Iride
formerly Arishem
I'm gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I'm, I'm, I'm huntin', lookin' for a come up
This is fucking awesome
[SET]
Swords Dance (Iron Hands) @ Punching Glove / Leftovers / Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
EVs: 28 HP / 144 Atk / 252 SpD / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Thunder Punch / Wild Charge
- Drain Punch / Close Combat
- Ice Punch / Earthquake / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
On account of its enormous stats, offensive typing, and diverse attacking options in conjunction with Swords Dance, Iron Hands makes for a powerful offensive tank on a variety of teams. At high HP, it is bulky enough to survive attacks from faster revenge killers such as Excadrill, Latios, and Psychic Thundurus-T while also being able to trade with defensive Pokemon such as Hippowdon, Magic Guard Clefable, and Gastrodon after a boost. Added onto this, Iron Hands's resistances can also allow it to check physical threats such as both Tyranitar formes, Ogerpon-C, and Bisharp when needed. Thunder Punch is normally used for its consistency, but Wild Charge is an alternative with a higher Base Power, most notably improving damage rolls against threats such as Ceruledge and Choice Scarf Tapu Fini unboosted, while also allowing it to power through defensive stalwarts such as Mega Sableye more easily at +2, albeit at the cost of recoil. Drain Punch, aside from being a consistent secondary STAB option, also provides recovery against Pokemon that Iron Hands may stay in against, such as Iron Treads and Gastrodon, and avoids dropping Iron Hands's defenses for dealing with subsequent attacks. Alternatively, Close Combat provides a stronger option that has a chance of breaking through specific defensive Pokemon, such as 2HKOing Quagsire after slight chip damage. Ice Punch provides Iron Hands with coverage against targets that would otherwise resist its attacking combination, such as Mega Latias, Thundurus-T, and Amoonguss, while Earthquake can be used to 2HKO Skeledirge, in addition to OHKOing most opposing Iron Hands at +2. Substitute, despite the opportunity cost, is an interesting option that can allow Iron Hands to avoid status from Pokemon otherwise reliant on doing so to cripple it, like Mega Sableye and Gastrodon. The given EVs specifically allow Iron Hands to OHKO Slowbro at +2 with a Punching Glove-boosted Thunder Punch, while outspeeding uninvested Clefable, with the rest of the EVs allocated into Special Defense to improve its ability to take special hits from attackers like Iron Moth, Clefable, and Thundurus-T. When using Leftovers, a minimum of 16 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature should be used instead to guarantee an OHKO on Excadrill with Drain Punch. Iron Hands pairs remarkably well with frailer offensive teammates that can take advantage of the gaping holes it can threaten to leave early on; chief among these are fast late-game cleaners such as Autotomize Celesteela, Booster Energy Iron Moth, and Swords Dance Ceruledge, which each appreciate Iron Hands's ability to weaken teams filled with bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Hippowdon lacking Whirlwind, and Mega Tyranitar. In return, these Pokemon can also deal with several of the faster Pokemon used to force out Iron Hands, like Latios and Enamorus, allowing it to preserve its bulk into more useful situations. Similarly, Iron Hands can struggle to preserve its HP when subjected to chip damage overtime, like Spikes from Skarmory. Thus, Pokemon that can prevent or clear entry hazards, such as Tapu Fini and Iron Treads are incredibly valuable to have as teammates; Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain support also helps shield Iron Hands from potential status elements, whereas Iron Treads provides pivoting support with Volt Switch. Other pivots such as Cinderace, Meowscarada, and Slowbro are similarly effective at allowing Iron Hands to have safe switch-in opportunities into Pokemon that it can force out, such as Tyranitar. Slowbro can also utilize Future Sight to compensate for Iron Hands's difficulties getting past faster physical walls, such as Buzzwole and Mega Venusaur.
[SET]
Choice Band (Iron Hands) @ Choice Band
Ability: Quark Drive
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wild Charge
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake / Heavy Slam
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Band Iron Hands makes the most of its colorful coverage options to be an effective wallbreaker. Ice Punch cleanly OHKOes Salamence, preventing it from chipping Iron Hands down via Wild Charge recoil and Roost, while also dealing significant damage to other Dragon-types like Latios, Latias, and Mega Altaria. Earthquake severely dents Skeledirge and OHKOes Victini. Alternatively, Heavy Slam can be used to OHKO physically defensive Clefable, preventing it from being able to safely scout Iron Hands. The given EV spread maximizes Iron Hands’s breaking power, while allowing it to outrun uninvested Skarmory. Choice Band Iron Hands fits best on bulkier teams that need a strong breaker against defensive cores, with them also appreciating its residual defensive utility in being able to slow down specific wallbreakers on more offensively-oriented teams, such as Galarian Zapdos and Bisharp when necessary. Bulky teammates commonly featured on these teams, such as Skarmory, Slowking, and Amoonguss each appreciate Iron Hands's ability to directly threaten several Pokemon used to take advantage of them, such as Celesteela and Mega Tyranitar. Slowking is also able to use Future Sight to dissuade the likes of Buzzwole and Mega Venusaur for Iron Hands. As Iron Hands lacks the longevity to batter away at and trade with defensive Pokemon such as Amoonguss and Tangrowth, and is somewhat prediction-reliant, entry hazard support from the likes of Hippowdon, Jirachi, and Iron Moth can help Iron Hands in breaking through these Pokemon more effectively. More offensive teammates such as Latios and Mega Aerodactyl can be similarly effective in providing additional forms of offensive pressure to punish these Pokemon. Iron Hands's lack of defensive investment also makes it more vulnerable to revenge killers such as Enamorus, Latios, and Excadrill, and it can also struggle to check the likes of Meowscarada and Scizor long-term, particularly fearing the loss of its item in the process. Thus, specific answers to these respective Pokemon, such as Cinderace, Celesteela, and Mandibuzz, are highly useful to help keep them in check offensively.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/runo.568189/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited: