Christmas came early this year!
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[OVERVIEW]
* Base 173 Special Attack and Tail Glow give Xurkitree terrifying wallbreaking ability. It can notably punch right through Primal Groudon with a boosted Grass Knot, the main check to Electric-types on most Ubers teams.
* Z-Hypnosis augments Xurkitree's mediocre Speed and can buy it a free turn to use Tail Glow. At +3 Special Attack and +1 Speed, Xurkitree can be a potent late-game sweeper if it manages to set up.
* However, the key word here is "if." Xurkitree's horrible defenses mean that most strong neutral attacks will OHKO it, making it a rather inconsistent sweeper because it relies on Hypnosis hitting in order to buy time for Tail Glow.
* Even at +1 Speed, Xurkitree can still be outsped by very fast threats such as most Choice Scarf users and Deoxys-A, and its fragility leaves it vulnerable to strong priority.
* Xurkitree is completely dependent on its Z-Move to sweep—if it is wasted, Xurkitree will not get a second chance.
* To summarize, Xurkitree is for those who like to play fast and loose—it is opportunistic and inconsistent, perhaps even "cheesy," but if Xurkitree connects that Z-Hypnosis it can and will quickly turn the tide of a match.
[SET]
name: Z-Hypnosis Sweeper
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Tail Glow
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Psychium Z
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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* Z-Hypnosis gives Xurkitree +1 Speed and allows it to put the foe to sleep, giving it a free turn to use Tail Glow and sweep with both boosts.
* Thunderbolt is Xurkitree's most consistent STAB move, having good power and reliable accuracy.
* Grass Knot is the optimal coverage move, allowing Xurkitree to OHKO defensive Primal Groudon after a Tail Glow boost and a small amount of prior damage, and most other Ground-types including Arceus-Ground and Excadrill will be OHKOed after Tail Glow.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Special Attack is required for power.
* Maximum Speed investment with Timid nature enables Xurkitree to outspeed Rash Deoxys-A and Naughty Pheromosa at +1 Speed, and it increases the odds of Xurkitree successfully using Hypnosis against Pokemon that may not invest fully in Speed, such as certain support Arceus formes.
* A Modest nature can be used instead to give Xurkitree a high chance to OHKO Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock damage with +3 Grass Knot while still outspeeding Mewtwo and Mega Gengar at +1 Speed.
* Psychium Z is necessary so Xurkitree can use Z-Hypnosis.
* Beast Boost gives Xurkitree snowballing potential, making it even harder to stop after it nabs a KO.
Usage Tips
========
* Xurkitree should not use its Z-Move unless you are certain it can win the game if it sets up, as it only has one chance to do so. Specifically, do not use Z-Hypnosis if the opponent still has their Choice Scarf user or a strong priority attacker such as Extreme Killer Arceus, or if they still have a healthy Electric-resistant Pokemon that will not faint to +3 Grass Knot. Weaken or eliminate these Pokemon before attempting to sweep.
* Using Z-Hypnosis is ideal when against a Pokemon Xurkitree can naturally force to switch out, such as support Arceus-Water, defensive Primal Kyogre, bulky Steel-types such as Bronzong, or a slower Flying-type. This can give Xurkitree a second chance to use Hypnosis if it misses, increasing the reliability of the setup.
* Xurkitree cannot switch in on most attacks, so it will require a double switch, a sacrifice, or support from U-turn in order to get into battle safely.
* It may be a good idea to play Xurkitree somewhat more conservatively against stall teams, where the Speed boost from Z-Hypnosis is less necessary and Xurkitree can make use of its wallbreaking strength more.
Team Options
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* Xurkitree works best on offensive teams with Pokemon that can help it get into play or lure out Pokemon it can safely set up on.
* Primal Groudon can lure out Lugia or support Arceus-Water for Xurkitree, also providing Stealth Rock support to help ensure KOs and weakening Giratina-O to put it into range of +3 Thunderbolt.
* Suicide hazard leads such as Excadrill, Deoxys-S, and Cloyster make Xurkitree's job easier by laying down hazards and potentially softening up problem Pokemon such as Giratina-O for Xurkitree.
* Yveltal and Landorus-T cover Xurkitree's weakness to Ground-type moves and can use U-turn in order to get Xurkitree into battle. Yveltal is particular notable because it can also check Deoxys-A and Choice Scarf Lunala, both threats to a Xurkitree sweep.
* Mega Gengar can trap and eliminate priority users such as weakened Rayquaza and Extreme Killer Arceus for Xurkitree, and it can take advantage of Shadow Tag to force a favorable matchup for Xurkitree to capitalize on with Z-Hypnosis.
* Mega Salamence can weaken certain Electric switch-ins such as Dialga and Zekrom while also luring out Lugia, Celesteela, and support Arceus-Water—easy targets for Xurkitree to set up on. Mega Salamence also checks Extreme Killer Arceus to an extent.
* Xerneas is useful to switch into Yveltal, which can end a Xurkitree sweep prematurely with Sucker Punch or Choice Scarf, and it can usually weaken Primal Groudon enough to where Xurkitree can break through it easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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* Dazzling Gleam allows Xurkitree to OHKO Giratina-O, Zekrom, and Arceus-Dragon after Tail Glow, but coverage for Ground-types usually takes priority.
* Electrium Z or Life Orb can be used if Xurkitree if given Sticky Web support to further augment its offense. Electrium Z notably allows Xurkitree to OHKO Ferrothorn after a Tail Glow boost with Gigavolt Havoc.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zekrom**: Zekrom is the most reliably switch-in for Xurkitree. It boasts a heavy resistance to Thunderbolt and will not faint to +3 Grass Knot, easily OHKOing Xurkitree with Outrage.
**Ground-types**: Although most Ground-types will faint to +3 Grass Knot, they can still be switched in just in case Xurkitree misses Hypnosis or the Ground-type in question gets a first turn wake, in which case Xurkitree will be OHKOed before it can complete its setup. Zygarde-C is notable, since it survives +3 Grass Knot at full HP and OHKOes Xurkitree with Thousand Arrows, and due to usually having Sleep Talk it can attempt to phaze out or KO Xurkitree before it can set up Tail Glow. Excadrill can outspeed Xurkitree in a sandstorm and drop it with Earthquake before it can move. Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground will be KOed by +3 Grass Knot, but they can still switch in and hope that Hypnosis fails in the clutch.
**Bulky Dragon-types**: Giratina-O and Dialga can survive a boosted Thunderbolt with ease and OHKO Xurkitree in return with Draco Meteor. Arceus-Dragon also survives +3 Thunderbolt, but it cannot OHKO Xurkitree with unboosted Judgment.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn survives +3 Thunderbolt and can use Leech Seed to recover its health, though it will need Power Whip to actually defeat Xurkitree. Otherwise, Xurkitree can set up a second Tail Glow and defeat Ferrothorn with brute force.
**Clefable**: Unaware allows Clefable to ignore Xurkitree's boosts, defeating it via Toxic.
**Chansey and Blissey**: Although they lack the offensive power to stop Xurkitree themselves, Chansey and Blissey can still easily tank a boosted attack and use Toxic, stalling Xurkitree long enough to where it won't be able to do much more damage after KOing Chansey or Blissey.
**Fast Revenge Killers**: Deoxys-A and Pheromosa with Speed-boosting natures and most users of Choice Scarf such as Xerneas, Lunala, and Yveltal outspeed Xurkitree even after Z-Hypnosis and easily OHKO it.
**Priority Moves**: Extreme Killer Arceus, Rayquaza, Yveltal, and Deoxys-A can strike Xurkitree hard with strong priority attacks, bypassing its boosted Speed and potentially cutting short its sweep.
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