Analysis: Azelf

[DEFENSIVE COMBINATIONS]

Azelf's pure psychic typing leaves the pixie with only three weaknesses, Bug, Dark and Ghost. With Levitate, Azelf also gains an immunity to ground. Heatran, Lucario and Magnezone all resist every type of attack that Azelf is weak to. Since Azelf is immune to ground type attacks and resists fighting, it also makes a good compliment to those three, with their ground and fighting weaknesses.

The hardest part about using Azelf is getting that one vital turn of setup in. Luckily, Azelf can easily come in on many physical pokemon thanks to Levitate granting immunity to Earthquake. Pokemon such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, CB Garchomp, CB Gyarados, CB Tyranitar are all pokemon that are easy targets to set up on when they attempt to Earthquake.

[/DEFENSIVE COMBINATIONS]

[/GLOBAL INFO]

[SET]

Name: Nasty Plot

Item: Life Orb

IVs: 29 HP

EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpAtk / 252 Speed

Nature: Timid

Stats: 289 HP / 257 Atk / 177 Def / 349 SpAtk / 176 SpDef / 361 Speed

Moves:

- Nasty Plot

- Psychic

- Flamethrower

- Grass Knot

[/SET]

[SET DESCRIPTION]

Nasty Plot doubles Azelf's SpAtk, meaning all you need is one free turn to potentially sweep your opponents remaining team. Psychic recieves STAB, and is needed to OHKO many pokemon that your other attacks will simply not touch. Flamethrower will hit Steel type pokemon that resist Psychic SE. Finally, Grass Knot is used over any other options because it gives Azelf the ability to OHKO many pokemon that otherwise will not be OHKO'd by either of your other attacks. The most notable pokemon OHKO'd by Grass Knot is Tyranitar, who will otherwise have no problem coming in, and countering Azelf with Pursuit. Grass Knot is also needed for certain bulky waters, such as Milotic and Swampert.

A 29 HP IV lowers Azelf's HP to 289, meaning you will lose 28 HP per attack, with a 9 remainder from Life Orb. This means that instead of 10 attacks, you actually get 11. This also allows you to max out Azelf's speed, meaning you will at the very worst tie all other 115 base speed pokemon (such as Starmie).

[/SET DESCRIPTION]

[OTHER OPTIONS]

Azlef has a few options that can be used instead of Grass Knot. Hidden Power Fighting lets Azelf take on Heatran, and does slightly more damage to Blissey than Psychic will. Thunderbolt can be used as well. However, the only pokemon it's really usful for is Togekiss, who is OHKO'd by Psychic most of the time with Stealth Rock up anyways.[/OTHER OPTIONS]

[OFFENSIVE COMBINATIONS]

Azelf is greatly complimented by pokemon who can beat Blissey, Cresselia, Snorlax and Heatran. Gengar has the ability to do so, with a Life Orb and Explosion. Lucario can also accomplish this, with both a special and physical attacking set. MixMence works well, taking on every one of these pokemon except Cresselia.[/OFFENSIVE COMBINATIONS]

[STRATEGIC COMBINATIONS]

Stealth Rock greatly increases Azelf's sweeping ability, since it puts many pokemon into KO range once it has gotten a Nasty Plot boost. Pokemon such as Gyarados, Togekiss, and some Milotic need Stealth Rock support to ensure a OHKO.[/STRATEGUC COMBINATIONS]

[SET COUNTERS]

Blissey, Cresselia and Heatran all make great counters to Nasty Plot Azelf. Blissey has a monsterous 714 maximum HP, along with 306 minimum SpDef, meaning she absorbs special attacks rather easily. Cresselia, with a maximum of 444 HP and 394 defense, as well as a resistance to Psychic and taking very little damage from Grass Knot, makes another excellent choice to combat Azelf. Both Blissey and Cresselia can cripple Azelf with Thunderwave. Heatran also makes a great choice, with good SpDef, as well as a resistance to every one of Azelf's attacks, barring Hidden Power Fighting. Heatran strikes back with Lava Plume, which not only does good damage to Azelf, but has a 30% chance at burning whatever you switch in.[/SET COUNTERS]