Kyurem
QC: [3/3] BOUFF / Eyan / Hilomilo
GP: [2/2] P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Beefy attacking stats and great offensive typing make Kyurem a formidable wallbreaker. Fantastic bulk for an offensive Pokemon also allows it multiple opportunities to come in on passive Pokemon and weaker attacks, making it a big threat to bulky teams. While Kyurem's base 95 Speed is certainly decent, it leaves it outpaced by a number of offensive threats, such as Hydreigon, Cobalion, and Terrakion. Its typing is also a double-edged sword, leaving it vulnerable to Steel-types, most notably Scizor, and weak to Stealth Rock. Furthermore, Kyurem faces stiff competition from Hydreigon, which is generally a better choice as a special Dragon-type wallbreaker due to it requiring less prediction and its superior defensive utility. However, Kyurem has a notable niche over Hydreigon in its Ice typing, which allows it to directly threaten typical checks to Dragon-types, such as Togekiss and Mega Altaria.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Draco Meteor
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Earth Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]:
Moves
========
Draco Meteor is an obscenely powerful nuke that does considerable damage even to Pokemon that resist it, doing half to bulky Scizor, for example, and a third to Empoleon. Ice Beam is Kyurem's secondary STAB attack, and it is very spammable due to its fantastic offensive coverage and lack of drawbacks. Hidden Power Fire removes Steel-types switching in to tank Kyurem's STAB moves such as Scizor and Klefki, and also allows Kyurem to stand a chance against Ground-immune Steel-types like Bronzong. Earth Power pairs nicely alongside Hidden Power Fire, as it hits certain Ice-resistant Pokemon harder, like Tentacruel and Metagross, while maintaining neutral coverage against Scizor. It also nets an OHKO on physically defensive Klefki. Dragon Pulse is another viable option in the final slot, as it provides a secondary drawback-free STAB attack with great neutral coverage.
Set Details
========
A straightforward spread of maximum Special Attack and Speed allows Kyurem to hit as fast and as hard as possible. Choice Specs boosts Kyurem's Special Attack by one stage, making it extremely powerful, but locks it into using a single move in exchange. A Timid nature is needed for Kyurem to outspeed threats such as Krookodile, Nidoking, Entei, and Timid Suicune, making it worth the slight decrease in power versus a Modest nature. Although Pressure is Kyurem's only option for an ability, it offers nice utility in forcing opposing Pokemon to use double the normal PP, which can come into play with low PP moves like Close Combat and Draco Meteor.
Usage Tips
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Due to the nature of Choice items, it is worth trying to predict what your opponent will do and move accordingly to maximize Kyurem's damage output. Make sure entry hazards are off the field if you can, as Kyurem's vulnerability to them cuts considerably into its opportunities to switch in and its bulk. Volt Switch and U-turn allow Kyurem to come in for free versus Pokemon it can threaten, such as Amoonguss. However, Kyurem has the bulk and resistances to switch directly into weaker attacks, such as Earthquake from Hippowdon and Scald from Suicune. On more offensive teams, it helps to play Kyurem aggressively, spamming attacks early-game and bringing it in on double switches. Be selective with the use of Draco Meteor, however, as it lowers Kyurem's Special Attack by two stages. This drop in power can be quite risky, as it means that setup sweepers and dangerous wallbreakers such as Primarina and Togekiss are able to come in with little consequence.
Team Options
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Starmie, Mega Blastoise, Empoleon, and Tentacruel can remove entry hazards as well as, bar Empoleon, check dangerous Fighting-types. Tentacruel is especially noteworthy, since it can also set Toxic Spikes, an invaluable method for wearing down Kyurem switch-ins that aren't Steel-types, like Primarina and Sylveon. Klefki not only has good defensive synergy with Tentacruel but also makes Kyurem's job as a wallbreaker much easier by setting Spikes and switching reliably into opposing Dragon- and Fairy-types. Scizor and Infernape can bring in Kyurem for free with U-turn while also checking opposing Steel-types. Magneton is an extremely helpful teammate, as it can trap and remove Steel-types, check Fairy-types, and let Kyurem come in for free with Volt Switch. Fairy-types such as Primarina and Togekiss can reliably check faster Dragon-types such Hydreigon and Latias, which can outspeed Kyurem and KO it with their own Dragon moves. Setup sweepers like Cobalion and Terrakion greatly appreciate Kyurem's ability to place heavy pressure on walls such as Suicune, Slowbro, and Sylveon.
[SET]
name: SubRoost
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is the only STAB attack this set uses, and it does decent damage despite the lack of a boosting item due to Kyurem's high Special Attack. Substitute is necessary to block status and waste the foe's PP with Pressure. Earth Power keeps Steel- and Water-types from coming in completely for free, giving Kyurem optimal coverage alongside Ice Beam. It should be noted, though, that some Water-types, such as Rotom-W and Suicune, don't care about Earth Power at all, allowing them to pivot into this set comfortably. Lastly, Roost is a reliable recovery move, giving Kyurem much needed staying power.
Set Details
========
Substitute blocks status, and the foe has to waste PP via Pressure to break it before it can hurt Kyurem. 56 HP EVs give Kyurem 101 HP Substitutes, meaning that a single Seismic Toss cannot break it. The rest goes into its Special Attack and Speed so Kyurem isn't hopelessly passive and can utilize its good Speed tier. Leftovers is used to give Kyurem passive recovery so it doesn't have to use Roost as often.
Usage Tips
========
This set is based around taking advantage of Kyurem's bulk and Pressure to PP stall the opposing Pokemon. As a result, it shines versus passive teams that can't break Kyurem's Substitute and most often finds a place on passive teams itself as a stallbreaker and check to Electric-types. Due to the lack of boosting item, this set is relatively weak and as such shouldn't be treated like a wallbreaker. Be careful versus bulky setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune and Swords Dance Scizor, which can take advantage of this set with relative ease. Toxic Spikes are paramount to this set's success, as they make stalling out the opponent much easier.
Team Options
========
Offensive Steel-types, such as Cobalion and Scizor, can check opposing Fairy- and Steel-types and break special walls. But be careful, as with the exception of Scizor, they stack a Fighting weakness. Alomomola and Blissey are an incredibly potent defensive pairing that can stop most offensive threats that threaten to set up on and overwhelm Kyurem. Pursuit trappers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Krookodile also help to alleviate offensive pressure, putting an end to nuisances such as Latias and revenge killing setup sweepers. Spikes setters, namely Klefki, can wear down Pokemon that threaten Kyurem while reliably checking opposing Fairy-types. Entry hazard removers such as Starmie, Tentacruel, and Togekiss are a must, as they allow Kyurem to come in without being whittled or crippled by Toxic Spikes. Most are also able to check Fighting-types. Tentacruel in particular is helpful, since it can set Toxic Spikes, whittling down the opponent's team further and allowing Kyurem to stall it out.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Flash Cannon on the Choice Specs set can allow Kyurem to lure and 2HKO Sylveon. However, Ice Beam already does significant enough damage that this is rarely worth it. Shadow Ball can do significant damage to Bronzong but usually isn't worth considering, as Bronzong is scarcely relevant in the tier. Life Orb can be run on the SubRoost set if you find its power particularly lacking, but the cost to longevity is risky, especially for the bulky teams on which you'd use it. SubRoost can also run Protect to PP stall further or rack up poison damage, but the cost in coverage is also very risky. Choice Scarf Kyurem can act as a neat revenge killer. However, it has trouble standing out from Choice Scarf Hydreigon, which has better Speed, a better defensive typing that isn't weak to Stealth Rock, and access to U-turn. A mixed Life Orb set with 92 Attack EVs and Outrage / Iron Head / Ice Beam / Hidden Power Fire can lure and KO Blissey, Sylveon, and Scizor for teams particularly weak to those threats, but it is suboptimal versus teams without them due to how quickly it wears itself down.
Checks and Counters
========
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, such as Scizor, Klefki, Empoleon, and Mega Aggron, can wall Kyurem's STAB combination and beat it one-on-one. However, they must watch out for Hidden Power Fire and Earth Power.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are immune to Kyurem's Dragon-type STAB attacks and can threaten it with Moonblast. A special mention goes to Primarina, which also resists Ice and has good special bulk to tank Kyurem's attacks more than once.
**Fighting-types**: Many of the tier's Fighting-types, such as Cobalion and Infernape, outspeed Kyurem and eliminate it with their STAB moves.
**Special Walls**: Most dedicated special walls such as Umbreon, Alolan Muk, Empoleon, and Mantine can eat a hit from any Kyurem variant. Blissey in particular gets special mention because its titanic bulk allows it to come in on practically anything Kyurem can throw at it. These Pokemon must watch out for the proper coverage move, however, and can be PP stalled by the SubRoost set.
**Passive Damage**: Kyurem is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards and weak to Stealth Rock, which severely limits its chances to enter the field. Status also wears down Kyurem very quickly, especially if it is lacking Roost. Toxic in particular squanders any hope SubRoost Kyurem might have of doing its job.
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