[OVERVIEW]
Azumarill is a niche option on hyper offense and rain teams due to the combined potency of Belly Drum and Huge Power, granting it a monstrous Attack stat after it boosts up. At +6, Azumarill obliterates Ferrothorn, Tangrowth, and Toxapex with its coverage moves, which can be essential on rain teams due to these three walls specifically being annoying to break. Azumarill's typing also makes it a usable offensive check against Ash-Greninja, which is also appreciated by offensive teams that often contain a lack of reliable defensive answers to top wallbreakers. However, Azumarill's major lack of Speed forces it to rely on priority Aqua Jet. This leaves it shut down by Tapu Lele’s Psychic Terrain and by various faster Pokemon such as Kartana and Rotom-W that can take a hit and retaliate.
Additionally, Azumarill usually only gets one opportunity to set up Belly Drum, which forces it to be preserved for late-game to sweep once its checks have been chipped downed enough or removed. However, Z-Belly Drum can offer Azumarill a second opportunity of setting up in some rare instances.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Knock Off
item: Normalium Z
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aqua Jet gives Azumarill priority and allows it to bypass Pokemon that would otherwise be able to revenge kill it before boosts, such as Tapu Koko, Tornadus-T, and Mega Medicham. Play Rough is Azumarill's main attack to remove Tapu Fini, Clefable, Mega Heracross, Mega Sableye, and physically defensive Tangrowth with little effort. Knock Off breaks straight through and OHKOes Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Tangrowth smoothly.
Set Details
========
Normalium Z gives Azumarill access to Z-Belly Drum, which restores its health back up to full before it cuts its health in half and gives it easier setup opportunities. This is the preferred item, as it allows Azumarill to use its decent defensive typing to check Ash-Greninja and Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Realistically, Belly Drum can only be set up once in a match, so Azumarill should only set up late-game once its checks have been chipped or removed. Azumarill should not accumulate too much chip damage, as it lessens its opportunities to set up Belly Drum because its low Speed stat usually makes Azumarill take damage before it can set up. Azumarill should be brought in through a pivot or revenge kill before sweeping to prevent it from taking any major damage. Azumarill can also revenge kill Landorus-T, Volcarona, and Excadrill itself, and it can check Ash-Greninja before sweeping due to Z-Belly Drum restoring its health.
Team Options
========
Pelipper provides rain, which allows a +6 Aqua Jet to hit even harder. Ash-Greninja can use Azumarill to remove its biggest annoyances in Toxapex and Tangrowth to let it freely rain terror on the opponent's team. Mega Swampert also has issues with Grass-type walls like Ferrothorn and physically defensive Tangrowth, and Azumarill can break through these Pokemon for it. Entry hazard setters such as Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Greninja set down Stealth Rock or Spikes for Azumarill to score chip damage on Azumarill's checks. Excadrill can also break through Rotom-W with Earthquake thanks to Mold Breaker. Magearna and Tornadus-T are able to bring Azumarill onto the field while protecting it from any possible damage from the opponent. Tapu Koko provides dual screens for Azumarill to let it set up Belly Drum a lot safer and can pivot Azumarill in safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Sitrus Berry can be used over Normalium Z if there is already another Pokemon wielding a Z-Move. However, this item is a massive downgrade fron Normalium Z and prevents Azumarill from checking Ash-Greninja and Heatran, as it cannot freely check the opposing team as much without the Z-Move to heal itself up afterwards. A trapping set consisting of Whirlpool, Perish Song, Protect, and Toxic with Sap Sipper as the ability allows Azumarill to defensively check Kartana while also trapping and removing Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Toxapex, but this set mainly relies on surprise factor to catch the opponent off guard and is terribly easy to play around once the opponent knows what the set is. A Choice Band grants Azumarill immediate power, but Azumarill would be widely outclassed by other offensive Water-types such as Ash-Greninja and Mega Swampert. Its STAB moves are also pretty ineffective once it's locked into a move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain prevents Azumarill from outprioritizing anything that outspeeds it with Aqua Jet. This leaves it massively vulnerable under the effects of the terrain, and Tapu Lele can revenge kill it smoothly.
**Faster Pokemon**: Azumarill's pitiful Speed leaves it outsped by the majority of the metagame. Magearna, Rotom-W, and Kyurem-B all outpace Azumarill and can finish it off with their coverage. The latter two also resist Aqua Jet.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Kartana, Tapu Bulu, Serperior, and Mega Venusaur all outspeed Azumarill and knock it out with their main attacks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[BackAtYouBro, 451000]]
- Quality checked by: [[Leo, 328915], [Jordy, 395754], [DKM, 402001]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]
Azumarill is a niche option on hyper offense and rain teams due to the combined potency of Belly Drum and Huge Power, granting it a monstrous Attack stat after it boosts up. At +6, Azumarill obliterates Ferrothorn, Tangrowth, and Toxapex with its coverage moves, which can be essential on rain teams due to these three walls specifically being annoying to break. Azumarill's typing also makes it a usable offensive check against Ash-Greninja, which is also appreciated by offensive teams that often contain a lack of reliable defensive answers to top wallbreakers. However, Azumarill's major lack of Speed forces it to rely on priority Aqua Jet. This leaves it shut down by Tapu Lele’s Psychic Terrain and by various faster Pokemon such as Kartana and Rotom-W that can take a hit and retaliate.
Additionally, Azumarill usually only gets one opportunity to set up Belly Drum, which forces it to be preserved for late-game to sweep once its checks have been chipped downed enough or removed. However, Z-Belly Drum can offer Azumarill a second opportunity of setting up in some rare instances.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Knock Off
item: Normalium Z
ability: Huge Power
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Aqua Jet gives Azumarill priority and allows it to bypass Pokemon that would otherwise be able to revenge kill it before boosts, such as Tapu Koko, Tornadus-T, and Mega Medicham. Play Rough is Azumarill's main attack to remove Tapu Fini, Clefable, Mega Heracross, Mega Sableye, and physically defensive Tangrowth with little effort. Knock Off breaks straight through and OHKOes Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Tangrowth smoothly.
Set Details
========
Normalium Z gives Azumarill access to Z-Belly Drum, which restores its health back up to full before it cuts its health in half and gives it easier setup opportunities. This is the preferred item, as it allows Azumarill to use its decent defensive typing to check Ash-Greninja and Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Realistically, Belly Drum can only be set up once in a match, so Azumarill should only set up late-game once its checks have been chipped or removed. Azumarill should not accumulate too much chip damage, as it lessens its opportunities to set up Belly Drum because its low Speed stat usually makes Azumarill take damage before it can set up. Azumarill should be brought in through a pivot or revenge kill before sweeping to prevent it from taking any major damage. Azumarill can also revenge kill Landorus-T, Volcarona, and Excadrill itself, and it can check Ash-Greninja before sweeping due to Z-Belly Drum restoring its health.
Team Options
========
Pelipper provides rain, which allows a +6 Aqua Jet to hit even harder. Ash-Greninja can use Azumarill to remove its biggest annoyances in Toxapex and Tangrowth to let it freely rain terror on the opponent's team. Mega Swampert also has issues with Grass-type walls like Ferrothorn and physically defensive Tangrowth, and Azumarill can break through these Pokemon for it. Entry hazard setters such as Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Greninja set down Stealth Rock or Spikes for Azumarill to score chip damage on Azumarill's checks. Excadrill can also break through Rotom-W with Earthquake thanks to Mold Breaker. Magearna and Tornadus-T are able to bring Azumarill onto the field while protecting it from any possible damage from the opponent. Tapu Koko provides dual screens for Azumarill to let it set up Belly Drum a lot safer and can pivot Azumarill in safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Sitrus Berry can be used over Normalium Z if there is already another Pokemon wielding a Z-Move. However, this item is a massive downgrade fron Normalium Z and prevents Azumarill from checking Ash-Greninja and Heatran, as it cannot freely check the opposing team as much without the Z-Move to heal itself up afterwards. A trapping set consisting of Whirlpool, Perish Song, Protect, and Toxic with Sap Sipper as the ability allows Azumarill to defensively check Kartana while also trapping and removing Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Toxapex, but this set mainly relies on surprise factor to catch the opponent off guard and is terribly easy to play around once the opponent knows what the set is. A Choice Band grants Azumarill immediate power, but Azumarill would be widely outclassed by other offensive Water-types such as Ash-Greninja and Mega Swampert. Its STAB moves are also pretty ineffective once it's locked into a move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Tapu Lele**: Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain prevents Azumarill from outprioritizing anything that outspeeds it with Aqua Jet. This leaves it massively vulnerable under the effects of the terrain, and Tapu Lele can revenge kill it smoothly.
**Faster Pokemon**: Azumarill's pitiful Speed leaves it outsped by the majority of the metagame. Magearna, Rotom-W, and Kyurem-B all outpace Azumarill and can finish it off with their coverage. The latter two also resist Aqua Jet.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Kartana, Tapu Bulu, Serperior, and Mega Venusaur all outspeed Azumarill and knock it out with their main attacks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[BackAtYouBro, 451000]]
- Quality checked by: [[Leo, 328915], [Jordy, 395754], [DKM, 402001]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]
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