Winning Follower – Pachirisu Pre-Vis for VGC 2018

 

EV BENCHMARKS

 

Speed

 

MINIMUM INVESTMENT.

 

Defense

 

252+ Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Zen Headbutt vs. 12 HP / 76+ Def Pachirisu: 115-136 (83.9 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Return vs. 20 HP / 156+ Def Pachirisu: 117-137 (84.7 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 116 HP / 236+ Def Pachirisu: 125-149 (83.3 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Landorus-T Earthquake vs. 204 HP / 236+ Def Pachirisu in Grassy Terrain: 68-84 (42.2 – 52.1%) — guaranteed 3HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

252+ Atk Landorus-T Earthquake vs. 236 HP / 236+ Def Pachirisu: 138-164 (83.6 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 36 HP / 132 SpD Pachirisu: 118-139 (84.2 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 84 HP / 108 SpD Pachirisu in Psychic Terrain: 123-145 (84.2 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Flamethrower vs. 84 HP / 164 SpD Pachirisu in Sun: 123-145 (84.2 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Life Orb Heatran Earth Power vs. 148 HP / 212 SpD Pachirisu: 130-153 (84.4 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. 156 HP / 236+ SpD Pachirisu: 130-154 (83.8 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

Offense

 

MINIMUM INVESTMENT.

 

Players can opt to use any combination of the EV benchmarks above (or modify to one’s own liking) to go with the sample sets listed below

 

 

 

SAMPLE SET

 

 

 

Pachirisu @ Sitrus Berry / Iapapa Berry
Ability: Volt Absorb
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature / Bold Nature
– Follow Me
– Helping Hand / Nuzzle / Baby Doll Eyes
– Protect
– Super Fang

 

 

 

The set which Sejun Park used in his title winning run back in VGC 2014, with some alternative moves provided to account for the updated metagame. Nuzzle was used then as a form of Speed control for the team, with it quartering the target’s Speed and giving a chance to randomly incapacitate it for one (or more) turns. With Misty Terrain and Lightningrod rising in popularity in the years since, players might opt for Helping Hand instead. Helping Hand served as Sejun’s choice in his Pachirisu + Kommo-O rental team, which he has featured on his Twitch channel. Another option players can consider is Baby Doll Eyes, another priority move, which lowers the target’s Attack by 1 stage. It may not have the nerfing powers of Parting Shot, but the priority more than makes up for it.

The champion EV spread is still very much applicable in VGC 2018, though players are free to invest more EVs in Special Defense to better react to the newly introduced threats on the Special spectrum, like Tapu Lele. Aegislash’s Never Ending Nightmare might become a new source of concern, should players prefer to retain the Impish or Bold Nature selection.

Sitrus Berry worked fantastically for Sejun in VGC 2014, and is still a viable choice against old threats, since it is crucial in helping to ensure 3HKOs remain as 3HKOs and not 2HKOs, due to its trigger condition. However, with Z moves dealing more damage than previously encountered, Iapapa Berry would be a calculated modification on the original to restore more HP for Pachirisu.

 

 

 

TEAMMATES

 

 

 

Kommo-O

 

Besides Dazzling Gleam and Aerilate/Pixilate Hyper Voice, Pachirisu is able to redirect moves like Draco Meteor Ice Beam, and Moonblast away from Kommo-O without having to worry about whether the opponent is a Grass Type or carries Safety Goggles. Super Fang also helps to weaken targets for Kommo-O, especially opposing Fairy Type or Soundproof Pokemon that would otherwise be immune to Clanging Scales so that Kommo-O can finish it off (while at +1) with a coverage move like Flamethrower.

 

 

 

Tapu Bulu

 

Tapu Bulu’s Grassy Terrain helps to halve the damage Pachirisu takes from Earthquake, and provides passive recovery outside of Pachirisu’s Berry of choice. It also overrides Misty Terrain so that Nuzzle can Paralyze the target. In return, Follow Me saves Tapu Bulu by redirecting moves like Sludge Bomb away from the Alolan Guardian.

 

 

 

Tapu Fini

 

Follow Me from Pachirisu is at its most efficient here, since it is enough to make opponents think twice about firing off an Electric Type move due to the EleSquirrel Pokemon’s Hidden Ability of Volt Absorb. In return, Tapu Fini offers retaliation against opposing Landorus Therian and other Ground Type Pokemon that can OHKO Pachirisu with Tectonic Rage.

 

 

 

COUNTERS AND CHECKS

 

 

 

Alolan Marowak

 

As a Ghost Type, Alolan Marowak is naturally immune to Super Fang; with Lightningrod, it redirects any Nuzzle or even Volt Switch from the EleSquirrel Pokemon. It may still be susceptible to Follow Me, but it is still capable of landing the 2HKO on Pachirisu with Bonemerang, or KO it outright with Flare Blitz after some prior chip damage.

 

 

 

Aerodactyl

 

Aerodactyl, with Sky Drop, can instantly nullify Follow Me for the turn, assuming that it moves before its partner. While the EleSquirrel Pokemon is airborne, it cannot launch Super Fang, which makes Sky Drop a particularly safe play against Pachirisu since it more or less shuts it down until the next turn.

 

 

 

Aegislash

 

Aegislash is another Pokemon that is naturally immune to Super Fang. Never Ending Nightmare does OHKO Pachirisu, meaning players have to be careful with using Protect to prevent Pachirisu from going down too early. That said, it may be considered a good trade, since Pachirisu has low offensive pressure and it’d be better to have Pachirisu take the hit (and therefore “waste” the opponent’s Z Move) instead of a better positioned partner.

Surf’s Up – Mantine Pre-Vis for VGC 2018

 

As a Water and Flying Type Pokemon, Mantine is extremely forgettable. Most people would instantly think of Gyarados (for whatever reasons) when the Type combination is mentioned, and after the transition to Generation VII, Pelipper for its newfound Ability in Drizzle. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon brought Mantine Surf, but most players would probably remember it as a game gimmick and/or filler to grind for the Battle Points necessary for funding visits to the Move Tutors.

When compared beside Pelipper, there are multiple similarities. Both share an Ability that revolves around Rain, both get access to Tailwind and Wide Guard, as well as the very obvious and aforementioned. The differences are interesting, though. Pelipper is slightly more capable in an offensive role, while Mantine is much more bulky. While Pelipper has high Base Defense, while Mantine has monstrous Base Special Defense. Yet, Pelipper usually wins in the comparison because Drizzle is much more useful as an Ability.

All is not lost, however. Mantine is a surprisingly stellar answer to Pelipper, and by extension, Rain cores. It resists Water Type moves, comfortably shrugs of Giga Drain or Energy Ball from Ludicolo, and is outright immune to Mega Swampert’s Earthquake. With either Swift Swim or Water Absorb, players can play Mantine as an extremely effective umbrella for opposing Rain teams. Mantine is also surprisingly useful against Mega Charizard Y, since it can wall just about everything the latter can muster.

 

EV BENCHMARKS

 

Speed

 

0 Speed EVs -> 90 Speed Stat

4 Speed EVs -> 91 Speed Stat (Outspeed 0 Spe Politoed, Hitmontop, and 0- Spe Mimikyu)

60 Speed EVs -> 98 Speed Stat (Outspeed 0 Spe Heatran)

 

Defense

 

252+ Atk Tyranitar Rock Slide vs. 0 HP / 52 Def Mantine: 134-158 (83.7 – 98.7%) — guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage

252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 4 HP / 252 Def Mantine: 135-160 (83.8 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Huge Power Mega Mawile Play Rough vs. 76 HP / 252 Def Mantine: 144-169 (84.7 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Landorus-T Rock Slide vs. 196 HP / 212 Def Mantine: 78-92 (42.1 – 49.7%) — guaranteed 3HKO

252+ Atk Mega Swampert Rock Slide vs. 196 HP / 244 Def Mantine: 78-92 (42.1 – 49.7%) — guaranteed 3HKO

252+ Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Zen Headbutt vs. 244 HP / 220 Def Mantine in Psychic Terrain: 160-190 (83.7 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

252 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 4 HP / 28+ SpD Assault Vest Mantine: 132-160 (81.9 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Ludicolo Energy Ball vs. 116 HP / 20+ SpD Mantine: 45-54 (25.7 – 30.8%) — guaranteed 4HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 140 HP / 4+ SpD Assault Vest Mantine: 146-177 (82 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 164 HP / 92+ SpD Mantine: 51-60 (28.1 – 33.1%) — guaranteed 4HKO

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Shattered Psyche (175 BP) vs. 212 HP / 84+ SpD Mantine in Psychic Terrain: 157-186 (83.9 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Heat Wave vs. 164 HP / 220+ SpD Mantine in Sun: 30-36 (16.5 – 19.8%) — possible 6HKO

 

Offense

 

0 SpA Mantine Scald vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T: 92-110 (55.7 – 66.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO

84 SpA Mantine Scald vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Heatran: 84-98 (50.2 – 58.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO

172 SpA Mantine Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-T: 168-200 (101.8 – 121.2%) — guaranteed OHKO

 

Players can opt to use any combination of the EV benchmarks above (or modify to one’s own liking) to go with the sample sets listed below.

 

SAMPLE SET

 

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 50
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Protect
– Scald
– Tailwind
– Wide Guard / Icy Wind

 

Water Absorb is preferred as the Ability on Mantine because of its consistency, as well as Swift Swim requiring too much investment in Speed to work, and even then Mantine doesn’t really benefit from it. As such, this Mantine enjoys two Type immunities. Leftovers is adopted here for some passive recovery. Protect and Tailwind are staple moves for almost every Mantine, while Scald works as a way to prevent itself from being a Taunt bait. Scald also has the chance to afflict a Burn, which helps patch up Mantine’s lower Base Defense. The last move falls to either Wide Guard or Icy Wind, both with their own selling points. Players can even run Rain Dance as a measure against Mega Charizard Y, since it replaces Drought with Rain and nerf Mega Charizard Y’s effectiveness on the field.

 

#

 

Mantine @ Assault Vest
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 50
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Ice Beam / Air Slash
– Icy Wind
– Mirror Coat
– Scald

 

Assault Vest boosts Mantine’s Special Defense to monstrous levels, allowing it to even able to survive Thunderbolt from Electric Terrain. The reduction in requirement of Special Defense EVs grants more to both Defense and Special Attack. To complement Assault Vest, players can run Mirror Coat to heavily damage Special strikers. Icy Wind replaces Tailwind as Mantine’s primary form of Speed control, while the final coverage goes to either Ice Beam or Air Slash. Ice Beam is more consistent, though Air Slash gives more coverage and benefits from STAB.

 

#

 

Mantine @ Grassy Seed
Ability: Water Absorb
Level: 50
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Protect
– Rain Dance
– Scald
– Tailwind / Icy Wind

 

Generation VII introduced Terrain Seeds, which is useful for Pokemon to instantaneously gain a boost to either Defense or Special Defense. Mantine has low Base Defense, meaning Electric Seed and Grassy Seed are prime candidates for the aforementioned role. Since Electric Seed doesn’t match Mantine for obvious reasons, Grassy Seed becomes the Hold Item of choice. To better benefit Tapu Bulu, Mantine can carry Rain Dance and Icy Wind to help the Alolan Guardian out against opposing Fire Type Pokemon and faster targets respectively.

 

TEAMMATES

 

Mega Sceptile

 

Mega Sceptile’s Lightningrod is a godsend for Mantine, since it redirects the Kite Pokemon’s biggest weakness. In return, Mantine offers Mega Sceptile Tailwind support, which leads to the latter no longer needing to run Timid Nature. Because Leaf Storm drops Mega Sceptile’s Special Attack harshly, Mantine’s access to Haze can be a useful way to maintain Mega Sceptile’s offensive capabilities.

 

Landorus Therian

 

Intimidate helps to reduce Mantine’s deficiencies in Defense, while STAB Earthquake works wonders against the opposing Rock and/or Electric Type Pokemon that threaten the Kite Pokemon. Mantine’s access to Tailwind is useful to help Landorus Therian outspeed the likes of Alolan Ninetales and Tapu Koko.

 

Tapu Bulu

 

Because Mantine does not fancy working under Electric Terrain, players would find it better to bring an option that can override that particular Terrain. One of the best choices available would be Tapu Bulu, since it resists Electric Type moves and can make use of Tailwind and/or Icy Wind to outspeed its faster Alolan Guardian counterparts.

 

COUNTERS AND CHECKS

 

Zapdos

 

Zapdos is naturally bulky enough to survive Scald or Ice Beam from Mantine, can easily match Tailwind, and OHKO the Kite Pokemon with either Thunderbolt or Gigavolt Havoc.

 

Tapu Koko

 

Tapu Koko outspeeds Mantine before it can set up Tailwind, and OHKOs the Kite Pokemon with Thunderbolt, unless the latter carries Assault Vest. Even then, Electric Terrain has to be suppressed for Mantine to survive the hit.

 

Tapu Fini

 

Tapu Fini resists Mantine’s moves, and with Misty Terrain, can prevent Scald from afflicting a Burn. While Mantine is initially able to tank Tapu Fini’s moves, the Alolan Guardian can simply set up multiple Calm Minds and floor the Kite Pokemon with Moonblast.

… Till You Make It – Mr Mime Pre-Vis for VGC 2018

 

Mr Mime’s presence is an awkward one, even for a Pokemon introduced as part of the original 150 (+1). It has good Special Defense, but with a Base HP of 40 its strength is largely a facade. Psychic and Fairy might be a popular Type combination, but Mr Mime is by no means in the same league as (Mega) Gardevoir and Tapu Lele. It does get a lot of fantastic support move for VGC, but its overall bulk makes it hard to survive beyond two hits, unlike bulky behemoths like Cresselia and Dusclops. As a result, players intending to run Mr Mime has to make sure that two hits count.

 

EV BENCHMARKS

 

Speed

 

116 Speed EVs -> 125 Speed Stat (Outspeed Jolly Tyranitar)

156 Speed EVs -> 130 Speed Stat (Outspeed Modest Heatran)

252 Speed EVs -> 142 Speed Stat (Outspeed Timid Heatran)

 

Defense

 

252+ Atk Landorus-T Earthquake vs. 28 HP / 44 Def Mr. Mime: 100-118 (84 – 99.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO

-1 252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 60 HP / 172 Def Mr. Mime: 103-122 (83.7 – 99.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO

4 Atk Aerilate Mega Salamence Double-Edge vs. 172 HP / 252 Def Mr. Mime: 115-136 (83.9 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 60 HP / 12 SpD Mr. Mime in Electric Terrain: 103-122 (83.7 – 99.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 92 HP / 4 SpD Mr. Mime: 106-126 (83.4 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Heatran Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Mr. Mime: 122-146 (82.9 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Naganadel Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 60 SpD Mr. Mime: 122-146 (82.9 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 180 SpD Mr. Mime: 122-146 (82.9 – 99.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

Offense

 

12+ SpA Mr. Mime Psychic vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Naganadel: 150-176 (100.6 – 118.1%) — guaranteed OHKO

172+ SpA Mr. Mime Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Gengar: 138-164 (102.2 – 121.4%) — guaranteed OHKO

 

Players can opt to use any combination of the EV benchmarks above (or modify to one’s own liking) to go with the sample sets listed below.

 

SAMPLE SET

 

Mr. Mime @ Aguav Berry / Iron Ball
Ability: Soundproof / Filter
Level: 50
Calm Nature / Modest Nature
– Ally Switch / Helping Hand
– Fake Out
– Psychic / Icy Wind
– Wide Guard / Trick Room

 

Mr Mime does get access to quite a few useful support moves, which gives it somewhat of a 4 Move Slot Syndrome dilemma. It gets both Fake Out and Wide Guard, and is the only non Fighting Type capable of that feat, meaning it isn’t begging to be hit by the mass of Fairy Type moves in the metagame. It also gets Ally Switch via Move Tutor, making it one of the new pseudo redirection Pokemon in VGC 2018. While Icy Wind gives more utility as a support move, Mr Mime’s above average Base Special Attack means that with some investment, it can actually cause some hurt with its STAB, mainly Psychic.

Players considering Mr Mime as a Trick Room setter can adopt Iron Ball instead of Aguav Berry, which is useful in making sure Mr Mime isn’t worse off after doing its job. It does have a relatively high Base Speed of 90, after all, making it not so suitable for functioning in Trick Room. Aguav Berry or other pinch Berries are more consistent in providing the recovery Mr Mime needs to stay on the field, however.

Lastly, the Ability of choice depends largely on what the player expects to be prevalent in the metagame. Soundproof is fantastic at blocking Clangorous Soulblaze, Hyper Voice, and the ever annoying Perish Song, which gives it an advantage against Perish Trap teams. Filter, on the other hand, gives more reliable defense boosts against moves that deal super effective damage, meaning that it requires less EVs to survive those hits, which in turn leads to more EVs to invest in Mr Mime’s Special Attack.

 

TEAMMATES

 

Tyranitar

 

Mr Mime can use Ally Switch to “turn” what was originally a 4x super effective attack on Tyranitar into a 4x resisted move, as well as Wide Guard to block popular spread moves like Earthquake, Pixilate boosted Hyper Voice, and Muddy Water. Icy Wind also helps Tyranitar outspeed slightly faster threats. In compensation, Tyranitar helps Mr Mime take care of opposing Ghost Type Pokemon with either STAB Assurance or Crunch, as well as take a Black Hole Eclipse or Malicious Moonsalt through Ally Switch. Sand does chip at Mr Mime, so players have to invest slightly more HP into its bulk to reassure the survival.

 

Landorus Therian

 

Considering Mr Mime’s abysmal Physical bulk, Intimidate support is greatly appreciated. Where better to look than the numero uno Intimidate Pokemon of VGC, Landorus Therian? Fake Out buys Landorus Therian a turn of scouting or protection against Ice Type moves, while Ally Switch extends that by at least another turn.

 

Kommo-O

 

Between Fake Out, Ally Switch, and Wide Guard, Mr Mime is able to help ensure that Kommo-O gets to launch Clangorous Soulblaze before it can fall victim to super effective moves like Dazzling Gleam and Moonblast, even if under Psychic Terrain. Players need to remember that it can only do one of them at a time, so some prediction is required to pull off the strategy reliably.

 

COUNTERS AND CHECKS

 

Mega Mawile

 

Mega Mawile OHKOs Mr Mime with STAB Huge Power Iron Head, and it isn’t bothered by both Icy Wind and Trick Room since it is already pretty slow and most probably of the Brave Nature.

 

Alolan Muk

 

Gunk Shot from Alolan Muk easily OHKOs Mr Mime, meaning that the Barrier Pokemon has to rely on Intimidate support to have a chance of surviving a hit from Alolan Muk. Because of Alolan Muk’s relatively low Speed, players have to be careful about using either Icy Wind or Trick Room, since it can backfire when the opponent sets up Trick Room or Alolan Muk itself has minimum Speed investment.

 

Bisharp

 

Mr Mime cannot haphazardly fire off Icy Wind because it will trigger Bisharp’s Defiant, and the latter can just subvvert the Speed drop with Sucker Punch. It also punishes Mr Mime players that utilize Intimidate to help mitigate the Barrier Pokemon’s poor Physical bulk. Finally, Bisharp can smash through Mr Mime with STAB Iron Head.