What is a good moveset for Calyrex (and its forms)?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Calyrex, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. You may post movesets for Shadow Rider Calyrex and Ice Rider Calyrex here.

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

Calyrex Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Uh dumb question does this include its forms? :P

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Yes -- I added some extra specification to the thread. If you answer this question, make sure you specify which Calyrex form you're using, if any.

Answer 1

Calyrex-Shadow @ Leftovers
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Nasty Plot
- Psyshock
- Substitute
A substitute setup set. If you can get its sub up, it can setup one nasty plot and basically sweep their team. Simple as that. Astral barrage and psyshock are stab.

Answer 2

Calyrex-Ice @ Lagging Tail/Leftovers(If using Trick Room)
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Glacial Lance
- Trick/Trick Room
- Swords Dance
- Stomping Tantrum
This is probably a set used in National Dex AG to slow down sweeper Zacians. Lagging Tail puts the Pokemon last in the Priority bracket, which you can Trick and give it to Zacian or any Pokemon so that they will go last, especially common-used ubers in national Dex AG which are fast sweepers, Glacial Lance is a strong Ice Type STAB move that can also work in doubles, Swords Dance is for setting up, Stomping Tantrum can be use for coverage against nasty sweepers such as Zacian and Groudon-primal.

I've hoped I've helped!

Comments

I believe Zacian-Crowned cannot have its Rusted Sword removed, therefore Trick would not work.

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@eee01 yea Zacian-Crowned can't have its item removed

Answer 3

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Dark Pulse/Psychic/Tri Attack
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain/Energy Ball
Astral Barrage is a nice STAB move that works well in double battles, Dark Pulse can Flinch the oppoment, with a base speed that outspeeds Zacian, Calyrex would most probably go first in almost all situations, making use of the flinch chance, Nasty Plot is for set up, Giga Drain heals up Calyrex that can really help, Energy Ball have a 20% chance special defense drop which is like raising your special attack, Psychic is a good STAB move and Tri Attack have some nice effects like Burning, Paralysis and freezing.

I've hoped I've helped!

Comments

Maybe Stored Power?

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It wouldn't work, Calyrex is too frail to set up Calm Mind and Agility or Nasty Plot for a few turns.

Answer 4

Calyrex-Shadow @ King's Rock
Ability: As One
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Astral Barrage
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Energy Ball
- Pollen Puff

Astral Barrage is a 120 base power, STAB, 100% accurate move. You would have to be a special kind of crazy not to use it (unless you found a cool strategy without it, then go on ahead, you are cool) Energy Ball gives passable coverage but is fantastic move otherwise, 90 base power, 100% accurate with the added bonus of lowering SpDef. Psychic and Psyshock are STAB Psychic moves. Which one you pick is up to you (I'd go for Psyshock) but Psychic is for raw strength and Psyshock is to anticipate someone switching for a special tank. Lastly, Pollen Puff is a strong move that covers Dark types, most certainly Shadow Rider's most noticeable weak point (it resists or is immune to both of its STAB moves, and is quad super effective against it). I chose a timid nature over a modest one because Shadow Rider is already going to OHKO anything in its path, while speed could be a problem against the Regielekis and Ninjasks and Deoxys-Speeds of the world. The EVs are self-explanatory, speed and special attack are always welcome, and HP is the next most useful stat, allowing you to take you to tank exactly one more damage. As One is the only ability option, and the King's Rock allows for a flinch chance on all of your moves, which could come in handy with Shadow Rider's insanely high speed.

Comments

is Spd Speed or Special Defense?

I thought Speed was Spe, and Special Defense was SpD.

Also, I'd replace Energy Ball with Nasty Plot, maybe replace King's Rock with an item like Life Orb or something

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I’m guessing he meant speed, but speed is usually referred to as Spe and special defense is usually referred to as SpD

Answer 5

Role: Sweeper
Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psychic
- Pollen Puff
- Nasty Plot

Explanation: This Pokemon is absolutely OP. An amazing sweeper with great Special Attack and Speed. Astral Barrage for Ghost types and for STAB, Psychic for more STAB, Pollen Puff For Dark types, and Nasty Plot to exceed this Pokemon's incredible Special Attack even further, and Life Orb for even more damage. And if that's not already enough, Grim Neigh gives you a boost in Special Attack when you faint a Pokemon. And to make this Pokemon even more menacing, Unnerve makes the opposing Pokemon unable to eat berries so they will eventually starve to death.

Answer 6

Role: Staller

Calyrex @ Big Root
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Bold Nature / Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Draining Kiss
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Explanation: There's really not a lot of things you can do with this Pokemon as a sweeper. If you want to do a Choice Specs sweeping moveset, the only non-STAB moves that this Pokemon learns (excluding Normal type moves, of course) are Pollen Puff and Draining Kiss. As a result, this Pokemon is very hard to work with as a sweeper. So, I created a fun moveset for this Pokemon. Unnerve can really help against Pokemon that are stupidly bulky with Sitrus Berries, especially Pokemon like Snorlax. Bold and Calm Nature both work for this set. Giga Drain and Draining Kiss are for healing (Big Root for more healing) and Rest if you don't have a lot of HP left and you have a status condition. Sleep Talk for when you are asleep after using Rest.

Comments

I don't think Calyrex-Shadow can stall. All of it's weaknessses are x4 super effective against it

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It isn't Shadow Rider Calyrex it's regular Calyrex

Answer 7

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash/Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid/Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock/Psychic
- Astral Barrage
- Pollen Puff/Draining Kiss
- Nasty Plot
This thing is a literal monster. Psyshock and Psychic are psychic STAB. Psyshock is preferred to be able to take on special walls (Chansey, Blissey, etc) but Psychic is a bit stronger. Astral Barrage is ghost STAB that destroys everything with its whopping 120 base power. Pollen Puff and Draining Kiss defeat dark types, and you can use Pollen Puff for extra power or Draining Kiss for healing. Nasty Plot gives you a boost to your special attack. The great thing about this Pokemon is that it's only weak to two types, but it's a 4x weakness (ghost and dark). Focus Sash allows you to live a hit, while Life Orb for extra power.

Answer 8

Doubles Ubers

Calyrex-Ice @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Protect
- Trick Room / Seed Bomb
- Glacial Lance
- High Horsepower

Glacial Lance (which is STAB and hits both opponents) and High Horsepower provide amazing coverage that no common Pokémon in the format resists. Trick Room patches up Calyrex's (and its allies') low speed. Seed Bomb is also an option if you have another Trick Room setter on your team and you want a harder hit on Kyogre. Protect allows Calyrex to stay safe from most attacks and for a turn while its ally on the field can take out a threat to Calyrex such as Zacian-Crowned. Weakness policy goes great with its massive bulk, even more massive attack stat, option to dynamax and many weaknesses (no Heavy-Duty Boots since all types of entry hazards are very rare in doubles formats).

Answer 9

Moveset for Calyrex Shadow Rider. 150 Speed and 165 Sp. Atk is just insanely overpowered, considering it is left unbanned. Mediocre Defense and Attack (we don't need Attack though), and good Special Defense and HP.

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: As One
EVs: 170 HP / 170 SpA / 170 Spe
Modest Nature / Timid Nature
- Astral Barrage
- Psychic / Expanding Force
- Nasty Plot
- Pollen Puff / Giga Drain

The Moves:
Astral Barrage is an op STAB move, 130 BP, 100 Accuracy, no drawbacks. Definately the best Ghost move for Calyrex, and great in doubles too, should you attempt it. Psychic is BP 90 and has a chance to get a Special Defense drop, should the opponent survive the hit. Expanding Force is an alternative to Psychic, as when Dynamaxed, Calyrex can set up Psychic Terrain, doubling the power of Expanding Force. Nasty Plot is for when Calyrex is against an opponent that can't do much to it, doubling Special Attack. Pollen Puff is it's best coverage for Dark types, combined with monstrous Special Attack, it's brilliant. Also, if you want to attempt doubles, Pollen Puff is great for healing allies, as Calyrex will mostly outspeed other opponents, and Giga Drain is also a good coverage move for healing.

The Items:
The Focus Sash is for surviving the first hit of the match, so you can do free damage or set up with Nasty Plot. The Life Orb makes Calyrex absolutely unstoppable, even when faced with a strong Dark type like Bisharp.

Hope I helped someone, and have fun using this Special Sweeper set!! :D

Comments

- Pursuit exists.
- HP EVs are pointless, this thing is frail as paper.
- Giga Drain recovery won't be helpful as much since it won't get many opportunity to attack then survive a hit.

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First of all pursuit isn't in the same games as Calyrex. Second I have used this moveset before and when I am faced with a T-Tar then usually I switch out into something that can handle it better? Third of all the HP stat is not useless, Dynamaxing makes this thing have great HP, even is Defenses are lacking. Also, my point was that you can use this against a Tyranitar is something is physically preventing you from switching. I wouldn't use this thing against a Tyranitar either if I didn't have to... hope this is okay :D

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Pursuit exists in ndag. With hp investment or none, dynamax will still allow u to get 2hkoed by foul play instead of ohkoed. However, once u die,
The opponent will be left with a 10% t tar while u wasted ur dynamax

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Yeah guys this really isn't that bad

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First, the set gets entirely walled by Yveltal. Second, 170 HP EVs don't achieve any certain milestone afaik, and 170 Spe EVs means many things just outspeed it. So tbh they just look like randomly given ones. 170 isn't even divisible by 4 so they're also a bit of waste.

+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 170 HP / 0 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 396-466 (103.3 - 121.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. 170 HP / 0 SpD Calyrex-Shadow in Rain: 409-483 (106.7 - 126.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0- Atk Tyranitar Foul Play vs. 170 HP / 0 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 388-460 (101.3 - 120.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Answer 10

Calyrex @ Leftovers
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Stored Power
- Calm Mind
- Agility
Double Dance sweeper. Calm Mind as many times as you want, then use Agility to outspeed things and then attack with Giga Drain to heal or Stored Power to do a lot of damage. EVs are for maximum bulk. Leftovers is for more HP recovery.

Answer 11

Doubles Ubers

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Expanding Force
- Taunt
- Protect

This should be paired with Indeedee-F. Astral Barrage is stupidly strong Ghost STAB and causes spread damage. Expanding Force, in Indeedee's Psychic Terrain, is even stronger than Astral Barrage (and is also Psychic STAB that deals spread damage). Taunt is to shut down your opponent's attempts at setting up Trick Room. It can also prevent redirection, Spore from Amoonguss, and even Protect. Speaking of Protect, it's near mandatory on every Pokémon in doubles. It keeps Calyrex from most attacks safe for a turn while its ally can potentially take out a threat to Calyrex.

Answer 12

Gen 8 Anything Goes

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Astral Barrage
- Baton Pass
- Draining Kiss
Nasty Plot raises your special attack through the roof. Astral Barrage is incredibly powerful STAB. Baton Pass can let you escape, and easily opens up the opportunity to let the Pokémon you bring in sweep. It also avoids Yveltal’s Sucker Punch. Draining Kiss hits Yveltal and can heal off Life Orb damage or chip damage that would otherwise deactivate your sash, and with the aid of Dynamax can threaten an OHKO on offensive Yveltal. It’s almosy always OHKO if you have a life orb, or a KO with a little prior chip damage on Yveltal or any form of special attack boost if you chose the Focus Sash.

252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Max Starfall vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Yveltal: 385-455 (97.9 - 115.7%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO

252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Max Starfall vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Yveltal: 296-350 (75.3 - 89%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

It thrives on Hyper Offense, where it can pass very helpful Special Attack boosts to threatening sweepers such Kyogre and Yveltal, and potentially benefit from Shuckle’s Sticky Webs and Stealth Rocks so it doesn’t have to worry about sash users and other Calyrex or the occasional (but rather uncommon) Regieleki out-speeding it.

Answer 13

Let's face it. Draining Kiss simply does not do enough, and there is a Yveltal, Tyranitar, or Arceus-Dark on nearly every single National Dex AG team. I went to the Damage Calculator and discovered that Bugnium Z does very well, since it rips through all 3.

National Dex AG

Calyrex-Shadow @ Buginium Z
Ability: As One
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Astral Barrage
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Pollen Puff

Astral Barrage is incredible STAB, with its high base power, 100% accuracy, and it having few viable resists and only 1 immunity (the only viable Normal type in National Dex AG is Chansey since Ditto doesn't count). Nasty Plot sets you up for a sweep. Baton Pass gets you out of bad matchups (such as Marshadow and Chansey) and exploits the many switches Calyrex forces. It can also be used to pass Nasty Plot and As One boosts to a threatening Special Attacker like Xerneas or Primal Kyogre. Pollen Puff is what makes this set special. Fairium Z Draining Kiss is ****, and Ghostium Z doesn't help with Calyrex's issue against Dark types, but Savage Spin out obliterates the Dark types after a boost. Yes, this includes Yveltal. Take a look at these calcs.

At +2:

+2 252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Arceus-Dark: 778-916 (175.2 - 206.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 438-516 (108.4 - 127.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar-Mega in Sand: 386-456 (95.5 - 112.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

+2 252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Yveltal: 463-545 (117.8 - 138.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Unboosted:

252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Arceus-Dark: 390-460 (87.8 - 103.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 220-260 (54.4 - 64.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Savage Spin-Out (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Yveltal: 232-273 (59 - 69.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

Have fun!

Comments

"Specially Defensive Yveltal's usage is nearly nonexistent in Nat Dex AG, and Heavy-Duty Boots are only used around 16% of the time."

WTF! Did you even saw the samples? DarkCeus has become worse as SpD compared to Yveltal. Also, the DarkCeus EVs are pre-dlc, not post-dlc 2.

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"...This is for [Gen 8] National Dex AG, a format that allows people to use Z-moves and Dynamax in the same format...
commented 25 minutes ago by -RisingManectric-"

NatDex formats allow people to use Z-moves, Dynamax, Mega Evolution, and moves such as Pursuit and Hidden Power in one format.

Answer 14

Get Calyrekt (Calyrex) @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD, Def, or HP
Jolly Nature
- Zen Headbutt
- Seed Bomb / Bullet Seed
- Facade
- Trick / Bullet Seed if running Life Orb
This is used to surprise things that think it is running its normal Choice Specs sweeper set. Choice Band makes your physical moves a lot more powerful, but locks you into the move you chose. Life Orb boosts damage and doesn't lock you into a move, but is less powerful then Choice Band and inflicts recoil damage. Unnerve is its only ability, but it only works when the opponent has a berry, making it near to useless. The EVs max Atk and Spe, while focusing a bit in SpD, Def, or HP(your choice). The IVs max your stats. Zen Headbutt is STAB and can flinch, but can miss sometimes. Seed Bomb is STAB. Bullet Seed can break Focus Sashes and substitutes and do more damage because of it being able to hit multiple times, but can be weaker if it hits only 2 or 3 times. Facade is its only good physical attack other than the physical moves on this set, can counter things that burn it, and is coverage for things that resist its STAB. The only other physical moves it has is Giga Impact, Pay Day, Pound, and Solar Blade, and those moves suck. Trick can give the opponent a Choice Band, which can cripple the opponent, but can help the opponent is they are a physical attacker. You can use Bullet Seed if running Life Orb to break substitutes, and can be stronger than Seed Bomb if it hits harder, but can be weaker if you hit 2 or 3 times.

Comments

The name of the Pokémon is “Get Calyrekt”?

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Yeah lol

Answer 15

Calyrex @ Leftovers
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Iron Defense
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain

This thing does not have much potential, so why not spam Stored Power?

Calyrex-Ice @ Leftovers
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Adamant Nature
- High Horsepower
- Body Press
- Avalanche
- Iron Defense

This thing should tank hits then strike back with STAB Avalanche. Be careful of Reshiram or any other Specially Offensive Fire-Types though.

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Astral Barrage
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Draining Kiss

This thing is basically just gotta go fast and kill everything. Nothing else.

Horse-Riding Sports have come to Pokémon. And Calyrex is the MVP.

Comments

252 HP is generally better than 252 of a Defense stat on any Pokemon (pointing to Calyrex-Ice). Avalanche is always inferior to Glacial Lance, even if you get damaged (120 VS 130 BP). Calyrex-S shouldn't have Dark Pulse, as Ghost-type and Dark-type moves cover same things, except for Normal-types which are already blown by Psyshock.

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Oops, it was Adamant and Timid. I edited it out, my bad.

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Calyrex doesn't learn Iron Defense.

Answer 16

National Dex AG

Calyrex-Shadow @ Ghostium Z
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Astral Barrage
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Substitute

Quickpass Calyrex-Shadow. With Baton Pass, Substitute, Nasty Plot, and the right teammates, this set is technically uncounterable. Astral Barrage is STAB and can be strengthened by Ghostium Z. Nasty Plot boosts Special Attack, and it can be passed to something like Dynamax Yveltal for a quick GG. Baton Pass lets Calyrex-Shadow pass Nasty Plot and As One boosts to a sweeper, lets Calyrex bring in a Pokemon that matches up well against Calyrex's checks like Zacian-Crowned, and passes Substitute for both. Substitute lets Calyrex set up and/or pass safely while the enemy switches, and lets special sweepers abuse both the boosts and the extra protection.

Teammates

Must I really explain?

Beat Dark types. You can also abuse Substitute with a Swords Dance set.

Comments

NO Z-MOVES IN SWORD\SHIELD! why do they do all these Z-Moves?

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it's National Dex

Answer 17

Calyrex-Shadow @ Big Root
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Leech Seed
- Giga Drain
- Astral Barrage

Leech Seed drains health like Toxic, but you get to recover it as well.
Giga Drain as it recovers health.
Astral Barrage as its overpowered.
Psychic for STAB damage.

Enjoy!

Answer 18

Tera Fire Trick Room Sweeper

Gen 9 Ubers
Calyrex-Ice @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: As One (Glastrier)
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Glacial Lance
- Swords Dance
- High Horsepower
- Trick Room

Calyrex-Ice is a staple on Trick Room teams, something I’ve been exploring. Tera Fire greatly benefits Caly-Ice, making it immune to burns and allowing it to set up against Koraidon and Zacian-C. Heavy-Duty Boots keeps Caly-Ice from being chipped by hazards, as it needs to be as healthy as possible to tank a Flare Blitz from Banded Koraidon, even with Tera. Glacial Lance is devastating STAB, while High Horsepower provides great coverage. Swords Dance is setup. Trick Room allows Caly-Ice to be a devastating sweeper, and is rather easy to setup by baiting a Flare Blitz from Band Koraidon or Overheat from Spec Miraidon and using Tera Fire. Caly-Ice can quickly get out of control then, with a free Swords Dance, perfect Uber coverage in its attacks, and a snowballing ability in As One. This set also works extremely well in NatDex Ubers.

Answer 19

Shadow Rider Calyrex @ Life Orb

Ability: As One

EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 Def

Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)

• Astral Barrage
• Psychic
• Baton Pass
• Nasty Plot

A simple set that gets the job done. (Just don't send out Calyrex against a dark type!) 1 Nasty Plot can basically one-shot anything. Astral Barrage and Psychic are your 2 hard-hitting moves that get the STAB bonus. Use Baton Pass when needed.

Answer 20

Calyrex-Shadow @ Weakness Policy
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Astral Barrage
- Energy Ball
- Psychic
- Dark Pulse

Sad thing is its 4x weak to ghost and dark

Comments

Weakness policy? 99% of super effective moves OHKO it

Also, dark pulse? You already have astral barrage, which is way stronger and already kills ghost and psychic.

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Yeah, its defenses suck. Wouldn't a life orb be better?