QC: dodmen / Kreme / Christo
GP: Haund / Snobalt
btw this is my 1.4k post...
[OVERVIEW]
Magic Guard allows Alakazam to act either as an amazing wallbreaker with Life Orb or as a reliable revenge killer with Focus Sash. Magic Guard also protects it from status bar paralysis, which still lowers its Speed. Alakazam's great base 120 Speed leaves it outsped by only a select few Pokemon that don't want to switch into it such as Crobat and Mega Beedrill. Common Choice Scarf holders such as Hydreigon also can't switch in, leaving it to only be revenge killed. Alakazam also has access to a plethora of good coverage moves such as Focus Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball, and Energy Ball to pick off specific threats, allowing it to fit on different playstyles easily. It also has decent support options, such as Substitute, Calm Mind, and Thunder Wave, that can help it get around common checks such as Sucker Punch users, special walls, and faster Pokemon. While Alakazam has little to no switch-ins, it cannot freely switch in itself, as it has very poor defenses and must rely on its teammates pivoting in and out or the foe going for a weak special attack or support move. Alakazam is also not as strong as it wants to be without Life Orb and it can't be as reliable at revenge killing without Focus Sash.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Dazzling Gleam / Calm Mind / Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is Alakazam's most powerful attack, while Psyshock pairs better with Calm Mind to hit special walls aiming to tank Alakazam's other moves. Focus Blast allows Alakazam to hit Dark-types such as Krookodile and Mega Houndoom, which are immune to its STAB moves and resist Shadow Ball. Focus Blast also hits bulky Steel-types such as Mega Aggron. Shadow Ball provides arguably the best coverage, allowing Alakazam to hit opposing Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Reuniclus as well as netting coverage on Doublade. Dazzling Gleam still gains coverage on Dark-types such as Mandibuzz and Sableye, and it also allows Alakazam to hit Dragon-types such as Salamence and Hydreigon. Calm Mind gives Alakazam a way to power through special walls that tend to commonly switch in such as Florges and Blissey. Substitute grants Alakazam safety against Sucker Punch users such as Mega Absol, Mega Houndoom, and Toxicroak and can also be used when predicting a death fodder switching in to ensure Alakazam is safe the following turn. It also allows Alakazam to dodge Thunder Wave from special walls such as Blissey. Energy Ball is a nice option that guarantees the OHKO on Krookodile as opposed to Dazzling Gleam, OHKOes Swampert, and does a nice chunk to Suicune. Encore allows Alakazam to force walls out, making them repeat their recovery or status moves. Taunt, on the other hand, can prevent Porygon2 from using Recover or Thunder Wave, which can cripple Alakazam, and prevent the use of Defog to keep up entry hazards.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Alakazam to outspeed some key threats such as Azelf and Whimsicott. Life Orb allows Alakazam to deal as much damage as possible. Magic Guard allows Alakazam to not wear itself down with Life Orb recoil while firing off powerful attacks. Another EV option consists of shifting 16 EVs from Special Attack to Defense to avoid being OHKOed by Mega Aerodactyl's Pursuit.
Usage Tips
========
Alakazam likes to come in early-game and weaken walls to allow its partners to set up and power through the opposing team later on. Alakazam should only be switching in after a teammate has fainted or into weak special attacks and support moves such as Tentacruel's Scald or Will-O-Wisp. Alakazam can be either a cleaner or a wallbreaker depending on the opposing team and the set it runs, as it softens up balance playstyles but can also pick up KOs mid- or late-game against bulky offense teams. If running Calm Mind, Alakazam shouldn't set up until mid-game when certain checks, such as Doublade, are gone, as they can easily revenge kill Alakazam. While Alakazam does have Magic Guard, it must be wary of paralysis-inducing moves such as Thunder Wave and Body Slam, as it will still be crippled by paralysis. Alakazam serves better as a revenge killer due to its lack of bulk, meaning it can't switch in on any attacking move.
Team Options
========
Spikes support from the likes of Froslass helps Alakazam break through fat teams. Sableye is a good partner to form the famous Spikes offense core, giving the team a secondary spinblocker and stallbreaker to continue overpowering the opposing team. Pivots such as Gligar, Cobalion, and Zapdos can bring in Alakazam easily and provide it with more opportunities to break the opposing team. Setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Cobalion and Mega Absol appreciate Alakazam's ability to weaken walls so that they can power through the foes after setting up. Fairy-types such as Whimsicott and Florges not only synergize with Alakazam not only offensively by getting rid of Dark-types, but also defensively by being able to take on the Bug- and Dark-type moves aimed at Alakazam. Other special attackers such as Salamence and Heliolisk appreciate Alakazam's ability to work around special walls, weakening them enough for said special attackers to muscle past them.
[SET]
name: Revenge Killer
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast / Dazzling Gleam
move 4: Thunder Wave / Dazzling Gleam
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is Alakazam's most powerful STAB move, hitting Fighting- and Poison-types hard. Alakazam's coverage moves completely depend on the rest of its team and what it needs to revenge kill. Shadow Ball provides Alakazam with a way to hit opposing Psychic-types such as Metagross as well as Doublade, which resists Psychic and is immune to Focus Blast. Focus Blast hits Dark- and Steel-types such as Hydreigon, Empoleon, and Cobalion. Thunder Wave is somewhat necessary in the last slot, allowing Alakazam to cripple faster Pokemon or Choice Scarf users such as Mega Aerodactyl, Salamence, and Hydreigon after surviving a hit. Dazzling Gleam is a more reliable option over Focus Blast to still hit Dark-types, but it loses coverage on Steel-types. It can also be used over Thunder Wave if the need for speed control isn't needed. Energy Ball allows Alakazam to revenge kill Mega Swampert under rain, if it needs to.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Alakazam to hit hard and be as fast as possible. Magic Guard allows Alakazam to avoid being worn down by entry hazards or status moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Toxic. Focus Sash, in conjunction with Magic Guard, makes Alakazam the most reliable revenge killer in the tier, as can survive any boosted hit and proceed to get rid of any major threat with its immense coverage.
Usage Tips
========
Try to conserve Alakazam's Focus Sash for as long as possible, as it is the main reason for running this set, and without it, Alakazam fails to check faster Pokemon or setup sweepers that may have gotten out of hand. Alakazam should be coming in mid- or late-game after one of its teammates has been KOed, as it otherwise risks losing its Focus Sash prematurely.
Team Options
========
Spikes support from Froslass or Forretress helps Alakazam break through bulkier teams a lot easier. Fairy-types such as Slurpuff and Whimsicott can help get rid of Dark-types for Alakazam. Whimsicott can also help deter setup sweepers thanks to Prankster Encore and pivot into Alakazam with U-turn. Pivots such as Mega Beedrill and Heliolisk help Alakazam come in easily to reliably revenge kill threats to the team. Wallbreakers such as Choice Band Heracross and Choice Band Entei can provide a lot of power, allowing Alakazam to clean up later in the match. Shaymin in particular is a really nice wallbreaking partner, as it has access to Healing Wish, which allows Focus Sash to be usable again if Alakazam has taken some damage during the previous turns. Slower Pokemon such as Mamoswine and Chandelure appreciate Alakazam's ability to cripple faster threats with Thunder Wave, making them even more threatening to the opponent when their checks can no longer outspeed them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An EV spread of 84 Def / 172 SpA / 252 Spe guarantees Life Orb Alakazam to survive Choice Band Entei's Extreme Speed and Doublade's Shadow Sneak while maintaining roughly the same power as the Focus Sash set. This means it can continue pressuring the opponent's team with powerful attacks while surviving common priority moves. Sadly, with the power being roughly on par with the Focus Sash set, this is not as optimal as the preferred spread with maximum Special Attack and Speed investment. Hidden Power Fire can be a nice option to lure in and get a surprise KO on somewhat common checks to Alakazam, but it is hard to fit because the coverage stated is almost always necessary.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Sableye and Mandibuzz**: Sableye and Mandibuzz can tank a Dazzling Gleam from Alakazam and fire back with a super effective Knock Off.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and Crobat trap and OHKO Alakazam or bring it down to its Focus Sash, making it less effective as a revenge killer.
**Priority Users**: Due to Alakazam's lack of bulk, most priority moves will cripple or outright OHKO it, such as Entei's Extreme Speed and Doublade's Shadow Sneak. Mega Absol, while slower, has STAB Sucker Punch to threaten it and doesn't care about Thunder Wave thanks to Magic Bounce.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Mienshao can outspeed and KO Alakazam with their moves. Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, and Crobat are naturally faster than Alakazam and also have access to Pursuit to trap it. Pursuit Mega Aerodactyl is one of the most common checks to Alakazam, but it risks being crippled by Thunder Wave if Alakazam happens to run enough EVs to survive Pursuit.
**Paralysis**: While Alakazam has access to Magic Guard, it is still crippled by paralysis, as the Speed drop means it can no longer outspeed key threats.
GP: Haund / Snobalt
btw this is my 1.4k post...
[OVERVIEW]
Magic Guard allows Alakazam to act either as an amazing wallbreaker with Life Orb or as a reliable revenge killer with Focus Sash. Magic Guard also protects it from status bar paralysis, which still lowers its Speed. Alakazam's great base 120 Speed leaves it outsped by only a select few Pokemon that don't want to switch into it such as Crobat and Mega Beedrill. Common Choice Scarf holders such as Hydreigon also can't switch in, leaving it to only be revenge killed. Alakazam also has access to a plethora of good coverage moves such as Focus Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball, and Energy Ball to pick off specific threats, allowing it to fit on different playstyles easily. It also has decent support options, such as Substitute, Calm Mind, and Thunder Wave, that can help it get around common checks such as Sucker Punch users, special walls, and faster Pokemon. While Alakazam has little to no switch-ins, it cannot freely switch in itself, as it has very poor defenses and must rely on its teammates pivoting in and out or the foe going for a weak special attack or support move. Alakazam is also not as strong as it wants to be without Life Orb and it can't be as reliable at revenge killing without Focus Sash.
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Dazzling Gleam / Calm Mind / Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is Alakazam's most powerful attack, while Psyshock pairs better with Calm Mind to hit special walls aiming to tank Alakazam's other moves. Focus Blast allows Alakazam to hit Dark-types such as Krookodile and Mega Houndoom, which are immune to its STAB moves and resist Shadow Ball. Focus Blast also hits bulky Steel-types such as Mega Aggron. Shadow Ball provides arguably the best coverage, allowing Alakazam to hit opposing Psychic-types such as Cresselia and Reuniclus as well as netting coverage on Doublade. Dazzling Gleam still gains coverage on Dark-types such as Mandibuzz and Sableye, and it also allows Alakazam to hit Dragon-types such as Salamence and Hydreigon. Calm Mind gives Alakazam a way to power through special walls that tend to commonly switch in such as Florges and Blissey. Substitute grants Alakazam safety against Sucker Punch users such as Mega Absol, Mega Houndoom, and Toxicroak and can also be used when predicting a death fodder switching in to ensure Alakazam is safe the following turn. It also allows Alakazam to dodge Thunder Wave from special walls such as Blissey. Energy Ball is a nice option that guarantees the OHKO on Krookodile as opposed to Dazzling Gleam, OHKOes Swampert, and does a nice chunk to Suicune. Encore allows Alakazam to force walls out, making them repeat their recovery or status moves. Taunt, on the other hand, can prevent Porygon2 from using Recover or Thunder Wave, which can cripple Alakazam, and prevent the use of Defog to keep up entry hazards.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Alakazam to outspeed some key threats such as Azelf and Whimsicott. Life Orb allows Alakazam to deal as much damage as possible. Magic Guard allows Alakazam to not wear itself down with Life Orb recoil while firing off powerful attacks. Another EV option consists of shifting 16 EVs from Special Attack to Defense to avoid being OHKOed by Mega Aerodactyl's Pursuit.
Usage Tips
========
Alakazam likes to come in early-game and weaken walls to allow its partners to set up and power through the opposing team later on. Alakazam should only be switching in after a teammate has fainted or into weak special attacks and support moves such as Tentacruel's Scald or Will-O-Wisp. Alakazam can be either a cleaner or a wallbreaker depending on the opposing team and the set it runs, as it softens up balance playstyles but can also pick up KOs mid- or late-game against bulky offense teams. If running Calm Mind, Alakazam shouldn't set up until mid-game when certain checks, such as Doublade, are gone, as they can easily revenge kill Alakazam. While Alakazam does have Magic Guard, it must be wary of paralysis-inducing moves such as Thunder Wave and Body Slam, as it will still be crippled by paralysis. Alakazam serves better as a revenge killer due to its lack of bulk, meaning it can't switch in on any attacking move.
Team Options
========
Spikes support from the likes of Froslass helps Alakazam break through fat teams. Sableye is a good partner to form the famous Spikes offense core, giving the team a secondary spinblocker and stallbreaker to continue overpowering the opposing team. Pivots such as Gligar, Cobalion, and Zapdos can bring in Alakazam easily and provide it with more opportunities to break the opposing team. Setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Cobalion and Mega Absol appreciate Alakazam's ability to weaken walls so that they can power through the foes after setting up. Fairy-types such as Whimsicott and Florges not only synergize with Alakazam not only offensively by getting rid of Dark-types, but also defensively by being able to take on the Bug- and Dark-type moves aimed at Alakazam. Other special attackers such as Salamence and Heliolisk appreciate Alakazam's ability to work around special walls, weakening them enough for said special attackers to muscle past them.
[SET]
name: Revenge Killer
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast / Dazzling Gleam
move 4: Thunder Wave / Dazzling Gleam
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is Alakazam's most powerful STAB move, hitting Fighting- and Poison-types hard. Alakazam's coverage moves completely depend on the rest of its team and what it needs to revenge kill. Shadow Ball provides Alakazam with a way to hit opposing Psychic-types such as Metagross as well as Doublade, which resists Psychic and is immune to Focus Blast. Focus Blast hits Dark- and Steel-types such as Hydreigon, Empoleon, and Cobalion. Thunder Wave is somewhat necessary in the last slot, allowing Alakazam to cripple faster Pokemon or Choice Scarf users such as Mega Aerodactyl, Salamence, and Hydreigon after surviving a hit. Dazzling Gleam is a more reliable option over Focus Blast to still hit Dark-types, but it loses coverage on Steel-types. It can also be used over Thunder Wave if the need for speed control isn't needed. Energy Ball allows Alakazam to revenge kill Mega Swampert under rain, if it needs to.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature allow Alakazam to hit hard and be as fast as possible. Magic Guard allows Alakazam to avoid being worn down by entry hazards or status moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Toxic. Focus Sash, in conjunction with Magic Guard, makes Alakazam the most reliable revenge killer in the tier, as can survive any boosted hit and proceed to get rid of any major threat with its immense coverage.
Usage Tips
========
Try to conserve Alakazam's Focus Sash for as long as possible, as it is the main reason for running this set, and without it, Alakazam fails to check faster Pokemon or setup sweepers that may have gotten out of hand. Alakazam should be coming in mid- or late-game after one of its teammates has been KOed, as it otherwise risks losing its Focus Sash prematurely.
Team Options
========
Spikes support from Froslass or Forretress helps Alakazam break through bulkier teams a lot easier. Fairy-types such as Slurpuff and Whimsicott can help get rid of Dark-types for Alakazam. Whimsicott can also help deter setup sweepers thanks to Prankster Encore and pivot into Alakazam with U-turn. Pivots such as Mega Beedrill and Heliolisk help Alakazam come in easily to reliably revenge kill threats to the team. Wallbreakers such as Choice Band Heracross and Choice Band Entei can provide a lot of power, allowing Alakazam to clean up later in the match. Shaymin in particular is a really nice wallbreaking partner, as it has access to Healing Wish, which allows Focus Sash to be usable again if Alakazam has taken some damage during the previous turns. Slower Pokemon such as Mamoswine and Chandelure appreciate Alakazam's ability to cripple faster threats with Thunder Wave, making them even more threatening to the opponent when their checks can no longer outspeed them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An EV spread of 84 Def / 172 SpA / 252 Spe guarantees Life Orb Alakazam to survive Choice Band Entei's Extreme Speed and Doublade's Shadow Sneak while maintaining roughly the same power as the Focus Sash set. This means it can continue pressuring the opponent's team with powerful attacks while surviving common priority moves. Sadly, with the power being roughly on par with the Focus Sash set, this is not as optimal as the preferred spread with maximum Special Attack and Speed investment. Hidden Power Fire can be a nice option to lure in and get a surprise KO on somewhat common checks to Alakazam, but it is hard to fit because the coverage stated is almost always necessary.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Sableye and Mandibuzz**: Sableye and Mandibuzz can tank a Dazzling Gleam from Alakazam and fire back with a super effective Knock Off.
**Pursuit Trappers**: Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and Crobat trap and OHKO Alakazam or bring it down to its Focus Sash, making it less effective as a revenge killer.
**Priority Users**: Due to Alakazam's lack of bulk, most priority moves will cripple or outright OHKO it, such as Entei's Extreme Speed and Doublade's Shadow Sneak. Mega Absol, while slower, has STAB Sucker Punch to threaten it and doesn't care about Thunder Wave thanks to Magic Bounce.
**Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users such as Hydreigon and Mienshao can outspeed and KO Alakazam with their moves. Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, Mega Sceptile, and Crobat are naturally faster than Alakazam and also have access to Pursuit to trap it. Pursuit Mega Aerodactyl is one of the most common checks to Alakazam, but it risks being crippled by Thunder Wave if Alakazam happens to run enough EVs to survive Pursuit.
**Paralysis**: While Alakazam has access to Magic Guard, it is still crippled by paralysis, as the Speed drop means it can no longer outspeed key threats.
Last edited:
