Solgaleo, The Sunne Pokémon. It is said to live in another world. The intense light it radiates from the surface of its body can make the darkest of nights light up like midday. This Pokémon is said to be a male evolution of Cosmog. At the activation of its third eye, it departs for another world.
Overview
Solgaleo brings some interesting things to Ubers, namely beating Xerneas and handling Deoxys. This makes it a strong offensive wall, sponging hits and spreading damage or status. However, Solgaleo lacks the strength to be a wall breaker and its typing holds it back, but it still is a strong threat in the tier.
Positives
o Solgaleo does well at answering Xerneas, even having access to recovery which is better than most answers allowing it to apply pressure throughout the game
o Solgaleo is quite flexible, making it a nice utility Pokémon
o If Deoxys Attack lacks Knock Off, Solgaleo can answer it quite well which is worth noting
Negatives
- Solgaleo lacks the power to break through some walls in tier which hurts it
- Solgaleo's typing hurts it, giving it weaknesses to Dark and Ground both common in Ubers, as well as Steel and Psychic not being great offensive typing in the current meta
Abilities
Full Metal Body - Prevents other pokemon from dropping the users stats. Can’t be negated by Mold Breaker, Terravolt, or Turboblaze - Solid, this blocks switch in abilities like Intimidate as well as Sticky Web and random stat drops from secondary effects
Movesets
Offensive Utility
-Sunsteel Strike
-Toxic
-Flare Blitz/Earthquake
-Flare Blitz/Stone Edge
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Full Metal Body
EVs and Nature:
252Atk/4SpDef/252Spd
Adamant Nature
More agressive, Solgaleo acts as a bulky attacker here, checking threats namely Xerneas and applies pressure. Sunsteel Strike is the primary move and only STAB while Toxic cripples Arceus forms that switch in on Solgaleo. Flare Blitz, Earthquake, and Stone Edge all earn the last slot based on your team. Stone Edge hurts Ho-Oh a lot, deterring the switch in as well as hits Mega Salamence and Rayquaza hard, while Earthquake really hurts Primal Groudon who otherwise doesn't care about Solgaleo’s other moves. Lastly Flare Blitz hits other Steel threats hard that also don't care about Solgaleo’s other moves.
Defensive Utility
-Sunsteel Strike
-Toxic
-Morning Sun
-Flare Blitz/Earthquake
Item Attached: Leftovers
Ability: Full Metal Body
EVs and Nature:
248HP/8Atk/252SpDef
Adamant Nature
A defensive spin, this set does much of what the offensive one does but caters to the tankier side, meaning answering Xerneas namely. Sunsteel Strike is a strong Steel STAB while Toxic answers tanky threats trying to come in. Morning Sun allows you to last longer, filling the role better. Lastly Flare Blitz or Earthquake can be used, Flare Blitz for other Steels or Earthquake for Primal Groudon
Other Options and Partners
Wild Charge - An option over Stone Edge, Earthquake, or Flare Blitz, this prevents Solgaleo from being walled by Water threats like Primal Kyogre
Primal Groudon - With Solgaleo’s ability to cripple walls such as Ho-Oh and Arceus, Primal Groudon works well, being able to break through these walls more easily and go for a sweep with either of its boosting moves
Zygarde Complete - More defensive, Zygarde Complete checks or counters most of Solgaleo’s offensive answers such as Ho-Oh and Primal Groudon
Yveltal - With Solgaleo’s struggle with Ghost types, Yveltal excels at answering threats like Giratina O and Mega Gengar that would be a problem, as well as break through walls with Taunt and stats
VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options
Solgaleo could have been a useful legendary back in VGC 2016 as another threat against Geomancy Xerneas. Its strong physical steel attack and an immunity to Intimidate greatly threaten the deer, and Solgaleo can give Mega Rayquaza and Mega Salamence trouble if they do not carry a fire-type attack. As we saw with Mega Metagross, however, Primal Groudon and Yveltal would be troublesome for Sun’s box legendary. Another format like VGC16 may not return for a few years (if ever), but Solgaleo gives trainers another option in team-building in any formats that do allow it and other powerful legends.
Liger Zero
-Sunsteel Strike
-Zen Headbutt / Wild Charge
-Flare Blitz
-Protect
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Full Metal Body
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
A basic Solgaleo set is going to want max attack and speed to hit as hard as possible while also outspeeding as many of the other box legends. Jolly nature guarantees you outspeed the Primals and non-mega Rayquaza, but Adamant deals more damage and may be preferable if you are using some form of speed control. Life Orb boosts the damage output, guaranteeing an OHKO on all but the absolute most bulky Xerneas. Full Metal Body is great to ignore Intimidate, and being immune to speed drops from Icy Wind or Bulldoze is also helpful.
Sunsteel Strike is Solgaleo’s strongest attack, threatening fairy types like Xerneas and Tapu Lele and doing neutral damage to many other Pokemon. Zen Headbutt is strong secondary STAB, but would have had limited use is VGC 2016. Wild Charge is an option to hit Primal Kyogre and Yveltal hard. Flare Blitz hits Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Bronzong, and Scizor for super-effective damage. Protect is arguably the best move in doubles.
Other Options & Team Ideas
-Steelium Z is an option for a one-time nuke, but it will soon be outclassed by Solgaleo’s signature Z crystal and move, Searing Sunraze Smash.
-Other Z moves can be considered. The psychic one gets a mention simply because it is a STAB attack (and can be boosted by a terrain). The electric one can threaten an OHKO on Primal Kyogre, while Tectonic Rage can take a massive chunk out of Primal Groudon.
-Shuca Berry can weaken Primal Groudon’s Precipice Blades or Earth Power, and Air Balloon can make Solgaleo immune to those moves until it is popped. Sitrus or 50% pinch berries can be used on bulkier or Trick Room sets.
-Earthquake and Rock Slide are spread options, while Stone Edge provides more single-target damage than Rock Slide.
-Wide Guard might be one of the most underrated options, as Solgaleo can block any spread moves aimed at the team, which were very common in 2016.
-Substitute can help in dodging Sucker Punch from Yveltal. Roar can deny Trick Room or ruin Xerneas’ boosts. Bulldoze, Rock Tomb, and Thunder Wave all provide different forms of speed control. Snarl can be used on defensive sets to lower the opponents’ special attack.
-Trick Room can turn the tables on faster opponents and allow you to invest more in bulk.
-Psych Up can copy boosts from your opponent’s setup.
-Tapu Lele’s terrain boosts psychic moves and protects Solgaleo from priority moves like Fake Out, Sucker Punch, and Prankster moves.
-Fini’s terrain protects from statuses, especially burns.
-A Primal Groudon counter is helpful for Solgaleo. Primal Kyogre, Rayquaza with Waterfall, or even other Groudon can assist.
-Primal Kyogre can also eliminate Solgaleo’s fire weakness with its weather.
-Tapu Koko’s terrain boosts Wild Charge and can help deal with Yveltal, though this combo is very weak to Primal Groudon.
-Like the Metagross and Salamence combination we talked about a few weeks ago, Solgaleo holding a Weakness Policy can be very powerful next to a Bulldoze user. Opponents on the ground will have their speed lowered, while Solgaleo will not thanks to its ability, and receive double the attack with the Weakness Policy.
Countering Solgaleo
Mega Gengar - Mega Gengar easily beats Solgaleo, revenge trapping it with Shadow Tag and KOing with Hex.
Ground types - Zygarde Complete and Arceus Ground both don't care about Solgaleo's moves and KO back easily while Primal Groudon can risk a boost if Solgaleo lacks Earthquake
Primal Kyogre - Without Wild Charge, Primal Kyogre walls Solgaleo, not caring about Toxic because of Rest, and 2HKOS back with STAB moves
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game
Colosseum/XD:
Not in game
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Not in game
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Not in game
Sun/Moon:
Altar of the Sunne (Sun)
Trade from Sun (Moon)
Animé Appearences
