ZU - [BW] Wallbreaker Pawniard (OO, C&C) [QC 1/2] (2024)

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[SET]
Wallbreaker (Pawniard) @ Eviolite
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Pursuit / Night Slash / Low Kick

[SET COMMENTS]
When equipped Swords Dance, Pawniard can cleave through defensive cores. Although Pawniard is still frail even when outfitted with Eviolite, its Dark / Steel dual typing has plenty of resistances, giving Pawniard setup opportunities against passive walls like Wormadam-S, Vullaby, and Ivysaur. Pawniard can also set up on weaker physical attackers like Persian and Emolga and Choice-locked Pokemon like Mr. Mime, Grumpig, and Gastly. Pawniard's STAB Sucker Punch is a strong priority move that staves off frail would-be revenge killers like Simisear and Raichu. STAB Iron Head complements Sucker Punch, breaking physically defensive Pokemon like Solrock and Graveler, circumventing the chance to fail Sucker Punch has, and potentially flinching down walls like Clefairy, Hippopotas, and Vibrava. Pursuit provides Pawniard offensive utility, picking off weakened Dark-weak Pokemon, like Choice-locked Mr. Mime, Grumpig, and Gastly. Offensive pivots like Persian and Emolga which often lack the coverage to significantly damage Pawniard and thus are also vulnerable to Pursuit. Night Slash is a strong, reliable Dark-type STAB move to beat Steel-resistant walls like Frillish, which resists Iron Head and can deny Sucker Punch by using Will-O-Wisp. Low Kick lets Pawniard break Lairon, which otherwise tanks Pawniard's STAB moves.

Fast cleaners like Simisear, Raichu, and Mr. Mime greatly appreciate Pawniard breaking down defensive cores for them. Offensive pivots like Persian and Emolga help bring Pawniard in safely while luring in physical walls like Wormdam-S and Lairon for Pawniard to break. Mienfoo is a significant problem for Pawniard, so Muk and Arbok make helpful partners, while Pawniard can protect them from offensive Psychic-types like Grumpig and Mr. Mime. Setup sweepers like Shelgon and Leafeon benefit from Pawniard softening up physical walls so that they can sweep. Mention the general team styles Pawniard fits on

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Inner Focus lets Pawniard ignore flinches from Persian's Fake Out, but Persian is unlikely to revenge kill Pawniard with a weak and resisted move, and the protection Defiant gives from Intimidate is more useful for a physical attacker like Pawniard. Brick Break is stronger than Low Kick against Clefairy and opposing Pawniard and still 2HKOes Lairon, but it's weaker against heavy foes like Walrein, Slaking, and Munchlax. Pawniard has utility options in its movepool like Thunder Wave, Taunt, and Knock Off, but Clefairy, Solrock, and Wormadam-S are all better utility Pokemon than Pawniard thanks to their better bulk. Magnet Rise protects Pawniard from Ground moves from Wormadam-S, Vibrava, and Hippopotas to turn them into setup fodder, but Pawniard has to give up a vital coverage option and worsen its matchups against its checks.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type Coverage**: Pawniard OHKOed by almost any Fighting-type move. Mienfoo is very common and requires significant chip damage before Pawniard can threaten to KO it, even with a boost from Swords Dance. Mienfoo is hard to wear down if it has Regenerator and Eviolite, but its frailty, Reckless, or a Choice Scarf can open windows for Pawniard overwhelm it. Muk, Kingler, and Shelgon commonly run Fighting-type moves for coverage. Although Pignite is rare, it's very bulky and resists both of Pawniard's STABs.

**Steel-types**: Steel-types take little damage from Pawniard's STAB moves, although Lairon is 2HKOed by Low Kick and Wormadam-S without Hidden Power Ground struggles against Swords Dance Pawniard. Magnemite is rare, but it can trap and remove Pawniard.

**Water-types**: Whiscash and Pelipper are bulky, resist Iron Head, and pressure Pawniard because of its frailty. Frillish and Staryu can manuever around Sucker Punch with Recover and threaten Pawniard with burns from Will-O-Wisp and Scald, although they are not very bulky, and Frillish is vulnerable to Night Slash. Emphasize that Pawniard isn't totally helpless against these foes: Sucker Punch can take out the offensive Water-types with good prediction, while Pawniard's high Attack combined with the frailty of Staryu and Dark weakness of Frillish can help it win one-on-one with some prior setup or luck.

**Ground-types and Ground-type Coverage**: Vibrava and Hippopotas 2HKO Pawniard with their STAB moves, and both can stay healthy with their recovery moves, but Swords Dance boosts and Iron Head flinches can help Pawniard beat them. Meganium and Slaking possess good physical bulk and threaten Pawniard with Earthquake.

**Fire-types**: Simisear and the uncommon Magmar roast Pawniard with their STAB moves; their resistance to Iron Head baits Sucker Punch, providing opportunities to outmaneuver it with Substitute.

**Special Attackers**: Raichu and Walrein easily overwhelm Pawniard because of its poor special bulk. Even special attackers with STABs moves Pawniard resists like Glaceon and Choice Specs Meganium can overpower it.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by: