[OVERVIEW]
Kyurem holds a unique niche in the BW OU metagame as a balance breaker thanks to its sky-high 130 Special Attack, which is on par with threats such as Latios. It’s typing lets it act as Dragon-type that is neutral to Ice, meaning it is less vulnerable to Ice-types such as Mamoswine revenge killing it. However, Kyurem’s speed is middling in a metagame with multiple base 100s, Keldeo, and Latios. In some match ups, Kyurem is heavily reliant on Substitute to make any progress. Kyurem also has a weakness to Stealth Rock, one of the most ubiquitous moves in the tier. It’s typing is also hazardous, giving it a weakness to many common Pokemon, such as Tyranitar, Latios, Jirachi, and Keldeo. It’s movepool, while still solid, lacks many coverage options when compared to the other Dragon-types in OU. Overall, Kyurem generally faces stiff competition as a Dragon-type, notably Kyurem-Black, and generally doesn’t have much merit over them, but is still able to pose a threat under proper conditions.
[SET]
Name: SubRoost
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Roost
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Moves
========
Ice Beam is the move Kyurem will mainly be using and hits hard against Pokémon such as Latios, and can also fish for freezes behind Substitute. Earth Power provides near-perfect coverage with Ice Beam, hitting most Steel-types and Fire-types for at least neutral damage. Substitute allows Kyurem to get more attacks off and pairs well with Pressure. Roost allows Kyurem to heal off hazards and Substitute damage and makes it easier for Kyurem to check Pokémon such as Rotom-Wash.
Set Details
========
56 HP allows Kyurem to PP stall fixed damage moves with Substitute, such as Blissey and Chansey's Seismic Toss, and Jellicent's Night Shade. It also allows the Substitute to survive standard Rotom-W's Hydro Pump. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Kyurem to outspeed Pokemon it can threaten feasibly such as Landorus-Therian, Rotom-Wash, and Excadrill. The rest is dumped into Special Attack to increase Kyurem’s damage output.
Usage Tips
========
Use Kyurem to break holes mid-game and Substitute on a passive Pokémon that cannot break your Substitute in one hit. Try to avoid directly switching Kyurem into bulky waters, because if it gets burnt by Scald, it will be forced to Roost more. Due to its Stealth Rock weakness, it is recommended to get Kyurem in while hazards aren't up. Take advantage of Pressure, as several Pokémon rely on low PP moves to break Kyurem's Substitute, such as Draco Meteor, Gyro Ball, and Focus Blast.
Team Options
========
Kyurem does not appreciate the chip damage it takes from sand due to the weather chipping it even more in conjuction with Substitute, so a partner to reset weather such as Politoed, or Abomasnow benefits Kyurem heavily. For rain teams, Tentacruel is an amazing partner because it removes Stealth Rock from the field and can set Toxic Spikes which pair well with Kyurem. Kyurem appreciates VoltTurn support, as it struggles to get onto the field, so partners such as Rotom-W can help get Kyurem in.
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set can be a very threatening wallbreaker with Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Focus Blast and Earth Power, but it is overall too susceptible to chip from entry hazards, sand, and any hit it will take upon switching in. Blizzard Kyurem with Abomasnow is an enticing option on paper, but teambuilding with two ice types is rarely profitable due to their stacked weaknesses. Life Orb is a possible option over Leftovers for more breaking power, but the longevity provided by Leftovers is essential for offsetting sand chip, and healing damage taken from Substitute. However, dedicated offensive and choiced sets face stiff competition from Kyurem-B with its wider offensive movepool, Teravolt, and greater degree of unpredictability.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Kyurem's main STAB, Ice Beam is resisted by the Steel typing. Some steel types are even neutral, or even immune to Kyurem's coverage move in Earth Power, such as Scizor and Bronzong.
**Hazards**: Due to being an Ice-type, Kyurem is weak to Stealth Rock. It is also weak to Spikes and Toxic Spikes due to lack of Levitate, or Flying-type.
**Pokémon that can break Substitute**: Pokémon such as Tyranitar can break Kyurem's Substitute while not taking too much damage in return from Kyurem's moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Pokémon such as Latios, Scizor, and Keldeo can deal with Kyurem due to their higher speed and strong STAB to hit it super effectively. Garchomp is also a notable revenge killer due to its ability to Dual Chop, hitting Kyurem even when it is behind a Substitute.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[kalifguest22, 510612 ]]
- Quality checked by: [[peng, 33864], [Ophion, 433215]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Kyurem holds a unique niche in the BW OU metagame as a balance breaker thanks to its sky-high 130 Special Attack, which is on par with threats such as Latios. It’s typing lets it act as Dragon-type that is neutral to Ice, meaning it is less vulnerable to Ice-types such as Mamoswine revenge killing it. However, Kyurem’s speed is middling in a metagame with multiple base 100s, Keldeo, and Latios. In some match ups, Kyurem is heavily reliant on Substitute to make any progress. Kyurem also has a weakness to Stealth Rock, one of the most ubiquitous moves in the tier. It’s typing is also hazardous, giving it a weakness to many common Pokemon, such as Tyranitar, Latios, Jirachi, and Keldeo. It’s movepool, while still solid, lacks many coverage options when compared to the other Dragon-types in OU. Overall, Kyurem generally faces stiff competition as a Dragon-type, notably Kyurem-Black, and generally doesn’t have much merit over them, but is still able to pose a threat under proper conditions.
[SET]
Name: SubRoost
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Roost
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Timid
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Moves
========
Ice Beam is the move Kyurem will mainly be using and hits hard against Pokémon such as Latios, and can also fish for freezes behind Substitute. Earth Power provides near-perfect coverage with Ice Beam, hitting most Steel-types and Fire-types for at least neutral damage. Substitute allows Kyurem to get more attacks off and pairs well with Pressure. Roost allows Kyurem to heal off hazards and Substitute damage and makes it easier for Kyurem to check Pokémon such as Rotom-Wash.
Set Details
========
56 HP allows Kyurem to PP stall fixed damage moves with Substitute, such as Blissey and Chansey's Seismic Toss, and Jellicent's Night Shade. It also allows the Substitute to survive standard Rotom-W's Hydro Pump. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Kyurem to outspeed Pokemon it can threaten feasibly such as Landorus-Therian, Rotom-Wash, and Excadrill. The rest is dumped into Special Attack to increase Kyurem’s damage output.
Usage Tips
========
Use Kyurem to break holes mid-game and Substitute on a passive Pokémon that cannot break your Substitute in one hit. Try to avoid directly switching Kyurem into bulky waters, because if it gets burnt by Scald, it will be forced to Roost more. Due to its Stealth Rock weakness, it is recommended to get Kyurem in while hazards aren't up. Take advantage of Pressure, as several Pokémon rely on low PP moves to break Kyurem's Substitute, such as Draco Meteor, Gyro Ball, and Focus Blast.
Team Options
========
Kyurem does not appreciate the chip damage it takes from sand due to the weather chipping it even more in conjuction with Substitute, so a partner to reset weather such as Politoed, or Abomasnow benefits Kyurem heavily. For rain teams, Tentacruel is an amazing partner because it removes Stealth Rock from the field and can set Toxic Spikes which pair well with Kyurem. Kyurem appreciates VoltTurn support, as it struggles to get onto the field, so partners such as Rotom-W can help get Kyurem in.
Other Options
=============
A Choice Specs set can be a very threatening wallbreaker with Ice Beam, Draco Meteor, Focus Blast and Earth Power, but it is overall too susceptible to chip from entry hazards, sand, and any hit it will take upon switching in. Blizzard Kyurem with Abomasnow is an enticing option on paper, but teambuilding with two ice types is rarely profitable due to their stacked weaknesses. Life Orb is a possible option over Leftovers for more breaking power, but the longevity provided by Leftovers is essential for offsetting sand chip, and healing damage taken from Substitute. However, dedicated offensive and choiced sets face stiff competition from Kyurem-B with its wider offensive movepool, Teravolt, and greater degree of unpredictability.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Kyurem's main STAB, Ice Beam is resisted by the Steel typing. Some steel types are even neutral, or even immune to Kyurem's coverage move in Earth Power, such as Scizor and Bronzong.
**Hazards**: Due to being an Ice-type, Kyurem is weak to Stealth Rock. It is also weak to Spikes and Toxic Spikes due to lack of Levitate, or Flying-type.
**Pokémon that can break Substitute**: Pokémon such as Tyranitar can break Kyurem's Substitute while not taking too much damage in return from Kyurem's moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Pokémon such as Latios, Scizor, and Keldeo can deal with Kyurem due to their higher speed and strong STAB to hit it super effectively. Garchomp is also a notable revenge killer due to its ability to Dual Chop, hitting Kyurem even when it is behind a Substitute.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[kalifguest22, 510612 ]]
- Quality checked by: [[peng, 33864], [Ophion, 433215]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited: