What is a good moveset for Serperior?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Serperior, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Serperior Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

No need for me to answer. This guy doesn't have anything else. Actually quite a shallow movepool. I am actually starting to think Borderline is his zone. But likely tier: Overused.

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Hey everyone think first serperior with perseverity ISN'T OUT YET for the dream world!!!

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That doesn't matter. We can still use those abilities on Pokemon Online.

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How do you do it?

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Can't believe he is NU xD

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WIth Contrary, he should be OU.

Answer 1

Pre-emptive Contrary set for B2/W2

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 6 HP

Leaf Storm
Dragon Pulse
Hidden Power [Fire]
Synthesis

Black and White 2 gave him some important new Move Tutor moves. Leaf Storm is a given as it doubles his Special Attack in one turn and has super high power. Dragon Pulse YES!!! Finally! Now his movepool is not so easily resisted, in fact only Heatran resists it now! Great neutral coverage. Hidden Power [Fire¡ is great paired with Dragon Pulse and has great coverage. Synthesis gives him reliable healing, this is very useful as he is a bulky sweeper. This set is also good for Sun teams as it powers up Hidden Power [Fire] and Synthesis.

Comments

Above: That is even higher than White Kyurem...

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how do I teach dragon pulse to serperior in pokemon sun and moon

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You can't. You need ultra sun and moon, because that's where the tutors are.

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what is a replacement for dragon pulse, I will accept it as long as It is available in sun and moon and, isn't an egg move

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I just made a set for Serperior now, and is nearly identical to yours 0_o, sorry, I only saw your set a few seconds after

Answer 2

Use this after hazards are out

Serperior (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Coil
- Dragon Tail
- Synthesis
- Taunt / Leaf Blade

You can coil up for better bulk and harder hitting. Along with an accuracy boost! ( Yes! Now Dragon Tail won't miss! ). Synthesis is good reliable healing for if you get too beat down. Taunt can stop other phazers and taunters in their tracks. While Leaf Blade is for if you get a lot of Coils and think you can just straight up tank over your opponents.

Comments

Very tanky set, I like it. There are many sets with contrary and I don't like it.

Answer 3

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.

Comments

3 votes in 3 minutes? Good lord you guys liked this even more than I expected 0_o

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Lmao it’s new!

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But ig Lefties would b better?

Answer 4

(Gen 9) National Dex UU Normalium Z

Serperior @ Normalium Z
Ability: Contrary
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Hyper Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Synthesis / Taunt / Glare

A Normalium Z set Serperior can use in NatDex UU. This set allows Serperior to have a way to beat or severly weaken its checks not named Aegislash and Celesteela. Leaf Storm is standard Contrary Serperior stuff, raising its Special Attack that gives Serperior snowballing potential in games. Hyper Beam is on this set since this set has Normalium Z. With Hyper Beam as the base move for Breakneck Blitz, Serperior can weaken or OHKO checks such as Mega Venusuar, Iron Moth, Hydrapple, Buzzwole, and Enamorus, Pokemon who resist Serperior's Leaf Storm. Hidden Power Fire is used to deal super effective damage to Steel-types such as Scizor, Skarmory, Aegislash, and Celesteela. Synthesis gives Serperior some HP recovery, which can let Serperior switch into Rotom-Wash more repeatedly as well as staying out of range from attacks from knocking it out. Taunt can be used to stop Pokemon from setting up hazards, setting up, and denying recovery, with the recovery denial being useful against Pokemon Serperior used its Z Hyper Beam on. Glare is an option to provide utility for its team by slowing down faster Pokemon.

Answer 5

Sun Serperior

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 100 HP / 152 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Natue
- Growth
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Toxic / Dragon Tail

• Growth- doubles Attack and Special Attack due to sun
• Solar Beam- STAB with no delay
• Hidden Power [Rock]- covers Flying and Fire type weakness
• Toxic / Dragon Tail- Toxic to stall. Dragon Tail to deal with Dragon types and to phaze

Comments

Its not a sun Serperior if it doesn't have Sunny day.

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But if it's on a team that uses a Pokemon with Drought, it's already set up.

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HP rock also covers bug weakness.

Answer 6

I've been thinking...

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Dragon Pulse

Substitute allows you to get up a couple of boosts without letting him get hit. Leaf Storm + Contrary = Insane Boosts with power! HP Rock covers a lot of weaknesses. Dragon Pulse is mainly filler and hits dragons that resist it's STAB.

Answer 7

Gen 7 OU
Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Coil
- Glare
- Leaf Blade
- Aqua Tail
Explanation: Coil is to raise attack, defense and accuracy. Glare is to help setup Coil. Leaf Blade is STAB. Aqua Tail gives Serperior fire type coverage.

Answer 8

Serperior @ Choice Specs
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Knock Off

• Leaf Storm (Strong STAB, doubles special atk every time it is used with Contrary)
• Dragon Pulse (Covers dragon)
• Hidden Power [Rock] (Covers 3/4 weaknesses)
• Knock Off (gets rid of opponent's item)

Comments

I wouldn’t use a mixed Serperior...

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Yeah, I mean, Choice Specs Knock Off seems kinda weird to me. It's a useful move, but then you're locked into it and you need to switch in and out to use your Special moves.

Answer 9

Gen 7 OU

Serperior @ Salac Berry
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 244 HP / 12 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Leaf Blade
- Glare
- Knock Off

Substitute until you hit Salac Berry range. This allows Serperior to get a Speed boost and an Overgrow boost, making it quite potent. Leaf Blade is STAB boosted by Overgrow, Glare allows you to outspeed even more Pokemon, and Knock Off is helpful, item-removing coverage.

Answer 10

Giga Serperior.

Serperior @ Big Root
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Calm Mind
- Leech Seed
- Substitute

Ability: Overgrow (don´t have access to Contrary ability yet).
Nature: Timid or Modest (preferred but it´s up to you).
EV: 252 Def, 252 Speed, 4 HP (move first to set it up).
Item: Big Root (It works better with this moveset than Leftovers).

Moves:
Giga Drain - STAB Move, deals damage and recovers some HP, gets a boost from Big Root and Overgrow ability when it has low HP. If it has a chance to increase its Sp. Attk it´ll do more damage.
Calm Mind: Increases Sp. Attk and Sp. Def, this way Serperior will become bulkier and lethal, the more damage it does, the more HP it drains. It can take more hits when hidden behind the Substitute.
Leech Seed: It heals Serperior and with the boost from Big Root, it almost restores all HP lost by using Substitute. In Multi battles, forces a switch and helps the team in case it faints.
Substitute - Protects Serperior against major status problems, critical hits and super effective moves and allows it to set up the strategy. Ideal to use first when you know you cannot hit hard your opponent.

Thanks.

Answer 11

Here's a nice little set:

Serperior @ Leftovers / Big Root
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Giga Drain
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power

I call it… SubStorm Serperior. If you get a free switch to bring in Serp, you can get that Sub up and Leaf Storm to your heart's content. Giga Drain is for recovery, while a Hidden Power of your choice provides some coverage.

Serperior will never be a "good" Pokémon, but it might be able to find a niche somewhere… maybe?

Comments

Serperior is BANNED from UU so it's somewhat decent.
Your set is nowhere a gimmick but Serperior desperately needs Hidden Power. Like, badly.

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Serperior itself is a gimmick. The poor thing doesn't even work as a glass cannon most ov the time, since it relies on getting a +2 from the first Leaf Storm and not being KOed in between. Not to mention that solid Grass typing isn't the best.

Answer 12

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Glare
- Giga Drain

Leaf Storm is Serperior's main and most powerful STAB move, and instead of lowering your special attack in raises it due to Contrary. Dragon Pulse is good coverage. Glare is helpful when needing to slow opponents down, and Giga Drain offers more STAB and healing.

Answer 13

Does no one ever think of Serperior as a potential special defender?

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow / Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Toxic
- Synthesis / Calm Mind

This set was made to create a more special defense based Pokemon that people would like to use. If you're running Contrary, replace Giga Drain with Leaf Storm, but if you're running Giga Drain, you won't really need Synthesis. Personally, I would keep it as a safety net, but I don't care what you do. Calm Mind works as a buff, increasing the Special Attack that should already be high if you have a contrary Leaf Storm used already, and to increase the already great special defense. Dragon Pulse is for coverage, and Toxic is for chip damage, increasing over time.

Answer 14

Here are a few sets I quite like, that I've done well with

Set Up Sweeper

Serperior @ Leftovers / Grassium Z
Ability: Contrary
Timid Nature
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse / Hidden Power [Ice]
- Hidden Power [Rock] / Hidden Power [Fire] / Giga Drain
- Giga Drain / Synthesis

Pure offence EV's, enough said.

Bulky Support Contrary

Serperior @ Aguav Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
Timid Nature
EVs: 200 HP / 36 SpA / 252 Spe
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Hidden Power [Rock]
- Glare
- Substitute

EV's are for semi bulk, to take hits better, while racking up Special Attack boosts. Glare to cripple, and Sub to dodge status. With the above EVs, you can activate the Berry after the third sub, with Stealth Rock damage, or one layer of Spikes, or after the 4th Sub, with less than 1% HP left, with no prior damage. If you wanted a guaranteed Berry Activation on the 3rd Sub, you can play around with the EV's.

Physical Attacker

Serprior @ Leftovers / Aguav Berry / Steelium Z / Waterium Z / Grassium Z
Ability: Overgrow
Jolly Nature
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Atk / 4 SpD / 172 Spe
- Leaf Blade
- Iron Tail / Aqua Tail
- Coil
- Synthesis

Speed EVs allow it to outspeed anything unboosted up to base 102, with Neutral Nature, and base 90 with a beneficial nature. 4 Special Defense because of Download Ability, against this Serp, they'll always get Physical Attack. Porygon and it's evolved forms arent super common, but 4 EVs in HP or Def/Sp Def is common, and when a Pokemon has equal base defences, I do 4 Sp Def, just in case. Decent bulk to live medium strength Super Effective hits, and strong neutral ones. Item choice is pretty versatile, and depends largely on what else is on your team. I generally run Battle Bond Greninja, and some sort of Dragon, so I'd opt for Iron Tail over Aqua Tail.

Answer 15

Serperior @ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power Ground/ Ice/ Fire
- Giga Drain

Leaf storm boosted by STAB, life orb, and a prior boost is terrifying. Dragon pulse is coverage for dragon types. HP ground for Heatran and Toxapex, Ice for Garchomp, Gliscor, and Landorus-T, Fire for Ferrothorn. Giga Drain heals off Life Orb damage, is 100% accurate unlike Leaf Storm, and has more PP, plus it’s still STAB

Answer 16

Serperior @ Assault Vest
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 96 HP / 160 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Knock Off

Inspired by Assault Vest Tornadous-Therian, which terrorized gen 6 OU with its combination of speed, bulk, and power. Good times. Leaf Storm is strong STAB, doubles Special Attack every time. Kind of like Nasty Plot and a 130 BP grass move combined. Or Seed Flare lol. Dragon Pulse is coverage for Dragon types, Hidden Power Fire for coverage vs steels, Knock Off seems strange on a Pokemon with a Timid Nature, but it knocks off the Leftovers or Choice Item of anything switching in. Also, its good utility for strengthening your offensive assault against the enemy team, could make the difference between a OHKO and a 2HKO.

Again, Knock off is used SOLELY for the utility so don't spam downvote this please

Answer 17

Since Hidden Abilities may be hard to obtain in-game, I will post a set for its Hidden Ability as well as without, since I really like Contrary. So here we go!

Role: Special Sweeper

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Synthesis
- Toxic / Giga Drain / Energy Ball

Nature: Timid (+Spd, - Atk)/ Modest (+SAtk, - Atk) (Serperior's already fast enough so we must make sure it will almost always move first by taking advantage of its already fast speed to make it even faster)
EVs: 252 SAtk/ 252 Spd/ 4 HP (same as the above, also because Serperior's gonna be a Special Sweeper)
Moveset:
- Leaf Storm (STAB, high power, with Contrary Serperior's SAtk will be raised by two stages, but be prepared to raise the PP to the maximum 8 since it's Serperior's main damaging move)
- Hidden Power (Rock) (It's nearly a given! Rock typing is strong against ALL of Serperior's weaknesses, namely Flying, Bug, Fire and Ice!)
- Synthesis (Given no thought to its defenses, it may be good to have a healing move to restore HP, combined with Leftovers may make Serperior survive longer)
- Toxic/Giga Drain/Energy Ball (Depends on whether you want a damaging move (that can heal or deal more damage) or a move that may help your team mates should you, unfortunately, get KO)
Edit: Thanks to SSuperior for correcting me that Calm Mind will lower the stats instead of increasing them for a Contrary Serperior!

Role: Physical Sweeper

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance / Coil
- Leaf Blade
- Dragon Tail
- Synthesis / Substitute

Nature: Adamant (+Atk, - SAtk)/ Jolly (+ Atk, - SAtk) (same as the above, make Seperior faster so it can almost always move first)
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spd/ 4HP (same reasoning as above)
Moveset:
- Swords Dance (raise Atk by two stages!)/ Coil (don't really recommend, but more importantly boosts Atk, Def and Acc by one stage)
- Leaf Blade (STAB, high power)
- Dragon Tail (just good to have and Serperior can switch out when it's about to get KO)
- Synthesis/Substitute (do you want to heal your Serperior or set up a SD-LB-DT combo?)

For a Seperior with Overgrow, a Special moveset can be remove Leaf Storm and give it Energy Ball or Giga Drain.

Comments

If you use contrary calm mind serperior your sp.def and sp.a will be lowered by 1 stage

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Oh drats I forgot about it let me rechange it, thanks for the notice!

Answer 18

Serperior @ Leftovers / Miracle Seed
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Modest Nature
- Toxic
- Leaf Storm
- Leaf Blade
- Hidden Power [Rock]

Explanation
Leaf Blade is STAB Move and Leaf Storm With help of Contary will increase your Special Attack. Hidden Power [Rock] as coverage for most weakness (Ice, Fire, Flying, Bug)

Comments

Adamant Nature and a mixed moveset? Why? Miracle Seed isn't good competitively, and Leaf Storm decreases your Special Attack, not the opponent's.

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and Contrary is better than Overgrow for a ton of reasons.

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Two STAB moves? And if you have Leaf Storm why not Contrary
"Leaf Storm decreases Special Attack" doesn't make sense to me

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I remove Coil Because It will decrease stat because of Contary

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Why don't you want to use Leaf Storm + Contrary? There is no reason to use this Pokemon except for this combination.

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Contrary > Overgrow for sure

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U forgot that contrary and coil would reduce ur stats

Answer 19

Gen 7 NFE

Servine @ Eviolite
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Hidden Power [Ground]
- Glare

Leaf Storm is strong STAB that raises special attack thanks to Contrary. Giga Drain is for healing. HP Fire is coverage that hits steel, bug, and ice types. HP Ground can be used instead to deal with fire, steel, and poison types. Glare is to paralyze opposing Pokemon and cut their speed.

Answer 20

Serperior (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Dragon Pulse
- Synthesis

Analysis
Choice Specs makes Serperior's lackluster Special Attack viable.
Contary reverses stat changes so Leaf Storm gives you +2 Special Attack instead of -2 Special Attack.
EVs are for sweeping as Serperior already has good Defenses.

Leaf Storm is great STAB and it's essentially a free Nasty Plot that damages the opponent.
HP Rock covers most of your weaknesses and is coverage..
Dragon Pulse deals with the Dragon types that resist your Leaf Storm and take neutral damage from HP Rock.
Synthesis is there to recover health due to Serperior's mediocre HP stat.

Comments

Synthesis and Choice Specs? Healing won't help you much if you're locked into it.