Serperior: Grass
stats:
HP: 75
Atk: 75
Def: 95
Sp.Atk: 75
Sp.Def: 95
Spe: 113
Viable Ability:
Contrary -The wielder's stat changes are reversed.
Viable moves:
Leaf storm
Dragon Pulse
Giga Drain
Hidden Power
Glare
Substitute
Taunt
Knock Off
Leech Seed
----------------------
Common set:
Serperior @ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power Fire/ Hidden Power Ground
- Substitute/Taunt/Giga Drain/Glare
Less common options that are still viable includes the use of Leech Seed+Sub to wear down threats like Heatran and Chansey, Knock Off to break through Assault Vest and Eviolite users ( like Tornadus-T and Chansey), Miracle Seed which boosts Leaf Storm and Giga Drain without taking recoil damage, damage reducing berries (Coba and Occa) with HP Rock/Ground to lure Talonflame/Meag Charizard Y/Heatran, and finally Synthesis, for more consistent recovery if you really want to keep Serperior all the way from early to late game.
----------------------
Why using Serperior?
Serperior has Contrary. The ability to boost its Sp.Atk by 2 stages while attacking with a move that has the same power as Draco Meteor. This thing alone makes Serperior very nice special attacker but it could not be seen so much without other advantages.
Base 113 speed stat allows Serperior to outrun a nice amount of common fast threats in OU such as Latios, Keldeo and Mega Diancie, while Glare can slow down faster threats on the switch such as Talonflame and Tornadus-T.
75/95/95 defenses are not so bad for an offensive Pokemon, and its Grass typing gives him the immunity from Leech Seed.
The problems are as same as those advantages.
113 speed is good but there are so many threats which are much faster such as Mega Manectric Weavile Talonflame and Mega Lopunny. Not to mention scarf users. All can easily revenge kill Serperior or wear it down very quickly.
Talonflame, Heatran and MegaZard Y are all common fire types which resist/can handle most of its moves. Although Serperior has tools against them such as HP Ground against Heatran and Glare on the switch.
Its lack of coverage moves makes it easily walled by many defensive mons which resist its moves.
A Contrary boosted Leaf Storm is indeed powerful but before that with only 75 base special attack, many Pokemon can take that hit and fire back at him for greater damage.
Its Grass typing and low hp makes it extremely vulnerable especially with Life Orb damage.
Some question for discussion:
What other things makes Serperior a good Pokemon in the current metagame? what makes it bad?
What other sets you think are viable?
I also wonder what Pokemon can make with Serperior a great core and in general what are the best teammates for him.
stats:
HP: 75
Atk: 75
Def: 95
Sp.Atk: 75
Sp.Def: 95
Spe: 113
Viable Ability:
Contrary -The wielder's stat changes are reversed.
Viable moves:
Leaf storm
Dragon Pulse
Giga Drain
Hidden Power
Glare
Substitute
Taunt
Knock Off
Leech Seed
----------------------
Common set:
Serperior @ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power Fire/ Hidden Power Ground
- Substitute/Taunt/Giga Drain/Glare
Less common options that are still viable includes the use of Leech Seed+Sub to wear down threats like Heatran and Chansey, Knock Off to break through Assault Vest and Eviolite users ( like Tornadus-T and Chansey), Miracle Seed which boosts Leaf Storm and Giga Drain without taking recoil damage, damage reducing berries (Coba and Occa) with HP Rock/Ground to lure Talonflame/Meag Charizard Y/Heatran, and finally Synthesis, for more consistent recovery if you really want to keep Serperior all the way from early to late game.
----------------------
Why using Serperior?
Serperior has Contrary. The ability to boost its Sp.Atk by 2 stages while attacking with a move that has the same power as Draco Meteor. This thing alone makes Serperior very nice special attacker but it could not be seen so much without other advantages.
Base 113 speed stat allows Serperior to outrun a nice amount of common fast threats in OU such as Latios, Keldeo and Mega Diancie, while Glare can slow down faster threats on the switch such as Talonflame and Tornadus-T.
75/95/95 defenses are not so bad for an offensive Pokemon, and its Grass typing gives him the immunity from Leech Seed.
The problems are as same as those advantages.
113 speed is good but there are so many threats which are much faster such as Mega Manectric Weavile Talonflame and Mega Lopunny. Not to mention scarf users. All can easily revenge kill Serperior or wear it down very quickly.
Talonflame, Heatran and MegaZard Y are all common fire types which resist/can handle most of its moves. Although Serperior has tools against them such as HP Ground against Heatran and Glare on the switch.
Its lack of coverage moves makes it easily walled by many defensive mons which resist its moves.
A Contrary boosted Leaf Storm is indeed powerful but before that with only 75 base special attack, many Pokemon can take that hit and fire back at him for greater damage.
Its Grass typing and low hp makes it extremely vulnerable especially with Life Orb damage.
Some question for discussion:
What other things makes Serperior a good Pokemon in the current metagame? what makes it bad?
What other sets you think are viable?
I also wonder what Pokemon can make with Serperior a great core and in general what are the best teammates for him.
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