Serperior Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Leech Seed allows Serperior to sap away health from its opponent for itself, allowing it to beat anything that it can outspeed, take a hit from, and land a Leech Seed on, like Avalugg and Garchomp. Leaf Storm is Serperior's STAB option which will boost its Special Attack after each successful use. This allows Serperior to beat back recovery users like Mega Slowbro and most Mega Altaria. Substitute is used to block attacks from opposing Pokemon, as well as give an extra layer of protection against Toxic users. Protect allows Serperior to avoid taking damage without losing a portion of its HP, unlike Substitute. When used with Substitute, it can also be used to PP stall moves with 8 PP, such as V-create from Choice Band Victini. Taunt can also be used to prevent Pokemon such as Crustle and offensive Mega Gyarados from setting up. Set Details 248 HP and 24 Defense EVs allow Serperior to tank an Outrage from Choice Band Garchomp as well as an Air Slash from non-Flame Charge Mega Charizard Y and force mind games with it. 232 Speed EVs let Serperior outspeed base 110 Speed Pokemon like Mega Metagross. The 4 Special Defense EVs are leftovers, giving Serperior a better chance for playing mind games against Tapu Lele variants. Contrary is run in order to consistently boost the power of Leaf Storm as well as give much better odds against Metal Sound users like Aegislash. It also means that stat-dropping moves like Rock Tomb, Confide, and Metal Sound actually help Serperior instead, shutting down foes like Sawk, Type: Null, and Aegislash, which rely on these moves to gain the upper hand. Leftovers is run in order to give Serperior more recovery alongside Leech Seed, which, combined with Protect and Substitute, lets Serperior stall out slower Pokemon hit by Leech Seed indefinitely. 184 HP / 72 Def / 252 Spe can also be run if you need to outspeed a few niche Pokemon, specifically Mega Lucario, while also Speed tying with opposing Serperior for better odds in the mirror matchup. These EVs also maintain the Garchomp matchup. Usage Tips After a foe is seeded, simply alternate Protect and Substitute to eventually sap away all of an opponent's health. If a foe can mortally threaten Serperior with a powerful Z-Move or recharge move, such as Aegislash, Tapu Lele, Z-Conversion Porygon-Z, and non-Flame Charge Mega Charizard Y, Serperior will need to play mind games to get in a position where it can land a Leech Seed without being KOed by using Substitute on the predicted Z-Move or Blast Burn or by using Leech Seed on a weaker hit that it can survive. Against Magearna, you should always use Substitute first, in case it is running the niche set of offensive Fairium Z. Only use Leech Seed after they use their Z-Move followed up by Fleur Cannon or if they don't break Serperior's Substitute on a turn. If an opposing Pokemon recovers while moving last, you should use Leaf Storm the following turn, which will quickly snowball into damage that exceeds the health they are recovering, most of the time. This is useful against bulkier threats like most Mega Altaria. If your opponent utilizes Toxic, use Substitute before Leech Seed in order to avoid being afflicted by the condition, such as against Porygon2 or Chansey. Against Fly users, specifically Choice item Landorus-T and Dragonite, use Substitute on turn one as well, which will allow you to avoid the potentially deadly damage and safely Leech Seed them. Serperior will have to play around a potential Outrage from Choice Scarf Dragonite, however. Against setup Pokemon that can potentially threaten Serperior, such as non-Rock Blast Crustle, Serperior will need to predict whether or not they will attack or use Shell Smash, and act accordingly. Mega Gyarados can potentially beat Serperior if it predicts the wrong set. If it's running a hyper offensive set, the winning play is to Leaf Storm twice, not bothering to Leech Seed, as Serperior can be 2HKOed after a Dragon Dance boost while failing to do enough damage without boosts itself. Using Leech Seed and Substitute turns one and two could leave Serperior open to a potential Taunt. Against bulky Mega Gyarados, Serperior will want to use Leech Seed on turn one and then use Leaf Storm, Protecting when they use Outrage to gain back HP. Team Options Generally bulky Pokemon will be Serperior's greatest form of aid, as they will naturally be able to tank the hits coming off of extremely powerful Pokemon that Serperior cannot handle and retaliate in kind. Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados, Magnezone, Meloetta, Tapu Fini, and Primarina can generally threaten some highly offensive Pokemon, including Mega Charizard X and Y, Choice Scarf Porygon-Z, Greninja, and trickier foes like Aegislash. In return, Serperior threatens other bulky offense Pokemon that generally threaten these teammates, such as opposing Mega Gyarados, Magearna, most Mega Altaria, and opposing Magnezone. Choice Scarf Dragonite is a particularly good choice as well, as it provides not only the power and bulk to beat powerful threats to Serperior like Meloetta, Kommo-o, and Genesect but also the Speed necessary to outspeed and OHKO Greninja and Porygon-Z, whose Ice Beam and Hyper Beam would normally beat other bulky Dragon-types and, in the case of Greninja, other Dragonite variants that could play the role that Choice Scarf Dragonite provides. In return, Serperior beats back Fairy-, Water-, and Steel-type Pokemon that are not threatened by Dragonite, like non-Taunt Mega Mawile, Mega Metagross, Tapu Fini, and Primarina.

Moves Serperior's Leech Seed helps to keep itself healthy against Pokemon like Celesteela, Toxapex, and Chansey. Serperior using Substitute is key to force switches on Pokemon like Toxapex and Ferrothorn and ease predictions to make it harder for the opposing team to revenge kill Serperior. The combination of Leech Seed and Substitute also helps Serperior wear down Pokemon like Heatran and Chansey. Leaf Storm boosts Serperior's Special Attack to break past bulky Pokemon such as Toxapex and Mega Sableye and clean weakened teams late-game. Hidden Power Fire, when powered up once, allows Serperior to take care of Steel-types like Mega Scizor, Forretress, and Ferrothorn. Set Details 252 Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Serperior to outpace Pokemon like Mega Gallade and Keldeo. Leftovers allows Serperior to have passive recovery while using Substitute + Leech Seed to get some HP back. Contrary allows Serperior to boost its Special Attack by using Leaf Storm and to take advantage of Sticky Web to get a Speed boost. Usage Tips Let Serperior come in on bulkier Pokemon such as Mega Sableye, on weak attacks like Forretress's Gyro Ball, on a predicted switch, or on predicted entry hazards from opposing Landorus-T or Garchomp. Make sure to scout common defensive Pokemon like Chansey, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela to make sure they aren't running Toxic as well as common Thunder Wave users such as Jirachi, as status will cripple Serperior significantly. Due to Serperior's mediocre bulk, do not let it take strong attacks such as Hydreigon's Draco Meteor and Celesteela's Heavy Slam. Switch Serperior out when Pokemon that commonly have priority such as Dragonite, Diggersby, Weavile, and Bisharp are on the field, as Serperior does not take these attacks well. Prioritize using Leech Seed against bulkier teams such as Normal, Poison, and Flying, as it will slowly wear them down especially if there are entry hazards up. Use Serperior to clean late-game, as once all its checks and counters are out of the way, it has an easier time sweeping. In the Steel-type matchup, try to wear down Heatran as much as possible, as after Serperior powers up from using Leaf Storm, it can sweep with Hidden Power Fire. It can also outstall Heatran's Magma Storm PP by using Substitute, to fish for a miss and, when given the opportunity, use Leech Seed to help wear it down. Be careful around Pokemon with the ability Pressure like Zapdos and Suicune, as they can get rid of Leaf Storm's PP and make Serperior unable to clean late-game. Team Options Mega Venusaur is a must-have partner for Serperior because of its ability in Thick Fat and physical bulk, as this enables it to take on Pokemon such as Infernape and Mamoswine. Mega Venusaur can also soak up Toxic Spikes, which Serperior appreciates. Ferrothorn helps wear down bulkier teams like Normal and Dark with Spikes and can cripple Ice and Flying teams with Stealth Rock and Leech Seed and by forcing switches. Ferrothorn's Steel typing is also great for taking Ice-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks like Greninja's Ice Beam, Latios's Draco Meteor, and Mimikyu's Play Rough and forcing their users out, which helps Serperior sweep late-game. Breloom greatly helps in the Ice-, Normal-, and Dark-type matchups with its Fighting typing against Pokemon like Weavile, Chansey, and Greninja. With Spore, Breloom can put passive Pokemon like Toxapex and common Stealth Rock setters like Garchomp to sleep. When running Rockium Z with Stone Edge, Breloom can take care of Celesteela and Mandibuzz after a Swords Dance. Celebi can help with the Steel-type matchup, as it can run Groundium Z to OHKO Heatran and threaten both Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn with Hidden Power Fire. With its Psychic-type STAB move, Celebi can also improve the Poison-type matchup, and it can even force in Alolan Muk and OHKO it after one Nasty Plot when running Groundium Z. Tapu Bulu is the best Choice Scarf user for Grass, as it can OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona with Stone Edge as well as help with fast Pokemon like Hydreigon and Mega Lopunny. Thanks to Grassy Terrain, it also provides Serperior with more passive recovery and makes Leaf Storm more powerful, which it appreciates. Cradily is able to set up Stealth Rock to complete a stacking duo with Ferrothorn. It is also a great specially defensive wall that can take on Hydreigon, Latios, and Fire-types like Volcarona and Blacephalon. Whimsicott can help with matchups like Dragon, Dark, and Fighting because of its Fairy typing, threatening Pokemon like Garchomp, Mega Sableye, and Mega Gallade. Thanks to Whimsicott's Fairy typing, it stops Kommo-o from using its Clangorous Soulblaze that would otherwise be a big threat to the team. Whimsicott can also help with its utility moves in Tailwind, Encore, and Stun Spore to help Serperior outpace faster Pokemon like Latios and setup Pokemon like Volcarona, and slow down threatening Pokemon like Greninja and Victini. Decidueye helps with the Psychic-type matchup because of its combination of Swords Dance, Spirit Shackle, and Shadow Sneak being able to take care of most of these Pokemon. With Spirit Shackle, Swords Dance, and Roost, it can trap troublesome walls like Toxapex, Mantine, and Celesteela and take care of them. Decidueye also greatly helps with Victini, a big threat to Grass teams, as once a Pokemon gets OHKOed by V-create, it can come in and take care of it or use it as a chance to set up with Swords Dance.

Using the popular Substitute + Leech Seed strategy, Serperior puts a new twist on it thanks to boosting its Special Attack with Contrary Leaf Storm. Hidden Power Fire is essential to this set to deal with opposing Grass-types like Ferrothorn. Coverage in general isn't as important to this Serperior, since Substitute and Leech Seed can whittle down Pokemon many Pokemon that wall it. Just note that due to Thick Fat, Mega Venusaur has no problems walling this Serperior.

Serperior makes a unique dual screen Pokemon due to its ability to deal damage with boosted Leaf Storms if setting up a teammate isn't possible. It can also further support your team by paralyzing foes with Glare, though running this move does leave Serperior vulnerable to Ferrothorn, so Hidden Power Fire is a reasonable option.

This Serperior takes a slower approach to boosting, using Reflect to let it take on physical attackers such as Mega Kangaskhan decently. This Serperior is built to last, so Synthesis is an important ingredient. There are many options for the Hidden Power choice, with Fire hitting Steel-types, Ice hitting Dragon-types, Ground hitting Heatran, and Rock hitting Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y. Don't be too reckless when switching in this Serperior, since it isn't particularly bulky before Reflect is set up.

Serperior's access to Contrary lets it boost its Special Attack by two stages with Leaf Storm, making it a dangerous offensive lead despite its poor coverage and Special Attack stat and even giving it a chance to sweep in some games. Glare allows Serperior to cripple threats it doesn't deal enough damage to without a specific Hidden Power, such as Blaziken, Volcarona, Mega Salamence, and Mega Charizard Y. Hidden Power Fire is good for taking down Ferrothorn and Skarmory and dealing good damage to Celesteela, while Hidden Power Ice can defeat Salamence switch-ins. Hidden Power Rock ensures that Serperior can deal massive damage to Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y, which would otherwise wall it. If Heatran needs to be dealt with, Hidden Power Ground is also acceptable. Taunt prevents recovery from bulkier Pokemon and blocks Stealth Rock. Mirror Coat can also be used to catch powerful special attackers by surprise, while Dragon Pulse is acceptable for dealing decent damage if using Hidden Power Fire or Ground to deal damage to Mega Salamence and Mega Charizard X.

Set Description Serperior uses its great Speed tier to set Leech Seed and gain passive recovery at the end of the turn. Then, Serperior alternates between Protect and Substitute, chipping the opponent and stalling turns; this allows it to beat many top threats, such as Garchomp and Mega Metagross. To round out the set, Serperior uses Leaf Storm, which gains power with each use thanks to Contrary; this allows Serperior to beat stall Pokemon, such as Mega Sableye, Manaphy, and Mega Slowbro. EVs Serperior needs maximum Speed investment to outspeed base-110 Speed threats, most notably Mega Diancie, Mega Metagross, and non-Choice Scarf Archeops; this lets it fare well against other Serperior. The HP and Defense investment allows it to take an Outrage from Jolly Choice Band Garchomp while maximizing its HP. Usage Tips Versus Sableye, Serperior can use Protect on turn one to avoid Taunt, which will still be a priority move due to Prankster when they Mega Evolve. This will allow Serperior to get a Substitute off against Mega Sableye to avoid potential Metal Burst damage. If they use Calm Mind, use Leaf Storm. However, if they choose not to Mega Evolve, they preserve Prankster Taunt, and the matchup becomes a toss-up between Leaf Storm on Taunt or Substitute on Metal Burst. However, it should be noted that many Sableye do not carry Metal Burst. Versus various targets that are weak to Grass, such as Mega Diancie, Mega Gyarados, and Mega Slowbro, Serperior should use Leaf Storm repeatedly instead of setting Leech Seed. In most other matchups, using Leech Seed on turn one before alternating between Protect and Substitute provides the best chances of winning, provided Serperior survives the foe's initial attack.

Moves Substitute shields Serperior from status effects from Rotom-W, Necturna, Chansey, Tomohawk, Garchomp, Gliscor, Slowbro, Clefable, and Ferrothorn and weak attacks from opposing walls. Leech Seed wears down opposing walls like specially defensive Heatran, Chansey, defensive Cyclohm, Unaware Clefable, specially defensive Jirachi, and Skarmory, Pokemon that Serperior struggles against with its other sets. Leaf Storm is Serperior's strongest STAB attack and boosts Serperior's Special Attack after using it, allowing it to break past worn-down walls and offensive Pokemon. Hidden Power Fire is Serperior's best coverage move, hitting Pokemon that take minimal damage from Leaf Storm like Scizor, Ferrothorn, Necturna, Kitsunoh, Cawmodore, and Mega Metagross super effectively. Hidden Power Ground is a decent coverage move that 2HKOes specially defensive Heatran and has a chance to OHKO tank Mollux after a Leaf Storm boost, but it leaves Serperior walled by Flying-types and the Steel-types that are hit super effectively by Hidden Power Fire. Set Details 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Serperior to outspeed as many threats as possible, outspeeding base 110 Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Kitsunoh and Speed tying with other Hidden Power Fire Serperior; however, note that it cannot outspeed Mega Crucibelle. 252 Special Attack EVs allow Serperior to hit as hard as possible because without a Life Orb, Serperior needs every ounce of power it can get. Leftovers allows Serperior to make more Substitutes and mitigate damage dealt by walls. Usage Tips Switch Serperior into resisted hits or weak attacks. If switching into a wall, try not to get hit by a status effect. Double switches or safe switches through U-turn, Volt Switch, and Baton Pass also help Serperior get in safely. Using Substitute is generally the best first course of action after Serperior switches in, as it shields Serperior from status effects. Against a wall, Leech Seed's passive recovery helps heal off the HP lost from setting up a Substitute. Leaf Storm should then be used if Serperior will not be forced out. Save Leaf Storm's PP until after Unaware Clefable and Haze Tomohawk have been removed from play. The former can heal off damage from Leech Seed and Leaf Storm, while the latter can alternate between Rapid Spin, which frees it from Leech Seed, and Haze, which removes Serperior's boosts. Wear down Tomohawk until it is forced to Roost, and take advantage of the turn it does so to use an unresisted Leaf Storm. Do not overestimate Serperior's firepower, as the lack of a Life Orb makes Serperior not very threatening unless it has a few boosts under its belt. This set should be used primarily to stallbreak; however, it can hold its own against offensive teams too. Hidden Power is Serperior's best move to use when wearing down a wall, as the other three moves' PP are precious. Team Options Offensive teams appreciate Serperior's Grass-type STAB attacks and ability to wear down opposing walls. Because Talonflame, Tornadus-T, and Tomohawk annoy this set, Electric-type Pokemon are great teammates. Notable examples include Cyclohm and Rotom-W, which resist these counters' Flying-type STAB moves. In return, Serperior removes Ground-types like Colossoil and walls like Cyclohm, which give these Pokemon trouble. In particular, VoltTurn teams help Serperior switch in more easily and appreciate Serperior's ability to remove opposing walls. Crucibelle and Rotom-W can deal with Flying-types such as Tornadus-T, Tomohawk, and Talonflame. The former can either threaten these Flying-types with STAB Head Smash or set up with Coil, but it must be wary of Superpower from Life Orb Tornadus-T and Earth Power from Tomohawk, whereas the latter must be wary of Life Orb Focus Blast Tornadus-T and Life Orb Aura Sphere Tomohawk. Both have access to U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively, allowing safe switches for Serperior. They also act as good switch-ins to Fire-types like Mollux and Heatran. Paralysis inducers like Clefable, Thundurus, and Cyclohm are good teammates for Serperior, as they allow Serperior to outspeed faster offensive Pokemon like Choice Scarf Volkraken, Mega Crucibelle, and Syclant.

Moves Leaf Storm is absolutely required, as it's Serperior's strongest STAB option and gives Serperior the equivalent of a Nasty Plot boost when it is used thanks to Contrary. Dragon Pulse provides coverage against opposing Dragon-types such as Cyclohm, Latias, and Dragalge, and it can KO them if they switched into Leaf Storm the previous turn. Hidden Power Fire provides important coverage against opposing Steel-types and easily OHKOes Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn at +2. It also KOes opposing Steel-types such as Mega Metagross, Kitsunoh, and Skarmory with some prior damage. Alternatively, Hidden Power Ground allows Serperior to handle opposing Heatran, Mollux, and Plasmanta after a boost from Leaf Storm. Glare is the preferred option in the final slot as it cripples Serperior's switch-ins, such as Talonflame and Choice Scarf Mollux. Giga Drain gives Serperior a semi-reliable form of recovery, helping to heal off damage it might take from Life Orb recoil and entry hazards. This also allows Serperior to outlast Chansey, as Giga Drain will restore a large portion of Serperior's HP if it has obtained enough boosts. However, keep in mind that Giga Drain is rather weak without a boost and should usually only be used after at least one boost from Leaf Storm. Taunt is useful against Pokemon that might try to heal against Serperior, cripple it with status, or set up on it. Substitute allows Serperior to play around Sucker Punch users, such as Colossoil and Bisharp. It also acts as a shield against passive Pokemon that might try to inflict status on Serperior and eases prediction against Serperior's switch-ins. Set Details The given EV spread maximizes Serperior's Special Attack and Speed. A Timid nature is used so that Serperior outspeeds foes such as Kitsunoh, Mega Diancie, Latias, Latios, and Gengar. Life Orb is the item of choice so that Serperior hits as hard as possible, and a 29 HP IV is used to reduce the amount of recoil damage taken. Leftovers is an option over Life Orb which trades immediate power for longevity, improving Serperior's matchup against bulkier teams. Usage Tips Serperior should ideally be brought in on a Pokemon that it can KO with Leaf Storm, as this puts Serperior at +2 Special Attack the next turn and at a significant advantage against the next switch-in. Revenge killing a foe by using Dragon Pulse or a Hidden Power is acceptable in a pinch, but keep in mind that Serperior lacks a lot of raw power against the next switch-in at +0, which is why it's almost always preferable to bring Serperior in on a foe it can KO with Leaf Storm. Serperior must be brought in safely, either after a teammate has been KOed or by a slower teammate's U-turn or Volt Switch. This is because Serperior tends to be easily revenge killed, and taking too much damage while switching in can put it into KO range for priority moves that it could otherwise survive. Serperior can overwhelm most walls due to how quickly Leaf Storm stacks Special Attack boosts, as long as they can't hit Serperior back for super effective damage; for example, the combination of Leaf Storm and Giga Drain can wear down Chansey while keeping Serperior healthy. Be sure to wear down Serperior's checks before attempting to clean up the opponent's team, and keep in mind that Serperior's checks largely depend on which Hidden Power it is running. Team Options Slow U-turn and Volt Switch users pair well with Serperior to bring it in safely so that it can start using Leaf Storm. Mega Scizor is a great example; it can also serve as a check to Mega Altaria, which can potentially use Serperior as setup bait. Volkraken can also pair well with Serperior; together, the two form a potent wallbreaking duo. Rotom-W and Zapdos can also bring Serperior in safely with Volt Switch. These two Electric-types can take on Flying-types such as Cawmodore and Talonflame, which is very helpful to Serperior. Cyclohm is another good partner for Serperior; although it doesn't have Volt Switch, its massive physical bulk allows it to take on several threats to Serperior. In return, Serperior can demolish the Ground-types that trouble Cyclohm. Tomohawk, Landorus-T, and Tyranitar are durable Stealth Rock setters that can all check various physical threats to Serperior and can give it a better shot at cleaning up late-game. A Healing Wish user such as Latias, Mega Lopunny, or Tomohawk can be useful to give Serperior another shot at sweeping after it has been worn down or given a status ailment, and it can also be useful to restore Leaf Storm's PP. If Serperior runs Hidden Power Fire, teammates that can wear down opposing Fire-types, most notably Heatran, pair well with Serperior. Strong Water-type attackers, such as Keldeo, Starmie, and Krilowatt, can all fit this role. Dugtrio can also be used to trap and remove Heatran from the game. If Hidden Power Ground is used, Serperior will require teammates that can handle foes such as Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Magnezone works especially well, as it can trap both and KO them with Hidden Power Fire.

Moves Spore gives Serperior free turns because it puts the foe to sleep. Leaf Storm is a strong STAB move that gives Serperior +2 Special Attack when it's used in conjunction with Contrary. Hidden Power Fire hits the majority of Steel-types, such as Aegislash, Bisharp, Magnezone, and, in particular, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Scizor, hard, with the latter three Pokemon being 4x resistant to Leaf Storm. Hidden Power Ground nails the usual Serperior switch-in, Heatran, very hard while still hitting Bisharp and Aegislash for the same amount of damage as Hidden Power Fire, as well as hitting Magnezone for 4x damage instead of 2x. Hidden Power Ground also hits Mega Charizard X. Substitute allows Serperior to dodge status that would otherwise halt its sweep such as paralysis, and it provides Serperior with protection against revenge killers. Taunt can be used over Substitute to shut down status move users and can prevent Chansey from using Transform when Serperior is low on health, which could lead to a counter sweep, or Whirlwind, which can phaze Serperior. Set Details 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Serperior to outspeed the multitude of Pokemon in the base 110 Speed tier, such as Mega Diancie and Gengar, as well as Thundurus, and 252 Special Attack EVs let Serperior hit as hard as possible. Contrary is the ability of choice so that Leaf Storm's negative side effect is actually positive, giving Serperior a +2 Special Attack boost instead of a -2 Special Attack drop. Miracle Seed boosts the power of Leaf Storm, whereas Leftovers offers passive recovery and allows Serperior to set more Substitutes. Usage Tips Serperior is rather frail, so it relies on getting a safe switch in. A slow U-turn or Volt Switch is excellent and is very helpful to Serperior. Serperior can also be brought in on a predicted Defog, as this will grant it an evasion boost that can be useful in dodging priority and other moves from potential revenge killers later on in the match. Once Serperior is on the field, you should generally use Spore first. If the target is asleep, Serperior should then set up a Substitute. Finally, it should attempt a sweep by nabbing boosts with Leaf Storm. Leaf Storm only has 8 PP, and Serperior is very reliant on using it to gain boosts and sweep, so be careful when choosing to attempt a sweep. In general, Serperior should attempt to sweep late-game, after its checks and counters have been weakened or KOed. Serperior can be also brought in early-game, but, in this stage of the game, it should generally just be for the utility of using a fast Spore to become an anti-lead and to spread sleep for teammates to rip holes in the opposing team. Substitute should be set up on predicted switches or when the foe is asleep to prevent status ailments and provide a buff against revenge killers such as Choice Scarf users and faster Pokemon such as Mega Pidgeot and Weavile. If you're using Taunt on Serperior, use it against stall Pokemon when you predict status moves such as entry hazards, Toxic, recovery moves, and Transform. Team Options Magnezone is a great partner to trap and remove the Steel-types that trouble Serperior, such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory. Bulky support Landorus-T is also a good teammate for Serperior, as it provides Defog support, entry hazard support, and a safe switch in via U-turn. Clefable can provide Wish and Heal Bell support to Serperior, boosting its longevity. Heatran is an amazing teammate, as it has excellent defensive synergy with Serperior because it resists or is immune to all of Serperior's weaknesses and can also dispatch Steel-types with ease or set up entry hazards. Espeon and Azelf provide screens and entry hazard control, Espeon with Magic Bounce and Azelf with a fast Taunt before setting up entry hazards in return, and then heal up Serperior with Lunar Dance, allowing it to have another shot at sweeping. Lunar Dance is especially helpful, as it restores the Leaf Storm's PP as well. Rock-types, such as Terrakion and Tyranitar, are good teammates as well, as they can easily switch in against the opposing Flying-types that force Serperior out and set up entry hazards.

Moves Reflect is used to lessen the damage received from physical attackers such as Garchomp and Mega Kangaskhan, which allows Serperior to take more hits and thus inflict more damage with its Rocky Helmet. Synthesis is important for healing so that Serperior can continue to stall physical attackers. Leaf Storm is Serperior's main source of offense, and it works well in conjunction with Contrary to give it a +2 boost in Special Attack every time it hits the foe; this brings Serperior's power to great levels even without Special Attack investment after a couple of boosts. Glare is fantastic for supporting Serperior's teammates, as the Speed drop can allow slower Pokemon such as Dragonite, Suicune, Porygon2, and Glalie to outspeed faster foes and can provide opportunities to set up or heal when they become fully paralyzed. It is also a great safe option when predicting a switch, as only Electric-type Pokemon are immune to it, and the only notable Electric-type Pokemon that is comfortable switching into Serperior is Zapdos. Hidden Power Rock can be used to hit Pokemon that resist Leaf Storm, such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard X and Y, Mega Salamence, and Dragonite, as well as many other Fire- and Flying-types, but it is quite weak without several boosts. Taunt is an option for shutting down defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, Cresselia, and Sableye. Set Details A Timid nature with 172 Speed EVs allows Serperior to outspeed Garchomp, the fastest, most relevant physical attacker that Serperior should be used to wall, while the remaining EVs are put into HP and Defense to allow Serperior to check physical attackers as well as possible. 116 HP and 220 Defense EVs give the best balance and allow Serperior to avoid an OHKO from Adamant Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge and take less than 50% from it with Reflect up, meaning Serperior can stall it with Synthesis. If using Hidden Power Rock, you'll need to increase the Speed EVs to 176 to still outspeed Garchomp due to the IV drop involved; this makes the most efficient balance of HP and Defense 140 HP (31 IV) and 192 Def (30 IV). This does, however, give Adamant Mega Kangaskhan a very minor chance to OHKO with Double-Edge due to the drop in Defense. Rocky Helmet is the best item to use, as it inflicts chip damage on physical attackers, allowing Serperior to whittle them down into Leaf Storm's KO range. Usage Tips This set aims to check physical attackers and allow Serperior to boost its Special Attack against them while it tanks their moves. Serperior is actually quite frail without Reflect being set up, so it is best to either lead with this Serperior or get it onto the field after a slow Volt Switch or U-turn or after one of your own Pokemon has been knocked out so that it doesn't have to take unnecessary damage. If you can predict a weaker move such as Kangaskhan's Fake Out or Garchomp's Earthquake, Serperior can use those as an opportunity to switch in without taking too much damage. Try to get Reflect set up as soon as possible; however, if you predict a switch to a special attacker, it might not be the best move. Glare is usually the safest option, as only Electric-type Pokemon are immune to it, and the paralysis support is often more beneficial to Serperior's teammates than Reflect's Defense boost. Once Serperior is comfortably behind Reflect against a physical attacker or the foe has been weakened enough, it can begin using Leaf Storm to boost its Special Attack and attempt a sweep. Team Options Serperior is a sitting duck against Flying- and Fire-type Pokemon, both of which are a common sight in the Battle Spot Singles metagame and include powerhouses such as Mega Salamence, Talonflame, Mega Charizard X and Y, and Blaziken, so adequate team support is necessary. Landorus-T is an excellent choice due to its ability to offer defensive support with Intimidate, get Serperior onto the field safely with U-turn, and take on these Pokemon. Mega Manectric, while being much frailer, is an example of a Pokemon with Intimidate and access to a pivoting move in Volt Switch. Suicune pairs well, as it forms a strong physically defensive core with Serperior and is capable of taking Ice-type attacks from Pokemon such as Greninja lacking Grass Knot, Weavile, and Mamoswine. Mega Charizard X and Y both are handy partners for Serperior, as they are able to take on Steel-types such as Aegislash, Mega Mawile, Scizor, Ferrothorn, Mega Metagross, and Heatran. Mega Charizard Y also provides sun support with its ability Drought, which increases the amount of HP Serperior receives from Synthesis. Porygon2 is a decent partner for its ability to check Pokemon such as Greninja, Talonflame, and Mega Salamence. It also appreciates the support that Reflect and Glare provide. Clefable greatly appreciates the support from Reflect and Glare too, as it allows it to set up Calm Mind and Minimize more easily against physical attackers.

Moves Leaf Storm, in combination with Contrary, is the only reason to use this set, and it is the main move that you will be selecting in battle. Hidden Power and Dragon Pulse are chosen as a means of hitting the Steel- and Dragon-type Pokemon that resist Leaf Storm. Fire is the preferred type, as it hits Ferrothorn and Scizor for 4x super effective damage and hits Skarmory super effectively. Ground can be used instead to hit Heatran hard. Dragon Pulse hits Mega Salamence, Mega Charizard X and Y, Dragonite, Latios, Latias, Hydreigon, and Mega Sceptile, but Leaf Storm is more powerful against Garchomp because of its secondary Ground typing. Glare is the preferred option in the last slot for its ability to paralyze anything that isn't an Electric-type, but Taunt can be used to stop Pokemon such as Chansey and Cresselia from using their many status moves. Hidden Power Rock can be used as a way to surprise Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y switch-ins, but doing so leaves Serperior walled by Steel-types. Set Details Because Hidden Power Fire requires an even IV in both Special Attack and Speed, 248 EVs in these stats is the most efficient number at level 50. The leftover 12 EVs are put into Special Defense to give Download Porygon2 an Attack boost. If using Hidden Power Ground, an EV spread of 248 SpA / 8 SpD / 252 Spe should be used. Timid is used to get the jump on fast Pokemon such as Garchomp, Mega Lucario, Latios, Latias, Mega Kangaskhan, and everything else in the crowded base 100 Speed tier. Focus Sash is used because Serperior is actually quite frail and is prone to being OHKOed by stronger attacks. A Life Orb can be used instead to give Serperior a much-needed boost to its attacks. A Lum Berry is also an option to protect against Thunder Waves and Swaggers, which are quite common in the metagame. Usage Tips Focus Sash Serperior does not want to switch into attacks, as this breaks the Focus Sash, rendering it useless. Therefore, it is best to either lead with Serperior or bring it in as a revenge killer. Life Orb and Lum Berry Serperior can switch more freely; however, it is still unadvised due to Serperior's frailty. Try to take advantage of Water-type Pokemon such as Azumarill, Suicune, and Rotom-W to start gaining boosts with Leaf Storm, or start boosting by finishing off slower foes such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Gyarados that have been weakened to within Leaf Storm's KO range. Serperior's coverage moves are quite weak before boosting, so even if you can hit something super effectively with them it is advised to try to boost first so that they can do more respectable damage. If you predict a switch, Glare is a great option, as often boosting against a switch-in is wasted by Serperior needing to switch out, whereas paralysis lasts the whole match. Team Options As mentioned previously, Serperior is actually quite frail and falls victim to bulkier Pokemon that it cannot KO, so it needs strong defensive support to succeed. Intimidate users such as Landorus-T, Mega Salamence, and Gyarados are great for their ability to beat Serperior's Fire-type checks, whereas the Attack drop granted by Intimidate can also help Serperior take some physical attacks itself. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune, Rotom-W, and Mega Slowbro are fantastic for taking on strong physical attackers such as Talonflame and Mega Kangaskhan and help create two-thirds of a Fire / Water / Grass core. Mega Charizard X or Y can be used to take on the many Steel-types that wall Serperior, such as Aegislash. Mega Charizard Y also provides sun support, which increases the power of Serperior's Hidden Power Fire, while both Mega formes appreciate having opposing Water- and Rock-types dealt with by Serperior. Porygon2 can help check Greninja, Talonflame, and Mega Salamence. Garchomp can be used to dispatch Fire- and Steel-types and also enjoys having Serperior to deal with bulky Water-types. Slow Volt Switch and U-turn users can be used to help get Serperior onto the field safely; these include Rotom-W, Scizor, and defensive Landorus-T.

Set Description Leech Seed, Substitute, Protect, and Leftovers allow Serperior to beat any Pokemon that is not either faster or able to OHKO it, including Magnezone, Snorlax, and Suicune. Taunt is used to prevent setup and healing from Pokemon such as Suicune, stall Snorlax, non-Choice Scarf Cresselia, and Registeel. EVs The Defense EVs let Serperior survive an Outrage from Dragon Gem or Choice Band Garchomp. Serperior should run 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature to have better odds against opposing Serperior, as a faster Serperior can force it into using Struggle with Taunt. The remaining EVs should be invested in Special Defense over HP to get the maximum percentage of Leech Seed recovery. Usage Tips Serperior can often use Protect on the first turn to scout its foe's move. It should not do this against Snorlax, however, as it should use Substitute first. This lets it play around Belly Drum + Custap Berry sets and force Choice Band + Giga Impact Snorlax to recharge, and Serperior still survives Choice Band Snorlax's Return after Substitute + Protect. It should almost always look to use Leech Seed turn 2, establishing damage and health regeneration for Substitute, followed by alternating between Substitute and Protect.

With good defenses and Speed, Serperior is a noteworthy candidate for Calm Mind, needing little help from its teammates to set up. After a Calm Mind or two, Serperior's offensive abilities improve significantly, and enable it to bring down most Pokemon with Giga Drain and Hidden Power. Unlike Lilligant, Virizion, and Volcarona, Serperior initially outspeeds crucial threats such as Tornadus and Terrakion and doesn't have a crippling 4x weakness to Flying- or Rock-type moves. Hidden Power helps make up for Serperior's poor coverage, hitting its would-be counters for super effective damage. Rest plus Chesto Berry is one instant recovery, while Life Orb gives Serperior more power but reduces its survivability. Hidden Power Ice generally gives the best coverage, hitting Flying-types, such as Tornadus, and Dragon-types for super effective damage, but Hidden Power Fire can be used to hit Steel-types. Rock is mainly for Volcarona, who is 4x weak to it, and while it does get coverage against Flying-types for super effective damage, Ice is generally the better choice. Taunt is usually not used, but it has some potential use against Amoonguss and Trick Room users, should they not carry Mental Herb. After a Calm Mind, Serperior's Special Attack will only be as high as a neutral natured Jellicent's, so getting off more than one Calm Mind should be your goal, and is safer when Serperior has Rest and Chesto Berry. Although Serperior's defenses are above average, the Calm Mind set is still vulnerable to attacks, and with two Pokemon attacking at once, Serperior will likely be forced to use Rest sooner, rather than later. Thundurus checks most Flying-types, doing huge damage with its STAB Thunderbolt. A Rage Powder user draws attention away from Serperior, giving it more time to stat up.

Thanks to its fantastic Speed, Serperior sets up screens before most Pokemon can attack, making it a great dual screen user. After setting up screens, Serperior can proceed to use Glare or Taunt on your opponent's Pokemon, making them more vulnerable to attacks. Alternatively, it can set up Safeguard, which is a great move to protect your team from Amoonguss and other status abusers. To show how helpful screens are, assuming both Archeops and Tornadus run max Attack, a neutral nature, and Reflect is up, Tornadus will never KO Serperior with Flying Gem boosted Acrobatics without a critical hit, while Archeops only has a 7% chance to KO Serperior. Leaf Blade is a great move with its high critical hit rate, and has the added bonus of hitting Jellicent on its softer physical side for super effective damage. Leaf Storm, used twice, will outdamage Leaf Blade, and Serperior may not be attacking that often anyway. Mental Herb gives you at least one turn of setup, lifting the effects of Taunt and Encore, while Light Clay will make Serperior's screens last longer. An alternative EV spread of 100 HP / 156 Atk / 252 Spe can be used if Serperior's offensive abilities with the recommended spread are too unusable. 156 EVs in Special Attack guarantees a KO on Terrakion with Leaf Storm and most Pokemon weak to it. The EVs in Attack will also make for a stronger Leaf Blade, making Serperior less of an offensive slouch. 100 EVs in HP will still guarantee surviving a neutral nature Tornadus's Acrobatics with Reflect up, but you have a much higher chance of being KOed by Archeops. Although generally not as good as the moves above, Gastro Acid and Dragon Tail can work well in certain situations. Gastro Acid, while being a situational move, is a lot of fun to use on Conkeldurr who abuse Flame Orb plus Guts. Some other uses include hitting Eelektross and Musharna, who often depend on their abilities to protect themselves from their partner's spread attacks. Although otherwise useless, Dragon Tail can be used to stop Trick Room. Giga Drain is an option over the aforementioned attacks for restoring Serperior's health. However, it is only recommended if using the second spread, because with only 4 EVs in Special Attack, Serperior can't even guarantee a reliable 2HKO on Terrakion, so the HP recovered will hardly be worth Leaf Blade's higher critical hit rate and power. Most sweepers will benefit from dual screens, making them much harder to take down. Because Serperior is able to hit Jellicent and Terrakion for super effective damage, partners such as Terrakion or Hydreigon, who would normally have trouble with those two, work well and help to cover Serperior's Fire weakness. Thundurus is also a great partner, being able to outspeed Archeops and KO both Archeops and enemy Tornadus with Thunderbolt. Sweepers that possess some bulk such as Hydreigon and Eelektross become even more menacing when behind screens.

Serperior's high base Speed can allow it to function as a fast dual screen user. Light Screen and Reflect form the core of the set, while Giga Drain gives Serperior a way to recover HP and prevents it from becoming complete Taunt bait. Glare can paralyze opponents while being able to hit Ground-types. Taunt can prevent slower opponents, such as Cresselia, from setting up, and Protect allows Serperior to avoid damage for a turn. The EVs are set to give Serperior both speed and bulk, while adding a little to its defenses. Using maximum Speed is almost pointless as it doesn't let Serperior outspeed anything in particular. 244 Speed EVs hits 181 Speed, which outspeeds max Speed Thundurus and Tornadus and everything below, which includes base 110 Speed Pokemon. The rest of the EVs are placed in defenses and Special Attack, as to not waste EVs. Mental Herb is the item of choice due to the prevalence of Taunt users. Light Clay may be used to prolong the effects of Light Screen and Reflect, but Mental Herb is usually preferred due to the fast nature of VGC battles. Leaf Storm may be used over Giga Drain if you want a strong attack and don't care about HP recovery; Leaf Blade can also be used with a Jolly nature if you'd rather hit on the physical side. The set pairs well with offensive partners, such as Latios and Terrakion, as they appreciate the boosts given by dual screens. Slower Pokemon such as Metagross and Chandelure also do well with paralysis support from Glare.