[OVERVIEW]
While Registeel is often overlooked in favor of other bulky Steel-types, such as Mega Aggron, which has a much greater offensive presence and access to Filter, and Bronzong, which has Levitate and takes neutral damage from Fighting-type moves, it still has several things going for it that make it a viable option. Registeel boasts incredible 80 / 150 / 150 bulk and a pure Steel typing that grants it important resistances to Dragon, Fairy, Rock, Flying, and Grass, as well as an immunity to Poison. These attributes make it a great check to some of UU's most powerful threats, such as Hydreigon, Venomoth, Kyurem, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, Shaymin, Crobat, and Porygon-Z. Registeel is also a very reliable Stealth Rock user and, unlike Mega Aggron, can hold Leftovers, has a phenomenal Special Defense stat, and doesn't take up your team's Mega slot. However, Registeel has little offensive capabilities due to its low Attack stat, unless it uses Curse. Therefore, it should only be used on very defensive or stall teams. No access to instant recovery also means that Registeel is prone to being worn down.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 3: Iron Head / Seismic Toss
move 4: Protect / Seismic Toss / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides valuable support for any team, and Registeel can set it up very reliably. Thunder Wave can be used to cripple many offensive threats and works well with Registeel's great bulk. Alternatively, Toxic nails bulky walls such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and Swampert, which Registeel can barely scratch otherwise. Iron Head hits Fairy-, Ice-, and Rock-types for decent damage and allows Registeel to potentially abuse the flinch chance in conjunction with Thunder Wave paralysis. Seismic Toss can be used instead to inflict consistent damage on most Pokemon, making up for Registeel's lack of power. Protect accumulates additional Leftovers recovery and lets Registeel scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Darmanitan and Mienshao. Alternatively, Earthquake can be used to hit certain Pokemon, such as Entei and Nidoqueen, super effectively.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD with a Careful nature allows Registeel to reliably counter various special attackers in the tier, such as Hydreigon, Venomoth, Porygon-Z, Shaymin, Kyurem, and Dragalge. Leftovers increases Registeel's longevity. Alternatively, 252 Defense EVs and 4 Special Defense EVs can be used to tank hits better from the likes of Feraligatr, Salamence, and Mega Beedrill; however, Registeel's typing is better suited for walling special attackers rather than physical ones due to its weaknesses to common physical moves such as Earthquake and Close Combat.
Usage Tips
========
Utilize Registeel's great resistances and bulk to switch it in and set up Stealth Rock or to counter the many threatening special attackers in UU. The choice between Thunder Wave and Toxic comes down to whether it is more important for your team to neutralize offensive threats or break down opposing walls. This set should only really be used on very defensive teams due to its lack of offensive presence. If you want a bulky Steel-type to use on a balanced or offensive team, you are usually better off using Cobalion or Mega Aggron, which, unlike Registeel, will not completely kill your team's momentum.
Make sure that you take advantage of Registeel's unique attributes, those being its monstrous Special Defense stat, access to Leftovers, and pure Steel typing, as otherwise you're better off using Mega Aggron, Forretress, or Bronzong. For instance, unlike other bulky Steel-types, Registeel has sufficient special bulk to reliably counter even the most fearsome special sweepers in UU, such as Quiver Dance Venomoth, Nasty Plot Porygon-Z, and Choice Specs Kyurem.
Team Options
========
Wish support is much appreciated because Registeel can otherwise be easily worn down with repeated hits. Florges and Aromatisse are great partners for their ability to take Fighting-type attacks directed at Registeel, while Registeel can absorb Poison- and Steel-type attacks directed at them in return. Alomomola can also pass massive Wishes to Registeel while synergizing well with it defensively. Other physically bulky Water-types, such as Suicune and Slowking, also make for good partners because, in tandem with Registeel, they wall a huge portion of the tier. Pokemon that resist attacks that Registeel is weak to, such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, Tangrowth, and Crobat, all make for decent teammates too.
Due to its lack of power, Registeel is setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Curse Snorlax, Substitute Feraligatr, and Swords Dance Cobalion, so be sure to pair it with a phazer or a revenge killer that can deal with these threats. Pokemon such as Suicune, Slowking, Swampert, and Choice Scarf Mienshao can all fulfill this role. Whimsicott can also utilise its priority Encore to lock setup sweepers into a useless move.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Curse + RestTalk set can be utilized to keep Registeel healthy and potentially sweep teams after a few boosts, but such a set is better suited to Mega Aggron. Ice Punch hits Salamence and Mega Sceptile hard but has little use otherwise. Counter can be used to surprise physical attackers and works well with Registeel's titanic defenses, as it can take almost any super effective physical hit from full health.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types such as Nidoqueen, Mega Swampert, and Krookodile are immune to Thunder Wave and can destroy Registeel with their powerful STAB moves.
**Fire- and Fighting-types**: No Guard Machamp, Mienshao, Entei, Chandelure, and Infernape can easily KO Registeel with their STAB moves, but they need to watch out for Thunder Wave and Toxic. Fire-types are also hit reasonably hard by Earthquake.
**Taunt Users**: Due to Registeel's lack of offensive prowess, Taunt users such as Jellicent, Hydreigon, and Mandibuzz shut it down almost completely and can wear it down easily.
**Setup Sweepers**: Registeel is setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Curse Snorlax, Substitute Feraligatr, and Swords Dance Cobalion, although ones lacking Rest need to watch out for Thunder Wave and Toxic.
While Registeel is often overlooked in favor of other bulky Steel-types, such as Mega Aggron, which has a much greater offensive presence and access to Filter, and Bronzong, which has Levitate and takes neutral damage from Fighting-type moves, it still has several things going for it that make it a viable option. Registeel boasts incredible 80 / 150 / 150 bulk and a pure Steel typing that grants it important resistances to Dragon, Fairy, Rock, Flying, and Grass, as well as an immunity to Poison. These attributes make it a great check to some of UU's most powerful threats, such as Hydreigon, Venomoth, Kyurem, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, Shaymin, Crobat, and Porygon-Z. Registeel is also a very reliable Stealth Rock user and, unlike Mega Aggron, can hold Leftovers, has a phenomenal Special Defense stat, and doesn't take up your team's Mega slot. However, Registeel has little offensive capabilities due to its low Attack stat, unless it uses Curse. Therefore, it should only be used on very defensive or stall teams. No access to instant recovery also means that Registeel is prone to being worn down.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Thunder Wave / Toxic
move 3: Iron Head / Seismic Toss
move 4: Protect / Seismic Toss / Earthquake
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock provides valuable support for any team, and Registeel can set it up very reliably. Thunder Wave can be used to cripple many offensive threats and works well with Registeel's great bulk. Alternatively, Toxic nails bulky walls such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and Swampert, which Registeel can barely scratch otherwise. Iron Head hits Fairy-, Ice-, and Rock-types for decent damage and allows Registeel to potentially abuse the flinch chance in conjunction with Thunder Wave paralysis. Seismic Toss can be used instead to inflict consistent damage on most Pokemon, making up for Registeel's lack of power. Protect accumulates additional Leftovers recovery and lets Registeel scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Darmanitan and Mienshao. Alternatively, Earthquake can be used to hit certain Pokemon, such as Entei and Nidoqueen, super effectively.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD with a Careful nature allows Registeel to reliably counter various special attackers in the tier, such as Hydreigon, Venomoth, Porygon-Z, Shaymin, Kyurem, and Dragalge. Leftovers increases Registeel's longevity. Alternatively, 252 Defense EVs and 4 Special Defense EVs can be used to tank hits better from the likes of Feraligatr, Salamence, and Mega Beedrill; however, Registeel's typing is better suited for walling special attackers rather than physical ones due to its weaknesses to common physical moves such as Earthquake and Close Combat.
Usage Tips
========
Utilize Registeel's great resistances and bulk to switch it in and set up Stealth Rock or to counter the many threatening special attackers in UU. The choice between Thunder Wave and Toxic comes down to whether it is more important for your team to neutralize offensive threats or break down opposing walls. This set should only really be used on very defensive teams due to its lack of offensive presence. If you want a bulky Steel-type to use on a balanced or offensive team, you are usually better off using Cobalion or Mega Aggron, which, unlike Registeel, will not completely kill your team's momentum.
Make sure that you take advantage of Registeel's unique attributes, those being its monstrous Special Defense stat, access to Leftovers, and pure Steel typing, as otherwise you're better off using Mega Aggron, Forretress, or Bronzong. For instance, unlike other bulky Steel-types, Registeel has sufficient special bulk to reliably counter even the most fearsome special sweepers in UU, such as Quiver Dance Venomoth, Nasty Plot Porygon-Z, and Choice Specs Kyurem.
Team Options
========
Wish support is much appreciated because Registeel can otherwise be easily worn down with repeated hits. Florges and Aromatisse are great partners for their ability to take Fighting-type attacks directed at Registeel, while Registeel can absorb Poison- and Steel-type attacks directed at them in return. Alomomola can also pass massive Wishes to Registeel while synergizing well with it defensively. Other physically bulky Water-types, such as Suicune and Slowking, also make for good partners because, in tandem with Registeel, they wall a huge portion of the tier. Pokemon that resist attacks that Registeel is weak to, such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, Tangrowth, and Crobat, all make for decent teammates too.
Due to its lack of power, Registeel is setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Curse Snorlax, Substitute Feraligatr, and Swords Dance Cobalion, so be sure to pair it with a phazer or a revenge killer that can deal with these threats. Pokemon such as Suicune, Slowking, Swampert, and Choice Scarf Mienshao can all fulfill this role. Whimsicott can also utilise its priority Encore to lock setup sweepers into a useless move.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Curse + RestTalk set can be utilized to keep Registeel healthy and potentially sweep teams after a few boosts, but such a set is better suited to Mega Aggron. Ice Punch hits Salamence and Mega Sceptile hard but has little use otherwise. Counter can be used to surprise physical attackers and works well with Registeel's titanic defenses, as it can take almost any super effective physical hit from full health.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types such as Nidoqueen, Mega Swampert, and Krookodile are immune to Thunder Wave and can destroy Registeel with their powerful STAB moves.
**Fire- and Fighting-types**: No Guard Machamp, Mienshao, Entei, Chandelure, and Infernape can easily KO Registeel with their STAB moves, but they need to watch out for Thunder Wave and Toxic. Fire-types are also hit reasonably hard by Earthquake.
**Taunt Users**: Due to Registeel's lack of offensive prowess, Taunt users such as Jellicent, Hydreigon, and Mandibuzz shut it down almost completely and can wear it down easily.
**Setup Sweepers**: Registeel is setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Curse Snorlax, Substitute Feraligatr, and Swords Dance Cobalion, although ones lacking Rest need to watch out for Thunder Wave and Toxic.
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