SPACE FORCE meeps
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[OVERVIEW]
Oricorio-F's Fire / Flying typing allows it to take advantage of Steelix, the most common Pokemon and Flying-type counter in the tier, along with checking popular Grass-type Pokemon such as Sceptile, Whimsicott, and Vileplume. With access to a powerful STAB Flying attack in Hurricane with a solid base 98 Special Attack stat alongside a more consistent 90-Base Power Fire STAB attack in Revelation Dance to break down Steelix, Oricorio-F can be threatening offensively with its solid neutral coverage. Along with this, Oricorio-F has access to Calm Mind, which makes it more dangerous offensively, capable of shredding through defensive cores that use Steelix. Oricorio-F also has an advantage over other Fire-types, as it can pivot out against checks that it lures in using U-turn. Furthermore, an above average base 93 Speed stat allows Oricorio-F to outspeed some offensive threats such as Hitmonlee, Rotom-C, and Vivillon, but it is still left outsped by Drapion, Virizion, and Sneasel. Oricorio-F has some further drawbacks in a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, which may make it difficult to properly set up and survive attacks, accompanied by its mediocre bulk. Oricorio-F also lacks proper coverage to dent Rock-types, which may allow such Pokemon to take advantage of it; for example, Rhydon can easily set up Stealth Rock, and Barbaracle can safely set up Shell Smash against it.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Hurricane
move 3: Revelation Dance
move 4: U-turn
item: Flyinium Z
ability: Dancer
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Calm Mind allows Oricorio-F to boost its Special Attack and Special Defense, which makes it more dangerous offensively as well as less susceptible to special attacks. Hurricane is a powerful STAB attack that also pairs well with Flyinium Z, making it a powerful no-drawback nuke that OHKOes most of the Pokemon in the tier that don't resist it after a Calm Mind boost, with the exception of some bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Slowking and Vaporeon and Assault Vest users such as Guzzlord and Incineroar. Even without a boost, Supersonic Skystrike can OHKO some offensive threats such as Houndoom, Drapion, Sigilyph, and Mismagius. Revelation Dance is Oricorio-F's only Fire STAB attack, which serves as a more reliable attacking option when the extra damage output from Hurricane is not needed. U-turn allows Oricorio-F to pivot out against checks such as Slowking and Rhydon, which may switch in on it. Roost is also an option, as it improves Oricorio-F's longevity, which may allow it to serve as a late-game sweeper. Hidden Power Grass may also be used to do more damage to Rock-type Pokemon.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment maximizes Oricorio-F's offensive capabilities. A Timid nature ensures that Oricorio-F outspeeds Pokemon such as Hitmonlee, Rotom-C, and Vivillon. Flyinium Z allows Oricorio-F to use a one-time powerful, perfect-accuracy Supersonic Skystrike. Dancer is Oricorio-F's only ability, but it is useful against Quiver Dance users such as Vivillon and Lilligant and Dragon Dance users such as Scrafty, as it copies their boosts, potentially allowing Oricorio-F to countersweep.
Usage Tips
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Oricorio-F should be played aggressively early-game if the opponent has Steelix, since Oricorio-F can comfortably switch in against Steelix without Stealth Rock up and proceed to pressure it by either attacking it with Revelation Dance or using Calm Mind to enhance Oricorio-F's ability to break down defensive cores. When facing teams with bulky Water-type Pokemon like Assault Vest Slowking or Rock-type Pokemon like Rhydon, Oricorio-F can act as a pivot early-game, as it can lure in checks and use U-turn to safely bring in a teammate that can break down these Pokemon, opening up opportunities for Oricorio-F to sweep late-game. Oricorio-F can take advantage of some Grass-type Pokemon Choice-locked into their STAB attacks such as Sceptile and Rotom-C after a teammate has been KOed, as it gives Oricorio-F an excellent opportunity to force them out and set up or attack switch-ins. Oricorio-F can switch into these Pokemon directly, but it must be wary of Hidden Power Rock from Sceptile and Volt Switch or Thunderbolt from Rotom-C. Oricorio-F can utilize its ability Dancer by switching in against setup sweepers such as Vivillon, Lilligant, and Scrafty to prevent them from sweeping by copying their boosts and potentially sweeping on its own, but it needs to be wary of Sleep Powder from Vivillon and Lilligant, as Oricorio-F cannot copy boosts while asleep. When playing against offensive teams, Oricorio-F may struggle to find opportunities to switch in or set up, so it should attempt to fire off a Supersonic Skystrike to deal solid damage to one Pokemon when it does get a safe opportunity to come in.
Team Options
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Entry hazard control is necessary due to Oricorio-F's 4x Stealth Rock weakness. Hitmonlee is a good option, as it can damage Rock-type Pokemon, which give Oriocorio difficulties, while also luring in Pokemon such as Vileplume, Aromatisse, and Granbull, which Oricorio-F can threaten, giving it opportunities to freely attack or set up. Golbat is a more consistent option for hazard removal with Defog, but it does not provide any useful defensive synergy with Oricorio. Grass-types are excellent teammates for Oricorio-F, as they can break down both bulky Water-type Pokemon such as Vaporeon and Slowking and Rock-type Pokemon such as Rhydon, which walls Oricorio, or Barbaracle, which can safely set up on Oricorio. Oricorio-F enjoys VoltTurn support from Pokemon such as Rotom-C, which can lure in bulky Grass-type Pokemon such as Vileplume and Gourgeist for Oricorio-F to threaten, and Whimsicott or Golbat, which can lure in Steelix for Oricorio. Pursuit support from Drapion or Sneasel can benefit Oricorio-F, as they can trap Slowking, a Pokemon that Oricorio-F can lure in and pivot out against with U-turn. Rhydon, Seismitoad, and Steelix provide some important synergy with Oricorio while also setting up Stealth Rock; all three resist Rock and are immune to Electric, and Seismitoad provides an additional Water immunity.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Oricorio-F can use Agility to become more threatening against offensive teams, as they can't easily revenge kill it after a boost, but it struggles to find opportunities to set up against offensive teams and it is not as potent in breaking down bulkier teams. Choice Specs gives Oricorio-F an immediate power boost, but being locked into a move prevents Oricorio-F from utilizing its excellent offensive coverage, diminishing its wallbreaking abilities. Choice Scarf allows Oricorio-F to function as a revenge killer, but it is generally outdone by Delphox in this role.
Checks and Counters
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**Stealth Rock**: With a 4x weakness to Rock, Oricorio-F takes 50% when switching in against Stealth Rock, significantly limiting its longevity and making it more prone to being revenge killed.
**Rock-types**: Bulky Rock-type Pokemon such as Rhydon and Regirock are easily capable of taking hits from Oricorio-F, since they resist both of its STAB moves, and easily KO Oricorio-F in return. Offensive Rock-type Pokemon like Barbaracle are capable of setting up on Oricorio-F if they can come in safely. Archeops and Lycanroc-D are also capable of pressuring Oricorio-F, as they outspeed and KO it, but they cannot consistently switch in against it throughout the battle. Some Rock-type Pokemon with 4x Grass weaknesses may need to be wary of Hidden Power Grass, though.
**Bulky Water-types**: Some bulky Water-type Pokemon, particularly Slowking, Vaporeon, and Lanturn, are capable of taking +1 Supersonic Skystrike from Oricorio. Assault Vest Slowking in particular can take a hit comfortably and phaze Oricorio-F with Dragon Tail. Vaporeon can use Protect against a potential Supersonic Skystrike and take the hit comfortably, thus allowing it to handle Oricorio-F, but it must be wary if Oricorio-F continues to try setting up, as it may struggle to 2HKO +2 Oricorio-F. Lanturn is capable of taking any hit from Oricorio-F and pivoting out with Volt Switch. Slowbro, the most common bulky Water-type in NU, notably cannot effectively check Oricorio-F, as it risks being KOed by a combination of unboosted Revelation Dance and Supersonic Skystrike or simply one +1 Supersonic Skystrike.
**Faster Pokemon**: Oricorio-F has a usable Speed tier, but it is still slower than a number of faster offensive threats, leaving it susceptible to being revenge killed. Some naturally faster Pokemon can KO Oricorio-F with some prior damage, such as Sneasel and Sigilyph, and popular Grass-type Pokemon such as Sceptile and Virizion may carry Rock-type coverage to OHKO Oricorio. A number of Choice Scarf users are capable of revenge killing Oricorio-F as well, such as Emboar, Rotom, Rotom-C, Braviary, and Medicham. Faster special attackers should be wary that if Oricorio-F has used Calm Mind, it will be more difficult to KO, even with super effective coverage.
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