With Swords Dance, Weak Armor, and an excellent STAB combination, Ceruledge is an explosive setup sweeper and late-game cleaner. Swords Dance allows Ceruledge to reach various damage thresholds such as OHKOing Ogerpon-W with Bitter Blade and Dragapult with Shadow Sneak. Bitter Blade is a reliable STAB option with no drawback that has the additional benefit of allowing Ceruledge to recover HP, which lets it survive revenge kill attempts and gives it even more setup opportunities. Shadow Sneak allows Ceruledge to finish off faster and weakened foes like Ogerpon-W and Dragapult if Weak Armor hasn't been activated yet. Poltergeist gives Ceruledge a powerful STAB move that allows it to OHKO Galarian Slowking and offensive Gholdengo without needing to set up; additionally, at +2, Poltergeist is very likely to OHKO most Kyurem and Pecharunt sets. Close Combat is a strong coverage option that, in combination with Bitter Blade and Shadow Sneak, provides Ceruledge with perfect coverage for the tier, allowing it to hit Hisuian Samurott, Roaring Moon, and Garganacl, which would otherwise wall it. On sun teams, Ceruledge should run Solar Blade with Tera Grass to devastate its typical checks such as Alomomola and Dondozo. If Ceruledge opts to run a Jolly nature, it can outspeed Gholdengo as well as, after a Weak Armor boost, +1 Speed Iron Valiant and Roaring Moon, but it causes Ceruledge to miss out on KOs Adamant would otherwise net such as guaranteed OHKOing Garganacl with a +2 Close Combat. Tera Ghost enhances the strength of Poltergeist and Shadow Sneak while also allowing Ceruledge to remove its weaknesses to Water- and Ground-type attacks from common foes such as Great Tusk, Ogerpon-W, and Glimmora. When running Close Combat, Tera Fighting is recommended to enhance its power, which lets Ceruledge secure an OHKO on Ting-Lu after a Swords Dance. Tera Fighting also grants Ceruledge Rock and Dark resistances, allowing it to turn the tables on Dark-type foes like Kingambit and Hisuian Samurott while decreasing the damage it takes from Stealth Rock.

Ceruledge's offensive tools means it best fits on hyper offense teams where it finds its home as a sweeper that appreciates entry hazards and the presence of other sweepers such as Roaring Moon, Gholdengo, and Darkrai. Great Tusk and Iron Treads are excellent partners; both offer reliable hazard control to keep Ceruledge's Focus Sash intact, while Ceruledge can eliminate their common checks. Ceruledge also pairs well with hazard setters such as Glimmora and Hisuian Samurott, which can allow Ceruledge to secure KOs it would fall short of, especially when utilizing a Jolly nature, such as OHKOing Ting-Lu and Garganacl with a +2 non-Tera Fighting Close Combat. Additionally, Ceruledge can deny Rapid Spin from opposing Iron Treads and Great Tusk while threatening Corviknight. Ceruledge generally appreciates special sweepers such as Calm Mind Iron Valiant and Raging Bolt, threatening its checks and counters such as Garganacl and Dragonite. In return, Ceruledge can handle Blissey and Galarian Slowking, which would otherwise deny a sweep from these special sweepers. Ceruledge is also a consideration on sun teams alongside a setter in Ninetales or Torkoal, since Ceruledge becomes extremely threatening with sun-boosted Bitter Blade paired with Solar Blade, the latter of which rips apart its usual checks in Great Tusk and Alomomola. Walking Wake and Ceruledge form a nearly unwallable duo, as Walking Wake can deal heavy damage to Pokemon that would otherwise wall Ceruledge like Dragonite and Zamazenta. Other sun partners such as Slither Wing and Hatterene provide pivoting and other utility that can support a Ceruledge sweep. Another hyper offense archetype Ceruledge can fit on is Sticky Web teams with setters like Ribombee and Araquanid. On these teams, Ceruledge acts as a spinblocker and sweeper that pairs excellently with its previously mentioned teammates.