How to Build Around a Team Ace in Cobblemon

Every successful Cobblemon team needs a star player—a team ace. This is the Cobblemon your strategy revolves around, designed to shine as the primary win condition. Building a team around a team ace requires careful planning to support its strengths, cover its weaknesses, and set it up for success. Here’s how to create a cohesive team built to maximize your ace's potential.

What Is a Team Ace?

A team ace is the Cobblemon that acts as your primary offensive or defensive cornerstone. It’s the focal point of your strategy, designed to:

1. Sweep opponents late in the game.
2. Tank key threats and stall out the opponent.
3. Disrupt opposing strategies while enabling your other Cobblemon.

Examples of team aces include setup sweepers, wallbreakers, or even bulky pivot Cobblemon that dominate specific battle scenarios.

Steps to Build Around a Team Ace

1. Choose Your Team Ace

Select a Cobblemon with the potential to carry battles. Look for characteristics like:

• High offensive stats (e.g., Dragonite, Garchomp).
• Exceptional bulk (e.g., Toxapex, Blissey).
• Unique utility or abilities (e.g., Dragapult, Rotom-Wash).

2. Identify Its Strengths and Weaknesses

Break down your ace’s key attributes:

• Strengths: What makes it powerful? (e.g., high Speed, great typing, reliable abilities).
• Weaknesses: What counters it? (e.g., specific moves, types, or status conditions).

3. Add Support Cobblemon

Choose teammates that:

• Enhance Your Ace: Provide stat boosts, healing, or synergy.
• Cover Its Weaknesses: Resist types or moves that threaten the ace.

Key Roles to Support Your Ace

1. Hazard Setters

Entry hazards like Stealth Rock or Spikes chip away at opponents, creating easier knockouts for your ace.

• Examples:
  • Ferrothorn (Grass/Steel): Sets Stealth Rock and Spikes while walling opponents.
  • Excadrill (Steel/Ground): Sets Stealth Rock and clears hazards.

2. Hazard Removers

Keep the field clear of hazards that could hinder your ace, especially if it is weak to Stealth Rock or needs multiple switch-ins.

• Examples:
  • Corviknight (Steel/Flying): Clears hazards with Defog and resists Rock-types.
  • Rotom-Wash (Electric/Water): Provides pivoting and hazard clearing.

3. Defensive Walls

Include Cobblemon that can absorb hits your ace cannot handle.

• Examples:
  • Toxapex (Water/Poison): Walls physical attackers and spreads status.
  • Blissey (Normal): Soaks up special hits and provides Wish support.

4. Pivot Support

Cobblemon with U-turn, Volt Switch, or Flip Turn bring your ace safely into the battle.

• Examples:
  • Scizor (Bug/Steel): Uses U-turn and has priority moves for chip damage.
  • Pelipper (Water/Flying): Sets Rain and pivots with U-turn.

5. Status Spreaders

Status moves like Toxic or Thunder Wave weaken opponents and create openings for your ace.

• Examples:
  • Togekiss (Fairy/Flying): Paralysis with Thunder Wave and flinch support with Air Slash.
  • Gastrodon (Water/Ground): Spreads Toxic while walling common threats.

6. Secondary Offensive Threats

Add backup sweepers or wallbreakers to take the pressure off your ace.

• Examples:
  • Hydreigon (Dark/Dragon): A secondary offensive powerhouse with great coverage.
  • Weavile (Dark/Ice): Priority moves and speed to deal with faster threats.

Strategies for Maximizing a Team Ace

1. Set the Stage

Ensure the battle conditions favor your ace by removing threats and hazards.

• Example: For a Dragonite with Dragon Dance, eliminate Ice- and Fairy-types before attempting to sweep.

2. Create Opportunities

Use pivot moves or defensive switches to bring your ace into favorable matchups.

• Example: Volt Switch with Rotom-Wash into Garchomp allows it to threaten opponents without risk.

3. Bait and Break

Force your opponent to reveal their ace counters early, then eliminate those threats.

• Example: Use Ferrothorn to bait out Fire-types, then pivot into Rotom-Wash to neutralize them.

Sample Team Built Around a Team Ace

Ace: Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)

• Role: Setup sweeper with Multiscale and Dragon Dance.
• Moves: Dragon Dance, Outrage, Fire Punch, Roost.

Team Composition:

1. Hazard Setter: Ferrothorn (Grass/Steel)
   • Moves: Stealth Rock, Leech Seed, Gyro Ball, Protect.
   • Role: Chips opponents and sets hazards to aid Dragonite's sweep.
2. Hazard Remover: Rotom-Wash (Electric/Water)
   • Moves: Volt Switch, Hydro Pump, Will-O-Wisp, Defog.
   • Role: Clears hazards, spreads burns, and provides pivot support.
3. Defensive Wall: Toxapex (Water/Poison)
   • Moves: Toxic, Scald, Haze, Recover.
   • Role: Walls physical attackers and spreads status.
4. Pivot Support: Scizor (Bug/Steel)
   • Moves: U-turn, Bullet Punch, Roost, Swords Dance.
   • Role: Maintains momentum and provides priority support.
5. Secondary Offensive Threat: Hydreigon (Dark/Dragon)
   • Moves: Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse, Flamethrower, U-turn.
   • Role: Provides coverage and threatens Ice- and Fairy-types.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-relying on Your Ace
   • If your ace is KO’d early, your strategy collapses.
   • Solution: Include backup win conditions to maintain flexibility.
2. Ignoring Hazards
   • Hazards like Stealth Rock can cripple your ace if it’s weak to them.
   • Solution: Prioritize hazard removal or include a hazard-immune Cobblemon.
3. Poor Matchup Coverage
   • If your ace lacks coverage, opponents may exploit its weaknesses.
   • Solution: Use teammates with moves that cover your ace’s counters.

Conclusion

Building a team around a team ace is one of the most rewarding strategies in Cobblemon. By carefully supporting your ace with synergistic teammates, hazards, and status control, you can ensure it performs at its peak. Experiment with different aces and supporting casts to create a team that fits your playstyle and dominates battles.