[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Flip Turn / Toxic
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs Keldeo is an excellent wallbreaker, utilizing its solid Speed and high Special Attack to break through many defensive Pokemon like Blissey, Jirachi, and Clefable. Hydro Pump is preferred due to its incredible power, giving Keldeo solid odds to 2HKO special walls like Celesteela and Jirachi and guaranteeing an OHKO on offensive threats like Enamorus and Thundurus-T. Alternatively, Surf can be used for its better accuracy, though it significantly hurts Keldeo's damage output against the aforementioned Pokemon. Secret Sword hits the weaker Defense of special walls like Gastrodon and Chansey while also hitting Pokemon that could pivot into Water-type attacks like Volcanion and Hisuian Goodra. Flip Turn allows Keldeo to maintain momentum and switch out of bad matchups like Slowbro and Mega Latias. Alternatively, Toxic can be used to cripple these checks instead. Hidden Power Ice is used in the final slot to hit many Pokemon that resist its STAB combination like Salamence, Latios, and Mega Altaria for super effective damage. Focus Blast can be used instead to deal massive damage to neutral targets like Rotom-W and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Choice Specs Keldeo invites in Pokemon that resist its STAB combination such as Slowking, Mega Latias, and Amoonguss. It therefore pairs well with teammates that can take advantage of these switch-ins such as Meowscarada and Ceruledge for the former two and Iron Moth for the latter. Additionally, it can take advantage of Future Sight support from Slowbro or Slowking to limit the ability of Poison-types like Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur to switch in. Pursuit from Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar and Scizor is also helpful for removing Psychic-type checks to Keldeo like Slowbro and Slowking. Keldeo also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon like Excadrill and Ting-Lu to push checks like Tapu Fini and Mega Venusaur into range for Hydro Pump to 2HKO. Finally, Keldeo struggles against faster offensive threats like Serperior and Mega Latias and thus pairs well with partners like Iron Moth and Celesteela that can switch into these threats.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 3: Secret Sword
move 4: Substitute / Taunt
item: Leftovers / Waterium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind Keldeo is a threatening sweeper, thanks to its ability to break past many defensive cores. Scald is usually chosen because of its high PP and burn chance, allowing Keldeo to slowly wear down checks like Mega Venusaur while crippling physical attackers like Iron Hands, Tapu Bulu, and Salamence. Scald is especially potent in tandem with Substitute and Leftovers, as it allows Keldeo to set up on many defensive Pokemon that struggle to break its Substitute like Slowking, Celesteela, and Gastrodon lacking Earthquake while dodging status and Leech Seed. Alternatively, Hydro Pump in combination with Waterium Z allows Keldeo to blow past common answers to itself such as Mega Venusaur, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro if they are weakened. When using Hydro Pump, Taunt is used over Substitute to prevent Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Unaware Clefable from recovering their HP, though Keldeo must be wary of moves like Giga Drain and Moonblast in return. Secret Sword hits the lower Defense of many common checks to special attackers like Blissey and Gastrodon. Calm Mind Keldeo fits best on balance and bulky offense which appreciate its ability to effectively take on defensive team styles. Keldeo is threatened out by faster offensive Pokemon that can hit it super effectively like Meowscarada, Serperior, and Mega Latias if it does not have a Substitute up. Therefore, it pairs well with Pokemon like Iron Moth and Amoonguss that can switch into the former two and Celesteela and Scizor for the latter. They are also valuable for their ability to switch into checks to Keldeo like Tapu Fini and Mega Venusaur. Keldeo pairs well with entry hazard support from Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar, Skarmory, and Excadrill that can push its checks into range of a boosted Hydro Vortex.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Flip Turn
move 4: Toxic / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf allows Keldeo to act as a decent revenge killer with its strong STAB moves and high Speed. Its decent natural bulk and useful typing also allow it to check Dark-types like Tyranitar and Bisharp while also giving it a Stealth Rock resistance. Hydro Pump is chosen for its high power, OHKOing Pokemon like Victini while giving Keldeo a high chance to KO Choice Scarf Enamorus and Nasty Plot Thundurus after Stealth Rock damage. Secret Sword hits the weaker Defense of common special walls like Blissey and Gastrodon. Flip Turn allows Keldeo to pivot out of bad matchups while maintaining momentum for its team. Toxic is used to status common checks to Keldeo such as Mega Altaria and Mega Latias. Hidden Power Ice can be used as an alternative to allow Keldeo to revenge kill threats such as Dragon Dance Salamence while also doing solid damage against Mega Altaria and Latios. Choice Scarf Keldeo struggles against bulkier teams, which take little damage from its attacks with Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Amoonguss, and Slowking. Therefore, it appreciates strong offensive Pokemon like Serperior, Choice Band Galarian Zapdos, and Z-Happy Hour Jirachi that can handle those teamstyles. Furthermore, Keldeo itself is threatened by faster Choice Scarf users like Latios and Serperior and therefore requires checks to these Pokemon like Celesteela. Keldeo also appreciates entry hazard setters like Excadrill and Mew that can push Pokemon like Scizor and Enamorus into Hydro Pump range.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aera.572981/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Flip Turn / Toxic
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs Keldeo is an excellent wallbreaker, utilizing its solid Speed and high Special Attack to break through many defensive Pokemon like Blissey, Jirachi, and Clefable. Hydro Pump is preferred due to its incredible power, giving Keldeo solid odds to 2HKO special walls like Celesteela and Jirachi and guaranteeing an OHKO on offensive threats like Enamorus and Thundurus-T. Alternatively, Surf can be used for its better accuracy, though it significantly hurts Keldeo's damage output against the aforementioned Pokemon. Secret Sword hits the weaker Defense of special walls like Gastrodon and Chansey while also hitting Pokemon that could pivot into Water-type attacks like Volcanion and Hisuian Goodra. Flip Turn allows Keldeo to maintain momentum and switch out of bad matchups like Slowbro and Mega Latias. Alternatively, Toxic can be used to cripple these checks instead. Hidden Power Ice is used in the final slot to hit many Pokemon that resist its STAB combination like Salamence, Latios, and Mega Altaria for super effective damage. Focus Blast can be used instead to deal massive damage to neutral targets like Rotom-W and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Choice Specs Keldeo invites in Pokemon that resist its STAB combination such as Slowking, Mega Latias, and Amoonguss. It therefore pairs well with teammates that can take advantage of these switch-ins such as Meowscarada and Ceruledge for the former two and Iron Moth for the latter. Additionally, it can take advantage of Future Sight support from Slowbro or Slowking to limit the ability of Poison-types like Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur to switch in. Pursuit from Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar and Scizor is also helpful for removing Psychic-type checks to Keldeo like Slowbro and Slowking. Keldeo also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon like Excadrill and Ting-Lu to push checks like Tapu Fini and Mega Venusaur into range for Hydro Pump to 2HKO. Finally, Keldeo struggles against faster offensive threats like Serperior and Mega Latias and thus pairs well with partners like Iron Moth and Celesteela that can switch into these threats.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 3: Secret Sword
move 4: Substitute / Taunt
item: Leftovers / Waterium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind Keldeo is a threatening sweeper, thanks to its ability to break past many defensive cores. Scald is usually chosen because of its high PP and burn chance, allowing Keldeo to slowly wear down checks like Mega Venusaur while crippling physical attackers like Iron Hands, Tapu Bulu, and Salamence. Scald is especially potent in tandem with Substitute and Leftovers, as it allows Keldeo to set up on many defensive Pokemon that struggle to break its Substitute like Slowking, Celesteela, and Gastrodon lacking Earthquake while dodging status and Leech Seed. Alternatively, Hydro Pump in combination with Waterium Z allows Keldeo to blow past common answers to itself such as Mega Venusaur, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro if they are weakened. When using Hydro Pump, Taunt is used over Substitute to prevent Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Unaware Clefable from recovering their HP, though Keldeo must be wary of moves like Giga Drain and Moonblast in return. Secret Sword hits the lower Defense of many common checks to special attackers like Blissey and Gastrodon. Calm Mind Keldeo fits best on balance and bulky offense which appreciate its ability to effectively take on defensive team styles. Keldeo is threatened out by faster offensive Pokemon that can hit it super effectively like Meowscarada, Serperior, and Mega Latias if it does not have a Substitute up. Therefore, it pairs well with Pokemon like Iron Moth and Amoonguss that can switch into the former two and Celesteela and Scizor for the latter. They are also valuable for their ability to switch into checks to Keldeo like Tapu Fini and Mega Venusaur. Keldeo pairs well with entry hazard support from Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar, Skarmory, and Excadrill that can push its checks into range of a boosted Hydro Vortex.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Flip Turn
move 4: Toxic / Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf allows Keldeo to act as a decent revenge killer with its strong STAB moves and high Speed. Its decent natural bulk and useful typing also allow it to check Dark-types like Tyranitar and Bisharp while also giving it a Stealth Rock resistance. Hydro Pump is chosen for its high power, OHKOing Pokemon like Victini while giving Keldeo a high chance to KO Choice Scarf Enamorus and Nasty Plot Thundurus after Stealth Rock damage. Secret Sword hits the weaker Defense of common special walls like Blissey and Gastrodon. Flip Turn allows Keldeo to pivot out of bad matchups while maintaining momentum for its team. Toxic is used to status common checks to Keldeo such as Mega Altaria and Mega Latias. Hidden Power Ice can be used as an alternative to allow Keldeo to revenge kill threats such as Dragon Dance Salamence while also doing solid damage against Mega Altaria and Latios. Choice Scarf Keldeo struggles against bulkier teams, which take little damage from its attacks with Pokemon like Tapu Fini, Amoonguss, and Slowking. Therefore, it appreciates strong offensive Pokemon like Serperior, Choice Band Galarian Zapdos, and Z-Happy Hour Jirachi that can handle those teamstyles. Furthermore, Keldeo itself is threatened by faster Choice Scarf users like Latios and Serperior and therefore requires checks to these Pokemon like Celesteela. Keldeo also appreciates entry hazard setters like Excadrill and Mew that can push Pokemon like Scizor and Enamorus into Hydro Pump range.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aera.572981/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
Last edited:
