[OVERVIEW]
Although Uxie is mostly overlooked in favor of its bulkier Psychic-type cousin Cresselia, it can act as a useful pivot and Stealth Rock user, which is enough to earn a niche. Its enormous supportive movepool, which features Yawn, U-turn, Memento, Knock Off, and Thunder Wave, makes it a very versatile Pokemon that can freely choose moves and EV spreads to accommodate its team's weaknesses. A high Speed stat for a defensive Pokemon allows it to potentially outspeed several threats to beat them with ease, such as Toxicroak, Roserade, and Nidoqueen. Uxie fits on offensive and bulky offensive teams that need a Fighting- and Poison-type counter that can avoid passivity issues, unlike Cresselia. Its ability to facilitate setup from the likes of Barbaracle and Linoone also makes it a great pick on these archetypes. Its great ability in Levitate can let it switch into dangerous Ground-types like Flygon, Torterra, and Nidoqueen and hit them with an attack, put them to sleep, or set up Stealth Rock in their faces. It also has a great matchup against opposing offensive teams, as it is able to quickly disrupt their momentum with Yawn and U-turn. However, despite having Yawn and U-turn to combat its passivity, Uxie's mediocre and uninvested Special Attack means its attacks are still very weak, which is an issue against Pokemon that don't mind being put to sleep, like Snorlax and Calm Mind Cresselia. Although base 130 / 130 defenses are amazing, they are let down by its slightly mediocre HP stat. This makes it more vulnerable to moves such as Pursuit compared to Cresselia. Most importantly, however, despite its extensive movepool, Uxie has no way to reliably recover its HP. This makes it very hard to consistently check the threats it's supposed to throughout the entire match. Although Wiki Berry slightly alleviates this, it makes Uxie much more inconsistent on bulkier teams, where Cresselia is preferred and its passivity can be accommodated.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Yawn
move 4: U-turn / Memento
item: Wiki Berry / Colbur Berry
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is a necessity on every team and extremely important to chip at the opposing team's Pokemon. Psyshock is Uxie's STAB move because its important targets have lower physical bulk; it 2HKOes Virizion, Dragalge, and Assault Vest Machamp as well as OHKOing Roserade after Life Orb recoil. Yawn forces switches against most Pokemon, and combined with U-turn or Memento, it will often give you the upper hand. Even if the opposing Pokemon stays in, you can use this opportunity to set up or KO it. Yawn also prevents Uxie from being setup fodder to dangerous Pokemon such as Barbaracle and makes it a great emergency check to Pokemon that have already set up, like a +2 Pangoro and +1 Raikou. It also takes advantage of Uxie's Stealth Rock, as the opponent will be constantly switching. U-turn allows Uxie to pivot out to teammates easily. It is particularly effective if it has used Yawn beforehand, as you'll be able to switch in whichever Pokemon has an advantageous matchup versus the opposing Pokemon. Memento is useful on offensive teams with teammates that appreciate easy setup, like Linoone, Barbaracle, and Zygarde-10%, although it should only be used once their checks have been whittled down. Memento can be used with U-turn on a team with another Stealth Rock user like Nidoqueen to maintain Uxie's pivoting abilities and offensive support.
Knock Off is a useful support move to remove key items such as Registeel's Leftovers, Zygarde-10%'s Choice Band, Metagross's Shuca Berry or Choice Band, and Slowking's Assault Vest. If running Knock Off, Uxie should run Zen Headbutt in conjunction with a Jolly nature. This allows it to 2HKO Mismagius with Knock Off and deal annoying damage to other Ghost-types, particularly Hoopa and Alolan Marowak, which are slower than it. Additionally, it powers up U-turn, which could be useful against Dark-type threats like Umbreon and Sneasel. However, Ghost-types are not particularly common in RU, most Dark-types sport a Bug neutrality, switching into Scald from the likes of Slowking becomes much less feasible, and Uxie is left vulnerable to Will-O-Wisp users like Rotom-C and Torkoal. Thunder Wave can be used over Yawn to slow down threats immediately. However, slower threats like Escavalier, Alolan Marowak, and Diancie tend to not mind paralysis as much, and it is much less effective against Electric- and Ground-types, like Raikou, Mega Ampharos, Flygon, and Rhyperior. Most importantly, though, Thunder Wave cannot force as many switches as Yawn.
Set Details
========
Wiki Berry provides a burst of recovery once Uxie's HP drops below 25%. This is useful because Uxie will often be switching into attacks and taking Stealth Rock damage. The 50% recovery drastically improves its longevity and helps it check Pokemon like Medicham throughout the game. Alternatively, Colbur Berry can serve as a safety net against Knock Off and Pursuit users like Toxicroak and Escavalier. However, Uxie does not appreciate not having any recovery to speak of. The given EV spread has enough Speed investment to outspeed Roserade and OHKO it with Psyshock after a round of Life Orb damage, with the remainder of the EVs put in Defense to tank attacks from Fighting-types such as Virizion. However, there are many other EV spreads that Uxie can use to better support specific teams. For example, if Roserade is not an issue for the team it's on, it can lower its Speed investment to 176 EVs to outspeed Toxicroak. Other important speed benchmarks include Timid and Modest Nidoqueen and Emboar, Medicham, Adamant Honchkrow, and Taunt + Toxic Mandibuzz. Special Defense investment can also be used if Uxie's primary goal is to check Poison-types such as Roserade, Dragalge, and Nidoqueen rather than Fighting-types. Levitate is Uxie's only ability, and it helps Uxie switch into Ground-types like Flygon and Nidoqueen with ease.
Usage Tips
========
Prioritize setting up Stealth Rock early-game. Because Uxie forces many switches, the earlier you can set it, the more damage will rack up on the opposing Pokemon. Due to Uxie's access to U-turn and solid matchup against opposing Stealth Rock users, it can function as a consistent lead. Later, Uxie can function as a pivot by switching into moves it resists. Its high bulk can also let it sponge neutral and even some weak super effective attacks, but remember that Uxie has no reliable recovery, so this should be avoided unless Uxie has done its job and isn't necessary anymore. At this point, Uxie can start to disrupt the opponent's momentum with Yawn and U-turn. Try to predict if the opponent will switch to a Dark-type or Pursuit trapper like Drapion, Pangoro, or Escavalier and escape the situation by using U-turn. Alternatively, if running Colbur Berry, Uxie can surprise Pursuit trappers by staying in and using Yawn, forcing them into a mind game of trapping and eliminating Uxie and letting themselves get put to sleep or switching and letting Uxie continue to annoy the opponent. Yawn should be used to force switches and cripple setup sweepers, forcing them to forgo their boosts or stay in and fall asleep. However, you shouldn't spam Yawn, as the opponent might just use one of their Pokemon as sleep fodder and make Uxie a lot less threatening. Uxie shouldn't be played too recklessly or use Memento if the opponent still has Poison- or Fighting-types left, as it would prefer to have high HP to switch into and beat them easily.
Team Options
========
Setup sweepers, like Dragon Dance Zygarde, Linoone, Barbaracle, and Slurpuff, appreciate Uxie's ability to bait in passive Pokemon, disrupt momentum, set up Stealth Rock, and grant setup opportunities. Additionally, these Pokemon can set up on Pokemon locked into Pursuit, like Choice Band Drapion and Choice Band Escavalier, and help patch up Uxie's passive nature. Fairy-types like Florges, Slurpuff, and Comfey and Fighting-types like Toxicroak, Virizion, and Bewear can beat the Dark-types Uxie struggles with and switch into some Bug-types like Yanmega, Vikavolt, and Golisopod. Entry hazard setters such as Roserade, Mega Glalie, and Golisopod benefit from Uxie's ability to force switches, racking up substantial damage on the opposing Pokemon. Other U-turn or Volt Switch users, like Flygon and Raikou, can form a VoltTurn core with Uxie. Normal- and Dark-types like Porygon2 and Drapion can switch into the Ghost-types that trouble Uxie. Frail wallbreakers such as Medicham, Roserade, and Swellow, appreciate the slow U-turn support for a free switch in.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Uxie has quite a broad support movepool, featuring rare and unique moves with different applications. For example, Imprison can block foes' Stealth Rock, U-turn, or Knock Off. However, it is mostly situational. Heal Bell lets Uxie act as a cleric for its team. Magic Coat can also prevent Stealth Rock from being set and bounce back annoying moves such as Toxic and Taunt. Toxic improves Uxie's matchup against walls like Cresselia and Porygon2, which it is completely helpless against otherwise. A combination of Protect + Leftovers can let Uxie passively recover health throughout the match, as well as scouting for dangerous coverage, Z-Moves, and Pursuit. However, Protect takes away an important moveslot, and the quick recovery Wiki Berry offers is usually better for Uxie, as it will likely be switching a lot, making passive recovery less effective. Uxie can opt to run several coverage options to hit some of its counters. For example, Ice Punch can be used to hit Pokemon 4x weak to Ice, particularly Zygarde-10%, but also Noivern, Torterra, and Flygon. Hidden Power Fire can be used to 2HKO Escavalier, Mega Abomasnow, and Forretress after Stealth Rock damage and hits Steelix for decent damage. Fire Punch is also an option that 2HKOes Escavalier and Mega Abomasnow without the need for Stealth Rock, although it does considerably less damage against Forretress and Steelix. Dazzling Gleam has a chance to OHKO Pangoro after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes. Grass Knot hits Water-types, which makes setting Stealth Rock safer against Mega Blastoise. However, Uxie’s lacking offenses mean these moves can become a wasted moveslot if their targets are not present. Psychic's higher Base Power than Psyshock comes in handy against Bewear, although it fails to do as much damage to most other Fighting- and Poison-types like Virizion, making it mostly outclassed. A dual screens set can be used on hyper offense teams to support setup sweepers such as Espeon, Barbaracle, and Linoone, differentiating itself from other screens setters like Meowstic-M and Electrode thanks to its rare access to Memento. Uxie can also dedicate itself to set Trick Room to support slow sweepers like Guts Machamp, Mega Abomasnow, and Alolan Marowak. However, Trick Room is easily stalled out by most balanced and bulky offensive teams, making it a mediocre archetype overall.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Pokemon like Drapion, Sneasel, and Pangoro can switch into Uxie's Psychic STAB attacks due to their immunity and set up or heavily damage it with a super effective STAB Knock Off. If Uxie opts for Colbur Berry, however, it can easily take a hit and escape. Additionally, most need to watch out for Yawn and U-turn.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers**: Due to Uxie's lacking offenses, setup sweepers that don't mind being put to sleep like Snorlax or can avoid it via Substitute like Raikou and Hoopa can easily set up in front of Uxie. However, Hoopa needs to watch out for Knock Off, which has a chance to OHKO it after Stealth Rock.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types such as Mismagius, Hoopa, Alolan Marowak, and Mega Banette can hit Uxie super effectively or set up on it. Knock Off significantly improves Uxie's matchup against these Pokemon, however.
**Pursuit**: Pursuit from the likes of Honchkrow, Drapion, and Escavalier can heavily damage or outright KO an Uxie trying to switch. However, Colbur Berry significantly lowers the damage taken.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[zizalith,410251]]
- Quality checked by: [[Averardo,409096], [roman,396169], [CryoGyro,331519]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack,232216], [Fireflame479,231476]]
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