approved by unfixable
QC: baconbagon / The Reptile / Scyther NO Swiping
GP: (apricity) Haund / (EienSeiryuu) frenzyplant
[OVERVIEW]
Keldeo is an outstanding offensive pokemon in STABmons, acting as one of the best revenge killers and wallbreakers in the metagame. Water / Fighting is an amazing STAB combination that gives Keldeo great neutral coverage and, combined with its high Special Attack stat, makes Keldeo a very credible offensive threat. It is able to 2HKO most of the metagame with powerful moves such as Water Spout, Origin Pulse, and Secret Sword. Scald brings great utility to the table, inflicting burns that cripple physical attackers and wear down walls rather quickly. Keldeo also possesses rather decent bulk with a good defensive typing that lets it check threatening Pokemon such as Bisharp, Tyranitar, Heatran, and Weavile, giving it nice defensive utility on offensive teams. Keldeo is also very versatile when it comes to its movesets, as it can act as a powerful wallbreaker with Choice Specs, an outstanding revenge killer with Choice Scarf, or a great sweeper with Calm Mind, allowing it to be quite unpredictable.
Although Keldeo has a high Speed stat, it is still outsped and easily revenge killed by threats such as Latios, Thundurus, and Serperior. It also does not really have great coverage outside of its STAB moves, leaving it easily checked by Pokemon that resist its STAB combination. Despite these flaws, Keldeo remains an offensive powerhouse that can wear down the opposing team with its powerful moves and great offensive stats, making it a threat that should always be prepared for.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Water Spout / Origin Pulse
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Scald / Origin Pulse
move 4: Vacuum Wave / Icy Wind / Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is a devastatingly strong STAB move that allows Keldeo to break down many teams, especially in conjunction with Choice Specs. Origin Pulse is another powerful STAB move, that lets Keldeo 2HKO most threats with ease without needing to worry about its HP. Secret Sword is Keldeo's secondary STAB move and lets it hit specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Ferrothorn for more damage. Scald is Keldeo's secondary reliable Water-type STAB move of choice, letting Keldeo secure the KO on weakened Pokemon without dealing with the chances of missing. Scald is also able to cripple physical attackers with its high chance of inflicting burns. Vacuum Wave is a great STAB priority option that allows Keldeo to hit faster threats such as Excadrill under sand and Choice Scarf Magnezone and helps Keldeo against Speed ties with Terrakion. Finally, Icy Wind is a nice coverage option that lets Keldeo hit Grass-types and Dragon-types such as Serperior and Dragonite. Hidden Power Bug can be used to hit Psychic-types such as Celebi and Starmie.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs boosts Keldeo's damage output to incredible levels, making it able to 2HKO most of the metagame. Life Orb can also be run to allow Keldeo to switch moves, but the damage loss compared to Choice Specs is quite noticeable and the recoil can wear it down quickly. Additionally, Water Spout should never be used alongside Life Orb. The EVs are maxed out in Special Attack and Speed to increase Keldeo's offensive capabilities. A Timid nature is chosen to let Keldeo outspeed threats such as Mega Charizard X and Kyurem-B, allowing it to remain a threat to offensive teams.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo is a reliable wallbreaker, dismantling many powerful cores thanks to its powerful moves and high Special Attack. Keldeo can switch into resisted hits with ease due to its moderate bulk, but it should never be switched in on any attacks if you choose to run Water Spout. Keldeo is best utilized throughout the end of the match, as it can sweep through weakened teams once its checks and counters are gone. However, it can be used earlier on to break through defensive walls, allowing your other team members to sweep more easily. Try to eliminate faster threats such as Thundurus and Serperior that could potentially harm Keldeo before you try to sweep with it.
Team Options
========
Latios is a near-perfect partner for Keldeo, as it can deal with Keldeo's checks and counters such as Mega Venausaur, Slowbro, and Latias. Keldeo also deals with common Pursuit trappers like Weavile and Hoopa-U, while Latios can remove entry hazards and heal Keldeo with Healing Wish in return, allowing it to spam Water Spout more often. Bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Mega Venausaur and Gyarados can wall Keldeo extremely well, so it is recommended to run Pokemon that can beat them alongside Keldeo, such as Kyurem-B, Thundurus, and Mega Charizard Y. Tornadus-T is another great partner for Keldeo, as its Flying typing in conjunction with its amazing ability to pivot greatly helps Keldeo fend off Grass-type Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur and Celebi. Pursuit trappers such as Weavile and Tyranitar also work well with Keldeo, as they can trap Psychic-types such as Latios, Celebi, and Slowbro that can take one hit from Keldeo and potentially KO it. Heatran is another great Pokemon that works well with Keldeo, as it can deal with Keldeo's checks and counters such as Latias, Talonflame, and Mega Venusaur quite well. Heatran's typing also provides resistances to types such as Grass, Flying, and Psychic that Keldeo is weak to. This set can usually be run on more offensively oriented teams due to its capability of breaking down many defensive cores, that many offensive teams have a difficult time with.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Water Spout / Origin Pulse
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Origin Pulse / Scald
move 4: Icy Wind / Hidden Power Electric / Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is a powerful move that is able to 2HKO almost the entire tier at its highest damage output, and it is a very good move with which to revenge kill weakened threats. Secret Sword is Keldeo's main Fighting-type STAB move, being able to hit specially defensive walls like Chansey and Tyranitar much harder than Keldeo's special moves. Origin Pulse is Keldeo's second STAB Water-type move that should be used if Keldeo is weakened and can no longer spam powerful Water Spouts. Scald is another Water-type STAB move that Keldeo can run to inflict burns, which weaken walls and cripple physical attackers. Icy Wind is a decent coverage option that allows Keldeo to hit Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Serperior and Dragonite super effectively, and it is a nice tool to lower the foe's Speed as well. Hidden Power Electric is another coverage option that lets Keldeo hit Water-type Pokemon such as Gyarados, Slowbro, Starmie, and Azumarill. Finally, Hidden Power Bug is a nice option that is not seen quite often and allows Keldeo to hit bulky Psychic-types such as Slowbro, Mega Slowbro, Latias, and Celebi super effectively.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf enables Keldeo to outspeed faster Pokemon such as Alakazam, Serperior, and Mega Diancie that would otherwise threaten to KO it, allowing it to revenge kill them more easily. The EVs are maxed out in Special Attack and Speed to strengthen Keldeo's offensive capabilities, while a Timid nature is chosen to outspeed as many threats as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Latios synergizes really well with Keldeo, as it can remove entry hazards and heal Keldeo with Healing Wish, allowing it to wallbreak more often with Water Spout. They can deal with each other's checks and counters, as Keldeo can take on Dark-type Pokemon while Latios deals with Psychic- and Grass-type Pokemon. Tornadus-T is another great partner for Keldeo, as its Flying typing combined with the ability to safely pivot with U-turn allows it to switch into Keldeo's checks and counters, such as Mega Venusaur and Starmie, multiple times thanks to Regenerator. Keldeo should be used on more offensive teams, as it can act as a useful check to most of the Pokemon that can threaten this playstyle, such as Terrakion and Gengar, although it can be run on balanced teams that need a check to opposing offensive teams. Depending on what it runs, Keldeo can be walled by Grass- and Dragon-types, so it prefers to be paired with Pokemon that can deal with them. For instance, Landorus-T and Kyurem-B are nice options due to their amazing offensive typings that have great synergy with Keldeo's typing. Psychic-types are also a pain for Keldeo to deal with, so running Dark-type Pokemon with Pursuit such as Tyranitar and Weavile is highly recommended, as they let Keldeo have an easier time wallbreaking. Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn pair well with Keldeo as well, as they can deal with bulky Water-types such as Slowbro and Azumarill. Entry hazard removal is also useful, as hazards can weaken Keldeo quite quickly, which can decrease its offensive capabilities because it switches in and out quite often. Healing Wish support can also be essential from Pokemon such as Latias, Latios, and Jirachi, as it restores Keldeo's HP and allows Water Spout to deal more damage.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Scald
move 4: Secret Sword
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute works well with Calm Mind, as it secures Keldeo against attacks that have the potential to KO it and lets it set up much more easily. It also blocks crippling status conditions from Thunder Wave and Toxic, safeguards Keldeo from the popular Fake Out + Extreme Speed combination, and prevents Chansey from using Transform successfully. Calm Mind boosts Keldeo's wallbreaking capabilities to terrifying levels. It
also gives Keldeo surprising amounts of special bulk, letting it survive powerful attacks from strong Pokemon after a couple of boosts. Scald is itsKeldeo's Water-type STAB move of choice, as it possesses a high chance to burn the target, which works well in conjunction with the Special Defense boosts from Calm Mind. Secret Sword is the Fighting-type STAB move, letting Keldeo hit specially defensive walls and opposing Calm Mind users.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is the best item to be used on this set, as it can passively recover HP that can be used to create Substitutes, and it also increases Keldeo's longevity. However, a Salac Berry can also be used to boost Keldeo's Speed, which, in conjunction with Calm Mind boosts, can be extremely devastating, though it allows Keldeo to be easily revenge killed by priority users such as Talonflame and Mega Lopunny. The EVs are maxed out in Special Attack and Speed to maximize Keldeo's sweeping capabilities, and Timid is the chosen nature to let Keldeo outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, such as Kyurem-B and Mega Charizard X.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo should only start setting up once its checks and counters are gone or extremely weakened, as it doesn't have any coverage moves to hit them. Keldeo can also be threatened by sound-based moves such as Sylveon's Boomburst and Mega Gardevoir's Hyper Voice, which can bypass Substitutes and OHKO Keldeo. Try to not let Keldeo be weakened too much, as it needs quite a bit of HP to create Substitutes and set up Calm Minds. This set can force many physical attackers out with the threat of Scald. It is also not threatened by passive Pokemon such as Chansey, Mega Sableye, and Klefki because Keldeo can set up on them. All these reasons combined allow Keldeo to easily find an opportunity to set up a Substitute and commence sweeping. However, Keldeo should not try to start setting up if the opposing team has a phazer or a priority user that can end Keldeo's sweep quite abruptly.
Team Options
========
Latios is a great option in conjunction with this set, as it checks many Pokemon that wall Keldeo such as Mega Venusaur, Celebi, Latias, and Slowbro, and it can also keep entry hazards off the field, giving Keldeo an easier time sweeping later on during the match. Flying-type Pokemon such as Thundurus and Landorus-T are also great partners for Keldeo, as they can deal with Grass-types like Mega Venusaur and Celebi that completely wall Keldeo. Dark-type Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Weavile are also good teammates that can Pursuit trap bulky Psychic-types that can wall Keldeo such as Latias and Slowbro. Hoopa-U is another Dark-type Pokemon that can break through bulky Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Meloetta easily. Assault Vest Metagross is also another Pursuit user that can be considered, as its great bulk allows it to Pursuit trap key threats such as Latios and Latias, while it is also able to deal with other threats such as Mega Diancie and Mega Venusaur. Fairy-type Pokemon such as Clefable and Klefki are also very useful, as they can deal with Dragon-types like Dragonite and Latias, which can both take Keldeo's STAB moves and threaten to KO it. A physical Thundurus set is another great team option that can break through bulky Water-types such as Gyarados, Mega Blastoise, and Azumarill quite easily, remedying Keldeo's lack of coverage for these Pokemon. This set can be used on more balanced teams, as it is one of the best stallbreakers in the metagame; however, it can be run on bulky offense teams as well. Entry hazard setters such as Heatran and Ferrothorn are recommended, as the entry hazards can weaken some of Keldeo's checks and counters, thus allowing it to sweep more easily and efficiently. Toxic Spikes setters such as Gengar and Scolipede are especially valued because Toxic Spikes can wear down bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Porygon2, as Keldeo tends to stall behind Substitutes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set with three attacks gives Keldeo an extra coverage move such as Icy Wind or Hidden Power Bug to power through Pokemon that would otherwise be counters to it, such as Celebi and Latios. Vacuum Wave also goes well in the third attack slot, outprioritizing faster threats such as Sand Rush Excadrill and Choice Scarf Magnezone. However, Keldeo can easily be revenge killed due to the absence of Substitute. Taunt is another great move to shut down walls that rely on status moves to wear down the opposing Pokemon, increasing Keldeo's wallbreaking capabilities, but running Taunt amplifies Keldeo's four-moveslot syndrome. Keldeo can also run an effective Substitute set with Leftovers, and it can forego Calm Mind for a coverage move such as Icy Wind or Hidden Power Bug to better deal with its checks and counters. However, Keldeo does miss out on a lot of KOs without Life Orb, Choice Specs, or Calm Mind boosts. A RestTalk set in conjunction with two STAB moves allows Keldeo to have great longevity throughout the entire match due to Rest and still be threatening while asleep thanks to Sleep Talk. This set can greatly counter many Dark-type Pokemon such as Weavile and Tyranitar, and it allows Keldeo to break through Pokemon that rely on Toxic damage to wear down their foes. However, this set lacks power due to its reliance on Leftovers over an offensive item, which hampers its wallbreaking capabilities. Keldeo can also run Expert Belt, Splash Plate, or Fist Plate to forgo Life Orb recoil and Choice Specs restrictions, and these are great items to bluff which exact set it is running, although due to Keldeo's limited coverage, these items may be not utilized to their fullest capabilities. Aura Sphere and Focus Blast are other Fighting-type STAB options that Keldeo can run that have higher damage outputs than Secret Sword; however, these moves are generally never seen, as Secret Sword has the ability to take into account the target's Defense stat instead of Special Defense. Focus Blast is particularly unreliable due to its low accuracy.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Psychic-types**: Bulky Psychic-types such as Mega Slowbro, Latias, and Celebi are able to take any STAB move from Keldeo and threaten to KO it in return. This can be mitigated, however, if you decide to run Hidden Power Bug, but it still does not guarantee even a 2HKO on some of them. Pursuit trappers can also help with this issue, as they can usually weaken these Pokemon immensely before Keldeo confronts them again.
**Water-types**: Water-type Pokemon such as Azumarill, Mega Blastoise, Manaphy, and Gyarados can easily come in on any of Keldeo's Water-type attacks and threaten Keldeo with their respective coverage options. Running Hidden Power Electric can relieve this issue minimally, but having Grass-type Pokemon such as Serperior and Celebi to deal with them is usually the best way to counter these Pokemon.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Togekiss, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Diancie, and Sylveon resist Fighting-type moves and can threaten to KO Keldeo with their STAB attacks. Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir in particular can both deal with Calm Mind Keldeo due to their respective sound-based attacks, which bypass Substitute. Steel-type Pokemon such as Scizor and Ferrothorn are great options to deal with these threats.
**Flying-types**: Tornadus-T and Dragonite are both bulky enough to survive both of Keldeo's STAB options and can threaten to KO it with their respective Flying-type moves. However, they need to be wary if Keldeo decides to run Icy Wind, which can lower their Speed and allows Keldeo to KO them.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior can deal with Keldeo quite easily, due to their resisting Water-type attacks and Mega Venusaur's resisting Fighting-type attacks as well. Flying-type Pokemon like Thundurus and Landorus-T are both great teammates that threaten Grass-types in general.
**Fast Electric-types**: Fast Electric-types such as Thundurus, Raikou, and Mega Manectric can threaten to KO Keldeo if it lacks Vacuum Wave. Thundurus is especially threatening, as it resists Fighting-type moves and can deal with Choice Scarf Keldeo with priority Thunder Wave.
**Priority Users**: Keldeo does not appreciate priority users such as Talonflame, Mega Lopunny, and Ursaring, as they can severely weaken it, decreasing the power of its Water Spout.
QC: baconbagon / The Reptile / Scyther NO Swiping
GP: (apricity) Haund / (EienSeiryuu) frenzyplant
Keldeo is an outstanding offensive pokemon in STABmons, acting as one of the best revenge killers and wallbreakers in the metagame. Water / Fighting is an amazing STAB combination that gives Keldeo great neutral coverage and, combined with its high Special Attack stat, makes Keldeo a very credible offensive threat. It is able to 2HKO most of the metagame with powerful moves such as Water Spout, Origin Pulse, and Secret Sword. Scald brings great utility to the table, inflicting burns that cripple physical attackers and wear down walls rather quickly. Keldeo also possesses rather decent bulk with a good defensive typing that lets it check threatening Pokemon such as Bisharp, Tyranitar, Heatran, and Weavile, giving it nice defensive utility on offensive teams. Keldeo is also very versatile when it comes to its movesets, as it can act as a powerful wallbreaker with Choice Specs, an outstanding revenge killer with Choice Scarf, or a great sweeper with Calm Mind, allowing it to be quite unpredictable.
Although Keldeo has a high Speed stat, it is still outsped and easily revenge killed by threats such as Latios, Thundurus, and Serperior. It also does not really have great coverage outside of its STAB moves, leaving it easily checked by Pokemon that resist its STAB combination. Despite these flaws, Keldeo remains an offensive powerhouse that can wear down the opposing team with its powerful moves and great offensive stats, making it a threat that should always be prepared for.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Water Spout / Origin Pulse
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Scald / Origin Pulse
move 4: Vacuum Wave / Icy Wind / Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Specs / Life Orb
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is a devastatingly strong STAB move that allows Keldeo to break down many teams, especially in conjunction with Choice Specs. Origin Pulse is another powerful STAB move, that lets Keldeo 2HKO most threats with ease without needing to worry about its HP. Secret Sword is Keldeo's secondary STAB move and lets it hit specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Ferrothorn for more damage. Scald is Keldeo's secondary reliable Water-type STAB move of choice, letting Keldeo secure the KO on weakened Pokemon without dealing with the chances of missing. Scald is also able to cripple physical attackers with its high chance of inflicting burns. Vacuum Wave is a great STAB priority option that allows Keldeo to hit faster threats such as Excadrill under sand and Choice Scarf Magnezone and helps Keldeo against Speed ties with Terrakion. Finally, Icy Wind is a nice coverage option that lets Keldeo hit Grass-types and Dragon-types such as Serperior and Dragonite. Hidden Power Bug can be used to hit Psychic-types such as Celebi and Starmie.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs boosts Keldeo's damage output to incredible levels, making it able to 2HKO most of the metagame. Life Orb can also be run to allow Keldeo to switch moves, but the damage loss compared to Choice Specs is quite noticeable and the recoil can wear it down quickly. Additionally, Water Spout should never be used alongside Life Orb. The EVs are maxed out in Special Attack and Speed to increase Keldeo's offensive capabilities. A Timid nature is chosen to let Keldeo outspeed threats such as Mega Charizard X and Kyurem-B, allowing it to remain a threat to offensive teams.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo is a reliable wallbreaker, dismantling many powerful cores thanks to its powerful moves and high Special Attack. Keldeo can switch into resisted hits with ease due to its moderate bulk, but it should never be switched in on any attacks if you choose to run Water Spout. Keldeo is best utilized throughout the end of the match, as it can sweep through weakened teams once its checks and counters are gone. However, it can be used earlier on to break through defensive walls, allowing your other team members to sweep more easily. Try to eliminate faster threats such as Thundurus and Serperior that could potentially harm Keldeo before you try to sweep with it.
Team Options
========
Latios is a near-perfect partner for Keldeo, as it can deal with Keldeo's checks and counters such as Mega Venausaur, Slowbro, and Latias. Keldeo also deals with common Pursuit trappers like Weavile and Hoopa-U, while Latios can remove entry hazards and heal Keldeo with Healing Wish in return, allowing it to spam Water Spout more often. Bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Mega Venausaur and Gyarados can wall Keldeo extremely well, so it is recommended to run Pokemon that can beat them alongside Keldeo, such as Kyurem-B, Thundurus, and Mega Charizard Y. Tornadus-T is another great partner for Keldeo, as its Flying typing in conjunction with its amazing ability to pivot greatly helps Keldeo fend off Grass-type Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur and Celebi. Pursuit trappers such as Weavile and Tyranitar also work well with Keldeo, as they can trap Psychic-types such as Latios, Celebi, and Slowbro that can take one hit from Keldeo and potentially KO it. Heatran is another great Pokemon that works well with Keldeo, as it can deal with Keldeo's checks and counters such as Latias, Talonflame, and Mega Venusaur quite well. Heatran's typing also provides resistances to types such as Grass, Flying, and Psychic that Keldeo is weak to. This set can usually be run on more offensively oriented teams due to its capability of breaking down many defensive cores, that many offensive teams have a difficult time with.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Water Spout / Origin Pulse
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Origin Pulse / Scald
move 4: Icy Wind / Hidden Power Electric / Hidden Power Bug
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is a powerful move that is able to 2HKO almost the entire tier at its highest damage output, and it is a very good move with which to revenge kill weakened threats. Secret Sword is Keldeo's main Fighting-type STAB move, being able to hit specially defensive walls like Chansey and Tyranitar much harder than Keldeo's special moves. Origin Pulse is Keldeo's second STAB Water-type move that should be used if Keldeo is weakened and can no longer spam powerful Water Spouts. Scald is another Water-type STAB move that Keldeo can run to inflict burns, which weaken walls and cripple physical attackers. Icy Wind is a decent coverage option that allows Keldeo to hit Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Serperior and Dragonite super effectively, and it is a nice tool to lower the foe's Speed as well. Hidden Power Electric is another coverage option that lets Keldeo hit Water-type Pokemon such as Gyarados, Slowbro, Starmie, and Azumarill. Finally, Hidden Power Bug is a nice option that is not seen quite often and allows Keldeo to hit bulky Psychic-types such as Slowbro, Mega Slowbro, Latias, and Celebi super effectively.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf enables Keldeo to outspeed faster Pokemon such as Alakazam, Serperior, and Mega Diancie that would otherwise threaten to KO it, allowing it to revenge kill them more easily. The EVs are maxed out in Special Attack and Speed to strengthen Keldeo's offensive capabilities, while a Timid nature is chosen to outspeed as many threats as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Latios synergizes really well with Keldeo, as it can remove entry hazards and heal Keldeo with Healing Wish, allowing it to wallbreak more often with Water Spout. They can deal with each other's checks and counters, as Keldeo can take on Dark-type Pokemon while Latios deals with Psychic- and Grass-type Pokemon. Tornadus-T is another great partner for Keldeo, as its Flying typing combined with the ability to safely pivot with U-turn allows it to switch into Keldeo's checks and counters, such as Mega Venusaur and Starmie, multiple times thanks to Regenerator. Keldeo should be used on more offensive teams, as it can act as a useful check to most of the Pokemon that can threaten this playstyle, such as Terrakion and Gengar, although it can be run on balanced teams that need a check to opposing offensive teams. Depending on what it runs, Keldeo can be walled by Grass- and Dragon-types, so it prefers to be paired with Pokemon that can deal with them. For instance, Landorus-T and Kyurem-B are nice options due to their amazing offensive typings that have great synergy with Keldeo's typing. Psychic-types are also a pain for Keldeo to deal with, so running Dark-type Pokemon with Pursuit such as Tyranitar and Weavile is highly recommended, as they let Keldeo have an easier time wallbreaking. Grass-types like Serperior and Ferrothorn pair well with Keldeo as well, as they can deal with bulky Water-types such as Slowbro and Azumarill. Entry hazard removal is also useful, as hazards can weaken Keldeo quite quickly, which can decrease its offensive capabilities because it switches in and out quite often. Healing Wish support can also be essential from Pokemon such as Latias, Latios, and Jirachi, as it restores Keldeo's HP and allows Water Spout to deal more damage.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Scald
move 4: Secret Sword
item: Leftovers
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute works well with Calm Mind, as it secures Keldeo against attacks that have the potential to KO it and lets it set up much more easily. It also blocks crippling status conditions from Thunder Wave and Toxic, safeguards Keldeo from the popular Fake Out + Extreme Speed combination, and prevents Chansey from using Transform successfully. Calm Mind boosts Keldeo's wallbreaking capabilities to terrifying levels. It
also gives Keldeo surprising amounts of special bulk, letting it survive powerful attacks from strong Pokemon after a couple of boosts. Scald is itsKeldeo's Water-type STAB move of choice, as it possesses a high chance to burn the target, which works well in conjunction with the Special Defense boosts from Calm Mind. Secret Sword is the Fighting-type STAB move, letting Keldeo hit specially defensive walls and opposing Calm Mind users.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is the best item to be used on this set, as it can passively recover HP that can be used to create Substitutes, and it also increases Keldeo's longevity. However, a Salac Berry can also be used to boost Keldeo's Speed, which, in conjunction with Calm Mind boosts, can be extremely devastating, though it allows Keldeo to be easily revenge killed by priority users such as Talonflame and Mega Lopunny. The EVs are maxed out in Special Attack and Speed to maximize Keldeo's sweeping capabilities, and Timid is the chosen nature to let Keldeo outspeed as many Pokemon as possible, such as Kyurem-B and Mega Charizard X.
Usage Tips
========
Keldeo should only start setting up once its checks and counters are gone or extremely weakened, as it doesn't have any coverage moves to hit them. Keldeo can also be threatened by sound-based moves such as Sylveon's Boomburst and Mega Gardevoir's Hyper Voice, which can bypass Substitutes and OHKO Keldeo. Try to not let Keldeo be weakened too much, as it needs quite a bit of HP to create Substitutes and set up Calm Minds. This set can force many physical attackers out with the threat of Scald. It is also not threatened by passive Pokemon such as Chansey, Mega Sableye, and Klefki because Keldeo can set up on them. All these reasons combined allow Keldeo to easily find an opportunity to set up a Substitute and commence sweeping. However, Keldeo should not try to start setting up if the opposing team has a phazer or a priority user that can end Keldeo's sweep quite abruptly.
Team Options
========
Latios is a great option in conjunction with this set, as it checks many Pokemon that wall Keldeo such as Mega Venusaur, Celebi, Latias, and Slowbro, and it can also keep entry hazards off the field, giving Keldeo an easier time sweeping later on during the match. Flying-type Pokemon such as Thundurus and Landorus-T are also great partners for Keldeo, as they can deal with Grass-types like Mega Venusaur and Celebi that completely wall Keldeo. Dark-type Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Weavile are also good teammates that can Pursuit trap bulky Psychic-types that can wall Keldeo such as Latias and Slowbro. Hoopa-U is another Dark-type Pokemon that can break through bulky Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Meloetta easily. Assault Vest Metagross is also another Pursuit user that can be considered, as its great bulk allows it to Pursuit trap key threats such as Latios and Latias, while it is also able to deal with other threats such as Mega Diancie and Mega Venusaur. Fairy-type Pokemon such as Clefable and Klefki are also very useful, as they can deal with Dragon-types like Dragonite and Latias, which can both take Keldeo's STAB moves and threaten to KO it. A physical Thundurus set is another great team option that can break through bulky Water-types such as Gyarados, Mega Blastoise, and Azumarill quite easily, remedying Keldeo's lack of coverage for these Pokemon. This set can be used on more balanced teams, as it is one of the best stallbreakers in the metagame; however, it can be run on bulky offense teams as well. Entry hazard setters such as Heatran and Ferrothorn are recommended, as the entry hazards can weaken some of Keldeo's checks and counters, thus allowing it to sweep more easily and efficiently. Toxic Spikes setters such as Gengar and Scolipede are especially valued because Toxic Spikes can wear down bulky Pokemon such as Mega Slowbro and Porygon2, as Keldeo tends to stall behind Substitutes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Calm Mind set with three attacks gives Keldeo an extra coverage move such as Icy Wind or Hidden Power Bug to power through Pokemon that would otherwise be counters to it, such as Celebi and Latios. Vacuum Wave also goes well in the third attack slot, outprioritizing faster threats such as Sand Rush Excadrill and Choice Scarf Magnezone. However, Keldeo can easily be revenge killed due to the absence of Substitute. Taunt is another great move to shut down walls that rely on status moves to wear down the opposing Pokemon, increasing Keldeo's wallbreaking capabilities, but running Taunt amplifies Keldeo's four-moveslot syndrome. Keldeo can also run an effective Substitute set with Leftovers, and it can forego Calm Mind for a coverage move such as Icy Wind or Hidden Power Bug to better deal with its checks and counters. However, Keldeo does miss out on a lot of KOs without Life Orb, Choice Specs, or Calm Mind boosts. A RestTalk set in conjunction with two STAB moves allows Keldeo to have great longevity throughout the entire match due to Rest and still be threatening while asleep thanks to Sleep Talk. This set can greatly counter many Dark-type Pokemon such as Weavile and Tyranitar, and it allows Keldeo to break through Pokemon that rely on Toxic damage to wear down their foes. However, this set lacks power due to its reliance on Leftovers over an offensive item, which hampers its wallbreaking capabilities. Keldeo can also run Expert Belt, Splash Plate, or Fist Plate to forgo Life Orb recoil and Choice Specs restrictions, and these are great items to bluff which exact set it is running, although due to Keldeo's limited coverage, these items may be not utilized to their fullest capabilities. Aura Sphere and Focus Blast are other Fighting-type STAB options that Keldeo can run that have higher damage outputs than Secret Sword; however, these moves are generally never seen, as Secret Sword has the ability to take into account the target's Defense stat instead of Special Defense. Focus Blast is particularly unreliable due to its low accuracy.
Checks and Counters
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**Bulky Psychic-types**: Bulky Psychic-types such as Mega Slowbro, Latias, and Celebi are able to take any STAB move from Keldeo and threaten to KO it in return. This can be mitigated, however, if you decide to run Hidden Power Bug, but it still does not guarantee even a 2HKO on some of them. Pursuit trappers can also help with this issue, as they can usually weaken these Pokemon immensely before Keldeo confronts them again.
**Water-types**: Water-type Pokemon such as Azumarill, Mega Blastoise, Manaphy, and Gyarados can easily come in on any of Keldeo's Water-type attacks and threaten Keldeo with their respective coverage options. Running Hidden Power Electric can relieve this issue minimally, but having Grass-type Pokemon such as Serperior and Celebi to deal with them is usually the best way to counter these Pokemon.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Togekiss, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Diancie, and Sylveon resist Fighting-type moves and can threaten to KO Keldeo with their STAB attacks. Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir in particular can both deal with Calm Mind Keldeo due to their respective sound-based attacks, which bypass Substitute. Steel-type Pokemon such as Scizor and Ferrothorn are great options to deal with these threats.
**Flying-types**: Tornadus-T and Dragonite are both bulky enough to survive both of Keldeo's STAB options and can threaten to KO it with their respective Flying-type moves. However, they need to be wary if Keldeo decides to run Icy Wind, which can lower their Speed and allows Keldeo to KO them.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior can deal with Keldeo quite easily, due to their resisting Water-type attacks and Mega Venusaur's resisting Fighting-type attacks as well. Flying-type Pokemon like Thundurus and Landorus-T are both great teammates that threaten Grass-types in general.
**Fast Electric-types**: Fast Electric-types such as Thundurus, Raikou, and Mega Manectric can threaten to KO Keldeo if it lacks Vacuum Wave. Thundurus is especially threatening, as it resists Fighting-type moves and can deal with Choice Scarf Keldeo with priority Thunder Wave.
**Priority Users**: Keldeo does not appreciate priority users such as Talonflame, Mega Lopunny, and Ursaring, as they can severely weaken it, decreasing the power of its Water Spout.
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