Blacephalon Competitive Discussion, Overview and Learnset

[Kris]

Blacephalon

Stats

HP: 53
Attack: 127
Defense: 53
Sp.Atk: 151
Sp.Def 79
Speed: 107

Learnset

Level Up Moves:

• Astonish, Ember (Lvl. 1)
  
• Magic Coat (Lvl. 7)
  
• Stored Power (Lvl. 13)
  
• Flame Burst (Lvl. 17)
  
• Night Shade (Lvl. 23)
  
• Light Screen (Lvl. 29)
  
• Calm Mind (Lvl. 31)
  
• Fire Blast (Lvl. 37)
  
• Shadow Ball (Lvl. 41)
  
• Trick (Lvl. 47)
  
• Mind Blown (Lvl. 59)
  

TM moves

• Psyshock
  
• Calm Mind
  
• Toxic
  
• Hidden Power
  
• Sunny Day
  
• Taunt
  
• Hyper Beam
  
• Light Screen
  
• Protect
  
• Frustration
  
• Smack Down
  
• Return
  
• Psychic
  
• Shadow Ball
  
• Double Team
  
• Flamethrower
  
• Fire Blast
  
• Torment
  
• Facade
  
• Flame Charge
  
• Rest
  
• Thief
  
• Round
  
• Overhaet
  
• Fling
  
• Quash
  
• Will-o-Wisp
  
• Explosion
  
• Shadow Claw
  
• Payback
  
• Swagger
  
• Sleep Talk
  
• Substitute
  
• Dark Pulse
  
• Confide
  

Tutor Moves

• After You
  
• Foul Play
  
• Heat Wave
  
• Knock Off
  
• Last Resort
  
• Pain Split
  
• Recycle
  
• Snore
  
• Spite
  
• Trick
  
• Uproar
  

Discussion

Blacephalon's massive 151 Sp.Atk stat makes it frightening to face off against, but while that's the case, it's rather average of 107 Speed basically forces it to have to run Choice Scarf almost all the time. At level 100, with a Timid Nature and 252 Evs in Speed gives it 344 Speed, which isn't terrible, but it can only just outspeed certain non-scarf sub-100 Speed Pokemon. Will it go to Ubers? No. Absolutely not. Marshadow's Shadow Sneak OHKOes it, Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch, or Scrappy Non-Mega Kanga's Fake Out, as well as Ash-Greninja's Water Shuriken, (Yes I know Ash-Greninja is OU, tell that to every Ubers player ever), Mega Gengar checks it completely, Palkia, and Primal Kyogre all are able to stop it. So, Blacephalon will most likely stay in OU. It's counters are still around, like Ash-Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Alakazam, Gengar and Mimikyu, but it still is able to take on a lot of OU's Pokemon with ease, notably the Tapus. It outclasses our other Fire/Ghost type, Chandelure, by outspeeding it and having better offensive stats, but the dismal HP stat of only 53 makes it hard for Blacephalon to really survive for long. It's Signature Move Mind Blown has 150 Base power, but with no way to recover itself, I don't see Mind Blown being a common move on this Pokemon.

Possible Set(s)

Blacephalon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse / Psychic
-  HP Electric

Damage Calculations

• 252 SpA Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Bulu: 344-408 (122.4 - 145.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (344, 348, 354, 356, 362, 366, 368, 374, 378, 380, 386, 390, 392, 398, 402, 408)
  
• 252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Lele: 258-306 (91.8 - 108.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (258, 260, 264, 266, 270, 272, 276, 278, 282, 284, 288, 290, 294, 296, 300, 306)
  
• +1 252 SpA Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Tapu Koko: 348-411 (123.8 - 146.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
  Possible damage amounts: (348, 352, 357, 361, 364, 369, 373, 378, 381, 385, 390, 394, 397, 402, 406, 411)
  
• +1 252 SpA Blacephalon Hidden Power Electric vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 176-208 (51.3 - 60.6%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
  Possible damage amounts: (176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 208)
  

Other possible options

• Mind Blown is an option as a possible suicide lead, you could attempt to run a Firium Z as well to make it a powerful wallbreaking move, without recoil for one turn.
  
• Psyshock over Psychic could be useful in certain matchups.
  

Team Options

• A Drought setter to help Blacephalon's fire type attack(s) do more damage, notably Torkoal or Mega Charizard Y.
  
• Mega Venusaur or Ferrothorn to tank Scald and various other water type attacks.
  
• Tapu Fini for Defog, as Blacephalon is weak to Stealth Rock and Tapu Lele for Psychic Terrain to stop priority moves.
  

Expect the other UBs later. This may not be final, keep that in mind. 

[Dova]

Hyped for Stackattacka