Funbot28
Banned deucer.
QC: / /
GP: /
[OVERVIEW]
* Mega Altaria secures itself as one of the most threatening setup sweepers in the metagame thanks to its access to Dragon Dance alongside its good mixed offensive capabilities.
* It also sports impressive bulk in tandem with a great defensive typing which enables Mega Altaria to resist common offensive types such as Electric, Water, Fighting and Dark alongside an immunity to Dragon-type moves, letting Mega Altaria able to achieve many opportunities to setup throughout the match.
* Access to a wise array of coverage option such as Earthquake and Flamethrower on top of it's STAB attacks allows Mega Altaria to dent a majority of the metagame. Mega Altaria also has access to a great utility options as well in Heal Bell and Roost, enabling it to opt for a more supportive role.
* However, Mega Altaria's damage output can be quite unimpressive at times if it is unable to accumulate any setup boosts.
* It is also weak to common priority moves in Bullet Punch and Ice Shard coming off popular offensive threats such as Scizor and Mamoswine respectively, meaning that it can have a difficult time sweeping until the aforementioned threats have been accounted for.
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Return / Facade
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roost
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Dragon Dance is Mega Altaria's main setup move, turning into a powerful and fast offensive threat that can sweep weakened teams.
* Return is Mega Altaria's main STAB attack, which under the effects of Pixilate turns into a powerful Fairy-type attack which can dent most foes that do not resist it. Facade is an alternative option which aids Mega Altaria when inflicted by certain status conditions such as burns, but comes with the cost of being weaker when it is not statused.
* Earthquake is a great coverage option that targets Steel-, Poison-, and Fire-types such as Klefki, Tentacreul, and Volcanion that resist it's Fairy-type attacks.
* Fire Blast can be used as an alternative coverage option to hit threats such as Magnet Rise Kleki, Amoonguss, and Doublade harder, although it does not benefit from the Attack raises from Dragon Dance.
* Roost provides Mega Altaria useful recovery, letting it gain access to multiple chances to setup throughout the match.
Set Details
========
* Natural Cure is its preferred ability before it Mega Evolves as it allows Altaria to stay inflicted by status conditions as long as it switches out, meaning that it can pivot into moves such as Will-o-Wisp and Toxic.
* Pixilate converts Mega Altaria's Normal-type moves into STAB Fairy-type attacks alongside giving them an extra boost in power, aiding it in wallbreaking when using attacks such as Return and Facade.
*EVs have been invested into both Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature in order to maximize Mega Altaria's sweeping capabilities.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Altaria is best used late game once offensive checks such as Scizor and Mega Beedrill have been dealt with. It also appreciates once defensive walls that can otherwise wall it even when boosted like Amoonguss, defensive Gliscor, and Magnet Rise Klefki have been weakened.
* Mega Altaria can be used to pivot into attackers that do not threaten it such as Rotom-W, Hydreigon, and Tentacreul. However, it risks being statused or hit by a coverage move, severely hampering its sweeping potential later on.
* Mega Altaria can lure its checks depending on what coverage option it chooses to run. For example, it can lure in Rotom-W into statusing it with either Will-o-Wisp or Toxic in order to make Mega Altaria's Facade hit harder, or roast Klefki with Fire Blast as it proceeds to use Magnet Rise. Masking these options can be extremely beneficial as it can aid Mega Altaria in securing a sweep late game.
Team Options
========
* Partners that can take on Steel-, Fairy-, Ice-, and Poison-type attacks are great allies for Mega Altaria. Great examples includes most Steel-types such as Klefki, Doublade, Scizor, and Empoleon, while Mega Altaria can help check Fire- and Fighting-types in return. The latter two examples are notable since they can also remove entry hazards which can otherwise annoy Mega Altaria greatly.
* Magneton is another notable Steel-type which aids Mega Altaria by trapping opposing Steel-types such as Scizor, Klefki, and Empoleon, making it much more easier to clean up.
* Entry hazard support can also be beneficial in an attempt to help break down Mega Altaria's defensive checks with great setters including Gliscor, Mamoswine, and Seismitoad.
* Mega Altaria can also benefit from the added pressure from offensive partners such as Cobalion, Infernape, Primarina, and Scizor as they can help break down their shared checks.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Heal Bell
move 2: Hyper Voice
move 3: Roost
move 4: Flamethrower / Earthquake
item: Altarianite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Heal Bell allows Mega Altaria to cure it's team alongside itself from troubling status conditions.
* Hyper Voice is it's main STAB move, hitting threats that do not resist it incredibly hard. It also has the added advantage of hitting through Substitutes.
* Roost provides Mega Altaria immediate recovery, prolonging its sustainability.
* Flamethrower is a great coverage option that enables Mega Altaria in targeting Steel-types such as Scizor, Klefki, and Doublade. Earthquake can be used as an alternative option in an attempt to hit specific Steel-types that are not weak to Fire-type attacks such as Empoleon alongside Poison-types such as Alolan-Muk and Nihilego.
Set Details
========
* Natural Cure is a great pre-mega ability, enabling Mega Altaria to avoid status conditions as long as it switches out before Mega Evolving, enhancing its durability.
* Pixilate converts Mega Altaria's Normal-type moves into powerful Fairy-type STAB moves thanks to it's boost in power.
* 84 Defense EVs with a Bold Nature ensure that Mega Altaria can avoid the 2HKO against certain threats such as Terrakion, Mega Sharpedo, and defensive Scizor. The rest is invested in its HP and Special Defense in order to turn Mega Altaria into a great mixed defensive wall. A Relaxed nature can be used instead if Mega Altaria chooses to run Earthquake as a coverage option.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Altaria can be used as a defensive pivot that can switch into numerous threats such as Rotom-W, Mega Manectric, Mega Sharpedo, and Mega Sceptile thanks to its typing.
* It would likely be spamming Hyper Voice majority of the time due to the moves immense power coupled with it's ability to target most of the metagame for at least neutral damage.
* When Mega Altaria is not attacking however, it should be ridding its team and itself of harmful status conditions through the use of Heal Bell.
* Be careful against switching into certain attackers, since certain threats such as Hydreigon and Mega Sceptile can carry coverage options like Flash Cannon and Iron Tail respectively, which can harm Mega Altaria.
Team Options
========
* Mega Altaria works great alongside many Steel-types in the tier, since a majority if them can cover it's weakness to Fairy-, Steel-, Ice-, and Poison-type attacks. Great examples include Empoleon, Klefki, Scizor, and Cobalion. Where the former two can provide entry hazard support while the ladder examples can apply more offensive pressure to Mega Altaria's checks.
* Other defensive pivots such as Rotom-W and Gliscor can also be useful in bringing Mega Altiaria safely into the battlefield, where it can cover the aforementioned partners checks such as Latias and Mega Sharpedo respectively.
* Offensive partners such as Mamoswine and Infernape can also be valuable in applying more pressure on the opposing team, aiding Mega Altaria in weakening certain checks such as Empoleon and Tentacreul.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Mega Altaria can opt to run a more defensive Dragon Dance set, providing it more setup opportunities thanks to its added bulk with the cost of significantly less power.
* A fully offensively special attacking set also remains a viable option, enabling Mega Altaria to break through certain defensive threats such as Hippowdon and Gliscor, threats that a physically attacking set would have a difficult time breaking through.
* Fire Blast can be used over Flamethrower for a more powerful coverage option, however the lack of accuracy can be detrimental at times.
* Other STAB moves such as Body Slam and Double Edge can be used instead over Return, where the former has less power but offers the chance in spreading paralysis, while the ladder deals more damage with the cost of recoil.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Threats such as Scizor, Klefki, Empoleon, and Doublade resist Mega Altaria's Fairy-type STAB attacks and can hit it back hard with their own STAB Steel-type moves or threaten to status it with moves such as Toxic. However, they all must be wary for coverage options such as Flamethrower and Earthquake.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types such as Tentacreul, Crobat, and Alolan-Muk can also hit Mega Altaria hard with their own STAB attacks, with the first two examples also resisting Fairy-type moves. However, Mega Altaria can threaten the aforementioned examples bar Crobat with Earthquake.
**Faster Threats**: Pokemon such as Mega Beedrill, Mega Aerodactyl, Choice Scarf Infernape, and Choice Scarf Hydreigon can all outspeed Mega Altaria even after accumulating a Dragon Dance boost and can threaten to revenge kill it with their respective coverage options.
**Priority Moves**: Moves such as Bullet Punch, Ice Shard, and Extreme Speed coming off of threats such as Scizor, Mamoswine, and Zygarde-10% respectively can all prevent Mega Altaria from sweeping if it has been weakened enough.
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