[OVERVIEW]
Grass
========
Breloom is a strong physical attacker for Grass with access to a great ability in Technician combined with a very high Attack stat and a good offensive typing. Breloom has a potent movepool to make use of Technician: Mach Punch provides a strong priority attack for Grass teams, Rock Tomb offers valuable coverage for Fire-, Flying-, and Bug-types, and Bullet Seed is a powerful wallbreaking option, especially with Grassy Terrain support. Furthermore, with Swords Dance, Breloom is capable of cleaning weakened teams with Mach Punch late-game. Breloom also has excellent utility in Spore, which can cripple a Pokemon by putting it to sleep, offering Grass a semi-reliable method of forcing out threats, checking dangerous sweepers, and creating opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. However, Breloom is frail and has an exploitable defensive typing with weaknesses to common Ice-, Fire-, Flying-, Poison-, Psychic-, and Fairy-type attacks, making it easy to revenge kill. Breloom is also slow and very reliant on Mach Punch to threaten fast offensive threats.
[SET]
name: Focus Sash
move 1: Spore
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Bullet Seed
move 4: Rock Tomb / Swords Dance
item: Focus Sash
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore cripples one Pokemon by putting it to sleep and is the main utility Breloom provides. Mach Punch is a Fighting-type STAB priority move that is boosted by Technician, letting Breloom check frail threats and clean weakened teams late-game. Bullet Seed is also boosted by Technician and is Breloom's most powerful attack. Rock Tomb offers coverage against Bug-, Flying-, Fire-, and Poison-types that resist Breloom's STAB attacks such as Volcarona, Crobat, and Mega Charizard Y. Swords Dance boosts Breloom's Attack stat and can be run over Rock Tomb if the coverage is unneeded.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment allows Breloom to hit as hard as possible, and maximum Speed investment along with a Jolly nature allows Breloom to be as fast as possible. Jolly allows Breloom to outspeed threats such as Mamoswine and defensive Staraptor, but Adamant is also an option. Technician boosts Breloom's two primary STAB moves and coverage options. Focus Sash gives Breloom a guaranteed opportunity to attack or cripple a threat with Spore while at full health.
Usage Tips
========
Bullet Seed is Breloom's strongest attack and should be used to break down walls and punch through teams. If Rock Tomb is being run, use it to punish switch-ins such as Latios, which would otherwise easily check Breloom. Use Mach Punch to revenge kill frail offensive threats such as Greninja and Diggersby or clean late-game. If Swords Dance is being run, it should be used either against sleeping foes, or against very passive walls that cannot touch Breloom such as Chansey, or on a forced switch, as Breloom's bulk is very poor and it cannot take hits from anything. Try to remove Pokemon that resist Mach Punch before setting up, as they can easily end the sweep by outspeeding and KOing Breloom. Spore can let Breloom act as an anti-lead to disable Pokemon such as Shuckle and Skarmory. However, Spore generally should be saved to cripple Breloom's checks or threats to the team in general, such as Victini, Mega Charizard Y, and Celesteela. Likewise, make sure to preserve Focus Sash in matchups where Breloom may need to check a sweepers such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, or Salamence. For this reason, be wary of entry hazards, status, and weather, as they break Breloom's Focus Sash.
Team Options
========
Mega Venusaur is the backbone of Grass's defensive core that Breloom falls back on when faced with Pokemon it cannot beat. Mega Venusaur's high bulk, typing, and ability provide valuable neutralities to Bug-, Poison-, Fire-, and Ice-type attacks. Cradily is Grass's second best Fire sponge and a standard Stealth Rock setter. It also is capable of checking special attackers that are threats to Breloom and the type at large, such as Quiver Dance Volcarona. Ferrothorn helps support Breloom by making up part of the amazing defensive core Breloom relies upon to wear down opposing teams, with its excellent Grass / Steel typing providing an immunity to Poison-type attacks and neutralities to Flying-, Bug-, and Ice-type attacks. Ferrothorn's Spikes is invaluable and can be stacked to wear down checks to Swords Dance Breloom. Tapu Bulu is an amazing teammate for Breloom that acts as an excellent blanket revenge killer with Choice Scarf and brings Grassy Terrain support to boost Breloom's STAB Bullet Seed. Grassy Terrain's passive recovery can even reactivate Breloom's Focus Sash if it is broken by Stealth Rock. Celebi is a strong special attacker that offers valuable Psychic-type STAB coverage to manage Poison-type threats such as Nidoking, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur that Breloom struggles with. Rotom-C is a solid pivot and revenge killer for Grass teams that can serve as a soft check to threats such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Pinsir when holding a Choice Scarf and Rotom-C can bring in Breloom safely with Volt Switch. Whimsicott can support Breloom by providing speed control with Prankster Stun Spore and by disabling setup sweepers with Encore. Its Fairy-type STAB coverage is particularly helpful against Dragon-types such as Dragonite and Latios, which often wall Breloom. Serperior is a fast special sweeper that can make use of the holes Breloom punches in teams with Contrary Leaf Storm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass
--------
Life Orb grants Breloom a lot more power and allows it to wallbreak without relying on Swords Dance, enabling it to 2HKO walls such as Mega Sableye with Bullet Seed with Stealth Rock up. However, this comes in exchange for the guaranteed setup opportunities Focus Sash provides, which Grass greatly appreciates. Rockium Z with Stone Edge is a decent wallbreaking option that circumvents common Breloom checks such as Skarmory, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Scizor. However, it almost mandates the use of Swords Dance, limiting Breloom's moveslots even further, and offers less broad utility than Focus Sash.
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass
--------
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur will hard wall Breloom, and can OHKO it with Sludge Bomb, and can switch in safely and consistently given its immunity to Spore.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Crobat and Gengar resist both of Breloom's STAB moves and can KO it in return.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory walls Breloom and, if Sleep Clause is active, can take advantage of the turn to set up entry hazards or KO it with Brave Bird.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Celebi are immune to Spore and resist Breloom's strongest STAB attack in Bullet Seed, and many can KO Breloom in return.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Togekiss resist Mach Punch and can easily KO Breloom in return.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Victini, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y resist both of Breloom's STAB attacks and can easily KO with Fire-type moves, though they must be careful of Rock Tomb as they switch in.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Togekiss and Celesteela resist Breloom's STAB attacks and can KO it back, though they must also be careful of Rock Tomb as they switch in.
**Faster Attackers**: Breloom's low Speed means that, if Focus Sash is broken, it can be checked by faster attackers such as Victini, Tapu Koko, and Gengar.
Grass
========
Breloom is a strong physical attacker for Grass with access to a great ability in Technician combined with a very high Attack stat and a good offensive typing. Breloom has a potent movepool to make use of Technician: Mach Punch provides a strong priority attack for Grass teams, Rock Tomb offers valuable coverage for Fire-, Flying-, and Bug-types, and Bullet Seed is a powerful wallbreaking option, especially with Grassy Terrain support. Furthermore, with Swords Dance, Breloom is capable of cleaning weakened teams with Mach Punch late-game. Breloom also has excellent utility in Spore, which can cripple a Pokemon by putting it to sleep, offering Grass a semi-reliable method of forcing out threats, checking dangerous sweepers, and creating opportunities to set up with Swords Dance. However, Breloom is frail and has an exploitable defensive typing with weaknesses to common Ice-, Fire-, Flying-, Poison-, Psychic-, and Fairy-type attacks, making it easy to revenge kill. Breloom is also slow and very reliant on Mach Punch to threaten fast offensive threats.
[SET]
name: Focus Sash
move 1: Spore
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Bullet Seed
move 4: Rock Tomb / Swords Dance
item: Focus Sash
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore cripples one Pokemon by putting it to sleep and is the main utility Breloom provides. Mach Punch is a Fighting-type STAB priority move that is boosted by Technician, letting Breloom check frail threats and clean weakened teams late-game. Bullet Seed is also boosted by Technician and is Breloom's most powerful attack. Rock Tomb offers coverage against Bug-, Flying-, Fire-, and Poison-types that resist Breloom's STAB attacks such as Volcarona, Crobat, and Mega Charizard Y. Swords Dance boosts Breloom's Attack stat and can be run over Rock Tomb if the coverage is unneeded.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment allows Breloom to hit as hard as possible, and maximum Speed investment along with a Jolly nature allows Breloom to be as fast as possible. Jolly allows Breloom to outspeed threats such as Mamoswine and defensive Staraptor, but Adamant is also an option. Technician boosts Breloom's two primary STAB moves and coverage options. Focus Sash gives Breloom a guaranteed opportunity to attack or cripple a threat with Spore while at full health.
Usage Tips
========
Bullet Seed is Breloom's strongest attack and should be used to break down walls and punch through teams. If Rock Tomb is being run, use it to punish switch-ins such as Latios, which would otherwise easily check Breloom. Use Mach Punch to revenge kill frail offensive threats such as Greninja and Diggersby or clean late-game. If Swords Dance is being run, it should be used either against sleeping foes, or against very passive walls that cannot touch Breloom such as Chansey, or on a forced switch, as Breloom's bulk is very poor and it cannot take hits from anything. Try to remove Pokemon that resist Mach Punch before setting up, as they can easily end the sweep by outspeeding and KOing Breloom. Spore can let Breloom act as an anti-lead to disable Pokemon such as Shuckle and Skarmory. However, Spore generally should be saved to cripple Breloom's checks or threats to the team in general, such as Victini, Mega Charizard Y, and Celesteela. Likewise, make sure to preserve Focus Sash in matchups where Breloom may need to check a sweepers such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, or Salamence. For this reason, be wary of entry hazards, status, and weather, as they break Breloom's Focus Sash.
Team Options
========
Mega Venusaur is the backbone of Grass's defensive core that Breloom falls back on when faced with Pokemon it cannot beat. Mega Venusaur's high bulk, typing, and ability provide valuable neutralities to Bug-, Poison-, Fire-, and Ice-type attacks. Cradily is Grass's second best Fire sponge and a standard Stealth Rock setter. It also is capable of checking special attackers that are threats to Breloom and the type at large, such as Quiver Dance Volcarona. Ferrothorn helps support Breloom by making up part of the amazing defensive core Breloom relies upon to wear down opposing teams, with its excellent Grass / Steel typing providing an immunity to Poison-type attacks and neutralities to Flying-, Bug-, and Ice-type attacks. Ferrothorn's Spikes is invaluable and can be stacked to wear down checks to Swords Dance Breloom. Tapu Bulu is an amazing teammate for Breloom that acts as an excellent blanket revenge killer with Choice Scarf and brings Grassy Terrain support to boost Breloom's STAB Bullet Seed. Grassy Terrain's passive recovery can even reactivate Breloom's Focus Sash if it is broken by Stealth Rock. Celebi is a strong special attacker that offers valuable Psychic-type STAB coverage to manage Poison-type threats such as Nidoking, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur that Breloom struggles with. Rotom-C is a solid pivot and revenge killer for Grass teams that can serve as a soft check to threats such as Mega Charizard Y and Mega Pinsir when holding a Choice Scarf and Rotom-C can bring in Breloom safely with Volt Switch. Whimsicott can support Breloom by providing speed control with Prankster Stun Spore and by disabling setup sweepers with Encore. Its Fairy-type STAB coverage is particularly helpful against Dragon-types such as Dragonite and Latios, which often wall Breloom. Serperior is a fast special sweeper that can make use of the holes Breloom punches in teams with Contrary Leaf Storm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass
--------
Life Orb grants Breloom a lot more power and allows it to wallbreak without relying on Swords Dance, enabling it to 2HKO walls such as Mega Sableye with Bullet Seed with Stealth Rock up. However, this comes in exchange for the guaranteed setup opportunities Focus Sash provides, which Grass greatly appreciates. Rockium Z with Stone Edge is a decent wallbreaking option that circumvents common Breloom checks such as Skarmory, Mega Venusaur, and Mega Scizor. However, it almost mandates the use of Swords Dance, limiting Breloom's moveslots even further, and offers less broad utility than Focus Sash.
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass
--------
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur will hard wall Breloom, and can OHKO it with Sludge Bomb, and can switch in safely and consistently given its immunity to Spore.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Crobat and Gengar resist both of Breloom's STAB moves and can KO it in return.
**Skarmory**: Skarmory walls Breloom and, if Sleep Clause is active, can take advantage of the turn to set up entry hazards or KO it with Brave Bird.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu and Celebi are immune to Spore and resist Breloom's strongest STAB attack in Bullet Seed, and many can KO Breloom in return.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Tapu Koko and Togekiss resist Mach Punch and can easily KO Breloom in return.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Victini, Volcarona, and Mega Charizard Y resist both of Breloom's STAB attacks and can easily KO with Fire-type moves, though they must be careful of Rock Tomb as they switch in.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types such as Togekiss and Celesteela resist Breloom's STAB attacks and can KO it back, though they must also be careful of Rock Tomb as they switch in.
**Faster Attackers**: Breloom's low Speed means that, if Focus Sash is broken, it can be checked by faster attackers such as Victini, Tapu Koko, and Gengar.
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