[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Klefki is a great utility Pokemon that can enable its teammates with dual screens combined with Prankster, stop setup sweepers with Thunder Wave or Switcheroo, and provide entry hazard support with Spikes. Its priority dual screens and Spikes are extremely valuable in a meta that lacks Defoggers, making it difficult for many opponents to handle. Its Steel / Fairy typing is great defensively and allows it to switch into many threats, but many Steel-, Fire-, and Ground-types can easily gain a strong position against it, since it struggles dealing damage on its own.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Dual Screens / Spikes Support**: Prankster Reflect and Light Screen with Light Clay is what gives Klefki most of its value. Being able to set Spikes quickly is also extremely valuable, since it can put pressure on opposing switches and position Klefki's teammates better. It also typically uses attacking moves, such as Dazzling Gleam and Foul Play, to beat specific Pokemon that could otherwise set up or use Substitute. It can also use Thunder Wave to slow down fast wallbreakers or Magnet Rise to take advantage of some Ground-types.
**Utility**: If dual screens are not necessary, Klefki can still offer great utility with Spikes, Thunder Wave, or attacking moves. Since Light Clay isn't required on this set, it can also use Switcheroo with items such as Choice Scarf, Lagging Tail, and Toxic Orb to shut down setup sweepers or bulky walls in their tracks.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Dazzling Gleam, Draining Kiss, Flash Cannon, Play Rough
**Setup Moves**: Iron Defense, Calm Mind
**Utility Moves**: Reflect, Light Screen, Spikes, Switcheroo, Thunder Wave
**Coverage**: Foul Play, Psychic, Psyshock
Niche Moves
========
**Stored Power**: Klefki can be a decent setup sweeper in some matchups. With Prankster, it can use Iron Defense or Calm Mind before taking damage, and it can use a strong Stored Power after many boosts. It can also be paired with Weakness Policy, especially after boosting its defenses, to quickly gain an even stronger damage boost.
**Magnet Rise**: Magnet Rise is great against some Ground-types, allowing Klefki more turns to provide its utility while also being able to deal damage to many foes.
**Steel Beam**: Steel Beam lets Klefki sacrifice itself to bring in teammates that then benefit from its utility while also doing a solid amount of damage to a foe.
**Imprison**: Imprison allows Klefki to stop foes from setting their own Spikes.
Common Items
========
**Light Clay**: Light Clay is a necessity on dual screens sets, since it allows Klefki's teammates to take full advantage of them.
**Switcheroo Items**: Choice items can be given to foes to either stop their setup attempts or allow Klefki's teammates to set up easily on them. Lagging Tail can slow down Speed-boosting Pokemon. Sticky Barb can be given to many bulkier Pokemon, though it will quickly weaken Klefki unless it uses Switcheroo right away. Toxic Orb can also be used against many bulky Pokemon, and Klefki is immune to it due to its Steel typing.
**Leftovers**: Although other items are typically more valuable, Leftovers can give Klefki additional longevity if it is used as a check to specific Pokemon.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Air Balloon lets Klefki easily switch into many Ground-types, especially Garchomp, which needs additional coverage to pop it. This gives Klefki more opportunities to utilize its support.
**Weakness Policy**: With Iron Defense and Calm Mind, it is easy for foes to activate Klefki's Weakness Policy on setup sets, allowing it to quickly gain a very strong Stored Power.
Tera
========
Klefki should not be a Tera Captain under any circumstances. It is best used as a Pokemon that can provide utility to enable its teammates that can utilize Tera better. If Klefki absolutely must utilize Tera, it does not benefit much from many Tera types due to its already solid defensive typing, but some defensive Tera types, such as Tera Ground and Water, can allow it to check specific Pokemon it normally would not be able to.
Draft Strategy
========
Klefki is a great defensive utility Pokemon that does a great job enabling its teammates. It should typically be drafted on teams that are already very strong offensively and desire additional support.
**Offensive Pokemon**: Klefki struggles in long games where its dual screens can be stalled out, so it's important to pair it with strong offensive Pokemon that can quickly utilize them, such as Chi-Yu, Ogerpon-W, and Raging Bolt.
**Ghost-types**: It is very common for foes to use Brick Break against Klefki to remove its dual screens, so having a Ghost-type that can block it, such as Annihilape, Pecharunt, and Ceruledge, is a necessity. Gholdengo can also block Defog, but it shares many weaknesses with Klefki, making it an unideal partner.
**Fire- and Steel-type Checks**: Klefki invites in Fire- and Steel-types, since they resist both of its STAB typings. Therefore, it's important to have an out when these Pokemon inevitably come in. Good options include Water- and Ground-types such as Greninja, Urshifu-R, and Great Tusk.
Checks and Counters
========
**Dual Screens Removal**: Foes can easily remove Klefki's dual screens support with Brick Break, Psychic Fangs, and Defog. Defog additionally removes its Spikes, rendering most of its support useless.
**Steel- and Fire-types**: Many Pokemon of these typings can easily switch into and check Klefki, since it struggles dealing damage to them and takes super effective damage in return. Some typical examples include Iron Treads, Gouging Fire, and Gholdengo.
**Bulky Dark-types**: Dark-types, such as Kingambit, Chi-Yu, and Ting-Lu, are immune to Switcheroo and Thunder Wave. Although Klefki can hit many of them super effectively, it typically cannot deal enough damage to be notable.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
**Draft Order**: Round 5 onwards
**Price Range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Klefki is a great utility Pokemon that can enable its teammates with dual screens combined with Prankster, stop setup sweepers with Thunder Wave or Switcheroo, and provide entry hazard support with Spikes. Its priority dual screens and Spikes are extremely valuable in a meta that lacks Defoggers, making it difficult for many opponents to handle. Its Steel / Fairy typing is great defensively and allows it to switch into many threats, but many Steel-, Fire-, and Ground-types can easily gain a strong position against it, since it struggles dealing damage on its own.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Dual Screens / Spikes Support**: Prankster Reflect and Light Screen with Light Clay is what gives Klefki most of its value. Being able to set Spikes quickly is also extremely valuable, since it can put pressure on opposing switches and position Klefki's teammates better. It also typically uses attacking moves, such as Dazzling Gleam and Foul Play, to beat specific Pokemon that could otherwise set up or use Substitute. It can also use Thunder Wave to slow down fast wallbreakers or Magnet Rise to take advantage of some Ground-types.
**Utility**: If dual screens are not necessary, Klefki can still offer great utility with Spikes, Thunder Wave, or attacking moves. Since Light Clay isn't required on this set, it can also use Switcheroo with items such as Choice Scarf, Lagging Tail, and Toxic Orb to shut down setup sweepers or bulky walls in their tracks.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Dazzling Gleam, Draining Kiss, Flash Cannon, Play Rough
**Setup Moves**: Iron Defense, Calm Mind
**Utility Moves**: Reflect, Light Screen, Spikes, Switcheroo, Thunder Wave
**Coverage**: Foul Play, Psychic, Psyshock
Niche Moves
========
**Stored Power**: Klefki can be a decent setup sweeper in some matchups. With Prankster, it can use Iron Defense or Calm Mind before taking damage, and it can use a strong Stored Power after many boosts. It can also be paired with Weakness Policy, especially after boosting its defenses, to quickly gain an even stronger damage boost.
**Magnet Rise**: Magnet Rise is great against some Ground-types, allowing Klefki more turns to provide its utility while also being able to deal damage to many foes.
**Steel Beam**: Steel Beam lets Klefki sacrifice itself to bring in teammates that then benefit from its utility while also doing a solid amount of damage to a foe.
**Imprison**: Imprison allows Klefki to stop foes from setting their own Spikes.
Common Items
========
**Light Clay**: Light Clay is a necessity on dual screens sets, since it allows Klefki's teammates to take full advantage of them.
**Switcheroo Items**: Choice items can be given to foes to either stop their setup attempts or allow Klefki's teammates to set up easily on them. Lagging Tail can slow down Speed-boosting Pokemon. Sticky Barb can be given to many bulkier Pokemon, though it will quickly weaken Klefki unless it uses Switcheroo right away. Toxic Orb can also be used against many bulky Pokemon, and Klefki is immune to it due to its Steel typing.
**Leftovers**: Although other items are typically more valuable, Leftovers can give Klefki additional longevity if it is used as a check to specific Pokemon.
Niche Items
========
**Air Balloon**: Air Balloon lets Klefki easily switch into many Ground-types, especially Garchomp, which needs additional coverage to pop it. This gives Klefki more opportunities to utilize its support.
**Weakness Policy**: With Iron Defense and Calm Mind, it is easy for foes to activate Klefki's Weakness Policy on setup sets, allowing it to quickly gain a very strong Stored Power.
Tera
========
Klefki should not be a Tera Captain under any circumstances. It is best used as a Pokemon that can provide utility to enable its teammates that can utilize Tera better. If Klefki absolutely must utilize Tera, it does not benefit much from many Tera types due to its already solid defensive typing, but some defensive Tera types, such as Tera Ground and Water, can allow it to check specific Pokemon it normally would not be able to.
Draft Strategy
========
Klefki is a great defensive utility Pokemon that does a great job enabling its teammates. It should typically be drafted on teams that are already very strong offensively and desire additional support.
**Offensive Pokemon**: Klefki struggles in long games where its dual screens can be stalled out, so it's important to pair it with strong offensive Pokemon that can quickly utilize them, such as Chi-Yu, Ogerpon-W, and Raging Bolt.
**Ghost-types**: It is very common for foes to use Brick Break against Klefki to remove its dual screens, so having a Ghost-type that can block it, such as Annihilape, Pecharunt, and Ceruledge, is a necessity. Gholdengo can also block Defog, but it shares many weaknesses with Klefki, making it an unideal partner.
**Fire- and Steel-type Checks**: Klefki invites in Fire- and Steel-types, since they resist both of its STAB typings. Therefore, it's important to have an out when these Pokemon inevitably come in. Good options include Water- and Ground-types such as Greninja, Urshifu-R, and Great Tusk.
Checks and Counters
========
**Dual Screens Removal**: Foes can easily remove Klefki's dual screens support with Brick Break, Psychic Fangs, and Defog. Defog additionally removes its Spikes, rendering most of its support useless.
**Steel- and Fire-types**: Many Pokemon of these typings can easily switch into and check Klefki, since it struggles dealing damage to them and takes super effective damage in return. Some typical examples include Iron Treads, Gouging Fire, and Gholdengo.
**Bulky Dark-types**: Dark-types, such as Kingambit, Chi-Yu, and Ting-Lu, are immune to Switcheroo and Thunder Wave. Although Klefki can hit many of them super effectively, it typically cannot deal enough damage to be notable.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
