art by Shaymoo: http://www.smogon.com/forums/thread...ad-op-updated-7-7.3590396/page-5#post-7359281
Ever since its introduction as one of the mysterious Ultra Beasts in SM, Celesteela has stood out as a powerful force in OU. It sports great all-around 97/103/101 bulk and an incredible defensive typing in Steel / Flying, which grants it only two weaknesses and numerous useful resistances and immunities. It also boasts a surprising amount of offensive utility for a primarily defensive Pokemon, with its good attacking stats and access to useful coverage moves in Flamethrower and Earthquake. These qualities make Celesteela a staple choice on offensive and defensive teams alike.
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Heavy Slam
- Flamethrower
This is Celesteela's most popular set, and it is renowned for its ability to blanket check a number of powerful attackers in the OU metagame, such as Tapu Lele, Greninja, Magearna, Tapu Bulu, Garchomp, and Excadrill. The combination of Leech Seed and Leftovers somewhat makes up for Celesteela's lack of reliable recovery and makes it significantly harder to wear down over the course of the match. Protect allows Celesteela to gain more recovery as well as scout out Choice item users such as Garchomp, Nihilego, and Keldeo. Heavy Slam is the best option for a STAB attack, and it hits fairly hard thanks to Celesteela's high weight. Flamethrower is used in the final slot to break through Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. The given Special Defense and HP EVs allow Celesteela to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Tapu Lele's Psychic and Hidden Power Fire and give it a Special Defense boost upon picking up a KO, making it more difficult to revenge kill. The remaining EVs are invested into Defense with a Relaxed nature to improve Celesteela's ability to take on threats such as non-Gravity Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, Mega Mawile, and Mega Pinsir.
Celesteela @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe
Modest Nature
- Autotomize
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain / Earthquake
Celesteela is also able to use more offensively oriented sets. This set takes advantage of Celesteela's good bulk to set up an Autotomize and attempt to sweep with its great coverage options. After a boost, Celesteela hits a respectable 418 Speed, which notably allows it to outpace Choice Scarf Heatran. Combine this with Beast Boost, which grants Celesteela a Special Attack boost every time it KOes something, and this set is a force to be reckoned with in the OU metagame. Maximum Speed EVs can alternatively be used to outspeed Timid Mega Alakazam. Air Slash is the STAB move of choice, as it hits most of the tier reasonably hard, and it transforms into a 140-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike alongside Flyinium Z, allowing Celesteela to nuke most of its switch-ins and gain a Special Attack boost upon KOing them. Fire Blast takes care of the bulky Steel-types that Celesteela hates, namely Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and opposing Celesteela. Giga Drain rounds out Celesteela's coverage, breaking through Tapu Fini and Rotom-W. Earthquake is an alternate option that allows Celesteela to hit Fire- and Electric-types like Heatran, Magnezone, and Tapu Koko.
Despite its many positive traits, Celesteela is not without its problems. It packs a weakness to two common types in Electric and Fire, allowing it to be easily revenge killed by the likes of Tapu Koko, Mega Manectric, and Alolan Marowak. Its Speed stat further exacerbates this issue, as it leaves it outsped by almost every offensive Pokemon, and so makes it rather useless if it gets worn down enough. Celesteela is also prone to being trapped and eliminated by Magnezone; while offensive Celesteela can beat weakened Magnezone in a 1v1 scenario, specially defensive Celesteela usually loses to it if it doesn't hit it with Leech Seed on the switch. Finally, Celesteela's lack of reliable recovery is not ideal for a defensive Pokemon, as it makes it easier to weaken throughout the match.
Although it has its flaws, Celesteela is a very threatening defensive and offensive Pokemon in the OU metagame. Give it a try!
Ever since its introduction as one of the mysterious Ultra Beasts in SM, Celesteela has stood out as a powerful force in OU. It sports great all-around 97/103/101 bulk and an incredible defensive typing in Steel / Flying, which grants it only two weaknesses and numerous useful resistances and immunities. It also boasts a surprising amount of offensive utility for a primarily defensive Pokemon, with its good attacking stats and access to useful coverage moves in Flamethrower and Earthquake. These qualities make Celesteela a staple choice on offensive and defensive teams alike.
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Heavy Slam
- Flamethrower
This is Celesteela's most popular set, and it is renowned for its ability to blanket check a number of powerful attackers in the OU metagame, such as Tapu Lele, Greninja, Magearna, Tapu Bulu, Garchomp, and Excadrill. The combination of Leech Seed and Leftovers somewhat makes up for Celesteela's lack of reliable recovery and makes it significantly harder to wear down over the course of the match. Protect allows Celesteela to gain more recovery as well as scout out Choice item users such as Garchomp, Nihilego, and Keldeo. Heavy Slam is the best option for a STAB attack, and it hits fairly hard thanks to Celesteela's high weight. Flamethrower is used in the final slot to break through Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. The given Special Defense and HP EVs allow Celesteela to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Specs Tapu Lele's Psychic and Hidden Power Fire and give it a Special Defense boost upon picking up a KO, making it more difficult to revenge kill. The remaining EVs are invested into Defense with a Relaxed nature to improve Celesteela's ability to take on threats such as non-Gravity Landorus-T, Tapu Bulu, Mega Mawile, and Mega Pinsir.
Celesteela @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe
Modest Nature
- Autotomize
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain / Earthquake
Celesteela is also able to use more offensively oriented sets. This set takes advantage of Celesteela's good bulk to set up an Autotomize and attempt to sweep with its great coverage options. After a boost, Celesteela hits a respectable 418 Speed, which notably allows it to outpace Choice Scarf Heatran. Combine this with Beast Boost, which grants Celesteela a Special Attack boost every time it KOes something, and this set is a force to be reckoned with in the OU metagame. Maximum Speed EVs can alternatively be used to outspeed Timid Mega Alakazam. Air Slash is the STAB move of choice, as it hits most of the tier reasonably hard, and it transforms into a 140-Base Power Supersonic Skystrike alongside Flyinium Z, allowing Celesteela to nuke most of its switch-ins and gain a Special Attack boost upon KOing them. Fire Blast takes care of the bulky Steel-types that Celesteela hates, namely Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and opposing Celesteela. Giga Drain rounds out Celesteela's coverage, breaking through Tapu Fini and Rotom-W. Earthquake is an alternate option that allows Celesteela to hit Fire- and Electric-types like Heatran, Magnezone, and Tapu Koko.
Despite its many positive traits, Celesteela is not without its problems. It packs a weakness to two common types in Electric and Fire, allowing it to be easily revenge killed by the likes of Tapu Koko, Mega Manectric, and Alolan Marowak. Its Speed stat further exacerbates this issue, as it leaves it outsped by almost every offensive Pokemon, and so makes it rather useless if it gets worn down enough. Celesteela is also prone to being trapped and eliminated by Magnezone; while offensive Celesteela can beat weakened Magnezone in a 1v1 scenario, specially defensive Celesteela usually loses to it if it doesn't hit it with Leech Seed on the switch. Finally, Celesteela's lack of reliable recovery is not ideal for a defensive Pokemon, as it makes it easier to weaken throughout the match.
Although it has its flaws, Celesteela is a very threatening defensive and offensive Pokemon in the OU metagame. Give it a try!
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