[Overview]
With an amazing base 150 Special Attack, a great ability in Drizzle, and good bulk, Kyogre remains one of the most dominant Pokemon of the metagame. Drizzle gives its STAB Water-type moves some extra firepower, turning it into an even scarier wallbreaker and providing support for its team by merely switching onto the battlefield. While base 90 Speed is not great, especially by Ubers's standards, Kyogre still outspeeds and breaks past common walls with its strong moves, and it outspeeds offensive threats once equipped with a Choice Scarf. Nevertheless, Kyogre often struggles to beat some of the extremely common Dragon-types that run rampant in Ubers such as Eternatus and Zekrom as well as the rarer Grass-types in Ferrothorn and Zarude, and it also finds Blissey problematic. Drizzle's rain setting also leaves it vulnerable to unavoidable Thunders that can hit it extremely hard.
[SET]
name: Bulky Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Rest
move 4: Ice Beam / Block
item: Leftovers
ability: Drizzle
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
This set aims to utilize Kyogre's natural bulk to take on various defensive Pokemon such as Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh, and Zygarde-C and set up Calm Mind in front of them. Scald is preferred over Surf to potentially burn common answers such as Ferrothorn and Eternatus and provide some residual damage. Rest keeps Kyogre healthy, lets it absorb status, and makes switching into weaker attackers like Necrozma-DM and defensive Eternatus less punishing long-term. Ice Beam hits Dragon- and Grass-type switch-ins super effectively and ensures Kyogre can set up alongside Zygarde-C and then OHKO it. Alternatively, Block traps weak walls, primarily Eternatus, that can normally stop Kyogre and turns them into setup fodder alongside Rest. The EVs provided with a Bold nature make sure Kyogre takes on foes like Groudon, Zygarde-C, and Galarian Darmanitan as well as possible.
Strong physical attackers like Groudon, Zygarde-C, and Zekrom pair nicely with Kyogre, as they can beat Dragon Tail Eternatus, Blissey, and Ferrothorn, all of which are huge roadblocks. In return, Kyogre can effectively remove bulky Ground-types like Zygarde-C and Groudon as well as Ho-Oh for them. Kyogre's Drizzle limits Necrozma-DM's recovery, allowing Xerneas to have a better shot at breaking past it and providing it with perfectly accurate Thunders. Dracovish deserves a special mention, as it's one of the better, if not the best, beneficiaries of rain, turning its Fishious Rend into a very effective nuke. Ferrothorn is another great partner, setting up Spikes to weaken Kyogre's checks and displacing Eternatus's item, a check to both Pokemon. In return, Kyogre's rain mitigates Ferrothorn's weakness to Fire-type attacks.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Origin Pulse
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunder
item: Choice Specs
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs boosts Kyogre's already spectacular Special Attack to almost unmatchable levels. Coupled with rain, its Water Spout has one of the highest damage outputs in the metagame. At full HP, Kyogre has a decent shot of 2HKOing even Blissey after Stealth Rock and always 2HKOes Ferrothorn. Origin Pulse allows Kyogre to wallbreak even when its HP is low but misses out on the damage benchmarks of Water Spout. Ice Beam lets Kyogre deal with the Dragon- and Grass-types that resist its STAB moves, especially Eternatus, which can outspeed Kyogre and reliably recover any lost HP. Thunder is perfectly accurate under Kyogre's rain, allows it to beat opposing Kyogre, chunks Palkia, and has a respectable chance to paralyze the foe. A Modest nature lets Kyogre 2HKO Ferrothorn and Eternatus after Stealth Rock. Timid sacrifices a bit of power for the ability to Speed tie with other base 90 Speed foes such as Zekrom. It's also mandatory on teams utilizing Sticky Web to outspeed Calyrex-S.
Choice Specs Kyogre wants to fit on more offensive teams due to its item. Sticky Web support from Shuckle or Slurpuff helps compensate for Kyogre's unimpressive base Speed, allowing it to outspeed Calyrex-S and Pheromosa with a positive Speed nature. Xerneas beats bulky Dragon-types like Eternatus and Palkia, while Kyogre provides rain support for accurate Thunders and limits Morning Sun recovery for Necrozma-DM in return. Strong physical attackers such as Swords Dance Groudon can break past Eternatus and Ferrothorn, both of which Kyogre struggles to break. In return, Kyogre can take on Zygarde-C and Lunala, two common checks to Groudon. Calyrex-I is a good partner, as it can break past Eternatus and beat Zekrom while also helping overwhelm Ferrothorn. In exchange, Kyogre can scare out Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM. Paralysis spreaders that draw in Eternatus such as Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM are good partners for their speed control, which helps Kyogre use Water Spout more safely.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Origin Pulse
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunder
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Drizzle
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Scarf Kyogre is a potent revenge killer. Rain-boosted Water Spout is a very scary tool that allows Kyogre to OHKO common threats such as Calyrex-S, Dragon Dance Zygarde before it transforms, and unboosted Xerneas. Origin Pulse is Kyogre's best move once it's too weakened to reliably use Water Spout, consistently 2HKOing Necrozma-DM and Yveltal. Ice Beam nails Dragon-types such as offensive Eternatus, Zekrom, and Zygarde-C. Thunder lets Kyogre beat other Kyogre and forces opposing Ditto to lock into it to beat Kyogre. A Timid nature makes Kyogre faster than Calyrex-S and +1 Zygarde-C.
Choice Scarf Kyogre can outspeed and revenge kill the vast majority of the metagame if it's healthy. Calyrex-S is a great partner, as it can beat Kyogre's biggest counters in Eternatus and Blissey, while Kyogre scares out Yveltal and Tyranitar, both of which can beat Calyrex-S. Necrozma-DM can set up Stealth Rock for Kyogre and beat Xerneas, which Kyogre often lets in when locking into non-STAB attacks. Ho-Oh can remove entry hazards with Defog so that Kyogre can remain as healthy as possible, and it also severely limits Ferrothorn's capabilities to check Kyogre. It doesn't, however, like the damage drop-off that rain gives to its Sacred Fire. Lunala and Groudon can help beat Zekrom, one of Kyogre's toughest checks.
[SET]
name: SubCM
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Surf
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Leftovers
ability: Drizzle
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 140 SpA / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set attempts to set up Calm Minds mid-game to take over the match. Substitute ensures that Kyogre doesn't get statused, as remaining healthy is key to be able to go for as long as possible. It also allows Kyogre to avoid Leech Seed from Ferrothorn and can help absorb weaker hits like Necrozma-DM's Sunsteel Strike and Eternatus's Dynamax Cannon after a Calm Mind boost. Thunder Wave alongside Calm Mind and Substitute lets Kyogre beat foes like Eternatus and Blissey, slowing them down and preventing them from PP stalling it. Surf is chosen because it's more accurate and has more PP than Origin Pulse and is stronger than Scald. Also, Scald's burn chance is undesirable because the set aims to paralyze its targets. 116 Speed EVs ensure that Kyogre can outspeed Calyrex-S and Choice Scarf Yveltal after paralyzing them. 252 HP EVs mean Blissey's Seismic Toss doesn't break Substitute, with the rest of the EVs put into Special Attack backed up by a Modest nature to hit as hard as possible.
This set punishes Ground-types especially hard, so Pokemon that want those gone make great teammates. Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM likes to have Zygarde-C and Groudon checked by this Kyogre set and provides an answer to Eternatus in return. Cleric support from Blissey or Calyrex-S is appreciated in the instances where Kyogre has to switch in on a status move or if Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire burns it. Xerneas can break through Zarude, a Pokemon that otherwise cares very little about Kyogre's antics. In return, Kyogre's Drizzle limits Necrozma-DM's recovery from Morning Sun so that Xerneas can set up and sweep. Kyogre spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave allows slower wallbreakers such as Urshifu-S and Rayquaza to take over and deal with their offensive checks more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Surf can be run on the Choice Scarf set, as it is more accurate and has more PP than Origin Pulse, but the drop off in damage is noticeable and rather large. A more specially defensive spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 248 SpD with a Calm nature ensures that uninvested Eternatus's Dynamax Cannon doesn't break Kyogre's Substitute, but it leaves Kyogre very vulnerable to physical attacks. Sleep Talk can be run in the fourth moveslot on the bulky Calm Mind set, but Kyogre doesn't need to keep itself active so much that it'd run it over the other options. Toxic on the Calm Mind set can beat Shedinja and Gastrodon and whittle down Blissey, but it does not offer nearly as much universal utility as Kyogre's other options and just makes Kyogre even more susceptible to Eternatus. Calm Mind sets can utilize Roar to phaze Cosmic Power Eternatus and opposing Kyogre, but the coverage is usually preferred.
Checks and Counters
====
**Eternatus**: Eternatus can take all Water-type moves that Kyogre throws its way and has the potential to phaze a boosted Kyogre with Dragon Tail while consistently outspeeding it. It has to be very wary of Choice Specs Ice Beam, however, as it can deal a lot of damage.
**Blissey**: Blissey can consistently beat all Kyogre sets if it's holding a Utility Umbrella, but if Stealth Rock is up, it can faint to a healthy Kyogre's Modest Water Spout.
**Water-immune Pokemon**: Gastrodon and Shedinja wall Kyogre regardless of its set, with Gastrodon being able to remove Kyogre's boosts with Clear Smog while Shedinja's Wonder Guard protects it from all of Kyogre's options.
**Electric-types**: Zekrom can outspeed non-Choice Scarf Kyogre and OHKO with Bolt Strike while also being immune to Thunder Wave, but it cannot come in on an Ice Beam in fear of being OHKOed or a Scald, as it risks getting crippled by a burn. Regieleki has enough speed to outspeed even Timid Choice Scarf Kyogre and threaten to OHKO with its Electric-type attacks.
**Bulky Dragon-types**: Utility Umbrella Kyurem-W and Palkia can take any hit Kyogre throws their way and retaliate with their strong attacks, but neither one likes being paralyzed.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn resists Kyogre's Water- and Electric-type attacks, only gets hit for neutral damage by Ice Beam, and threatens to 2HKO Kyogre with Power Whip or use it as setup fodder for entry hazards. It can't take two Water Spouts from a healthy Kyogre, however, so it must be careful.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lasen, 273339]]
- Quality checked by: [[Fc, 511624], [Manaphy, 50695]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [DC, 449990]]
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