http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/palkia
name: Trick Room (Specially Based)
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Spacial Rend
move 3: Surf
move 4: Outrage / Fire Blast / Thunder
item: Lustrous Orb / Haban Berry
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
ivs: 30 Atk / 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Palkia is one of the few viable Pokemon in Ubers that has access to Trick Room, and despite its relatively high Speed stat, Palkia can use Trick Room quite effectively to become a nasty sweeper. Palkia separates itself from other Trick Room users with its unique typing, as this gives it ample opportunities to set up Trick Room, especially in a tier with Choiced Water Spouts and Bullet Punches flying around.</p>
<p>Spacial Rend and Surf are two very powerful attacks when backed up by STAB and a Lustrous Orb boost, and they allow Palkia to nail virtually the entire Ubers metagame for at least neutral damage. Palkia is especially devastating in the rain, as a boosted Surf will always OHKO Mewtwo and Darkrai, and it will also take out Scizor in one shot after Stealth Rock. The last move is a bit tricky, but generally Outrage is given the nod for its ability to 2HKO Blissey. However, Fire Blast is an option if you aren't using Drizzle support and want to hit bulky Steel-types like Jirachi, while Thunder is a good choice if you find yourself needing a way to eliminate Lugia in one shot after Stealth Rock damage. Lustrous Orb should generally be the item of choice because it further boosts Palkia's powerful STABs, but Haban Berry is a decent alternative in order for Palkia to survive any unboosted Dragon-type attack and set up Trick Room.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Palkia is extremely dependent on Drizzle support from Kyogre, as various Pokemon will give Palkia headaches in the sun. Jirachi and Scizor can eat Surfs all day as long as sun is up, while Lugia can outstall Trick Room with Roost as long as it isn't raining. Other problematic Pokemon arise depending on what Palkia opts for a third attack. Without Outrage, Blissey will wall Palkia with impunity, and Latias will also become an issue since it can survive a Spacial Rend and nail Palkia with a Soul Dew boosted Dragon Pulse. Wobbuffet is a unique threat, but it is a legitimate problem for Palkia, because it can switch in as Palkia uses Trick Room and Encore Palkia first since it will be faster as long as Trick Room is active.</p>
<p>When choosing partners for Palkia, Kyogre is undoubtably the first Pokemon you should consider, as it provides Palkia with infinite rain to sweep under. Kyogre can also be given minimum Speed to sweep when Trick Room is active. Wobbuffet is another great partner for Palkia, especially if Palkia isn't using Haban Berry, since it can trap and OHKO faster Dragon-types attempting to revenge kill it. In addition, Wobbuffet can use Encore to help Palkia set up. When paired with a Pursuit user, Wobbuffet can effectively use Tickle to eliminate Blissey and Lugia, both of which give Palkia its fair share of problems. Scizor is the best choice to do this, as it resists Dragon-type attacks aimed at Palkia, while its low Speed means it can utilize Trick Room effectively. Bronzong makes a solid partner for Palkia thanks to its great synergy, while it can also use Trick Room and Explosion to allow Palkia to come in without having to waste a turn setting up. Although this set is quite offensive in nature, Palkia still stands erect as a premier Kyogre counter, and can therefore be added to teams that find themselves susceptible to the enormous whale.</p>
name: Trick Room (Physically Based)
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Aqua Tail
move 3: Outrage
move 4: Draco Meteor / Fire Blast
item: Lustrous Orb / Haban Berry
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
ivs: 30 HP / 30 Def / 30 SpD / 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Palkia's monstrous Base 150 Special Attack means that its Spacial Rends and Surfs are among the most powerful attacks in Ubers, it also has a very useable Base 120 Attack, allowing it to use a physical Trick Room set effectively. Not only does this set lure Palkia's common counters, most notably Blissey, but it can also surprise a wide variety of Pokemon in Ubers, as most walls focus on sponging special attacks. Even though this set works nicely as a lure, it is still a powerful stand-alone sweeper, since Palkia can muscle its way past speedy foes like Mewtwo, Shaymin-S, and Darkrai after it sets up a Trick Room.</p>
<p>Palkia's famed Dragon- and Water-type STABs are once again put on display with this set. Outrage and Aqua Tail are extremely powerful when boosted by Lustrous Orb, and Aqua Tail gains an additional boost from Kyogre's eternal rain. Aqua Tail is what really makes this set deadly, as it punishes most of the prominent counters to Palkia's special Trick Room set. Blissey, who laughs at Palkia's special attacks, takes upwards of 80% from Aqua Tail, while other walls like Lugia and Wobbuffett are 2HKOed as well. Outrage complements Aqua Tail by smacking around Pokemon that resist Water, namely opposing Dragon-types. Kyogre and Dialga are both 2HKOed by Outrage, while Latias, Latios, and other Palkia stand no chance. Draco Meteor is mainly to hit Groudon, but it's also useful if you need to use a Dragon-type attack but don't want yourself to be locked into Outrage. Fire Blast is an option because it still dents Groudon, and it also gives you an attack to roast Steel-types in the sun. Finally, Haban Berry can be used as Palkia's item if you find your team weak to Dragon-type Pokemon, and it will allow Palkia to set up a Trick Room against the likes of Latias, Latios, and Giratina-O.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>As always, Palkia runs into trouble against Steel-types when it isn't raining. Scizor, Jirachi, and Skarmory are the main culprits, as they can take Aqua Tails fairly well in the sun and will outstall Trick Room with their recovery moves. Forretress may not be able to do much back to Palkia, but it'll laugh at Aqua Tail in the sun, allowing it to set up entry hazards with ease. While they're both 2HKOed by Aqua Tail in the rain, Lugia and Wobbuffet pose quite a few problems. If Lugia switches into Palkia as it uses Trick Room, it can stall Palkia with Roost until Trick Room's effect subsides, and then hit it with a debilitating Toxic. Wobbuffet can come in on Trick Room and Encore Palkia before it can attack since Wobbuffet will be slower once Trick Room is active.</p>
<p>Palkia absolutely needs Kyogre's Drizzle support to work effectively, as it lets Palkia use Aqua Tail to defeat Steel-types that would otherwise wall it. Palkia can actually support Kyogre as well, since it will often lure and KO Blissey, allowing Kyogre to sweep with much greater ease. Wobbuffett and Scizor can be used in tandem to eliminate Lugia, as Wobbuffet's Tickle and Scizor's Pursuit will put the giant bird out of commission very quickly. Wobbuffett is also a great individual teammate to Palkia because it can trap and KO troublesome Dragon-types, and can utilize Encore to give Palkia a free turn to set up Trick Room. Other Trick Room sweepers make good partners to Palkia. Dialga gets particular mention since it can use a mixed set to easily rid the field of pesky Steel-types.</p>
