Registeel Movesets & Competitive Sets

Body Press is also an option over Seismic Toss that allows Registeel to take advantage of its high Defense stat to deal significant damage to targets such as Zarude, Hydreigon, and Excadrill. Toxic cripples switch-ins, including Slowking and Hippowdon, and puts a timer on common Defog users like Salamence and Mandibuzz. Thunder Wave is also an option that cripples faster offensive threats including Azelf, Keldeo, and Gyarados. Earthquake allows Registeel to threaten various Toxic-immune Pokemon, including Nidoqueen and Galarian Slowbro. Most importantly, it OHKOes Nihilego. Maximum Special Defense with a Careful nature allows Registeel to better check Salamence and Meteor Beam Nihilego. Registeel fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate the solid defensive utility it provides. Checks to Fire- and Fighting-type like Salamence and Slowking pair well with Registeel, taking on threats like Keldeo and Moltres. Thundurus-T and Rotom-W threaten common entry hazard removers, such as Salamence and Mandibuzz. Tentacruel, Mandibuzz, and the aforementioned Salamence can also remove Spikes, which cut into Registeel's longevity. Bulky Grass-types, such as Amoonguss and Tangrowth, are good partners that can check Keldeo and Zygarde-10%, which otherwise threaten Registeel.

Maximum Defense investment with a Bold nature is needed to fully strengthen Body Press and increase its damage output, allowing Registeel to more freely set up on Azumarill, Zygarde-10%, and Excadrill. Iron Defense, in particular, makes Body Press's power skyrocket to exceptional levels. At +6, Registeel becomes incredibly powerful and is able to 2HKO even physically defensive Slowking with a favorable damage roll or minor chip damage. With Amnesia and Iron Defense, it is able to set up on multiple Pokemon, including Hippowdon, Salamence, and Tangrowth. This gives Registeel room to boost its unboosted stat as well. After a single Iron Defense, for example, Conkeldurr cannot 2HKO Registeel. Amnesia leaves Pokemon that would otherwise counter Registeel such as Moltres and Nidoking unable to 2HKO it, forcing them to fish for a critical hit in order to KO. Rest, along with Chesto Berry, allows Registeel to rid itself of status that would otherwise get in the way of a sweep. Rest also gives Registeel longevity to last throughout a game and stay healthy versus the likes of Excadrill, Scizor, and Cobalion. Registeel fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that provide it many opportunities to boost and sweep. Ghost-types are a massive problem for Registeel, as they are immune to Body Press and are usually able to power through it, so Hydreigon is a valuable teammate that can shut them down. Salamence and Slowking can check offensive Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Conkeldurr for Registeel. Registeel appreciates Knock Off absorbers like Amoonguss, Tapu Bulu, and Rocky Helmet Tangrowth to ensure safer setup. Tapu Bulu also provides Grassy Terrain support to give it passive recovery and weaken Earthquake from Mamoswine and Diggersby. Nihilego is a solid partner for Registeel, as it removes common Fighting-resistant Pokemon such as Hatterene and Togekiss, and provides Stealth Rock and Knock Off support that can aid in wearing down the opposition. It is also a reliable counter to Chandelure. Rotom-W threatens offensive Ground-types like Nidoking and Mamoswine, as well as Skarmory for Registeel. It can also provide valuable Defog support to clear the field of entry hazards. Calm Mind Hatterene is a good partner, due to countering Skarmory, which can KO Registeel after boosting alongside it with its own Body Press. It also prevents Skarmory from laying Spikes that would wear down Registeel a lot faster. Chansey can handle special attackers like Nidoking for Registeel while also providing Aromatherapy support to wake it up after Rest.

Moves Stealth Rock damages foes when they switch in, and Registeel is a very reliable setter thanks to its great bulk. Toxic is used to weaken the opposing team by crippling bulky Pokemon such as Alomomola and Hippowdon. Seismic Toss deals consistent damage to foes, somewhat making up for Registeel's lack of offensive presence. Protect allows Registeel to scout for Choice-locked Pokemon and gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery every time the move is used, which mitigates the fact that it can be chipped down very quickly. Protect also works well with Toxic, as it causes opposing Pokemon to take additional damage. Alternatively, Counter can be used to deal heavy damage back to physical attackers that usually threaten and try to exploit Registeel's uninvested Defense stat, such as Krookodile and Dragon Dance Mega Altaria. Using Counter can leave Registeel too weak to check what it's supposed to, however. Set Details Maximum HP and Special Defense investment and a Calm nature maximize Registeel's special bulk, allowing it to better switch into Pokemon like Latias and Hydreigon. Leftovers provides Registeel with a form of passive recovery, increasing its longevity. An alternative physically defensive spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with a Bold nature is an option, as it allows Registeel to switch into Pokemon like Mega Sharpedo more easily. However, it still falls short against most physical attackers. Clear Body is the ability of choice, as it allows Registeel to avoid Special Defense and Defense drops, further improving Registeel's durability. Usage Tips Registeel is a very straightforward Pokemon to use; it should be switched into Pokemon that it can wall, such as Latias and Nihilego, and proceed to set up Stealth Rock and weaken the opposing team with Toxic. Be wary of Pokemon that can take advantage of Registeel's passivity, such as Swords Dance Scizor and Nasty Plot Infernape. Staying in to set up Stealth Rock or use Seismic Toss in these situations may give the opponent an advantage. Since it lacks reliable recovery, Registeel shouldn't be taking unnecessary chip damage by trying to sponge physical hits, since it's whittled down very quickly. It should be preserved so it can check what it's intended to check. However, if Registeel is paired with a Wish passer like Alomomola and if it's likely that it'll receive Wish recovery, it can be used more freely. Use Protect to rack up more turns of Toxic damage on foes and to keep Registeel as healthy as possible with additional turns of Leftovers recovery. Protect should also be used to scout for Choice-locked Pokemon, such as Choice Band Scizor and Choice Specs Hydreigon. Counter should be used against physical threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Band Scizor that try to take advantage of Registeel's passivity. However, keep in mind that Registeel would be much weaker and potentially incapable of checking Pokemon like Calm Mind Latias after using Counter effectively. Additionally, Counter and Protect should be used carefully, as they can give the opponent free turns and thus the possibility of gaining an advantage. Registeel shouldn't try to use Counter or Protect against setup sweepers like Swords Dance Scizor and Cobalion. Team Options Registeel should only be used on bulkier builds that can take advantage of its resistances and access to Stealth Rock, and it should only be used if the Mega slot is already taken, as it's too passive to be used on more offensive ones. Wish support is one of the best ways to support Registeel, as it can increase Registeel's longevity. As such, Pokemon like Alomomola and Sylveon make for good partners. Alomomola is a particularly good teammate, as it also has amazing synergy with Registeel; Alomomola can sponge Ground- and Fire-type attacks that are aimed at Registeel, and Registeel can switch into special attackers such as Hydreigon and Primarina and block Toxic. Ground-types like Krookodile and Nidoking are able to threaten Registeel with their STAB moves, so Ground-immune Pokemon such as Gligar and Moltres pair well with it. Pokemon that can sponge the Fighting-type attacks that are aimed at Registeel, such as Mega Altaria and Slowbro, are also good teammates for it. Bulky Water-types like Tentacruel and the aforementioned Alomomola also pair well with Registeel for their ability to switch into Fire-types such as Infernape and Moltres, as Registeel is easily forced out by them. Blissey is a great partner for Registeel, as it can reliably switch into Pokemon like Volcanion and Moltres and appreciates Registeel's ability to set up Stealth Rock, which allows it to run Heal Bell. Entry hazard removers such as Defog Moltres and Articuno are able to easily remove Spikes from the field, which can wear Registeel down very quickly. Pursuit users provide valuable support for Registeel, as they can trap Ghost-types such as Gengar and Chandelure, which can usually take advantage of Registeel due to their immunity to Seismic Toss. Thus, Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl and Krookodile make good partners. Unaware Pokemon like Quagsire and Pyukumuku pair well with Registeel, as they're able to check a lot of the setup sweepers that try to take advantage of Registeel's passive nature, such as Swords Dance Scizor and Cobalion.

Moves Amnesia is one of Registeel's two defensive boosting moves, boosting its Special Defense by two stages in order to avoid KOs from special attackers like Genesect, Serperior, Timid Naganadel, and Choice Specs Necrozma. Iron Defense is Registeel's other boosting move, allowing it to withstand physical attacks from the likes of non-Choice Band Dragonite, Mega Metagross, and Choice Scarf Haxorus. Rest is Registeel's sole recovery move, allowing it to heal off damage before being KOed, with the sleep turns also aiding it in PP stalling opposing stall Pokemon like Jumpluff, Type: Null, and Kyurem. Seismic Toss is Registeel's best damaging move, dealing damage based on level, rather than its underwhelming offensive stats. Counter allows Registeel to heavily damage physical attackers that might otherwise overwhelm it, like Choice Band Dragonite, Choice Band Zeraora, Mega Tyranitar, and Mega Pinsir. Set Details 172 EVs in Defense coupled with 248 HP allow Registeel to avoid the 3HKO from Dragonite's +4 Earthquake after boosting to +6 Defense. 88 EVs in Special Defense alongside the HP investment ensure that Registeel isn't KOed by Timid Naganadel's Fire Blast after using Amnesia. Leftovers effectively acts as extra bulk that allows the previous two points to be possible, in addition to preventing Registeel from losing to being locked into Encore by Primarina and Togekiss. Clear Body prevents Registeel's stats from being lowered, which is useful for blocking Metal Sound from the likes of Aegislash, Magnezone, and Celesteela. Usage Tips An important thing to note in PP stall matchups against Magearna, Mega Slowbro, Type: Null, and Mega Scizor is that you want Registeel to use Rest whenever it's at less than full HP so that you can save as much as possible, since Rest doesn't put Registeel to sleep otherwise. Against Rest Mega Slowbro and Type: Null, in particular, you need to play carefully, because Registeel actually ties them on PP. After both sides use up all of their boosting PP, Registeel wins by repeatedly using Rest, because it would either gain extra turns from sleeping or eventually KO them with Seismic Toss after they use up all of their Rest PP. This strategy can be a bit reliant on RNG against Mega Slowbro, as Registeel would be hoping for a Scald burn or critical hit so that it can use Rest at least six times. Against Choice Scarf Porygon-Z and Togekiss, it is ideal to use Seismic Toss on the first turn, so that you can KO them in the event that they try to lock Registeel into its first move with Trick. Even if Porygon-Z turns out to be a Z-Conversion set, Registeel can withstand just about any attack and boost up its Special Defense with Amnesia to stall it down. Against Primarina, it is ideal to use Amnesia on the first turn, even if you expect it to run Encore, as Registeel will eventually boost its Special Defense so much that Primarina's attacks won't be able to outdamage Leftovers recovery. Against non-Choice Band Zeraora, it is ideal to lead with Iron Defense, as a majority of them use physically oriented sets. However, if Zeraora uses Charge, it may potentially be a mixed set with Electrium Z and Thunder, meaning you should use Amnesia on the next turn. While the boosted Gigavolt Havoc will deal a lot of damage, Registeel is just bulky enough to withstand the following attack and can safely use Rest and eventually get to a comfortable position to KO with Seismic Toss. Team Options Registeel pairs well with Water-types like Mega Gyarados, Greninja, Mega Slowbro, Primarina, and Tapu Fini, as these Pokemon cover Registeel's glaring weaknesses to the Fire- and Ground-types that occupy the metagame. In return, Registeel covers their weaknesses to Grass- and Electric-types like non-Choice Band Zeraora, Magnezone, Mega Venusaur, Serperior, and Ferrothorn. Registeel also appreciates partners like Dragonite, Magearna, Tapu Lele, and Clefable that cover its weakness to Fighting-types. In return, Registeel can go head to head with many of the Steel-types like opposing Magearna, Mega Metagross, non-Laser Focus Aegislash, and Celesteela that would otherwise threaten these partners. While Registeel is considerably bulky, it still struggles with the plethora of Pokemon that use Earthquake, so it likes to have physically bulky teammates like Mega Slowbro, Zygarde, Mega Altaria, and Mega Sableye that can deal with them. In turn, Registeel can handle the special attackers like Choice Specs Greninja, Porygon-Z, Mega Gardevoir, Primarina, and Serperior that would otherwise overwhelm them.

Moves Stealth Rock provides valuable support for any team, and Registeel can set it up very reliably. Thunder Wave can be used to cripple many offensive threats and works well with Registeel's great bulk. Alternatively, Toxic nails bulky walls such as Cresselia, Porygon2, and Swampert, which Registeel can barely scratch otherwise. Iron Head hits Fairy-, Ice-, and Rock-types for decent damage and allows Registeel to potentially abuse the flinch chance in conjunction with Thunder Wave paralysis. Seismic Toss can be used instead to inflict consistent damage on most Pokemon, making up for Registeel's lack of power. Protect accumulates additional Leftovers recovery and lets Registeel scout Choice-locked Pokemon such as Darmanitan and Mienshao. Alternatively, Earthquake can be used to hit certain Pokemon, such as Entei and Nidoqueen, super effectively. Set Details An EV spread of Max HP and Special Defense EVs with a Careful nature allows Registeel to reliably counter various special attackers in the tier, such as Hydreigon, Venomoth, Porygon-Z, Shaymin, Kyurem, and Dragalge. Leftovers increases Registeel's longevity. Alternatively, 252 Defense EVs and 4 Special Defense EVs can be used to tank hits better from the likes of Feraligatr and Mega Beedrill; however, Registeel's typing is better suited for walling special attackers rather than physical ones due to its weaknesses to common physical moves such as Earthquake and Close Combat. Usage Tips Utilize Registeel's great resistances and bulk to switch it in and set up Stealth Rock or to counter the many threatening special attackers in UU. The choice between Thunder Wave and Toxic comes down to whether it is more important for your team to neutralize offensive threats or break down opposing walls. This set should only really be used on very defensive teams due to its lack of offensive presence. If you want a bulky Steel-type to use on a balanced or offensive team, you are usually better off using Cobalion or Mega Aggron, which, unlike Registeel, will not completely kill your team's momentum. Make sure that you take advantage of Registeel's unique attributes, those being its monstrous Special Defense stat, access to Leftovers, and pure Steel typing, as otherwise you're better off using Mega Aggron, Forretress, or Bronzong. For instance, unlike other bulky Steel-types, Registeel has sufficient special bulk to reliably counter even the most fearsome special sweepers in UU, such as Quiver Dance Venomoth, Nasty Plot Porygon-Z, and Choice Specs Kyurem. Team Options Wish support is much appreciated because Registeel can otherwise be easily worn down with repeated hits. Fairy-types such as Sylveon, Florges, and Aromatisse are great partners for their ability to take Fighting-type attacks directed at Registeel, while Registeel can absorb Poison- and Steel-type attacks directed at them in return. Alomomola can also pass massive Wishes to Registeel while synergizing well with it defensively. Other physically bulky Water-types, such as Suicune and Slowking, also make for good partners because, in tandem with Registeel, they wall a huge portion of the tier. Pokemon that resist attacks that Registeel is weak to, such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, and Crobat, all make for decent teammates too. Due to its lack of power, Registeel is setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Calm Mind Suicune, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Curse Snorlax, Substitute Feraligatr, and Swords Dance Cobalion, so be sure to pair it with a phazer or a revenge killer that can deal with these threats. Pokemon such as Suicune, Slowking, Swampert, and Choice Scarf Mienshao can all fulfill this role. Whimsicott can also utilize its priority Encore to lock setup sweepers into a useless move.

Moves Topsy-Turvy lets Registeel stop setup sweepers by flipping their stat boosts, rendering them powerless. Destiny Bond gives Registeel an easy way of removing an opposing sweeper if it 2HKOes or otherwise threatens Registeel. Taunt prevents the foe from setting up or otherwise stalling PP. It can force many defensive Pokemon to switch out. Parting Shot gives Registeel the ability to pivot and gain momentum if the foe switches out. It can also phaze Magic Bounce users because when Parting Shot gets bounced back, it forces the opponent to switch, regardless of other trapping effects, such as Ingrain. U-turn is great for slow pivoting, providing safe switches, and effectively making Destiny Bond last two turns. It also allows Registeel to easily escape a situation where it has been Taunted somehow, such as from a Magic Bounce user switching into its Taunt, and provides a small amount of residual damage. Recover lets Registeel shrug off any damage that foes have done to it. Set Details A physically defensive spread allows Registeel to take very little damage from Fake Out + Extreme Speed from -ate users, and Prankster Recover gives it some leg room when dealing with Boomburst users. Safety Goggles prevents Spore from shutting down this set, allowing Registeel to switch into the move easily. Leftovers gives Registeel a small amount of recovery each turn, cutting burn and Leech Seed damage in half as well as allowing Registeel to wall foes that otherwise 2HKO it. Rocky Helmet forces -ate users to think twice before using Fake Out or Extreme Speed, as the residual damage adds up quickly, especially on sets that lack recovery. Usage Tips Prankster Registeel can switch into almost any non-super effective attack, so it's a good idea to scout out what moves the foe has with an Imposter user. Registeel doesn't mind Knock Off all that much, so it's generally not the end of the world if it switches into a few of those. After its item is removed, unboosted Knock Off will do next to nothing. It's also worth noting that because Destiny Bond lasts until Registeel moves next, Destiny Bond followed by slow U-turn effectively grants Registeel two turns of Destiny Bond. Registeel is commonly used as a switch-in to -ate users, as it can often Recover off any damage that coverage moves do to it. Team Options Giratina pairs well with this set because of its typing and bulk, which allow it to take hits that would often KO Registeel. Imposter Chansey can scout out what coverage moves the foe has before determining if Registeel can safely switch in. Additionally, setup sweepers that are Imposter resistant such as Poison Heal Kyogre and Mega Gyarados often have issues with Topsy-Turvy.

Moves Entrainment allows Registeel to force Poison Heal users out, as once their ability is switched, they start taking large amounts of damage from poison. Knock Off, on the other hand, has great utility against many types of teams and is especially useful for hitting Mega Gengar, removing Eviolite from Imposter Chansey, and removing Toxic Orb from Poison Heal users, discouraging their teammates from using Aromatherapy or Heal Bell. Baton Pass allows Registeel to easily pivot and bring in a check to a potential switch-in. It also allows Registeel to escape Perish trap or Magnet Pull users. Defog is a must-have on all teams due to entry hazard stacking, and Registeel can use it effectively because it also prevents entry hazards from being set up with Magic Bounce. Aromatherapy allows Registeel to easily heal its team of status ailments, and Recover keeps Registeel healthy so that it can continue to take on offensive threats. Set Details Leftovers give Registeel passive recovery, which can be useful against foes that would otherwise 2HKO it. Rocky Helmet allows Registeel to punish U-turn users, and generally build up damage on foes that lack recovery. It's especially useful against Mega Rayquaza because Fake Out and Extreme Speed are both contact moves, and if Stealth Rock is set up, Mega Rayquaza's ability to switch in and out is severely limited. The EVs allow Registeel to avoid being 2HKOed by Modest Choice Specs Mega Rayquaza's Boomburst over 90% of the time after Leftovers recovery. Usage Tips It's always a good idea to scout sets with Imposter Chansey before switching Registeel in, especially against Mega Rayquaza, which often prepares for Registeel with powerful coverage moves. Registeel can switch into just about any non-Mold Breaker Deoxys-S lead, as Magic Bounce lets Registeel bounce back Spore and entry hazards that Deoxys-S throws at it. If you know Registeel walls the foe, it's generally safe to Baton Pass out, predicting the foe's switch. Registeel also loves switching in against physical Poison Heal users, especially Arceus, as it walls most of them and can force them out with Entrainment. Team Options Imposter Chansey works well with Registeel, as it can scout opposing sets to see if Registeel can wall them. Also, Fur Coat or Poison Heal Giratina complements this set because it resists or is immune to two of Registeel's three weaknesses and is a similarly bulky wall. Sweepers that are walled by Registeel, such as certain Mega Rayquaza or Mega Diancie sets, can also be used as partners without worrying about needing to be Imposter-proof.

Moves A slow U-turn is a terrific move for pivoting and predicting switches. Metal Burst lets Registeel punish attackers such as Kyogre that are able to do a lot of damage but cannot OHKO it. Clear Smog lets Registeel stop setup sweepers and discourage foes from boosting to KO it. Nuzzle allows Registeel to cripple opposing sweepers by reducing their Speed significantly. It pairs well with Knock Off because if an opposing Poison Heal user loses its Toxic Orb to Knock Off, its teammates are discouraged from using Aromatherapy. Knock Off provides other utility as well, easily removing Eviolite or other useful items from your opponent's Pokemon. Set Details The chosen EVs and nature along with Assault Vest allow Registeel to have very strong mixed defenses, enabling it to take powerful attacks with ease. Its Speed is minimized to underspeed other bulky pivots for momentum gaining with U-turn, and to make Metal Burst go last more often. Alternatively, a more specially defensive spread can be used in order to provide added insurance against strong special attackers with moves like Earth Power and Magma Storm. Usage Tips This Registeel set can often switch into strong resisted or neutral attacks. Because of this, it works well as a scout for moves for teams without an Imposter user such as Chansey. It also works well as a switch-in to -ate users because it is bulky enough to shrug off their STAB moves and can use Metal Burst against coverage moves. Losing its Assault Vest to Knock Off reduces the bulk of this set significantly, so make sure to play carefully around Pokemon that commonly run this move, such as Yveltal and Mega Tyranitar. When Registeel gets low on health, it's a good idea to use U-turn or switch out so that Regenerator heals it. Additionally, when Registeel is brought in against a foe that it walls, it's often safe to U-turn out, predicting the switch. Knock Off is most useful against Poison Heal users to discourage Aromatherapy and against Chansey to remove its Eviolite. If it has Clear Smog, Registeel can switch into Poison Heal Kyogre often and prevent it from boosting. Team Options Giratina pairs well with Registeel because its typing complements Registeel's. Generally speaking, this set works well on teams with Pokemon that it walls, because then it's unnecessary to take Imposter users into account when teambuilding.

Despite being commonly seen as a defensive Pokemon, Registeel can make use of its average Attack and access to both Curse and Explosion to pose as a serious threat after a single turn of set-up. This set aims to abuse the aforementioned traits in order to act as a reliable defensive pivot, lure, and sweeper. When equipped with an Occa Berry, Registeel can draw in and remove its most common counters, such as Moltres and Arcanine, thus paving the way for one of its teammates to sweep. In the earlier stages of the match, this set is meant to be played just as the standard defensive set, acting as a special wall and check to the plethora of Normal-, Flying-, and Grass-types that roam the UU tier, such as Swellow, Scyther, and Leafeon; this is done in order to bait the opponent into a false sense of security. Once the opposing team has been sufficiently scouted for potential threats, Registeel can grab a boost with Curse and retaliate against the subsequent switch-in with the appropriate move. Regarding the moveset, Iron Head acts as Registeel's always invaluable STAB, hitting both Ghost and Rock-types that like taking chances by switching into Registeel while expecting it to Explode, as well as Flying-types, without having to resort to Explosion. Speaking of Explosion, it's an amazing move that can cripple opposing walls like Milotic, and dispatch of Moltres and Donphan, both of which aren't hit for significant amounts of damage by any of Registeel's other moves. The choice for the last move is perhaps the most important part of this set, as it will determine how often this set will rely on taking a risk and using Explosion to defeat its counters. Earthquake is the preferred option, as it abuses Occa Berry to its fullest extent by taking care of Houndoom, Arcanine, and Blaziken. Ice Punch is another option if Registeel's main purpose is beating Torterra; however, it falls short of OHKOing bulkier versions, even after Stealth Rock damage. If neither of those options sound appealing, Counter is an interesting move that severely hurts Rhyperior, Donphan, and Torterra if they hit Registeel with Earthquake, but will be made useless if any of these Pokemon decide to use Roar or any sort of support move instead. Running a Chople Berry is another option if one's main objective is removing Fighting-types such as Hariyama, Hitmontop, and Toxicroak from play; however, none of these Pokemon can actually OHKO Registeel once it has grabbed a single Curse boost, meaning that it should only be used if Registeel's defensive capabilities are heavily relied upon by the user's team. Because this set's main selling point is its ability to take many of Registeel's usual counters out of commission, pairing it with a Pokemon that can benefit from the removal of said threats is highly recommended. Swords Dance Venusaur makes a nifty partner, given the fact that many of its counters, such as Arcanine, Houndoom, and Moltres, are handily baited by Registeel. Absol is another great teammate, as not only does it benefit from the removal of bulky physical walls like Donphan, Torterra, and Arcanine, but it can also easily get past RestTalk Rotom, which completely shuts this set down. Since this set does not have Leftovers, does not have any heavy investment in Special Defense, and has a frequency of having to Explode on the opponent, Registeel loses a considerable amount of its walling capabilities, which means that having secondary checks to the threats it's usually meant to counter is recommended. Specially defensive Arcanine makes a good partner due to its ability to beat most Grass-types and check Rotom, Mismagius, and Alakazam. Rhyperior can take care of most Flying-types of the tier, has the option of setting up Stealth Rock, and enjoys having both Torterra and Donphan removed from play.

This is the set most Registeel use. It checks many common UU Pokemon, such as Mismagius, Rotom, Alakazam, and Venusaur. Registeel boasts impressive base 150 defenses, which means that it has great staying power, even with a mediocre base 80 HP. Seismic Toss is chosen as Registeel's primary attack to deal reliable damage. Thunder Wave cripples fast sweepers and makes them easier for Registeel's teammates to handle, but Toxic wears down bulkier Pokemon. The last slot comes down to Shadow Claw versus Iron Head. While Iron Head gains STAB, Steel is not a very effective attacking type, so Iron Head hits most Pokemon for less damage than Seismic Toss. Shadow Claw is a specialized option to help Registeel beat the Pokemon that are immune to Seismic Toss. In most situations, Seismic Toss will be Registeel's attack-of-choice, making Iron Head a secondary option. What sets Registeel apart from other bulky Pokemon is two things: the ability to set up Stealth Rock and the ability to spread status. These two qualities make it invaluable when facing offense. Stealth Rock is always an important support move, and having it on a Pokemon like Registeel is a reliable way to set it up. Paralysis is a large hindrance to many sweepers looking to break through Registeel. On the other hand, many of Registeel's main switch-ins are Ground-type or very slow, which is why Toxic can be used instead of Thunder Wave. You will want to get Registeel out early to set up Stealth Rock and possibly Toxic a defensive component of the opponent's team. A Careful nature and maximum Special Defense is used to squeeze as much special bulk as possible into Registeel. While Registeel is not a very diverse Pokemon, there are some moves that it can use to net a surprise KO or to do more damage to some common switch-ins. The most notable one is Toxic, which can cripple quite a few of Registeel's counters, such as Milotic, Rhyperior, Donphan, and Torterra. They will be hard-pressed to take repeated assaults from Seismic Toss while Toxic neuters Leftovers recovery. Another less notable option that can be used is Ice Punch, which hits Torterra for a 2HKO while still breaking Mismagius and Rotom's Substitutes. If an opponent has Torterra, it will often be his primary check to Registeel, and Ice Punch will make it think twice before switching in. The final alternative is to shift 56 EVs from Special Defense into Attack and use Iron Head. The EVs will guarantee that Iron Head 2HKOes Mismagius after it switches into Stealth Rock and uses Substitute.

This Registeel set takes a more durable approach to checking threats. With Rest and Sleep Talk, Registeel works as a good sleep absorber for your team. Curse allows it to become an offensive force after a few turns, while also increasing its defensive capabilities. Registeel's typing and pre-Curse defensive stats allow it to set up with ease on many of UU's top threats, such as Venusaur, Milotic, and Mismagius. Rest allows it to take repeated blows from heavy hitters and makes Registeel a threat throughout a game. Iron Head is chosen as Registeel's sole attack since it receives STAB and is boosted by Curse. While Registeel has many chances to use Curse, if it only has one boost under its belt, there are many Pokemon who it should not stay in on. If Torterra or Donphan comes in and Registeel has not boosted sufficiently, chances are they will land a critical hit on Registeel before Registeel can KO them. You should wait until their checks and counters to Registeel are sufficiently weakened before you attempt to sweep. Additionally, Registeel's Attack may not be high enough to pose a threat to some offensive Pokemon after only one Curse. Sometimes it will be in your best interest to Iron Head right off the bat to scout their switch-in. You may also not want to use Rest to heal minimal amounts of damage, since a sleeping Registeel is far more susceptible to being setup fodder than one who is awake. This set has quite a few merits over the standard Tank Registeel. The most obvious is reliable healing in Rest. However, this set cannot utilize Stealth Rock or status, and is more susceptible to being setup bait for Fire- and Water-types. Curse Registeel is a slightly better switch-in to threats who wear down standard Registeel with their powerful attacks, such as Mismagius, Alakazam, and Scyther. The other notable difference is that Curse Registeel actually poses an offensive threat. There are few other options that Curse Registeel can employ. The main change that is suggested is to remove Sleep Talk for Earthquake and change the item to Chesto Berry. This allows Registeel to boost to a reasonable level and use Rest as a one-time pass to restore itself back to 100% health and sweep using the boosts it obtained. An example of a situation where this would work would be if Registeel Curses as Dugtrio comes in, Curses again, Rests, and sweeps. This, combined with the extra coverage that Earthquake provides, can make Registeel a fearsome sweeper.

While Registeel is normally used as a standard defensive pivot, it can go the utility route and set up Rain Dance. Explosion is used because it is a safe way to get in a sweeper and can cripple an opposing defensive wall, such as Milotic. Shadow Claw is used as Registeel's second attack to prevent Mismagius and Rotom from getting free Substitutes, which is a common way of dealing with Rain Dance teams. Seismic Toss is preferred in the last slot as a way to deal reliable damage. Thunder Wave can slow down an opposing sweeper, but it also tends to waste turns, something that rain teams don't like. Registeel is a good user of Rain Dance for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is almost impossible to OHKO Registeel, virtually guaranteeing that you will get rain going. Registeel can also check quite a few Pokemon that give the average rain team trouble once the weather has run out, such as Alakazam, Mismagius, and Venusaur. Since Registeel can often play such a critical role in a rain team's success, you are advised to switch Registeel out rather than using Explosion in the early game. However, this does not mean that Explosion should never be used; a well timed Rain Dance followed by Explosion can heavily swing the momentum in a rain team's favor. Registeel's typing can work well with quite a few rain sweepers by luring out Fire-types, netting them a free switch-in. Registeel, however reliable, should not be your only Rain Dance user. While frail lead users of the move, such as Ambipom, are a fine choice, another bulky Pokemon to help take hits once the rain subsides is usually going to be the most reliable option. Synergy-wise, some of the best partners to Rain Dance Registeel are Rotom and Uxie. Rotom sports handy immunities to Ground and Fighting, and can threaten a KO against Moltres, a common nemesis of Rain Dance teams. Uxie has base 130 defenses, allowing it to switch in on most non-super effective attacks and set up rain. Uxie also provides a check to Substitute Rhyperior and Toxicroak, while Registeel covers Uxie's Mismagius weakness. It goes without saying that Registeel should be paired with sweepers that can take advantage of the rain.

This set beefs up Registeel's already high Special Defense in order to take the most common attacks from the Uber metagame. Because of Registeel's excellent Steel typing, it can provide you with an excellent check to many of the most common Pokemon in Ubers, while simultaneously supporting the team with Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave. Stealth Rock is always useful to have, and Registeel is a reliable Pokemon to set it up, especially in the face of many Choice Scarf-locked Dragon-type attacks. Thunder Wave is extremely useful for crippling a wide range of Pokemon in Ubers, such as Latias, Latios, and Lugia. Ice Punch is Registeel's offensive move of choice, but don't expect too much out of it, given Registeel's mediocre offenses. Explosion can be used to go out with a bang and will leave dents in almost everything that doesn't resist it. Toxic deserves a mention for the ability to cripple walls like Lugia, Giratina, and Groudon (on the switch-in), and may be used over Thunder Wave. Make your choice depending on the team's needs. The EVs lean towards Special Defense, with a small investment in Attack and Defense. The Attack EVs allow a guaranteed 2HKO on min/min Rayquaza with Ice Punch, and an OHKO on Latias with Explosion, with Stealth Rock in play. 80 Defense EVs allow you to be almost never 2HKOed by an Adamant +1 Rayquaza with Outrage, allowing you to cripple it with Thunder Wave, or if it is within range, flat out KO it. Additionally, Modest Choice Specs Kyogre's Thunder will be a 3HKO, allowing you to either paralyze it, poison it, or Explode on it, all of which will severely hinder its sweep. While it can survive against Dragon Dance Rayquaza locked into Outrage, do not keep Registeel in against Swords Dance variants. This is because the Swords Dance variants run Dragon Claw instead of Outrage, and hence can simply Earthquake for the KO. You should also beware of Earthquake from any other variant of Rayquaza, especially Dragon Dance Rayquaza, since it will do a ton of damage, with a small chance of an OHKO. Additionally, do not even try to switch Registeel into Kyogre unless it is locked into Thunder or Ice Beam, as its STAB attacks OHKO Registeel in the rain. To get the most out of Registeel, partner it with an offensive Kyogre to provide rain support while also luring in Dragon-types who resist Water Spout. Registeel can switch in on most of these Pokemon, allowing it to either spread paralysis or simply use Explosion. Other useful teammates include defensive Lugia and Ho-Oh. Both of these Pokemon resist Fighting-type attacks and are immune to Ground-type ones, while simultaneously providing support against many of Registeel's common switch-ins, including Groudon, Skarmory, and Forretress. Registeel may resist the premier attacking types in Ubers, but it is still weak against Ground- and Fighting-type attacks. It also suffers from a lack of reliable recovery. To these ends, Latias is a fantastic partner for Registeel, providing Wish support for the metal hunk, as well as having awesome defensive synergy with Registeel. Latios is also a decent partner, as Earthquakes aimed at Registeel give it free switch-ins to start wreaking havoc. Something to take care of Rayquaza is also preferable, such as physically defensive Groudon. Speaking of Groudon, it absolutely mauls Registeel, so having something like Wobbuffet, Giratina, Lugia, or Choice Scarf Shaymin-S to check it is preferable.

Registeel is one of the bulkiest Pokemon in the tier, which affords it the opportunity to spam Thunder Wave in attempt to make up for its lackluster offensive pressure. Weak Fire-type attacks like Gengar's Fire Punch fail to 4HKO, meaning that Earthquake is the best way to hit it for super effective damage. It lures in Earthquake from Metagross, Tyranitar, and Snorlax and punishes them by OHKOing with Counter in return. However, this can be predicted, and whiffing a Counter leaves Registeel a sitting duck, so timing it well is vital. Seismic Toss allows Registeel to deal chip damage, which is helpful when paired with revenge killers like Raikou and Tauros. Explosion is a decent source of offensive pressure, as it OHKOes Zapdos even without offensive investment. However, Registeel is reliant on Explosion to pose any sort of immediate offensive threat, which is not an admirable trait in this fast-paced metagame. The given EV spread makes Gengar's Fire Punch a 5HKO on Registeel after Leftovers recovery. Registeel annoys common leads such as Metagross and Gengar, though it far from hard counters them. It should be paired with a lead like Zapdos, Swampert, or Snorlax that makes up for its lack of offensive pressure. Slower Choice Band users like Heracross and Snorlax appreciate Thunder Wave support in order to facilitate sweeps or score safe hits on faster Pokemon.