In-battle formes
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| HP: | 80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Attack: | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defense: | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Atk: | 126 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sp. Def: | 116 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Speed: | 60 |
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Life Orb
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- This spread allows Primarina to beat Pokemon that it usually can't, such as Timid Weakness Policy Iron Crown and non-Agility Corviknight.
- Generally, the sequence against Iron Crown is to use Encore on the first turn to lock it into using Calm Mind, then use Icy Wind twice to lower its Speed so Primarina can lock it with Encore back into Calm Mind in the following turn, then use Moonblast once and use Encore once again, then alternate between Hydro Cannon and Encore, keeping the recharge turn and Life Orb damage in mind. In case Iron Crown uses Tachyon Cutter on the first turn, it activates Torrent on turn two, which allows Primarina to OHKO it with Hydro Cannon.
- This spread allows Primarina to survive a Poison Jab or Sludge Wave from Adamant Choice Band Urshifu formes and Timid Life Orb Landorus and then OHKO them with Moonblast or Icy Wind, respectively.
- An alternative EV spread of 56 HP / 192 Def / 8 SpA / 252 Spe lets Primarina bulk Jolly Choice Band Urshifu formes' attacks but not Adamant Choice Band variants, dropping that matchup in order to gain a more consistent Iron Crown matchup, since Primarina's higher Speed stat means it can outspeed Iron Crown after a single Icy Wind and threaten Special Attack Booster Energy variants with a Torrent-boosted Hydro Cannon if Iron Crown decides to go for an attack. This spread also allows Primarina to outspeed Ursaluna and OHKO it with Hydro Cannon.
- Against Spectrier, use Encore on turn one. If Spectrier attacks on turn one, use Hydro Cannon on turn two. If Spectrier uses a status move, use Icy Wind thrice with the main spread or twice with the alternative spread, then use Encore to lock Spectrier into a status move while dealing damage with Moonblast and Hydro Cannon.
- Moonblast allows Primarina to beat commonly used Dragon- and Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Roaring Moon, Dragapult, the Urshifu formes, and Iron Valiant.
- Since Primarina is weak to Poison-type or STAB attacks from foes such as Sneasler, Pecharunt, Volcanion, Hoopa, Raging Bolt, and Ogerpon-Wellspring, it is suggested to pair Primarina with Dragon- and Steel-type Pokemon such as Roaring Moon, Iron Crown, and Metagross to form the well-known Dragon / Fairy / Steel core.
Weakness Policy
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- Primarina is one of the strongest Pokemon in 1v1 thanks to its unique typing, important role compression, and variety of sets.
- The combination of Weakness Policy and Charm or Reflect allows Primarina to take care of slower threats that aim to defeat it with their super effective moves, such as Iron Hands with Supercell Slam and Donphan and Ursaluna with Gunk Shot.
- Charm can work multiple times, which can help if Primarina is trying to stall a foe or to get to Torrent range to fire off an extremely strong Hydro Cannon, while Reflect can take care of Clear Amulet Pokemon, an item these Pokemon can run to be a hard counter to the Charm variant.
- Hydro Cannon can KO Ursaluna and Donphan after a boost from Weakness Policy on the former and a Draining Kiss on the latter.
- Draining Kiss and Moonblast can threaten both Urshifu formes, and while Draining Kiss is especially helpful for the Donphan matchup, Moonblast can also be utilized for overall damage against Haxorus.
- Calm Mind lets it set up in front of potential threats like Clear Amulet Cresselia.
- Thanks to its huge investment in Speed, Primarina can outrun Ursaluna, Iron Hands, and Donphan while threatening KOs in return, with its Defense and HP maximized for the best rolls against Choice Band Haxorus.
- Primarina should be used in teams where its weaknesses to Grass, Electric, and Poison are patched up, so it really likes pairing with Dragon-types like Raging Bolt, Steel-types like Corviknight and Hisuian Goodra, or Psychic-types like Hoopa-U and Iron Crown.
Custap Berry
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- Custap Berry Primarina looks to flip matchups it usually loses, like Choice Specs Kyurem, and provide reliability against Landorus-T; it achieves this by surviving attacks it would normally be OHKOed by with Endure, moving first on the second turn with Custap Berry, and firing back with its extremely strong attacks.
- Hydro Cannon can hit both Ursaluna formes, Skeledirge, and Great Tusk, and it's boosted by Torrent if Primarina is at or below 1/3rd of its maximum HP, which is often reached when Primarina loses enough health for Custap Berry to activate the following turn, allowing it to outspeed and wash out these Pokemon with little issue.
- Moonblast hits Haxorus, Iron Valiant, and both Urshifu formes.
- Encore helps against Pokemon that attempt to set up on or attack Primarina like non-Choice Scarf or Specs Porygon-Z and Weakness Policy Metagross, while Calm Mind helps it boost against the likes of Passho Berry Volcarona.
- Primarina's HP and Defense EVs help it survive a Timid Life Orb Landorus's Sludge Wave as well as an Adamant Choice Band Urshifu's Poison Jab, with the remaining EVs going into Special Attack.
- Primarina finds itself struggling against Grass-, Electric- and Poison-types like offensive Ogerpon-W, Raging Bolt, and Pecharunt, so it appreciates having partners that can deal with these threats like Hoopa-U and Iron Crown.
Choice Specs
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- Hydro Cannon is Primarina's strongest attack and should be used against both Landorus formes, non-Custap Berry Skeledirge, and non-Substitute Volcarona.
- Moonblast defeats Haxorus and Garchomp.
- Energy Ball should be used against Rhyperior and is Primarina's best way to deal with non-Sap Sipper Azumarill.
- Liquid Voice + Uproar makes Primarina defeat Registeel and gives it an option to defeat Custap Berry Skeledirge and Substitute Volcarona, while Psychic Noise + Torrent allows it to beat Whimsicott reliably. Torrent Primarina is also more consistent agaisnt bulkier Choice Specs Hoopa sets, as Moonblast does not always OHKO them.
- The HP and Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Earthquake from Choice Band Landorus-T, while the Special Defense EVs allow it to survive Sludge Wave from Timid Choice Specs Landorus.
- Choice Specs Primarina, unlike other Primarina sets, loses to Encore + Disable Iron Valiant sets, so it is important to use a teammate that can defeat the aforementioned sets.
Credits
- Written by Lumii, bern, and Mcthelegit
- Set(s) by delemon, Lumii, Murm, fruan, and bo_bobson27
- Quality checked by Murm, glitched, bern, and lost heros
- Grammar checked by adorluigi and Clouds
