[OVERVIEW]
Klefki's Prankster and excellent defensive typing make it a versatile support Pokemon. Priority Spikes, multiple resistances, and a good matchup against the tier's entry hazard removers like Cyclizar and Noivern mean it will often be able to set at least one layer per game, making it an useful pick on Spikes-stacking and offensive teams alike. Prankster Thunder Wave deters most setup sweepers and fast Pokemon from taking advantage of its passivity and can neutralize threats to its team such as Terrakion, Armarouge, and Galarian Zapdos. However, Klefki is quite passive, and Pokemon like Reniclus and Bisharp can shrug off its attacks easily and use it as setup bait. Outside of Spikes and Thunder Wave, it faces stiff competition from the tier's numerous Steel-types such as Jirachi, Registeel, andHisuian Goodra; while Jirachi and Registeel are particularly effective at setting up Stealth Rock, all three are capable of offensively threatening opposing teams. Klefki also struggles with four-moveslot syndrome, as it must pick which foes are able to take advantage of it depending on which set it runs.
[SET]
name: Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Foul Play / Magnet Rise
item: Air Balloon / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
This set focuses on laying Spikes and spreading Paralysis. Thunder Wave cripples offensive threats like Terrakion and discourages setup sweepers like Armarouge and Galarian Zapdos from boosting against Klefki. Foul Play targets physical attackers like Jirachi and Mamoswine and also prevents physical wallbreakers such as Gyarados and Feraligatr from setting up. Magnet Rise can be used as an alternative to negate Klefki's Ground-type weakness, allowing it to set up Spikes against Krookodile, Mamoswine, and Rhyperior. Air Balloon allows it to switch into these Ground-types directly, which is particularly useful for checking Choice-locked Ground-types like Mamoswine. Alternatively, Leftovers provides Klefki with its only source of recovery. A physically defensive spread lets it more effectively check the plethora of physical threats like Mimikyu and Jirachi. Tera Ghost lets it wall most Normal- and Fighting-types like Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Maushold and spinblock Cyclizar.
Klefki typically appears on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate Spikes support. Partners that benefit from Spikes, such as Terrakion, Galarian Zapdos, (comma) and Fezandipiti, appreciate their checks being whittled down throughout the match. Knock Off users and pivots, like Slither Wing, Cyclizar, and Gligar, help Klefki's Spikes rack up more damage by removing Heavy-Duty Boots and forcing repeated switches. Due to its lack of recovery, Klefki can crumble under chip damage, notably from entry hazards, so Rapid Spin users like Cyclizar and Forretress can help by removing them while keeping Spikes on the opponent's side of the field. Bulky Salamence, Rhyperior, and Flygon. can switch-in to common Fire- and Ground-types for Klefki. Pokemon that can threaten bulky setup sweepers, like Choice Band Slither Wing, alleviate Klefki's propensity to become setup bait. Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Krookodile can form hazard-stacking cores with Klefki to force switches and rack up passive damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Klefki can run a slow boosting set with Calm Mind, Iron Defense, and Draining Kiss, functioning as a late-game wincon. With a Bold nature, Dazzling Gleam can be used to OHKO Crawdaunt after entry hazards, 2HKO Krookodile, deal more chip damage to threats like Hippowdon and Bisharp, (comma) and avoid accuracy issues at the cost of some power. Similarly, a specially defensive spread can be used to let Klefki more consistently switch into the likes of Gardevoir, Noivern, and Slowbro, but all of these foes have ways of circumventing Klefki regardless, such as Trick, Taunt, and Calm Mind. Switcheroo can be used with items such as Toxic Orb and Choice Band; Toxic Orb can cripple walls like Slowbro and potentially steal Leftovers recovery, while Choice Band neutralizes bulky setup sweepers like Slowbro and prevents Pokemon like Oricorio-E from sweeping.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Pokemon like Mamoswine, Rhyperior, and Hippowdon can switch into non-Magnet Rise Klefki with impunity and threaten it out or set up their own entry hazards. Magnet Rise Klefki can set up Spikes against Ground-types but still cannot do much damage to them, while Air Balloon can only let it wall them in the short term.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Volcanion, Armarouge, and Entei can OHKO Klefki and take little damage from it, although they don't appreciate being paralyzed. Klefki can activate Armarouge's Weak Armor, negating the Speed reduction from Paralysis.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Suicune don't mind or can avoid being paralyzed and take little damage from Foul Play, using Klefki as easy setup bait.
**Paralysis- or Prankster-immune Pokemon**: Klefki's main way to force out opposing Pokemon is the threat of Prankster Thunder Wave. Electric-, Ground-, (comma) and Dark-types like Calm Mind Raikou, Mamoswine, and Bisharp are immune to this threat and take advantage of Klefki's poor offensive stats.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zizalith.410251/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Klefki's Prankster and excellent defensive typing make it a versatile support Pokemon. Priority Spikes, multiple resistances, and a good matchup against the tier's entry hazard removers like Cyclizar and Noivern mean it will often be able to set at least one layer per game, making it an useful pick on Spikes-stacking and offensive teams alike. Prankster Thunder Wave deters most setup sweepers and fast Pokemon from taking advantage of its passivity and can neutralize threats to its team such as Terrakion, Armarouge, and Galarian Zapdos. However, Klefki is quite passive, and Pokemon like Reniclus and Bisharp can shrug off its attacks easily and use it as setup bait. Outside of Spikes and Thunder Wave, it faces stiff competition from the tier's numerous Steel-types such as Jirachi, Registeel, andHisuian Goodra; while Jirachi and Registeel are particularly effective at setting up Stealth Rock, all three are capable of offensively threatening opposing teams. Klefki also struggles with four-moveslot syndrome, as it must pick which foes are able to take advantage of it depending on which set it runs.
[SET]
name: Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Thunder Wave
move 3: Play Rough
move 4: Foul Play / Magnet Rise
item: Air Balloon / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
tera type: Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
This set focuses on laying Spikes and spreading Paralysis. Thunder Wave cripples offensive threats like Terrakion and discourages setup sweepers like Armarouge and Galarian Zapdos from boosting against Klefki. Foul Play targets physical attackers like Jirachi and Mamoswine and also prevents physical wallbreakers such as Gyarados and Feraligatr from setting up. Magnet Rise can be used as an alternative to negate Klefki's Ground-type weakness, allowing it to set up Spikes against Krookodile, Mamoswine, and Rhyperior. Air Balloon allows it to switch into these Ground-types directly, which is particularly useful for checking Choice-locked Ground-types like Mamoswine. Alternatively, Leftovers provides Klefki with its only source of recovery. A physically defensive spread lets it more effectively check the plethora of physical threats like Mimikyu and Jirachi. Tera Ghost lets it wall most Normal- and Fighting-types like Galarian Zapdos, Slither Wing, and Maushold and spinblock Cyclizar.
Klefki typically appears on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate Spikes support. Partners that benefit from Spikes, such as Terrakion, Galarian Zapdos, (comma) and Fezandipiti, appreciate their checks being whittled down throughout the match. Knock Off users and pivots, like Slither Wing, Cyclizar, and Gligar, help Klefki's Spikes rack up more damage by removing Heavy-Duty Boots and forcing repeated switches. Due to its lack of recovery, Klefki can crumble under chip damage, notably from entry hazards, so Rapid Spin users like Cyclizar and Forretress can help by removing them while keeping Spikes on the opponent's side of the field. Bulky Salamence, Rhyperior, and Flygon. can switch-in to common Fire- and Ground-types for Klefki. Pokemon that can threaten bulky setup sweepers, like Choice Band Slither Wing, alleviate Klefki's propensity to become setup bait. Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Krookodile can form hazard-stacking cores with Klefki to force switches and rack up passive damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Klefki can run a slow boosting set with Calm Mind, Iron Defense, and Draining Kiss, functioning as a late-game wincon. With a Bold nature, Dazzling Gleam can be used to OHKO Crawdaunt after entry hazards, 2HKO Krookodile, deal more chip damage to threats like Hippowdon and Bisharp, (comma) and avoid accuracy issues at the cost of some power. Similarly, a specially defensive spread can be used to let Klefki more consistently switch into the likes of Gardevoir, Noivern, and Slowbro, but all of these foes have ways of circumventing Klefki regardless, such as Trick, Taunt, and Calm Mind. Switcheroo can be used with items such as Toxic Orb and Choice Band; Toxic Orb can cripple walls like Slowbro and potentially steal Leftovers recovery, while Choice Band neutralizes bulky setup sweepers like Slowbro and prevents Pokemon like Oricorio-E from sweeping.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Pokemon like Mamoswine, Rhyperior, and Hippowdon can switch into non-Magnet Rise Klefki with impunity and threaten it out or set up their own entry hazards. Magnet Rise Klefki can set up Spikes against Ground-types but still cannot do much damage to them, while Air Balloon can only let it wall them in the short term.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Volcanion, Armarouge, and Entei can OHKO Klefki and take little damage from it, although they don't appreciate being paralyzed. Klefki can activate Armarouge's Weak Armor, negating the Speed reduction from Paralysis.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Reuniclus, and Suicune don't mind or can avoid being paralyzed and take little damage from Foul Play, using Klefki as easy setup bait.
**Paralysis- or Prankster-immune Pokemon**: Klefki's main way to force out opposing Pokemon is the threat of Prankster Thunder Wave. Electric-, Ground-, (comma) and Dark-types like Calm Mind Raikou, Mamoswine, and Bisharp are immune to this threat and take advantage of Klefki's poor offensive stats.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zizalith.410251/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rose.511181/
Last edited:
