[OVERVIEW]
Tornadus is a niche offensive pivot able to threaten a wide variety of Pokemon with its strong Acrobatics and coverage moves in Knock Off and Heat Wave. It outspeeds common Pokemon like Keldeo, Zarude, and Cobalion, and it can pivot out on them effectively or inconvenience switch-ins like Salamence and Rotom-W with Knock Off. With Defiant, it can punish Defog attempts from the likes of Salamence and Mandibuzz, as well as Intimidate from the former, exerting offensive pressure with ease and finding a strong place on entry hazard-stacking teams. Choice Specs Tornadus is also an incredibly dangerous wallbreaker on rain teams, getting a near-guaranteed teamslot on them with its 100% accurate Hurricane, which blows past most walls. Neither Tornadus set can afford to run Heavy-Duty Boots, however, meaning that it requires solid entry hazard removal to function decently. The physical set also struggles to break through Pokemon like Celesteela and Rotom-W early-game, meaning Tornadus's wallbreaking can be heavily limited, as it struggles to freely use Acrobatics on top of struggling to switch in due to its frailty. Tornadus's extreme frailty means that it is often forced out by faster threats like Azelf and Zygarde-10%, priority users like Scizor and Mamoswine, and bulky foes like Slowking and Celesteela that can take a hit and do massive damage in return.
[SET]
name: Mixed Offensive Pivot
move 1: Acrobatics
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Heat Wave
item: none
ability: Defiant
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Acrobatics becomes very powerful without an item, hitting Pokemon like Amoonguss, Keldeo, and Conkeldurr for huge damage. It also provides solid neutral coverage against defensive Pokemon like Salamence, Slowking, and Hatterene, with the former being heavily threatened due to Intimidate activating Defiant. U-turn lets Tornadus pivot out from unfavorable matchups like Rotom-W and Nihilego, bringing in wallbreakers or defensive checks to take advantage of them. It also wears down the aforementioned Pokemon and the likes of Excadrill and Celesteela, letting Tornadus pick them off later. Knock Off is crucial in making steady progress against Pokemon like Rotom-H, Primarina, and Nihilego, which rely on their items to maintain longevity, as well as removing Rocky Helmet from users like Hippowdon and Cobalion, preventing them from wearing down Tornadus as easily. Heat Wave allows Tornadus to dispatch the likes of Excadrill, Scizor, Cobalion, and Skarmory, which would otherwise check it well. Defiant is the preferred ability, as it allows Tornadus to heavily threaten Defoggers like Salamence and Mandibuzz, as well as punishing the former's Intimidate. This dissuades the use of Defog or the latter coming in against it. A Naive nature over Jolly keeps Heat Wave strong enough against threats like Excadrill. Also, Tornadus's bulk is poor enough that reducing it doesn't directly affect how it plays.
Tornadus fits well on bulky offense and entry hazard-stacking teams in need of a fast, threatening pivot that can effectively deny entry hazard removal, as well as exerting the pressure needed to bring in wallbreakers safely. Consistent entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Excadrill are greatly appreciated, as Tornadus needs Stealth Rock off the field. Late-game cleaners like Scizor and Nihilego can break through foes like Rotom-W, Slowking, and Hippowdon after Tornadus has sufficiently weakened them. Both also benefit from Tornadus baiting in the likes of Scizor, Excadrill, and Celesteela and weakening them via Heat Wave. Wallbreakers like Keldeo, Hydreigon, and Zygarde-10% can pressure the opposing team incredibly well; all of them also appreciate Tornadus threatening Tangrowth and Zarude, love Tornadus bringing them in safely via U-turn against Rotom-W and Celesteela, and appreciate its Knock Off support against foes like Tangrowth, Salamence, and Primarina. Rotom-W forms a potent VoltTurn core with Tornadus, as it pivots out on Pokemon like Zarude, Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and Chansey, all of which Tornadus can threaten or cripple with Knock Off. Zaude is another dangerous, complementary pivot and can check Nihilego, Rotom-W, and Hippowdon for Tornadus. Entry hazard setters like Cobalion, Nihilego, and Skarmory are often too good to pass up, since Tornadus often removes Heavy-Duty Boots from opposing Pokemon like Salamence, Rotom-H, and Slowking, letting hazards and its U-turn rack up chip damage. Tornadus is also amazing at dissuading Defog attempts. Cobalion is able to check Scizor for Tornadus, and Nihilego can further pressure Celesteela and check Thundurus-T and Rotom-H. Skarmory is notable in that it provides Spikes, which bolsters Tornadus's damage output significantly. It can also pivot in on Mamoswine, which otherwise revenge kills Tornadus with ease. Defensive Pokemon like Tangrowth, Primarina, and Amoonguss can switch in on other common revenge killers like Raikou, Noivern, Choice Scarf Hydreigon, and Zygarde-10%.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sulo, 528036]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
Tornadus is a niche offensive pivot able to threaten a wide variety of Pokemon with its strong Acrobatics and coverage moves in Knock Off and Heat Wave. It outspeeds common Pokemon like Keldeo, Zarude, and Cobalion, and it can pivot out on them effectively or inconvenience switch-ins like Salamence and Rotom-W with Knock Off. With Defiant, it can punish Defog attempts from the likes of Salamence and Mandibuzz, as well as Intimidate from the former, exerting offensive pressure with ease and finding a strong place on entry hazard-stacking teams. Choice Specs Tornadus is also an incredibly dangerous wallbreaker on rain teams, getting a near-guaranteed teamslot on them with its 100% accurate Hurricane, which blows past most walls. Neither Tornadus set can afford to run Heavy-Duty Boots, however, meaning that it requires solid entry hazard removal to function decently. The physical set also struggles to break through Pokemon like Celesteela and Rotom-W early-game, meaning Tornadus's wallbreaking can be heavily limited, as it struggles to freely use Acrobatics on top of struggling to switch in due to its frailty. Tornadus's extreme frailty means that it is often forced out by faster threats like Azelf and Zygarde-10%, priority users like Scizor and Mamoswine, and bulky foes like Slowking and Celesteela that can take a hit and do massive damage in return.
[SET]
name: Mixed Offensive Pivot
move 1: Acrobatics
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Heat Wave
item: none
ability: Defiant
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Acrobatics becomes very powerful without an item, hitting Pokemon like Amoonguss, Keldeo, and Conkeldurr for huge damage. It also provides solid neutral coverage against defensive Pokemon like Salamence, Slowking, and Hatterene, with the former being heavily threatened due to Intimidate activating Defiant. U-turn lets Tornadus pivot out from unfavorable matchups like Rotom-W and Nihilego, bringing in wallbreakers or defensive checks to take advantage of them. It also wears down the aforementioned Pokemon and the likes of Excadrill and Celesteela, letting Tornadus pick them off later. Knock Off is crucial in making steady progress against Pokemon like Rotom-H, Primarina, and Nihilego, which rely on their items to maintain longevity, as well as removing Rocky Helmet from users like Hippowdon and Cobalion, preventing them from wearing down Tornadus as easily. Heat Wave allows Tornadus to dispatch the likes of Excadrill, Scizor, Cobalion, and Skarmory, which would otherwise check it well. Defiant is the preferred ability, as it allows Tornadus to heavily threaten Defoggers like Salamence and Mandibuzz, as well as punishing the former's Intimidate. This dissuades the use of Defog or the latter coming in against it. A Naive nature over Jolly keeps Heat Wave strong enough against threats like Excadrill. Also, Tornadus's bulk is poor enough that reducing it doesn't directly affect how it plays.
Tornadus fits well on bulky offense and entry hazard-stacking teams in need of a fast, threatening pivot that can effectively deny entry hazard removal, as well as exerting the pressure needed to bring in wallbreakers safely. Consistent entry hazard removers like Rotom-W and Excadrill are greatly appreciated, as Tornadus needs Stealth Rock off the field. Late-game cleaners like Scizor and Nihilego can break through foes like Rotom-W, Slowking, and Hippowdon after Tornadus has sufficiently weakened them. Both also benefit from Tornadus baiting in the likes of Scizor, Excadrill, and Celesteela and weakening them via Heat Wave. Wallbreakers like Keldeo, Hydreigon, and Zygarde-10% can pressure the opposing team incredibly well; all of them also appreciate Tornadus threatening Tangrowth and Zarude, love Tornadus bringing them in safely via U-turn against Rotom-W and Celesteela, and appreciate its Knock Off support against foes like Tangrowth, Salamence, and Primarina. Rotom-W forms a potent VoltTurn core with Tornadus, as it pivots out on Pokemon like Zarude, Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and Chansey, all of which Tornadus can threaten or cripple with Knock Off. Zaude is another dangerous, complementary pivot and can check Nihilego, Rotom-W, and Hippowdon for Tornadus. Entry hazard setters like Cobalion, Nihilego, and Skarmory are often too good to pass up, since Tornadus often removes Heavy-Duty Boots from opposing Pokemon like Salamence, Rotom-H, and Slowking, letting hazards and its U-turn rack up chip damage. Tornadus is also amazing at dissuading Defog attempts. Cobalion is able to check Scizor for Tornadus, and Nihilego can further pressure Celesteela and check Thundurus-T and Rotom-H. Skarmory is notable in that it provides Spikes, which bolsters Tornadus's damage output significantly. It can also pivot in on Mamoswine, which otherwise revenge kills Tornadus with ease. Defensive Pokemon like Tangrowth, Primarina, and Amoonguss can switch in on other common revenge killers like Raikou, Noivern, Choice Scarf Hydreigon, and Zygarde-10%.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Sulo, 528036]]
- Quality checked by: [[Monky25, 515132], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429]]
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