[OVERVIEW]
Kyurem-W fits well on offensive teams, as it can fulfill multiple roles and provide excellent support for a number of sweepers. Its high base Special Attack means it hits hard even in a metagame like Anything Goes, allowing it to break walls like Lugia, Yveltal, Giratina, and Ground Arceus. With a Choice Scarf equipped, it outspeeds much of the metagame, allowing it to revenge kill many threatening Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza. It can also act as a sleep absorber, which is incredibly useful due to the metagame's lack of Sleep Clause.
However, it relies on support from its teammates to do some jobs, as Stealth Rock damage prevents it from checking key Pokemon. Its defensive typing is also a weak point, only really helping it against Kyogre and making it weak to a number of relatively common types such as Steel. Its reliance on a Choice item means it can be played around relatively easily, meaning good switches by the opponent will force it out and cost momentum. It also faces competition from a number of Pokemon; for example, Ho-Oh threatens many of the Pokemon that wall Extreme Killer Arceus and Geomancy Xerneas, while Xerneas and Kyogre are strong special Choice Scarf users that can revenge kill and wallbreak well. It should also be noted that, due to in-game mechanics rather than any Species Clause, the use of more than one Kyurem-W or Kyurem-B is prohibited. However, although it isn't a great Pokemon in the Anything Goes metagame, Kyurem-W is overall a useful Pokemon capable of overcoming certain weaknesses that its competition faces, and therefore it can be worth using if it would fit well on your team.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Fusion Flare / Earth Power
move 4: Sleep Talk / Earth Power
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Turboblaze
nature: Modest
evs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is Kyurem-W's go-to attack, as it has 100% accuracy and doesn't lower its Special Attack. It also picks up a large number of important OHKOs and 2HKOs such as the OHKO on standard Mega Rayquaza and the 2HKO on Lugia. Draco Meteor is Kyurem-W's most powerful attack, capable of dealing heavy damage to many Pokemon, hitting threats like Ho-Oh hard. Fusion Flare is the best coverage move available, as it allows Kyurem-W to take out Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Aegislash, and Klefki and beat most Steel Arceus one-on-one. Sleep Talk allows Kyurem-W to hard check Darkrai and other sleep-inducing Pokemon.
Earth Power can be used over Fusion Flare because it hits threats like Primal Groudon harder; however, it isn't as effective at taking out all of the above threats and therefore should only be used if your team already has solid answers to these Pokemon. It can also be run over Sleep Talk if your team already has a Darkrai check. It should be noted that Earth Power is especially good if Kyurem-W is being used to support a Geomancy Xerneas, as it hits Primal Groudon, Steel Arceus, and Poison Arceus hard, all of which can cause trouble for Xerneas.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature are required for Kyurem-W to hit hard and pick up certain KOs. Choice Scarf allows it to function effectively as a revenge killer, and 216 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Modest Choice Scarf Kyogre. 40 HP EVs add to its bulk, although some of these may be moved to Speed to creep Choice Scarf Xerneas, which often also runs just enough investment to outspeed Choice Scarf Kyogre.
Usage Tips
========
Kyurem-W needs to be at a good level of HP in order to check Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza, so be wary of bringing it in if not needed, and try to keep Stealth Rock off your side of the field. Be wary of using the wrong move, as Pokemon such as Xerneas and Steel Arceus will happily use this as an opportunity to set up. At the same time, don't be too cautious—Draco Meteor will take a chunk out of any Pokemon that doesn't resist it, while an unexpected Fusion Flare can easily make way for another Pokemon to sweep later in the game. Finally, don't be afraid to sacrifice Kyurem-W. The large number of priority moves in the tier means it will rarely serve as a cleaner, but letting it faint while opening a hole in the opposing team's defenses is almost always worthwhile.
Team Options
========
Extreme Killer Arceus and Mega Rayquaza appreciate Kyurem-W's ability to defeat or force out a large number of their checks such as Steel-types, Yveltal, Lugia, Giratina, and Quagsire and deal heavy damage to Pokemon such as Primal Groudon. Geomancy Xerneas similarly appreciates Kyurem-W's ability to take out Steel-types and Amoonguss and hit Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon hard. Physical attackers such as Steel Arceus with Iron Head and Stone Edge pair well with Kyurem-W, as they take on many of its counters such as Ho-Oh, Chansey, and Xerneas.
Kyurem-W dislikes Stealth Rock, which prevents it from checking Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza effectively, so teammates capable of preventing or removing entry hazards are appreciated. Pokemon such as Mega Diancie, Mega Sableye, and support Arceus formes help with this. Kyurem-W also appreciates Stealth Rock being set on the opposing side, as this prevents Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and support Arceus formes from effectively checking it. Those same Arceus formes, as well as Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Primal Groudon, can be useful in this respect. Finally, Kyurem-W is somewhat frail due to its average defensive stats and weak typing, so offensive pressure and slow VoltTurn Pokemon that allow it to come in safely are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set provides far more power, but it gets surprisingly few OHKOs compared to the Choice Scarf set and is very easy to take out before it can do anything useful due to its low Speed. Similarly, while a Life Orb set's ability to switch moves might sound handy, the lack of Speed and extra chip damage from recoil mean it is rarely better than the Choice Scarf set. An Expert Belt set bluffing Choice Scarf might pick up the occasional extra KO; however, the risk of your opponent not falling for it and the low reward if successful generally mean this isn't worthwhile.
Focus Blast can replace Fusion Flare or Sleep Talk, as it has a reasonable amount of power behind it; however, it doesn't hit hard enough to make up for its worse coverage or frustrating 70% accuracy. Flash Cannon is an option for hitting Fairies such as Mega Diancie that can come in on Draco Meteor; however, Kyurem-W's other moves such as Ice Beam and Earth Power generally 2HKO these threats anyway. Stone Edge can be run to hit Ho-Oh, but it should be noted that the Attack investment required for an OHKO isn't worth it and the moveslot is generally better spent on other moves. Roost can be run to regain health as the foe is forced out; however, the damage Draco Meteor and Ice Beam put out alongside the momentum cost and moveslot generally mean this isn't viable. Dragon Pulse can be used over Draco Meteor to avoid the Special Attack drop, but the loss of power and the fact that Kyurem-W often wants to switch out anyway mean that this is very rarely useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Kyurem-W relies on being at full health to successfully check a number of Pokemon, and one round of Stealth Rock damage allows +2 Mega Rayquaza's Extreme Speed and Fairy and Steel Arceus's Judgment to OHKO it rather than 2HKO while also allowing Darkrai's Dark Pulse to 2HKO rather than 3HKO. Kyurem-W therefore needs Stealth Rock to be removed in order for it to do its job well.
**Xerneas and Fairy Arceus**: While the standard Geomancy Xerneas set can be 2HKOed by Ice Beam, many Xerneas sets will easily counter Kyurem-W. Fairy Arceus also does this job well, although it should be wary of chip damage, as Ice Beam has a small chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock.
**Certain Arceus Formes**: While it can defeat some Arceus formes, those that Kyurem-W can't hit super effectively, such as Water and Ghost, can come in on it and wall it or set up. However, hitting them with a Draco Meteor on the switch in and then switching to force them out can successfully wear them down somewhat.
**Ho-Oh**: If Stealth Rock isn't up, Ho-Oh easily defeats Kyurem-W while Regenerator prevents it from being worn down easily. However, with Stealth Rock up, Ho-Oh is easily defeated.
**Other Fairy-types**: The presence of a Fairy on the opposing team will discourage the use of Draco Meteor and Focus Blast while also making it easier to play around a Choice-locked Kyurem-W. However, don't expect just any Fairy to counter Kyurem-W, as Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Clefable lose to Ice Beam and Klefki can't take a Fusion Flare or Earth Power well at all.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Although rare, Chansey and Blissey can hard wall Kyurem-W. Many physical attackers such as Extreme Killer Arceus pair well with Kyurem-W and set up on both, although often they dislike the Toxic poison or paralysis that they will generally be inflicted with in return.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre boasts enough special bulk to check Kyurem-W; however, it often can't do much in return other than hope for a Scald burn, unless it happens to run Calm Mind, and Draco Meteor will still deal a large chunk of damage before Kyurem-W switches out.
Kyurem-W fits well on offensive teams, as it can fulfill multiple roles and provide excellent support for a number of sweepers. Its high base Special Attack means it hits hard even in a metagame like Anything Goes, allowing it to break walls like Lugia, Yveltal, Giratina, and Ground Arceus. With a Choice Scarf equipped, it outspeeds much of the metagame, allowing it to revenge kill many threatening Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza. It can also act as a sleep absorber, which is incredibly useful due to the metagame's lack of Sleep Clause.
However, it relies on support from its teammates to do some jobs, as Stealth Rock damage prevents it from checking key Pokemon. Its defensive typing is also a weak point, only really helping it against Kyogre and making it weak to a number of relatively common types such as Steel. Its reliance on a Choice item means it can be played around relatively easily, meaning good switches by the opponent will force it out and cost momentum. It also faces competition from a number of Pokemon; for example, Ho-Oh threatens many of the Pokemon that wall Extreme Killer Arceus and Geomancy Xerneas, while Xerneas and Kyogre are strong special Choice Scarf users that can revenge kill and wallbreak well. It should also be noted that, due to in-game mechanics rather than any Species Clause, the use of more than one Kyurem-W or Kyurem-B is prohibited. However, although it isn't a great Pokemon in the Anything Goes metagame, Kyurem-W is overall a useful Pokemon capable of overcoming certain weaknesses that its competition faces, and therefore it can be worth using if it would fit well on your team.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Fusion Flare / Earth Power
move 4: Sleep Talk / Earth Power
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Turboblaze
nature: Modest
evs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is Kyurem-W's go-to attack, as it has 100% accuracy and doesn't lower its Special Attack. It also picks up a large number of important OHKOs and 2HKOs such as the OHKO on standard Mega Rayquaza and the 2HKO on Lugia. Draco Meteor is Kyurem-W's most powerful attack, capable of dealing heavy damage to many Pokemon, hitting threats like Ho-Oh hard. Fusion Flare is the best coverage move available, as it allows Kyurem-W to take out Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Aegislash, and Klefki and beat most Steel Arceus one-on-one. Sleep Talk allows Kyurem-W to hard check Darkrai and other sleep-inducing Pokemon.
Earth Power can be used over Fusion Flare because it hits threats like Primal Groudon harder; however, it isn't as effective at taking out all of the above threats and therefore should only be used if your team already has solid answers to these Pokemon. It can also be run over Sleep Talk if your team already has a Darkrai check. It should be noted that Earth Power is especially good if Kyurem-W is being used to support a Geomancy Xerneas, as it hits Primal Groudon, Steel Arceus, and Poison Arceus hard, all of which can cause trouble for Xerneas.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature are required for Kyurem-W to hit hard and pick up certain KOs. Choice Scarf allows it to function effectively as a revenge killer, and 216 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Modest Choice Scarf Kyogre. 40 HP EVs add to its bulk, although some of these may be moved to Speed to creep Choice Scarf Xerneas, which often also runs just enough investment to outspeed Choice Scarf Kyogre.
Usage Tips
========
Kyurem-W needs to be at a good level of HP in order to check Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza, so be wary of bringing it in if not needed, and try to keep Stealth Rock off your side of the field. Be wary of using the wrong move, as Pokemon such as Xerneas and Steel Arceus will happily use this as an opportunity to set up. At the same time, don't be too cautious—Draco Meteor will take a chunk out of any Pokemon that doesn't resist it, while an unexpected Fusion Flare can easily make way for another Pokemon to sweep later in the game. Finally, don't be afraid to sacrifice Kyurem-W. The large number of priority moves in the tier means it will rarely serve as a cleaner, but letting it faint while opening a hole in the opposing team's defenses is almost always worthwhile.
Team Options
========
Extreme Killer Arceus and Mega Rayquaza appreciate Kyurem-W's ability to defeat or force out a large number of their checks such as Steel-types, Yveltal, Lugia, Giratina, and Quagsire and deal heavy damage to Pokemon such as Primal Groudon. Geomancy Xerneas similarly appreciates Kyurem-W's ability to take out Steel-types and Amoonguss and hit Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon hard. Physical attackers such as Steel Arceus with Iron Head and Stone Edge pair well with Kyurem-W, as they take on many of its counters such as Ho-Oh, Chansey, and Xerneas.
Kyurem-W dislikes Stealth Rock, which prevents it from checking Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza effectively, so teammates capable of preventing or removing entry hazards are appreciated. Pokemon such as Mega Diancie, Mega Sableye, and support Arceus formes help with this. Kyurem-W also appreciates Stealth Rock being set on the opposing side, as this prevents Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and support Arceus formes from effectively checking it. Those same Arceus formes, as well as Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Primal Groudon, can be useful in this respect. Finally, Kyurem-W is somewhat frail due to its average defensive stats and weak typing, so offensive pressure and slow VoltTurn Pokemon that allow it to come in safely are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set provides far more power, but it gets surprisingly few OHKOs compared to the Choice Scarf set and is very easy to take out before it can do anything useful due to its low Speed. Similarly, while a Life Orb set's ability to switch moves might sound handy, the lack of Speed and extra chip damage from recoil mean it is rarely better than the Choice Scarf set. An Expert Belt set bluffing Choice Scarf might pick up the occasional extra KO; however, the risk of your opponent not falling for it and the low reward if successful generally mean this isn't worthwhile.
Focus Blast can replace Fusion Flare or Sleep Talk, as it has a reasonable amount of power behind it; however, it doesn't hit hard enough to make up for its worse coverage or frustrating 70% accuracy. Flash Cannon is an option for hitting Fairies such as Mega Diancie that can come in on Draco Meteor; however, Kyurem-W's other moves such as Ice Beam and Earth Power generally 2HKO these threats anyway. Stone Edge can be run to hit Ho-Oh, but it should be noted that the Attack investment required for an OHKO isn't worth it and the moveslot is generally better spent on other moves. Roost can be run to regain health as the foe is forced out; however, the damage Draco Meteor and Ice Beam put out alongside the momentum cost and moveslot generally mean this isn't viable. Dragon Pulse can be used over Draco Meteor to avoid the Special Attack drop, but the loss of power and the fact that Kyurem-W often wants to switch out anyway mean that this is very rarely useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Kyurem-W relies on being at full health to successfully check a number of Pokemon, and one round of Stealth Rock damage allows +2 Mega Rayquaza's Extreme Speed and Fairy and Steel Arceus's Judgment to OHKO it rather than 2HKO while also allowing Darkrai's Dark Pulse to 2HKO rather than 3HKO. Kyurem-W therefore needs Stealth Rock to be removed in order for it to do its job well.
**Xerneas and Fairy Arceus**: While the standard Geomancy Xerneas set can be 2HKOed by Ice Beam, many Xerneas sets will easily counter Kyurem-W. Fairy Arceus also does this job well, although it should be wary of chip damage, as Ice Beam has a small chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock.
**Certain Arceus Formes**: While it can defeat some Arceus formes, those that Kyurem-W can't hit super effectively, such as Water and Ghost, can come in on it and wall it or set up. However, hitting them with a Draco Meteor on the switch in and then switching to force them out can successfully wear them down somewhat.
**Ho-Oh**: If Stealth Rock isn't up, Ho-Oh easily defeats Kyurem-W while Regenerator prevents it from being worn down easily. However, with Stealth Rock up, Ho-Oh is easily defeated.
**Other Fairy-types**: The presence of a Fairy on the opposing team will discourage the use of Draco Meteor and Focus Blast while also making it easier to play around a Choice-locked Kyurem-W. However, don't expect just any Fairy to counter Kyurem-W, as Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Clefable lose to Ice Beam and Klefki can't take a Fusion Flare or Earth Power well at all.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Although rare, Chansey and Blissey can hard wall Kyurem-W. Many physical attackers such as Extreme Killer Arceus pair well with Kyurem-W and set up on both, although often they dislike the Toxic poison or paralysis that they will generally be inflicted with in return.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre boasts enough special bulk to check Kyurem-W; however, it often can't do much in return other than hope for a Scald burn, unless it happens to run Calm Mind, and Draco Meteor will still deal a large chunk of damage before Kyurem-W switches out.
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