[OVERVIEW]
Palkia doesn't offer much defensive utility compared to other reliable Primal Kyogre switch-ins such as Primal Groudon and Latios, which makes fitting it onto a team difficult. It also struggles to contribute against highly offensive teams because it can't really switch in on any offensive Pokemon well other than Primal Kyogre. However, Palkia is still one of the best Primal Kyogre switch-ins, and it isn't afraid of Pursuit or Steel- and Dark-types nearly as much as its main competitors Latios and Latias. Additionally, in contrast to its lackluster performance against offense, Palkia is an excellent weapon against more defensive teams, as it can destroy most potential switch-ins with its power and wide coverage. If its defensive shortcomings are properly covered, Palkia is a formidable foe.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Spacial Rend
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Thunder
move 4: Focus Punch / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Pressure
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With decent Speed, massive Special Attack, and a wide assortment of coverage moves to back up its powerful STAB attacks, Palkia is a very effective wallbreaker. Spacial Rend is the chief STAB option for its power and reliability, easily 2HKOing Primal Groudon and most other Pokemon that don't resist it. Hydro Pump also gets STAB and complements Spacial Rend well, taking out most Fairy- and Steel-types that would try to stomach Spacial Rend in one or two hits. It is also slightly more powerful than Spacial Rend against targets neutral to both moves. Thunder allows Palkia to reliably 2HKO Primal Kyogre, even through a Calm Mind boost assuming Stealth Rock is up. Lugia and Water Arceus are both reliably 2HKOed by Thunder as well, and the 30% chance of paralysis works as a strong deterrent against trying to stall out Palkia with recovery moves. Focus Punch allows Palkia to OHKO Blissey on the switch, which otherwise takes all of Palkia's attacks with ease. Ferrothorn also takes massive damage from Focus Punch, though it won't be OHKOed and Palkia will take significant recoil damage in return from Life Orb and Iron Barbs. If Klefki and Ferrothorn are more pressing concerns than Blissey, Fire Blast can be used instead of Focus Punch to destroy them both, though it should be noted that Klefki already takes massive damage from Hydro Pump. Fire Blast also hits the rare Grass Arceus for heavy damage.
Draco Meteor is also an option over Spacial Rend for a stronger Dragon-type STAB attack. It can be useful to get a guaranteed OHKO on Latias and to do more immediate damage to Primal Groudon and Dialga, but aside from that it doesn't get any KOs that Special Rend or Palkia's other attacks don't already manage. The drop in Special Attack after using Draco Meteor also gives sweepers such as Geomancy Xerneas and Rock Polish Primal Groudon an opening to set up on Palkia, which makes the consistency of Spacial Rend more appealing.
Set Details
========
Palkia needs the power of Life Orb to guarantee 2HKOs on Pokemon such as defensive Primal Groudon with Spacial Rend. A Timid nature boosts Palkia's Speed without lowering its defenses—Focus Punch still destroys Blissey even with the drop in Attack, so running a Hasty nature isn't necessary. Palkia should always run a nature that boosts Speed, as many Latios and support Arceus formes do not run Speed-boosting natures themselves due to the relative scarcity of Pokemon in the base 100 Speed tier, giving Palkia an easier time dealing with them.
Usage Tips
========
Palkia is pretty easy to use. Just bring it in against Primal Kyogre—or at least some defensive Pokemon slower than it—and start launching attacks. Try to predict what your opponent will switch in, as Palkia will generally be hitting most things for a 2HKO. For example, a common scenario is Palkia going up against a team with Primal Groudon and a Fairy-type such as Klefki or Xerneas, both of which which take no damage from one of Palkia's STAB attacks and massive damage from the other. In this case, predicting which of the two the opponent might be more willing to preserve can help you choose which attack to use. Predicting the switch to Blissey isn't super important when using Focus Punch because it likes to forgo attacks to run Snatch, but it is still worth trying so Palkia doesn't take an unnecessary Toxic.
Team Options
========
Palkia likes entry hazard support to help deal with walls such as Lugia, as well as switch-ins to Fairy- and Dragon-type attacks. Primal Groudon is a solid answer to Fairy-types such as Xerneas and Klefki and also provides Stealth Rock support. In return, Palkia can come in against Primal Kyogre when Desolate Land is not active. Steel-types such as Klefki, Bronzong, and Aegislash have great synergy with Palkia, tanking Dragon- and Fairy-type attacks with ease while Palkia provides a switch-in to Fire- and Water-type moves in return. Klefki and Bronzong are especially useful because they provide Spikes and Stealth Rock respectively to help Palkia secure important KOs. Pokemon such as Rock Arceus, Dialga, Lugia, and Tyranitar can also help handle physical Dragon-types such as Mega Salamence. Deoxys-S is a solid partner for more offensive teams because it can provide both Stealth Rock and Spikes.
Trapping support can also be useful to take down specific foes Palkia may run into trouble against. Mega Gengar can eliminate Pokemon such as Grass Arceus and Fairy Arceus that Palkia can struggle to damage effectively. Mega Gengar can also take out Blissey if it lacks Shed Shell and Palkia doesn't want to use Focus Punch. Pursuit support from Tyranitar, Aegislash, or Mega Scizor can eliminate pesky targets such as Timid Latios, Latias, Deoxys-A, and Mega Gengar, all of which are faster than Palkia and can possibly revenge kill it. All of them appreciate Palkia's ability to switch into Primal Kyogre as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Palkia can use Lustrous Orb to boost its STAB moves without having to deal with Life Orb recoil, but it will miss out on 2HKOs against Calm Mind Primal Kyogre, Lugia, and defensive Primal Groudon, which makes Life Orb preferable. Trick Room can let Palkia turn the tables against hyper offense teams and would-be revenge killers, but it struggles to set it up effectively. Thunder Wave is a decent option to harass Pokemon such as Lugia and faster Arceus formes with Calm Mind that might otherwise be able to stall out Palkia, and it also prevents Xerneas from being able to set up on Palkia. Dragon Tail can be used to prevent setup attempts from Calm Mind and Swords Dance Arceus formes while harassing Blissey in conjunction with entry hazard support. Earth Power is a perfectly accurate attack that does more damage to Primal Groudon than Spacial Rend and hits Klefki harder than Hydro Pump but otherwise has little utility. Choice Specs gives Palkia an even bigger power boost than Life Orb but is generally not recommended because common Pokemon are immune to at least one of its STAB moves, making it easy for something like Rock Polish Primal Groudon or Geomancy Xerneas to set up.
Checks and Counters
========
**Faster Arceus Formes**: Arceus formes that aren't weak to Palkia's STAB attacks and are EVed to be faster than it are probably its most reliable checks. Fairy Arceus is immune to Spacial Rend and can Recover off Hydro Pump damage until Palkia runs out of PP, and Judgment is an easy OHKO. If Fairy Arceus has Calm Mind, it can also set up on Palkia. However, Hydro Pump will still do a lot of damage to Fairy Arceus if it connects on the switch, and if it is slower than Palkia it will lose. Grass Arceus is in a similar situation, though it trades the Spacial Rend immunity for a resistance to Hydro Pump, and it will take massive damage from Fire Blast if Palkia has it. Ghost Arceus isn't weak to any of Palkia's attacks and can try to set up Calm Mind against it. Ice Arceus and Dark Arceus can do something similar, but they need to watch out for Focus Punch.
**Faster Pokemon**: Powerful Pokemon that are faster than 328 Speed can usually revenge kill Palkia with ease, even if they can't switch in too well, with Mega Salamence, Mewtwo, Mega Lucario, Swords Dance Arceus formes, Mega Diancie, and Deoxys-A being some good examples. Mega Gengar can also trap a weakened Palkia and pick it off with a STAB attack or Destiny Bond. Darkrai can also put Palkia to sleep with Dark Void and then beat it down with Dark Pulse. Pokemon with Choice Scarf such as Landorus-T and Genesect can also do the trick against a weakened Palkia. Palkia similarly doesn't enjoy taking priority moves such as Extreme Speed from Rayquaza or Arceus and Sucker Punch from Yveltal.
**Paralysis**: Palkia's decent base 100 Speed is one of its best assets, so paralyzing it can make it easy to revenge kill. Specially defensive Primal Groudon, Klefki, and defensive Jirachi can all take one hit from Palkia and paralyze it with Thunder Wave. However, Primal Groudon is 2HKOed by Spacial Rend, and Fire Blast will destroy Klefki and Jirachi.
**Latias and Latios**: Timid Latias and Latios can switch in on any move other than Spacial Rend and then outspeed Palkia and OHKO it with Draco Meteor. Latias is also bulky enough to survive a Spacial Rend at full HP in case the Palkia user predicts the switch.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn resists Palkia's STAB attacks and can stall it out with Leech Seed. However, Ferrothorn will be 2HKOed by either STAB attack followed by Focus Punch, so it may need to play some mindgames with Palkia to successfully beat it. It should also be noted that Ferrothorn completely fails as a check if Palkia has Fire Blast.
**Xerneas**: Xerneas is immune to Spacial Rend, is bulky enough to survive one Hydro Pump, and can either use Moonblast immediately to KO Palkia or set up Geomancy first. However, Xerneas cannot switch directly in on Hydro Pump, as it will be 2HKOed.
**Lugia**: Lugia hates Thunder and can't really switch into Palkia if it lacks Multiscale, but if Lugia is at full HP it can use Toxic and Multiscale to stall Palkia out. Thunder also isn't terribly accurate, so Lugia can fish for misses.
**Blissey**: Blissey completely walls Palkia if it lacks Focus Punch and can stall it out with Toxic. If Blissey has Seismic Toss, it can make use of it to keep Palkia from successfully using Focus Punch if it's healthy enough to take Palkia's other attacks.
**Dialga**: Dialga resists Hydro Pump and is bulky enough to take a Spacial Rend, OHKOing Palkia in return with Draco Meteor. Spacial Rend 2HKOes Dialga, though, so it needs to be very careful when it decides to come in.
**Clefable**: Clefable is 2HKOed by Hydro Pump but can come in on any other move and OHKO Palkia with Moonblast.
**Entry Hazards**: Stealth Rock and Spikes will wear down Palkia quickly in conjunction with Life Orb damage.
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