Gen 7 OU: Physical Serperior?
Serperior @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Aqua Tail
- Knock Off
While still not quite as popular as Contrary Leaf Storm, the niche of a physical Serperior has somewhat improved over the generations. It has an improved Knock Off, which cuts down Blacephalon, Victini, and Jirachi with relative ease (as well as Alakazam who would be evolution-turn OHKO'd regardless of if you danced or not, if I remember how the mechanic works correctly), and can cripple incoming switch ins that our regal snek would have trouble dealing with - which is more than I'd like to admit, but the only use of this set is to be a surprise / fill a role your team doesn't have.
The other notable addition to Serp's arsenal is Aqua Tail. Obviously this will help in Fire coverage - Volcarona pre-QD, and some Victini variants will fall to this (though you could hit Victini for even more with a Knock Off). It also provides a surprise whack at Landorus-T, who may have thought it safe to set up since you were intimidated. As long as opposing Gliscor do not carry a jank off-meta Flying move, you can safely pressure or 2HKO those as well after a Dance. Unfortunately, this build gets smoked by defensive Heatran variants, but if you have reason to believe it is an offensive variant and you have a SD set up, Aqua Tail does OHKO the offensive Smogon build.
So, better than before and an added element of surprise if you wish.
