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- All-around decent base stats leave Celebi with no obvious flaws; however, its lack of obvious strengths stat-wise leave something to be desired.
- Celebi's typing is both a blessing and a curse—it boasts several valuable resistances, notably to Water-, Fighting-, and Ground-type attacks, but in turn is weak to Knock Off and quad-weak to U-turn.
- Its niche has shrunk in significance over the years, rendering it a very unlikely pick for most teams.
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Nasty Plot / Swords Dance / Substitute
move 3: Giga Drain / Seed Bomb
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Calm / Careful
evs: 248 HP / 152 SpD / 108 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Baton Pass allows Celebi to pivot out of the field and potentially pass stat boosts to teammates.
- Nasty Plot and Swords Dance double Celebi's Special Attack and Attack, respectively; those boosts can then be transferred to a teammate via Baton Pass
- Substitute is another viable passing option, as the buffer it provides can allow another teammate to set-up free of fear from status conditions and at least one attack.
- Giga Drain and Seed Bomb are mandatory STAB moves. Giga Drain is the option of choice should Nasty Plot or Substitute be used, and Seed Bomb should be coupled with Swords Dance.
- Recover greatly prolongs Celebi's longevity and allows it to wall a number of Pokemon, such as Landorus lacking Sludge Wave, Keldeo, and Kingdra locked into Water-type moves.
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- The given EV spread allows Celebi to outpace positive-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon, such as Jolly Bisharp and Timid Volcanion, with the rest invested in bulk to allow Celebi to effectively pivot into certain special attackers.
- Leftovers grants Celebi passive recovery, which helps keep it out of range of potential 2HKOs.
- A Special Defense-boosting nature maximizes Celebi's Special Defense, which helps it comfortably pivot in and out of battle.
- Alternatively, should one not need a Pokemon that can pivot into specially-offensive threats like Landorus lacking Sludge Wave and Kingdra, a physically defensive EV spread of 248 HP / 152 Def / 108 Spe with a Bold or Impish nature is a viable alternative.
- Be sure to opt for the correct nature—use Calm or Bold with Giga Drain as Celebi's attack and Careful or Impish with Seed Bomb.
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- Send Celebi in on threats it's capable of walling, such as Breloom and Keldeo.
- Early-game, Baton Pass can be used to pivot out of incoming dangers to Celebi, generating momentum.
- Carefully judge when an opportunity to pass a boost or Substitute may arise—such as when the opposition's likely switch-in to Celebi is slower and thus easy to Baton Pass out of—and execute accordingly.
- Use Recover when Celebi finds itself sitting in a health range where it cannot comfortably sponge the attacks of Pokemon it can check.
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- Fire- and Water-types stand out as some of the best teammates for Celebi, as together, they are capable of forming Fire / Water / Grass cores with considerable type synergy.
- Examples of good Fire- and Water-type partners include Mega Charizard X, Volcarona, Toxapex, and Mega Gyarados.
- Heatran is a famously solid partner for Celebi, as together, they cover almost all of their weaknesses. Dark- and Ghost-type attacks remain uncovered between the two, but this can be remedied through another teammate.
- Azumarill and Keldeo resist the Dark-, Fire-, and Bug-type attacks commonly used versus Celebi while appreciating potential passed stat boosts.
- Physical attackers that can serve as threatening recipients of Swords Dance boosts, such as Mega Charizard X, Buzzwole, Mega Gyarados, and Mega Sharpedo make for ideal partners.
- Special attackers that appreciate being passed Nasty Plot boosts, such as Keldeo, Greninja, Landorus, and Mega Charizard Y are good additions as well.
- Set-up sweepers that can benefit from the advantages of being passed a Substitute fit well: Mega Pinsir, Dragon Dance Zygarde, and Rock Polish Landorus are some examples.
- Consider the potential type synergy between Celebi and the recipient of its boosts, as passing anything via Baton Pass is easier when the incoming recipient can threaten or comfortably pivot into threats Celebi attracts.
- Pokemon capable of punishing the use of U-turn are highly preferred when using Celebi, as it is complete bait for the move. Rocky Helmet users, such as Toxapex, defensive Landorus-T, and defensive Garchomp are a few notable users. Toxapex is undoubtedly the best partner of the three, as it matches up versus Genesect and Pheromosa far better than either of the two defensive Ground-types.
- Sand Rush Excadrill greatly enjoys Celebi's presence, since Celebi is able to take on some of its most threatening checks on offense in Rotom-W, Breloom, and if running a physically defensive set, most variants of Azumarill.
Other Options
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- A defensive, Stealth Rock utility set makes use of Celebi's pivoting capabilities while also providing entry hazard support.
- An offensive set with Nasty Plot, two attacks, and Recover boosts Celebi's offensive capabilities, but is generally outclassed given its inability to have adequate coverage between just two attacks.
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**Steel-types**: Steel-types, like Skarmory, Celesteela, and Heatran, can generally comfortably wall Celebi, as they resist its Grass- and Psychic-type STAB moves.
**Fire-types**: Heatran, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Alolan Marowak resist Celebi's Grass-type attacks and threaten it with their Fire-type STAB moves.
**Flying-types**: Resistant to Grass-type attacks, Flying-types such as Mega Pinsir and Tornadus-T, pack powerful Flying-type moves that are more than enough to scare out Celebi.
**Poison-types**: While not capable of always comfortably switching in out of fear of Psychic-type STAB moves, Poison-types will almost always pack a super effective STAB move that will either 2HKO or OHKO Celebi. Examples of potential threats include Gengar and Nihilego.
**Ghost-types**: Alolan Marowak, Gengar, and Mimikyu all pack STAB moves that prey on Celebi's Psychic typing.
**Ice-types**: Since they capable of hitting Celebi for super effective damage, Weavile, Alolan Ninetales, and Kyurem all pose a threat.
**Knock Off Users**: Anything that has high Attack and is capable of learning Knock Off is a great irritant, as not only does it hit Celebi super effectively, but removes its item of choice. Dark-types, both Landorus formes, and Mega Sableye are a few noteworthy users of the move.
**Pursuit Users**: Since Celebi is weak to Dark-type attacks, it must contend with a weakness to Pursuit. This susceptibility to trapping means it must be played carefully around strong users of the move, such as Tyranitar, Weavile, and Bisharp.
**U-turn Users**: U-turn is among one of the most frustrating weaknesses of Celebi, as attempting to stomach the move will either result in a severely damaged or OHKOed Celebi while switching out will result in a loss of momentum. Genesect, Mega Scizor, and Pheromosa are some examples that are more than capable of OHKOing Celebi with U-turn.
**Taunt Users**: Since Celebi is used largely for supporting purposes, any Pokemon packing Taunt can easily disrupt its intended functions.
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