[SET]
Specs (Kyurem) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 164 Def / 248 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Draco Meteor
- Earth Power / Focus Blast
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Kyurem's high Special Attack stat makes it an excellent Choice Specs user. Freeze-Dry hits Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill super effectively. Ice Beam's higher base power matters against Celesteela, Chople Berry Ferrothorn, Togekiss, and Galarian Moltres. Draco Meteor is a strong neutral option for use against Volcanion, Porygon-Z, and non-Assault Vest Zeraora. Earth Power and Focus Blast both handle Assault Vest Registeel and Custap Berry Heatran. Earth Power has higher accuracy and beats frail Metagross and most Tapu Koko sets, whereas Focus Blast threatens to OHKO Air Balloon Heatran, Custap Berry Ferrothorn, and Assault Vest Urshifu.
EVs
=============
248 Special Attack EVs give Kyurem the best possible roll to OHKO Tapu Fini. The Speed lets Kyurem outpace Adamant Dracovish. All remaining EVs have been invested in Defense for the best rolls against Choice Band Zeraora, Choice Scarf Urshifu, and Choice Band or Custap Berry variants of Celesteela.
A fast specially defensive spread with 8 HP / 164 SpA / 184 SpD / 152 Spe with a Timid nature outspeeds Adamant Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan, Modest Choice Specs Porygon-Z, and Venusaur. The lower Special Attack means that Kyurem can no longer reliably beat bulky Celesteela, Custap Berry or Choice Specs Primarina, and Choice Band Azumarill. The Special Defense investment allows Kyurem to survive a Hyper Beam from Custap Berry and Choice Scarf variants of Porygon-Z.
Usage Tips
=============
Generally, Choice Specs Kyurem has straightforward matchups where the most damaging move is the most optimal one. However, against Cresselia or Regidrago, Ice Beam is the move to use, as it has a chance to 3HKO Choice Scarf Cresselia and gets around a potential Haban Berry on Regidrago's part. However, Assault Vest Regidrago can survive a single Ice Beam, so Draco Meteor is needed to OHKO that Pokemon.
=============
[SET]
Haban Stall (Kyurem) @ Haban Berry
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 216 HP / 156 Def / 136 Spe
Bold Nature
- Noble Roar
- Glaciate
- Roost / Rest
- Substitute / Freeze-Dry / Earth Power / Ice Beam
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Noble Roar and Roost back up Kyurem's high natural bulk to make for a very durable stall Pokemon. A Haban Berry protects Kyurem from the STAB moves of Dragon types like Garchomp, Naganadel, and Dracozolt, as well as Zeraora's Outrage. Noble Roar negates setup attempts by Quiver Dance Volcarona and non-Skill Swap stall Cresselia. Noble Roar also serves to neuter offensive threats like Celesteela, Zeraora, and Assault Vest Entei. Glaciate hits Landorus-T and Garchomp for 4x super effective damage. It also provides speed control against Pokemon like Zarude, Dracovish, and Thunder Wave Togekiss. Roost is the preferred healing move and is required to beat Zeraora, but Rest prevents a loss against Pokemon like Entei, stall Zapdos, or Chansey.
Freeze-Dry gives Kyurem good matchups versus Tapu Fini and Azumarill, although their Choice item sets still generally win. Substitute lets Kyurem avoid status moves like Chansey's Toxic and beat Goodra by absorbing Acid Spray. Earth Power beats non-Choice Scarf Heatran as well as most Tapu Koko sets. Ice Beam improves the matchup with Dragapult and Galarian Moltres. The latter two moves are ideally ran alongside slightly different EV spreads: see the next section for details.
EVs
=============
The HP EVs ensure that Kyurem will always survive a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor from Modest Naganadel. The Speed EVs let Kyurem outspeed any Regidrago or Togekiss that lacks a Speed-boosting nature. The remaining EVs are invested in Defense for the best possible Zeraora matchup and the best possible chance to tank two Outrages from Jolly Choice Scarf Dracovish, allowing Kyurem to Glaciate twice, outspeed, and KO with a third Glaciate.
An alternate spread of 216 HP / 128 Defense / 32 SpA / 136 Spe can be used alongside Ice Beam as a fourth move. This generally beats Moltres-G by having the offensive power to 2HKO the Custap Nasty Plot set. The Special Attack investment is necessary to OHKO offensive Dragapult. The new Defense benchmark ensures that two Close Combats from max Attack Adamant Assault Vest Zeraora never KO if Kyurem uses Noble Roar in between. This set has a better matchup against Curse Dragapult and Galarian Moltres, but runs a slight risk of losing to Choice Band Zeraora getting two high Play Rough rolls.
If running Earth Power, switching 12 EVs from Defense to Speed ensures that Kyurem will be faster than any Tapu Koko after a Glaciate.
Usage Tips
=============
Stall kyurem has two main strategies: it may act like a bulky offensive Pokemon, trying to KO its foe quickly while relying on its natural bulk to take hits, or it may take a more passive approach. Examples of the first sort are its matchups with frail or Ice-weak powerhouses like Zapdos, Garchomp, Naganadel, and Dracovish, where it should Glaciate. However, against bulkier Pokemon like Assault Vest Entei, Zeraora, Regieleki, Celesteela, and Volcarona, it should instead use Noble Roar to neuter the foe's damage output as much as possible, heal once the foe's damage output has dropped below 50%, and only attack when able to comfortably survive multiple hits.
[SET]
Scarf (Kyurem) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Focus Blast / Earth Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
With a Choice Scarf, Kyurem gets the drop on fast threats like Spectrier, Dragapult, and Naganadel. Draco Meteor's high base power make it a good click into Spectrier, opposing Kyurem, and stall Entei. Ice Beam hits Pokemon like Lando-T, Venusaur, and Garchomp for super effective damage and has a good roll to OHKO frail Choice Band Rhyperior. Freeze-Dry beats some Tapu Fini sets as well as stall Azumarill and Water/Ground types like Swampert and Gastrodon. Focus Blast is an inaccurate option to hit Heatran, as well as some Porygon-Z and Tyranitar sets. Earth Power beats Tapu Koko and non-Air Balloon Heatran.
EVs
=============
Maximum speed allows Kyurem to speed tie either Adamant or Jolly Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. Maximum Special Attack gives the best possible rolls versus Life Orb Knock Off Zeraora and bulky Spectrier (if Modest) or Galarian Darmanitan (if Timid).
Usage Tips
=============
In general, Kyurem simply clicks its most powerful move in an effort to defeat the foe as soon as possible. However, some exceptions exist for sets running Focus Blast. Although this move deals more damage to Urshifu, Kyurem should generally click Draco Meteor into that Pokemon, as this move is more accurate and unaffected by a potential Chople Berry. Likewise, even though a Timid Draco Meteor may not always KO Galarian Darmanitan, the move's higher accuracy means it should be used over Focus Blast. Modest sets may defeat Trick Cresselia with high Ice Beam rolls, making that move the optimal click there.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Although Choice Specs Kyurem cannot easily forgo one of its moves, sets with maximum Special Attack can run Hyper Voice to always beat stall Entei.
Any Kyurem set can run Stone Edge or Rock Tomb to generally beat Volcarona. Stone Edge may miss and is especially unreliable against faster Substitute sets, but Rock Tomb lacks the power to OHKO Custap Berry sets.
Pokemon like Crustle, Aggron, and Assault Vest Rhyperior can survive one of Kyurem's attacks and OHKO it with a powerful Rock-type move. A Charti Berry set with Glaciate, Ice Beam, and Earth Power lures and beats these Pokemon semi-reliably. EVs of 160 Def / 112 SpA / 236 Spe with a Modest nature guarantee that Kyurem will be able to tank one Head Smash from Choice Band Aggron and retaliate with Glaciate into Earth Power. They also allow Kyurem to outspeed Adamant Crustle after a Shell Smash and a Glaciate. Note that Choice Band-boosted Rock Blasts from all of these Pokemon still KO if they get 4 or 5 hits, and even opponents unaware of Charti may click the move if they predict Kyurem to use Substitute.
A set with a Chople Berry, Glaciate, Draco Meteor, an EV spread of 228 HP / 240 Def / 40 SpA and a Modest nature beats any Urshifu set other than Assault Vest by clicking Glaciate into Draco Meteor (or Draco Meteor versus Choice Scarf). It also beats Choice Band Darmanitan-G, has a ~50% chance to KO Choice Scarf Darmanitan-G (further improved to a 70% chance by running Focus Blast) and beats most sets of Zapdos-G.
With Glaciate, Draco Meteor, Laser Focus, a Modest nature, 148 Speed EVs and 216 Special Defense EVs, Kyurem can reliably lure Spectrier by clicking Glaciate, Laser Focus, and then Draco Meteor. The Special Defense EVs ensure that Kyurem will be able to survive Spectrier's Life Orb-boosted Hyper Beam after Spectrier has used Calm Mind once. If Spectrier clicks Taunt on the first turn of combat, Kyurem can still beat it by spamming Draco Meteor.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
Here Comes Team Charm!
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Specs (Kyurem) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 164 Def / 248 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Draco Meteor
- Earth Power / Focus Blast
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Kyurem's high Special Attack stat makes it an excellent Choice Specs user. Freeze-Dry hits Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill super effectively. Ice Beam's higher base power matters against Celesteela, Chople Berry Ferrothorn, Togekiss, and Galarian Moltres. Draco Meteor is a strong neutral option for use against Volcanion, Porygon-Z, and non-Assault Vest Zeraora. Earth Power and Focus Blast both handle Assault Vest Registeel and Custap Berry Heatran. Earth Power has higher accuracy and beats frail Metagross and most Tapu Koko sets, whereas Focus Blast threatens to OHKO Air Balloon Heatran, Custap Berry Ferrothorn, and Assault Vest Urshifu.
EVs
=============
248 Special Attack EVs give Kyurem the best possible roll to OHKO Tapu Fini. The Speed lets Kyurem outpace Adamant Dracovish. All remaining EVs have been invested in Defense for the best rolls against Choice Band Zeraora, Choice Scarf Urshifu, and Choice Band or Custap Berry variants of Celesteela.
A fast specially defensive spread with 8 HP / 164 SpA / 184 SpD / 152 Spe with a Timid nature outspeeds Adamant Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan, Modest Choice Specs Porygon-Z, and Venusaur. The lower Special Attack means that Kyurem can no longer reliably beat bulky Celesteela, Custap Berry or Choice Specs Primarina, and Choice Band Azumarill. The Special Defense investment allows Kyurem to survive a Hyper Beam from Custap Berry and Choice Scarf variants of Porygon-Z.
Usage Tips
=============
Generally, Choice Specs Kyurem has straightforward matchups where the most damaging move is the most optimal one. However, against Cresselia or Regidrago, Ice Beam is the move to use, as it has a chance to 3HKO Choice Scarf Cresselia and gets around a potential Haban Berry on Regidrago's part. However, Assault Vest Regidrago can survive a single Ice Beam, so Draco Meteor is needed to OHKO that Pokemon.
=============
[SET]
Haban Stall (Kyurem) @ Haban Berry
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 216 HP / 156 Def / 136 Spe
Bold Nature
- Noble Roar
- Glaciate
- Roost / Rest
- Substitute / Freeze-Dry / Earth Power / Ice Beam
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Noble Roar and Roost back up Kyurem's high natural bulk to make for a very durable stall Pokemon. A Haban Berry protects Kyurem from the STAB moves of Dragon types like Garchomp, Naganadel, and Dracozolt, as well as Zeraora's Outrage. Noble Roar negates setup attempts by Quiver Dance Volcarona and non-Skill Swap stall Cresselia. Noble Roar also serves to neuter offensive threats like Celesteela, Zeraora, and Assault Vest Entei. Glaciate hits Landorus-T and Garchomp for 4x super effective damage. It also provides speed control against Pokemon like Zarude, Dracovish, and Thunder Wave Togekiss. Roost is the preferred healing move and is required to beat Zeraora, but Rest prevents a loss against Pokemon like Entei, stall Zapdos, or Chansey.
Freeze-Dry gives Kyurem good matchups versus Tapu Fini and Azumarill, although their Choice item sets still generally win. Substitute lets Kyurem avoid status moves like Chansey's Toxic and beat Goodra by absorbing Acid Spray. Earth Power beats non-Choice Scarf Heatran as well as most Tapu Koko sets. Ice Beam improves the matchup with Dragapult and Galarian Moltres. The latter two moves are ideally ran alongside slightly different EV spreads: see the next section for details.
EVs
=============
The HP EVs ensure that Kyurem will always survive a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor from Modest Naganadel. The Speed EVs let Kyurem outspeed any Regidrago or Togekiss that lacks a Speed-boosting nature. The remaining EVs are invested in Defense for the best possible Zeraora matchup and the best possible chance to tank two Outrages from Jolly Choice Scarf Dracovish, allowing Kyurem to Glaciate twice, outspeed, and KO with a third Glaciate.
An alternate spread of 216 HP / 128 Defense / 32 SpA / 136 Spe can be used alongside Ice Beam as a fourth move. This generally beats Moltres-G by having the offensive power to 2HKO the Custap Nasty Plot set. The Special Attack investment is necessary to OHKO offensive Dragapult. The new Defense benchmark ensures that two Close Combats from max Attack Adamant Assault Vest Zeraora never KO if Kyurem uses Noble Roar in between. This set has a better matchup against Curse Dragapult and Galarian Moltres, but runs a slight risk of losing to Choice Band Zeraora getting two high Play Rough rolls.
If running Earth Power, switching 12 EVs from Defense to Speed ensures that Kyurem will be faster than any Tapu Koko after a Glaciate.
Usage Tips
=============
Stall kyurem has two main strategies: it may act like a bulky offensive Pokemon, trying to KO its foe quickly while relying on its natural bulk to take hits, or it may take a more passive approach. Examples of the first sort are its matchups with frail or Ice-weak powerhouses like Zapdos, Garchomp, Naganadel, and Dracovish, where it should Glaciate. However, against bulkier Pokemon like Assault Vest Entei, Zeraora, Regieleki, Celesteela, and Volcarona, it should instead use Noble Roar to neuter the foe's damage output as much as possible, heal once the foe's damage output has dropped below 50%, and only attack when able to comfortably survive multiple hits.
[SET]
Scarf (Kyurem) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Focus Blast / Earth Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
With a Choice Scarf, Kyurem gets the drop on fast threats like Spectrier, Dragapult, and Naganadel. Draco Meteor's high base power make it a good click into Spectrier, opposing Kyurem, and stall Entei. Ice Beam hits Pokemon like Lando-T, Venusaur, and Garchomp for super effective damage and has a good roll to OHKO frail Choice Band Rhyperior. Freeze-Dry beats some Tapu Fini sets as well as stall Azumarill and Water/Ground types like Swampert and Gastrodon. Focus Blast is an inaccurate option to hit Heatran, as well as some Porygon-Z and Tyranitar sets. Earth Power beats Tapu Koko and non-Air Balloon Heatran.
EVs
=============
Maximum speed allows Kyurem to speed tie either Adamant or Jolly Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. Maximum Special Attack gives the best possible rolls versus Life Orb Knock Off Zeraora and bulky Spectrier (if Modest) or Galarian Darmanitan (if Timid).
Usage Tips
=============
In general, Kyurem simply clicks its most powerful move in an effort to defeat the foe as soon as possible. However, some exceptions exist for sets running Focus Blast. Although this move deals more damage to Urshifu, Kyurem should generally click Draco Meteor into that Pokemon, as this move is more accurate and unaffected by a potential Chople Berry. Likewise, even though a Timid Draco Meteor may not always KO Galarian Darmanitan, the move's higher accuracy means it should be used over Focus Blast. Modest sets may defeat Trick Cresselia with high Ice Beam rolls, making that move the optimal click there.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Although Choice Specs Kyurem cannot easily forgo one of its moves, sets with maximum Special Attack can run Hyper Voice to always beat stall Entei.
Any Kyurem set can run Stone Edge or Rock Tomb to generally beat Volcarona. Stone Edge may miss and is especially unreliable against faster Substitute sets, but Rock Tomb lacks the power to OHKO Custap Berry sets.
Pokemon like Crustle, Aggron, and Assault Vest Rhyperior can survive one of Kyurem's attacks and OHKO it with a powerful Rock-type move. A Charti Berry set with Glaciate, Ice Beam, and Earth Power lures and beats these Pokemon semi-reliably. EVs of 160 Def / 112 SpA / 236 Spe with a Modest nature guarantee that Kyurem will be able to tank one Head Smash from Choice Band Aggron and retaliate with Glaciate into Earth Power. They also allow Kyurem to outspeed Adamant Crustle after a Shell Smash and a Glaciate. Note that Choice Band-boosted Rock Blasts from all of these Pokemon still KO if they get 4 or 5 hits, and even opponents unaware of Charti may click the move if they predict Kyurem to use Substitute.
A set with a Chople Berry, Glaciate, Draco Meteor, an EV spread of 228 HP / 240 Def / 40 SpA and a Modest nature beats any Urshifu set other than Assault Vest by clicking Glaciate into Draco Meteor (or Draco Meteor versus Choice Scarf). It also beats Choice Band Darmanitan-G, has a ~50% chance to KO Choice Scarf Darmanitan-G (further improved to a 70% chance by running Focus Blast) and beats most sets of Zapdos-G.
With Glaciate, Draco Meteor, Laser Focus, a Modest nature, 148 Speed EVs and 216 Special Defense EVs, Kyurem can reliably lure Spectrier by clicking Glaciate, Laser Focus, and then Draco Meteor. The Special Defense EVs ensure that Kyurem will be able to survive Spectrier's Life Orb-boosted Hyper Beam after Spectrier has used Calm Mind once. If Spectrier clicks Taunt on the first turn of combat, Kyurem can still beat it by spamming Draco Meteor.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
Here Comes Team Charm!
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Last edited: