What is a good moveset for Keldeo?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Keldeo, 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 explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Keldeo Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Comments

Oh thanks. I thought this guy just look Uber to me.

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Keldeo doesn't lead the others in the Musketeer quartet. Cobalion is the leader.

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Oh sorry. Then I wonder why they made keldeo so much smaller and why did he get the whole giveaway? If it were me I would have given away colbalions and made keldeo available in-game.

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Keldeo is smaller as he was a young pokemon raised by the musketeers. My guess is he was a giveaway because he wasn't an important member of the quartet.

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its because they are the three musketeers and  he is dartanion ( sorry if i misspelled it)  and  he is the  newer member of the group who eventually surpasses his  mentors and  becomes the most famous and  powerful of the quartet

Answer 1

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 SAtk / 252 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Surf / Focus Blast
- Scald
- Secret Sword

Hidden Power gets coverage. Surf gets powa, and Focus Blast is STAB plus takes out those god damn Ferrothorn. Scald is STAB, plus the burn chance is nice. Calm Mind boosts. Keldeo takes so many hits with those EVs.
This guy needs OU or UU, IMO. Most of you have faced this set, and it proves domiance.

Comments

why not HP (ice) provides both flying and grass coverage and hits for neutral damage on electric.

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they can know that u have sacred sword

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My keldeo hidden power is dragon?!

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What if you forgot hidden power and can't use it anymore?

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Hydro Pump and Icy Wind are the next in line for Keldeo movesets after Hidden Power's removal.

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I like how Calm Mind is mentioned in the description but nowhere in the set.

Answer 2

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo-R @ Choice Specs/Life Orb

Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

• Surf
• Hidden Power [Electric]
• Icy Wind
• Secret Sword

Answer 3

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo @ Lum Berry
Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

• Secret Sword
• Calm Mind
• Scald
• Hidden Power [Bug]

Answer 4

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Aqua Jet
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Focus Blast
- Secret Sword

Comments

instead remove Aqua jet for scald and give it choice scarf

also remove focus blast for calm mind

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Why should (he) change to Calm Mind if you want to replace Life Orb with Choice Scarf? Should it spam Calm Mind or what?

Answer 5

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo-R @ Expert Belt

Trait: Justified
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

• Surf
• Secret Sword
• Icy Wind
• Hidden Power [Bug]

This specific Keldeo is one of the best checks to Celebi, in my opinion, It just catches so many Pokemon off guard due to the current popularity of the Choice Scarf set, which runs Surf / Hydro Pump / Secret Sword / Hidden Power [Ice]. Easily walled by Celebi, and even an HP Ice does around 40%, which Celebi can simply recover off with Recover or Giga Drain.

Expert Belt is the item of choice, so Keldeo can easily bluff a Choice Scarf / Specs set, causing an easier time dealing with the number 1 switchin into Keldeo. EVs grant Downloaders a great Attack boost instead of Special Attack.

Surf is your primary STAB move, hitting Pokemon more reliably that Hydro Pump. It's rarely gonna be not powered up, due to the prominence of Rain in the current Metagame. Secret Sword is the secondary STAB move, hitting Pokemon like Blissey on their weaker Defensive side. Expert Belt allows for the switching of moves, and Ferrothorn is knocked out by Surf and Secret Sword, usually. Icy Wind is the Ice move now that the Hidden Power slot is occupied, and it really helps if you are threatened by Dragon Dancing Pokemon like Haxorus and Salamence, and lowers their Speed in time to get damaged again the following turn. Finally, Hidden Power Bug nails Celebi, one of the best switchins into Keldeo, extremely hard. Here's a damage calculation:

252SpAtk Expert Belt Keldeo Resolution (Neutral) Hidden Power (Bug) vs 252HP/252SpDef Leftovers Celebi (+SpDef): 65% - 77% (264 - 312 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO.

That's a pretty hefty amount for a Celebi to take from any Special Attack. And since Celebi will usually have taken damage beforehand, Keldeo usually can clean uo Celebi easily. Stealth Rock and Spikes damage help even more against Celebi.

And I think I talked more about Celebi then Keldeo...

Comments

That calc. Flippin 2HKO's max SDef Celebi O.O

Answer 6

Gen 7 Battle Spot Singles

I've stuck to this set for so long and it's been quite reliable.

Keldeo @ Leftovers
Justified
252 Sp. Attack, 252 Speed, 4 Sp. Defense

Scald - STAB, 30% chance to burn
Calm Mind - boosts Sp. Attack and Sp. Defense
Icy Wind - coverage for Grass and Flying, lowers opponent's Speed
Secret Sword - STAB, deals physical damage

With this set you have a pseudo mixed attacker without needing to split your EV investment into both attacking stats. 91/90/90 bulk is not bad at all, and having a combination of Burn (through Scald) and Calm Mind can make Keldeo take more than a few hits while dealing out considerable damage with 129 Sp. Attack. Icy Wind isn't the best move (I feel like Keldeo and Pyukumuku are the only Water-types that can use TMs that can't learn Ice Beam), but it can be used when predicting a switch and lowering your opponent's Speed, either for Keldeo to take care of or a different Pokémon of yours.

Answer 7

National Dex UU

Keldeo @ Waterium Z
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind / Air Slash / Hidden Power [Electric]
- Calm Mind

Calm Mind set. Calm Mind boosts your Special Attack and Special Defense. Hydro Pump is water STAB and can be used with Waterium Z for a one time nuke with Hydro Vortex. Secret Sword is fighting STAB that targets the opponent's defense, allowing you to deal with Pokemon that have a high special defense. Icy Wind is for coverage that provides speed control. Air Slash can be used for the 30% chance to flinch. HP Electric is an option so you beat Pokemon like Slowking.

Answer 8

Gen 5 Single Battle

Link to Keldeo's Resolution Forme- http://images.serebii.net/corocoro6124.jpg
Ability: Justified
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Item: Leftovers
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Calm Mind
- Hidden Power (Ice)

Answer 9

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance -- doubles attack
- Aqua Tail -- stab water move, and it's physical
- Close Combat -- stab fighting move, physical
- Stone Edge -- great coverage

item for better attacking power, he really needs all of the stacking on his attack he can get
evs give good physical sweeper traits
nature is adamant > jolly because he's still lacking too much attack and his speed ain't too bad

Comments

Dude use a special moveset keldeo isn t good phisically l

Answer 10

Gen 5 OU

Keldeo-R @ Leftovers

Trait: Justified
EVs: 184 HP / 64 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)

• Substitute
• Calm Mind
• Surf
• Secret Sword

Comments

Wow. This is a very viable set with great potential. He could easily set up with his awesome defenses, and then hit back hard with a solid 129 SAtk to easily 3HKO almost anything!!!

Answer 11

Gen 5 Single Battle

I suppose I must answer this

Keldeo@life orb

Special moveset:
Surf(Power+STAB)
HP Ice(Cover against grass types)
Calm Mind(Increasing sp defence and increases offences)
Secret Sword(Very useful for other Pokemon on your team to use screech+STAB)
EVs:252 speed,252 sp attack,4 hp
Nature:Modest

Answer 12

Gen 5 Single Battle

I know I don't have to answer, since it was asked about 2 years ago, but I think it's good.

Special Set:

Item: Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Speed/252 Sp. Atk/4 Sp. Def
Nature: Timid (+Speed -Atk)
Moveset:
- Hydro Pump (STAB)
- Secret Sword (Why not)
- Focus Blast (STAB, good power)
- Hidden Power Electric (Type Coverage)

Physical Set:

Item: Life Orb
EVs: 252 Speed/252 Atk/4 Sp. Def
Nature: Jolly (+Speed -Sp. Atk)
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail (STAB, just because)
- Sacred Sword (STAB, good for dealing with stat freaks)
- X-Scissor (Type Coverage)
- Poison Jab (Type Coverage)

Comments

Wait Stone Edge not Poison Jab, got X-Scissor for Grass Coverage.

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Edit it then

Answer 13

Gen 6 Battle Spot Singles

Keldeo-Resolute @ Leftovers
Ability: Justified
EVs: 148 Atk / 108 SpA / 252 Spe
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
- Aqua Tail
- Secret Sword

Calm Mind : When you get behind that substitute use calm mind, gives you a advantage.
Substitute : Need to be safe to use calm mind.
Aqua Tail : STAB, and you will be powered up with the use of calm mind.
Secret Sword : STAB, and same explanation for aqua tail.

If this set was already made by someone else, I'm sorry.
Also this set is free to edit, obviously.

Comments

Aqua Tail won't receive a damage boost as it's physical, not special.  Use Surf (90 base power) or Scald (80 base power, 30% chance to burn) if you're running Calm Mind.  Secret Sword deals physical damage but uses your Special Attack, so by having Surf or Scald with it means you have both physical and special coverage.  This also means you can allocate your Attack EVs elsewhere as they will be boosting a useless stat.  I personally suggest Special Defense or HP as your moveset looks good for a special wall.

Answer 14

Gen 7 Battle Spot Singles

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
Moveset:

-Hydro Pump: A good option for bulky Pokemon + STAB
-Secret sword: A fantastic signature move, with high accuracy and is strong too, plus the STAB
-Stone Edge: For bulky Pokemon in special side, like Chansey or Lugia and for give Keldeo more coverage
-Scald: To compensate the low accuracy of Hydro Pump and, maybe, get a burn.

Answer 15

Keldeo@Life Orb/Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EV spread: 252 Spe, 156 spA, 100 HP
Nature: Timid (+speed, - attack)
Moveset:
Scald/Hydro Pump
Secret Sword/Focus Blast
Air Slash
Calm Mind/Icy Wind

I'm going to start things off with Scald, which has 100% accuracy, a pretty high BP, and a neat chance to burn the opponent, while Hydro Pump is stronger but less accurate and can't burn. Secret Sword destroys Chansey and Blissey, while Focus Blast is stronger and less accurate just like Hydro Pump. Air Slash is a decent coverage option against Grass types, and since it outspeeds most grass types, they have to beware of Air Slash's 30% flinch rate. Calm Mind is for boosts, while Icy Wind hurts dragons more than its other moves and slows them down.