[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Trick
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Taunt / Stealth Rock
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP / 164 Def / 96 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
The existence of Choice Scarf Darkrai and opposing Deoxys-S in the lead position can make operating with Deoxys-S pretty awkward, since they are foes that are as fast as Deoxys-S or faster and can completely shut down its gameplan: Darkrai with Dark Void and Deoxys-S with Taunt. The only solution is to go even faster, and Choice Scarf lets Deoxys-S do just that. It will get one layer of Spikes before Darkrai or opposing Deoxys-S have the chance to move, still giving your team the early entry hazard pressure it so desires. Trick lets Deoxys-S mess with other leads, including spinners such as Tentacruel and Forretress that try and deny its hazards from the first turn. Thunder Wave lets Deoxys-S spread paralysis after it has given away its Choice Scarf, both on the Pokemon that has received the Choice Scarf and the Pokemon that would switch in after. Deoxys-S's fast Taunt is still useful in the lead position after it has given away its Choice Scarf for denying opposing hazards, whereas Stealth Rock can potentially double up on Deoxys-S's hazard stacking potential.
Set Details
========
The HP and Special Defense investment in conjunction with its Calm nature allow Deoxys-S to survive two Shadow Balls from opposing offensive Deoxys-S with a Speed-boosting nature. This lets it safely set up layers of Spikes even when facing a Deoxys-S mirror lead. The rest of the EVs are put in Defense to better take the various priority attacks of the lead metagame. Deoxys-S can also use maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature in order to survive Jolly Tyranitar's Payback and the sandstorm damage after.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Deoxys-S is a lot more free to immediately throw down Spikes in front of other leads, since it is more secure to do so. No amount of Speed investment on opposing Choice Scarf Darkrai will let it outrun Choice Scarf Deoxys-S, so setting up Spikes on the first turn is a very safe play. Against opposing Deoxys-S leads, paying attention to the relative activation of Pressure is key here, as it announces which Deoxys-S is faster. If your Deoxys-S is faster, using Trick is the best play, as it would lock the opposing Deoxys-S into using Taunt, which gives its offensive teammates completely free switches. Otherwise, Spikes is the best play because then you would potentially be locking your own Deoxys-S into Trick while the opposing Deoxys-S may set up Spikes, which is a game-losing mistake. Some players intentionally lower the Speed IVs of their Choice Scarf Deoxys-S so that they can avoid a Speed tie that would give them bad information. If Deoxys-S faces a spinner in the lead slot, using Trick to force it into a single move is also a solid option, as if the spinner attempts to use Rapid Spin to clear any of Deoxys-S's hazards, it risks being locked into a move that does little damage and gives free entry to every attacker in Ubers. If they just get locked into a hazard move, then Deoxys-S will get up all of the Spikes that it wants.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Deoxys-S fits well alongside more balanced cores, as the guaranteed Spikes that it provides allows these cores the ability to outplay nearly every threat in Ubers. An example is using Deoxys-S with a core of Bronzong, Giratina-O, Kyogre, and Dialga. Bronzong is capable of setting up Stealth Rock while checking Dragon-types, especially those immune to Spikes such as Latias and Latios, Giratina-O spinblocks in the face of Tentacruel and Forretress, Kyogre's rain supports Bronzong against threatening Fire-type attacks, and Dialga is both a potent offensive threat and a phazer that can spread a lot of passive damage on foes. All of them are difficult to take down, and all of them appreciate Deoxys-S setting Spikes to make them more difficult to handle while potentially also absorbing sleep from lead Darkrai to make them less exploitable as well.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Trick
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Taunt / Stealth Rock
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP / 164 Def / 96 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
The existence of Choice Scarf Darkrai and opposing Deoxys-S in the lead position can make operating with Deoxys-S pretty awkward, since they are foes that are as fast as Deoxys-S or faster and can completely shut down its gameplan: Darkrai with Dark Void and Deoxys-S with Taunt. The only solution is to go even faster, and Choice Scarf lets Deoxys-S do just that. It will get one layer of Spikes before Darkrai or opposing Deoxys-S have the chance to move, still giving your team the early entry hazard pressure it so desires. Trick lets Deoxys-S mess with other leads, including spinners such as Tentacruel and Forretress that try and deny its hazards from the first turn. Thunder Wave lets Deoxys-S spread paralysis after it has given away its Choice Scarf, both on the Pokemon that has received the Choice Scarf and the Pokemon that would switch in after. Deoxys-S's fast Taunt is still useful in the lead position after it has given away its Choice Scarf for denying opposing hazards, whereas Stealth Rock can potentially double up on Deoxys-S's hazard stacking potential.
Set Details
========
The HP and Special Defense investment in conjunction with its Calm nature allow Deoxys-S to survive two Shadow Balls from opposing offensive Deoxys-S with a Speed-boosting nature. This lets it safely set up layers of Spikes even when facing a Deoxys-S mirror lead. The rest of the EVs are put in Defense to better take the various priority attacks of the lead metagame. Deoxys-S can also use maximum HP and Defense investment with a Bold nature in order to survive Jolly Tyranitar's Payback and the sandstorm damage after.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Deoxys-S is a lot more free to immediately throw down Spikes in front of other leads, since it is more secure to do so. No amount of Speed investment on opposing Choice Scarf Darkrai will let it outrun Choice Scarf Deoxys-S, so setting up Spikes on the first turn is a very safe play. Against opposing Deoxys-S leads, paying attention to the relative activation of Pressure is key here, as it announces which Deoxys-S is faster. If your Deoxys-S is faster, using Trick is the best play, as it would lock the opposing Deoxys-S into using Taunt, which gives its offensive teammates completely free switches. Otherwise, Spikes is the best play because then you would potentially be locking your own Deoxys-S into Trick while the opposing Deoxys-S may set up Spikes, which is a game-losing mistake. Some players intentionally lower the Speed IVs of their Choice Scarf Deoxys-S so that they can avoid a Speed tie that would give them bad information. If Deoxys-S faces a spinner in the lead slot, using Trick to force it into a single move is also a solid option, as if the spinner attempts to use Rapid Spin to clear any of Deoxys-S's hazards, it risks being locked into a move that does little damage and gives free entry to every attacker in Ubers. If they just get locked into a hazard move, then Deoxys-S will get up all of the Spikes that it wants.
Team Options
========
Choice Scarf Deoxys-S fits well alongside more balanced cores, as the guaranteed Spikes that it provides allows these cores the ability to outplay nearly every threat in Ubers. An example is using Deoxys-S with a core of Bronzong, Giratina-O, Kyogre, and Dialga. Bronzong is capable of setting up Stealth Rock while checking Dragon-types, especially those immune to Spikes such as Latias and Latios, Giratina-O spinblocks in the face of Tentacruel and Forretress, Kyogre's rain supports Bronzong against threatening Fire-type attacks, and Dialga is both a potent offensive threat and a phazer that can spread a lot of passive damage on foes. All of them are difficult to take down, and all of them appreciate Deoxys-S setting Spikes to make them more difficult to handle while potentially also absorbing sleep from lead Darkrai to make them less exploitable as well.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
