**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Slither Wing is a powerful physical attacker with access to many valuable moves, such as STAB U-turn and First Impression to effectively pivot and revenge kill, other strong STAB and coverage options, and utility options like Morning Sun and Will-O-Wisp. With Bulk Up and Flame Charge in its arsenal, Slither Wing can also be a fearsome setup sweeper. However, its incredibly average Speed gets it revenge killed by many Pokemon, especially those that resist its STAB combination. It also faces stiff competition from higher- or similarly-priced Fighting-types and is not helped by its mediocre bulk and weaknesses to common offensive types in Fairy, Flying, and Fire.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Slither Wing can equip damage-boosting items like Choice Band to dish out a lot of damage with powerful moves like Close Combat and Flare Blitz. This set generally runs U-turn to weaken checks and generate momentum and First Impression to revenge kill faster threats. Slither Wing can also equip a Choice Scarf to outspeed naturally faster Pokemon while still dealing a lot of damage, thanks to its high Attack stat.
**Setup Sweeper**: Slither Wing has access to both Bulk Up and Flame Charge and can utilize these to sweep unprepared teams. This set generally equips Booster Energy to gain a one-time boost to Attack to make it easier to sweep. Slither Wing can also run Morning Sun or Leech Life to keep itself healthy.
**Utility**: Slither Wing has useful resistances to Fighting, Dark, and Ground. Coupled with serviceable bulk when invested and access to reliable recovery, it can be used as a defensive switch-in to foes with the aforementioned typings. It also provides pivoting support as well as the ability to cripple opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp or Stun Spore.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Close Combat, U-turn, Leech Life, First Impression, Low Kick, Brick Break
**Setup Moves**: Bulk Up, Flame Charge, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Morning Sun, Will-O-Wisp, Stun Spore, Substitute
**Coverage**: Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, Earthquake, High Horsepower, Acrobatics, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Whirlwind**: Whirlwind is run in niche scenarios to phaze setup sweepers that Slither Wing can reliably take a hit from.
**Lunge / Skitter Smack**: Lunge or Skitter Smack can be run on defensive sets to weaken incoming checks or slow down setup sweepers.
**Sunny Day**: Slither Wing can run Sunny Day to activate Protosynthesis and boost Flare Blitz.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: As Slither Wing is vulnerable to every form of entry hazard, immunity to them is highly valuable, especially on sets focused on providing pivot support.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band is preferred over other damage-boosting items for maximum wallbreaking potential on teams that don't want to commit to the one-time use of Booster Energy to dish out a plethora of damage.
**Booster Energy**: Booster Energy gives Slither Wing a one-time boost to its Attack stat to start dealing massive damage to the opposing team. This enables Slither Wing to switch up moves and make use of its decent coverage moves. This is generally seen on setup sets, as it enables running a coverage or utility move over Bulk Up.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Slither Wing to revenge kill faster Pokemon and become a fast pivot while dealing large amounts of damage with U-turn.
**Rocky Helmet**: Slither Wing's typing does well defensively against Bug-, Dark-, and Fighting-type attacks. Thus, Rocky Helmet can be used to switch in and punish Pokemon that run resisted moves like Knock Off, U-turn, and Close Combat.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers provides consistent recovery to bulkier utility sets, helping Slither Wing remain healthier to deal with opposing Pokemon.
**Resistance Berries**: Slither Wing has several common weaknesses, so it sometimes uses a resistance Berry to survive an attack that targets it for super effective damage, using the opportunity to deal damage or revenge kill opposing Pokemon.
Tera
========
While Slither Wing is a solid candidate for a Tera Captain, it should not be drafted for that purpose, as it is outclassed by several higher-tiered Tera Captains, and the opportunity cost is often not worth it. Further, it is a potent wallbreaker without needing the boost of Tera. It also provides useful resistances to a draft that would be lost with Tera. However, if chosen to be a Tera Captain, Slither Wing makes excellent use of STAB Tera types to further boost Close Combat, U-turn, and First Impression. It can also use Tera Fire or Tera Electric to boost its coverage options. On the defensive side, it can utilize Tera Steel to deal with Fairy-types or Tera Water to deal with Fire-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Slither Wing provides teams with an excellent wallbreaking option that is further able to support the team with its pivoting, priority, and useful resistances. While it can be a potent setup sweeper, setting up with it should not be a team's primary win condition. It also faces stiff competition from several Fighting-types, so it should only be drafted if it synergizes well with the rest of the team.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: As Slither Wing should not be the primary offensive option on a team, it works well with faster offensive teammates like Latios, Greninja, and Enamorus, supporting them with STAB U-turn pivoting as well as offering a reliable revenge killing option.
**Flying-resistant Pokemon**: Slither Wing is extremely vulnerable to Flying, often forcing foes to run Flying-type coverage. Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zapdos make great teammates, as they can switch in on Flying-types and form a solid VoltTurn core with Slither Wing.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Similar to other wallbreakers, Slither Wing appreciates teammates that can set entry hazards like Hisuian Samurott and Landorus-T to get vital chip damage on the opposing team. Additionally, as it is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards, it appreciates strong hazard removal from teammates like Iron Treads and Glimmora to enable it to not rely on Heavy-Duty Boots and switch in more easily.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Flying-type Pokemon**: Bulky Flying-type Pokemon like Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Zapdos resist Slither Wing's STAB combination, making them good switch-ins to Slither Wing. Zapdos and Moltres are especially annoying for their ability to cripple Slither Wing with Static and Flame Body, respectively.
**Bulky Fairy-type Pokemon**: Bulky Fairy-type Pokemon like Clefable and Azumarill resist Slither Wing's STAB moves and threaten a KO back.
**Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon**: Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon like Pecharunt and Annihilape are immune to Fighting and resist Bug, making them excellent defensive responses to Slither Wing.
**Faster Pokemon**: Slither Wing has subpar Speed and weaknesses to several common types, making it vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/professor-shuckle.530941/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Slither Wing is a powerful physical attacker with access to many valuable moves, such as STAB U-turn and First Impression to effectively pivot and revenge kill, other strong STAB and coverage options, and utility options like Morning Sun and Will-O-Wisp. With Bulk Up and Flame Charge in its arsenal, Slither Wing can also be a fearsome setup sweeper. However, its incredibly average Speed gets it revenge killed by many Pokemon, especially those that resist its STAB combination. It also faces stiff competition from higher- or similarly-priced Fighting-types and is not helped by its mediocre bulk and weaknesses to common offensive types in Fairy, Flying, and Fire.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Slither Wing can equip damage-boosting items like Choice Band to dish out a lot of damage with powerful moves like Close Combat and Flare Blitz. This set generally runs U-turn to weaken checks and generate momentum and First Impression to revenge kill faster threats. Slither Wing can also equip a Choice Scarf to outspeed naturally faster Pokemon while still dealing a lot of damage, thanks to its high Attack stat.
**Setup Sweeper**: Slither Wing has access to both Bulk Up and Flame Charge and can utilize these to sweep unprepared teams. This set generally equips Booster Energy to gain a one-time boost to Attack to make it easier to sweep. Slither Wing can also run Morning Sun or Leech Life to keep itself healthy.
**Utility**: Slither Wing has useful resistances to Fighting, Dark, and Ground. Coupled with serviceable bulk when invested and access to reliable recovery, it can be used as a defensive switch-in to foes with the aforementioned typings. It also provides pivoting support as well as the ability to cripple opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp or Stun Spore.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Close Combat, U-turn, Leech Life, First Impression, Low Kick, Brick Break
**Setup Moves**: Bulk Up, Flame Charge, Trailblaze
**Utility Moves**: Morning Sun, Will-O-Wisp, Stun Spore, Substitute
**Coverage**: Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, Earthquake, High Horsepower, Acrobatics, Zen Headbutt
Niche Moves
========
**Whirlwind**: Whirlwind is run in niche scenarios to phaze setup sweepers that Slither Wing can reliably take a hit from.
**Lunge / Skitter Smack**: Lunge or Skitter Smack can be run on defensive sets to weaken incoming checks or slow down setup sweepers.
**Sunny Day**: Slither Wing can run Sunny Day to activate Protosynthesis and boost Flare Blitz.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: As Slither Wing is vulnerable to every form of entry hazard, immunity to them is highly valuable, especially on sets focused on providing pivot support.
**Choice Band**: Choice Band is preferred over other damage-boosting items for maximum wallbreaking potential on teams that don't want to commit to the one-time use of Booster Energy to dish out a plethora of damage.
**Booster Energy**: Booster Energy gives Slither Wing a one-time boost to its Attack stat to start dealing massive damage to the opposing team. This enables Slither Wing to switch up moves and make use of its decent coverage moves. This is generally seen on setup sets, as it enables running a coverage or utility move over Bulk Up.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf allows Slither Wing to revenge kill faster Pokemon and become a fast pivot while dealing large amounts of damage with U-turn.
**Rocky Helmet**: Slither Wing's typing does well defensively against Bug-, Dark-, and Fighting-type attacks. Thus, Rocky Helmet can be used to switch in and punish Pokemon that run resisted moves like Knock Off, U-turn, and Close Combat.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers provides consistent recovery to bulkier utility sets, helping Slither Wing remain healthier to deal with opposing Pokemon.
**Resistance Berries**: Slither Wing has several common weaknesses, so it sometimes uses a resistance Berry to survive an attack that targets it for super effective damage, using the opportunity to deal damage or revenge kill opposing Pokemon.
Tera
========
While Slither Wing is a solid candidate for a Tera Captain, it should not be drafted for that purpose, as it is outclassed by several higher-tiered Tera Captains, and the opportunity cost is often not worth it. Further, it is a potent wallbreaker without needing the boost of Tera. It also provides useful resistances to a draft that would be lost with Tera. However, if chosen to be a Tera Captain, Slither Wing makes excellent use of STAB Tera types to further boost Close Combat, U-turn, and First Impression. It can also use Tera Fire or Tera Electric to boost its coverage options. On the defensive side, it can utilize Tera Steel to deal with Fairy-types or Tera Water to deal with Fire-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Slither Wing provides teams with an excellent wallbreaking option that is further able to support the team with its pivoting, priority, and useful resistances. While it can be a potent setup sweeper, setting up with it should not be a team's primary win condition. It also faces stiff competition from several Fighting-types, so it should only be drafted if it synergizes well with the rest of the team.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: As Slither Wing should not be the primary offensive option on a team, it works well with faster offensive teammates like Latios, Greninja, and Enamorus, supporting them with STAB U-turn pivoting as well as offering a reliable revenge killing option.
**Flying-resistant Pokemon**: Slither Wing is extremely vulnerable to Flying, often forcing foes to run Flying-type coverage. Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zapdos make great teammates, as they can switch in on Flying-types and form a solid VoltTurn core with Slither Wing.
**Entry Hazard Support**: Similar to other wallbreakers, Slither Wing appreciates teammates that can set entry hazards like Hisuian Samurott and Landorus-T to get vital chip damage on the opposing team. Additionally, as it is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards, it appreciates strong hazard removal from teammates like Iron Treads and Glimmora to enable it to not rely on Heavy-Duty Boots and switch in more easily.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Flying-type Pokemon**: Bulky Flying-type Pokemon like Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Zapdos resist Slither Wing's STAB combination, making them good switch-ins to Slither Wing. Zapdos and Moltres are especially annoying for their ability to cripple Slither Wing with Static and Flame Body, respectively.
**Bulky Fairy-type Pokemon**: Bulky Fairy-type Pokemon like Clefable and Azumarill resist Slither Wing's STAB moves and threaten a KO back.
**Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon**: Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon like Pecharunt and Annihilape are immune to Fighting and resist Bug, making them excellent defensive responses to Slither Wing.
**Faster Pokemon**: Slither Wing has subpar Speed and weaknesses to several common types, making it vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster Pokemon.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/professor-shuckle.530941/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/abriel.473082/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
