hs
Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
*The access to a fantastic ability in Magic Bounce allows Xatu to act as a consistent hazard control against hazard setters, once Magic Bounce makes it able to bounce back undesirable entry hazards.
*Xatu has a decent movepool, with either support and offensive options, that allows it to perform various roles, from a Pivot with U-turn to offensive variants with Calm Mind.
*However, it doesn't have an amazing bulk, even with some investment, its typing also doesn't help much either, since it is weak to Pursuit as well as Knock Off.
*It is primarily used to defeat passive hazard setters, such as Tentacruel and Swampert. Although, it struggles to deal with some offensive ones, like Krookodile, Mamoswine, Nihilego, Mega Aerodactyl and Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers / Colbur Berry
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Psychic is Xatu's mandatory STAB move that allows it to doesn't be completely passive, doing a decent damage to Poison- and Fighting-types, such as Nihilego and Terrakion.
*Roost is extremely important to keep Xatu healthy along the match.
*Heat Wave provides coverage against Steel-types, more notably Scizor, which otherwise could setup on Xatu's face for days.
*U-turn helps Xatu to gain momentum in a predicted switch-in.
*Grass Knot does a good amount of damage to Seismitoad and Quagsire.
*Alternatively, Psyshock can be used instead of Psyshic, allowing Xatu to do more damage to specially defensive Pokemon such as Blissey and Florges.
*Night Shade can be used as a way to deal a consistent damage to the foe, regardless of whether it is super effective or not.
*Protect can be useful, helping Xatu to scout potential Choice-locked Pursuit trappers like Choice Band Scizor and Choice Scarf Krookodile.
Set Details
========
*16 EVs are placed in Speed to outspeed 55 Base Speed Pokemon, such as Jolly Crawdaunt and max Speed Adamant Scizor
*The rest of EVs are placed in HP and Defense, allowing it to repair its poor defense, and Bold Nature is used to increase further, helping it to check better some physically offensive threats.
*Rocky Helmet is the item used, because it can punish physical attackers, such as a Choice-locked Pursuit Krookodile.
*Leftovers can be used instead, providing it passive recovery, allowing it to increase its longevity.
*Colbur Berry is an option that allows Xatu to reduce Knock Off and Pursuit damage.
*Magic Bounce is Xatu's only useful ability and Xatu's main niche, and bounce back entry hazards and status moves, such as Taunt, Will-o-Wisp and Toxic.
*Firium Z can be used, letting Xatu able to OHKO Cobalion, and also reducing Knock Off damage.
Usage Tips
========
*Use Xatu to switch-in in passive entry hazard setters, such as Swampert and Hippowdon, that can't threaten Xatu, preventing them from setting undesirable entry hazards. However, don't try to switch it into offensive ones, such as Krookodile, Mega Aerodactyl and Nihilego.
*Try to keep Xatu as healthy as possible by using Roost, but only if the opponent's hazard setter is still in the field.
*If the opponent has a potential Pursuit trapper, and you expect a switch-in, you should click U-turn or double switch into a check, in the case of Alolan Muk.
*Try to use U-turn against passive hazard setters that Xatu force to switch out to grab momentum and avoid from being threatened by the placed Pokemon.
Team Options
========
*Even with Magic Bounce, Xatu is still weak to entry hazards, and it doesn't enjoy them, so hazard removers such as Tentacruel, Mantine and Mandibuzz are very appreciated.
*Clerics, such as Blissey, are very appreciated, since Xatu has Magic Bounce, but it's still susceptible to secondary effects by moves such as Sludge Bomb and Scald, harming its longetivity. Togekiss and Sylveon are also good examples, because besides helping Xatu by removing status conditions, they can check Dark-types that can threaten it.
*Pokemon that can handle Dark-, Electric-, Ice- and Rock-types, such as Hydreigon, Mega Manectric, Mamoswine and Mega Aerodactyl are very appreciated, once if they are removed, Xatu doesn't need to worry about super effective STAB moves. Ground-, Grass- and Dragon-
*Pokemon that benefit from Xatu's ability to shut down certain hazard setters, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Beedrill, are good partners for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*A Calm Mind set can be used for more offensive presence, but Latias is tremendously better as a Calm Mind user, which has a better typing, more bulk and Special Attack, allowing it to deal more damage and find more setup opportunities.
*Thunder Wave can be used for crippling Pokemon which could switch in, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Hydreigon.
*The access to Magic Bounce allows Xatu to act as a somewhat reliable defogger, once Magic Bounce gives it an immunity to status moves, such as Toxic, Will-o-Wisp and Taunt. However, it struggles against offensive Stealth Rock setters, such as Krookodile, Mamoswine, Mega Aerodactyl and Nihilego, as both of these Pokemon can OHKO Xatu or force it to switch out, making it harder to keep Stealth Rock out of the field.
*Haze is an option that eliminates any stats change, helping Xatu to stop some setup sweepers.
*Stored Power can be used with a Calm Mind set, and does a good job against stall, but overall, Xatu has a poor bulk, and takes a long time to setup to the point that it's considered threatening, making it not so effective.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-types, such as Mega Sharpedo and Hydreigon, are naturally immune to Xatu's Psychic STAB Moves, and back, they can OHKO it with Dark-type moves.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Powerful Attackers, such as Azumarill, Latias, Mega Manectric, Nidoking and Primarina can both do a huge damage to Xatu, force it to switch out or in Latias's case, setup on its face.
**Entry Hazard Setters that threaten Xatu**: Krookodile, Mamoswine, Mega Aerodactyl and Terrakion can always get Stealth Rock against Xatu, as they can threaten it with super effective STAB moves.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types, such as Mega Manectric and Magneton can threaten Xatu, OHKOing it with its Electric-type STAB moves or pivot out with Volt Switch. However, Mega Manectric needs to be careful with Toxic, which can be very annoying along the match, and Magneton also needs to be careful with Heat Wave, taking a huge damage.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Terrakion and Nihilego can both threaten Xatu with their super effective Rock-type STABs. They can also get rocks against Xatu, as they force it to switch out.
**Ice-types**: Ice-types, such as Mamoswine and Kyurem can both outsped Xatu, and OHKO it with their super effective Ice-type STABs. Mamoswine can force a switch out and then get rocks in the opponent's field.
*The access to a fantastic ability in Magic Bounce allows Xatu to act as a consistent hazard control against hazard setters, once Magic Bounce makes it able to bounce back undesirable entry hazards.
*Xatu has a decent movepool, with either support and offensive options, that allows it to perform various roles, from a Pivot with U-turn to offensive variants with Calm Mind.
*However, it doesn't have an amazing bulk, even with some investment, its typing also doesn't help much either, since it is weak to Pursuit as well as Knock Off.
*It is primarily used to defeat passive hazard setters, such as Tentacruel and Swampert. Although, it struggles to deal with some offensive ones, like Krookodile, Mamoswine, Nihilego, Mega Aerodactyl and Terrakion.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Roost
move 3: Heat Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers / Colbur Berry
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Psychic is Xatu's mandatory STAB move that allows it to doesn't be completely passive, doing a decent damage to Poison- and Fighting-types, such as Nihilego and Terrakion.
*Roost is extremely important to keep Xatu healthy along the match.
*Heat Wave provides coverage against Steel-types, more notably Scizor, which otherwise could setup on Xatu's face for days.
*U-turn helps Xatu to gain momentum in a predicted switch-in.
*Grass Knot does a good amount of damage to Seismitoad and Quagsire.
*Alternatively, Psyshock can be used instead of Psyshic, allowing Xatu to do more damage to specially defensive Pokemon such as Blissey and Florges.
*Night Shade can be used as a way to deal a consistent damage to the foe, regardless of whether it is super effective or not.
*Protect can be useful, helping Xatu to scout potential Choice-locked Pursuit trappers like Choice Band Scizor and Choice Scarf Krookodile.
Set Details
========
*16 EVs are placed in Speed to outspeed 55 Base Speed Pokemon, such as Jolly Crawdaunt and max Speed Adamant Scizor
*The rest of EVs are placed in HP and Defense, allowing it to repair its poor defense, and Bold Nature is used to increase further, helping it to check better some physically offensive threats.
*Rocky Helmet is the item used, because it can punish physical attackers, such as a Choice-locked Pursuit Krookodile.
*Leftovers can be used instead, providing it passive recovery, allowing it to increase its longevity.
*Colbur Berry is an option that allows Xatu to reduce Knock Off and Pursuit damage.
*Magic Bounce is Xatu's only useful ability and Xatu's main niche, and bounce back entry hazards and status moves, such as Taunt, Will-o-Wisp and Toxic.
*Firium Z can be used, letting Xatu able to OHKO Cobalion, and also reducing Knock Off damage.
Usage Tips
========
*Use Xatu to switch-in in passive entry hazard setters, such as Swampert and Hippowdon, that can't threaten Xatu, preventing them from setting undesirable entry hazards. However, don't try to switch it into offensive ones, such as Krookodile, Mega Aerodactyl and Nihilego.
*Try to keep Xatu as healthy as possible by using Roost, but only if the opponent's hazard setter is still in the field.
*If the opponent has a potential Pursuit trapper, and you expect a switch-in, you should click U-turn or double switch into a check, in the case of Alolan Muk.
*Try to use U-turn against passive hazard setters that Xatu force to switch out to grab momentum and avoid from being threatened by the placed Pokemon.
Team Options
========
*Even with Magic Bounce, Xatu is still weak to entry hazards, and it doesn't enjoy them, so hazard removers such as Tentacruel, Mantine and Mandibuzz are very appreciated.
*Clerics, such as Blissey, are very appreciated, since Xatu has Magic Bounce, but it's still susceptible to secondary effects by moves such as Sludge Bomb and Scald, harming its longetivity. Togekiss and Sylveon are also good examples, because besides helping Xatu by removing status conditions, they can check Dark-types that can threaten it.
*Pokemon that can handle Dark-, Electric-, Ice- and Rock-types, such as Hydreigon, Mega Manectric, Mamoswine and Mega Aerodactyl are very appreciated, once if they are removed, Xatu doesn't need to worry about super effective STAB moves. Ground-, Grass- and Dragon-
*Pokemon that benefit from Xatu's ability to shut down certain hazard setters, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Beedrill, are good partners for it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*A Calm Mind set can be used for more offensive presence, but Latias is tremendously better as a Calm Mind user, which has a better typing, more bulk and Special Attack, allowing it to deal more damage and find more setup opportunities.
*Thunder Wave can be used for crippling Pokemon which could switch in, such as Mega Aerodactyl and Hydreigon.
*The access to Magic Bounce allows Xatu to act as a somewhat reliable defogger, once Magic Bounce gives it an immunity to status moves, such as Toxic, Will-o-Wisp and Taunt. However, it struggles against offensive Stealth Rock setters, such as Krookodile, Mamoswine, Mega Aerodactyl and Nihilego, as both of these Pokemon can OHKO Xatu or force it to switch out, making it harder to keep Stealth Rock out of the field.
*Haze is an option that eliminates any stats change, helping Xatu to stop some setup sweepers.
*Stored Power can be used with a Calm Mind set, and does a good job against stall, but overall, Xatu has a poor bulk, and takes a long time to setup to the point that it's considered threatening, making it not so effective.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-types, such as Mega Sharpedo and Hydreigon, are naturally immune to Xatu's Psychic STAB Moves, and back, they can OHKO it with Dark-type moves.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Powerful Attackers, such as Azumarill, Latias, Mega Manectric, Nidoking and Primarina can both do a huge damage to Xatu, force it to switch out or in Latias's case, setup on its face.
**Entry Hazard Setters that threaten Xatu**: Krookodile, Mamoswine, Mega Aerodactyl and Terrakion can always get Stealth Rock against Xatu, as they can threaten it with super effective STAB moves.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types, such as Mega Manectric and Magneton can threaten Xatu, OHKOing it with its Electric-type STAB moves or pivot out with Volt Switch. However, Mega Manectric needs to be careful with Toxic, which can be very annoying along the match, and Magneton also needs to be careful with Heat Wave, taking a huge damage.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Terrakion and Nihilego can both threaten Xatu with their super effective Rock-type STABs. They can also get rocks against Xatu, as they force it to switch out.
**Ice-types**: Ice-types, such as Mamoswine and Kyurem can both outsped Xatu, and OHKO it with their super effective Ice-type STABs. Mamoswine can force a switch out and then get rocks in the opponent's field.
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