[Overview]
Necrozma-DM is the premier Ubers Steel-type and one of the best Pokemon in the tier. It checks a myriad of powerful offensive threats, such as Xerneas, Calyrex-I, Galarian Darmanitan, and Eternatus. With a good ability in Prism Armor, useful utility options including Stealth Rock and status moves, and reliable enough recovery, Necrozma-DM functions as a critical glue Pokemon for the vast majority of teams. Offensive sets are also not to be underestimated, as Necrozma-DM packs an impressive base 157 Attack on top of its good bulk and has great boosting options in Swords Dance and Dragon Dance. Since it's one of the most common defensive Pokemon in the tier, powerful threats like Groudon, Zygarde, Zekrom, and Kyogre often look to take advantage of Necrozma-DM. As such, it is critical to pick Necrozma-DM's coverage options and teammates well in accordance with your team structure, lest you leave big openings in your defensive core.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock / Knock Off
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Thunder Wave / Knock Off / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This is the most common Necrozma-DM set thanks to the Special Defense investment making Necrozma-DM an excellent check to Xerneas and Eternatus. Stealth Rock provides invaluable team support, and Necrozma-DM is probably the best user of it in the tier. With Thunder Wave and Iron Head, the most common Defog user in the tier, Yveltal, will have a very difficult time dealing with Necrozma-DM. Iron Head is used instead of Sunsteel Strike for its higher PP, which lets it more effectively check Calyrex-I, and its flinch chance, which works excellently in combination with Thunder Wave. If a teammate is already providing Stealth Rock support, such as Groudon, Clefable, Blissey, or Landorus, Necrozma-DM can run Knock Off instead to punish common switch-ins like Groudon, Zygarde, Zekrom, and Kyogre. Toxic could also be run to punish the aforementioned switch-ins as well as Ho-Oh. The Speed EVs ensure that Necrozma-DM will outspeed all Calyrex-I sets as well as paralyzed Calyrex-S. If you have a teammate that can deal with SubSeed Calyrex-I well enough, such as Leech Life Buzzwole, Necrozma-DM can instead run a spread of 212 HP / 252 SpD / 40 Spe. This lets it outspeed Adamant Calyrex-I, have a higher chance of beating Geomancy Xerneas, and have a 50% chance to survive a Choice Specs Astral Barrage from Calyrex-S.
It's important to have solid switch-ins to Pokemon such as Zygarde, Groudon, Zekrom, and Kyogre. These Pokemon are immune to or don't mind Thunder Wave and take little damage from Iron Head, so they can use Necrozma-DM as an easy setup opportunity. If you have solid checks to these Pokemon, Necrozma-DM can still gain momentum by setting Stealth Rock. Eternatus and Yveltal are fantastic partners for being able to switch into Kyogre and Calyrex-S, respectively, and together the three of them form the classic defensive core of SS Ubers. Buzzwole and Tangrowth make excellent defensive partners for dealing with Ground-types and Marshadow well. Defensive Xerneas can deal with Marshadow, Zekrom, Zygarde, and Urshifu-S, as well as providing cleric support. Groudon and Clefable can check Zekrom and Zygarde, respectively, and also free up the Stealth Rock moveslot on Necrozma-DM. Calyrex-S appreciates this set's ability to cripple Yveltal and provide Stealth Rock support. In return, Necrozma-DM likes Aromatherapy and Calyrex-S's revenge killing capabilities.
[SET]
name: Bulky Booster
move 1: Iron Head / Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Knock Off / Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance / Dragon Dance
move 4: Moonlight
item: Leftovers
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Adamant
evs: 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Necrozma-DM makes a threatening wallbreaker with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance while maintaining a lot of its defensive utility. The key to this set's success is its combination of bulk and power; compared to many other wallbreakers in the tier, bulky teams have a very difficult time OHKOing or even 2HKOing Necrozma-DM. Swords Dance boosts Necrozma-DM's Attack to sky-high levels, letting it power through Pokemon better early-game than Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance makes it sweep balanced teams better in late-game scenarios. Iron Head has more PP and better neutral coverage than Photon Geyser and Sunsteel Strike, which is especially helpful against Eternatus. Sunsteel Strike can still be useful, especially against Geomancy Xerneas, as it has a much better chance to OHKO when unboosted than Iron Head does. Knock Off gives more coverage and makes Necrozma-DM very difficult for bulky teams to deal with; defensive Pokemon such as Lunala, Tangrowth, Ho-Oh, Ferrothorn, and opposing Necrozma-DM that may try to stop this set can get crippled for the rest of the game. Stone Edge is an alternative that lets it get past Yveltal and especially Ho-Oh. Moonlight and Leftovers allow Necrozma-DM to use its good bulk to boost several times. The EVs ensure that it outspeeds all Calyrex-I, which it checks decently with this set, as well as paralyzed Calyrex-S. With Dragon Dance, it will outspeed all base 100 Pokemon at +1 and non-Choice Scarf Calyrex-S at +2. A bulkier EV spread of 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe can be used to better check Xerneas and offensive Eternatus, especially if your team lacks an alternative check such as Ho-Oh or Blissey. Do note that the lack of Attack investment is quite noticeable.
This set works best on teams with other bulky teammates that already cover some of the roles that defensive Necrozma-DM would normally cover. In return, Necrozma-DM can still provide some of its defensive roles and also function as a strong wallbreaker. Since it lacks Stealth Rock, a teammate such as Groudon, Blissey, Clefable, Tyranitar, Ferrothorn, or Landorus can provide an entry hazard. An additional Xerneas check, such as Ho-Oh or Blissey, is a great teammate, since this set lacks the bulk to take on Geomancy Xerneas consistently. Clerics such as Calyrex-S, Clefable, and Blissey make great partners, as this set can often get statused early in the game. Pairing Necrozma-DM with a strong physical partner such as Groudon, Zekrom, or Marshadow lets both break down checks for each other. Finally, paralysis spreaders such as Ho-Oh, Blissey, Zygarde, and Groudon are terrific teammates, as this set benefits from the Speed drop and paralysis chance, especially in tandem with Iron Head.
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Dragon Dance
item: Weakness Policy / Lum Berry
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Adamant
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Offensive Necrozma-DM finds its place on offensive teams for its nice bulk and ability to raise its Speed. Particularly, hyper offense teams like its ability to limit some typical anti-offense Pokemon, such as Xerneas and Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. Sunsteel Strike is therefore your mandatory STAB attack to OHKO the former more often. Stone Edge is used mainly to KO Ho-Oh and Yveltal when boosted. From there, Earthquake gives good neutral coverage and hits Pokemon such as Eternatus and Zekrom extremely hard. The EV spread and nature give Necrozma-DM enough Speed to beat Adamant Marshadow after a Dragon Dance. At +2, it will also outspeed non-Choice Scarf Calyrex-S. A viable alternative is to run 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe with an Adamant nature, which outspeeds fully invested base 100 Speed Pokemon after a Dragon Dance. Weakness Policy limits the offensive options against this set from the opposing team and also gives easy setup opportunities against Pokemon like Eternatus. On the other hand, Lum Berry lets Necrozma-DM 2HKO Lunala without fear of being burned and avoid paralysis from opposing Necrozma-DM. It also allows it to 2HKO Tangrowth without fear of Sleep Powder.
This set loves strong wallbreakers for teammates, as it's much better at cleaning up weakened teams than breaking through cores and overcoming common defensive Pokemon such as Kyogre, Zygarde, Zarude, Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, Lunala, and Groudon by itself. Offensive teammates such as Zekrom and Groudon make fantastic partners, as both can both lure in and KO Tangrowth with their coverage options. Zekrom will make quick work of Kyogre, while Double Dance Groudon, Rayquaza, and Xerneas are all good options to overpower Zygarde. Marshadow will be able to OHKO Lunala and most Ferrothorn.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Sunsteel Strike / Iron Head
move 4: Earthquake
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 136 Def / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
When paired with the right teammates, physically defensive Necrozma-DM can be better than the more common specially defensive set. Particularly, Blissey can cover the roles of the specially defensive set, mainly checking Xerneas and offensive Eternatus. In exchange, this set can check Pokemon such as Zekrom and offensive Necrozma-DM sets. Notably, this set is also perhaps the best check to the powerful physical Ice-types of the tier, Galarian Darmanitan and Calyrex-I. Stealth Rock provides Necrozma-DM with its usual supporting role, but be mindful that this set has little to stop Yveltal or Ho-Oh from using Defog on it. Earthquake is used to hit Zekrom and opposing Necrozma-DM hard, with Sunsteel Strike preferred over Iron Head because paralysis isn't on this set. Iron Head could be run for its higher PP against SubSeed Calyrex-I and works well with paralysis support from teammates. Finally, Moonlight is critical to keeping this set healthy, especially since Rocky Helmet has been chosen over Leftovers to better help Necrozma-DM damage Zekrom and other physical attackers. Leftovers could be used to better check SubSeed Calyrex-I and is preferred if using Necrozma-DM on a team with Kyogre, which weakens Moonlight with rain.
As mentioned above, Blissey is a great teammate, since it covers the roles that specially defensive Necrozma-DM normally would like checking Xerneas and offensive Eternatus. Since this set can handle Zekrom relatively well, it will work best on teams that don't have another Zekrom answer. Be mindful that, depending on the circumstances, Zekrom and offensive Necrozma-DM can still win against this set, so a revenge killer like Calyrex-S or Marshadow is a good partner. Pokemon that can set up on Defog users are also good partners; Zygarde, Zekrom, and Kyogre are some notable options.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Moonlight / Stone Edge
move 4: Photon Geyser
item: Choice Band
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Adamant
evs: 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set functions as a surprise wallbreaker. Base 157 Attack in combination with Choice Band gives this Necrozma-DM a ton of immediate power. Sunsteel Strike will heavily damage even Necrozma-DM's typical switch-ins such as Groudon and Zygarde. Knock Off pairs nicely with Sunsteel St rike to give Necrozma-DM good neutral coverage; it particularly smacks Lunala hard. Removing items such as Leftovers and Rocky Helmet offers useful utility as well. Moonlight allows Necrozma-DM to come back later in the game to check Xerneas, Calyrex-I, Galarian Darmanitan, or Eternatus. Stone Edge is an alternative option that will secure a OHKO on Ho-Oh and Yveltal. Photon Geyser covers Pokemon like Eternatus and gives a secondary STAB attack for Pokemon resisting Steel. Notably, it will OHKO non-defensive Kyogre and 2HKO defensive variants. The Speed EVs ensure Necrozma-DM will outspeed all Calyrex-I sets as well as paralyzed Calyrex-S.
This set appreciates offensive partners that can help break down some of its common switch-ins. Double Dance Groudon, Urshifu-S, or Ice Punch Marshadow can help to offensively pressure Zygarde. Paralysis support from spreaders such as Zygarde, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, and Blissey can help make up for this set's low Speed. U-turn Yveltal is an excellent partner for checking Calyrex-S, as well as easily bringing Necrozma-DM in on Eternatus switch-ins. Clerics such as Calyrex-S, Xerneas, Blissey, and Clefable are much appreciated, as this set can get statused quite easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Morning Sun is functionally identical to Moonlight. Sunsteel Strike can be run on the Specially Defensive set, trading higher PP and a flinch chance for more power and the ability to hit Shedinja. If Necrozma-DM does not need to run Stealth Rock due to a teammate such as Groudon, Clefable, or Blissey already having it, then a boosting move such as Dragon Dance or Swords Dance is possible on defensive sets as a surprise option to win late-game scenarios. Expert Belt and Knock Off can be run on Dragon Dance sets to secure the OHKO on Lunala. Colbur Berry is a decent option for offensive Dragon Dance sets to better take on Choice Scarf or Sucker Punch Yveltal. Life Orb is another viable option for these sets, but generally the lost bulk is not worth it compared to Weakness Policy. Stone Edge and 12 Attack EVs with Expert Belt can be run on any defensive set to lure in and OHKO Ho-Oh, although the loss of a less situational item is noticeable. Heat Wave can be run on Dragon Dance sets to heavily damage Tangrowth and Ferrothorn, although the other coverage options are generally better. Heavy-Duty Boots is an option to avoid damage from Spikes; however, the utility you lose from Rocky Helmet or Leftovers is noticeable, especially since Necrozma-DM already resists Stealth Rock. Double Dance and Trick Room are surprise sweeper sets, but they lose a coverage move and often rely on Weakness Policy or setting up twice to sweep.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Groudon and Zygarde have an easy time switching into anything Necrozma-DM can throw at them and proceed to use it as setup fodder. However, Knock Off or Toxic can limit their presence in the game.
**Zekrom**: Zekrom is immune to Thunder Wave, resists Steel-type attacks, and can heal off anything Necrozma-DM can throw at it with Leftovers or Roost. Zekrom can then use it as setup fodder. However, Zekrom needs to be careful of a boosted Earthquake or Knock Off.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre resists Steel-type attacks and can use Necrozma-DM to set up or to put out strong Choice Specs-boosted attacks. Defensive Kyogre will be able to beat most offensive sets, but they need to be wary of a boosted Knock Off or a Choice Band Photon Geyser.
**Defensive Steel-types**: Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Corviknight can switch in for free and use Necrozma-DM to lay Spikes or remove Stealth Rock with Defog. These Pokemon are also some of the best counters to offensive sets.
**Ghost- and Dark-types**: While they don't like switching into a strong attack, Yveltal, Marshadow, Urshifu-S, and Calyrex-S can threaten to massively damage or KO Necrozma-DM. Lunala can stop offensive sets if they lack Knock Off or Lum Berry. Physically defensive Zarude can wall most Necrozma-DM sets easily.
**Ho-Oh**: While Ho-Oh loses to Stone Edge sets, against most defensive sets it can come in relatively for free and use Defog and Sacred Fire with abandon. Status threatens Ho-Oh, but Regenerator mitigates Toxic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Manaphy, 50695]]
- Quality checked by: [[Fc, 511624], [Aberforth, 249382]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [lotiasite, 302985]
Necrozma-DM is the premier Ubers Steel-type and one of the best Pokemon in the tier. It checks a myriad of powerful offensive threats, such as Xerneas, Calyrex-I, Galarian Darmanitan, and Eternatus. With a good ability in Prism Armor, useful utility options including Stealth Rock and status moves, and reliable enough recovery, Necrozma-DM functions as a critical glue Pokemon for the vast majority of teams. Offensive sets are also not to be underestimated, as Necrozma-DM packs an impressive base 157 Attack on top of its good bulk and has great boosting options in Swords Dance and Dragon Dance. Since it's one of the most common defensive Pokemon in the tier, powerful threats like Groudon, Zygarde, Zekrom, and Kyogre often look to take advantage of Necrozma-DM. As such, it is critical to pick Necrozma-DM's coverage options and teammates well in accordance with your team structure, lest you leave big openings in your defensive core.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock / Knock Off
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Thunder Wave / Knock Off / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This is the most common Necrozma-DM set thanks to the Special Defense investment making Necrozma-DM an excellent check to Xerneas and Eternatus. Stealth Rock provides invaluable team support, and Necrozma-DM is probably the best user of it in the tier. With Thunder Wave and Iron Head, the most common Defog user in the tier, Yveltal, will have a very difficult time dealing with Necrozma-DM. Iron Head is used instead of Sunsteel Strike for its higher PP, which lets it more effectively check Calyrex-I, and its flinch chance, which works excellently in combination with Thunder Wave. If a teammate is already providing Stealth Rock support, such as Groudon, Clefable, Blissey, or Landorus, Necrozma-DM can run Knock Off instead to punish common switch-ins like Groudon, Zygarde, Zekrom, and Kyogre. Toxic could also be run to punish the aforementioned switch-ins as well as Ho-Oh. The Speed EVs ensure that Necrozma-DM will outspeed all Calyrex-I sets as well as paralyzed Calyrex-S. If you have a teammate that can deal with SubSeed Calyrex-I well enough, such as Leech Life Buzzwole, Necrozma-DM can instead run a spread of 212 HP / 252 SpD / 40 Spe. This lets it outspeed Adamant Calyrex-I, have a higher chance of beating Geomancy Xerneas, and have a 50% chance to survive a Choice Specs Astral Barrage from Calyrex-S.
It's important to have solid switch-ins to Pokemon such as Zygarde, Groudon, Zekrom, and Kyogre. These Pokemon are immune to or don't mind Thunder Wave and take little damage from Iron Head, so they can use Necrozma-DM as an easy setup opportunity. If you have solid checks to these Pokemon, Necrozma-DM can still gain momentum by setting Stealth Rock. Eternatus and Yveltal are fantastic partners for being able to switch into Kyogre and Calyrex-S, respectively, and together the three of them form the classic defensive core of SS Ubers. Buzzwole and Tangrowth make excellent defensive partners for dealing with Ground-types and Marshadow well. Defensive Xerneas can deal with Marshadow, Zekrom, Zygarde, and Urshifu-S, as well as providing cleric support. Groudon and Clefable can check Zekrom and Zygarde, respectively, and also free up the Stealth Rock moveslot on Necrozma-DM. Calyrex-S appreciates this set's ability to cripple Yveltal and provide Stealth Rock support. In return, Necrozma-DM likes Aromatherapy and Calyrex-S's revenge killing capabilities.
[SET]
name: Bulky Booster
move 1: Iron Head / Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Knock Off / Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance / Dragon Dance
move 4: Moonlight
item: Leftovers
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Adamant
evs: 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Necrozma-DM makes a threatening wallbreaker with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance while maintaining a lot of its defensive utility. The key to this set's success is its combination of bulk and power; compared to many other wallbreakers in the tier, bulky teams have a very difficult time OHKOing or even 2HKOing Necrozma-DM. Swords Dance boosts Necrozma-DM's Attack to sky-high levels, letting it power through Pokemon better early-game than Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance makes it sweep balanced teams better in late-game scenarios. Iron Head has more PP and better neutral coverage than Photon Geyser and Sunsteel Strike, which is especially helpful against Eternatus. Sunsteel Strike can still be useful, especially against Geomancy Xerneas, as it has a much better chance to OHKO when unboosted than Iron Head does. Knock Off gives more coverage and makes Necrozma-DM very difficult for bulky teams to deal with; defensive Pokemon such as Lunala, Tangrowth, Ho-Oh, Ferrothorn, and opposing Necrozma-DM that may try to stop this set can get crippled for the rest of the game. Stone Edge is an alternative that lets it get past Yveltal and especially Ho-Oh. Moonlight and Leftovers allow Necrozma-DM to use its good bulk to boost several times. The EVs ensure that it outspeeds all Calyrex-I, which it checks decently with this set, as well as paralyzed Calyrex-S. With Dragon Dance, it will outspeed all base 100 Pokemon at +1 and non-Choice Scarf Calyrex-S at +2. A bulkier EV spread of 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe can be used to better check Xerneas and offensive Eternatus, especially if your team lacks an alternative check such as Ho-Oh or Blissey. Do note that the lack of Attack investment is quite noticeable.
This set works best on teams with other bulky teammates that already cover some of the roles that defensive Necrozma-DM would normally cover. In return, Necrozma-DM can still provide some of its defensive roles and also function as a strong wallbreaker. Since it lacks Stealth Rock, a teammate such as Groudon, Blissey, Clefable, Tyranitar, Ferrothorn, or Landorus can provide an entry hazard. An additional Xerneas check, such as Ho-Oh or Blissey, is a great teammate, since this set lacks the bulk to take on Geomancy Xerneas consistently. Clerics such as Calyrex-S, Clefable, and Blissey make great partners, as this set can often get statused early in the game. Pairing Necrozma-DM with a strong physical partner such as Groudon, Zekrom, or Marshadow lets both break down checks for each other. Finally, paralysis spreaders such as Ho-Oh, Blissey, Zygarde, and Groudon are terrific teammates, as this set benefits from the Speed drop and paralysis chance, especially in tandem with Iron Head.
[SET]
name: Offensive Dragon Dance
move 1: Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Dragon Dance
item: Weakness Policy / Lum Berry
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Adamant
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Offensive Necrozma-DM finds its place on offensive teams for its nice bulk and ability to raise its Speed. Particularly, hyper offense teams like its ability to limit some typical anti-offense Pokemon, such as Xerneas and Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan. Sunsteel Strike is therefore your mandatory STAB attack to OHKO the former more often. Stone Edge is used mainly to KO Ho-Oh and Yveltal when boosted. From there, Earthquake gives good neutral coverage and hits Pokemon such as Eternatus and Zekrom extremely hard. The EV spread and nature give Necrozma-DM enough Speed to beat Adamant Marshadow after a Dragon Dance. At +2, it will also outspeed non-Choice Scarf Calyrex-S. A viable alternative is to run 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe with an Adamant nature, which outspeeds fully invested base 100 Speed Pokemon after a Dragon Dance. Weakness Policy limits the offensive options against this set from the opposing team and also gives easy setup opportunities against Pokemon like Eternatus. On the other hand, Lum Berry lets Necrozma-DM 2HKO Lunala without fear of being burned and avoid paralysis from opposing Necrozma-DM. It also allows it to 2HKO Tangrowth without fear of Sleep Powder.
This set loves strong wallbreakers for teammates, as it's much better at cleaning up weakened teams than breaking through cores and overcoming common defensive Pokemon such as Kyogre, Zygarde, Zarude, Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, Lunala, and Groudon by itself. Offensive teammates such as Zekrom and Groudon make fantastic partners, as both can both lure in and KO Tangrowth with their coverage options. Zekrom will make quick work of Kyogre, while Double Dance Groudon, Rayquaza, and Xerneas are all good options to overpower Zygarde. Marshadow will be able to OHKO Lunala and most Ferrothorn.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Sunsteel Strike / Iron Head
move 4: Earthquake
item: Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 136 Def / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
When paired with the right teammates, physically defensive Necrozma-DM can be better than the more common specially defensive set. Particularly, Blissey can cover the roles of the specially defensive set, mainly checking Xerneas and offensive Eternatus. In exchange, this set can check Pokemon such as Zekrom and offensive Necrozma-DM sets. Notably, this set is also perhaps the best check to the powerful physical Ice-types of the tier, Galarian Darmanitan and Calyrex-I. Stealth Rock provides Necrozma-DM with its usual supporting role, but be mindful that this set has little to stop Yveltal or Ho-Oh from using Defog on it. Earthquake is used to hit Zekrom and opposing Necrozma-DM hard, with Sunsteel Strike preferred over Iron Head because paralysis isn't on this set. Iron Head could be run for its higher PP against SubSeed Calyrex-I and works well with paralysis support from teammates. Finally, Moonlight is critical to keeping this set healthy, especially since Rocky Helmet has been chosen over Leftovers to better help Necrozma-DM damage Zekrom and other physical attackers. Leftovers could be used to better check SubSeed Calyrex-I and is preferred if using Necrozma-DM on a team with Kyogre, which weakens Moonlight with rain.
As mentioned above, Blissey is a great teammate, since it covers the roles that specially defensive Necrozma-DM normally would like checking Xerneas and offensive Eternatus. Since this set can handle Zekrom relatively well, it will work best on teams that don't have another Zekrom answer. Be mindful that, depending on the circumstances, Zekrom and offensive Necrozma-DM can still win against this set, so a revenge killer like Calyrex-S or Marshadow is a good partner. Pokemon that can set up on Defog users are also good partners; Zygarde, Zekrom, and Kyogre are some notable options.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Sunsteel Strike
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Moonlight / Stone Edge
move 4: Photon Geyser
item: Choice Band
ability: Prism Armor
nature: Adamant
evs: 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set functions as a surprise wallbreaker. Base 157 Attack in combination with Choice Band gives this Necrozma-DM a ton of immediate power. Sunsteel Strike will heavily damage even Necrozma-DM's typical switch-ins such as Groudon and Zygarde. Knock Off pairs nicely with Sunsteel St rike to give Necrozma-DM good neutral coverage; it particularly smacks Lunala hard. Removing items such as Leftovers and Rocky Helmet offers useful utility as well. Moonlight allows Necrozma-DM to come back later in the game to check Xerneas, Calyrex-I, Galarian Darmanitan, or Eternatus. Stone Edge is an alternative option that will secure a OHKO on Ho-Oh and Yveltal. Photon Geyser covers Pokemon like Eternatus and gives a secondary STAB attack for Pokemon resisting Steel. Notably, it will OHKO non-defensive Kyogre and 2HKO defensive variants. The Speed EVs ensure Necrozma-DM will outspeed all Calyrex-I sets as well as paralyzed Calyrex-S.
This set appreciates offensive partners that can help break down some of its common switch-ins. Double Dance Groudon, Urshifu-S, or Ice Punch Marshadow can help to offensively pressure Zygarde. Paralysis support from spreaders such as Zygarde, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, and Blissey can help make up for this set's low Speed. U-turn Yveltal is an excellent partner for checking Calyrex-S, as well as easily bringing Necrozma-DM in on Eternatus switch-ins. Clerics such as Calyrex-S, Xerneas, Blissey, and Clefable are much appreciated, as this set can get statused quite easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Morning Sun is functionally identical to Moonlight. Sunsteel Strike can be run on the Specially Defensive set, trading higher PP and a flinch chance for more power and the ability to hit Shedinja. If Necrozma-DM does not need to run Stealth Rock due to a teammate such as Groudon, Clefable, or Blissey already having it, then a boosting move such as Dragon Dance or Swords Dance is possible on defensive sets as a surprise option to win late-game scenarios. Expert Belt and Knock Off can be run on Dragon Dance sets to secure the OHKO on Lunala. Colbur Berry is a decent option for offensive Dragon Dance sets to better take on Choice Scarf or Sucker Punch Yveltal. Life Orb is another viable option for these sets, but generally the lost bulk is not worth it compared to Weakness Policy. Stone Edge and 12 Attack EVs with Expert Belt can be run on any defensive set to lure in and OHKO Ho-Oh, although the loss of a less situational item is noticeable. Heat Wave can be run on Dragon Dance sets to heavily damage Tangrowth and Ferrothorn, although the other coverage options are generally better. Heavy-Duty Boots is an option to avoid damage from Spikes; however, the utility you lose from Rocky Helmet or Leftovers is noticeable, especially since Necrozma-DM already resists Stealth Rock. Double Dance and Trick Room are surprise sweeper sets, but they lose a coverage move and often rely on Weakness Policy or setting up twice to sweep.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Groudon and Zygarde have an easy time switching into anything Necrozma-DM can throw at them and proceed to use it as setup fodder. However, Knock Off or Toxic can limit their presence in the game.
**Zekrom**: Zekrom is immune to Thunder Wave, resists Steel-type attacks, and can heal off anything Necrozma-DM can throw at it with Leftovers or Roost. Zekrom can then use it as setup fodder. However, Zekrom needs to be careful of a boosted Earthquake or Knock Off.
**Kyogre**: Kyogre resists Steel-type attacks and can use Necrozma-DM to set up or to put out strong Choice Specs-boosted attacks. Defensive Kyogre will be able to beat most offensive sets, but they need to be wary of a boosted Knock Off or a Choice Band Photon Geyser.
**Defensive Steel-types**: Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Corviknight can switch in for free and use Necrozma-DM to lay Spikes or remove Stealth Rock with Defog. These Pokemon are also some of the best counters to offensive sets.
**Ghost- and Dark-types**: While they don't like switching into a strong attack, Yveltal, Marshadow, Urshifu-S, and Calyrex-S can threaten to massively damage or KO Necrozma-DM. Lunala can stop offensive sets if they lack Knock Off or Lum Berry. Physically defensive Zarude can wall most Necrozma-DM sets easily.
**Ho-Oh**: While Ho-Oh loses to Stone Edge sets, against most defensive sets it can come in relatively for free and use Defog and Sacred Fire with abandon. Status threatens Ho-Oh, but Regenerator mitigates Toxic.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Manaphy, 50695]]
- Quality checked by: [[Fc, 511624], [Aberforth, 249382]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [lotiasite, 302985]
Last edited: