Surgeon
venice bitch
Bronzong
QC: [3/3]
GP: [2/2]
[OVERVIEW]
Bronzong's great defensive typing, ability, and natural bulk allow it to check many common threats in UU, such as Mega Altaria, Latias, Serperior, and Mamoswine. Furthermore, thanks to Levitate and its typing, Bronzong is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes and resistant to Stealth Rock, which further improves its defensive capabilities. Its ability to switch into a variety of Pokemon also provides it with a lot of opportunities to set up Stealth Rock. However, Bronzong is extremely passive and slow, making it easily exploitable and causing it to be setup bait to other threats such as Scizor, Cobalion, and Doublade. It also faces a lot of competition from other, less passive, Steel-types like Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix. Bronzong is also crippled by the common Pursuit, so it is threatened by Mega Absol and Alolan Muk. Furthermore, Bronzong also lacks reliable recovery and is forced to rely on Leftovers in order to remain healthy, meaning it can get worn down rather quickly.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Psywave / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Stealth Rock damages foes when they switch in, and Bronzong is a very reliable setter of it thanks to its great bulk. Toxic is used to wear down opposing Pokemon and allows Bronzong to cripple Pokemon that would otherwise wall it, such as Alomomola. With Gyro Ball, Bronzong can take advantage of its low Speed and threaten faster Pokemon, such as Mega Altaria and Mega Aerodactyl, more easily. Heavy Slam can be used instead, which deals more damage to Pokemon like Sylveon and has more PP. However, it's usually much weaker than Gyro Ball, notably against Pokemon like Mamoswine and Hydreigon. Psywave allows Bronzong to hit Pokemon that would normally check it for a considerable amount of damage, such as Doublade and Cobalion. Protect is another option that can provide an extra turn of Leftovers recovery and scout for moves and Choice-locked Pokemon. It also works well with Toxic, as foes take additional turns of damage.
Set Details
========
252 HP and Special Defense EVs with a Sassy nature maximize Bronzong's defensive capabilities, allowing it to switch into Pokemon like Latias and Mega Pidgeot more easily. Additionally, Bronzong's Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs are used to make Gyro Ball stronger by decreasing its Speed. Levitate grants Bronzong the opportunity to check Ground-types, which its typing wouldn't normally allow it to, such as Mamoswine and Nidoking. Leftovers provides Bronzong with a form of passive recovery, increasing its longevity.
Usage Tips
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Bronzong should be used as a pivot throughout the match. Take advantage of the amount of Pokemon Bronzong checks and use any given opportunity to set up Stealth Rock. However, keep in mind that it lacks reliable recovery and can get worn down pretty quickly. Be careful using Protect when there are Pokemon on the opposing team that can use Bronzong as setup bait, such as Doublade and Cobalion. Furthermore, be wary of Pursuit users like Alolan Muk and Mega Absol, since they can weaken Bronzong severely. Use Psywave to chip Pokemon that would normally check Bronzong, such as Scizor and Cobalion.
Team Options
========
Bronzong fits best on balanced teams that can take advantage of its resistances and access to Stealth Rock. Pokemon that appreciate Bronzong's ability to switch into a variety of threats pair well with it. Suicune appreciates Bronzong's ability to switch into almost any variant of Latias, as well as Grass-types such as Serperior. Fighting-types such as Infernape and Heracross take advantage of Bronzong's ability to check Fairy- and Flying-types such as Mega Altaria and Mega Pidgeot, which are otherwise troublesome for them. Because it lacks reliable recovery, Wish support from Pokemon like Sylveon and Alomomola is valuable to increase Bronzong's longevity. Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Mega Sharpedo can force Bronzong out with their STAB moves. As such, Pokemon that can check them like the aforementioned Sylveon, Mega Altaria, and Choice Scarf Infernape make great partners. Pokemon that can sponge attacks from Fire-types and force them out, such as Suicune and Hydreigon, pair well with Bronzong. Suicune is also a particularly good teammate because its attempts to sweep are eased by Bronzong's ability to weaken the opposing team by setting up Stealth Rock and badly poisoning foes. Pokemon such as Tentacruel and Gliscor also make good partners, as Bronzong struggles with Steel-types. Pokemon that can take advantage of Stealth Rock, such as Mamoswine and Choice Band Terrakion, also pair well with Bronzong.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Fire allows Bronzong to hit Scizor super effectively, which prevents it from switching in for free. Bronzong still loses to it in a one-on-one situation, however. Earthquake can also be used, as it OHKOes Magneton and deals a significant amount of damage to Pokemon like Alolan Muk and Empoleon. However, Psywave is usually enough to deal with most of the threats Earthquake hits. Bronzong could function as a dedicated Trick Room setter with Explosion, but such a set only fits on very specific teams. A dual screens set might seem like an appealing option to provide its teammates with more opportunities to set up, but it's usually outdone by Klefki, which is a more reliable setter thanks to Prankster. Dual screens sets also face stiff competition from Aurora Veil users, as they don't need two turns to set it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types resist Bronzong's STAB moves and are immune to Toxic, so they can easily use setup moves, set entry hazards, or remove hazards against Bronzong. Cobalion, Doublade, Empoleon, and Swords Dance Scizor are examples of such Pokemon. Magneton is particularly threatening because it can trap variants of Bronzong lacking Earthquake with Magnet Pull. However, most Steel-types can get worn down by Psywave, preventing them from setting up.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Mega Sharpedo, Hydreigon, and Krookodile can threaten Bronzong with their STAB moves. Hydreigon takes a considerable amount of damage from Gyro Ball, however. A lot of Dark-types such as Alolan Muk and the aforementioned Krookodile can also trap Bronzong with Pursuit.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Infernape, Chandelure, and Moltres resist Gyro Ball and can force Bronzong out with their STAB moves. Additionally, the aforementioned Pokemon can use Bronzong as setup fodder.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon like Doublade and RestTalk Suicune don't fear much from Bronzong because they take very little from Gyro Ball and are unfazed by Toxic, so they can set up on it with ease. Swords Dance Gliscor is especially threatening, as it also has access to reliable recovery.
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