The Royal Snake: Serperior in NU

[Treecko37]

Serperior

75/75/95/75/95/113

Serperior is a really cool Pokemon, and it has the potential to run a lot of different really good sets. Thanks to its high speed, good mixed defenses, and access to a few different great boosting moves, Serperior is an unpredictable threat in the current metagame.

And yet, it has really disappointing usage.

| 47 | Serperior | 4.29052% | 6502 |

Serperior is an under-appreciated threat in the current Neverused metagame. You have all kinds of different options to your disposal! Some of its more notable moves follow.

Aromatherapy
Calm Mind
Coil
Dragon Pulse
Dragon Tail
Giga Drain
Glare
Hidden Power
Knock Off
Leaf Blade
Leech Seed
Light Screen
Pursuit
Reflect
Swords Dance
Synthesis
Taunt

As you can see, it's got all kind of different options it can play around with! I'm currently using a Calm Mind Taunt set to great effect. What kinds of sets have you guys used?

[vyomov]

To be honest, I'm waiting for Contrary to release before making a new set.
Before this, I used a Growth/Solarbeam/Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day

[FLCL]

life orb sub cm is by far my favorite set and i explained a lot about why its so good in some of my other posts

This is one of the most underrated sweepers in the tier and is capable of sweeping through entire teams once it gets going. It's really easy to set up on something like Alomomola or Seismitoad or force Golurk and friends out with the threat of Giga Drain. Serperior's high speed makes it hard to revenge kill without a choice Scarf user and it usually has enough bulk to survive a hit or two from those Pokemon. The greatest thing about this set is that if I can't do enough damage to the opponent, I can simply Substitute down into Overgrow range, which allows me to land a huge hit on the opponent and regain back a lot of HP. Hidden Power Rock is the best possible coverage move for Serperior since it hits Scolipede, Jynx, and Flying-types.

apparently sub coil with leaf blade and return is also good according to nu champion cbb but i have yet to test that out. cm dragon tail is another interesting set since it can phaze around its normal counters which can be devistating with hazards support and also beat opposing calm minders that try to setup alongside it (mostly musharna)

all in all a much better grass-type than treecko37

[Dcae]

I love Dual Screens support because rarely do non Psychic types get both. It has excellent Speed and pretty nice defenses to set the screens up well and consistently. It also has access to Synthesis, allowing it to heal off damage and be a consistent setter, or just put Taunt instead for a more offensive team as to prevent things to set up on it. High speed once again allows it to put pressure down quickly.

[LivingRhino]

I have to agree with FLCL. I'm currently using a Serperior set that uses Life Orb together with CM. Treecko37 gave me the idea, and I'm very pleased with how it works out.

Serperior @ Life Orb
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Jolly Nature
- Giga Drain
- Calm Mind
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Taunt

It's awesome in doing it's job, and I'm pretty happy that I have it now. Before I used the Coil set, which pleased me way less... It's just a very powerful mon, and it can destroy Alomomola, which is why I even love it more! Stupid Alo...

[Punchshroom]

I think we can all agree that Serperior is bar none the best non weather-reliant Grass type in NU because of its awesome speed and boosting moves. Serperior has, imo, become like the Raikou of NU: acceptable two move coverage, high speed, good bulk, and spells great trouble if you let it get that boost.

[Treecko37]

Originally Posted by Fat FLCL

all in all a much better grass-type than treecko37

I will fight you.

Originally Posted by Fat Dcae

I love Dual Screens support because rarely do non Psychic types get both. It has excellent Speed and pretty nice defenses to set the screens up well and consistently. It also has access to Synthesis, allowing it to heal off damage and be a consistent setter, or just put Taunt instead for a more offensive team as to prevent things to set up on it. High speed once again allows it to put pressure down quickly.

I agree with this. I was pretty interested in its Dual Screens set myself, though I have yet to use it.

I also though about running an anti-lead set with Taunt/Glare/Giga Drain/Leech Seed|Knock Off.

Could be cool! o:

[Cherub Agent]

I'd add hidden power to its notable moves n_n
Rhino i hope you didnt take that Serperior from your team import because it looks like youve replaced the physical sets moves with the special ones lol. Evs and nature...

So yeah ive been using subcm with life orb and its insane. As flcl stated being able to just sub into overgrow rabge to unleash a devastating leaf storm is a really nasty little strategy. Taunt is however as good since you do take less residual damage and can prevent stealth rock early game, and generally avoid opposing setup. Ive not used serperior all that much but i can confirm that its an amazing pokemon in this metagame. It ohkos and outspeeds scolipede after SR n_n

Has anyone used dragon pulse effectively? And what are your favourite hidden powers to use on serperior?

[Treecko37]

I run HP Rock, and Dragon Pulse was mainly there because of its awesome neutral coverage. The issue with Dragon-type coverage in NU without STAB is obvious; its super-effective coverage is disappointing.

I usually run HP Rock, mainly because it hits Scolipede and Birds super-effectively. HP Fire does hit Bug and Steel-types, but because Steel-types are pretty uncommon in the tier, I feel that HP Rock is better.

[Punchshroom]

Hidden Power Rock is pretty much the go-to for Serperior, hitting Fires, Bugs, Flyings and Jynx all in one. HP Fire is also an option if you've covered for Fire- and Flying-types to hit Grasses, Steels and Jynx (Dry Skin) harder.

Edit: Dammit Treecko37 :P.

[LivingRhino]

Originally Posted by Fat Cherub Agent

I'd add hidden power to its notable moves n_n
Rhino i hope you didnt take that Serperior from your team import because it looks like youve replaced the physical sets moves with the special ones lol. Evs and nature...

So yeah ive been using subcm with life orb and its insane. As flcl stated being able to just sub into overgrow rabge to unleash a devastating leaf storm is a really nasty little strategy. Taunt is however as good since you do take less residual damage and can prevent stealth rock early game, and generally avoid opposing setup. Ive not used serperior all that much but i can confirm that its an amazing pokemon in this metagame. It ohkos and outspeeds scolipede after SR n_n

Has anyone used dragon pulse effectively? And what are your favourite hidden powers to use on serperior?

Yeah, it's the wrong one, I didn't notice it when typing it, my bad.

[Majestic Electric]

Serperior @Leftovers
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 74 Def / 182 Spe
Timid Nature
-Substitute
-Glare
-Giga Drain
-Dragon Tail

I remember using this set a lot back in the BW1 era. I decided to test it out and it's a pretty good set in the current meta. Unlike the popular SubCM set, this set takes advantage of Serpeior's excellent support options. Sub + Glare is obviously the crux of the set. Once your opponent's mon is paralyzed, your slower sweepers will have a much easier time sweeping. Giga Drain is a must on this set , replenshing Serperior's HP and therefore letting him setup more subs. Giga Drain also works well in conjunction with Leftovers. Dragon Tail prevents Serperior from being setup on and stacks up damage taken from Stealth Rock. I forgot who originally posted the set, but all credit should be given to that person.

[NfskMjmMal]

Originally Posted by Fat vyomov

To be honest, I'm waiting for Contrary to release before making a new set.

The only reason why I don't think this is a very good idea is because there is probably a very small chance that Serperior will remain in NU after Contrary is released. If you're talking about higher tiers though, then great lol.

[EBeast]

I agree with LivingRhino that Taunt + CM is also a very good set.


Serperior (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Taunt
- Calm Mind
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Rock]

This is by far my favorite set to run on this. Serperior has awesome Speed, great bulk, and the perfect offensive typing to make a good anti-lead to a lot of popular Stealth Rock users such as Golem, Regirock, Golurk, Probopass. It can easily Taunt them or threaten with its STAB Giga Drain to prevent set-up early game. Serperior can still function mid to late game thanks to Calm Mind, and Taunt can work there to always win 1v1 Calm Mind wars against opposing Serperiors, Gardevoir, or Musharna. While Serperior can't freely access Overgrow anymore as it can with Substitute, it gains a lot more utility with Taunt and it comes in handy for many situations.

I also agree that Hidden Power Rock is the best coverage move to have on Serp since it hits everything Serp wants to hit. I've used Hidden Power Fire before, but I think I'll go back to Rock since Serp already beats most of the Grass-type Pokemon in the tier by setting up some Calm Minds on them and even with HP Fire you shouldn't be messing with an SpD Roselia or Vileplume. HP Fire does have the ability to hit Metang, but Metang's Meteor Mash 2HKOes so Serp doesn't really want to stay in on it either. Serperior is really good in this metagame and was honestly hella good last one as well, but was overlooked a lot.

[sickweare]

Originally Posted by Fat serebii

In celebration of the 15th annivesary of thé Pokémon Centres across Japan, several new event Pokémon have been announced. For Sapporo, Empoleon will be given from May 15th to 21st and holds an Air Balloon, for Tohoku, Serperior will be given from May 22nd to May 28th and holds Leftovers,

Could it be the coveted Contrary Serperior being released? This would certainly become huge for Serperior's viability if so. Would it completely overtake the CM seta posted here previously though?

I love Serperior in and out of competitive play, but I think this would be quite an awesome jump for Serperior if it turns out to be Contrary Serperior. According to Serebii's event database it is unconfirmed what ability it will have.