[SET]
name: Geomancy Sweeper
move 1: Geomancy
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Substitute
item: Power Herb
ability: Fairy Aura
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Xerneas is one of the most threatening setup sweepers in AG thanks to Geomancy boosting its Special Attack and Speed to absurd levels in a single turn, strong firepower backed by a boosting ability, and extreme potency under Dynamax. Moonblast is a highly spammable STAB move, capable of blasting through almost the entire defensive metagame barring Steel-types and Ho-Oh after Geomancy. Thunder is the only coverage move Xerneas needs, OHKOing Ho-Oh from full under Dynamax, removing Zacian-C after some chip damage, and heavily damaging Necrozma-DM with a chance to 2HKO even if Necrozma-DM has Dynamaxed. Additionally, Thunder allows Xerneas to fish for paralysis on Necrozma-DM, Zacian-C, and Ho-Oh on the switch. Substitute allows Xerneas to scout, potentially waste the opponent's Dynamax if they Dynamax Necrozma-DM too early in reaction to Xerneas' Dynamax, and potentially use non-Power Whip Ferrothorn as setup fodder. Power Herb is vital to allow Xerneas to set up in a single turn.
Xerneas fits best on balanced, bulky offensive, and hyper offensive teams that can pressure its extremely limited number of checks. Zacian-C is an especially good teammate, since it threatens Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh heavily with Assurance, Close Combat, and Wild Charge, respectively. Gothitelle can also pair very well with Xerneas, since it can trap and remove both Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn, clearing the way for Xerneas to sweep. Choice Specs Kyogre can set rain, which impedes Necrozma-DM's healing abilities, while also heavily threatening Ho-Oh and luring in and cleanly 2HKOing Ferrothorn. Both Zacian-C and Kyogre, as well as the likes of Calyrex-S and Dragon Dance Zekrom, are capable of forcing the opponent's Dynamax, thereby removing Xerneas's best form of counterplay in a Dynamaxed Necrozma-DM. Defensive Necrozma-DM is a mandatory partner in order to check and weaken Zacian-C, as Xerneas fails to OHKO the latter with Max Lightning.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Offensive Xerneas is an extremely linear Pokemon with limited moveset options. Focus Blast can be used over Substitute in order to beat Ferrothorn, but it ensures that Xerneas will lose to Necrozma-DM. Additionally, the EV spread of 140 Def / 252 SpA / 116 Spe allows Xerneas to avoid an OHKO from defensive Necrozma-DM after Stealth Rock, but it makes Xerneas significantly slower than Choice Scarf Marshadow.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM is a somewhat reliable check to Xerneas, but it must expend its own Dynamax in order to stop Xerneas. However, if Necrozma-DM Dynamaxes too early, Xerneas can use Substitute twice followed by Max Guard to stall out its Dynamax and break through it.
**Zacian-C**: Bulky Zacian-C is by far the most reliable check to a boosted Xerneas, tanking Max Lightning quite easily and proceeding to take Xerneas out with Behemoth Blade. However, it must be cautious before deciding to switch in, since Xerneas can easily elect to chip it down with Moonblast or Thunder prior to actually setting up.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn checks Xerneas reliably unless Xerneas has Focus Blast, since Power Whip can break Xerneas’s Substitutes, and Ferrothorn resists both of Xerneas’s attacks.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh, especially specially defensive variants, can quite easily outlast Xerneas's Dynamax with its own Dynamax with the sequence of Max Guard, Max Flare, and Max Guard. However, it comes down to a 50-50 after this; Ho-Oh either gets taken out by Thunder, which has a 50% chance to hit due to Max Flare setting Sun, or Xerneas gets taken out by a sun-boosted Sacred Fire.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Geysers, 426798]]
- Quality checked by: [[Icemaster, 464176], [Guard, 360582]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
name: Geomancy Sweeper
move 1: Geomancy
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Substitute
item: Power Herb
ability: Fairy Aura
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Xerneas is one of the most threatening setup sweepers in AG thanks to Geomancy boosting its Special Attack and Speed to absurd levels in a single turn, strong firepower backed by a boosting ability, and extreme potency under Dynamax. Moonblast is a highly spammable STAB move, capable of blasting through almost the entire defensive metagame barring Steel-types and Ho-Oh after Geomancy. Thunder is the only coverage move Xerneas needs, OHKOing Ho-Oh from full under Dynamax, removing Zacian-C after some chip damage, and heavily damaging Necrozma-DM with a chance to 2HKO even if Necrozma-DM has Dynamaxed. Additionally, Thunder allows Xerneas to fish for paralysis on Necrozma-DM, Zacian-C, and Ho-Oh on the switch. Substitute allows Xerneas to scout, potentially waste the opponent's Dynamax if they Dynamax Necrozma-DM too early in reaction to Xerneas' Dynamax, and potentially use non-Power Whip Ferrothorn as setup fodder. Power Herb is vital to allow Xerneas to set up in a single turn.
Xerneas fits best on balanced, bulky offensive, and hyper offensive teams that can pressure its extremely limited number of checks. Zacian-C is an especially good teammate, since it threatens Necrozma-DM, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh heavily with Assurance, Close Combat, and Wild Charge, respectively. Gothitelle can also pair very well with Xerneas, since it can trap and remove both Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn, clearing the way for Xerneas to sweep. Choice Specs Kyogre can set rain, which impedes Necrozma-DM's healing abilities, while also heavily threatening Ho-Oh and luring in and cleanly 2HKOing Ferrothorn. Both Zacian-C and Kyogre, as well as the likes of Calyrex-S and Dragon Dance Zekrom, are capable of forcing the opponent's Dynamax, thereby removing Xerneas's best form of counterplay in a Dynamaxed Necrozma-DM. Defensive Necrozma-DM is a mandatory partner in order to check and weaken Zacian-C, as Xerneas fails to OHKO the latter with Max Lightning.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Offensive Xerneas is an extremely linear Pokemon with limited moveset options. Focus Blast can be used over Substitute in order to beat Ferrothorn, but it ensures that Xerneas will lose to Necrozma-DM. Additionally, the EV spread of 140 Def / 252 SpA / 116 Spe allows Xerneas to avoid an OHKO from defensive Necrozma-DM after Stealth Rock, but it makes Xerneas significantly slower than Choice Scarf Marshadow.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM is a somewhat reliable check to Xerneas, but it must expend its own Dynamax in order to stop Xerneas. However, if Necrozma-DM Dynamaxes too early, Xerneas can use Substitute twice followed by Max Guard to stall out its Dynamax and break through it.
**Zacian-C**: Bulky Zacian-C is by far the most reliable check to a boosted Xerneas, tanking Max Lightning quite easily and proceeding to take Xerneas out with Behemoth Blade. However, it must be cautious before deciding to switch in, since Xerneas can easily elect to chip it down with Moonblast or Thunder prior to actually setting up.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn checks Xerneas reliably unless Xerneas has Focus Blast, since Power Whip can break Xerneas’s Substitutes, and Ferrothorn resists both of Xerneas’s attacks.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh, especially specially defensive variants, can quite easily outlast Xerneas's Dynamax with its own Dynamax with the sequence of Max Guard, Max Flare, and Max Guard. However, it comes down to a 50-50 after this; Ho-Oh either gets taken out by Thunder, which has a 50% chance to hit due to Max Flare setting Sun, or Xerneas gets taken out by a sun-boosted Sacred Fire.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Geysers, 426798]]
- Quality checked by: [[Icemaster, 464176], [Guard, 360582]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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