[OVERVIEW]
* Xurkitree is an absurdly strong wallbreaker, which breaks capable of breaking even through the sturdiest walls foes, including Chansey, Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn.
* It can also sweep teams using the Z-Electric Terrain or Z-Hypnosis set.
* It doesn't like to switch into any attack; Because of its frailness, it doesn't like to switch into any attack and is easy to revenge kill.
* Setting up is difficult due to weak Xurkitree's low defensive stats, so it needs a lot of defensive support. The presence of Alolan Marowak, Ground-types and Dugtrio makes it hard to bring it in or attack.
* Xurkitree struggles to carve a niche for itself in the tier (RC) because of its lessened effectiveness against offensive teams when compared to other breakers in the tier.
[SET]
name: Tail Glow
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Tail Glow
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Ground
item: Electrium Z (RH)
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* +3 Tail Glow boosted Gigavolt Havoc breaks past any Pokemon; (SC) including Chansey and has a chance to OHKO it be OHKOed after Stealth Rock and a bit of prior damage, while Venusaur, Amoonguss, (AC) Unaware Clefable, and Ferrothorn get OHKOed.
* Even without Electrium Z, (RH) Tail Glow-boosted (AH) Thunderbolt and other coverage moves will damage defensive teams heavily.
* Energy Ball hits bulky Ground-types, while being a middle ground option for covering Ground/Flying-types Ground / Flying types and Water-types.
* Hidden Power Ice allows Xurkutree Xurkitree to hit Ground/Flying-types Ground / Flying types like Landorus (-T?) for a 4x super effective hit if they dare swichting switch in predicting Thunderbolt (RC) while also damaging Grass-types and Dragon-types such as Latios.
* Hidden Power Ground allows it Xurkitree to OHKO Alolan Marowak, specially defensive Excadrill (half the time), (AC, parentheses) and Magnezone after a Tail Glow boost.
Set Details
========
* A Timid nature with maximum Speed investment outspeeds lets Xurkitree outspeed up to base 80 Speed Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, (AC) and Buzzwole, while and neutral-natured Kyurem-B (yn?) gets outsped.
* +3 Tail Glow boosted Gigavolt Havoc can break even the sturdiest specially defensive walls; Chansey has a chance to get OHKOed after a bit of prior damage (shouldn't go in set details; add bullets for the SpA investment, for Electrium Z, and for Beast Boost)
Usage Tips
========
* Try to bring Xurkitree into the game savelybattle safely on a predicted switch or through team support with U-turn or Volt Switch.
* Set up with Tail Glow when there is an opening and attack with Gigavolt Havoc to break past its checks to damage defensive teams unrecoverably fatally.
* Especially against stall with Dugtrio, (AC) it has to be played extremely carefully, since it will probably be the wincondition wincon.
Team Options
========
* Pokemon which that share similar checks such as Tapu Koko, Keldeo, and Manaphy can be paired with it; (SC) Xurkitree breaks, (AC) and then they sweep. Notable examples of foes Xurkitree can break down for them are specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Grass-types such as Venusaur and Amoonguss.
* Latios, Mantine, Landorus, (AC; Landorus-T?) and other Ground immunities and resists Pokemon that resist or are immune to Ground help deal with its only weakness in case of a missprediction misprediction with Thunderbolt.
* Xurkitree needs a lot of defensive support due to its weak low stats and to remedy its frailness; (SC) other teammates should be able to take hits, bulky Ground-types such as Landorus-T and Garchomp, Water-types such as Toxapex, (AC) and Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, (AC) and Tangrowth can sponge strong attacks for it.
* Volt Switch or U-turn support from Pokemon like Rotom-W and Landorus-T is appreciated to bring Xurkitree in safely, e.g from Landorus-T or Rotom-W. Ideally, Xurkitree should never take a hit.
* Entry hazard support is useful; (SC) Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes brings bring Chansey in range of +3 Gigavolt Havoc from Timid Xurkitree. Landorus-T can set up Stealth Rock while sponging physical hits and serving as providing a Ground immunity.
* Memento for example from Pokemon like Dugtrio and Latios (RC) or dual screen support from screens makes it easier to set up or take hits while Xurkitree damages the opponent's (apo) team irrecoverably irreversibly.
[SET]
name: Z-move Sweeper
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Electric Terrain / Hypnosis (move these to the first slot to reflect the order in which they're discussed)
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Ground
item: Electrium Z / Psychium Z (RH)
ability: Beast Boost
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Electric Terrain turns into Z-Electric Terrain with Electrium Z, (RH, AC) and boosts boosting Xurkitree's Speed by one stage (RC) while also giving its Electric-type attacks a +1 boost, which makes it easier for Xurkitree to sweep.
* Alternatively, (AC) Holding Psychium Z (RH, RC) allows Hypnosis also boosts its to boost Xurkitree's Speed by one stage and may put while potentially putting the opposing Pokemon asleep to sleep.
* Thunderbolt is the only STAB option and hits very hard. Electrium Z (RH) can be used on this move to get off a strong one-time hit.
* Energy Ball hits Ground-types, (AC) which are immune to Electric.
* The respective choice between Hidden Power Ice and Ground can be used is team dependently; (SC) eliminating Hidden Power Ice eliminates the likes of <...> whereas Hidden Power Ground targets <...>, which otherwise checks and counters check or counter Xurkitree.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed with a Timid nature is needed to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible at +1.
* The remaining EVs are put into Special Attack to hit as hard as possible. (also add bullets about the Z-crystals and ability please)
Usage Tips
========
* It Sweeper Xurkitree is an effective surprise set which that can catch opponents off guard; (SC) it is recommended to not reveal it till late game until late-game if you wish to set up and sweep.
* Weaken its checks and countes counters a bit, with repeated hits to bring them in range of Xurkitree's attacks by repeated hits.
* Only take extremely weak attacks with it; (SC) instead use Volt Switch or U-turn or bait a Pokemon (RC) which that the opponent can't afford to lose and to bring Xurkitree in without taking hits damage. On the opponent's switch-out opposing Pokemon's switch out or an attack which that doesn't KO, use Z-Electric Terrain or Z-Hypnosis to boosting Xurkitree's Speed by one stage in both cases. Electric Terrain gives Electric attacks a +1 boost whereas Z-Hypnosis has a 60% chance to put the opponents Pokemon asleep, which is risky. (should go in moves) Then, proceed to sweep with every KO will boost boosting its Special Attack by one stage.
* Electrium Z (RH) allows you to chose choose between the +1 Speed boost or a one-time Gigavolt Havoc. (AP) The Z-Crystal Z-move can be chosen depending on the opponents opponent's team: Gigavolt Havoc should be used to break a wall, (AC) and Electric Terrain to sweep a weakend weakened more offensive team.
* Memento for example from the likes of Dugtrio and Latios (RC) or screen support makes it easier to find setup opportunities or take hits while sweeping. (should go in Team Options)
Team Options
========
* Pokemon that share similar checks, for example Keldeo, which forces the opponent to keep their Water-type around leaves room for Xurkitree's setup. (how do Keldeo and Xurkitree share checks? Should this be something like "Pokemon whose checks Xurkitree can set up on make for good partners; for example, Keldeo forces the opponent to keep their Water-type around")?
* Latios, Mantine, (AC) and other Ground immunities and resists Ground-immune and -resistant Pokemon help deal with its only weakness in case of a missprediction misprediction with Thunderbolt.
* Partners that help creating setup opportunities, for example Memento Latios or even Dugtrio. (you can put the Memento bullet from UT here)
* Tapu Koko sets up Electric Terrain, boosting Xurkitree's Electric STAB attacks while also having the option to run Brave Bird, denting to dent Xurkitree's switchins.
* Entry hazard setters such as Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and Klefki make for decent partners, (AC) as entry hazards wear down grounded Electric checks and bring them in rage of its Xurkitree's coverage moves.
* Sticky Web allows it Xurkitree to pressure teams which that depend on fast scarfers Choice Scarf users such as Garchomp to deal with Electric-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Choice Scarf is an option as a sweeper with potential a snowball effect that can potentially snowball, but early- and mid-game its use is very limited, (AC) while needing and it needs a lot of support. It also gets outsped by fast sweepers such as Mega Alakazam.
* Leftovers or Life Orb can be used on the Tail Glow set instead of Z-Item, a Z-crystal to boost attacks or its longevity respectively or power, with the price of losing Gigavolt Havoc and its breaking capabilities.
* Expert Belt allows it to bluff a Choice item and may surprise the opponent.
* A Double Dance set with Hypnosis or Electric Terrain and Tail Glow with BoltBeam coverage as the Double Dance set Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice can be used, but it is dangerous inconsistent with only 60% chance to hit and potentially get the Double Dance boost Hypnosis's low accuracy. (how does Z-Electric Terrain tie into this point?)
* Hidden Power Water hits Alolan Marowak, Landorus-T, (yn? also AC) and Excadrill super effectively, with the cost of not being able to damage Magnezone much.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types can switch into Electric Xurkitree's STAB attacks, causing a loss of momentum. Fast Landorus-T gains momentum with U-turn or just revenge kills it, Garchomp OHKOes it with Earthquake, Sand Rush Excadrill in sand and the defensive version set give it trouble, and Dugtrio can trap and OHKO it.
**Special Walls**: Heavily specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey or and Assault Vest users can switch into its Xurkitree's unboosted attacks and beat it due to its weak bad defenses and no lack of recovery options, but they still have to watch out for +3 Gigavolt Havoc.
**Grass- and Dragon-types**: Without Tail Glow boosts or the use of Gigavolt Havoc, Xurkitree is walled by Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth walls Xurkitree. Dragon-types such as Latios live survive all of its attacks without a boost and can OHKO.
**Lightning Rod**: Lightning Rod Alolan Marowak can easily capitalize on Electric take advantage of Xurkitree's Electric-type attacks.
**Strong Attacks**: Xurkitree's disappointing bulk leaves it vulnerable to even resisted attacks, especially from faster Pokemon.
