Mix and Mega
Overview
Primal Kyogre finds a solid niche as the strongest Water-type in Mix and Mega, breaking even special walls like Blissey with Calm Mind. While Primal Kyogre's movepool is not very deep, it has everything it needs to be a solid Water-type. With an astounding base 180 Special Attack backed by Primordial Sea and a way to boost it further, Primal Kyogre leaves few ways that stall teams can remain safe versus it. Base 160 Special Defense ensures it will survive almost any unboosted special attack directed in its path. However, base 90 Defense is rather lacking for all of the physical behemoths running around, leaving it vulnerable to Earthquake and Extreme Speed. Base 90 Speed also leaves the vast majority of sweepers able to outspeed it, and Primal Kyogre has nothing to combat this, unlike Primal Groudon, which is a great answer to Primal Kyogre, and it can function in Primordial Sea with Precipice Blades, meaning Primal Kyogre cannot switch into it safely. Thanks to Desolate Land, Primal Groudon can also switch into Primal Kyogre's Water-type moves, denying it of its most powerful attacks.
All-out Special Attacker
- Kyogre @ Blue Orb
- Ability: Drizzle
- EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Modest / Timid Nature
- - Origin Pulse
- - Thunder
- - Ice Beam
- - Calm Mind / Water Spout
Set Comments
Moves
Origin Pulse is an extremely powerful 110-Base Power Water-type STAB attack that is boosted by Primordial Sea. Thunder is one of two coverage attacks, has perfect accuracy in the rain, and allows Primal Kyogre to take on opposing Water types extremely well. Ice Beam is the second of Primal Kyogre's coverage moves, and it allows it to take on both Dragon- and Grass-types. The last spot is open to whatever Primal Kyogre needs. Calm Mind allows Primal Kyogre to boost both its special bulk and power of its special attacks to terrifying heights, allowing it to break even Blissey. Water Spout is extremely powerful from full health, having a chance to 2HKO Blissey after Stealth Rock, but weakens as Primal Kyogre gets damaged, which necessitates Origin Pulse as a move.
Set Details
Maximized Speed and Special Attack allow Primal Kyogre to outrun many uninvested tanks in Mix and Mega, which can be critical when dealing with Speed creep. A Modest nature allows Primal Kyogre's moves to do more damage, while Timid allows it to outspeed neutral-natured Yveltal and Tapu Bulu, along with Timid Blastoisinite Hoopa-U. Another option is a spread of 176 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Speed spread with a Modest nature, which allows Primal Kyogre to maximize its bulk while still outspeeding uninvested base 100s.
Usage Tips
Take advantage of Primal Kyogre's bulk whenever possible. If you see a Red Orb user and they're going to use a Fire-type attack, Primal Kyogre is a good switch-in. Primal Kyogre can also take Ice- and Steel-type moves aimed at a teammate. When Primal Kyogre is safely switched in, fire off powerful attacks in an attempt to predict what will come in, dealing massive damage to it. Try to send Primal Kyogre in primarily on special attackers if possible; its physical bulk is lacking for prolonged encounters. Desolate Land negates any Water-type moves, so send out a counter when you're facing a Red Orb user. At below 75% health, Origin Pulse outdamages Water Spout, so you should switch moves if you're about to cross that threshold. As such, you should try to keep Water Spout variants healthy if possible. Origin Pulse can also often outdamage Primal Kyogre's super effective coverage options when not resisted, but this only comes up versus Zapdos and Pinsirite Steel-types. Against slower teams or teams with a dedicated counter, saving Primal Kyogre for the late-game is better than letting it get worn down early, and this also holds true of Calm Mind variants.
Team Options
Red Orb users such as Venusaur, Roserade, Raikou, and Primal Groudon can help deal with other Blue Orb threats and physical attackers alike. Magearna and other Steel-types appreciate the Fire immunity and can cover for incoming Extreme Speeds. Ground types such as Garchomp and Arceus-Ground help cover Primal Kyogre from Electric-types and serve as a nice offensive complement to Primal Kyogre's Water-type moves. Stealth Rock, which can be set up by the aforementioned Ground types, helps Primal Kyogre smash holes in the opposing team even more. Zapdos is a good partner for Primal Kyogre, providing it with a Kartana answer as well as providing a pivot into its destructive force with Volt Switch. Many pivots such as Tapu Koko, Raikou, and Archeops help Primal Kyogre function much better, allowing it to fire off more Origin Pulses and Thunders without taking unnecessary damage from Skarmory and slower sweepers.
Strategy Comments
Other Options
Earthquake is an option to deal heavy damage to Red Orb users and specially defensive Steel-types. RestTalk is a combination that keeps Primal Kyogre healthy in longer battles and lets it deal with status users. This combination is often paired with Scald to inflict burns and improve Primal Kyogre's staying power. However, this either leaves Primal Kyogre open to Red Orb users or forces it to forego Calm Mind, both of which can be problematic. Toxic can wear down Primal Groudon and other Red Orb users, and while it is inferior to attacking most of the time, it can make wearing down dedicated special walls and Red Orb users far easier. Calm Mind + Water Spout destroys Blissey much faster than the other Calm Mind sets but loses out on a coverage move, making Primal Kyogre less effective overall. Roar allows Primal Kyogre to deal with opposing setup Pokemon and allows for it to further utilize entry hazards. However, it cannot set up hazards itself and would mainly use this to wear down Red Orb users. Kyogre itself can also hold a Choice Scarf in order to outspeed a significant portion of the metagame, albeit at the cost of stronger attacks.
Checks and Counters
- Red Orb Users: Primal Groudon is one of Primal Kyogre's best counters, as Desolate Land completely negates its Water weakness and it is immune to Thunder. Specially defensive variants easily 2HKO Primal Kyogre with Precipice Blades, while offensive sets can switch in fewer times but can take out a weakened Primal Kyogre in a single hit. Red Orb users like Togekiss, Venusaur, and Raikou can all handle Primal Kyogre, provided they have the weather conditions in their favor. While Togekiss is hurt by Thunder, it misses more often, giving it chances to support the team, or fire off Dazzling Gleam or even Solar Beam. They can also severely hurt Primal Kyogre, while it does little in return to any of them. Raikou in particular resists all common Primal Kyogre moves, and it can strike Primal Kyogre with either Thunderbolt or Volt Switch, which gains momentum.
- Grass-types: Even though it's a challenge for Grass-types to take an Ice Beam very well due to Primal Kyogre's massive Special Attack, Grass-types also have a type advantage against Primal Kyogre. Ferrothorn in particular can switch into any attack and regain health with Leech Seed or KO with Power Whip. Kartana has more difficulty switching in but can deal heavy damage to Primal Kyogre, often outright KOing it.
- Electric-types: While the majority of Electric-types have trouble switching in, Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, and Wild Charge will all do heavy damage to Primal Kyogre. In particular, Red Orb Raikou threatens Primal Kyogre, even if Primordial Sea is up, and can switch into Primal Kyogre's common coverage moves.
- Blissey: Even though the majority of walls will not take Primal Kyogre's attacks very well, Blissey can take an unboosted Origin Pulse multiple times, and can stall Primal Kyogre out with either Seismic Toss or Toxic. Calm Mind variants will severely hurt Blissey if it doesn't carry Calm Mind, however.