What is a good moveset for Celebi?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Celebi, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Celebi Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

I'll leave this to someone who has used Celebi.

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Looks like I'll have to do some theory-mongering. I'll answer as soon as the bot is up so I can test it out.

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Doesn't Celebi have a special move like other legendary pokemons?

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Yes...

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No... actually.

Answer 1

Gen 8 (SwSh)

Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Dual Wingbeat
- Leaf Blade
- Zen Headbutt

This is supposed to be a Dynamaxer. After you use Swords Dance (and hopefully tank a hit with it's decent bulk) Dynamax and use Max Airstream to boost speed. Max Mindstorm prevents priority and is strong STAB. Leaf Blade can set up Grassy Terrain if needed and is also STAB.

Answer 2

Gen 8 NU

Navi (Celebi) @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

• Nasty Plot
• Energy Ball / Giga Drain
• Aura Sphere
• Recover / Psychic

Nasty Plot is set up. Energy Ball is strong STAB, but you can use Giga Drain instead if you want to take advantage of its healing effect. Aura Sphere is coverage for Dark, Ice, and Steel types. Recover lets it heal from residual damage like Life Orb and Stealth Rock, but Psychic is neutral coverage against Bug and hits Poison types too.

Comments

Why not spd?

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It's not meant to be a defensive set; Recover is only there likely if your team doesn't have hazard removal.

Answer 3

Gen 8 NU

Celebi @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature

• Leaf Storm
• U-turn
• Trick / Recover / Toxic / Thunder Wave
• Aura Sphere / Psychic

With the removal of Pursuit and the option of Heavy-Duty Boots as well as its ability Natural Cure and U-turn, Celebi is now a much better pivot. Leaf Storm is strong STAB. U-turn scouts switches and is some nice chip damage (for example, the enemy brings in Drapion, taking hazard damage, while Celebi U-turns for even more chip, and then you bring out Choice Scarf Flygon and either force it out or destroy it). Trick is used on the Choice Specs / Scarf variants, mainly to cripple walls. Recover is healing (to be used on the Boots set), Toxic and Thunder Wave are status (you can use it on the Choice set but I'd use it on the Boots set). Aura Sphere is for Steel, Ice, and Dark types, while STAB Psychic is used for neutral damage on Bug types and covers Poison types.

Answer 4

Gen V

Celebi @ Choice Specs
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Leaf Storm
- Earth Power
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic

Answer 5

Celebi @ Life Orb

Role: Scout / Sweeper
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- U-turn
- Recover
- Zen Headbutt
- Seed Bomb

Jolly and Life orb evens out his sweeper stats. Kinda.
U-Turn can scout, and heal any status you've taken thanks to Natural Cure, Recover can keep you alive since 100 100 100 bulk isn't too bad, Zen Headbutt and Seed Bomb are Dual STAB.

Comments

I seriously like this one...BTW, 12k points! gratz! :D

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Haha, Thanks!

Answer 6

Item: Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Nature: Bold
EVs: 200 Speed, 200 Defense, 110 Hp
Swords-dance
Calm-mind
Baton-pass
Ancient-power/Recover

Swords-Dance and Calm-mind are boosts for Baton-pass. Ancient-power can make use of Calm-mind boosts and potentially get boosts for Baton-pass and covers weaknesses, while Recover would be for healing so you can do more boosts.

Comments

When Celebi isn't able to set up in the beginning or middle-ish of the match, it could be problematic.
With Ancient Power only having 5 PP, Celebi becomes nearly useless when the time your attackers faint, and Celebi isn't able to pass to anything else worth passing.
I suggest you replace on of Calm Mind or Swords Dance for another attacking move; but other than that, nice set for a Baton Pass team!

Answer 7

Gen 8 NU

Celebi @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sucker Punch
- Zen Headbutt / U-Turn

Swords Dance Celebi. Swords Dance is for boosting your attack. Leaf Blade is grass STAB and. Sucker Punch is a priority for coverage against ghost types like Decidueye and opposing Celebi and is useful for revenge killing weakned Pokemon that are faster than you. Zen Headbutt is for psychic STAB to deal super effective damage to poison types like Salazzle and Toxicroak. U-Turn can be used instead to pivot out of bad matchups against Pokemon like Guzzlord and Drapion.

Answer 8

Gen 9 National Dex Monotype Defensive Nasty Plot (Psychic)

Celebi @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Psychic
EVs: 248 HP / 92 Def / 60 SpA / 108 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Earth Power
- Recover

Celebi has a niche as a defensive pivot for Psychic teams as a switch in to Water and Ground-moves while serving as a wincon against Water, Ground, Electric, and even Poison teams to an extent. Celebi having Natural Cure also allows Celebi to serve as a status absorber if needed. Nasty Plot boosting Celebi's Special Attack allow it to become a potent wincon against teams that don't have resists to Celebi's attacking moves. Giga Drain is used for the Grass STAB for this set due to its ability to restore some HP, which is useful to make sure Celebi doesn't have to use Recover as much. Earth Power targets Poison- and Steel-types such as Toxapex, Archaludon, Gholdengo, Heatran, Hisuian Goodra, Empoleon, Magnezone, Galarian Slowking, Alolan Muk, Iron Treads, and Excadrill super effectively. Recover is used to give Celebi reliable HP recovery so it can stick around longer to check Water, Ground, and Electric teams.

248 HP EVs are used for bulk. 60 Special Attack EVs are used to allow a +2 Earth Power to 2HKO Toxapex. The given Speed EVs allow Celebi to outspeed Jolly Mega Swampert outside of rain as well as Gholdengo that uses 224 Speed EVs and isn't Timid Nature. The rest of the EVs are used in Defense with a Bold Nature to give Celebi some physical bulk. You can use a more bulkier EV spread such as 248 HP / 176 Def / 60 SpA / 24 Spe with a Bold Nature, being useful to outspeed Max speed Modest Magnezone.

The kicker of this set is Colbur Berry. Colbur Berry Celebi was a thing back in Gen 6 Monotype and is useful in Gen 9 National Dex Monotype. With Colbur Berry reducing the damage taken from Dark moves, this defensive Nasty Plot Celebi set serves as an effective lure against Water/Dark Pokemon such as Greninja, Hisuian Samurott, Mega Gyarados, and Mega Sharpedo, which is really useful to live a hit from them and remove them in the Water matchup. Colbur Berry is also nice to serve as a Knock Off Switch in if it needed.

Answer 9

SubSeed Celebi for Gen VI UU

Celery @ Big Root

Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 224 SDef / 36 Spd (Specially defenseive) or 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spd (Physically Defensive)
Calm/Bold Nature
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Giga Drain
- Heal Bell/Hidden Power [Fire]

Nice and even stats lets this little guy get lots of options. Leech Seed works great with the Big Root behind a Substitute. Giga Drain is STAB and more healing with the Big Root. Heal Bell is for supporting the team or Hidden Power Fire can be used to take out Grass types that resist Leech Seed. In fact, the last slot can be anything you want or need.

Answer 10

Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Fire
- Earth Power
- Recover

As most Celebi are defensive, most people will not be expecting a lure Celebi. This aims to take out most of Celebi's common switchins, mainly Heatran and Ferrothorn, which are dealt with using Earth Power and HP Fire respectively. This partners well with Pokemon like Serperior, Altaria, and Gardevoir who appreciate the fact that Heatran and Ferrothorn gone.

Answer 11

Celebi's best role is healer/supporter, because it isn't good offensively and not really good offensively. You can always look on Smogon for good sets (you can find offensive set for Celebi), but this is something I came with.
Celebi @ Leftovers/Focus Sash (according to tier)
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 220 SpD / 36 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Baton Pass
- Swords Dance/Nasty Plot
- Heal Bell
- Thunder Wave
The idea is to use Thunder Wave and then Baton Pass Swords Dance/Nasty Plot to something or heal if needed. It's movepool is very large, so there are a lot of options to choose from. The Speed EVs are to outspeed max. Speed Tyranitar (I was confused when this spread was recommended, so I found it..).
Hope I helped!

Answer 12

Gen 8 (SwSh)

Offensive Stealth Rocker

Celebi @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Giga Drain
- U-Turn
- Earth Power

Answer 13

Gen 8 NU

Celebi @ Expert Belt / Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Earth Power
- Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam
- Giga Drain

Pretty similar to the other Nasty Plot sets on here, but with some different moves. Nasty Plot boosts your Special Attack. Earth Power is coverage against steel and poison types like Copperajah, Dragalge, Toxicroak, Drapion, and Heatproof Bronzong. Shadow Ball is coverage that hits Pokemon like Dhelmise and Levitate Bronzong super effectively. Dazzling Gleam can be used instead for coverage against dark types like Guzzlord. Giga Drain is STAB and can be used for healing. For the item, Expert Belt can be used so a +2 Earth Power can OHKO Assualt Vest Copperajah, or Heavy Duty Boots so you won't be chipped by hazards.

Answer 14

Celebi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
Moves
- Trick
- U-Turn
- Seed Bomb
- Zen Headbutt

Explanation: This is a fun, gimmicky set I tried out and thought of myself. Trick your Choice scarf onto any foe to cripple them to only being able to use one move. This can be good or bad, depending on the situation. U-Turn is used for scouting out you foes. Seed Bomb and Zen Headbutt are STAB, with Zen Headbutt having that chance to cause your foe to flinch.

Answer 15

Gen 8 (SwSh)

Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 56 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Psychic
- Leaf Storm
- Shadow Ball / Aura Sphere / Dazzling Gleam / Pollen Puff

Answer 16

GEN 5

Few Days Ago I Just Started My Pokemon Black Randomizer And To My Suprise In The Gift Box Had A Celebi With A
Good Moveset So I Decided To Share It Here.
Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Psychic
- Recover
- Heal Bell/Energy Ball

• Leech Seed To Recover Life Orb Damage.
• Psychic Is Obviously For STAB And With The Help Of Life Orb It's Really Offensive.
• Recover Is To Recover The Damage Dealt By The Enemy And Also To Stall Out Turns.
• If You Prefer Offensive You Can Go For Energy Ball Or If You Want To Play Defensivly Heal Bell Is For You.

Here's Also An Offensive Moveset For Celebi If You Need An Offensive Moveset.

Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Energy Ball
- Psychic
- Earth Power
- Nasty Plot/Hidden Power Fighting/Hidden Power Dark Or Ghost

• STAB
• STAB
• Coverage Against Fire Types.
• A Good Set Up Move.

Comments

What are the EVs and nature? Are these movesets for gen 5 battles?

Answer 17

Celebi @ Focus Sash
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spe / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Timid / Jolly Nature
- Heal Bell
- Baton Pass
- Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
- Recover / Thunder Wave

• Heal Bell (Team Healing)
• Baton Pass (Set up a Sweeper)
• Nasty Plot (For Baton Pass- Special) / Swords Dance (For Baton Pass- Physical)
• Recover (Healing) / Thunder Wave (Paralyzes Opponent)