Kyurem-Black

Kyurem-B has the highest BST in the metagame, making it a monstrous force with many options to overpower its foe. It has base 170 Attack, which is very high among other physical attackers. Terravolt is a useful ability to take out Sturdy and Multiscale users like Donphan and Dragonite. Kyurem-B also has great natural bulk, making it difficult to OHKO. Kyurem-B has many distinctive sets, making it hard for opponents to predict and counter Kyurem-B; some Pokemon can beat some sets but can lose to other sets, and there is no way to know which set Kyurem-B is running during Team Preview. Dragon / Ice typing is good offensively, even though Kyurem-B does not always run physical Ice-type STAB moves. Unfortunately, Kyurem-B doesn't have a great physical moveset and relies on its base 120 Special Attack and special moveset for Ground- and Ice-type coverage if not using Icium Z. It has some cases of four-moveslot syndrome, being unable to use both Iron Head and Earth Power. Finally, Kyurem-B has a lot of difficulty with Steel- and Fairy-types, which are very prevalent, allowing them to easily counter Kyurem-B.
=Choice Scarf=
Kyurem-Black @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive / Naughty Nature
- Outrage
- Fusion Bolt
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power / Iron Head
==Set Comments==
===Moves===
Outrage is Kyurem-B's strongest STAB move and will be found on most Choice Scarf Kyurem-B sets. Its only drawback is the confusion chance should Kyurem-B fail to KO in two or three turns, which rarely happens. Because Ice Beam comes off of Kyurem-B's Special Attack, it is significantly weaker and should be used against Flying-, Grass-, and Ground-type targets like Togekiss, Jumpluff, Landorus-T, and Donphan. Fusion Bolt is a high-Base Power attack that complements Ice Beam for perfect BoltBeam coverage and hits Water-types like Primarina, Mega Blastoise, and Mega Gyarados. Earth Power is used as coverage for Steel-types like Aggron, non-Air Balloon Heatran, and Magnezone. Iron Head is used against Fairy-types, such as Mimikyu and Tapu Lele, as they are immune to Outrage entirely.
===Set Details===
This set uses Choice Scarf to allow Kyurem-B to outspeed and KO foes before they can retaliate. Maximum Attack and Speed investment gives Kyurem-B an incredibly high Speed tier and lets it maintain a great offensive presence. A Naive nature allows it to outspeed every Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and maximum Speed Pheromosa. Alternatively, Naughty can be used to maximize Attack, and Kyurem-B still retains its ability to outspeed and 2HKO Mega Gyarados and Choice Scarf Togekiss.
===Usage Tips===
Kyurem-B will tend to use Outrage on most foes unless its coverage moves are super effective or if the foe is resistant to Dragon. Use Kyurem-B against slower Dragon-type Pokemon like Dragonite and Mega Charizard X. Kyurem-B is also very effective against certain Pokemon like Mimikyu, Dragonite, and FEAR Aron that rely on defensive abilities like Sturdy, but it cannot overcome Crustle and Donphan consistently because of their high Defense. Kyurem-B is also good against fast attackers that don't often invest in bulk, such as Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Mega Charizard Y.
===Team Options===
Kyurem-B appreciates Pokemon that can overcome Steel-, Fighting-, and Fairy-types consistently. Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y can handle some Steel-type Pokemon like Magearna and Jirachi, and they appreciate Kyurem-B's ability to tackle fast Dragon-types. Aegislash and Magearna can handle Fairy-type Pokemon like Tapu Lele and appreciate Kyurem-B checking Mega Charizard X. It also has trouble with physically defensive Pokemon. Mega Gyarados can help beat Donphan and Crustle consistently, while Kyurem-B can beat Tapu Koko with Earth Power. Tapu Koko can handle Mega Gyarados, which could otherwise invest in enough bulk to beat Kyurem-B. Primarina can also be helpful at beating Mega Mawile, Mega Gyarados, and Crustle.
=Icium Z=
Kyurem-Black @ Icium Z
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Freeze Shock
- Fusion Bolt
- Outrage
- Iron Head / Substitute
==Set Comments==
===Moves===
Freeze Shock with Icium Z produces a powerful 200-Base Power Subzero Slammer that acts as Kyurem-B's main STAB option. Fusion Bolt is a strong move that provides BoltBeam coverage against Water-types like Primarina and Mega Blastoise. Outrage is Kyurem-B's secondary STAB option and hits Pokemon that resist Ice for a lot of damage. Iron Head provides coverage against Fairy-types like Tapu Lele. Alternatively, Substitute can be useful against stall Pokemon that can't break Kyurem-B. It also can be useful as a counter measure against Sucker Punch.
===Set Details===
This Kyurem-B goes for a speedy set with 252 Attack and Speed EVs so that it maximizes damage and outspeeds as many threats as possible, although a bulky set is also possible. A Jolly nature can maximize Speed at 317 to outspeed Landorus-T, while an Adamant nature maximizes damage at the cost of speed.
===Usage Tips===
This set makes Kyurem-B effective at KOing many foes, especially those weak to Ice- and Dragon-type moves. This set can KO a bulky Donphan, Crustle, and Golem, which Choice Scarf can't consistently do, although it can no longer beat Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X because of its lower Speed. Kyurem-B has a relatively low Speed tier, making its best match-up against slower attackers.
===Team Options===
Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y can cover Steel-types that resist Subzero Slammer and can help lure in bulky Crustle, Donphan, and Golem. Tapu Koko and Porygon-Z can beat Mega Gyarados and similarly appreciate Kyurem-B's ability to beat Sturdy Pokemon. Mega Metagross can beat problematic Fighting-types like Sawk and Hitmonlee and appreciates Kyurem-B's effectiveness on Ground-types. Rock-types like Crustle that beat Mega Charizard Y and Mega Charizard X are helpful, as both of them outspeed Kyurem-B.
=Choice Specs=
Kyurem-Black @ Choice Specs
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
TImid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Draco Meteor
- Earth Power / Focus Blast
- Flash Cannon
==Set Comments==
===Moves===
Ice Beam is Kyurem-B's main Ice-type STAB option that hits for a good amount of damage. Blizzard is stronger but is held back by significantly lower accuracy. Draco Meteor is Kyurem-B's strong Dragon-type STAB moves but drops Kyurem-B's Special Attack, making it more difficult to follow up with the necessary damage to 2HKO. Earth Power and Focus Blast target Steel-types mostly; the former is weaker albeit more accurate, while the latter is more powerful but less likely to hit. Flash Cannon provides coverage against Fairy-types.
===Set Details===
This Kyurem-B has 252 EVs in Special Attack to ensure it does as much damage as possible. 252 EVs in Speed with a Timid nature gives Kyurem-B the highest Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible. A Modest nature would similarly maximize its Special Attack while sacrificing some Speed. Bulky spreads can also be used to beat faster but weaker Pokemon.
===Usage Tips===
Kyurem-B will tend to use Draco Meteor against Pokemon that have a low Special Defense. Ice Beam should be used against Pokemon that would not be knocked out by Draco Meteor. Earth Power, Focus Blast, and Flash Cannon should be used if they are super effective against a foe or if Ice Beam and Draco Meteor are not very effective. Choice Specs Kyurem-B doesn't perform as well as Choice Scarf and Icium Z Kyurem-B against fast offense, but it acts as a great lure for physical walls, like Buzzwole and Rhyperior.
===Team Options===
Physical offensive Pokemon like Mega Charizard X can help lure in physical walls like Mega Slowbro, which might otherwise expect physical Kyurem-B. Rock-types and Sturdy Pokemon like Crustle and Donphan can deal with Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y, which can defeat Kyurem-B. Tapu Koko can deal with Mega Gyarados effectively, while Choice Specs Kyurem-B is very effective at beating Ground-types. Pokemon that beat Fighting- and Steel-types like Mega Charizard Y and Mega Metagross also provide good coverage against Pokemon that can beat Kyurem-B.
=Strategy Comments=
==Other Options==
Many other effective Kyurem-B sets and spreads can lure in checks and counters such as Haban Berry and Weakness Policy. Haban Berry sets lure in Pokemon that use Dragon-type moves, like other Kyurem-B and Mega Charizard X. Weakness Policy can lure in Dragon-, Steel-, and Fairy-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard X and Mega Mawile. On non-Choice sets, Kyurem-B can also run Substitute and Roost for longevity and protection against Sucker Punch. Some Kyurem-B, mostly Icium Z and Weakness Policy variants, run bulkier spreads with 248 HP with at least 200 Defense and 48 Special Defense as well as an Impish nature.
==Checks and Counters==
*Steel-types: Steel-types like Genesect, Mega Metagross, and Ferrothorn can easily survive Kyurem-B's Outrage, Subzero Slammer, and coverage options and respond with super effective attacks. Other Steel-types like Mega Mawile and Magearna do well against Kyurem-B.
*Mixed Defensive Pokemon: Mixed defensive Pokemon like Deoxys-D, Mega Slowbro, and Umbreon can take advantage of Kyurem-B's inability to set up and can easily wall Kyurem-B.
*Fighting-types: Fighting-type Pokemon like Sawk, Pheromosa, and Hitmonlee have great Speed and Attack stats, allowing them to easily OHKO Kyurem-B.
*Choice Scarf Latios: Choice Scarf Latios can consistently outspeed Kyurem-B and use super effective Draco Meteor to KO it. Latios also takes advantage of Kyurem-B running Naughty and Naive natures.
Dragon-type Pokemon and Coverage: Bulky Dragon-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard X and Choice Scarf Garchomp can beat non-bulky Kyurem-B. Mega Gyarados can also beat Kyurem-B with intimidate and Outrage.
Category:Analyses