Solrock Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Stealth Rock is an important move as it wears down the opposing team, which is helpful as Solrock forces many switches. Morning Sun provides Solrock with reliable recovery. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers, letting Solrock check them more easily, and annoys switch-ins such as Tangela. An attacking move is important to prevent Solrock from being setup fodder. Rock Slide is preferred, as it helps Solrock beat Fire- and Flying-types, while Zen Headbutt can be used to hit Pokemon such as Muk and Monferno. Set Details Maximum HP and Defense EVs along with an Impish nature allow Solrock to switch into physical attackers more easily. Leftovers provides passive recovery. Usage Tips Solrock's high Defense allows it to be switched into strong physical attackers such as Stoutland. Stealth Rock is Solrock's main priority, as it is more effective when set up early-game. Will-O-Wisp is Solrock's most spammable move, as it cripples physical attackers and annoys switch-ins such as Tangela. Solrock should be aware of Morning Sun's low PP, which can easily be stalled out. Team Options Solrock fits best on defensively based teams, as it can check wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Rapidash. Monferno is a good teammate, as it resists Bug, Dark, and Steel while Solrock resists Psychic- and Flying-type moves. Roselia can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, which complement Stealth Rock, and can beat Grass- and Water-types, whereas Solrock checks Flying-, Psychic-, and Fire-types. Altaria checks Grass- and Bug-types and can provide Heal Bell support. Special walls such as Audino are good partners, as Solrock can take physical hits for them. Audino also provides Heal Bell support. Spinblockers such as Gourgeist-XL and Misdreavus are helpful to keep entry hazards on the field, but Solrock shares two weaknesses with them; however, Gourgeist resists Grass and Water. Bulky Calm Mind users, such as Clefairy, appreciate the removal and burning of physical attackers that can revenge kill them, and Solrock also resists Poison-type moves, which Clefairy is weak to.

Moves Light Screen and Reflect provide support for teammates, particularly setup sweepers which cannot take many hits. Stealth Rock also supports Solrock's team by wearing down the opponent's Pokemon. Explosion breaks Substitutes, prevents Pokemon from setting up on Solrock, and most importantly, blocks a slower Defog while providing a free switch in for a teammate. Magic Coat can be used to bounce back entry hazards and Taunt. Set Details Maximum Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Solrock outspeed as many foes as possible in a lead scenario, making it more likely that it will be able to set up a screen or Stealth Rock. Maximum HP investment increases Solrock's mixed bulk and its ability to set up on stronger Pokemon. Light Clay increases the number of dual screens turns, providing more time for Solrock's teammates to set up. Usage Tips Solrock can be used as a lead to get up Stealth Rock early or can also be played later if the opponent counter-leads with a Pokemon that can outspeed and 2HKO it. The presence of Stealth Rock means that the opponent's team will be worn down more, which is beneficial for setup sweepers. Solrock should set up the screen that corresponds with the Pokemon it is facing first to maximize its chances of setting up the other screen. It should use Explosion on slower Defog users if screens are present and entry hazards up to block the Defog, or if it wants to safely get a team ate in, but if Solrock is at high enough health, it can be saved for later. Solrock prefers to set up on defensive Pokemon, such as Probopass, as well as physical attackers that it beats, such as Rapidash. Team Options Frail setup sweepers such as Huntail, Raichu, and Fraxure greatly appreciate dual screen support to set up more easily, and entry hazard damage is also important in wearing the foe down. Other frail offensive Pokemon such as Simisear and Floatzel also appreciate dual screen support, and Substitute attackers such as Rotom-F enjoy dual screens, as it makes their Substitutes harder to break. Pawniard can deter Defog, as it has Defiant, and enjoys dual screen support to set Swords Dance more safely. Spinblockers such as Misdreavus are good teammates, as they help keep hazards on field. Solrock should only be used on hyper offensive teams that can make use of the limited screen turns and offensively pressure the opponent's Defog users.

High Attack, usable Speed, and solid coverage combined with Solrock's inherently good defensive traits make it an effective wallbreaker when holding a Choice Band. Its STAB Stone Edge and Zen Headbutt threaten the majority of the tier, and its coverage is rounded off with Earthquake, which super effectively hits Steel-types that resist both. Explosion lets Solrock sacrifice itself to deal massive damage to any non-Ghost-, Rock-, or Steel-type target, though Rock Slide can be used instead as a more accurate Rock-type STAB move, which has the added benefit of breaking through certain physical walls like Clefairy with some luck. Solrock best fits on offense and balance teams, acting as a physical wallbreaker that can use its defensive profile to check a variety of top offensive threats like Persian, Emolga, and Muk. It appreciates pivots like Mienfoo or Emolga, as they can help it switch in and thus maintain its health. Solrock struggles the most against physical walls like Meganium, physically defensive Clefairy, and opposing Solrock, so special wallbreakers and stallbreakers like Simisear and Grumpig pair well with it. Faster foes like Kingler and Leafeon can outspeed and OHKO Solrock, so generally bulky Pokemon like Frillish and Ivysaur are necessary partners.

Rock Polish and high Attack make Solrock an effective sweeper, while its typing combined with Levitate let it set up on common offensive foes like Persian, Muk, and Emolga. EdgeQuake threatens the majority of the tier for significant damage. Flying Gem combined with Acrobatics gives Solrock the means to threaten EdgeQuake's best switch-ins, namely Grass-types like Leafeon and Fighting-types like Mienfoo. Solrock best fits on offensive teams looking for a cleaner. Solrock struggles the most against physical walls that don't mind its coverage, like physically defensive Clefairy, Wormadam-S, and physically defensive Solrock. Thus, checks to them, like special wallbreakers such as Simisear, or stallbreakers such as Grumpig, are essential partners. Some physically bulky Grass-types like Meganium and Ivysaur can tank a Flying Gem-boosted Acrobatics at full health, so teammates that can handle them like Muk and the aforementioned Simisear are also needed. These Grass-types are also great partners to Solrock, as they check Water-types like Whiscash and Kingler, which can tank whatever attacks Solrock throws at them.

Solrock's decent Speed, good defensive traits, and access to Stealth Rock make it a great suicide lead. EdgeQuake coverage lets Solrock threaten the majority of the tier for decent damage, preventing it from being set up on. This combination also makes it harder for Taunt users like Persian to stop Solrock from setting up Stealth Rock. Explosion lets Solrock deal heavy damage to its target and maintain momentum by sacrificing itself. A Focus Sash can be used to augment Solrock's reliability in setting up Stealth Rock, though a Normal Gem can be used instead to increase the power of Explosion, making it a more threatening attack. Since it's a dedicated lead, Solrock should exclusively be used on hyper offense teams, paired with setup sweepers like Whiscash and Grumpig. Getting up Stealth Rock is particularly important for stopping Persian, which can otherwise continually switch in and use Fake Out to wear down these teammates with impunity. Persian, Emolga, and Grumpig are notable examples of Taunt users that can prevent Solrock from setting up Stealth Rock. Stone Edge can take out the former two, though if faced with the latter in Team Preview, it's usually best that Solrock be kept in the back until it can find an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock later. If it's not holding a Focus Sash, Solrock can be outsped and OHKOed by some Water- and Grass-types like Kingler and Leafeon. If these foes are spotted in Team Preview, it's recommended that Solrock be reserved for the mid-game, letting teammates like Raichu and Leafeon deal with Water-types, while teammates like Simisear and Arbok take care of Grass-types.

Solrock's combination of solid bulk, Morning Sun, and Rock typing with Levitate make it an elite physical wall. It can check a plethora of top-tier offensive threats, such as Emolga, Muk, Arbok, and the best Pokemon in the tier, Persian. Due to how common the Pokemon it walls are, Solrock can effortlessly find opportunities to set up Stealth Rock, making it among the best setters in the tier. Rock Slide is Solrock's preferred Rock-type STAB move due to its solid accuracy and ability to flinch Clefairy, though Stone Edge can be used instead for its higher damage, notably scoring a 2HKO on Persian. Earthquake primarily targets Steel-types like Lairon and Pawniard and certain Poison-types like Arbok and Muk. Will-O-Wisp is an alternative over either attacking move, as it's a strong catch-all tool that lets Solrock cripple the physical attackers it's tasked with checking, mitigating the hole it leaves in Solrock's coverage. Rocky Helmet is used to wear down opposing physical attackers, notably targeting users of U-turn, though Leftovers can be held instead to make Solrock itself less susceptible to being worn down. 16 Speed EVs let Solrock outspeed Adamant Lairon, with the rest being used to maximize physical bulk. Solrock is a perfect fit on defensive, balance, and bulky offense teams looking for a reliable check to most physical attackers. Notably, every team needs some check to Persian, a role Solrock is superb at. While Solrock pairs well with the majority of the tier due to the sheer volume of Pokemon it checks, it's a notably excellent partner to physically frail Pokemon like Persian and Simisear, which enjoy having a sturdy defensive backbone. Solrock needs the support of wallbreakers like Muk and Kingler, as it lacks the firepower to reliably break through bulky foes like physically defensive Clefairy and Meganium. Solrock's mediocre special bulk leaves it losing to most special attackers, so a special sponge like Muk or specially defensive Clefairy pairs well with it. Solrock also can't wall Water- and Grass-types, so checks to them like Ivysaur and Meganium are good partners as well.

As a Trick Room user, Solrock offers a unique array of qualities that separate it from its fellow Trick Room-using brethren. Solrock's biggest advantage is its access to Explosion and Stealth Rock. With Explosion, Solrock is able to set up Trick Room, explode on whatever unfortunate Pokemon happens to be on the field, and allow a teammate to come in unscathed with three turns of Trick Room remaining. Stealth Rock is always useful to chip health off of the opposing team and make it easier for Solrock's teammates to garner KOs. The last slot is mostly filler. Stone Edge and Zen Headbutt are Solrock's strongest physical STAB attacks and the choice between them depends on your preference. Stone Edge has a higher Base Power, but it has lower accuracy and causes Solrock to be completely walled by Ground- and Steel-type Pokemon. Zen Headbutt grants Solrock more coverage but leaves him completely exposed to Steel-types and Spiritomb. When using Solrock, the main idea is to come in, set up Trick Room, and use Explosion as soon as possible to give the rest of the team time to abuse Trick Room. However, using Explosion blindly is not always the best course of action; in many cases, it will probably be better to use Stealth Rock and then switch to the appropriate teammate. If your team already has Stealth Rock support elsewhere, Earthquake can be used in its place to grant Solrock far greater coverage, allowing it to function as a sweeper. Solrock makes an adequate lead, but suffers from the omnipresence of Taunt and has no way of stopping leads such as Omastar, Uxie, and Qwilfish from setting up entry hazards. However, using Solrock in the lead position can prove useful at times as Solrock is guaranteed to set up Trick Room if the opposing lead lacks Taunt. When being used as a lead, Focus Sash is the recommended item since it allows Solrock to survive any attack and set up Trick Room. With the EV spread listed, Solrock is never KOed by a combination of Ambipom's Fake Out and U-turn. Using Solrock in the lead position can also provide your team with Stealth Rock early in the game, while Explosion is useful for punching a hole in the opposing team right from the get-go. Good teammates for Solrock include Pokemon who love Trick Room in play that also cover Solrock's many weaknesses well. Exeggutor and Slowbro can both set up Trick Room as well and absorb Grass- and Water-type attacks, respectively, that are aimed at Solrock. Porygon2 makes a good partner to Solrock, absorbing the Ghost-type attacks aimed at it and switching into Spiritomb with little trouble. Porygon2 is also neutral to Dark-type attacks, unique among Trick Room users, but is crippled by Taunt. Good sweepers to pair with Solrock include Azumarill, Hariyama, and Camerupt. Azumarill has no trouble switching into the Water-types Solrock will probably encounter and functions well both in and out of Trick Room thanks to Aqua Jet. Hariyama can switch into any Dark-type Solrock may encounter and hits hard with STAB Close Combat. Solrock loves Camerupt as a partner since Solrock can switch into Ground-type attacks aimed at Camerupt for free and set up Trick Room again.

As an offensive Rock Polisher, Solrock is generally outclassed by the likes of Torterra and Aggron, so to differentiate itself, it can Baton Pass the boost to one of its teammates. This set is designed to actually take advantage of Solrock's many weaknesses; Solrock can lure out specific counters, use Rock Polish on the switch, and then proceed to Baton Pass to the appropriate teammate. The last two attacks allow Solrock to deal some damage off its decent base 95 Attack stat. Stone Edge is a stronger STAB attack, but Rock Slide can be used for its higher accuracy and chance to flinch after Solrock has used Rock Polish. Explosion is the primary option for the last slot to remove any problematic Pokemon you may encounter. Earthquake can be used in place of Explosion, which gives Solrock the great attacking combination of Rock and Ground, but with no Attack investment it'll be doing pitiful damage if it doesn't hit for super effective damage. The EVs are designed to allow Solrock to reach a Speed stat of 233, enough to just outpace max Speed Torterra. After a Rock Polish boost, he reaches a Speed stat of 466, enough to outpace Timid Choice Scarf Rotom. The rest of the EVs are placed into HP and Defense to give Solrock some bulk, and allow it to have a slight chance of surviving a Megahorn from Rhyperior. Because of Solrock's many weaknesses, there is a plethora of potential teammates who can make use of Solrock's boosts while covering its weaknesses. Solrock tends to draw Water- and Grass-type attacks, especially from the two most-used Pokemon of UU, Milotic and Venusaur. So, any partner who can make use of the Speed boost Solrock provides while eliminating the aforementioned Pokemon makes a great teammate for Solrock. Life Orb Magmortar or offensive Venusaur can easily come in on Venusaur or Milotic, respectively, while boasting an increase to their average Speed thanks to the Baton Passed Rock Polish from Solrock. Drapion makes a good partner to Solrock, covering its Ghost-, Dark-, Bug- and Grass-type weaknesses and enjoying the Speed boosts it provides. As a bonus, Solrock can easily come in on any Ground-type attacks aimed at Drapion and start the cycle all over again. Some good examples of other Pokemon who appreciate Solrock's Rock Polishes include Azumarill, Octillery, Cradily, Hariyama, Medicham, and Moltres. Substitute can go in the last slot to help Solrock in a number of ways. First and foremost, Substitute blocks any status attacks aimed at Solrock, particularly paralysis or burn. Secondly, Substitute protects Solrock from priority and protects its teammates from an attack as Solrock Baton Passes. Finally, Substitute can be used in succession to bring Solrock down to critical health to activate its pinch Berry in order to pass an additional boost to a teammate. Solrock isn't just limited to passing a Liechi Berry boost either; any of the pinch Berries make for a good replacement, depending on who Solrock Baton Passes to.