Yveltal (QC: 2/3)

[Fireburn]

Is Foul Play boosted by Dark Aura?

Yes.

 

[Blue Jay]

how is the phys def set not outclassed (or at least the better option) by physically defensive Mandibuzz? I recall the latter had better stats while sharing the same typing and sorta movepool (at least for this role)

Dark Aura-boosted Foul Play gives it a significant power advantage, not to mention that Mandibuzz does not have better stats at all (literally only its Defense is higher, which still doesn't really give it better physical bulk due to Yveltal's significantly better HP stat). The better mixed bulk is occasionally useful, since Yveltal can Roost stall weaker special attacks easily, and outspeeding most support Groudon, Giratina, Ho-Oh, etc without Speed investment is a big advantage.

 

[Fireburn]

Jibaku: you can take it I was going to PM you about it
Fireburn: hyesssss

Taking over the writeup for Yveltal, though Jibaku will still have considerable input.

skelly is a bit outdated so working on touchups

Overview
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• Incredible versatility-can run both offensive and defensive sets with great effect
• Powerful offensive stats and possesses a STAB combo that is not resisted by much
• Dark Aura means its Dark-type moves hurt. Yveltal also possesses the strongest Sucker Punch in the game
• Oblivion Wing and Roost grants it almost unmatched sustain.
• Can cover uninvested stats through Foul Play, Oblivion Wing, and Sucker Punch.
• Resists Ghost and Dark
  
• 99 base Speed outruns many of the slower Ubers which is great, but it isn't terribly fast either
  
• Has some annoying weaknesses.

Taunt + 3 Attacks
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name: Taunt + 3 Attacks
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Oblivion Wing
move 3: Dark Pulse
move 4: Sucker Punch / Foul Play / Focus Blast
ability: Dark Aura
item: Life Orb
nature: Mild / Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Moves
========

• Taunt can give walls a hard time and can combo into Sucker Punch. First move on the set because it's very strong in the current stallish metagame.
  
• Dark Pulse is incredibly strong with few resists, 2HKOing support Arceus and dealing tremendous damage to most other things.
• Oblivion Wing is a hard hitting coverage STAB that gives Yveltal an unreal amount of sustain.
  
• Dark Aura boosted Sucker Punch one-shots Mewtwo and easily does >50% to other Ubers such as Kyogre and Palkia. It also helps make up for Yveltal's decent-but-not-great 99 base Speed.
  
• Foul Play heavily damages Ho-Oh and still deals a lot of damage to most of the same enemies that Dark Pulse hits. It can also be used to troll things like EKiller Arceus that might try to set up on Yveltal, but be warned as without Dark Pulse you cannot threaten to 2HKO bulky Arceus.
  
• Focus Blast hits TTar who otherwise walls this set. Also chunks Dialga, Normal Arceus, and Rock Arceus quite nicely

Set Details
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• Mild will provide you with the most power and is preferred since most Ghost/Dark hits Yveltal resists are special, but Rash is an option instead to take physical moves better.
  
• Hasty / Naive ensures that Yveltal will outrun +Speed base 90s and 95s.
• Between Foul Play and/or Sucker Punch, Yveltal can creatively tweak its EV spread. For example, putting a lot of investment in Defense makes it a decent check to Extremekiller and Mega Mewtwo X.

Usage Tips
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• Just kill things
• Try not to be predictable with Sucker Punch. Thankfully, Yveltal isn’t reliant on it.
• Strong at all points of the game, and can likely survive for that long.

Team Options
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• Aegislash covers most of Yveltal’s weaknesses and counters Xerneas. It also checks Fairyceus and Rockeus. Bronzong and Jirachi can do similar things.
  
• Mega Gengar can trap and kill Fairyceus.
• If you don’t have Foul Play, a Ho-Oh counter such as Rock Arceus can help immensely. Stone Edge lures are also useful, as is Stealth Rock.
  
• A Zekrom check is appreciated. Groudon, Dialga and Ground Arceus are fair options. These Pokemon also check Tyranitar who is annoying to a Yveltal without Focus Blast.
  
• Defog support to get rid of Stealth Rock - Giratina-O or support Arceus formes.

Physical Tank
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name: Physical Tank
move 1: Foul Play
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Toxic / Sucker Punch
move 4: Roost
ability: Dark Aura
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD

Moves
========

• Taunt grants it an additional utility as a wallbreaker.
• Foul Play helps this set define its role - it allows Yveltal to punish powerful physical attackers, while using its respectable physical bulk to tank them.
  
• Toxic cripples Fairyceus and Xerneas, as well as things like Ho-Oh, Lugia, etc.
• Roost is mandatory for sustain – Oblivion Wing will not recover enough to make it a dedicated staller
• Sucker Punch can be an option. It is still extremely powerful even without investment, easily OHKOing Mega Mewtwo Y, and it gives Yveltal additional utility as a revenge killer.

Set Details
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• Is physically bulkier than 252/252+ Skarmory
• Use Impish if using Sucker Punch, otherwise use Bold to minimize Foul play damage from enemy Yveltal.
  
• Rocky Helmet can put +2 Extremekiller into Foul Play kill range if it decides to use Extreme Speed.

Usage Tips
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• It can check Mega Mewtwo X (as well as special Mewtwos without Ice Beam) and various forms of Swords Dance Arceus. Notable ones include Ground, Normal, and Ghost.
  
• You may need to predict switch ins with Taunt or Toxic. However, since this set is designed to be bulky, you'll find yourself switching in often, so you have a lot of chances to punish.
• Don't try to stall out special attackers with this set, unless you know that they'll be doing less than 50%.
• Avoid getting Toxiced or Burned as it completely kills your stalling ability.
  
• Relatively straightforward set

Team Options
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• As a designated counter to certain Pokemon, it is best that you don't build your team around this Yveltal. Rather, you should fit Yveltal in based on your team's needs. Need a Ghost resist? Extremekiller giving you trouble? Throw this in.
• A cleric such as Xerneas, Sylveon, or Blissey are decent partners to help remove surprise status conditions that can fatally ruin this set.
• Use with Defog support preferably. Mega Scizor is neat since it also checks Xerneas, which this set can give switches to.

Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Oblivion Wing
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Foul Play / Hurricane
move 4: U-turn / Toxic / Focus Blast
ability: Dark Aura
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Moves
========

• Oblivion Wing grants it a longer lifespan than most Scarfers.
• Dark Pulse is pretty spammable and can flinch your way to victory (hi there Melee_Mewtwo)
• Foul Play can revenge kill high attack targets such as Swords Dance Groundceus and Ghostceus
• Hurricane can be used with rain support - gets a guaranteed OHKO on Mega Mewtwo X and hurts Fairies a lot.
  
• U-turn can scout for things but don’t expect it to hurt.
• Toxic can catch Fairies/Ho-Oh by surprise.
• Focus Blast OHKOes Darkrai and wrecks Tyranitar.

Set Details
========

• Modest nature is recommended Scarf Yveltal isn’t particularly strong and appreciates the extra power. Yveltal still outruns most of the relevant scarfers without the +Speed.
• Faster than +1 base 90s and 95s, and Speed ties with Scarf Genesect if you go Timid.

Usage Tips
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• If your team needs a Ghost-resisting Scarfer that can take on all Mewtwo formes, SD Groundceus, Ghostceus, and Rayquaza, Scarf Yveltal can work for you.
• Spammable moves in Dark Pulse and Oblivion Wing means it is not very easily punishable.
  
• Solid cleaner, so look for the lategame.

Team Options
========

• Don’t build around Scarf Yveltal – bring Scarf Yveltal based on your team’s needs.
• Nothing really different from the earlier sets - Defog and things that beat Fairies (Steels).
• Poisonceus is cool with this set as it can CM on most Fairies and appreciates Yveltal's ability to switch in on and wreck Mewtwo + Yveltal is immune to both of Poisonceus's weaknesses.
  
• Kyogre is nice if you're running Hurricane. Yveltal can check Grass Arceus for Kyogre, but be warned as both are weak to Electric.

Other Options
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• Substitute / Disable can cause a lot of headaches. Substitute in general can synergize with Sucker Punch and Oblivion Wing, so it’s not a bad pickup on the mixed set.
• Assault Vest is a viable pickup for Yveltal as it has the power and bulk for it. Furthermore, it can sustain with Oblivion Wing. You do lose the ability to Taunt, however, which makes Yveltal less effective against stall.
  
• Weakness Policy can be very frightening if successfully pulled off. Yveltal is probably one of the best Pokemon in the game at using this item due to its high stats, recovery from Oblivion Wing, and the ability to destroy Scarfers with Sucker Punch.
• Choice Specs Yveltal deals a lot of damage (its Dark Pulse is roughly as strong as that of +2 Darkrai), but not being able to Sucker Punch freely or make real use of Taunt restricts its flexibility. It can however potentially 2HKO Ho-Oh with Dark Pulse.
• A Specially Defensive version of the tank set is viable. Instead of specifically checking certain threats, it aims to use the combination of its special bulk and Foul Play to form a sturdy, general wall. However, most of Yveltal's weaknesses are specially based which hurts its tanking ability.
• Rock Slide can be used if you really hate Ho-Oh.
  
• Steel Wing dumpsters Carbink.
• Hidden Power Steel for the eventual Diancie craze.

Checks & Counters
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• Fairyceus, Sylveon, physically defensive Ho-Oh and Xerneas are probably your best counters, but they all despise Toxic. Refresh Fairy Arceus hardcounters Yveltal, albeit that variant is rare.
• Tyranitar destroys it if it lacks Focus Blast. Rock Arceus doesn't like Dark Pulse too much but is otherwise a fine check.
• Electric Arceus can set up Calm Mind on sets without Toxic and destroy Yveltal with STAB Judgement.
  
• Zekrom and Kyurem-W can hit it with SE STABs but keep in mind that Dark Pulse and Sucker Punch will hurt.
• Kyogre kills defensive Yveltal.

 

[SuperWumbology]

Jibaku: you can take it I was going to PM you about it
Fireburn: hyesssss

Taking over the writeup for Yveltal, though Jibaku will still have considerable input.

Much lol. I'm happy good ol' Yveltal's getting some attention.

 

[Jibaku]

Yveltal will be in good hands :)