[OVERVIEW]
Water
========
Rotom-W's great mixed bulk and ability Levitate makes it one of the very few Ground switch-ins that Water has access to, helping to take on wallbreakers that pressure Water teams such as Choice Band Excadrill and Swords Dance Garchomp. Unlike Mantine, one of Water's other Ground-immune Pokemon, Rotom-W has Volt Switch, giving it a way to keep up momentum and have offensive utility, and it lacks a weakness to Rock that Pelipper and Mantine both have, allowing it to handle EdgeQuake coverage easily. With Volt Switch, Rotom-W can be a strong option for offensive Water teams that still want to cover strong Ground-types. Rotom-W also has other rare defensive utilities in both Defog and Will-O-Wisp, enabling it to fulfill multiple roles for the team at once. In addition to taking on Ground-types, Rotom-W's Electric typing lets it only take neutral damage from and check Electric-types such as Choice Band Thundurus. However, in spite of being a defensive Pokemon, Rotom-W has no reliable recovery options and must use Pain Split if it needs recovery, meaning it can be worn down quite quickly in its role as a defensive pivot. To make its lack of reliable recovery worse, its mixed bulk isn't enough to stop strong wallbreakers like Diggersby or Z-Move users like Garchomp. Rotom-W also faces strong competition from Mantine, a more traditional Ground-immune wall with superior special bulk as well as access to Defog and recovery in Roost. More defensive teams will normally not favor Volt Switch's pivoting potential over the longevity of Mantine.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot (Water)
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Defog / Pain Split
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Pain Split
item: Leftovers / Iapapa Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Rotom-W to take advantage of its low Speed to pivot a teammate into play safely and keep up momentum. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's most powerful STAB attack and gives it offensive presence. Importantly, Hydro Pump hits Ground-type Pokemon for super effective damage, preventing most of them from blocking Volt Switch. Defog removes entry hazards from the field and makes sure that Toxic Spikes cannot cripple Rotom-W's teammates. Will-O-Wisp is the preferred status move for Rotom-W, as it allows Rotom-W to cripple physical attackers and setup sweepers that try to boost. On teams that are especially reliant on Rotom-W's Defog, Pain Split can be used instead of Will-O-Wisp to make it a more reliable switch-in to physical attackers and capable of taking more attacks as it pivots out. Pain Split can also be used if the team doesn't need Rotom-W's Defog support. Toxic is another option that can be used with Will-O-Wisp if Defog is unneeded to cripple specific defensive checks in Seismitoad, Porygon2, and Zapdos, along with many other walls.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and Bold nature maximize Rotom-W's physical bulk while minimizing Stealth Rock damage and ensuring it outspeeds Jolly Azumarill and defensive Landorus-T. Other EV spreads with more Speed, such as 248 HP / 40 Def / 220 Spe, can be used to allow Rotom-W to outspeed Pokemon such as Diggersby and Breloom; however, the lost Defense will make it more difficult for Rotom-W to check these Pokemon. Leftovers is useful for improving Rotom-W's longevity over a long game. Iapapa Berry can be used instead to gain a one-time burst of healing, which can come in handy against attacks like Breloom's Bullet Seed if Rotom-W needs to burn it. Levitate is Rotom-W's only ability, granting it a valuable immunity to Ground-type attacks, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-W should primarily be used to switch into attacks for its teammates before pivoting out again with Volt Switch. While Ground-types can block Rotom-W's Volt Switch, the threat of Hydro Pump and Will-O-Wisp can typically keep most of them from switching in or staying in against it. However, because Gastrodon and Seismitoad are immune to Hydro Pump, they are big threats to Rotom-W and it should typically double switch out when you expect them to come in. Rotom-W still needs to be careful around other Electric-immune Pokemon such as Thundurus-T, as they can freely switch into Volt Switch and threaten to use a Volt Switch of their own. However, be careful with letting Rotom-W take more powerful hits when it switches in, as its lack of reliable recovery prevents it from being a switch-in to wallbreakers. Whenever the opponent has set entry hazards, try to bring Rotom-W into play to remove them. If possible, try to switch it in as Stealth Rock is being set, as Rotom-W hates taking even minor residual damage. For the same reason, be sure to avoid letting Rotom-W get poisoned or badly poisoned, as it will be much easier to wear down. Because Leftovers helps counteract the chip damage it inevitably will take, avoid Knock Off users. Alolan Muk is a particularly dangerous Knock Off user, as its Poison Touch ability can allow it to poison Rotom-W and simultaneously remove Leftovers. If it's running Toxic itself, Rotom-W should typically hide it to surprise walls that do not expect to get crippled. It can also be used to put setup sweepers on a timer if Will-O-Wisp is incapable of stopping them. Otherwise, Rotom-W should usually avoid contesting other defensive Pokemon, as it cannot afford to take a status move and has no reliable recovery. That being said, Pain Split should be used mainly against other defensive Pokemon, as Rotom-W's low base HP makes it especially good at healing against them.
Team Options
========
Thanks to Levitate, Rotom-W makes a fantastic teammate for Water teams that are typically threatened by the strong Ground-type attackers in Excadrill and Landorus-T but prefer to have the offensive presence that other defensive Ground checks lack. Choice Scarf Greninja with U-turn can form a strong VoltTurn core with Rotom-W and also runs Gunk Shot, making it a good check to Grass-types. In addition to this, Greninja can revenge kill many of the powerful attackers that Rotom-W cannot check defensively, such as Choice Band Dragonite and Diggersby. Wallbreakers such as Mega Sharpedo and Choice Specs Keldeo are good options to receive Volt Switch's free switch, as they can break many of the walls that try to stop Rotom-W. Setup sweepers such as Gyarados and Mega Slowbro are also very capable of taking advantage of the momentum that Volt Switch provides, as Rotom-W can bring them onto the field against Pokemon they can set up on. Gyarados is especially notable for being able to beat Mega Venusaur and other Grass-types that Rotom-W cannot deal with. Good switch-ins to Grass-types are often needed because Rotom-W will often pivot out of them; Toxapex, Empoleon, and Sap Sipper Azumarill are especially great teammates for this purpose. Toxapex and Empoleon are notable for setting Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, respectively, which can help cripple and chip at Pokemon as they are forced out by Rotom-W. In addition to its unique Grass immunity, Sap Sipper Azumarill can Perish trap the walls that Rotom-W can't handle, such as Chansey. On more defensive teams, Alomomola's use of huge Wishes and Regenerator makes it another good defensive pivot option that helps keep Rotom-W very healthy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Rotom-W can run a specially defensive spread in order to have a better matchup against Landorus and other Electric-types, but it will be less capable of handling most Ground-types such as Garchomp and Excadrill, making it a much more niche spread. Thunder Wave can be used over Defog as another double status set choice to make it even better against offensive Pokemon, but Volt Switch and Will-O-Wisp cover most offensive Pokemon already, making it hard to usually justify using over other utility options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur are normally unconcerned with most of what Rotom-W can do to them and can hit it super effectively. However, physical Grass-types, such as Breloom and Tapu Bulu, cannot switch into Rotom-W for fear of Will-O-Wisp.
**Wallbreakers**: Because it lacks reliable recovery and Pain Split is especially bad against less bulky offensive Pokemon, Rotom-W is handled by most wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Keldeo, Choice Band Diggersby, and Mega Heracross even if they are normally threatened by its moves.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Without Toxic, Rotom-W struggles to pressure defensive Pokemon such as Chansey at all, as it often lacks power, crippling status, and recovery, allowing them to switch in. They should be careful of frequently letting Rotom-W pivot out to a teammate, though.
**Certain Electric-immune Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Lanturn that are unafraid of anything Rotom-W does can still switch in freely and prevent Rotom-W from pivoting out.
**Poison**: Poison and Toxic poison cripple Rotom-W, which already lacks longevity. As a result, Pokemon that occasionally carry ways to poison Rotom-W, such as Mantine and Celesteela, are hard for Rotom-W to pivot around before their moveset is scouted.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Water analysis by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Quality checked by: [[Vid, 239907], [Moosical, 215618], [Tyke, 243751]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
Water
========
Rotom-W's great mixed bulk and ability Levitate makes it one of the very few Ground switch-ins that Water has access to, helping to take on wallbreakers that pressure Water teams such as Choice Band Excadrill and Swords Dance Garchomp. Unlike Mantine, one of Water's other Ground-immune Pokemon, Rotom-W has Volt Switch, giving it a way to keep up momentum and have offensive utility, and it lacks a weakness to Rock that Pelipper and Mantine both have, allowing it to handle EdgeQuake coverage easily. With Volt Switch, Rotom-W can be a strong option for offensive Water teams that still want to cover strong Ground-types. Rotom-W also has other rare defensive utilities in both Defog and Will-O-Wisp, enabling it to fulfill multiple roles for the team at once. In addition to taking on Ground-types, Rotom-W's Electric typing lets it only take neutral damage from and check Electric-types such as Choice Band Thundurus. However, in spite of being a defensive Pokemon, Rotom-W has no reliable recovery options and must use Pain Split if it needs recovery, meaning it can be worn down quite quickly in its role as a defensive pivot. To make its lack of reliable recovery worse, its mixed bulk isn't enough to stop strong wallbreakers like Diggersby or Z-Move users like Garchomp. Rotom-W also faces strong competition from Mantine, a more traditional Ground-immune wall with superior special bulk as well as access to Defog and recovery in Roost. More defensive teams will normally not favor Volt Switch's pivoting potential over the longevity of Mantine.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot (Water)
move 1: Volt Switch
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Defog / Pain Split
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Pain Split
item: Leftovers / Iapapa Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Volt Switch allows Rotom-W to take advantage of its low Speed to pivot a teammate into play safely and keep up momentum. Hydro Pump is Rotom-W's most powerful STAB attack and gives it offensive presence. Importantly, Hydro Pump hits Ground-type Pokemon for super effective damage, preventing most of them from blocking Volt Switch. Defog removes entry hazards from the field and makes sure that Toxic Spikes cannot cripple Rotom-W's teammates. Will-O-Wisp is the preferred status move for Rotom-W, as it allows Rotom-W to cripple physical attackers and setup sweepers that try to boost. On teams that are especially reliant on Rotom-W's Defog, Pain Split can be used instead of Will-O-Wisp to make it a more reliable switch-in to physical attackers and capable of taking more attacks as it pivots out. Pain Split can also be used if the team doesn't need Rotom-W's Defog support. Toxic is another option that can be used with Will-O-Wisp if Defog is unneeded to cripple specific defensive checks in Seismitoad, Porygon2, and Zapdos, along with many other walls.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and Bold nature maximize Rotom-W's physical bulk while minimizing Stealth Rock damage and ensuring it outspeeds Jolly Azumarill and defensive Landorus-T. Other EV spreads with more Speed, such as 248 HP / 40 Def / 220 Spe, can be used to allow Rotom-W to outspeed Pokemon such as Diggersby and Breloom; however, the lost Defense will make it more difficult for Rotom-W to check these Pokemon. Leftovers is useful for improving Rotom-W's longevity over a long game. Iapapa Berry can be used instead to gain a one-time burst of healing, which can come in handy against attacks like Breloom's Bullet Seed if Rotom-W needs to burn it. Levitate is Rotom-W's only ability, granting it a valuable immunity to Ground-type attacks, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes.
Usage Tips
========
Rotom-W should primarily be used to switch into attacks for its teammates before pivoting out again with Volt Switch. While Ground-types can block Rotom-W's Volt Switch, the threat of Hydro Pump and Will-O-Wisp can typically keep most of them from switching in or staying in against it. However, because Gastrodon and Seismitoad are immune to Hydro Pump, they are big threats to Rotom-W and it should typically double switch out when you expect them to come in. Rotom-W still needs to be careful around other Electric-immune Pokemon such as Thundurus-T, as they can freely switch into Volt Switch and threaten to use a Volt Switch of their own. However, be careful with letting Rotom-W take more powerful hits when it switches in, as its lack of reliable recovery prevents it from being a switch-in to wallbreakers. Whenever the opponent has set entry hazards, try to bring Rotom-W into play to remove them. If possible, try to switch it in as Stealth Rock is being set, as Rotom-W hates taking even minor residual damage. For the same reason, be sure to avoid letting Rotom-W get poisoned or badly poisoned, as it will be much easier to wear down. Because Leftovers helps counteract the chip damage it inevitably will take, avoid Knock Off users. Alolan Muk is a particularly dangerous Knock Off user, as its Poison Touch ability can allow it to poison Rotom-W and simultaneously remove Leftovers. If it's running Toxic itself, Rotom-W should typically hide it to surprise walls that do not expect to get crippled. It can also be used to put setup sweepers on a timer if Will-O-Wisp is incapable of stopping them. Otherwise, Rotom-W should usually avoid contesting other defensive Pokemon, as it cannot afford to take a status move and has no reliable recovery. That being said, Pain Split should be used mainly against other defensive Pokemon, as Rotom-W's low base HP makes it especially good at healing against them.
Team Options
========
Thanks to Levitate, Rotom-W makes a fantastic teammate for Water teams that are typically threatened by the strong Ground-type attackers in Excadrill and Landorus-T but prefer to have the offensive presence that other defensive Ground checks lack. Choice Scarf Greninja with U-turn can form a strong VoltTurn core with Rotom-W and also runs Gunk Shot, making it a good check to Grass-types. In addition to this, Greninja can revenge kill many of the powerful attackers that Rotom-W cannot check defensively, such as Choice Band Dragonite and Diggersby. Wallbreakers such as Mega Sharpedo and Choice Specs Keldeo are good options to receive Volt Switch's free switch, as they can break many of the walls that try to stop Rotom-W. Setup sweepers such as Gyarados and Mega Slowbro are also very capable of taking advantage of the momentum that Volt Switch provides, as Rotom-W can bring them onto the field against Pokemon they can set up on. Gyarados is especially notable for being able to beat Mega Venusaur and other Grass-types that Rotom-W cannot deal with. Good switch-ins to Grass-types are often needed because Rotom-W will often pivot out of them; Toxapex, Empoleon, and Sap Sipper Azumarill are especially great teammates for this purpose. Toxapex and Empoleon are notable for setting Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock, respectively, which can help cripple and chip at Pokemon as they are forced out by Rotom-W. In addition to its unique Grass immunity, Sap Sipper Azumarill can Perish trap the walls that Rotom-W can't handle, such as Chansey. On more defensive teams, Alomomola's use of huge Wishes and Regenerator makes it another good defensive pivot option that helps keep Rotom-W very healthy.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Rotom-W can run a specially defensive spread in order to have a better matchup against Landorus and other Electric-types, but it will be less capable of handling most Ground-types such as Garchomp and Excadrill, making it a much more niche spread. Thunder Wave can be used over Defog as another double status set choice to make it even better against offensive Pokemon, but Volt Switch and Will-O-Wisp cover most offensive Pokemon already, making it hard to usually justify using over other utility options.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur are normally unconcerned with most of what Rotom-W can do to them and can hit it super effectively. However, physical Grass-types, such as Breloom and Tapu Bulu, cannot switch into Rotom-W for fear of Will-O-Wisp.
**Wallbreakers**: Because it lacks reliable recovery and Pain Split is especially bad against less bulky offensive Pokemon, Rotom-W is handled by most wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Keldeo, Choice Band Diggersby, and Mega Heracross even if they are normally threatened by its moves.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Without Toxic, Rotom-W struggles to pressure defensive Pokemon such as Chansey at all, as it often lacks power, crippling status, and recovery, allowing them to switch in. They should be careful of frequently letting Rotom-W pivot out to a teammate, though.
**Certain Electric-immune Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Seismitoad, Gastrodon, and Lanturn that are unafraid of anything Rotom-W does can still switch in freely and prevent Rotom-W from pivoting out.
**Poison**: Poison and Toxic poison cripple Rotom-W, which already lacks longevity. As a result, Pokemon that occasionally carry ways to poison Rotom-W, such as Mantine and Celesteela, are hard for Rotom-W to pivot around before their moveset is scouted.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Water analysis by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Quality checked by: [[Vid, 239907], [Moosical, 215618], [Tyke, 243751]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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