Chien-Pao @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sword of Ruin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Icicle Crash / Crunch
- Sacred Sword
- Sucker Punch
[SET COMMENTS]
Chien-Pao's high Speed, solid Attack, and good offensive typing allow it to be a very potent setup sweeper. Icicle Crash is preferred over Ice Spinner for its flinch chance and higher Base Power, the latter of which—among other things—allows it to always 2HKO Sableye and bulky Great Tusk, while Ice Spinner may miss out on these 2HKOs. Crunch allows Chien-Pao to hit Skeledirge and Gholdengo, two problematic Pokemon for Ice teams. Sacred Sword and Brick Break both allow Chien-Pao to threaten Dark-, Steel-, and Ice-types such as Kingambit and opposing Chien-Pao. Sacred Sword is stronger and comes with the ability to ignore Defense boosts, while Brick Break removes Reflect and Light Screen, which is extremely helpful against teams with support from Grimmsnarl or Klefki. Psychic Fangs is an alternative option to Sacred Sword or Brick Break to hit Toxapex and Fighting-types such as Swords Dance Urshifu-R. Sucker Punch is significantly stronger than Ice Shard and allows Chien-Pao to hit Pokemon like Gholdengo, Scizor, and Flutter Mane.
This set very much appreciates Aurora Veil support from Alolan Ninetales, as it allows Chien-Pao to set up on many Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it out as well as allowing it to survive revenge killing attempts from the likes of Choice Scarf Meowscarada and Extreme Speed Dragonite. Spikes support from Froslass is also greatly appreciated, as they wear down Pokemon that may otherwise be difficult for Chien-Pao to break, such as Dondozo and Klefki. Although Chien-Pao is able to fit on practically any team, [it pairs especially well with other powerful sweepers such as Baxcalibur and Cloyster, weakening or even KOing their checks such as Air Balloon Gholdengo and Skeledirge. Baxcalibur in particular can take on Pokemon such as Toxapex and Paldean Tauros-F with a powerful Earthquake, allowing Chien-Pao to KO them and sweep the opposing team; furthermore, Choice Band Baxcalibur pressures Chien-Pao answers such as Quagsire and Corviknight. Baxcalibur's Thermal Exchange also allows it to switch into Will-O-Wisp that would cripple Chien-Pao as well as be an emergency switch-in to a Fire-type attack. Shell Smash Cloyster appreciates the removal of Skeledirge and Froslass.
[CREDITS]
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