What is a good moveset for Xatu?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Xatu, 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.

Xatu Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Xatu @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Simple Beam
- Thunder Wave
- Psychic
- Rain Dance / Giga Drain

So, this thing can learn Simple Beam. This set is meant to be used with a Shell Smash Blastoise in doubles. Xatu must outspeed in order to get off Simple Beam. Rain Dance is for Blastoise, to power up its STAB, but Giga Drain is also an option.

Physical Variant

Blastoise @ White Herb
Ability: Rain Dish / Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall / Aqua Jet
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Shell Smash

Special Variant

Blastoise @ White Herb
Ability: Rain Dish / Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Ice Beam
- Surf / Scald
- Aura Sphere / Dark Pulse / Flash Cannon

Comments

I'm probably blind, but your answer says that its meant to be use with Shell Smash Blastoise and the set doesn't have the move?

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I posted this and edited it three times without noticing I didn't even include Shell Smash

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LOL. Anyways, any specific reason you're using physical over Special? I feel like its physical moves aren't that good as special and only reason would be to run mixed with Earthquake as the only physical move imo.

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I choose physical primarily for Earthquake and Aqua Jet so they could hit as hard as possible, but I'll add a special set too

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Just one question, do you really need priority + Speed boosting move? Other water-type move like Liquidation or Waterfall could work better.

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True, thanks

Answer 2

Gen 8 PU

Xatu @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 24 SpA / 232 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Cosmic Power
- Stored Power
- Dazzling Gleam
- Roost

This set is to be used under dual screens. Cosmic Power raises both defenses, helping you to take a super effective hit easily under dual screens, causing Weakness Policy to activate. Stored Power is STAB and gets more powerful the more you raise your stats. Dazzling Gleam deals with dark types. Roost is for recovery.

Answer 3

Xatu (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def/ 252 SpD
Calm Nature

• Calm Mind
• Confuse Ray
• Stored Power / Psychic
• Roost

Calm Mind: Calm Mind is very helpful for Xatu, as it's a Special Attacker. This also helps boosts the power of Stored Power. Use it twice after Confuse Ray, and Stored Power's power would be ( 20 × 4 + 20) 100. If you're going with Psychic, then it'll also be useful.

Confuse Ray: This one is simple. Just stall the opponent out and use that opportunity to raise your stats (Calm Mind).

Stored Power/Psychic: I don't think many people have heard of Stored Power move, but it is to be feared. For each stat boost (positive), the move's power'll increase by 20. The maximum power is 860. Use it well and it'll benefit you. However, if you're worried if the opponent has Roar, then go with psychic.

Roost: This is pretty obvious. Use it when your HP is low.

P.S This is my very first post, so correct me if I'm wrong about anything ^-^

Answer 4

People sleeping on stored power smh

Xatu @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe / 12 Def / 12 SpD
Modest Nature
- Psychic
- Ominous Wind
- Stored Power
- Dazzling Gleam

EVs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe / 12 Def / 12 SpD
- Minor investment in defensive EVs to enable taking a hit and activating WP

Psychic (STAB + SpD drop chance)
Ominous Wind (Coverage + chance for omni boost)
Stored Power (Weakness policy drop give +80 BP, omni boost gives +120 = 220 BP, 330 BP with STAB)
Dazzling Gleam (Coverage, primarily for dark types)

Answer 5

Role: NU CM Bulky Sweeper

Totem (Xatu) @ Colbur Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Timid Nature

• Calm Mind
• Roost / Giga Drain
• Psychic / Psyshock
• Signal Beam / Heat Wave

Explanation

Xatu has access to Calm Mind and is probably one of the better users of it in NU. It also has decent typing and Magic Bounce, which is especially useful for a CM Sweeper. The main downsides to Xatu is its lack of bulk and vulnerability to Knock Off / Pursuit.

The EVs are meant to bolster Xatu's physical Defenses and HP. The EVs in Speed and Timid Nature allows it to outspeed neutral base 70 speed Pokemon, like Ludicolo. You could use either Colbur Berry (which allows it to tank one Dark-type move) or Leftovers, which can be used to boost Xatu's longevity.

Calm Mind is a nice set-up move. Roost is better used when using Colbur Berry, while Giga Drain can be used with Leftovers. Both moves gives nice recovery. Psychic hits hard, while Psyshock hits Specially Defensive walls. Signal Beam deals with Dark-types, while Heat Wave beats Steel-type Walls, such as Ferroseed.

Answer 6

Xatu @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Lax Nature
- Reflect
- Calm Mind
- Air Slash
- Roost

• Reflect (Boosts team's defense)
• Calm Mind (Boost his SpAtk and SpDef)
• Air Slash (Good move, STAB, chance to flinch)
• Roost (Heal him up a lot)

This set works well because the enemy can't Toxic stall you out, and once Xatu is set up, he's a monster.

Answer 7

Gen 8 PU

Xatu @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Defog
- Roost
- Teleport

Your attacking move, Psychic is STAB. Defog clears entry hazards that have gotten on to your side. (i.e Mold Breaker Druddigon) Roost is for healing. Teleport is to bring in a Pokemon saftley.

Answer 8

Gen 8 NU

Xatu @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Heat Wave
- Roost

Since people usually use Xatu as a Teleport pivot, an offensive set will catch players off gaurd. Psychic is for STAB. Dazzling Gleam allows you to deal super effective damage to Guzzlord. Heat Wave provides coverage for steel types. Roost is for healing.

Answer 9

Xatu @ Light Clay
Ability : Magic Bounce
Evs : 252 Spe, 128 Def, 128 Sp.def
Gentle Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Trick Room
- Thunder Wave

I Gave my Xatu light clay to increases the effectiveness of Light Screen / Reflect which allows any Pokemon on my team with the ability to sweep a chance to set up and thunder wave for a chance of my Pokemon being completely safe from damage while even of they do attack light screen / reflect can nullify the damage done to them. Speed to hopefully be faster and defense and and special defense for survivability.

Comments

This setup would work better with the Effort values in HP and def or HP and special def.

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@Horus Yeah, i see how that could work but it's mainly so trick room goes up and then i could switch into my mega Ampharos because its mainly notorious for it's insanely high damage and speed (Under trick room) which is why i wanted EV's in speed. But i could get another Xatu and test it and I'll get back to you. As a side note Thunder wave is if Xatu's Magic bounce reflects a sticky web.