qc: Exclaimer / sparktrain / snake_rattler
gp: amcheck by Conni / amcheck by Fireflame479 / The Dutch Plumberjack / Fireflame479
[OVERVIEW]
Keldeo is a premier offensive Pokemon in the CAP metagame thanks to its powerful combination of high offensive stats and good neutral coverage that allows it to threaten a large portion of the metagame. Keldeo's Water / Fighting typing gives it advantageous matchups against Chansey, Colossoil, and Heatran while also allowing it to switch into the Dark-, Fire-, and Ice-types in the metagame, notably Syclant and Weavile. Keldeo's movepool is small but has all the tools needed to allow it to succeed, including Secret Sword, which gives it the ability to pressure specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey. Most importantly, Keldeo's offensive prowess and versatility allow it to run multiple sets, such as a wallbreaker with Choice Specs and Life Orb; a revenge killer; a cleaner with Choice Scarf; and even a sweeper with Substitute + Calm Mind.
However, Keldeo's coverage options can't break through every Pokemon in the metagame, so it will find itself walled by Plasmanta, Mollux, Mega Venusaur, Latios, Latias, Azumarill, and Mega Venusaur depending on what Hidden Power it forgoes. It's also threatened by powerful offensive threats such as Talonflame, Aurumoth, Mega Metagross, and Mega Gardevoir. While Choice Specs, Life Orb, and Substitute + Calm Mind sets all sit in a very good Speed tier, they are outsped by common threats such as Kerfluffle, Mega Metagross, Mega Diancie, and Mega Crucibelle. However, Choice Scarf can remedy this problem at the cost of some of Keldeo's power.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Scald
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Icy Wind
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb / Expert Belt
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is key for combating walls such as Clefable, Tomohawk, and Jirachi and is the most powerful move on this set. Hydro Pump's greater power is essential in situations where the lower Base Power of Scald is insufficient to KO the foe. Secret Sword is an excellent secondary STAB option that allows Keldeo to hit specially defensive Pokemon such as Colossoil and Chansey as well as Water-resistant Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn. Scald is Keldeo's secondary Water-type STAB move and is used when Keldeo cannot afford to miss Hydro Pump; its burn chance allows Keldeo to wear down Pokemon such as Latios and Ferrothorn, and it is almost always a good move to spam. In the last moveslot, Hidden Power Ground is necessary to get past Mollux and Plasmanta, which resist Secret Sword and are immune to Water. Alternatively, Icy Wind can be used for coverage against Grass-types, such as Necturna, and Dragon-types, such as Latios, Latias, and Mega Altaria.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Timid nature are needed for Keldeo to hit hard and outspeed as much as possible. Choice Specs turns Keldeo into a frightening attacker, allowing it to 2HKO Pokemon such as Tomohawk and Clefable. Life Orb can be used instead to preserve Keldeo's power and ease its matchup against Mollux and Plasmanta, but the recoil wears it down significantly. Expert Belt can be used over Life Orb to avoid recoil and to bluff a Choice item, but Keldeo hits significantly weaker against neutral targets such as Clefable.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo should be used to break opposing defensive cores. Life Orb and Expert Belt Keldeo have more freedom, as they are able to fight at any point in the match. If the opponent thinks Keldeo is Choice locked, they might send in a counter like Mollux or Plasmanta, in which case you should use Hidden Power Ground. Scald, unless the foe is immune to it, is generally the safest and most spammable move to use early-game, as a potential burn can wear down counters like Mega Venusaur and physical attackers, making it easier for Keldeo to clean up late-game.
Team Options
========
Keldeo is good on offensive and balance teams thanks to its type coverage, power, and speed. It cannot fight common Grass-types like Mega Venusaur, Serperior, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss as well as faster Pokemon such as Kerfluffle, so Talonflame is a helpful teammate thanks to its powerful priority Flying-type attacks. Since Keldeo is weak to common special attackers such as Serperior, Raikou, Mega Alakazam, and Mega Diancie, specially defensive teammates with Wish or Healing Wish, like Clefable, Jirachi, Latias, and Sylveon, are effective. Ground-types like Colossoil, Garchomp, and Hippowdon help deal with Electric-types. Colossoil also helps Keldeo against Psychic-types, as it can Pursuit trap them. Garchomp and Hippowdon can check Talonflame, set Stealth Rock, and offer Ground-type coverage if Keldeo does not run Hidden Power Ground. Offensive Grass- and Electric-types like Necturna, Serperior, and Plasmanta are helpful because Keldeo has great difficulty handling bulky Water-types, such as Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Slowbro. Pursuit trappers like Tyranitar, Colossoil, Bisharp, Scizor, and Mega Metagross are great for removing bulky Psychic-type Pokemon, such as Starmie, Latios, and Latias, that wall Keldeo.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Scald
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Icy Wind
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald's burn chance makes Keldeo annoying and cleans up the opposition late-game thanks to its accuracy. Secret Sword provides Fighting-type coverage and hits specially defensive Pokemon harder than Hydro Pump or Scald. Hydro Pump deals more damage to foes if you prefer higher damage output; it is especially helpful against Aurumoth and Mega Charizard X (both of which Keldeo outspeeds even after they set up), Mega Charizard Y, Mega Crucibelle, and Gliscor. Hidden Power Ground eliminates Mollux and Plasmanta, while Icy Wind slows down foes and targets switch-ins like Mega Altaria and Dragonite.
Set Details
========
The EV spread maximizes Keldeo's Speed and damage output. Choice Scarf allows Keldeo to outspeed more foes, several of which would defeat it otherwise, making it a check to Cawmodore, +1 Mega Charizard X, and Kerfluffle. A Timid nature allows Keldeo to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, including Choice Scarf users like Volkraken and Crucibelle. While Modest provides more power, it makes Keldeo lose to Jolly Mega Charizard X and Naviathan after one Dragon Dance. It would also be slower than Choice Scarf base 95+ maximum Speed Pokemon, such as Garchomp and Kyurem-B.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo is most effective late-game when its switch-ins have been worn down, allowing it to clean up with Secret Sword and Scald. Early- and mid-game, Keldeo should be used to revenge kill foes, such as Cawmodore, Mega Charizard X, and Crucibelle, with Hydro Pump, Icy Wind, or Hidden Power Ground. If used early-game, Keldeo should be wary of the foe switching and should not allow it to set up. Scald is the safest option early-game, as its burn on a switch-in allows Keldeo to have an easier time late-game.
Team Options
========
Keldeo works best on hyper offense and balance teams to stop Pokemon like Heatran and Colossoil; therefore, Gengar, Mega Manectric, Mega Gardevoir, Kitsunoh, and Latios are good partners. As many Flying-, Psychic-, and Fairy-types defeat Keldeo, Mega Metagross is a helpful partner. Ground-type teammates like Hippowdon, Colossoil, and Excadrill are very helpful for dealing with Electric-types, Mollux, and Plasmanta. Keldeo struggles with bulky Water-types, so Grass- and Electric-type teammates like Mega Venusaur and Plasmanta are very important.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Scald
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Hidden Power Ground / Substitute
move 4: Calm Mind
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald's burn chance helps Keldeo stick around longer against physical attackers that would bypass its Special Defense boosts; its low Base Power is offset by Calm Mind. Secret Sword provides great Fighting-type coverage and prevents Chansey from stopping Keldeo's sweep. Hidden Power Ground keeps Keldeo from being stopped cold by Mollux and Plasmanta. Substitute allows Keldeo to set up on Pokemon such as defensive Mega Scizor and specially defensive Jirachi more easily and avoid status from defensive Pokemon, allowing it to build up more boosts. Calm Mind increases Keldeo's longevity and power, letting it sweep effectively.
Set Details
========
A Timid nature allows Keldeo to outspeed more foes, such as Gliscor, non-Choice Scarf Volkraken, and Kyurem-B. The EV spread allows Keldeo to outspeed slower Pokemon and deal a lot of damage. Life Orb gives Keldeo a considerable damage boost, which helps it handle Pokemon before a Calm Mind boost; it should be used when running Hidden Power Ground. Alternatively, Leftovers increases Keldeo's ability to create more Substitutes and mitigates residual damage, notably against more defensive teams that rely on such damage to pressure Keldeo.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo is helpful on hyper offense and balance teams to stop foes with Calm Mind and with its STAB coverage. Keldeo should set up Calm Mind late-game after its checks and counters are sufficiently weakened. Early-game, Keldeo should be fulfilling an offensive role to wear down the opposing team with Scald. Take opportunities to set up Substitute, as it is a necessity for combating faster Pokemon and makes it safer to use Calm Mind; Scald and Substitute should be used on passive Pokemon like Chansey, non-Giga Drain Pyroak, and non-Encore Fidgit.
Team Options
========
Since Keldeo struggles with bulky Water-, Grass-, Electric-, and Fairy-types, Mega Venusaur is an effective teammate thanks to its defensive typing and STAB Grass- and Poison-type attacks. Unaware Clefable stops Pokemon that set up on Keldeo and can use Stealth Rock to stop Talonflame. In addition, it can pass Wishes to Keldeo to help it live longer and can use Heal Bell if it is statused. Ground-types like Garchomp, Colossoil, and Gliscor are vital teammates for this set, as various Electric-types, such as Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Thundurus, are threatening. Pursuit trappers such as Tyranitar and Colossoil are excellent for removing Mollux, which annoys Substitute variants of this set. Unaware Clefable, commonly seen on stall teams, obliterates Keldeo, meaning Steel-types like Mega Metagross and Heatran; Poison-types like Gengar and Mollux; and Fire-types like Heatran and Pyroak are great partners. Flying-types like Talonflame and Tornadus-T are helpful for removing Grass-types like Serperior, Venusaur, Necturna, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Salac Berry can be used with Substitute + Calm Mind to make Keldeo a powerful late-game sweeper but is not very reliable. Hidden Power Flying can help punish Grass-types like Mega Venusaur, Necturna, Celebi, and Breloom on the switch in, but it is weak, and Scald, Hydro Pump, or Secret Sword can deal more damage. Hidden Power Bug defeats Celebi and helps against Psychic-types such as Latias, Latios, and Slowbro. Hidden Power Electric can be used to deal with bulky Water-types, primarily Gyarados. Taunt can be used to pressure walls like Pyroak and Chansey, and it also helps Keldeo avoid being statused, especially by Thunder Wave.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Manaphy, Slowbro, Krilowatt, and Rotom-W are too bulky for unboosted Keldeo to defeat, allowing the former to set up on Keldeo. However, the only Water-type that can switch into Choice Specs-boosted Secret Sword is Slowbro.
**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Tangrowth, and Amoonguss simply wall Keldeo, and Necturna, Celebi, and Serperior overpower it, although the latter cannot take many Secret Swords from Keldeo. Serperior can also gain Speed boosts from Icy Wind due to Contrary.
**Fairy-types**: Clefable, Kerfluffle, Mega Diancie, Mega Gardevoir, Sylveon, Mega Altaria, and Azumarill all easily defeat Keldeo with their super effective STAB attacks. However, Mega Diancie, Kerfluffle, and Mega Gardevoir cannot switch into Keldeo, and Mega Altaria also has difficulty due to Icy Wind. Kerfluffle and Mega Diancie also have to watch out for Choice Scarf variants.
**Flying-types**: Many Flying-types such as Talonflame and Tornadus-T outspeed and defeat Keldeo. Togekiss can survive a hit from Keldeo, use Thunder Wave, and take it down with Air Slash.
**Electric-types**: Choice Scarf Magnezone, Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Thundurus all outspeed and OHKO non-Choice Scarf Keldeo. However, they cannot switch into Keldeo reliably.
**Psychic-types**: Many powerful Psychic-types such as Latios, Latias, Alakazam, Jirachi, and Mega Metagross outspeed Keldeo and defeat it, while Keldeo can do little in return. Latios and Latias switch in relatively well, although Icy Wind takes a large chunk out of their HP; Mega Latias can take Icy Wind, though. Moreover, most of the aforementioned Psychic-types hate switching in on Scald, especially Jirachi and Metagross.
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