Palkia
[Overview]
<p>Palkia is an extremely dangerous threat in the Ubers tier. With excellent attacking stats and typing, Palkia is possibly one the most versatile and deadly Pokemon in the game. With STABs unresisted by all except a handful of Pokemon, Palkia can act as both glue and sweeper for virtually any Ubers team. Do not expect your team to be successul if you don't have a way of dealing with Palkia.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Spacial Rend / Draco Meteor
move 2: Surf
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Outrage / Fire Blast / Draco Meteor
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Hasty / Timid
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>With a Choice Scarf attached, Palkia reaches a blistering 492 Speed, allowing it outspeed many Pokemon in the Ubers tier. With its monstrous 150 Base Special Attack, can then proceed to revenge kill a vast majority of them, such as Dragon Dance Rayquaza, Ononokusu, Darkrai, Mewtwo and Nitro Charge Reshiram. Choice Scarf Palkia can fit into virtually any team lacking a revenge killer, a reliable Kyogre switch-in or just a fast, hard-hitting attacker.</p>
<p>Spacial Rend is Palkia's main STAB and hurts any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Draco Meteor can be used in its place so Palkia can OHKO more threats, such as Darkrai and physically defensive Giratina after Stealth Rock. Surf is Palkia's most reliable attack, and can 2HKO Wobbuffet in the rain, a Pokemon who would otherwise trap and KO Palkia with Mirror Coat. Thunder is Palkia's best weapon against Kyogre and Lugia.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The last moveslot should be chosen to fill whatever a team lacks. Outrage is Palkia's best weapon against Blissey and Ho-oh, while it can bypass Special Defense boosts accumulated by Latias or Latios. Fire Blast allows Palkia to sweep in both the sun and the rain, and it is also Palkia's best option against Nattorei, who laughs at everything else Palkia throws at it. Finally, Draco Meteor can be used so Palkia can hit hard while keeping Spacial Rend's reliability. Should you use Outrage, Hasty is the nature of choice, should you not, Timid is the nature of choice.</p>
<p>Evolution Stone Chansey can take any attack Palkia uses, heal off the damage with Softboiled or Wish and use Toxic to stall Palkia out. In the same vein, Blissey can switch into any attack apart from Outrage. In the sun, Ho-oh can take whatever Palkia throws at it and either stall it out with Substitute and Roost or OHKO Palkia with Brave Bird. Nattorei walls Palkia that doesn't run Fire Blast and sets up entry hazards at willDue to this, support Groudon is an excellent partner to run alongside Palkia. Groudon can scare Blissey, Chansey and Steel-types that switch into sponge Palkia's Dragon-type attacks while taking out Ho-oh with Stone Edge. It can also lure in and cripple Lugia and Wobbuffet with Toxic and defeat Choice Scarf Garchomp one-on-one, all of whom can potentially cause Palkia problems. Defensive Kyogre is also a great partner for Palkia, as it summons the rain to power up Palkia's Water-STAB, as well as being able to set up Calm Mind on Blissey and Chansey, as well as threatening to destroy both Ho-oh and Lugia with its overpowered Water-type attacks. Rock Arceus can switch into both of Ho-oh STAB attacks and OHKO with Judgment or Stone Edge.</p>
[SET]
name: Specially Based Mix
move 1: Surf
move 2: Spacial Rend
move 3: Aqua Tail / Outrage
move 4: Thunder / Fire Blast
item: Lustrous Orb / Life Orb / Haban Berry
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>With Base 150 Special Attack and Base 120 Attack, Palkia is a terrifying mixed attacker in the rain. With both Surf and Aqua Tail being boosted by the rain, and with Spacial Rend hitting virtually anything that resists Water-types attacks extremely hard, Palkia becomes nigh impossible to wall. In the rain, Surf becomes even stronger than Draco Meteor, allowing Palkia to blast through almost everything that doesn't resist it. Rain-boosted Aqua Tail allows Palkia to 2HKO both Blissey and Chansey. Outrage can be used as Palkia's physical attack should you are concerned that weather will not always be in your favour, or are worried about Aqua Tail's accuracy. The last move depends on what coverage Palkia needs more. Thunder has perfect accuracy in the rain, allowing Palkia to 2HKO offensive Kyogre and Lugia, but if Nattorei causes trouble, Fire Blast can be used to defeat it, as well as being a reliable way to deal with Steel-types in the sun.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>The EVs are very simple. Max Speed and a Hasty nature allowing Palkia to outspeed all Pokemon under Base 100 Speed that don't carry Choice Scarf without weakening Palkia's physical Attack. Max Special Attack allows Palkia to hit as hard as possible while the remaining 4 EVs go into attack.</p>
<p>Lustrous Orb is the preferred item, since it powers up both of Palkia's STABs without forcing it to take recoil. This would in turn improve Palkia's longetivity and also allow it to bluff a Choice Scarf, potentially allowing Palkia to cripple or KO another Pokemon by surprise. Life Orb can still be used should you really want the extra 10% in power as well as extra power on Palkia's coverage move at the cost of 10% recoil per turn. Haban Berry is another choice to consider, as it allows Palkia to remove its sole weakness for a turn, potentially allowing to snatch an extra kill on Dragon-typed revenge killers. Beware, however, should you choose to use Haban Berry, the power drop is quite significant, and Palkia would only have a very slight chance of 2HKOing Chansey with Aqua Tail.</p>
<p>Specially Defensive Groudon is possibly the best check against this Palkia. With the sun weakening Palkia's Water-STAB, it can take Spacial Rend and threaten back with Dragon Claw or Earthquake or cripple it with Thunder Wave. Nattorei also wall Palkia's entire moveset if it lacks Fire Blast. Ho-oh in the sun is a decent check, as it can take an attack from Palkia can OHKO in return with Brave Bird. Lugia can use Light Screen in conjunction with Toxic to stall out Palkia, but can potentially be crippled by paralysis from Thunder. Finally, Dragon-typed Pokemon like Garchomp, Latias and Latios and other Dragons carrying a Choice Scarf can revenge kill Palkia. Kyogre support for Palkia is almost crucial. Not only does it provide rain to power up Surf and Aqua Tail, but also defeats Ho-oh, Groudon and Lugia relatively easily. Specially Defensive Scizor and Jirachi are also good teammates for Palkia, as they can switch into attacks from Choiced Dragon-type Pokemon and either deliver a powerful U-Turn or spread paralysis with Body Slam or Thunder Wave, respectively. Both Scizor and Jirachi have recovery as well.</p>
<p>Since Choice Scarf Palkia is the most frequently used, this Palkia can be used to lure in common counters of the Choice Scarf set. Palkia tends to lure in bulky Steel-types, Chansey and Blissey, so Pokemon that can take advantage of their removal also make good teammates to Palkia. With the removal of Chansey and Blissey, Choice Specs Dialga, Choice Scarf Kyogre, Calm Mind Arceus can have a much easier time destroying the opposing team, while Mewtwo and Darkrai greatly appreciates the removal of Steel-types.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Based Mix
move 1: Aqua Tail
move 2: Spacial Rend / Draco Meteor
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Fire Blast / Thunder / Surf
item: Lustrous Orb / Life Orb / Haban Berry
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Similar to other mixed set, except it uses its physical Attack, can now guarantee a 2HKO on both Chansey and Blissey. Can also 2HKO Tyranitar in Sandstorm, which couldn't be done with Surf.
- Outrage can 2HKO the bulkiest of Kyogre.
- Spacial Rend is preferred for consistency, but Draco Meteor can used since this set focuses more on physical Attack anyway.
Additional Comments:
- Last spot serves different purposes. Fire Blast allows Palkia to hit Nattorei, Thunder 2HKOs offensive Kyogre. If you don't care about specific coverage, Surf can be used as a Special Water STAB to hit physically defensive Steel-types not named Nattorei. Hydro Pump can also be used over Surf as well, but Surf is more reliable.
- See specially mixed set for Lustrous Orb vs Life Orb vs Haban Berry.
Teammates and Counters:
- Specially Defensive Groudon and Lugia can take pretty much any attack that this Palkia decides to use and threaten back with Dragon Claw or Toxic Stalling, respectively.
- Without Fire Blast, Nattorei and other defensive Steel-types will give Palkia trouble.
- Without a Haban Berry, any Pokemon that can revenge kill the specially based mix set can also revenge kill this Palkia.
- Again, Kyogre is a great teammate to use with Palkia, since it can beat Lugia and defensive Groudon one-on-one and provide rain to power up Palkia's Water STAB.
- Specially defensive Scizor can switch into Choiced Dragon attacks and deliver a powerful U-Turn, Roosting while it needs to.
- Pokemon who this set lures out and KOs include Blissey, Chansey and Steel-type Pokemon who expect the Scarf set. Choice Specs Dialga, Calm Mind Mewtwo and Darkrai all make good partners by taking advantage of the aforementioned Pokemon being removed.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Spacial Rend
move 4: Thunder / Fire Blast
item: Choice Specs
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Reaches 598 Special Attack with Choice Specs, 657 using a Modest nature.
- Advantages over Dialga and Reshiram: More Speed and better offensive coverage than Dialga, more Speed than Reshiram and not Stealth Rock weak.
- Can potentially 2HKO every Pokemon in the game with Stealth Rock support apart from Evolution Stone Chansey (With Timid nature only) and Shedinja with its dual-STABs alone.
- Draco Meteor is the main attack, which maims even Pokemon that resist it, while Hydro Pump, boosted by rain and STAB, OHKOs most Pokemon that do. Even Nattorei is 2HKO'd by Hydro Pump in the rain.
- Spacial Rend is for more reliable STAB and is good for late game cleaning.
Additional Comments:
- Thunder OHKOs Kyogre and Manaphy, but Fire Blast can be used in the sun to destroy Steel-types with (Barring Heatran). Fire Blast also allows Palkia to KO Shedinja, who takes nothing from every other move.
- Surf can be used over Hydro Pump for more consistency, but will lose out on the 2HKO against Blissey. It can also be run over Thunder and Fire Blast if you don't care about additional coverage.
- Timid nature is preferred to outspeed the 90-99 Speed range (Most 660-680 BST Pokemon, Ononokusu and Sazandora while speed tying with Salamence, Manaphy and Jirachi. Modest can be used is you want to be able to guarantee a 2HKO on Chansey with Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes.
Teammates and Counters:
- Virtually no counters, Evolution Stone Chansey and Blissey with Wish and Protect have a very small chance to be 2HKOed by Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock (Timid Palkia cannot 2HKO Chansey after Stealth Rock).
- Garchomp, Choice Scarf Palkia, Dialga, Sazandora, Reshiram, Zekrom, Ononokusu and Kyumeru, Darkrai, Latias and Latios can all revenge kill Specs Palkia, but cannot safely switch in.
- Kyogre brings Rain to power up Palkia's Water-type STAB and makes Thunder 100% accurate. Thunder Wave Kyogre is a great partner since it attracts revenge killers like Latias and Latios and paralyses them, allowing Palkia to outspeed them.
- Bulky Steel-types can switch into Dragon-typed attacks aimed at Palkia. Specially Defensive Scizor and Jirachi make great partners to Palkia by absorbing Dragon-typed attacks and healing with Roost or Wish. Jirachi can also spread paralysis with Thunder Wave and Body Slam.
- Entry hazard support helps Palkia greatly. With a layer of Spikes and Stealth Rock, Blissey will always be 2HKOed by rain-boosted Hydro Pump, while Chansey will always be 2HKOed if Palkia is running a Modest nature. Deoxys-S can easily set up entry hazards early in the game. Forretress can set up all three types of entry hazards and synergises very well with Palkia.
- Wobbuffet can trap and Encore Chansey and Blissey and Tickle them, allowing a Pursuit user like Scizor to remove them from the battlefield so Palkia has an easier time breaking down teams.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Aqua Tail
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Brick Break / Earthquake / Dragon Claw
item: Lustrous Orb / Haban Berry / Lum Berry
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Bulk Up is Palkia's only way of boosting its stats (Outside of Claw Sharpen). Reaches 508 Attack and 354 Defense after a Bulk Up.
- Aqua Tail is Palkia's primary attack and hits extremely hard in the rain after a Bulk Up.
- Outrage is Palkia's secondary attack and destroys virtually everything that resists Aqua Tail apart from Nattorei, Empoleon and Shedinja.
- Brick Break is the preferred option in the last spot since it allows Palkia to hit Nattorei for super effective damage. Earthquake allows Palkia to other grounded Steel-types like Metagross and Dialga for super effective damage. Dragon Claw can be used so Palkia can use a reliable STAB Dragon attack without being locked into Outrage.
Additional Comments:
- Dragon Tail can be used in the last spot to stop pseudo-hazers like Skarmory
- Fire Blast is also an option to deal damage to Nattorei and Steel-types, but is inadvisable since Palkia is focusing on attacking in the rain.
- Thunder can hit Lugia super effectively and potentially paralyse it, allowing Palkia to 2HKO with boosted Aqua Tail later (Since Lugia will not be able to set up Reflect quickly enough). Thunder also hits Skarmory for super effective damage.
- Lustrous Orb is preferred to give Palkia more power on its STABs, but Haban Berry can allow Palkia to avoid being revenge killed by Dragon-typed revenge killers. Lum Berry gives Palkia an insurance against status, and can also allow Palkia to snap out of confusion after calming down from Outrage.
Teammates and Counters:
- Timid Lugia is a great counter to Bulk Up Palkia, softening the blow with Reflect before taking an attack, Roosting off the damage and then Whirlwinding Palkia away.
- Physically defensive Groudon can switch into Palkia without much trouble and threaten back with Dragon Claw or Thunder Wave. Aqua Tail is weakened by Drought.
- Without a Haban Berry, Garchomp, Choice Scarf Palkia, Dialga, Sazandora, Reshiram, Zekrom, Ononokusu and Kyumeru, Darkrai, Latias and Latios can all revenge kill Palkia, but cannot safely switch in.
- Nearly all Palkia appreciate Kyogre support, and this one not an exception. With Kyogre support, Aqua Tail is boosted by the rain. Palkia can also lure in Chansey and Blissey and destroy them with boosted Aqua Tails, allowing Calm Mind Kyogre to devastate an opposing team.
- While Groudon seems counter-productive, he can lure in Lugia and cripple with Thunder Wave or Toxic and also set up Stealth Rock for Palkia to reach crucial KOs.
- Mixed Rayquaza can also lure in both Lugia and Groudon and cripple
them with Draco Meteor. - Wobbuffet can remove Choice Scarf holding revenge killers while providing Palkia with free turns to set up. Wobbuffet can also Tickle Lugia down to Pursuit's killing range from Scizor, Metagross or Tyranitar.
- Scizor can switch into Choiced Dragon-type attacks without much problem and deal heavy damage with U-Turn, or Roost off the damage.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Outrage / Dragon Claw
move 2: Rest
move 3: Sleep Talk
move 4: Bulk Up / Aqua Tail
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 152 HP / 104 Atk / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Since Soul Dew is not available in Black/White just yet, Latias is no longer a good switch into Choice Specs Kyogre. While Palkia could switch in and threaten it out, it could only do it once. This set aims to allow Palkia to switch in on Kyogre more than once.
- HP EVs allow Palkia to switch into Water Spout twice if Stealth Rock is not up. Palkia can outspeed and weaken Water Spout by damaging Kyogre first. Max Speed is so Palkia keeps general utility in outspeeding the 90-99 range, while the rest is dumped into Atk.
- Rest and Sleep Talk keep Palkia relatively healthy.
Additional Comments:
- Outrage is preferred is preferred in the first spot so Palkia can deal reasonable damage to Pokemon like Kyogre. It also loses its locking in effect when Palkia is asleep. Dragon Claw can be used to ensure Palkia doesn't get locked in when it's awake.
- The last spot depends on what the user wants Palkia to do. Bulk Up allows Palkia to become reasonably threatening when the opponent's Steel-types are gone, but Aqua Tail gives Palkia decent coverage alongside Outrage or Dragon Claw.
- Dragon Tail can also be used over Palkia's Dragon-type moves if one wants a pseudo-hazer, and works decently well with Rest and Sleep Talk.
Teammates and Counters:
- Unlike other Palkia sets, this set is not too difficult to counter due to its relatively low damage output. Forretress and Nattorei can take attacks from it all day and set up entry hazards without much trouble at all.
- If Bulk Up is used, removal of opposing Steel-types could allow Palkia sweep later with boosted Outrages. Magnezone can trap Steel-types like Jirachi, Forretress and Scizor and remove them with STAB Thunder and Hidden Power Fire.
- Palkia is still reasonably easily revenge killed by Dragon-types faster than it. Scizor, Metagross and Jirachi are all good switch-ins to Dragon-types. Scizor and Jirachi can heal themselves with Roost and Wish, respectively.
[Team Options]
- Like all offensive Pokemon, Palkia like entry hazards being set up to turn 3-2HKOs or 2-OHKOs. Deoxys-S is arguably the best entry hazard abuser, with its high Speed and can set up both Stealth Rock Spikes. Forretress and Nattorei both synergise well and can set up multiple layers of entry hazards easily. Groudon can switch into Thunder and set up Stealth Rock.
- While not mandatory and completely dependent on the team, Palkia still prefers Kyogre support, as it boosts his Water-type STAB, which alongside with Dragon, is resisted by only Nattorei, Empoleon and Shedinja. It also gives Palkia a 100% accurate Thunder.
- Palkia likes Wish support, as even with its 4x resistance to Water-type attacks, switching into Water Spout from Kyogre is still not easy. Palkia will generally be worn down entry hazards quite quickly as well. Blissey and Jirachi can pass Wish to Palkia while taking reasonably little from specially base Dragon-type attacks, which Palkia detest.
- Steel-types synergise well with Palkia, as they can switch Dragon-type attacks that Palkia is weak to, while Palkia can switch into Fire- and powered up Water-type attacks with ease.
- Revenge killers holding Choice Scarf to stop Palkia's assaults can easily be removed by Wobbuffet, who traps them and Counter/Mirror Coats them to death. Wobbuffet + Pursuit user combo can remove Lugia, Blissey and Chansey, Palkia's biggest nemeses.
[Optional changes]
- Choice Band - Largely outclassed by Choice Band Garchomp, who has better Speed, arguably better STABs and a higher Attack stat.
- Roar and Dragon Tail can be used, but Palkia prefers to kill rather than to phaze.
- Power Gem can kill Ho-oh on a specially inclined set, but isn't very useful elsewhere.
- Aura Sphere and Ice Beam can be used, but don't really add much coverage.
- Palkia can run a SubSalac set, but SubBerry sets are generally unreliable.
- Psych Up can be used to steal Calm Mind Kyogre's boosts and use it in its own sweeping.
[Counters]
- No strict counter, since Palkia will always be able to beat its checks with the right move. Nattorei is possibly the best switch-in to Palkia, as he fears nothing except a Fire-type attack outside of rain or Choice Specs Hydro Pump in the rain. He can then proceed to Power Whip Palkia for damage or set up entry hazards.
- Specially inclined sets are generally beaten by Chansey, Blissey (as long as she avoid getting hit by Aqua Tail or Outrage), Ho-oh (in the sun) and specially defensive Steel-types like Jirachi, Metagross and Scizor, as long as they avoid Water-type attack in the rain or Fire Blast in the sun.
- Physically inclined sets are generally beaten by Specially Defensive Groudon, who removes the rain and can threaten back with STAB Earthquake and Dragon Claw. Lugia is also a good counter to most physically based Palkia, but needs to watch out for being paralysed from Thunder.
- Without a Choice Scarf or Haban Berry, the multitude of Dragons can usually revenge-kill Palkia without much trouble. Choice Scarf Garchomp will outspeed every variant of Palkia and OHKO all of them with Outrage or Dragon Claw. Kingdra can outspeed Palkia in the rain and OHKO with Outrage or Draco Meteor. Any Dragon-type with a Choice Scarf (Apart from Kurimugan and pre-evolutions) can outspeed Palkia that doesn't carry a Choice Scarf and revenge kill Palkia with Dragon-STAB. All the above need to be wary of Haban Berry variants, since Palkia can live most non-boosted Dragon-type attacks.
- Wobbuffet can revenge-kill virtually any variant of Palkia with Counter or Mirror Coat (As long as he picks the right move), capable of surviving even a Timid Choice Specs Hydro Pump in the rain should entry hazards not be set up against its team and OHKO back with Mirror Coat.
[Dream World]
- Palkia got Telepathy from Dream World, which isn't very useful apart from Double battles and Triple Battles, which could allow a Pokemon to use an attack that hits every Pokemon (like Earthquake) and not hit Palkia.
