Overused Pokemon Showcase (Week 6)

[Reignited'Light]

[[: OU SHOWCASE WITH DESTRUCTIVE SKITTY :]]

Pokemon of the week is...

Keldeo

Viability in OU:

S Rank- Ah Keldeo, what a formidable Pokemon to face in the OU tier. It puts a lot of pressure on many teams with its amazing STAB moves. Powerful moves such as Secret Sword and Hydro Pump makes Keldeo the monster that everyone fears. Although Keldeo doesn't have many options, it does not require much work to have success using Keldeo. Having great support moves like Calm Mind and Taunt are also a part of Keldeo's strengths. However, these strengths all come with a flaw like all Pokemon. The rise of Latias and Latios have been increasing, fairy types like Clefable and Gardevoir are able to stop Keldeo in its tracks, and strong priority such as Mega Pinsir and Talonflame are also huge problems. A lot of pokemon have the potential of outspeeding Keldeo and threaten to KO. Despite these flaws, Keldeo will still be a top threat in OU for a long time.

Recommended Movesets

Keldeo-Resolute @ Leftovers

Ability: Justified

EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Substitute

- Calm Mind

- Scald

- Secret Sword

Keldeo being a top tier threat, does not require much team support. This set is a example of that statement. Keldeo's Dual STAB is hard to resist, and it can set up Calm Minds and prepare a sweep! Due to Keldeo's amazing ability to force many switches, you gain momentum and proceed to use Substitute as they switch. From there, you have two amazing options. You can either set up Calm Minds and retaliate later with a Scald or Secret Sword, or use Scald fishing for burns while behind a Substitute. Both are strong options, and are costless to do either one. Calm Mind boosts your Special attack and Special defense to high levels! It's much threatening behind a Substitute AND a Calm Mind boost! Scald and Secret Sword compliment each other so well. Scald is a fairly strong water STAB move that has ZERO drawbacks being able to burn the opponent. Secret Sword is the last slot to fit the other strong fighting STAB. It is able to hit back opposing Calm Mind users because it hits the physical defensive side, and hits Chansey that walls Scald.

Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf

Ability: Justified

EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Hydro Pump

- Scald

- Secret Sword

- Icy Wind

Keldeo is able to play a few effective roles depending on the item of choice. You can either be a fantastic wallbreaker by using Choice Specs, or you can sweep or revenge kill many threats by using a Choice Scarf. Both items are extremely viable, it just depends on what you think your team needs! The set is pretty simple, use Hydro Pump or Secret Sword early game depending on predictions, since Keldeo forces so many switches. Icy Wind is used to punish Dragon types who like to switch in on Keldeo like Dragonite, the Lati twins, and Garchomp. Using Scald late game is useful if you can not afford missing with Hydro Pump. It's the item choice that makes Keldeo really useful. If being locked into a move is unappealing, then you can run Life Orb instead and have Calm Mind over Hydro Pump.

Making plays

Keldeo is a pokemon that will force so many switches, so it is best to predict accordingly.
It is best to spam Scald early on in the game since it has zero risks. You can potentially burn a Pokemon while doing so. Alternating between both STAB moves is also a great option to create mind games. If you carry Icy Wind, it is also good against Dragon switch ins like Latias and Latios who resist both STAB moves. Overall, just predict as much as you can, and Keldeo will break through many teams.

Team Synergy

Keldeo does not need much team support, although having other wallbreakers make Keldeo's job a lot easier. Pokemon that fit the bill are Kyurem-Black, Double Dance Landorus-Therian, Landorus-I, and Charizard-Y! Pairing Keldeo with any of the said wallbreakers will be excellent, as it would only be a matter of turns before the opponent's team breaks down. Keldeo wouldn't mind some Hazard control support as well. Latias or Latios synergizes well with Keldeo, taking electric and grass attacks that Keldeo is weak against, and Defog the annoying hazards. In return, Keldeo can defeat Tyranitar and Bisharp that Latias and Latios are afraid to face.

[Kamina]

Nice post! I think that pursuit trappers are also paired nicely with keldeo since they can get rid of the lati twins. Bisharp pairs especially nicely since it can beat most fairy pokemon and can also pursuit trap psychic pokemon.

Edit: Scarf t-tar as well since it can absorb bird spam and also pursuit trap lati-twins and gengar.