Changes:
- Added Team Options and made comments reflect the new policy.
- Added Focus Sash lead over the other Focus Sash set, and changed the EVs.
- Updated analysis to make it more into this metagame, not the older ones.
- Fleshed out comments and made them more grammatically correct.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Sweeper
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Shadow Ball / Substitute
item: Life Orb
nature: Hasty
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is the best sweeping set for Deoxys-A, hands down, thanks to the coverage provided by the moves and the ability to switch them. Ice Beam handles the Dragon-types and Groudon that plague the Ubers metagame, and Thunder provides great coverage with Ice Beam, hitting everything neutral as well as dealing massive damage to Kyogre and Ho-oh. Superpower is used for Blissey, as it can switch in on your special attacks with ease. Shadow Ball can be used for hitting Mewtwo, Mew, and Deoxys-D, while Hidden Power Fire is for hitting opposing Scizor or Metagross. Substitute is another good option for dodging priority attacks and Pursuit, but it means you lose an extra coverage move that can really help you.</p>
<p>Max Speed is absolutely needed to outspeed nearly everything, and to chance a tie with opposing Deoxys-A. You don't need any extra Attack to OHKO Blissey with Superpower, but a little more can be used if you want to OHKO Dialga with it. Also note that you should <i>never</i> use Ice Punch on this set, as even though it does more to Latias (but doesn't OHKO), it does less to Giratina, Groudon, and Lugia, as well as making you use Grass Knot and Shadow Ball, which provide less coverage than Ice Beam and Thunder.</p>
<p>Nothing in the game can safely switch into this, but it does have its downfalls. Due to Deoxys-A's terrible defenses, a Pursuit from a Metagross, Scizor, or nearly anything else will OHKO. It is also incredibly vulnerable to priority attacks, like Scizor's or Metagross' Bullet Punches or Rayquaza's ExtremeSpeeds.</p>
<p>This set is more useful later in the game, when those threats are gone. You can use Magnezone to trap Scizor and Metagross, as they normally don't carry super effective Ground or Fighting-type moves in Ubers. Choice Scarfed Pokemon with a base Speed that is above 95 can also be a threat, like Palkia and Garchomp, but those can be handled by specific counters. Offensively, mixed or specially-based Dialga pairs well with Life Orb Deoxys-A, as they can come in on resisted priority moves and sweep well, especially if you take out Blissey beforehand.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Choice Specs
nature: Hasty
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is mainly the same set as the Life Orb set, but with less freedom and more power. The added power is helpful in removing threats like Mewtwo, Spiritomb, and Ho-oh, who normally aren't OHKOed or 2HKOed by certain moves on the Life Orb set. Ice Beam and Thunder provide great coverage, and Superpower is used to OHKO Blissey and 2HKO Dialga. Shadow Ball is superior to Hidden Power Fire on this set because of a few reasons; firstly, you don't have protection from priority, so there's no point in hitting Scizor, secondly, you need the OHKO on Mewtwo, and lastly, you become set-up fodder for Pokemon like Groudon or Rayquaza. If you really want to, though, you can use Hidden Power Fire to OHKO Metagross on the switch, in sun.</p>
<p>This Deoxys-A is incredibly easily revenge-killed by Pursuit, as it's stuck on one move, and a Steel-type can easily switch in on Shadow Ball or Ice Beam and Pursuit it to death. Using Pokemon that can remove Steel-types is a good idea, as it will let your Deoxys-A stay alive much longer. Magnezone is a great Pokemon for this job, as it can KO both of these Pokemon with ease after a trap. Groudon is another good choice, as it can gradually pick off Scizor and Metagross.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Ice Punch
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: ExtremeSpeed
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Using a Choice Band on Deoxys-A is a good way to surprise some of its common switch-ins, like Latias and Dialga. Ice Punch does massive damage to Latias and Latios, more than Ice Beam. Superpower is incredibly helpful for OHKOing Dialga, who may think he'll get a free KO on the Life Orb set, as it only 2HKOes. Fire Punch OHKOes Forretress and Scizor, and Metagross in the sun. The last spot is for ExtremeSpeed. ExtremeSpeed allows you to actually have priority over faster opponents, like Choice Scarfed Darkrai, Choice Scarf Palkia, and Deoxys-S, who may revenge-kill you. Using an Adamant nature is helpful for the extra power, as you don't need the Speed.</p>
<p>This set has a lot of trouble with bulky Flying-types, like Ho-oh and Lugia, since it doesn't run Thunder. They take little from Ice Punch, and the other moves can't touch them. Stealth Rock will put a damper on them, though, taking 50% from Ho-oh and 25% from Lugia. Mewtwo can Taunt Lugia, and set up on it, and also KO Mewtwo with Ice Beam, making it a solid choice. Tyranitar can threaten Lugia with Pursuit or Stone Edge, and can take Ho-oh that lack Earthquake.</p>
[SET]
name: Focus Sash Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Mirror Coat
move 3: Superpower
move 4: ExtremeSpeed
item: Focus Sash
nature: Naive
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Deoxys-S may be the preferred suicide lead in Ubers, but Deoxys-A has a few superior qualities, namely its Attack stat, a priority move, and Mirror Coat.</p>
<p>Stealth Rock set up is your first priority when facing slower leads like Groudon. Superpower is used for hitting Darkrai, who is slower than you bar Choice Scarf, and Tyranitar for OHKOs. ExtremeSpeed picks off faster opponents like Deoxys-S and Choice Scarf Darkrai, and Focus Sashed Pokemon. When going up against Deoxys-S, you should always use ExtremeSpeed first, as most Deoxys-S will Stealth Rock first, letting you 2HKO it, as it won't KO you. Mirror Coat is the surprise on this set, though. When faced against a Kyogre lead, Mirror Coat first, because it will use Water Spout which you can bounce back for an OHKO.</p>
<p>It is wise to use this on an offensive team that can benefit from the Stealth Rock weakening your opponents, or that take advantage of the opponent's leading Pokemon gone, like Ho-oh without Kyogre around.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>One of the most noteworthy options is a Subsitute + Petaya Berry set with Thunder, Ice Beam, and Superpower. This set provides a way to guard against priority, as well as boosting your Special Attack. Make sure to remove entry hazards and sandstorm, though, as that can wittle down Deoxys-A's health by a lot combined with Subsitutes.</p>
<p>Focus Sash with Calm Mind is a viable option to get two potential Calm Minds, but this is a lot more risky than the option above because of residual damage destroying your Focus Sash.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf is a good option for outspeeding <i>everything</i>, and can get a few important revenge-kills, but it suffers from move restriction and the added Speed doesn't help against priority. Speaking of Choice item restriction, don't try using Trick on those sets, as it is just wasting a turn you could be using for attacking.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Normally, Deoxys-A needs all the Speed it can get. Due to its frailness, it is absolutely needed that the opponent's attacks not touch it. At the minimum, Deoxys-A needs 236 Speed EVs to hit 434 Speed (outspeeding Choice Scarf Kyogre, Ho-oh, and a once Dragon Danced Rayquaza), but it is advised to use the maximum, as it will let you tie with other Deoxys-A. The rest should go into the main attacking stat on a set. If you really don't feel the need to outpace certain Choice Scarfers and other Deoxys-A is important, you can run Mild on the Life Orb set, as it has a possiblity of OHKOing Mewtwo.</p>
<p>The exception to this rule is the Choice Band set, where Special Attack has no use, and you're running ExtremeSpeed. Then, you can use an Adamant nature, as the power boost is helpful and you outspeed everything but Deoxys-S not carrying a Choice Scarf.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Deoxys-A can be a monster in the right hands, but you need it to have good team support to handle its various set counters.</p>
<p>Adding entry hazards to your team through Stealth Rock and Spikes is a worthwhile option, as the residual damage will ensure some OHKOs. Stealth Rock is especially helpful in handling Ho-oh, a common switch-in to Life Orb Deoxys. Mewtwo is another Pokemon that can be taken down with Stealth Rock support that normally could not be without it. A lead Groudon is helpful for this, as it can immobilize fast Choice Scarf leads that could revenge-kill Deoxys-A with Thunder Wave, as well as set up Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Since Deoxys-A's main "counters" are Pursuiting Steel-types like Metagross and Scizor, it is wise to pack a counter for those. An Ubers Magnezone can work nicely here, as it can trap and KO these Pokemon, as their Ubers trapping sets normally do not run Earthquake or Superpower. Groudon or Ho-oh can also be used for countering these Pokemon and gradually picking them off.</p>
<p>Deoxys-A doesn't have much in the way of supporting team-mates, as it doesn't help others in any way, or get help besides entry hazard support. It is mainly just a sweeper that appreciates free switches from your team.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Deoxys-A is a monster of a sweeper, everything in the game is OHKOed or 2HKOed by its attacks. This comes with its downsides, though. Deoxys-A has Carvanha-like defenses, and can be OHKOed by nearly any attack, meaning it dies from any priority or Pursuit. This means that when using Deoxys-A, you have to be able to predict really well on when to come in and the like, or lose your Pokemon.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Deoxys-A must be beaten by prediction and resistance to attacks, as there is no "Deoxys-A counter", because everything is OHKOed or 2HKOed by its attacks. Certain things deserve mention, though, and they are as follows.</p>
<p>Spiritomb can switch in on Superpower or a Psychic-type attack and OHKO with Pursuit or Shadow Sneak, depending on if it switches or not. Be wary of Thunder, though, as it will 2HKO Spiritomb. Metagross can also come in on a resisted move, like Ice Beam, and OHKO with Pursuit or Bullet Punch, but if it comes in on Thunder or Hidden Power Fire, it's going to get 2HKOed by the former and OHKOed by the latter outside of rain. Scizor works in the exact same way as Metagross, except it's weaker to Hidden Power Fire.</p>
<p>Bug Arceus is one of the best counters, as it resists nearly everything, and isn't 2HKOed by Life Orb or Choice Specs Thunder. It can be destroyed by Fire Punch or Hidden Power Fire in the sun, though, and Stealth Rock hurts it really badly. Latias can come in on Superpower, Thunder, or Grass Knot, OHKO with Dragon Pulse, and Recover off the damage. Deoxys-A won't OHKO with Shadow Ball or Ice Beam, and Shadow Ball won't 2HKO with maxed out defenses, but it will have to sacrifice Speed for those. Ho-oh can take Superpower, and special attacks like Ice Beam don't do much to Ho-oh's massive Special Defense stat. Thunder and ThunderPunch are problems, though. Giratina walls the Choice Band set incredibly well, as not even Ice Punch can 2HKO it. Fighting and Ghost-type Arceus can also handle physical Deoxys-A well, but they must be wary of Thunder.</p>
<p>Dugtrio can KO Deoxys-A with Sucker Punch or Pursuit if it comes in on Thunder or for a revenge-kill. Deoxys-S is faster than Deoxys-A and can checkmate Deoxys-A with Pursuit, OHKOing if it stays in or if it switches.</p>
