Keldeo

[RZL]

[OVERVIEW]

Keldeo is a huge threat in the Monotype meta-game. Thanks to its great speed tier, wallbreaking potential, and its ability to harm many top tier types in the Monotype metagame namely Dark and Steel. Keldeo's above-average defenses, and great defensive typing let it come in very easily on many types. Keldeo is a potent wallbreaker, revenge-killer, or set-up sweeper depending on which set you choose, as it can break through many types single-handedly. If your team is particularly very weak to, Psychic- Poison-, Grass-, Water-, or Flying-types, I recommend using something else, as Keldeo STABs are commonly resisted by these types.

[SET]

Substitute + Calm Mind

Keldeo @ Leftovers

Ability: Justified

EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Substitute

- Calm Mind

- Scald

- Secret Sword

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Substitute enables Keldeo to set up Calm Minds on walls that do not have the power to break substitute in one-hit, which otherwise would impede Keldeo by giving it a status condition such walls include, Alomomola, Heatran, Mega-Sableye, and non-Psyshock Slowbro. Calm Mind allows Keldeo to augment its special attack and to further increase Keldeo's Substitute's vitality as well as making it harder for Keldeo to be revenge killed by special attackers. Scald is a spammable move because it has perfect accuracy, lacks any drawbacks, and has a great secondary effect which lets it wear down counters such as, Mega-Venusaur, Latios, Latias, Slowbro, and Togekiss. Secret Sword is Keldeo's most accurate special Fighting-type move that is used to hit specially bulky Pokemon that do not resist Fighting, and Pokemon weak to Fighting such as, Ferrothron, Chansey, Tyranitar, Empoleon, and Kyurem-Black.

Set Details
========

Leftovers gives Keldeo longevity, and the ability to set up more substitutes as it heals. Although, if you are struggling with more offensively based teams Salac Berry boosts Keldeo's speed to + 1 which allows it to outspeed numerous offensive threats that would normally outspeed it. Salac Berry can also be used to effectively bluff a Choice item because after damage Keldeo does not receive any health back, since your opponent thinks you are locked into one move, you have more opportunities to set up your first Substitute. The EVs spread may seem weird because you are maxing out speed and special attack on a bulky set up sweeper, but this allows you to deal more damage before Calm Minding, and to speed tie with Terriakion, Cobalion, and opposing Keldeo.

Usage Tips
========

Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is a great late-game sweeper against many types such as Dark, Steel, Grass, Rock, Fighting, Dragon, Ice, Ground, and Water because these types do not have a way to stop Keldeo once its initial counters are gone, or are worn down by other Water-types, and thus making it a clean sweep. Substitute + Calm Keldeo is not supposed to set up early game especially when its counters exist.

Team Options
========

Keldeo is a sweeper, therefore it enjoys having a wallbreaker such as, Choice Band Azumarill, Tail Glow Manaphy, and Mega-Gyarados support it. Keldeo also likes Lanturn, as Lanturn can Heal Bell, and provide a slow Volt Switchs into it, therefore preventing any extra damage Keldeo would receive on a hard switch. Stealth Rockers such as, Swampert and Empoleon, provide an entry hazard which guarantees the opponents Sturdy, or Focus Sash users. Keldeo also likes Politoed because the rain the Drizzle provides boosts the damage of Scald for a four turn maximum. Starmie, and Tentacruel are also great partners, as they can heavily damage or revenge kill Mega-Venusaur which walls this set.

[SET]

All-Out Attacker

Keldeo @ Choice Specs / Life Orb

Ability: Justified

EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Scald

- Secret Sword

- Hydro Pump

- Icy Wind / Hidden Power [Electric] / Taunt

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Scald is a very accurate, spammable move that has a nice chance to burn on top of it. Secret Sword is used because it is Keldeo's most accurate special Fighting-type move, it is also used because it allows Keldeo to break through special walls with greater ease. Hydro Pump is used because it allows Keldeo to break walls that would otherwise take Keldeo's moves with ease, namely Pokemon such as, Mew, Clefable, and other mixed walls that do not resist water. Icy Wind is used to slow faster threats and to deal super-effective damage to Grass, and Flying-types. Hidden Power Electric is used to hit Flying-, and opposing Water-types, notably, Gyarados, Slowbro, and Togekiss with perfect accuracy. Taunt should only be used if you are running Life Orb, and is used to prevent opponents from Defogging, setting up hazards, or giving Keldeo a status ailment.

Set Details
========

Choice Specs is the preferred option, as Scald is very spammable, and rarely do you have to switch moves and the extra power it provides is helpful. Although, Life Orb may be used if you want to be able to switch moves, but Keldeo likes the extra power from Choice Specs more, and dislikes Life Orb recoil. Expert Belt can also be used to bluff a Choice item, and retain the ability to switch moves, but I do not recommend this.

Usage Tips
========

Keldeo should use Scald a lot earlier in the game to get burns, and to wear down its Checks, this is very useful against types that are weak to Water and have its main switch in beat such as, Gastrodon, or Cradily. Hydro Pump is great against team that are typically neutral to Water, but Scald is a better option if they have a Pokemon that can take two Hydro Pumps, unless it is Normal, feel free to click Secret Sword to win. Keldeo must not get a status ailment, as it is very harmful to Keldeo, and should be removed with Heal Bell as quickly as possible, if you do not run Heal Bell, then just avoid getting statused.

Team Options
========

Keldeo is a very powerful wallbreaker, and should be used with Pokemon that like having walls broke down such as, Dragon Dance Mega-Gyarados, Belly Drum Azumarill, and Crocune. Keldeo still needs help getting through Flying-type teams, thus Lanturn, Rotom-Wash, or Kabutops (in the Rain) make great teammates. Like any other Water-type Keldeo benefits greatly from the rain, as Choice Specs Keldeo's Hydro Pump breaks many walls, thus making Politoed a great teammate.

[SET]

Revenge Killer

Keldeo @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Justified

EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Scald

- Secret Sword

- Hydro Pump

- Icy Wind / Hidden Power [Flying]

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Scald is a very accurate, spammable move that has a nice chance to burn on top of it. Secret Sword is used because it is Keldeo's most accurate special Fighting-type move, and deals heavy damage to anything that resists Water, and does not resist Fighting. Hydro Pump is used to revenge kill threats that can survive either Scald, or Secret Sword. Icy Wind is used to hit any Pokemon that resists your STABs, or commonly use Choice Scarf, and would outspeed you otherwise such as, Latios, and Mega Altaria after one Dragon Dance so another Pokemon can outspeed and revenge kill. Although, Hidden Power Ice can be used for 5 extra base power, but the speed drop is much more important. Hidden Power Flying can be used to hit Breloom, and Mega-Venusaur which otherwise walls this set completely.

Set Details
========

Choice Scarf is used to augment speed, and no other Item should be used. The EVs allow Keldeo to outspeed common Choice Scarfers, or Boosters such as, Heracross, Volcorona, Mega-Charizard-X, Thundurus-T, and Victini. Furthermore, if Keldeo gets its item Knocked Off it still lets Keldeo outspeed a large portion of the metagame.

Usage Tips
========

Choice Scarf Keldeo is good at revenge killing weakened threats mid- to late-game, and once everything on the opposing team is weakened it can sometimes clean their team. Keldeo needs to avoid status ailments especially paralysis. This set is not meant to take many hits, thus do not switch it in on non-resisted hits. Keldeo still needs to retain most of its health to withstand stray priority late-game.

Team Options
========

Keldeo is a great revenge killer, and fits well on many team, but fits best on team that has a Pokemon that can take repeated Grass Knots such as Rotom-Wash. or Lanturn. Keldeo also benefits with having a Pokemon such as, Azumarill, and Lanturn, as they can take an Energy Ball or Thunderbolt from Latios correspondingly, and Play Rough, or Thunder Wave respectively. Choice Scarf Keldeo fits on most Water-type teams, except stall teams.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Keldeo can also utilize its great speed tier to run an Endeavor set with either a Focus Sash, or Substitute, but it is very gimmicky and unreliable, as it does not always get its job done. Keldeo can also use a Calm Mind set with Life Orb for immediate power, but Substitute and the added bulk from Leftovers is irreplaceable.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Mega-Venusaur** Mega-Venusaur is resistant to both of Keldeo's STAB moves, and can easily take out Keldeo with a Giga Drain. Tentacruel can counter every standard Mega-Venusaur set and then use Acid Spray to lower its special defense. Mega-Venusaur can run a Curse set with Earthquake to get by this. Starmie is also a good check to Mega-Venusaur because it can deal a lot of damage to it with Psychic.

**Mono-Flying** When against a Mono-Flying-type team, Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is useless, as Substitute Gyarados resists both of its STABs, and can set up Dragon Dances. Choice Scarf Togekiss revenge kills all sets, and can take a Hydro Pump. Thundurus outspeeds and KOes with Thunderbolt, or can use Priority Thunder Wave to status the Choice Scarf set.

**Mono-Psychic** Mono-Psychic teams always carry a Pokemon to beak Keldeo, whether it be Mew, Calm Mind Slowbro, Assault Vest Meloetta, Latios, Mega-Gardevoir, or a multitude of other things, needless to say, Keldeo does not do too much in this match up and is heavily reliant on its teammates.

[RZL]

Ready for QC.