shout-out Melee Mewtwo for inspiring me irl
[Overview]
Palkia's typing and perfect coverage allow it to offensively check Kyogre while simultaneously threatening out some of Ubers's most common walls. Palkia takes advantage of Kyogre's rain when switching into it, appreciating a rain-boosted STAB move and a perfectly accurate Thunder to spam for paralysis. However, Palkia's defensive utility ends there, as any status is detrimental to it, and it thus faces heavy competition from Eternatus as a specially bulky Dragon-type. Moreover, while it can hit everything in the metagame for at least neutral damage, it struggles to find 2HKOs on top of being very reliant on proper predictions to be effective.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Spacial Rend / Draco Meteor
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Fire Blast
item: Lustrous Orb / Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thunder hits Kyogre and Yveltal super effectively and can spread paralysis, often under rain to boost its accuracy. Fire Blast punishes Ferrothorn, Zarude, and Magearna. Lustrous Orb-boosted Draco Meteor is an option instead of Spacial Rend to OHKO Eternatus after it switches into Stealth Rock. Maximum Speed investment allows Palkia to barely outspeed Yveltal and Xerneas. Leftovers is an option to have some longevity against offensive Kyogre.
Ho-Oh makes for a great partner, as it can switch into Eternatus lacking Meteor Beam and paralyze it, allowing Palkia to outspeed it. In return, Palkia can switch into Kyogre and take its attacks. Zygarde-C can help deal with Marshadow and Groudon, two Pokemon that Palkia struggles with. Kyogre is an excellent partner, as its Drizzle allows Palkia to 2HKO Necrozma-DM with Hydro Pump. Necrozma-DM is a very reliable switch-in to Xerneas and Eternatus. Yveltal can help against Calyrex-S, which otherwise revenge kills Palkia. Cleric support from Blissey and Xerneas is appreciated, as Palkia is very susceptible to status afflictions.
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Scale Shot
move 4: Liquidation
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Jolly
evs: 96 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up allows Palkia to beat enemies it otherwise wouldn't be able to, such as Blissey and Necrozma-DM. With the given HP investment, Palkia's Substitute isn't broken by defensive Lunala's Ice Beam or uninvested Necrozma-DM's Earthquake at +1 Defense. Scale Shot can help Palkia become a dangerous sweeper, allowing it to outspeed Calyrex-S after one boost. It also helps break Lunala's Shadow Shield, as it is a multi-hit move. Maximum Speed investment allows Palkia to outspeed offensive Yveltal.
Geomancy Xerneas appreciates Palkia beating its hardest counters in Necrozma-DM and Ho-Oh. Kyogre's Drizzle powers up Liquidation and helps overwhelm their shared checks in Eternatus, with Palkia luring in and setting up on Blissey. Magnezone can trap and remove Ferrothorn with the combination of Magnet Pull and Body Press. Ferrothorn can set Spikes and checks Zekrom and Zygarde-C, while Palkia can force Ho-Oh out. On hyper offense teams, Sticky Web setters such as Shuckle and Slurpuff can help mitigate Palkia's middling Speed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Focus Punch with a Hasty nature is an option over Fire Blast in order to not get walled by Blissey, but the Fire-type coverage is usually much more effective. Choice Scarf can turn Palkia into a very fast revenge killer, but outside of the surprise factor, it's not recommended. Assault Vest lets Palkia survive a hit from Eternatus and potentially KO it with a critical hit Spacial Rend, but its damage output is very low in that case.
Checks and Counters
====
**Xerneas**: Xerneas can threaten Palkia out with its Choice Scarf set, while defensive variants can take on non-Lustrous Orb Palkia.
**Ferrothorn**: Under rain, specially defensive Ferrothorn can take any of Palkia's special hits, while the physically defensive set can always beat Bulk Up Palkia.
**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM can take any of Palkia's hits and cripple it with Thunder Wave, though it struggles against Bulk Up variants.
**Blissey**: Blissey can easily take Palkia's special hits, but the Bulk Up set aims to take advantage of it.
**Gastrodon**: Gastrodon can take all of Palkia's attacks and even stop it from setting up with Clear Smog. It has to be careful of Spacial Rend's high critical hit rate, however.
**Dragon-type Wallbreakers**: Offensive Eternatus and Naganadel can outspeed and threaten to OHKO Palkia.
**Entry Hazards**: Palkia is vulnerable to all entry hazards, especially Sticky Web, making it susceptible to base 90 Speed wallbreakers such as Kyogre and Zekrom.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lasen, 273339]]
- Quality checked by: [[Aberforth, 249382], [Fc, 511624]]
- Grammar checked by: [[lotiasite, 302985], [Estronic, 240732]
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