Making a competitively viable Pokemon in this game is a careful art that can easily be set back with a single flaw that could keep a Pokemon from playing with the big boys. Where typing or stats might be lacking, you may have to rely on clever tricks and combos to find your own niche in an ever evolving metagame. Copperajah has...none of these problems. Sure it isn't as fancy or unique as some of the other higher tier Pokemon in the competitive sphere, but when you possess 130 base attack, 122, 69, 69, defenses, Steel typing, and a wide movepool that naturally plays into its strengths and weaknesses, you don't really need to rely on any fancy gimmicks. Just attack, take attacks, rinse and repeat.
Weight for It
Ability: Heavy Metal
Item: Assault Vest
Nature: Brave (+Attack -Speed)
EVs: (HP 252) (Attack 252) (Speed 4)
IVs: (Speed 0)
Moves:
Heavy Slam
Heat Crash
Power Whip
Earthquake
Set Details:
With Heavy Metal as its ability, Copperajah effectively becomes the heaviest Pokemon in all existence, far eclipsing many other Pokemon out there, and thankfully it has access to Heavy Slam that it can fully abuse this title in the competitive metagame with an all-out attacking tank set. Heavy Slam hits for maximum power 4 times out of 5 and is especially devastating behind Copperajah's base 130 attack power. However you should keep in mind that this move does nothing against Dynamaxed targets, so at that point either switch out or Dyna/Giganta yourself to keep the offensive pressure. Actually on that note, Copperajah's unique Gigantamax form is an excellent alternative to its usual Max-Steel since laying down Steel typed Stealth Rocks is hard to pass up on any set, though it is ultimately up to you whether you want to focus of boosting Copperajah's defenses in tangent with Max-Ground or set up an entry hazard for team support. Still, there are plenty of types that resist its Steel STAB, and thankfully it possesses a great number of coverage moves. Heat Crash handles Steel types (Especially the Bug/Steels and Ferrothorn) and benefits from the weight mechanic as well, Power Whip takes out the Water types (Especially the Water/Ground types), and Earthquake is your counter for Electric types and has good overall coverage. An Assault Vest capitalizes on Copperajah's awesome bulk while allowing a free weave between offensive attacks, and your EV's go into HP and attack to make the copper elephant hit and take attacks to the best of its ability, but a Brave nature along with a 0 IV in speed gives you the opportunity to take advantage of a teammate's Trick Room.
Elephazard
Ability: Heavy Metal
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Impish (+Defense -Sp.Attack)
EVs: (HP 4) (Defense 252) (Sp.Defense 252)
Moves:
Stealth Rock
Heavy Slam
Earthquake
Whirlwind
Set Details:
Since Copperajah offers a Gigantamax form that can lay down a unique damaging entry hazard, why not take advantage of that with a tanky lead Pokemon? Stealth Rock compliments Max Steelsurge for double the best entry hazard fun, Earthquake has the best overall neutral coverage with your Heavy Slam STAB, and Whirlwind phazes targets while forcing out undesirable switch-ins and making full use of the entry hazards. Leftovers keep Copperajah in the game longer and all of your EVs and nature go into both defenses since you already possess incredible HP.
Overall, Copperajah is an excellent, if not underserved Pokemon that is perfect for smashing through your opponents team...or tacky monuments in one unfortunate case:
Seriously, how did Bede not get arrested for doing pulling something like this?
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