NFE Swords Dance Firium Z (Torracat) @ Firium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Crunch / Dual Chop
- Flame Charge
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Optional Move(s):
- Bulk Up
- Power Trip
- Taunt
Optional Item(s):
- Choice Band
- Eviolite
Optional Ability:
- N/A
Optional EV/IV(s):
- 252 HP / 156 SpD / 100 Spe (Careful)
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Overview: Torracat can serve as both a solid revenge killer and a threatening wallbreaker, thanks to its good base Speed and Attack stat and Swords Dance. Intimidate also helps it come in on weak physical attacks or pivot out from dangerous physical attackers while softening the blow for the switch-in. Torracat faces competition as a physical Fire-type from Monferno and Combusken. However, it has enough niches to make it more valuable than the aforementioned Fire-types on some teams.
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Choice Scarf: The Choice Scarf Torracat set is moderately powerful and can outspeed threats such as Choice Scarf Monferno and Staravia, as well as fast unboosted Pokemon such as Electabuzz, Frogadier, Haunter, and Kadabra. Flare Blitz serves as a powerful STAB attack and hits Grass- and Steel-types such as Roselia, Servine, Metang, and Ferroseed hard. Outrage hits Dragon-types such as Sliggoo, Fraxure, and Gabite for super effective damage. U-turn lets it pivot out on expected switch-ins and gain momentum. Crunch hits Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Duosion, Misdreavus, and Dusclops hard. Endeavor is a utility option to do a lot of damage on slower Pokemon when Torracat is low.
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Swords Dance Firium Z: The Swords Dance wallbreaker set can set up on weak physical attackers thanks to Intimidate. Swords Dance boosts Torracat's Attack. Dual Chop hits Dragon-types reasonably hard but also allows Torracat to bypass Kadabra's Focus Sash without taking damage at +1 Speed. Flame Charge hits reasonably hard after a boost but also allows Torracat to outspeed some of the key threats mentioned above. Firium Z Inferno Overdrive OHKOs specially defensive Grass- and Steel-types such as Servine, Roselia, Klang, and Metang and hits neutral targets hard.
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Checks and Counters: Defensive Mareanie walls all Torracat sets, can Haze away any accumulated boosts, and threaten it with Scald. Other bulky Water-types such as Prinplup, Marshtomp, and Wartortle can also tank hits from a boosted Torracat and threaten it. Choice Scarf Frogadier outspeeds +1 Torracat and can revenge kill it. Sturdy defensive walls such as Clefairy and Togetic can wall Choice Scarf Torracat and recover any damage taken. Torracat is also very susceptible to hazards.
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Optional EVs/IV(s): An alternative spread of 252 HP / 156 SpD / 100 Spe with a Careful nature is also viable for the Bulk Up, Flame Charge, Power Trip, and Dual Chop set. This set acts as a late-game wincon, especially on dual screens teams. The spread invests in Special Defense and allows Torracat to eat strong special attacks from Pokemon such as Kadabra, Haunter, Electabuzz, and Roselia. It can also set up on physical Pokemon such as defensive Staravia and Klang.
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