Revamp.
[SET]
Name: Mixed Attacker
Move 1: Draco Meteor
Move 2: Thunder
Move 3: Fire Blast / Earth Power
Move 4: Brick Break / Outrage
Item: Expert Belt / Life Orb
Nature: Quiet / Mild
EVs: 120 HP / 136 Atk / 252 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dialga has the ability to be a brilliant offensive threat in Ubers, and this set utilizes that well. Mixed Dialga is particular known for its ability as a very competent stall breaker with its diverse moveset and immunity to Toxic. Draco Meteor is a general STAB move, which inflicts a significant amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. It also easily deals with Giratina, OHKOing the standard variant.</p>
<p>Thunder will slam Kyogre, Ho-oh, and Lugia with a super effective hit, meaning they won't be in Dialga's way for long. Fire Blast is able to 2HKO a specially defensive Metagross even with rain in effect, due to the Expert Belt boost. However, Earth Power is convenient for opposing Bulk Up Dialga, who on average, is KOed by Earth Power followed by Draco Meteor.</p>
<p>Brick Break is for Blissey; 2HKOing most in Ubers due to the EV spread. Dialga's part Steel-typing also makes it immune to Blissey's Toxic, allowing mixed Dialga to switch in on Blissey almost with impunity. However, you may prefer to use Outrage instead of Brick Break, notably OHKOing any Latias that does not invest in Defense. It has the same power as a super effective Brick Break with Expert Belt factored in, and more power than Brick Break when using Life Orb. However, the turns where Dialga is locked into Outrage may prove costly, as it leaves Dialga much more vulnerable to the likes of Deoxys-A's Superpower. On top of this, Brick Break is also more useful for breaking Reflect and Light Screen.</p>
<p>Expert Belt is the favored item on this set, as it supplements the fact that this Dialga receives excellent type coverage through its combination of moves. However, Life Orb allows for more damage on Pokémon that are neutral to its attacks; the 10% recoil is highly unwelcome, though, because this set strives to combine bilateral offensive prowess with decent durability. However, one could easily choose to run a Mild nature and some Speed EVs to boost this set's sweeping potential, which makes Life Orb a more acceptable item.</p>
[SET]
Name: Bulk Up
Move 1: Bulk Up
Move 2: Outrage
Move 3: Rest
Move 4: Sleep Talk / Earthquake
Item: Leftovers / Adamant Orb
Nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dialga may sometimes eschew its fantastic 150 base Special Attack in favor of its inferior (but still more than respectable) 120 base Attack. The basis for this set is Bulk Up, which raises Dialga's Attack while also boosting its Defense, and will eventually allow for an incredibly powerful Outrage. Rest and Sleep Talk is the preferred combination of moves for its latter moveslots, but Earthquake may be used over either to help deal with Metagross, Magnezone, other Dialga, and most importantly, Heatran. It should be noted that Dialga will not be locked into Outrage when using Sleep Talk. Alternatively, the last slot could be occupied by one of Dialga's many supporting options.</p>
<p>With its focus on Special Defense and lack of weaknesses to common Uber attacks, Bulk Up Dialga can serve as an excellent counter to Pokémon like Kyogre; its resistance to Electric and Water lets it squander Water Spout and Thunder's PP irreverently, and lets it perpetually cycle between Rest and Sleep Talk, possibly damaging Kyogre's health with Outrage in the process. In an emergency, Dialga can even try to PP waste Palkia's Spacial Rend or Draco Meteor. Be careful with that, though, because Palkia's Dragon-type attacks are significantly more powerful than Kyogre's Ice Beams and Water Spouts, not including the occasional Choice Specs version. As for the item, Leftovers is more reliable and consistent, but Adamant Orb can give Outrage a needed kick in power.</p>
[SET]
Name: Special Choice
Move 1: Draco Meteor
Move 2: Aura Sphere
Move 3: Dragon Pulse
Move 4: Thunder / Overheat
Item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid / Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Dialga's prodigious Special Attack can frequently cause problems, let alone paired with Choice Specs and a monstrous STAB move in Draco Meteor. Any Pokémon that is not a Steel-type or named Blissey, will have incredible strain switching into Dialga, in dread of a Draco Meteor coming its way. Aura Sphere, Thunder, and Overheat all help combat the former of these, but Blissey will wall you regardless. Aura Sphere is a 2HKO against Tyranitar and will OHKO opposing Dialga with Stealth Rock support, provided your own Dialga is carrying Choice Specs. Dragon Pulse provides a more reliable STAB attack, in comparison to Draco Meteor, at the cost of power. Thunder is a practical choice, taking advantage of the ever common rain, and will impair Kyogre, Lugia, and Manaphy, also having the additional chance of causing paralysis. However, Overheat may be used in conjunction with Groudon, gaining a handy boost, which will OHKO every Steel-type barring Heatran or Dialga, as opposed to a 2HKO from Thunder or Aura Sphere.</p>
<p>The choice between holding a Choice Specs or a Choice Scarf depends on whether you want the raw power from Choice Specs or the extra Speed from Choice Scarf. Choice Scarf allows Dialga to revenge-kill Darkrai, Rayquaza, Palkia, Deoxys-A, and Kyogre, among other threats. However, Choice Scarf Dialga lacks the wall-breaking ability of Choice Specs Dialga, who can fire off Draco Meteors and be almost certain to cause some damage. If you choose to equip Choice Specs, feel free to use an EV spread of 224 HP / 252 SpA / 32 Spe, which outrun Adamant Tyranitar, and gives Dialga more opportunities to switch in against the likes of Kyogre, Palkia, and Manaphy, who can be subsequently hit with Thunder.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Outrage
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Overheat
move 4: Shadow Claw / Stone Edge
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
evs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Band Dialga does not possess the raw power over one turn that Choice Specs Dialga holds, but it can still cause huge amounts of damage in the Uber metagame, which is generally more defensive specially. Outrage is a powerful STAB attack that has the ability to 2HKO 252 HP / 0 Def Groudon, and Dialga achieves the same against Palkia. Outrage is even strong enough to OHKO those Kyogre that do not invest significantly in HP and Defense with Stealth Rock in play. Earthquake compliments Outrage suitably, notably hitting Heatran, due to Outrage only having an 18% chance to 2HKO Choice Scarf Heatran, as well as seriously denting opposing Dialga.</p>
<p>Overheat will help eradicate any floating Steel-types wanting to stop the combination of Outrage and Earthquake, as well as making it much easier to power through Forretress, giving the little shell no time to lay any entry hazards as it is promptly OHKOed. Even with a negative Special Attack nature and no EVs, Dialga still has a fairly impressive 302 Special Attack stat.</p>
<p>The last slot is always going to be a tough choice. Shadow Claw allows you to hit the many Psychic-types of the Uber tier hard, without having to lose the ability of switching by resorting to Outrage. Shadow Claw will OHKO any Latios or Latias that do not invest in Defense EVs, providing a safer alternative to Outrage. Stone Edge also comes with a high critical hit rate like Shadow Claw, but it has a few extra advantages. Stone guarantees a 2HKO against the standard Lugia, although Lugia being faster and having Roost can thwart. Ho-oh is promptly OHKOed, whereas Ho-oh's most powerful Earthquake fails to OHKO back. Stone Edge also hits Rayquaza harder, without having to resort to Outrage. Again, 32 Speed EVs allow Dialga to outspeed Adamant Tyranitar, whilst retaining a lot of its bulk.</p>
[SET]
name: Supporter
move 1: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
move 4: Flamethrower / Thunder / Roar
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 140 SpA / 116 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set's purpose is to take advantage of Dialga's auspicious defensive typing and useful support moves. Since Speed is stressed in the Uber metagame, and the only consistently seen Ground-type is Groudon, Thunder Wave will shut down the opponent's sweeper. However, Toxic can be used over Thunder Wave to help Dialga cripple the aforementioned Groudon or the "Great Wall" Lugia, both of which will often switch into Dialga.</p>
<p>Draco Meteor over Dragon Pulse depends simply on whether Dialga is needed to continually hit the opponent, or if dealing massive damage is preferred. The last slot depends on your coverage preferences. Flamethrower allows Dialga to hit Metagross and Forretress. Thunder hits all the Steels for hard damage anyway (besides Dialga), but also hits Lugia, Manaphy and Kyogre for super effective damage. Finally, Roar is an option simply for scouting various threats, such as Lugia (which may switch in expecting to counter the Bulk Up set) or Rayquaza (which will take 25% damage from Stealth Rock and be less of a threat in the late game without its surprise).</p>
<p>The given EVs ensure that an unboosted Timid Kyogre's Water Spout will not 2HKO Dialga. This then allows Dialga to Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock and switch to the appropriate counter. While this set is an effective starter, it is more useful as a switch-in against common threats, such as Palkia, Giratina or the various Steel-types that are prevalent in the Uber metagame.</p>
[SET]
name: Toxic Stall
move 1: Toxic
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Earth Power / Dragon Pulse
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>As previously mentioned, Dialga is an excellent defensive Pokemon, so this set attempts to capitalize on that ability. Toxic disseminates bad poison among the opponents while Dialga waits out the damage with Rest and Sleep Talk. Earth Power is the more general choice to strike at Steel-types like Metagross that are immune to Toxic, but Dragon Pulse receives STAB to bring down Rayquaza.</p>
<p>The EVs provided let Dialga survive a Choice Banded Metagross's Explosion guaranteed, while simultaneously maintaining durability against special attacks.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dialga has a load of other options that can work as potential support moves. Roar can work alongside Dialga's excellent sturdiness, but it is generally advised not to pair it with Stealth Rock, lowering Dialga's versatility drastically. Psych Up is useful for Dialga, allowing it to copy the stat boosts that Calm Mind Kyogre may have netted. Dialga is a great user of Trick Room in Ubers too, having brilliant all-around stats bar Speed. Flash Cannon is an auxiliary STAB attack, but Steel is a poor offensive type. Ice Beam with Choice Specs allows Dialga to OHKO Groudon without needing to resort to Draco Meteor or Overheat, but is generally a poor choice. Iron Tail is poor, as already noted, Steel is a poor offensive type, and Iron Tail's 75% accuracy leaves much to be desired.</p>
<p>Roar of Time sounds and looks cool, but it is in fact a terrible move to use, as is the rest of the Hyper Beam suite; Draco Meteor or even Dragon Pulse out damages it over the course of two turns, and the passive second turn is a perfect opportunity for something threatening to set up. As for items, Choice Scarf can be used with physical moves if wanted, but without the extra power of Choice Band the attacks will be just too weak to be useful.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Dialga should use the spread provided in the mixed attacker section if it is given that set; an explanation is provided in the mixed attacker's description. The bulkier sets should focus on HP and Special Defense, with some points dropped into Defense if necessary. 32 Speed EVs are advised for the Choice sets (that aren't Choice Scarf) to outrun Pokemon that tend to hang around the 222 Speed range. The remainder should be used to maximize the appropriate offensive stat and then dumped into HP.</p>
<p>252 HP / 116 SpD with a neutral nature allows Dialga to never be 2HKOed by Kyogre's Choice Scarf Water Spout, provided Dialga holds Leftovers. 252 HP / 44 Def, again with a neutral nature, will allow Dialga to never be 2HKOed by Mewtwo's Life Orb Brick Break, or OHKOed by the same Focus Punch.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Dialga's excellent typing, a conglomeration of two of the best defensive types in the game, gives it many resistances to many useful things, including Dark, Ghost, Bug, Electric, Water and Grass. Dialga also has Normal- and Flying-type resistances, and a Toxic immunity which comes in handy when dealing with Blissey. Dialga also only takes neutral damage from any opposing Dragon- or Ice-type attacks, albeit it having a weakness to Fighting and Ground somewhat lowers its defensive capabilities its still more then impressive on the defensive side.</p>
<p>Dialga is often played defensively due to Palkia often higher sweeping potential due to its higher Speed, and better (offensively) second STAB type, Water, instead of Dialga's Steel. However, Dialga should not be forgotten, a Draco Meteor boosted by STAB and Choice Specs will pain opponents significantly, as will Outrage's backed up by multiple Bulk Ups or a Choice Band.</p>
<p>Dialga is overall a respectable combination of offense and defense. It serves well if one is seeking a Pokemon that not only is disinclined to faint but also packs a wallop.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Like with most Uber Pokemon the counters depend entirely on the set. Fighting-type Arceus and Deoxys-D come as close to countering Dialga as anything. Arceus isn't particularly weak to any attack, and will OHKO back with a super effective Judgement. Arceus will still take a lot from Draco Meteor, but with the right EV investment Arceus can outrun it and use Recover, taking advantage of the Special Defense drop Dialga's Draco Meteor put upon it. A Choice Band Outrage can also cause a fair bit of trouble for Arceus. Deoxys-D can counter some of the sets, but will absolutely despise a Choice Specs Draco Meteor, as well as multiple Choice Band Outrages, but is rather safe against everything else. Deoxys-D will also loathe a Toxic. Its main claim to fame however, is its being utterly impenetrable by the mixed attacker.</p>
<p>Heatran too does not fear Dialga provided it doesn't engage with Dialga's Earth Power, Earthquake, or Aura Sphere. Heatran can also OHKO even the most specially defensive Dialga with a Choice Specs Overheat assuming rain is not active. Dialga also runs the risk of giving Heatran a Flash Fire boost, something that could well cause its own demise.</p>
<p>Blissey counters the Choice Specs set reliably, unless it suffers from a critical hit or switches into Aura Sphere whilst having less than 70% health. Skarmory and Forretress can switch into the physical sets well, on the condition that they avoid Overheat. Skarmory sets up Spikes against the Choice Band and Bulk Up sets and Whirlwinds them out after it's done. Forretress can't do anything to Dialga in terms of appreciable damage, but sets up Toxic Spikes and then switches to a more suitable counter.</p>
<p>Latias at full health can attempt to take on the mixed attacker. Latias cannot switch in directly to Draco Meteor, but mixed Dialga tends to use that rather sparingly, and Latias must avoid Outrage, if Dialga is even carrying it. If Latias can manage to come in on any other attack, and avoids status, it can then Calm Mind to survive the impeding Draco Meteor, and can then Recover, meaning Dialga fails to KO due to the Special Attack drop. Latias and Latios can also counter the Toxic staller if they have Refresh or Safeguard, or even Substitute if Dialga is using Earth Power. This then allows them to start Calm Minding.</p>
<p>Metagross with Earthquake can come in on specific attacks of Dialga's, notably Choice Band Outrages. However, Metagross will hate many of Dialga's attacks, being hard pressed against things like Overheat, or Choice Specs Draco Meteors. Assuming that it remains at reasonable health, Metagross can hurt Dialga badly with a Choice Banded Earthquake. However, Metagross is not at all a good counter to Bulk Up Dialga, even if said Dialga doesn't have Earthquake. The reasoning is that Dialga should be able to gain one Bulk Up on the switch, and another one just before Metagross attacks because Dialga is normally faster. That automatically reduces the damage of a Choice Banded Metagross's Earthquake to the 45% range, which easily allows Dialga one or two more Bulk Ups before being forced to Rest. By that time, Metagross would be unable to keep up with the Resting cycle unless it scores a critical hit, which is unlikely to happen (approximately a 40% chance), as Dialga's Pressure slices Earthquake's PP to effectively 8.</p>
<p>Lugia is capable of taking on most attacks, only really fearing powerful Choice Specs attacks, Thunder, and Toxic. Choice Banded Outrage assaults can cause problems for Lugia, but it should be able to come in, set up Reflect, and further stall with Roost or Recover, damaging it along the way with Ice Beam. Lugia can also Whirlwind the Bulk Up Dialga set, and Pressure can help against Draco Meteor, limiting its PP from 8 to 4.</p>
<p>Ground-types can be used to directly damage Dialga. Groudon handles most physical versions well and OHKOs Dialga easily with a Choice Banded Earthquake. It should be noted that Choice Band Outrages can still cause problems for Groudon, but Groudon can switch in, take the hit, and out run the Dialga listed. Dugtrio is incapable of switching directly into any of Dialga's offensive moves except a weak Earth Power, but is an excellent choice to revenge-kill a slightly damaged Dialga.</p>
<p>Magnezone can also trap Dialga, lower its Special Defense with Metal Sound, and wear away at it with Thunderbolt or Thunder. The best targets for this are the Choice Band and Choice Specs versions, though it can also work against the Toxic set if it doesn't have Earth Power. However, Magnezone will need a sizable EV investment to survive Dialga's assaults, and therefore must run less Speed in order to take full advantage of Metal Sound. This leaves Magnezone prone to specific KOs, like a the 3HKO caused by a Choice Band Outrage.</p>
