Sorry for the delay in getting this up, got real busy with holidays.
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[OVERVIEW]
* With a difficult-to-wall STAB combination backed by Dark Aura and good coverage options, Yveltal is one of the most fearsome offensive threats in the SM Ubers metagame.
* A strong priority move in Sucker Punch as well as good offensive recovery in Oblivion Wing afford Yveltal a lot of flexibility in battle, making it useful in many different situations.
* Yveltal also plays a key defensive role with valuable immunities to Ground- and Psychic-type attacks as well as a rare resistance to Ghost-type attacks, which is made even more valuable by the presence of Lunala.
* A solid stat distribution with no real holes gives Yveltal solid offense and defense as well as just enough Speed combined with Sucker Punch to get the jump on most threats.
* The decrease in Klefki's viability has made Yveltal tougher to easily check in the metagame.
* Weaknesses to Fairy-type attacks and Stealth Rock can hamper Yveltal's defensive utility.
* Yveltal's great immunities can often be bypassed with common coverage options.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Oblivion Wing
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Taunt / Knock Off / Heat Wave
item: Life Orb
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Rash / Mild
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Dark Pulse is Yveltal's strongest STAB option, giving it enough power to 2HKO most support Arceus formes as well as even the most specially defensive of Primal Groudon. It is even powerful enough to OHKO Lunala through Shadow Shield.
* Oblivion Wing provides a secondary STAB attack, 2HKOing Geomancy Xerneas after Stealth Rock damage and hitting most other Dark-types for solid damage. Oblivion Wing also leeches 75% of the damage it deals, providing Yveltal with some longevity and helping make up for Life Orb recoil and Stealth Rock damage.
* Sucker Punch allows Yveltal to OHKO faster Psychic-types such as Deoxys-A and Mewtwo, and it will always OHKO Lunala if Shadow Shield is broken. Sucker Punch also provides general utility in revenge killing weakened threats due to its solid power.
* Taunt stops Xerneas from using Geomancy and prevents walls such as support Arceus from recovering or using Defog. Taunt combined with Oblivion Wing also allows Yveltal to consistently defeat support Arceus formes in a one-on-one scenario.
* Knock Off allows Yveltal to destroy Ho-Oh and Blissey that attempt to check it, KOing both after they switch into Dark Pulse.
* Heat Wave can be used to 2HKO Magearna and Klefki, which otherwise resist Yveltal's STAB moves.
* Focus Blast can also be used to OHKO Tyranitar and deal massive damage to Arceus-Dark.
Set Details
========
* The EV spread is straightforward. Maximum Special Attack is used for power, and maximum Speed allows Yveltal to get the jump on Modest Lunala and offensive Solgaleo.
* Yveltal cannot run an Attack-lowering nature because it must preserve Sucker Punch's power, so Rash or Mild must be used. Those natures are preferred in order to maximize Yveltal's damage output, and Sucker Punch compensates for the loss in Speed. Mild allows Yveltal to take hits from Lunala a bit better, while Rash is more helpful against Swords Dance Arceus-Ghost.
* Because Sucker Punch does not always OHKO Lunala if Shadow Shield is active, Yveltal can instead run a Naive or Hasty nature to boost Speed, allowing it to outspeed Timid Lunala and KO it with Dark Pulse before it can attack. A Speed-boosting nature also lets Yveltal outspeed maximum Speed Jolly Primal Groudon and Adamant Mega Lucario. However, Yveltal will have a harder time KOing support Arceus and can no longer reliably 2HKO Geomancy Xerneas with Oblivion Wing after Stealth Rock damage.
Usage Tips
========
* This set fits well on most offensive and balance teams in need of a powerful wallbreaker that can check Ghost- and Psychic-types as well as soft check Primal Groudon.
* Yveltal is usually best switched in on a move it's immune to or against a Ghost-type Pokemon. Refrain from just switching Yveltal in blindly, however, as these types of moves are often paired with coverage such as Stone Edge or Ice Beam that can nail Yveltal for heavy damage.
* Dark Pulse is pretty safe to use due to its great power and the lack of Pokemon that resist it as well as its handy flinch chance. Oblivion Wing is best saved for when Yveltal is running low on HP or when Xerneas might attempt to switch in, or if Yveltal needs to eat a hit from a faster attacker Oblivion Wing will finish off.
* Yveltal can be used to effectively pressure Defog users and other walls such as Zygarde-C and support Arceus, especially if it has Taunt.
* If Yveltal is running a coverage move, it is best kept hidden until the time is right to use it. Do not just switch Yveltal into the intended target of its coverage, as doing so will ruin the surprise.
* Sucker Punch should be used with care, as it can be played around with switches or non-attacking moves.
Team Options
========
* Primal Groudon deals with most Fairy- and Rock-type Pokemon that try to check Yveltal and provides Stealth Rock support to help Yveltal break Xerneas.
* Mega Gengar is an excellent teammate for disposing of problematic Fairy-types, and Yveltal covers all of its weaknesses defensively.
* Ho-Oh and bulky Steel-types such as Magearna, Klefki, Solgaleo, and Ferrothorn also provide sturdy switch-ins for Fairy-types.
* Life Orb recoil and Stealth Rock damage drain Yveltal's HP fairly quickly, so anti-hazard support from the likes of Excadrill, Giratina-O, and Arceus-Water is appreciated.
* Arceus-Ground covers Yveltal's weaknesses to Rock- and Electric-type attacks and benefits from Yveltal's ability to weaken bulky Ghost- and Psychic-types.
* Most sweepers such Geomancy Xerneas, Mega Salamence, and Extreme Killer Arceus benefit from Yveltal's wallbreaking ability.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Oblivion Wing
move 3: Heat Wave / Focus Blast
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Choice Specs-boosted Dark Pulse is ridiculously powerful, hitting maximum HP Arceus and specially defensive Primal Groudon for clean 2HKOs and doing massive damage to most other Pokemon.
* Oblivion Wing 2HKOes Xerneas after Stealth Rock damage and provides Yveltal with a reliable source of recovery.
* Heat Wave 2HKOes Klefki and Magearna, which otherwise wall this set.
* Focus Blast OHKOes Tyranitar and has a small chance to OHKO Arceus-Dark and Arceus-Rock after Stealth Rock damage.
* U-turn allows Yveltal to pivot out of Pokemon it cannot hurt too much so that a teammate can take advantage of it while also smacking Tyranitar and Arceus-Dark for decent damage.
Set Details
========
* Special Attack and Speed are fully invested to maximize Yveltal's offensive pressure.
* A Timid nature is preferred due to the lack of Sucker Punch, allows Yveltal to outspeed variants of Lunala, Rayquaza, and Primal Groudon even if they opt for Speed-boosting natures.
* A Modest nature can also be used for more power, notably giving Yveltal a high chance to 2HKO Geomancy Xerneas with Oblivion Wing without prior damage as well as a high chance to OHKO Arceus-Dark and Arceus-Rock after Stealth Rock damage with Focus Blast.
Usage Tips
========
* Yveltal's sheer damage output and ability to pivot with U-turn make it a good fit for offensive teams.
* Switch Yveltal in against Pokemon it can easily force out—Ghost-, Psychic-, and slow Ground-types are ideal—and begin throwing out attacks.
* Dark Pulse is quite strong and will do decent damage to even Pokemon that resist it such as Xerneas, making it pretty safe to spam.
* Oblivion Wing is best saved if Yveltal needs to recover HP or wants to try and catch a Xerneas switching in, since Dark Pulse is noticeably stronger.
* Heat Wave or Focus Blast should be used with caution, as both can be punished severely by the opponent if Yveltal mispredicts.
* Bear in mind this Yveltal set does not have Sucker Punch, so it will need to stay healthy in order to properly check offensive Psychic-types such as Deoxys-A, Mewtwo, and Choice Scarf Lunala.
Team Options
========
* Mega Gengar is strongly recommended to help take care of Blissey and defensive Fairy-types, especially because Yveltal can use U-turn to give Mega Gengar a free opportunity to switch in.
* Mega Lucario appreciates Yveltal's ability to deal with Ghost-types and can take advantage of Yveltal's U-turn to get into play against Pokemon it can easily set up on such as Tyranitar, Blissey, Clefable, and Arceus-Dark.
* Fairy-types can take advantage of Yveltal if it is locked into the wrong move. Fire-types such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh or Steel-types such as Magearna, Solgaleo, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Bronzong can be used to deal with them.
* Entry hazard support from Deoxys-S, Primal Groudon, or Dialga is recommended to help Yveltal secure KOs.
* Hazard removal is appreciated, since Stealth Rock wears Yveltal down quickly, especially if it needs to use U-turn multiple times. Cloyster and Excadrill are solid options for offensive teams, while Giratina-O and Arceus-Water can work for more balanced teams.
* Glare Zygarde and Thunder Wave Giratina-O can paralyze Arceus-Fairy, which can let Yveltal potentially break past it with Oblivion Wing.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Dark Pulse
move 2: Oblivion Wing
move 3: Foul Play
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Modest
evs: 32 HP / 4 Def / 232 SpA / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Dark Pulse is the chief STAB move for power and reliability. The 20% flinch chance can also be taken advantage of with Yveltal's great Speed in a pinch.
* Oblivion Wing is Yveltal's best option against Fairy-types and provides a means of recovering off Stealth Rock damage. It also allows Yveltal to revenge kill Fighting-types if necessary.
* Foul Play OHKOes Arceus, Primal Groudon, and Adamant Mega Lucario after one Swords Dance boost.
* U-turn allows Yveltal to pivot out of checks, being particularly useful for scouting if the opponent has Arceus-Dark or Arceus-Fairy.
Set Details
========
* The HP and Defense EVs ensure Yveltal will always survive a +2 Extreme Speed from Jolly Life Orb Extreme Killer Arceus at full health, while also keeping Yveltal's HP not divisible by 4 for Stealth Rock.
* 240 Speed EVs allow Yveltal to outspeed anything slower than Modest Choice Scarf Lunala.
* The remaining EVs go towards Special Attack to maximize Yveltal's damage output.
* A Modest nature is required on this set for power due to the lack of boosting item.
Usage Tips
========
* Choice Scarf Yveltal is best used as a revenge killer or scout, as unlike the other sets it lacks the power to wallbreak.
* This set works better on balanced teams that can more effectively cover Yveltal's defensive flaws due to its lower power compared to the other sets.
* Try to keep Stealth Rock off the field if possible, since Yveltal needs to be at nearly full health to check Extreme Killer Arceus.
* Arceus-Dark and Fairy-types such as Geomancy Xerneas can switch in on this set with ease, so pick which move Yveltal will use carefully. U-turn can help alleviate this issue if used appropriately.
* Dark Pulse's flinch rate can make Choice Scarf Yveltal useful as a late-game cleaner in a dire emergency.
Team Options
========
* Solid Geomancy Xerneas checks are required with this set. Primal Groudon and bulky Steel-types such as Magearna, Klefki, Solgaleo, Ferrothorn, and Bronzong work well for this purpose. Primal Groudon, Klefki, and Ferrothorn can also provide entry hazard support to help Yveltal score KOs.
* Defog users such as Arceus-Water and Giratina-O are recommended to help Yveltal stay healthy, as it will have fewer opportunities to recover health due to Oblivion Wing's somewhat low power without a boosting item.
* Ho-Oh and Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy are useful to check Arceus-Dark, which can otherwise easily set up on Choice Scarf Yveltal.
* Mega Gengar is still useful to eliminate Fairy-types, though it also serves as a backup check to Extreme Killer Arceus if Yveltal has taken damage.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Foul Play
move 2: Roost
move 3: Taunt / Sucker Punch
move 4: Toxic / Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers / Charti Berry / Dread Plate
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Foul Play OHKOes Extreme Killer Arceus after Stealth Rock damage, Adamant Mega Lucario, and Primal Groudon after all have used Swords Dance once, and it prevents physical attackers from setting up on Yveltal in general.
* Roost serves as Yveltal's recovery, as Oblivion Wing lacks the damage output to be sufficient on this set.
* Toxic punishes most of Yveltal's switch-ins, particularly Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy, and helps it wear down other walls.
* Taunt stops Pokemon such as Klefki, Ferrothorn, and Calm Mind Arceus from using Yveltal as setup fodder or recovering health.
* Sucker Punch can be used over Taunt or Toxic to enable Yveltal to pick off faster Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Deoxys-A, Mewtwo, and Lunala.
Set Details
========
* The HP and Defense investment in tandem with a Bold nature maximize Yveltal's physical tanking ability while minimizing Stealth Rock damage.
* An Impish nature should be used instead if Yveltal decides to run Sucker Punch.
* Leftovers gives Yveltal passive recovery and helps compensate somewhat for Stealth Rock damage.
* Charti Berry allows Yveltal to more effectively check Primal Groudon or Swords Dance Arceus, surviving a +2 Stone Edge from either and KOing them back with Foul Play.
* Dread Plate gives Foul Play and Sucker Punch a bit more power, notably allowing Yveltal to OHKO Extreme Killer Arceus at +2 without requiring any prior damage.
Usage Tips
========
* Use defensive Yveltal to check Swords Dance Arceus formes, especially Arceus-Ghost, as well as most Ghost- and Psychic-types. It can also work against Primal Groudon if it has Charti Berry.
* In order to limit the free turns it gives to an opponent, Yveltal's teammates should try to keep Stealth Rock off the field so Yveltal does not have to use Roost as often.
* Yveltal cannot effectively check Primal Groudon or Swords Dance Arceus-Ground without Charti Berry, so keep this in mind when using it.
* Using Yveltal to take on Ho-Oh and Lava Plume Primal Groudon is usually not recommended, as burns still lower Foul Play's damage.
Team Options
========
* Solid checks to Fairy-types are necessary, as defensive Yveltal cannot do much to hurt them. Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and bulky Steel-types such as Magearna, Klefki, Solgaleo, Ferrothorn, and Bronzong work well for this purpose.
* Defog support from Arceus-Water, Arceus-Dragon, or Giratina-O is recommended to keep Stealth Rock off the field for Yveltal.
* Defensive Yveltal can switch into Primal Groudon better than its other sets, so using it alongside Xerneas or Arceus-Fairy can be worthwhile. They also check Calm Mind + Refresh Arceus-Dark, which Yveltal struggles to handle.
* Backup checks to Swords Dance Arceus-Ground and Extreme Killer Arceus are recommended in case they are packing Stone Edge and Yveltal lacks Charti Berry. Celesteela and Giratina-O can handle both, Arceus-Ghost does a good job of tackling Extreme Killer Arceus, and Bronzong can help against Arceus-Ground.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Yveltal has just enough physical options to make a Choice Band set work, using STAB Knock Off to surprise some of its usual checks such as Ho-Oh and Blissey. However, such a set struggles to defeat support Arceus without help from Mega Gengar, and the decrease in Klefki usage as well as the introduction of Z-Geomancy Xerneas have made Choice Band Yveltal somewhat less effective compared to special attacking sets.
* Hurricane is a much stronger Flying-type STAB compared to Oblivion Wing, but it is much less accurate and does not provide health recovery to offensive Yveltal.
* A Substitute + Disable set can give support Arceus, mono-attacking Xerneas, and certain Choice item attackers a hard time when paired with entry hazard support.
* Hone Claws can be used to surprise and destroy Xerneas and Clefable switch-ins with Sky Attack in combination with Power Herb or Flyinium Z, as well as to sweep late-game with boosted STAB Sucker Punch, but such a set is unreliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Arceus-Fairy is the most reliable Yveltal check in the metagame, only really fearing Toxic. Xerneas and Magearna also work well at checking Yveltal, though the former takes a lot of damage from Oblivion Wing and the latter needs to be wary of Heat Wave. Clefable can tank most of Yveltal's attacks and force it out, though Taunt can mess up its recovery and it won't appreciate losing its Leftovers to Knock Off. Klefki resists Yveltal's STAB attacks and can use Spikes or hit it with Play Rough, but Heat Wave or Taunt combined with Yveltal's Prankster immunity can mess Klefki up. Tapu Lele cannot really switch into Yveltal, but it can threaten it with STAB Moonblast and temporarily stop it from using Sucker Punch with Psychic Surge.
**Rock-types**: Tyranitar can soak up most of Yveltal's attacks with ease and defeat it with its Rock-type STAB moves, but U-turn annoys it greatly and Focus Blast will destroy it. Arceus-Rock is faster than Yveltal and can take it down with Judgment, using Calm Mind and Recover to mitigate the damage it takes.
**Arceus-Dark**: Arceus-Dark resists Yveltal's Dark-type STAB moves and doesn't take too much damage from Oblivion Wing, setting up on Yveltal with Calm Mind and eventually defeating it with boosted STAB Judgments. However, Taunt or Focus Blast can hamper Arceus-Dark's ability to check Yveltal.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh can switch into special attacking Yveltal sets if Stealth Rock isn't up and defeat it with STAB Sacred Fire, though it needs to be wary of Knock Off and Foul Play.
**Blissey and Chansey**: If Yveltal lacks Taunt or Knock Off, Blissey and Chansey can wall it with ease and stall it out with Toxic.
**Tapu Koko**: Tapu Koko resists both of Yveltal's STAB moves and can easily outspeed it and OHKO it with STAB Thunder, though Tapu Koko is frail and cannot switch into Yveltal too many times.
**Ice-types**: Arceus-Ice can shrug off Yveltal's attacks with Calm Mind and Recover, defeating it with STAB Judgment. Kyurem-W can't really switch into Yveltal, but once it gets into play Kyurem-W can easily OHKO Yveltal with STAB Ice Beam.
**Electric-types**: Arceus-Electric resists Oblivion Wing and can Recover off damage from Yveltal's Dark-type STAB moves, KOing it back with STAB Judgment. Zekrom cannot take Yveltal's Dark-type STAB too well, but it does resist Oblivion Wing and can easily OHKO Yveltal with Bolt Strike.
**Status**: Toxic cuts dramatically into Yveltal's longevity and burn ruins the danage of Knock Off and Foul Play. Paralysis can also make Yveltal easier to revenge kill by slow but powerful attackers such as Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Kyurem-W, Rayquaza, Palkia, and Zekrom, though Yveltal can potentially get in a parting shot with Sucker Punch before going down.
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