[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Teleport / U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Heat Wave
item: No Item / Rocky Helmet
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
In a metagame where Stealth Rock and Spikes stacking is key, Xatu excels at its role of using its excellent ability and great defensive typing to take on many entry hazard setters like Bronzong, Steelix, and Seismitoad. Access to Teleport, U-turn, and Roost gives Xatu plenty of utility options at its disposal and lets it reliably function as a defensive pivot. Teleport provides negative priority and is useful against foes that can pivot in and check it like Goodra and Drapion, while U-turn prevents Xatu from getting chipped later on. However, if its pivoting role isn't required, Grass Knot can be used instead to pressure common Stealth Rock setters that threaten it like Rhyperior as well as other Pokemon like Golurk and Gastrodon. Heat Wave is Xatu's only way to weaken non-Heatproof Bronzong and Steelix. Becoming itemless makes Xatu less prone to Poltergeist users like Dhelmise and Golurk; however, it should be noted that Golurk can run Shadow Punch or Stone Edge to bypass this. Rocky Helmet is a good option to chip pivots that try to gain momentum like Passimian and offensive Silvally-Fairy, as well as chipping entry hazard setters like Bronzong, Steelix, and Copperajah. 60 Speed EVs let Xatu outspeed Jolly Bewear.
Offensive pivots like Passimian, Heliolisk, and Inteleon appreciate a field clear of entry hazards so they can pivot more freely. Passimian can pressure Dark-types that often give Xatu trouble like Scrafty and Drapion. Heliolisk can threaten entry hazard setters that force Xatu out like Druddigon, Seismitoad, and Rhyperior if Xatu isn't running Grass Knot for the latter two, while Xatu can pressure Pokemon like Steelix and Bronzong for it. Moreover, Xatu can form a VoltTurn core with U-turn or Teleport to bring the aforementioned pivots in safely. Meanwhile, defensive pivots, such as Vaporeon and Vileplume, appreciate the entry hazard prevention so that they can comfortably switch into the Pokemon they should check. Stealth Rock setters outside of Seismitoad tend to be good partners for Xatu, as they can check Electric-types like Heliolisk and Vikavolt that can either use it for momentum or set up Sticky Web, predicting it to switch out. Steelix and Gigalith are prime examples of this, as well as other Pokemon like Snorlax. Slow wallbreakers like Dragalge, Exploud, and Bewear pair well with Xatu when running Teleport, as it can bring them in safely so they can wallbreak.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[PA, 430787]]
- Quality checked by: [[Juno, 444224], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
name: Defensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Teleport / U-turn
move 3: Roost
move 4: Heat Wave
item: No Item / Rocky Helmet
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
In a metagame where Stealth Rock and Spikes stacking is key, Xatu excels at its role of using its excellent ability and great defensive typing to take on many entry hazard setters like Bronzong, Steelix, and Seismitoad. Access to Teleport, U-turn, and Roost gives Xatu plenty of utility options at its disposal and lets it reliably function as a defensive pivot. Teleport provides negative priority and is useful against foes that can pivot in and check it like Goodra and Drapion, while U-turn prevents Xatu from getting chipped later on. However, if its pivoting role isn't required, Grass Knot can be used instead to pressure common Stealth Rock setters that threaten it like Rhyperior as well as other Pokemon like Golurk and Gastrodon. Heat Wave is Xatu's only way to weaken non-Heatproof Bronzong and Steelix. Becoming itemless makes Xatu less prone to Poltergeist users like Dhelmise and Golurk; however, it should be noted that Golurk can run Shadow Punch or Stone Edge to bypass this. Rocky Helmet is a good option to chip pivots that try to gain momentum like Passimian and offensive Silvally-Fairy, as well as chipping entry hazard setters like Bronzong, Steelix, and Copperajah. 60 Speed EVs let Xatu outspeed Jolly Bewear.
Offensive pivots like Passimian, Heliolisk, and Inteleon appreciate a field clear of entry hazards so they can pivot more freely. Passimian can pressure Dark-types that often give Xatu trouble like Scrafty and Drapion. Heliolisk can threaten entry hazard setters that force Xatu out like Druddigon, Seismitoad, and Rhyperior if Xatu isn't running Grass Knot for the latter two, while Xatu can pressure Pokemon like Steelix and Bronzong for it. Moreover, Xatu can form a VoltTurn core with U-turn or Teleport to bring the aforementioned pivots in safely. Meanwhile, defensive pivots, such as Vaporeon and Vileplume, appreciate the entry hazard prevention so that they can comfortably switch into the Pokemon they should check. Stealth Rock setters outside of Seismitoad tend to be good partners for Xatu, as they can check Electric-types like Heliolisk and Vikavolt that can either use it for momentum or set up Sticky Web, predicting it to switch out. Steelix and Gigalith are prime examples of this, as well as other Pokemon like Snorlax. Slow wallbreakers like Dragalge, Exploud, and Bewear pair well with Xatu when running Teleport, as it can bring them in safely so they can wallbreak.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[PA, 430787]]
- Quality checked by: [[Juno, 444224], [Averardo, 409096]]
- Grammar checked by: [[deetah, 297659]]
Last edited:
overall this was pretty good, just a few mostly minor comments.
