Is Mold Breaker a Good Ability? Breaking Down a Meta-Defying Threat

As a long-time competitive Pokémon content creator and expert on the franchise, I can definitively say Mold Breaker is easily one of the best abilities in the game. Introduced back in Black and White, Mold Breaker enables Pokémon to bypass ability-based immunities and effects that would normally alter or block damage. This gives Mold Breaker phenomenal utility in competitive battles as both an offensive pivot option and stall breaker.

While abilities like Moxie and Tough Claws boost damage output, no ability can enable the surprise knockouts and busted coverage provided by Mold Breaker. It removes shields. It breaks counters. It paves the way for devastating sweeps. This article breaks down exactly why after over a decade Mold Breaker remains an S-Rank option every player should consider when team building.

What Makes Mold Breaker So Effective?

On paper Mold Breaker has a simple effect – allow moves you use to ignore your opponent‘s abilities. But wrapped up in that simple text lies game-changing competitive potential:

• Break substitute-reliant win conditions like ChestoResto that can wall entire teams lacking Mold Breaker
• Remove Sturdy‘s "should-be" safety net to score OHKOs
• Bypass immunities like Levitate, Filter, and Lightning Rod for perfect coverage
• Prevent Rocky Helmet, Rough Skin, Iron Barbs and other ability damage from racking up each turn
• Stop Sand Stream teams from gradually whittling you down

Mold Breaker opens holes in common defensive game plans competitive players lean on for survival. It forces opponents to approach team matchups against you far differently knowing their abilities offer zero protection. Defensive staples like Tangrowth, Toxapex, and Ferrothorn must approach cautiously lacking their usual damage reduction and avoidance effects.

And with the arrival of Tera Raids in Scarlet and Violet the potential defensive gap left by abilities grows even wider now that type immunities can also vanish. Let‘s analyze the crushing power of critical Mold Breaker users taking advantage of this mechanic shift:

Top Threats: Best Mold Breaker Pokémon

While over 60 Pokémon get access to Mold Breaker the biggest meta threats tend to be hard hitters that pose multiple offensive questions to opposing squads. These Pokémon accentuate Mold Breaker‘s disruption and hit powerfully even if their target tries swapping to a counter:

Haxorus

• Usage Rate: A+ Rank [~10%] (Smogon SS PU Viability Rankings)
• Can run Swords Dance to skyrocket Attack before sweeping
• Outrage provides No-Switch pressure in Dragon Dance sets
• Earthquake / Iron Tail / Rock Slide provide coverage
• Gains extra target opportunities if Stealth Rock is up

With a base 147 Attack crushing anything in front of it is Haxorus‘ calling card. Its middling effective Speed tier (base 97) makes it an excellent Dynamax option as well where it can utilize Max Moves to boost Stats and then annihilate weakened squads after Dynamax ends.

Even with mediocre defensive stats and multiple effective Fairy-type switch-ins readily available, Haxorus‘ power paired with Mold Breaker is downright terrifying. Factor in the arrival of Tera Raids, and this once predictable Dragon-type can now blast through nine different type immunities that previously checked it!

Excadrill

• Usage Rate: A+ Rank [~10%] on Smogon SS OU Viability Rankings
• Has the incredible combo of Swords Dance + Rapid Spin utility
• Gets STAB priority in Metal Claw to finish weakened opponents
• Ice / Ground / Rock coverage severely damages the entire tier
• Can set Sandstorm to boost Rock damage output even further

Excadrill‘s stellar speed tier enables it to function excellently even as a late-game cleaner once checks like Hippowdon and Tangrowth are damaged. Thanks to Swords Dance boosting Excadrill‘s already sky high 135 base ATK its coverage moves have plenty of room to 2HKO if not OHKO after Stealth Rock damage.

And Mold Breaker opens up Excadrill‘s coverage even further – allowing it to strike Levitators like Bronzong and Rotom-Heat super effectively with Earthquake.

Pinsir

• Viable as wallbreaker, revenge killer or sweeper
• Gets boosted STAB moves Return / Frustration
• Powerful coverage options like Earthquake and Stone Edge
• 125 base Attack and 105 Speed enable it to hit hard and fast

Though often overlooked Pinsir has plenty of tools to enable 2HKOs throughout the metagame – especially after a Swords Dance. Whether running Mold Breaker or its Mega Evolution with the devastating Aerilate ability Pinsir forces plenty of defensive switches…which is where its ally Pokémon can take advantage!

Crushing Chesto + Rest Strategies

One prime example of defensive ability reliance is ChestoResto sets utilizing Chesto Berries to wake up and Restore HP with the move Rest. Clefable, Quagsire, Milotic and other sturdy walls will run this strategy combined with Calm Mind or Stockpile boosts to become nearly impervious to damage.

• Cheeto + Rest cores can wall teams lacking Mold Breaker
• Clefable, Quagsire & Milotic frequent ChestoResto abusers
• Setup to become impervious walls with Calm Mind / Stockpile boosts
• Ability to repeatedly heal to full stops matchup sweeps

By ignoring opponents asleep status Mold Breaker Pokémon nullify this strategy entirely. Without the protection of guaranteed Rest healing every few turns these defensive pivots struggle avoiding the KO threshold. Stealth Rock chip damage can leave them especially vulnerable to 2HKO range after a Swords Dance:

Mold Breaker applies constant pressure even to sturdy walls leaning on their abilities as a crutch. Opponents get forced between repeatedly taking +2 KO range damage, wasting switches bringing in other checks to avenge KO‘d teammates…or watching their entire gameplan crumble in just a few quick turns.

Added Utilities: Terrain Control, Entry Hazards, Sand Abuse

Mold Breaker‘s innate ability to nullify certain field conditions also makes it a great pairing for Hazards offense and Terrain control teams alike. KO potential skyrockets when Mold Breaker blow past field-based weaknesses:

Terrain Seed Harvest:

• Tangrowth and Gastrodon always try avoiding Grassy Terrain damage
• Excadrill forces them into harmful terrain anyway thanks to Mold Breaker

Sand Rush Excadrill:

• Automatically summon Sandstorm for 100% accurate Stone Edge
• Ignores Sandstorm damage slowly wearing itself down
• Further boosted Rock STAB damage (1.3x SpD) wipes teams

Acupressure Hawlucha:

• Bypasses Electric Terrain-based paralysis immunities
• Stall teams struggle avoiding KO criteria after boosts

Stealth Rock Residual Damage:

• Drastically simplifies earning 2HKOs after a Swords Dance
• Limits Sturdy / Focus Sash to one activation before KO
• Opponents get pressured avoiding Entry Hazard damage each switch

When used creatively Mold Breaker‘s impact extends far beyond just the user‘s attacks on the field. Support teammates like Hippowdon, Ferrothorn, Shuckle and Galvantula become even scarier knowing they accelerate Mold Breaker‘s knockout potential across entire opposing squads.

How Does Mold Breaker Compare to Other Meta Abilities?

Mold Breaker dynamic dramatically outpaces similar “bypassing” abilities like Teravolt, Turboblaze and other niche options:

• Teravolt and Turboblaze only ignore opposing abilities during Electric and Fire attacks specifically. Mold Breaker nullifies defenses much more frequently.
• Gorilla Tactics boosts damage but has less relevance defensively compared to Mold Breaker removing shields entirely.
• Situational options like Water Bubble and Battle Bond work well for specific win conditions but lack Mold Breaker’s universal team support.

It speaks volumes when you realize Pokémon banned to Anything Goes Uber tier like Mega Rayquaza lack their own Mold Breaker clone. Removing innate ability advantages and counterplay requires careful balance consideration. Only the limited Mold Breaker distribution keeps it from completely warping formats.

Closing Thoughts: A Meta-Defying Threat That Ages Like Fine Wine

As long as competitive Pokémon remains focused on unique abilities that enable creative strategies, Mold Breaker will remain one of the best tools for crushing gimmicks and dismantling defensive teams. Haxorus and Excadrill stand out as S-Tier Mold Breaker abusers every player should become comfortable using. But the list of breakout potential recipients continues evolving over time as well.

So if you ever hit a wall where battles start blending together and stall-focused teams drag out matches, consider adding Mold Breaker to your roster. Sometimes metagames need a shake up only broken through abilities can provide!