LTG
It’s always gaming time
[SET]
Magic Guard (Ho-Oh) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz / V-create / Fire Lash
- Brave Bird
- Tidy Up / Mortal Spin / Head Smash
- Strength Sap
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Ho-Oh is a strong, resilient wallbreaker that can also provide valuable support through entry hazard removal. Flare Blitz and Brave Bird are reliable STAB moves that deal great damage against the majority of the tier. Magic Guard negates recoil from these moves in addition to various forms of passive damage, such as Stealth Rock and poison. V-create is an option that allows Ho-Oh to have more immediate power over Flare Blitz, notably 2HKOing non-Fur Coat neutral Arceus formes, at the cost of lowering Ho-Oh's defenses and Speed after use. Also, V-create only has 8 PP compared to Flare Blitz's 24, which can cause issues in longer games. Fire Lash is another alternative that allows Ho-Oh to pressure passive walls like Dondozo more easily though consecutive Defense drops, eventually forcing these foes out. Tidy Up and Mortal Spin both serve as hazard removal, and each come with their own advantages. Tidy Up allows Ho-Oh to set up and potentially sweep, and it also somewhat mitigates the stat drops from V-create if it is used. Meanwhile, Mortal Spin applies more pressure to opposing walls, with poison helping to wear them down over the course of a game. Alternatively, Head Smash can be used to nearly OHKO Imposter users that lack Eviolite; otherwise, Ho-Oh risks being walled by its Imposter. Furthermore, Head Smash is Ho-Oh's best move to hit Mega Diancie, cleanly 2HKOing it. Strength Sap pairs well with Magic Guard to give Ho-Oh incredible longevity, ensuring that it can serve as a long-term check to opposing Fire- and Fairy-Types like Arceus-Fire, Arceus-Fairy, and Choice Specs Mega Diancie locked into Boomburst. Ho-Oh can struggle to defeat bulky Dragon- and Water-types such as Fur Coat Miraidon and Dondozo, so offensive teammates such as Mega Diancie and Kartana are appreciated. Ho-Oh also enjoys entry hazard and Knock Off support to push checks into 2HKO range, as well as allowing Head Smash variants to defeat Imposter users more easily. Ho-Oh can be Imposter-proofed by the aforementioned Fur Coat Miraidon and Dondozo, as well as by Fur Coat Arceus formes, although they should all ideally have some move to punish the Imposter user from simply staying in and setting up.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ltg.473639/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/chessking345.355040/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tea-guzzler.577920/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/milak.262594/
Last edited: