Nuxl
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[OVERVIEW]
Rotom-W is an astoundingly good glue Pokemon that can check a lot of top threats in the metagame, such as Landorus-T, Heatran, Milotic, and Celesteela due to its great typing and ability. Rotom-W is also useful in every weather matchup and can even disable some Pokemon that take advantage of Trick Room, such as Scrafty. Rotom-W carries a decently strong support movepool that allows it to cripple the opposing team and is a generally solid choice for most teams if they are looking for a bulky all-rounder.
However, Rotom-W is plagued by some flaws that hold it back from being a top threat in the metagame. Rotom-W’s HP stat is extremely low and circumvents its otherwise good defenses, so multiple strong attacks will be able to KO it easily. Rotom-W only has an average speed stat at best, so it may not be much help if it is the slowest Pokemon on the field. Rotom-W also cannot deal with Dragon or Grass types well, and has a linear movepool. Still, Rotom-W can be a great asset to a team that is looking to cover its weaknesses.
[SET]
name: Specially Offensive Tank
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp/Thunder Wave
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 120 SpA / 24 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's strongest STAB move, capable of OHKOing Landorus-T and dealing major damage to Pokemon that are weak to it. Thunderbolt is Rotom-W’s second STAB move which targets things Hydro Pump cannot and deals with Water-Types such as Azumarill and Tapu Fini that would otherwise wall Rotom-W. Will-O-Wisp is used to cripple physical attackers such as Tapu Bulu immensely and deals slight damage over time. Alternatively, Thunder Wave is a slight form of speed control and can cripple faster Pokemon such as Mega Salamence- the choice is dependent on what your team needs. Protect is a useful move to allow allies to deal with an opposing threatening Pokemon and to stall out field conditions.
Set Details
========
This EV spread allows Rotom to reach important defensive benchmarks and to retain enough bulk and offenses to be used as a pivot. 252 HP and 112 Defense lets Rotom-W survive +1 Zygarde’s Thousand Arrows and evade the 2HKO from Mega Metagross’s Zen Headbutt. 24 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature enables Rotom-W’s survival from Mega Charizard’s Solarbeam and eludes the 2HKO from Tapu Lele’s Psychic under Psychic Terrain. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack to boost Rotom-W’s otherwise middling offensive presence. Sitrus Berry is a form of consistent healing for Rotom-W that prolongs its longevity and allows Rotom-W to survive most attacks that would otherwise 2HKO it.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-W is meant to be a bulky glue for a team, so it should ideally be used to switch in on moves it can resist or sent out whenever it can check something on the opposing side. Rotom-W should be used to check threatening Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Heatran, or Celesteela. Conversely, Rotom-W is borderline useless when against Grass or Dragon types as they resist Rotom-W’s STAB moves and can deal major damage back. Rotom-W should spread status on apparent threats such as Azumarill to nullify their offensive utilities, and should stay alive until all the Pokemon it’s needed to deal with are fainted. Even with Rotom-W’s bulk investments, unresisted Z-Moves from strong attackers like Tapu Lele and Aegislash will more likely than not OHKO Rotom-W so they have to be played around.
Team Options
========
Rotom-W is usually meant to be a team’s support pillar, as it is not strong enough to deal with things on its own. However, Rotom-W appreciates strong fire types like Heatran that can deal with Grass-types that Rotom-W can’t touch, and Rotom-W partners well with them back by defeating their Ground and Water weaknesses. Steel-types like Aegislash partner well with Rotom as they cover each other’s weaknesses well. Fairy-types such as Sylveon respectively can deal with the Dragon-types that can plague Rotom-W, and appreciate Rotom-W checking the Fire-types that they cannot break through. Ice-types like Kyurem-B and Weavile can achieve this to a similar effect, except they can cover both the Grass-types and Dragon-types that Rotom-W is nulled by. Fast and strong attackers can take advantage of the status Rotom-W imposes on its opponents, as it allows them to clean up the field to a greater effect.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rotom-W can use Electroweb if its team needs more speed control, but it is usually better off carrying Thunder Wave. Volt Switch can be used to gain momentum in a battle if Rotom-W is needed to switch out often. Hidden Power Ice can be used as a lure to target Pokemon that deal with Rotom-W well such as Zygarde and Salamence, but it 2HKOs them at best. A fully offensive Choice Scarf set can be used to outspeed otherwise faster Pokemon up to base 151 speed and allows Rotom-W to impact slower, more defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia or Necrozma with Trick, but leaves Rotom-W with very little bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: Amoonguss is a gigantic counter to Rotom-W, as it shrugs off any attack that Rotom throws at it, can redirect its STABs with Rage Powder, and threatens it back with Giga Drain and Spore. Offensive Grass types such as Tapu Bulu and Shaymin-S can deal with Rotom-W well as they will likely outspeed and OHKO it, but have to be wary of status. Grass-type moves coming from faster Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y's Solar Beam can do major damage to Rotom.
**Dragon-Type Pokemon**: Dragon Types such as Hydreigon, Salamence, and Latios deal with Rotom-W well as they resist both its STAB attacks and can hit hard back with theirs, but cannot take any form of speed control well. Kyurem-B is especially dangerous as it can set up a Substitute or fire back with Earth Power.
**Strong Unresisted Attackers**: Rotom-W's bad HP stat leaves it easily KOd by strong attacks, so Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan and Tapu Lele can defeat Rotom-W usually as long as Rotom-W has taken damage earlier in the match.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Thundurus and Tapu Lele prevent Rotom-W from using its status moves, which dampens part of its role as a supportive Pokemon.
Rotom-W is an astoundingly good glue Pokemon that can check a lot of top threats in the metagame, such as Landorus-T, Heatran, Milotic, and Celesteela due to its great typing and ability. Rotom-W is also useful in every weather matchup and can even disable some Pokemon that take advantage of Trick Room, such as Scrafty. Rotom-W carries a decently strong support movepool that allows it to cripple the opposing team and is a generally solid choice for most teams if they are looking for a bulky all-rounder.
However, Rotom-W is plagued by some flaws that hold it back from being a top threat in the metagame. Rotom-W’s HP stat is extremely low and circumvents its otherwise good defenses, so multiple strong attacks will be able to KO it easily. Rotom-W only has an average speed stat at best, so it may not be much help if it is the slowest Pokemon on the field. Rotom-W also cannot deal with Dragon or Grass types well, and has a linear movepool. Still, Rotom-W can be a great asset to a team that is looking to cover its weaknesses.
[SET]
name: Specially Offensive Tank
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp/Thunder Wave
move 4: Protect
item: Sitrus Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 120 SpA / 24 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's strongest STAB move, capable of OHKOing Landorus-T and dealing major damage to Pokemon that are weak to it. Thunderbolt is Rotom-W’s second STAB move which targets things Hydro Pump cannot and deals with Water-Types such as Azumarill and Tapu Fini that would otherwise wall Rotom-W. Will-O-Wisp is used to cripple physical attackers such as Tapu Bulu immensely and deals slight damage over time. Alternatively, Thunder Wave is a slight form of speed control and can cripple faster Pokemon such as Mega Salamence- the choice is dependent on what your team needs. Protect is a useful move to allow allies to deal with an opposing threatening Pokemon and to stall out field conditions.
Set Details
========
This EV spread allows Rotom to reach important defensive benchmarks and to retain enough bulk and offenses to be used as a pivot. 252 HP and 112 Defense lets Rotom-W survive +1 Zygarde’s Thousand Arrows and evade the 2HKO from Mega Metagross’s Zen Headbutt. 24 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature enables Rotom-W’s survival from Mega Charizard’s Solarbeam and eludes the 2HKO from Tapu Lele’s Psychic under Psychic Terrain. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack to boost Rotom-W’s otherwise middling offensive presence. Sitrus Berry is a form of consistent healing for Rotom-W that prolongs its longevity and allows Rotom-W to survive most attacks that would otherwise 2HKO it.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-W is meant to be a bulky glue for a team, so it should ideally be used to switch in on moves it can resist or sent out whenever it can check something on the opposing side. Rotom-W should be used to check threatening Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Heatran, or Celesteela. Conversely, Rotom-W is borderline useless when against Grass or Dragon types as they resist Rotom-W’s STAB moves and can deal major damage back. Rotom-W should spread status on apparent threats such as Azumarill to nullify their offensive utilities, and should stay alive until all the Pokemon it’s needed to deal with are fainted. Even with Rotom-W’s bulk investments, unresisted Z-Moves from strong attackers like Tapu Lele and Aegislash will more likely than not OHKO Rotom-W so they have to be played around.
Team Options
========
Rotom-W is usually meant to be a team’s support pillar, as it is not strong enough to deal with things on its own. However, Rotom-W appreciates strong fire types like Heatran that can deal with Grass-types that Rotom-W can’t touch, and Rotom-W partners well with them back by defeating their Ground and Water weaknesses. Steel-types like Aegislash partner well with Rotom as they cover each other’s weaknesses well. Fairy-types such as Sylveon respectively can deal with the Dragon-types that can plague Rotom-W, and appreciate Rotom-W checking the Fire-types that they cannot break through. Ice-types like Kyurem-B and Weavile can achieve this to a similar effect, except they can cover both the Grass-types and Dragon-types that Rotom-W is nulled by. Fast and strong attackers can take advantage of the status Rotom-W imposes on its opponents, as it allows them to clean up the field to a greater effect.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rotom-W can use Electroweb if its team needs more speed control, but it is usually better off carrying Thunder Wave. Volt Switch can be used to gain momentum in a battle if Rotom-W is needed to switch out often. Hidden Power Ice can be used as a lure to target Pokemon that deal with Rotom-W well such as Zygarde and Salamence, but it 2HKOs them at best. A fully offensive Choice Scarf set can be used to outspeed otherwise faster Pokemon up to base 151 speed and allows Rotom-W to impact slower, more defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia or Necrozma with Trick, but leaves Rotom-W with very little bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: Amoonguss is a gigantic counter to Rotom-W, as it shrugs off any attack that Rotom throws at it, can redirect its STABs with Rage Powder, and threatens it back with Giga Drain and Spore. Offensive Grass types such as Tapu Bulu and Shaymin-S can deal with Rotom-W well as they will likely outspeed and OHKO it, but have to be wary of status. Grass-type moves coming from faster Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y's Solar Beam can do major damage to Rotom.
**Dragon-Type Pokemon**: Dragon Types such as Hydreigon, Salamence, and Latios deal with Rotom-W well as they resist both its STAB attacks and can hit hard back with theirs, but cannot take any form of speed control well. Kyurem-B is especially dangerous as it can set up a Substitute or fire back with Earth Power.
**Strong Unresisted Attackers**: Rotom-W's bad HP stat leaves it easily KOd by strong attacks, so Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan and Tapu Lele can defeat Rotom-W usually as long as Rotom-W has taken damage earlier in the match.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Thundurus and Tapu Lele prevent Rotom-W from using its status moves, which dampens part of its role as a supportive Pokemon.
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