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Take care of yourself.
*deep breath*
[OVERVIEW]
* Xurkitree's impressive base Special Attack of 173, in combination with its access to Tail Glow, means that it can break through most defensive Pokémon after just one turn of setup.
* Furthermore, its ability Beast Boost helps it potentially snowball after it KOs an opponent, and its damage output can still become amazing even in the event that it can't get a Tail Glow off.
* However, Xurkitree's bulk and Speed are mediocre, meaning that it can be OHKO'd by the multitude of faster Pokémon in OU, such as Mega Medicham and Landorus-T.
* Additionally, Xurkitree's pure Electric typing provides almost no defensive utility at all.
* Xurkitree is outclassed in many roles by other Electric-types, such as Tapu Koko and Thundurus-I.
[SET]
name: Z-Move Sweeper
move 1: Tail Glow
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Hypnosis / Energy Ball
item: Psychium Z / Air Balloon
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Tail Glow raises Xurkitree's Special Attack by three stages, drastically improving its power.
* Thunderbolt is Xurkitree's main STAB move.
* Hidden Power Ice can help Xurkitree beat common Ground and Grass-types that would otherwise threaten it, such as defensive Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tangrowth.
* Z-Hypnosis boosts Xurkitree's Speed by one stage, allowing it to outspeed nearly every opponent with Sticky Web support. Additionally, it has a 60% chance to put the opponent to sleep, granting Xurkitree free turns to attack or set up Tail Glow.
* Energy Ball can be used as a second coverage move on Baton Pass teams. It hits many Ground-types, such as Excadrill, Quagsire, and Gastrodon, harder than Hidden Power Ice.
Set Details
========
* 252 Special Attack EVs help Xurkitree hit as hard as possible.
* Maximum Speed with a Timid nature allows Xurkitree to outspeed as many opponents as it can.
* Psychium Z allows Xurkitree to boost its Speed stat with Z-Hypnosis, while Air Balloon is an alternative option on Baton Pass teams that helps Xurkitree set up on some Ground-types.
Usage Tips
========
* Bring Xurkitree in on a KO or a slow pivot move if you can, because it can't switch into any attacks.
* Set up Tail Glow or Z-Hypnosis against opponents that Xurkitree threatens out, like defensive Celesteela, Skarmory, and Tapu Fini, then proceed to break holes in opposing teams.
* Keep in mind that Xurkitree probably won't sweep unless it has the necessary speed control. If it is used on a Sticky Web team, pressure your opponent's hazard removers as much as you can.
* Xurkitree usually has no use against opposing offense teams unless it has speed control support, so it usually won't contribute much in these matchups.
Team Options
========
* Xurkitree does best on specific hyper offense archetypes including Baton Pass and Sticky Web because of the support it derives from speed control.
* Sticky Web allows Xurkitree to outspeed nearly all opponents after it uses Z-Hypnosis, helping it to easily break through opposing teams. For this reason, Xurkitree does well on teams with Sticky Web setters such as Smeargle.
* Xurkitree also works well on Baton Pass teams because of the benefits it derives from speed passing. Scolipede is a good Pokémon for this.
* Xurkitree appreciates Pokémon that can wear down opponents that check it, such as Marowak-A and Ferrothorn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Z-Electric Terrain set can be used over Z-Hypnosis to strengthen Xurkitree's Electric-type attacks even further. However, it doesn't pressure the opposing Pokémon, meaning that your opponent can switch in a check and force Xurkitree out.
* Alternative Hidden Power types, such as Ground, can be used to lure in Xurkitree's original checks and counters.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Although they have to be wary of Hidden Power Ice, Ground-type Pokémon such as offensive Landorus-T, Dugtrio, Zygarde, Garchomp, and Excadrill can threaten to OHKO Xurkitree with their STAB moves.
**Faster Offensive Pokémon**: Faster, strong Pokémon like Tapu Lele and Mega Charizard Y can deal lots of damage to Xurkitree even without super effective moves. Even Choice Scarf users such as Terrakion can win against a weakened Xurkitree.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn can survive a +3 hit from Xurkitree and 2HKO with Power Whip, leaving Xurkitree in range of a teammate.
**Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak**: Alolan Marowak with the Lightning Rod ability can comfortably take any of Xurkitree's attacks besides rare Hidden Power variants and threaten to OHKO in return. However, it should be wary of switching in on Hypnosis.
[OVERVIEW]
* Xurkitree's impressive base Special Attack of 173, in combination with its access to Tail Glow, means that it can break through most defensive Pokémon after just one turn of setup.
* Furthermore, its ability Beast Boost helps it potentially snowball after it KOs an opponent, and its damage output can still become amazing even in the event that it can't get a Tail Glow off.
* However, Xurkitree's bulk and Speed are mediocre, meaning that it can be OHKO'd by the multitude of faster Pokémon in OU, such as Mega Medicham and Landorus-T.
* Additionally, Xurkitree's pure Electric typing provides almost no defensive utility at all.
* Xurkitree is outclassed in many roles by other Electric-types, such as Tapu Koko and Thundurus-I.
[SET]
name: Z-Move Sweeper
move 1: Tail Glow
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Hypnosis / Energy Ball
item: Psychium Z / Air Balloon
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Tail Glow raises Xurkitree's Special Attack by three stages, drastically improving its power.
* Thunderbolt is Xurkitree's main STAB move.
* Hidden Power Ice can help Xurkitree beat common Ground and Grass-types that would otherwise threaten it, such as defensive Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Tangrowth.
* Z-Hypnosis boosts Xurkitree's Speed by one stage, allowing it to outspeed nearly every opponent with Sticky Web support. Additionally, it has a 60% chance to put the opponent to sleep, granting Xurkitree free turns to attack or set up Tail Glow.
* Energy Ball can be used as a second coverage move on Baton Pass teams. It hits many Ground-types, such as Excadrill, Quagsire, and Gastrodon, harder than Hidden Power Ice.
Set Details
========
* 252 Special Attack EVs help Xurkitree hit as hard as possible.
* Maximum Speed with a Timid nature allows Xurkitree to outspeed as many opponents as it can.
* Psychium Z allows Xurkitree to boost its Speed stat with Z-Hypnosis, while Air Balloon is an alternative option on Baton Pass teams that helps Xurkitree set up on some Ground-types.
Usage Tips
========
* Bring Xurkitree in on a KO or a slow pivot move if you can, because it can't switch into any attacks.
* Set up Tail Glow or Z-Hypnosis against opponents that Xurkitree threatens out, like defensive Celesteela, Skarmory, and Tapu Fini, then proceed to break holes in opposing teams.
* Keep in mind that Xurkitree probably won't sweep unless it has the necessary speed control. If it is used on a Sticky Web team, pressure your opponent's hazard removers as much as you can.
* Xurkitree usually has no use against opposing offense teams unless it has speed control support, so it usually won't contribute much in these matchups.
Team Options
========
* Xurkitree does best on specific hyper offense archetypes including Baton Pass and Sticky Web because of the support it derives from speed control.
* Sticky Web allows Xurkitree to outspeed nearly all opponents after it uses Z-Hypnosis, helping it to easily break through opposing teams. For this reason, Xurkitree does well on teams with Sticky Web setters such as Smeargle.
* Xurkitree also works well on Baton Pass teams because of the benefits it derives from speed passing. Scolipede is a good Pokémon for this.
* Xurkitree appreciates Pokémon that can wear down opponents that check it, such as Marowak-A and Ferrothorn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Z-Electric Terrain set can be used over Z-Hypnosis to strengthen Xurkitree's Electric-type attacks even further. However, it doesn't pressure the opposing Pokémon, meaning that your opponent can switch in a check and force Xurkitree out.
* Alternative Hidden Power types, such as Ground, can be used to lure in Xurkitree's original checks and counters.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Although they have to be wary of Hidden Power Ice, Ground-type Pokémon such as offensive Landorus-T, Dugtrio, Zygarde, Garchomp, and Excadrill can threaten to OHKO Xurkitree with their STAB moves.
**Faster Offensive Pokémon**: Faster, strong Pokémon like Tapu Lele and Mega Charizard Y can deal lots of damage to Xurkitree even without super effective moves. Even Choice Scarf users such as Terrakion can win against a weakened Xurkitree.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn can survive a +3 hit from Xurkitree and 2HKO with Power Whip, leaving Xurkitree in range of a teammate.
**Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak**: Alolan Marowak with the Lightning Rod ability can comfortably take any of Xurkitree's attacks besides rare Hidden Power variants and threaten to OHKO in return. However, it should be wary of switching in on Hypnosis.
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