[SET]
name: Offensive Pixilate
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Rapid Spin / Extreme Speed
move 3: Strength Sap / Recover
move 4: Fishious Rend / Nuzzle
item: Metronome / Pixie Plate
ability: Pixilate
nature: Mild / Modest
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Its impressive offensive stats make Xerneas a strong mixed breaker with powerful STAB in Pixilate Boomburst and good longevity from Strength Sap. Boomburst, boosted by Pixilate, is Xerneas's strongest STAB move and is used to take out common defensive Pokemon like Giratina and Zygarde-C as well as pressure other defensive threats like Zamazenta-C, Tapu Fini, and specially defensive Dialga. Rapid Spin clears entry hazards on Xerneas's side of the field, isn't blocked by Ghost-types thanks to Pixilate, and boosts its Speed which can aid in sweeping. Rapid Spin is important against Zamazenta-C, as it allows Xerneas to outspeed it and 2HKO non Ice Scales and RegenVest sets with Boomburst. Strength Sap also plays a big role here, as it lets Xerneas heal off of Zamazenta-C's Attack and avoid being 2HKOed by Anchor Shot. Extreme Speed can be used in place of Rapid Spin, which allows Xerneas to take on faster threats like Palkia, Pheromosa, and Dragapult, revenge kill boosted threats like Kyurem-B and Zekrom, and pick off defensive Pranksters like Eternatus and Zamazenta-C if their health is low. While Strength Sap gives Xerneas a good recovery option that makes it harder to take down, Magic Bounce foes can prevent Xerneas from healing so Recover is another option to keep Xerneas healthy. However, Recover means that Xerneas will struggle to take on Zamazenta-C without a Speed boost as it is 2HKOed by Anchor Shot. Fishious Rend targets a popular Xerneas check, Magic Bounce Ho-Oh, and 2HKOes it upon switching in. Fishious Rend also provides Xerneas with strong neutral coverage for Steel-types like Magearna and hits other Fairy-resistant foes like Darmanitan-Z and Heatran. Nuzzle cripples common switch-ins to Xerneas like Ho-Oh, Zamazenta-C, Zacian-C, and Imposter users. Metronome increases Xerneas's power when using a move consecutively, which pairs well with Boomburst and allows it to snowball into a dangerously powerful move that can break past bulky foes like Ice Scales Dialga and Zygarde-C, and Fairy-resistant Pokemon such as Darmanitan-Z, Ferrothorn, and Solgaleo. Pixie Plate is an option that gives Xerneas a more consistent power boost, allowing it to OHKO both Giratina and Zygarde-C, but doesn't have the snowball effect of Metronome. A Mild nature maximizes Xerneas's Special Attack and lets it run a mixed attacking set, but a Modest nature can be used if not running Extreme Speed and Fishious Rend.
Poison Heal Regigigas benefits from Xerneas being able to threaten Giratina, Zygarde-C, and most Zamazenta-C, each of which threaten Regigigas and can prevent it from sweeping. Once its Toxic Orb has activated, Regigigas also makes a decent switch-in to Knock Off for Xerneas so that it won't lose its Metronome. Zacian-C also pairs well with Xerneas, as it is immune to item removal and can take on faster threats like Palkia and Dragapult if Xerneas isn't using Extreme Speed. In return, Xerneas can take out Fur Coat Zamazenta-C and other sets that give Zacian-C trouble, like Prankster Tapu Fini. Xerneas is heavily threatened by Zacian-C, which OHKOes it with +1 Sunsteel Strike, so Steel-resistant teammates like Zamazenta-C and Fur Coat Darmanitan-Z pair well with Xerneas to check Zacian-C. Ground-type attackers like Groudon and Landorus-T are good teammates for Xerneas as they target Fairy-resistant Pokemon like Zamazenta-C and Darmanitan-Z with their STAB moves. Pheromosa can also help out Xerneas by outspeeding and pressuring opposing Zacian-C. Imposters of Xerneas are also quite threatening, as they can 2HKO Xerneas with Boomburst. Although Xerneas can Nuzzle Imposter users to cripple them, it is important to have an Imposter-proof teammate like Anchor Shot Zamazenta-C and Solgaleo for Fishious Rend sets while Fairy-resistant teammates like Volt Absorb Ho-Oh and Poison Heal Darmanitan-Z can improof Nuzzle sets. Ho-Oh and Darmanitan-Z make great teammates for Xerneas not only to Imposter-proof it, but they also pressure Steel-types with their Fire STAB moves. If Xerneas is not using Rapid Spin, it is more vulnerable to entry hazards so teammates like Zamazenta-C can support Xerneas with Court Change.
[SET]
name: Offensive Poison Heal
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Quiver Dance
move 3: Thunder Cage / Lava Plume / Earth Power
move 4: Spikes
item: Toxic Orb
ability: Poison Heal
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Xerneas's excellent stats and Fairy typing make it a threatening setup sweeper with great longevity from Poison Heal that allows it to take on Imposter users. Moonblast is Xerneas's best STAB option that lets it threaten common defensive Pokemon like Giratina and Zygarde-C. Quiver Dance boosts Xerneas's Special Attack while also increasing its bulk and Speed, making it a setup sweeper that is difficult to revenge kill. Xerneas's Fairy typing makes it a unique Poison Heal sweeper because it is immune to Core Enforcer, a common utility move used by setup checks like Prankster Haze Giratina. Thunder Cage traps foes and deals residual damage, which allows Xerneas to take on Imposter users, as they cannot heal, and potential defensive checks like Ho-Oh and Tapu Fini. Lava Plume is an option that targets Steel-type switch-ins like Zamazenta-C and Zacian-C and can potentially cripple them with a burn. Flash Fire and Primordial Sea Steel-type foes check Lava Plume Xerneas, so Earth Power is another coverage option that lets Xerneas target Fairy-resistant Pokemon like Steel-types and niche defensive checks like Heatran and Volcanion. However, Earth Power notably misses out on threatening foes like Celesteela and Magic Bounce Ferrothorn. Xerneas is a reliably Spikes setter, as the threat of setting up with Quiver Dance means most of its checks need to rely on abilities outside of Magic Bounce to prevent it from sweeping. Spikes help Xerneas chip Steel-type switch-ins and can put them in range of being KOed by coverage moves. Poison Heal with a Toxic Orb makes Xerneas particularly difficult to bring down, and the passive recovery complements the added bulk from Quiver Dance. A Modest nature maximizes Xerneas's damage output while still outspeeding neutral nature Kyurem-W and Solgaleo, and outspeed Zacian-C and Pheromosa after a Quiver Dance.
Poison Heal Regigigas appreciates how Xerneas pressures Giratina and Zygarde-C, which can threaten Regigigas with Core Enforcer, while Xerneas appreciates how Regigigas pressures Ho-Oh and other specially defensive checks like Ice Scales Zygarde-C. Xerneas is kept in check by most Steel-types, so it appreciates teammates like Zamazenta-C and Reshiram that can pressure opposing Steel-types with their super effective STAB moves. Zamazenta-C can pressure Steel-types not running Fur Coat while Reshiram can run Mold Breaker sets to pressure Flash Fire Steels or suppress their ability with Core Enforcer. Flash Fire Magearna notably checks these teammates and Xerneas, so other good partners include Ground-types like Choice Band Groudon and Thousand Waves Zygarde-C that can pressure Steel-types as well. Having Spikes support from Xerneas helps offensive teammates like Regigigas and Groudon break past potentials checks. Zacian-C heavily threatens Xerneas and OHKOes it with +1 Sunsteel Strike, so Steel-resistant teammates like Zamazenta-C and Fur Coat Darmanitan-Z pair well with Xerneas to check Zacian-C. While Xerneas can handle its own Imposter thanks to passive healing from Poison Heal, it must be relatively healthy in order to do so and is prone to critical hits and Toxic Orb Imposter. This being said, a Steel-type teammate like Zamazenta-C and Zacian-C is useful to Imposter-proof Xerneas in a pinch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Poison Heal Xerneas can run Spore over Spikes to put Imposter users to sleep in order to set up with Quiver Dance more freely. However, running Spore requires Knock Off support from a teammate to remove Safety Goggles from walls and this strategy is held back by the Sleep Clause limiting one foe be put to sleep. Poison Heal sets can also opt for Taunt over Spikes, preventing defensive checks from healing, suppressing Xerneas's ability with Entrainment, or removing its boosts with Haze or Topsy-Turvy. However, Taunt sets are still checked by Magic Bounce Ho-Oh and Steel-types and means Xerneas can't support its teammates with Spikes. Pixilate Xerneas can use Heavy-Duty Boots to be a more reliable Rapid Spinner for team support, but misses out on the power boost from Metronome and Pixie Plate that let it break past defensive checks. Thunder Cage and Magma Storm are both options for Pixilate Xerneas to trap foes like Ho-Oh and Solgaleo, but Fishious Rend already covers Ho-Oh better and Magma Storm's lower accuracy and PP make it less reliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zacian-C**: Zacian-C outspeeds Xerneas and easily OHKOs it with +1 Sunsteel Strike. Zacian-C has enough bulk to survive a +2 Earth Power from Xerneas and OHKO it in return.
**Zamazenta-C**: Zamazenta-C is neutral to Xerneas's STAB moves but can trap and KO it with super effective Anchor Shot. Common sets like Magic Bounce and Ice Scales can check Xerneas, prevent Spikes, and steal Quiver Dance Boosts with Spectral Thief. Metronome Xerneas is able to beat Zamazenta-C 1v1 though, as long as Zamazenta-C is not running Knock Off or a protect variant.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh resists Xerneas's STAB, is commonly seen with abilities like Magic Bounce and Volt Absorb, and can 2HKO Xerneas with V-create or at least trap and eliminate it with Anchor Shot. Xerneas can break past Magic Bounce Ho-Oh and 2HKO it with Thunder Cage at +2, but this isn't likely with Ho-Oh usually running Spectral Thief. Pixilate Xerneas can also use Fishious Rend to break Ho-Oh, but has to watch out for Desolate Land variants.
**Specially Defensive Steel-types**: Although Xerneas packs coverage move to cover Steel-type checks, it can still struggle to break past them. Magic Bounce, Prankster, and Ice Scales Steel-types like Solgaleo, Dialga, and Magearna can trap Xerneas with Anchor Shot and remove its abilities with Entrainment. Flash Fire Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Registeel can also check Xerneas, but are vulnerable to Earth Power if Xerneas has a chance to set up. RegenVest Steel-types are also a solid check to Xerneas as they can steal its boosts, remove its item, and pivot out to gain momentum.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[a loser, 410702]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
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