Calyrex
Shadow VGC
Calyrex-Shadow Rider combines 165 base SpAtk with 150 base Speed — the pinnacle of speed and firepower among restricted legendaries. Astral Barrage hits both opponents simultaneously, and the As One ability stacks SpAtk boosts on KO, enabling avalanche momentum in a single turn.
As One Ability — Full Breakdown
As One combines two abilities: Grim Neigh raises Calyrex’s SpAtk by +1 stage each time it KOs an opponent, and Unnerve prevents the opposing team from consuming held berries. After the first KO, the next Astral Barrage hits ×1.5 harder; a second KO brings it to ×2.
Astral Barrage: The VGC Core Move
Astral Barrage is a spread move hitting both opposing Pokémon simultaneously. In doubles, spread moves are reduced to ×0.75 power (120 × 0.75 = 90 effective BP), but combined with 165 base SpAtk, it remains devastating. Crucially, it’s the only spread Ghost move in existence — making it nearly impossible to wall with a single Pokémon.
EV Spreads
Standard Moveset
Team Partners
Fake Out creates safe attack turns for Calyrex-Shadow. Parting Shot reduces incoming Attack to help it survive longer.
Prankster Reflect and Light Screen via Parting Shot, letting Calyrex chain KOs with Grim Neigh safely.
Prankster Tailwind doubles Calyrex-Shadow’s already elite 150 base speed — virtually no priority can touch it.
Both are top-tier special attackers covering wide type ranges — opponents struggle to handle both simultaneously.
How to Counter Calyrex-Shadow
Dark moves deal super-effective (×2) damage to Ghost types. Incineroar’s Knock Off, Urshifu’s Wicked Blow, or Tyranitar’s Crunch can threaten Calyrex-Shadow before it moves.
Normal-type Pokémon are completely immune to Ghost moves. Bringing in Porygon2 or Blissey nullifies both Astral Barrage and Shadow Ball entirely, breaking Calyrex’s attack pattern.
Forced switching clears accumulated Grim Neigh SpAtk boosts, resetting Calyrex to base power. Note: Prankster Tornadus can use Tailwind/Taunt with priority to prevent this.
Snarl and other SpAtk-lowering moves counteract Grim Neigh stacking — keeping Calyrex’s output from snowballing out of control.