yo getting this up ^.^
you scared? cuz imma wash you away!
[SET]
name: Non-Choice Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Hidden Power Bug / Hidden Power Electric
move 4: Icy Wind
item: Expert Belt / Life Orb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Choice sets are very effective on Keldeo, it is also excellent as an all-out attacker. The main advantage of this set is the ability to switch moves; this is huge, as Keldeo often needs to switch up moves in order to hit the foe for heavy damage. There are two variants of this set—Expert Belt and Life Orb—that both play much differently. Expert Belt allows Keldeo to bluff a Choice item and thus surprise its counters with a super effective move, which tends mess up the opponent via throwing off his or her game plan. On the other hand, Life Orb gives Keldeo a significant boost in power compared to Expert Belt, which only boosts the power of super effective moves, meaning Hydro Pump and Secret Sword are often fired off unboosted. Life Orb boosts the power of all of Keldeo's moves, making it a very reliable option.</p>
<p>Keldeo's STABs are obvious; Hydro Pump outright rips apart of all Keldeo's foes, especially when boosted by rain, while Secret Sword allows Keldeo to nail Tyranitar, Blissey, and Chansey. Their great coverage together can be utilized to its full potential with this set, as the lack of a Choice item allows Keldeo to switch moves. For the Expert Belt set, it is highly recommended to use Hidden Power Bug as Keldeo's Hidden Power of choice. Hidden Power Bug can surprise Celebi and KO it in one hit; it also helps against Latias and Latios, but Celebi is the number one target. It is also usable with a Life Orb, but Hidden Power Electric provides competition there, as it always 2HKOes non-specially defensive Jellicent after Stealth Rock damage, which is huge. Hidden Power Electric also provides a reliable OHKO on Gyarados and 2HKOes bulky Politoed after Stealth Rock damage. Icy Wind fills the last slot so that Keldeo always has good coverage with which to hit Latios and Latias and to slow down faster threats, such as Starmie and Tornadus. It also provides a way to KO Landorus and Landorus-T with less risk than Hydro Pump.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Below are some damage calculations that showcase the power granted by using Life Orb over Expert Belt. They all show OHKOs that Life Orb can achieve which Expert Belt cannot.</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Life Orb Icy Wind vs. 0/0 Garchomp: 100.56 - 119.32%</li>
<li>Life Orb Icy Wind vs. 200/0 Landorus-T: 102.98 - 121.13%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 4/0 Gengar: 122.98 - 145.59%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 248/252+ Heatran: 91.16 - 108.05% -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock damage</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 0/4 Scizor: 108.18 - 127.75%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 224/32 Skarmory: 99.38 - 117.12% -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock damage</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 4/0 Lucario: 120.92 - 142.55%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 192/0 Reuniclus: 106.84 - 125.91% (rain)</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 0/4 Jirachi: 110.85 - 130.79% (rain)</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 4/0 Breloom: 109.54 - 129.38% (rain)</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a couple other options for the Hidden Power, namely Psychic and Flying. They give Keldeo a way to hit Toxicroak and ensure Keldeo wins mirror matches against other Keldeo. The trade-off is that Hidden Power Psychic hits Tentacruel for heavy damage whereas Hidden Power Flying hits Celebi moderately hard. Surf is a decent choice over Hydro Pump if you really dislike the accuracy, but it does not pack the same raw killing power.</p>
<p>Keldeo is a very good Pokemon in its own right, but there are a few support options that let Keldeo live up to its full potential. Politoed, while not mandatory, is certainly very helpful for Keldeo, as rain makes its Hydro Pump insanely powerful. With Choice Specs attached, Politoed can even aid Keldeo in punching holes in the enemy team. Unlike other Keldeo, this set doesn't have to worry about Celebi, making its life much easier. However, Pursuit-trapping partners are still helpful to take down Jellicent, Latias, and Latios (the latter two are faster than Keldeo, making attempts to hit them unreliable). Choice Band Tyranitar is generally the best choice, but Scizor is also a good option if you intend to run Keldeo on a rain team. Weavile is another good Pursuit trapper, as it can reliably handle pretty much every Pokemon that troubles Keldeo. The two form a nice offensive duo that can rip apart teams. Gothitelle can trap the problematic Celebi, as well as Jellicent, if you eschew Hidden Power Bug in favor of Hidden Power Electric. The most important support for this set is entry hazards. As you generally use Keldeo on offensive teams, reliable hazard setters, such as Custap Berry Skarmory and Forretress, do the trick. The biggest issue for the Life Orb variant of this set is entry hazards on its own side of the field, so a spinner partner, such as Starmie or Tentacruel, is recommended. Lastly, sweepers that do well against weakened teams, such as Landorus, Feraligatr, and Gyarados, make excellent partners, as this Keldeo excels at breaking down the opponent's team.</p>
you scared? cuz imma wash you away!
[SET]
name: Non-Choice Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Hidden Power Bug / Hidden Power Electric
move 4: Icy Wind
item: Expert Belt / Life Orb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Choice sets are very effective on Keldeo, it is also excellent as an all-out attacker. The main advantage of this set is the ability to switch moves; this is huge, as Keldeo often needs to switch up moves in order to hit the foe for heavy damage. There are two variants of this set—Expert Belt and Life Orb—that both play much differently. Expert Belt allows Keldeo to bluff a Choice item and thus surprise its counters with a super effective move, which tends mess up the opponent via throwing off his or her game plan. On the other hand, Life Orb gives Keldeo a significant boost in power compared to Expert Belt, which only boosts the power of super effective moves, meaning Hydro Pump and Secret Sword are often fired off unboosted. Life Orb boosts the power of all of Keldeo's moves, making it a very reliable option.</p>
<p>Keldeo's STABs are obvious; Hydro Pump outright rips apart of all Keldeo's foes, especially when boosted by rain, while Secret Sword allows Keldeo to nail Tyranitar, Blissey, and Chansey. Their great coverage together can be utilized to its full potential with this set, as the lack of a Choice item allows Keldeo to switch moves. For the Expert Belt set, it is highly recommended to use Hidden Power Bug as Keldeo's Hidden Power of choice. Hidden Power Bug can surprise Celebi and KO it in one hit; it also helps against Latias and Latios, but Celebi is the number one target. It is also usable with a Life Orb, but Hidden Power Electric provides competition there, as it always 2HKOes non-specially defensive Jellicent after Stealth Rock damage, which is huge. Hidden Power Electric also provides a reliable OHKO on Gyarados and 2HKOes bulky Politoed after Stealth Rock damage. Icy Wind fills the last slot so that Keldeo always has good coverage with which to hit Latios and Latias and to slow down faster threats, such as Starmie and Tornadus. It also provides a way to KO Landorus and Landorus-T with less risk than Hydro Pump.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Below are some damage calculations that showcase the power granted by using Life Orb over Expert Belt. They all show OHKOs that Life Orb can achieve which Expert Belt cannot.</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Life Orb Icy Wind vs. 0/0 Garchomp: 100.56 - 119.32%</li>
<li>Life Orb Icy Wind vs. 200/0 Landorus-T: 102.98 - 121.13%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 4/0 Gengar: 122.98 - 145.59%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 248/252+ Heatran: 91.16 - 108.05% -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock damage</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 0/4 Scizor: 108.18 - 127.75%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 224/32 Skarmory: 99.38 - 117.12% -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock damage</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 4/0 Lucario: 120.92 - 142.55%</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 192/0 Reuniclus: 106.84 - 125.91% (rain)</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 0/4 Jirachi: 110.85 - 130.79% (rain)</li>
<li>Life Orb Hydro Pump vs. 4/0 Breloom: 109.54 - 129.38% (rain)</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a couple other options for the Hidden Power, namely Psychic and Flying. They give Keldeo a way to hit Toxicroak and ensure Keldeo wins mirror matches against other Keldeo. The trade-off is that Hidden Power Psychic hits Tentacruel for heavy damage whereas Hidden Power Flying hits Celebi moderately hard. Surf is a decent choice over Hydro Pump if you really dislike the accuracy, but it does not pack the same raw killing power.</p>
<p>Keldeo is a very good Pokemon in its own right, but there are a few support options that let Keldeo live up to its full potential. Politoed, while not mandatory, is certainly very helpful for Keldeo, as rain makes its Hydro Pump insanely powerful. With Choice Specs attached, Politoed can even aid Keldeo in punching holes in the enemy team. Unlike other Keldeo, this set doesn't have to worry about Celebi, making its life much easier. However, Pursuit-trapping partners are still helpful to take down Jellicent, Latias, and Latios (the latter two are faster than Keldeo, making attempts to hit them unreliable). Choice Band Tyranitar is generally the best choice, but Scizor is also a good option if you intend to run Keldeo on a rain team. Weavile is another good Pursuit trapper, as it can reliably handle pretty much every Pokemon that troubles Keldeo. The two form a nice offensive duo that can rip apart teams. Gothitelle can trap the problematic Celebi, as well as Jellicent, if you eschew Hidden Power Bug in favor of Hidden Power Electric. The most important support for this set is entry hazards. As you generally use Keldeo on offensive teams, reliable hazard setters, such as Custap Berry Skarmory and Forretress, do the trick. The biggest issue for the Life Orb variant of this set is entry hazards on its own side of the field, so a spinner partner, such as Starmie or Tentacruel, is recommended. Lastly, sweepers that do well against weakened teams, such as Landorus, Feraligatr, and Gyarados, make excellent partners, as this Keldeo excels at breaking down the opponent's team.</p>
