In-battle formes
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Abilities | |
| Tier |
| HP: | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 76 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 83 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 81 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 104 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Evolutions
- Espurr
- Meowstic-M
Formes
- Base
- Base
Strategies
- en
- PU
Overview
Meowstic-M is able to distinguish itself in the PU metagame due to its access to Prankster and a vast supportive movepool including Reflect, Light Screen, Yawn, and Thunder Wave, which makes it a solid user of dual screens. Meowstic-M also sports solid bulk, meaning that, in tandem with priority status moves, Meowstic-M can comfortably set up screens throughout the battle and cripple faster threats such as Dodrio as needed. This makes Meowstic-M a great partner for setup sweepers like Zangoose that exploit the defensive boost Reflect and Light Screen provide. On the downside, Meowstic-M lacks an offensive presence, which means that it's incredibly passive and can be used as setup fodder by certain Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol and Alolan Raticate, which are immune to Prankster moves. Unfortunately, since Skuntank is so prevalent, Meowstic-M has to be wary of Skuntank's immunity to Prankster and access to Defog, Pursuit, and Taunt. Meowstic-M is also almost entirely outclassed by Electrode, which has access to Taunt and can use it to deny the use of Defog from Pokemon like Skuntank and Silvally-Fairy.
Dual Screens
| Move 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move 2 |
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| Move 3 |
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| Move 4 |
Moves
Reflect reduces damage from physical attacks such as Kangaskhan. Light Screen reduces damage from special attackers such as Rotom-F, Eelektross, and Abomasnow. These give sweepers like Zangoose and Carracosta easier setup opportunities. Yawn is used generally for forcing switches because it cripples Pokemon that stay in, which provide opportunities for setting up screens. Thunder Wave is useful for crippling faster foes such as Lycanroc.
Set Details
Prankster is the preferred ability because it gives all of Meowstic-M's non-damaging moves priority, allowing it to set up Reflect and Light Screen and cripple faster threats like Oricorio-G and Dodrio reliably. Light Clay increases the duration of Light Screen and Reflect from five turns to eight, which can provide additional support for setup sweepers.
Usage Tips
Meowstic-M is best used as a lead early-game in order for its teammates to take as little damage as possible as they set up late-game. After setting up Reflect and Light Screen, a teammate such as Omastar should be switched onto the field to take advantage of screen turns. If only one screen can be set up, consider if the opponent has dangerous physical or special attackers, and which threats your team is more suited to take on, and set up accordingly. It's important to note that switching out Meowstic after it has set up screens preserves it and gives it an opportunity to set them back up later in the game. Thunder Wave should be used to cripple faster foes such as Dodrio and Lycanroc. Yawn should be used to generate momentum so you can get your setup sweepers and wallbreakers in safely. Lastly, since Meowstic-M lacks a way to hit Dark-types it's very susceptible to Pursuit users like Skuntank and Spiritomb, so make sure you double switch into a more suitable matchup if you predict a switch-in.
Team Options
Setup sweepers such as Alolan Raichu, Zangoose, and Jynx enjoy the screen support provided by Meowstic-M, as the boosted defenses make setting up easier. Meowstic-M also pairs well with bulky wallbreakers such as Gurdurr and Aggron, because they are difficult to break once screens are up. Pokemon like Carracosta and Omastar are also effective partners because they can set up with ease and are difficult to revenge kill when screens are up. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Primeape, Gurdurr, and Hitmonchan are also ideal. Primeape is able to punish Defog thanks to Defiant, Gurdurr is great for checking Dark-types like Skuntank and Alolan Raticate, and Hitmonchan is able to provide entry hazard removal and deal with Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol and Shiftry for Meowstic-M thanks to its priority Mach Punch.
Other Options
Toxic is a viable alternative that can be used to cripple bulky Psychic-types such as Musharna that don't mind a Thunder Wave or Yawn; however, Toxic is hard to fit on its moveset because Thunder Wave and Yawn are too valuable. A set with Signal Beam can be used to hit Dark-types such as Shiftry, but it isn't worth it because Meowstic-M is passive and it doesn't do much damage anyway, especially to its primary threats in Spiritomb and Skuntank which are not weak to it. A set with Magic Coat can also be run to reflect entry hazards, but it's hard to fit on Meowstic-M's moveset because its other attacks are so valuable. While unorthodox, a Calm Mind set can be used with Barrier to further boost Meowstic-M's defensive stats; however, such a set is outclassed by Clefairy, which is immune to status and has access to reliable recovery.
Checks and Counters
Dark-types: Dark-types such as Skuntank, Absol, and Alolan Raticate are immune to Meowstic-M's STAB Psychic-type moves, can threaten it with Pursuit or a strong STAB-boosted Dark-type move in Crunch or Knock Off, or remove screens from the field in Skuntank's case. It is also important to note that they are immune to Prankster Thunder Wave and Yawn. Sableye is also another counter that has an immunity to Prankster moves and the ability to cripple Meowstic-M with Taunt.
Defog: Pokemon such as Lurantis and Swanna can remove screens with Defog. Lurantis can also heal off status with Aromatherapy and can boost its stats with little resistance.
Substitute Users: Substitute users, which do not mind Thunder Wave or Yawn, such as Oricorio-G and Alolan Dugtrio, can use Meowstic as setup bait.
