Post by BlackMalachite on Dec 6, 2016 11:40:03 GMT -8
Kartana
Type: Grass / Steel
Abilities: Beast Boost
Stats:
HP: 59
Attack: 181
Defense: 131
Special Attack: 59
Special Defense: 31
Speed: 109
Overview:
Kartana is one of the powerful ultra beasts that have been thrust into the metagame in Generation 7, and unsurprisingly it's made one of the most heavy impacts. With a sky high attack stat of 181 (the third highest in the game, only behind Mega Heracross and Mega Mewtwo X), and a very nice speed of 109, it can clean through teams without much issue. Not to mention that if you get a boost with its ability Beast Boost, you have the potential to sweep entire teams. So why has it not been catapulted up to Ubers? Multiple reasons; It's got paper thin Special Defense (the fourth lowest in the game, only ahead of Shedinja, Wishiwashi (Pre-Schooling), and Deoxys-A), its HP stat offsets its wonderful physical defense, and it also has quite a limited movepool (often suffering from four slot syndrome). Also, having a 4x weakness to fire, and a weakness to fighting can really hurt it in the worst moments. However, to underestimate Kartana would be a grave threat as he's still one of the most usable Pokemon in the tier.
Set #1: Late Game Cleaner
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+ Spe, - SpA)
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves:
Leaf Blade
Sacred Sword
X-Scissor
Smart Strike / Night Slash / Psycho Cut / Synthesis
Set Description: This set is meant to come in once Kartana's counters have been removed, nab a quick KO to boost up your attack via Beast Boost to bring up his Attack to a whopping 691, and then clean house with one of Kartana's attacks. Leaf Blade is your choice STAB and will net you some needed KOs against stressful Water, Ground, and Rock types. Sacred Sword ignores stat boosts and is nice for breaking past boosted Pokemon. X-Scissor is for coverage against specific key-threats that resist the other moves. The last slot is a toss-up depending on what coverage you need. Smart Strike is a STAB move that can really come in handy against Fairy types like the Tapus. Night Slash is for specific threats, Psycho Cut is specifically for if you're having a lot of trouble with Toxapex, it still only 3HKOs max 252 HP, 252 Def variants, but it does slightly more damage than Leaf Blade. Synthesis is if you don't need the coverage, but want to increase your longevity.
Set #2: Swords Dance
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+ Spe, - SpA)
Item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves:
Swords Dance
Leaf Blade
Sacred Sword
Smart Strike
Set Description: Boost, sweep. It's that simple. The item is a toss-up dependent on what you need. Focus Sash if you have an answer for hazards and need to be able to take one hit, but Life Orb if you need that extra power and can predict something better. Leaf Blade and Smart Strike are your STAB coverage moves, and Sacred Sword is necessary Fighting coverage. Beast Boost will always come in handy making you more powerful with each KO.
Set #3: Utility
EVs: 252 HP, 4 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+ Spe, - SpA)
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves:
Leaf Blade
Defog
Synthesis
Toxic
Set Description: A rather unconventional but surprisingly effect set in some cases. Kartana is technically one of the fastest Defog users in the game, and this can greatly work to its advantage. Leaf Blade is your main necessary STAB. Defog is to clear hazards and support your team. Synthesis and Toxic are for stalling physical threats.
Other Options: Kartana doesn't have many other options due to a decidedly limited movepool. If you really need longevity, you could run Calm Mind with leftovers for a different kind of stalling set, but its Special Defense is so low it's generally not worth it. Laser Focus might seem like a good idea, but due to its main STAB having a high critical rate, Kartana can't really afford a turn to set that up. A Rest Talk set has its niches, but generally unless special threats are cleared out won't be doing much.
Type: Grass / Steel
Abilities: Beast Boost
Stats:
HP: 59
Attack: 181
Defense: 131
Special Attack: 59
Special Defense: 31
Speed: 109
Overview:
Kartana is one of the powerful ultra beasts that have been thrust into the metagame in Generation 7, and unsurprisingly it's made one of the most heavy impacts. With a sky high attack stat of 181 (the third highest in the game, only behind Mega Heracross and Mega Mewtwo X), and a very nice speed of 109, it can clean through teams without much issue. Not to mention that if you get a boost with its ability Beast Boost, you have the potential to sweep entire teams. So why has it not been catapulted up to Ubers? Multiple reasons; It's got paper thin Special Defense (the fourth lowest in the game, only ahead of Shedinja, Wishiwashi (Pre-Schooling), and Deoxys-A), its HP stat offsets its wonderful physical defense, and it also has quite a limited movepool (often suffering from four slot syndrome). Also, having a 4x weakness to fire, and a weakness to fighting can really hurt it in the worst moments. However, to underestimate Kartana would be a grave threat as he's still one of the most usable Pokemon in the tier.
Set #1: Late Game Cleaner
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+ Spe, - SpA)
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves:
Leaf Blade
Sacred Sword
X-Scissor
Smart Strike / Night Slash / Psycho Cut / Synthesis
Set Description: This set is meant to come in once Kartana's counters have been removed, nab a quick KO to boost up your attack via Beast Boost to bring up his Attack to a whopping 691, and then clean house with one of Kartana's attacks. Leaf Blade is your choice STAB and will net you some needed KOs against stressful Water, Ground, and Rock types. Sacred Sword ignores stat boosts and is nice for breaking past boosted Pokemon. X-Scissor is for coverage against specific key-threats that resist the other moves. The last slot is a toss-up depending on what coverage you need. Smart Strike is a STAB move that can really come in handy against Fairy types like the Tapus. Night Slash is for specific threats, Psycho Cut is specifically for if you're having a lot of trouble with Toxapex, it still only 3HKOs max 252 HP, 252 Def variants, but it does slightly more damage than Leaf Blade. Synthesis is if you don't need the coverage, but want to increase your longevity.
Set #2: Swords Dance
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+ Spe, - SpA)
Item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves:
Swords Dance
Leaf Blade
Sacred Sword
Smart Strike
Set Description: Boost, sweep. It's that simple. The item is a toss-up dependent on what you need. Focus Sash if you have an answer for hazards and need to be able to take one hit, but Life Orb if you need that extra power and can predict something better. Leaf Blade and Smart Strike are your STAB coverage moves, and Sacred Sword is necessary Fighting coverage. Beast Boost will always come in handy making you more powerful with each KO.
Set #3: Utility
EVs: 252 HP, 4 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+ Spe, - SpA)
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Moves:
Leaf Blade
Defog
Synthesis
Toxic
Set Description: A rather unconventional but surprisingly effect set in some cases. Kartana is technically one of the fastest Defog users in the game, and this can greatly work to its advantage. Leaf Blade is your main necessary STAB. Defog is to clear hazards and support your team. Synthesis and Toxic are for stalling physical threats.
Other Options: Kartana doesn't have many other options due to a decidedly limited movepool. If you really need longevity, you could run Calm Mind with leftovers for a different kind of stalling set, but its Special Defense is so low it's generally not worth it. Laser Focus might seem like a good idea, but due to its main STAB having a high critical rate, Kartana can't really afford a turn to set that up. A Rest Talk set has its niches, but generally unless special threats are cleared out won't be doing much.
