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The Gen 7 AG analysis apart from Dragon Dance also recommends a Choice Band set. But why? A Life Orb boosted after a Dragon Dance hits harder than Choice Band boosted move, so why would it need that?

At ELO > 1760, it has a nice usage of 15%. So, my final question is why would something that gets Swords Dance and Life Orb would run Choice Band?

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As a Wallbreaker

A Band-boosted Dragon Ascent hits really hard; enough to KO threats, such as Primal Kyogre, Ho-Oh's, and even a few Primal Groudon's, after some prior damage, such as entry hazards.
Extreme Speed is fantastic for revenge killing, being able to pick off weakened threats.
Dragon Ascent either OHKO's or 2HKO's anything that doesn't resist it, and the Steel and Rock types which resist it, are fainted with V-Create an Quake, respectively.
It also has a nice element of surprise, as Band is something that ain't used much, and the opponent could get bewildered by the damage output, really.
As a Wallbreaker, Band is far better than Dragon Dance + Life Orb, as its there to punch holes in the opposing team, and to leave the sweeping to some there teammate.
Band doesn't need any turn to setup, whereas with Life Orb, without a Dragon Dance, the power output is less than a Banded one.
Choice Band Ray boasts power that very few other Pokémon have, really, and is perfect to wreak havoc.
Also, it works even better when you have multiple Pokémon to stack hazards, like Primal Groudon for Rocks, Ferrothorn for Spikes, etc, as it helps it to wallbreak even better, and it can secure a 2HKO on Defensive 100% Zygarde form after 2 Spikes and a Rocks layer.


A few Calcs:

Against Defensive Primal Kyogre:
252+ Atk Choice Band Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 252 HP / 236+ Def Kyogre-Primal: 322-381 (79.7 - 94.3%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock, while;

252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 252 HP / 236+ Def Kyogre-Primal: 281-331 (69.5 - 81.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

Against Defensive Lunala:
252+ Atk Choice Band Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 148 HP / 160 Def Lunala: 384-453 (84.9 - 100.2%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock, while;

252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 148 HP / 160 Def Lunala: 333-394 (73.6 - 87.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

Against Defensive Yveltal:
252+ Atk Choice Band Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 248 HP / 180+ Def Yveltal: 327-385 (71.8 - 84.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock, while;

252+ Atk Life Orb Rayquaza-Mega Dragon Ascent vs. 248 HP / 180+ Def Yveltal: 285-335 (62.6 - 73.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

So, from the above, you would be able to infer the difference between a non-boosted LO Mega Ray, and a CB Mega Ray (non-boosted also, but it ain't like you would wanna be stuck into a DDance with Band..)


Source: Using a Band Ray till I got to 1700 and watching lots of Skarph's battles.


Hope it helped!!

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edited by
Can you include some more information? Then I select it.
Information like?
Some more detail. If you don't mind, I want to wait for other answers before selecting it.
Ok sure
Okay, I see. Thanks
Erm I edited a little more you can see..?
Yep—I saw all what you added. Thanks again.
Ohk, you're welcome!