[OVERVIEW]
When one looks at Deoxys-A, the first thing that stands out is its astronomical attacking stats. Its incredible base 150 Speed is also extremely relevant, as it leaves already fast Pokemon like Zacian-C, Koraidon, and Miraidon in the dust. This, in conjunction with its deep movepool, makes Deoxys-A a fearsome wallbreaker and revenge killer capable of threatening everything in the game for at least neutral damage. However, another notable aspect of Deoxys-A’s stats is its pitiful bulk that leaves it OHKOed by every attack in the game, giving it very limited opportunities to safely switch in and actually use its power, as well as leaving it prone to revenge killing from Choice Scarf users like Koraidon and Miraidon and priority from Pokemon like Extreme Killer Arceus. It also has trouble OHKOing some targets like Ting-Lu and Necrozma-DM despite its tremendous power because of a lack of either investment or STAB on its coverage. It is also significantly less threatening after it uses Psycho Boost, letting Pokemon like Miraidon and Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM use it as setup fodder. Despite that, Deoxys-A is a high-reward Pokemon that is worth its high risk if played properly.
[SET]
Mixed Attacker (Deoxys) @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Psycho Boost
- Shadow Ball
- Low Kick
- Rock Slide
[SET COMMENTS]
This set aims to get as much leverage out of Deoxys-A's limited switch-in opportunities as possible. Psycho Boost severely damages almost everything that doesn't resist it, with even defensive Ho-Oh being 2HKOed. Shadow Ball and Low Kick are mainly used to hit Pokemon that resist Psycho Boost. Shadow Ball hits enemy Psychic-types like Necrozma-DM and Calyrex-I super effectively, while Low Kick hits Zacian-C, Ting-Lu, and Kingambit on the switch. Rock Slide targets Ho-Oh, having a chance to OHKO it from full HP. Tera Ghost not only avoids revenge killing attempts from Extreme Killer Arceus but also turns Shadow Ball into a powerful attack that can serve as a strong, spammable STAB move, even OHKOing offensive Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM after minimal chip damage and doing impressive damage to defensive Necrozma-DM.
Since Deoxys-A is so frail, it requires support from pivots to get on the field safely. Therefore, Choice Scarf Koraidon and pivot Miraidon are excellent partners, as they provide reliable pivoting in the form of U-turn while being offensively threatening in their own right. They also love Deoxys-A threatening their checks. Choice Scarf Koraidon has trouble getting past physically defensive Arceus formes like Arceus-Fairy, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Water, which Deoxys-A can break with Koraidon's U-turn support. Miraidon and Deoxys-A have common checks in healthy Ting-Lu and Arceus-Ground, so Deoxys-A pairing with Miraidon means one can work to overwhelm these checks for the other to go berserk. Entry hazard support from Gliscor and Ting-Lu is also appreciated, as it cuts down on the prediction Deoxys-A needs to actually break bulky Pokemon like Necrozma-DM and Ting-Lu. Checks to Extreme Killer Arceus and Choice Scarf Koraidon and Miraidon are also recommended, such as Zacian-C, Ting-Lu, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus-Fairy.
Checks and Counters
====
**Revenge Killers**: While Deoxys-A is very fast, it is still outsped by some Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Koraidon and Miraidon. Flutter Mane also outspeeds Deoxys-A in sun. These Pokemon cannot switch into Deoxys-A, but they can reliably threaten to revenge kill it.
**Priority**: Deoxys-A's awful bulk leaves it prone to all forms of priority, such as Extreme Speed from Extreme Killer Arceus and Rayquaza, Shadow Sneak from Giratina-O, Sucker Punch from Chien-Pao and Kingambit, and Ice Shard from Chien-Pao. Tera Ghost can mitigate the weakness to Extreme Speed, but Deoxys-A cannot threaten Arceus if it is at full HP.
**Psychic-resistant Pokemon**: While Deoxys-A is indeed impossible to safely switch into, it is not so strong that it doesn't have any issues with power. Pokemon that resist Psycho Boost, like Necrozma-DM, Zacian-C, and Ting-Lu, can come into it after a KO and check it, as Deoxys-A cannot OHKO these Pokemon. Necrozma-DM in particular is troublesome for Deoxys-A, as it can use Deoxys-A as setup fodder after taking Psycho Boost.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/oreospeedruns.597293/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/corvere.306317/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
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