[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Foul Play
move 4: Sucker Punch / Steel Wing
item: Choice Band
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 32 Def / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Choice Band and Dark Aura boost the strength of Knock Off to lethal levels, making it Yveltal's STAB move of choice. It is powerful enough to OHKO Ho-Oh and 2HKO Klefki, both conventional Yveltal checks, and Knock Off's item removal effect makes it extremely dangerous for Xerneas to switch in lest it be neutered by prematurely losing its Power Herb. U-turn is useful to pivot out of Pokemon that Choice Band Yveltal does not necessarily match up well against, such as support Arceus formes. U-turn also scores an easy 2HKO on Tyranitar, which doesn't necessarily mind taking Knock Off. While it may seem counterintuitive to run Foul Play on a Choice Band set, the boost conferred by Choice Band does make it powerful enough to 2HKO all variants of Primal Groudon and OHKO offensive Mega Salamence variants after Stealth Rock, neither of which Knock Off can accomplish. Sucker Punch rounds out the set by providing extremely strong priority to check Pokemon faster than Yveltal, easily destroying fast Psychic-types such as Mewtwo and doing upwards of 70% damage to offensive Mega Salamence. Steel Wing can also be used to reliably 2HKO Xerneas and OHKO Mega Diancie, though it is weak against all other targets.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary to allow Yveltal to hit as hard as possible, securing the OHKO on Ho-Oh and the 2HKO on Klefki and Skarmory. 32 Defense EVs grant Yveltal guaranteed survival against a +2 Extreme Speed from both Jolly Life Orb and Adamant Silk Scarf variants of Extreme Killer Arceus, and they also allow Yveltal to survive Choice Band Dragon Ascent from Jolly Rayquaza at full HP. The remaining EVs go into Speed, letting Yveltal outpace any neutral-natured Pokemon below the base 95 Speed tier. A Jolly nature can be used instead to outrun any Rayquaza variant and Modest Latios, but the power drop is noticeable, and Yveltal's access to Sucker Punch means the added Speed usually isn't necessary.
Usage Tips
========
Switch in Yveltal against Pokemon it can force to switch out—typically Ghost- or Psychic-types—and just throw out attacks. Knock Off's power and item removal effect make it safe to spam in most cases, easily tearing apart most checks to special Yveltal sets and still leaving a noticeable dent in Pokemon such as Primal Groudon and support Arceus formes. Since a purely physical Yveltal set carries some surprise value, one can try switching in Yveltal against Pokemon special attacking sets would normally force out such as Primal Groudon to create an opening for a free attack. Despite being boosted by Choice Band, U-turn does not do much damage to neutral targets, so it is generally best saved for pivoting out of checks such as Tyranitar and support Arceus formes; otherwise, simply spamming Knock Off is usually the superior option. Be careful with this Yveltal set against faster targets, as the move restrictions of Choice Band may not necessarily allow Yveltal to take out a faster foe with Sucker Punch immediately.
Team Options
========
Gengar is strongly recommended for use with Choice Band Yveltal. It can take advantage of opportunities to switch in afforded by Yveltal's U-turn to Mega Evolve safely, and it is key in removing support Arceus formes (especially Fairy Arceus, which takes little damage from all of Yveltal's attacks) that may be holding back Yveltal from laying waste to the opponent's team. Although Yveltal can deal significant damage to most Fairy-type Pokemon in Ubers with Knock Off, it is still vulnerable to being revenge killed by them, so reliable Fairy-type checks are still necessary. Primal Groudon, Klefki, and Bronzong are among the best at this role, and all three provide entry hazard support to help Choice Band Yveltal secure KOs. Primal Groudon can also status support Arceus formes to help Yveltal break through them, or it can simply KO support Arceus formes itself with Swords Dance-boosted attacks. Choice Band Yveltal has no way to recover HP, so hazard removal support is strongly advised. Water Arceus is particularly notable for providing a strong answer to Primal Groudon and Mega Diancie, both of which can take two Knock Offs from Choice Band Yveltal. Dragon Arceus and Ground Arceus perform similarly, though the former cannot check Mega Diancie.
Offensively, Choice Band Yveltal tends to lure in and destroy Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Klefki that would normally be good checks to special attacking Yveltal sets. Xerneas benefits significantly from these Pokemon being gone and can take advantage of Yveltal's U-turn to find an opportunity to set up with Geomancy safely, making it an ideal offensive complement. While Deoxys-A can often punch through Ho-Oh on its own, it does appreciate Klefki being taken out, and Yveltal can buy it free opportunities to switch in with U-turn to punish switch-ins such as support Arceus formes.
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Foul Play
move 4: Sucker Punch / Steel Wing
item: Choice Band
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 32 Def / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Choice Band and Dark Aura boost the strength of Knock Off to lethal levels, making it Yveltal's STAB move of choice. It is powerful enough to OHKO Ho-Oh and 2HKO Klefki, both conventional Yveltal checks, and Knock Off's item removal effect makes it extremely dangerous for Xerneas to switch in lest it be neutered by prematurely losing its Power Herb. U-turn is useful to pivot out of Pokemon that Choice Band Yveltal does not necessarily match up well against, such as support Arceus formes. U-turn also scores an easy 2HKO on Tyranitar, which doesn't necessarily mind taking Knock Off. While it may seem counterintuitive to run Foul Play on a Choice Band set, the boost conferred by Choice Band does make it powerful enough to 2HKO all variants of Primal Groudon and OHKO offensive Mega Salamence variants after Stealth Rock, neither of which Knock Off can accomplish. Sucker Punch rounds out the set by providing extremely strong priority to check Pokemon faster than Yveltal, easily destroying fast Psychic-types such as Mewtwo and doing upwards of 70% damage to offensive Mega Salamence. Steel Wing can also be used to reliably 2HKO Xerneas and OHKO Mega Diancie, though it is weak against all other targets.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary to allow Yveltal to hit as hard as possible, securing the OHKO on Ho-Oh and the 2HKO on Klefki and Skarmory. 32 Defense EVs grant Yveltal guaranteed survival against a +2 Extreme Speed from both Jolly Life Orb and Adamant Silk Scarf variants of Extreme Killer Arceus, and they also allow Yveltal to survive Choice Band Dragon Ascent from Jolly Rayquaza at full HP. The remaining EVs go into Speed, letting Yveltal outpace any neutral-natured Pokemon below the base 95 Speed tier. A Jolly nature can be used instead to outrun any Rayquaza variant and Modest Latios, but the power drop is noticeable, and Yveltal's access to Sucker Punch means the added Speed usually isn't necessary.
Usage Tips
========
Switch in Yveltal against Pokemon it can force to switch out—typically Ghost- or Psychic-types—and just throw out attacks. Knock Off's power and item removal effect make it safe to spam in most cases, easily tearing apart most checks to special Yveltal sets and still leaving a noticeable dent in Pokemon such as Primal Groudon and support Arceus formes. Since a purely physical Yveltal set carries some surprise value, one can try switching in Yveltal against Pokemon special attacking sets would normally force out such as Primal Groudon to create an opening for a free attack. Despite being boosted by Choice Band, U-turn does not do much damage to neutral targets, so it is generally best saved for pivoting out of checks such as Tyranitar and support Arceus formes; otherwise, simply spamming Knock Off is usually the superior option. Be careful with this Yveltal set against faster targets, as the move restrictions of Choice Band may not necessarily allow Yveltal to take out a faster foe with Sucker Punch immediately.
Team Options
========
Gengar is strongly recommended for use with Choice Band Yveltal. It can take advantage of opportunities to switch in afforded by Yveltal's U-turn to Mega Evolve safely, and it is key in removing support Arceus formes (especially Fairy Arceus, which takes little damage from all of Yveltal's attacks) that may be holding back Yveltal from laying waste to the opponent's team. Although Yveltal can deal significant damage to most Fairy-type Pokemon in Ubers with Knock Off, it is still vulnerable to being revenge killed by them, so reliable Fairy-type checks are still necessary. Primal Groudon, Klefki, and Bronzong are among the best at this role, and all three provide entry hazard support to help Choice Band Yveltal secure KOs. Primal Groudon can also status support Arceus formes to help Yveltal break through them, or it can simply KO support Arceus formes itself with Swords Dance-boosted attacks. Choice Band Yveltal has no way to recover HP, so hazard removal support is strongly advised. Water Arceus is particularly notable for providing a strong answer to Primal Groudon and Mega Diancie, both of which can take two Knock Offs from Choice Band Yveltal. Dragon Arceus and Ground Arceus perform similarly, though the former cannot check Mega Diancie.
Offensively, Choice Band Yveltal tends to lure in and destroy Pokemon such as Ho-Oh and Klefki that would normally be good checks to special attacking Yveltal sets. Xerneas benefits significantly from these Pokemon being gone and can take advantage of Yveltal's U-turn to find an opportunity to set up with Geomancy safely, making it an ideal offensive complement. While Deoxys-A can often punch through Ho-Oh on its own, it does appreciate Klefki being taken out, and Yveltal can buy it free opportunities to switch in with U-turn to punish switch-ins such as support Arceus formes.
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