[SET]
Physically Defensive (Mightyena) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish / Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Protect
- Heal Bell / Return
- Crunch / Hidden Power Fighting
[SET COMMENTS]
Mightyena is an excellent defensive anchor in ADV ZU thanks to its well-rounded bulk. Intimidate enables Mightyena to dampen physical attackers such as Aipom, Rhyhorn, and physical Noctowl. Thanks to its rare Dark typing, Mightyena is a unique stopgap to Psychic-types like Abra, Drowzee, and Smoochum. Toxic is Mightyena's most reliable move to wear down foes. Protect maximizes Mightyena's recovery from Leftovers, synergizes with Toxic, and helps it scout Choice Band attackers that might try to break through it, such as Meditite. Heal Bell is uncommon and welcome utility, letting Mightyena more comfortably deal with opposing defensive Pokemon like Porygon, Tropius, and Lileep. Return is an alternative to Heal Bell to reduce Mightyena's passivity by dealing reliable damage to a metagame with few Pokemon that resist Normal; it has a chance to 2HKO most Ponyta sets, immediately disposes of Abra, and reliably 2HKOes Meditite. No other common Pokemon in the tier resist Crunch, making it very consistent as a damaging move for Mightyena. Hidden Power Fighting deals better damage to Aipom, opposing Mightyena, and Castform, and it prevents Mightyena from being totally walled by Magnemite.
Mightyena's role as a physical stopgap is useful for balance teams, and its ability to run Heal Bell supports defensive cores including Porygon, Noctowl, and Drowzee. Balance teams can compensate for Mightyena's limited recovery with Wish users like Delcatty and Drowzee. Mightyena's Heal Bell support is appreciated by Pokemon vulnerable to status, including Seaking, Tropius, and Castform. Mightyena's defensive value against Psychic-types is much appreciated by Poison-type teammates like Gloom, Dustox, and Koffing, which can handle Meditite's Brick Break in turn. Dustox is another Poison-type that forms a solid defensive core with Mightyena thanks to it handling non-Psychic-type special attackers, while Mightyena can blunt physical attackers like Doduo in turn. Specially defensive partners like Porygon and Castform similarly form solid defensive backbones with Mightyena. Fast cleaners like Ponyta, Quilava, and Abra benefit from Mightyena wearing down foes with Toxic while they threaten Poison-types like Gloom and Koffing that would otherwise wall it. Mightyena especially benefits from partners like the aforementioned Fire-types and Meditite that can mitigate its difficult matchup against Magnemite, and Mightyena can support them with Intimidate to allow these frailer teammates to switch in or set up more comfortably. Setup sweepers like Beedrill, Tentacool, and Anorith especially benefit from Mightyena's Intimidate widening their windows to set up; their use of Substitute has excellent synergy with Mightyena's use of Toxic to further whittle away at foes, and they can set up on Poison-types like Gloom and Koffing that would give Mightyena a hard time.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Offensive Mightyena sets may seem tempting thanks to its qualities as a faster tank, but it is unable to use its STAB moves off of its greater Attack stat, and its lack of powerful coverage or setup moves also cause it to struggle breaking through defensive Pokemon; Aipom, Doduo, and Meditite boast greater power than Mightyena, while Seaking, Castform, and Flaaffy have more effective STAB attacks and coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pokemon Immune to Toxic**: Gloom, Koffing, and Dustox are all unbothered by Mightyena's main method of wearing foes down and can use it as an opportunity to heal. Beedrill and Tentacool aren't entirely safe from Mightyena's attacks but can use it as setup fodder by switching in on Toxic. Magnemite only fears Hidden Power Fighting and easily exploits Mightyena for setup if it lacks it. Ariados has sufficient bulk to take repeated hits from Mightyena and threaten it back with Sludge Bomb.
**Status Recovery**: Corsola's Natural Cure lets it absorb Mightyena's Toxic for its teammates, and even Mightyena's Hidden Power Fighting fails to 4HKO Calm Mind Corsola. Cosola can also run Refresh, as can Wartortle, allowing them both to stay in and wall Mightyena. Delcatty, Flaaffy, and opposing Mightyena can use Heal Bell to invalidate Mightyena's Toxic, but the low PP of the move and Flaaffy's lacking longevity should be accounted for.
**Super Effective Physical Attacks**: Meditite is the only relevant Fighting-type in the tier, and its frailty makes it uncomfortable switching into Mightyena directly, but it 2HKOes Mightyena with STAB Brick Break even after an Intimidate. Seaking, Volbeat, and Choice Band Anorith all threaten Mightyena with their Bug-type STAB attacks, though Mightyena can rely on Intimidate, Toxic, and Protect to wear them down before they finish it off, or it can at least scout their attacks for its teammates. Aipom can use Focus Punch to catch Mightyena switching in and punish it with significant damage.
**Special Attackers**: Ponyta, Quilava, and Elekid may lack the bulk to repeatedly switch in on Mightyena, but they still threaten it with significant damage and are not as punished by Intimidate compared to physical attackers. Despite Mightyena generally checking Psychic-types, Smoochum can rely on Ice Beam to break through a chipped Mightyena.
**Faster Attackers**: If unaffected by Intimidate, even physical attackers like Aipom and Doduo can outspeed and overwhelm Mightyena given its lack of immediate recovery.
**Residual Damage**: Mightyena lacks any form of recovery beyond Leftovers, so repeated attacks from foes like Seaking, Castform, and Ponyta can overload Mightyena. Status from Corsola, Koffing, and Porygon forces Mightyena to become passive and use Heal Bell, if it even has Heal Bell to mitigate status.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Physically Defensive (Mightyena) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish / Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Protect
- Heal Bell / Return
- Crunch / Hidden Power Fighting
[SET COMMENTS]
Mightyena is an excellent defensive anchor in ADV ZU thanks to its well-rounded bulk. Intimidate enables Mightyena to dampen physical attackers such as Aipom, Rhyhorn, and physical Noctowl. Thanks to its rare Dark typing, Mightyena is a unique stopgap to Psychic-types like Abra, Drowzee, and Smoochum. Toxic is Mightyena's most reliable move to wear down foes. Protect maximizes Mightyena's recovery from Leftovers, synergizes with Toxic, and helps it scout Choice Band attackers that might try to break through it, such as Meditite. Heal Bell is uncommon and welcome utility, letting Mightyena more comfortably deal with opposing defensive Pokemon like Porygon, Tropius, and Lileep. Return is an alternative to Heal Bell to reduce Mightyena's passivity by dealing reliable damage to a metagame with few Pokemon that resist Normal; it has a chance to 2HKO most Ponyta sets, immediately disposes of Abra, and reliably 2HKOes Meditite. No other common Pokemon in the tier resist Crunch, making it very consistent as a damaging move for Mightyena. Hidden Power Fighting deals better damage to Aipom, opposing Mightyena, and Castform, and it prevents Mightyena from being totally walled by Magnemite.
Mightyena's role as a physical stopgap is useful for balance teams, and its ability to run Heal Bell supports defensive cores including Porygon, Noctowl, and Drowzee. Balance teams can compensate for Mightyena's limited recovery with Wish users like Delcatty and Drowzee. Mightyena's Heal Bell support is appreciated by Pokemon vulnerable to status, including Seaking, Tropius, and Castform. Mightyena's defensive value against Psychic-types is much appreciated by Poison-type teammates like Gloom, Dustox, and Koffing, which can handle Meditite's Brick Break in turn. Dustox is another Poison-type that forms a solid defensive core with Mightyena thanks to it handling non-Psychic-type special attackers, while Mightyena can blunt physical attackers like Doduo in turn. Specially defensive partners like Porygon and Castform similarly form solid defensive backbones with Mightyena. Fast cleaners like Ponyta, Quilava, and Abra benefit from Mightyena wearing down foes with Toxic while they threaten Poison-types like Gloom and Koffing that would otherwise wall it. Mightyena especially benefits from partners like the aforementioned Fire-types and Meditite that can mitigate its difficult matchup against Magnemite, and Mightyena can support them with Intimidate to allow these frailer teammates to switch in or set up more comfortably. Setup sweepers like Beedrill, Tentacool, and Anorith especially benefit from Mightyena's Intimidate widening their windows to set up; their use of Substitute has excellent synergy with Mightyena's use of Toxic to further whittle away at foes, and they can set up on Poison-types like Gloom and Koffing that would give Mightyena a hard time.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Offensive Mightyena sets may seem tempting thanks to its qualities as a faster tank, but it is unable to use its STAB moves off of its greater Attack stat, and its lack of powerful coverage or setup moves also cause it to struggle breaking through defensive Pokemon; Aipom, Doduo, and Meditite boast greater power than Mightyena, while Seaking, Castform, and Flaaffy have more effective STAB attacks and coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pokemon Immune to Toxic**: Gloom, Koffing, and Dustox are all unbothered by Mightyena's main method of wearing foes down and can use it as an opportunity to heal. Beedrill and Tentacool aren't entirely safe from Mightyena's attacks but can use it as setup fodder by switching in on Toxic. Magnemite only fears Hidden Power Fighting and easily exploits Mightyena for setup if it lacks it. Ariados has sufficient bulk to take repeated hits from Mightyena and threaten it back with Sludge Bomb.
**Status Recovery**: Corsola's Natural Cure lets it absorb Mightyena's Toxic for its teammates, and even Mightyena's Hidden Power Fighting fails to 4HKO Calm Mind Corsola. Cosola can also run Refresh, as can Wartortle, allowing them both to stay in and wall Mightyena. Delcatty, Flaaffy, and opposing Mightyena can use Heal Bell to invalidate Mightyena's Toxic, but the low PP of the move and Flaaffy's lacking longevity should be accounted for.
**Super Effective Physical Attacks**: Meditite is the only relevant Fighting-type in the tier, and its frailty makes it uncomfortable switching into Mightyena directly, but it 2HKOes Mightyena with STAB Brick Break even after an Intimidate. Seaking, Volbeat, and Choice Band Anorith all threaten Mightyena with their Bug-type STAB attacks, though Mightyena can rely on Intimidate, Toxic, and Protect to wear them down before they finish it off, or it can at least scout their attacks for its teammates. Aipom can use Focus Punch to catch Mightyena switching in and punish it with significant damage.
**Special Attackers**: Ponyta, Quilava, and Elekid may lack the bulk to repeatedly switch in on Mightyena, but they still threaten it with significant damage and are not as punished by Intimidate compared to physical attackers. Despite Mightyena generally checking Psychic-types, Smoochum can rely on Ice Beam to break through a chipped Mightyena.
**Faster Attackers**: If unaffected by Intimidate, even physical attackers like Aipom and Doduo can outspeed and overwhelm Mightyena given its lack of immediate recovery.
**Residual Damage**: Mightyena lacks any form of recovery beyond Leftovers, so repeated attacks from foes like Seaking, Castform, and Ponyta can overload Mightyena. Status from Corsola, Koffing, and Porygon forces Mightyena to become passive and use Heal Bell, if it even has Heal Bell to mitigate status.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bp.272450/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
