[OVERVIEW]
Keldeo's Hydro Pump is one of the most dangerous attacks in all of SS UU; any team not capable of stomaching it borders on unviable, and most teams will need to stack multiple Water-resistant Pokemon just to ensure they're safe against it. That, combined with Secret Sword to slice open Pokemon that withstand Hydro Pump like Zarude, Chansey, and Rotom-W, makes Keldeo one of the most dangerous wallbreakers in the tier. Its STAB moves give it plenty of coverage already, but Icy Wind further OHKOes Salamence and Noivern, which could otherwise handle it, and Air Slash 2HKOes every Grass-type in the tier. Keldeo's good Speed tier also lets it outspeed and threaten an OHKO on Pokemon like Zarude, Thundurus-T, and Nihilego, helping further separate it from other wallbreakers in the tier. This is further augmented by its resistance to common priority moves like Scizor's Bullet Punch and Mamoswine's Ice Shard. Keldeo does have some large issues, like generally struggling to break through Primarina, Slowking, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth without support—the latter three further exploit its Choice Specs to scout its attack through Regenerator—but its upside still makes it a top choice for a wallbreaker. Keldeo is also quite prediction reliant and can end up as setup fodder for the likes of Gyarados and Salamence if it's not careful. Finally, Keldeo's Speed tier, while good, can leave it easily revenge killed by the likes of Noivern, Crobat, Azelf, and Raikou.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Secret Sword
move 3: Scald
move 4: Icy Wind / Air Slash
item: Choice Specs
ability: Justified
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydro Pump rinses the likes of Scizor, Hippowdon, Nihilego, and Thundurus-T. Even frailer resistant Pokemon such as Zarude and opposing Keldeo can't handle it more than once. Secret Sword smashes Chansey, Hydreigon, and Celesteela while chunking Tentacruel and offensive Primarina. Scald is useful against frailer offensive teams, where the extra power from Hydro Pump is unnecessary, letting Keldeo cleave through them without risk of missing. Scald also lets it fish for burns on checks like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Slowking, making them worse checks to Keldeo in the long run. Icy Wind destroys Salamence and Noivern, two Pokemon that could otherwise switch into Keldeo decently. It also hits Amoonguss and non-Assault Vest Tangrowth quite hard. Air Slash can KO Amoonguss from higher ranges than Icy Wind and 2HKOes Assault Vest Tangrowth with Stealth Rock up, but otherwise provides worse coverage.
Keldeo's amazing wallbreaking good defensive utility let it fit on all kinds of offensive and balanced teams. Scizor is a phenomenal teammate that can switch into Grass-types that bother Keldeo like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Zarude. It can bring Keldeo in safely on the likes of Skarmory and Rotom-H to launch a free Hydro Pump. If running Swords Dance, Scizor can also sweep late-game after Keldeo has successfully broken down the opponent's team. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Nihilego, Hippowdon, Nidoqueen, and Excadrill makes it much more difficult for Pokemon like Slowking and Tangrowth to repeatedly switch into Keldeo. The former two can also check Salamence and Noivern for Keldeo, while the latter three can serve as decent checks to Raikou. Nidoqueen can also pressure Tangrowth and Primarina quite well. Fast pivots such as Noivern Crobat can outspeed and threaten Pokemon that scare Keldeo out such as Azelf, Raikou, and Zygarde-10%, which is much appreciated. Both can also bring Keldeo in on targets that it freely preys upon, with Noivern baiting in Hippowdon and Nihilego and Crobat baiting in Scizor and Skarmory. Electric-types like Raikou, Rotom-W, and Thundurus-T form good cores with Keldeo, as they can break down the likes of Slowking and Primarina for it. They can also check Togekiss, which can punish Keldeo locked into Secret Sword quite hard. Answers to Slowking, and thus the combination of Future Sight + Teleport, are mandatory when using Keldeo. Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Zarude can switch into Slowking safely and prevent it from using Teleport for free, breaking the FuturePort chain. Grass-types like Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Zarude can aid in Keldeo's eternal fight against bulky Water-types while also being able to check the likes of Gyarados and Primarina.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Keldeo can run a pivot set with Leftovers and a moveset consisting of Scald, Secret Sword, Toxic, and Flip Turn. This makes it much better at wearing down Pokemon like Salamence, Slowking, Primarina, and Tangrowth, and it lets Keldeo pivot out on the likes of Amoonguss. Its damage output is mediocre, though, and Keldeo's Speed tier isn't amazingly suited to being a team's fast Pokemon that keeps other fast Pokemon in check, so it must be paired with a teammate like Choice Scarf Diggersby or Noivern. A Calm Mind set with Scald, Secret Sword, and one of either Air Slash or Substitute is decent on Keldeo, but it loses harder to pretty much all of Keldeo's answers than the Choice Specs set already does. Choice Scarf sets with Flip Turn are a fine option if the ability to outspeed extremely fast Pokemon like boosted Salamence and Choice Scarf Zarude is absolutely necessary for a team to function, but Keldeo's unboosted damage output is somewhat disappointing and Flip Turn hits like a wet noodle off Keldeo's meager Attack stat, leaving it generally outclassed by other fast pivots.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types, specifically those resistant to Secret Sword like Slowking and RestTalk Primarina, can switch into Keldeo all game long, as long as they keep themselves healthy. Tentacruel and Azumarill can switch into Keldeo once or twice and chip it or outright KO it, making it easier for teammates to handle. Starmie and Gyarados can offensively check Keldeo but must be careful about switching in, as it does a huge chunk of damage to them despite their resistances.
**Grass-types**: Tangrowth and Amoonguss can scout any move Keldeo goes for. Even if they are weakened, Regenerator allows them to pivot out to an appropriate teammate to handle the scouted attack. Dhelmise is a niche answer that can switch into Keldeo somewhat well, though it despises being burnt by Scald.
**Dragon-types**: Salamence and Noivern can switch into Keldeo very well, though Salamence needs some bulk investment to avoid a 2HKO from Hydro Pump, and Noivern must be cautious of Keldeo staying in as it heals itself with Roost, as Secret Sword can do massive damage when Roost sheds the Flying type . Hydreigon and Zygarde-10% can also offensively threaten Keldeo depending on what move it's locked into. All Dragon-types must be careful of Icy Wind, though.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lily, 481709]]
- Quality checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [Monky25, 515132], [Mystras Leoxses, 530118]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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