Klefki [QC 0/3]

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Ununhexium

Ununhexium

I closed my eyes and I slipped away...
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[OVERVIEW]

  • Klefki has a cool defensive typing which lets it check a lot of Pokemon, especially Dark- and Dragon-types.
  • It can also set up Spikes on a large portion of the metagame.
  • Priority Thunder Wave is great for crippling switch-ins and stopping opposing Pokemon in case of emergency.
  • Unfortunately, Klefki is not a very powerful atacker.
  • It only has average bulk so it can't stick around too long without careful play
  • While its typing has many good resistances, it also has common weaknesses to Ground- and Fire-type attacks.
  • Overall, Klefki is great for role compression and a decent check to some prominent Pokemon, but can't be played carelessly.

[SET]
name: Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Dazzling Gleam
move 4: Toxic / Hidden Power Fire / Magnet Rise
item: Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

  • Spikes are an entry hazard and wear down the opponent's Pokemon, allowing your own attackers to score extra OHKOes or 2HKOes
  • Thunder Wave can stop opposing sweepers, cripple switch-ins, and fish for paralysis turns if absolutely necessary.
  • Dazzling Gleam nails Pokemon like Hydeigon, Latias, Krookodile, and Mega Absol.
  • Hidden Power Fire is great for killing Fairy resists like Forretress and Scizor for heavy damage (and can prevent them from clearing off your Spikes, even if Defog Scizor isn't particularly common).
  • Magnet Rise is a cool tech to beat Ground-types like Krookodile and Hippowdon and dodge Earthquakes from Mega Aerodactyl.
  • Toxic is particularly good for crippling opposing bulky Pokemon like Hippowdon, Slowbro, and Swampert and wearing them down over the course of the match, but is able to put really anything on a timer.

Set Details
========

  • Prankster gives priority to non-attacking moves which is useful so you can get in one last layer of Spikes or stop something with a Thunder Wave.
  • Physically defensive EVs are for taking hits from Pokemon like like Krookodile, Mega Absol, and Mega Aerodactyl slightly better, but SpD is good too for Hydreigon, Latias, and Togekiss.
  • Leftovers grant passive recovery and allow Klefki to stick around a bit longer.

Usage Tips
========

  • Try to set up Spikes early game to deal more damage over the course of the match.
  • Only try to switch in on foes when you need to because it's bulk isn't anything special even on resisted hits.
  • Pokemon often carry Fire- and Ground-type coverage so be careful of those when switching, as it is commonly carried by Pokemon like Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, and Absol, which it otherwise can check fairly well.

Team Options
========

  • Swampert is a cool partner as they have solid defensive synergy and it can set Stealth Rocks. Can also spam Roar for hazard damage.
  • Mew also has decent defensive synergy and can clear entry hazards (which annoy Klefki as it has no reliable recovery) and is one of if not the only Defogger in the tier which isn't a free switch for Bisharp.
  • Those two actually form a nice defensive and hazard control core alongside Klefki.
  • Any offensive Pokemon likes Klefki's Spikes to get those easier OHKOes and 2HKOes.

[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
item: Light Clay
ability: Prankster
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

  • Reflect and Light Screen half damage dealt to your Pokemon, allowing you to easily set up your sweepers.
  • Dazzling Gleam nails Pokemon like Hydeigon, Latias, Krookodile, and Mega Absol and is your best option when running a single attacking move.
  • Thunder Wave allows you to cripple fast foes so your own sweepers can outspeed them later in the game.

Set Details
========

  • Prankster gives priority to non-attacking moves which is useful so you quickly set up the screens or stop something with a Thunder Wave.
  • Physically defensive EVs are for taking hits from Pokemon like like Krookodile, Mega Absol, and Mega Aerodactyl slightly better, but SpD is good too for Hydreigon, Latias, and Togekiss.
  • Light Clay allows Reflect and Light Screen to last longer

Usage Tips
========

  • Try to set up entry hazards before sending Klefki in so then your Pokemon have both entry hazard and Dual Screens support.
  • Only try to switch in on foes when you need to because it's bulk isn't anything special even on resisted hits.
  • Pokemon often carry Fire- and Ground-type coverage so be careful of those when switching, as it is commonly carried by Pokemon like Hydreigon, Mega Aerodactyl, and Absol, which it otherwise can check fairly well.

Team Options
========

  • Fast sweepers are great partners for Klefki, as they can take advantage of the damage reduction Klefki provides and set up.
  • Entry Hazard setters are helpful for assisting sweepers.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
  • Flash Cannon is an option to hit Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Mega Aerodactyl harder than anything else, but isn't really good for coverage that Dazzling Gleam doesn't already get.
  • Can use weather moves but manual rain is still pretty hard to pull off and matchup reliant and Ninetales / Torkoal can set up sun through drought.
  • Calm Mind appears as an interesting option as it can always set up a Substitute before the opponent gets an attack in but is really weak and better done by other Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================

**Ground-Types**: Ground-types like Hippowdon, Swampert, Krookodile, Nidoking, and Nidoqueen can really hurt or kill Klefki with strong STAB Ground-type attacks. Magnet Rise is nice and all but it can't always switch in on them and Klefki can't do anything back to any of them except Krookodile or set up Spikes. They're also all immune to Thunder Wave

**Fire-Types**: Fire-types resist anything Klefki has to throw at them and can generally KO Klefki with STAB Fire-type attacks, but they have to be wary of Thunder Wave.

**Steel-Types**: Steel-types such as Empoleon and Forretress can come in on Klefki and either set up their own or remove entry hazards from the field. Magneton can trap Klefki easily, and Scizor and Metagross can do heavy damage with their STAB or coverage moves.

**Strong Wallbreakers**: Klefki's bulk isn't anything special so repeated hits from strong wallbreakers can really take a toll over the course of the battle, even from neutral or even some resisted attacks. Examples include Primarina, Gengar, Starmie, and Keldeo.
 
Last edited:
To add to this, your set is missing key options in Toxic and Hidden Power Fire. Both of these are more useful than Flash Cannon which shouldn't even be higher than OO. I'm locking this, please rewrite this and let QC know before you start any other analysis.
 
May I also ask why there is no dual screens set mentioned? Prankster plus that amazing typing allows it to set them incredibly easy, it provides great support for any set up sweeper and can paralyze targets with thunder wave that may try to set up alongside it while screening. Dual screens was the other half of why it got banned originally in Gen 6 UU.
 
yup just blanked on dual screens my b i just havent used it a ton

i meant to say i added that a long time ago
 
Hmmm, first of all, you must format your analysis like this.
Imo you should mention things such as Heal Block, Fairy Lock, and Metal Sound in OO, because they're completely viable and have their niches
 
For the intro, we're supposed to stay away from "overall" statements like the one you've got at the end, so incorporate that stuff throughout the rest of the intro. The role compression bit in particular is a good one to put in the first line. The careless play bit is also something that should definitely stay somewhere in there. Also list examples of the common Pokemon it checks, and add a line that it pairs extremely well with common offensive and defensive Pokemon.

Play Rough in Moves since it hits certain Pokemon like Latias harder.

Usage Tips - give examples of situations that you can come in to set up Spikes. For example, you can pivot into Mega Aerodactyl, scare it out with a TWave, and proceed to set up Spikes, or on a Togekiss if you have something like Raikou in the back to prevent you from getting swept by NP Heal Bell. You can also capitalize on several defensive Pokemon like Unaware Clefable and Blissey. Also it's important to preserve Klefki'a health if it's needed late game to check Mega Sharpedo, Scarf Hydreigon, or Mega Absol, as it can't TWave any of these and has to tank a hit to KO.

List some examples of offensive Pokemon that pair well with Klefki's spikes in the last line of Team Options. Mega Sharpedo, Primarina, SD Gliscor, Cobalion, and Latias are all good examples. Swampert isn't the only Water type that pairs well with Klefki, so add that other stuff like Slowbro works well with Klefki, and Hippowdon and Krook are both great SR partners.

For the second set, Spikes should be the third slot with TWave/Gleam in the fourth slot. Basically every Pokemon that takes advantage of dual screens also takes advantage of Spikes. Update Moves accordingly.

Give some more examples of Team Options, there are so many of them - Cobalion, Lucario, Haxorus, Feraligatr, Crawdaunt, Mega Aero, Toxicroak off the top of my head. Bisharp deters Defog of screens and can even set rocks if necessary. Specify SR users as well - Krookodile and Aero can both Taunt or just KO potential Defoggers.

Add Rapid Spin and Defog users in checks and Counters: bulky Starmie, Empoleon, Mandibuzz (immune to prankster Toxic/Wave), and Tentacruel can remove Klefki'a hazards all day. Add another section for bulky Pokemon in general - while some are annoyed by Toxic/Twave, CM Clef, NP Togekiss, and Suicune all make Klefki setup fodder.

Kind of a long check so let me know when this is implemented.
 
Ununhexium get dods check in soon pls, this is one of the more important analyses D:

also take some evs out of pdef and the 4 spd into speed, specifically 20 speed evs so that you can outrun latias after twave.

honestly i think prough is worth a slash, not only do u hit latias and shark for more damage, u also break sub cm raikous sub which is really important
 
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