General - Base attack stat of 85 allowing it to reach 19 attack stat with Adamant Nature which is good enough. - Resists 9 types and immune to 2 types. - Dark types have recieved a buff this gen which makes them hit neutrally to Steel types. - Resists three of the common priority moves, Sucker Punch, Bullet Punch and Shadow Sneak. - Has a new STAB move, Knock Off, which has 97.5 BP if an item is removed. - Beats common defoggers as it gets attack boost when they defog. - Maximum speed is 16, which is outsped by a lot of poks. - Weakness to ground and fire which are common types in LC. - 4x weak to fighting makes it lose to the common priority moves of Mach Punch and Vaccum Wave - A Ghost type would be good to be paired with it, especially Misdreavus. Missy can switch on Ground and Fighting moves while Pawniard can switch into Ghost and Dark. - Most checks cannot switch onto Pawniard as they usually lose to Knock Off+Sucker Punch combo. Sword Dance Pawniard (M) @ Evoilite/Life Orb Trait: Defiant EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef / 196 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)/Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Swords Dance - Knock Off - Sucker Punch - Iron Head Details - Swords Dance allows it to reach 38 attack which can destroy lots of poks. - Knock Off, its main STAB move, removing opponent's item. - Sucker Punch helps in revenge killing the faster threats. - Iron Head for secondary STAB and killing the Fairies that resist its Dark STAB. - Adamant nature to boost its attack stat. - EVs maximise the Attack and Speed stats and rest of them distributed equally among the defenses. - Defiant is the best ability as it gives you attack boost for each stat reduced. - Evoilite boosts its mediocre Defense and poor Special Defense and helps to take some of the resisted hits. - Life Orb can be used to increase the attack stat even more. Choice Scarf Pawniard (M) @ Choice Scarf Trait: Defiant EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SDef / 196 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Brick Break - Iron Head - Knock Off - Pursuit/Sucker Punch - Knock Off is its main STAB, doing good damage to opponent. - Iron Head its secondary STAB destroying the fairies who resist its dark STAB. - Brick Break allows it to beat opposing Pawniards, Scraggy etc, mostly when they switch predicting the Knock Off. - Pursuit can be used to trap the Psychic and Ghost types like Slowpoke. It can also be used to kill weakened poks when they try to switch. - Sucker Punch can be used to revenge kill other scarfers or priority abusers. It also provides a priority for the team - Jolly nature is preferred to outspeed most of the poks. - EVs maximise the Attack and Speed stats and rest of them distributed equally among the defenses. - Defiant is the best ability as it gives you attack boost for each stat reduced. - Choice Scarf obviously. Other Options - Lum Berry can be used in the Swords Dance set to get rid of the status and beat the fast status inducers like Misdreavus. - Psycho Cut can be used to deal SE damage to Poison and Fighting types. - Brick Break allows it to hit some other poks for SE damage, especially Pawniard. - Pursuit can be used to trap and beat some of the Ghosts and Psychics. - Rock Tomb can be used to OHKO Larvesta and 2OHKO Ponyta, two of the common switchins to Pawniard. - Substitute can used but all the other 3 moves are really important. - Support Pawniard can be used if its necessary for the team but it is not recommended. - Learns many other support moves like Stealth Rock, Taunt etc. - Can run many other sets like Rock Polish, Magnet Rise etc which are not that good. Checks and Counters - Powerful fighting types like Timburr, Mienfoo etc can beat it 1v1 - Faster poks can beat it due to its frail special defense and mediocre defense. - Diglett can trap and beat it though it is uncommon. - Bulky Fire types like Larvesta, Houndour and Ponyta resists Iron Head and beats it with their Fire STABs. (Houndour resists both STABs) - Drilbur can KO it with Earthquake while Knock Off only 2ohkos. - Croagunk, Timburr etc can KO it with priority Vaccum Wave. - Scraggy can take two Iron Heads and KO it with Drain Punch.
Psycho Cut For Timburr Spoiler Timburr literally takes a and can even outpriority with mach punch 236+ Atk Pawniard Psycho Cut vs. 0 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Timburr: 10-14 (41.6 - 58.3%) -- 88.7% chance to 2HKO For Mienfoo Spoiler Defensive Mienfoo survives proceeds to ohko while Scarf Mienfoo murders pawniard: 236+ Atk Mienfoo High Jump Kick vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 52-64 (247.6 - 304.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Psycho Cut vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Mienfoo: 10-14 (47.6 - 66.6%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO For poison types, I believe knock off is stronger by around 6bp with the item boost. Checks/Counters: Magnemite: Spoiler 236 SpA Magnemite Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 36 SpD Eviolite Pawniard: 12-15 (57.1 - 71.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO I also don't see how it has "frail defenseS", unless you're referring to it's special defense as 70 base defense isnt that bad honestly with eviolite you have a chance to survive LO Diglett/ CScarf Bunnelby's EQ so you must be referring to it's special defense. Some random ass calcs: Spoiler 196+ Atk Geodude Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 18-24 (85.7 - 114.2%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO 236 Atk Onix Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 14-20 (66.6 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 236+ Atk Mold Breaker Drilbur Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 20-26 (95.2 - 123.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO 228+ Atk Huge Power Bunnelby Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 20-24 (95.2 - 114.2%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO 236 Atk Life Orb Diglett Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 18-26 (85.7 - 123.8%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO 236 Atk Diglett Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 14-20 (66.6 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
You've done a pretty good job with the overall analysis, but your checks and counters section is a little bare. You need to add Ponyta: Spoiler 236 Atk Ponyta Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 24-30 (114.2 - 142.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236 Atk Pawniard Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Ponyta: 9-12 (42.8 - 57.1%) -- 12.1% chance to 2HKO +2 236 Atk Pawniard Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 76 Def Eviolite Ponyta: 16-21 (76.1 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO[/HIDE] Larvesta should be there as well: Spoiler +2 236 Atk Pawniard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 76 HP / 156 Def Eviolite Larvesta: 18-22 (78.2 - 95.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 236 Atk Pawniard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 76 HP / 156 Def Eviolite Larvesta: 9-12 (39.1 - 52.1%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO 236+ Atk Larvesta Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 24-30 (114.2 - 142.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO +2 236+ Atk Pawniard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 76 HP / 156 Def Eviolite Larvesta: 19-24 (82.6 - 104.3%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO[/HIDE] Drillbur is a check to an unboosted Pawniard: Spoiler 236+ Atk Mold Breaker Drilbur Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 20-26 (95.2 - 123.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO 236 Atk Pawniard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Drilbur: 12-15 (54.5 - 68.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Drilbur: 13-16 (59 - 72.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO[/HIDE] Scraggy is a check: Spoiler 236+ Atk Scraggy Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 28-40 (133.3 - 190.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO +2 236 Atk Pawniard Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scraggy: 16-21 (76.1 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO 236 Atk Pawniard Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scraggy: 9-12 (42.8 - 57.1%) -- 12.1% chance to 2HKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scraggy: 9-12 (42.8 - 57.1%) -- 12.1% chance to 2HKO[/HIDE] Croagunk smashes it: Spoiler 108+ SpA Croagunk Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 36 SpD Eviolite Pawniard: 24-28 (114.2 - 133.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236 Atk Pawniard Iron Head vs. 212 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Croagunk: 10-13 (41.6 - 54.1%) -- 56.3% chance to 2HKO +2 236 Atk Pawniard Iron Head vs. 212 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Croagunk: 19-24 (79.1 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO +2 236+ Atk Pawniard Iron Head vs. 212 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Croagunk: 21-25 (87.5 - 104.1%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO[/HIDE] All these pokemon will always smash an unboosted Pawniard, and the majority stand a chance at beating a boosted one. Jolly nature should be slashed in on Pawniard because it out speed Meditite with jolly, and even when running adamant, you still have a coin flip chance of winning with sucker punch while knock off OHKOs. Put Psycho Cut in oo. Its still a viable move that lets you beat Croagunk.
Will also add these as checks to the ones Rioku stated above: Houndoor: Spoiler 36 SpA Life Orb Houndour Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 196 SpD Eviolite Pawniard: 23-31 (109.5 - 147.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Houndour: 10-12 (47.6 - 57.1%) -- 93.8% chance to 2HKO [/HIDE] Cubone: Spoiler 196+ Atk Thick Club Cubone Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 32-38 (152.3 - 180.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 76 Def Cubone: 12-15 (57.1 - 71.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO[/HIDE] You can also add Hidden Power Fighting Sash Abra, even though this move got outclassed by Dazzling Gleam.
I think brick break deserves a mention too, to take down other pawniards, and it also hurts scraggy. Iron head is not a guaranteed 2hko. 236+ Atk Pawniard Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Scraggy: 12-16 (57.1 - 76.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
I don't really think that's a good argument, Scraggy can DD and OHKO with Drain Punch and just get its health back making the damage that Brick Break did useless.
I would argue that beating Brick Break could go in OO for the eviolite set, solely on its ability to beat opposing Pawniard, but it also helps on a few other things. I would mention in OO an eviolite set with Brick Break over Swords Dance as Brick Break is perfectly viable for its ability to OHKO or 2HKO a handful pokes that would otherwise be taken down at +2. Its not good enough to be slashed in, but it should have a mention in OO. Spoiler 236+ Atk Pawniard Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Carvanha: 22-28 (104.7 - 133.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 36 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 20-28 (95.2 - 133.3%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 52 Def Bunnelby: 20-24 (100 - 120%) -- guaranteed OHKO 236+ Atk Pawniard Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 188+ Def Eviolite Ferroseed: 10-12 (50 - 60%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (can only 3HKO otherwise) 236+ Atk Pawniard Brick Break vs. 236 HP / 196 Def Porygon: 14-18 (53.8 - 69.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (lets it 2HKO with knock off)[/HIDE]
You can add a mention that a ghost would be extremely beneficial for Pawniard because it mitigates the 4x fighting weakness.
A rather unimportant move, but rock tomb could get a mention in OO for hitting larvesta and ponyta on the switch
The common trait between those two pokes(larvesta and ponyta) is that they have flame body so if you're trying not to get burned and since all of Pawniard's common moves are contact you could go for Rock Tomb although I'm pretty sure Rock Tomb doesn't 2hko Pony.
This is p good as it is, just slash Jolly nature with Adamant on SD set. Also mention Pursuit in OO, as Ghost-types usually switch out in fear of losing the prediction. Also mention how most checks cant switch into Pawniard as the combo of Knock Off + Sucker Punch usually KOs mons like Drilbur and Cubone.
Sorry about the double post but -Mike- hasn't been in almost a month and he was given permission to write the analyse up, and since Pawniard is an important Pokémon in the LC metagame it would be better to make the analyse free to be made by someone else. @pokemonnerd hi
Right, anyone can write this up if they so choose. Locking for now, if you'd like to take this up you can definitely use this opening post as a base for your analysis.