Terrakion [QC 0/3]

[Terrakion.]

I'll fix everything starting Friday afternoon, busy with school.

 

[Colonel M]

Okay I guess I can officially do this and since this post probably didn't cover everything.

Please first fix the format before future QC checks. Also remove any mentions of Genesect.

Set Order

Choice Scarf > Rockium Z > Choice Band

By far the first set needs to be Scarf. It answers to a lot of the meta's current threats that are sleeper good (Zard X, Volcarona) while still being capable of handling some mons that are slower than it (Specs Pheromosa with Modest). Switching into Terrakion is also a bit trickier since both of its STABs are pretty good for offensive teams.

Rockium Z could follow next, since the set is sound but it does have some fatal flaws behind it. I think in some ways I mildly prefer Choice Band over it, but +2 Continental Crush is not easy to switch into. You could also Rock Polish if you just need to clean lategame. Scizor's a little less common as far as a huge offensive threat (most are going defensive, and teams will more than likely look at other Megas before it) and Ash Greninja is being used a bit less than Protean so it helps the second set a little bit.

Overview

Transition to generation seven, Terrakion continues to struggle to find a definite place in the meta. It has trouble dealing with top tier threats such as Dugtrio and other stall Pokemon such as Quagsire.

Analyses are supposed to take into account real-time (basically we don't discuss past generations and what exactly happened back then). You can mention that it still continues to fine a definite place in the meta since it's pretty true. I would expand on more reasons than just Dugtrio, though, since there's a lot of new fast offensive threats for the slower sets and priority from Ash Greninja and Mega Metagross on the faster sets.

Easily revenge killed

How is it easily revenge killed?

Can be difficult to switch into at times

Because...? Is it the typing? The mediocre durability? Expand.

Poor defensive typing allowing it to be knocked out fairly easy

Which can be tied in the above two points. Try finding a way to merge these together.

Choice Scarf

This is how I had Choice Scarf on my teams, though QC / AM can banter about moveslots.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Poison Jab / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

- Rock Slide I feel is a lot more important now that scary threats like weakened Automotize Celesteela and Volcarona are more common than they were in XY.
- Poison Jab covers the general gist of "hitting Fairy-types" this generation much better than Iron Head. Smashes Tapu Koko and Tapu Fini, which otherwise take neutral damage from Iron Head. Also guarantees smashing the fuck out of Tapu Bulu.
- Earthquake is still a decent move since it gets easier KO ranges versus Mega Metagross and Magearna (example it guarantees a 2HKO).
- Toxic I feel is still an okay option - at the very least you can cripple switch-ins like before. I'm not a huge fan of it - and honestly it's just fine to mention in Moves.

I... don't know why Quick Attack was even slashed originally outside of "okay maybe it can KO something weakened like an Ash-Ninja locked onto Water Shuriken) but it does pretty blech damage honestly without something like Choice Band or Swords Dance behind it.

When you expand about Slot 4:

- Rock Slide is an option for the last slot to not have to rely on knocking out low health targets with Stone Edge and its shaky accuracy. Toxic is an option to cripple bulkier targets such as Slowbro, and Landorus-T. Quick Attack is for picking off extremely low targets as it is extremely weak without any boosts to Terrakion's attack.

As an example do this:
* Poison Jab covers x
* Earthquake does y
* Toxic does z

- Maxing out Terrakion's attack and speed stats gives it the most power possible to outspeed Pokemon base 100s and speed tie with key threats such as Keldeo

Attack and Speed, not attack and speed. Also name some Pokemon that this outspeeds (+1 Zard X, Scarf Nihilego, +1 Volcarona, Scarf Garchomp). You can also state that Choice Scarf and max Speed allows this.

- Justified is a nice situational ability being able to get attack boost from Dark-type moves such as Knock Off or Sucker Punch. It allows Terrakion to not be effected as much by Knock Off due to it receiving an attack buff upon switching into the attack.

Honestly it only gives protection against Sucker Punch unless you know 100% for sure that the Pokemon is going to swing Knock Off. Just about every user of Knock Off in OU terrorizes Terrakion with a STAB Super Effective move, a coverage move, or Will-O-Wisp (Mega Sableye). Weavile sometimes lacks Low Kick, but it's rather uncommon this generation.

Usage Tips and Team Options are SUPER barren. I'm going to help get the gears cranking a bit - think about some of the roles Scarf Terrakion has, and the consider what Pokemon support with such a goal. We know that Scarf Terrakion is effective as a revenge killer, but sometimes it can clean up a game just because it's fast with the Choice Scarf and has to miss a KO or get hit by a priority move to be stopped. STAB Rock is kind of nice to clean up with and, with there being like... one Ghost-type Close Combat isn't half-bad either (flawed for sure against Fairies and Poison-types). You obviously want to use this set on offensive teams, so why not name a few more offensive Pokemon? Let's remember - Terrakion is a BL Pokemon and isn't OU. Think about the very first statement in the analysis as an example:

Transition to generation seven, Terrakion continues to struggle to find a definite place in the meta. It has trouble dealing with top tier threats such as Dugtrio and other stall Pokemon such as Quagsire

When I read something like this as the first line, and then look at Team Options and some of the Set Details it confuses me and makes the reader have a more difficult time figuring out why that is - or better yet, how to support its shortcomings.

This can be applied to all of the sets with Team Options and Usage Tips - so do not do this exclusively for Choice Scarf.

Swords Dance

- Stone Edge is another STAB move that allows it to hit Pokemon that would otherwise be able to take a Close Combat such as Tapu Lele, and Mega Venusaur
- Terrakion gains access to Continental Crush via Rockium-Z which allows Terrakion to break through a ton of Pokemon it would struggle with such as Landorus-Therian, Toxapex, Slowbro, and Gliscor. With a Swords Dance Boost, it can handle a lot of defensive threats that Terrakion looked for its teammates to weaken, or handle them entirely. Another plus with Continental Crush is that it has perfect accuracy, so no worrying about pesky Stone Edge misses!

Find a way to merge these two together.

- Quick Attack is good for priority if your team lacks it as it can knock out lower health targets. Substitute is also a viable option to be able to avoid status from moves such as Will-O-Wisp from Mega Sableye. Substitute also gives Terrakion a free turn to be able to Swords Dance or an extra turn to attack without taking damage. Rock Polish is another option to make Terrakion a more threatening sweeper as it becomes extremely fast while maintaining its hard-hitting status.

Break down into different slashes.

- Quick Attack also helps Terrakion overcome faster threats such as Pheromosa and Dugtrio (at worst you break Dugtrio's Focus Sash).
- Explain that Rock Polish is used more for an option where Terrakion doesn't need Swords Dance to clean through the team and just needs the raw Speed instead. Terrakion is not very sturdy and has a difficult time using both Swords Dance and Rock Polish - which leads people to questioning why to slash it (this is asked very often, believe it or not).

- Justified is a nice situational ability being able to get attack boost from Dark-type moves such as Knock Off or Sucker Punch. It allows Terrakion to not be effected as much by Knock Off due to it receiving an attack buff upon switching into the attack.

Kind of going back from before Knock Off is on Pokemon Terrakion has an awkward time switching into simply due to their coverage moves, STABs, or WoW. You can potentially do it, but it's harder to do than take advantage of, say, Band Tyranitar locked on Crunch or Pursuit.

- Adamant nature is an option when using Rock Polish to give yourself as much power as possible

Even with Rock Polish Adamant is never a good nature for it. Again - you're either getting one or the other. If you get two either your opponent's team is super crippled, misplayed very poorly, or really bad.

Choice Band

Kind of the same premise as before. This one I used a lot less so if any other QC member has any extra input feel free to mention it:

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Rock Slide / Poison Jab
item: Choice Band
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

- Poison Jab is infinitely better than Iron Head in this meta.
- Earthquake is a slightly weaker option here because you're slower than Mega Metagross anyway. It's still not bad, though - keep it as an option in Moves.
- Same with Toxic I guess.

- Maxing out Terrakion's attack and speed stats gives it the most power possible to outspeed Pokemon base 100s and speed tie with key threats such as Keldeo
- Choice Band allows Terrakion's attack stat to reach higher levels and allows it to hit incredibly hard

Could potentially do the same thing with Scarf but meh. You can mention a few other mons 108 outspeeds (like Garchomp).

- Stealth Rock alongside Taunt can make Terrakion a suicide lead. But the set is pretty outclassed by other leads such as Azelf and Nihilego. The set also struggles with common leads such as Landorus-T. Using this set really wastes the potential Terrakion has as a Pokemon and there would be better options elsewhere.

Remove Taunt. If you're doing Stealth Rock suicide lead you're better of doing something close to what Ash Borer had with Stone Edge / CC / probably Swords Dance. Kind of a weirder variant of Garchomp that isn't quite walled as hard by floating Steels.

[**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon above base 108 Speed such as Latios, Serperior, Starmie all outspeed Terrakion that isn't holding a Choice Scarf. They have the ability to also knock out Terrakion easily with their respectable STABs, but they do have a difficult time coming into Terrakion safely because of its strong offensive pressure.

Annex Starmie. There are much better Pokemon to mention that are faster such as Mega Metagross, Greninja, Pheromosa, Tapu Koko to an extent, etc. Definitely include Dugtrio in here too.

**Priority Attacks**: Terrakion is weak to common priority attacks such as Bullet Punch from Scizor and Mach Punch from Breloom, and it doesn't have the best defenses ever to try and tank the attacks.

Breloom is a lot rarer. Water Shuriken from Ash Greninja will do here. Bullet Punch Mega Metagross too.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Slowbro, Toxapex, and Landorus-T can give certain Terrakion sets trouble sometimes such as its Choice Band or Choice Scarf set but can be threaten to be broken through by +2 Continental Crushes on its Swords Dance set. The Pokemon stated above has an incredible amount of bulk and can reliably heal themselves except for Landorus-T allowing them to be some of the most reliable Terrakion switchins available.

Skarmory still does pretty good against it outside of +2 CC. Counter is a pretty big threat against Terrakion too. You can also add Bronzong because it can tank a +2 Close Combat at full health and OHKO with Gyro Ball after the Defense drop. At the very least it checks the Scarf set well and does okay against Band (Band can 2HKO with Close Combat, though).

So on top of what I suggested earlier and now tag me Terrakion. when you have this ready. QC - you are more than free to add anything else until then.

 

[Colonel M]

Good morning Terrakion. I would like to know the progress on this analysis. If no further significant progress is made in 24 hours I am afraid I will have to re-assign this analysis.

 

[Zemyla]

QC: ✘ / ✘ / ✘
GP: ✘ ​

[OVERVIEW]

• With the transition to SM, Terrakion is accepting the role of a revenge killer more than it did last generation due to new threats such as Pheromosa, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Lele while still being used to manage older threats such as offensive Landorus-T and Mega Charizard X.
• Terrakion has one of the most feared offensive typings in the game in Rock-type and Fighting-type which in combination are incredibly difficult to switch into without it affecting the way you have to play later in the match.
• Terrakion still continues to have its own flaws, whether it's not being able to break through defensive Pokemon with its Choice Scarf set, not being able to find a lot of opportunities to be able to set up with Swords Dance, or its speed not being able to outspeed key offensive threats such as Tapu Koko, Latios, Pheromosa, etc. on its Choice Band sets while being easily pressured by walls with reliable recovery that can easily switch into it.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Poison Jab / Toxic / Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

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

• Close Combat gives Terrakion a reliable yet powerful STAB to be able to fire off for consistent damage. Its Terrakion's way of being able to revenge kill threats such as Mega Metagross and being able to nail other Steel-types in Ferrothorn and Magnezone. It can also KO weakened Tapu Koko and Pheromosa where relying on Stone Edge or using Poison Jab wouldn't be the best play.
• Stone Edge is Terrakion's other STAB which isn't as powerful or reliable as Close Combat or reliable, but with it Terrakion is able to nail Pokemon such as Tapu Lele and Landorus-T. Its also able to revenge the likes of Mega Charizard X and Salamence at +1 Speed and other Pokemon weak to rock such as Weavile, Zapdos, and Alolan Marowak.
• Earthquake gives Terrakion the ability to pressure the likes of Toxapex which can easily come in on any of Terrakion other attacks. With Earthquake, Toxapex is 2HKO'd by Terrakion after Stealth Rock damage. Its also likely for Toxapex to be worn down as its also used to check a lot of threats that could partner well with Terrakion.
• Poison Jab nails Tapu Bulu mainly, but also hits other fairies such as Tapu Fini, and Tapu Koko. On top of hitting those, it can also revenge lower health targets like Pheromosa without relying on Stone Edge to hit.

Set Details
========
- Maxing out Terrakion's attack and speed stats gives it the most power possible to outspeed Pokemon base 100s and speed tie with key threats such as Keldeo.
- Choice Scarf allows Terrakion to be able to revenge kill boosted Pokemon such as Mega Charizard-X, and Salamence.
- Justified is a nice situational ability being able to get attack boost from Dark-type moves such as Knock Off or Sucker Punch. It allows Terrakion to not be affected as much by Knock Off due to it receiving an attack buff upon switching into the attack.


Usage Tips
========
- Look to revenge kill weakened offensive targets such as Salamence, Tapu Lele, and Mega Charizard X. Choice Scarf Terrakion is able to outspeed threats such as these even when they have a +1 boost in speed and knock them out.
- Terrakion doesn't hit as hard as its previously mentioned sets so don't expect it to get a lot of kills of off healthier targets


Team Options
========
- Tapu Koko makes a great partner for Terrakion, being able to weaken common threats to it such as Landorus-T, Mega Metagross, and Mega Scizor which all can hinder Terrakion's ability to clean up.
- Entry hazards such as Stealth Rock is also vital to make up for the lost damage from Terrakion's other sets, so Pokemon such as Landorus-T make great partners.

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

Stealth Rock alongside Taunt can make Terrakion a suicide lead, but the set is pretty outclassed by other leads such as Azelf and Nihilego. The set also struggles with common leads such as Landorus-T. Using this set really wastes the potential Terrakion has as a Pokemon and there would be better options elsewhere.
Hidden Power Ice is an option, but since Terrakion is able to use Continental Crush now, the only real target for Hidden Power Ice is Garchomp which doesn't take Close Combat too well and can get worn down fairly easy.

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

**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon above base 108 Speed such as Latios, Serperior, Starmie all outspeed Terrakion which don't hold a Choice Scarf. They have the ability to also knock out Terrakion easily with their respectable STABs, but they do have a difficult time coming into Terrakion safely because of its strong offensive pressure.

**Priority Attacks**: Terrakion is weak to common priority attacks such as Bullet Punch from Scizor and Mach Punch from Breloom, and it doesn't have the best defenses ever to try and tank the attacks.

**Status Moves**: Terrakion doesn't appreciate being burned or paralyzed as they can severely cripple it from doing its job effectively. Getting burned halves Terrakion's Attack stat which is a huge decrease in power and being paralyzed halves Terrakion's Speed stat which keeps it from outspeeding offensive threats such as Garchomp, Genesect, Mega Pinsir, and Nihilego.

**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Slowbro, Toxapex, and Landorus-T can give certain Terrakion sets trouble sometimes such as its Choice Band or Choice Scarf set, but can be threatened to be broken through by +2 Continental Crushes on its Swords Dance set. The Pokemon stated above has an incredible amount of bulk and can reliably heal themselves except for Landorus-T allowing them to be some of the most reliable Terrakion switchins available.

Just some spelling and grammar changes.

 

[Colonel M]

24 Hours have past. I'm afraid this will need to be re-assigned.