[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Sinnoh's Water-type starter can be described as a model Steel-type in Draft. Many teams appreciate its wealth of resistances, great special bulk, and access to utility moves like Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Roost makes it an effective wall, and Flip Turn allows it to put pressure on its checks. It even has a decent Special Attack and several setup options, setting it apart from other defensive Pokemon. However, it can be overwhelmed by wallbreakers due to its low Speed and unfortunate weaknesses to common attacks, as well as being a Water-type that is hit neutrally by Fire-types.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Bulky Pivot**: Empoleon is adept at checking specific foes, then safely bringing in its frailer teammates with its slow Flip Turn. It's also able to make progress on its own thanks to Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Resistances to multiple entry hazards and access to Roost make it difficult to wear down over the course of a battle.
**Wall**: Empoleon's defenses can be customized to wall many Pokemon. Moves like Roar and Yawn let it shut down opposing setup, and its Special Attack is good enough that it doesn't become completely passive when running defensive EV spreads. It can also use Whirlpool to deal consistent damage or different utility moves to contribute in other ways.
**Setup Sweeper**: With some Speed investment and Agility, offensive Empoleon sets can outspeed all relevant unboosted Pokemon. It can use this speedy set to clean up weakened teams, especially if it picks up a Special Attack boost from Competitive or an item.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Flip Turn, Surf, Hydro Pump, Flash Cannon, Aqua Jet, Wave Crash
**Setup Moves**: Iron Defense, Agility, Swords Dance
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Roost, Roar, Knock Off, Whirlpool, Haze, Yawn, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Air Slash, Vacuum Wave, Earthquake, Drill Peck, Dual Wingbeat, Rock Slide, Triple Axel, Ice Spinner, Throat Chop
Niche Moves
========
**Rain Dance / Snowscape**: Empoleon can set weather to shut down opposing weather setters or to further support its teammates.
**Icy Wind / Bulldoze**: Speed-lowering attacks can be used to deal damage while making fast foes more manageable for teammates or canceling out boosts from setup options like Dragon Dance.
**Power Trip**: Empoleon can run one or two setup moves and attempt to sweep once Power Trip has gained enough Base Power. Competitive or items like Weakness Policy can speed up the process and make the set less vulnerable to phazing and Encore.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers recovery improves Empoleon's survivability on defensive sets, helping it check additional foes and spend less turns using Roost.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is often great on physically defensive sets, though it also has value on specially defensive ones. Special attackers like Iron Bundle and Walking Wake are encouraged to use physical pivoting moves when fighting Empoleon, and the Rocky Helmet can wear them down over time.
**Resistance Berry**: Resistance Berries grant a one-time patch to Empoleon's weaknesses, allowing it to lure some of its checks and KO them. It can also use them to reliably phaze or revenge kill certain setup sweepers.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Although Empoleon doesn't fear most types of entry hazards, it can still be worn down by switches if Spikes are stacked. Heavy-Duty Boots improve its survivability in such matchups.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Button**: An early Eject Button can allow Empoleon's team to seize momentum, even against foes using pivoting moves.
**Red Card**: Red Card acts as a one-time phazing option if Empoleon can comfortably switch in on a foe, but it risks a Taunt or KO the following turn.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb protects Empoleon from Taunt as it goes for a phazing move or Roost.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Items like Life Orb and Expert Belt can enhance Empoleon's cleaning ability on Agility sets, and Choice Specs can turn it into a decent wallbreaker.
**Adrenaline Orb**: Adrenaline Orb grants a Speed boost against foes with Intimidate like Landorus-T and Krookodile that may attempt to outspeed and KO Empoleon. The boost, alongside Empoleon's natural bulk and the boost from Competitive, can be difficult for many foes to handle.
**Weakness Policy**: Weakness Policy punishes Pokemon using relatively weak coverage moves against Empoleon. It can also punish Volt Switch from the likes of Rotom-W. This forms a powerful combo with Agility, making Empoleon a fearsome sweeper.
Tera
========
Empoleon is not typically an ideal Tera Captain due to its valuable base typing and relatively awkward setup options. It can act as a solid secondary Captain if the remaining budget allows it, however. Defensive Tera types like Tera Fairy and Ghost can be chosen to counter specific foes and improve Empoleon's matchups. It can also use Tera Blast to patch up the holes in its coverage on offensive sets.
Draft Strategy
========
Empoleon's pivoting and walling capabilities are excellent support to round out many drafts. Plenty of offensive cores can work well with it, though they should be secured first. The following traits should be covered on drafts featuring Empoleon.
**Offense**: Empoleon is at its best when it can pivot into strong attackers. Frail wallbreakers like Chi-Yu and Enamorus especially adore its slow Flip Turns, and any setup sweeper like Latias and Necrozma will also enjoy a safe switch in. It also helps to have offensive Pokemon that threaten Electric- and Fighting-types for Empoleon, like Garchomp and Tornadus-T, respectively.
**Physical Defense**: Empoleon can form a strong defensive core with Pokemon that are more comfortable taking physical hits. Landorus-T and Gliscor are great examples that cover all of Empoleon's type weaknesses while Empoleon covers theirs.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Extra Stealth Rock users add flexibility when teambuilding and prevent Empoleon's sets from being too predictable. All entry hazards also invite in opposing Defog users, which have to risk giving Empoleon a Competitive boost whenever they use Defog.
**Fire-type Counters**: Empoleon's lack of a Fire resistance as a Water-type (AH) can make its team vulnerable to Fire-type attackers. It is important to have answers to Fire-types when drafting Empoleon, as it cannot always check them reliably. Bulky Water-resistant Pokemon like Garchomp and Rotom-W or offensive checks like Greninja and Iron Boulder can both fill this role.
Checks and Counters
========
**Super Effective Wallbreakers**: Foes with super effective STAB attacks can be a problem for even the biggest birds. Empoleon is unfortunately weak to very common offensive types, including moves like Close Combat and Earthquake. Its relatively underwhelming physical bulk also leaves it prone to being overwhelmed by physical attackers. Raging Bolt, Great Tusk, Iron Hands, and many other Pokemon can threaten KOs on Empoleon, which can let them set up with less fear of phazing. Electric-types can also threaten to take over a game's momentum with Volt Switch.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types resist Empoleon's STAB attacks and often its best coverage moves as well. Grass Knot is an option to pressure some Water-types, but many do not fear it.
**Taunt**: A well-timed Taunt can put an end to Empoleon's longevity by preventing Roost, making it far easier for foes to clean up. Setup sweepers can also use Taunt to prevent Roar, Haze, and Yawn.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno6377.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Sinnoh's Water-type starter can be described as a model Steel-type in Draft. Many teams appreciate its wealth of resistances, great special bulk, and access to utility moves like Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Roost makes it an effective wall, and Flip Turn allows it to put pressure on its checks. It even has a decent Special Attack and several setup options, setting it apart from other defensive Pokemon. However, it can be overwhelmed by wallbreakers due to its low Speed and unfortunate weaknesses to common attacks, as well as being a Water-type that is hit neutrally by Fire-types.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Bulky Pivot**: Empoleon is adept at checking specific foes, then safely bringing in its frailer teammates with its slow Flip Turn. It's also able to make progress on its own thanks to Stealth Rock and Knock Off. Resistances to multiple entry hazards and access to Roost make it difficult to wear down over the course of a battle.
**Wall**: Empoleon's defenses can be customized to wall many Pokemon. Moves like Roar and Yawn let it shut down opposing setup, and its Special Attack is good enough that it doesn't become completely passive when running defensive EV spreads. It can also use Whirlpool to deal consistent damage or different utility moves to contribute in other ways.
**Setup Sweeper**: With some Speed investment and Agility, offensive Empoleon sets can outspeed all relevant unboosted Pokemon. It can use this speedy set to clean up weakened teams, especially if it picks up a Special Attack boost from Competitive or an item.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Flip Turn, Surf, Hydro Pump, Flash Cannon, Aqua Jet, Wave Crash
**Setup Moves**: Iron Defense, Agility, Swords Dance
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Roost, Roar, Knock Off, Whirlpool, Haze, Yawn, Brick Break
**Coverage**: Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Air Slash, Vacuum Wave, Earthquake, Drill Peck, Dual Wingbeat, Rock Slide, Triple Axel, Ice Spinner, Throat Chop
Niche Moves
========
**Rain Dance / Snowscape**: Empoleon can set weather to shut down opposing weather setters or to further support its teammates.
**Icy Wind / Bulldoze**: Speed-lowering attacks can be used to deal damage while making fast foes more manageable for teammates or canceling out boosts from setup options like Dragon Dance.
**Power Trip**: Empoleon can run one or two setup moves and attempt to sweep once Power Trip has gained enough Base Power. Competitive or items like Weakness Policy can speed up the process and make the set less vulnerable to phazing and Encore.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers recovery improves Empoleon's survivability on defensive sets, helping it check additional foes and spend less turns using Roost.
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet is often great on physically defensive sets, though it also has value on specially defensive ones. Special attackers like Iron Bundle and Walking Wake are encouraged to use physical pivoting moves when fighting Empoleon, and the Rocky Helmet can wear them down over time.
**Resistance Berry**: Resistance Berries grant a one-time patch to Empoleon's weaknesses, allowing it to lure some of its checks and KO them. It can also use them to reliably phaze or revenge kill certain setup sweepers.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Although Empoleon doesn't fear most types of entry hazards, it can still be worn down by switches if Spikes are stacked. Heavy-Duty Boots improve its survivability in such matchups.
Niche Items
========
**Eject Button**: An early Eject Button can allow Empoleon's team to seize momentum, even against foes using pivoting moves.
**Red Card**: Red Card acts as a one-time phazing option if Empoleon can comfortably switch in on a foe, but it risks a Taunt or KO the following turn.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb protects Empoleon from Taunt as it goes for a phazing move or Roost.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Items like Life Orb and Expert Belt can enhance Empoleon's cleaning ability on Agility sets, and Choice Specs can turn it into a decent wallbreaker.
**Adrenaline Orb**: Adrenaline Orb grants a Speed boost against foes with Intimidate like Landorus-T and Krookodile that may attempt to outspeed and KO Empoleon. The boost, alongside Empoleon's natural bulk and the boost from Competitive, can be difficult for many foes to handle.
**Weakness Policy**: Weakness Policy punishes Pokemon using relatively weak coverage moves against Empoleon. It can also punish Volt Switch from the likes of Rotom-W. This forms a powerful combo with Agility, making Empoleon a fearsome sweeper.
Tera
========
Empoleon is not typically an ideal Tera Captain due to its valuable base typing and relatively awkward setup options. It can act as a solid secondary Captain if the remaining budget allows it, however. Defensive Tera types like Tera Fairy and Ghost can be chosen to counter specific foes and improve Empoleon's matchups. It can also use Tera Blast to patch up the holes in its coverage on offensive sets.
Draft Strategy
========
Empoleon's pivoting and walling capabilities are excellent support to round out many drafts. Plenty of offensive cores can work well with it, though they should be secured first. The following traits should be covered on drafts featuring Empoleon.
**Offense**: Empoleon is at its best when it can pivot into strong attackers. Frail wallbreakers like Chi-Yu and Enamorus especially adore its slow Flip Turns, and any setup sweeper like Latias and Necrozma will also enjoy a safe switch in. It also helps to have offensive Pokemon that threaten Electric- and Fighting-types for Empoleon, like Garchomp and Tornadus-T, respectively.
**Physical Defense**: Empoleon can form a strong defensive core with Pokemon that are more comfortable taking physical hits. Landorus-T and Gliscor are great examples that cover all of Empoleon's type weaknesses while Empoleon covers theirs.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Extra Stealth Rock users add flexibility when teambuilding and prevent Empoleon's sets from being too predictable. All entry hazards also invite in opposing Defog users, which have to risk giving Empoleon a Competitive boost whenever they use Defog.
**Fire-type Counters**: Empoleon's lack of a Fire resistance as a Water-type (AH) can make its team vulnerable to Fire-type attackers. It is important to have answers to Fire-types when drafting Empoleon, as it cannot always check them reliably. Bulky Water-resistant Pokemon like Garchomp and Rotom-W or offensive checks like Greninja and Iron Boulder can both fill this role.
Checks and Counters
========
**Super Effective Wallbreakers**: Foes with super effective STAB attacks can be a problem for even the biggest birds. Empoleon is unfortunately weak to very common offensive types, including moves like Close Combat and Earthquake. Its relatively underwhelming physical bulk also leaves it prone to being overwhelmed by physical attackers. Raging Bolt, Great Tusk, Iron Hands, and many other Pokemon can threaten KOs on Empoleon, which can let them set up with less fear of phazing. Electric-types can also threaten to take over a game's momentum with Volt Switch.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types resist Empoleon's STAB attacks and often its best coverage moves as well. Grass Knot is an option to pressure some Water-types, but many do not fear it.
**Taunt**: A well-timed Taunt can put an end to Empoleon's longevity by preventing Roost, making it far easier for foes to clean up. Setup sweepers can also use Taunt to prevent Roar, Haze, and Yawn.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno6377.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
