Keldeo [available from June 23rd to August 31st]

• Access to Cheer Up, Calm Mind, & Swords Dance
  One of the best new boosting moves, having access to Cheer Up (+1 Atk / +1 SpA) lets Kerudio go mixed with its already excellent Speed stat. This is really the dealmaker for Kerudio, and I fully expect almost every set bar Choice-locked sets to use it. As if that weren't good enough, Kerudio also has Swords Dance to set up and abuse his attacks with. Swords Dance and Close Combat are a very deadly combination. Calm Mind in conjunction with Hydro Pump and Focus Blast is definitely something to watch out for, as well.
• Justice Heart
  If the rumor is true, Justice Heart raises attack when hit by a Dark-type attack. This lets Kerudio switch in and set up against most Dark-type Pokémon, especially Tyranitar. Unlike, say, Lucario, Kerudio has nothing to fear from anything Tyranitar can immediately do. This makes Kerudio especially deadly, since it can set up against potentially popular Pokémon immediately. Resistance to Dark-type attacks lets him come in without much worry of Stealth Rock and Spikes either, which is handy for a sweeper. The attack boost is an added bonus. Imagine switching in on a Tyranitar's Crunch, using Swords Dance on the switch, and having a +3 STAB Aqua Jet to wreck stuff with - that's absolutely insane!
• Powerful STAB priority
  As if having Swords Dance weren't enough, Kerudio also has access to Aqua Jet. Aqua Jet lets him set up and even nail faster Pokémon, all of which are rather physically frail given that they have to be very fast to catch Kerudio's base 108 Speed.
• Sword of Mystery
  Sword of Mystery is basically a Fighting-type version of Psycho Break: uses Kerudio's Special Attack stat to hit your opponent's defense. This means that Kerudio will have no problem smashing through the special defensive behemoth known as mystery.

Here are a couple of sets I have in mind for Kerudio. Big thanks to Rey for helping me come up with these!

Calm Mind

Kerudio @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Justice Heart
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
-Calm Mind
-Surf / Hydro Pump
-Sword of Mystery
-HP Electric / Taunt

Kerudio gets yet another boosting move in Calm Mind, giving it the potential to become a deadly special attacker. The Special Defense loss given from a Naive nature if offset by Calm Mind and Kerudio's great Special Defense stat.

Taunt pretty much means Blissey can't touch you with Thunder Wave and Toxic, allowing Kerudio to set up a couple of Calm Mind's, giving it an opportunity to slaughter anything foolish enough to stand in its way. Taunt also prevents Vaporeon, and Suicune from phazing you out with Roar, allowing Kerudio to set up on them with Calm Mind, and them dealing a hefty amount of damage with Focus Blast. The best Vaporeon and Suicune can do to Kerudio is HP Electric, which probably won't be 2HKOing without heavy special attack investment, since Kerudio has a solid 90 base Special Defense.
__________________

Swords Dance

Kerudio @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Justice Heart
Nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Swords Dance
-Aqua Jet / X-Scissor / Stone Edge / Taunt
-Close Combat
-Aqua Tail

Even though Kerudio has a mediocre 79 base Attack, it can utilize Swords Dance to become a fearsome physical threat. STAB priority in Aqua Jet is a great asset, while a SD boosted Aqua Tail + Close Combat can rip holes in numerous Pokémon, while providing excellent coverage as well. The second slot is up for grabs. Without X-Scissor, Celebi walls you. Without Stone Edge, you'll have trouble with Gyarados. And without Taunt, you can't prevent stuff from phazing you out. Personally, I think Aqua Jet is the best option here, but, some of you may beg to differ. What move do you guys think is best in the second slot?
__________________

Cheer Up

Kerudio@ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Justice Heart
Nature: Hasty / Naive
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
-Cheer Up
-Sword of Mystery
-Hydro Pump / Surf
-Stone Edge

With Cheer Up boosting its exceptional 129 base Special Attack and decent 79 base Attack, Kerudio has the potential to become a massive offensive threat in Generation V. Resistances to priority moves like Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet, and Sucker Punch is a huge plus as well. Swords of Mystery is a special move with 85 base power move, and 100 accuracy. It's rumored to hit for physical damage. If this is true, you can smash Pokémon like Blissey and Snorlax for serious damage. Though, this set is largely outclassed by Kerudio's Calm Mind set, since it can do everything this can, but better.
__________________

Overall, I think Kerudio can prove to be a force to be reckoned with in Generation V. With great bulk, access to Cheer Up, Calm Mind, Swords Dance, and several powerful attacks, I can see it causing devastation, leaving only dust in its wake. I'll leave this thread open for discussion. feel free to post new sets, your opinion on Kerudio, Pokémon that can stop it, and anything else you guys feel warrant discussion! I'm looking forward to what you guys have to say!

This thing is really cool. Swimming Goggles seems like it was made for it. It has a great speed stat on its own, but with this it means outspeeding almost everything. On top of that it gets a move that raises both its attacking stats and a great mixed movepool. I'm really looking forward to trying this thing out. It's going to be hard to figure out what it's using because Swords Dance and Calm Mind have their own merit and can easily fit a niche in any team. I agree with you, this will definitely be top tier for standard play.

This Pokemon looks totally boss. I'm particularly interested in the Cheer Up set, which allows it to attack with a boosted Hydro Pump and Close Combat from a comfortable Speed stat of 108. Not like it matters that it'll tie with Infernape unless it ends up being seriously susceptible to Grass Knot (which I kind of doubt given its size, but who knows). That said, I also like that it just has so many options available to it for boosting. It's unfortunate that it doesn't get Aura Sphere for the CM set, but what can you do. Definitely looking forward to giving this guy a try.

I'm loving Swimming Goggles on this thing. This is the 4th member of that legendary trio/quartet I suppose?

Kerudio is one of those pokemon that combines two of the best offensive typings in an excellent way.

A simple moveset of Cheer Up / Close Combat / Hydro Pump / Ice Beam would allow it to utilize its higher offensive stat to the fullest, employing STAB Close Combat to muscle through the likes of Blissey and Empoleon who would otherwise wall the set.

That said, its attack isn't stellar (it is lower than Froslass, to be honest), which means that it could run into serious trouble with the bulky waters. Suicune, Vaporeon, and Starmie especially threaten to Roar it out/zap it with powerful electric attacks, the former two regaining health in the process with Water Absorb.

Doesnt get Ice Beam sadly, me and Bloo checked up, so X-Scissor or HP Ice are your best bets for the grasses.

Not a lot more I can add, since you know, we spoke a fuckload about this thing on IRC eventually making up these sets lol, but yeah, the other sets that can be viable that you didnt add are a support one with Toxic and Roar, or a Roar Calm Minder, kind of like Suicune and Latias, though sadly this thing has no Recovery, limiting it on those aspects.

Kerudio @ Swimming Goggles
Hasty 76 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe

Cheer Up
Hydro Pump
HP [Electric]
Close Combat

I really wish it learned Thunderbolt, but running HP electric will mitigate (Kind of) the problems with bulky waters.


Edit : The evs are trivial and will depend on the actual boost the goggles give you.

I just Realized!!! Kerudio is the PERFECT counter to Darkrai!!! Not only is it fighting (which resists darkrai), but if the data on its ability is correct, then it absorbs and neutralizes all dark attacks (Hopefully including dark void) but also, if darkrai uses trick on it and it has the swimming goggles, then Darkrai gets put to sleep!!! Its perfect!

Hm. This guy might make a fantastic anitlead. If the SG really give a +1 bonus, He could start off with a max of 519 speed, and taunt any stealth rock lead from last generation. Then he can proceed to wreak havoc with his attacking moves.

Kerudio is interesting in that it has low attack but a Swords Dance set is actually very viable simply due to its typing really. Swords Dance/Aqua Jet/Close Combat/Stone Edge has pretty fantastic coverage and priority tops it all off. The speed is nice for a Swords Dancer, and it could even run a mixed SD set with Hydro Pump or something instead of Stone Edge to smack ghosts and physical walls harder.

This is a very interesting Pokemon. It can work similarly to Infernape as a mixed attacker, sharing the same base Speed but with a way higher SpA stat and excellent defences to work with. This thing is going to be a stable OU Pokemon in Gen V in my opinion. Resistance to bullet punch, sucker punch and aqua jet is just a bonus.

Wisher said:

Hm. This guy might make a fantastic anitlead. If the SG really give a +1 bonus, He could start off with a max of 519 speed, and taunt any stealth rock lead from last generation. Then he can proceed to wreak havoc with his attacking moves.

Click to expand...

This has caught my interest! Do you have an idea for a moveset? If so, feel free to post it here and I'll add it into the OP of this thread.

Lugia12341 said:

I just Realized!!! Kerudio is the PERFECT counter to Darkrai!!! Not only is it fighting (which resists darkrai), but if the data on its ability is correct, then it absorbs and neutralizes all dark attacks (Hopefully including dark void) but also, if darkrai uses trick on it and it has the swimming goggles, then Darkrai gets put to sleep!!! Its perfect!

Click to expand...

That didn't cross my mind! Now that I think of it, that's actually pretty sweet. With Swimming Goggles, Kerudio is faster than Darkrai, so you can switch-in, and watch it run away in fear of Kerudio's powerful Fighting-type attacks. Kerudio is pretty much makes an ideal way of handling Dark-types :)

IcyMan28 said:

Kerudio is one of those pokemon that combines two of the best offensive typings in an excellent way.

A simple moveset of Cheer Up / Close Combat / Hydro Pump / Ice Beam would allow it to utilize its higher offensive stat to the fullest, employing STAB Close Combat to muscle through the likes of Blissey and Empoleon who would otherwise wall the set.

That said, its attack isn't stellar (it is lower than Froslass, to be honest), which means that it could run into serious trouble with the bulky waters. Suicune, Vaporeon, and Starmie especially threaten to Roar it out/zap it with powerful electric attacks, the former two regaining health in the process with Water Absorb.

Click to expand...

Yeah, its low attack is a bummer, but what can you do. A specially oriented set will likely be more popular on Kerudio, so running HP Electric, as giggity69 stated, is an option. A Cheer Up boosted, Life Orb HP Electric should deal loads to most bulky Waters. It's also a shame it doesn't have Ice Beam! That would be a great way to punish Dragon-types, and various Grasses.

Other than bulky Waters, I've been thinking of things that can stop Kerudio in its tracks, and I've come up with one after reading whistle's thread. Burunkeru's sports an immunity to Kerudio's Fighting-type attacks and immunity to its Water-type STABs (since it has Water Absorb). It also has access to Will-O-Wisp and Recover, meaning it can cripple Kerudio, and replenish any health it may have lost in the process. Kerudio has nothing in its arsenal (as far as I'm aware) that allow it to break through Burunkeru, so this Pokémon is definitely going to be a thorn in Kerudio's side. Are there any other Pokémon you guys can think of that may give this little guy some trouble?

Well damn you sold me on this pokemon. It doesn't look like much in its sprite, lol.

Kerudio @ Swimming Goggles
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Aqua Jet
-Close Combat
-Taunt

That seems good enough to me. EVS who knows at this point, enough speed to outrun whatever, enough attack to Ko certain shit, and the rest in bulk to shrug off bulky waters that don't have an elecric move. Seriously, come in on tyranitar and get that +1, then SD on the switch for +3 and tear shit up with Close Combat. Taunt Burunkeru before switching out, then it can't do shit. Taunt Gyarados, and basically everything with that 519 speed (???) before getting out. Shit like Zapdos can probably take even a +3 Aqua Jet or Close Clombat too. But the two moves can still take out a lottttt. I know it's early to say but this pokemon looks too good. I'll definitly use it lol

edit: i just remembered how low its attack is. I guess it does need to go mixed.

i was fawning over terakion earlier (who i still think will be good), but this guy seems like he could possibly be the best of the new fighting/other type legendaries (even though he's not part of terakion's trio, but still). Looking at some of the posted sets above, this little guy could be a monster.

So far, its movepool is complimentary with its stats. Sweet. Considering the fact that there are a few undiscovered moves!

Judging from the moves released so far, I am confident that Close Combat still remains as one of the best moves in the game and the quartet will def benefit from their fighting type. If Justice Heart gives them immunity to Dark, that is the cherry on the top of the cake. A giant crushing cake.

I am thinking Taunt / Calm Mind / Hydro Pump / Focus Blast @ Goggles, maybe with Tyranitar to trap Latias and kill sun and stuff. No need to CC Blissey. It's not coming in straight away in case you SD, and by the time you've got a CM it's too late because you can Taunt it, CM a couple of times and then slaughter it with Focus Blast.

Ah, yes, Taunt! That seems like an excellent move choice. It pretty much means Blissey can't touch you with Thunder Wave and Toxic, allowing Kerudio to set up a couple of Calm Mind's, giving it an opportunity to slaughter anything foolish enough to stand in its way. Taunt also prevents Vaporeon, and Suicune from phazing you out with Roar, allowing Kerudio to set up on them with Calm Mind, and them dealing a hefty amount of damage with Focus Blast. The best Vaporeon and Suicune can do to Kerudio is HP Electric, which probably won't be 2HKOing without heavy special attack investment, since Kerudio has a solid 90 base Special Defense. I guess Kerudio will still have trouble against Bounce variants of Gyarados, though.

Logan said:

Kerudio @ Swimming Goggles
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Aqua Jet
-Close Combat
-Taunt

Taunt Burunkeru before switching out, then it can't do shit.

Click to expand...

Haha, yeah. Though, the Burunkeru user can always opt to use Boiling Water (a Water-type move that deals damage while having a chance to burn the target) instead of Will-O-Wisp on Kerudio if they somehow find out you are carrying Taunt. There's always the risk of being hit by Boiling Water and being burnt if you decide to stay in and Taunt it. However, if you're gutsy enough, you can take that chance. If you want to play it safe, it might be best to immediately switch out.

So, yeah, that was a great catch guys. I'll add it to the OP of this thread shortly. Thanks!

Though Kerudio looks to be a very powerful mon, its downside is the lack of a reliable way to hurt Pokemon that are resistant to its STABs. Bulky Grass-types have a pretty high counter potential, as they don't have to rely upon secondary damage to hurt Kerudio. Grass/Poison-types are especially powerful in that they resist both STABs. Morobaeru (the mushroom/pokeball mon) has 114/70/80 defenses and Regeneration heals its HP by a third when it switches out, so I would say it has a lot going for it as a counter. If Kerudio doesn't run X-Scissor, Celebi will basically walk all over it (assuming the horse is a pretty light Pokemon, it would probably lead Celebi to run Leaf Storm), and Shaymin can probably hold its own too.

Psychic-types also hold a lot of ground against Kerudio. Slowbro has the same Regeneration thing going for it that Morobaeru does and it resists both STABs too. But a CM set would probably defeat it, considering Taunt shuts him down pretty well and Psychic won't be doing much damage after a couple of boosts. If Kerudio doesn't run Swimming Goggles (or if we're just misunderstanding the mechanics), Starmie is faster and can Thunderbolt or Psychic it while sponging a STAB attack with its resists. Also, if Latias were to be brought down to OU again, which may happen considering how much the game has changed, it would theoretically make an amazing counter to Kerudio.

Hence, Tyranitar, Beej - it deals with Latias, Celebi etc.

With Swimming Goggles, you don't even need Ice Beam really, cause STAB Focus Blast will hurt all Grass-types like a mofo (bar Celebi, who looks like it will be a natural counter to this beast... but then again, X-Scissor... damn). Not to mention, 91/90/90 defenses is very bulky. Yeah, going to experiment w/ this bad ass for sure.

Rising_Dusk said:

It's unfortunate that it doesn't get Aura Sphere for the CM set, but what can you do.

Click to expand...

According to serebii it gets Sword of Mystery via an in game event which should be:

[M548] Skin Sword
Category: Special
Type: Fighting
PP: 10
Power: 85
Acc: 100
Additional Effect: Causes physical damage.

Now you don't have to hope for an Attack raise of Justice Heart all you need is:

Kerudio @ Swimming Goggles/Life Orb
modest/timid
-Substitute/Calm Mind
-Hydropump/Surf
-Skin Sword
-HP[Ice/Dark/Ghost]

No mention of Sub + CM?

I guess Taunt + CM is kinda similar, but Sub + CM would work too. Sub + CM allows you to run Leftovers to take advantage of those decent defenses and great typing. It would ROFL at Blissey without SToss as well as many bulky waters that can't touch it after it CM's from behind a Sub.

This is one of my team members for this gen.

There's nothing quite like a special attacker that slaughters blissey and snorlax. I think we need to have a grip on the environment before we start messing with evs and natures. You might even be able to still kill Blissey with no evs and a neutral atk nature. So i know I want close combat, hydro pump and swimming goggles. The third move will be either calm mind or cheer up, but what about that final move? HP electric to deal with tentacruel (im not sold on the water/ghost at all)?

This is going to be my favourite set:

Defensive Calm Minder

Kerudio @ Leftovers
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Calm Mind
- Boiling Water/Hydro Pump
- Focus Blast
- Taunt

This thing is really a beast, especially because of its amazing typing.
With 252 HP EVs Kerudio is a lot bulkier and even without investiment it hits 688 SAtk after two Calm Minds. Boiling Water is preferred over Hydro Pump because of that awesome 30% chance of burning the target. For the last slot Taunt is the perfect move as it stops status aliments and phazers.
Obviously it can't beat every Poké of the game but once its few counters are weakened or KOed it can easily sweep opposing teams.

Well I just noticed on Serebii that Kerudio gets an exclusive move, Sword of Mystery. 85 Attack, 100 Acc, 10 PP, Special FIghting. The thing with this is that it hits for physical damage, like Psycho Shock!!!! So on Calm Mind sets it can slam Blissey, Tyranitar, Snorlax, and tons of others for MASSIVE damage!!!