Pontiac.
[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Base 125 SpA is still beast</li>
<li>Fire/Flying STABs provide good offensive coverage</li>
<li>Typing also resists common priority like Bullet Punch and Mach Punch</li>
<li>Also resists Bug, Fairy, Grass and is immune to Ground fwiw</li>
<li>Has just enough in its stat distribution and movepool to separate itself from its competition</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Faces new and tough competition for a team slot in Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y</li>
<li>Because of its competition, Moltres is shoehorned to very specific niches</li>
<li>Typing is also weak to other common attacking types in Water (Aqua Jet), Rock, and Electric</li>
<li>Loses 50% HP coming in if Stealth Rock is present. Rapid Spin/Defog support is required</li>
<li>Fast...but not fast enough</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>name: Special Attacker<br />
move 1: Hurricane<br />
move 2: Fire Blast<br />
move 3: Hidden Power Grass<br />
move 4: U-turn/Roost<br />
ability: Pressure<br />
item: Choice Specs/Life Orb<br />
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe<br />
nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)</p>
- Strongest Hurricane in pre-Pokebank OU
- None of Moltres' counters can 100% safely switch in when running Choice Specs, especially in rain (e.g.: Rotom-W with no SpD investment is 2HKO'd by Hurricane)
- Good offensive Rapid Spin users include Starmie, Mega Blastoise and Excadrill
- Works well on VoltTurn teams. Magic Bounce users such as Mega Absol pair decently with this set in VoltTurn as well.
- Choice Specs Hidden Power Grass 2HKOs all Rotom-W except Specially Defensive sets, 2HKOs ScarfTar after SR damage and OHKOs Barbaracle
- Life Orb and Roost give it some form of longevity, especially if you can't get your spinner or Magic Bounce user in
<p>name: Agility<br />
move 1: Agility<br />
move 2: Hurricane<br />
move 3: Fire Blast<br />
move 4: Roost<br />
ability: Pressure<br />
item: Life Orb<br />
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe<br />
nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)</p>
- Outspeeds the entire metagame after one Agility, including max speed Jolly Sand Rush Excadrill in sand
- Agility differentiates Moltres from Talonflame (forced to buff its Attack stat) and Charizard
- Good sweeper on more dedicated sun and rain teams if players still want to use them as a thing
- Switches into Scizor all day (and kinda Breloom, but watch for Rock Tomb)
- Roost keeps the sweep alive and mitigates Stealth Rock damage somewhat
<p>name: SubRoost<br />
move 1: Substitute<br />
move 2: Toxic<br />
move 3: Flamethrower<br />
move 4: Roost<br />
ability: Pressure<br />
item: Leftovers<br />
evs: 248 HP / 120 SpD / 140 Spe<br />
nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)</p>
- Moltres has the best stat distribution and ability to run SubRoost over Talonflame and Charizard
- 248 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD Calm can be used. With that spread, if you Roost, then 0 SpA Rotom-W has almost zero chance to break your Substitute with Volt Switch. Defensive Rotom-W is forced to burn Hydro Pump to Pressure. It's situational, however.
- Will-o-Wisp catches unsuspecting Tyranitar, who WILL switch in on you. Also catches Azumarill :). May catch unsuspecting Barbaracle.
- Switches into Scizor even better than Agility Moltres (again watch for Rock Tomb with Breloom)
- Timid with 140 Speed EVs beats max Speed Adamant Mold Breaker Excadrill
- Zapdos can run this set too...but Zapdos can't really beat Excadrill atm ;[
[Checks and Counters]
- Tyranitar
- Azumarill
- Tyrantrum (sand)
- Excadrill (kind of)
- Starmie
- Greninja
- Rotom-W
- Heliolisk
- Jolteon
- Barbaracle
Discussion Points
Should SubRoost be a thing? If so, what is the optimal EV spread?
Trapper set with Fire Spin and Sky Drop?
SunnyBeamer set? Rain Dance setter?
I'm sure I missed other checks and counters.
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