Battle Spot: Kecleon Trick Room and Doubles strategy

(Image credit to PLDH.net)

Build set as of Gen 6

• Ability – Protean
• Stats – HP (252), Attack/Atk (252), Special Defence/SpD (4)
• Nature – Adamant
• Item – Lum Berry
• Moveset – Fake Out (stab), Return (stab), Low Kick (stab), Shadow Sneak (stab)

Kecleon is one of those Pokemons in Rating Battle Spot that are rarely seen, in fact, I was prolly the only one who uses it. Many trainers won't consider using it because of its - you guessed it, slow speed; but I took that as an advantage for Trick Room and since then, it has always been my Cofagrigus's Fake Out partner. Also, if it wasn't for its Protean ability, I wouldn't even consider it. 

Strength

Protean ability is Kecleon's saving grace and combined with its wide range of physical move coverage, you literally can change its typing to almost anything you want it to be. Like Greninja, you can really abuse this power to annoy your opponent in a Trick Room setting. It also has an excellent SpD (stat is 120!), which can sponge an incoming strong SpA move. Did I also mention it has Fake Out? 

Weakness

For a physical attacker, it's not really that strong but not that bad either. With a 90 Atk stat, it lacks that "oomph!" power; just like a basketball always hitting the rim but still goes in anyway that kind of vibe. Also, being a physical attacker it’s prone to get Burn and would be rendered useless once it gets it. With this, it's important to give a Lum Berry item, but this would also mean you have to sacrifice a power boost item like Life Orb, Expert Belt, or Muscle Band. This is quite a dilemma, because without a power boost item; it won't be able to OHKO a Mega Kangaskan. 

Also, since its SpD is so high. The defence is the other way round with 70 stat only. So...yeah, you know what that means. This is most unfortunate.

Moveset

Fake Out is important for me so that my Cofagrigus can activate Trick Room safely. Once it gets into Trick Room mode, that’s when it can start to abuse Protean. Shadow Sneak is a direct defensive counter to fighting type Pokemon who tries to have a piece of it, Shadow Claw is fine too but the difference is that Shadow Sneak is a priority move and it allows it to escape incoming fighting type moves. 

While Sucker Punch has better priority and power than Shadow Sneak, turning it into a dark type is not very ideal as it’s still weak to the same fighting type Pokemon. Return is also a favourite and it does quite a sum of damage with 108 power even though it’s just a normal type move. Rock Slide is a good move to have too, which can surprise many trainers, especially against a Sunny team. 

It's also lucky to have some move tutors in ORAS, Kecleon finally gets access to Low Kick and is actually its most powerful move since most Pokemon that is weak to fighting are usually quite heavy. Drain Punch is nice too, if you really want some recovery tactic. It can also change itself into a water type with Aqua Tail from a move tutor. 

Closing thoughts

(image credit to zerochan.net)

If you know how to make use of Kecleon's ability and move set, chances are you'll be screwing your opponents around pretty often in Trick Room. For example, with the combination of Shadow Sneak and Return, you could make a fool out of your trainer who has a fighting type Pokemon and change it again to another type depending on the move set.  But do be careful of strong physical attackers, it can't handle it that well.

Turning it into a supportive Pokemon is not such a bad idea too, but it's an area that I've not explored much. If that's the case, you should prolly do a full boost to its HP and Defence, and add in Drain Punch as a consistent form of recovery.

The possibilities are endless, really. So Kecleon, I choose you! Glhf!