talkingtree
large if factual
[OVERVIEW]
Kyurem-B is a fantastic answer to defensive or bulkier teams, especially with its Substitute set. Teravolt allows Kyurem-B to bypass abilities on Pokemon that would otherwise slow it down, like Levitate on Rotom-W and Thick Fat on Mega Venusaur. It can also run a decent mixed attacking set thanks to its great offensive stats complemented by decent coverage. Due to the high number of common Pokemon that it threatens, including Amoonguss, Landorus-T, and Thundurus, Kyurem-B can find a place on almost any team. However, it is especially notable as a good choice for rain teams, considering its ability to beat bulky Grass-types and Thundurus, as well as a good choice to counter rain teams thanks to its ability to wall Ludicolo and bulky Water-types. Although it is powerful and bulky, Kyurem-B is stuck with an unfortunate Speed tier, just missing out on base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Gardevoir, and Salamence. It also lacks a good physical movepool, leaving Kyurem-B unable to take advantage of its sky-high Attack stat. In addition to this, while many popular threats are beaten by Kyurem-B, it can also find itself in matchups where it is dead weight, especially if running Choice Scarf.
[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Teravolt
nature: Modest
evs: 108 HP / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute gives the set its name, allowing Kyurem-B to avoid status and chip damage. It also gives Kyurem-B a defensive buffer, letting it avoid the KO from threats that would normally remove it from play and allowing it to attack safely. Ice Beam gets STAB and hits Grass-, Ground-, Dragon-, and Flying-types for lots of damage. Earth Power gives Kyurem-B perfect neutral coverage alongside Ice Beam, and it hits Levitate Pokemon like Rotom-W with the help of Teravolt. Protect allows you to scout for attacks, stall out field conditions such as Tailwind and Trick Room, and regain Kyurem-B's health with Leftovers.
Set Details
========
Leftovers restores health lost from creating a Substitute, allowing Kyurem-B to live longer. 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature are used to deal the most damage possible, as Kyurem-B already has great natural bulk without investment. Running 148 Speed EVs allows Kyurem-B to outspeed all base 70 Speed Pokemon such as Bisharp and Breloom, forcing Bisharp to use Sucker Punch instead of Iron Head and avoiding Breloom's Spore with Substitute. Note that Breloom can do around 55% with Mach Punch, so play around it carefully. The remaining 108 EVs are placed into HP to create bigger Substitutes. Another spread you could opt for would be 200 HP / 252 SpA / 56 Spe with a Modest nature, which makes Kyurem-B slower than Jolly Breloom but faster than Adamant Bisharp and also more bulky, most notably surviving attacks such as Life Orb Keldeo's Secret Sword and standard Mega Diancie's Diamond Storm.
Usage Tips
========
Kyurem-B should use Substitute on a predicted switch or Protect, against non-threatening foes, or to avoid status, and from there it can target a threat safely behind its Substitute. When Kyurem-B has a Substitute set up, the opponent is likely to target it with both of their Pokemon on the field in order to remove the Substitute and KO it in the same turn. Accordingly, if you can predict a double target, it helps to use Protect in order to grant your partner a free turn. If Kyurem-B's checks are removed, getting up a Substitute often puts enough pressure on the opponent between its bulk and offensive presence that it almost acts as a 'win' button. However, don't feel like getting up a substitute is necessary; while it is very nice, Kyurem-B also does well without it, and sometimes getting an attack off is more important.
Team Options
========
Kyurem-B can fit on the majority of teams thanks to its ability to pressure nearly everything in the metagame. That said, there are a few choices that can help Kyurem-B do its job better. Kyurem-B appreciates redirection support to help it set up Substitute. Amoonguss works well for this, as it resists the Fighting-type attacks that Kyurem-B hates and doesn't share any weaknesses with it. Kyurem-B also partners well with Water-type Pokemon such as Suicune and Rotom-W, as it resists everything they are weak to, while they threaten Rock-type Pokemon and Landorus-T, which can hit Kyurem-B for lots of damage. Mega Diancie works great as a teammate, because it checks most Dragon- and Fighting-types as well as Mega Charizard Y and benefits from the removal of Pokemon that Substitute Kyurem-B beats such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Heatran, and Grass-types. Landorus-T works as a good offensive partner for similar reasons to Mega Diancie, with the added bonus of beating Steel-types that don't mind Earth Power as well as providing Intimidate support to make setting up and keeping a Substitute up easier for Kyurem-B. Substitute Kyurem-B is generally a good choice for rain teams, as it beats many of the common threats to rain sweepers, such as Mega Venusaur, Rotom-W, and Amoonguss. It also fits well on sun teams, taking advantage of Mega Charizard Y's powerful Heat Waves to set up Substitutes and checking the rain teams that give sun trouble. Aegislash stands out as a good partner for Kyurem-B, because it can block Rock Slide or Diamond Storm with Wide Guard and easily switches in on Fighting- and Rock-type attacks that force Kyurem-B out.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Fusion Bolt
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Iron Head / Earth Power / Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Teravolt
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 32 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam gets STAB and hits hard, even with only 32 Special Attack EVs. Fusion Bolt completes a pseudo-BoltBeam coverage, hitting Water-types and Mega Charizard Y super effectively. Dragon Claw is Kyurem-B's strongest STAB move available, and coming from a fully invested base 170 Attack, it hits super hard. This also allows Kyurem-B to OHKO Dragon-types that avoid the KO from Ice Beam, such as Hydreigon, Latios, and Kingdra. The last moveslot depends on your team's needs. Iron Head KOes Fairy-types such as Mega Diancie and Mega Gardevoir, which otherwise give Kyurem-B lots of trouble. Earth Power hits Heatran and Rotom formes much harder than Kyurem-B's other options. Rock Slide provides spread damage as well as a 30% chance to induce flinch. Because Choice Scarf Kyurem-B is mostly used to pick off specific threats, Dragon Claw can be dropped from its moveset in favor of more coverage. One example of when to do this would be if the team struggles with Fairies as well as Heatran and other Steel-types, requiring Kyurem-B to run Iron Head and Earth Power on the same set.
Set Details
========
With a Choice Scarf, 224 Speed EVs, and a Naive nature, Kyurem-B outspeeds all Choice Scarf Landorus-T sets as well as the entire unboosted metagame. 252 Attack EVs give Kyurem-B the most power possible. The remaining 32 EVs are placed in Special Attack to boost Ice Beam's power. If using Earth Power, a spread of 224 Atk / 60 SpA / 224 Spe with a Naive nature is usable to OHKO standard Rotom-H every time.
Usage Tips
========
Bring this set in after a teammate has fallen or as a lead the majority of the time; it doesn't have nearly the bulk that other sets enjoy. Be mindful of opposing Intimidate users or burns for a few reasons. First, this set is primarily focused on physical attacks, so either one hurts its effectiveness. Additionally, Kyurem-B is a Choice Scarf user that lacks access to a pivoting move, and if the opponent pressures Kyurem-B out with the threat of Will-O-Wisp or Intimidate, it will be forced to make a hard switch in order to avoid losing effectiveness. This can be difficult to do safely or without the loss of momentum. Choice Scarf Kyurem-B is fairly uncommon, so use it to net surprise KOs on Pokemon like Landorus-T, Hydreigon, and Mega Diancie, which expect to outspeed Kyurem-B and deal serious damage. Keep in mind the rest of the opponent's team when attacking; if multiple different moves work to get the KO that you're hoping for, go for the move that works best against the rest of the team, as Kyurem-B will be locked into it. This is especially relevant when deciding if you should use Dragon Claw: if the opponent has a Fairy-type in the back, it's probably a better idea to opt for a different move if possible.
Team Options
========
Because Choice Scarf locks Kyurem-B into one specific move, it often finds itself in unfavorable matchups and needs a partner to switch out to. Thus, teammates with good defensive synergy with Kyurem-B such as Aegislash, Mega Metagross, Suicune, and Rotom-W work well as partners. Aegislash and Metagross also beat the Rock-, Fighting-, and Fairy-types that trouble Kyurem-B. Bisharp works well to discourage Intimidate and remove Fairy-types, which is especially useful if you opt for a fourth move other than Iron Head. This Kyurem-B set has trouble with most Steel-types, so Heatran and Mega Charizard Y can help by taking care of them. Anything that has trouble with Landorus-T pairs well with Choice Scarf Kyurem-B, as this set is primarily geared towards removing Choice Scarf Landorus-T. This includes Heatran, Mega Diancie, Talonflame, and many others.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Blizzard can be used with hail support on either set, as it provides massive spread damage. Draco Meteor can be used on the Choice Scarf set, but the drop in power after the first use usually makes this an inferior choice. Outrage is extremely powerful and could also find a place on the Choice Scarf set, but it doesn't allow you to choose a target and prevents Kyurem-B from switching out of unfavorable matchups. Zen Headbutt could be used on the Choice Scarf set to take care of the Fighting-types that give Kyurem-B trouble, but most Pokemon that would fear Zen Headbutt are already threatened by its other, superior coverage options. Icy Wind is the only support move that could be considered viable on Kyurem-B, providing some speed control. However, it is quite weak and Kyurem-B is usually better off with Ice Beam. Roost could be used over Protect on the Substitute set for more longevity, but Protect tends to be more useful. A Life Orb set with Fusion Bolt / Ice Beam / Earth Power / Protect can act as a good middle ground between the Substitute and Choice Scarf sets, but usually those sets are more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Substitute Kyurem-B struggles with fast Fighting-types like Keldeo and Terrakion, which can outspeed and KO it. Ferrothorn resists all of Kyurem-B's attacks and can KO either set with Gyro Ball. Mega Gardevoir and Sylveon can take any attack except for Iron Head and OHKO through Kyurem-B's Substitute with Hyper Voice, making them really strong counters. Mega Metagross takes any of Choice Scarf Kyurem-B's attacks and OHKOes it with Iron Head, as well as outspeeding the Substitute set and getting the same result. Mega Diancie can beat either set unless the Choice Scarf variant is carrying Iron Head; otherwise, it can take anything from either set and OHKO the Choice Scarf set with Diamond Storm or outspeed the Substitute set and 2HKO it with Diamond Storm or Moonblast.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Burns whittle down Substitute Kyurem-B's health, preventing it from lasting as long, and severely weaken the majority of Choice Scarf Kyurem-B's moves. Intimidate also hinders the Choice Scarf set's effectiveness, though much less strongly.
**Speed Control**: Thunder Wave, Tailwind, and Trick Room take away the biggest draw to using Choice Scarf Kyurem-B over any other set and should be avoided or prevented if possible.
**Speed**: Kyurem-B is weak to priority in the form of both Mach Punch and Bullet Punch, and although neither is common, this means it can struggle against Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Mega Metagross. Life Orb Talonflame also does around 50% to the Substitute set and 65% to the Choice Scarf set with Brave Bird.
[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Teravolt
nature: Modest
evs: 108 HP / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Fusion Bolt
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Iron Head / Earth Power / Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Teravolt
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 32 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Substitute Kyurem-B struggles with fast fighting types like Keldeo and Terrakion, who can outspeed and KO. Ferrothorn resists all of Kyurem-B's attacks and can KO either set with Gyro Ball. Mega Gardevoir and Sylveon can take any attack except for Iron Head and OHKO through the substitute with Hyper Voice, making them really strong counters. Mega Metagross takes any of scarf Kyurem-B's attacks and OHKO's with Iron Head, as well as outspeeding the substitute set and getting the same result. Mega Diancie can beat either set unless scarf is carrying Iron Head, living anything from either set and OHKO'ing scarf with Diamond Storm, while outspeeding and 2HKO'ing substitute with either that or Moonblast.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Burns whittle down Substitute Kyurem-B's health, preventing it from lasting as long, and also severely weaken the majority of scarf Kyurem-B's moves. Intimidate also hinders the scarf set's effectiveness, though not as badly.
**Speed Control**: Thunder Wave, Tailwind, and Trick Room take away the biggest draw to using scarf Kyurem-B over any other set, and should be avoided/prevented if possible.
**Speed**: Kyurem-B is weak to priority in the form of both Mach Punch and Bullet Punch, and although neither are common, this means it can struggle against Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Mega Metagross. Life Orb Talonflame also does around 50% to the substitute set and ~65% to the scarf set with Brave Bird.
- Kyurem-B is a fantastic answer to defensive or bulkier teams, especially its substitute set
- Kyurem-B's ability, Teravolt, gives it perfect neutral coverage with only two moves and helps it against threats that would otherwise wall it, like Rotom-W and Mega Venusaur
- In addition to being a good mon to use on rain teams because of its ability to beat bulky grasses and Thundurus, it is also one of the best checks to rain thanks to being able to wall Ludicolo and bulky water types
- Due to the high number of common Pokemon that it threatens like Rotom-W, Amoongus, Landorus-T, and Thundurus, it can find a place on almost any team
- Unfortunate Speed tier, since it just misses out on base 100s like Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Gardevoir, and Salamence
- Lacks the physical movepool to really take advantage of its sky-high attack stat
[SET]
name: Substitute
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Teravolt
nature: Modest
evs: 108 HP / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Substitute give the set its name, allowing Kyurem-B to avoid status and chip damage
- Ice Beam is STAB and allows it to hit Grass, Ground, Dragon, and Flying types for lots of damage
- Earth Power gives Kyurem-B perfect neutral coverage along with Ice Beam, and hits levitators like Rotom-W with the help of Teravolt.
- Protect scouts for attacks, stalls out field conditions like Tailwind or TR, and allows Kyurem-B to regain health with Leftovers
Set Details
========
- Leftovers restore the health lost from creating a substitute, allowing Kyurem-B to live longer
- Max SpA and Modest nature to deal the most damage possible, since its natural bulk is already great
- 148 Spe allows Kyurem-B to outspeed all base 70 pokemon such as Bisharp and Breloom, forcing Bisharp to use Sucker Punch instead of Iron Head and avoiding Breloom's Spore with Substitute. Breloom still does around 55% with Mach Punch though, so play around it carefully
- The rest is put into HP to create bigger substitutes
Usage Tips
========
- Use Substitute on a predicted switch or protect, against non-threatening opponent pokemon, or to avoid status, then target the threat of your choice from the safety of your substitute
- When Kyurem-B has a substitute set up, the opponent is likely to target it with both mons in order to remove the sub and kill it in the same turn. So, if you can predict a double target, it helps to use Protect in order to grant your partner a free turn
- Don't feel like getting a Substitute up is necessary - while it is very nice, Kyurem-B also does well without it and sometimes getting an attack off is more important
Team Options
========
- Kyurem-B appreciates redirection support to help it set up substitute, Amoongus works well for this since it resists the Fighting-type attacks that Kyurem-B hates and doesn't share any weaknesses
- Kyurem-B also partners well with water-type pokemon such as Suicune and Rotom-W as it resists everything they are weak to, while they threaten Rock-type pokemon and Landorus-T, who can hit Kyurem-B for lots of damage
- Substitute Kyurem-B can also be a good choice for rain teams, since it beats many of the common threats to rain sweepers, such as Mega Venusaur, Rotom-W, and Amoongus
- Also fits well on sun teams, taking advantage of Mega Charizard-Y's powerful Heat Waves to set up subs and checking the rain teams that give sun trouble
- Aegislash also stands out as a good partner, since it provides Wide Guard support and easily switches in on Fighting- and Rock-type attacks that force Kyurem-B out
- However, Kyurem-B can fit on most teams with its ability to pressure the majority of the metagame without much support needed.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Fusion Bolt
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Iron Head / Earth Power / Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Teravolt
nature: Naive
evs: 252 Atk / 32 SpA / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Ice Beam is STAB and hits hard, even with only 32 SpA
- Fusion Bolt provides Bolt/Beam coverage, hitting Water-types and Mega Charizard Y super-effectively
- Dragon Claw is the strongest STAB move available, and coming from base 170 Atk hits super hard. This also allows Kyurem-B to KO dragons such as Hydreigon, Latios, and Kingdra that avoid the KO from Ice Beam
- Last move slot depends on what your team needs
- Iron Head beats Fairies such as Mega Diancie and Mega Gardevoir that otherwise give Kyurem-B lots of trouble
- Earth Power hits Heatran and Rotom formes
- Rock Slide provides spread damage as well as a 30% chance to flinch
Set Details
========
- Choice Scarf is the point of the set, and along with 224 Spe EV's and a Naive nature, outspeeds all Scarf Landorus-T as well as the entire unboosted metagame
- 252 Atk gives Kyurem-B the most power possible
- The remaining 32 EVs in SpA to help make Ice Beam less weak
- If using Earth Power, a spread of 224 Atk / 60 SpA / 224 Spe is usable to OHKO Rotom-H every time
Usage Tips
========
- Bring this set in after a fallen teammate or as a lead the majority of the time - it doesn't have nearly the bulk that other sets enjoy
- Scarf Kyurem-B is fairly uncommon, so use it to net surprise KOs on pokemon like Landorus-T, Hydreigon, and Mega-Diancie who expect to outspeed you and deal serious damage
- Keep in mind the rest of the opponent's team when attacking - if you can use multiple different moves to get the KO that you're hoping for, go for the one you'd rather be locked into.
Team Options
========
- Since Kyurem-B gets locked into one specific move, it often finds itself in unfavorable matchups and needs a partner to switch out to. Thus, teammates with good defensive synergy with Kyurem-B such as Aegislash, Mega Metagross, Suicune, and Rotom-W work well. Aegislash and Metagross also beat the Rock-, Fighting-, and Fairy-types that trouble Kyurem-B
- This Kyurem-B set has trouble with most steel types, so Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y take care of them for it
- Anything that has trouble with Landorus-T pairs well with Kyurem-B, since scarf Landorus-T is Kyurem-B's main target in this case. This includes Heatran, Mega Diancie, Talonflame, and many others
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Blizzard can be used with hail support on either set, as it provides spread damage nearly as strong as two Ice Beams
- Draco Meteor can be used on the Choice Scarf set, but the drop in power after the first use usually makes it not worth it
- Outrage is extremely powerful and could also be used on the Choice Scarf set, but it doesn't allow you to choose a target and prevents switching out of an unfavorable matchup
- Zen Headbutt could be used on the Choice Scarf set to take care of the fighting types that give Kyurem-B trouble, but most are already covered by its other, superior options
- Icy Wind is the only support move that could be considered viable on Kyurem-B, providing some speed control. However, Kyurem-B is usually better off with Ice Beam
- Roost could be used over Protect on the Substitute set for more longevity but Protect tends to be more useful
- A Life Orb set with Fusion Bolt / Ice Beam / Earth Power / Protect can be a good middle ground between the two above sets, but usually Choice Scarf or Substitute is more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Typing Advantage**: Substitute Kyurem-B struggles with fast fighting types like Keldeo and Terrakion, who can outspeed and KO. Ferrothorn resists all of Kyurem-B's attacks and can KO either set with Gyro Ball. Mega Gardevoir and Sylveon can take any attack except for Iron Head and OHKO through the substitute with Hyper Voice, making them really strong counters. Mega Metagross takes any of scarf Kyurem-B's attacks and OHKO's with Iron Head, as well as outspeeding the substitute set and getting the same result. Mega Diancie can beat either set unless scarf is carrying Iron Head, living anything from either set and OHKO'ing scarf with Diamond Storm, while outspeeding and 2HKO'ing substitute with either that or Moonblast.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Burns whittle down Substitute Kyurem-B's health, preventing it from lasting as long, and also severely weaken the majority of scarf Kyurem-B's moves. Intimidate also hinders the scarf set's effectiveness, though not as badly.
**Speed Control**: Thunder Wave, Tailwind, and Trick Room take away the biggest draw to using scarf Kyurem-B over any other set, and should be avoided/prevented if possible.
**Speed**: Kyurem-B is weak to priority in the form of both Mach Punch and Bullet Punch, and although neither are common, this means it can struggle against Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Mega Metagross. Life Orb Talonflame also does around 50% to the substitute set and ~65% to the scarf set with Brave Bird.
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