Deoxys-S
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Nasty Plot Deoxys-S is a threatening setup sweeper that can outspeed the entire metagame. STAB Psycho Boost is an excellent nuke against Pokemon that its coverage can't hit super effectively, such as Gastrodon and Swampert. This, in combination with its BoltBeam coverage, allows Deoxys-S to take on Flying, Water, and Ground teams. However, Deoxys-S has poor bulk, leaving it easily revenge killed by priority users such as Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Dragonite, weather sweepers such as Kingdra and Excadrill, and fast Choice Scarf users such as Latias. Its poor bulk also means it relies on forced switches to reliably set up. Deoxys-S also has a mediocre Special Attack, which forces it to get a Nasty Plot boost before it can do meaningful damage.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot (Psychic)
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Psycho Boost
item: Life Orb
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Nasty Plot allows Deoxys-S to break past Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Volcarona, and Gastrodon with Psycho Boost. Ice Beam targets Flying-, Ground-, and Dragon-types such as Zapdos, Gliscor, Landorus, Dragonite, and Garchomp. Thunderbolt nails Flying- and Water-types such as Mega Sharpedo, Gyarados, and Skarmory. Psycho Boost targets Pokemon that take neutral damage from its coverage moves. Life Orb allows Deoxys-S to OHKO specially defensive Zapdos after a Nasty Plot boost and Stealth Rock. Expert Belt is an alternate, more situational option. Maximum Speed and a Timid nature allow Deoxys-S to outspeed foes such as +1 Volcarona and Mega Aerodactyl.
Jirachi can switch into attacks that threaten Deoxys-S such as Weavile's Ice Shard and Choice Scarf Terrakion's Stone Edge. Additionally, it sets Stealth Rock, allowing Deoxys-S to OHKO Sturdy and Focus Sash users like Skarmory and Breloom. Jirachi can also wear down Pokemon like Rotom-W with Toxic. Victini can eliminate Bug- and Steel-types such as Volcarona, Heracross, Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Magnezone and cripple walls such as Porygon2 and Chansey with Trick for Deoxys-S. Choice Specs Latios weakens a plethora of Pokemon such as Rotom-W, Porygon2, Psychic-types like Mew and Victini with Shadow Ball, and Water-types like Empoleon with Thunderbolt, allowing Deoxys-S to later break through the opposing team. Mega Gallade threatens Rock-, Dark-, Steel-, and Normal-types such as Mega Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Chansey. Additionally, Knock Off allows it to remove Latias's Choice Scarf so Deoxys-S can outspeed it. Swords Dance also helps Mega Gallade break past other special walls that wall Deoxys-S, such as Jirachi. Bulky Mega Gardevoir removes Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Mega Sharpedo with Hyper Voice, burns priority users such as Dragonite with Will-O-Wisp, and heals Deoxys-S with Wish. Slowbro is able to pivot into physical attackers like Mega Lopunny and Victini and check Dark-types like Jolly Mega Sharpedo and Mega Gyarados with Grass Knot. Additionally, it can also check Sand Rush Excadrill. Mew is able to stallbreak and whittle down walls such as Chansey and Ferrothorn with Taunt, which allows Deoxys-S to set up and sweep late-game. Meloetta provides an immunity to Ghost-type attacks such as Choice Specs Latios's Shadow Ball and is useful in the mirror matchup, as it is able to spam Shadow Ball freely. Meloetta's attacks can also weaken shared checks such as Jirachi.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Psychic
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Energy Ball can be used over Psycho Boost to nail Water- and Ground-types such as Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad without needing to set up. Superpower alongside a Naive nature can be used over Nasty Plot to target Pokemon that would otherwise wall Deoxys-S, such as Chansey and specially defensive Tyranitar. Deoxys-S can utilize a entry hazard stacking lead set with Stealth Rock, Spikes, Taunt, and Knock Off on hyper offensive Psychic teams.
Checks and Counters
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Psychic
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**Specially Defensive Walls**: Specially defensive walls such as Chansey, Tyranitar, and Heatran easily tank any attacks Deoxys-S throws at them and use it to set Stealth Rock or wear it down.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers such as Excadrill in sand, Kingdra in rain, Choice Scarf Latias, +1 Jolly Mega Sharpedo, and +1 Scolipede can outspeed and OHKO Deoxys-S with their STAB attacks.
**Priority**: Due to Deoxys-S's poor bulk, priority users such as Mega Scizor, Diggersby, Bisharp, Dragonite, and Azumarill.
**Paralysis**: Paralysis prevents Deoxys-S from taking advantage of its blistering Speed, allowing Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny and Landorus to outspeed and OHKO it.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards, Toxic poison, burn, and sand wear down Deoxys-S quickly, especially in conjunction with Life Orb recoil.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[maroon, 305839]]
- Psychic analysis by: [[maroon, 305839]]
- Quality checked by: [[Cell, 244276], [Splash, 437289]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Finland, 517429]]
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