Hot sets incoming
Solgaleo @ Expert Belt
Ability: Full Metal Body
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Atk / 164 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Morning Sun
- Stone Edge/Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
OR
Solgaleo @ Choice Band
Ability: Full Metal Body
EVs: 216 Atk / 176 SpD / 116 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Flare Blitz
What this does
Hard counter xern. Like, really, these sets entirely shut Xerneas off.
+3 252+ SpA Xerneas Hidden Power Ground vs. 248 HP / 164 SpD Solgaleo: 336-396 (70.4 - 83%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
96+ Atk Expert Belt Solgaleo Sunsteel Strike vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Xerneas: 420-497 (106.5 - 126.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
96+ Atk Expert Belt Solgaleo Sunsteel Strike vs. +1 4 HP / 0 Def Xerneas: 281-331 (71.3 - 84%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Xerneas Hidden Power Ground vs. 248 HP / 164 SpD Solgaleo: 202-238 (42.3 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
The expert belt set ensures that Solgaleo hard counters all xern forms (LO, Specs, geoxern, z geoxern, scarf xern etc) and has reliable recovery to ensure continuity as well (although the PP kinda sucks). There is literally nothing that Xern can do about this set if it comes in full health, and it gets recovery (unlike Aegi, p don and other checks). The best part is that it's not that difficult to bring this in full health vs Xern, either. The rocks resistance only helps its case. Aside from Xern, this set beats Steelceus, non wisp Poisonceus, ferro, non dbond Mgar and other stuff, while having solid answers for common switchins like p don and ho oh.
216 Atk Choice Band Solgaleo Sunsteel Strike vs. +1 4 HP / 0 Def Xerneas: 348-410 (88.3 - 104%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
+3 252+ SpA Xerneas Hidden Power Ground vs. 0 HP / 176 SpD Solgaleo: 330-390 (79.5 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
The CB set hits harder and faster than its Expert Belt counterpart, and also ensures that it gets away with no damage taken when it switches into Xern while it clicks z geo. This naturally pressures teams more, and would fit certain teams more than the other set. But I've found that having the choice of switching between moves is important for Solgaleo, so I'm gonna tilt towards Expert Belt being the better set.
________________________________________________________________________
Arceus-Ground @ Groundium Z
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Avalanche
- Extreme Speed
What this does
I almost feel bad taking credit for this, considering how extremely obvious this is. Z eq OHKO's almost all viable uninvested Arc forms after SD, while generally being a very nice surprise element. Avalanche is nice and sweet for Zygarde/Mray, ohko'ing Zygarde after SD and Mray without SD. E speed because duh.
252 Atk Arceus-Ground Tectonic Rage (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 4 Def Primal Groudon: 368-434 (91.3 - 107.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Arceus-Ground Avalanche vs. -1 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Rayquaza in Strong Winds: 368-436 (104.5 - 123.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO (scarf Mray, and yes it is viable now)
+2 252 Atk Arceus-Ground Tectonic Rage (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Arceus: 475-559 (107.2 - 126.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
A nice little sweeper and dong counter, if you're looking for one.
___________________________________________________________
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
This is one of the best anti-stall rock setters in the meta rn, imo. Magma storm traps common defoggers and eliminates them with taunt + toxic, while also luring Chansey/Blissey/Clef or doing a lot of damage to p don/ho oh switchins. I'd replace toxic with flash cannon as soon as Mdiancie is released for Gen 7 in order for this to beat both bouncers. Also has a good time vs Arceus rocks leads. It's not the best rock setter in general, but it does give a great matchup vs stall.
___________________________________________________________
Zygarde-Complete @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 252 Atk / 104 SpD / 152 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Thousand Arrows
- Thousand Waves
- Rest
At last, arguably the hottest set in AG rn. If Zyg isn't S rank in another couple of months, something went really wrong with the meta. Thousand waves ensures that it traps and sets up on just SO MANY things, especially any mon lacking a setup move or Ice/Fairy coverage. I mean, really, the calcs for this are insane. I'd provide specific calcs, but it just basically tanks everything common in the meta except draco/IB/moonblast/Fairy Judgment. It traps support ceus and sets up on it every day of the week, twice on Sunday. OHKO's about everything after rocks once the setup is complete. The speed evs allow it to check the lame hypno-gar sets that have been polluting the meta lately. I've invested the rest in Sp def for maximum tanking. Credit to
Thimo for the idea, largely, as I thought of this to be utter garbage initially. The bulk is really, really wicked. Rest chesto makes most attempts at phazing this out laughable, along with max attack adamant making the set up worth it. I came across a lot of bulk invested Zygardes which couldn't kill a lot of stuff even after setting up to max, so I believe max attack is absolutely necessary for this to work. Honestly one of the most broken sets I have ever come across.
On a side note, I've found that certain changes to old sets are more viable in gen 7 now.
Black Glasses Naive Yveltal = LO Rash Yve (both equally viable)
Scarf Mray is viable and good
Toxic on P ogre is good stuff (for shedinja and p don switchins)
4 attacks choice scarf Xern (R.I.P Darkrai)
3 attacks + CM Steelceus (Thunder, EP and Judgment) has very few solid switchins
Peace.