Keldeo goes berserk... uh, kind of?
Anyway, before I start just a couple of things:
- English isn't my first language so I'm sorry if I make any mistakes
- I will go through entire team building process in this post, but if you just want to see the finished team scroll to the end of the post
The Core
As mentioned before this was the basis of my entire team. These two Pokémon together make a fantastic offensive core, OHKO-ing or 2HKO-ing alsmost the entire OU metagame and even though Rillaboom can technically switch into both of these Pokémon it really doesn't want to take a Scald Burn. After my offensive core was done I wanted to make breaking teams for these two Pokémon a bit easier with Stealth Rock support and U-turn support and there was one Pokémon that fit this role perfectly, Landorus-Therian.
Stealth Rock Support
Landorus-Therian is an amazing Defensive Pivot not only providing my team with Stealth Rock and U-turn support, but also giving me a check to many offensive threats in the tier. Landorus-T also gave me a switch in to opposing Landorus-T, which, granted, wasn't too needed, but Choice Scarfed Landorus-T could be annoying to deal with. Other then that it gives me a good check physical set-up sweepers like Swords Dance Garchomp. At this point I felt like the team could be a little weak to Dragapult, Kartana and opposing Rillaboom and also I wanted a Defog support just so I don't have to deal with hazards, and there's only one Pokémon that fills this role, Mandibuzz.
Defog Support
I felt like Mandibuzz fit into team really well. Covering weaknesses like the aformentioned Pokémon and also discouraging set-up sweepers from setting up, mainly Pokémon that use Swords Dance while also providing the team with yet another U-turn which helps get Keldeo and Rillaboom on to the field more often so they can do their job. While looking at the team Tapu Lele seemed like a little bit of a problem and I wanted an answer to Hawlucha aswell so I decided to the next Pokémon, Aegislash.
Patching Up Weaknesses 1
Aegislash gave me a switch-in to aformentioned Tapu Lele and Hawlucha, but it also provided me a general switch-in to Fairy-type and Psychic-type Pokémon. It also provided my team with a set-up sweeper with accesses to priority to pick off weakened teams. With the current members I felt like there was one glaring weakness, one Pokémon that I don't have an answer to, Heatran. So for the last member on my team I decided to use a Pokémon that's going to deal with Heatran, Hydreigon.
Patching Up Weaknesses 2
Hydreigon provided not only an answer to Heatran, but an answer to many bulky Pokémon, like Scizor, Corviknight and Ferrothorn while also being a great stallbreaker and stall can sometimes be annyoing to deal with. Now let's go over the sets in detail.
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
As mentioned in the team building process Keldeo is the heart and soul of the team and is the Pokémon that I built this team arround. It is the standard Choice Specs set that basically OHKOs or 2HKOs most of the tier. Scald is just a really good spammable move that is also STAB and can also burn the oppenent. Hydro Pump is the option if you need a little bit more power, if you are predicting that Mandibuzz is switching in, for example. Secret Sword is used as a second STAB move and to hit specially defensive Pokémon, it OHKOs Blissey, for example. Icy Wind is mainly for Dragon-type Pokémon that like to switch into Keldeo, like Dragonite.
Rillaboom @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Wood Hammer
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Rillaboom forms such an amazing core with Keldeo and the team just wouldn't function without it, it can KO every switch-in to Keldeo. The set is just the standard Choice Band set. I'm using Grassy Glide on this set for priority STAB move, Wood Hammer is just for raw power. Knock Off helps you weaken switch-ins to Rillaboom to maybe KO them later or make the job easier for Keldeo and also gives you a way of KO-ing Slowking-Galar. U-turn is used for momentum.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Landorus-Therian is such a good fit for this team. Provides Stealth Rock support and keeps momentum with U-turn. U-turn also gives more chances to Keldeo and Rillaboom to wallbreak. Intimidate support is also very valuable for opposing physical attackers, like Garchomp or Excadrill. Also gives me a switch in to opposing Choice Scarf Landorus-Therian. Earthquake on the set is for STAB and I'm using Toxic as a last move to cripple it's switch-ins, like Tangrowth or Slowbro. Toxic also helps me wear down opposing set-up sweepers, like Swords Dance Garchomp.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 92 Def / 152 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Mandibuzz is on the team to provide Defog support, but also serves as a good mixed defensive Pokémon and also forms a nice defensive core with Landorus-Therian. The set is just a standard Mandibuzz set, it let's me check Dragapult, Rillaboom, Kartana and discourages those same Pokémon from setting up and if they do end up setting up I have Foul Play on the set to punish them for doing so. U-turn is on the set to provide momentum to the team and it form a nice U-turn core with Landorus-T and Rillaboom. Roost is used for longevity.
Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 248 HP / 48 Atk / 200 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
This is definetly not a standard set, so I'll try to explain it as best as I can. Aegislashes role, as I've mentioned before, is to switch into Tapu Lele and Hawlucha, while also being a Fairy-type and Psychic-type switch-in. Aegislash serves also as a bulky Swords Dance sweeper. It has enough Attack EVs to KO Tapu Lele with Iron Head 100% of the time. Those same Attack EVs let Aegislash OHKO Clefable after a Swords Dance boost, and Clefable doesn't really have anything to hurt you with so you can always set up on it. Speaking of +2 boost those Attack EVs let you OHKO Dragapult with Shadow Sneak, if you ever got into that situation. Speed investment is just enough to outspeed minimum speed Tyranitar and the leftover EVs are split into bulk. As an item I'm using Leftovers because I want my Aegislash to stick around as long as possible and to provide me with as many Tapu Lele switch-ins as I need. Shadow Sneak is used on the set for the priority and late game clean up.
Hydreigon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Nasty Plot
- Roost
Hydreigon is used as a check to Heatran, because, as I said, I think the team is a bit weak to the Heatran without Hydreigon. Hydreigons role is also to stallbreak as it can be annoying for the team to deal with stall. The set is just a standard Nasty Plot set. I opted to use Leftovers instead of Life Orb to trade in some power for longevity. Nasty Plot is on the set just to give Hydreigon more power. Dark Pulse is a good spammable STAB move. Earth Power is on the set because I'm using Hydreigon as a Heatran answer and Earth Power helps me deal with Heatran. Roost is on the set for longevity.
Weaknesses
While testing with the team I haven't encountered many weaknesses, but the team is definitely weak to SubRoost Kyurem. Also Volcarona, if given the chance to set-up will sweep the team. I haven't played much against weather while testing the team, but I feel like the team could be weak against the Sun or Sand Teams.
Ending
Any recommendations/criticisms are welcome.
Thank you for reading and have a good day.
Anyway, before I start just a couple of things:
- English isn't my first language so I'm sorry if I make any mistakes
- I will go through entire team building process in this post, but if you just want to see the finished team scroll to the end of the post
Team building
I really love Keldeo and that was the entire reason for me to start making this team. I was using the Pokémon Damage Calculator and was calcing how much damage does Keldeo do against each OU Pokémon. Basically it OHKOs or 2HKOs almost the entire OU metagame except Rillaboom, Slowbro, Slowking, Slowking-Galar, Tapu Fini and Toxapex, so I thought to myself "Hey! Rillaboom!" and that's how I got the offensive core for this team.
The Core
Stealth Rock Support
Defog Support
Patching Up Weaknesses 1
Patching Up Weaknesses 2
The Team
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
As mentioned in the team building process Keldeo is the heart and soul of the team and is the Pokémon that I built this team arround. It is the standard Choice Specs set that basically OHKOs or 2HKOs most of the tier. Scald is just a really good spammable move that is also STAB and can also burn the oppenent. Hydro Pump is the option if you need a little bit more power, if you are predicting that Mandibuzz is switching in, for example. Secret Sword is used as a second STAB move and to hit specially defensive Pokémon, it OHKOs Blissey, for example. Icy Wind is mainly for Dragon-type Pokémon that like to switch into Keldeo, like Dragonite.
Rillaboom @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Wood Hammer
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Rillaboom forms such an amazing core with Keldeo and the team just wouldn't function without it, it can KO every switch-in to Keldeo. The set is just the standard Choice Band set. I'm using Grassy Glide on this set for priority STAB move, Wood Hammer is just for raw power. Knock Off helps you weaken switch-ins to Rillaboom to maybe KO them later or make the job easier for Keldeo and also gives you a way of KO-ing Slowking-Galar. U-turn is used for momentum.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Landorus-Therian is such a good fit for this team. Provides Stealth Rock support and keeps momentum with U-turn. U-turn also gives more chances to Keldeo and Rillaboom to wallbreak. Intimidate support is also very valuable for opposing physical attackers, like Garchomp or Excadrill. Also gives me a switch in to opposing Choice Scarf Landorus-Therian. Earthquake on the set is for STAB and I'm using Toxic as a last move to cripple it's switch-ins, like Tangrowth or Slowbro. Toxic also helps me wear down opposing set-up sweepers, like Swords Dance Garchomp.
Mandibuzz (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 92 Def / 152 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Foul Play
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Mandibuzz is on the team to provide Defog support, but also serves as a good mixed defensive Pokémon and also forms a nice defensive core with Landorus-Therian. The set is just a standard Mandibuzz set, it let's me check Dragapult, Rillaboom, Kartana and discourages those same Pokémon from setting up and if they do end up setting up I have Foul Play on the set to punish them for doing so. U-turn is on the set to provide momentum to the team and it form a nice U-turn core with Landorus-T and Rillaboom. Roost is used for longevity.
Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 248 HP / 48 Atk / 200 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
This is definetly not a standard set, so I'll try to explain it as best as I can. Aegislashes role, as I've mentioned before, is to switch into Tapu Lele and Hawlucha, while also being a Fairy-type and Psychic-type switch-in. Aegislash serves also as a bulky Swords Dance sweeper. It has enough Attack EVs to KO Tapu Lele with Iron Head 100% of the time. Those same Attack EVs let Aegislash OHKO Clefable after a Swords Dance boost, and Clefable doesn't really have anything to hurt you with so you can always set up on it. Speaking of +2 boost those Attack EVs let you OHKO Dragapult with Shadow Sneak, if you ever got into that situation. Speed investment is just enough to outspeed minimum speed Tyranitar and the leftover EVs are split into bulk. As an item I'm using Leftovers because I want my Aegislash to stick around as long as possible and to provide me with as many Tapu Lele switch-ins as I need. Shadow Sneak is used on the set for the priority and late game clean up.
Hydreigon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Nasty Plot
- Roost
Hydreigon is used as a check to Heatran, because, as I said, I think the team is a bit weak to the Heatran without Hydreigon. Hydreigons role is also to stallbreak as it can be annoying for the team to deal with stall. The set is just a standard Nasty Plot set. I opted to use Leftovers instead of Life Orb to trade in some power for longevity. Nasty Plot is on the set just to give Hydreigon more power. Dark Pulse is a good spammable STAB move. Earth Power is on the set because I'm using Hydreigon as a Heatran answer and Earth Power helps me deal with Heatran. Roost is on the set for longevity.
Weaknesses
While testing with the team I haven't encountered many weaknesses, but the team is definitely weak to SubRoost Kyurem. Also Volcarona, if given the chance to set-up will sweep the team. I haven't played much against weather while testing the team, but I feel like the team could be weak against the Sun or Sand Teams.
Ending
Any recommendations/criticisms are welcome.
Thank you for reading and have a good day.
and Future Sight. 
here, since the 2 terrain system of Rillaboom-Tapu Koko can help you negate Hawlucha in the first place, as you can change terrains. Also, Zeraora can make you lose momentum (bar double switching) if the opponent has a Ground-Type, hence Tapu Koko's U-Turn is excellent. Moreover, Rillaboom and Keldeo destroy Tapu Koko checks like Ferrothorn, Blissey, Excadrill, Nidoking etc. Tapu Koko can also live a boosted hit from Hawlucha, if it comes to that.
