The return of IRL events has seen the Series 12 metagame develop rapidly over the past few months, with the likes of Palkia, Reshiram, and Yveltal all posting great results in the recent regionals. This is no doubt a breath of fresh air (albeit small) that is much appreciated by the mature metagame.
The introduction of Crowned Zacian and Shadow Rider Calyrex accelerated high Speed play, and along with it narrowed the already limited list of Pokemon that could naturally outspeed the most common metagame behemoths. How does Pheromosa fare in this exclusive family?
| Ninjask | Pheromosa | Regieleki | |||
| HP: Attack: Defense: Sp Attack: Sp Defense: Speed: | 61 90 45 50 50 160 | HP: Attack: Defense: Sp Attack: Sp Defense: Speed: | 71 137 37 137 37 151 | HP: Attack: Defense: Sp Attack: Sp Defense: Speed: | 80 100 50 100 50 200 |
It is a trio of similarly fast and frail Pokemon, with Regieleki leading the pack due to its unmatched Base Speed. However, Pheromosa offers much better coverage, plus a valuable yet unique set of utility moves to keep it in contention despite barely qualifying.
The Bug and Fighting STAB combination is a rare commodity that is equal parts good and bad. While having an advantageous matchup against common support Pokemon like Incineroar and Rillaboom, Flying, Ghost, Poison, and Fairy Type Pokemon resist it with ease. How would Pheromosa fare when compared to its compatriots?
| Heracross | Pheromosa | Buzzwole | |||
| HP: Attack: Defense: Sp Attack: Sp Defense: Speed: | 80 125 75 40 95 85 | HP: Attack: Defense: Sp Attack: Sp Defense: Speed: | 71 137 37 137 37 151 | HP: Attack: Defense: Sp Attack: Sp Defense: Speed: | 107 139 139 53 53 79 |
Pheromosa sets itself apart with its high Base Speed and Special Attack, even if it lacks a reliable Fighting Type STAB in that spectrum. However, its frailty means that it cannot be relied upon for drawn-out skirmishes, unlike the likes of Assault Vest Buzzwole.
If not already obvious, Pheromosa has a few innate flaws that prevent it from running away with the competition. Players interested in harnessing its gifts will have to pay attention to these hindrances lest they lead Pheromosa into a horrible matchup.
- Paper-thin defenses
- The lopsided Base Stat distribution means that if Pheromosa isn’t securing a KO, it is likely the victim of one. Making its turns count is therefore of utmost importance to any Pheromosa player.
- Flying Type Pokemon
- A crippling 4x Weakness to Max Airstream is not a nice thing to have in the age of dynamic Speed. With its common abusers resisting both of Pheromosa’s STAB, this makes the matchup an exceptionally horrible one.
- Charizard, Zapdos, Thundurus Incarnate, and Yveltal all come to mind as the top representatives of this category. Of the quartet, Charizard poses the biggest threat, since Pheromosa’s Ice Type coverage only hit it for neutral damage.
- A crippling 4x Weakness to Max Airstream is not a nice thing to have in the age of dynamic Speed. With its common abusers resisting both of Pheromosa’s STAB, this makes the matchup an exceptionally horrible one.
- Trick Room and Speed manipulation
- Pheromosa’s biggest selling point lies in its high Base Speed, so any measures that cut into that advantage really put the Lissome Pokemon in a bind.
- Trick Room setters like Dusclops, Mimikyu, and Ice Rider Calyrex are nasty propositions in their own right. The first two resist Pheromosa’s STAB combination, with Mimikyu commonly carrying Mental Herb to negate the effect of Taunt (once). Ice Rider Calyrex may be weak to Bug Type moves, but its high Base bulk and access to Dynamax means players will always have to be careful of accidentally triggering its held Weakness Policy.
- Grimmsnarl can easily neutralize Pheromosa’s Speed advantage through Prankster elevated Thunder Wave or Scary Face. Similarly, Regieleki can slow it down with the fastest natural Electroweb in the format.
- Pheromosa’s biggest selling point lies in its high Base Speed, so any measures that cut into that advantage really put the Lissome Pokemon in a bind.
While Pheromosa can be slightly tricky to manage, the tricks that it brings to the table are very much valuable. With a nice array of moves to choose from players would need to optimize for a set that fits the need of the team. Sample construction templates are provided below:
Pheromosa @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
– Coaching / Taunt / Speed Swap
– Feint / Protect
– Icy Wind
– Skitter Smack
A supportive Pheromosa build. Icy Wind and Skitter Smack both work wonders at slowing down the opposition, with the former a slight improvement on Electroweb (which Pheromosa also learns) since no Pokemon is immune to it. Options for the third move slot include Coaching, which is great to help buff an allied powerhouse (like Crowned Zacian), Taunt to deny opposing Trick Room and/or setup, or Speed Swap as a makeshift measure of Speed control. The latter is particularly interesting, for it has the power to free slow behemoths from Trick Room, or punish opposing Trick Room play. The last slot is then a coin flip between Protect and Feint.
Damage Calculation
252 Atk Pheromosa Helping Hand Skitter Smack vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 112-133 (63.6 – 75.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO
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Pheromosa @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Bug Bite / Lunge
– Close Combat
– Protect
– Triple Axel
A set that taps on the powers of Dynamax and Weakness Policy to turn Pheromosa into a speedy juggernaut. Access to Triple Axel means Pheromosa can run a pure Physical set, which is more devastating now that it can rely on Close Combat instead of Hi Jump Kick. Bug Bite might be an odd pick, but it can prove to be inspired when used against switches: losing a held Berry on the switch cuts heftily into the victim’s bulk. Players can run alternatives in its place, like STAB Lunge, or coverage options like Foul Play, Throat Chop, Drill Run, and Bounce.
Damage Calculation
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Close Combat vs. 244 HP / 124+ Def Incineroar: 278-330 (138.3 – 164.1%) — guaranteed OHKO
-1 252 Atk Pheromosa Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Landorus-Therian: 216-264 (130.9 – 160%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 236 HP / 116 Def Amoonguss: 246-294 (112.3 – 134.2%) — guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Pheromosa Drill Run vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Regieleki: 164-194 (105.1 – 124.3%) — guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 228 HP / 68 Def Groudon: 204-246 (100 – 120.5%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Kyogre: 174-205 (98.8 – 116.4%) — 87.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Close Combat vs. 180 HP / 204+ Def Gastrodon: 204-241 (97.6 – 115.3%) — 87.5% chance to OHKO
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 140 Def Grimmsnarl-Gmax: 186-220 (92 – 108.9%) — 56.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 44 Def Zacian-Crowned: 181-214 (90.9 – 107.5%) — 43.8% chance to OHKO
#
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Hailstorm vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Dynamax Thundurus: 442-520 (142.5 – 167.7%) — guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Flutterby vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 234-276 (132.9 – 156.8%) — guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Hailstorm vs. 228 HP / 68 Def Groudon: 236-278 (115.6 – 136.2%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Hailstorm vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Dynamax Thundurus: 330-390 (106.4 – 125.8%) — guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Flutterby (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Dynamax Rillaboom-Gmax: 426-504 (102.8 – 121.7%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Quake vs. 252 HP / 28 Def Zacian-Crowned: 200-236 (100.5 – 118.5%) — guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Pheromosa Max Flutterby (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Calyrex-Ice: 206-246 (99.5 – 118.8%) — 93.8% chance to OHKO
Pheromosa is powerful and can put in a shift even when on supporting duties. However, it is not as splashable as some of the metagame greats out there. As such, it is usually seen with a select pool of teammates that synergize well as a core. Fantastic candidates would include:
- Kyogre / Solgaleo / Crowned Zacian / Ice Rider Calyrex
- This section features some Restricted Legendary Pokemon that would work well with Pheromosa.
- Considering Kyogre’s poor matchup, having a teammate that can make short work of the Drummer Pokemon is very important. Pheromosa can also use Speed Swap to turn Kyogre into a speedy monster, which is great for smashing the Fire Type threats to the Lissome Pokemon.
- Solgaleo’s Full Metal Body makes it a rather nice recipient of Coaching, which Pheromosa can use before most opponents. Considering its unique but simultaneously awkward Speed tier, Speed control through Icy Wind (or Speed Swap) is fantastic support for it. Pheromosa can also help it snipe down Ground Type threats like Groudon and Landorus Therian. Dusk Mane Necrozma is in a similar category, though it is more compatible with Speed Swap for operating under fast mode.
- Ice Rider Calyrex’s salivating Base Stat distribution has only one flaw – that low Base Speed of 50. Now imagine it with 151 Base Speed instead.
- This section features some Restricted Legendary Pokemon that would work well with Pheromosa.
- Sylveon / Comfey
- Players looking for a quick and easy way to trigger Weakness Policy on Pheromosa should look no further than the duo of Sylveon and Comfey. Sylveon, while slow, achieves the feat through Pixilate Quick Attack. It is also pretty strong on its own to function as a secondary striker on the following turn, allowing it to better capitalize on the Max Move boosts/nerfs. Comfey, on the other hand, does so through Triage Draining Kiss. This allows players to more reliably get the trigger since the combination occurs before Follow Me and most Fake Out.
- Indeedee F
- No matter how fast Pheromosa is, it cannot outrun moves with increased priority. This is a concern, considering Pheromosa’s horrible defenses. Against hard Trick Room teams, where the Trick Room setter is usually partnered with a Fake Out user, Pheromosa’s strengths are hard to utilize before Trick Room is set up. Hence, Indeedee F and her Psychic Terrain become rather valuable. The Emotion Pokemon can extend the support further through moves like Follow Me and Helping Hand. In return, Pheromosa helps Indeedee F manage Dark Type foes (mainly Incineroar).
MYSVGC 