✦ ✧ CYCLOHM ✦ ✧
Cyclohm's immense physical bulk lets it wall top physical sweepers such as Cawmodore, Mega Pinsir, Tapu Bulu, and Kartana. Just like many other Electric-types, Cyclohm is able to check common Water- and Electric-types such Choice Scarf Volkraken and Magnezone, but Cyclohm differentiates itself by possessing more resistances as well as powerful moves like Draco Meteor and a wide movepool that includes Ice Beam, Flamethrower, and Hydro Pump as coverage options. This movepool combined with high Special Attack and a decent Speed tier allows Cyclohm to work as an offensive Pokemon as well.
However, Cyclohm's lacking special bulk means it suffers a lot from special attackers such as Krilowatt, Magearna, Greninja, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko. Cyclohm's typing makes it also weak to common physical wallbreakers such as Kyurem-B and Mega Medicham. Offensive Cyclohm suffers from its base 80 Speed, as it is very average and easily outsped when not holding Choice Scarf. Cyclohm is vulnerable to common coverage such as Hidden Power Ice and Hidden Power Ground, leaving it reluctant to switch in on special attackers it could otherwise check. It also faces competition as a defensive Electric-type from Zapdos, which offers a Ground immunity and Defog, and as an offensive Electric-type from Krilowatt, which boasts comparable coverage and greater Speed.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Discharge / Volt Switch
move 2: Flamethrower / Ice Beam
move 3: Ice Beam / Toxic / Heal Bell
move 4: Slack Off
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Static / Shield Dust
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Discharge is a reliable STAB attack with a high chance of paralysis and works well with Static. Alternatively, Volt Switch enables Cyclohm to switch out to remain healthy and competent for the rest of the game. Flamethrower is used to hit Grass- and Steel-types, including Jumbao, Ferrothorn, Kartana, and Mega Scizor. Fire Blast is an alternative for higher power and the ability to OHKO Cawmodore, meaning Cyclohm doesn't have to rely on Static to beat Cawmodore after Belly Drum. The third move depends on what your team needs. Ice Beam allows Cyclohm to hit Ground- and Dragon-types that may threaten it such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Pajantom and is a great way to wear down Assault Vest Colossoil. Toxic wears down typical Cyclohm switch-ins such as Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Arghonaut, Pyroak, and Tangrowth. Heal Bell allows Cyclohm to perform a clerical role. If one of these utility options is considered more useful than Fire-type coverage, certain teams may prefer having Ice Beam over Flamethrower. Slack Off gives Cyclohm reliable recovery, allowing it to stay consistently healthy.
Set Details
========
252 HP EVs and 252 Defense EVs with a Bold nature grant Cyclohm maximum physical bulk. Leftovers give Cyclohm passive recovery, letting it shrug off strong hits more easily, while Rocky Helmet helps wear down physical attackers. Static allows defensive Cyclohm to paralyze physical attackers that use contact moves such as Cawmodore; it usually is a better option on the defensive set because paralysis enables Cyclohm to stall foes easily. Shield Dust can be used to prevent secondary effects such as burns from Scald, poison from Sludge Bomb and Mega Crucibelle's Gunk Shot, and stat drops from Kitsunoh's Shadow Strike, giving Cyclohm greater longevity. Cyclohm can move 124 EVs from Defense to Speed to be faster than defensive Landorus-T, Mega Mawile and Assault Vest Colossoil.
Usage Tips
========
Cyclohm should switch in on physical attackers it can deal with such as Cawmodore, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Scizor as well as certain Choice-locked special attackers such as Choice Scarf Volkraken. If running Heal Bell, Cyclohm should use it whenever the team needs status removed unless against stall, where it should be used sparingly because of its low PP. If running Toxic, it should be used on a predicted switch-in that can threaten Cyclohm or your team or on a threat that can be taken down later on with enough Toxic damage done. Cyclohm should use Slack Off when needed to avoid getting KOed and to scout foes' damage output and item. Cyclohm should only attack if it can take hits from the foe; otherwise, it should recover the health it loses with Slack Off or switch out. When running Static, Cyclohm should be used to threaten physical threats with paralysis.
Team Options
========
Specially defensive Pokemon such as Arghonaut, Celesteela, Chansey, Gastrodon, and Assault Vest Tapu Bulu complement Cyclohm's physical bulk and offer defensive synergy with traits such as Celesteela's Ground immunity. Defensive Ground checks such as Tomohawk and Landorus-T switch into Ground-types like Colossoil and Zygarde and may also set entry hazards, making it easier for Cyclohm to hit back. Water- and Bug-types such as Arghonaut and Mega Scizor can switch into Ice- and Ground-type moves aimed at Cyclohm. Bulky Steel-types such as Celesteela and Magearna deal with Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele. Mega Scizor + Tapu Bulu or Jumbao + Cyclohm makes a very bulky core; Mega Scizor offers U-turn momentum and weakness coverage, and Tapu Bulu provides Grassy Terrain for more recovery as well as less damage from Ground-types like Colossoil. Jumbao can also check Ground-types while also walling Heatran and providing Cyclohm with Wish support. Cyclohm can also help the core by running Heal Bell, which can be of major help when facing bulkier teams.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Hydro Pump / Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Cyclohm to switch out against bad matchups while still inflicting damage on the foe. Thunderbolt is an alternative STAB move that allows Cyclohm to reliably hit Flying- and Water-types such as Tomohawk, Celesteela, Arghonaut, Toxapex, and Volkraken but lacks Volt Switch's momentum generation. Draco Meteor is Cyclohm's strongest attack, allowing it to hit a wider variety of threats. Fire Blast enables Cyclohm to hit Steel- and Grass-types like Ferrothorn, Cawmodore, Tapu Bulu, Mega Scizor, Jumbao, and Magearna. Hydro Pump allows Cyclohm to hit Rock- and Fire-types such as Tyranitar, Heatran, Victini, and Volcarona, which nearly get OHKOed on the switch. Ice Beam is mainly used to hit common Ground-types such as Colossoil, Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Zygarde.
Set Details
========
Shield Dust is the preferred ability, as offensive Cyclohm lacks the longevity to make much use of Static. Choice Specs offers higher damage output without any recoil damage. A Timid nature allows Cyclohm to outspeed Adamant Landorus-T, Timid Heatran, and unboosted Adamant Necturna.
Usage Tips
========
Offensive Cyclohm's biggest benefit is that it can bluff the defensive set to encourage certain switches. Choice Specs Cyclohm should be played as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker that lets teammates clean up late-game. Cyclohm should use Volt Switch early-game in order to pivot around while putting out damage and punish Ground-type switch-ins with Hydro Pump or Ice Beam. Careful usage of Fire Blast can pressure Assault Vest Magearna, as with a little bit of chip damage, Magearna is put into 2HKO range of it. Against a damaged team late-game, Cyclohm should focus on using Draco Meteor in order to hit everything as hard as possible unless Fairy- or Steel-types are present. If Cyclohm can take a hit from the foe, it should switch in to deal with the threat; Cawmodore and Tapu Bulu are good targets for Cyclohm to switch in on and take advantage of.
Team Options
========
This set usually does better on offensive teams but may be used on balanced teams as well. Offensive Cyclohm likes to be paired with bulky Pokemon that are able to take hits from Pokemon it's weak to such as Celesteela, Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Jumbao, the last of which can power up Fire Blast. Offensive Cyclohm can't switch in much due to lack of recovery, so it usually pairs well with a Wish or Healing Wish user such as Chansey, Jumbao, Clefable, or Tomohawk. Cyclohm enjoys being paired with physical wallbreakers such as Mega Medicham and Mega Crucibelle, which get rid of special walls. Priority users such as Mega Medicham, Mega Pinsir, Ash-Greninja, and Zygarde can easily pick foes off after Cyclohm weakens them. Entry hazard setters such as Fidgit, Landorus-T, Ferrothorn, and Arghonaut give Cyclohm a better chance of sweeping. Bulky hazard removers such as Tomohawk, Tornadus-T, and Colossoil help keep Cyclohm from being worn down. Sticky Web Necturna is a niche partner for Cyclohm, as it can let Cyclohm outspeed Kartana and Ash-Greninja.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Cyclohm may also be used offensively by using Dragonium Z with Volt Switch, Draco Meteor, Fire Blast, and Slack Off. Cyclohm can be a good secondary setter for Trick Room teams, using coverage like Ice Beam to shut down Ground-types and pivot with Volt Switch. This set usually runs Trick Room, Ice Beam, Fire Blast, and Volt Switch, holding a Shuca Berry to improve the matchup against Landorus-T and Zygarde. The most recommended spread is 252 HP / 36 SpA / 220 SpD with a Modest nature to tank attacks from special attackers such as Volkraken. Cyclohm may be played with Choice Scarf in order to outspeed other threats, but it's not very powerful. Physcially defensive Cyclohm may run Whirlwind to eliminate setup sweepers such as Cawmodore and Mega Crucibelle. Thunderbolt is an alternative option over Volt Switch or Discharge because it grants Cyclohm a stronger move, OHKOes Flame Orb Naviathan, and doesn't have a high paralysis chance that conflicts with Toxic.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie, Tapu Lele, Clefable, Jumbao, Kerfluffle, and Dazzling Gleam Tapu Koko are immuned to Dragon-type attacks and usually can take a hit from Cyclohm, other than Ice Beam or Fire Blast on Jumbao and Hydro Pump on Mega Diancie. They hate getting paralyzed by Discharge, however.
**Ground-types**: Colossoil, Landorus-T, Fidgit, and Zygarde are immune to Discharge and Thunderbolt and can hit Cyclohm super effectively with their STAB moves without worrying about Static. Colossoil can switch in on Cyclohm, as it can take Ice Beam a couple of times, but the others must watch out for Ice Beam and Hydro Pump.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey and Mollux tank all of Cyclohm's attacks and wear it down with status moves. Assault Vest Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Magearna can also tank hits from Cyclohm without Choice Specs. Cyclohm also should be wary when switching in on Magearna due to Fleur Cannon and Ice Beam.
**Special Attackers**: Powerful special attackers such as Krilowatt, Stratagem, Syclant, Latios, Greninja, and Aurumoth can usually tank a super effective hit or two from defensive Cyclohm and strike back with strong or super effective attacks; however, most can't switch into Cyclohm's attacks.
**Physical Wallbreakers with Super Effective Coverage**: Wallbreakers such as Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, Jumbao, Necturna, and Kyurem-B can easily take down Cyclohm due to their super effective coverage or STAB attacks; however, they usually can't switch in. Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, and Necturna also don't like being paralyzed.
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