[OVERVIEW]
* Great defensive typing in Steel / Flying coupled with good overall mixed bulk makes Celesteela a great tank and a useful check to several OU threats such as Tapu Lele, Latios, Mega Scizor, and Magearna.
* It can wear down various threats with Leech Seed + Protect.
* Base 101 Attack and base 107 Special Attack means Celesteela can put up a fight and not be complete setup fodder. This is further benefitted by good a STAB attack in Heavy Slam, which thanks to Celesteela's high weight has around 120 Base Power against most targets and useful coverage in Flamethrower and Earthquake that allows it to actively beat opposing bulky Steel-types and Electric-types.
* Beast Boost allows Celesteela to further boost its already good Special Defense, or its Special Attack if it opts for a more offensive set, if it achieves a KO.
* Its relatively low base 61 Speed leaves it outsped by various offensive threats.
* Lack of reliable recovery can be compromising for its bulk.
* Vulnerable to being trapped by Magneton more than Skarmory, as it lacks a form of reliable recovery to make up for not using Leftovers.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Protect
move 3: Heavy Slam
move 4: Flamethrower / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Sassy / Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Leech Seed allows Celesteela to recover health and whittle down its foe, and it is essential because Celesteela has no reliable recovery otherwise.
* Protect helps Celesteela gain more recovery from Leech Seed as well as it to scout for the foe's moves and potential Choice items.
* Heavy Slam is a great STAB option, thanks to Celesteela's weight.
* Flamethrower allows Celesteela to heavily damage other bulky Steel-types such as Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn and avoid being setup fodder for Kartana.
* Earthquake can be used to lure in Heatran, Alolan Marowak, and Magnezone and hit them super effectively, which can come into Celesteela's other moves bar Leech Seed, and Flamethrower in Magnezone's case, with impunity.
Set Details
========
* Leftovers provides Celesteela with passive recovery alongside Leech Seed.
* Shed Shell can be used in order to avoid getting trapped by Magnezone, although losing Leftovers makes Celesteela easier to wear down.
* Maximum investment in HP and Special Defense allows Celesteela to effectively check Pokemon such as Tapu Lele and Latios.
* A Sassy nature increases Celesteela's Special Defense without sacrificing power from Heavy Slam or Flamethrower.
* If Earthquake is used instead of Flamethrower, a Careful nature should be chosen, as it allows Celesteela to outspeed uninvested Clefable and Speed tie with uninvested Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
========
* Celesteela should mainly be switched into Pokemon that cannot hit it super effectively in order to block their offensive presence such as Tapu Lele, Latios, and Mega Pinsir.
* Celesteela can also come in on some walls such as Chansey and Slowbro and cripple them with Leech Seed.
* As it lacks reliable recovery, Celesteela should not be forced in too often, as taking too much damage can severely limit its defensive capabilities.
* Thanks to Beast Boost, Celesteela can function as a wincon, as the Special Defense boosts gained from attaining KOs can make it much harder to take down.
Team Options
========
* Dugtrio can trap Electric-types such as Magnezone and Xurkitree that can be annoying for Celesteela, while in return Celesteela can beat bulky Steel-types Dugtrio can't manage to trap such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor
* Mega Venusaur can handle Electric-types for Celesteela, while in return Celesteela deals with Flying- and Psychic-type Pokemon.
* Heatran and Rotom-W can absorb Fire-type moves for Celesteela, while Hippowdon and Alolan Marowak can cover Electric-type moves.
* Mega Sableye can ward off Will-O-Wisp and Stealth Rock for Celesteela and further help fending off opposing Celesteela.
[SET]
name: Autotomize Sweeper
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Giga Drain / Earthquake
item: Flyinium Z / Life Orb
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Modest / Rash
evs: 84 HP / 252 SpA / 172 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Autotomize doubles Celesteela's Speed, allowing it to clean late-game more effectively.
* Air Slash is Celesteela's STAB move of choice, as it has decent overall coverage.
* Flamethrower hits Steel-types for super effective damage, which otherwise freely switch into Air Slash.
* Giga Drain mitigates Life Orb recoil and hits the likes of Rotom-W, Greninja, and Hippowdon for the highest damage.
* Alternatively, Earthquake hits Tapu Koko, Heatran, and Nihilego for super effective damage, all which take Celesteela's other moves well.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest or Rash nature helps improve Celesteela's damage output.
* 172 EVs in Speed lets Celesteela outspeed up to Modest Pheromosa, while the remainder goes into HP for supplementary bulk.
* Alternatively, maximum Speed EVs plus a Timid nature allow Celesteela to outspeed Naive Pheromosa and +1 base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Lele and Mega Sharpedo.
* Flyinium-Z turns Air Slash into a one-time 140-Base Power move, providing it with a great option to achieve an early KO in order to trigger Beast Boost.
* Life Orb boosts the power of all of Celesteela's moves at the cost of slightly compromising its bulk.
* If Celesteela is using Earthquake, a Rash nature should be chosen in order to not sacrifice its power.
* Beast Boost is especially useful on this set, as it increases Celesteela's Special Attack after achieving a KO, allowing it to snowball through the opposing team provided it gets enough KOs.
Usage Tips
========
* Celesteela should aim to set up late-game once its checks and have been severely weakened or KOed.
* Try to aim for setup opportunities in Pokemon locked into resisted moves such as Tapu Lele's Psychic and Landorus-T's Earthquake.
* If needed, Celesteela can still be used in order to wear down the opposing team with its wide coverage in order for a teammate to clean later in the game.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock setters such as Heatran, Landorus-T, and Garchomp that can cover Celesteela's weaknesses are appreciated, as they can provide chip damage to the opposing team.
* Extra entry hazard support such as Spikes from Greninja is also appreciated.
* If it lacks Giga Drain, Pokemon that can pressure bulky Water-types such as Tapu Koko, Thundurus, and Tapu Bulu are useful partners.
* Dugtrio can trap Chansey and Heatran for Celesteela, allowing it to attack more freely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A physical version of Autotomize with Heavy Slam, Earthquake, and Flamethrower could be opted for, but it is susceptibilty to burns and Air Slash is much more favorable than Heavy Slam due to its coverage.
* Substitute alongside Leech Seed can allow Celesteela to avoid status, although its lack of recovery apart from Leftovers and Leech Seed means Celesteela might potentially be too worn down by the move.
* Toxic helps Celesteela wear down bulky Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Hippowdon, which circumvent Leech Seed's passive damage. However, it forces Celesteela to drop one of its more useful moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Magnezone**: Thanks to Magnet Pull, Magnezone is able to trap Celesteela and 2HKO it with Thunderbolt, although Celesteela can bypass this using Shed Shell. In that case, Magnezone would rely on Knock Off support in order to trap Celesteela.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Thundurus, and similarly other Electric-types can heavily damage Celesteela with their STAB moves and can usually avoid being crippled by Toxic or Leech Seed thanks to Volt Switch. Latios and Tapu Lele are also capable of luring Celesteela and hitting it with Thunderbolt
**Fire-types and Fire-type coverage**: Heatran, Mega Charizard X and Y and Alolan Marowak can switch into Celesteela's Heavy Slam or a predicted Protect and heavily damage it with their Fire-type STAB moves. However, with the exception of Mega Charizard Y, they should be wary of Earthquake. While Celesteela resists both its STAB options, Garchomp usually carries Fire Fang or Fire Blast to hit Celesteela super effectively.
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye is immune to passive damage induced by Celesteela thanks to Magic Bounce, even being able to affect Celesteela with its own Leech Seed. Mega Sableye can also Recover stall Heavy Slam and cripple Celesteela with Will-O-Wisp.
* Great defensive typing in Steel / Flying coupled with good overall mixed bulk makes Celesteela a great tank and a useful check to several OU threats such as Tapu Lele, Latios, Mega Scizor, and Magearna.
* It can wear down various threats with Leech Seed + Protect.
* Base 101 Attack and base 107 Special Attack means Celesteela can put up a fight and not be complete setup fodder. This is further benefitted by good a STAB attack in Heavy Slam, which thanks to Celesteela's high weight has around 120 Base Power against most targets and useful coverage in Flamethrower and Earthquake that allows it to actively beat opposing bulky Steel-types and Electric-types.
* Beast Boost allows Celesteela to further boost its already good Special Defense, or its Special Attack if it opts for a more offensive set, if it achieves a KO.
* Its relatively low base 61 Speed leaves it outsped by various offensive threats.
* Lack of reliable recovery can be compromising for its bulk.
* Vulnerable to being trapped by Magneton more than Skarmory, as it lacks a form of reliable recovery to make up for not using Leftovers.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Protect
move 3: Heavy Slam
move 4: Flamethrower / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Sassy / Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Leech Seed allows Celesteela to recover health and whittle down its foe, and it is essential because Celesteela has no reliable recovery otherwise.
* Protect helps Celesteela gain more recovery from Leech Seed as well as it to scout for the foe's moves and potential Choice items.
* Heavy Slam is a great STAB option, thanks to Celesteela's weight.
* Flamethrower allows Celesteela to heavily damage other bulky Steel-types such as Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn and avoid being setup fodder for Kartana.
* Earthquake can be used to lure in Heatran, Alolan Marowak, and Magnezone and hit them super effectively, which can come into Celesteela's other moves bar Leech Seed, and Flamethrower in Magnezone's case, with impunity.
Set Details
========
* Leftovers provides Celesteela with passive recovery alongside Leech Seed.
* Shed Shell can be used in order to avoid getting trapped by Magnezone, although losing Leftovers makes Celesteela easier to wear down.
* Maximum investment in HP and Special Defense allows Celesteela to effectively check Pokemon such as Tapu Lele and Latios.
* A Sassy nature increases Celesteela's Special Defense without sacrificing power from Heavy Slam or Flamethrower.
* If Earthquake is used instead of Flamethrower, a Careful nature should be chosen, as it allows Celesteela to outspeed uninvested Clefable and Speed tie with uninvested Tyranitar.
Usage Tips
========
* Celesteela should mainly be switched into Pokemon that cannot hit it super effectively in order to block their offensive presence such as Tapu Lele, Latios, and Mega Pinsir.
* Celesteela can also come in on some walls such as Chansey and Slowbro and cripple them with Leech Seed.
* As it lacks reliable recovery, Celesteela should not be forced in too often, as taking too much damage can severely limit its defensive capabilities.
* Thanks to Beast Boost, Celesteela can function as a wincon, as the Special Defense boosts gained from attaining KOs can make it much harder to take down.
Team Options
========
* Dugtrio can trap Electric-types such as Magnezone and Xurkitree that can be annoying for Celesteela, while in return Celesteela can beat bulky Steel-types Dugtrio can't manage to trap such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor
* Mega Venusaur can handle Electric-types for Celesteela, while in return Celesteela deals with Flying- and Psychic-type Pokemon.
* Heatran and Rotom-W can absorb Fire-type moves for Celesteela, while Hippowdon and Alolan Marowak can cover Electric-type moves.
* Mega Sableye can ward off Will-O-Wisp and Stealth Rock for Celesteela and further help fending off opposing Celesteela.
[SET]
name: Autotomize Sweeper
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Giga Drain / Earthquake
item: Flyinium Z / Life Orb
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Modest / Rash
evs: 84 HP / 252 SpA / 172 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Autotomize doubles Celesteela's Speed, allowing it to clean late-game more effectively.
* Air Slash is Celesteela's STAB move of choice, as it has decent overall coverage.
* Flamethrower hits Steel-types for super effective damage, which otherwise freely switch into Air Slash.
* Giga Drain mitigates Life Orb recoil and hits the likes of Rotom-W, Greninja, and Hippowdon for the highest damage.
* Alternatively, Earthquake hits Tapu Koko, Heatran, and Nihilego for super effective damage, all which take Celesteela's other moves well.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack investment with a Modest or Rash nature helps improve Celesteela's damage output.
* 172 EVs in Speed lets Celesteela outspeed up to Modest Pheromosa, while the remainder goes into HP for supplementary bulk.
* Alternatively, maximum Speed EVs plus a Timid nature allow Celesteela to outspeed Naive Pheromosa and +1 base 95 Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Lele and Mega Sharpedo.
* Flyinium-Z turns Air Slash into a one-time 140-Base Power move, providing it with a great option to achieve an early KO in order to trigger Beast Boost.
* Life Orb boosts the power of all of Celesteela's moves at the cost of slightly compromising its bulk.
* If Celesteela is using Earthquake, a Rash nature should be chosen in order to not sacrifice its power.
* Beast Boost is especially useful on this set, as it increases Celesteela's Special Attack after achieving a KO, allowing it to snowball through the opposing team provided it gets enough KOs.
Usage Tips
========
* Celesteela should aim to set up late-game once its checks and have been severely weakened or KOed.
* Try to aim for setup opportunities in Pokemon locked into resisted moves such as Tapu Lele's Psychic and Landorus-T's Earthquake.
* If needed, Celesteela can still be used in order to wear down the opposing team with its wide coverage in order for a teammate to clean later in the game.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock setters such as Heatran, Landorus-T, and Garchomp that can cover Celesteela's weaknesses are appreciated, as they can provide chip damage to the opposing team.
* Extra entry hazard support such as Spikes from Greninja is also appreciated.
* If it lacks Giga Drain, Pokemon that can pressure bulky Water-types such as Tapu Koko, Thundurus, and Tapu Bulu are useful partners.
* Dugtrio can trap Chansey and Heatran for Celesteela, allowing it to attack more freely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A physical version of Autotomize with Heavy Slam, Earthquake, and Flamethrower could be opted for, but it is susceptibilty to burns and Air Slash is much more favorable than Heavy Slam due to its coverage.
* Substitute alongside Leech Seed can allow Celesteela to avoid status, although its lack of recovery apart from Leftovers and Leech Seed means Celesteela might potentially be too worn down by the move.
* Toxic helps Celesteela wear down bulky Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Hippowdon, which circumvent Leech Seed's passive damage. However, it forces Celesteela to drop one of its more useful moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Magnezone**: Thanks to Magnet Pull, Magnezone is able to trap Celesteela and 2HKO it with Thunderbolt, although Celesteela can bypass this using Shed Shell. In that case, Magnezone would rely on Knock Off support in order to trap Celesteela.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Thundurus, and similarly other Electric-types can heavily damage Celesteela with their STAB moves and can usually avoid being crippled by Toxic or Leech Seed thanks to Volt Switch. Latios and Tapu Lele are also capable of luring Celesteela and hitting it with Thunderbolt
**Fire-types and Fire-type coverage**: Heatran, Mega Charizard X and Y and Alolan Marowak can switch into Celesteela's Heavy Slam or a predicted Protect and heavily damage it with their Fire-type STAB moves. However, with the exception of Mega Charizard Y, they should be wary of Earthquake. While Celesteela resists both its STAB options, Garchomp usually carries Fire Fang or Fire Blast to hit Celesteela super effectively.
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye is immune to passive damage induced by Celesteela thanks to Magic Bounce, even being able to affect Celesteela with its own Leech Seed. Mega Sableye can also Recover stall Heavy Slam and cripple Celesteela with Will-O-Wisp.
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