What is a good moveset for Cobalion?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Cobalion, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Cobalion Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Likely tier: Underused.

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Kobaruon has weird stats... great defense and speed but not great anything else.

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Which is why I say Underused. It is interesting but probably not good enough to do much in higher tiers.

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Though one defining point that is overlooked is the fact that he has a 4X resistance to rock... meaning stealth rock will barely scratch him.

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Not overlooked, just don't care. This guy isn't good enough so that he is used enough to make Stealth Rock resistance an important thing. Plus, I have a guess that any Stealth Rock user is going to be moving past Underused into Borderline and Overused.

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well his fighting moves are super effective against dark and steel which is team plasma oh also ice.
he is not effected to poison moves. that is the reason why i use him.

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Poison-types aren't that common. You might want to watch out for other types of pokemon.

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Would someone suggest a special cobalion?

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There are Special Cobalion moveset in this thread. You can scroll down to get those.

Answer 1

Item: Leftovers/Kings-rock
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 Hp

Thunder-wave
Iron-head
Sacred-sword
Taunt or Stone-edge

Para-flincher set :D I have always loved using Para-flinch ever since I first tried it with Togekiss, while Cobalion does not have Serene-grace when you add up the Paralysis from Thunder-wave and the 30% Flinch chance from Iron-head there is still a pretty good chance that the opponent will not move especially if you add the Kings-rock. Aside from flinching Iron-head is pretty strong STAB as well. Sacred-sword is very useful STAB and also ignores the opponents defense stat boosts, this guy is the worlds best Umbreon counter because of this and his immunity to poison and his Attack boosts when hit by Dark moves. Though it should be noted that you should not use Para-flinch on Umbreon because if he has Synchronize as his ability then you get paralyzed to and if he has Inner-focus then he can not flinch, furthermore if you used Taunt he(most likely) can only use Payback and that will make your attack boost(though most likely the opponent will switch). Anyway back to the set. For your last move you could use Taunt as a way of crippling walls and tanks, on the other hand you could use Stone-edge for some more coverage. For the Item you can use Leftovers to make him last longer or you can use the Kings-rock to increase your chances of Flinching.

Comments

how 'bout razor fang, 'stead of King's Rock?

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They are the same thing. But Kings rock is usually easier to find.

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When I saw that you answered, I already knew what it would be :P

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Kings Rock is banned.

Answer 2

Cobalion @ Choice Band

Trait: Justified

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature (+Spe, -SAtk)

• Close Combat
• Stone Edge
• Iron Head
• X-Scissor

Close Combat is the best STAB move for a
Choice banded!! set beacuse of that PWR!

Stone Edge covers Fire weakness and other
Types.

Iron Head is the second STAB move.

X-scissor is a good choice for a caverage move.

Answer 3

Cobalion @ Leftovers

Trait: Justified
EVs: 52 HP / 152 Atk / 52 Def / 252 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Close Combat

One of my favorite sets to use for this guy. Hes Bulky and he hits Fast and Hard. Substitute is used so you can Set up a few Swords Dances and if you are behind one after you have all the Attack boost theres almost nothing that can stop you. Swords Dance boost your attack by two stages. Iron Head and Close Combat are two amazing STABs.

Answer 4

Pretty good Pokemon =P

Cobalion @ Muscle Band / Leftovers / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 128 Atk / 128 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sacred Sword
- Zen Headbutt
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance / Hone Claws

Sacred Sword: Because you don't want to use Close Combat to lower your defenses, and, plus, Sacred Sword is just awesome if your foe is using Iron Defense or something.

Zen Headbutt: Die you accursed Fighting-types!

Stone Edge: Die you accursed Fire-types (plus, it's useful against Flying-types)!

Swords Dance / Hone Claws: Both options are good. Using Swords Dance makes you dish out a stronger attack quicker. Although you have Zen Headbutt and Stone Edge which are both a lil' inaccurate, so Hone Claws is a pretty good option as well ^_^

Comments

I like this set. It could also be used on a mixed set, with Hone Claws Focus Blast Iron Head and a coverage move.

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Why is this flagged

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Doesn't list ability. I flagged it so that someone could edit Justified in.

Answer 5

Cobalion @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword
- Taunt

Physical sponge, crippler, stallbreaker, and it still hits pretty hard because it's a Cobalion. Cobalion can just eat physical attacks in UU and RU with it's 396 Defense after investment.

Answer 6

Cobalion @ Leftovers

Ability: Justified

EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SAtk

Timid Nature

• Substitute
• Calm Mind
• Flash Cannon
• Hidden Power [Water]

When most people see Cobalion they'll expect him to be a physical attacker so I wanted to make it so you surprise anyone he's facing. Starting with substitute will make the person think okay hes going to set up on me no problem, calm mind will then turn them into a 180 thinking what the heck could this guy have to be using calm mind? Flash Cannon is a common STAB and that SpDef drop is a nice bonus. Lastly HP Water rounds it off as unexpected and provides some coverage. So what do you think?

Answer 7

Cobalion
Role: Bulky Status Shuffler
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Justified
Nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Sp. Defense / 4 Defense
Moves:
-Stealth Rock (Entry Hazard)
-Thunder Wave/Toxic (Status)
-Roar (Shuffling)
-Substitute/Volt Switch (Set up a Sub or Get out of there!)

Protect is also a good option for a fourth move if you go with Toxic.

Answer 8

My favorite out of the trio. here's a good set.

Ability:Justified

Evs: 252atk, 252speed, 4hp

Nature: Jolly

Item: leftovers/life orb

Moves:

Sacred sword/close combat/ super power: Sacred sword does the least amount of damage out of the three but it ignores stat changes to your target, close combat does a whopping 120 power but lowers your Pokemon's defense and special defense when using it, Super power is similar but instead of lowering special defense it lowers attack.

Iron head: 80 power stab and 30% chance to flinch target

Zen headbutt/ stone edge: Zen headbutt does less damage but has 100% accuracy and 20% chance to flinch(covers fighting and poison) while stone edge has more power and has high crit ratio but has less accuracy (covers fire and flying).

swords dance/iron defense: raise attack by 2 or raise defense by 2.

Answer 9

Gen 8 UU
Cobalion @ Chople Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Volt Switch

Stealth Rock setter. Iron Head is STAB. Taunt is to stop Pokémon who use status moves. Volt Switch is for pivoting.

Answer 10

Cobalion @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge / Any Physical move
- Swords Dance

Swords Dance boosts Attack. Iron Head and Close Combat are STAB. Stone Edge is coverage, but any Physical move works.

Have fun using this set, hope I helped!

Answer 11

Wait, what? There isn't a special double dance set already on here?
Gen 8 RU
Cobalion @ Leftovers(I'm not sure about Leftovers, suggestions are welcome)
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Flash Cannon
- Rock Polish
- Focus Blast
Well, Leftovers is healing, Justified is its only ability, and is useful when you switch into a dark type move not named Knock Off, the EVs are your bread and butter sweeper EVs, Timid helps with revenge killers, Modest is more power, 0 IVs minimize Foul Play damage, Calm Mind patches your bad SpD and raises its mediocre SpA, Flash Cannon is STAB, and Rock Polish boosts speed, making it harder to revenge kill.
Other options: You could forgo Rock Polish for Taunt, Thunder Wave, or Stealth Rock if you want more support for your team. You could use Steel Beam, but with only Leftovers healing, it isn't the best idea. Air Slash could replace one of the STAB moves or Rock Polish. You could use Iron Defense, but that makes it almost complete Taunt bait. Volt Switch could be used to pivot out of bad matchups, replacing one of the STAB moves or Rock Polish. Alternatively, you could run a more defensive RestTalk set, but RestTalk can make it set up bait, or you could get unlucky with Sleep Talk. You could also use Substitute to stall time to set up Calm Minds, replacing Rock Polish.
Checks and counters: Revenge Killers: Physical Revenge Killers can outspeed and kill it. However, special Revenge Killers will have a hard time breaking past it if they don't have a super effective move or you haven't set up enough Calm Minds. I'm not sure what else would counter this, I'll put more later when I find more checks and counters.

Answer 12

Time for a unique moveset!
Gen 7 UU Setup Sweeper

sword (Cobalion) @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Poison Jab
- Sacred Sword
- Swords Dance

idk why but my brain cannot comprehend this SWORD being a special or mixed attacker, so full physical sweeper mode! SD, Iron Head, and Sacred Sword are self explanatory (i hate close combat’s defense drops, I love iron head’s flinch chance), and poison jab manages to catch so many people off guard! I cannot tell you how many people send out Tapu Bulu or Whimsicott, and get completely decimated after a set-up with SD. Yes, I know that fairies are already taken care of with Iron Head, and that Poison is a really situational, terrible offensive type, but for me it’s been working! All in all, full physical sweeper with a nasty surprise for Tapus…