[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Taunt
move 4: U-turn / Explosion
item: Light Clay
ability: Levitate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Def / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt is necessary on Azelf to prevent foes such as Froslass and Cobalion from setting up entry hazards and foes such as Gligar and Rotom-H from clearing your team's dual screens or entry hazards with Defog. It also prevents certain Pokemon such as Mega Altaria and Celebi from setting up on Azelf while it sets up dual screens. U-turn allows Azelf to generate momentum for its teammates in order to bring them in and let them set up under the protection of the dual screens while gaining small chip damage. However, due to Azelf's Speed, the newly brought-in Pokemon will usually have to take a hit or status move first. Explosion is an option over U-turn that allows Azelf to deal some final damage and guarantee a safe entry for a setup sweeper, but this prevents it from setting up dual screens again later in the match.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense investment allows Azelf to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge and Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch if it uses Reflect after the first attack, while 216 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature let Azelf to outspeed all Pokemon up to and including Latias, allowing Azelf to set up dual screens before being attacked. Maximum HP and Speed investment can be run instead to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Manectric's Thunderbolt if Azelf uses Light Screen after the first attack and to outspeed Tornadus. Tornadus, however, has access to Prankster Defog to remove dual screens before being Taunted, and Mega Aerodactyl and Scizor are much more common than Mega Manectric, making this the inferior choice.
Usage Tips
========
Azelf's main objective during a match is to set up dual screens in order to support setup sweepers on its team. Azelf should aim to lead versus Pokemon that can't do much damage to it such as Froslass, which azelf can outspeed and Taunt to prevent it from setting up entry hazards. Azelf should, however, be careful of using Taunt on more offensive entry hazard setters such as Nihilego, Terrakion, and Rhyperior that can heavily damage it if predicted correctly. You should either focus on setting up dual screens in these scenarios or lead with a different Pokemon and set up dual screens with Azelf later when it is safer to do so. Against teams featuring Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Krookodile, it is unwise to lead with Azelf, as they can outspeed it and either KO it with their Dark-type STAB moves or Pursuit trap it to prevent it from setting up dual screens again later in the match. In these situations, Azelf should instead come in later when it can set up dual screens more reliably, such as against a Hydreigon Choice-locked into Draco Meteor. Azelf should try to preserve its health when possible in order to potentially set up dual screens again later in the match, such as by taking advantage of Choice-locked Pokemon such as Terrakion and Krookodile locked into an ineffective move. After setting dual screens, Azelf should use U-turn to pivot out into an appropriate setup sweeper. This enables Azelf to generate momentum and ease prediction in the case of the foe switching out while maximizing the number of usable turns of dual screens. Due to its Speed, however, Azelf will likely be moving first, and therefore the incoming Pokemon may have to take chip damage or potentially receive a status ailment such as a burn from Scald or Will-O-Wisp. If running Explosion, Azelf should use it to bring in a setup sweeper safely after setting up dual screens; the sweeper will not have to worry about status or chip damage like it would with U-turn. If Azelf still has high HP, or if the opposing Pokemon has no moves that could induce status such as Scald and Toxic, then directly switching is advisable over using Explosion in order to allow Azelf to set up dual screens again later in the game. Azelf should aim to use Taunt against Defog users such as Gligar and Empoleon to prevent them from potentially clearing your team's dual screens. Azelf should watch out for Knock Off users, including more passive Pokemon such as Empoleon and Tentacruel that it might otherwise try to set up dual screens on, as losing Light Clay will severely limit the number of turns that the dual screens last for.
Team Options
========
Dual screens Azelf fits on hyper offense teams that can use the dual screens support to set up and break down opposing teams more easily. Krookodile pairs excellently with Azelf, as it is able to set Stealth Rock and stop opposing entry hazard setters and Defoggers with Taunt. It can also offer Knock Off support against Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon, allowing Azelf to set up dual screens on them more reliably. Scizor and Latias both greatly appreciate the dual screens support Azelf provides, allowing them to set up with Swords Dance and Calm Mind more easily, preventing Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Krookodile from revenge killing Latias as easily, and making Scizor less susceptible to Hidden Power Fire from opposing Pokemon. The free setup opportunity that dual screens provides these Pokemon allows them to be dangerous wallbreakers that the rest of the team can clean up after. Latias in particular offers the team a reliable check to bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Tentacruel, as it does not care as much about swapping in on a Scald and helps to check threatening setup sweepers such as Celebi, Infernape, and Lucario by virtue of its Speed tier and defensive typing. Other setup sweepers such as Feraligatr appreciate the dual screens support Azelf provides, as it allows them to set up more easily and potentially multiple times. Swords Dance Lucario and Terrakion can both pair nicely with Azelf, as Justified allows them to take advantage of Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Krookodile locked into Dark-type moves, giving them an opportunity to immediately break the opposing team, or to set up as the foe is forced out. Terrakion in particular appreciates the ability to survive Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch, even after a Defense drop from Close Combat. Frail setup sweepers such as Venomoth and Linoone can also take advantage of the ability to find easier boost and become harder to revenge kill via priority moves such as Scizor's Bullet Punch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [Amane Misa, 312356], [Martha, 384270]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659 ], [Empress, 175616]]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Taunt
move 4: U-turn / Explosion
item: Light Clay
ability: Levitate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Def / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt is necessary on Azelf to prevent foes such as Froslass and Cobalion from setting up entry hazards and foes such as Gligar and Rotom-H from clearing your team's dual screens or entry hazards with Defog. It also prevents certain Pokemon such as Mega Altaria and Celebi from setting up on Azelf while it sets up dual screens. U-turn allows Azelf to generate momentum for its teammates in order to bring them in and let them set up under the protection of the dual screens while gaining small chip damage. However, due to Azelf's Speed, the newly brought-in Pokemon will usually have to take a hit or status move first. Explosion is an option over U-turn that allows Azelf to deal some final damage and guarantee a safe entry for a setup sweeper, but this prevents it from setting up dual screens again later in the match.
Set Details
========
Maximum Defense investment allows Azelf to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge and Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch if it uses Reflect after the first attack, while 216 Speed EVs with a Jolly nature let Azelf to outspeed all Pokemon up to and including Latias, allowing Azelf to set up dual screens before being attacked. Maximum HP and Speed investment can be run instead to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Manectric's Thunderbolt if Azelf uses Light Screen after the first attack and to outspeed Tornadus. Tornadus, however, has access to Prankster Defog to remove dual screens before being Taunted, and Mega Aerodactyl and Scizor are much more common than Mega Manectric, making this the inferior choice.
Usage Tips
========
Azelf's main objective during a match is to set up dual screens in order to support setup sweepers on its team. Azelf should aim to lead versus Pokemon that can't do much damage to it such as Froslass, which azelf can outspeed and Taunt to prevent it from setting up entry hazards. Azelf should, however, be careful of using Taunt on more offensive entry hazard setters such as Nihilego, Terrakion, and Rhyperior that can heavily damage it if predicted correctly. You should either focus on setting up dual screens in these scenarios or lead with a different Pokemon and set up dual screens with Azelf later when it is safer to do so. Against teams featuring Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Krookodile, it is unwise to lead with Azelf, as they can outspeed it and either KO it with their Dark-type STAB moves or Pursuit trap it to prevent it from setting up dual screens again later in the match. In these situations, Azelf should instead come in later when it can set up dual screens more reliably, such as against a Hydreigon Choice-locked into Draco Meteor. Azelf should try to preserve its health when possible in order to potentially set up dual screens again later in the match, such as by taking advantage of Choice-locked Pokemon such as Terrakion and Krookodile locked into an ineffective move. After setting dual screens, Azelf should use U-turn to pivot out into an appropriate setup sweeper. This enables Azelf to generate momentum and ease prediction in the case of the foe switching out while maximizing the number of usable turns of dual screens. Due to its Speed, however, Azelf will likely be moving first, and therefore the incoming Pokemon may have to take chip damage or potentially receive a status ailment such as a burn from Scald or Will-O-Wisp. If running Explosion, Azelf should use it to bring in a setup sweeper safely after setting up dual screens; the sweeper will not have to worry about status or chip damage like it would with U-turn. If Azelf still has high HP, or if the opposing Pokemon has no moves that could induce status such as Scald and Toxic, then directly switching is advisable over using Explosion in order to allow Azelf to set up dual screens again later in the game. Azelf should aim to use Taunt against Defog users such as Gligar and Empoleon to prevent them from potentially clearing your team's dual screens. Azelf should watch out for Knock Off users, including more passive Pokemon such as Empoleon and Tentacruel that it might otherwise try to set up dual screens on, as losing Light Clay will severely limit the number of turns that the dual screens last for.
Team Options
========
Dual screens Azelf fits on hyper offense teams that can use the dual screens support to set up and break down opposing teams more easily. Krookodile pairs excellently with Azelf, as it is able to set Stealth Rock and stop opposing entry hazard setters and Defoggers with Taunt. It can also offer Knock Off support against Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon, allowing Azelf to set up dual screens on them more reliably. Scizor and Latias both greatly appreciate the dual screens support Azelf provides, allowing them to set up with Swords Dance and Calm Mind more easily, preventing Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Krookodile from revenge killing Latias as easily, and making Scizor less susceptible to Hidden Power Fire from opposing Pokemon. The free setup opportunity that dual screens provides these Pokemon allows them to be dangerous wallbreakers that the rest of the team can clean up after. Latias in particular offers the team a reliable check to bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Tentacruel, as it does not care as much about swapping in on a Scald and helps to check threatening setup sweepers such as Celebi, Infernape, and Lucario by virtue of its Speed tier and defensive typing. Other setup sweepers such as Feraligatr appreciate the dual screens support Azelf provides, as it allows them to set up more easily and potentially multiple times. Swords Dance Lucario and Terrakion can both pair nicely with Azelf, as Justified allows them to take advantage of Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon and Krookodile locked into Dark-type moves, giving them an opportunity to immediately break the opposing team, or to set up as the foe is forced out. Terrakion in particular appreciates the ability to survive Choice Band Scizor's Bullet Punch, even after a Defense drop from Close Combat. Frail setup sweepers such as Venomoth and Linoone can also take advantage of the ability to find easier boost and become harder to revenge kill via priority moves such as Scizor's Bullet Punch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[Hilomilo, 313384], [Amane Misa, 312356], [Martha, 384270]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659 ], [Empress, 175616]]
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