[OVERVIEW]
No one would have ever thought about using Serperior until the long-awaited release of its Dream World ability, Contrary. This ability, when combined with Leaf Storm, gives Serperior a 130 Base Power STAB move with the side effect of a Nasty Plot, allowing it to attack and boost its Special Attack at the same time! This would have turned Serperior into a terrifying special sweeper if it weren't for its middling special movepool, which is limited to Dragon Pulse and Hidden Power for coverage. This has led to the rise of defensive Serperior being the more popular set as a way to check physical attackers with the combination of Reflect, Synthesis, and Rocky Helmet, with Leaf Storm tacked on to maintain an offensive presence. Serperior can also make use of several other great support moves including Glare, Taunt, Light Screen, and Leech Seed.
Serperior is gifted with a great Speed stat, which allows it to outspeed key physical threats such as Garchomp and Mega Kangaskhan, as well as anything slower, meaning it can quickly set up Reflect before being attacked or pick off a weakened foe with Leaf Storm while gaining the Special Attack boost. Being weak to common Pokemon such as Talonflame, Blaziken, Mega Salamence, and Greninja, as well as being a little frail without Reflect set up and weak before a Leaf Storm boost, might make it seem as though Serperior would be a poor choice for your team; however, as far as Grass-type options go, having access to Contrary and not taking up a Mega slot are huge points in Serperior's favor.
[SET]
name: Solid Snake
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Leaf Storm
move 4: Glare / Hidden Power Rock / Taunt
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 116 HP / 220 Def / 172 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Reflect is used to lessen the damage received from physical attackers such as Garchomp and Mega Kangaskhan, which allows Serperior to take more hits and thus inflict more damage with its Rocky Helmet. Synthesis is important for healing so that Serperior can continue to stall physical attackers. Leaf Storm is Serperior's main source of offense, and it works well in conjunction with Contrary to give it a +2 boost in Special Attack every time it hits the foe; this brings Serperior's power to great levels even without Special Attack investment after a couple of boosts. Glare is fantastic for supporting Serperior's teammates, as the Speed drop can allow slower Pokemon such as Dragonite, Suicune, Porygon2, and Glalie to outspeed faster foes and can provide opportunities to set up or heal when they become fully paralyzed. It is also a great safe option when predicting a switch, as only Electric-type Pokemon are immune to it, and the only notable Electric-type Pokemon that is comfortable switching into Serperior is Zapdos. Hidden Power Rock can be used to hit Pokemon that resist Leaf Storm, such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard X and Y, Mega Salamence, and Dragonite, as well as many other Fire- and Flying-types, but it is quite weak without several boosts. Taunt is an option for shutting down defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, Cresselia, and Sableye.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature with 172 Speed EVs allows Serperior to outspeed Garchomp, the fastest, most relevant physical attacker that Serperior should be used to wall, while the remaining EVs are put into HP and Defense to allow Serperior to check physical attackers as well as possible. 116 HP and 220 Defense EVs give the best balance and allow Serperior to avoid a OHKO from Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge and take less than 50% from it with Reflect up, meaning Serperior can stall it with Synthesis. If using Hidden Power Rock, you'll need to increase the Speed EVs to 176 to still outspeed Garchomp due to the IV drop involved; this makes the most efficient balance of HP and Defense 140 HP (31 IV) and 192 Def (30 IV). This does, however, give Adamant Mega Kangaskhan a very minor chance to OHKO with Double-Edge due to the drop in Defense. Rocky Helmet is the best item to use, as it inflicts chip damage on physical attackers, allowing Serperior to whittle them down into Leaf Storm's KO range.
Usage Tips
========
This set aims to check physical attackers and allow Serperior to boost its Special Attack against them while it tanks their moves. Serperior is actually quite frail without Reflect being set up, so it is best to either lead with this Serperior or get it onto the field after a slow Volt Switch or U-turn or after one of your own Pokemon has been knocked out so that it doesn't have to take unnecessary damage. If you can predict a weaker move such as Kangaskhan's Fake Out or Garchomp's Earthquake, Serperior can use those as an opportunity to switch in without taking too much damage. Try to get Reflect set up as soon as possible; however, if you predict a switch to a special attacker, it might not be the best move. Glare is usually the safest option, as only Electric-type Pokemon are immune to it, and the paralysis support is often more beneficial to Serperior's teammates than Reflect's Defense boost. Once Serperior is comfortably behind Reflect against a physical attacker or the foe has been weakened enough, it can begin using Leaf Storm to boost its Special Attack and attempt a sweep.
Team Options
========
Serperior is a sitting duck against Flying- and Fire-type Pokemon, both of which are a common sight in the Battle Spot Singles metagame and include powerhouses such as Mega Salamence, Talonflame, Mega Charizard X and Y, and Blaziken, so adequate team support is necessary. Landorus-T is an excellent choice due to its ability to offer defensive support with Intimidate, get Serperior onto the field safely with U-turn, and take on these Pokemon. Mega Manectric, while being much frailer, is an example of a Pokemon with Intimidate and access to a pivoting move in Volt Switch. Suicune pairs well, as it forms a strong physically defensive core with Serperior and is capable of taking Ice-type attacks from Pokemon such as Greninja lacking Grass Knot, Weavile, and Mamoswine. Mega Charizard X and Y both are handy partners for Serperior, as they are able to take on Steel-types such as Aegislash, Mega Mawile, Scizor, Ferrothorn, Mega Metagross, and Heatran. Mega Charizard Y also provides sun support with its ability Drought, which increases the amount of HP Serperior receives from Synthesis. Porygon2 is a decent partner for its ability to check Pokemon such as Greninja, Talonflame, and Mega Salamence. It also appreciates the support that Reflect and Glare provide. Clefable greatly appreciates the support from Reflect and Glare too, as it allows it to set up Calm Mind and Minimize more easily against physical attackers.
[SET]
name: Offensive Leaf Storm
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ground
move 3: Dragon Pulse
move 4: Glare / Taunt
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 248 SpA / 12 SpD / 248 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Leaf Storm, in combination with Contrary, is the only reason to use this set, and it is the main move that you will be selecting in battle. Hidden Power and Dragon Pulse are chosen as a means of hitting the Steel- and Dragon-type Pokemon that resist Leaf Storm. Fire is the preferred type, as it hits Ferrothorn and Scizor for 4x super effective damage and hits Skarmory super effectively. Ground can be used instead to hit Heatran hard. Dragon Pulse hits Mega Salamence, Mega Charizard X and Y, Dragonite, Latios, Latias, Hydreigon, and Mega Sceptile, but Leaf Storm is more powerful against Garchomp because of its secondary Ground typing. Glare is the preferred option in the last slot for its ability to paralyze anything that isn't an Electric-type, but Taunt can be used to stop Pokemon such as Chansey and Cresselia from using their many status moves. Hidden Power Rock can be used as a way to surprise Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y switch-ins, but doing so leaves Serperior walled by Steel-types.
Set Details
========
Because Hidden Power Fire requires an even IV in both Special Attack and Speed, 248 EVs in these stats is the most efficient number at level 50. The leftover 12 EVs are put into Special Defense to give Download Porygon2 an Attack boost. If using Hidden Power Ground, an EV spread of 248 SpA / 8 SpD / 252 Spe should be used. Timid is used to get the jump on fast Pokemon such as Garchomp, Mega Lucario, Latios, Latias, Mega Kangaskhan, and everything else in the crowded base 100 Speed tier. Focus Sash is used because Serperior is actually quite frail and is prone to being OHKOed by stronger attacks. A Life Orb can be used instead to give Serperior a much-needed boost to its attacks. A Lum Berry is also an option to protect against Thunder Waves and Swaggers, which are quite common in the metagame.
Usage Tips
========
Focus Sash Serperior does not want to switch into attacks, as this breaks the Focus Sash, rendering it useless. Therefore, it is best to either lead with Serperior or bring it in as a revenge killer. Life Orb and Lum Berry Serperior can switch more freely; however, it is still unadvised due to Serperior's frailty. Try to take advantage of Water-type Pokemon such as Azumarill, Suicune, and Rotom-W to start gaining boosts with Leaf Storm, or start boosting by finishing off slower foes such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Gyarados that have been weakened to within Leaf Storm's KO range. Serperior's coverage moves are quite weak before boosting, so even if you can hit something super effectively with them it is advised to try to boost first so that they can do more respectable damage. If you predict a switch, Glare is a great option, as often boosting against a switch-in is wasted by Serperior needing to switch out, whereas paralysis lasts the whole match.
Team Options
========
As mentioned previously, Serperior is actually quite frail and falls victim to bulkier Pokemon that it cannot KO, so it needs strong defensive support to succeed. Intimidate users such as Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Gyarados are great for their ability to beat Serperior's Fire-type checks, whereas the Defense drop granted by Intimidate can also help Serperior take some physical attacks itself. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Rotom-W, and Mega Slowbro are fantastic for taking on strong physical attackers such as Talonflame and Mega Kangaskhan and help create two-thirds of a Fire / Water / Grass core. Mega Charizard X or Y can be used to take on the many Steel-types that wall Serperior, such as Aegislash. Mega Charizard Y also provides sun support, which increases the power of Serperior's Hidden Power Fire, while both Mega formes appreciate having opposing Water- and Rock-types dealt with by Serperior. Porygon2 can help check Greninja, Talonflame, and Mega Salamence. Garchomp can be used to dispatch Fire- and Steel-types and also enjoys having Serperior to deal with bulky Water-types. Slow Volt Switch and U-turn users can be used to help get Serperior onto the field safely; these include Rotom-W, Scizor, and defensive Landorus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Giga Drain can be used on the all-out attacker set as a way to recover health, but it is weak without Special Attack boosts and severely outclassed by Leaf Storm as a way to deal damage. Light Screen is an option for patching Serperior's Special Defense on the Solid Snake set, but Serperior generally prefers Glare's support or Hidden Power Rock's coverage. Knock Off can be used to cripple item-reliant Pokemon, but the Solid Snake set isn't fazed by many items and the all-out attacker would rather be trying to boost or KO the foe. Mirror Coat can be used alongside a Focus Sash as a way to surprise special attackers. Mean Look can be used to trap Pokemon that Serperior can set up on, but it requires Serperior to give up valuable coverage or Glare. Swagger can be used in conjunction with Glare to form a parafusion set, but it's better done by Pokemon such as Klefki and Liepard, which have access to Prankster. Hidden Power Ice can be used over Dragon Pulse as a way to still hit Dragon-type Pokemon, but especially Salamence and Dragonite, as well as Garchomp and Landorus-T; however, it means losing Fire- or Ground-type coverage, which leaves Serperior walled by Steel-types. Leech Seed is an option on the Solid Snake set as a way to passively recover health while also whittling down the health of the foe; however, Synthesis usually provides enough recovery, and Glare is overall more valuable in the last slot. A Choice Scarf or Choice Specs can be used to spam Leaf Storm more quickly or more powerfully, respectively; however, being locked into Leaf Storm will leave Serperior walled by anything that resists Grass, and Serperior's coverage moves are quite weak when it can't make use of its boosts from Leaf Storm.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Talonflame**: Talonflame ignores Serperior's Speed with priority Brave Bird and OHKOes it unless Reflect is up. It also 4x resists Leaf Storm, but it has to watch out for Hidden Power Rock.
**Greninja**: Greninja is naturally faster than Serperior and can OHKO it with Ice Beam. It can't switch into a Leaf Storm, though, and has to watch out for Glare.
**Mega Salamence**: Mega Salamence is naturally faster than Serperior and can KO it with an Aerilate-boosted Return or Double-Edge. It can also use Serperior as setup fodder for Dragon Dance due to its 4x resistance to Leaf Storm, but it has to watch out for a boosted Dragon Pulse.
**Gengar**: Gengar resists Leaf Storm due to its Poison typing and can KO Serperior with Sludge Bomb. Mega Gengar is even bigger trouble because it outspeeds Serperior and traps it with Shadow Tag.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard X and Y, Blaziken, Heatran, Rotom-H, Volcarona, and Chandelure all resist Leaf Storm and can KO Serperior with their Fire-type STAB moves. Serperior can carry Hidden Power Rock or Ground, however, so they have to watch out for that.
**Steel-types**: Aegislash, Mawile, Ferrothorn, Scizor, Skarmory and Klefki all resist Leaf Storm and are usually bulky enough to outlast Serperior. They need to watch out for a super effective Hidden Power, though, especially Ferrothorn and Scizor, as they are 4x weak to Hidden Power Fire, Serperior's preferred type.
**Fast Electric-types**: Raikou, Mega Manectric, Jolteon, and Choice Scarf Thundurus-T are immune to Glare by virtue of their typing, outspeed Serperior, and can 2HKO it with Hidden Power Ice or, in Mega Manectric's case, Flamethrower. Thundurus can also paralyze Serperior with Prankster Thunder Wave.
**Zapdos**: Zapdos not only is immune to Glare due to its Electric typing, but it also resists Leaf Storm and can stall out its PP with Roost and its ability, Pressure.
**Porygon2**: While it can't tank boosted Leaf Storms, Download Porygon2 can come in against the Solid Snake set and receive a Special Attack boost, after which it stands a good chance to OHKO Serperior with Ice Beam.
**Cresselia and Chansey**: If Serperior lacks Taunt, Cresselia and Chansey are solid counters to Serperior and can stall it out with their recovery and status moves.
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