Rae
as sharp as the mind
[SET]
name: PuP + Encore
move 1: Frustration
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Power-Up Punch
move 4: Encore
item: Lopunnite
ability: Limber
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Frustration is capable of cleaning up frailer opponents like Weavile and Volcarona after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing Tapu Lele, Tornadus-T and Gastrodon. High Jump Kick nails Kartana and Heatran for an OHKO while also being the strongest STAB move in Mega Lopunny's arsenal. Power-Up Punch is used as a way to boost Mega Lopunny's Attack stat while doing chip damage to anything wanting to switch in on it, with +1 Frustration 2HKOing Toxapex and Gliscor and +1 High Jump Kick OHKOing Mega Mawile. Encore is used to take advantage of defensive Pokemon using status moves, such as Landorus-T and Heatran using Stealth Rock, Toxapex and Reuniclus using Recover, or Mega Latias and Gliscor using Roost. This interaction creates an awkward scenario for the opponent, forcing them to switch into a powerful STAB move or give Mega Lopunny a free turn to set up with Power-Up Punch.
Set Details
========
A Jolly nature on Mega Lopunny allows it to outpace Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Modest Mega Alakazam, which are all important targets for it to outspeed.
Usage Tips
========
This set is most effective as a wallbreaker and a sweeper, using the Attack boost from Power-Up Punch to puncture holes through teams while disrupting defensive walls with Encore. Mega Lopunny should be brought in whenever one of its powerful STAB moves are best to use, handling threats such as Heatran and Greninja when given entry by a slow pivoting move or as a revenge killer. Forcing defensive switch-ins like Toxapex or Gliscor to recover their HP is ideal, as locking them into their respective recovery move with Encore gives Mega Lopunny the opportunity to set up with Power-Up Punch while the foe must choose to either switch out and give Mega Lopunny free damage on a teammate or stay in with their Encore-locked Pokemon as it sets up. Mega Lopunny must be careful of strong defensive switch-ins that can immediately threaten it like Clefable and Zapdos, as well as Rocky Helmet users like Landorus-T.
Team Options
========
Mega Lopunny loves to be paired with other wallbreakers that can work in tandem with it to break apart the opposing team while covering its weaknesses, as well as teammates that love its ability to disrupt defensive checks. Offensive partners such as Kartana, Garchomp, and Victini work excellently with it, weakening defensive walls for Mega Lopunny to sweep with boosted attacks, with Kartana taking on Slowbro and Clefable, Garchomp beating down Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Toxapex, and Victini destroying Skarmory and Celesteela. Defensive pivots such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Assault Vest Magearna that can make up for Lopunny's inability to switch into most moves safely are fantastic options, with the first baiting in Tornadus-T and opposing Landorus-T and the last two forcing in Ferrothorn and Chansey. Landorus-T also acts as an entry hazard setter with access to Stealth Rock, helping bring down opposing Pokemon into range of Power-Up Punch followed by a STAB option. Other hazard setters such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, Greninja, and the aforementioned Garchomp also work lovely with Mega Lopunny, with Ferrothorn and Heatran having a particularly good matchup against Clefable while walling Skarmory, and Greninja pressuring Slowbro and switching into Weavile's Ice Shard in a pinch. Magnezone can act as a surefire way to trap and handle Steel-types Mega Lopunny may not want to deal with Skarmory and Ferrothorn while having an excellent matchup against other physically defensive walls Mega Lopunny can not break through confidently, forcing them to use their recovery or status moves, which Lopunny can use Encore to lock them into.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rae.540289/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Last edited: