Dpp Celebi
[OVERVIEW]
Celebi is one of the better utility Pokemon in the DPP OU metagame. Celebi’s access to reliable recovery, wide range of support moves, and Grass / Psychic typing gives it a unique list of Pokemon it counters. It is notably the best counter in the game to Breloom due to Natural Cure, resistances, and huge bulk and checks most offensive Water-types such as Dragon Dance Gyarados lacking Bounce, Swampert, Empoleon, and Suicune. These openings allow Celebi to take advantage of its wide support movepool with choices such as Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Heal Bell, U-Turn, and Perish Song. Celebi also can go on the offensive with boosting moves such as Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, allowing it to set up and take on defensive threats such as Clefable, Jirachi, Heatran, and Skarmory that invalidate defensive Celebi. Celebi also is unique in that nothing in the tier shuts down builds that don't have the tools to deal with it like it does—hyper offensive teams can really struggle against Celebi spreading paralysis and walling everything due to its huge bulk, while some slower defensive teams give Nasty Plot Celebi openings to break down the team with boosted attacks.
Celebi, however, is reduced to being niche in DPP OU due to the severe flaws from its typing and competition from Latias. Celebi is grounded and has seven weaknesses—of these, the five of Bug, Dark, Fire, Ice, and Ghost are the most critical. Celebi is 4x weak to U-Turn, meaning Flygon, Jirachi, Infernape, Zapdos, and Scizor can come in and freely gain momentum on Celebi, as even physically bulky Celebi is at least 2HKOed by most U-turn. Celebi's Psychic-typing means it is vulnerable to Pursuit Tyranitar, as it can’t OHKO Tyranitar without a boost. Celebi's other weaknesses open it up to Heatran, boosting Water-types with Ice-type coverage such as Empoleon and Gyarados, Rotom-A, and Gengar. Defensive Celebi also struggles broadly against bulkier teams, as it cannot hurt Clefable and its weak coverage options are otherwise easy to wall. Celebi struggles mightily with entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, but Spikes also neuter its great bulk. Celebi often cannot prevent Skarmory from setting up Spikes, either. Offensive Celebi is both easy to wear down and easy to force out, as it is forced to use Leaf Storm for power due to Clefable, Rotom-A, and other defensive Pokemon not being hit hard by Grass Knot or Energy Ball. Offensive Celebi gives up a lot of its defensive utility, as it relies on its Speed and power to check offensive Water-types and Breloom rather than numerical bulk. Celebi additionally struggles to differentiate itself from Latias, as Latias is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, has much greater offensive prowess, and does not have as many weaknesses as Celebi does while having a similar set of resistances.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Recover
move 2: Thunder Wave / Stealth Rock
move 3: Grass Knot / Leaf Storm
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice / Psychic (?) / U-turn
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Celebi's many resistances and bulk allow it to be an effective wall. Beyond obligatory recovery, Celebi is able to support its team, spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave or setting up Stealth Rock. Thunder Wave helps Celebi wall threats effectively, as Grass Knot and Leaf Storm dissuade Ground-types immune to Thunder Wave from switching in. If this is not needed, Celebi is a superb user of Stealth Rock, as it threatens the most common spinner in Starmie. As the main offensive option, Grass Knot is the preferred choice, as it reliably hits many threats hard, such as Gyarados, Tyranitar, Suicune, and Swampert. However, as some threats such as Clefable, Rotom-A, and Gliscor take comparatively little from Grass Knot, Leaf Storm is a powerful alternative, as it doesn't care about weight and provides a strong first hit. Beware of the stat drops forcing Celebi out, however. A much stronger Grass-type attack distinguishes Celebi from Latias, as while Latias's Grass Knot is fairly weak, Celebi's Grass Knot easily OHKOs Swampert, 2HKOs Tyranitar and Suicune, and 3HKOs Gyarados, giving them less time to threaten Celebi offensively.
The last slot determines additional coverage and potentially other support moves. The most prominent option is Hidden Power Fire, as it damages Skarmory, Scizor, Forretress, and Roserade and prevents them from setting up with impunity. Hidden Power Ice is another option for 2HKOing Dragonite and Gliscor while also hitting Latias. Both of these options hit Breloom, but Psychic is the best of these, OHKOing frail Breloom and being the best option for Gengar and Machamp. Beware of the poor coverage other with Psychic, however. Another option is to make Celebi a bulky pivot with U-turn, as being able to absorb a hit and then keep momentum with U-turn is another niche it has over Latias. Unfortunately, unlike Baton Pass, U-turn is affected by Pursuit if Celebi is faster than the user, so it should be used on the switch in to chip Tyranitar.
Set Details
========
Celebi is required to run a physically defensive set. The speed investment outspeeds Tyranitar while the remaining EVs are put into HP and Defense. Celebi's niche is its increased physical bulk over Latias, and needs to have nearly maximum investment to have a noticeable impact. With this investment, Celebi is extraordinarily bulky—unlike Latias, it survives 2 Ice Fang from +1 Gyarados, +1 Dragon Dance Tyranitar Crunch after Stealth Rock, and +2 Lucario Crunch 50% of the time after Stealth Rock. The bulk also lets Celebi survive U-turn more comfortably and continuously absorb Breloom's attacks, even while asleep. It thus needs to Recover less often, making it less vulnerable to critical hits as it tries to heal.
Usage Tips
========
Celebi should generally only switch into threats it walls, such as Gyarados lacking Bounce, Swampert, and Breloom, and use its utility move such as Thunder Wave or Stealth Rock if the team needs to set it up. Celebi can more reliably switch into Gyarados and Swampert than Latias, as it has Natural to cure a potential freeze from Ice-type attacks. Celebi can also switch in an emergency, such as against boosted Lucario and Tyranitar to live the boosted hit and mitigate the threat. Keep Celebi far away from Pokemon setting up entry hazards, Clefable, and offensive Pokemon with U-turn. However, against more hyper offense teams that lack these options, Celebi is restrictive to play against, as it can come in repeatedly to wall even boosted threats and spread paralysis. With U-turn, Celebi can come in more often, as it generates momentum on its checks and counters, especially against status conditions. Celebi can take Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, or Toxic and then U-turn rid itself of paralysis, burn, or poison with Natural Cure.
Avoid trying to use Recover too much, as continuous healing on an attack such as Empoleon's Ice Beam can lead to Celebi getting frozen or faint to a critical hit. Celebi is not as weak to Pursuit Tyranitar as other Psychic-types due to its bulk and ability to 2HKO Tyranitar with Grass Knot, but still should be careful against Tyranitar, as Crunch 2HKOs without a boost and Choice Band Crunch will put Celebi at very low health.
Team Options
========
Celebi requires extensive support to function without being outclassed by defensive Latias, as Celebi generally occupies the same niche. Celebi only fits on defensive teams, as its lack of offensive pressure and exploitable weaknesses force a large support network. To counteract Toxic Spikes, Celebi needs either a spinner such as Forretress, Starmie, and Tentacruel or a grounded Poison-type to absorb Toxic Spikes, such as Nidoqueen and Tentacruel due to Roserade’s poor fit. Forretress is especially helpful, as it can set up Spikes and Celebi assists against sweepers trying to take advantage of it. Celebi also supports Leftovers Heatran well, as they resist a huge number of types in the game between the two of them including all of their respective weaknesses. Heatran also threatens entry hazard setters such as Skarmory and Forretress while being a strong Jirachi counter. Heatran and Starmie fit well together in a Fire-Water-Grass core by Rapid Spinning away Spikes and also spreading paralysis. Celebi appreciates back up answers to special threats, as offensive Water-types can score a critical hit or freeze as it tries to heal off their attacks. Clefable and Blissey help in this regard. Celebi also enjoys help against opposing Clefable, as it switches into every option it has and uses Knock Off or sets up with Calm Mind. Choice Band Tyranitar and one’s own Clefable are sufficient for this.
Celebi does appreciate Magnezone support, however, it is often difficult to fit all of the pieces needed to support Celebi alongside Magnezone without being vulnerable to Roserade. Generally, Latias fits better alongside Magnezone. Other stall stalwarts such as Wish + Protect Jirachi, RestTalk Gyarados, Gliscor, Leftovers Bronzong, Zapdos, Rotom-A, and Skarmory work as teammates, as they provide additional defensive support and appreciate the back up against strong physical sweepers Celebi provides.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Leaf Storm / Grass Knot / Psychic
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire / Recover
item: Leftovers / Meadow Plate / Colbur Berry
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Celebi has a unique niche as a boosting Grass-type with Nasty Plot, allowing it to take advantage of its resistances to go on the offensive. Nasty Plot compliments it well, as it doesn't have a lot of longevity and needs as much power as it can get. The STAB move typically comes down to the rest of the team. Leaf Storm is the preferred move with Nasty Plot; despite resetting Nasty Plot, the power is needed to have a chance to OHKO Clefable. Leaf Storm also can break through utility and defensive Tyranitar, while even soft resists such as offensive Latias take a lot of damage from a +2 Leaf Storm. Grass Knot and Psychic are more reliable options, but Grass Knot does not damage Clefable and Rotom-A effectively, while Psychic is resisted by much of the tier and gives Tyranitar free entry.
Earth Power is critical for offensive Celebi, as it OHKOs Heatran after a boost and heavily damages prominent Ground-weak Pokemon such as Jirachi, Metagross, Tyranitar (should Celebi have Psychic), and Lucario. The final move completes Celebi’s coverage: Hidden Power Ice is the main option as it has perfect coverage outside of Bronzong and hits Latias and Dragonite hard while OHKOing Flygon without reducing its Special Attack. Hidden Power Fire is also helpful for hitting Steel-types neutral to Ground hard, such as Skarmory, Scizor, and Bronzong. However, beware of the lower Speed IV needed, causing it to tie with max Speed Rotom-A and always be outsped by max Speed Zapdos, Jirachi, and Flygon. Celebi can also run Recover over the Hidden Power. Celebi loses super effective coverage on Breloom unless it uses Psychic should it go down this route, however.
Set Details
========
Celebi generally needs all the power it can get, and a simple max Special Attack, max Speed Modest EV spread emphasizes this. This gives Celebi a desirably speed tier—as offensive Celebi checks threats with its speed and power, outspeeding all variants of Suicune, Heatran, Rotom-A, and Gyarados allows it to hit hard before taking damage. The Modest nature also gives Celebi the best chance to OHKO Clefable at +2, OHKO Dragon Dance Gyarados after Stealth Rock and Suicune after a Calm Mind at +0, and OHKO max HP Heatran with Earth Power at +0. Timid is also possible to outspeed as much as possible, including Gliscor before it can U-Turn, at least tie with Zapdos, Jirachi, and Flygon, and outspeed Roserade and Lucario. Celebi can invest around 88 HP EVs to survive Choice Scarf Tyranitar’s Crunch after Stealth Rock.
There are many different possible item choices for this Celebi. As Celebi is vulnerable to many types of residual damage, Leftovers gives it the maximum amount of chances to fire off strong attacks. This is especially important against defensive teams, as once Celebi sets up a Nasty Plot, the opponent can pivot around to wear it down. If Celebi uses Leaf Storm into a Latias or Jirachi, it may be too weak to set up another Nasty Plot. However, Celebi has no chance to OHKO Clefable without a boosting item at +2, while Meadow Plate gives it an 87.5% chance to do so. It also maximizes the chance to OHKO utility Tyranitar after Stealth Rock at +0, while even resists such as specially defensive Jirachi and defensive Latias can be 2HKOed by +4 into +2 Leaf Storm with Meadow Plate. However, Celebi is quite vulnerable to Choice Scarf Tyranitar on defensive teams; Colbur Berry variants easily absorb its Crunch and OHKOs back with +0 Leaf Storm after two rounds Stealth Rock. Other resistance berries such as Occa Berry for Heatran and Infernape as well as Kasib Berry for Rotom-A and Gengar are possible, but are more niche.
Usage Tips
========
How this Celebi is used depends on the match-up; against offensive teams, Celebi rarely gets to set up and checks offensive Water-types, Breloom, and Lucario. Celebi needs to be close to full HP to check these, however, so keeping it healthy before this purpose is critical. It also is easily forced out both after it uses Leaf Storm and by super effective coverage such as from Flygon, Rotom-A, and Heatran or U-turn from various revenge killers.
Against more defensive teams, leverage the expectation that Celebi is defensive to set up a Nasty Plot. Due to Celebi’s weakness to entry hazards and especially Toxic Spikes, it should be brought in early against walls that don’t threaten it like Milotic and defensive Breloom. Opponents will often send in Clefable or Skarmory to set up hazards or use Knock Off on Celebi due the defensive set’s passivity, giving an opportunity to attack. Be careful about when to use Leaf Storm, as Celebi’s coverage hits many common Leaf Storm answers such as Latias, Skarmory, and Jirachi very hard and more importantly doesn’t lower its stats. Against sturdier special walls such as Blissey, Celebi should set up to +4 or +6 before attacking—a +4 into +2 Leaf Storm KOs Blissey after Stealth Rock with a Meadow Plate while +6 OHKOs outright. With Recover, Celebi can be more flexible when to come in, but beware of Clefable’s Encore as Psychic only OHKOs at +6.
Team Options
========
This Celebi generally is used with on teams with weak answers to offensive Water-types that can afford Celebi’s flaws. The more prominent of these is on Magnezone offenses, as Magnezone can trap Bronzong and Skarmory, allowing Celebi to freely run Hidden Power Ice. Celebi also appreciates other common choices on these teams; offensive Trick Room Bronzong teams typically struggle against Water-types and Breloom, giving Celebi an easy switch in. Gengar gives another answer to Breloom, as this Celebi doesn’t absorb its hits as well and can be 2HKOed by Focus Punch. Choice Scarf Flygon can revenge kill threats that set up on a -2 Celebi, such as Dragonite. In return, Choice Scarf revenge killers with U-turn such as opposing Flygon struggle with Trick Room Bronzong while Choice Band Tyranitar can help break through defensive teams. Offensive Heatran is an excellent partner, as it break through bulky Steel-types such as Skarmory, Bronzong, and Jirachi while Celebi resists all of its weakness. Swampert also appreciates Magnezone and supports Celebi, as it can tank hits from Tyranitar and Jirachi as well as resist Heatran’s Fire-type coverage. Heatran and Swampert can potentially form a Fire-Water-Grass core alongside Celebi.
Celebi fits on hyper offense teams due to these teams struggling against offensive Calm Mind Suicune and Dragon Dance Gyarados, but Leaf Storm can be a huge momentum sink. With Recover, Celebi appreciates partners that maximize its longevity, such as Toxic Spikes absorbers such as Nidoqueen and counters to Choice Scarf Flygon such as Milotic and Skarmory.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Celebi has a ton of other options not especially viable in the DPP OU metagame. One of the more prominent of these is a Calm Mind set with Recover and defensive EVs to act as a win condition. Such a set often struggles to stay on the field, due to being easily forced out by weaknesses and status. Other previous sets such as offensive Life Orb support with Thunder Wave, Leaf Storm, Recover, and another coverage move, any Leech Seed sets, Choice Scarf, and Occa Berry + Stealth Rock leads are not very effective in the modern DPP OU metagame. Celebi generally needs to be either very bulky or fast, as Celebi doesn’t have enough numerical bulk when uninvested to handle boosted Water-types while also struggling against Tyranitar, Toxic Spikes, and various U-Turn users. Offensive Celebi is walled by many dangerous threats with only one coverage move. Leech Seed sets are largely invalidated by Clefable, as Celebi can’t damage it effectively outside of a boosted Leaf Storm. Leech Seed also doesn’t help against U-Turn users that will switch out immediately. Celebi has a good speed tier and access to Trick and U-Turn, but Celebi’s offensive choices have little utility as well as Leaf Storm forcing Celebi out immediately. Celebi also is vulnerable to Tyranitar’s Pursuit. Celebi in the lead position is very weak to common U-turn leads such as Azelf, Uxie, Gliscor, and Flygon, while the Occa Berry will not save it against Choice Specs Heatran. Celebi without Leftovers struggles with longevity, while Celebi generally needs defensive investment to repeatedly set up Stealth Rock.
Other than these, Celebi has a humongous support movepool—options such as Heal Bell, Perish Song, Rain Dance, Healing Wish, Light Screen, Reflect, Trick Room, Heal Block, and Toxic are all possible either as their own set or in the last slot of the utility set. Celebi has base 100 attack, access to Swords Dance, and a unique physical movepool including Seed Bomb, Sucker Punch, and Zen Headbutt; however, it is exceedingly weak and can struggle to break through Steel-types even when boosted.
Checks and Counters
===================
**U-turn revenge killers**: Flygon, Scizor, Zapdos, Jirachi, Infernape, Azelf, and Gliscor can freely generate momentum off of Celebi with U-turn due to its 4x weakness to Bug. This debilitating weakness prevents defensive Celebi from staying on the field too long and revenge kills offensive Celebi.
**Entry Hazards**: Celebi is weak to Toxic Spikes and easily allows foes such as Skarmory to set up Spikes. The extra residual damage makes it difficult for Celebi to repeatedly switch and wall opponents or set up Stealth Rock.
**Dark-types**: Despite being able to OHKO Tyranitar with offensive sets or paralyze and 2HKO it with defensive sets, Tyranitar’s Crunch and Pursuit heavily damage Celebi, OHKOing offensive sets without a Colbur Berry after Stealth Rock in sand and 2HKOing defensive sets. Lum Berry Dragon Dance Tyranitar can absorb Thunder Wave and at least 2HKO back with Crunch, while Choice Scarf sets outspeed and checkmate Celebi. Weavile, while being less common, threats Celebi the same way.
**Steel-types**: Celebi often has to choose between hitting Steel-types not weak to Ground such as Skarmory, Bronzong, and Scizor and hitting Dragon-types. All of these threats take advantage of Celebi: Skarmory 2HKOs offensive Celebi with Brave Bird and sets up Spikes, Bronzong walls Celebi easily, and Scizor OHKOs Celebi with U-Turn. Should Celebi lack either Earth Power or Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Metagross, Jirachi, and Lucario easily take advantage of Celebi especially if it lacks Thunder Wave.
**Dragon-types**: Without Hidden Power Ice, Celebi is set up fodder for Latias and Dragonite, although they do not enjoy being paralyzed. Latias can even take one boosted Hidden Power Ice and retaliate with strong attacks. Flygon is particularly dangerous even if it does not take Celebi's attacks well, as U-turn from Choiced sets forces it out and Fire Blast from mixed sets heavily damages it.
**Fire-types**: Despite fearing Earth Power and Thunder Wave, Heatran and Infernape easily OHKO Celebi with Fire-type coverage. Should Celebi lack these moves, they can come in repeatedly.
**Ghost-types**: Rotom-A and Gengar at least 2HKO Celebi with Shadow Ball and will often outspeed it. Gengar resists Grass-type coverage, while Rotom-A takes little damage from Grass Knot due to its low weight. Neither enjoy paralysis, however.
**Flying-types** Zapdos, Gyarados with Bounce, and Togekiss can 2HKO Celebi easily with their Flying-type attacks or Heat Wave in Zapdos’s case. All of them do not enjoy Thunder Wave, however.
**Clefable**: Clefable doesn’t care about anything defensive Celebi does with the exception of Heal Block and uses Knock Off. It has to be careful of a Meadow Plate +2 Leaf Storm OHKOing, however.
**Super-effective coverage**: Water-Types such as Gyarados and Suicune often carry Ice-Type moves. While these are usually not powerful enough to KO Celebi outright, they can leave it unable to handle the next threats the opponent may carry.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [johnnyg2, 57904]]
- Quality checked by: [[Oiponabys,435540 ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
[OVERVIEW]
Celebi is one of the better utility Pokemon in the DPP OU metagame. Celebi’s access to reliable recovery, wide range of support moves, and Grass / Psychic typing gives it a unique list of Pokemon it counters. It is notably the best counter in the game to Breloom due to Natural Cure, resistances, and huge bulk and checks most offensive Water-types such as Dragon Dance Gyarados lacking Bounce, Swampert, Empoleon, and Suicune. These openings allow Celebi to take advantage of its wide support movepool with choices such as Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Heal Bell, U-Turn, and Perish Song. Celebi also can go on the offensive with boosting moves such as Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, allowing it to set up and take on defensive threats such as Clefable, Jirachi, Heatran, and Skarmory that invalidate defensive Celebi. Celebi also is unique in that nothing in the tier shuts down builds that don't have the tools to deal with it like it does—hyper offensive teams can really struggle against Celebi spreading paralysis and walling everything due to its huge bulk, while some slower defensive teams give Nasty Plot Celebi openings to break down the team with boosted attacks.
Celebi, however, is reduced to being niche in DPP OU due to the severe flaws from its typing and competition from Latias. Celebi is grounded and has seven weaknesses—of these, the five of Bug, Dark, Fire, Ice, and Ghost are the most critical. Celebi is 4x weak to U-Turn, meaning Flygon, Jirachi, Infernape, Zapdos, and Scizor can come in and freely gain momentum on Celebi, as even physically bulky Celebi is at least 2HKOed by most U-turn. Celebi's Psychic-typing means it is vulnerable to Pursuit Tyranitar, as it can’t OHKO Tyranitar without a boost. Celebi's other weaknesses open it up to Heatran, boosting Water-types with Ice-type coverage such as Empoleon and Gyarados, Rotom-A, and Gengar. Defensive Celebi also struggles broadly against bulkier teams, as it cannot hurt Clefable and its weak coverage options are otherwise easy to wall. Celebi struggles mightily with entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes, but Spikes also neuter its great bulk. Celebi often cannot prevent Skarmory from setting up Spikes, either. Offensive Celebi is both easy to wear down and easy to force out, as it is forced to use Leaf Storm for power due to Clefable, Rotom-A, and other defensive Pokemon not being hit hard by Grass Knot or Energy Ball. Offensive Celebi gives up a lot of its defensive utility, as it relies on its Speed and power to check offensive Water-types and Breloom rather than numerical bulk. Celebi additionally struggles to differentiate itself from Latias, as Latias is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, has much greater offensive prowess, and does not have as many weaknesses as Celebi does while having a similar set of resistances.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Recover
move 2: Thunder Wave / Stealth Rock
move 3: Grass Knot / Leaf Storm
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice / Psychic (?) / U-turn
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Celebi's many resistances and bulk allow it to be an effective wall. Beyond obligatory recovery, Celebi is able to support its team, spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave or setting up Stealth Rock. Thunder Wave helps Celebi wall threats effectively, as Grass Knot and Leaf Storm dissuade Ground-types immune to Thunder Wave from switching in. If this is not needed, Celebi is a superb user of Stealth Rock, as it threatens the most common spinner in Starmie. As the main offensive option, Grass Knot is the preferred choice, as it reliably hits many threats hard, such as Gyarados, Tyranitar, Suicune, and Swampert. However, as some threats such as Clefable, Rotom-A, and Gliscor take comparatively little from Grass Knot, Leaf Storm is a powerful alternative, as it doesn't care about weight and provides a strong first hit. Beware of the stat drops forcing Celebi out, however. A much stronger Grass-type attack distinguishes Celebi from Latias, as while Latias's Grass Knot is fairly weak, Celebi's Grass Knot easily OHKOs Swampert, 2HKOs Tyranitar and Suicune, and 3HKOs Gyarados, giving them less time to threaten Celebi offensively.
The last slot determines additional coverage and potentially other support moves. The most prominent option is Hidden Power Fire, as it damages Skarmory, Scizor, Forretress, and Roserade and prevents them from setting up with impunity. Hidden Power Ice is another option for 2HKOing Dragonite and Gliscor while also hitting Latias. Both of these options hit Breloom, but Psychic is the best of these, OHKOing frail Breloom and being the best option for Gengar and Machamp. Beware of the poor coverage other with Psychic, however. Another option is to make Celebi a bulky pivot with U-turn, as being able to absorb a hit and then keep momentum with U-turn is another niche it has over Latias. Unfortunately, unlike Baton Pass, U-turn is affected by Pursuit if Celebi is faster than the user, so it should be used on the switch in to chip Tyranitar.
Set Details
========
Celebi is required to run a physically defensive set. The speed investment outspeeds Tyranitar while the remaining EVs are put into HP and Defense. Celebi's niche is its increased physical bulk over Latias, and needs to have nearly maximum investment to have a noticeable impact. With this investment, Celebi is extraordinarily bulky—unlike Latias, it survives 2 Ice Fang from +1 Gyarados, +1 Dragon Dance Tyranitar Crunch after Stealth Rock, and +2 Lucario Crunch 50% of the time after Stealth Rock. The bulk also lets Celebi survive U-turn more comfortably and continuously absorb Breloom's attacks, even while asleep. It thus needs to Recover less often, making it less vulnerable to critical hits as it tries to heal.
Usage Tips
========
Celebi should generally only switch into threats it walls, such as Gyarados lacking Bounce, Swampert, and Breloom, and use its utility move such as Thunder Wave or Stealth Rock if the team needs to set it up. Celebi can more reliably switch into Gyarados and Swampert than Latias, as it has Natural to cure a potential freeze from Ice-type attacks. Celebi can also switch in an emergency, such as against boosted Lucario and Tyranitar to live the boosted hit and mitigate the threat. Keep Celebi far away from Pokemon setting up entry hazards, Clefable, and offensive Pokemon with U-turn. However, against more hyper offense teams that lack these options, Celebi is restrictive to play against, as it can come in repeatedly to wall even boosted threats and spread paralysis. With U-turn, Celebi can come in more often, as it generates momentum on its checks and counters, especially against status conditions. Celebi can take Thunder Wave, Will-O-Wisp, or Toxic and then U-turn rid itself of paralysis, burn, or poison with Natural Cure.
Avoid trying to use Recover too much, as continuous healing on an attack such as Empoleon's Ice Beam can lead to Celebi getting frozen or faint to a critical hit. Celebi is not as weak to Pursuit Tyranitar as other Psychic-types due to its bulk and ability to 2HKO Tyranitar with Grass Knot, but still should be careful against Tyranitar, as Crunch 2HKOs without a boost and Choice Band Crunch will put Celebi at very low health.
Team Options
========
Celebi requires extensive support to function without being outclassed by defensive Latias, as Celebi generally occupies the same niche. Celebi only fits on defensive teams, as its lack of offensive pressure and exploitable weaknesses force a large support network. To counteract Toxic Spikes, Celebi needs either a spinner such as Forretress, Starmie, and Tentacruel or a grounded Poison-type to absorb Toxic Spikes, such as Nidoqueen and Tentacruel due to Roserade’s poor fit. Forretress is especially helpful, as it can set up Spikes and Celebi assists against sweepers trying to take advantage of it. Celebi also supports Leftovers Heatran well, as they resist a huge number of types in the game between the two of them including all of their respective weaknesses. Heatran also threatens entry hazard setters such as Skarmory and Forretress while being a strong Jirachi counter. Heatran and Starmie fit well together in a Fire-Water-Grass core by Rapid Spinning away Spikes and also spreading paralysis. Celebi appreciates back up answers to special threats, as offensive Water-types can score a critical hit or freeze as it tries to heal off their attacks. Clefable and Blissey help in this regard. Celebi also enjoys help against opposing Clefable, as it switches into every option it has and uses Knock Off or sets up with Calm Mind. Choice Band Tyranitar and one’s own Clefable are sufficient for this.
Celebi does appreciate Magnezone support, however, it is often difficult to fit all of the pieces needed to support Celebi alongside Magnezone without being vulnerable to Roserade. Generally, Latias fits better alongside Magnezone. Other stall stalwarts such as Wish + Protect Jirachi, RestTalk Gyarados, Gliscor, Leftovers Bronzong, Zapdos, Rotom-A, and Skarmory work as teammates, as they provide additional defensive support and appreciate the back up against strong physical sweepers Celebi provides.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Leaf Storm / Grass Knot / Psychic
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Fire / Recover
item: Leftovers / Meadow Plate / Colbur Berry
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Celebi has a unique niche as a boosting Grass-type with Nasty Plot, allowing it to take advantage of its resistances to go on the offensive. Nasty Plot compliments it well, as it doesn't have a lot of longevity and needs as much power as it can get. The STAB move typically comes down to the rest of the team. Leaf Storm is the preferred move with Nasty Plot; despite resetting Nasty Plot, the power is needed to have a chance to OHKO Clefable. Leaf Storm also can break through utility and defensive Tyranitar, while even soft resists such as offensive Latias take a lot of damage from a +2 Leaf Storm. Grass Knot and Psychic are more reliable options, but Grass Knot does not damage Clefable and Rotom-A effectively, while Psychic is resisted by much of the tier and gives Tyranitar free entry.
Earth Power is critical for offensive Celebi, as it OHKOs Heatran after a boost and heavily damages prominent Ground-weak Pokemon such as Jirachi, Metagross, Tyranitar (should Celebi have Psychic), and Lucario. The final move completes Celebi’s coverage: Hidden Power Ice is the main option as it has perfect coverage outside of Bronzong and hits Latias and Dragonite hard while OHKOing Flygon without reducing its Special Attack. Hidden Power Fire is also helpful for hitting Steel-types neutral to Ground hard, such as Skarmory, Scizor, and Bronzong. However, beware of the lower Speed IV needed, causing it to tie with max Speed Rotom-A and always be outsped by max Speed Zapdos, Jirachi, and Flygon. Celebi can also run Recover over the Hidden Power. Celebi loses super effective coverage on Breloom unless it uses Psychic should it go down this route, however.
Set Details
========
Celebi generally needs all the power it can get, and a simple max Special Attack, max Speed Modest EV spread emphasizes this. This gives Celebi a desirably speed tier—as offensive Celebi checks threats with its speed and power, outspeeding all variants of Suicune, Heatran, Rotom-A, and Gyarados allows it to hit hard before taking damage. The Modest nature also gives Celebi the best chance to OHKO Clefable at +2, OHKO Dragon Dance Gyarados after Stealth Rock and Suicune after a Calm Mind at +0, and OHKO max HP Heatran with Earth Power at +0. Timid is also possible to outspeed as much as possible, including Gliscor before it can U-Turn, at least tie with Zapdos, Jirachi, and Flygon, and outspeed Roserade and Lucario. Celebi can invest around 88 HP EVs to survive Choice Scarf Tyranitar’s Crunch after Stealth Rock.
There are many different possible item choices for this Celebi. As Celebi is vulnerable to many types of residual damage, Leftovers gives it the maximum amount of chances to fire off strong attacks. This is especially important against defensive teams, as once Celebi sets up a Nasty Plot, the opponent can pivot around to wear it down. If Celebi uses Leaf Storm into a Latias or Jirachi, it may be too weak to set up another Nasty Plot. However, Celebi has no chance to OHKO Clefable without a boosting item at +2, while Meadow Plate gives it an 87.5% chance to do so. It also maximizes the chance to OHKO utility Tyranitar after Stealth Rock at +0, while even resists such as specially defensive Jirachi and defensive Latias can be 2HKOed by +4 into +2 Leaf Storm with Meadow Plate. However, Celebi is quite vulnerable to Choice Scarf Tyranitar on defensive teams; Colbur Berry variants easily absorb its Crunch and OHKOs back with +0 Leaf Storm after two rounds Stealth Rock. Other resistance berries such as Occa Berry for Heatran and Infernape as well as Kasib Berry for Rotom-A and Gengar are possible, but are more niche.
Usage Tips
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How this Celebi is used depends on the match-up; against offensive teams, Celebi rarely gets to set up and checks offensive Water-types, Breloom, and Lucario. Celebi needs to be close to full HP to check these, however, so keeping it healthy before this purpose is critical. It also is easily forced out both after it uses Leaf Storm and by super effective coverage such as from Flygon, Rotom-A, and Heatran or U-turn from various revenge killers.
Against more defensive teams, leverage the expectation that Celebi is defensive to set up a Nasty Plot. Due to Celebi’s weakness to entry hazards and especially Toxic Spikes, it should be brought in early against walls that don’t threaten it like Milotic and defensive Breloom. Opponents will often send in Clefable or Skarmory to set up hazards or use Knock Off on Celebi due the defensive set’s passivity, giving an opportunity to attack. Be careful about when to use Leaf Storm, as Celebi’s coverage hits many common Leaf Storm answers such as Latias, Skarmory, and Jirachi very hard and more importantly doesn’t lower its stats. Against sturdier special walls such as Blissey, Celebi should set up to +4 or +6 before attacking—a +4 into +2 Leaf Storm KOs Blissey after Stealth Rock with a Meadow Plate while +6 OHKOs outright. With Recover, Celebi can be more flexible when to come in, but beware of Clefable’s Encore as Psychic only OHKOs at +6.
Team Options
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This Celebi generally is used with on teams with weak answers to offensive Water-types that can afford Celebi’s flaws. The more prominent of these is on Magnezone offenses, as Magnezone can trap Bronzong and Skarmory, allowing Celebi to freely run Hidden Power Ice. Celebi also appreciates other common choices on these teams; offensive Trick Room Bronzong teams typically struggle against Water-types and Breloom, giving Celebi an easy switch in. Gengar gives another answer to Breloom, as this Celebi doesn’t absorb its hits as well and can be 2HKOed by Focus Punch. Choice Scarf Flygon can revenge kill threats that set up on a -2 Celebi, such as Dragonite. In return, Choice Scarf revenge killers with U-turn such as opposing Flygon struggle with Trick Room Bronzong while Choice Band Tyranitar can help break through defensive teams. Offensive Heatran is an excellent partner, as it break through bulky Steel-types such as Skarmory, Bronzong, and Jirachi while Celebi resists all of its weakness. Swampert also appreciates Magnezone and supports Celebi, as it can tank hits from Tyranitar and Jirachi as well as resist Heatran’s Fire-type coverage. Heatran and Swampert can potentially form a Fire-Water-Grass core alongside Celebi.
Celebi fits on hyper offense teams due to these teams struggling against offensive Calm Mind Suicune and Dragon Dance Gyarados, but Leaf Storm can be a huge momentum sink. With Recover, Celebi appreciates partners that maximize its longevity, such as Toxic Spikes absorbers such as Nidoqueen and counters to Choice Scarf Flygon such as Milotic and Skarmory.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Celebi has a ton of other options not especially viable in the DPP OU metagame. One of the more prominent of these is a Calm Mind set with Recover and defensive EVs to act as a win condition. Such a set often struggles to stay on the field, due to being easily forced out by weaknesses and status. Other previous sets such as offensive Life Orb support with Thunder Wave, Leaf Storm, Recover, and another coverage move, any Leech Seed sets, Choice Scarf, and Occa Berry + Stealth Rock leads are not very effective in the modern DPP OU metagame. Celebi generally needs to be either very bulky or fast, as Celebi doesn’t have enough numerical bulk when uninvested to handle boosted Water-types while also struggling against Tyranitar, Toxic Spikes, and various U-Turn users. Offensive Celebi is walled by many dangerous threats with only one coverage move. Leech Seed sets are largely invalidated by Clefable, as Celebi can’t damage it effectively outside of a boosted Leaf Storm. Leech Seed also doesn’t help against U-Turn users that will switch out immediately. Celebi has a good speed tier and access to Trick and U-Turn, but Celebi’s offensive choices have little utility as well as Leaf Storm forcing Celebi out immediately. Celebi also is vulnerable to Tyranitar’s Pursuit. Celebi in the lead position is very weak to common U-turn leads such as Azelf, Uxie, Gliscor, and Flygon, while the Occa Berry will not save it against Choice Specs Heatran. Celebi without Leftovers struggles with longevity, while Celebi generally needs defensive investment to repeatedly set up Stealth Rock.
Other than these, Celebi has a humongous support movepool—options such as Heal Bell, Perish Song, Rain Dance, Healing Wish, Light Screen, Reflect, Trick Room, Heal Block, and Toxic are all possible either as their own set or in the last slot of the utility set. Celebi has base 100 attack, access to Swords Dance, and a unique physical movepool including Seed Bomb, Sucker Punch, and Zen Headbutt; however, it is exceedingly weak and can struggle to break through Steel-types even when boosted.
Checks and Counters
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**U-turn revenge killers**: Flygon, Scizor, Zapdos, Jirachi, Infernape, Azelf, and Gliscor can freely generate momentum off of Celebi with U-turn due to its 4x weakness to Bug. This debilitating weakness prevents defensive Celebi from staying on the field too long and revenge kills offensive Celebi.
**Entry Hazards**: Celebi is weak to Toxic Spikes and easily allows foes such as Skarmory to set up Spikes. The extra residual damage makes it difficult for Celebi to repeatedly switch and wall opponents or set up Stealth Rock.
**Dark-types**: Despite being able to OHKO Tyranitar with offensive sets or paralyze and 2HKO it with defensive sets, Tyranitar’s Crunch and Pursuit heavily damage Celebi, OHKOing offensive sets without a Colbur Berry after Stealth Rock in sand and 2HKOing defensive sets. Lum Berry Dragon Dance Tyranitar can absorb Thunder Wave and at least 2HKO back with Crunch, while Choice Scarf sets outspeed and checkmate Celebi. Weavile, while being less common, threats Celebi the same way.
**Steel-types**: Celebi often has to choose between hitting Steel-types not weak to Ground such as Skarmory, Bronzong, and Scizor and hitting Dragon-types. All of these threats take advantage of Celebi: Skarmory 2HKOs offensive Celebi with Brave Bird and sets up Spikes, Bronzong walls Celebi easily, and Scizor OHKOs Celebi with U-Turn. Should Celebi lack either Earth Power or Hidden Power Fire, Steel-types such as Metagross, Jirachi, and Lucario easily take advantage of Celebi especially if it lacks Thunder Wave.
**Dragon-types**: Without Hidden Power Ice, Celebi is set up fodder for Latias and Dragonite, although they do not enjoy being paralyzed. Latias can even take one boosted Hidden Power Ice and retaliate with strong attacks. Flygon is particularly dangerous even if it does not take Celebi's attacks well, as U-turn from Choiced sets forces it out and Fire Blast from mixed sets heavily damages it.
**Fire-types**: Despite fearing Earth Power and Thunder Wave, Heatran and Infernape easily OHKO Celebi with Fire-type coverage. Should Celebi lack these moves, they can come in repeatedly.
**Ghost-types**: Rotom-A and Gengar at least 2HKO Celebi with Shadow Ball and will often outspeed it. Gengar resists Grass-type coverage, while Rotom-A takes little damage from Grass Knot due to its low weight. Neither enjoy paralysis, however.
**Flying-types** Zapdos, Gyarados with Bounce, and Togekiss can 2HKO Celebi easily with their Flying-type attacks or Heat Wave in Zapdos’s case. All of them do not enjoy Thunder Wave, however.
**Clefable**: Clefable doesn’t care about anything defensive Celebi does with the exception of Heal Block and uses Knock Off. It has to be careful of a Meadow Plate +2 Leaf Storm OHKOing, however.
**Super-effective coverage**: Water-Types such as Gyarados and Suicune often carry Ice-Type moves. While these are usually not powerful enough to KO Celebi outright, they can leave it unable to handle the next threats the opponent may carry.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [johnnyg2, 57904]]
- Quality checked by: [[Oiponabys,435540 ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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