[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Dragon Ascent
move 2: V-create
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Earthquake / Scale Shot / Outrage
item: Choice Band
ability: Air Lock
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Rayquaza is one of the strongest wallbreakers in the tier thanks to its high Attack and high Base Power moves. Dragon Ascent is Rayquaza's main STAB move of choice, 2HKOing prominent defensive walls such as Clefable and Slowking. V-create lets Rayquaza overpower Pokemon that resist Dragon Ascent such as Necrozma-DM, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Zamazenta-C. Extreme Speed allows Rayquaza to finish off chipped Pokemon like Weavile, Tapu Koko, and Alolan Raichu. Earthquake still dents Zamazenta-C and Excadrill without lowering Rayquaza's stats and also provides coverage against Tyranitar, Tapu Koko, and Heatran. However, Earthquake is significantly weaker and fails to 2HKO physically defensive Necrozma-DM. Scale Shot is another option that turns Rayquaza into a potential late-game cleaner thanks to its Speed boost and gives it a chance to break Lunala but it suffers from inconsistent damage; Outrage is an option for burst damage against bulkier threats like Giratina and Zekrom, but locking Rayquaza into it for two to three turns is a steep penalty if any Fairy-types remain on the opposing side.
Choice Band Rayquaza fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that can get it in safely, often via pivoting, so teammates like Rotom-W, Tapu Koko, and Landorus-T are appreciated. Its passable defensive stats give it a notable role as a hyper offense god over Pheromosa, letting it support fast threats like Weavile as well as defensive setup threats like Clefable and Swords Dance Kartana. Rayquaza's high offenses make it a fantastic donor to fast, Speed-boosting, or priority-reliant teammates like Zygarde-10%, Galarian Moltres, Tapu Koko, and Rillaboom. Additionally, since Choice Band Rayquaza is a fantastic wallbreaker, fast Pokemon like Weavile, Zeraora, and Tapu Koko can take advantage of the holes it creates. Entry hazard removal support from Rotom-W, Corviknight, Landorus-T, and Tornadus-T is recommended to prevent Stealth Rock from limiting Rayquaza's switch-ins; Rapid Spin Excadrill and Magic Bounce Hatterene are alternative entry hazard control options. Since Rayquaza normally relies on prediction to beat opposing Steel-types, teammates that can reliably break opposing Heatran, Corviknight, and Necrozma-DM like Zygarde-10% and Magnezone make excellent teammates. Revenge killers like Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Weavile force Rayquaza out, so defensive answers like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Landorus-T all provide a switch-in to these threats, while offensive checks like Choice Scarf Urshifu-R and Kartana can work on hyper offense teams.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Dragon Ascent
move 3: V-create
move 4: Scale Shot / Extreme Speed
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Air Lock
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance turns Rayquaza into one of the strongest wallbreakers in the metagame, making it nigh impossible to wall. V-create OHKOes Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Necrozma-DM and can still 2HKO even bulky resistant switch-ins like Rotom-W at +2. Scale Shot both boosts Rayquaza's Speed and gives it a way to beat weakened Rotom-W along with outspeeding much of the unboosted metagame after a boost. Extreme Speed is an alternative that negates the need to rely on Scale Shot's inconsistent power and allows it to stop fast Choice Scarf users or priority revenge killers like Weavile, Victini, and Kyurem-W. Life Orb is the preferred option to maximize power at the expense of Rayquaza's longevity, while Focus Sash is another option to either provide safe setup or survive a revenge killer. Lastly, Heavy-Duty Boots allows Rayquaza to switch in multiple times without the fear of taking Stealth Rock damage.
Swords Dance Rayquaza fits best on offensive teams that can take advantage of its great stat donations and its ability to function as a wallbreaker or cleaner. Powerful offensive teammates like Galarian Moltres, Zeraora, and Weavile appreciate the super-charged offensive stats and Rayquaza battering down opposing walls. Swords Dance Rayquaza struggles against Unaware Clefable and Quagsire, so teammates like Kartana and Choice Band Weavile that threaten them make excellent teammates. Since Swords Dance Rayquaza is setup-dependent, it appreciates dual screens from Tapu Koko and entry hazard removal from Tornadus-T, Cloyster, and Excadrill. Pokemon with shared checks like Victini, Weavile, and Zeraora appreciate Rayquaza eliminating or weakening Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Tangrowth. Offensive teammates like Excadrill and Landorus-T that can switch into common revenge killers like Tapu Lele and Zamazenta-C make great teammates as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Adamant nature can be used on the Choice Band set to increase its damage output, but being unable to outspeed maximum Speed base 90 Pokemon such as Groudon is a harsh tradeoff. On Swords Dance sets, a Lum Berry may be used to avoid status moves to beat the likes of Rotom-W and Zapdos. Dragon Dance with V-create and either Extreme Speed or Earthquake is an option with Life Orb, but it is noticeably weaker than Swords Dance. A mixed set with 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe, Life Orb, and a Naive nature paired with Draco Meteor, Extreme Speed, and either V-create or Earthquake is an option to target regular physically defensive switch-ins to Rayquaza like Rotom-W and Quagsire; however, it will be even more prone to chip damage and can struggle against selected foes due to giving up coverage and Choice Band, such as Clefable, Tyranitar without Earthquake, and Skarmory without V-Create.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Rayquaza is best run with an offensive item, so it will usually take significant chip upon entry if Stealth Rock is up.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers like Weavile, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko can outspeed and OHKO Rayquaza; they do need to be healthy enough to survive Extreme Speed, however. In particular, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele outspeeds Rayquaza and handles both of its main sets thanks to its Fairy typing and Psychic Surge.
**Physically Bulky Walls**: Physically bulky Pokemon like Rotom-W, Clefable, Gastrodon, Lunala, and Alolan Persian make it difficult for Rayquaza to make progress, as they can shrug off the attacks that Rayquaza fires at them, especially if it is Choice-locked.
**Status Effects**: Burn and paralysis severely limit Rayquaza's effectiveness and make it much easier to check; additionally, Toxic puts it on a timer when combined with Stealth Rock and Life Orb.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Clastia, 545372], [UT, 523866]]
- Quality checked by: [[beauts, 484270], [longhiep341, 500884]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Dragon Ascent
move 2: V-create
move 3: Extreme Speed
move 4: Earthquake / Scale Shot / Outrage
item: Choice Band
ability: Air Lock
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Rayquaza is one of the strongest wallbreakers in the tier thanks to its high Attack and high Base Power moves. Dragon Ascent is Rayquaza's main STAB move of choice, 2HKOing prominent defensive walls such as Clefable and Slowking. V-create lets Rayquaza overpower Pokemon that resist Dragon Ascent such as Necrozma-DM, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Zamazenta-C. Extreme Speed allows Rayquaza to finish off chipped Pokemon like Weavile, Tapu Koko, and Alolan Raichu. Earthquake still dents Zamazenta-C and Excadrill without lowering Rayquaza's stats and also provides coverage against Tyranitar, Tapu Koko, and Heatran. However, Earthquake is significantly weaker and fails to 2HKO physically defensive Necrozma-DM. Scale Shot is another option that turns Rayquaza into a potential late-game cleaner thanks to its Speed boost and gives it a chance to break Lunala but it suffers from inconsistent damage; Outrage is an option for burst damage against bulkier threats like Giratina and Zekrom, but locking Rayquaza into it for two to three turns is a steep penalty if any Fairy-types remain on the opposing side.
Choice Band Rayquaza fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that can get it in safely, often via pivoting, so teammates like Rotom-W, Tapu Koko, and Landorus-T are appreciated. Its passable defensive stats give it a notable role as a hyper offense god over Pheromosa, letting it support fast threats like Weavile as well as defensive setup threats like Clefable and Swords Dance Kartana. Rayquaza's high offenses make it a fantastic donor to fast, Speed-boosting, or priority-reliant teammates like Zygarde-10%, Galarian Moltres, Tapu Koko, and Rillaboom. Additionally, since Choice Band Rayquaza is a fantastic wallbreaker, fast Pokemon like Weavile, Zeraora, and Tapu Koko can take advantage of the holes it creates. Entry hazard removal support from Rotom-W, Corviknight, Landorus-T, and Tornadus-T is recommended to prevent Stealth Rock from limiting Rayquaza's switch-ins; Rapid Spin Excadrill and Magic Bounce Hatterene are alternative entry hazard control options. Since Rayquaza normally relies on prediction to beat opposing Steel-types, teammates that can reliably break opposing Heatran, Corviknight, and Necrozma-DM like Zygarde-10% and Magnezone make excellent teammates. Revenge killers like Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Weavile force Rayquaza out, so defensive answers like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Landorus-T all provide a switch-in to these threats, while offensive checks like Choice Scarf Urshifu-R and Kartana can work on hyper offense teams.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Dragon Ascent
move 3: V-create
move 4: Scale Shot / Extreme Speed
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash / Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Air Lock
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance turns Rayquaza into one of the strongest wallbreakers in the metagame, making it nigh impossible to wall. V-create OHKOes Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Necrozma-DM and can still 2HKO even bulky resistant switch-ins like Rotom-W at +2. Scale Shot both boosts Rayquaza's Speed and gives it a way to beat weakened Rotom-W along with outspeeding much of the unboosted metagame after a boost. Extreme Speed is an alternative that negates the need to rely on Scale Shot's inconsistent power and allows it to stop fast Choice Scarf users or priority revenge killers like Weavile, Victini, and Kyurem-W. Life Orb is the preferred option to maximize power at the expense of Rayquaza's longevity, while Focus Sash is another option to either provide safe setup or survive a revenge killer. Lastly, Heavy-Duty Boots allows Rayquaza to switch in multiple times without the fear of taking Stealth Rock damage.
Swords Dance Rayquaza fits best on offensive teams that can take advantage of its great stat donations and its ability to function as a wallbreaker or cleaner. Powerful offensive teammates like Galarian Moltres, Zeraora, and Weavile appreciate the super-charged offensive stats and Rayquaza battering down opposing walls. Swords Dance Rayquaza struggles against Unaware Clefable and Quagsire, so teammates like Kartana and Choice Band Weavile that threaten them make excellent teammates. Since Swords Dance Rayquaza is setup-dependent, it appreciates dual screens from Tapu Koko and entry hazard removal from Tornadus-T, Cloyster, and Excadrill. Pokemon with shared checks like Victini, Weavile, and Zeraora appreciate Rayquaza eliminating or weakening Rotom-W, Landorus-T, and Tangrowth. Offensive teammates like Excadrill and Landorus-T that can switch into common revenge killers like Tapu Lele and Zamazenta-C make great teammates as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Adamant nature can be used on the Choice Band set to increase its damage output, but being unable to outspeed maximum Speed base 90 Pokemon such as Groudon is a harsh tradeoff. On Swords Dance sets, a Lum Berry may be used to avoid status moves to beat the likes of Rotom-W and Zapdos. Dragon Dance with V-create and either Extreme Speed or Earthquake is an option with Life Orb, but it is noticeably weaker than Swords Dance. A mixed set with 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe, Life Orb, and a Naive nature paired with Draco Meteor, Extreme Speed, and either V-create or Earthquake is an option to target regular physically defensive switch-ins to Rayquaza like Rotom-W and Quagsire; however, it will be even more prone to chip damage and can struggle against selected foes due to giving up coverage and Choice Band, such as Clefable, Tyranitar without Earthquake, and Skarmory without V-Create.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Rayquaza is best run with an offensive item, so it will usually take significant chip upon entry if Stealth Rock is up.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers like Weavile, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko can outspeed and OHKO Rayquaza; they do need to be healthy enough to survive Extreme Speed, however. In particular, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele outspeeds Rayquaza and handles both of its main sets thanks to its Fairy typing and Psychic Surge.
**Physically Bulky Walls**: Physically bulky Pokemon like Rotom-W, Clefable, Gastrodon, Lunala, and Alolan Persian make it difficult for Rayquaza to make progress, as they can shrug off the attacks that Rayquaza fires at them, especially if it is Choice-locked.
**Status Effects**: Burn and paralysis severely limit Rayquaza's effectiveness and make it much easier to check; additionally, Toxic puts it on a timer when combined with Stealth Rock and Life Orb.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Clastia, 545372], [UT, 523866]]
- Quality checked by: [[beauts, 484270], [longhiep341, 500884]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
Last edited:
