bigtalk
Banned deucer.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Foul Play
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Sucker Punch / Toxic
item: Choice Band
ability: Dark Aura
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Knock Off is this set's most spammable move and deals large amounts of damage to Pokemon with removable items. It cripples checks to Yveltal like Magearna and offensive Xerneas while taking away nearly half of their health, and it can OHKO special walls like Blissey and offensive Ho-Oh.
* Foul Play is also boosted by Choice Band, and it does more damage to Pokemon with irremovable items such as Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Mega Salamence, and Z-Move Necrozma-DM. It also allows Yveltal to punish the use of boosting moves from setup sweepers like Extreme Killer Arceus and Primal Groudon.
* U-turn generates momentum for Yveltal's team and deals a hefty amount of damage to Dark-types such as Arceus-Dark and Tyranitar, usually 2HKOing the latter.
* Sucker Punch adds to Yveltal's revenge killing capabilities, letting it pick off fast threats such as Ultra Necrozma and Mega Mewtwo Y before they can hit it with one of their coverage moves. Note that being locked into Sucker Punch can place Yveltal in an extremely exploitable situation, however.
* Toxic cripples support Arceus formes, which otherwise wall this set with ease.
Set Details
========
* A Jolly nature is preferred so Yveltal outspeeds Lunala and positive-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon, such as Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre.
* An Adamant nature is viable to guarantee that Yveltal OHKOes offensive Ho-Oh and support Necrozma-DM and 2HKOes Klefki and Skarmory with Knock Off. It also gives Yveltal a roughly 50% chance to OHKO Marshadow and Necrozma-DM lacking defensive investment with Sucker Punch.
* A bulkier EV spread of 192 Atk / 64 Def / 252 Spe can be used with a Jolly nature to survive Double-Edge from Jolly Mega Salamence after Stealth Rock damage as well as Stone Edge from Ultra Necrozma from full health.
* An EV spread of 132 Atk / 124 Def / 252 Spe with an Adamant nature meets the above benchmarks and also allows Yveltal to take a +2 Extreme Speed from Extreme Killer Arceus variants that lack a boosting item after Stealth Rock damage. Despite the reduced Attack investment, Knock Off still retains OHKOs on offensive Ho-Oh and support Necrozma-DM, and the damage output of Foul Play is not affected. Note that this spread should not be used with a Jolly nature because the loss in damage output is too significant.
Usage Tips
========
* Choice Band Yveltal aims to wallbreak and cripple the opposing team as much as possible so its teammates have an easier time cleaning up.
* Versus bulky teams, try to aggressively bring Yveltal in on passive Pokemon like Blissey, Ferrothorn, and support Necrozma-DM via double switches or pivoting moves. Use Knock Off or Toxic to cripple your opponent's check to Yveltal so they will have a harder time switching into it later in the game.
* Foul Play and Sucker Punch are Yveltal's main tools for dealing with offense. However, avoid using Sucker Punch unless Yveltal's team is prepared to deal with setup sweepers that can take advantage of it being locked into the move, such as Geomancy Xerneas. Be wary of using Sucker Punch against potential Substitute users such as Mega Gengar, Zygarde-C, and Swords Dance Arceus-Ground as well.
* Use U-turn as a midground play or when the opponent has a Pokemon that shuts down all of this set's other options, such as Magearna or an Arceus forme with Refresh.
* Manage Yveltal's health wisely, as this variant lacks recovery and is prone to getting worn down by Stealth Rock and other sources of residual damage. Do not recklessly switch it into Pokemon like Marshadow that it may take a lot of damage from or cannot revenge kill consistently.
Team Options
========
* Choice Band Yveltal fits on offensive teams that are looking for a wallbreaker to help with their matchup against bulky teams. It appreciates Pokemon that can provide its team with anti-offense measures as well as teammates that can take advantage of the walls that it struggles with.
* Mega Gengar is a phenomenal partner for this set. It traps and removes the opponent's Fairy-types and support Arceus formes, making Yveltal much harder to wall, and can revenge kill Ultra Necrozma with consistency. In return, Yveltal gets it in safely with U-turn, pivots into Psychic-, Ghost-, and Ground-type attacks for it, and weakens Pursuit trappers like Tyranitar and Alolan Muk.
* Xerneas is a great partner, as this set lures several checks to it such as Ho-Oh, Magearna, and Blissey and KOes or cripples them. Geomancy variants have an easier time sweeping, while Choice Scarf variants can help to revenge kill threats like Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma more consistently.
* Glare Zygarde-C can paralyze support Arceus formes, increasing the odds of Yveltal breaking through them with Knock Off. Yveltal also poses a much greater threat to offensive teams once its revenge killers like Xerneas have been paralyzed.
* Magearna and Mega Scizor check Fairy-types and form pivoting cores with Yveltal. Magearna in particular tends to lure in many of the special walls that are the targets of Choice Band Yveltal, such as Blissey, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh.
* Primal Groudon sets Stealth Rock for Yveltal's team, and it can pressure support Arceus formes with a mixed or Swords Dance set. It can also take advantage of Fairy-types, especially once Xerneas's Power Herb has been removed.
* Fast, frail Pokemon like Marshadow, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Deoxys-A appreciate Yveltal getting them in safely via U-turn and removing Choice Scarf from Xerneas and opposing Yveltal.
* Entry hazard setters like Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and support Necrozma-DM can help this set break through support Arceus formes. These Pokemon can also pivot into support Arceus formes and Fairy-types for Yveltal thanks to their typing, good bulk, and access to recovery.
* This variant of Yveltal lacks a source of recovery, so hazard removal support is strongly recommended. Defoggers like Arceus-Ground, Giratina-O, and Ho-Oh can fulfill this role.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[bigtalk, 466663]]
- Quality checked by: [[Nayrz, 212134], [Cynara, 224455], [Mysterious M, 284369]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Fireflame479, 231476], [lotiasite, 302985]]
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