QC: p2 / bludz / Hootie
GP: Haund / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Kyurem, while uncommon in the OU tier, is a strong special wallbreaker able to threaten a number of Pokemon with its great STAB moves that are difficult to switch into, such as Clefable, which gets 2HKOed by Ice Beam. Despite facing competition from Kyurem-B as a wallbreaker, as its ability is not as useful as Kyurem-B's Teravolt as well as being unable to run Roost due to needing Choice Specs, it has a higher Special Attack stat than its counterpart, allowing it to run a Choice Specs set more viably. Good bulk along with valuable resistances to Water, Electric, and Grass moves allows it to check threats such as Rotom-W, Manaphy, Serperior, and Mega Manectric. However, weaknesses to common types such as Fighting and Rock with a vulnerability to all types of entry hazard, mainly Stealth Rock, can limit its ability to switch in, and its Speed, although not bad, leaves Kyurem outsped by a number of threats sitting at the base 100 Speed benchmark.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is a strong STAB move that doesn't come with any drawbacks, making it a safe option in general and allowing Kyurem to 2HKO relevant targets such as Clefable. Draco Meteor is Kyurem's hardest hitting STAB move, dealing great damage to Pokemon that resist Ice, mainly Water-types such as Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Keldeo. Earth Power provides great coverage in smacking Steel-types that resist Kyurem's STAB combination, such as Heatran, Jirachi, and Mega Metagross; it is also Kyurem's best move to hit Azumarill with. Hidden Power Fire completes its coverage by being able to hit Mega Scizor, which can generally take the rest of Kyurem's moves and threaten it with a strong STAB Bullet Punch. Focus Blast is another good coverage move, being able to OHKO Tyranitar while still netting good coverage against Ferrothorn and having a good chance to 2HKO standard Mega Scizor if running a Timid nature.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack EVs bolster the power of Kyurem's special moves. Choice Specs lets Kyurem act as a strong special wallbreaker with the drawback of locking it into one move. Maximum Speed with a Timid nature allows Kyurem to outspeed threats such as Jolly Excadrill out of sand and Adamant Mega Medicham. A Modest nature is usually not necessary, as maximum Special Attack investment with a Timid nature is enough to 2HKO both standard Calm Clefable and have a strong chance to 2HKO Ferrothorn after Stealth Rock with Ice Beam. Being able to outspeed Excadrill and Mega Medicham while still achieving a 2HKO on both Clefable and Ferrothorn is what gives Kyurem an edge over Choice Specs Kyurem-B, which fails to achieve the 2HKO most of the time with Timid itself.
Usage Tips
========
Removing entry hazards is helpful so that Kyurem can utilize its bulk to switch in more often without having to worry about residual damage. Pairing Kyurem with partners that can bring it in through the use of Volt Switch or U-turn helps it come in safely without having to fear strong attacks it might not be able to switch into directly. Generally, Kyurem should be used as an early-game wallbreaker to punch holes into opposing teams. It can switch into weak Water, Grass, and Electric attacks thanks to its good bulk and retaliate, and it can also be brought in on double switches as well as passive Pokemon such as Skarmory. Ice Beam is the most spammable move to use, dealing a large chunk to a wide variety of threats, and it can help your team handle threats such as Clefable, as it will not be as willing to switch into Kyurem predicting Draco Meteor due to the fear of being 2HKOed by Ice Beam. Draco Meteor is also very useful to take out threats that can take more than one Ice Beam, such as Slowbro and Rotom-W, and can even deal heavy damage to Pokemon that resist it, mainly Steel-types such as Jirachi, thus limiting their ability to switch into Kyurem again, as Draco Meteor is mainly meant to be used as a hit-and-run move; however, be wary of using it with a Fairy-type on the opposing team, as it can gain momentum if Kyurem locks itself into it. If a Steel-type is on the opposing team, you can either stick to using Kyurem's STAB moves to wear it down, or predict the switch in with its coverage moves, although getting locked into the wrong coverage move can give the opponent free momentum, so be careful.
Team Options
========
Choice Band Tyranitar pairs well with Kyurem, as it helps deal heavy damage to Chansey while being able to trap faster threats such as Latios for Kyurem. Starmie is a great option that can handle threats such as Mega Diancie for Kyurem while also dealing with Keldeo, as well as providing Rapid Spin support. Latios appreciates Kyurem's ability to take out Clefable and provides Kyurem with entry hazard removal and the ability to handle problematic threats such as Keldeo; however, given that Kyurem prefers having entry hazard support, particularly Spikes, Rapid Spin is usually a better hazard control option. Heatran is able to pressure Steel-types, set up Stealth Rock, and provide Toxic support against the likes of Slowking. Landorus-T provides Stealth Rock support and a slow U-turn while being able to handle Excadrill, which can prove to be a major threat to Kyurem under sand, and Landorus-T in return appreciates Kyurem's ability to handle Electric-, Water-, and Grass-types for it. Garchomp fulfills a similar role minus the U-turn support while being able to take on many problematic threats to Kyurem that sit at the base 100 Speed tier such as Mega Gardevoir and Charizard. Rotom-W also checks Excadrill, Mega Scizor, and other threats such as Jirachi thanks to Will-O-Wisp and provides slow pivoting support for Kyurem, while in return it appreciates having Grass-types taken out.
Steel-type partners such as Jirachi, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, as well as Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor serve as great partners due to their ability to handle Fairies for Kyurem. Jirachi can provide Stealth Rock support, pivot with U-turn, and pass Wishes or Healing Wishes in case Kyurem gets worn down too much, with Healing Wish, in particular, being very helpful for Kyurem. Ferrothorn and Skarmory are able to set up Spikes, allowing it to more easily wallbreak against worn down foes, and Skarmory can also take on Excadrill under sand. Mega Scizor helps take out Mega Diancie and can also provide a slow U-turn, as well as being able to switch into Latios and Latias while also being able to provide Pursuit support. Metagross also provides Pursuit support with either a Mega or an Assault Vest set. Excadrill greatly appreciates Kyurem being able to threaten strong checks to it such as Landorus-T and Tangrowth, and Kyurem benefits from potential Rapid Spin support that Excadrill may provide. Stealth Rock Clefable is a notable partner, since it can get the hazard up against stall teams for Kyurem and can also provide Thunder Wave support for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute + Roost can be a neat set on slower builds to utilize Pressure, Kyurem's good bulk, and its ability to create 101 HP Substitutes in order to PP stall foes, although Kyurem is better suited for being a special wallbreaker due to its hard-hitting STAB moves. Other offensive sets are done better by Kyurem-B due to Fusion Bolt and its ability to go mixed along with having Teravolt, which means it doesn't have to rely as much on prediction as Kyurem does.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Although they cannot directly switch into its coverage options, Steel-types, mainly Mega Scizor, Mega Metagross, and Jirachi can easily threaten Kyurem due to their strong STAB moves while also resisting its STAB combination. Excadrill is also an honorable mention; while it can't switch into Kyurem, threatens it with its strong Iron Heads.
**Chansey**: Threats such as Chansey can come in on Kyurem repeatedly due to taking little from its moves, being able to heal off any damage with Soft-Boiled, and being able to threaten Kyurem with a Toxic, which limits its time on the field, or a Thunder Wave, which can cripple it by making it slower than all of the threats that it is supposed to handle.
**Bulky Water-types**: Slowking deserves a mention due to being able to take Kyurem's attacks and recover off the damage while also being able to set up with Calm Minds; while it cannot switch directly into two Draco Meteors, it can safely switch into all of Kyurem's other moves and set up on it with ease. Suicune is able to handle Kyurem if running Rest in a one-on-one situation as well.
**Fighting-types**: Despite not being able to switch in easily, faster attackers like Terrakion, Keldeo, and Mega Lopunny are all able to take out Kyurem with their strong Fighting-type STAB moves.
**Fairy-types**: Threats such as Azumarill, Mega Diancie, and Clefable can all take advantage of a Kyurem locked into Draco Meteor and use their super effective STAB moves to take out Kyurem. Azumarill specifically can switch into all of Kyurem's moves except for Earth Power, although being locked into Earth Power can be easily taken advantage in other ways. However, Clefable cannot switch in directly into a Choice Specs-boosted Ice Beam and must take great care when playing around Kyurem.
**Faster Attackers**: Choice Scarf Tyranitar can switch into Kyurem's attacks barring Focus Blast and threaten it with Stone Edge. Faster Dragon-types such as Garchomp, Latios, and Mega Charizard X, in particular, threaten Kyurem with super effective STAB moves as well.
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