OU Serperior

Fireflame

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Remove Add Comments (AC)= add comma (RC)= remove comma (AH)= add hyphen (RH)= remove hyphen
[OVERVIEW]

Serperior is a powerful setup sweeper in the OU metagame thanks to Contrary, which allows it to repeatedly fire off boosted Leaf Storms without having to worry about the Special Attack drops, instead giving it a free +2 Special Attack boost. Its Serperior's (too many "its") Speed tier allows it to outspeed fully invested base 110s,(RC) such as Latios and Gengar. It also notably has access to several useful utility moves such as Glare and Leech Seed. However, Serperior struggles with the prominence of faster threats that can potentially put an end to an attempted sweep, such as Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Scolipede. Its coverage is also extremely lacking, with its only notable special coverage moves being Hidden Power and Dragon Pulse, which means that it can be easily walled. This is further bolstered by its poor unboosted base 75 Special Attack and terrible offensive typing, which leaves it easily taken care of by common threats such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T.

[SET]
name: SubSeed
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Leech Seed
item: Leftovers
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Leaf Storm is a powerful STAB move that simultaneously boosts Serperior's Special Attack. Hidden Power Fire breaks through bulky Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Jirachi, as well as bulky Grass-types like Amoonguss,(RC) and Tangrowth. Substitute allows Serperior to set up on more passive Pokemon like defensive Celesteela and Hippowdon and avoid status. Leech Seed gives Serperior the ability to deal chip damage to its common checks and counters such as Heatrana and Alolan Marowak and recover HP. It also synergizes well with Substitute, as it allows Serperior to wear down slower threats if it's able to safely get off a Leech Seed by spamming Substitute.

Set Details
========

The given HP EVs allow Serperior to avoid its Substitute being broken by Rotom-W. 252 Speed EVs,(RC) alongside a Timid nature,(RC) allows allow Serperior to capitalize on its excellent Speed tier (letting it outspeed what?). Leftovers gives Serperior some passive recovery, increasing its longevity.

Usage Tips
========

Try to avoid switching into strong attackers such as Tapu Lele, Garchomp, and Mamoswine, as Serperior's bulk is not great. Status, in particular paralysis and poison, should also be avoided. Attempt to set up Leech Seed on a predicted switch into a check or counter, as many of Serperior's common answers can be beaten if Leech Seed is up by spamming Substitute. Be wary of Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Greninja that naturally outspeed Serperior when attempting to set up and sweep. When your opponent has a bulky Grass-type resist Grass-(AH)resistant Pokemon on their team, try to avoid wasting Leaf Storm's PP, as Serperior is basically useless without the move. You can take advantage of the fact that your opponent will want to send in a hard counter to Serperior to prevent it from setting up,(RC) by double switching. (or you can move this to the beginning. ("By double switching, you can..."). up to you)

Team Options
========

Stealth Rock setters like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Dugtrio, as well as Spikes setters like Greninja can chip down the opposing team with their hazards, allowing Serperior to pick up more KOs. Rotom-W is a useful partner for its ability to take on Heatran and provide a slow Volt Switch to get Serperior in safely. Heatran itself is also a good teammate for its ability to set Stealth Rock and take on the bulky Steel- and Fire-types that Serperior struggles to break through. Tapu Lele is able to beat Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss,(RC) while also protecting Serperior from priority moves with its Psychic Terrain. Hoopa-U and Mega Alakazam are also good partners for their ability to beat bulky Poison-types that trouble Serperior. Finally, Psychic-types like Latios as well as Pokemon like Greninja and Magearna appreciate Serperior's ability to wear down Steel-types.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A more offensive set with Normalium Z and Hyper Beam could be used to break through some of Serperior's traditional checks and surprise Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Tornadus-T. However, the utility provided by SubSeed is generally a lot more useful. Synthesis is an option to give Serperior a more reliable form of recovery, but the combination of Leftovers and Leech Seed is usually enough. A Choice Scarf set can take advantage of Serperior's good Speed tier, and with Glare it can also cripple certain setup sweepers for a teammate, such as Volcarona and Mega Charizard X. However, such a set requires heavy team support to function. Hidden Power Rock beats Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, but it is otherwise generally inferior to Hidden Power Fire. Hidden Power Ground is also an option to break through one of Serperior's main checks in Heatran, but it misses out on a lot of coverage,(AC) (independent clause) and Heatran can already be somewhat beaten with Substitute and Leech Seed. Giga Drain can be used alongside Leaf Storm to allow Serperior to recover its HP once it has fully set up.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Heatran is one of the biggest threats to Serperior, as it can take even boosted Leaf Storms and OHKO with its strong Fire-type attacks. Mega Charizard X, Alolan Marowak, and Volcarona can also tank Leaf Storms and potentially set up on Serperior.

**Flying-types**: Zapdos, Celesteela, and Skarmory can check Serperior defensively, although the latter two take a considerable amount from Hidden Power Fire. Auick Quick Attack Mega Pinsir can also revenge kill a weakened Serperior.

**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Amoonguss are all capable of walling Serperior, though they have to watch out for boosted Hidden Power Fire.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Serperior's fairly mediocre bulk, it is prone to being revenge killed by certain faster Pokemon and Choice Scarf users such as Tornadus-T, Greninja, Heatran, Gengar, and Garchomp.

**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey can repeatedly take boosted Leaf Storms thanks to its high special bulk. Celesteela, Assault Vest Magearna, Alolan Muk, and specially defensive Skarmory can also check Serperior, as they resist Leaf Storm and have a significant amount of special bulk.

**Unaware Clefable**: Clefable with Unaware ignores Special Attack boosts from Leaf Storm and so is able to defensively check Serperior.
GP 1/2
 
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GP 2/2

[OVERVIEW]

Serperior is a powerful setup sweeper in the OU metagame thanks to Contrary, which allows it to repeatedly fire off boosted Leaf Storms without having to worry about the Special Attack drops, instead gaining giving it a free +2 Special Attack boost. Serperior's Speed tier allows it to outspeed fully invested base 110s such as Latios and Gengar. It also notably has access to several useful utility moves such as Glare and Leech Seed. However, Serperior struggles with the prominence of faster threats that can potentially put an end to an attempted sweep, such as Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Scolipede. Its coverage is also extremely lacking, with its only notable special coverage moves being Hidden Power and Dragon Pulse, which means that it can be easily walled. This is further bolstered by its poor unboosted base 75 Special Attack and terrible offensive typing, which leaves it easily taken care of by common threats such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T.

[SET]
name: SubSeed
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Hidden Power Fire
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Leech Seed
item: Leftovers
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

Leaf Storm is a powerful STAB move that simultaneously boosts Serperior's Special Attack. Hidden Power Fire breaks through bulky Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Jirachi, as well as bulky Grass-types like Amoonguss and Tangrowth. Substitute allows Serperior to set up on more passive Pokemon like defensive Celesteela and Hippowdon and avoid status. Leech Seed gives Serperior the ability to deal chip damage to its common checks and counters such as Heatrana Heatran and Alolan Marowak and recover HP. It also synergizes well with Substitute, as it allows Serperior to wear down slower threats if it's able to safely get off a Leech Seed by spamming Substitute.

Set Details
========

The given HP EVs allow Serperior to avoid its Substitute being broken by Rotom-W. 252 Speed EVs alongside a Timid nature allow Serperior to capitalize on its excellent Speed tier, giving it the ability to outspeed Pokemon like Kartana and Latios. Leftovers gives Serperior some passive recovery, increasing its longevity.

Usage Tips
========

Try to avoid switching into strong attackers such as Tapu Lele, Garchomp, and Mamoswine, as Serperior's bulk is not great. Status, in particular paralysis and poison, should also be avoided. Attempt to set up Leech Seed on a predicted switch into a check or counter, as many of Serperior's common answers can be beaten if Leech Seed is up by spamming Substitute. Be wary of Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Greninja that naturally outspeed Serperior when attempting to set up and sweep. When your opponent has a bulky Grass-resistant Pokemon on their team, try to avoid wasting Leaf Storm's PP, as Serperior is basically useless without the move. You can take advantage of the fact that your opponent will want to send in a hard counter to Serperior to prevent it from setting up by double switching.

Team Options
========

Stealth Rock setters like Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Dugtrio, (RC) as well as Spikes setters like Greninja can chip down the opposing team with their hazards, allowing Serperior to pick up more KOs. Rotom-W is a useful partner for its ability to take on Heatran and provide a slow Volt Switch to get Serperior in safely. Heatran itself is also a good teammate for its ability to set Stealth Rock and take on the bulky Steel- and Fire-types that Serperior struggles to break through. Tapu Lele is able to beat Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss while also protecting Serperior from priority moves with its Psychic Terrain. Hoopa-U and Mega Alakazam are also good partners for their ability to beat bulky Poison-types that trouble Serperior. Finally, Psychic-types like Latios as well as Pokemon like Greninja and Magearna appreciate Serperior's ability to wear down Steel-types.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A more offensive set with Normalium Z and Hyper Beam could be used to break through some of Serperior's traditional checks and surprise Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Tornadus-T. However, the utility provided by SubSeed is generally a lot more useful. Synthesis is an option to give Serperior a more reliable form of recovery, but the combination of Leftovers and Leech Seed is usually enough. A Choice Scarf set can take advantage of Serperior's good Speed tier, and with Glare it can also cripple certain setup sweepers for a teammate, such as Volcarona and Mega Charizard X. However, such a set requires heavy team support to function. Hidden Power Rock beats Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, but it is otherwise generally inferior to Hidden Power Fire. Hidden Power Ground is also an option to break through one of Serperior's main checks in Heatran, but it misses out on a lot of coverage, and Heatran can already be somewhat beaten with Substitute and Leech Seed. Giga Drain can be used alongside Leaf Storm to allow Serperior to recover its HP once it has fully set up.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Heatran is one of the biggest threats to Serperior, as it can take even boosted Leaf Storms and OHKO with its strong Fire-type attacks. Mega Charizard X, Alolan Marowak, and Volcarona can also tank Leaf Storms and potentially set up on Serperior.

**Flying-types**: Zapdos, Celesteela, and Skarmory can check Serperior defensively, although the latter two take a considerable amount from Hidden Power Fire. Quick Attack Mega Pinsir can also revenge kill a weakened Serperior.

**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Amoonguss are all capable of walling Serperior, though they have to watch out for boosted Hidden Power Fire.

**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Serperior's fairly mediocre bulk, it is prone to being revenge killed by certain faster Pokemon and Choice Scarf users such as Tornadus-T, Greninja, Heatran, Gengar, and Garchomp.

**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey can repeatedly take boosted Leaf Storms thanks to its high special bulk. Celesteela, Assault Vest Magearna, Alolan Muk, and specially defensive Skarmory can also check Serperior, as they resist Leaf Storm and have a significant amount of special bulk.

**Unaware Clefable**: Clefable with Unaware ignores Special Attack boosts from Leaf Storm and so is able to defensively check Serperior.
 
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