ManOfMany
I can make anything real
[OVERVIEW]
Rotom-H has a fairly unique position as a special attacker in the RU metagame. Although it faces competition from other Fire-types, especially the much faster Salazzle, its unique Electric/Fire typing allows it to set itself apart. Decent power combined with its ability to immediately threaten Water-types with its electric coverage, and to gain momentum with Volt Switch make it a sizable threat. Unlike other Electric-types, its coverage in Overheat makes it harder to pivot on, especially since it can OHKO grass-types who resist Thunderbolt and Volt Switch. Rotom-H's also possesses useful resistances to Grass, Flying and Steel, and an immunity to Ground that lets it take on pokemon like Doublade, Honchkrow and Shaymin. Immunity to Spikes and access to Pain Split make it more sustainable than other fire-type, and this combined with its unique typing makes a physically defensive set useful. However, like any other fire-type, Stealth Rock weakness severely hinders its ability to tank attacks and switch in and out of battle with Volt Switch. It also has only an average speed tier and mediocre bulk, which means it is easily revenge-killed by many faster attackers such as Swellow and Zoroark.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Thunderbolt / Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Specs / Firium Z
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Overheat is Rotom-H's strongest move and allows it to hit electric immunities or resists hard, and allows Rotom to kill grass, bug, and ice type pokemon. Thunderbolt is a secondary STAB move that does reliable damage and has no drawbacks, while allowing Rotom to kill water and flying-type pokemon. Volt Switch allows Rotom-H to pivot while dishing out damage, allowing Rotom to gain momentum for the team easily. Hidden Power Ice prevents Flygon from setting up on Rotom-H, hits Dragon-types for respectable damage, and is also a reliable way of killing Gligar. Will-o-Wisp is a useful move on Firium Z sets for crippling a selection of physical attackers that can generally take Rotom-H, such as Gigalith and Rhyperior, and also helps bypass Sucker Punch from Honchkrow. Trick is also a decent option on Choice Specs Rotom-H to cripple the special walls like Umbreon that can otherwise switch in without trouble, but keep in mind this leaves Rotom-H either setup bait for Flygon or without a strong Electric STAB.
Set Details
========
Max speed and Timid nature is chosen so Rotom-H can outspeed as many pokemon as possible, and maximum special attack allows Rotom-H to hit as hard as possible. Choice Specs gives Rotom-H a massive power boost to each of its moves at the cost of being locked into one. Firium Z can be used instead to still give Rotom-H a one-time nuke in Overheat while retaining the flexibility to switch moves. It can also bluff Specs, allowing Rotom-H to lure ground-types who think it is locked into an Electric-attack, but has much less overall firepower than Specs.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-H should be brought out to kill slower pokemon that are threatened by one of its STAB moves. Volt Switch can be clicked freely to gain momentum if the opponent has no electric immunities, or a switch is predicted. If Choice Specs, be careful when locked into a move, because Rotom-H can be setup bait for many pokemon, such as Flygon or Tyrantrum. If running Firium Z, the Z-move should be used as a way to blow through bulky pokemon, and the user should keep in mind that the opponent can predict Rotom-H's Z-move in order not to waste it.
Rotom-H can be pivoted into some moves like Whimsicott's Moonblast or Escavelier's Iron Head, but do not recklessly switch Rotom-H into attacks, since it has mediocre bulk and its health can be quickly chipped away by Stealth Rock.
Team Options
========
Rotom-H appreciates wallbreakers to take advantage of the momentum it generates with Volt Switch. Pokemon such as Guts Heracross, Pangoro, and Nidoqueen appreciate Rotom-H's ability to pivot into passive pokemon. Rotom-H strongly appreciates hazard removal because otherwise its Stealth Rock weakness can impede its ability to pivot throughout the match. Mantine and Gligar are good options for removing hazards on balanced and more defensive teams, while Donphan and Espeon can also be used on offense for hazard control.Rotom-H pairs well with pokemon to take on ground-types, as its only way of damaging ground-type pokemon is a choice-locked Overheat. Grass-types such as Shaymin and Whimsicott are good picks, and Whimsicott. Water-types, like grass-types, synergize well with Rotom-H as they can pressure Rock-type pokemon while Rotom-H takes on grass-types. Bulky waters such as Milotic as well as offensive waters like Sharpedo and Kingdra are good partners. U-turn users such as Whimsicott, Swellow, and Zoroark are good teammates to pair with Rotom-H's Volt Switch and severely limit the opponent's momentum.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Will-o-Wisp
move 2: Volt Switch
move 3: Pain Split
move 4: Overheat
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 228 Def / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Will-o-Wisp allows Rotom-H to burn physical attackers and effectively function as a physical tank.
- Volt Switch provides momentum to the team and allows Rotom-H to pivot out of an unfavorable matchup.
- Pain Split is used so that Rotom-H can stay healthy to check pokemon over the course of the match.
- Overheat is Rotom-H's strongest attack and prevents it from being walled by ground-types.
Set Details
========
- The given speed EVs allow Rotom-H to be as physically bulky as possible while still being able to outspeed and burn Adamant Pangoro with Will-O-Wisp.
- Rotom-H can invest in speed in order to creep various threats- for example, a spread of 248 HP, 124+ Def, 136 Spe outspeeds Adamant Honchkrow.
- Rotom-H can also opt for a specially defensive spread in order to combat special attackers such as Shaymin, Nidoqueen, and Yanmega better.
Usage Tips
========
- Rotom-H should actively switch into pokemon that it can check by virtue of its typing- this includes Steel and Bug type pokemon, such as Doublade and Escavelier, as well as certain Grass types like Chesnaught and Whimsicott.
- Due to its defensive investment, Rotom-H can also be used as a switch-in to pokemon like Flygon and Durant, but should be more careful as they can pressure it heavily.
- When switching into a pokemon, Rotom-H can stay in and burn the pokemon, or use Volt Switch to pivot and keep momentum.
- Volt Switch can be liberally applied since many pokemon will switch out of Rotom-H fearing Will-o-Wisp, including certain ground-types like Gligar. Use it as a way to bring wallbreakers such as Heracross in.
- When using Pain Split to gain health back, keep in mind that the opponent may be wary of this and can switch to a low-health pokemon to block it.
- Avoid recklessly switching in Rotom-H to attacks when Stealth Rocks are up, because they quickly cut down Rotom-H's health and it may be needed to counter pokemon over the course of the game.
Team Options
========
- Pokemon weak to Steel appreciate the support Rotom-H gives by pivoting into these pokemon. Florges and Reuniclus are examples of pokemon that enjoy Rotom-H's support.
- Wallbreakers such as Heracross appreciate Rotom-H pivoting and giving it a free switch in with Volt Switch.
- Hazard removers such as Mantine and Gligar partner well with Rotom-H because it is not effective defensively when Stealth Rocks are up on the field.
- Grass types such as Shaymin, Whimsicott, and Chesnaught are great partners to cover Rotom-H's weakness to water-type attacks and certain ground-type attackers.
- Bulky water-types such as Milotic and Slowbro pair excellently with Rotom-H because they can easily take on the ground and rock-type pokemon that annoy Rotom, while Rotom takes grass-type attacks for them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Choice Scarf is an option to take advantage of Rotom-H's speed tier and pivoting abilities, but it is quite weak and it is easy to take advantage of an unboosted, choice-locked Overheat.
- Hidden Power Grass could be used to hit Rhyperior, who otherwise completely walls the set, as well as Seismitoad. However, Hidden Power Ice is usually superior due to how dangerous and common Flygon is.
- Life Orb can be used over Firium Z or Choice Specs, but the recoil makes Rotom-H incredibly easy to revenge kill with faster pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Flygon and Rhyperior resist all of Rotom-H's STAB options and can do heavy damage back. While Nidoqueen and Gligar cannot switch into Overheat, they threaten the Choice Specs set by blocking Volt Switch and Thunderbolt.
**Dragon-types**: Dragalge, Kommo-o and Flygon can generally switch into Rotom-H's attacks save Hidden Power Ice. Firium Z Overheat does a large chunk to them though, and the first two can also be annoyed by Volt Switch.
**Bulky Rock-types**: Gigalith and Diancie take very little from any of Rotom-H's moves, and Rhyperior is even immune to Volt Switch. Tyrantrum can also set up on Rotom-H. None of these pokemon appreciate Will-o-Wisp, however.
**Special Walls**: Bulky special walls such as Umbreon, Florges, Porygon2, and Cresselia can generally tank Rotom-H's moves, though they are crippled by Trick and worn down by repeated Volt Switches. Florges also must be wary of Firium Z Overheat + Overheat if not at full health.
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