Palkia (Origin Forme) Movesets & Competitive Sets

Palkia-O is a strong setup sweeper that has an unremovable item and a strong matchup against the likes of Arceus-Ground and Ho-Oh. Speed Boost denies offensive counterplay from Pokemon like Ash-Greninja and Flutter Mane, and it prevents slow pivots like Teleport Blissey from forcing Palkia-O out via switching to Imposter users. Magic Guard can exploit defensive Pokemon that rely on status moves to deal damage, lets Palkia-O sit on common Knock Off users, and helps keep Dragon Energy's power high. Jungle Healing provides some recovery and removes debilitating status conditions like paralysis, but Strength Sap can provide much greater amount of healing. Pokemon like Ultra Necrozma and Mega Gardevoir appreciate Palkia-O beating Ho-Oh and Arceus-Ground, and they can help it beat checks like Mega Audino and Blissey in return. Speed Boost Palkia-O essentially ceases to function if statused, so a status absorber like a Take Heart Arceus forme can help. Teammates such as Blissey that can take on faster attackers like Eternatus and Flutter Mane are also greatly appreciated by Magic Guard variants. Imposter-proof Palkia-O with Ice Scales Mega Audino, Arceus-Fairy, or Imposter Chansey.

Palkia-O uses its powerful Water / Dragon STAB combination, further bolstered by Lustrous Globe, its high Special Attack, supplemented with Fire-type coverage, to become a nuclear wallbreaker that excels at eviscerating the defensive backbone of many balance teams. Palkia-O is capable of 2HKOing defensive stalwarts such as Ho-Oh, Primal Groudon, Eternatus, and support Arceus formes. Fire Blast roasts Ferrothorn while also hitting Tera Grass Ho-Oh for slightly more damage than Spacial Rend. Palkia-O's last moveslot is rather flexible. Substitute takes advantage of the many switches Palkia-O forces and protects it from status moves. Alternatively, Draco Meteor enables Palkia-O to nab some OHKOs on Pokemon that Spacial Rend cannot, such as defensive Eternatus, Zygarde-C, and Eruption Primal Groudon after Stealth Rock. A Modest nature is preferred to enhance Palkia-O's wallbreaking capabilities. A Timid nature is usable if outspeeding Adamant Ultra Necrozma and Speed tying Calm Mind Arceus formes is desired. However, running a Timid nature comes at the cost of never OHKOing defensive Eternatus, turning defensive Primal Groudon into a roll to 2HKO, and rarely 2HKOing Primal Kyogre with Spacial Rend. Tera Water is used over Tera Dragon, since Primal Groudon is 2HKOed by Spacial Rend regardless. Tera Water Hydro Pump is capable of OHKOing Ho-Oh, Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM after a single layer of Spikes, and support Arceus formes after Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes. Palkia-O is best used as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker on balance and bulky offense teams to tear through the defensive backbone of balance teams. It struggles against hyper offense teams, as it can be outsped or set up on, limiting the damage it can do. Against these teams, Palkia-O is often limited to trading. Additionally, Palkia-O completely thuds into stall, as it is fully walled by Chansey. Choice Band Marshadow is an excellent teammate, as it is able to revenge kill many Pokemon that use Palkia-O as setup fodder on hyper offense teams, such as Ultra Necrozma, Deoxys-A, Arceus, and Zacian-C. Ho-Oh makes an excellent partner, as it is able to switch in on Pokemon that scare Palkia-O out, such as Arceus-Fairy, Deoxys-A, and Zacian-C. Furthermore, Palkia-O greatly appreciates Defog support from Ho-Oh due to its vulnerability to every entry hazard and lack of recovery. Palkia-O also appreciates teammates that match up well into stall, such as specially offensive Yveltal and Overheat Primal Groudon.