[OVERVIEW]
Kyogre is among the most imposing threats in the tier, able to make great use of a plethora of different sets and muscle through even its bulkier answers. Its massive base 150 Special Attack pairs with the rain it sets to give its Water-type STAB moves a real kick, capable of 2HKOing most Pokemon that don't resist Water. Thunder and Ice Beam make for fantastic coverage that shores up the blind spots in the Water type offensively, allowing Kyogre to hit every Pokemon neutrally except the generally inept Shedinja. Calm Mind further elevates Kyogre's power and allows it to take on most of the metagame after just one boost. Kyogre pairs excellently with most Pokémon, using its incredible bulk to be a bastard and incredibly hard to take down, while setting rain to either weaken Fire-type damage for Pokemon like Forretress or Metagross or give Thunder perfect accuracy for the benefit of Latios or Latias. Despite the versatility in Kyogre's sets and the immediate power it provides for teams, it struggles to stay healthy in the face of the ever-present Spikes as it lacks reliable recovery. Kyogre is also held back by its comparatively poor Speed, as it's tied for being the slowest legendary Uber Pokemon, which hinders it offensively at times. This allows frailer checks like Latios and Mewtwo use their superior Speed to more easily threaten it with Thunder, either after they've used Calm Mind or Kyogre has already sustained some damage. Kyogre's rain can even hinder it by allowing giving a myriad of special attackers the freedom to use Thunder without the risk of missing.
[SET 1]
name: Calm Mind + 3 Attacks
move 1: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Calm Mind
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Calm Mind allows Kyogre to take full advantage of everything that makes it great in the tier; being able to amplify its power highlights Kyogre's primary role as a premier breaker in the tier. The distinction between Surf and Hydro Pump is rather weak, however Hydro Pump is more common when Kyogre is used as a lead in order to punish the many switches it forces, as well as being able to consistently beat lead Mewtwo. Additionally, Hydro Pump can eventually get through the formidable Blissey with help from Calm Mind and Spikes. Aside from the difference in accuracy, the foremost appeal of Surf is the fact that it has 24 PP as opposed to Hydro Pump's 8 PP, allowing Kyogre to go the distance against bulkier teams that have multiple answers to Water-type moves as well as the many Pokemon with Pressure in the tier. Surf also notably misses out on OHKOing Pokemon like Groudon and Deoxys-D after a Calm Mind, however without a boost Surf and Hydro Pump can 2HKO both of them. Ice Beam is crucial for its ability to hit Kyogre's best and most common checks, Latios and Latias, for super effective damage, as the Lati twins completely counter sets lacking Ice-type coverage. Ice Beam also comes with the benefit of hitting Flying-type Pokemon not weak to Electric-type moves such as Rayquaza and Salamence. Thunder gives Kyogre nearly perfect coverage, giving it an option to beat opposing Kyogre. The rain that Kyogre sets also makes Thunder perfectly accurate, further adding to the consistency of this set. Calm Mind amplifies all of these traits by making Kyogre nigh impossible to switch into and grueling for most special attackers to knock out.
96 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature gives Kyogre just enough power to OHKO lead Mewtwo Hydro Pump and be favored to 2HKO Latios with Ice Beam. 252 HP / 160 Def makes sure Kyogre can take hits from physical attackers like Deoxys-A, Rayquaza, and Heracross. While Leftovers is often the best choice for Kyogre, Lum Berry can be used as an alternative to absorb otherwise debilitating status conditions like Toxic from Blissey or Thunder Wave from Groudon, and is most typically seen when Kyogre is used as a lead.
Team Options
========
Latios is the best partner for Kyogre as it appreciates its own perfectly accurate Thunders and can apply tremendous amounts of pressure alongside Kyogre with the aid of Spikes. It can also use Ice Beam to remove Groudon and Rayquaza, giving Kyogre safer entry points and allowing the Kyogre user to keep rain up permanently. Similarly, Kyogre synergizes well with other potent offensive threats such as Deoxys-A, Mewtwo, and Latias as all of these Pokemon appreciate the rain as well as Kyogre's ability to soften up teams for them to clean up late-game.
Rain further bolsters teams by halving the damage of Fire-type moves, which various offensive and defensive Pokemon appreciate. As a result, Metagross and Heracross both find themselves used alongside Kyogre as mid- or late-game offensive threats due to their ability to live two Fire-type moves from Groudon and Ho-Oh in rain, while also severely limiting what Fire Blast Snorlax sets are able to accomplish. Forretress is also a common partner for Kyogre as it gains the ability to take some Fire-type attacks when rain is active, providing valuable Rapid Spin support for the otherwise Spikes-weak Kyogre, and switching into the Ghost-, Normal-, or Grass-type moves aimed at Kyogre. Snorlax or Blissey should always accompany Kyogre since Latios and Latias otherwise become incredibly hard to deal with, with the former exerting more immediate offensive pressure and typically having the freedom to run Curse, and the latter being better for checking the Lati twins long-term as it boasts reliable recovery and far better special bulk.
Offensive Water-types in Omastar, Kabutops, and Qwilfish can also pair with Kyogre to take advantage of Swift Swim and outspeed many of the most dangerous offensive threats such as Deoxys-A and Mewtwo, however Rayquaza's Air Lock ability prevents these Pokemon from outspeeding it. Groudon can also pair with Kyogre as it appreciates Kyogre's ability to pressure Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Salamence into switching out, and Kyogre benefits from Groudon being able to take on the likes of Snorlax, Blissey, and Jirachi. However, both generally have trouble dealing with fast special attackers due to Kyogre's Electric weakness and Groudon's relatively low Special Defense, placing a lot more pressure on Pokemon like Snorlax or Blissey.
[SET 2]
name: Thunder Wave + Calm Mind
move 1: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Calm Mind
item: Leftovers
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
========
Among Kyogre's worst traits is its low Speed, being tied for the slowest of the legendary Uber Pokemon. Thunder Wave amends this, as none of the few Ground-types in the tier are capable of taking on Kyogre's Water- and Ice-type moves, and faster threats such as Latios, Latias, Rayquaza, and Mewtwo are all debilitated by paralysis. Latios in particular becomes a significantly less consistent Kyogre counter once paralyzed since the risk of getting fully paralyzed can allow Kyogre to freely use Calm Mind or Ice Beam, thus shifting the matchup into Kyogre's favor However, using Thunder Wave can give Blissey yet another way to switch into Kyogre, so that should be considered when facing teams that have Blissey. Calm Mind allows Kyogre to become a devastating special sweeper once key targets have been paralyzed, and just one boost allows Kyogre to 2HKO everything that isn't Water-resistant or Blissey. Additionally, the increase in Special Defense is quite helpful, as it allows Kyogre to not be 2HKOed by Thunder from an unboosted Latias or Mewtwo.
Surf and Hydro Pump are somewhat interchangeable on this set as, aside from the difference in accuracy, they do enough damage to 2HKO most relevant targets and are both consistent in breaking down opposing teams; the only important OHKO being missed out on by using Surf is Jirachi after Kyogre has a Calm Mind boost. One of the biggest differences is in PP, as the plentiful Pressure Pokemon in the tier can quickly drain Hydro Pump's PP whereas Surf is better fit for longer games and, as a result, teams that can withstand longer games. Ice Beam rounds out Kyogre's offensive capabilities by handling the several Dragon-types of the tier, as well as Groudon if sun is active.
96 Speed EVs allow Kyogre to outrun maximum Speed neutral nature Metagross and Magneton, thus removing them easily for the benefit of teammates like Skarmory or Forretress. This comes with the perk of outrunning most relevant Groudon, Kyogre, and Ho-Oh sets as they don't often find themselves investing heavily into their paltry base 90 Speed stat. Since the primary goal of this set is to use paralysis to find opportunities to set up, giving Kyogre more immediate power isn't pertinent for this set, so 252 EVs are put into HP with the rest going into Defense. This notably allows Kyogre to consistently live 2 hits from Groudon's Earthquake, Deoxys-A's Shadow Ball, Rayquaza's Hidden Power Flying, or Heracross's unboosted Megahorn.
Team Options
========
Thunder Wave is most beneficial for teammates that struggle to outrun the Pokemon they hope to KO. Snorlax makes for a great partner as it takes advantage of Refresh Latios or Latias using a turn to heal their paralysis rather than having to take substantial damage from Thunder as it switches in. Metagross is a similarly excellent partner, as it can use the speed advantage to threaten a strong Meteor Mash as well as one of the most powerful Explosions in the tier against every Pokemon that doesn't resist Normal-type moves. Metagross also benefits from rain weakening all Fire-type moves, making it weak to Ground-type moves exclusively and allowing it to take hits such as Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire, Salamence's Flamethrower, and Deoxys-A's Fire Punch far more safely.
Heracross benefits from Kyogre's presence for many of the same reasons, using paralysis support to outspeed and KO most physically frail Pokemon or even use full paralysis turns to switch in, set up, or attack freely. The Lati twins also greatly appreciate rain making their Thunders perfectly accurate, as well as benefitting from Kyogre paralyzing the few faster Pokemon in Mewtwo and Deoxys-A, leaving little room to outplay the Lati twins offensively. Wobbuffet is a great partner for Kyogre as it can remove the Lati twins by surviving two Thunders and using Mirror Coat to KO them in return, however it can also provide valuable Encore support made easier with the aid of paralysis, thus enabling Kyogre to set up with Calm Mind more easily. Wobbuffet can even take advantage of Blissey switching into Kyogre's Thunder Wave, using Encore and Counter to remove Blissey which would otherwise be very difficult for Kyogre to handle. Rayquaza often benefits from paralysis to be able to outrun the Lati twins and Deoxys-A, as well as Kyogre's ability to remove Steel-types if Choice Band Earthquake can't quite get the job done.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Latios and Latias**: The Lati twins are the most consistent Kyogre counters in the tier, with their immense Special Attack and Special Defense allowing their Thunders to quickly do great amounts of damage to Kyogre. Paralysis support can allow Kyogre to beat Latios, especially if it uses Ice Beam predicting an already paralyzed Latios to switch in.
**Spikes**: Kyogre lacks reliable recovery, so Spikes are effective at wearing it down over the course of a game, especially with the meager pool of Rapid Spin options. Allowing the opponent to stack multiple layers of Spikes can turn Kyogre's good matchups sour rather quickly, so sets lacking Rest should be cautious of entry hazards at all times.
**Deoxys-Attack**: All of Deoxys-Attack's sets are very threatening to Kyogre, as they either use moves like Superpower and Double Edge to take advantage of Kyogre's lesser physical bulk, or they can use Thunder on Petaya Berry sets to hit it super effectively.
**Blissey**: The premier special wall in the game naturally counters Kyogre very effectively, with the combination of Toxic and Seismic Toss wearing away at Kyogre efficiently. Blissey sets that use Calm Mind and Thunder are capable of threatening Kyogre offensively and even Snatch Blissey sets can prevent Kyogre from using Substitute, Rest, or its own Calm Mind. However, Blissey sets with no way of denying Substitute are susceptible to losing versus Substitute + Calm Mind sets, and even a healthy Blissey can fall victim to boosted Hydro Pumps or strong Water Spouts with Spikes support.
**Mewtwo**: Mewtwo often runs Calm Mind sets with Thunder, so while its relatively unspectacular special bulk means it has trouble switching into Kyogre's attacks, it can find opporutnities to take advantage of a resting Kyogre or simply one that is unboosted.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/donbonejones.666776/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ajencis.479200/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.3/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.4/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.5/
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