Xatu
[Overview]
<p>Xatu is a weird Pokemon; its stats and typing suck, but its ability, Magic Bounce, is one of the best abilities in the game, which makes it undeniably the best Deoxys-D counter available. This, combined with good moves such as Roost, Heat Wave, and U-turn, allows Xatu to fulfill a specific niche in OU. Xatu acts as a pseudo-spinner that doesn't kill your momentum, as it doesn't need to waste one turn to use Rapid Spin, and also has U-turn to keep up the pace. For this reason, Xatu works best in offensive teams that detest entry hazards, especially sun offense. What's more, is that Xatu has a typing suited to taking hits from most entry hazard users in OU, such as Ferrothorn, Deoxys-D, and Forretress, coupled with passable defenses and reliable recovery. This means that it can live long enough to outlast opposing entry hazard users, making it a decent option for more defensive teams that have a way to deal with Pokemon that can both set up entry hazards and beat Xatu, such as Terrakion and Tyranitar. Outside of its niche Xatu sucks though, as it is too frail for a defensive Pokemon, lacks significant offensive pressure (often making it setup bait), has a Pursuit weakness, and competes with Espeon for a team slot, as Espeon is a more offensive alternative that is much better at setting up dual screens. As long as you stick to Xatu's niche, which is countering Deoxys-D, and preventing entry hazards for certain kinds of teams, mainly sun offense, you won't be disappointed.</p>
[SET]
name: Totem Pole (Standard)
move 1: Toxic / Thunder Wave
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Heat Wave / Reflect
item: Leftovers
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Xatu's bread and butter set. Xatu has only a few, very important jobs to perform:bouncing back hazards, beating hazard setters, healing, spreading status, and U-turning out from dangerous situations. The most important move in this set is the status move of your choice, because it decides what Pokemon Xatu will be able to threaten. With Toxic, Xatu deals with defensive Pokemon and common entry hazard setters, namely Deoxys-D, Tyranitar, Blissey, Hippowdon, and Donphan, as well as some offensive Pokemon that are unaffected by Thunder Wave, with Garchomp and Thundurus-T being the most notable. On the other hand, with Thunder Wave, Xatu can cripple any overzealous special attacker, and offensive Pokemon in general, that tries to switch into it, such as Latios, Tornadus-T, Terrakion, Gengar, and Keldeo. U-turn is a wonderful move on Xatu and allows it to keep the offensive pressure, as well as escape from Pursuit users if it hits them on the switch. Roost provides reliable healing throughout the game and ensures Xatu does its job while also allowing it to act as a decent stallbreaker. Heat Wave destroys common entry hazard setters, such as Ferrothorn, Forretress, and Skarmory, and is recommended if Xatu is going to be in a sun team. If not running a sun team, Reflect is a fine alternative, as it enables Xatu to escape from Tyranitar and Scizor's Pursuit, while helping its team take physical hits too.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are focused towards increasing physical bulk because most entry hazard setters hit from the physical side, and Xatu's resistances are better suited for taking physical hits. 56 Speed EVs are used to get the jump on maximum Speed Adamant Breloom, which you OHKO with Heat Wave under sun. If outspeeding Breloom is not of importance, then Xatu can use a Relaxed nature and 16 Speed IVs, in order to be slower than uninvested Heatran. By being slower, Xatu can switch into Heatran, prevent any attempt to set up Stealth Rock, take another hit, and use U-turn to bring in safely a teammate that can deal with Heatran. If you use Heat Wave, use a Bold nature, but otherwise go with an Impish nature to keep U-turn as powerful as possible. Psychic can be used in the last slot to have a STAB move that hits certain targets hard, such as Gengar, Tentacruel, Keldeo, and Breloom, but is generally inferior to Heat Wave, which lets you handle most entry hazard setters with greater ease. Night Shade is also an option to provide consistent damage throughout the match, and still allows Xatu to deal with most entry hazard users, as long as they are not Steel-types with recovery and you have Toxic. As for item choices, Rocky Helmet is an item you may want to consider on Xatu. It helps break Dragonite's Multiscale, which is very helpful for sun teams, as well as harassing any physical attacker that Xatu is trying to take on.</p>
<p>Ninetales is a great partner, as it gives Xatu pseudo-STAB on Heat Wave, allowing it to beat entry hazard setters even more easily, as well as granting a better offensive presence in general. In addition, Ninetales and the sweepers that usually accompany it hate Stealth Rock, so Xatu obviously helps in this regard. Terrakion works well with Xatu, as it beats problematic Pokemon for Xatu, such as Heatran, Thundurus-T, Genesect, and Tyranitar. Heatran in particular is very threatening to Xatu, as it can take anything Xatu throws at it, force Xatu out, and set up Stealth Rock. For this reason, Dugtrio is another good teammate that eliminates any Heatran that dares to come into Xatu, as Xatu safely brings in Dugtrio with U-turn. It also traps Tyranitar, which is vital for any sun team that Xatu might possibly be in.If not using a sun team, Choice Scarf Rotom-W is a handy partner for Xatu, as it can outspeed and OHKO Pokemon that can OHKO-2HKO Xatu and from there set up Stealth Rock, such as Terrakion, Heatran, and Landorus-T.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Xatu can run a dual screen set with Reflect / Light Screen / U-turn / Tailwind. It's the only viable user with Tailwind, but it's generally outclassed and faces stiff competition from other Psychic-types, such as Azelf, Gothitelle, Espeon, and Deoxys-D. Hidden Power Fire is an option, if one is paranoid about missing with Heat Wave, but the power loss is big. Hidden Power Fighting can be used to hit Tyranitar hard, and to do some meaningful damage to Heatran, but those are two Pokemon Xatu wouldn't want to stay in on anyway. Haze is actually a decent move for Xatu, as it prevents any stat-boosting setup, so the worst that can happen is for Xatu to get KOed, which is not such a big deal if it has already done its job. Wish is an option that allows Xatu to act as even more of a team player, but its low HP stat and the fact that it can't afford to waste two moveslots for recovery make it a subpar move. Confuse Ray can be used in conjunction with Thunder Wave to form the annoying parafusion combo, but it is too luck-reliant to be anything more than a gimmick. Finally, a set utilizing Choice Scarf or Choice Specs can be used with Trick for surprise factor, but has no use outside of that.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Dealing with Xatu is not particularly hard, as any Pokemon that doesn't fear status moves and Heat Wave and can either hit hard or set up with stat boosting moves is a good counter. Also, any Pokemon that prevents Xatu from doing its primary job, keeping hazards off the field, can be considered a threat to Xatu. Heatran is the best way to deal with Xatu, as it is immune to Toxic and Heat Wave and most sets don't care about Thunder Wave, not to mention being able to threaten Xatu with its STAB Fire-type moves. The fact that it can force Xatu out and set up Stealth Rock makes it even more of a threat to Xatu's team. Beware though, because Xatu usually spams U-turn, and Dugtrio is a common partner to Xatu, which Heatran detests. Terrakion with Stealth Rock is another sworn enemy of Xatu, as Xatu cannot prevent it from setting up Stealth Rock, in fear of STAB Stone Edge. Tyranitar is one the best ways to deal with Xatu, as it can trap it with Pursuit and render any attempts to flee with U-turn futile. Tyranitar has the same problem as Heatran though: a weakness to Dugtrio. Scizor can do a similar job to Tyranitar, by trapping Xatu with Pursuit, but only attempt this if you are sure that Xatu lacks Heat Wave, which would destroy Scizor. Thundurus-T is immune to Thunder Wave, doesn't care a lot about Toxic, and can set up on Xatu or outright OHKO it. Landorus-T is also immune to Thunder Wave and can 2HKO Xatu with Stone Edge, making it one of the few Stealth Rock setters that can beat Xatu, but has to beware of Toxic. If Xatu lacks Heat Wave, most Steel-types can handle it fine, but the fight will become a stalemate, because neither can damage the other.</p>