[OVERVIEW]
* Giratina-O is blessed with an effective defensive typing, good bulk, and a decent ability in Levitate, allowing it to check Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Swords Dance Arceus.
* As a result, Giratina-O is one of the best Defog users in the tier, able to escape Gothitelle's Shadow Tag, and immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes
* Giratina-O has good offensive stats, a decent offensive typing, many good hard-hitting moves, and access to status moves like Toxic and Will-O-Wisp to cripple switch-ins, helping it limit how much momentum it gives to the opponent.
* Giratina-O can funtion as a spinblocker for its team to keep up entry hazards.
* The presence of Dark-, Ghost-, and Fairy-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, Marshadow, Lunala, Xerneas, and Arceus-Fairy hurt Giratina-O's defensive utility.
* Giratina-O lacks a reliable form of recovery, making it easily susceptible to chip damage and status ailments like poison.
[SET]
name: Utility Attacker
move 1: Hex
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 4: Defog
item: Griseous Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 252 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hex is Giratina-O's best move, since it does a great amount of damage to opposing Pokemon if they're afflicted by a status ailment, notably being able to 2HKO specially defensive Necrozma-DM.
* Draco Meteor does a good amount of damage to Pokemon like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Arceus-Dark, which can all take Hex with relative ease, even when affected by a status ailment.
* Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers like Arceus-Ground, Arceus, Mega Lucario, and Necrozma-DM, which can be very annoying to deal with otherwise, and Will-O-Wisp also powers up the power of Hex once the foe is burned.
* Toxic wears down Pokemon like Primal Groudon, Arceus-Water, Xerneas, and Arceus-Ground, which could prove to be a threat, and it also powers up Hex once it poisons the foe.
* Defog allows Giratina-O to remove entry hazards from the field.
* Thunder Wave cripples Pokemon that might want to try to take advantage of Giratina-O such as Xerneas and Yveltal; however, it can't cripple Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground, making it an inferior option overall.
* Shadow Sneak can be used over Toxic or Will-O-Wisp to enable Giratina-O to revenge kill weakened Pokemon like Marshadow, Lunala, Deoxys-A, and Mega Gengar.
* If Shadow Sneak is run, Shadow Ball should be used over Hex for better immediate damage, and it isn't overly reliant on status ailments.
Set Details
========
* 252 Defense EVs maximize Giratina-O's physical bulk; maximum HP investment is not necessary because of Giratina-O's naturally good HP stat.
* Maximum Special Attack EVs in conjunction with a Modest nature maximizes Giratina-O's damage output.
* A Rash nature should be used if Shadow Sneak and Shadow Ball are used.
* Griseous Orb is the only item that lets Giratina transform into Giratina-O.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Giratina-O in on various physical attackers like Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus to prevent them from doing much damage, but it can't come in for free on Arceus-Ground because defensive sets tend to run Ice Beam.
* Prevent Giratina-O from getting chipped down too much by removing entry hazards. Try to get it in on the turn Stealth Rock setters that it can check like Primal Groudon will try to set up Stealth Rock.
* Giratina-O should be wary of Pokemon known to spread status because a burn or poison will wear it down over time.
* Inflicting Pokemon with a status ailment is useful early-game because Hex relies on status to do any significant sort of damage.
* Whenever Giratina-O is on the field, it has about three plays: using status-inducing moves to wear down the foe, removing hazards with Defog, or firing off an attack to punish Pokemon that might switch in on an expected use of Defog.
Team Options
========
* Status spreaders like Ho-Oh, Zygarde-C, Celesteela, and Arceus-Water are generally good teammates because they let Giratina-O use Hex without as much concern.
* Pokemon like Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, and Ferrothorn make for good teammates because they can check Fairy-types for Giratina-O. Mega Lucario can't defensively check Fairy-types, but it can offensively check them, being able to do great damage to any Fairy-type.
* Fairy-types like Xerneas, Magearna, and Arceus-Fairy can check Dark- and Dragon-types that Giratina-O tends to struggle against. Xerneas and Magearna can also act as clerics.
* Yveltal, Alolan Muk, and Ho-Oh can check Ghost-types for Giratina-O, and in return, Giratina-O can remove Stealth Rock for them and also switch in on Ground-type attacks for Alolan Muk.
* Because Giratina-O already fills the role of a Defog user, it can let other Pokemon that tend to run defensive Defog sets like Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Fairy use a more offensive set.
* Mega Gengar pairs very well with Giratina-O, since it makes for a nice Hex spam core with Giratina-O and can trap Fairy-types to efficiently remove them from the match.
* Gothitelle is able to trap and remove a lot of defensive answers to Giratina-O like Arceus-Water, support Arceus-Ground, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Celesteela, allowing Giratina-O to spam its attacks more freely.
[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Earthquake / Shadow Force
move 4: Dragon Tail
item: Griseous Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Defog allows Giratina-O to remove entry hazards from the field.
* Shadow Sneak allows Giratina-O to revenge kill weakened Lunala, Marshadow, and Deoxys-A.
* Earthquake can hits Primal Groudon for a good amount of damage and also hits Magearna, which may try to switch in on Dragon Tail to OHKO Giratina-O with Fleur Cannon.
* Shadow Force is a powerful STAB move that can shave off HP from Pokemon like Xerneas and Arceus-Ground, which otherwise completely wall it. However, there is a drawback to using this move; it takes two turns to attack.
* Dragon Tail allows Giratina-O to deter Pokemon like Arceus-Ground and Zygarde-C from setting up.
* Roar is another option besides Dragon Tail to allow Giratina-O to phaze Fairy-types that it would otherwise be setup bait to.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Defense EVs maximize Giratina-O's physical bulk; maximum HP investment is not necessary because of Giratina-O's naturally good HP stat.
* Maximum Attack EVs maximize Giratina-O's damage output.
* Griseous Orb is the only item that allows Giratina to transform into Giratina-O.
Usage Tips
========
* To prevent Giratina-O from getting worn down by entry hazards too much, try to switch it in on Pokemon like Primal Groudon that might try to set up Stealth Rock.
* Use Earthquake whenever Pokemon like Magearna and Mega Tyranitar are predicted to switch in on a predicted Shadow Sneak or Dragon Tail.
* Don't try to phaze foes all the time, since it might give Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy a free switch to then attack or set up.
* Giratina-O should stay as healthy as possible to pressure foes that it checks more efficiently.
* Giratina-O should be wary of Pokemon that tend to carry status-inducing moves like Will-O-Wisp and Toxic, since they wear it down over time. Will-O-Wisp especially should be watched out for, since it weakens Giratina-O's attacks.
* Shadow Sneak should be used minimally and only to revenge kill weakened Pokemon like Marshadow, Lunala, Mega Gengar, and Deoxys-A.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock support from Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM is very useful with this Giratina-O set, since phazing foes out racks up damage, and they can also check Xerneas, spread status, and beat Steel- and Fairy-types for Giratina-O. In return, Giratina-O provides a good switch-in to Ground-type attacks.
* Pokemon such as Magearna, Xerneas, and Arceus-Fairy are able to switch in on Dark-types, which is extremely valuable considering Giratina-O's weakness to Dark-type attacks. Magearna and Xerneas can also act as clerics to remove status ailments from Giratina-O.
* Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Bronzong, Necrozma-DM, and Mega Scizor are very good teammates for Giratina-O because they can absorb Toxic and check Fairy-types, while Giratina-O can switch into Fire-type attacks for them. Mega Lucario is another decent teammate, although it cannot defensively answer Fairy-types.
* Defensive Yveltal is a good teammate because it can switch in on Dark- and Ghost-types for Giratina-O and wear down Pokemon with Toxic. Choice Scarf Yveltal is also a good team member because it can offensively pressure Ghost-types for Giratina-O and bring it in via U-turn. In return, Giratina-O can keep Stealth Rock off the field to take pressure off Yveltal.
* Gothitelle is able to trap and remove a lot of defensive answers to Giratina-O like Arceus-Water, support Arceus-Ground, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Celesteela, allowing Giratina-O to spam its attacks more freely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Iron Tail can be used to deal with Fariy-types like Xerneas and Clefable, but it lacks the moveslot to properly fit this on its set.
* Stone Edge allows Giratina-O to OHKO Ho-Oh and do great damage to Yveltal after it has been lured in, but Giratina doesn't have a moveslot to properly fit this on its set either.
* Rest gives Giratina-O a way to recover health.
* Magic Coat makes Giratina-O a good anti-lead against Deoxys-S, preventing it from using Taunt and setting up Stealth Rock or Spikes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, Tyranitar, Darkrai, and Mega Gyarados don't like getting affected by Thunder Wave, Toxic, or Will-O-Wisp, but they are able to take most attacks that Giratina-O may use on them.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can easily come in on Giratina-O's Dragon-type STAB moves and can also set up on it; however, they do have to fear status ailments. Magearna can easily come in on any move Giratina-O might want to use on it, although it does have to be wary of Earthquake and switching into a status-inducing move like Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp, since it will get 2HKOed by Hex on the switch.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh does not like to be crippled by Toxic or Thunder Wave, but it can easily come in on any attacking move Giratina-O might use on it, except for Shadow Force and the rather rare Stone Edge.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Celesteela and Ferrothorn don't mind being affected by paralysis, but they must be wary of Hex, since once they are affected by paralysis, Hex can 2HKO them, and they also don't like being crippled by Will-O-Wisp because it greatly reduces the power of their STAB moves.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types like Dialga, Rayquaza, and Palkia can threaten Giratina-O with their respective STAB moves.
**Ghost-types**: While Ghost-types like Marshadow and Mega Gengar are unable to switch in safely and have to be wary of Shadow Sneak, they can still threaten Giratina-O out with their STAB moves.
**Status**: Poison and burn can wear down Giratina-O quickly because of its lack of reliable recovery.
* Giratina-O is blessed with an effective defensive typing, good bulk, and a decent ability in Levitate, allowing it to check Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Swords Dance Arceus.
* As a result, Giratina-O is one of the best Defog users in the tier, able to escape Gothitelle's Shadow Tag, and immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes
* Giratina-O has good offensive stats, a decent offensive typing, many good hard-hitting moves, and access to status moves like Toxic and Will-O-Wisp to cripple switch-ins, helping it limit how much momentum it gives to the opponent.
* Giratina-O can funtion as a spinblocker for its team to keep up entry hazards.
* The presence of Dark-, Ghost-, and Fairy-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, Marshadow, Lunala, Xerneas, and Arceus-Fairy hurt Giratina-O's defensive utility.
* Giratina-O lacks a reliable form of recovery, making it easily susceptible to chip damage and status ailments like poison.
[SET]
name: Utility Attacker
move 1: Hex
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 4: Defog
item: Griseous Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 252 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Hex is Giratina-O's best move, since it does a great amount of damage to opposing Pokemon if they're afflicted by a status ailment, notably being able to 2HKO specially defensive Necrozma-DM.
* Draco Meteor does a good amount of damage to Pokemon like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Arceus-Dark, which can all take Hex with relative ease, even when affected by a status ailment.
* Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers like Arceus-Ground, Arceus, Mega Lucario, and Necrozma-DM, which can be very annoying to deal with otherwise, and Will-O-Wisp also powers up the power of Hex once the foe is burned.
* Toxic wears down Pokemon like Primal Groudon, Arceus-Water, Xerneas, and Arceus-Ground, which could prove to be a threat, and it also powers up Hex once it poisons the foe.
* Defog allows Giratina-O to remove entry hazards from the field.
* Thunder Wave cripples Pokemon that might want to try to take advantage of Giratina-O such as Xerneas and Yveltal; however, it can't cripple Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground, making it an inferior option overall.
* Shadow Sneak can be used over Toxic or Will-O-Wisp to enable Giratina-O to revenge kill weakened Pokemon like Marshadow, Lunala, Deoxys-A, and Mega Gengar.
* If Shadow Sneak is run, Shadow Ball should be used over Hex for better immediate damage, and it isn't overly reliant on status ailments.
Set Details
========
* 252 Defense EVs maximize Giratina-O's physical bulk; maximum HP investment is not necessary because of Giratina-O's naturally good HP stat.
* Maximum Special Attack EVs in conjunction with a Modest nature maximizes Giratina-O's damage output.
* A Rash nature should be used if Shadow Sneak and Shadow Ball are used.
* Griseous Orb is the only item that lets Giratina transform into Giratina-O.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Giratina-O in on various physical attackers like Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, and Arceus to prevent them from doing much damage, but it can't come in for free on Arceus-Ground because defensive sets tend to run Ice Beam.
* Prevent Giratina-O from getting chipped down too much by removing entry hazards. Try to get it in on the turn Stealth Rock setters that it can check like Primal Groudon will try to set up Stealth Rock.
* Giratina-O should be wary of Pokemon known to spread status because a burn or poison will wear it down over time.
* Inflicting Pokemon with a status ailment is useful early-game because Hex relies on status to do any significant sort of damage.
* Whenever Giratina-O is on the field, it has about three plays: using status-inducing moves to wear down the foe, removing hazards with Defog, or firing off an attack to punish Pokemon that might switch in on an expected use of Defog.
Team Options
========
* Status spreaders like Ho-Oh, Zygarde-C, Celesteela, and Arceus-Water are generally good teammates because they let Giratina-O use Hex without as much concern.
* Pokemon like Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, and Ferrothorn make for good teammates because they can check Fairy-types for Giratina-O. Mega Lucario can't defensively check Fairy-types, but it can offensively check them, being able to do great damage to any Fairy-type.
* Fairy-types like Xerneas, Magearna, and Arceus-Fairy can check Dark- and Dragon-types that Giratina-O tends to struggle against. Xerneas and Magearna can also act as clerics.
* Yveltal, Alolan Muk, and Ho-Oh can check Ghost-types for Giratina-O, and in return, Giratina-O can remove Stealth Rock for them and also switch in on Ground-type attacks for Alolan Muk.
* Because Giratina-O already fills the role of a Defog user, it can let other Pokemon that tend to run defensive Defog sets like Arceus-Ground and Arceus-Fairy use a more offensive set.
* Mega Gengar pairs very well with Giratina-O, since it makes for a nice Hex spam core with Giratina-O and can trap Fairy-types to efficiently remove them from the match.
* Gothitelle is able to trap and remove a lot of defensive answers to Giratina-O like Arceus-Water, support Arceus-Ground, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Celesteela, allowing Giratina-O to spam its attacks more freely.
[SET]
name: Physical Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Earthquake / Shadow Force
move 4: Dragon Tail
item: Griseous Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Defog allows Giratina-O to remove entry hazards from the field.
* Shadow Sneak allows Giratina-O to revenge kill weakened Lunala, Marshadow, and Deoxys-A.
* Earthquake can hits Primal Groudon for a good amount of damage and also hits Magearna, which may try to switch in on Dragon Tail to OHKO Giratina-O with Fleur Cannon.
* Shadow Force is a powerful STAB move that can shave off HP from Pokemon like Xerneas and Arceus-Ground, which otherwise completely wall it. However, there is a drawback to using this move; it takes two turns to attack.
* Dragon Tail allows Giratina-O to deter Pokemon like Arceus-Ground and Zygarde-C from setting up.
* Roar is another option besides Dragon Tail to allow Giratina-O to phaze Fairy-types that it would otherwise be setup bait to.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Defense EVs maximize Giratina-O's physical bulk; maximum HP investment is not necessary because of Giratina-O's naturally good HP stat.
* Maximum Attack EVs maximize Giratina-O's damage output.
* Griseous Orb is the only item that allows Giratina to transform into Giratina-O.
Usage Tips
========
* To prevent Giratina-O from getting worn down by entry hazards too much, try to switch it in on Pokemon like Primal Groudon that might try to set up Stealth Rock.
* Use Earthquake whenever Pokemon like Magearna and Mega Tyranitar are predicted to switch in on a predicted Shadow Sneak or Dragon Tail.
* Don't try to phaze foes all the time, since it might give Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy a free switch to then attack or set up.
* Giratina-O should stay as healthy as possible to pressure foes that it checks more efficiently.
* Giratina-O should be wary of Pokemon that tend to carry status-inducing moves like Will-O-Wisp and Toxic, since they wear it down over time. Will-O-Wisp especially should be watched out for, since it weakens Giratina-O's attacks.
* Shadow Sneak should be used minimally and only to revenge kill weakened Pokemon like Marshadow, Lunala, Mega Gengar, and Deoxys-A.
Team Options
========
* Stealth Rock support from Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM is very useful with this Giratina-O set, since phazing foes out racks up damage, and they can also check Xerneas, spread status, and beat Steel- and Fairy-types for Giratina-O. In return, Giratina-O provides a good switch-in to Ground-type attacks.
* Pokemon such as Magearna, Xerneas, and Arceus-Fairy are able to switch in on Dark-types, which is extremely valuable considering Giratina-O's weakness to Dark-type attacks. Magearna and Xerneas can also act as clerics to remove status ailments from Giratina-O.
* Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Bronzong, Necrozma-DM, and Mega Scizor are very good teammates for Giratina-O because they can absorb Toxic and check Fairy-types, while Giratina-O can switch into Fire-type attacks for them. Mega Lucario is another decent teammate, although it cannot defensively answer Fairy-types.
* Defensive Yveltal is a good teammate because it can switch in on Dark- and Ghost-types for Giratina-O and wear down Pokemon with Toxic. Choice Scarf Yveltal is also a good team member because it can offensively pressure Ghost-types for Giratina-O and bring it in via U-turn. In return, Giratina-O can keep Stealth Rock off the field to take pressure off Yveltal.
* Gothitelle is able to trap and remove a lot of defensive answers to Giratina-O like Arceus-Water, support Arceus-Ground, defensive Necrozma-DM, and Celesteela, allowing Giratina-O to spam its attacks more freely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Iron Tail can be used to deal with Fariy-types like Xerneas and Clefable, but it lacks the moveslot to properly fit this on its set.
* Stone Edge allows Giratina-O to OHKO Ho-Oh and do great damage to Yveltal after it has been lured in, but Giratina doesn't have a moveslot to properly fit this on its set either.
* Rest gives Giratina-O a way to recover health.
* Magic Coat makes Giratina-O a good anti-lead against Deoxys-S, preventing it from using Taunt and setting up Stealth Rock or Spikes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, Tyranitar, Darkrai, and Mega Gyarados don't like getting affected by Thunder Wave, Toxic, or Will-O-Wisp, but they are able to take most attacks that Giratina-O may use on them.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy can easily come in on Giratina-O's Dragon-type STAB moves and can also set up on it; however, they do have to fear status ailments. Magearna can easily come in on any move Giratina-O might want to use on it, although it does have to be wary of Earthquake and switching into a status-inducing move like Thunder Wave or Will-O-Wisp, since it will get 2HKOed by Hex on the switch.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh does not like to be crippled by Toxic or Thunder Wave, but it can easily come in on any attacking move Giratina-O might use on it, except for Shadow Force and the rather rare Stone Edge.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Celesteela and Ferrothorn don't mind being affected by paralysis, but they must be wary of Hex, since once they are affected by paralysis, Hex can 2HKO them, and they also don't like being crippled by Will-O-Wisp because it greatly reduces the power of their STAB moves.
**Dragon-types**: Dragon-types like Dialga, Rayquaza, and Palkia can threaten Giratina-O with their respective STAB moves.
**Ghost-types**: While Ghost-types like Marshadow and Mega Gengar are unable to switch in safely and have to be wary of Shadow Sneak, they can still threaten Giratina-O out with their STAB moves.
**Status**: Poison and burn can wear down Giratina-O quickly because of its lack of reliable recovery.
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