[overview]
**Draft order**: Late round 1 onwards
**Price range**: 16-17 points
**Overview**: Annihilape is best known for its signature move: Rage Fist. It uses Rage Fist in conjunction with Bulk Up and Drain Punch as a bulky setup sweeper that can fully utilize Terastallization to win games. Annihilape also has a lot of utility with moves like Taunt, Stealth Rocks, and U-turn and all of its sets have different counterplay in order to avoid unnecessarily boosting Rage Fist. However, Annihilape requires lot of support, and it isn't that immediately threatening due to its mediocre attack and Rage Fist's low base power initially.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup sweeper**: Annihilape uses Bulk Up to both increase its bulk and attack to help it sweep teams with the high base power of a boosted Rage Fist and the recovery granted by Drain Punch. Bulk Up allows Annihilape to invest heavily in its Special Defense to that is incredibly hard to ko, especially with Terastallizing as an option. Moves like Taunt and Rest can also help Annihilape be more effective at its roles.
**Revenge killer**: Annihilape can utilize a Choice Scarf and access to high base powered STABs to revenge kill a lot of Pokemon; it can also use U-turn to chip down Pokemon within range of its other attacks. It's speed tier also allows it to outspeed all unbolted pokemon with the only exceptions being Regieleki, Deoxys-Speed, and Ninjask.
**Suicide lead**: Annihilape can set up Stealth Rocks and use Final Gambit to gain momentum for its team. The nature of Rage Fist also makes opponents less likely to attack Annihilape and weaken the Final Gambit. It's access to Taunt and Ghost typing allows it to stop opposing hazard removal as well.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Rage Fist, Drain Punch, Close Combat
**Setup moves**: Bulk Up
**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, U-turn, Protect, Rest, Sleep Talk, Taunt, Final Gambit, Substitute, Thief
**Coverage**: Tera Blast, Acrobatics, Gunk Shot, Earthquake, Night Slash, Seed Bomb, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Stone Edge
Niche Moves
========
**Brick Break**: Brick Break is a STAB option that can be used against teams that utilize Reflect and Light Screen. However losing the recovery from Drain Punch or the added Base Power of Close Combat can make this move hard to fit.
**Encore**: Encore can also be seen on Scarf sets as an anti-setup measure. Using Encore over Taunt on Bulk Up sets is usually not worth it, but is more effective against opposing setup pokemon.
**Endure**: Endure allows Annihilape to survive a hit and boost Rage Fist and can also be paired with Salac Berry as a speed boosting option. Reversal can be used as well as it has an incredibly high base power at 1 HP and Annihilape being immune to many priority moves only increases the effectiveness of this option.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Annihilape usually stays on the field for a long time, so the recovery from Leftovers helps with its longevity on Bulk Up sets.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf Annihilape is a potent scarfer despite its lower attack stat as it has access to U-turn as well as Close Combat and Ghost-type Tera Blast as alternative STAB options that offer more immediate power.
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry is paired with Rest on Bulk Up sets as it both removes status and grants full recovery to Annihilape which can be extremely hard to kill once it racks up Defense boosts.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest helps Annihilape take special hits better and allows it to more safely boost Rage Fist. Unfortunately, Bulk Up can't be used on Assault Vest sets so Annihilape usually will run a bulky pivot set with U-turn.
Niche Items
========
**Spell Tag**: Spell Tag is the main boosting item used by Annihilape to boost the power of its Rage Fist to help getting koes on specific Pokemon.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry is an alternative to Leftovers to help Annihilape setup on specific pokemon and also let it use moves like Thief and Acrobatics.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb is a strong option against faster Pokemon with Taunt or Encore.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on bulky pivot sets that want to switch in a lot during the game. This can help take weaker attacks and boost Rage Fist.
**Choice Band**: Choice-Band is a more powerful boosting item that is used to help Annihilape break in matchups where it can't fully sweep teams.
**Punching Glove**: Punching Glove allows Annihilape to dodge Rocky Helmet damage from moves like Drain Punch and Rage Fist, which is used as a common check to Annihilape. Punching Glove also boosts these moves slightly.
Tera
========
Annihilape should always the Tera Captain as it greatly benefits from Terastallizing. It commonly uses defensive Tera types such as Fairy and Water to help it setup with less weaknesses. It also commonly uses Tera Ghost to increase the power of its Rage Fist and also give it access to Tera Blast as an alternative option before Rage Fist is boosted. Tera Steel gives it useful resistances and a poison immunity and Tera Fire does the same except giving an immunity to burn instead.
Draft Strategy
========
Annihilape is a strong sweeper, but can be more exploitable in a draft format. Moves and items that are normally uncommon can severely mitigate its ability to perform its most standard role. Therefore it requires a draft that supports it.
**Speed Control**: Annihilape can be vulnerable to especially strong breakers, so having the means to revenge kill them with pokemon like Ogerpon and Latios without forcing Annihilape into a scarf role is appreciated.
**Offensive Pivots**: Annihilape is great at taking advantage of more passive pokemon through Taunt and Bulk Up, so offensive pivots like Tornadus-T and Greninja are helpful.
**Grounded Poison**: If Annihilape gets poisoned on sets lacking Rest, it is severely hindered from performing its role, so getting a grounded poison like Glimmora or Muk is recommended.
**Hazard Setters**: Before it Teras, Annihilape is a good spin blocker, as it is very bulky and even if it is attacked its Rage Fist is boosted, so pairing it with good hazard setters can help hazards stay up. It also can use its Defiant ability to punish the occasional Defog.
Checks and Counters
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet serves as a means of chipping Annihilape down without having to attack it and boost its Rage Fist. Rocky Helmet is usually used on Pokemon who have a consistent means to deal with Annihilape, but sets with more longevity with moves such as Rest are less prone to chip damage.
**Fast Taunt/Encore/Trick**: Annihilape tends to rely on Taunt to stop itself from being crippled by various status moves so a faster pokemon with one of the aforementioned moves can either stop Annihilape from setting up or cripple it significantly. Mental Herb is an option against Taunt and Encore.
**Strong Breakers**: Strong breakers can threaten Annihilape, and are sometimes able to ko it after some chip. But they usually can't switch in so they need bulky defensive pivots to help bring them in.
**Hisuian Zoroark**: Hisuian Zoroark is immune to both of Annihilape's STABs so it forces Annihilape to run coverage that it normally doesn't have to run as it can hit every other typing for neutral damage.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monkeboi215.582038/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Grammar checked by:
**Draft order**: Late round 1 onwards
**Price range**: 16-17 points
**Overview**: Annihilape is best known for its signature move: Rage Fist. It uses Rage Fist in conjunction with Bulk Up and Drain Punch as a bulky setup sweeper that can fully utilize Terastallization to win games. Annihilape also has a lot of utility with moves like Taunt, Stealth Rocks, and U-turn and all of its sets have different counterplay in order to avoid unnecessarily boosting Rage Fist. However, Annihilape requires lot of support, and it isn't that immediately threatening due to its mediocre attack and Rage Fist's low base power initially.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup sweeper**: Annihilape uses Bulk Up to both increase its bulk and attack to help it sweep teams with the high base power of a boosted Rage Fist and the recovery granted by Drain Punch. Bulk Up allows Annihilape to invest heavily in its Special Defense to that is incredibly hard to ko, especially with Terastallizing as an option. Moves like Taunt and Rest can also help Annihilape be more effective at its roles.
**Revenge killer**: Annihilape can utilize a Choice Scarf and access to high base powered STABs to revenge kill a lot of Pokemon; it can also use U-turn to chip down Pokemon within range of its other attacks. It's speed tier also allows it to outspeed all unbolted pokemon with the only exceptions being Regieleki, Deoxys-Speed, and Ninjask.
**Suicide lead**: Annihilape can set up Stealth Rocks and use Final Gambit to gain momentum for its team. The nature of Rage Fist also makes opponents less likely to attack Annihilape and weaken the Final Gambit. It's access to Taunt and Ghost typing allows it to stop opposing hazard removal as well.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Rage Fist, Drain Punch, Close Combat
**Setup moves**: Bulk Up
**Utility moves**: Stealth Rock, U-turn, Protect, Rest, Sleep Talk, Taunt, Final Gambit, Substitute, Thief
**Coverage**: Tera Blast, Acrobatics, Gunk Shot, Earthquake, Night Slash, Seed Bomb, Fire Punch, Ice Punch, Stone Edge
Niche Moves
========
**Brick Break**: Brick Break is a STAB option that can be used against teams that utilize Reflect and Light Screen. However losing the recovery from Drain Punch or the added Base Power of Close Combat can make this move hard to fit.
**Encore**: Encore can also be seen on Scarf sets as an anti-setup measure. Using Encore over Taunt on Bulk Up sets is usually not worth it, but is more effective against opposing setup pokemon.
**Endure**: Endure allows Annihilape to survive a hit and boost Rage Fist and can also be paired with Salac Berry as a speed boosting option. Reversal can be used as well as it has an incredibly high base power at 1 HP and Annihilape being immune to many priority moves only increases the effectiveness of this option.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Annihilape usually stays on the field for a long time, so the recovery from Leftovers helps with its longevity on Bulk Up sets.
**Choice Scarf**: Choice Scarf Annihilape is a potent scarfer despite its lower attack stat as it has access to U-turn as well as Close Combat and Ghost-type Tera Blast as alternative STAB options that offer more immediate power.
**Chesto Berry**: Chesto Berry is paired with Rest on Bulk Up sets as it both removes status and grants full recovery to Annihilape which can be extremely hard to kill once it racks up Defense boosts.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest helps Annihilape take special hits better and allows it to more safely boost Rage Fist. Unfortunately, Bulk Up can't be used on Assault Vest sets so Annihilape usually will run a bulky pivot set with U-turn.
Niche Items
========
**Spell Tag**: Spell Tag is the main boosting item used by Annihilape to boost the power of its Rage Fist to help getting koes on specific Pokemon.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry is an alternative to Leftovers to help Annihilape setup on specific pokemon and also let it use moves like Thief and Acrobatics.
**Mental Herb**: Mental Herb is a strong option against faster Pokemon with Taunt or Encore.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots can be used on bulky pivot sets that want to switch in a lot during the game. This can help take weaker attacks and boost Rage Fist.
**Choice Band**: Choice-Band is a more powerful boosting item that is used to help Annihilape break in matchups where it can't fully sweep teams.
**Punching Glove**: Punching Glove allows Annihilape to dodge Rocky Helmet damage from moves like Drain Punch and Rage Fist, which is used as a common check to Annihilape. Punching Glove also boosts these moves slightly.
Tera
========
Annihilape should always the Tera Captain as it greatly benefits from Terastallizing. It commonly uses defensive Tera types such as Fairy and Water to help it setup with less weaknesses. It also commonly uses Tera Ghost to increase the power of its Rage Fist and also give it access to Tera Blast as an alternative option before Rage Fist is boosted. Tera Steel gives it useful resistances and a poison immunity and Tera Fire does the same except giving an immunity to burn instead.
Draft Strategy
========
Annihilape is a strong sweeper, but can be more exploitable in a draft format. Moves and items that are normally uncommon can severely mitigate its ability to perform its most standard role. Therefore it requires a draft that supports it.
**Speed Control**: Annihilape can be vulnerable to especially strong breakers, so having the means to revenge kill them with pokemon like Ogerpon and Latios without forcing Annihilape into a scarf role is appreciated.
**Offensive Pivots**: Annihilape is great at taking advantage of more passive pokemon through Taunt and Bulk Up, so offensive pivots like Tornadus-T and Greninja are helpful.
**Grounded Poison**: If Annihilape gets poisoned on sets lacking Rest, it is severely hindered from performing its role, so getting a grounded poison like Glimmora or Muk is recommended.
**Hazard Setters**: Before it Teras, Annihilape is a good spin blocker, as it is very bulky and even if it is attacked its Rage Fist is boosted, so pairing it with good hazard setters can help hazards stay up. It also can use its Defiant ability to punish the occasional Defog.
Checks and Counters
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet serves as a means of chipping Annihilape down without having to attack it and boost its Rage Fist. Rocky Helmet is usually used on Pokemon who have a consistent means to deal with Annihilape, but sets with more longevity with moves such as Rest are less prone to chip damage.
**Fast Taunt/Encore/Trick**: Annihilape tends to rely on Taunt to stop itself from being crippled by various status moves so a faster pokemon with one of the aforementioned moves can either stop Annihilape from setting up or cripple it significantly. Mental Herb is an option against Taunt and Encore.
**Strong Breakers**: Strong breakers can threaten Annihilape, and are sometimes able to ko it after some chip. But they usually can't switch in so they need bulky defensive pivots to help bring them in.
**Hisuian Zoroark**: Hisuian Zoroark is immune to both of Annihilape's STABs so it forces Annihilape to run coverage that it normally doesn't have to run as it can hit every other typing for neutral damage.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monkeboi215.582038/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dartrix-joker.356084/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
