[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Roar
move 4: Earth Power / Stealth Rock / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Both Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor have merit as Dialga's STAB option; Dragon Pulse gives consistent damage output against various targets, but Draco Meteor nets an OHKO on Giratina-O and Latios after Stealth Rock damage. Dragon Claw can also be used with a Sassy nature to better handle Calm Mind Latias and net a bit more chip damage on Blissey, but the move has no other targets. Thunder is mandatory to damage Kyogre, which is the main threat Dialga is tasked to handle. Roar allows Dialga to rack up entry hazard damage on its checks multiple times and single-handedly reverses the positive matchup that defensive teams typically enjoy against rain offense. Dialga has a number of options for the last moveslot; Earth Power is a generally solid coverage option against opposing Dialga, Jirachi, and Heatran, while Protect stalls turns for extra Leftovers recovery. This enables Dialga to more reliably avoid the 2HKO from attacks such as Latios's Draco Meteor and Mewtwo's Life Orb Aura Sphere. Stealth Rock can be used if no other member of Dialga's team can fit it, but it is generally best to use another Stealth Rock user such as Bronzong. Toxic can be used to put some of Dialga's switch-ins on a timer, and it also enables it to more quickly overcome Ludicolo, a Pokemon that is otherwise incredibly annoying for rain offense teams to handle. Thunder Wave can support slower wallbreakers like Choice Specs Kyogre, but it does not bother most of Dialga's common switch-ins.
Set Details
========
A simple specially defensive EV spread enables Dialga to handle Kyogre and other miscellaneous special attackers. Generally, you should not deviate from this spread, as Dialga only barely avoids the 2HKO from attacks such as Latios's Draco Meteor with maximum investment. However, the EV spread of 252 HP / 16 SpA / 240 SpD with a Modest nature can be opted for if better damage output is desired.
Usage Tips
========
Proper management of Dialga's HP is important, as it has no reliable recovery and is quite easily worn down by most offensive threats in Ubers. This is especially crucial for Stealth Rock variants, which are incredibly vulnerable to chip damage on the turn they set Stealth Rock. For this reason, immediately attacking opposing support Dialga with Earth Power, Dragon Pulse, or Draco Meteor is quite important in the hyper offense mirror matchup. Similarly, when facing Kyogre, consider using Thunder over Roar or Stealth Rock; many rain offense teams struggle to break a healthy defensive Dialga without directly trading and will therefore attack it directly. If Dialga has Stealth Rock, try to find relatively safe opportunities to set up against foes such as a lead Kyogre Choice-locked into Thunder. Otherwise, use Roar to rack up entry hazard damage on predicted switches; with multiple layers of hazards, even extremely bulky walls like Blissey can be broken through.
Team Options
========
A Spikes user is nigh mandatory as a partner, given Dialga's propensity to phaze switch-ins and lure in grounded checks such as Groudon. Lead Choice Scarf Deoxys-S is the most consistent Spiker in the metagame and can also paralyze opposing Dialga and Giratina-O, enabling Dialga to check them more effectively. It also enables Dialga to beat stall teams centered around Toxic Spikes by giving lead Tentacruel a Choice Scarf while getting multiple layers of entry hazards to facilitate Dialga's phazing. A few other possible Spikers are Forretress, Skarmory, Qwilfish, lead Deoxys-A, and Froslass. In a similar vein, a spinblocker is a mandatory teammate to maintain the presence of Spikes and Stealth Rock; Giratina-O is typically the best option, as it is resilient to hazards itself and can check Groudon for Dialga. Finally, Bronzong checks specially offensive Dragon-types while not stacking weaknesses with Dialga; the core of Dialga, Giratina-O, Bronzong, and Kyogre together forms the most dominant archetype in the metagame. Besides these nigh mandatory inclusions, a sleep absorber can be a useful teammate. Dialga is hopelessly shut down by Darkrai's Dark Void, which can lead to disastrous situations if it is the team's primary answer to dangerous threats such as Kyogre. Such sleep absorbers can range from bulky RestTalk users like the aforementioned Kyogre to Choice Scarf users equipped with Sleep Talk, such as Garchomp. While it's not mandatory on offensive teams, Dialga appreciates a secondary switch-in to Kyogre, as it can be overwhelmed by Choice Specs and Calm Mind + Thunder Wave variants. Latios and Latias can pivot into Choice Specs Kyogre's Water Spout as well as miscellaneous Ground-type attacks. Palkia is another possible auxiliary Kyogre check, and it can absorb Thunder Wave once if it's carrying a Lum Berry. However, it is prone to being worn down by hazards far more easily than Latias.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mashing.537354/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/susciety.457308/
Gramar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
name: Support
move 1: Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Roar
move 4: Earth Power / Stealth Rock / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Both Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor have merit as Dialga's STAB option; Dragon Pulse gives consistent damage output against various targets, but Draco Meteor nets an OHKO on Giratina-O and Latios after Stealth Rock damage. Dragon Claw can also be used with a Sassy nature to better handle Calm Mind Latias and net a bit more chip damage on Blissey, but the move has no other targets. Thunder is mandatory to damage Kyogre, which is the main threat Dialga is tasked to handle. Roar allows Dialga to rack up entry hazard damage on its checks multiple times and single-handedly reverses the positive matchup that defensive teams typically enjoy against rain offense. Dialga has a number of options for the last moveslot; Earth Power is a generally solid coverage option against opposing Dialga, Jirachi, and Heatran, while Protect stalls turns for extra Leftovers recovery. This enables Dialga to more reliably avoid the 2HKO from attacks such as Latios's Draco Meteor and Mewtwo's Life Orb Aura Sphere. Stealth Rock can be used if no other member of Dialga's team can fit it, but it is generally best to use another Stealth Rock user such as Bronzong. Toxic can be used to put some of Dialga's switch-ins on a timer, and it also enables it to more quickly overcome Ludicolo, a Pokemon that is otherwise incredibly annoying for rain offense teams to handle. Thunder Wave can support slower wallbreakers like Choice Specs Kyogre, but it does not bother most of Dialga's common switch-ins.
Set Details
========
A simple specially defensive EV spread enables Dialga to handle Kyogre and other miscellaneous special attackers. Generally, you should not deviate from this spread, as Dialga only barely avoids the 2HKO from attacks such as Latios's Draco Meteor with maximum investment. However, the EV spread of 252 HP / 16 SpA / 240 SpD with a Modest nature can be opted for if better damage output is desired.
Usage Tips
========
Proper management of Dialga's HP is important, as it has no reliable recovery and is quite easily worn down by most offensive threats in Ubers. This is especially crucial for Stealth Rock variants, which are incredibly vulnerable to chip damage on the turn they set Stealth Rock. For this reason, immediately attacking opposing support Dialga with Earth Power, Dragon Pulse, or Draco Meteor is quite important in the hyper offense mirror matchup. Similarly, when facing Kyogre, consider using Thunder over Roar or Stealth Rock; many rain offense teams struggle to break a healthy defensive Dialga without directly trading and will therefore attack it directly. If Dialga has Stealth Rock, try to find relatively safe opportunities to set up against foes such as a lead Kyogre Choice-locked into Thunder. Otherwise, use Roar to rack up entry hazard damage on predicted switches; with multiple layers of hazards, even extremely bulky walls like Blissey can be broken through.
Team Options
========
A Spikes user is nigh mandatory as a partner, given Dialga's propensity to phaze switch-ins and lure in grounded checks such as Groudon. Lead Choice Scarf Deoxys-S is the most consistent Spiker in the metagame and can also paralyze opposing Dialga and Giratina-O, enabling Dialga to check them more effectively. It also enables Dialga to beat stall teams centered around Toxic Spikes by giving lead Tentacruel a Choice Scarf while getting multiple layers of entry hazards to facilitate Dialga's phazing. A few other possible Spikers are Forretress, Skarmory, Qwilfish, lead Deoxys-A, and Froslass. In a similar vein, a spinblocker is a mandatory teammate to maintain the presence of Spikes and Stealth Rock; Giratina-O is typically the best option, as it is resilient to hazards itself and can check Groudon for Dialga. Finally, Bronzong checks specially offensive Dragon-types while not stacking weaknesses with Dialga; the core of Dialga, Giratina-O, Bronzong, and Kyogre together forms the most dominant archetype in the metagame. Besides these nigh mandatory inclusions, a sleep absorber can be a useful teammate. Dialga is hopelessly shut down by Darkrai's Dark Void, which can lead to disastrous situations if it is the team's primary answer to dangerous threats such as Kyogre. Such sleep absorbers can range from bulky RestTalk users like the aforementioned Kyogre to Choice Scarf users equipped with Sleep Talk, such as Garchomp. While it's not mandatory on offensive teams, Dialga appreciates a secondary switch-in to Kyogre, as it can be overwhelmed by Choice Specs and Calm Mind + Thunder Wave variants. Latios and Latias can pivot into Choice Specs Kyogre's Water Spout as well as miscellaneous Ground-type attacks. Palkia is another possible auxiliary Kyogre check, and it can absorb Thunder Wave once if it's carrying a Lum Berry. However, it is prone to being worn down by hazards far more easily than Latias.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mashing.537354/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/seldanna.471586/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/inspirited.127823/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/susciety.457308/
Gramar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adorluigi.528364/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
