[SET]
name: Waterium Z
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Secret Sword
move 4: Taunt
item: Waterium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind makes Keldeo more threatening, allowing it to defeat Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Mew. Hydro Pump is Keldeo's strongest STAB move and, when combined with Waterium Z, can OHKO Pokemon such as Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Tapu Lele after Stealth Rock damage and Zygarde and Magic Guard Clefable after a Calm Mind boost. Secret Sword is Keldeo's secondary STAB move, nailing Ferrothorn, Chansey, and Kyurem-B and pressuring Assault Vest Tangrowth. Taunt rounds off the set, allowing Keldeo to defeat Haze Toxapex and Mantine while stopping potential Defogs from Pokemon such as Mew and Mega Scizor. It is also nice for avoiding Leech Seed from the likes of Celesteela and stray Toxics.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is mandatory to be as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack to hit as hard as possible. Waterium Z grants Keldeo a 185-Base Power Hydro Vortex, allowing it to heavily weaken or nuke its conventional counters and checks. Justified is Keldeo's only available ability, and it is a useless one.
Usage Tips
========
Use Keldeo to break the opponent's team early- or mid-game. Set up Calm Mind on Pokemon Keldeo forces out such as Landorus-T, Heatran, and Ash-Greninja. Most of Keldeo's answers are slower than it because the opponent will not go into offensive checks such as Tapu Koko due to the possibility of Keldeo's more common Choice Scarf set. An exception is Latios, and Keldeo should double switch if it is a Roost variant. If it has no recovery, then Keldeo should spam its STAB moves to wear it down throughout the game.
Otherwise, the opponent will usually go into a more defensive check or counter such as Assault Vest Magearna, Mew, or Mega Venusaur. With the Calm Mind boost gained on the switch, Keldeo can heavily weaken these Pokemon with Hydro Vortex or continue to boost and defeat these threats one-on-one. Two of the best Keldeo answers in the game, Toxapex and Mantine, become setup bait due to the use of Taunt on this set. Waterium Z is mainly used to muscle past traditional counters, but it has use for nuking as well. Pokemon that can tank a different hit such as Mega Mawile and non-Choice Scarf Tapu Lele are flat out destroyed by Hydro Vortex after Stealth Rock damage. A good strategy against hyper offensive teams is bringing Keldeo in as early as possible and getting a very strong hit off with Hydro Vortex due to the playstyle's usual lack of Water-resistant Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that struggle with Toxapex are great teammates. Ash-Greninja is the most obvious, since Keldeo defeats Toxapex one-on-one and forces in and heavily damages its other checks and counters in Assault Vest Tangrowth and Magearna, Mega Venusaur, and Tapu Fini. Mega Lopunny and Mega Diancie are solid teammates as well, since they appreciate most of these Pokemon weakened.
In terms of supporting Keldeo, Spikes support is recommended, since Keldeo can gain a lot of OHKOs with Hydro Vortex; Shift Gear Magearna and Zygarde fall to Hydro Vortex after one layer of Spikes, and Keldeo's use of Taunt complements hazards quite nicely. Next, a back-up check to Ash-Greninja is needed, since Keldeo is slower than it without a Choice Scarf, limiting it to only one switchin. Assault Vest Magearna can switch into Ash-Greninja and double switch into Keldeo, usually forcing in a passive Pokemon or Ground-type for Keldeo to set up on in the process. Choice Scarf will have to be used on a different Pokemon for overall speed control, since Keldeo generally isn't used on bulkier teams. Tapu Lele, Latios, and Kartana are prime options
name: Waterium Z
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Secret Sword
move 4: Taunt
item: Waterium Z
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind makes Keldeo more threatening, allowing it to defeat Pokemon such as Tangrowth and Mew. Hydro Pump is Keldeo's strongest STAB move and, when combined with Waterium Z, can OHKO Pokemon such as Mega Mawile, Magearna, and Tapu Lele after Stealth Rock damage and Zygarde and Magic Guard Clefable after a Calm Mind boost. Secret Sword is Keldeo's secondary STAB move, nailing Ferrothorn, Chansey, and Kyurem-B and pressuring Assault Vest Tangrowth. Taunt rounds off the set, allowing Keldeo to defeat Haze Toxapex and Mantine while stopping potential Defogs from Pokemon such as Mew and Mega Scizor. It is also nice for avoiding Leech Seed from the likes of Celesteela and stray Toxics.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature is mandatory to be as fast as possible. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack to hit as hard as possible. Waterium Z grants Keldeo a 185-Base Power Hydro Vortex, allowing it to heavily weaken or nuke its conventional counters and checks. Justified is Keldeo's only available ability, and it is a useless one.
Usage Tips
========
Use Keldeo to break the opponent's team early- or mid-game. Set up Calm Mind on Pokemon Keldeo forces out such as Landorus-T, Heatran, and Ash-Greninja. Most of Keldeo's answers are slower than it because the opponent will not go into offensive checks such as Tapu Koko due to the possibility of Keldeo's more common Choice Scarf set. An exception is Latios, and Keldeo should double switch if it is a Roost variant. If it has no recovery, then Keldeo should spam its STAB moves to wear it down throughout the game.
Otherwise, the opponent will usually go into a more defensive check or counter such as Assault Vest Magearna, Mew, or Mega Venusaur. With the Calm Mind boost gained on the switch, Keldeo can heavily weaken these Pokemon with Hydro Vortex or continue to boost and defeat these threats one-on-one. Two of the best Keldeo answers in the game, Toxapex and Mantine, become setup bait due to the use of Taunt on this set. Waterium Z is mainly used to muscle past traditional counters, but it has use for nuking as well. Pokemon that can tank a different hit such as Mega Mawile and non-Choice Scarf Tapu Lele are flat out destroyed by Hydro Vortex after Stealth Rock damage. A good strategy against hyper offensive teams is bringing Keldeo in as early as possible and getting a very strong hit off with Hydro Vortex due to the playstyle's usual lack of Water-resistant Pokemon.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that struggle with Toxapex are great teammates. Ash-Greninja is the most obvious, since Keldeo defeats Toxapex one-on-one and forces in and heavily damages its other checks and counters in Assault Vest Tangrowth and Magearna, Mega Venusaur, and Tapu Fini. Mega Lopunny and Mega Diancie are solid teammates as well, since they appreciate most of these Pokemon weakened.
In terms of supporting Keldeo, Spikes support is recommended, since Keldeo can gain a lot of OHKOs with Hydro Vortex; Shift Gear Magearna and Zygarde fall to Hydro Vortex after one layer of Spikes, and Keldeo's use of Taunt complements hazards quite nicely. Next, a back-up check to Ash-Greninja is needed, since Keldeo is slower than it without a Choice Scarf, limiting it to only one switchin. Assault Vest Magearna can switch into Ash-Greninja and double switch into Keldeo, usually forcing in a passive Pokemon or Ground-type for Keldeo to set up on in the process. Choice Scarf will have to be used on a different Pokemon for overall speed control, since Keldeo generally isn't used on bulkier teams. Tapu Lele, Latios, and Kartana are prime options
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