Phione - Azure Crown
Genderless
252 HP
252 Sp. Atk
4 Spd
Modest nature
Ability: Hydration
Item: Choice Scarf
Moveset:
Scald
Ice Beam
Dazzling Gleam
Grass Knot
Believe it or not, a scarfed phione can destroy many pokemon. Contrary to the stigma it is often given, phione is incredibly useful and has gotten me out of many tough spots. Phione has a diverse moveset that can be backed by the use of a choice scarf, as well as an acceptable sp. atk. stat and plenty of HP. Of course it will still struggle with some pokemon, like a scarfed rampardos with thunderpunch, or a rotom with volt switch, but it can do a lot of other things.
Obviously, scald is phione's main STAB move. It is a great move on any pokemon, especially with how many physical pokemon are used in the metagame, giving the user the chance to burn the foe, crippling their attack. You can say bye-bye to all of the rock and ground types in the metagame with this move, as well as the few fire types stuck in this tier.
Phione, like most other water types, can learn ice beam, giving it solid coverage over grass foes that can normally cripple water types. A common example in this tier is exeggutor, typically seen with both psychic and grass type moves for double cripple coverage. Phione says, "No problem!" and takes it out with an ice beam.
Dazzling Gleam is probably the handiest tool in Phione's belt, though. With the addition of fairy types in gen 6, the almighty dragons' reign came to an end, as well as the dark and fighting types that had it easy before this new typing came to be. Phione is a weakness slayer with choice scarf, as well as dazzling gleam. Zweilous, another pokemon in this tier, will be absolutely DECIMATED by dazzling gleam, or wrecked by phione's ice beam!
Now for the final move, I had a hard time choosing Grass Knot. It simply doesn't seem fitting for a choice scarf pokemon to have to use Grass Knot, but it can tank any of the other water pokemon, or ground or rock pokemon for that matter in the NU tier. Phione is a well rounded, incredible pokemon. I say forget manaphy, phione is the real crown jewel of the sea.
Phione can be used in singles, or can be featured in doubles, especially if you have a rain dance team. Phione's hydrate will take care of any status problems it is experiencing so long as it is raining, which is awful helpful with all of the status moves used metagame.
