Quantum Tesseract
Lazy Fuck
[OVERVIEW]
An incredible Speed stat allows Deoxys-S to outspeed the entire metagame, letting it move first with its support movepool. Excellent support options such as Taunt, Spikes, Stealth Rock, Light Screen, and Reflect allow Deoxys-S to support its team and function as the top entry hazard lead for hyper offensive builds. Its passable bulk even allows Deoxys-S to often get off a second move, especially when combined with dual screens. However, Deoxys-S is only really usable on hyper offensive builds, which limits the number of teams it can fit on, and a pure Psychic typing means it doesn't bring any new resistances or neutralities. Deoxys-S also has a few hard counters, such as Mega Sableye and Rapid Spin users, that render it mostly useless.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Light Screen / Spikes
move 4: Reflect / Knock Off
item: Light Clay / Focus Sash
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid / Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt blocks status moves, preventing the foe from setting up, using Taunt, laying entry hazards, and using Defog. Stealth Rock is the primary entry hazard, as it hits every type and greatly aids in the matchup versus Flying-, Bug-, and Fire-type teams. Light Screen halves the power of opposing special attacks, giving free setup opportunities to Deoxys-S’s teammates and the ability to survive attacks versus most special attackers, and Reflect rounds out the moveset, performing the same role with physical attacks. Knock Off is another option over screens to cripple the opposing team by removing items and giving Deoxys-S a small form of offensive presence against frail foes. Spikes is a secondary entry hazard that can be run alongside Knock Off that further punishes switching.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature maximize Deoxys-S’s Speed, allowing it to Speed tie with opposing Deoxys-S and outpace anything slower; if Knock Off is used, a Jolly nature should instead be run. 248 HP EVs increase Deoxys-S’s bulk while hitting a passive damage number, allowing it to live an extra round of burn, weather, and poison damage. Pressure is Deoxys-S’s only ability and allows it to better wear down the PP of support moves such as Defog, as well as potentially outlast Rapid Spin should even a single attack be wasted or dual entry hazards be run. 8 Special Defense EVs ensure Download gives Porygon-Z an Attack boost. Light Clay increases the length of Light Screen and Reflect, allowing for longer protection, but if neither screen is run Focus Sash all but ensures Deoxys-S can get off an attack or entry hazard on the second turn.
Usage Tips
========
Deoxys-S should almost always lead in order to set up entry hazards as quickly as possible. Use the respective screen against offensive Pokemon to allow Deoxys-S to take their attacks. Taunt should be used to block harmful status moves such as setup moves, Defog, and entry hazards, but in many cases, the threat of Taunt is enough. If running Knock Off, only use it versus highly item-reliant Pokemon such as Chansey and Choice Scarf Victini to prevent them from doing their job later; in most other cases, it is better to set an extra layer of entry hazards or screens. Should the opponent have a Mega Sableye, either lead with a different Pokemon or restrict Deoxys-S to setting screens; the same goes for Rapid Spin users, albeit to a lesser extent. Deoxys-S does not have to function solely as a suicide lead; its solid bulk, particularly when combined with screens, means it may often be used multiple times in a match. However, it's often useful to sacrifice Deoxys-S in order to get another Pokemon in for free with entry hazards up; it can use Taunt and screens to stop setup sweepers. Be wary of being too obvious in the use of Taunt, as most Pokemon can instead use that turn to attack and heavily injure Deoxys-S.
Team Options
========
Mew is an excellent teammate for Deoxys-S, as Light Screen and Reflect give Mewnium Z sets numerous opportunities to use Nasty Plot and Rock Polish, while Mew's offensive pressure means that it's difficult for most foes to use Defog; the stallbreaker set, meanwhile, can use Taunt to block Defog and appreciates the use of entry hazards to punish switching. Victini appreciates the entry hazard support to wear down switch-ins, particularly alongside U-turn, and it enjoys the fact that Deoxys-S can prevent the foe from setting up Stealth Rock with Taunt. Gothitelle can trap and remove Defoggers and Rapid Spin users such as Skarmory and Tentacruel, for Deoxys-S. Alakazam appreciates entry hazard support so that foes cannot freely switch when avoiding Counter; it also doesn't mind the dearth of hazard removal that hazard stacking causes. Meloetta handles Ghost-type Pokemon such as Gengar and Mega Sableye and appreciates Stealth Rock to reliably 2HKO Chansey. Gardevoir threatens to OHKO Mega Sableye, forcing it out, and greatly turns around the corresponding Dark matchup; in other games, Gardevoir appreciates entry hazard support making it harder to switch for its revenge killing. Latios makes great use of entry hazards, as they allow it to wear down answers such as Mantine and prevent them from switching in readily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psycho Boost may seem tempting for a bit of offensive presence, particularly versus frail foes, but given Deoxys-S's low offenses, it is usually inferior to running another support move. Rocky Helmet may be used to punish Rapid Spin users such as Armaldo, but it isn't generally worth the lack of Focus Sash on Spikes sets and is crippling to screen sets. Skill Swap is an option to bypass Mega Sableye, but it doesn't do so particularly well and the Dark and Ghost matchups are mostly unwinnable regardless.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Sableye**: With Magic Bounce, Mega Sableye can reflect Taunt, Spikes, and Stealth Rock, preventing Deoxys-S from doing anything but set up screens. Furthermore, both Mega Sableye and either of its teams have a great matchup versus the rest of Psychic, preventing any easy counterplay.
**Rapid Spin**: Rapid Spin cannot be prevented by Taunt, allowing any users to freely remove Deoxys-S's entry hazards, particularly as Psychic has no viable spinblocker. While they are relatively rare and cannot interfere with screens, they greatly reduce Deoxys-S's effectiveness.
**Priority Attacks**: While not a direct answer, priority moves allow the foe to move before Deoxys-S and often limits it to a single turn on the field, particularly when used by a powerful attacker.
**Scolipede**: Thanks to Speed Boost and a high base Speed stat, Scolipede outspeeds Deoxys-S after a single boost and, unlike manual setup sweepers, does not mind Taunt. To make matters worse, Scolipede is a major threat to Psychic teams in general, so there aren't any easy switch-ins.
**Gengar**: When equipped with its standard Choice Scarf, Gengar can outpace even Deoxys-S. While the Spikes set may take a hit with Focus Sash before crippling it with Knock Off, the screens set has no such luck, and only Meloetta can switch into a Shadow Ball from Gengar.
**Shuckle**: Thanks to Mental Herb and Encore, Shuckle can cripple Deoxys-S. Should Deoxys-S use Taunt, Shuckle places Deoxys-S in a favorable 50 / 50 between a free switch and free entry hazards, while using any other support move lets Shuckle lock Deoxys-S into that and proceed to set its own entry hazards.
An incredible Speed stat allows Deoxys-S to outspeed the entire metagame, letting it move first with its support movepool. Excellent support options such as Taunt, Spikes, Stealth Rock, Light Screen, and Reflect allow Deoxys-S to support its team and function as the top entry hazard lead for hyper offensive builds. Its passable bulk even allows Deoxys-S to often get off a second move, especially when combined with dual screens. However, Deoxys-S is only really usable on hyper offensive builds, which limits the number of teams it can fit on, and a pure Psychic typing means it doesn't bring any new resistances or neutralities. Deoxys-S also has a few hard counters, such as Mega Sableye and Rapid Spin users, that render it mostly useless.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Light Screen / Spikes
move 4: Reflect / Knock Off
item: Light Clay / Focus Sash
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid / Jolly
evs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Taunt blocks status moves, preventing the foe from setting up, using Taunt, laying entry hazards, and using Defog. Stealth Rock is the primary entry hazard, as it hits every type and greatly aids in the matchup versus Flying-, Bug-, and Fire-type teams. Light Screen halves the power of opposing special attacks, giving free setup opportunities to Deoxys-S’s teammates and the ability to survive attacks versus most special attackers, and Reflect rounds out the moveset, performing the same role with physical attacks. Knock Off is another option over screens to cripple the opposing team by removing items and giving Deoxys-S a small form of offensive presence against frail foes. Spikes is a secondary entry hazard that can be run alongside Knock Off that further punishes switching.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature maximize Deoxys-S’s Speed, allowing it to Speed tie with opposing Deoxys-S and outpace anything slower; if Knock Off is used, a Jolly nature should instead be run. 248 HP EVs increase Deoxys-S’s bulk while hitting a passive damage number, allowing it to live an extra round of burn, weather, and poison damage. Pressure is Deoxys-S’s only ability and allows it to better wear down the PP of support moves such as Defog, as well as potentially outlast Rapid Spin should even a single attack be wasted or dual entry hazards be run. 8 Special Defense EVs ensure Download gives Porygon-Z an Attack boost. Light Clay increases the length of Light Screen and Reflect, allowing for longer protection, but if neither screen is run Focus Sash all but ensures Deoxys-S can get off an attack or entry hazard on the second turn.
Usage Tips
========
Deoxys-S should almost always lead in order to set up entry hazards as quickly as possible. Use the respective screen against offensive Pokemon to allow Deoxys-S to take their attacks. Taunt should be used to block harmful status moves such as setup moves, Defog, and entry hazards, but in many cases, the threat of Taunt is enough. If running Knock Off, only use it versus highly item-reliant Pokemon such as Chansey and Choice Scarf Victini to prevent them from doing their job later; in most other cases, it is better to set an extra layer of entry hazards or screens. Should the opponent have a Mega Sableye, either lead with a different Pokemon or restrict Deoxys-S to setting screens; the same goes for Rapid Spin users, albeit to a lesser extent. Deoxys-S does not have to function solely as a suicide lead; its solid bulk, particularly when combined with screens, means it may often be used multiple times in a match. However, it's often useful to sacrifice Deoxys-S in order to get another Pokemon in for free with entry hazards up; it can use Taunt and screens to stop setup sweepers. Be wary of being too obvious in the use of Taunt, as most Pokemon can instead use that turn to attack and heavily injure Deoxys-S.
Team Options
========
Mew is an excellent teammate for Deoxys-S, as Light Screen and Reflect give Mewnium Z sets numerous opportunities to use Nasty Plot and Rock Polish, while Mew's offensive pressure means that it's difficult for most foes to use Defog; the stallbreaker set, meanwhile, can use Taunt to block Defog and appreciates the use of entry hazards to punish switching. Victini appreciates the entry hazard support to wear down switch-ins, particularly alongside U-turn, and it enjoys the fact that Deoxys-S can prevent the foe from setting up Stealth Rock with Taunt. Gothitelle can trap and remove Defoggers and Rapid Spin users such as Skarmory and Tentacruel, for Deoxys-S. Alakazam appreciates entry hazard support so that foes cannot freely switch when avoiding Counter; it also doesn't mind the dearth of hazard removal that hazard stacking causes. Meloetta handles Ghost-type Pokemon such as Gengar and Mega Sableye and appreciates Stealth Rock to reliably 2HKO Chansey. Gardevoir threatens to OHKO Mega Sableye, forcing it out, and greatly turns around the corresponding Dark matchup; in other games, Gardevoir appreciates entry hazard support making it harder to switch for its revenge killing. Latios makes great use of entry hazards, as they allow it to wear down answers such as Mantine and prevent them from switching in readily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psycho Boost may seem tempting for a bit of offensive presence, particularly versus frail foes, but given Deoxys-S's low offenses, it is usually inferior to running another support move. Rocky Helmet may be used to punish Rapid Spin users such as Armaldo, but it isn't generally worth the lack of Focus Sash on Spikes sets and is crippling to screen sets. Skill Swap is an option to bypass Mega Sableye, but it doesn't do so particularly well and the Dark and Ghost matchups are mostly unwinnable regardless.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Sableye**: With Magic Bounce, Mega Sableye can reflect Taunt, Spikes, and Stealth Rock, preventing Deoxys-S from doing anything but set up screens. Furthermore, both Mega Sableye and either of its teams have a great matchup versus the rest of Psychic, preventing any easy counterplay.
**Rapid Spin**: Rapid Spin cannot be prevented by Taunt, allowing any users to freely remove Deoxys-S's entry hazards, particularly as Psychic has no viable spinblocker. While they are relatively rare and cannot interfere with screens, they greatly reduce Deoxys-S's effectiveness.
**Priority Attacks**: While not a direct answer, priority moves allow the foe to move before Deoxys-S and often limits it to a single turn on the field, particularly when used by a powerful attacker.
**Scolipede**: Thanks to Speed Boost and a high base Speed stat, Scolipede outspeeds Deoxys-S after a single boost and, unlike manual setup sweepers, does not mind Taunt. To make matters worse, Scolipede is a major threat to Psychic teams in general, so there aren't any easy switch-ins.
**Gengar**: When equipped with its standard Choice Scarf, Gengar can outpace even Deoxys-S. While the Spikes set may take a hit with Focus Sash before crippling it with Knock Off, the screens set has no such luck, and only Meloetta can switch into a Shadow Ball from Gengar.
**Shuckle**: Thanks to Mental Herb and Encore, Shuckle can cripple Deoxys-S. Should Deoxys-S use Taunt, Shuckle places Deoxys-S in a favorable 50 / 50 between a free switch and free entry hazards, while using any other support move lets Shuckle lock Deoxys-S into that and proceed to set its own entry hazards.
Last edited: