This is a set I've been using for a while in OU and other good people have used before to great success so after talking to Philip7086, I decided to write it up.
STATUS: Done.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/shaymin
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Seed Flare
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Rest / Energy Ball / Air Slash
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 22 Atk / 30 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Shaymin makes an awesome user of Choice Scarf; by reaching 492 Speed, it can revenge kill a multitude of Pokémon, while also giving teams useful resistances to common Electric-, Ground-, and Water-type attacks. Seed Flare is its main attack and with STAB, it has 180 Base Power, allowing Shaymin to even hurt the Pokémon who resist it. Not only that, but it also has a 40% chance to lower the Special Defense of the opposing Pokémon by two stages. Hidden Power Ice is in the next slot as it lets Shaymin revenge kill a +1 Salamence, but be wary as you risk a speed tie against positive Speed variations. Hidden Power Ice also provides a hard hit on other Dragon- and Grass-types, who may try and switch into a resisted Seed Flare. Earth Power is in the third slot as it will always OHKO the common Naive Heatran who lack a Shuca Berry. It also hits other Fire- and Steel-types who resist the previous two moves.</p>
<p>The last slot is more filler than anything. Rest is the main option as it can help Shaymin stay around longer, while thanks to Natural Cure, Shaymin will recover from the status once it switches out. However, there are some good alternatives. Shaymin can use Energy Ball for a secondary Grass-type STAB as Seed Flare's 85% accuracy may be unreliable at times. Grass Knot could be used instead if you prefer to hit heavier foes harder. Air Slash will easily OHKO Breloom; with Stealth Rock, it OHKOes 96 HP Heracross as well. The 30% flinch rate can also prove useful at times. Another minor option is Healing Wish which can be used at the cost of Shaymin to heal another member of your team's HP and status, giving them a second chance at a sweep.</p>
<p>You may be tempted to use Celebi instead of Shaymin as a Choice Scarf user as it has a bigger movepool with useful moves such as Trick and U-turn; however, Shaymin has many advantages which set it apart from Celebi. First, and perhaps most importantly, Shaymin is not weak to Pursuit, which allows it to switch safely out of Tyranitar and Scizor. Not having Ghost- and Dark-type weaknesses is very useful as it makes switching into Rotom-A and others safer, although sadly Shaymin lacks a Fighting-type resistance. Furthermore, Celebi is forced to use Leaf Storm, which reduces its Special Attack harshly and forces it to switch after attacking.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Timid nature with maximum Speed is used so that at worst, Shaymin speed ties with opposing +1 positive Speed natured Salamence, as well as outspeeding almost any non-Choice Scarf user. Maximum Special Attack is used so that Shaymin can hit as hard as possible and makes Seed Flare a much deadlier move. The remaining 4 EVs are put into HP to take hits a bit better. 22 Attack and 30 Defense IVs are for a legal 70 Base Power Hidden Power Ice.</p>
<p>There are many Pokémon who you must deal with to use this set effectively. Forretress and Skarmory are the most important two as their 4x resistance to Seed Flare and lack of weakness to the other moves means they can easily switch in and proceed to set up multiple layers of Spikes. Therefore, Magnezone can make a great partner as its Magnet Pull ability can trap both of the aforementioned Pokémon if they lack Shed Shell and then OHKO both with Hidden Power Fire and Thunderbolt, respectively. Magnezone can also take any Bug-, Ice-, and Flying-type attacks aimed at Shaymin. Fire-types, such as Heatran and Infernape, are also great partners to scare off both Forretress and Skarmory, while also resisting Shaymin's Bug-, Fire-, and Ice-type weaknesses. Heatran is of extra use here because it resists Shaymin's Flying-type weakness and Fire-type moves aimed at Shaymin will activate its Flash Fire ability, making its own Fire-type attacks 1.5x stronger.</p>
<p>Blissey and Snorlax can also stop Shaymin in its tracks thanks to their high Special Defense. Even a Special Defense drop from Seed Flare won't let Shaymin get past Blissey; however, Snorlax must be careful that Seed Flare doesn't get a Special Defense drop, as it will do 44.9%-53.1% to Careful 168 HP and 220 Special Defense variations and even more to less bulky ones. The previously mentioned Infernape can deal with both of these Pokémon as it has a powerful STAB 120 Base Power Close Combat to hit them super effectively to their lower Defense stat. Other Fighting-types such as Heracross, Lucario, and Machamp also make effective partners to scare away the aforementioned special walls. They also all have a useful Bug-type resistance to help Shaymin out, and in Lucario's case, an Ice-type resistance. Not only that, but they can also set up on a Choice-locked Pursuit should your opponent trap a weakened Shaymin with either Scizor or Tyranitar. Lures with Explosion, such as Heatran, Gengar, and Magnezone can be useful to take out the aforementioned special walls.</p>
<p>Scizor can cause this set some problems, as with Stealth Rock support, Earth Power only 3HKOes at best meaning it can switch in a few times and U-turn away or Pursuit Shaymin as it switches out. Therefore, the previously mentioned Magnezone can be a very useful partner to trap and OHKO Scizor with Hidden Power Fire, although if it is using U-turn, you will have to predict the switch-in and switch to Magnezone. Heatran also scares off Scizor with STAB Fire-type attacks, and only fears being hit by Superpower on the switch. Gyarados can use Scizor to set up, although with Stealth Rock up, it will have trouble switching into multiple U-turns. Latias, Togekiss, and Zapdos resist or are immune to everything except Hidden Power Ice, so they can do well against Choice Scarf Shaymin. Scizor can therefore make a good partner to deal with the first two, while also having useful Bug- and Ice-type resistances. Tyranitar can deal with all three of the aforementioned Pokémon, especially if it is carrying a Choice Scarf to avoid their super effective attacks. It can then Pursuit them if they switch out or OHKO Latias with Crunch and Togekiss / Zapdos with Stone Edge (after Stealth Rock damage). It also has useful Fire- and Flying-type resistances to help Shaymin out.</p>
<p>Lastly, Dragon Dance users such as Dragonite, Gyarados, and Salamence can be problematic if they switch in on Earth Power or Seed Flare. These three can cause a lot of damage after even one Dragon Dance, so packing a Pokeémon to deal with them can be useful. Rotom-A is a great Pokémon to deal with Gyarados thanks to its high Defense and STAB Thunderbolt. It can also utilize a Choice Scarf to outspeed even +1 Jolly Gyarados, while having useful resistances to Bug- and Flying-type attacks. Vaporeon can also 2HKO Gyarados with Hidden Power Electric while taking hits well thanks to its high HP and decent Defense stats. Ice Shard users such as Mamoswine and Weavile can deal with Dragonite and Salamence, as can Scizor after some prior damage. Timid Choice Scarf Gengar and Latias can outspeed all three of the aforementioned Pokémon and KO them with powerful special attacks. Gengar does however need Stealth Rock support for Dragonite.</p>
STATUS: Done.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/shaymin
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Seed Flare
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Rest / Energy Ball / Air Slash
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
ivs: 22 Atk / 30 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Shaymin makes an awesome user of Choice Scarf; by reaching 492 Speed, it can revenge kill a multitude of Pokémon, while also giving teams useful resistances to common Electric-, Ground-, and Water-type attacks. Seed Flare is its main attack and with STAB, it has 180 Base Power, allowing Shaymin to even hurt the Pokémon who resist it. Not only that, but it also has a 40% chance to lower the Special Defense of the opposing Pokémon by two stages. Hidden Power Ice is in the next slot as it lets Shaymin revenge kill a +1 Salamence, but be wary as you risk a speed tie against positive Speed variations. Hidden Power Ice also provides a hard hit on other Dragon- and Grass-types, who may try and switch into a resisted Seed Flare. Earth Power is in the third slot as it will always OHKO the common Naive Heatran who lack a Shuca Berry. It also hits other Fire- and Steel-types who resist the previous two moves.</p>
<p>The last slot is more filler than anything. Rest is the main option as it can help Shaymin stay around longer, while thanks to Natural Cure, Shaymin will recover from the status once it switches out. However, there are some good alternatives. Shaymin can use Energy Ball for a secondary Grass-type STAB as Seed Flare's 85% accuracy may be unreliable at times. Grass Knot could be used instead if you prefer to hit heavier foes harder. Air Slash will easily OHKO Breloom; with Stealth Rock, it OHKOes 96 HP Heracross as well. The 30% flinch rate can also prove useful at times. Another minor option is Healing Wish which can be used at the cost of Shaymin to heal another member of your team's HP and status, giving them a second chance at a sweep.</p>
<p>You may be tempted to use Celebi instead of Shaymin as a Choice Scarf user as it has a bigger movepool with useful moves such as Trick and U-turn; however, Shaymin has many advantages which set it apart from Celebi. First, and perhaps most importantly, Shaymin is not weak to Pursuit, which allows it to switch safely out of Tyranitar and Scizor. Not having Ghost- and Dark-type weaknesses is very useful as it makes switching into Rotom-A and others safer, although sadly Shaymin lacks a Fighting-type resistance. Furthermore, Celebi is forced to use Leaf Storm, which reduces its Special Attack harshly and forces it to switch after attacking.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Timid nature with maximum Speed is used so that at worst, Shaymin speed ties with opposing +1 positive Speed natured Salamence, as well as outspeeding almost any non-Choice Scarf user. Maximum Special Attack is used so that Shaymin can hit as hard as possible and makes Seed Flare a much deadlier move. The remaining 4 EVs are put into HP to take hits a bit better. 22 Attack and 30 Defense IVs are for a legal 70 Base Power Hidden Power Ice.</p>
<p>There are many Pokémon who you must deal with to use this set effectively. Forretress and Skarmory are the most important two as their 4x resistance to Seed Flare and lack of weakness to the other moves means they can easily switch in and proceed to set up multiple layers of Spikes. Therefore, Magnezone can make a great partner as its Magnet Pull ability can trap both of the aforementioned Pokémon if they lack Shed Shell and then OHKO both with Hidden Power Fire and Thunderbolt, respectively. Magnezone can also take any Bug-, Ice-, and Flying-type attacks aimed at Shaymin. Fire-types, such as Heatran and Infernape, are also great partners to scare off both Forretress and Skarmory, while also resisting Shaymin's Bug-, Fire-, and Ice-type weaknesses. Heatran is of extra use here because it resists Shaymin's Flying-type weakness and Fire-type moves aimed at Shaymin will activate its Flash Fire ability, making its own Fire-type attacks 1.5x stronger.</p>
<p>Blissey and Snorlax can also stop Shaymin in its tracks thanks to their high Special Defense. Even a Special Defense drop from Seed Flare won't let Shaymin get past Blissey; however, Snorlax must be careful that Seed Flare doesn't get a Special Defense drop, as it will do 44.9%-53.1% to Careful 168 HP and 220 Special Defense variations and even more to less bulky ones. The previously mentioned Infernape can deal with both of these Pokémon as it has a powerful STAB 120 Base Power Close Combat to hit them super effectively to their lower Defense stat. Other Fighting-types such as Heracross, Lucario, and Machamp also make effective partners to scare away the aforementioned special walls. They also all have a useful Bug-type resistance to help Shaymin out, and in Lucario's case, an Ice-type resistance. Not only that, but they can also set up on a Choice-locked Pursuit should your opponent trap a weakened Shaymin with either Scizor or Tyranitar. Lures with Explosion, such as Heatran, Gengar, and Magnezone can be useful to take out the aforementioned special walls.</p>
<p>Scizor can cause this set some problems, as with Stealth Rock support, Earth Power only 3HKOes at best meaning it can switch in a few times and U-turn away or Pursuit Shaymin as it switches out. Therefore, the previously mentioned Magnezone can be a very useful partner to trap and OHKO Scizor with Hidden Power Fire, although if it is using U-turn, you will have to predict the switch-in and switch to Magnezone. Heatran also scares off Scizor with STAB Fire-type attacks, and only fears being hit by Superpower on the switch. Gyarados can use Scizor to set up, although with Stealth Rock up, it will have trouble switching into multiple U-turns. Latias, Togekiss, and Zapdos resist or are immune to everything except Hidden Power Ice, so they can do well against Choice Scarf Shaymin. Scizor can therefore make a good partner to deal with the first two, while also having useful Bug- and Ice-type resistances. Tyranitar can deal with all three of the aforementioned Pokémon, especially if it is carrying a Choice Scarf to avoid their super effective attacks. It can then Pursuit them if they switch out or OHKO Latias with Crunch and Togekiss / Zapdos with Stone Edge (after Stealth Rock damage). It also has useful Fire- and Flying-type resistances to help Shaymin out.</p>
<p>Lastly, Dragon Dance users such as Dragonite, Gyarados, and Salamence can be problematic if they switch in on Earth Power or Seed Flare. These three can cause a lot of damage after even one Dragon Dance, so packing a Pokeémon to deal with them can be useful. Rotom-A is a great Pokémon to deal with Gyarados thanks to its high Defense and STAB Thunderbolt. It can also utilize a Choice Scarf to outspeed even +1 Jolly Gyarados, while having useful resistances to Bug- and Flying-type attacks. Vaporeon can also 2HKO Gyarados with Hidden Power Electric while taking hits well thanks to its high HP and decent Defense stats. Ice Shard users such as Mamoswine and Weavile can deal with Dragonite and Salamence, as can Scizor after some prior damage. Timid Choice Scarf Gengar and Latias can outspeed all three of the aforementioned Pokémon and KO them with powerful special attacks. Gengar does however need Stealth Rock support for Dragonite.</p>
