[OVERVIEW]
Primal Kyogre's high base attacking stats and access to a variety of coverage options make it one of the most threatening wallbreakers in Anything Goes. Its good natural bulk, pure Water typing, and Fire immunity courtesy of Primordial Sea lend it valuable defensive utility as well, letting it serve as a check to the likes of mixed Primal Groudon, defensive Ho-Oh, and most Calm Mind Arceus formes. As Electric- and Grass-type attacks aren't very common in Anything Goes, teams typically have to rely on brute force in order to revenge kill it. However, Kyogre tends to struggle against offensive teams, which pack faster threats such as Mega Rayquaza, Ultra Necrozma, and Marshadow that can heavily damage it with their attacks. Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn are the best defensive answers to Kyogre, and they can take advantage of it by using the opportunity to lay entry hazards or set up. Regular Kyogre can viably run a Choice Scarf set to patch up its average Speed, letting it turn the tables on offensive teams by outspeeding and OHKOing many frail attackers. However, threats like Primal Groudon and Mega Rayquaza severely limit its sweeping potential.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Origin Pulse
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Calm Mind / Water Spout / Thunder
move 4: Water Spout / Thunder / Substitute
item: Blue Orb
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 72 Def / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Origin Pulse is Kyogre's STAB attacking move that does large amounts of damage to most Pokemon that do not resist it. Ice Beam offers good complementary coverage alongside Origin Pulse, hitting Primal Groudon neutrally and Dragon-types like Mega Rayquaza and Zygarde-C super effectively. Calm Mind lets Kyogre break walls like Arceus-Water and win duels against Calm Mind Arceus formes if it's healthy enough. It can be used to pull off a late-game sweep once offensive checks like Marshadow, Mega Rayquaza, and Ultra Necrozma have been removed. Water Spout is an extremely powerful wallbreaking tool that allows Kyogre to muscle through some of its usual checks. Full-powered Modest Water Spout has a small chance to 2HKO Ferrothorn unboosted and 2HKOes Chansey and Blissey at +1, letting Kyogre break stall teams. Thunder hits Water-types like opposing Kyogre, Arceus-Water, and Toxapex. It also has perfect accuracy in rain, which can help out against Pokemon with evasion boosts under their belt, such as those on Baton Pass teams. Substitute can be used alongside Calm Mind, giving Kyogre the ability to set up on slow Arceus formes, support Necrozma-DM, and Ferrothorn lacking a Grass-type attack.
Set Details
========
72 Defense EVs let Kyogre survive Precipice Blades from Jolly Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage, as well as Precipice Blades from Adamant Primal Groudon, Brave Bird from Life Orb Ho-Oh, and Dragon Ascent from Choice Scarf Mega Rayquaza from full health. Maximum Speed investment lets Kyogre at worst Speed tie with Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh with a matching Speed nature. Kyogre wants to be as fast as possible so that it can fire off Water Spout or use Substitute before it is struck by a foe; it does not take Precipice Blades or Brave Bird well. The rest of the EVs are invested into Special Attack to maximize Kyogre's wallbreaking potential. A Modest nature is preferred for the extra firepower it grants Kyogre, ensuring that +1 Origin Pulse OHKOes support Arceus formes and that Ice Beam KOes Mega Rayquaza after Stealth Rock damage. A Timid nature is also viable to Speed tie with faster variants of Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and opposing Kyogre. If using this set with Substitute, an EV spread of 136 Def / 120 SpA / 252 Spe with a Timid nature is recommended; this prevents Ferrothorn's Gyro Ball from breaking Kyogre's Substitute and lets Kyogre outspeed slow Arceus formes. Alternatively, a basic EV spread of 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe with a Modest nature gives Kyogre a slightly higher chance to 2HKO Ferrothorn with full-powered Water Spout.
Usage Tips
========
Against bulkier teams, secure damage on Kyogre's checks early-game so that it will be harder to switch into later. Ice Beam chips at an incoming Primal Groudon, and using Water Spout or Substitute + Calm Mind will weaken Ferrothorn. Double switching to a wallbreaker like Mega Rayquaza, Ultra Necrozma, or Marshadow on these targets can also be beneficial. If Primal Groudon is the opponent's primary switch-in to Kyogre, Ice Beam is a good midground play versus foes like Yveltal and Arceus-Ground. Use Calm Mind or Substitute to take advantage of forced switches. However, use Calm Mind sparingly if revenge killers like Mega Rayquaza, Ultra Necrozma, and Marshadow are still alive; they can easily revenge kill Kyogre if it's not behind a Substitute. Kyogre can win duels against Calm Mind Arceus formes if it's healthy enough; switch into Pokemon like Arceus-Steel as they go for their first Calm Mind boost, and then use Calm Mind alongside them until they attack Kyogre. Kyogre and the Arceus forme will have accumulated an equal number of Calm Mind boosts at this point, so during the next turn, Origin Pulse will outdamage their recovery move. Setting entry hazards beforehand assists Kyogre's wallbreaking efforts. A layer of Spikes gives Kyogre a good chance to 2HKO Ferrothorn with Water Spout and 2HKO offensive Primal Groudon with Ice Beam. Stealth Rock limits Mega Rayquaza, which is likely to claim a KO or otherwise massively dent something every time it gets a free switch into Kyogre.
Team Options
========
Mega Rayquaza is a great offensive partner that preys on many defensive stops to Kyogre, including Primal Groudon, Ferrothorn, and special walls like Blissey and Chansey. Entry hazard support is great for wearing down Kyogre's checks; Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and various support Arceus formes provide Stealth Rock support, while Ferrothorn and Skarmory provide Spikes support and appreciate Kyogre covering their Fire-type weakness. A solid switch-in to Primal Groudon is appreciated, as Kyogre will be unable to 2HKO it if Desolate Land is active, and Groudon can use it as setup fodder or deal heavy damage to it with Precipice Blades. Mega Rayquaza, defensive Zygarde-C, and Arceus-Ground are all capable of taking hits from Primal Groudon and revenge killing it. Other Ground-immune Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Yveltal can work too, but they are hit hard by Primal Groudon's other moves. Arceus-Fairy and Choice Scarf Xerneas can check many of the fast attackers that threaten Kyogre, including Mega Rayquaza, Ultra Necrozma, and Marshadow. In return, Kyogre puts immense pressure on many Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Steel and weakens Primal Groudon for them. Celesteela and Skarmory check Ultra Necrozma and are particularly helpful for dealing with Choice item variants of Mega Rayquaza, which is unlikely to use V-create into Kyogre. Kyogre can also switch into Primal Groudon for these Pokemon on the predicted use of Stealth Rock or a Fire-type move. Kyogre's middling Speed tier means that it can struggle with offensive teams, so anti-offense Pokemon such as Marshadow and Extreme Killer Arceus make for good partners. Sticky Web setters like Smeargle can pair well with this Kyogre variant, as the Speed drop from Sticky Web lets it outspeed and OHKO many would-be revenge killers like Marshadow. In return, Kyogre can put massive pressure on Defoggers like support Arceus formes and Ho-Oh, preventing them from removing Sticky Web.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Rest
move 2: Scald
move 3: Ice Beam / Toxic
move 4: Calm Mind / Sleep Talk
item: Blue Orb
ability: Drizzle
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rest gives Kyogre a source of recovery and removes status ailments inflicted by foes like Ho-Oh and Zygarde-C. Scald is Kyogre's primary attacking move and can punish Water-resistant Pokemon that attempt to switch in, like Ferrothorn and Mega Rayquaza, with a burn. Ice Beam offers good complementary coverage alongside Scald, hitting Primal Groudon neutrally and Dragon-types like Mega Rayquaza and Zygarde-C super effectively. Calm Mind lets Kyogre duel with Calm Mind Arceus formes if it's healthy enough and can be used to pull off a late-game sweep once its offensive checks have been removed. Sleep Talk prevents Kyogre from being completely passive while it is asleep, letting it punish trappers and setup sweepers that may try to take advantage of it. Toxic wears down Primal Groudon so that it cannot repeatedly switch into Kyogre and can be useful for putting bulky foes such as support Arceus formes on a timer. However, Kyogre will be unable to punish Primal Groudon sets with Rest, Ferrothorn is immune to it, and it makes Kyogre more prone to being used as setup fodder by Mega Rayquaza.
Set Details
========
20 Special Defense EVs ensure that Kyogre survives two boosted Hexes from Mega Gengar. The rest of the EVs are placed into HP and Defense with a Bold nature, giving Kyogre the bulk necessary to survive strong physical attacks from Pokemon like mixed Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, as well as any hit from unboosted Mega Rayquaza.
Usage Tips
========
Kyogre should primarily switch into passive Pokemon that rely on status to punish it, including support Arceus formes and defensive variants of Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, and Zygarde-C. Once Kyogre is safely in, assess the opponent's team. If the opponent has a Primal Groudon that's likely to switch in, it's best punished by a double switch or by utilizing another option such as Ice Beam or Toxic. Otherwise, it's often a good idea to simply spam Scald. This variant of Kyogre can survive any hit from unboosted Mega Rayquaza, including Dragon Ascent from Choice Band sets; if Kyogre is healthy enough, it can opt to stay in and use Ice Beam to punish Mega Rayquaza if it attempts to set up. Arceus-Water doesn't trouble this set as much as it does other Kyogre sets, since it cannot punish Kyogre outside of status. In fact, Kyogre can even be used as a switch-in to it to absorb status for teammates like Primal Groudon. However, if Kyogre lacks Toxic, it will be reliant on PP stalling or accumulating many Calm Mind boosts to defeat Arceus-Water, and being forced to use Rest can also leave Kyogre in an exploitable position. Kyogre struggles to take strong physical attacks even with maximum Defense investment; for example, it's 2HKOed by Precipice Blades from offensive Primal Groudon and Brave Bird from Life Orb Ho-Oh. This set's lack of Speed investment means that it will often be outsped by these attackers as well, so it's a risky switch-in to them. Instead, try to bring Kyogre in on weak or resisted physical hits, such as Thousand Arrows from Zygarde-C and Sunsteel Strike from Necrozma-DM. Be wary when using Kyogre to check Necrozma-DM; if it's actually Ultra Necrozma, it can deal massive damage to Kyogre with a boosted Photon Geyser. Scouting with a teammate like Arceus-Dark or Yveltal can be beneficial. Try to use Rest as late as possible, as Kyogre is very vulnerable while it's sleeping, especially if it lacks Sleep Talk.
Team Options
========
Defensive Primal Kyogre fits on balanced and bulky offensive teams that appreciate the defensive utility it provides as a status absorber and bulky Water-type. This set is easily punished by Primal Groudon, so Kyogre's team should include solid, long-term checks to it like defensive Zygarde-C and Arceus-Ground. Pokemon that lure in and wear it down, like Ultra Necrozma and Geomancy Xerneas, are also effective partners. Opposing Kyogre also pose problems for this set, so Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn are good teammates. Entry hazard support is great for wearing down Kyogre's checks. Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and various support Arceus formes provide Stealth Rock support, while Ferrothorn and Skarmory provide Spikes support and appreciate Kyogre covering their Fire-type weakness. Kyogre's middling Speed tier means that it can struggle with offensive teams, so anti-offense Pokemon such as Marshadow and Extreme Killer Arceus make for good partners. Cleric support from Pokemon like Xerneas and Magearna is appreciated to quickly wake up Kyogre after it uses Rest. Pokemon that can block Leech Seed like Mega Sableye, Ferrothorn, and Arceus-Grass prevent Ferrothorn from recovering once Kyogre has burned it.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunder / Origin Pulse
item: Blue Orb
ability: Drizzle
nature: Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Liquidation is this set's STAB move of choice and hits very hard under Primordial Sea. With an Attack-boosting nature, it 2HKOes Chansey, support Necrozma-DM, and Arceus formes that have minimal Defense investment. The Defense drops it sometimes incurs are also helpful for breaking foes like Lugia and very defensive Arceus formes. Earthquake is one of the main draws to this set over other Kyogre variants, allowing Kyogre to 2HKO its most prominent check in Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage. It can help ease prediction against defensive cores, since it hits both Primal Groudon and Steel-types super effectively. Ice Beam targets Dragon-types like Mega Rayquaza, defensive Zygarde-C, and Giratina that would otherwise wall this Kyogre variant pretty easily. Thunder hits Water-types like Arceus-Water and opposing Kyogre. It also deals more damage to Pokemon like Celesteela, Skarmory, and physically defensive Yveltal, which usually avoid the 2HKO from Liquidation. The paralysis it inflicts helps Kyogre break walls like Lugia and support Arceus formes, slowing them down so that it can attack before they use Recover. Thunder also has perfect accuracy in rain, which can help out against Pokemon with evasion boosts under their belt, such as those on Baton Pass teams. Alternatively, Origin Pulse deals more damage than Liquidation to Arceus formes with a lot of Defense investment.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with a Naughty nature guarantees that Kyogre's Earthquake 2HKOes support Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage. Maximum Speed investment lets Kyogre at worst Speed tie with Primal Groudon if it lacks a Speed-boosting nature. Kyogre wants to be as fast as possible so that it can OHKO Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh before they deal massive damage to it with Precipice Blades or Brave Bird. An alternative spread of 184 Atk / 72 Def / 252 Spe improves Kyogre's bulk significantly, letting it survive Precipice Blades from Jolly Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage. However, Earthquake is no longer a guaranteed 2HKO on support Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage, and Liquidation starts to miss the 2HKO on some Arceus formes. A Naive nature can be used instead to Speed tie with faster variants of Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, and opposing Kyogre, but there is a very noticeable loss in power.
Usage Tips
========
Kyogre is best used as an early-game wallbreaker that dismantles defensive cores, allowing its teammates to clean up late-game. Natural bulk and a lack of weakness to most attacks make a healthy Kyogre difficult to force out. Thus, prediction isn't too necessary when trying to wallbreak with this set; if the opponent decides to switch, it will likely be to a foe that cannot OHKO Kyogre, and Kyogre can simply hit it with the appropriate coverage move the following turn. However, don't follow this logic if the opponent has a Ferrothorn, since it hard counters this set. One should also be wary of letting Mega Rayquaza in on Liquidation or Earthquake. It's often not a bad idea for Kyogre to stay in and use Earthquake against Primal Groudon while Desolate Land is active. Primal Groudon is often a team's Stealth Rock setter, and Kyogre can punish opponents thinking they are free to set Stealth Rock as Kyogre is forced out. The presence of a Ground-immune Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza or Yveltal on the team can deter Primal Groudon's use of Precipice Blades. If Primal Groudon is the opponent's primary switch-in to Kyogre, Ice Beam is a good midground play versus foes like Yveltal and Arceus-Ground; it still hits Primal Groudon for decent chip damage without giving away Kyogre's set. A healthy Ferrothorn switches into this set with impunity and can use the opportunity to set Spikes or annoy Kyogre's teammates with Leech Seed. Usually, it's best to double switch to a wallbreaker like Mega Rayquaza or Marshadow to pressure it before it gets the chance to do so. Revealing Liquidation too early can tip off your opponent that Kyogre is a physical variant and make them less likely to stay in with Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Chansey. Ice Beam and Thunder can be used to bluff the special attacker set and punish Pokemon like Giratina and Lugia, respectively, that try to scout for this set. Setting entry hazards beforehand assists Kyogre's wallbreaking efforts. Stealth Rock damage is needed for Kyogre to secure the 2HKO on support Primal Groudon with Earthquake. Stealth Rock also limits Mega Rayquaza, which is likely to claim a KO or otherwise massively dent something every time it gets a free switch into Kyogre.
Team Options
========
Arceus-Fairy and Choice Scarf Xerneas can revenge kill many of the fast attackers that threaten Kyogre, including Mega Rayquaza, Ultra Necrozma, and Marshadow. In return, Kyogre puts immense pressure on many Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Arceus-Steel and weakens Primal Groudon for them. Various other Pokemon that benefit from Primal Groudon being weakened, such as Necrozma-DM and Magearna, enjoy having this Kyogre set as a partner. Ferrothorn stops this set cold, so teammates that can put offensive pressure on it such as Mega Rayquaza, Marshadow, and non-Choice-locked Ho-Oh are needed. Pokemon that lure and take out Ferrothorn such as Calm Mind + Fire Blast Arceus-Fairy also pair nicely with this set. Ground-immune Pokemon like Mega Rayquaza, Ho-Oh, and Yveltal shield Kyogre against Primal Groudon by forcing it into mind games over whether or not to use Precipice Blades. Stronger checks to Primal Groudon such as defensive Zygarde-C and Arceus-Ground are also helpful partners, but they are not as necessary for this Kyogre set as they are for others. Mega Gengar can trap and weaken Ferrothorn and Arceus-Water for Kyogre using Focus Blast and Thunder. It can also revenge kill fast threats that Kyogre struggles with, including Ultra Necrozma, Extreme Killer Arceus, and unboosted Mega Rayquaza. As usual, Stealth Rock setters like Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and support Arceus formes and Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Skarmory are useful for wearing down Kyogre's checks. Stealth Rock damage is needed before Kyogre can 2HKO support Primal Groudon with Earthquake. This set is more prone to becoming setup fodder for Mega Rayquaza due to its lack of Special Attack investment. Pokemon such as defensive Arceus-Fairy, defensive Zygarde-C, and Celesteela can limit the damage a +1 Mega Rayquaza inflicts on Kyogre's team. Kyogre's middling Speed tier means that it can struggle with offensive teams, so anti-offense Pokemon such as Marshadow and Extreme Killer Arceus make for good partners. Pokemon that can block Leech Seed like Mega Sableye, Ferrothorn, and Arceus-Grass help with Ferrothorn, which is a major nuisance for this set.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Origin Pulse
move 3: Ice Beam / Sheer Cold
move 4: Thunder / Sheer Cold
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is a 100% accurate STAB move that can easily sweep through weakened teams when Kyogre is healthy enough. Origin Pulse is Kyogre's secondary STAB move that has consistent damage output; although it's neither as strong nor as accurate as full-powered Water Spout, it still deals a lot of damage to most Pokemon that do not resist it. Ice Beam offers good complementary coverage alongside Origin Pulse, hitting Primal Groudon neutrally and Dragon-types such as Mega Rayquaza and Zygarde-C super effectively. Thunder targets Water-types like opposing Kyogre, Arceus-Water, and Toxapex. Sheer Cold allows Kyogre to bypass its usual counters in Primal Groudon and Ferrothorn; it has a roughly 50/50 chance to net a KO versus a slower foe as it switches in and attacks. However, the unreliable accuracy can be off-putting.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed ensures that Kyogre hits as hard and as fast as possible. Choice Scarf patches up Kyogre's mediocre Speed and lets it outpace many offensive Pokemon, including Marshadow, Mega Gengar, and Mega Mewtwo Y, at the cost of Primal Reversion and the ability to switch up moves. A Modest nature is preferred for the extra firepower it grants Kyogre, giving full-powered Water Spout a high chance to OHKO support Arceus formes and 2HKO Arceus-Water after Stealth Rock damage and ensuring that Origin Pulse consistently OHKOes Ho-Oh and 2HKOes support Necrozma-DM. A Timid nature is also viable so that Kyogre outspeeds Modest Choice Scarf Xerneas and Yveltal, but there is a noticeable loss in power.
Usage Tips
========
Think twice before locking into a Water-type move while the opponent's Primal Groudon is still alive. Using Ice Beam or Sheer Cold or pulling a double switch may be better alternatives. Kyogre should also be wary of giving Mega Rayquaza a free setup opportunity if it decides to lock into a Water-type move. A healthy Ferrothorn walls this Kyogre variant with ease, so it's best to use Sheer Cold or pull a double switch if you think it's going to come in. Prediction is a bigger factor when utilizing this Kyogre set; the opponent may try to pivot around it with Water-resistant Pokemon like Arceus-Water and Mega Rayquaza if they lack a Primal Groudon or want to avoid having it take chip damage. Try not to reveal that Kyogre isn't Primal Kyogre immediately; this way, the opponent may be less cautious about preserving their Primal Groudon, which will open the door for Kyogre to sweep late-game. If Kyogre aims to sweep with Water Spout, its health should be conserved as much as possible. Using Defog or Rapid Spin to clear the field of entry hazards before Kyogre comes in is highly beneficial. It's also best to remove priority users like Mega Rayquaza, Marshadow, and Extreme Killer Arceus beforehand, since they can weaken Water Spout to the point where Kyogre is unable to break past a wall or even becomes setup fodder for a sweeper.
Team Options
========
Checks to Primal Groudon like Mega Rayquaza, defensive Zygarde-C, and Arceus-Ground are mandatory, since it easily shuts down this set. Pokemon that lure and wear down Primal Groudon, like Ultra Necrozma, Geomancy Xerneas, and even physical Primal Kyogre, are also effective partners. A healthy Ferrothorn is tough for this set to break, so teammates that can put offensive pressure on it are needed. Mega Rayquaza, Marshadow, and non-Choice-locked Ho-Oh are all good partners in this regard. Pokemon that lure Ferrothorn and take out such as Calm Mind + Fire Blast Arceus-Fairy also pair nicely with this set. Mega Gengar can pick off a weakened Primal Groudon or force a trade with Destiny Bond, guaranteeing its removal thanks to Shadow Tag. Access to options like Focus Blast, Thunder, and Taunt or Perish Song lets it target various Pokemon that may stand in the way of Kyogre's sweep, including Ferrothorn, Arceus-Water, and Chansey, respectively. This set is very punishable by Mega Rayquaza, as it can use Kyogre as setup fodder if it's locked into a Water-type move. Pokemon such as defensive Arceus-Fairy, defensive Zygarde-C, and Celesteela can limit the damage a boosted Mega Rayquaza inflicts on Kyogre's team. As usual, Stealth Rock setters like Primal Groudon, Necrozma-DM, and support Arceus formes and Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Skarmory are useful for wearing down Kyogre's checks.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Roar can be used on the defensive set to phaze setup sweepers, including those behind Substitute like Vivillon and Pokemon on Baton Pass teams. Sheer Cold can be used alongside Sleep Talk on the defensive set, allowing Kyogre to eventually beat any foe that is unable to 3HKO it. This can be deadly against passive playstyles such as stall but leaves Kyogre very exploitable by offensive threats like Mega Rayquaza and Primal Groudon unless it manages to land Sheer Cold or burn the former with Scald. Choice Specs grants Kyogre insane wallbreaking power, letting it 2HKO Ferrothorn, Blissey, and Chansey with Water Spout. However, such a set still fails to 2HKO support Primal Groudon, forgoes Primal Kyogre's ability to switch up moves and replace Desolate Land or Delta Stream with its own weather, and does poorly against offensive teams, although the last point can be mitigated with Sticky Web support. Hidden Power Ground can be used on the special attacker set to hit Primal Groudon super effectively, but it has very narrow coverage and hits its target only marginally harder than Ice Beam.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Primal Groudon**: Primal Groudon is immune to Water-type attacks under Desolate Land and avoids the 2HKO from all of Kyogre's special attacks bar the rare Hidden Power Ground. As long as it's alive, Kyogre can't mindlessly spam its Water-type attacks. Once Primal Groudon is on the field, it can also deal major damage to Kyogre with Precipice Blades or use the opportunity to set Stealth Rock. However, it's very prone to being worn down, since it lacks recovery outside of Rest, and it's hit hard by Earthquake from physical Primal Kyogre. Primal Groudon is also forced out by Primal Kyogre if the latter is faster and Primordial Sea is active.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn's bulk, typing, and access to recovery make it one of the best answers to Kyogre. It isn't weak to any of Kyogre's coverage options thanks to Primal Kyogre's own ability, and it can sustain its health with Leech Seed and Leftovers, allowing it to repeatedly switch into and withstand Kyogre's assaults. Additionally, Ferrothorn's access to Spikes makes it a very dangerous foe to give free turns to. However, it can be overwhelmed by Water Spout variants of Primal Kyogre and is setup fodder for Substitute + Calm Mind variants if it lacks a Grass-type move.
**Dragon-types**: Mega Rayquaza outspeeds Kyogre, survives any attack from it after it Mega Evolves, and can choose to set up with Dragon Dance or simply OHKO it with Dragon Ascent. Ultra Necrozma forces a mind game with Kyogre over whether or not it will Ultra Burst, since it resists Water-type attacks as Ultra Necrozma but resists Ice Beam as Necrozma-DM. If Kyogre recklessly tries to attack Necrozma-DM without scouting if said foe is actually Ultra Necrozma, it may sustain massive damage from Photon Geyser or even be used as setup fodder with Swords Dance. Giratina avoids the 2HKO from all of Kyogre's moves, but it can't threaten Kyogre with much besides Toxic, so it will lose in a one-on-one scenario.
**Other Water-resistant Pokemon**: Arceus-Water, opposing Kyogre, and Toxapex can attempt to pivot into Kyogre on a Water-type move, but they are hit hard by Thunder, and besides Kyogre itself, they can do little back to Kyogre except stall it out with Toxic. Specially defensive Arceus-Grass is a niche Pokemon that avoids the 2HKO from all of Kyogre's moves and can heal off the damage with Recover or threaten it with a super effective Grass Knot.
**Blissey and Chansey**: Astronomically high special bulk allow Blissey and Chansey to avoid the 2HKO from all of Kyogre's special attacks, including full-powered Modest Water Spout, if they are at full health. However, both of them lose to Calm Mind + Water Spout or physical variants of Primal Kyogre.
**Defensive Lunala**: With defensive investment and an intact Shadow Shield, Lunala can switch into Kyogre and take any hit from it. It can then repeatedly use Roost to restore Shadow Shield until Kyogre misses Origin Pulse or runs out of Water Spout PP, then inflict it with Toxic. However, Kyogre is capable of getting past Lunala with full-powered Modest Water Spout or a Thunder paralysis, and Lunala can't really punish RestTalk sets.
**Revenge Killers**: Many physical attackers that outspeed Kyogre, such as Mega Rayquaza, Marshadow, and Swords Dance Arceus formes, can easily revenge kill it after some prior chip damage. These Pokemon limit Kyogre's usefulness against offensive teams.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[bigtalk, 466663]]
- Quality checked by: [[pichus, 374620], [ice-master-523, 464176], [Catalystic, 314467]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [, ]]
Last edited:
