BSS Offensive Gouging Fire Sets

[Theorymon]

Crazy that I get what I wanted out of Reshiram 14 years later...

[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Heat Crash / Flare Blitz
move 3: Scale Shot / Outrage / Dragon Claw
move 4: Earthquake / Substitute / Morning Sun
item: Loaded Dice / Booster Energy
ability: Protosynthesis
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Fire / Water

[SET COMMENTS]

* With nearly unresisted coverage and reasonable bulk, Gouging Fire is a fearsome Speed boosting sweeper!

* **Heat Crash VS. Flare Blitz**: Heat Crash hits plenty of targets for high power thanks to Gouging Fire's high weight without compromising its bulk like Flare Blitz. However, beware that some heavy targets that sometimes use Tera Fairy like Ting-Lu, Ursaluna-B, and opposing Gouging Fire will take very little from Heat Crash compared to Flare Blitz.

* **Scale Shot and Loaded Dice**: Scale Shot with Loaded Dice not only gives Gouging Fire an alternate way to boost its Speed but also provides it with a way to bust through Focus Sash Pokemon after a boost, such as Chien-Pao.

* **Outrage VS. Dragon Claw**: Outrage is preferred for maximum late-game sweeping potential, but Dragon Claw is a safer option if you don't always bring good Fairy-type checks like Scizor.

* **Earthquake**: Earthquake is a good response to bulky Fire-types like Incineroar and the rare Heatran, and it is the strongest attack against Toxapex.

* **Substitute**: Substitute lets Gouging Fire block Yawn from troublesome foes like Swampert and Torkoal and not worry about Thunder Wave from slow, bulky foes like Gholdengo and Porygon2.

* **Booster Energy**: If not using Scale Shot, Booster Energy's power or Speed boost is the most useful for late-game sweeping without compromising Gouging Fire's good bulk like Life Orb would.

Tera Types
========

* **Tera Dependency - Medium**: Gouging Fire's typing is fine defensively, but the high profile weaknesses to Ground and Dragon mean Terastallizing gives it far more versatile setup opportunities.

* **Fairy**: Tera Fairy turns the tables on fearsome Dragon-type attacks from the likes of Latios and Dragonite and is a good defensive typing in general.

* **Fire**: Tera Fire gives Gouging Fire plenty of extra power and a useful Fairy resistance against Flutter Mane, even if the irritating Earthquake weakness remains.

* **Water**: Tera Water is a godsend against Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes and gives a setup opportunity against Chien-Pao's Icicle Crash as well.

* **Grass**: Although it's awkward against several targets like Tera Flying Landorus-T and opposing Gouging Fire, Tera Grass's Earthquake resistance and Spore immunity give it a niche.

Alternate EV Spreads
========

* **84 HP / 164 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly**: With this spread, Gouging Fire gets a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, letting it become a competent revenge killer with Booster Energy or have an extra use on sun teams. The defensive investment allows Gouging Fire to survive Tera-boosted Adamant Chien-Pao's Choice Band Crunch

[SET]
name: Choiced
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Dragon Claw / Breaking Swipe
move 4: Raging Fury / Heat Crash / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
tera type: Fire / Fairy
ability: Protosynthesis
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* Gouging Fire's deadly STAB combination makes it a great user of Choice items and gives it an especially strong role on sun teams as a cleaner and revenge killer!

* **Raging Fury VS. Heat Crash**: Gouging Fire's bulk is commendable enough that in a late-game stage, locking it into Raging Fury may make it less vulnerable to revenge kills than Flare Blitz's recoil. Heat Crash fulfills a similar purpose, though heavy threats like Ting-Lu and Ursaluna-B will take very little from it.

* **Dragon Claw VS. Breaking Swipe**: Dragon Claw is the most powerful option for a no-drawback Dragon-type STAB move, but Breaking Swipe's Attack drop can open up some support opportunities for Gouging Fire's teammates.

* **Earthquake**: Earthquake hits Incineroar and bulky Tera Fire users like Scizor hard, though it can be a risky move to choose with the large number of Ground-immune foes in the metagame.

* **Torkoal**: If using this set on a sun team, Torkoal is among the best options for setting up sun for Gouging Fire thanks to its access to Stealth Rock and Yawn, which can soften up foes for a sweep.

* **Choice Scarf Vs. Choice Band**: Choice Scarf functions the best outside of sun teams and is able to outspeed major threats like Chien-Pao and Iron Bundle. Choice Band is harder to clean with outside of sun teams, and it can use a specialized EV spread to get a Speed boost in sun.

Other Options
========

* **Double Kick**: If using Choice Scarf, Double Kick can be used to OHKO Chien-Pao through its Focus Sash in a surprise revenge kill. It's too weak to be used for much else though.

Tera Types
========

* **Tera Dependency - Low**: Since Gouging Fire is focused on cleaning and revenge killing, defensive Terastallization isn't usually an important factor for it.

* **Fire**: Tera Fire makes Gouging Fire even more difficult to wall, especially in late-game scenarios. It also gives Gouging Fire a handy Fairy resistance.

* **Fairy**: Tera Fairy can turn the tables on other Dragon-types, making it by far the most useful defensive Tera type for this set.

Alternate EV Spreads
========

* **84 HP / 164 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly**: This spread gives Gouging Fire a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, allowing potentially easier cleaning with Choice Band sets in sun. The bulk investment allows Gouging Fire to survive Choice Band Tera-boosted Crunch from Adamant Choice Band Chien-Pao.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theorymon.29010/
Quality checked by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/derpysux.528485/
Grammar checked by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/

 

[Omastar68]

I just wanna say I really like breaking swipe is a slash in bulky. I love that move(though I don't actually use it lol cause my team lacks dragons.) Moves like that(lunge, skitter smack, etc.) make me wonder what's possible.

Edit: any point to sign move or Raging fury by chance?

2nd edit: bulwark is low ish, but fury isn't that rare fwiw. If you strongly feel they bad, maybe listing why is ok?

 

[Theorymon]

Got this ready for a QC check! Because the bulky DD set is looking to have a MESS of EV options, optimizations, and choices in general, I split it off into its own thread so this can get onsite faster lol

 

[DerpySuX]

I would actually make Heat Crash the preferred Fire STAB on the DD set. Gouging Fire is heavy enough to where the power difference between it and Flare Blitz is pretty negligible, and keeping Fire healthy to take a stray hit is invaluable when cleaning late game. In a similar vein I would also recommend mentioning morning sun as even on these more offensively geared builds, making use of Gouging Fires excellent defensive profile is very feasible. Recovery is definitely something worth considering if you can spare the move slot for it.

On the choice item set I would remove double kick from the slash ins, as even in the bullet point for it you yourself point out that aside from surprise killing Chien-pao it’s pretty useless. Keeping it in the other options section would be more appropriate, as it might be worthwhile for teams that really need insurance against pao, but is overall quite limited in usefulness. Once again I would add Heat Crash as a slash in, this time I do think Flare Blitz/Raging Fury are better stab options, as the slight increase in power is more worthwhile for what these sets tend to do. I’d mention Breaking Swipe as an option over Dragon Claw too, (it actually has more usage according to home lol), as the utility of its secondary effect can allow for some team support options in addition to the safer dragon STAB.

 

[Theorymon]

I would actually make Heat Crash the preferred Fire STAB on the DD set. Gouging Fire is heavy enough to where the power difference between it and Flare Blitz is pretty negligible, and keeping Fire healthy to take a stray hit is invaluable when cleaning late game. In a similar vein I would also recommend mentioning morning sun as even on these more offensively geared builds, making use of Gouging Fires excellent defensive profile is very feasible. Recovery is definitely something worth considering if you can spare the move slot for it.

On the choice item set I would remove double kick from the slash ins, as even in the bullet point for it you yourself point out that aside from surprise killing Chien-pao it’s pretty useless. Keeping it in the other options section would be more appropriate, as it might be worthwhile for teams that really need insurance against pao, but is overall quite limited in usefulness. Once again I would add Heat Crash as a slash in, this time I do think Flare Blitz/Raging Fury are better stab options, as the slight increase in power is more worthwhile for what these sets tend to do. I’d mention Breaking Swipe as an option over Dragon Claw too, (it actually has more usage according to home lol), as the utility of its secondary effect can allow for some team support options in addition to the safer dragon STAB.

Implemented this stuff, and also added a bullet about Substitute in the first set (forgot to do that since it was a good time to mention some annoying status mons). Lemme know if you want anything else!

 

[DerpySuX]

That’s all I can think of right now, I’d say this is good to go! QC APPROVED

 

[Theorymon]

GP Team

 

[Omastar68]

Usage data atm is very similar to end of S14. And in any event, both don't follow as closely with some of the slashes as usual. I'm inclined to think the Smogon set is better than the average set, but fwiw Dragon Claw is not top 10, nor is sub.

 

[autumn]

1/1 GP Team done

Hide

[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Heat Crash / Flare Blitz
move 3: Scale Shot / Outrage / Dragon Claw
move 4: Earthquake / Substitute / Morning Sun
item: Loaded Dice / Booster Energy
tera type: Fairy / Fire / Water
ability: Protosynthesis
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* With nearly unresisted coverage and reasonable bulk, Gouging Fire is a fearsome Speed boosting sweeper!

* **Heat Crash VS. Flare Blitz**: Heat Crash still hits plenty of targets for high power thanks to Gouging Fire's high weight (RC) without compromising its bulk like Flare Blitz. However, beware that some heavy targets that sometimes use Tera Fairy like Ting-Lu, Ursaluna-B, and opposing Gouging Fire will take very little from Heat Crash compared to Flare Blitz.

* **Scale Shot and Loaded Dice**: Scale Shot with Loaded Dice not only gives Gouging Fire an alternate way to boost its Speed (RC) but also provides it with a way to bust through Focus Sash Pokemon after a boost, such as Chien-Pao.

* **Outrage VS. Dragon Claw**: Outrage is preferred for maximum late game late-game sweeping potential, but Dragon Claw is a safer option if you don't always bring good anti-fairy teammates Fairy-type checks like Scizor.

* **Earthquake**: Earthquake is a good response to bulky Fire-types like Incineroar and the rare Heatran, and it is the strongest attack against Toxapex.

* **Substitute**: This Substitute lets Gouging Fire block Yawn from troublesome foes like Swampert and Torkoal (RC) and not worry about Thunder Wave from slow, bulky foes like Gholdengo and Porygon2.

* **Booster Energy**: If not using Scale Shot, Booster Energy's power or Speed boost is the most useful for late-game sweeping without compromising Gouging Fire's good bulk like Life Orb would.

Tera Types
========

* **Tera Dependency - Medium**: Gouging Fire's typing is fine defensively, but the high profile weaknesses to Ground and Dragon mean Terastallizing gives it far more versatile set-up setup opportunities.

* **Fairy**: Tera Fairy turns the tables on fearsome Dragon-type attacks from the likes of Latios or and Dragonite (RC) and is a good defensive typing in general.

* **Fire**: Tera Fire gives Gouging Fire plenty of extra power and a useful Fairy resistance against Flutter Mane, even if the irritating Earthquake weakness remains.

* **Water**: Tera Water is a godsend against Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes (RC) and gives a set-up chance setup opportunity against Chien-Pao's Icicle Crash as well.

* **Grass**: Although it's awkward against several targets like Tera Flying Landorus-T and opposing Gouging Fire, Tera Grass's Earthquake resistance and Spore immunity give it a niche.

Alternate EV Spreads
========

* **60 HP / 164 Atk / 28 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly**: With this spread, Gouging Fire gets a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, letting it become a competent revenge killer with Booster Energy or have an extra use on Sun sun teams. The defensive investment maximizes Gouging Fire's shot of surviving Tera boosted Tera-boosted Jolly Chien-Pao's Choice Band Sucker Punch at around 68%. (this spread doesn't really work - if the bulk evsn don't do anything guaranteed why isn't all the leftovers evs from the speed boost dumped into 1 single stat? we don't really want to have more than one dump stat)

[SET]
name: Choiced
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Dragon Claw / Breaking Swipe
move 4: Raging Fury / Heat Crash / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
tera type: Fire / Fairy
ability: Protosynthesis
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

* Gouging Fire's deadly dual STABs make STAB combination makes it a great user of choice Choice items (RC) and gives it an especially strong role on Sun sun teams as a cleaner and revenge killer!

* **Raging Fury VS. Heat Crash**: Gouging Fire's bulk is commendable enough that in a late-game stage, locking it into Raging Fury may make it less vulnerable to revenge kills than Flare Blitz's recoil. Heat Crash fulfills a similar purpose, though heavy threats like Ting-Lu and Ursaluna-B will take very little from it.

* **Dragon Claw VS. Breaking Swipe**: Dragon Claw is the most powerful option for a no-drawback Dragon STAB Dragon-type STAB move, but Breaking Swipe's Attack drop can open up some support opportunities for Gouging Fire's teammates.

* **Earthquake**: Earthquake hits Incineroar and bulky Tera Fire users like Scizor hard, though it can be a risky move to choose with the large amount of Ground immunities number of Ground-immune foes in the metagame.

* **Torkoal**: If using this set on a Sun sun team, Torkoal is among the best options for setting up Sun sun for Gouging Fire thanks to its access to Stealth Rock and Yawn, which can soften up foes for a sweep.

* **Choice Scarf Vs. Choice Band**: Choice Scarf functions the best outside of sun teams (RC) and is able to outspeed major threats like Chien-Pao and Iron Bundle. Choice Band is harder to clean with outside of Sun sun teams, that and it can use a specialized EV spread to get a Speed boost in the Sun sun.

Other Options
========

* **Double Kick**: If using Choice Scarf, Double Kick can be used to OHKO Chien-Pao through its Focus Sash in a surprise revenge kill. It's too weak to be used for much else though.

Tera Types
========

* **Tera Dependency - Low**: Since Gouging Fire is focused on cleaning and revenge killing, defensive Terastallization isn't usually an important factor for it.

* **Fire**: Tera Fire makes Gouging Fire even more difficult to wall, especially in late-game scenarios. It also gives Gouging Fire a handy Fairy resistance.

* **Fairy**: Tera Fairy can turn the tables on other Dragon-types, making it by far the most useful defensive Tera type for this set.

Alternate EV Spreads
========

* **60 HP / 164 Atk / 28 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with Jolly**: This spread gives Gouging Fire a Speed boost with Protosynthesis, allowing potentially easier cleaning with Choice Band sets in sunny weather. The bulk investment gives Gouging Fire around a 68% chance of surviving Choice Band Tera boosted Tera-boosted Sucker Punch from Jolly Chien-Pao. (same as spread above)

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theorymon.29010/
Quality checked by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/derpysux.528485/
Grammar checked by:

 

[Theorymon]

Sorry to take so long to implement, those antibiotics have been no joke!

Anyways, I implemented the stuff! As for the EV spread:

(this spread doesn't really work - if the bulk evsn don't do anything guaranteed why isn't all the leftovers evs from the speed boost dumped into 1 single stat? we don't really want to have more than one dump stat)

In the usual cases, the reason we get EV spreads like this in BSS is that due to the nature of 3v3 singles: Its often better to check a couple of things "sorta OK" than go "do it 100% of the time", especially when they're big threats like Chien-Pao or Flutter Mane. The 68% chance is an extreme example, but for stuff like Flutter Mane and Chien-Pao, you'll see mons going for it to cushion wrong Team Preview picks, something you don't see happen in other metagames besides VGC. To use more common examples, its why in BSS there's a bazillion spreads that aim for surviving everything except "the highest roll" from an Attack: sure it makes a Pokemon less likely to defeat something, but it frees up enough EVs to take on more threats in case you don't pick the most optimal stuff in team preview.

All that being said... I changed the EV spread anyways because I screwed up, and those EVs were for... something else that I can't even remember LOL, because it already survived the Sucker Punch with barely any investment! This was probably a typo for a completely different think as I was rewriting stuff.

Gouging Fire has lost quite a bit of relevancy. While its still super viable, I just tuned it to survive CB Tera Dark Chien-Pao's Crunch because that's a more common benchmark than whatever I was trying to do before lol.

Anyways this is now done!