In-battle formes
| Type | |
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| Tier |
| HP: | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 57 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 119 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 131 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 98 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 100 |
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Evolutions
- Snugglow
- Plasmanta
Strategies
- en
- CAP
Overview
Plasmanta can take advantage of Substitute to capitalize on its ability to force out Grass- and Fairy-types and use the appropriate coverage more easily. Additionally, its unique Electric / Poison typing allows it to break past Jumbao and Tangrowth, which most Electric-types cannot do easily. Despite these positives, Plasmanta is basically unviable and should not be considered for most serious teams. Plasmanta requires its STAB moves and Hidden Power coverage to hit the metagame effectively, and its STAB attacks are easy to play around due to the ubiquity of Ground- and Steel-types, while Hidden Power is easy to punish due to the low Base Power. Without Volt Switch, Plasmanta struggles to gain momentum as well as other Electric-types like Krilowatt and Tapu Koko. It's stuck in an awkward Speed tier of 100, falling short of one of its hardest counters, Pajantom. No recovery outside of Leftovers prevents even a well-played Plasmanta from consistently checking Grass- and Fairy-types like it's supposed to. Furthermore, offensive Pokemon that it would otherwise want to check such as Tapu Koko and Tornadus-T are special attackers, which prey on its pitiful special bulk. Finally, defensive Pokemon that Plasmanta can break open like Arghonaut, Jumbao, and Tangrowth commonly run Ground-type coverage, further limiting its opportunities to switch in.
Substitute + 3 Attacks
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Moves
Substitute not only eases prediction for the Plasmanta user but also allows Plasmanta to scout for Choice Scarf from Pokemon like Landorus-T and lets Plasmanta beat Ferrothorn cleanly if it opts to run Hidden Power Fire. Thunderbolt is used over Discharge to reliably 2HKO Arghonaut and OHKO Tornadus-T. Hidden Power Fire 2HKOes Ferrothorn, which would otherwise wall Plasmanta, and reliably OHKOes Kartana. It's also Plasmanta's best available way to damage Equilibra. Alternatively, Hidden Power Ice 2HKOes Gliscor and Mega Garchomp, and OHKOes most Landorus-T sets.
Set Details
48 HP EVs prevent Ferrothorn's Knock Off from breaking Plasmanta's Substitute. Running a Timid nature allows Plasmanta to outspeed non-Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, offensive Jumbao, and maximum Speed Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
Switching into Pokemon like Caribolt, Toxapex, and Kartana ensures Plasmanta will take as little damage as possible when switching in, though it should be wary of Knock Off from Toxapex and Kartana. Once in, it is generally best to use Substitute on the forced switch to gauge the opponent's best response to Plasmanta. Also, it eases prediction, which Plasmanta would be very reliant on. Then, use the appropriate coverage move to damage the switch-in or fish for a poison with Sludge Bomb. However, if the opponent has a hard counter to Plasmanta like Smokomodo or Chansey, it's usually best to double switch out. Opponents will likely be careful not to use Water-type moves with Choice Scarf Volkraken or Ash-Greninja when Plasmanta is alive. Use this to your advantage, limiting these powerful wallbreakers' actions.
Team Options
Despite the fact that Plasmanta can lure some Ground-types and take them out with Hidden Power Ice, Ground-type checks like Jumbao, Tangrowth, Tornadus-T, and Landorus-T are vital. Psychic-type checks like Celesteela, Magearna, and Ferrothorn are also necessary. Entry hazard setters like Greninja and Landorus-T help Plasmanta better punish switches, and hazard removers like Tornadus-T and Kitsunoh improve its ability to switch in. Pursuit trappers like Weavile, Mega Tyranitar, and Colossoil trap many of Plasmanta's checks like Mega Latios, Pajantom, and Tapu Lele Choice-locked into Psychic. Because Plasmanta draws in Ferrothorn, Pokemon that appreciate it worn down like Tapu Lele and Magearna are useful teammates. If Plasmanta is not running Hidden Power Fire, though, Pokemon like Heatran and Volkraken that like Ferrothorn to switch in make for good partners. Similarly, Necturna, Mega Pinsir, Gyarados, and Aurumoth appreciate Plasmanta's ability to lure out Ground-types.
Other Options
Plasmanta can run Taunt or Encore over Substitute, but these are generally inferior because they don't ease prediction as Substitute does.
Checks and Counters
Faster Attackers: Pokemon that commonly appear on teams wear down Plasmanta quickly before it can set up a Substitute. Tornadus-T nearly KOes Plasmanta with Hurricane + Supersonic Skystrike and OHKOes with Hidden Power Ground. Syclant and Greninja demolish Plasmanta with Earthquake and Ice Beam. Ash-Greninja and Choice Scarf Volkraken can use their secondary STAB moves to bypass Plasmanta's Storm Drain and KO it. Pajantom can avoid being 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ice and OHKO back with Earthquake.
Chansey: Chansey easily walls Plasmanta, and while it fears odd options like Taunt and Encore, Plasmanta rarely runs these moves.
Psychic-types: With naturally high Special Defense, Mega Latios, Hoopa-U, and Mega Alakazam can generally take Plasmanta's hits well enough to retaliate, but they hate being crippled by poison. Mega Medicham Speed ties with Plasmanta and OHKOes it with Zen Headbutt but doesn't like to take repeated hits. Choice Scarf Tapu Lele cannot switch into Sludge Bomb but soundly OHKOes Plasmanta otherwise.
Ground-types: Gliscor and Landorus-T need to avoid Hidden Power Ice, but they can OHKO Plasmanta otherwise. Fidgit and Colossoil can take a couple of rounds of Hidden Power Ice and OHKO with Earth Power or Earthquake. However, if Plasmanta reveals to be Hidden Power Fire, these Pokemon are very safe switch-ins. Equilibra and Gastrodon can switch into Plasmanta quite easily and force it out as well.
Steel-types: Though Ferrothorn cannot break Plasmanta's Substitute easily, it can use Plasmanta as fodder for setting up entry hazards and isn't forced out unless Plasmanta runs Hidden Power Fire. Magearna, while usually running resisted coverage, nearly OHKOes with +1 Twinkle Tackle and Hidden Power Ground and 2HKOes with +1 Ice Beam. Kitsunoh and Heatran don't appreciate repeated hits from Thunderbolt but can OHKO Plasmanta easily with Earthquake and Earth Power.
