sleid
vagabond
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Heavy Slam
move 4: Superpower / Earthquake
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Lairon is a threatening wallbreaker in ZU due to its incredibly strong STAB moves and high Attack. It can blow up the tier's premier physical walls such as Solrock, Wormadam-S, and Frillish if they try to switch in. Head Smash is an absolutely terrifying STAB move, regardless of its problematic accuracy, 2HKOing most neutral targets such as Wormadam-S, Meganium, and Shelgon. What makes Lairon so threatening is that it can outspeed most of the bulky foes that can take hits from it, finishing them off with a second Head Smash. Iron Head is great for Rock-types like Solrock, Graveler, and other Lairon where Head Smash wouldn't be as powerful. The chance to flinch and better accuracy can also help bail Lairon out of tight situations where it needs to finish off a slower target late-game. Heavy Slam is used to OHKO lighter foes like Mienfoo and Drilbur and 2HKO Clefairy, Vibrava, and Ivysaur. Its Steel-type STAB moves are also safer OHKOs on opposing Ice-types like Glaceon and Beartic compared to Head Smash due to their perfect accuracy. For its last move, Lairon opts to run either Superpower or Earthquake to hit Steel-types such as Pawniard and opposing Lairon, as well as Whiscash. Superpower picks up OHKOs on the likes of specially defensive Clefairy and opposing Lairon; however, it does have the drawback of rendering Lairon susceptible to being revenge killed or set up on after the stat drop, unlike Earthquake. Rock Head is to prevent Lairon from taking recoil from Head Smash, giving it more longevity in battle.
Lairon fits well on balance or offensive teams looking for a physical wallbreaker. Other physical cleaners and sweepers such as Leafeon and Shelgon appreciate it taking down some of the physical walls that they struggle to get past like Wormadam-S and Meganium. Lairon packs a plethora of resistances, which help it slot in on teams looking for an offensive Pokemon that can take a hit. The likes of Emolga, Leafeon and Raichu appreciate how well Lairon does in the face of offensive threats like Persian and Muk, since it can come in on their attacks and threaten back with big damage. It can even take non-resisted hits pretty well from most physical attackers, then threaten to KO with its blistering Choice Band-boosted attacks. Although it has great physical bulk, Lairon really needs teammates like specially defensive Grumpig, Muk, and Clefairy to handle special attackers such as Simisear, Grumpig, and Walrein, respectively. Lairon really appreciates being paired with Muk, Arbok, and Frillish to help with taking Fighting-type moves from Mienfoo, Flareon, and opposing Lairon. Lairon is also threatened by Ground-type moves from the likes of Hippopotas and Vibrava, so it appreciates a partner that resists or is immune to these moves like Meganium, Solrock, or Pelipper. Most of these teammates already do well at covering its weakness to Water, but other helpful Pokemon to cover this issue would be Gloom, Walrein, and Staryu. Lairon does great combined with pivots like Persian and Mienfoo that allow it to come in safely on Pokemon that want to switch in on them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lairon can opt to run 252 HP EVs over 252 Speed EVs to survive what would otherwise be OHKOs from Choice Scarf Kingler's Superpower, Whiscash's Earthquake, and Choice Band Solrock's Earthquake; however, this is sub-optimal, as it loses a lot of its offensive potential. Rest can be used to heal burn and keep Lairon healthy, but it ends up leaving it way too passive. Lairon can also choose to run setup moves like Curse and Hone Claws. Curse can boost its already high Attack and Defense, while Hone Claws helps ensure Head Smash won't miss. However, Lairon has too many weaknesses to set up without boosting its Speed and has a lot of trouble circumventing its low Special Defense. Rock Slide and Stone Edge are options for alternate STAB moves, but the sheer power of Head Smash is too good to pass up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Lairon has a 4x weakness to Ground, and most Ground-types such as Hippopotas, Vibrava, and Whiscash also resist Head Smash. Whiscash deserves a special mention, since it resists Lairon's STAB combination.
**Fighting-types**: Mienfoo gives Lairon a lot of trouble, as it resists Head Smash and can OHKO it with High Jump Kick. Lairon also has to be aware of sneaky Hidden Power Fighting coverage that can be carried by Grumpig, Persian, and Glaceon.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types in general are a struggle for Lairon to switch in on, and even its Choice Band set has trouble OHKOing some of them. This makes Lairon really susceptible to Walrein, Frillish, and Staryu. It has a tough time taking a Scald from any of these Pokemon and also risks taking a burn. Whiscash is in a class of its own for bulky Water-types. Since it resists Lairon's STAB combination, it is very hard to take down when it comes in, and Lairon cannot take an Earthquake from it in return.
**Fast Special Attackers**: Lairon has pretty poor Speed, mostly relying on its bulk to take a hit before being able to return the favor. Faster special attackers such as Grumpig, Simisear, and Raichu can put down Lairon before it gets the chance to do anything. However, they need to use super effective attacks to make sure they OHKO its bulky Eviolite sets. They also need to be concerned about coming in after a Rock Polish.
**Status**: Lairon is completely ruined after getting burned, which can happen after taking a Will-O-Wisp from Frillish and Solrock or Scald from Pelipper and Staryu. Thunder Wave from Clefairy isn't great for it either, making it slow enough to be picked off by Hippopotas, Graveler, Wormadam-G, and Wormadam-S.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/therealbigc.532450/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Heavy Slam
move 4: Superpower / Earthquake
item: Choice Band
ability: Rock Head
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Lairon is a threatening wallbreaker in ZU due to its incredibly strong STAB moves and high Attack. It can blow up the tier's premier physical walls such as Solrock, Wormadam-S, and Frillish if they try to switch in. Head Smash is an absolutely terrifying STAB move, regardless of its problematic accuracy, 2HKOing most neutral targets such as Wormadam-S, Meganium, and Shelgon. What makes Lairon so threatening is that it can outspeed most of the bulky foes that can take hits from it, finishing them off with a second Head Smash. Iron Head is great for Rock-types like Solrock, Graveler, and other Lairon where Head Smash wouldn't be as powerful. The chance to flinch and better accuracy can also help bail Lairon out of tight situations where it needs to finish off a slower target late-game. Heavy Slam is used to OHKO lighter foes like Mienfoo and Drilbur and 2HKO Clefairy, Vibrava, and Ivysaur. Its Steel-type STAB moves are also safer OHKOs on opposing Ice-types like Glaceon and Beartic compared to Head Smash due to their perfect accuracy. For its last move, Lairon opts to run either Superpower or Earthquake to hit Steel-types such as Pawniard and opposing Lairon, as well as Whiscash. Superpower picks up OHKOs on the likes of specially defensive Clefairy and opposing Lairon; however, it does have the drawback of rendering Lairon susceptible to being revenge killed or set up on after the stat drop, unlike Earthquake. Rock Head is to prevent Lairon from taking recoil from Head Smash, giving it more longevity in battle.
Lairon fits well on balance or offensive teams looking for a physical wallbreaker. Other physical cleaners and sweepers such as Leafeon and Shelgon appreciate it taking down some of the physical walls that they struggle to get past like Wormadam-S and Meganium. Lairon packs a plethora of resistances, which help it slot in on teams looking for an offensive Pokemon that can take a hit. The likes of Emolga, Leafeon and Raichu appreciate how well Lairon does in the face of offensive threats like Persian and Muk, since it can come in on their attacks and threaten back with big damage. It can even take non-resisted hits pretty well from most physical attackers, then threaten to KO with its blistering Choice Band-boosted attacks. Although it has great physical bulk, Lairon really needs teammates like specially defensive Grumpig, Muk, and Clefairy to handle special attackers such as Simisear, Grumpig, and Walrein, respectively. Lairon really appreciates being paired with Muk, Arbok, and Frillish to help with taking Fighting-type moves from Mienfoo, Flareon, and opposing Lairon. Lairon is also threatened by Ground-type moves from the likes of Hippopotas and Vibrava, so it appreciates a partner that resists or is immune to these moves like Meganium, Solrock, or Pelipper. Most of these teammates already do well at covering its weakness to Water, but other helpful Pokemon to cover this issue would be Gloom, Walrein, and Staryu. Lairon does great combined with pivots like Persian and Mienfoo that allow it to come in safely on Pokemon that want to switch in on them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lairon can opt to run 252 HP EVs over 252 Speed EVs to survive what would otherwise be OHKOs from Choice Scarf Kingler's Superpower, Whiscash's Earthquake, and Choice Band Solrock's Earthquake; however, this is sub-optimal, as it loses a lot of its offensive potential. Rest can be used to heal burn and keep Lairon healthy, but it ends up leaving it way too passive. Lairon can also choose to run setup moves like Curse and Hone Claws. Curse can boost its already high Attack and Defense, while Hone Claws helps ensure Head Smash won't miss. However, Lairon has too many weaknesses to set up without boosting its Speed and has a lot of trouble circumventing its low Special Defense. Rock Slide and Stone Edge are options for alternate STAB moves, but the sheer power of Head Smash is too good to pass up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Lairon has a 4x weakness to Ground, and most Ground-types such as Hippopotas, Vibrava, and Whiscash also resist Head Smash. Whiscash deserves a special mention, since it resists Lairon's STAB combination.
**Fighting-types**: Mienfoo gives Lairon a lot of trouble, as it resists Head Smash and can OHKO it with High Jump Kick. Lairon also has to be aware of sneaky Hidden Power Fighting coverage that can be carried by Grumpig, Persian, and Glaceon.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types in general are a struggle for Lairon to switch in on, and even its Choice Band set has trouble OHKOing some of them. This makes Lairon really susceptible to Walrein, Frillish, and Staryu. It has a tough time taking a Scald from any of these Pokemon and also risks taking a burn. Whiscash is in a class of its own for bulky Water-types. Since it resists Lairon's STAB combination, it is very hard to take down when it comes in, and Lairon cannot take an Earthquake from it in return.
**Fast Special Attackers**: Lairon has pretty poor Speed, mostly relying on its bulk to take a hit before being able to return the favor. Faster special attackers such as Grumpig, Simisear, and Raichu can put down Lairon before it gets the chance to do anything. However, they need to use super effective attacks to make sure they OHKO its bulky Eviolite sets. They also need to be concerned about coming in after a Rock Polish.
**Status**: Lairon is completely ruined after getting burned, which can happen after taking a Will-O-Wisp from Frillish and Solrock or Scald from Pelipper and Staryu. Thunder Wave from Clefairy isn't great for it either, making it slow enough to be picked off by Hippopotas, Graveler, Wormadam-G, and Wormadam-S.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/therealbigc.532450/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited: