[Overview]
It's just a revamp, so a lot of the old analysis will be included with some minor tweaking here and there.
Xatu
[SET]
name: Totem Pole (Standard)
move 1: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Heat Wave / Reflect
item: Leftovers
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[OTHER OPTIONS]
It's just a revamp, so a lot of the old analysis will be included with some minor tweaking here and there.
Xatu
- Excellent ability in Magic Bounce allows it to ward off non attacking move such as stealth rock making it act like a pseudo-spinner
- Great support move pool allows xatu to take full advantage of its ability and utilize its strengths
- Acceptable typing, giving it 4x resistance to fighting attacks makes xatu a decent check to choiced fighting type attackers
- Decent speed and attacking stats makes sure xatu isn't complete set up and can dish out a little bit of damage
- Reliable healing move in roost allows xatu to maintain longevity throughout the match
- Quite frail even with investment 65/70/70 is awful and even with max investment it has a hard time taking repeated attacks
- Often competes with espeon for a team slot, as espeon is a more offensive alternative
- Pursuit weakness is awful. Tyranitar and scizor can come in and either KO it or trap it.
- Often used as set up bait, having attack stats doesn't stop bulky substitute mons from doing a number on it
[SET]
name: Totem Pole (Standard)
move 1: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Heat Wave / Reflect
item: Leftovers
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
- Standard set, bounce backs hazards, destroy hazards setters, heals and spread status
- Heatwave destroys common hazard setters such as ferrothorn and forretress but should only be used if xatu is on a sun team
- Roost provides reliable healing through out the match and insures xatu does its job
- U-turn allows xatu to maintain momentum for its team and can escape a pursuit mon
- Toxic breaks down walls that can't do shit to xatu
- Thunder wave cripples speedy sweepers attempting to set up on it
- Reflect allows xatu to escape from tyranitar's or scizor's pursuit
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Ev's more focused on defense
- Focus on defense becuase that's were xatu's best resistances comes in
- Bold nature for a more powerful heatwave
- Toss up between status moves depends on what your team needs most
- Offensive moves fall in the same category as above
- Ninetails is a great partner as it allows a more powerful heatwave
- Fits well on sun team in general
- Works well in conjunction with terrakion
- Heatran doesn't give a shit about any of it's moves
- Night shade can be used to provide consistent damage through out the match
- Xatu can invest 56 speed evs in order to outrun Adamant breloom if your team is desperate for a counter
[OTHER OPTIONS]
- Xatu can run a dual screens set with reflect/light screen/u-turn/tailwind. It's the only viable DS user with tailwind giving it a niche but it's
generally outclassed and faces stiff competition with other psychic types like azelf, gothitelle, espeon, or deoxys-d - Xatu can use HP fire for more accuracy, but the power level is just so off putting.
- HP fighting could be used to dent tyranitar and heatran but those are two things you wouldn't want to stay into, to begin with
- Wish could help teammates but with only a 65 base HP it's not gonna help out too much
- Foul play and giga drain are two alternative attacking options, but there generally isn't room for either
- Feather dance could be used to weaken physical attackers, but it's a gimmick at best
- Haze allows xatu to nullify stat boost making it a great option
- A scarf or specs set can be used with trick for the surprise factory but generally has no use outside of that
- Finally swagger and confuse ray can be used in conjunction with T-wave to be extra annoying
- Tyranitar can take anything xatu attempts and either destroy it with stab attacks or pursuit trap it
- Alternatively, scizor can do the same hing but must watch out for heat wave
- Thunderus-T is immune to t-wave and can set up on xatu or destroy it
- Landorus-T just like thunderus can set up and kill it, but it has to watch out for toxic.
- If xatu lacks heat wave steel types make pretty good counters
- Most notable steel type is heatran who's immune to heat wave and can wear xatu out.