Status: Awaiting edits and debate about set viability.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/celebi
[SET]
name: Ubers Support Lead
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Grass Knot
move 3: Recover
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This Celebi works as a scout for your team, gathering information and perhaps crippling one of your opponent's sweepers. The EVs ensure that you survive an LO Fire Punch from Groudon, a Specs-boosted Ice Beam from Mewtwo, and a Dark Pulse from a lead Darkrai. As the match opens, the recommended course of action is to use Thunder Wave (unless Groudon is leading the opposing team), which will cripple the opponent's lead and make it easy to pick off with a counter from your team. Make a note of the damage you take from the opponent's attack. If you take over 70% from a non-Darkrai lead and see no Life Orb recoil, the opponent was using a Choice Band or Choice Specs, and this information could prove crucial later in the match. If you take less damage from the foe, Thunder Wave and Recover can give you an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock once the opponent is fully paralyzed or upon his switching out.</p>
<p>This Celebi lead can unequivocally defeat lead Kyogres and Groudons. Deoxys-A, Darkrai (the reason for the suggested Lum Berry), and Mewtwo are crippled, but the encounter will leave Celebi heavily weakened. You also lose to Deoxys-S, because it can Taunt you and still set up 2 layers of entry hazards, or just set up 3 layers (Grass Knot is a 3HKO). Your team will need to be constructed with this in mind, knowing that your pokemon will take 25% of their health for switching in. Fortunately, you can remedy this by using a Forretress to use Rapid Spin to clear away the entry hazards and set up on the Ice attacks aimed at Celebi.</p>
<p>Other than Forretress, there is no Pokemon that is highly recommended for use alongside this Celebi. But it is worth noting that this set is designed for use on offensively minded teams, though not necessarily hyperoffensive teams. With this in mind, avoid using Blissey, support Groudon, and Giratina. Giratina-O, on the other hand, is preferable for its ability to handle stall teams, along with minimizing residual damage with Levitate if you are unable to use Rapid Spin in a timely manner.</p>
Known Success:
-Ubers Anti-Lead
*I retested this, and see Project Uber for more info
Known Failure:
-Specially Offensive Sets
*Celebi's offensive prowess in Ubers is pathetic
Tested Success:
-None Yet
Tested Failure:
-SubPass (Substitute/Grass Knot/Baton Pass/Recover or Leech Seed)
My logic here was simple: if Jolteon (tested by Catherine) was deemed to be a successful SubPasser in Ubers, why couldn't Celebi? But Celebi is quite a bit slower, losing notably to Garchomp, Lati twins, Palkia (tie), Mew (tie), Darkrai, and Skymin. It doesn't have any useful immunities either. These factors combined mean that it has to focus on its bulk and Water/Ground/Electric resistances (and if it EVs its bulk, it's not EVing speed...).
In the first place, Celebi cannot wall any Choice Specs or Choice Band users. Period. Even if you give it Calm 252 HP / 252 SDef...
Palkia 2HKO's with Specs Spacial Rend.
Dialga 2HKO's with Specs Draco Meteor.
Kyogre 2HKO's with Water Spout calculated at 88% health (so 132 BP).
Celebi, if given max/max/+, manages to avoid things like a 2HKO from Lustrous Orb Spacial Rend, fortunately, barring a crit. So it may be able to fulfill its mission of Baton Passing a Substitute a few times per match by switching in or revenging on stuff like Groudon, Kyogre, Dialga, and Palkia. But in the end, it appears that it Celebi can't fulfill this simple mission enough times to be useful to the team. Jolteon is way better on offense in terms of maintaining momentum, with its higher speed and use of Thunder and Yawn.
Now for stuff about my actual battle experience with this set. The team that I used was a modified version of PokemonMasterHSA's team with a MonoCM Kyogre over his SpecsOgre, SubPass Celebi over his Support Dialga, and a ScarfGar over his ScarfChomp. I very rarely had a chance to get in Celebi, and even when revenge killing, the occasional SubPass to something like Palkia or Gengar wasn't worth the team slot I spent for it. I felt like I was playing 5 on 6 all the time. This led me to conclude the failure of SubPass Celebi.
To those of you who suggest I try this set on a team other than HSA's Hyperoffense: think about what you used to do in OU for a second. Would you ever consider spending an entire pokemon slot for the purpose of passing Substitutes if your team was meant to be bulky anyways?
-SubSeed (Substitute/Leech Seed/Grass Knot/Filler: I used Recover)
Celebi doesn't have the speed to be a fast SubSeeder or the defense/resistances to be a bulky one. Nor does it have other distinguishing factors like Skymin's Seed Flare. Jumpluff is way better as a SubSeeder in terms of offense and team support with Encore.
Seriously, I tried this Celebi on both aggro and stall teams. What I found was that I kept wishing I had something else that could provide some do something besides MAYBE get in and SubSeed. I used Wobbuffet support as well, but it was pretty useless, as Scarfers still outsped me, unlike what happens with Jumpluff.
-Perish Song (Perish Song/Recover/Grass Knot/Filler)
This set does one thing, and that is beat mono-CM Kyogre for stall. If you really think your stall team needs that, then bully for you. As for me, I'll just countersetup with my Bulk Up Dialga, use Calm Mind with my CM Latias, Taunt with my Bulky Mewtwo, or use Encore with my Jumpluff.
Technically speaking, you can consider this against Bulk Up Dialga for a stall team (although its risky because after a BU, Dialga 2HKOes easily), but Groudon, Skarmory, and Lugia (set up Spikes, phaze) on stall beat it anyways. Groudon and Lucario work well to beat it on offense, too. So Celebi is pretty useless here too.
Wow, that's cheerful. But you've got to report failures as well as successes, so that's what I've done.
[SET]
name: Ubers Support Lead
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Grass Knot
move 3: Recover
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Lum Berry / Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This Celebi works as a scout for your team, gathering information and perhaps crippling one of your opponent's sweepers. The EVs ensure that you survive an LO Fire Punch from Groudon, a Specs-boosted Ice Beam from Mewtwo, and a Dark Pulse from a lead Darkrai. As the match opens, the recommended course of action is to use Thunder Wave (unless Groudon is leading the opposing team), which will cripple the opponent's lead and make it easy to pick off with a counter from your team. Make a note of the damage you take from the opponent's attack. If you take over 70% from a non-Darkrai lead and see no Life Orb recoil, the opponent was using a Choice Band or Choice Specs, and this information could prove crucial later in the match. If you take less damage from the foe, Thunder Wave and Recover can give you an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock once the opponent is fully paralyzed or upon his switching out.</p>
<p>This Celebi lead can unequivocally defeat lead Kyogres and Groudons. Deoxys-A, Darkrai (the reason for the suggested Lum Berry), and Mewtwo are crippled, but the encounter will leave Celebi heavily weakened. You also lose to Deoxys-S, because it can Taunt you and still set up 2 layers of entry hazards, or just set up 3 layers (Grass Knot is a 3HKO). Your team will need to be constructed with this in mind, knowing that your pokemon will take 25% of their health for switching in. Fortunately, you can remedy this by using a Forretress to use Rapid Spin to clear away the entry hazards and set up on the Ice attacks aimed at Celebi.</p>
<p>Other than Forretress, there is no Pokemon that is highly recommended for use alongside this Celebi. But it is worth noting that this set is designed for use on offensively minded teams, though not necessarily hyperoffensive teams. With this in mind, avoid using Blissey, support Groudon, and Giratina. Giratina-O, on the other hand, is preferable for its ability to handle stall teams, along with minimizing residual damage with Levitate if you are unable to use Rapid Spin in a timely manner.</p>
Known Success:
-Ubers Anti-Lead
*I retested this, and see Project Uber for more info
Known Failure:
-Specially Offensive Sets
*Celebi's offensive prowess in Ubers is pathetic
Tested Success:
-None Yet
Tested Failure:
-SubPass (Substitute/Grass Knot/Baton Pass/Recover or Leech Seed)
My logic here was simple: if Jolteon (tested by Catherine) was deemed to be a successful SubPasser in Ubers, why couldn't Celebi? But Celebi is quite a bit slower, losing notably to Garchomp, Lati twins, Palkia (tie), Mew (tie), Darkrai, and Skymin. It doesn't have any useful immunities either. These factors combined mean that it has to focus on its bulk and Water/Ground/Electric resistances (and if it EVs its bulk, it's not EVing speed...).
In the first place, Celebi cannot wall any Choice Specs or Choice Band users. Period. Even if you give it Calm 252 HP / 252 SDef...
Palkia 2HKO's with Specs Spacial Rend.
Dialga 2HKO's with Specs Draco Meteor.
Kyogre 2HKO's with Water Spout calculated at 88% health (so 132 BP).
Celebi, if given max/max/+, manages to avoid things like a 2HKO from Lustrous Orb Spacial Rend, fortunately, barring a crit. So it may be able to fulfill its mission of Baton Passing a Substitute a few times per match by switching in or revenging on stuff like Groudon, Kyogre, Dialga, and Palkia. But in the end, it appears that it Celebi can't fulfill this simple mission enough times to be useful to the team. Jolteon is way better on offense in terms of maintaining momentum, with its higher speed and use of Thunder and Yawn.
Now for stuff about my actual battle experience with this set. The team that I used was a modified version of PokemonMasterHSA's team with a MonoCM Kyogre over his SpecsOgre, SubPass Celebi over his Support Dialga, and a ScarfGar over his ScarfChomp. I very rarely had a chance to get in Celebi, and even when revenge killing, the occasional SubPass to something like Palkia or Gengar wasn't worth the team slot I spent for it. I felt like I was playing 5 on 6 all the time. This led me to conclude the failure of SubPass Celebi.
To those of you who suggest I try this set on a team other than HSA's Hyperoffense: think about what you used to do in OU for a second. Would you ever consider spending an entire pokemon slot for the purpose of passing Substitutes if your team was meant to be bulky anyways?
-SubSeed (Substitute/Leech Seed/Grass Knot/Filler: I used Recover)
Celebi doesn't have the speed to be a fast SubSeeder or the defense/resistances to be a bulky one. Nor does it have other distinguishing factors like Skymin's Seed Flare. Jumpluff is way better as a SubSeeder in terms of offense and team support with Encore.
Seriously, I tried this Celebi on both aggro and stall teams. What I found was that I kept wishing I had something else that could provide some do something besides MAYBE get in and SubSeed. I used Wobbuffet support as well, but it was pretty useless, as Scarfers still outsped me, unlike what happens with Jumpluff.
-Perish Song (Perish Song/Recover/Grass Knot/Filler)
This set does one thing, and that is beat mono-CM Kyogre for stall. If you really think your stall team needs that, then bully for you. As for me, I'll just countersetup with my Bulk Up Dialga, use Calm Mind with my CM Latias, Taunt with my Bulky Mewtwo, or use Encore with my Jumpluff.
Technically speaking, you can consider this against Bulk Up Dialga for a stall team (although its risky because after a BU, Dialga 2HKOes easily), but Groudon, Skarmory, and Lugia (set up Spikes, phaze) on stall beat it anyways. Groudon and Lucario work well to beat it on offense, too. So Celebi is pretty useless here too.
Wow, that's cheerful. But you've got to report failures as well as successes, so that's what I've done.