LOrd Fernado
I COULD BE BANNED!
[SET]
Keldeo @ Leftovers
Name: Calm Mind (Fighting)
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Secret Sword
- Substitute / Taunt / Vacuum Wave
- Surf
[SET COMMENTS]
Keldeo is an amazing special breaker on Fighting teams thanks to its base 129 Special Attack, great typing, a good speed tier that can outspeed threats to Fighting-types like Landorus, and ability to break through most special walls with Secret Sword. Calm Mind boosted Secret Sword allows Keldeo to OHKO walls like Hisuian Goodra, Corviknight, Blissey, and Articuno with Secret Sword, while the boost ensures Keldeo from getting OHKOed from special wallbreakers like Dragapult. Substitute can be used to setup on status spreaders like Galarian Weezing, as well as giving it another opportunity to setup, while Taunt prevents harmful status moves like Toxapex's Haze, Articuno's Whirlwind, Clodsire's Toxic, and Amoonguss's Spore. Vacuum Wave is the final option that is for faster threats like Chien-Pao, Ogerpon-C and Meowscarada after a boost from Calm Mind and Stealth Rock chip. Surf can be used for its higher accuracy and more PP, although Hydro Pump can be used for higher base power and is usually used with Taunt or Vacuum Wave to make breaking quicker. Leftovers provides Keldeo with longevity and a Timid nature allows Keldeo to outspeed Landorus.
Keldeo has an alright speed tier, but can be outsped by a lot of other offensive Pokemon like Ogerpon-H and Iron Valiant, so speed control like Sneasler and Iron Valiant is highly recommended. Sneasler is even better thanks to its ability to threaten Keldeo's Fairy-type resists like Primarina and Azumarill and gives Keldeo time to set up thanks to Switcheroo, while Iron Valiant forces out Dragon-types like Dragapult, Latias, and Latios. Iron Hands is also a great teammate as it can threaten Toxapex, especially if Keldeo forgoes Taunt. Iron Hands also provides Keldeo with slow pivoting in Volt Switch and has amazing bulk especially with Assault Vest, even being able to threaten Flutter Mane and Hatterene. In return, Keldeo can force out Ground-types that would usually threaten Iron Hands. Keldeo cannot switch into most attacks, so defensive Pokemon like Great Tusk and Okidogi are highly appreciated. Great Tusk is especially important as it provides hazard removal and the ability to threaten Water Absorb Clodsire, two of Keldeo's biggest obstacles, while Okidogi can switch into Fairy-types like Iron Valiant. In return, Keldeo can threaten Pokemon that are immune to Ground-type attacks like Skarmory, Corviknight, and Galarian Weezing. Zamazenta loves Keldeo's ability to break through Ground-type cores, while it can clean up a weakened team. Hisuian Lilligant and Breloom are also useful teammates, as they provide setup opportunities with Sleep Powder and Spore respectively, can deal with bulky Water-types like Toxapex and Primarina, while Hisuian Lilligant has Healing Wish support, and Breloom has priority support in Mach Punch. Gallade is a final option, as Keldeo has trouble breaking through Poison-types like Galarian Weezing and Amoongus.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fighting
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Focus Blast can be run over Sacred Sword for more power, however this makes it harder for Keldeo to break through walls like Blissey and Articuno, as well as the accuracy drop makes it not worth it most of the time. Icy Wind can be used in the second moveslot to hit resists like Latios, Latias, and Dragapult on their switch in, while also creating speed control, but its usage of a utility move makes it difficult to slot.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lord-fernado.629794/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/neko.542526/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ashbala.518038/
Grammar checked by:
GP1 URL
Last edited: