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Keldeo [available from June 23rd to August 31st]
- Thread starter Bloo
- Start date
People have already discovered counters for Keldeo in the DW metagame. Bulky Toxicroak in the rain hard counters any Keldeo that doesn't run HP Psychic, Flying, or Ground. Jellicent, Tentacruel, and Latias can also take its attacks but can't do much back after a Calm Mind or two. I don't think Keldeo is going to shake up the metagame as much as you think.
Oh he'll shake up the metagame. He's earned that top 20 spot in DW OU. A Water-type that can OHKO Ferrothorn after a CM. That alone would make him good. But he does have a good deal of weaknesses:
But on top of that, Bulky Water-types like Defensive Politoed or Vaporeon can Ruin Keldeo's fun with Perish Song and Roar.
He's extremely comparable to Nasty Plot Infernape because he has so many of the same counters for the exact same reason; his STABs & Hidden Power just can't cover everything, leaving him with a moderate case of 4-move-slot syndrome.
Roar?
Doesn't do much per say, but making sure it never really gets set-up is an accomplishment.
The pokemon in bold are checks at best, not counters. Alakazam, Tornadus, and Jolteon can't switch into a Specs Surf or Hydro Pump, while the Grass-types take heavy damage from Secret Sword/Focus Blast.
when this keldeo is released, im assuming that since it is an event mon, only the event version will be allowed use in the OU metagame, and so whatever nature it gets will be the nature one has to use much in the same vein as aura sphere raikou?
If that is the case it will probably lose out on its great 108 speed tier, and maybe even have a -spattack nature, so it wont be too gamebreaking
If that is the case it will probably lose out on its great 108 speed tier, and maybe even have a -spattack nature, so it wont be too gamebreaking
Well I highly doubt its going to be like Aura Sphere Raikou considering they released Victini as a catch-able pokemon I wouldn't be surprised if something similar was waiting for Keldeo.
If there isn't a nature restriction, I am excited for this Pokemon to get into the OU metagame. Even though its Special Move pool is extremely shallow, a reliable Special Fighting Attack, Hydro Pump, and a nice Speed Tier will let the Pony have some reasonable success in OU. Also keep in mind that it's part Water Type, meaning this thing has a resistance to Bullet Punch which will make this things job oh so much easier.
I agree too I'm just saying that mainly because a lot of people are talking it down because it has counters. I think this thing is going to be EXTREMELY threatening. Rain boosted Hydro Pumps are nothing to scoff at.
What I find interesting will be not just how the metagame reacts to Keldeo, but how it reacts to the rise in usage to its counters. I mean obviously Jellicent is going to be used more when this thing is released so Im just wondering what kind of offensive partners you'd pair this with. Rotom-W? Heck, even Tyranitar because Keldeo is still pretty powerful even not in the rain.
The thing is, Keldeo is undoubtedly going to have a gigantic impact on the metagame. All of its primary checks are offensive, bar Jellicent who eats a super effective Hidden Power. Keldeo can afford to run something that's not HP Ice because Hydro Pump is just INSANELY powerful. I'm talking about a 2HKO on offensive Dragonite, through Multiscale. I'll let the implications of that sink in. Personally, the only reliable way to beat this thing is through revenge killing it with powerful physical attackers, ala Scarf Terrakion and possibly things like Raikou in the rain if its not a CM variant.
edit: btw, this is the list of reliable counters for Keldeo:
Slowbro
Slowking
Jellicent
Celebi
Starmie
Latios
Latias
Toxicroak
Amoongus (Only good in DW)
Tornadus
Venusaur
Tangrowth
Ditto (DW)
The pokemon above are really the only things that can switch into Keldeo most of the time, since it's gonna be spamming Hydro Pump more often than not. Everything else on Katakiri's list is handily 2HKOed by specs Hydro Pump.
(btw this is coming from someone who's been playing DW OU for a bit now)
edit: btw, this is the list of reliable counters for Keldeo:
Slowbro
Slowking
Jellicent
Celebi
Starmie
Latios
Latias
Toxicroak
Amoongus (Only good in DW)
Tornadus
Venusaur
Tangrowth
Ditto (DW)
The pokemon above are really the only things that can switch into Keldeo most of the time, since it's gonna be spamming Hydro Pump more often than not. Everything else on Katakiri's list is handily 2HKOed by specs Hydro Pump.
(btw this is coming from someone who's been playing DW OU for a bit now)
You will see things that deal well with the pokemon that give it trouble. Scizor traps the lati twins as well as hp fire celebi as long as you have the rain up. I'm interested in trying a CM keldeo with taunt over a coverage move. With t-spikes support, keldeo can calm mind on jellicent who comes in on t-spikes and prevent it from doing anything. This prevents people who only have jellicent as a keldeo check from prematurely stopping your sweep and can be useful against pokemon like slowbro who can take a hit and attempt to t-wave it before going down.
The thing with that is unless you're giving up one of your STAB moves, you're not really doing much of anything to it back.... CM/ Pump / Taunt / HP Electric might work to get it but that's iffy considering Water coverage isn't that good by itself, though it could catch a player off guard, letting you boost enough where resistances don't matter
Milotic can probably check it, too. Dragon Tail it out or Toxic it. If anything, it'll make a very cool partner for Terrakion or Virizion. Kind of like how Suicune and Raikou mesh well together sometimes!
CM, taunt, hydro pump, secret sword was what I had in mind.
Just get rid of Jellicent, Salamence, Dragonite, etc first, right?
I don't think the solution for jellicent is as simple as "getting rid of it", since your opponent is going to be very careful to keep it alive until keldeo comes in. Dragonite is already going to struggle with beating keldeo, losing outright if rocks are up. Salamence is in the same position of dragonite unless it runs scarf.
How about pairing Keldeo with
Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Guts - Jolly Nature
252 Atk / 40 SpD / 216 Spe (I suck at EVs)
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
Love burns/toxics from Jellicent and then Pursuit it to death. Outspeeds +1 Dnite and probably OHKO with Stone Edge after rocks.
EDIT: LOL. Just figured out this is a standard set. -_-
Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Guts - Jolly Nature
252 Atk / 40 SpD / 216 Spe (I suck at EVs)
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
Love burns/toxics from Jellicent and then Pursuit it to death. Outspeeds +1 Dnite and probably OHKO with Stone Edge after rocks.
EDIT: LOL. Just figured out this is a standard set. -_-
Well I imagine that's what will shake up the meta more than just the release of Keldeo, it'll also bring pokes that work well with him, but not the pre-Keldeo meta more to the fore.
Does tentacruel do a good job at countering keldeo?? It has excellent special defense, so it can probably take a hit or two.
Without Toxic it really can't do anything back...
What about mirror coat?? He also gets giga drain to damage keldeo.