[Pros]
<ul>
<li>It has good physical bulk, allowing it to switch into physical threats such as Tyranitar.</li>
<li>It has amazing base 140 Attack.</li>
<li>Two great abilities in Guts and Iron Fist are at its disposal.</li>
<li>Access to Bulk Up makes it quite good as a setup sweeper.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>While it is quite bulky when invested, threats such as Azumarill, Florges, Togekiss, and Talonflame can severely hurt it.</li>
<li>Horrible Speed means that it has to take an attack before being able to retaliate.</li>
<li>It receives competition from other Fighting-types such as Mega Heracross and Lucario.</li>
[Set Recommendations]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Stone Edge / Poison Jab
move 4: Payback
item: Leftovers
ability: Iron Fist / Guts
Adamant Nature
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
<p>This is the best set Conkeldurr can run without access to the elemental punches. With good physical bulk and access to Bulk Up, Conkeldurr can set up in the face of physical attackers and after a boost or two, it becomes a threat to contend with. Drain Punch is the STAB move of choice and deals good damage while giving Conkeldurr semi-reliable recovery. Stone Edge is the primary slash in the third moveslot as it lets Conkeldurr hit Talonflame, Gyarados, and Mega Charizard, three great threats to it, hard. Alternatively, Poison Jab hits Fairy-type Pokemon such as Florges, Azumarill, and Togekiss for good damage, which is important as otherwise they would wall this set. Payback is a very useful move for Conkeldurr, letting it hit Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon such as Gengar, Alakazam, Trevenant, and Aegislash, the latter being doubly important as it is otherwise a major roadblock to Conkeldurr, being able to set up Swords Dance and eventually break through it.</p>
<p>Good partners include those that can defeat the Psychic-, Flying-, and Fairy-type threats that Conkeldurr despises; despite it having the appropriate coverage move for each, all of these threats can outspeed and threaten to OHKO. These partners include Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Scizor that can deal with these threats. While the sand Tyranitar brings wears Conkeldurr down, it is a great partner that can deal with most of these threats, being able to Pursuit trap the previously mentioned Ghost- and Psychic-types. Aegislash can revenge kill these Pokemon with STAB Shadow Sneak, and can also set up on some of these counters with Swords Dance. An alternate spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD can be used to provide extra survivability, but the power drop is significant.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Among the foremost in the counters to Conkeldurr is Reuniclus; it can take even boosted Paybacks whilst underspeeding it and can OHKO with Psychic. Slowbro and Slowking are in a similar boat—Psychic variants of the former can 2HKO it, while both naturally underspeed, thus not boosting Payback's power—and the latter can simply phaze out Conkeldurr. Although Slowking's physical bulk is relatively poor, both can recover any health lost by means of Slack Off or Regenerator. Togekiss, Azumarill, Florges, and Sylveon can quickly put an end to Conkeldurr with their Fairy-type STAB move of choice, but must watch out for a super effective Poison Jab. SubToxic Gliscor is an excellent counter, being able to status and stall out even Guts variants with Substitute and Protect. Skarmory can stomach even boosted hits and either phaze it out or hit it with a super effective STAB Brave Bird. Talonflame can strike Conkeldurr with a priority Brave Bird before it can blink. Crobat only fears Stone Edge, and even then, Stone Edge only hits it neutrally while Roosting, while in return it can hammer Conkeldurr with Brave Bird. Hawlucha resists Drain Punch and Payback and is only hit neutrally by Stone Edge, while KOing with a Flying STAB move of choice. Trevenant and Geourgiest can deal with Conkeldurr fairly well due to Will-O-Wisp, but Guts variants can turn the tables on both and proceed to OHKO with a Guts-boosted Payback; Payback from non-Guts variants will hurt as well even after a burn.</p>
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