Sylveon Movesets & Competitive Sets

Set Description Sylveon is the best Yawn user and, in fact, the best sleep inducer in the whole SS 1v1 metagame, as it boasts good bulk, powerful attacks, and potentially a very solid setup move. A Mental Herb allows Sylveon to safely use Yawn versus Taunt and Encore users like Aromatisse, Primarina, Spectrier, Togekiss and Gardevoir. Hyper Voice is able to beat Substitute users like Dragapult and Whimsicott, but Hyper Beam's higher damage offers reliability versus Pokemon like Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan and Modest Porygon-Z without a boosting item. Fake Tears notably gives the set a shot at beating Maranga Berry Corviknight, which is otherwise a hard Sylveon counter. The move also helps versus walls like Tapu Koko and Sap Sipper Azumarill. EVs The HP EVs allow Sylveon to survive Choice Specs Regieleki's Electro Ball. The Defense EVs let it tank Surging Strikes from Adamant Choice Band Urshifu-R. The remaining EVs have been put in Special Attack to improve odds versus Pokemon like Primarina and Togekiss. Usage Tips When a foe is on their third sleep turn—thus guaranteed to wake up next turn—and is impossible to KO in a single move, it is usually advantageous for Sylveon to re-apply Yawn's drowsiness—using Protect against slower foes so that they can wake up—as this yields several additional turns. Beware of Pokemon potentially carrying Trick, like Togekiss, Porygon-Z, Cresselia, and Telepathy Tapu Fini, and do not use Yawn or Fake Tears against an unknown set. Protect may be used to scout for this eventuality, though at the risk of being set up on—it is often safer to simply attack. Note that Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain and Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain both prevent sleep, making Yawn a waste of a turn against these Pokemon. Likewise, Yawn should not be used against Porygon-Z, as that Pokemon commonly runs Uproar. Finally, both Urshifu formes ignore Protect with their ability. Do not use Yawn against these Pokemon, as there is no guarantee Sylveon will be able to survive until the foe falls asleep.

Set Description With Choice Specs, Sylveon can break out immensely powerful moves on the first turn of battle. Hyper Voice is a good move against frail Pokemon like Regieleki, common Substitute users like Dragapult and Whimsicott, and common Endure users like Garchomp. Hyper Beam OHKOes neutral targets like physically defensive Aromatisse and Landorus. Echoed Voice beats Substitute Zapdos variants lacking Eerie Impulse, as well as certain specially bulky Trick Cresselia sets. Mystical Fire is a coverage option that beats Ferrothorn. Psyshock handles Power Herb Nihilego, and Draining Kiss has niche usage against Kommo-o, which can block all of Sylveon's other moves with Substitute and Soundproof, as well as Custap Berry and Choice Scarf variants of Sawk, which cannot 2HKO Sylveon after it heals. EVs The HP EVs allow Sylveon to tank Choice Specs Landorus's Sludge Wave. Special Attack is maxed out to grant the best possible chances against targets like Assault Vest Goodra, Landorus, and non-Psychic Seed Tapu Lele. The Speed investment allows Sylveon to always outpace Adamant Rhyperior. The remainder is put in Defense for the best survival odds against Choice Band Garchomp's Earthquake. Alternatively, Sylveon can run a bulky spread of 224 HP / 148 SpA / 136 SpD with a Calm nature. This allows it to tank Adamant Choice Band Dragapult's Phantom Force, as well as Choice Specs Naganadel's Sludge Wave. If ran alongside Psyshock, it notably allows Sylveon to tank a hit from any Nihilego set and OHKO it back. Usage Tips In general, Choice Specs Sylveon has a simple gameplan: use Hyper Voice. Hyper Beam should be used against Pokemon which have the potential to KO Sylveon before it can attack a second time, such as Azumarill, Goodra, and Landorus-T. The remaining moves are very situational and should not be used outside of their listed matchups. Choice Specs Sylveon commonly finds itself in uncertain matchups against Custap Berry users. Custap Berry Primarina, for instance, beats a Sylveon using Hyper Beam by opening with Endure. However, if Sylveon uses Hyper Voice, Primarina wins by using Moonblast followed by Endure then KOing with a Torrent-boosted Hydro Cannon. As such matchups are effectively coin flips, no advice allows for consistent victories.

Set Description With Endure and a Custap Berry, Sylveon can survive powerful attacks like Choice Specs Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam, Choice Band Galarian Darmanitan's Giga Impact, and Choice Specs Naganadel's Sludge Wave, then retaliate with a powerful attack. Hyper Beam OHKOes the aforementioned Pokemon and helps against Goodra and Aromatisse. Hyper Voice is useful against Substitute users like Dragapult and Whimsicott and Sturdy Pokemon like Crustle and Sawk, while Fake Tears offers an anti-stall tool to be used against Sap Sipper Azumarill, defensive Chansey, and Cresselia sets without Trick or Skill Swap. EVs Maximum Special Attack allows for optimal odds against Trick Togekiss and Tapu Koko. The Defense EVs allow Sylveon to always survive Adamant Life Orb Urshifu-R's Surging Strikes. The remainder of the EVs are put in Speed to try and outspeed other base 60s, like Primarina and opposing Sylveon, as well as possible. Usage Tips Broadly speaking, Sylveon should use Hyper Voice or Fake Tears on turns it's not at risk of getting OHKOed, and it should go for Endure followed by Hyper Beam on turns where it is. However, against Pokemon with priority moves, like Azumarill and Urshifu-R, it is not possible to safely drop to 1 HP. Sylveon should also beware of using Hyper Beam on Endure from Pokemon like Tyranitar and Rhyperior; instead, it should use Fake Tears if you predict Endure. Unlike most Custap Berry users, Sylveon should use Endure turn one against Regieleki, as it will always survive and consume its Custap Berry next turn, whereas attacking runs the risk of fainting to Electro Ball. While Sylveon beats most Choice-locked Dragon types, it loses to Choice Scarf Dracovish and Dracozolt, as their signature moves' power is less on turns where Sylveon uses Endure, and it is consequently not put into Custap Berry range. The optimal play in these matchups is to use Endure twice in a row, giving Sylveon a 1/3 chance to activate its Custap Berry.

Substitute can block Spore from Amoonguss or a stray Toxic, which would limit Sylveon's sweeping potential, while stopping Fake Out flinches and blocking powerful physical hits like Meteor Mash. Detect helps stall turns for Leftovers and lets teammates help out Sylveon while it's protected. Detect is preferred over Protect to block Imprison from sealing Protect. Leftovers in conjunction with Detect lets Sylveon recover HP rapidly in between turns, recovery that Grassy Terrain support can further boost.

Special Defense investment lets Sylveon survive a +2 Fire Blast from Mega Houndoom after Stealth Rock damage.

For full USUM 1v1 analyses, you can check out the USUM format page.

Moves Hyper Voice turns into a Fairy-type 108-Base Power STAB move when boosted by Pixilate and is Sylveon's primary and most spammable attack. As it is a sound-based move, it also hits through Substitute, which can be useful for hitting Pokemon like Buzzwole and Keldeo. Hidden Power Fire deals solid damage to most Steel-type Pokemon such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, but it leaves Sylveon completely walled by Heatran. Hidden Power Ground is an alternative that can be used to KO Heatran while still hitting most Steel-types for super effective damage. However, it leaves Sylveon as setup fodder for Pokemon such as Mega Scizor. Psyshock hits Poison-type Pokemon, which threaten Fairy teams, super effectively. Notably, it 2HKOes Toxapex and Mega Venusaur, which Fairy teams have a hard time dealing with, after either Stealth Rock or Spikes damage. Shadow Ball hits opposing Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Jirachi and Alolan Marowak super effectively, but it should only be used if the foe resists Hyper Voice, as neutral Hyper Voice does more damage than even super effective Shadow Ball. Set Details 252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature and Choice Specs maximize Sylveon's power, letting it break through opposing Pokemon as easily as possible. 12 Speed EVs let Sylveon outspeed uninvested Tyranitar and base 60 Speed Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Clefable. The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Defense, giving Sylveon more bulk. Pixilate turns Sylveon's Normal-type moves into Fairy-type ones while giving them a 20% boost, allowing it to wallbreak effectively. Usage Tips It is helpful to bring Sylveon in via a pivoting move such as Volt Switch, as it dislikes taking unnecessary damage. Similarly, it is also useful to bring in Sylveon after a teammate has been KOed. Locking Sylveon into Hyper Voice is usually the best option, as it has the most power and can be used repeatedly to wallbreak; avoid locking Sylveon into a move that a foe would then be able to exploit, such as Hidden Power Fire against a resistant foe, allowing them to either KO Sylveon or set up freely. Sylveon should be utilized early-game to deal massive damage to many Pokemon, making it easier for teammates like Azumarill to sweep late-game. Attempt to switch Sylveon into weaker special attackers like Pelipper and proceed to fire off free Hyper Voices. Use Sylveon's coverage moves on a predicted switch; for example, use Psyshock or Shadow Ball if you predict that Gengar will switch in. You should also avoid letting Sylveon get inflicted by status, as burns and poison limit its longevity and make it prone to being revenge killed, while paralysis halves its Speed and makes it easy to take out. Play Sylveon carefully around physical attackers, as its low Defense means that it has a harder time taking physical attacks. Team Options Magic Guard Clefable can absorb status for Sylveon, set up Stealth Rock, and paralyze foes with Thunder Wave, making Sylveon's job much easier. Defog support from either Tapu Fini or Togekiss is appreciated, as taking entry hazard damage makes Sylveon much easier to revenge kill. Setup sweepers like Z-Belly Drum Azumarill appreciate Sylveon breaking down physical walls early-game, facilitating a late-game sweep. Choice Band or Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu also appreciates this, as it can clean up later after its checks have been worn down. Tapu Bulu can also break special walls like Chansey, which Sylveon has trouble against. Tapu Koko is a hard-hitting special attacker that can pivot into Sylveon while also wearing down their shared checks. Mega Diancie can also fulfill a similar role as a mixed wallbreaker that can take out Toxapex and Mega Venusaur. Klefki can set up dual screens, reducing the damage done to Sylveon and allowing it to fire off its attacks more safely. Klefki also sports an immunity to Toxic and Poison-type attacks, making it a good switch-in when Sylveon is threatened. Entry hazard setters like Clefable and Klefki make it easier for Sylveon to secure KOs, and Sylveon can also force switches. Finally, Babiri Berry Togekiss and Clefable can help check Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, allowing Sylveon to fire off Hyper Voice more easily.

Moves Hyper Voice is Sylveon's strongest attack, as it is a STAB move, is boosted by Pixilate, and hits the Pokemon regardless of Substitute. Psyshock hits Poison-types that try to switch in on a Fairy-type attack such as Mega Venusaur and Tentacruel. Hidden Power Fire hits Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Scizor, while Hidden Power Ground can be used to hit Heatran, which otherwise walls Sylveon. However, hitting Scizor is far more important than hitting Heatran because Diamond Storm 2HKOs offensive Heatran most of the time. Shadow Ball hits Pokemon such as Jirachi and Doublade, which are big threats to Sylveon. Set Details Maximum investment in HP and Special Attack with a Modest nature allows Sylveon to hit as hard as possible and tank hits more effectively. 16 EVs in Speed are useful for outspeeding uninvested base 60 Speed Pokemon such as Clefable. This is especially helpful against Pokemon like Tyranitar, which Sylveon can take out with Hyper Voice without having to take a Stone Edge first. Pixilate increases the power of Hyper Voice and turns it into a Fairy-type STAB move. Choice Specs increases Sylveon's Special Attack, making it an amazing wallbreaker. Usage Tips There aren't many Pokemon that appreciate taking a Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Voice from Sylveon, so it can be used to wallbreak at any point of the game. It excels at breaking down most passive walls unless they're very bulky and resist Fairy. The boosts from Pixilate and STAB make Hyper Voice the superior attack most of the time because Sylveon's other coverage moves need to be super effective in order to deal more damage than it. Even though it's going to get outsped most of the time, thanks to its great Special Defense, Sylveon can eat up special attacks and hit back very hard. Sylveon's good Special Defense also lets it be a decent pivot to neutral or resisted attacks. Due to its low Speed and Defense, it should watch out for physical attackers and only come in after a teammate faints unless it can deal really well with the Pokemon it's switching in on. Sylveon should avoid coming in on entry hazards and getting inflicted with status because it can be crippled and worn down easily. Team Options Klefki is a great partner for Sylveon because it can set up dual screens, allowing Sylveon to take hits even better, spread paralysis, which Sylveon greatly appreciates, and stack Spikes. Klefki also has an immunity to poison and takes neutral damage from Steel-type moves, which all Fairy-type teams appreciate. Clefable also has the ability to spread paralysis and set up Stealth Rock, which helps Sylveon wallbreak more easily. Clefable also functions as a status absorber thanks to its Magic Guard ability. Azumarill can deal with Pokemon that wall Sylveon such as Heatran and Empoleon thanks to its Water typing, high Attack, and access to Superpower. Gardevoir is a great Choice Scarf user that checks Poison-types that threaten Sylveon such as Gengar and Nidoking. It also checks Sand Rush Excadrill thanks to its Trace ability. Togekiss is immune to Ground, which helps Fairy's lack of Pokemon that resist Ground, and it has access to Fire Blast and Aura Sphere, which allows it to check Steel-types. Togekiss can also spread paralysis with Thunder Wave, cure Sylveon's status with Heal Bell if it's a support variant, and get rid of entry hazards with Defog, which helps Sylveon's longevity. Mega Diancie's Magic Bounce ability helps Sylveon dodge status moves and keeps hazards off the field. Mega Diancie also appreciates Choice Specs Sylveon's wallbreaking power, as it's unable to get past walls such as Mew and Gliscor on its own.

Moves Calm Mind boosts Sylveon's already decent Special Attack and Special Defense, making it bulkier and more powerful. Hyper Voice is Sylveon's powerful STAB attack, which is Pixilate boosted and hits Pokemon regardless of Substitute. Substitute allows Sylveon to dodge status moves from slower Pokemon or gain momentum when forcing a switch. Wish can be used for recovery or to pass to a teammate. Set Details 16 EVs in Speed allow Sylveon to outspeed uninvested base 60 Pokemon such as Tyranitar, Clefable, and Swampert. The rest of the EVs are invested in HP and Defense to make Sylveon as bulky as possible so it can take both physical and special hits after it uses Calm Mind. Maximum investment in HP also helps it pass bigger Wishes and improves the bulk of its Substitute. Leftovers gives Sylveon some longevity and is its only form of recovery if not running Wish. Pixilate boosts the power of Hyper Voice and makes it a Fairy-type STAB attack. Usage Tips Sylveon should be used as a bulky setup sweeper once its checks have been removed or weakened. Thanks to the Defense investment and its natural special bulk, it can be used as a bulky pivot. Sylveon can get up a Substitute against slower and passive Pokemon such as Slowbro and Porygon2 or when it forces the foe to switch out, which can also be done by bluffing a Choice Specs set. If running Wish, Sylveon should be kept as healthy as possible, giving it more chances to use Substitute or pivot into attacks. It should be kept away from status moves because they can cripple its sweeping potential or longevity. Team Options Klefki is a great partner for Sylveon thanks to its immunity to Poison-type attacks and neutrality to Steel. Klefki is also able to spread paralysis, stack Spikes, and get up dual screens, which give Sylveon more opportunities to set up. Clefable works well with Sylveon because its Magic Guard ability allows it to absorb statuses. Clefable is able to spread paralysis like Klefki, but it can also set up Stealth Rock. Furthermore, Clefable is free to run a utility set due to Sylveon already acting as a wincon with Calm Mind. Azumarill is a great partner for Sylveon because it can get rid of bulky Steel-types that wall Sylveon such as Heatran and Empoleon. Azumarill also has more freedom throughout the match because it doesn't need to stay passive and preserve its health to set up late-game thanks to Sylveon's ability to pass Wishes. Gardevoir is a great Choice Scarf user on Fairy and works well with Sylveon because it can get rid of Poison-type threats such as Nidoking. Togekiss's access to Fire Blast and Aura Sphere makes it a decent partner for Sylveon because it can dent Steel-types that annoy Sylveon, as well as hit Mega Venusaur with Air Slash. Togekiss is also immune to Ground-type attacks, which Fairy-type teams appreciate, since they don't have another solid answer. Another thing that Sylveon appreciates from Togekiss is its access to Heal Bell, which helps Sylveon's issue with status. Mega Diancie is a solid partner for Sylveon because its Magic Bounce ability bounces back status and entry hazards, which annoy Sylveon. It's also an excellent receiver of Sylveon's Wish passes due to its high Speed, wallbreaking abilities, and lack of recovery.

Sylveon's naturally high Special Defense, together with Calm Mind, gives it a particularly strong position in a tier with so many strong special attackers. Hyper Voice is a powerful spread move that, when boosted by Calm Mind, is able to break through even the sturdiest Fairy resistances. Substitute allows Sylveon to avoid status such as Amoonguss's Spore and Thundurus's Thunder Wave. Though Protect is a staple in doubles, it is particularly valuable here for utilizing additional turns of Leftovers to recover the HP lost using Substitute, and it greatly increases longevity. The HP and Defense EVs allow the Substitutes to withstand Landorus-T's Rock Slide. The remainder is placed in Special Attack with a Modest nature to increase damage output. Alternatively, a Calm nature would allow for a Substitute to withstand Amoonguss's Sludge Bomb after a single Calm Mind. If played as part of a Trick Room team, 0 Speed IVs with a Quiet or Sassy nature can be used. It's best to bring Sylveon onto the field against relatively passive pokemon that can grant it an opportunity to start setting up. This will often either be slower status-reliant pokemon, such as Amoonguss, which Sylveon can use Substitute against to block their Spore, or pokemon that aren't immediately threatening to Sylveon such as Conkeldurr or Cresselia. Setting up in mid- or late-game is often more effective, as many opposing pokemon will be weakened, making a Calm Mind sweep easier. It's also more common later into the game to find situations where Sylveon's partner could KO a weakened pokemon to keep Sylveon safe, allowing it to set up. Landorus-T is a fantastic partner for Sylveon. Intimidate helps patch up Sylveon's more vulnerable physical defense, while its strong Ground-type attacks are effective at weakening Volcanion and Mega Gengar, which resist Sylveon's Pixilate Hyper Voice. Amoonguss and Kangaskhan are also both great teammates for supporting Sylveon, using Rage Powder and Fake Out, respectively, to protect Sylveon.

Moves Hyper Voice is Sylveon's bread and butter and the move it'll be spamming most often. The remaining slots are basically filler. Psyshock helps against Poison-types such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur, which can otherwise tank Hyper Voices. Shadow Ball is for Mega Metagross and Aegislash, while Hidden Power Ground is for Heatran; all of them could otherwise simply set up Substitutes and sit in front of Sylveon or outright KO it. Moonblast is an option that isn't affected by Wide Guard. Hyper Beam is a high-risk, high-reward move on par with Choice Specs Hydreigon's Draco Meteor in terms of power (even exceeding it in some cases) and leaves Sylveon vulnerable for a turn afterwards, so it is best suited for when Sylveon is low on health or when trading the KO is advantageous. Set Details The EV spread lets Sylveon survive Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Return. To survive more powerful attacks such as Jolly Mega Salamence or Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge, Sylveon needs a much more defensive spread of 156 HP / 188 Def / 164 SpA. If running Hidden Power Ground, use 188 HP / 68 Def / 248 SpA / 4 Spe due to the 30 Special Attack IV. When Sylveon is paired with speed control, use at least 84 Speed EVs to let Sylveon outspeed Mega Lucario and Adamant Mega Salamence under Tailwind. Use at least 12 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Bisharp after one Icy Wind, which is important because of the Defiant boost Bisharp receives as a result. For Trick Room, be sure to use a Quiet nature with 0 Speed IVs, or 1 Speed IV for Hidden Power Ground. Hidden Power Fire could also be used over Hidden Power Ground if Ferrothorn or Scizor is a bigger problem to the team than Heatran is. Be sure to adjust EVs accordingly. Usage Tips Use Hyper Voice. Sylveon's coverage moves aren't that great to begin with, so only use them if you're forced to. Hyper Beam can be used to sacrifice Sylveon to KO Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan and is a great move to use if you're comfortable with an aggressive playstyle. It can easily be punished, however. Team Options In general, it's best to support Sylveon using redirection and Fake Out to minimize the damage it takes in order to let it fire off more Hyper Voices. Amoonguss is the go-to redirection user typing-wise, while Fake Out can be supplied by many more Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan, Infernape, and Ludicolo. Intimidate is also nice to provide a buffer for Sylveon's weaker Defense and can be supplied by Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Gyarados, and Scrafty, the latter of which can also use Fake Out. Speed control is always nice to get Hyper Voices off before the opponent's Pokemon even move. Cresselia and Jellicent are the go-to Pokemon for Trick Room, while Zapdos and Suicune are both top-notch Tailwind users that also resist Steel, making them good switch-ins against Pokemon such as Metagross. Icy Wind is also viable, though with Sylveon's low Speed, it doesn't help as much.

Moves Hyper Voice is Sylveon's main attack. Psyshock helps slightly against Poison-types such as Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur, which can otherwise tank Hyper Voices. Shadow Ball is for Mega Metagross and Aegislash. Hidden Power Ground is for Heatran, which can simply set up Substitutes (although Hyper Voice will hit Heatran and not the Substitute) and sit in front of Sylveon or outright KO it with Flash Cannon. Protect discourages opponents from double-targeting Sylveon and in general helps Sylveon survive longer against certain threats while a partner neutralizes them. Set Details Pixie Plate is used to boost Hyper Voice further without detracting from Sylveon's bulk. Life Orb boosts Sylveon's power more than Pixie Plate does at the cost of bulk, so when using Life Orb, you might want to adjust the EV spread to a more speedy and offensive variant and pair Sylveon up with Icy Wind or Tailwind users. The EV spread lets Sylveon survive Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Return. To survive more powerful attacks such as Jolly Mega Salamence or Mega Kangaskhan's Double-Edge, Sylveon needs a much more defensive spread of 156 HP / 188 Def / 164 SpA. If using Hidden Power Ground, use 188 HP / 68 Def / 248 SpA / 4 Spe due to the 30 Special Attack and Special Defense IVs. When Sylveon is paired with speed control, use at least 84 Speed EVs for Sylveon to outspeed Jolly Mega Lucario and Adamant Mega Salamence under Tailwind. When using Life Orb, you can afford to use much more Speed investment. 116 Speed EVs let Sylveon outspeed Jolly Mega Salamence with Tailwind support. The highest benchmark Sylveon can reach with a Modest nature is 224 Speed, which outspeeds Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T but unfortunately barely misses out on outspeeding Choice Scarf Hydreigon. Use at least 12 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Bisharp after one Icy Wind, which is important because of the Defiant boost Bisharp receives as a result. For Trick Room, be sure to use a Quiet nature with 0 Speed IVs, or 1 Speed IV for Hidden Power Ground. Detect could be used over Protect if Imprison is a concern, but Imprison is so rare that the extra PP that Protect provides is more worthwhile. Usage Tips The biggest draw to using this set is quite simply the ability to use Protect. It allows Sylveon to play around hard checks such as Heatran more easily and helps it stall out a turn for a partner to set up speed-controlling moves. Of course, when Sylveon is not Protecting, it'll be using Hyper Voice; the other two slots are filler. They're nice when Sylveon is forced to attack a threatening Pokemon, but you should try to avoid such situations in the first place. Team Options Sylveon likes partners that can use redirection and Fake Out. Amoonguss is the go-to Rage Powder user typing-wise, and Lucario can take care of Mega Kangaskhan while providing Follow Me support. Fake Out can be supplied by many more Pokemon such as Mega Kangaskhan, Infernape, and Ludicolo, each of which provides different types of offensive pressure. Intimidate is also nice to provide a buffer for Sylveon's weaker Defense and can be supplied by Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Gyarados, the latter of which can also use Thunder Wave or Icy Wind for speed control. Landorus-T works especially well with this set, given its ability to use Protect. Speed control is always nice to let Sylveon get Hyper Voices off before the opponent's Pokemon even move. Cresselia and Jellicent are the go-to Pokemon for Trick Room, while Zapdos and Suicune are both top-notch Tailwind users that also resist Steel, making them good switch-ins against Pokemon such as Metagross. Icy Wind is also viable, though with Sylveon's low Speed, it doesn't help as much.

Moves Calm Mind boosts Sylveon's Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage, making it bulkier and increasing its damage output. Rest is Sylveon's only reliable way of recovery, replenishing its health and removing status. Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voice gives Sylveon STAB and much needed power for hitting anything that doesn't resist it. Snore is used together with Rest to ensure that Sylveon's sleep turns don't go to waste. Additionally, it also gets a Pixilate boost. It's a nice way to surprise a foe that thinks it could use those turns to set up. Alternatively, Psyshock could be used as it let Sylveon hit Poison-types such as Mega Gengar and Mega Venusaur. Also, it's needed for Sylveon to deal more damage to Chansey. Hidden Power Fire can also be used to hit Steel-types that shrug off Sylveon's STAB moves, such as Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor. Set Details 244 HP and 172 Defense EVs give Sylveon some physical bulk, allowing it a chance to survive Jolly Mega Kangaskhan's Double Edge. 68 Special Attack EVs increase Sylveon's damage output. 20 Speed EVs allow Sylveon to outspeed uninvested base 60 Speed Pokemon such as Clefable, Porygon2, and Aegislash. The remaining 4 EVs go to Special Defense so none are wasted. A Chesto Berry is needed to effectively use Rest, giving Sylveon a greater chance of sweeping with Calm Mind. Modest is the preferred nature over Bold because the extra power is needed for Sylveon to KO foes. However, Bold can still be used so that Sylveon can take more hits from physical attackers, and when it's used with maximum HP and Defense investment, this set can become a late-game win condition. Leftovers offers much appreciated passive recovery. Sylveon almost always has to use Snore if it's holding Leftovers to avoid dead turns while asleep from Rest. Usage Tips Sylveon should set up Calm Mind on defensive Pokemon, such as Hippowdon, Porygon2, Rotom-W, and Zapdos, that can't touch it. With Rest, Sylveon is able to replenish its health and get rid of any status. However, be wary of Rotom-W, as they are likely to carry Trick, which will cripple Sylveon and prevent it from setting up. It's better for Sylveon to switch in on predicted non-damaging moves, a Dragon-type attack, or after a teammate has fainted, because it cannot afford to risk taking any damage. If Sylveon has a couple of Calm Minds set up and Chesto Berry is gone, it's best to continue using Snore because it's Sylveon's only attacking option while asleep and can surprise the opponent. Calm Mind is usually a safe option to use when predicting a switch because even if Sylveon stays in on a resisted critical hit or status move, it can easily replenish itself with Rest. Sylveon is better kept for later stages of the match when most of the Steel-types, especially Heatran, have been eliminated. Team Options Heatran is very helpful for switching into Poison- and Steel-type attacks, and Sylveon can handle bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon that trouble Heatran. Mega Lucario is also a great partner, having a Poison-type immunity and the ability to get rid of opposing Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Clefable. Landorus-T and Gyarados can come into predicted Ground-type moves and get an Intimidate off for Sylveon to sponge a physical attack. Additionally, Landorus-T can switch into Electric-type moves such as Thunder Wave and Thunderbolt as well as get rid of troubling Electric-, Poison-, and Steel-types. However, if Landorus-T isn't running Choice Scarf or Assault Vest, it must be wary that some Electric-types carry Hidden Power Ice, such as Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Thundurus. Gyarados on the other hand assists Sylveon by clearing the field of Fire-types such as Talonflame and Heatran; in return, Sylveon can set up on Conkeldurr, one of the Pokemon Mega Gyarados really struggles with. More defensive variants can provide much appreciated Thunder Wave and Rocky Helmet support against physical attackers, giving Sylveon more chances to set up Calm Mind. Similarly, Thunder Wave support from Thundurus is much appreciated. Talonflame can annihilate Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior with its STAB Brave Bird. Latios and Latias are considered good partners for Sylveon because they can deal with Poison-types such as Mega Venusaur. Latias deserves a special mention, as it can paralyze foes with Thunder Wave and provide Sylveon with Healing Wish support, getting rid of any status problems it may have and fully replenishing its health. Also, as Mega Latias, it'll be able to survive a Shadow Ball from Mega Gengar and KO it back with its STAB Psychic-type move. Uncommon Choice Scarf variants of Latios can also be used to deal with Mega Gengar. In return, Sylveon can switch into predicted Dragon-type moves. Ferrothorn appreciates the removal of Fighting-types such as Breloom, Conkeldurr, and Mega Lopunny, while being able to set up Stealth Rock and potentially Thunder Wave a few threats before it goes down, so Sylveon can come in for free. Mamoswine also appreciates the removal of the aforementioned Fighting-types and can set up Stealth Rock, while Sylveon can set up on the defensive Water-types that wall Mamoswine such as non-Trick variants of Rotom-W and Slowbro lacking Calm Mind.

Moves Pixilate-boosted STAB Hyper Voice allows Sylveon to hit many Pokemon hard, especially the Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-types weak to it, such as Tyranitar, Mega Salamence, Garchomp, Mega Altaria, and Conkeldurr. Additionally, Hyper Voice can go through Substitute, hitting Pokemon such as Gliscor more reliably Psyshock provides Sylveon a nice way to check Poison-types such as Mega Venusaur and Mega Gengar, and by targeting Defense, it's also useful against Chansey, which would otherwise wall Sylveon. Shadow Ball is used to hit Aegislash and the uncommon Chandelure. Hidden Power Fire can assist Sylveon in eliminating problematic Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Scizor, Skarmory, and Klefki. However, Hidden Power Ground can be used instead to hit Fire-types that completely wall Sylveon, such as Heatran. Set Details 236 HP EVs give Sylveon needed bulk in order to take attacks better. For example, it can survive Mega Gengar's Sludge Bomb. 12 Defense EVs are added in order to keep a full health Sylveon from being OHKOed by Choice Band Talonflame. 248 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature give Sylveon more damage output, 12 Speed EVs let Sylveon outspeed Aegislash and Porygon2. Pixilate is needed, as it turns Normal-type moves into Fairy-type moves and boosts their power by 33%. Choice Specs is used to give Sylveon the extra power needed to deal enormous damage to Pokemon that don't resist Fairy. Additionally, it increases the power of its coverage moves. Usage Tips Usually, use Hyper Voice on Pokemon that don't resist it. Sylveon shouldn't be staying in on Steel-types such as Excadrill and the uncommon Bisharp because Iron Head is an easy OHKO, unless you predict them to Swords Dance, in which case Hyper Voice OHKOes Bisharp and 2HKOes Excadrill. The opponent can use the fact that Sylveon has a shallow movepool and will usually be carrying Choice Specs to their advantage; however, you can turn that around by looking at Team Preview. If you suspect your opponent will switch out to a more reasonable counter to Sylveon, that'll give you a chance to predict the switch and go into a counter of your own. Against Steel- and Poison-types that resists Fairy, make sure you go for coverage moves instead, such as Hidden Power Ground and Psyshock to deal with Aegislash, Excadrill, Heatran, and Mega Venusaur. Sylveon makes a decent lead as well, putting pressure on some common leads seen in the metagame such as Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon. Team Options Mega Kangaskhan with Double-Edge can help Sylveon deal with powerful threats. Mega Kangaskhan also has access to Earthquake, which can help get rid of pesky Steel-types. In return, Sylveon can switch into Dark- and Fighting-type moves and eliminate Pokemon that give Mega Kangaskhan trouble, such as Mega Sableye and Conkeldurr. Garchomp and Hippowdon are also great partners for Sylveon, helping to eliminate Poison- and Steel-types such as Mega Gengar, Heatran, and Aegislash with STAB Earthquake. They are superb Stealth Rock users as well, turning potential 2HKOs into OHKOs for Sylveon. An example is non-Assault Vest variants of Azumarill. In return, Sylveon can punish Dragon-types for Garchomp, such as Hydreigon, Dragonite, and opposing Garchomp. Fire-types such as Mega Charizard X and Y, Heatran, Rotom-H, and Talonflame can deal with Steel-types that threaten Sylveon. Additionally, Talonflame can help take on Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Serperior. Rotom-H and Rotom-W are great for taking Flying-type attacks from Pokemon such as Talonflame and the rare Mega Pinsir. They can both utilize Will-O-Wisp to burn physical attackers, which helps mitigate Sylveon's low Defense. Ferrothorn can switch into Steel-type moves with ease and is immune to Poison, giving it good synergy with Sylveon. Magnezone is helpful in trapping other Steel-types with Magnet Pull, such as Scizor, Ferrothorn, and the uncommon Bisharp. Aegislash is a great partner for its ability to come in freely on some threats that take out or threaten Sylveon, such as Chansey, Mega Venusaur, Dragalge, and Mega Metagross. Sylveon appreciates Thunder Wave support from the likes of Thundurus and Cresselia, as it ruins many physical attackers' ability to check it. Cresselia deserves a special mention because it can tank physical attacks very well and switch into Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Salamence.