Calyrex (Shadow Rider) - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide for using Calyrex (Shadow Rider) in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Calyrex (Shadow Rider), as well as its strengths and weak points.

Calyrex (Shadow Rider) - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Calyrex (Shadow Rider)
Abilities
As One (Shadow Rider)	This Ability combines the effects of both Calyrex's Unnerve Ability and Spectrier's Grim Neigh Ability.

Calyrex (Shadow Rider) Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Singles Movesets for Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Calyrex's Shadow Rider form is one of the most threatening sweepers in the current metagame, capable of outrunning and knocking out many Pokemon with its STAB moves.

With a 165 Base Special Attack Stat, the High King Pokemon is a special sweeper that all teams should prepare for!

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Moves

Astral Barrage is Calyrex's strongest STAB move - a Base 120 Ghost-type move that, when coupled with its high special attack, can knock out and heavily damage even the sturdiest of Pokemon.

Psychic is its secondary STAB move, and although not as powerful as Astral Barrage, it can set up Psychic Terrain when it becomes Max Mindstorm during Dynamax. Not only does it power up Psychic-type moves, it also prevents Priority moves!

Giga Drain is its main coverage move, hitting bulky Water and Ground-types for super effective damage, and also heals Calyrex for a respectable amount.

Nasty Plot is its last move, boosting Calyrex's Special Attack by 2 stages. It's best used when you expect a switch, and can easily make the High King Pokemon nigh-unstoppable. The move also becomes Max Guard during Dynamax.

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s EV Spread

We're using a standard special attacking EV spread with full investment in Speed and Special Attack, with the remaining 4 EVs invested in Defense to round off its bulk.

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Ability

Calyrex's Shadow Rider forme's Ability is As One, which combines Calyrex's Unnerve and Spectrier's Grim Neigh Abilities.

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Held Item

Calyrex's Shadow Rider form has two options for held item.

Life Orb boosts the power of Calyrex's moves by 30% at the cost of some recoil damage.

Focus Sash ensures Calyrex survives a super effective hit, allowing it to set up and deal damage on the next turn.

Other Viable Moves

Doubles Movesets for Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Special Attacker Moveset & Best Build

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Moves

Astral Barrage is Calyrex's strongest STAB move - a Base 120 Ghost-type move that, when coupled with its high special attack, can knock out and heavily damage even the sturdiest of Pokemon.

Psyshock is a powerful Psychic-type STAB move that inflicts damage based on the opposing Pokemon's Defense stat.

Will-O-Wisp is great for crippling physical attackers by inflicting burn.

Protect is a valuable move in battle and is useful for scouting moves or stalling out Dynamax turns. It is also good for preserving Calyrex's Focus Sash.

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s EV Spread

We're using a standard special attacking EV spread with full investment in Speed and Special Attack, with the remaining 4 EVs invested in Defense to round off its bulk.

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Ability

Calyrex's Shadow Rider forme's Ability is As One, which combines Calyrex's Unnerve and Spectrier's Grim Neigh Abilities.

In Double Battles, this Ability can allow you to steamroll through opponents because Calyrex is able to take multiple KO's in one turn.

About Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Held Item

Focus Sash ensures that Calyrex can take more than one hit and that Calyrex can attack more than once.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Calyrex (Shadow Rider) Effectively

One of the Fastest Special Attackers

Calyrex's Shadow Rider form is one of the fastest Pokemon in the metagame, only outsped by few Pokemon like Pheromosa and Regieleki. It will usually be the fastest Pokemon in the field outside of Pokemon that get speed boosts from weather or Tailwind.

With a 165 Base Special Attack, it's without a doubt one of the most powerful special attackers available and can easily overpower unprepared teams with its STAB moves.

How to Build a Team with Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Calyrex's Shadow Rider form is easy to fit into any team and can function as either a lead or main Dynamax Pokemon for the team.

A Powerful Lead in Hyper Offense Teams

Calyrex's Shadow Rider is an overpowering force when used as a lead with ample support from its teammates.

Lead + Hyper Offense Team

Lead Dynamax	Support/Physical Attacker	Support
Thundurus	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Indeedee (Female)

Thundurus is always a great partner for Calyrex, whether it is Prankster or Defiant. Prankster Thundurus has access to Speed Control in Scary Face and Thunder Wave. Defiant Thundurus can check opposing Incineroar or Yveltal, discouraging them from using Snarl.

Indeedee offers valuable support in its redirection through Follow Me and buffing Calyrex's offense with Helping Hand. Indeedee's Psychic Surge allows Calyrex's Expanding Force to hit multiple targets. Psychic Surge can prevent an opponent's super-effective Ghost and Dark-type priority moves from connecting with Calyrex.

How to Build an Offensive Team

Counters for Calyrex (Shadow Rider)

Weakness

Take Advantage of its Weaknesses

Despite its overwhelming offensive presence, Calyrex (Shadow Rider)'s Psychic/Ghost dual typing leaves it vulnerable to Dark and Ghost-type moves. It helps that these two types have priority moves that bypass Calyrex's immense speed.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Yveltal	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Calyrex's Ghost-type STAB and is immune to its Psychic-type STAB ・Easily KOs Calyrex with Dark Pulse or Sucker Punch Moveset & Best Build for Yveltal
Incineroar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Incineroar can tank Calyrex's main offensive moves. ・Incineroar can debuff Calyrex's offense using Parting Shot. ・Incineroar also has the option to Taunt Calyrex's supporting partners. Moveset & Best Build for Incineroar

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Crown Tundra Pokemon
Galarian Articuno	Galarian Zapdos	Galarian Moltres
Raikou	Entei	Suicune
Articuno	Zapdos	Moltres
Tornadus	Thundurus	Landorus
Tapu Koko	Tapu Lele	Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini	Regieleki	Regidrago
Latios	Latias	Heatran
Cresselia	Glastrier	Spectrier
Nidoking	Swampert	Dragonite
Salamence	Garchomp	Metagross
Galarian Slowking	Nihilego	Naganadel
Pheromosa	Buzzwole	Celesteela
Kartana	Stakataka	Blaziken
Kyogre	Yveltal	Xerneas
Necrozma (Dusk Mane)	Calyrex (Shadow Rider)	Mewtwo
Calyrex (Ice Rider)	Dialga	Lugia
Black Kyurem	Zekrom	Ho-Oh
Rayquaza	Zygarde	Reshiram
White Kyurem	Groudon	Regirock
Palkia	Regigigas	Registeel
Regice	Giratina	Solgaleo
Lunala	Kyurem	Necrozma
Uxie	Mesprit	Azelf
Calyrex