Someone had to do this mon eventually... Sorry Yilx
[OVERVIEW]
Klefki may not seem like much, but it has an excellent ability in Prankster and the movepool to take advantage of it! Klefki is most notorious for its use of a Swagger set, which may be the most irritating to face in Pokemon history due to its uncanny ability to hax its way to victory! Swagger isn't all Klefki is good at either, as it has access to other good support moves such as Reflect, Light Screen, and Thunder Wave as well as an excellent typing that gives it key resistances to Poison-, Flying-, Ice-, Normal-, and Dark-type attacks and an immunity to Dragon-types.
Klefki's most notorious luck-dependent utility may in fact be its greatest flaw in the long run. Swagger can easily backfire when used against strong, physical switch-ins such as Garchomp and Landorus-T and proves to be fairly ineffective against stall teams due to Klefki's lack of reliable recovery. Klefki's overall stats are fairly mediocre, reducing its niche to prankster support and rolling the dice with Swagger. Because of these flaws, Klefki isn't a particularly reliable Pokemon, so it simply isn't something a trainer can slap onto any team without proper support. Still, it's hard to deny that Klefki's ability to take advantage of luck can make it extremely dangerous to face, so it should never be underestimated.
[SET]
name: Swagplay
move 1: Swagger
move 2: Foul Play
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Substitute / Magnet Rise / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swagger, Klefki's main tool of annoyance, confuses the foe while doubling its Attack stat. This has perfect synergy with Foul Play, allowing Klefki to slam its foes hard after the boost! Foul Play also works well against Pokemon that may attempt to set up on Klefki if you are willing to make a risky prediction against foes such as Garchomp. Thunder Wave furthers aids Klefki's ability to cripple Pokemon, being an excellent tool to stop fast sweepers thanks to Prankster, pairing well with Swagger to further increase the chances of preventing your foes from moving!
Substitute makes Klefki more difficult to KO and has great synergy with Swagger and Thunder Wave because Klefki often finds itself getting free turns to set it up. It also saves Klefki from Choice Scarf + Trick users such as Rotom-W. Magnet Rise is more situational than Substitute, but its ability to save Klefki from powerful Earthquake users such as Mega Kangaskhan and Garchomp can be very valuable. If you feel Klefki needs to do better against defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and Slowbro, Toxic can be used as a surprise move to cripple them. You can even get rid of Thunder Wave if your team needs Klefki to handle itself better against stall. If you choose Toxic over Thunder Wave, consider running Heal Block to prevent Pokemon such as Suicune from using Rest.
Set Details
========
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Leftovers is a key item on this set, as the free turns Klefki often gets as a result of Swagger and paralysis give it ample time to restore much of its health; in addition, it pairs well with Substitute. A Calm nature with maximum investment in HP and Special Defense is preferred, as Klefki's Swagger shenanigans tend to work better on special attackers. Most importantly, this allows Klefki to avoid a 2HKO from all of Mega Gengar's attacks except for a status-boosted Hex. It also lets Klefki better handle Aegislash, which can be defeated by Foul Play if it hits itself in confusion!
As an aside, a Bold nature with maximum HP and Defense investment is a reasonable option, as it allows Klefki to survive weaker boosted hits and an unboosted Earthquake from both Mega Kangaskhan and Garchomp when at full health.
Usage Tips
========
Try to use Substitute whenever possible against threats that can't do much to Klefki, such as Choice item users locked into resisted moves (common examples include Talonflame locked into Brave Bird and Garchomp locked into a Dragon-type attack), Greninja that lacks Water-type moves, and Cresselia when Klefki is carrying Toxic. Then, Klefki should use either Swagger or use Thunder Wave, depending on whether the opponent's team has a Ground- or Electric-type remaining. Paralysis and confusion together make it likely your opponent won't be able to attack! If Klefki is behind a Substitute or facing an offensive opponent that won't OHKO it after a Swagger boost, use Foul Play to deal serious damage against Pokemon that don't resist it.
If your Klefki is running Thunder Wave, choosing whether to use Swagger or Thunder Wave first can be a bit tricky. Using Swagger and then Thunder Wave has a better chance of preventing the foe from moving and tends to work well against special attackers. However, Swagger is riskier against physical switch-ins and allows the foe to switch out without a permanent status effect like paralysis. Thunder Wave can therefore be used as a less risky option first if your opponent prefers to send in physical attackers against Klefki, though Ground- and Electric-type Pokemon can use it as a free switch in.
Regardless of which move you choose to use first, use Substitute whenever Klefki gets a free turn from Swagger or paralysis, as this can set Klefki up to decimate offensive teams! Just try to avoid relying too much on the luck factor, because as tempting as it may be to crush an opponent with Klefki's coin flips, Swagger can backfire massively against physical threats if they don't hit themselves in confusion!
If you opt to run Toxic Klefki, don't use Toxic the first chance you get. Instead, keep your opponent in the dark about the true nature of your Klefki. Because Klefki tends to attract defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and Slowbro, you will want to hit them with Toxic when they least expect it, potentially opening new holes for an offensive teammate to rip through.
Finally, pay attention to the Team Preview, because Klefki tends to struggle against Ground-and Electric-types due to their Thunder Wave immunity. If you see Pokemon that Klefki has trouble with, such as Thundurus and Garchomp paired together, consider benching Klefki.
Team Options
========
A special teammate to consider for Klefki is Ditto. Because Ditto's Imposter copies the foe's stat boosts, you can potentially sweep your opponent with their own Pokemon by sacrificing Klefki against a Swagger-boosted physical attacker such as Garchomp! Just ensure that Ditto can OHKO the Pokemon so the strategy won't backfire.
Thanks to Prankster and its habit of forcing switches, Klefki is excellent at spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave, making it a good idea to partner it with slower, more powerful Pokemon. Hydreigon and Dragonite are especially good examples due to to their good defensive synergy with Klefki, but other good teammates to consider include Azumarill, Mamoswine, and Conkeldurr. If you're willing to place further emphasis on luck, you can even try to take advantage of paralysis to get more boosts with Moody Glalie.
Mega Kangaskhan and Ground-types are a huge problem, as their powerful Earthquakes easily take advantage of and smash Klefki and its Swaggers. Great defensive partners to consider include Cresselia, Porygon2, which also has access to Foul Play to take advantage of Swagger against special attackers, and Slowbro. Gliscor works against Ground-types as well, with the exception of Mamoswine, and Suicune and Rotom-W can work well too despite their lack of reliable recovery. Greninja, while very frail and hard to bring in, can hit Ground-types fairly hard thanks to a Protean-boosted Ice Beam and can hit Mega Kangaskhan hard with Low Kick as well.
While Klefki is a great paralysis spreader itself, carrying some extra users with paralysis moves can be extremely useful, as they allow Klefki to dish out Swagger with less pressure. Great defensive examples include Cresselia, Porygon2, and Rotom-W, while more offensive examples include Thundurus and Serperior, which can actually paralyze Ground-types with Glare.
If Klefki is only carrying Thunder Wave, defensive Pokemon such as Suicune, Cresselia, Porygon2, and Slowbro are able to easily stall it out. This makes stallbreakers a great addition to a Klefki core, with prominent examples being Mega Gengar, Swords Dance Mega Charizard X, and Toxic Mega Salamence. Conversely, if Klefki is carrying Toxic (and Heal Block for Suicune), it can turn the tables on its defensive checks and help support sweepers that have trouble against them; good partners for this include Garchomp, Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Salamence, and Blaziken.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Foul Play
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Safeguard
item: Light Clay / Eject Button
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With Reflect and Light Screen in tow, Klefki becomes an excellent support Pokemon for offensive teams! Klefki's main purpose is to set up screens to let your sweepers set up, but Foul Play is a good deterrent against Pokemon that may attempt to set up on Klefki. Thunder Wave further guards Klefki's team from sweepers by crippling them with paralysis, but Toxic can be used in its place. It might seem strange on a dual screens Pokemon, but Toxic allows Klefki to ruin the ability of walls such as Cresselia, Slowbro, and Porygon2 to last throughout the match. Safeguard can be used to protect your team from status, furthering your sweeper's ability to clean teams.
Set Details
========
A Bold nature with maximum HP and Defense EVs is recommended, as this allows Klefki to set up both Reflect and Light Screen against Choice Band Garchomp and lets it avoid a 2HKO from Mega Kangaskhan and Garchomp without offensive items under Reflect.
Light Clay is usually the best item for Klefki, as it increases the duration of Reflect and Light Screen from five to eight turns. However, Eject Button is a reasonable option for more fast-paced teams, as it allows Klefki to switch as soon as it gets hit, allowing you to get a surprise set up with your sweeper at the cost of only having one screen up!
Usage Tips
========
Klefki can be used early in the game to surprise your opponent with Reflect and/or Light Screen (especially if carrying Eject Button), potentially allowing you to deal some serious damage with Klefki's offensive teammates. However, if you use it early-game to set up a sweeper with Klefki's support, make sure there aren't Pokemon on the opposing team that are still hard stops to your Pokemon of choice while it's under Reflect and Light Screen. Klefki can also be used later in the game when you know what Pokemon your opponent has chosen. While this can be a more reliable tactic for setting up a sweep, don't let Klefki linger too long, as this set is completely useless without offensive partners to back it up. Finally, when using Eject Button, make sure not to switch Klefki in on attacks, or you'll waste your surprise!
Team Options
========
The best Pokemon to pair with Klefki are strong, bulky sweepers that can fully take advantage of Reflect and Light Screen. Mega Charizard X is a particularly good example of this, as it can also use Swords Dance to break through powerful walls that can hinder this tactic such as Cresselia and Suicune. Other bulky sweepers to consider include Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Salamence, Belly Drum Azumarill, and Dragonite. Frailer sweepers such as Blaziken, Talonflame, and Thundurus are also reasonable back up choices. Finally, while Mega Gengar isn't a sweeper, its ability to trap and defeat Cresselia and Slowbro makes it a great teammate for Klefki.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Klefki gets Switcheroo, which allows it to switch harmful items such as Iron Ball and Flame Orb onto opponents. However, the combination of Iron Ball and Switcheroo is mostly outclassed by Thunder Wave, as the former can only be used once and fails against Mega Evolutions, and Flame Orb's burn actually harms Klefki if it doesn't get rid of it right away. Another interesting support move to consider is Spikes. Spikes may seem appealing due to its ability to rack up damage, but the fast-paced nature of Battle Spot Singles and the prominence of Levitate users and Flying-type Pokemon mean that setting up Spikes is often a wasted turn. Sunny Day and Rain Dance can be interesting for weather teams, but being forced to switch out usually isn't worth it when Mega Charizard Y and Politoed can set up weather with just their ability. Klefki can also use Rest and Sleep Talk to restore health, but Klefki's mediocre bulk usually means it isn't worth the risk. Offensively, Klefki gets Play Rough, which can deal decent damage to Dragon-types. Dazzling Gleam and Flash Cannon are also usable and can get boosted with Calm Mind. In general, though, Klefki is too weak to use these moves well and is better off sticking to Foul Play for offensive pressure.
Checks and Counters
===================
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**Mega Bounce**: Magic Bounce reflects any of Klefki's status moves back at Klefki itself, ruining much of its utility. The most common user if Magic Bounce is Mega Sableye.
**Taunt**: Taunt will shut down most of Klefki's movepool, making it liable to get set up on. Thundurus is by far the best choice, being immune to Thunder Wave and having its own Prankster Taunt to shut Klefki down before it can use Swagger. Whimsicott works in a similar fashion, though it must be careful about switching into Thunder Wave. Mega Gengar and Gyarados are also capable users of Taunt, but they must take a Swagger or Thunder Wave before they can Taunt Klefki and are more vulnerable to Foul Play.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn's typing and Speed let it shrug off Klefki's attempts at statusing it, and it can hit Klefki hard with Gyro Ball (especially when boosted by Swagger). It can also wear down Klefki as it uses Foul Play thanks to Rocky Helmet and Iron Barbs.
**Mega Kangaskhan**: While Mega Kangaskhan is vulnerable to Foul Play, its Parental Bond Earthquake can hurt Klefki through its Substitute, making it a particularly risky target to give a Swagger boost to.
**Offensive Ground-types**: Ground-types are immune to Thunder Wave, and, as long as they don't hit themselves in confusion, they benefit from Swagger's Attack boost, all while slamming Klefki with boosted Earthquakes. Prominent examples of this group include Garchomp, Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and Excadrill.
**Defensive Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia, Porygon2, Suicune, and Chansey have no problems taking Klefki's Swagger-boosted Foul Plays, allowing them to easily stall it out. However, defensive Pokemon without Rest can get crippled by Toxic variants, and even Rest Pokemon can be defeated by the rare Heal Block Klefki.
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon are immune to Thunder Wave and can usually break through Klefki's Substitutes. The most prominent two examples outside of Thundurus are Rotom-W and Rotom-H, but Mega Manectric can be a problem as well.
**Chandelure**: Chandelure is crippled by Thunder Wave and takes massive damage from boosted Foul Plays but is notable for OHKOing Klefki through its Substitute thanks to Infiltrator and STAB Fire-type attacks.
**Fire-types**: Most Fire-types such as Heatran, Blaziken, and both of Charizard's Mega Evolutions can OHKO Klefki. However, Blaziken and Charizard despise Thunder Wave and only make work as emergency checks.
**Lum Berry**: Surprise Lum Berries from the likes of Garchomp and Dragonite can ruin Klefki's chances at using Swagger and Thunder Wave effectively.
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