Conkeldurr [QC 0/3]

CoolStoryBrobat

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Do you even lift?

Approved by dodmen


[OVERVIEW]

* High base 140 Attack stat with access to Guts, Sheer Force, and Iron Fist abilities means Conkeldurr will be packing a serious punch
* Coverage moves ranging from Knock Off, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Poison Jab means Conkeldurr has very few absolute counters
* Priority in the form of Mach Punch lets Conkeldurr answer key offensive threats such as Cobalion, Mega Sharpedo, Mega Absol, and Crawdaunt
* Hefty 105/95/65 defenses means Conkeldurr will be able to sponge hits while dishing them out
* Has an underwhelming base 45 Speed stat, meaning it can easily be forced out by faster offensive Pokemon that resist Mach Punch, such as Latias, Primarina, and Crobat

[SET]
name: Flame Orb
move 1: Mach Punch
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Facade
move 4: Knock Off / Bulk Up
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Mach Punch is one of the best forms of priority in the tier, picking off weakened faster Pokemon while dispatching threats such as Mega Sharpedo and Bisharp with ease.
* Drain Punch is Conkeldurr's primary Fighting-type STAB move, dealing solid damage while recovering HP and making Conkeldurr harder to take down.
* Facade doubles in power if the user has a status problem, which is boosted even further thanks to Conkeldurr's Guts ability. Facade offers a huge amount of neutral coverage alongside Conkeldurr's Fighting-type STAB moves while scoring a 2HKO on switch-ins such as offensive Buzzwole, Gliscor, Togekiss, Quagsire, Tentacruel, and Latias.
* Knock Off helps Conkeldurr support its team by removing items such as Leftovers from defensive Pokemon, while still hitting fairly hard and nailing Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon such as Jellicent, Celebi, and Chandelure.
* Bulk Up boosts Conkeldurr's Attack and Defense, giving it a means to threaten beefier switch-ins such as Buzzwole, Conkeldurr, Slowbro, and Gliscor after a boost.

Set Details
========

* Flame Orb triggers Conkeldurr's Guts ability after a turn, giving Conkeldurr the ability to threaten nearly every Pokemon in the metagame with boosted coverage while also acting as a status absorber. Thanks to the nerf in burn damage as of Gen 7, the passive loss in HP doesn't hurt Conkeldurr's longevity as badly as in previous generations.
* The given EV spread maximizes Conkeldurr's Attack stat while allowing Conkeldurr to outspeed bulky Scizor, with the remnant EVs being placed into HP for some bulk.
* Thunder Punch can be used on this set with an EV spread of 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe to outspeed uninvested Mantine.

Usage Tips
========

* Bring in Conkeldurr early-game to activate Flame Orb and get a boost from Guts.
* Make liberal use of Conkeldurr's excellent coverage to punish switch-ins and threaten offensive Pokemon, as most of the tier can lose a huge chunk of HP to the right move, and most Pokemon will not be able to KO Conkeldurr at full HP.
* Try to avoid Knock Off and status users before Flame Orb activates, as Conkeldurr is significantly weaker without a Guts boost, and being poisoned or paralyzed will wear Conkeldurr down more quickly or make it unable to outspeed key defensive Pokemon, respectively.

Team Options
========

* Because this Conkeldurr set is so good at wallbreaking, it synergizes well with most offensive threats in the tier.
* Conkeldurr's ability to handle Steel- and Dark-types helps Pokemon such as Starmie, Celebi, and Latias break through teams much more easily.
* Switch-ins to Fairy-types are much appreciated for Conkeldurr, so pair it with Pokemon such as Nidoking, Volcanion, Entei, and Scizor.


[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Drain Punch
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Assault Vest
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Drain Punch is Conkeldurr's primary Fighting-type STAB move, dealing damage and restoring HP, which is vital, as this set acts as more of a tank than a wallbreaker and needs longevity.
* Mach Punch is useful priority that keeps threats such as Hydreigon, Mega Sharpedo, and Cobalion at bay.
* Knock Off helps Conkeldurr support its team by removing useful items such as Leftovers from switch-ins while hitting Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon such as Jellicent and Celebi very hard, attaining great coverage with Conkeldurr's Fighting-type STAB moves.
* Ice Punch rounds out Conkeldurr's coverage, letting it deal big damage to Mega Sceptile, Mega Pidgeot, and Crobat. It also lets Conkeldurr combat Gliscor and Hippowdon, Pokemon that would otherwise shut down this set, as they are able to take any of Conkeldurr's other moves.
* Thunder Punch can be used to make Conkeldurr a better answer to bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Volcanion, and Mantine, while still getting coverage on Mega Pidgeot and Crobat.

Set Details
========

* With an Assault Vest, Conkeldurr can sponge special attacks much more easily, making it a better check to Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Volcanion, Mega Sceptile, and Nidoking.
* The given nature and EVs allow Conkeldurr to hit as hard as possible while maximizing its ability to take special hits with Assault Vest; since Conkeldurr has a large HP stat, Special Defense investment is emphasized.
* Guts gives Conkeldurr an Attack boost if inflicted with status, making it a reliable switch-in to status users such as Alomomola, Hippowdon, Tentacruel, and Suicune.

Usage Tips
========

* Take advantage of Conkeldurr's added special bulk with Assault Vest to challenge most special attackers early-game and retaliate. Pokemon such as Xurkitree, Hydreigon, Celebi, and Raikou are a lot easier to handle so don't hesitate to stay in if they happen to lead against Conkeldurr.
* With Assault Vest and Guts, Conkeldurr takes relatively little from most Scalds in the tier and benefits from being burned, so switching into bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Tentacruel, and defensive Swampert is encouraged.
* Be wary of Psyshock users such as Starmie, Azelf, and Latias, as Psyshock bypasses the Special Defense boost from Assault Vest and targets Conkeldurr's Defense stat, which is highly vulnerable due to this set's lack of HP investment.
* For similar reasons, try not to let Conkeldurr take too many hits from physical attackers, as these will also wear it down quickly.

Team Options
========

* Assault Vest Conkeldurr acts as a specially bulky tank, so physically defensive Pokemon such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, Alomomola, and Scizor can work with Conkeldurr to check a wide range of threats.
* Pokemon that threaten Psychic-types, such as Alolan Muk, Hydreigon, and Krookodile, are able to deal with Psyshock users that still beat Conkeldurr.
* Pokemon such as Entei, Gliscor, Cobalion, Mega Swampert, and Mega Aerodactyl appreciate Conkeldurr's ability to switch freely into Scald and punish the bulky Water-types these Pokemon struggle with.


[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Hammer Arm
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Iron Fist
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* Coupled with the Iron Fist ability and a Choice Band, Hammer Arm hits insanely hard, capable of even OHKOing bulky Scizor with Stealth Rock up while getting an easy 2HKO on physical walls such as Hippowdon, Alomomola, Tentacruel, and Quagsire.
* Mach Punch also gets a boost from Iron Fist, making it easier for Conkeldurr to pick off faster threats and possibly clean up late-game.
* Knock Off has great coverage with Conkeldurr's Fighting-type STAB moves, and is its best option for hitting Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon hard while removing their items.
* Ice Punch gives Conkeldurr a way to break down switch-ins weak to Ice, such as Gliscor, Latias, and Amoonguss. Since Ice Punch is boosted by Iron Fist and has solid coverage, it can be a good middle-ground play when predicting isn't easy.
* While Conkeldurr's other coverage moves are capable of breaking down most bulky Water-types, Thunder Punch is capable of finishing them off more reliably. Thunder Punch should be used as coverage specifically for bulky Water-types that resist Conkeldurr's Fighting-type STAB, such as Slowbro, Tentacruel, and Mantine, as a super effective Thunder Punch otherwise has the same base power as a neutral Hammer Arm.
* If Fairy-types are a concern, Poison Jab can be used, as it is Conkeldurr's best weapon against Sylveon. Bear in mind though that Poison Jab is not boosted by Iron Fist and that other Fairy-types, such as Primarina and Togekiss, are still covered by Conkeldurr's other coverage moves.

Set Details
========

* An Adamant nature maximizes Attack power while the EVs make Conkeldurr hit as hard and as fast as possible, outspeeding things such as bulky Scizor, Mantine, Sylveon, and Alolan Muk.
* Iron Fist is the chosen ability here because it gives Hammer Arm a whopping 120 Base Power, effectively making it Conkeldurr's strongest Fighting-type STAB move. Iron Fist also makes Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Mach Punch stronger, making Conkeldurr a force to be reckoned with.

Usage Tips
========

* Most of the time Conkeldurr will be clicking Hammer Arm, as it hits insanely hard and can even 2HKO frailer Fighting-type resists such as Latias, Primarina, offensive Starmie, and Nidoqueen.
* Mach Punch is what Conkeldurr will mostly be using late-game to finish off weakened faster threats while keeping faster Pokemon such as Mega Sharpedo and Cobalion at bay.
* Conkeldurr's other coverage moves should be used if the opponent has Pokemon that can switch in and punish Conkeldurr for locking into Hammer Arm, such as Gliscor, Clefable, Gengar, or Slowbro.
* Since this set lacks Guts, refrain from letting Conkeldurr challenge any bulky Water-types that happen to be faster, such as Suicune, as a lucky Scald burn can cripple Conkeldurr. Be wary of status moves such as Thunder Wave from Klefki and Toxic from Gliscor, as well.

Team Options
========

* Teammates that can offer Speed control for Conkeldurr via such means as Trick Room, Tailwind, or Thunder Wave make great teammates, as they can make Conkeldurr a bigger threat against offensive Pokemon. Partners such as Porygon2, Latias, and Klefki, respectively, can support Conkeldurr in such roles.
* Pursuit users such as Choice Scarf Krookodile and Alolan Muk can support Conkeldurr by trapping the Ghost- and Psychic-types that deter Conkeldurr from spamming Hammer Arm.
* Speedy wallbreakers such as Hydreigon, Latias, Mega Pidgeot, and Raikou appreciate Conkeldurr's ability to blow holes in nearly every defensive Pokemon, making a sweep much easier.
* Conkeldurr's 4th coverage move should also determine its partners; if running Ice Punch, Pokemon that appreciate Gliscor and Hippowdon removed, such as Mega Beedrill, Raikou, and Terrakion, make good partners. If running Thunder Punch, Pokemon such as Cobalion, Mega Swampert, Haxorus, and Entei capitalize on bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Slowbro being weakened.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Power-Up Punch can used on the Assault Vest set as a way to be offensive while boosting, but it is forced to lose one of its more-important coverage moves.
* A Life Orb can be used with the Sheer Force ability to make Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Poison Jab to hit even harder, though bear in mind that Life Orb recoil from non-Sheer Force moves will take away a bigger portion of Conkeldurr's HP than a burn from Flame Orb. Losing Guts also means Conkeldurr will fare poorly against status users.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fairy-types**: While Conkeldurr can beat Sylveon by catching it on the switch-in with the appropriate move, Conkeldurr still fears taking a Hyper Voice from it. Faster Fairy-types such as Primarina and Togekiss are also able to dispose of Conkeldurr and take pittance from Mach Punch.

**Psychic-types**: While they have to be wary of switching into Knock Off or Facade, Psychic-types such as Celebi, Azelf, Starmie, and Latias threaten Conkeldurr with their Psychic-type STAB moves. The Assault Vest set still fears the latter three especially, as they can run Psyshock to break through Assault Vest Conkeldurr.

**Faster Mach Punch resists**: Pokemon such as Crobat, Nidoking, Hawlucha, Chandelure, and Buzzwole are either immune to or resist Mach Punch, meaning they can easily revenge kill Conkeldurr. By virtue of their typing they also can handle Conkeldurr's other Fighting-type STAB moves.
 
Last edited:

CoolStoryBrobat

The hero Smogon needs, but not the one it deserves
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
Updated this analysis and took out mentions of old mons that went to OU, added mentions of new UU threats to it, still waiting on checks
 
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