[OVERVIEW]
Durant is a hard-hitting, niche sweeper in the UU metagame and is able to hit harder than Scizor due to Hustle. While Hustle's accuracy drop can cost matches, particularly with moves like Rock Slide having nearly 70% accuracy, it can be remedied with Hone Claws or bypassed through the use of a Z-Move. Durant's nice Speed tier lets it outrun and pressure most of the Fighting-types in the tier, including Cobalion, Terrakion, and Infernape lacking a Choice Scarf, and its higher Speed tier and unique coverage enable it to beat Pokemon Scizor can't, such as Moltres, Chandelure, and Rotom-H. However, the combination of Hustle's unreliability and Durant's fragility ultimately makes Durant subpar when compared to Scizor, which boasts better bulk, can take better advantage of its typing, and can apply more pressure with its priority moves. Durant can be blown back by all the faster special attackers in tier, such as Gengar, Latias, and Starmie, due to its poor Special Defense stat despite having one of the best defensive typings in the game. With Scizor being a top-tier threat, measures normally taken for Scizor on opposing teams, such as Fire Punch Mega Aggron and Babiri Berry Togekiss, can make Durant's job harder.
[SET]
name: Hone Claws
move 1: Hone Claws
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Rock Slide / Crunch
item: Steelium Z
ability: Hustle
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hone Claws patches up the hindrance Hustle lays on Durant while making it a formidable sweeper by boosting both its Attack and accuracy. Iron Head lets Durant threaten Fairy-types like Mega Altaria out and beat Mega Aerodactyl one-on-one and grants access to Corkscrew Crash. Corkscrew Crash lets Durant muscle through bulky Pokemon that can otherwise stop its sweep, such as Amoonguss and Hippowdon. Superpower lets Durant break bulky Steel-types like Cobalion and Empoleon; after a Hone Claws boost, it can reliably OHKO Infernape and Rotom-H after Stealth Rock, and it heavily damages some bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Suicune. Rock Slide hits Moltres, Rotom-H, Chandelure, and Volcanion. Crunch provides Durant with a means of hitting Doublade and Slowbro super effectively, both of which would otherwise wall it effortlessly.
Set Details
========
Hustle provides Durant with a potent power boost. Steelium Z allows Durant to knock out bulkier Pokemon like Kommo-o and Primarina, as well as avoid the risk of missing a STAB move.
Usage Tips
========
Durant should be wallbreaking early-game and trying to sweep late-game. Durant is best brought in through pivoting support, through double switches, or after a teammate has fainted, since it cannot take hits well. Due to its fragility, Durant's best chances to set up are when it is forcing a switch against threatening Pokemon like Terrakion and Mamoswine. Durant struggles to set up more than once in a game, so ensure that faster Pokemon are removed before boosting, and use free turns for attacking. Remain wary of potential Choice Scarf users that Durant would otherwise pressure, such as Hydreigon and Infernape. Look out for stray Fire-type coverage moves on Pokemon like Latias, Florges, and Mega Sceptile, as they can cut Durant's setup short. Keep Durant healthy early-game so it can have enough HP to set up later in the match and pull off a sweep. Save Durant's Corkscrew Crash for bulky Pokemon that otherwise cannot be broken through, such as Gligar and Chesnaught.
Team Options
========
Durant fits nicely on offensive teams that can effectively get it in the position to sweep. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Azelf, Nihilego, and Klefki can help Durant apply more pressure and can increase the odds of it sweeping. Dragon-types such as Latias and Hydreigon appreciate Durant's ability to remove some Steel-types, like Empoleon and Scizor, and remove Fairy-types. Hydreigon stands out as a partner due to its ability to draw in Fairy-types and use U-turn to bring in Durant. Pursuit users like Choice Scarf Krookodile and Mega Aerodactyl can remove fast threats that shred up Durant, such as Mega Manectric, Latias, and Gengar. Chandelure and Primarina appreciate Durant's ability to beat common Pursuit trappers one-on-one and pressure physical walls such as Chesnaught and Gligar. Pokemon that check Water-types like Tentacruel and Alomomola for Durant, such as Celebi and Tsareena, are very useful. Their assistance is even more helpful when Durant lacks coverage for Slowbro. Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Infernape and speed control like Thunder Wave from Rotom-H and Klefki can take care of Pokemon faster than Durant, such as Choice Scarf users, and make it easier for Durant to break or sweep. If Durant isn't running Rock Slide, Pokemon capable of taking on Fire-types like Moltres and Volcanion, such as Crawdaunt and Terrakion, are valuable additions.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Other Z-Crystals can be used with Durant should a team need the extra power to break through a particular target. Fightinium Z is valuable for taking out bulky Steel-types like Mega Steelix and Mega Aggron. Darkinium Z is another strong alternative that lets Durant either hit Doublade and Slowbro extremely hard or get +2 Attack in one turn. It also provides Durant with a means of hitting Moltres to make up for the lack of Rock Slide. X-Scissor can be run to hit Slowbro harder than Crunch but usually isn't worth the loss of coverage. Choice Band gives Durant the power of a Hone Claws boost immediately but can be very risky due to Hustle's accuracy decrease. Choice Scarf can be used to revenge kill fast Pokemon like Latias and Mega Aerodactyl and outspeed Choice Scarf Infernape, but it can cause Durant to have underwhelming power and struggle with accuracy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fast Special Attackers**: While Durant has a nice Speed tier, faster Pokemon such as Mega Manectric, Starmie, and Gengar can revenge kill it easily. Choice Scarf users like Nihilego, Hydreigon, Infernape, and Togekiss can outrun and pressure Durant as well.
**Bulky Water-types**: Even though Durant can muscle past them occasionally with a Z-Move, bulky Water-types like Suicune and Alomomola can put a dent in Durant's performance, as they can tank a hit and threaten Durant with a Scald. Additionally, Durant cannot break through Unaware Water-types such as Quagsire and Pyukumuku.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types can pressure Durant offensively and defensively. Gengar cannot switch in but can outspeed and threaten Durant with powerful STAB moves. Other Ghost-types like Doublade and Jellicent can switch into Durant lacking Crunch and proceed to set up on it, inflict it with status, or OHKO it.
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Pokemon like Latias, Mega Altaria, and Florges can all lure Durant and KO it with Fire-type attacks where otherwise Durant would be able to tank a hit. Fire Punch Mega Aggron tanks a hit and can OHKO Durant with ease too.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Scizorphobic, 346653]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157], [*martha, 384270*]]
- Grammar checked by: [[*kris, 241023*], [*The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216*]]
Durant is a hard-hitting, niche sweeper in the UU metagame and is able to hit harder than Scizor due to Hustle. While Hustle's accuracy drop can cost matches, particularly with moves like Rock Slide having nearly 70% accuracy, it can be remedied with Hone Claws or bypassed through the use of a Z-Move. Durant's nice Speed tier lets it outrun and pressure most of the Fighting-types in the tier, including Cobalion, Terrakion, and Infernape lacking a Choice Scarf, and its higher Speed tier and unique coverage enable it to beat Pokemon Scizor can't, such as Moltres, Chandelure, and Rotom-H. However, the combination of Hustle's unreliability and Durant's fragility ultimately makes Durant subpar when compared to Scizor, which boasts better bulk, can take better advantage of its typing, and can apply more pressure with its priority moves. Durant can be blown back by all the faster special attackers in tier, such as Gengar, Latias, and Starmie, due to its poor Special Defense stat despite having one of the best defensive typings in the game. With Scizor being a top-tier threat, measures normally taken for Scizor on opposing teams, such as Fire Punch Mega Aggron and Babiri Berry Togekiss, can make Durant's job harder.
[SET]
name: Hone Claws
move 1: Hone Claws
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Rock Slide / Crunch
item: Steelium Z
ability: Hustle
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hone Claws patches up the hindrance Hustle lays on Durant while making it a formidable sweeper by boosting both its Attack and accuracy. Iron Head lets Durant threaten Fairy-types like Mega Altaria out and beat Mega Aerodactyl one-on-one and grants access to Corkscrew Crash. Corkscrew Crash lets Durant muscle through bulky Pokemon that can otherwise stop its sweep, such as Amoonguss and Hippowdon. Superpower lets Durant break bulky Steel-types like Cobalion and Empoleon; after a Hone Claws boost, it can reliably OHKO Infernape and Rotom-H after Stealth Rock, and it heavily damages some bulky Water-types like Alomomola and Suicune. Rock Slide hits Moltres, Rotom-H, Chandelure, and Volcanion. Crunch provides Durant with a means of hitting Doublade and Slowbro super effectively, both of which would otherwise wall it effortlessly.
Set Details
========
Hustle provides Durant with a potent power boost. Steelium Z allows Durant to knock out bulkier Pokemon like Kommo-o and Primarina, as well as avoid the risk of missing a STAB move.
Usage Tips
========
Durant should be wallbreaking early-game and trying to sweep late-game. Durant is best brought in through pivoting support, through double switches, or after a teammate has fainted, since it cannot take hits well. Due to its fragility, Durant's best chances to set up are when it is forcing a switch against threatening Pokemon like Terrakion and Mamoswine. Durant struggles to set up more than once in a game, so ensure that faster Pokemon are removed before boosting, and use free turns for attacking. Remain wary of potential Choice Scarf users that Durant would otherwise pressure, such as Hydreigon and Infernape. Look out for stray Fire-type coverage moves on Pokemon like Latias, Florges, and Mega Sceptile, as they can cut Durant's setup short. Keep Durant healthy early-game so it can have enough HP to set up later in the match and pull off a sweep. Save Durant's Corkscrew Crash for bulky Pokemon that otherwise cannot be broken through, such as Gligar and Chesnaught.
Team Options
========
Durant fits nicely on offensive teams that can effectively get it in the position to sweep. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Azelf, Nihilego, and Klefki can help Durant apply more pressure and can increase the odds of it sweeping. Dragon-types such as Latias and Hydreigon appreciate Durant's ability to remove some Steel-types, like Empoleon and Scizor, and remove Fairy-types. Hydreigon stands out as a partner due to its ability to draw in Fairy-types and use U-turn to bring in Durant. Pursuit users like Choice Scarf Krookodile and Mega Aerodactyl can remove fast threats that shred up Durant, such as Mega Manectric, Latias, and Gengar. Chandelure and Primarina appreciate Durant's ability to beat common Pursuit trappers one-on-one and pressure physical walls such as Chesnaught and Gligar. Pokemon that check Water-types like Tentacruel and Alomomola for Durant, such as Celebi and Tsareena, are very useful. Their assistance is even more helpful when Durant lacks coverage for Slowbro. Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Infernape and speed control like Thunder Wave from Rotom-H and Klefki can take care of Pokemon faster than Durant, such as Choice Scarf users, and make it easier for Durant to break or sweep. If Durant isn't running Rock Slide, Pokemon capable of taking on Fire-types like Moltres and Volcanion, such as Crawdaunt and Terrakion, are valuable additions.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Other Z-Crystals can be used with Durant should a team need the extra power to break through a particular target. Fightinium Z is valuable for taking out bulky Steel-types like Mega Steelix and Mega Aggron. Darkinium Z is another strong alternative that lets Durant either hit Doublade and Slowbro extremely hard or get +2 Attack in one turn. It also provides Durant with a means of hitting Moltres to make up for the lack of Rock Slide. X-Scissor can be run to hit Slowbro harder than Crunch but usually isn't worth the loss of coverage. Choice Band gives Durant the power of a Hone Claws boost immediately but can be very risky due to Hustle's accuracy decrease. Choice Scarf can be used to revenge kill fast Pokemon like Latias and Mega Aerodactyl and outspeed Choice Scarf Infernape, but it can cause Durant to have underwhelming power and struggle with accuracy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fast Special Attackers**: While Durant has a nice Speed tier, faster Pokemon such as Mega Manectric, Starmie, and Gengar can revenge kill it easily. Choice Scarf users like Nihilego, Hydreigon, Infernape, and Togekiss can outrun and pressure Durant as well.
**Bulky Water-types**: Even though Durant can muscle past them occasionally with a Z-Move, bulky Water-types like Suicune and Alomomola can put a dent in Durant's performance, as they can tank a hit and threaten Durant with a Scald. Additionally, Durant cannot break through Unaware Water-types such as Quagsire and Pyukumuku.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types can pressure Durant offensively and defensively. Gengar cannot switch in but can outspeed and threaten Durant with powerful STAB moves. Other Ghost-types like Doublade and Jellicent can switch into Durant lacking Crunch and proceed to set up on it, inflict it with status, or OHKO it.
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Pokemon like Latias, Mega Altaria, and Florges can all lure Durant and KO it with Fire-type attacks where otherwise Durant would be able to tank a hit. Fire Punch Mega Aggron tanks a hit and can OHKO Durant with ease too.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Scizorphobic, 346653]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157], [*martha, 384270*]]
- Grammar checked by: [[*kris, 241023*], [*The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216*]]
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