Overview
Primal Kyogre's excellent Water typing gives it good coverage, key resistances to types such as Fire and Water, and only one relevant weakness in Electric. Its powerful Special Attack and usable Speed allows it to run several offensive sets. Good special bulk gives Primal Kyogre many chances to set up, and it can either make itself resistant to Imposter with Poison Heal or nearly impossible to wall with Water Bubble. Primal Kyogre it very splashable and needs little team support, but is held back from its full potential by low physical bulk. Primal Kyogre is also weak to Galvanize, meaning that it can be revenge KOd no matter how set up it is, and it can only fulfill a limited number of roles on a given set, forcing it to choose what answers it. Good, but I would also mention that many teams carry defensive checks to it nowadays, such as Water Immune Fairies, or Water resisted RegenVest users. So depending the set, it may require some help getting rid of these threats before wallbreaking.
Choice Scarf Sweeper
Kyogre-Primal @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Spout
- Steam Eruption
- Ice Beam / Earth Power
- Volt Switch / Moongheist Beam / Trick
Set Comments
Moves
Water Spout is the most powerful Water type attack around, capable of 2HKOing even defensive Chansey with the boost from Water Bubble, while Steam Eruption is a backup STAB move that allows Kyogre to cripple switch-ins with burns and function even when weakened. Ice Beam hits Dragon-type Pokemon such as Mega Rayquaza and Giratina for high damage while still doing decent damage to Primal Groudon, while Earth Power hits Water Absorb Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Solgaleo, and Magearna but is harder to imposterproof. Volt Switch pivots out Primal Kyogre, allowing it to scout what switches in and wear down Water Absorbers, while Moongheist beam is another option to hit Shedinja, as well as Solgaleo if you opted for Ice Beam above, but is often inferior to switching in an answer. Trick should also be slashed to cripple RegenVest users such as Mega Gyara and Dialga, preventing them from switching into Pogre later down the match. It also helps cripple walls such as Mega Audino and Xerneas, which if they are Water immune can repeatedly switchin to Ogre.
Set Details
252 Speed EVs and a Timid Nature maximizes Primal Kyogre's Speed. This is further boosted by a Choice Scarf, which lets it outrun Pheromosa and speed tie with other Choice Scarf or +1 base 90 Speed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon. 252 Special Attack EVs increase Primal Kyogres damage output and make it harder to switch into. Water Bubble doubles the damage of Water-type moves, turning Primal Kyogre into a powerful attacker.
Usage Tips
Bring Primal Kyogre in on answers to your win condition, particularly bulky Steel-type Pokemon such as Registeel, and fire off a powerful Water Spout. If the opponent has a water-immune Pokemon such as Water Absorb Audino, Volt Switch into a counter to wear them down until they are KOed by your coverage. In the early game, it is often beneficial to click Volt Switch frequently to see what they switch in and avoid surprise counters. If the opponent has a solid switch-in such as Giratina, burn it with Steam Eruption or chip it before attempting to power through with Water Spout. Both Water Spout and Steam Eruption have limited PP, so don't attempt to slowly wear walls down a few percent at a time. If the opponent has Shedinja, don't attempt to burn it with Steam Eruption; use Volt Switch to pivot to a counter. Also mention that Pogre can switchin into other passive mons such as Zygarde-C and Mega Slowbro as well.
Team Options
Water immunities and Water resists such as Water Absorb Magearna, Desolate Land Primal Groudon and Assault Vest Mega Gyarados are all but required with this set in order to check Imposter Pokaemon. Primal Groudon is generally the best option thanks to its immunity to Volt Switch and overall viability, but if you opt for Earth Power Mega Audino or similar are preferred. Slow pivots, such as Mega Audino, Registeel, and Solgaleo, are handy to bring Primal Kyogre in safely on things it beats such as offensive Primal Groudon. Entry hazard setters such as Aegislash, Zygarde-C and Giratina are nice to ease prediction and better wear down switch-ins, particularly bulky RegenVest Pokemon such as Giratina Mega Gyarados and Dialga, while hazard clearing such as Defog or Rapid Spin keeps Water Spout at full power. Bulky Pokemon such as Zygarde-C and Registeel are necessary to take priority moves for Primal Kyogre unless you have Psychic Terrain setters such a super Mega Mewtwo X Y. Other attackers such as Mega Mewtwo Y X and Primal Groudon are also handy to wear down answers such as Mega Gyarados, Giratina, and Water Absorb Steel Fairy-type Pokemon.
Water Bubble Wallbreaker
Kyogre-Primal @ Mystic Water / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Modest Nature / Timid Nature
- Steam Eruption
- Core Enforcer / Water Spout
- Earth Power / Moongheist Beam
- Water Shruiken / Quiver Dance / Volt Switch / Trick
Set Comments
Moves
Steam Eruption is the obligatory stab move; it is extremely powerful and spreads burns to dissuade switch-ins. Core Enforcer is a must-have on Mystic Water sets, as it negates abilities such as Water Absorb, Innards Out, and Regenerator on switch-in but should not be used on Choice Specs sets (Although if u carry Trick then it can work). Water Spout is the most powerful Water-type move and is preferred on Choice Specs sets. Earth Power hits slower Water immunities such as Primal Groudon and Magearna, while Moongheist Beam hits Shedinja and Solgaleo but has worse coverage than Earth Power. Water Shruiken is a powerful priority move that can pick off weakened foes or frail Pokemon such as Deoxys-Speed and Pheromosa, while Quiver Dance allows Mystic Water sets to boost their Special Attack and Speed, turning it into a powerful sweeper. Tail Glow may be used to make Primal Kyogre even harder to answer, but necessitates that any imposterpoofing rely on immunities. Volt Switch allows the Choice Specs set to wear down switch-ins and hit water types, but leaves it trapped by water-immune Primal Groudon. Again, Trick can also be utilized on the last slot and can work even better thanks to it crippling physical attackers much more.
Set Details
252 Speed EVs allow Primal Kyogre to outrun most defensive Pokemon, while 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest Nature maximize Primal Kyogre's damage output and make it harder to switch into. Water Bubble doubles the damage of Water-type moves, turning Primal Kyogre into a powerful attacker. Choice Specs increases the damage of Special Attacks by 50%, allowing Primal Kyogre to bypass would-be answers such as Poison Heal Giratina and RegenVest Dialga. Mystic Water increases the damage of Water-type attacks while easing prediction and allowing Primal Kyogre to defeat Water immunities with Core Enforcer by letting it switch moves, but is much weaker.
Usage Tips
Offensive Primal Kyogre functions best as a wallbreaker due to its insane power; bring it in on something slower such as Registeel and break holes in the opponent's team. Whenever possible, clear entry hazards and bring in Primal Kyogre with a slow pivot, because any chip damage impacts the damage output of Water Spout. Avoid coverage unless the opponent has a water immunity or a bulky water resist weak to coverage such as Palkia or Giratina, as Water Attacks generally outdamage the coverage even versus resistances. If running Quiver Dance, do not reveal it until Imposter users and switch-ins are weakened in the late game (well Imposters would know anyways, unless you are implying they were weakened by other mons and never copied Pogre) , as you usually only have one shot to sweep. Entry Hazard management such as Magic Bounce, Defog, and Rapid Spin are useful to keep Water Spout at maximum power and to allow Primal Kyogre to come in as many times as possible. Also mention that Mystic Water sets can bluff being Specs due to WB's damage output usually masking the difference of power from these items, potentially enabling you to net some more KOs.
Team Options
A Water-Immune Pokemon not weak to Primal Kyogre's chosen coverage, such as Primal Groudon, Water Absorb Mega Audino, or Shedinja Celesteela, is necessary to take on Imposters. Slow pivots such as Registeel and Giratina are handy as they can bring Primal Kyogre in without taking any damage, allowing it to wallbreak multiple times. Hazard support in Defog, Rapid Spin, and Magic Bounce is crucial to keeping Water Spout at full power should you run it. Pokemon that deal well with offense, such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Rayquaza, are handy to take out faster sweepers. Other wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Mega Rayquaza are useful to wear down shared switch-ins such as Water Absorb Steel-type Pokemon and to sweep through checks such as Innards Out Chansey. Imposterpoof sweepers such as Mega Gengar that can clean through weakened teams are also handy to take advantages of the holes caused by Primal Kyogre without making the team further vulnerable to Imposter Chansey.
Bulky PH Setup Sweeper
Kyogre-Primal @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Quiver Dance
- Leech Seed / King's Shield
- Ice Beam / Moonblast
Set Comments
Moves
Scald is Primal Kyogre's primary STAB option, spreading burns, particularly versus imposters, and hitting most of the metagame for solid damage; it has more PP then Steam Eruption, allowing Primal Kyogre to use it regularly, and is more accurate to boot. Quiver Dance boosts Kyogre's Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed, turning it into a fearsome and bulky sweeper. Leech Seed allows Primal Kyogre to better handle Imposter Pokémon and Shedinja, as well as easing setup. Kings Shield blocks priority from users such as Mega Rayquaza and Mega Diancie, allowing Primal Kyogre to sweep unimpeded, and allows it to set up on or take out even more physical attackers. Ice Beam hits Dragon-types, particularly Mega Rayquaza, for super effective damage as well as hitting the rare Grass-type Pokemon such as Tapu Bulu. Moonblast is a slightly stronger option that does more to most Dragon-type Pokémon and Water-types, particularly Kyurem-Black, Giratina and other Primal Kyogre, at the cost of a worse matchup versus Chansey and Water Absorb Primal Groudon. Taunt is a usable option to stop recovery, Haze, and other Poison Heal Kyogres, but leaves this set vulnerable to Magic Bounce. Spore is also nice to give it more setup opportunities, and can block Imposters from setting up simultaneously.
Set Details
252 HP EVs in conjunction with 240 Defense EVs and a Bold Nature greatly increases Primal Kyogre's bulk and allows it to set up on many Pokemon Examples on what the Defense EVs tank?. 16 20 Speed EVs allow Primal Kyogre to outspeed Deoxys-Attack Pheromosa at +2. Toxic Orb Poisons Primal Kyogre and lets it activate Poison Heal, which lets Primal Kyogre passively recover HP and allows it to 1v1 most imposter sets.
Usage Tips
You should activate Primal Kyogre's Toxic Orb as quickly as feasible so it can heal on the turn it switches in and absorb status, particularly Sleep, for the team; for this reason avoid switching Primal Kyogre in until its Toxic Orb has activated, as a surprise Will-o-Wisp or Knock Off can cripple it for the match. On occasion, it can be worthwhile to bring Primal Kyogre in after a teammate has fainted to bluff Water Bubble, but it is generally inferior to simply activating the Orb on a pivot. Once Primal Kyogre checks such as Unaware Mega Audino and Water Absorb Solgaleo Celesteela are removed or worn down, bring it in on something it defeats such as Mega Gyarados (although some Mega Gyara tend to run Circle Throw/Spectral Thief, so maybe another example?) and set up. Be wary of Core Enforcer from users such as Giratina and Dialga, as the loss of its ability causes Primal Kyogre to quickly faint to Toxic damage. If you don't know what the foe is going to do, it's often a good option to click Scald to spread burns and deal solid damage to most switch-ins. This set is vulnerable to Spectral Thief, so avoid setting up if you know the opposing Pokemon carries that. If Primal Kyogre carries King's Shield, be wary of using it overmuch one revealed, as the foe can use that free turn to set up or switch.
Team Options
Poison Heal Primal Kyogre is largely self-sufficient and needs little team support to function. However, Kyogre appreciates pivots such Registeel and Celesteela to bring it in safely. Pokemon that can take boosted hits, such as Chansey and Unaware walls, are handy in case a sufficiently lucky imposter (?) or a Lucky Punch Chansey defeats Primal Kyogre. Stall and Wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Mega Rayquaza are also handy to defeat bulky Pokemon that can wall even boosted Primal Kyogre such as Unaware or Water Absorb Mega Audino; physical ones such as Primal Groudon are particularly handy to force out the special walls such as Chansey.
Strategy Comments
Other Options
Running a more offensive EV spread such as 44 HP / 252 SpA / 212 Spe and a Timid Nature on Poison Heal gives it more offensive presence more quickly, outspeed fast threats such as Pheromosa at +1, and lets it whittle Unaware Pokemon more easily, but comes at the cost of easy setup and revenge KO resistance. Spore is also a good move on Poison Heal sets to cripple walls and Chansey, but doesn't go well with scald burns (mention this in the set details). A Fur Coat set may be used to have a solid pivot option, but it generally worse than simply running an offensive set (how so? it is a good check to stuff like Pdon and MMX, they just accomplish different things). Alternatively, RegenVest allows Primal Kyogre to act as a switch-in for special attackers that can hit back, but it even more vulnerable to physical attackers. Life Orb is an option on Water Bubble sets for greater damage on coverage and the ability to switch moves, but wears down Primal Kyogre quickly and weakens Water Spout (Its not like LO sets need to run Spout anyways, so I wouldn't mention). Earth Power usable over Ice Beam or Moonblast on the Poison Heal set to defeat Water Absorb Steel-type Pokemon and Water Absorb Primal Groudon, but it generally inferior to the listed moves.
Checks and Counters
Water Immunities: Since they are immune to Kyogre's STAB moves, Water Absorb and Desolate Land Pokemon such as Primal Groudon and Xerneas are usually serviceable Primal Kyogre checks. Many can be taken out by coverage or repeated Volt Switch pivots, however, and all Non-Fairy-types must beware core enforcer.
Specially Defensive Water Resists: Extremely bulky water resists, such as RegenVest Dialga, Poison Heal Giratina, and RegenVest Mega Gyarados can take most hits from Primal Kyogre. Most, however, need very little chip to enter KO range of Choice Specs Water Spout.
Chansey: Chansey has several sets, and all of them mess with Primal Kyogre. Imposter Chansey is one of the few possible switch-ins to Water Bubble Primal Kyogre, taking a hit and forcing it out. It can also stall out Poison Heal to some extent while fishing for critical hits, and Lucky Punch can ignore boosts outright. Defensive, non-imposter sets serve as some of the best answers to Poison Heal sets and can defeat almost any Primal Kyogre set 1v1. Innards Out, meanwhile, can force a trade with Primal Kyogre.
Galvanize: Galvanize turns Normal-type moves to electric, allowing them to hit Primal Kyogre for super effective damage before it can react. Many users, including Zekrom, KO outright, while all can pick off even boosted Primal Kyogre at low HP.
Ability Removal: Primal Kyogre is uniformly reliant on its ability, so any means of suppression, from Core Enforcer on Pokemon such as Dialga to Entrainment Mega Gengar. Poison Heal sets will quickly faint to the rapidly exponential Toxic damage, while Water Bubble sets become much easier to wall.