What is a good moveset for Kecleon?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Kecleon, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions 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 explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Kecleon Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Kecleon (M) @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Color Change
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Def
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Claw
- Seismic Toss / Drain Punch
- Thunder Wave
- Skill Swap

This is my version of the original poster. It uses the same principle, except it is slightly more efficient.
Thunder Wave and Skill Swap combo nicely, as you can slow the opponent down, then Skill Swap them as well as giving those Para-hax percentages. Ghosts are weak to themselves, so Shadow Claw hits Super effective over and over, rather than doing the rock, paper, scissors game and taking up 3 move slots.
Seismic Toss will always do 100 damage, often clearing away 1/3 of the opponents HP, as well as changing the opponents type to fighting if they are Normal, then they can be hit by Shadow Claw. Drain Punch does the same, but with recovery, and damage is not set.
Max EVs in Atk for offensive purposes, 301 Hp for other Seismic Tossers and the rest in Def, as it's speed sucks (Thunder Wave takes care of that), and it's SpDef is already respectable (typical Normal Type). The item is preference; survivability or destructibility? Your choice.

Answer 2

Kecleon @ Choice Band
Ability: Color Change
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Sucker Punch / Shadow Claw
- Drain Punch
- Trick

Return is STAB with good neutral coverage.
Sucker Punch is priority and hits Ghost types and Psychics, but Shadow Claw can be used if you prefer to hit 'em safely.
Drain Punch hits Rock and Steel types for decent damage and gives healing.
Trick screws something up.
EVs are to outspeed base 60s who don't invest in Speed.

Answer 3

Kecleon @ Assault Vest
Ability: Protean
EVs: 190 HP / 252 Atk / 66 Def
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Power-Up Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Sucker Punch

With the release of Pokemon X and Y, and more importantly the Friend Safari, we now have access to Kecleon's Hidden Ability: Protean. With its already amazing base Special Defense, its diverse movepool, and decent Attack and HP stats, Kecleon is a force to be reckoned with.

This build is based mostly on great prediction. If you think they are going to set up, Power-Up Punch for some free damage and an Attack boost. Have they just barely survived? Use your trusty Shadow Sneak. They're about to attack you? Give them a good old priority Sucker Punch.

Answer 4

This is the current Kecleon I'm training up from my Sapphire (Gotta do a lot of work).

Kecleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Color Change
EVs: 248 Atk / 160 HP / 100 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Mega Kick
- Hone Claws
- Drain Punch

Its EVs make it into a specially bulky Pokemon that hits hard with physical attacks.
Hone Claws gives it accuracy and power boosts -- getting one up makes a world of difference.
Mega Kick is STAB with high power, and its shaky accuracy is boosted by Hone Claws.
Sucker Punch is priority. It works well with Hone Claws' Attack boost, letting Kecleon priority sweep.
Drain Punch helps with longevity and is boosted by Hone Claws.

Answer 5

I know there's a Vest set for this already, but I wanted to post an alternative set. Best used in Tier Shift. This thing lives Megazard Y's Fire Blast pretty well. 0_o

Geico (Kecleon) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Atk / 176 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Tail
- Drain Punch
- Power-Up Punch
- Sucker Punch

At all perfect IVs, while being used in tier shift, this Kecleon has the following stats:

354/292/206/167/350 (525 with Vest)/146

(HP/Atk/Def/SAtk/SDef/Spd)

Since he gets STAB from every move, Drain Punch is now a pretty nice move, allowing him to live longer. Sucker Punch gets that nice priority, Power-Up Punch makes up for what little attack he has, and Aqua Tail is coverage.

Answer 6

Gen V

Kecleon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Color Change
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Ancient Power

Start with Substitute until you manage to keep it up longer than a turn. Then Focus Punch your way forward. When your Sub breaks, use Sucker Punch for priority to finish off your target. Ancient Power is coverage for Flying types that may be tricky to deal with otherwise.

^^ My Beastly Kecleon. SO Strong!

Answer 7

Kecleon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Color Change
EVs: 58 HP / 252 Atk / 200 Def
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Fake Out
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch

This guy can sweep despite its low Speed, because it has priority moves. Fake Out + Sucker Punch will do a lot of damage, if not outright KOing the opponent. Return is STAB before Color Change procs. Drain Punch is for Normal types + health regeneration. What could be better?

Answer 8

Kecleon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 HP / 6 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Recover
- Protect
- Drain Punch / Knock Off

Toxic badly poisons, Recover heals you, and Protect stalls and give time for Leftovers to kick in. You have the tough choice of either Drain Punch or Knock Off for an attack so you're not Taunt bait. Drain Punch heals you, while Knock Off is just annoying for the opponent.

Answer 9

Kecleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Protean
EVs: 120 HP / 240 Atk / 148 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Hone Claws / Sucker Punch
- Shadow Sneak / Shadow Claw
- Double-Edge
- Iron Tail

A very confusing set indeed. Hone Claws or sucker punch are dark type, making it immune to pychic, while shadow sneak or shadow claw are ghost, making it immune to fighting and normal, Double Edge is normal, making it immune to ghost, and iron tail is steel, making it immune to poison!
Here's a showdown battle labeled "protean+prediction" which involves a similar set!

Answer 10

Kecleon @ Assault Vest / Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Slash
- Sucker Punch / Power-Up Punch / Drain Punch / Shadow Claw
- Sucker Punch / Power-Up Punch / Drain Punch / Shadow Claw
- Sucker Punch / Power-Up Punch / Drain Punch / Shadow Claw

• Slash (STAB, Normal, High-Crit Chance) / Strength (STAB, Normal)
• Sucker Punch (Dark, Priority)/ Power-Up Punch (Fighting, +1 Atk) / Drain Punch (Fighting, Healing) / Shadow Claw (Ghost, High-Crit Chance)
• Sucker Punch (Dark, Priority)/ Power-Up Punch (Fighting, +1 Atk) / Drain Punch (Fighting, Healing) / Shadow Claw (Ghost, High-Crit Chance)
• Sucker Punch (Dark, Priority)/ Power-Up Punch (Fighting, +1 Atk) / Drain Punch (Fighting, Healing) / Shadow Claw (Ghost, High-Crit Chance)