Is Iron Valiant usable as a support mon?

Question

I know Iron Valiant is a very good attacking mon, but I was looking over its page and noticed it actually has a pretty good supportive movepool. It gets access to wide/quick guard, icy wind for speed control, taunt, dual screens and encore, as well as spirit break to weaken special attacks. Just wondering if it gets any usage as a supportive mon, and if it's any good in that role.

Thanks :)

Comments

What format?

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Sorry for not specifying... whoops

Mainly doubles, such as vgc, but I'm also looking to know if there's a format where it's good as a support mon, if any.

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it can, fast and has an amount of support moves. just not fast or bulky enough so it would be average at best.

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You'll probably get a better answer if you ask here: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/vgc-ask-a-simple-question-get-a-simple-answer.3588172/

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According to [Smogon's work on Iron Valiant,][1] there is no suggested set for Iron Valiant as a support Pokemon, however there aren't any sets for VGC.

I found some "intriguing" combos that involve Iron Valiant as a support mon.

> Gravity Sandy Shocks + Hypnosis Iron Valiant

> Makes all the ladder normies cry
  [1]: https://www.smogon.com/dex/sv/pokemon/iron-valiant/ou/


Was working on an answer but that's all I could find also I'm not a competitive guru

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It's unranked in the viability rankings, so any good answer to this question probably needs to be something along the lines of "you shouldn't use Iron Valiant and here are a bunch of reasons."

Answer 1

Smogon was less helpful than usual this time, so I had to do some of my own research.

Better wide guard users: Smeargle, Pelipper, Mienshao

Iron Valiant is worse than Mienshao because Mienshao is just better. Seriously, CC from Mienshao, thanks to Inner Focus, can OHKO Incineroar, yet Valiant can't. Pelipper provides a bit more utility, with rain and Tailwind also being option.

Better icy wind uses: Latios, Flutter Mane, Iron Bundle
Latios has higher special defense, and its typing makes it much better at checking Amoonguss and walling water attacks. Flutter Mane has better special defense and speed, and its typing makes it better against both Calyrex forms. Iron Bundle has higher speed and its STAB moves (especially freeze-dry) are super effective against a lot more Pokemon.
Ninetales is a better screens user because it can set both screens at the same time.
Whimsicott is a better encore user because of prankster and tailwind.
Quick guard isn't useful because priority moves are rare. Spirit break is outclassed by stuff like snarl and struggle bug because they can hit both opponents.
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