense stat, with Machamp, Emboar, and Hitmonlee all being able to reliably OHKO it from full health. While some of these Pokemon fear switching into Thunder Wave, Machamp enjoys the Guts boost while Scrafty is either indifferent or shrugs it off with Shed Skin later.

**Defiant Pokemon**: Silvally-Steel often uses Parting Shot to gain momentum and dissuade offensive switch-ins simultaneously, and Defiant users love to switch into these move and instantly reach +3 Attack. Braviary and Passimian can easily force Silvally-Steel out with Superpower and Close Combat respectively, while being able to punish defensive switch-ins with a boosted U-Turn.

**Taunt**: Silvally-Steel heavily relies on its status moves to be useful, and Taunt blocks these moves and locks it into weak STAB attacks. This lets faster Taunt users such as Drapion and Mismagius shut it down and make it significantly easier for the opposing team to deal with.
 
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erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
This is ready for various QC people to say that Silvally-Steel is no longer relevant etc.
 

etern

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NU Leader
Overview:
  • I'd add a sentence at the end of the overview to talk about how Silvally-Steel competes with Steelix for a Steel-type slot (Which gives a lot more role compression, specifically Stealth Rock + Electric-Immunity), so it should only be used if their team needs Silvally's specific niches.
great work, 1/3
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
This is ready for 2/3, I'm going on a temporary hiatus from Pokémon but I should be able to finish this without problems.
 

Punchshroom

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Unless Multi-Attack hits certain damage benchmarks that I'm not aware of, I don't see how it would outperform Iron Head, which has more PP and a flinch rate. You could even outright omit all Multi-Attack mentions except for in OO.

QC 2/3
 

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