QC: Pak / Artoria / Eyan
GP: Mr. Uncompetitive / marthaa
[OVERVIEW]
Aurorus's niche is as a lead for Aurora Veil hyper offense teams. It sets up Stealth Rock and hail, allowing Alolan Sandslash, which it is always partnered with, to set up Aurora Veil itself. Aurorus's typing allows it to deal with most Defog users, such as Mega Altaria, Gliscor, and Hydreigon, well, and its support movepool, featuring Encore and Thunder Wave, allows it to play around those it can't beat. However, an atrocious defensive typing coupled with low Speed leaves Aurorus extremely vulnerable to a lot of Pokemon in the metagame, so it is unable to do much other than function as a one-dimensional suicide lead for Aurora Veil teams.
[SET]
name: Aurora Veil Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Freeze-Dry
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Blizzard
move 4: Encore / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is used as soon as possible to help Aurorus's teammates sweep by taking a little of the foe's health upon switch-in, which can put some Pokemon in KO range and break potential Focus Sashes. Freeze-Dry is a STAB move that hits Water-types such as Mantine, Swampert, Primarina, and Azumarill super effectively. Hidden Power Fire allows Aurorus to KO Scizor and is generally used as a coverage move against Steel-types. Encore stops opposing Pokemon from freely removing Stealth Rock and setting up on Aurorus by locking them into a certain move, and it can also be used to create setup opportunities for teammates. Common targets of Encore include Mega Aggron and Klefki. Blizzard can be used over Hidden Power Fire, but although it hits harder than Freeze-Dry and will never miss in hail, it leaves Aurorus unable to beat Scizor. Thunder Wave can be used over Encore to cripple faster threats such as Cobalion and Infernape.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread coupled with a Timid nature allows Aurorus to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Modest Primarina. Snow Warning is necessary to let Alolan Sandslash set Aurora Veil and help Aurorus deal with opposing Focus Sash users in a single turn. A Focus Sash is used to more reliably set up Stealth Rock at lead. A Modest nature can be used to deal more damage, but it comes at the cost of Primarina outspeeding Aurorus.
Usage Tips
========
Aurorus should be used as a lead and set up Stealth Rock as early as possible. Against opposing leads that carry Taunt, such as Azelf, attacking them is generally recommended. Lead Kabutops should be OHKOed immediately through a combination of Freeze-Dry and hail; if it attacks, it is unlikely that Aurorus will set up Stealth Rock but neither will your opponent. If it opts to set up Stealth Rock, Aurorus's Focus Sash will remain intact, and it can still set up Stealth Rock on its partners; Alolan Sandslash can likely remove the Stealth Rock on your side of the field later. Aurorus should avoid leading against teams with Breloom, as Breloom can KO it with Bullet Seed despite its Focus Sash and can also prevent Alolan Sandslash from setting up Aurora Veil via Mach Punch. Hidden Power Fire should be used to OHKO Scizor if possible, as Aurora Veil-based teams often lack a good way of dealing with it if setting up Aurora Veil fails. Encore is mainly used to lock opposing Defog and Rapid Spin users into these moves, forcing them to switch out or risk becoming setup fodder. This helps in keeping up Stealth Rock and generating setup opportunities for Aurorus's teammates.
Team Options
========
Alolan Sandslash should be on every team with Aurorus, as its ability Slush Rush allows it to outspeed many Pokemon and set up Aurora Veil reliably. It also beats many common Defog users such as Gliscor and Hydreigon, helping it keep up the Aurora Veil. Life Orb Swords Dance Scizor is also an especially good teammate and almost mandatory on any Aurora Veil team, as its boosted moves allow it to be an incredible wallbreaker and cleaner, and it can revenge kill some of the bigger threats to hyper offense such as Mega Aerodactyl. Threatening setup sweepers such as Belly Drum Azumarill, Calm Mind Latias, Dragon Dance Haxorus, and Nasty Plot Salazzle make for great partners, as they have an easy time setting up behind Aurora Veil and become hard to stop once they get rolling. Bulkier threats such as Substitute + Calm Mind Suicune and Swords Dance Doublade also profit from Aurora Veil, as it allows them to set up to extremely threatening levels with ease.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
None whatsoever.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Opposing Weather**: Hippowdon and Gigalith can remove hail and stop Aurora Veil from being set up, although the former should avoid taking on Aurorus directly. Albeit uncommon, Rain Dance users such as Klefki can also stop Aurora Veil from being used successfully.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types can easily dispatch of Aurorus, although it can usually do its job due to its Focus Sash. Breloom, however, can just KO it with Bullet Seed and then prevent Alolan Sandslash from setting Aurora Veil with Mach Punch. Similarly, Infernape has an easy time beating Aurorus and will prevent Alolan Sandslash from setting up Aurora Veil due to either being faster and OHKOing it with a STAB move if it carries a Choice Scarf or through strong Fighting-type priority if it carries any other item.
**Steel-types**: Although they don't stop Aurorus from doing its job, Pokemon like Cobalion, Mega Aggron, Metagross and many more have an easy time beating Aurorus one-on-one. Empoleon is especially annoying due to being a Defogger that beats Aurorus.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users can prevent Aurorus from setting up Stealth Rock, although Alolan Sandslash will still get up Aurora Veil due to its ability Slush Rush.
GP: Mr. Uncompetitive / marthaa
[OVERVIEW]
Aurorus's niche is as a lead for Aurora Veil hyper offense teams. It sets up Stealth Rock and hail, allowing Alolan Sandslash, which it is always partnered with, to set up Aurora Veil itself. Aurorus's typing allows it to deal with most Defog users, such as Mega Altaria, Gliscor, and Hydreigon, well, and its support movepool, featuring Encore and Thunder Wave, allows it to play around those it can't beat. However, an atrocious defensive typing coupled with low Speed leaves Aurorus extremely vulnerable to a lot of Pokemon in the metagame, so it is unable to do much other than function as a one-dimensional suicide lead for Aurora Veil teams.
[SET]
name: Aurora Veil Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Freeze-Dry
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Blizzard
move 4: Encore / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Snow Warning
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is used as soon as possible to help Aurorus's teammates sweep by taking a little of the foe's health upon switch-in, which can put some Pokemon in KO range and break potential Focus Sashes. Freeze-Dry is a STAB move that hits Water-types such as Mantine, Swampert, Primarina, and Azumarill super effectively. Hidden Power Fire allows Aurorus to KO Scizor and is generally used as a coverage move against Steel-types. Encore stops opposing Pokemon from freely removing Stealth Rock and setting up on Aurorus by locking them into a certain move, and it can also be used to create setup opportunities for teammates. Common targets of Encore include Mega Aggron and Klefki. Blizzard can be used over Hidden Power Fire, but although it hits harder than Freeze-Dry and will never miss in hail, it leaves Aurorus unable to beat Scizor. Thunder Wave can be used over Encore to cripple faster threats such as Cobalion and Infernape.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread coupled with a Timid nature allows Aurorus to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Modest Primarina. Snow Warning is necessary to let Alolan Sandslash set Aurora Veil and help Aurorus deal with opposing Focus Sash users in a single turn. A Focus Sash is used to more reliably set up Stealth Rock at lead. A Modest nature can be used to deal more damage, but it comes at the cost of Primarina outspeeding Aurorus.
Usage Tips
========
Aurorus should be used as a lead and set up Stealth Rock as early as possible. Against opposing leads that carry Taunt, such as Azelf, attacking them is generally recommended. Lead Kabutops should be OHKOed immediately through a combination of Freeze-Dry and hail; if it attacks, it is unlikely that Aurorus will set up Stealth Rock but neither will your opponent. If it opts to set up Stealth Rock, Aurorus's Focus Sash will remain intact, and it can still set up Stealth Rock on its partners; Alolan Sandslash can likely remove the Stealth Rock on your side of the field later. Aurorus should avoid leading against teams with Breloom, as Breloom can KO it with Bullet Seed despite its Focus Sash and can also prevent Alolan Sandslash from setting up Aurora Veil via Mach Punch. Hidden Power Fire should be used to OHKO Scizor if possible, as Aurora Veil-based teams often lack a good way of dealing with it if setting up Aurora Veil fails. Encore is mainly used to lock opposing Defog and Rapid Spin users into these moves, forcing them to switch out or risk becoming setup fodder. This helps in keeping up Stealth Rock and generating setup opportunities for Aurorus's teammates.
Team Options
========
Alolan Sandslash should be on every team with Aurorus, as its ability Slush Rush allows it to outspeed many Pokemon and set up Aurora Veil reliably. It also beats many common Defog users such as Gliscor and Hydreigon, helping it keep up the Aurora Veil. Life Orb Swords Dance Scizor is also an especially good teammate and almost mandatory on any Aurora Veil team, as its boosted moves allow it to be an incredible wallbreaker and cleaner, and it can revenge kill some of the bigger threats to hyper offense such as Mega Aerodactyl. Threatening setup sweepers such as Belly Drum Azumarill, Calm Mind Latias, Dragon Dance Haxorus, and Nasty Plot Salazzle make for great partners, as they have an easy time setting up behind Aurora Veil and become hard to stop once they get rolling. Bulkier threats such as Substitute + Calm Mind Suicune and Swords Dance Doublade also profit from Aurora Veil, as it allows them to set up to extremely threatening levels with ease.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
None whatsoever.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Opposing Weather**: Hippowdon and Gigalith can remove hail and stop Aurora Veil from being set up, although the former should avoid taking on Aurorus directly. Albeit uncommon, Rain Dance users such as Klefki can also stop Aurora Veil from being used successfully.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types can easily dispatch of Aurorus, although it can usually do its job due to its Focus Sash. Breloom, however, can just KO it with Bullet Seed and then prevent Alolan Sandslash from setting Aurora Veil with Mach Punch. Similarly, Infernape has an easy time beating Aurorus and will prevent Alolan Sandslash from setting up Aurora Veil due to either being faster and OHKOing it with a STAB move if it carries a Choice Scarf or through strong Fighting-type priority if it carries any other item.
**Steel-types**: Although they don't stop Aurorus from doing its job, Pokemon like Cobalion, Mega Aggron, Metagross and many more have an easy time beating Aurorus one-on-one. Empoleon is especially annoying due to being a Defogger that beats Aurorus.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users can prevent Aurorus from setting up Stealth Rock, although Alolan Sandslash will still get up Aurora Veil due to its ability Slush Rush.
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