[OVERVIEW]
Xatu derives much of its value through two tools: Magic Bounce and Teleport. Xatu is fantastic at pivoting into passive foes like defensive Flygon, Vaporeon, and Talonflame that rely on status to inflict significant damage and is a true nuisance for entry hazard setters too, including Copperajah, Mudsdale, and Bronzong. Additionally, with Teleport, Xatu can guarantee safe entry for both potent wallbreakers and setup sweepers, which has made it the staple dual screens setter on hyper offense teams and sets it apart from other dual screens setters like Espeon. Where Xatu comes short, though, is in its passivity. Despite Teleport helping it keep up momentum, its low offensive prowess still causes it to cede turns to potent wallbreakers like Starmie, Tyrantrum, and Guzzlord. Additionally, its poor defensive stats make it less effective at directly switching into coverage attacks from the likes of Sirfetch'd and Machamp and force it to use Roost very frequently to stay healthy. Xatu also struggles heavily to prevent Diancie from setting Stealth Rock, making it much less useful in certain matchups if it lacks Defog.
[SET]
name: Pivot
move 1: Psychic / Future Sight
move 2: Night Shade / Heat Wave
move 3: Roost
move 4: Teleport
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots / No Item
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Although Psychic is a more consistent attack, Xatu sometimes runs Future Sight because of its great synergy with Teleport, letting Xatu bring in a strong wallbreaker to make use of the extra damage Future Sight provides. Night Shade is helpful to force damage onto Guzzlord and other Dark-types like Drapion; alongside Rocky Helmet, it's also enough for Xatu to beat Steel-types like Copperajah. However, Heat Wave can be used instead to take out Steel-types more quickly. A set of Night Shade / Thunder Wave / Roost / U-turn or Teleport is also possible to let Xatu further support slow wallbreakers with paralysis support, but it means you lack a STAB attack.
Rocky Helmet is the preferred item for Xatu so it can successfully stall out Copperajah and prevent it from forcing Stealth Rock. However, Xatu can instead opt for Heavy-Duty Boots to be a better pivot in case it fails to keep Stealth Rock off the field; even going itemless is a viable option if checking Poltergeist users like Golurk and Decidueye is desired. 16 Speed EVs and a Timid nature give Xatu the jump on Jolly Sirfetch'd as well as other slow wallbreakers like Adamant Tyrantrum and neutral-natured Decidueye.
Teammates that can make use of Teleport support—Sirfetch'd, Tyrantrum, and Choice Band Guzzlord, for instance—are necessary to get the most out of Xatu. Wallbreakers such as these also appreciate Xatu's Future Sight support, especially since it makes physical walls like Mudsdale and Vileplume worse at switching into them. Similarly, teammates like itemless Ninjask, Focus Sash Salazzle, and Substitute Braviary that appreciate extra security against entry hazards are prime teammates for Xatu. Dark-types like Guzzlord, Drapion, and Zoroark fear very little from Xatu and can easily switch into and threaten to KO it; this makes teammates like Sylveon, Mudsdale, and Machamp good to have, with the latter immensely benefitting from Teleport support.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Teleport
move 4: Roost / Thunder Wave
item: Light Clay
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Thanks to Teleport, Xatu is the premier dual screens setter of the tier; it can set its screens and then guarantee safe entry for a setup sweeper with Teleport. Roost ensures it can do so more than once a battle, but you can drop Roost for Thunder Wave to provide more overall team support and prevent opposing setup sweepers from taking advantage of its passivity as easily. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature gives Xatu the best shot at setting both its screens.
This set fits exclusively on dual screens offense teams, and thus the suggested teammates are very narrow in scope. Setup sweepers such as Blastoise, Decidueye, and Salazzle are a must, with the former being a staple on hyper offense teams. Decidueye and Salazzle are also notable for their appreciation of paralysis support, and Focus Sash Salazzle really appreciates Xatu's Magic Bounce. Offensive Stealth Rock setters like Celebi and Focus Sash Aerodactyl preserve offensive momentum, and the former can also supply these teams with Healing Wish support to give setup sweepers a second chance at cleaning.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Scarf sets with Trick are useful for crippling passive foes like Bronzong, Talonflame, and Mantine. Xatu can attempt boosting sets with Calm Mind and Stored Power, but because of relatively low initial damage output, they take a few turns to ramp up. On utility sets, Defog is an option if Xatu is your sole entry hazard remover; however, Magic Bounce + Heavy-Duty Boots Xatu is typically serviceable enough as a sole hazard remover. U-turn can be considered over Teleport to avoid having Xatu take a hit before pivoting, although the guaranteed safe entry for a teammate is hard to pass up on.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Guzzlord, Drapion, and Zoroark all fear very little from Xatu and threaten heavy damage in return. The most Xatu can do is bring in a teammate to deal with them through Teleport or fire off a Night Shade.
**Ghost-types**: Pokemon like Decidueye, Golurk, and Silvally-Ghost can all easily OHKO Xatu with their STAB attacks; however, Golurk and Decidueye must be mindful of using Poltergeist against Xatu, since it may not be holding an item.
**Rock-types**: Diancie is the hardest Stealth Rock setter to deal with for Xatu, since Diamond Storm and Moonblast do heavy damage to it. Other Rock-types like Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl are problematic too, since they easily take Xatu out.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Xatu's bulk, even when invested in, isn't very great, so strong attackers like Machamp, Tauros, and Toxicroak can still get past it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[shiloh, 211471], [S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Xatu derives much of its value through two tools: Magic Bounce and Teleport. Xatu is fantastic at pivoting into passive foes like defensive Flygon, Vaporeon, and Talonflame that rely on status to inflict significant damage and is a true nuisance for entry hazard setters too, including Copperajah, Mudsdale, and Bronzong. Additionally, with Teleport, Xatu can guarantee safe entry for both potent wallbreakers and setup sweepers, which has made it the staple dual screens setter on hyper offense teams and sets it apart from other dual screens setters like Espeon. Where Xatu comes short, though, is in its passivity. Despite Teleport helping it keep up momentum, its low offensive prowess still causes it to cede turns to potent wallbreakers like Starmie, Tyrantrum, and Guzzlord. Additionally, its poor defensive stats make it less effective at directly switching into coverage attacks from the likes of Sirfetch'd and Machamp and force it to use Roost very frequently to stay healthy. Xatu also struggles heavily to prevent Diancie from setting Stealth Rock, making it much less useful in certain matchups if it lacks Defog.
[SET]
name: Pivot
move 1: Psychic / Future Sight
move 2: Night Shade / Heat Wave
move 3: Roost
move 4: Teleport
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots / No Item
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Although Psychic is a more consistent attack, Xatu sometimes runs Future Sight because of its great synergy with Teleport, letting Xatu bring in a strong wallbreaker to make use of the extra damage Future Sight provides. Night Shade is helpful to force damage onto Guzzlord and other Dark-types like Drapion; alongside Rocky Helmet, it's also enough for Xatu to beat Steel-types like Copperajah. However, Heat Wave can be used instead to take out Steel-types more quickly. A set of Night Shade / Thunder Wave / Roost / U-turn or Teleport is also possible to let Xatu further support slow wallbreakers with paralysis support, but it means you lack a STAB attack.
Rocky Helmet is the preferred item for Xatu so it can successfully stall out Copperajah and prevent it from forcing Stealth Rock. However, Xatu can instead opt for Heavy-Duty Boots to be a better pivot in case it fails to keep Stealth Rock off the field; even going itemless is a viable option if checking Poltergeist users like Golurk and Decidueye is desired. 16 Speed EVs and a Timid nature give Xatu the jump on Jolly Sirfetch'd as well as other slow wallbreakers like Adamant Tyrantrum and neutral-natured Decidueye.
Teammates that can make use of Teleport support—Sirfetch'd, Tyrantrum, and Choice Band Guzzlord, for instance—are necessary to get the most out of Xatu. Wallbreakers such as these also appreciate Xatu's Future Sight support, especially since it makes physical walls like Mudsdale and Vileplume worse at switching into them. Similarly, teammates like itemless Ninjask, Focus Sash Salazzle, and Substitute Braviary that appreciate extra security against entry hazards are prime teammates for Xatu. Dark-types like Guzzlord, Drapion, and Zoroark fear very little from Xatu and can easily switch into and threaten to KO it; this makes teammates like Sylveon, Mudsdale, and Machamp good to have, with the latter immensely benefitting from Teleport support.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Teleport
move 4: Roost / Thunder Wave
item: Light Clay
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Thanks to Teleport, Xatu is the premier dual screens setter of the tier; it can set its screens and then guarantee safe entry for a setup sweeper with Teleport. Roost ensures it can do so more than once a battle, but you can drop Roost for Thunder Wave to provide more overall team support and prevent opposing setup sweepers from taking advantage of its passivity as easily. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature gives Xatu the best shot at setting both its screens.
This set fits exclusively on dual screens offense teams, and thus the suggested teammates are very narrow in scope. Setup sweepers such as Blastoise, Decidueye, and Salazzle are a must, with the former being a staple on hyper offense teams. Decidueye and Salazzle are also notable for their appreciation of paralysis support, and Focus Sash Salazzle really appreciates Xatu's Magic Bounce. Offensive Stealth Rock setters like Celebi and Focus Sash Aerodactyl preserve offensive momentum, and the former can also supply these teams with Healing Wish support to give setup sweepers a second chance at cleaning.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Choice Scarf sets with Trick are useful for crippling passive foes like Bronzong, Talonflame, and Mantine. Xatu can attempt boosting sets with Calm Mind and Stored Power, but because of relatively low initial damage output, they take a few turns to ramp up. On utility sets, Defog is an option if Xatu is your sole entry hazard remover; however, Magic Bounce + Heavy-Duty Boots Xatu is typically serviceable enough as a sole hazard remover. U-turn can be considered over Teleport to avoid having Xatu take a hit before pivoting, although the guaranteed safe entry for a teammate is hard to pass up on.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Guzzlord, Drapion, and Zoroark all fear very little from Xatu and threaten heavy damage in return. The most Xatu can do is bring in a teammate to deal with them through Teleport or fire off a Night Shade.
**Ghost-types**: Pokemon like Decidueye, Golurk, and Silvally-Ghost can all easily OHKO Xatu with their STAB attacks; however, Golurk and Decidueye must be mindful of using Poltergeist against Xatu, since it may not be holding an item.
**Rock-types**: Diancie is the hardest Stealth Rock setter to deal with for Xatu, since Diamond Storm and Moonblast do heavy damage to it. Other Rock-types like Tyrantrum and Aerodactyl are problematic too, since they easily take Xatu out.
**Powerful Wallbreakers**: Xatu's bulk, even when invested in, isn't very great, so strong attackers like Machamp, Tauros, and Toxicroak can still get past it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
- Quality checked by: [[shiloh, 211471], [S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, 231074]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
