Overview:
########
Initially, Xatu may not seem like the best Pokemon out there. Its stats are generally mediocre, with only its Special Attack and Speed stats being good. In addition to that, its typing leaves it weak to a lot of common types. However, it has an important niche: It is the only fully evolved Pokemon with access to Magic Bounce in RU. Thanks to this ability, Xatu can block hazards, making it a good fit on offensive teams that are weak to entry hazards and cannot afford to give up momentum with Defog or Rapid Spin. In addition to that, its movepool is pretty great, with plenty of offensive and supportive options to choose from. Its lacking bulk is a huge hindrance to it, however, especially considering it usually has to switch in multiple times in a battle to prevent entry hazards. It simply cannot take stray hits all too well, meaning it might get KOd before the opponent's hazard setters are incapacitated enough to take care of. If you have other means of getting rid of entry hazards, don't bother with Xatu, there are many Psychic-types out there that are better. If you need Magic Bounce, however, Xatu is the way to go.
Offensive
########
name: Offensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Roost
ability: Magic Bounce
item: Life Orb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
=========
Psychic is Xatu's main STAB move, hitting the majority of the tier for solid damage. Heat Wave hits Steel types that take Psychic like Escavalier, Doublade and Durant for great damage. Grass Knot OHKOs Rhyperior and 2HKOs Gastrodon and generally hits harder than its other moves vs bulky Waters. Roost is there for reliable recovery, allowing Xatu to stay healthy during the match.
Set Details
=========
The EV spread allows Xatu to hit as hard as possible, it needs every bit of offensive presence it can get. Timid is the recommended nature because it outspeeds things like Adamant Drapion, Jolly Hitmonlee and Timid Rotom-C and does great damage to them, OHKOing the latter two. Modest is a decent alternative, for Xatu likes to be able to hit harder, but keep in mind that without a Timid nature Xatu will fail to outspeed many relevant threats and therefore may not function optimally in some situations. Life Orb is the only item you should run on this set, because it allows Xatu to grab essential KOs and just hit hard in general.
Usage Tips
=========
Due to Xatu's frailty, switching it in requires a lot of prediction: switching it in without care will often lead to Xatu fainting. To keep Xatu healthy throughout the match, Roost should be used when you predict your opponent to switch; Xatu can't take hits well, so it shouldn't attempt to Roost when your opponent will probably stay in and attack. Make sure Xatu stays alive until your opponent's hazard setter is down or at least weakened up to the point where anything can pick it off.
Team options
=========
Xatu should only be used with Pokemon that heavily dislike hazards, such as Moltres and Fletchinder. Xatu fits best on teams that need hazard control to function optimally, but can't afford the loss in momentum that Rapid Spinners and Defoggers bring, so therefore it makes for a good teammate on hyperoffensive teams.
Support
########
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Roost
move 2: Psychic/U-Turn/Night Shade
move 3: Light Screen
Move 4: Reflect
ability: Magic Bounce
item: Light Clay
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Def / 216 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
=========
Dual Screens are the crux of this set and allow Xatu to come in on things that can't hit it hard and set up screens for its teammates to sweep more easily. Roost is used in order to give Xatu some longevity and let it support its team over the course of the match. Psychic is its most reliable STAB move; however, it does fail to do anything to Dark-types and resists, and it's not very strong without investment. As a result, Night Shade is an alternative that reliably damages anything in the tier; it gives Normal-types like Exploud a free switchin, however. U-Turn can be used in order to pivot and gain momentum in order to let a sweeper get a free switchin; it does, however, render Xatu without any offensive presence whatsoever.
Set Details
=========
216 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Xatu to outspeed everything up to Pokemon with base 90 Speed and a positive nature, such as Timid Meloetta, and set up screens before they get to launch an attack at Xatu. The rest of the EVs are dumped into its bulk, for Xatu needs all the bulk it can get. Light Clay is the only item you should be using on a dedicated Screens setter.
Usage Tips
=========
Xatu is best switched in on defensive Pokemon like Amoonguss, Alomomola and Registeel, for they can't beat Xatu one-on-one and thus give it a free turn to get up screens. Because Xatu isn't very bulky even with investment, switching it in against hyperoffensive teams requires a lot of prediction: having Pokemon on your team with U-Turn or Volt Switch can allow Xatu to potentially get a free switchin, however. Xatu's attacking move is only to be used when an opponent threatens to set up on it, for this set's objective is not to attack but to support. Thanks to Magic Bounce, Xatu can prevent opposing Defoggers from removing the Screens Xatu sets, which can really come in handy.
Team Options
=========
Dual Screens are best used on a team with frail setup sweepers in order to ease setup for them. Gorebyss, for example, makes for an excellent partner, for it can use Shell Smash without fear behind screens and pass to something that can sweep the opposing team with boosts under its belt. Other Pokemon that appreciate Dual Screens include CM Delphox and Fletchinder; they also really appreciate Xatu's ability to keep Stealth Rock off the field. This set is only viable on teams that really want Dual Screens, but can't afford to have hazards on the field.
Other Options
#########
Xatu's movepool is pretty big, and as such there are a few alternative sets Xatu can run to varying success. A Calm Mind set might initially seem generally outclassed by other Psychic-types. However, on teams with Bulk Up Baton Pass Combusken, a CM set with Stored Power actually becomes really great because of how well Xatu pairs with Combusken: thanks to Stored Power it can hit very hard even without SpA boosts, provided that Combusken has racked up enough Bulk Up and Speed Boost boosts, and with the Defense boosts from Bulk Up Xatu can set up Calm Minds much more easily. As a bonus, Magic Bounce stops the opponent from phazing you out and undoing all the stat boosts. A supporting set that's not dedicated to setting up Dual Screens is possible; it allows you to run moves like Thunder Wave and U-Turn, allowing Xatu to cripple fast Pokemon that threaten your team and pivot out with U-Turn. Signal Beam is an option on the offensive set if you have a problem with Psychic- and Dark-types. Signal Beam also is the only thing in Xatu's movepool that hits Meloetta hard, which makes it a very good move on Xatu considering how common Meloetta is.
Checks & Counters
#########
**Dark-types**: Dark-types can easily switch in on Xatu using its STAB move or Roost and threaten it out with a STAB Dark-type move. Frail Dark-types like Sharpedo and Shiftry are not entirely safe when switching in on the offensive set, but Pokemon like Drapion and Skuntank are pretty much safe switchins. The support set can even be turned into setup fodder by Drapion if it runs Swords Dance.
**Psychic-types**: Even offensive Xatu sets cannot defeat the likes of Meloetta, Reuniclus and Delphox, and all three of them can potentially set up with Calm Mind and threaten Xatu or just hit it really hard with Specs- or Life Orb-boosted attacks
Last edited:
