[OVERVIEW]
Klefki's great typing gives it resistances that make it able to check threats such as Xerneas, Yveltal, Arceus-Fairy, and Deoxys-A as well as granting it a useful immunity to Toxic. It has a great ability, Prankster, and access to complementary moves in Spikes, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, making it a good support Pokemon that is able to cripple plenty of Pokemon and emergency check setup sweepers and attackers thanks to priority Thunder Wave. It is able to pressure Defog users with Toxic and Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie with Play Rough. Unfortunately, it lacks reliable recovery and is therefore prone to being worn down by diverse attacks and entry hazards. It is also pressured by a plenty of threats in the tier such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh, and Zygarde-C, although most them don't like being poisoned by Toxic. It also faces competition with Ferrothorn, which does better at checking support Arceus formes and Xerneas, is more consistent thanks to Leech Seed and better bulk, and can help defensive teams checking Primal Kyogre.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Play Rough
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes is a given on Klefki, since you're using it for the purpose of entry hazard stacking to begin with. Prankster Thunder Wave is used to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Marshadow and Mega Gengar, as well as boosted foes such as Geomancy Xerneas and Dragon Dance Mega Salamence. Toxic is used to cripple bulky Pokemon. Play Rough reliably hits Dragon- and Dark-types and keeps Klefki from being useless when affected by Taunt.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Careful nature maximizes Klefki's special bulk to help it check threats such as Yveltal and Xerneas. Prankster is a fantastic ability that turns all of Klefki's status moves into priority moves. Leftovers provides Klefki with a form of passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Don't rely on Klefki to decently check Dark-types such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark, as they are immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic due to Prankster. Use Play Rough if you predict Mega Sableye or Mega Diancie to switch in. Crippling Defog users and defensive Primal Groudon with Toxic should Klefki's first priority if it faces a bulky team; set up Spikes more freely against offensive ones. Obviously, protect Klefki from residual damage and don't switch it into attacks often, as it lacks reliable recovery. You can also keep Klefki to check a potential setup sweeper with Thunder Wave.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon can provide Stealth Rock support and forms a solid core with Klefki that checks Xerneas decently; it can also spread status with Lava Plume or Toxic or run offensive sets to break through bulky teams. Mega Gengar can trap support Arceus formes, Ho-Oh, and Primal Groudon with its Destiny Bond set or profit from Klefki's ability to spread status ailments if it runs Hex. Xerneas profits from Spikes to sweep more comfortably and can pressure Zygarde-C and Mega Sableye easily. Arceus-Water can be used with Klefki as a defensive backbone against Rock Polish Primal Groudon and Fire- and Ground-types in general; it also appreciates Klefki's immunity to Toxic. Zygarde-C can decently check offensive Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh as well as Mega Lucario and rack up residual damage with Dragon Tail if Spikes are set. Offensive threats such as Yveltal, Marshadow, Mega Salamence, and Choice Band Ho-Oh profit from Klefki's ability to set Spikes and cripple their checks with Toxic to sweep more easily. Gothitelle can pressure and trap Defog-using support Arceus formes thanks to Shadow Tag, forcing the opponent to keep Spikes on the other side of the field and use his or her support Arceus carefully.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set with Swagger / Thunder Wave / Foul Play can be used, but it is not really consistent due to confusion's low self-hit chance, Dark-types being immune to Prankster moves, and Ground-types being in nearly every team. A dual screens set can be useful thanks to Prankster, but it lacks utility compared to the main set. Heal Block can be used in tandem with Toxic to prevent the likes of support Arceus from recovering and check Z-Geomancy Xerneas. Flash Cannon can be used to beat Mega Diancie. Fairy Lock can be used to trap switch-ins such as Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground to gain momentum; if this move is run, Klefki should be paired with a strong check to them such as Primal Kyogre.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Although most them don't like being poisoned by Toxic, the likes of Arceus-Ground and Zygarde-C are immune to Thunder Wave and threaten Klefki with their Ground-type attacks, Arceus-Ground can clean entry hazards freely, while Zygarde can force Klefki out and cripple its check with Glare or phaze it with Dragon Tail.
**Fire-types**: Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon don't like being crippled by Toxic, but they still threaten Klefki with their Fire-type attacks.
**Magic Bounce**: Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie can bounce Klefki's entry hazards and status moves back, but they don't like switching into Play Rough.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar can trap and beat Klefki, taking nothing from Play Rough, but Klefki can at least cripple it with Thunder Wave and set one layer of Spikes on it unless it packs Taunt.
**Steel-types**: The likes of Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Dialga are immune to Toxic and take nothing from Play Rough; they can freely set up on Klefki or beat it with strong attacks such as Heavy Slam, Gyro Ball, and Fire Blast.[/hide][/quote]
Klefki's great typing gives it resistances that make it able to check threats such as Xerneas, Yveltal, Arceus-Fairy, and Deoxys-A as well as granting it a useful immunity to Toxic. It has a great ability, Prankster, and access to complementary moves in Spikes, Thunder Wave, and Toxic, making it a good support Pokemon that is able to cripple plenty of Pokemon and emergency check setup sweepers and attackers thanks to priority Thunder Wave. It is able to pressure Defog users with Toxic and Magic Bounce users such as Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie with Play Rough. Unfortunately, it lacks reliable recovery and is therefore prone to being worn down by diverse attacks and entry hazards. It is also pressured by a plenty of threats in the tier such as Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh, and Zygarde-C, although most them don't like being poisoned by Toxic. It also faces competition with Ferrothorn, which does better at checking support Arceus formes and Xerneas, is more consistent thanks to Leech Seed and better bulk, and can help defensive teams checking Primal Kyogre.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Play Rough
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes is a given on Klefki, since you're using it for the purpose of entry hazard stacking to begin with. Prankster Thunder Wave is used to cripple faster Pokemon, such as Marshadow and Mega Gengar, as well as boosted foes such as Geomancy Xerneas and Dragon Dance Mega Salamence. Toxic is used to cripple bulky Pokemon. Play Rough reliably hits Dragon- and Dark-types and keeps Klefki from being useless when affected by Taunt.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Special Defense investment with a Careful nature maximizes Klefki's special bulk to help it check threats such as Yveltal and Xerneas. Prankster is a fantastic ability that turns all of Klefki's status moves into priority moves. Leftovers provides Klefki with a form of passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Don't rely on Klefki to decently check Dark-types such as Yveltal and Arceus-Dark, as they are immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic due to Prankster. Use Play Rough if you predict Mega Sableye or Mega Diancie to switch in. Crippling Defog users and defensive Primal Groudon with Toxic should Klefki's first priority if it faces a bulky team; set up Spikes more freely against offensive ones. Obviously, protect Klefki from residual damage and don't switch it into attacks often, as it lacks reliable recovery. You can also keep Klefki to check a potential setup sweeper with Thunder Wave.
Team Options
========
Primal Groudon can provide Stealth Rock support and forms a solid core with Klefki that checks Xerneas decently; it can also spread status with Lava Plume or Toxic or run offensive sets to break through bulky teams. Mega Gengar can trap support Arceus formes, Ho-Oh, and Primal Groudon with its Destiny Bond set or profit from Klefki's ability to spread status ailments if it runs Hex. Xerneas profits from Spikes to sweep more comfortably and can pressure Zygarde-C and Mega Sableye easily. Arceus-Water can be used with Klefki as a defensive backbone against Rock Polish Primal Groudon and Fire- and Ground-types in general; it also appreciates Klefki's immunity to Toxic. Zygarde-C can decently check offensive Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh as well as Mega Lucario and rack up residual damage with Dragon Tail if Spikes are set. Offensive threats such as Yveltal, Marshadow, Mega Salamence, and Choice Band Ho-Oh profit from Klefki's ability to set Spikes and cripple their checks with Toxic to sweep more easily. Gothitelle can pressure and trap Defog-using support Arceus formes thanks to Shadow Tag, forcing the opponent to keep Spikes on the other side of the field and use his or her support Arceus carefully.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A set with Swagger / Thunder Wave / Foul Play can be used, but it is not really consistent due to confusion's low self-hit chance, Dark-types being immune to Prankster moves, and Ground-types being in nearly every team. A dual screens set can be useful thanks to Prankster, but it lacks utility compared to the main set. Heal Block can be used in tandem with Toxic to prevent the likes of support Arceus from recovering and check Z-Geomancy Xerneas. Flash Cannon can be used to beat Mega Diancie. Fairy Lock can be used to trap switch-ins such as Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground to gain momentum; if this move is run, Klefki should be paired with a strong check to them such as Primal Kyogre.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Although most them don't like being poisoned by Toxic, the likes of Arceus-Ground and Zygarde-C are immune to Thunder Wave and threaten Klefki with their Ground-type attacks, Arceus-Ground can clean entry hazards freely, while Zygarde can force Klefki out and cripple its check with Glare or phaze it with Dragon Tail.
**Fire-types**: Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon don't like being crippled by Toxic, but they still threaten Klefki with their Fire-type attacks.
**Magic Bounce**: Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie can bounce Klefki's entry hazards and status moves back, but they don't like switching into Play Rough.
**Mega Gengar**: Mega Gengar can trap and beat Klefki, taking nothing from Play Rough, but Klefki can at least cripple it with Thunder Wave and set one layer of Spikes on it unless it packs Taunt.
**Steel-types**: The likes of Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Dialga are immune to Toxic and take nothing from Play Rough; they can freely set up on Klefki or beat it with strong attacks such as Heavy Slam, Gyro Ball, and Fire Blast.[/hide][/quote]
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