[SET]
name: Contrary Sweeper
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Tera Blast
move 3: Glare
move 4: Substitute / Dragon Pulse
item: Leftovers
tera type: Ground / Fire / Rock
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Serperior fills the role of a lategame sweeper for offensive teams that uniquely boosts its Special Attack while attacking thanks to Contrary Leaf Storm. Tera Blast gives Serperior the strong coverage that it sorely lacks, as Serperior is otherwise entirely walled by Steel-types and most special walls. Tera Blast Ground is the most common choice, as it deals heavy damage to Pokemon like Heatran, Galarian Slowking, and Gholdengo that do not fear Leaf Storm. Tera Blast Fire trades a strong hit on Galarian Slowking and Heatran for a way to immediately threaten Corviknight, Skarmory, and common Air Balloon users like Gholdengo and Kingambit. Tera Blast Rock is a more specific option, primarily chosen to beat Volcarona, while also granting Serperior a way to hit Kyurem and Dragonite hard. Glare is used to punish the switches Serperior often forces, allowing Serperior to cripple common answers like Heatran and Volcarona without having to commit to using Tera. Substitute allows for Serperior to scout switches and fish for full paralysis turns to more easily set up. Additionally, having a Substitute up forces many faster potential revenge killers like Zamazenta and Darkrai to risk a strong hit or paralysis to break it. Dragon Pulse can be used over Substitute as a non-tera reliant way to deal with common Dragon-types, especially Dragons that are not weak to the chosen Tera Blast type. Leftovers helps to keep Serperior healthy throughout the match, most notably allowing it to make more Substitutes. The Tera types chosen are primarily to aid in coverage as mentioned above, but also have a few defensive applications of note. Tera Ground can enable Serperior to safely Substitute against a Poison move from Galarian Slowking or Clodsire in a pinch, potentially allowing for a free turn of setup. Tera Fire allows Serperior to resist Triple Axel from Meowscarada and Weavile, a move that otherwise threatens to OHKO Serperior even through a Substitute. Tera Rock not only threatens to OHKO Volcarona, but also resists both of its STAB moves and can set up against it barring a Tera in response.
Serperior is very Tera reliant, so it wants teammates that can help it to make the most of the Tera investment and do not need Tera themselves. It is best used alongside Pokemon that appreciate paralysis support, and provide heavy offensive pressure. Ribombee is a great teammate, as Serperior makes great use of Sticky Web. Sticky Web allows it to outspeed otherwise faster Pokemon like non-Clear Body Dragapult and Booster Energy Iron Valiant. In turn, threat of a Contrary Evasion boost from Defog or a Contrary Speed boost from its own hazard due to Court Change helps to maintain the Sticky Web. Other entry hazard leads like Hisuian Samurott and Glimmora also support Serperior well, as many of Serperior's checks are grounded. Landorus-T is another good teammate for Serperior, as it provides Stealth Rock, can use U-turn to get Serperior in safely, and threatens Pokemon like Heatran and Galarian Slowking with Earthquake. Roaring Moon is notable because it fits on the same team structures as Serperior, appreciates the paralysis support, and threatens bulky cores with Knock Off and potentially Taunt. Arguably the biggest threat to Serperior is Gholdengo, as it both can repeatedly switch into Leaf Storm and is immune to Glare. Galarian Slowking similarly cares very little about Leaf Storm and does not mind the speed drop from paralysis. Kingambit is a good partner, as it can switch in against both of these problematic Pokemon and threaten them with heavy damage. Kingambit also appreciates paralysis on Pokemon like Corviknight, which non jolly Kingambit can beat 1v1 thanks to the Speed drop. Kyurem dislikes risking paralysis, but takes little damage from Serperior and heavily threatens it and many of Serperior's frail offensive teammates in return. Teammates like Air Balloon Gholdengo and Volcarona can help to sponge Kyurem hits while adding more offensive pressure. Gholdengo can use Nasty Plot boosted attacks like Shadow Ball and Psyshock to help break Galarian Slowking, Blissey, and Clodsire for Serperior, while blocking hazard removal. Volcarona does not typically break for Serperior like Gholdengo does, but appreciates Tera Serperior removing walls like Heatran which frees Volcarona to run sets that otherwise lose to these walls.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sp0on1ord.513254/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/veti.612907/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/username.XXXXXX/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/username.XXXXXX/
name: Contrary Sweeper
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Tera Blast
move 3: Glare
move 4: Substitute / Dragon Pulse
item: Leftovers
tera type: Ground / Fire / Rock
ability: Contrary
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Serperior fills the role of a lategame sweeper for offensive teams that uniquely boosts its Special Attack while attacking thanks to Contrary Leaf Storm. Tera Blast gives Serperior the strong coverage that it sorely lacks, as Serperior is otherwise entirely walled by Steel-types and most special walls. Tera Blast Ground is the most common choice, as it deals heavy damage to Pokemon like Heatran, Galarian Slowking, and Gholdengo that do not fear Leaf Storm. Tera Blast Fire trades a strong hit on Galarian Slowking and Heatran for a way to immediately threaten Corviknight, Skarmory, and common Air Balloon users like Gholdengo and Kingambit. Tera Blast Rock is a more specific option, primarily chosen to beat Volcarona, while also granting Serperior a way to hit Kyurem and Dragonite hard. Glare is used to punish the switches Serperior often forces, allowing Serperior to cripple common answers like Heatran and Volcarona without having to commit to using Tera. Substitute allows for Serperior to scout switches and fish for full paralysis turns to more easily set up. Additionally, having a Substitute up forces many faster potential revenge killers like Zamazenta and Darkrai to risk a strong hit or paralysis to break it. Dragon Pulse can be used over Substitute as a non-tera reliant way to deal with common Dragon-types, especially Dragons that are not weak to the chosen Tera Blast type. Leftovers helps to keep Serperior healthy throughout the match, most notably allowing it to make more Substitutes. The Tera types chosen are primarily to aid in coverage as mentioned above, but also have a few defensive applications of note. Tera Ground can enable Serperior to safely Substitute against a Poison move from Galarian Slowking or Clodsire in a pinch, potentially allowing for a free turn of setup. Tera Fire allows Serperior to resist Triple Axel from Meowscarada and Weavile, a move that otherwise threatens to OHKO Serperior even through a Substitute. Tera Rock not only threatens to OHKO Volcarona, but also resists both of its STAB moves and can set up against it barring a Tera in response.
Serperior is very Tera reliant, so it wants teammates that can help it to make the most of the Tera investment and do not need Tera themselves. It is best used alongside Pokemon that appreciate paralysis support, and provide heavy offensive pressure. Ribombee is a great teammate, as Serperior makes great use of Sticky Web. Sticky Web allows it to outspeed otherwise faster Pokemon like non-Clear Body Dragapult and Booster Energy Iron Valiant. In turn, threat of a Contrary Evasion boost from Defog or a Contrary Speed boost from its own hazard due to Court Change helps to maintain the Sticky Web. Other entry hazard leads like Hisuian Samurott and Glimmora also support Serperior well, as many of Serperior's checks are grounded. Landorus-T is another good teammate for Serperior, as it provides Stealth Rock, can use U-turn to get Serperior in safely, and threatens Pokemon like Heatran and Galarian Slowking with Earthquake. Roaring Moon is notable because it fits on the same team structures as Serperior, appreciates the paralysis support, and threatens bulky cores with Knock Off and potentially Taunt. Arguably the biggest threat to Serperior is Gholdengo, as it both can repeatedly switch into Leaf Storm and is immune to Glare. Galarian Slowking similarly cares very little about Leaf Storm and does not mind the speed drop from paralysis. Kingambit is a good partner, as it can switch in against both of these problematic Pokemon and threaten them with heavy damage. Kingambit also appreciates paralysis on Pokemon like Corviknight, which non jolly Kingambit can beat 1v1 thanks to the Speed drop. Kyurem dislikes risking paralysis, but takes little damage from Serperior and heavily threatens it and many of Serperior's frail offensive teammates in return. Teammates like Air Balloon Gholdengo and Volcarona can help to sponge Kyurem hits while adding more offensive pressure. Gholdengo can use Nasty Plot boosted attacks like Shadow Ball and Psyshock to help break Galarian Slowking, Blissey, and Clodsire for Serperior, while blocking hazard removal. Volcarona does not typically break for Serperior like Gholdengo does, but appreciates Tera Serperior removing walls like Heatran which frees Volcarona to run sets that otherwise lose to these walls.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sp0on1ord.513254/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/veti.612907/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/username.XXXXXX/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/username.XXXXXX/
Last edited:
