[OVERVIEW]
========
* With its massive Special Attack stat and Speed tier, Mega Alakazam is an absolutely incredible special sweeper in the monotype metagame.
* Thanks to its incredible base 150 Speed, which it shares with Mega Aerodactyl, it effectively outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame bar fully invested Deoxys-S. Its great Speed tier in tandem with Trace lets it curb some of the highest boosted Speed tiers in the metagame as well, providing Psychic teams with invaluable speed control.
* Mega Alakazam's ability, Trace, allows it to copy and utilize the abilities of opposing Pokemon. The most notable abilities include Beast Boost, Speed Boost, Shadow Tag, Arena Trap, those that boost damage, and even those that boost Speed in weather or Terrain.
* Alakazam can also function effectively without Mega Evolution, the Counter Focus Sash set can check sweepers and other setup Pokemon, especially physical attackers such as Bisharp and Mega Sharpedo.
* Counter Alakazam works exceedingly well on hyper offensive teams as a guaranteed check to setup sweepers thanks to Magic Guard protecting it from indirect damage and preserving its Focus Sash.
* With its diverse movepool, Alakazam is capable of hitting the entire metagame without being walled by common typings, ensuring that it's consistently putting out massive amounts of damage.
* Although Mega Alakazam is a potent offensive threat, it has no utility options that can provide much support for its team.
* Defensively, Mega Alakazam is plagued with poor physical bulk, leaving it vulnerable to strong physical attackers, especially those that utilize priority moves such as Dragonite and Mega Scizor.
* Even though Mega Alakazam has amazing base 175 Special Attack, its pure Psychic typing limits how many types it can hit for high amounts of damage.
* Because of its Psychic typing and low physical bulk, Mega Alakazam is also haunted by Pokemon capable of Pursuit trapping such as Alolan Muk, Scizor, and Tyranitar.
* If Alakazam is using the Focus Sash Counter set, it completely depends on preserving its Focus Sash to be effective in matches; otherwise, it most likely won't be able to use Counter and loses one of its roles.
* Counter Alakazam is also incredibly limited in its damage output, as it has no damage-boosting item or ability and only has a single STAB type.
[SET]
name: Focus Sash Counter
move 1: Counter
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Counter is the cornerstone of this set, as it gives Psychic teams a guaranteed check to sweepers such as Bisharp, Mega Gyarados, and Mega Sharpedo as well as countless others. Counter is also the best way to effectively check any physical threat the opposing team has and can do more damage and be more reliable than Alakazam's other moves.
* Psychic is Alakazam's main STAB move, maximizing its standard damage output.
* Focus Blast provides Alakazam with an option for hitting Pokemon that either resist or are immune to Psychic, such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Hydreigon.
* Shadow Ball allows Alakazam to hit Ghost-types such as Alolan Marowak super effectively. It also makes Alakazam into a potent threat against other Psychic teams thanks to Psychic's only viable Ghost-type check being Meloetta.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in Alakazam's Special Attack enables it to hit opposing Pokemon as hard as possible.
* Maximum investment in Speed with a Hasty nature lets Alakazam make use of its great Speed tier, outspeeding Pokemon such as Latios, Latias, Gengar, and Thundurus as well as base 60 Choice Scarf users such as Magnezone.
* 0 IVs in Defense and a Hasty Nature allow Alakazam to take as much physical damage as possible in order to make Counter even more powerful.
* Focus Sash lets Alakazam check sweepers that are major threats to Psychic teams like Scolipede and Choice Scarf Heracross. It also works in tandem with Counter to provide a guaranteed check to a multitude of physical threats such as Mega Gyarados, Mega Scizor, and Mega Sharpedo.
* Magic Guard prevents Alakazam from taking damage from entry hazards, status, and weather, which is key to preserving Focus Sash and ultimately preventing Alakazam from losing its role of a general check to sweepers.
Usage Tips
========
* Use Alakazam sparingly, as its overall damage output is fairly limited due to its single typing and lack of an offensive ability and item.
* In matchups where your team faces immense offensive pressure, preserve Alakazam for checking the most pressing threats, especially physical threats such as Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Mega Sharpedo, as Counter will most likely be able to OHKO them.
* If Alakazam is needed for using Counter in a match, be sure to prevent Focus Sash from being broken, or else Alakazam and its ability to check sweepers and setup Pokemon, such as Bisharp and Double Dance Landorus-T, will be rendered useless.
* Thanks to its Focus Sash, this set allows Alakazam to take on the role of revenge killer, coming in after a teammate faints or through the use of U-turn.
* If there is a possibility that the opposing team could Pursuit trap Alakazam, avoid switching in Alakazam unless absolutely necessary. In the case that Alakazam does happen to be caught by a Pursuit trapper such as Alolan Muk and is at full health, simply use Counter and Alakazam will either OHKO the opposing threat or do enough damage that the opposing Pokemon will be able to be KOed by one of Alakazam's other moves.
* Do not directly switch Alakazam into any opposing Pokemon unless they do not carry attacking moves. Focus Sash Alakazam needs appropriate team support to get it onto the field safely, such as with defensive pivot Jirachi or by punishing a switch with U-turn Victini. If worse comes to worst, preserving a weakened Pokemon with the intention of allowing a free switch for Alakazam is a viable strategy.
* Be careful when facing Pokemon that commonly use Substitute such as Mega Gyarados and Buzzwole. These threats should be attacked with Focus Blast and Psychic, respectively, in order to avoid missing out on an OHKO by using Counter on their Substitute.
* Avoid confrontations with any specially defensive Pokemon such as Araquanid, Chansey, Gliscor, or Zapdos, as it can easily break Alakazam's Focus Sash.
Team Options
========
* Victini is an amazing teammate for Alakazam, as it has astounding physical wallbreaking potential thanks to V-create and Bolt Strike and can manage teams that Alakazam often struggles with such as Bug and Steel. Choice Scarf Victini also puts immense pressure on opposing teams and can force switches that it can take advantage of with U-turn to bring Alakazam in for free.
* Jirachi provides incredible utility support through setting Stealth Rock, spreading status, and returning Alakazam's health back to full with Healing Wish. It also has a beneficial slow U-turn that can get Alakazam onto the field without the risk of taking damage, ultimately keeping its Focus Sash intact.
* Mega Medicham is Psychic's best physical wallbreaker thanks to Pure Power, breaking down any walls that could hinder Alakazam's performance and appreciating the check to physical threats and setup sweepers. It can work exceedingly well as another option for Psychic's pivots to bring in as well in order to preserve Alakazam's Focus Sash.
* Slowbro and Mega Slowbro are both great physically defensive Pokemon that are the backbone of the Psychic defensive core and can mitigate damage that Alakazam would greatly prefer not to take. Both also serve as checks to physical attackers in their own right in case Alakazam's Focus Sash has been expended to manage a threat already.
* Mew's dynamic roles of stallbreaker and setup sweeper can give Alakazam solid support in their own rights. Stallbreaker Mew can cripple opposing threats with Will-O-Wisp and Knock Off, which can take off some of the pressure in needing to preserve Alakazam as a check to sweepers.
* Meloetta serves as Psychic's only viable switch-in to Ghost-type Pokemon. Alakazam can safely switch to Meloetta against Ghost-types, such as Chandelure, Jellicent, and Mimikyu, that it would otherwise struggle with. Meloetta can also serve as a special wallbreaker, alleviating some of the pressure to use Alakazam in more risky situations just for its special damage.
* Latios in an excellent special wallbreaker that pairs fairly well with Alakazam. Latios is able to spam Draco Meteor and has coverage for Pokemon that Alakazam may struggle with on its own such as Ferrothorn and Heatran. It can also use Defog, which would support the team in general more so than Alakazam.
* Gardevoir is a good Choice Scarf user that brings Fairy typing to the table, being able to hit Pokemon that Alakazam may struggle with, such as Dark-types like Mandibuzz and Mega Sableye as well as Dragon-types such as Garchomp or Kyurem-B.
* Gothitelle's tapping capabilities can work exceedingly well with Focus Sash Alakazam by taking some of the burden of dealing with opposing threats off for Alakazam. Gothitelle can also cripple opposing walls and utility Pokemon through Trick, making it easier for teammates to break down the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Substitute / Encore
item: Alakazite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Psychic is Mega Alakazam's go-to STAB attack, as it guarantees the maximum amount of damage output possible.
* Focus Blast offers a powerful coverage option for Mega Alakazam to handle threats like Greninja, Mega Sharpedo, and Tyranitar. It also has a high chance to 2HKO Mega Scizor after Stealth Rock damage, which can remove a huge burden on Psychic teams.
* Shadow Ball provides additional type coverage for hitting Ghost-types, another major challenge to Psychic teams, super effectively. It also turns Mega Alakazam into a powerful threat when facing other Psychic teams.
* Substitute's primary use is to check Sucker Punch by allowing Mega Alakazam the option of not attacking. As a secondary application, Substitute enables Mega Alakazam to scout for possible Pursuit from Pokemon such as Alolan Muk, Bisharp, and Tyranitar. Lastly, it provides Mega Alakazam with a way to avoid status as well as a way to extend its longevity while on the field.
* Encore is another plausible utility move for Mega Alakazam, as it works well in specific situations, mostly when facing opposing walls, utility Pokemon, and setup Pokemon, forcing Pokemon such as Chansey, Skarmory, and Mega Gyarados to switch.
Set Details
========
* Maximum invest in Special Attack with a Timid nature allows Mega Alakazam to hit incredibly hard without needing to worry about being outsped by unboosted Pokemon.
* Maximum Speed investment ensures that Timid Mega Alakazam is still able to outspeed every unboosted Pokemon in the metagame bar Mega Aerodactyl and Deoxys-S. This spread allows Mega Alakazam to also outspeed up to base 80 Speed Pokemon with a 1.5x Speed boost such as Choice Scarf users like Chandelure, Togekiss, and Xurkitree as well as Dragon Dance Gyarados.
* On the other hand, maximum Speed investment with a Modest nature lets Mega Alakazam outspeed +1 Pokemon with a base 71 Speed, such as Tyrantrum and Choice Scarf Volcanion. The downside to gaining this boost in Special Attack is a rather substantial loss in Speed control, which can make Mega Alakazam get outsped by many notable aforementioned threats.
* Magic Guard is the best pre-Mega Evolution ability as it protects Alakazam from entry hazards as well as damage through burn or poison.
* Trace provides abilities for Mega Alakazam to take advantage of depending on the opponent's Pokemon. Trace thrives the most when taking abilities that naturally boost damage, such as Sheer Force and Adaptability, or Speed, such as Speed Boost, Swift Swim, and Surge Surfer.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Alakazam works best when it is brought in safely, whether it's by a pivot move on the opponent's switch, when a teammate faints, or when it switches into a foe that is unable to deal substantial damage to Mega Alakazam or cripple it with a move like Thunder Wave, which is blocked by Substitute.
* It may have a fairly good Special Defense stat for a dedicated attacker, but it still has rather poor bulk, so making direct switches into Mega Alakazam would not be advisable.
* The time when Mega Alakazam works best in a match is late-game, when the opponent's Pokemon are weakened to the point that it can get assured KOs. Anything outside of this would be an extremely risky time for Mega Alakazam to stay in, so appropriate switch-ins should be ready to keep Mega Alakazam safe and healthy.
* Try to avoid confrontations with Pokemon known for using physical priority like Bisharp and Mega Scizor, Pokemon known for trapping such as Alolan Muk and Dugtrio, and Pokemon known for using Choice Scarf that can safely outspeed Mega Alakazam such as Victini and Heracross. Mega Alakazam can be an offensive monster for Psychic teams, but all of these noted threats can put an end to it very quickly.
* If any of the aforementioned threats are on the opposing team, wear them down and attempt to eliminate them before considering using Mega Alakazam. Only use Mega Alakazam to deal with these threats if absolutely necessary.
* Substitute can be used when against defensive Pokemon to avoid chip damage and status, but be sure that Mega Alakazam's substitute cannot be broken by the opposing Pokemon, or else it will be losing health for nothing.
* Knowing when and when not to Mega Evolve is crucial for any Mega Pokemon, and Mega Alakazam is no different. Mitigating damage from entry hazards and status through Magic Guard while also knowing when the boost in stats and gaining Trace is needed is vital for succeeding with Mega Alakazam.
* Don't be afraid to switch in Encore Mega Alakazam on a setup sweeper in order to outspeed and lock these threats into their setup moves, such as Mega Gyarados's Dragon Dance and Xurkitree's Z Hypnosis in Electric Terrain.
Team Options
========
* Victini is an incredible addition to any Psychic team. With base 100 stats across the board and a secondary Fire typing, it makes up for Mega Alakazam's lack of bulk and provides Psychic with a monstrous asset in the Bug matchup, especially in dealing with Volcarona, as well as the Grass, Poison, and Steel matchups. Choice Band Victini can prove to be even more beneficial, as it can wallbreak more effectively, making opposing Pokemon much easier for Mega Alakazam to KO later.
* Slowbro acts a physical tank for Psychic teams and can be a great option for getting Mega Alakazam out of danger thanks to its great bulk, recovery option in Slack Off, Speed control utility in Thunder Wave, and passive recovery in Regenerator. Slowbro can also help wear down opposing Pokemon through spreading status with Scald and in checking Dark-types with the common Colbur Berry set.
* Mew is the single best utility Pokemon that Psychic teams run; setting and removing entry hazards, spreading status, checking item-dependent Pokemon with Knock Off, and stalling foes make it a great defensive support option for Mega Alakazam. Mew is also an amazing setup sweeper for Psychic teams thanks to Mewnium Z and can help Mega Alakazam by outspeeding a ridiculous portion of the boosted metagame after a Rock Polish. Mew can also set Psychic Terrain with Genesis Supernova, protecting Mega Alakazam as well as other teammates from priority moves.
* Meloetta boasts an immunity to Ghost-type attacks as well as excellent special bulk and Special Attack. Mega Alakazam can safely switch to Meloetta against various Ghost-type threats, such as Doublade, Gengar, and Chandelure, that could easily take it out. Meloetta also brings a secondary special wallbreaker to the table and can take some of the burden off of Mega Alakazam.
* Offensive Jirachi can provide decent physical damage as well as a way to pivot into Mega Alakazam on favorable matchups through U-turn. It can also resotre Mega Alakazam with Healing Wish. On the other hand, defensive Jirachi can provide Stealth Rock, Toxic, or Thunder Wave, healing through Wish, and even a slow pivot option in U-turn, which can protect Mega Alakazam from taking unneeded damage, while also being a switch-in for strong special attacks.
* Latios can provide a secondary option for special wallbreaking with good coverage options and a great spammable move in Draco Meteor. Latios also brings some utility to the table with Defog, making it an excellent choice for managing entry hazards.
* Gardevoir can act as a good Choice Scarf user for Psychic and can handle some threats, namely Dark- and Dragon-types, which Mega Alakazam may struggle in dealing with. It also can provide some decent support through Trick, which catches walls and Eviolite cores off guard, and Healing Wish.
* Deoxys-S would push for a more hyper offensive team composition, but it can be a great lead as a hazard stacker, allowing Mega Alakazam to come in and sweep. It also has access to dual screens and Taunt, which can help for reducing the amount of pressure and damage that is put onto Mega Alakazam as well as its teammates.
* Gothitelle is a great teammate, as it can trap opposing walls, such as Chansey and Mantine, and Trick Choice items onto them, crippling them and possibly rendering them useless. This also gives Mega Alakazam an opportunity to set up a free Substitute by switching in immediately after Trick as long as the Tricked Pokemon is unable to damage Mega Alakazam effectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Psyshock is a replacement option for Psychic, as it allows Alakazam to target special walls such as with Chansey and Zapdos; however, Psychic is preferred for dealing as much damage as possible without worrying about specially defensive walls.
* Dazzling Gleam can a be good coverage move for getting super effective damage off on Dark-types like Mega Sableye and Dragon-types such as Garchomp, but this would involve giving up one of Alakazam's three most essential coverage moves or its check to priority and trapping. Plus, other team options such as Gardevoir, Latios, Latias, and Dazzling Gleam Meloetta could easily make up for this Fairy-type coverage.
* Energy Ball works as coverage on Mega Alakazam for Ground-, Rock-, and, most notably, Swift Swim Water-types in order to get assured KOs on Pokemon like Seismitoad; however, this move comes with the same problems that Dazzling Gleam has. This coverage is also easily made up for by other team options like Gardevoir, Latios, Latias, Celebi, and even Slowbro if it is running Grass Knot.
* Calm Mind could replace Substitute on Mega Alakazam as a way to check Sucker Punch and to gain a form of setup on defensive Pokemon; however, it doesn't provide the 'safety blanket' that Substitute can. Plus, in most scenarios, it would be unrealistic for the person using Mega Alakazam to be able to freely set up, and the extra damage isn't necessarily needed either.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority Attacks**: Because Alakazam and Mega Alakazam have rather poor physical bulk, priority moves like Bullet Punch, Extreme Speed, Shadow Sneak, and Sucker Punch are extremely dangerous and can take it out of matches instantly. Pokemon like Mega Scizor, Dragonite, Doublade, Mimikyu, and Bisharp are the most common of these priority users that can take out Mega Alakazam fairly easily, and Alakazam as well if it is not at full health.
**Pursuit Trapping**: Thanks to its single typing of Psychic paired with poor physical bulk, Alakazam and Mega Alakazam are the ideal Pokemon to be subjected to Pursuit traps. The only way to approach this issue is to avoid sending in Alakazam until the Pursuit trappers are either eliminated or put into KO range for either form to take them out. Alakazam and Mega Alakazam can be used as bait to get Pursuit trappers to switch in, but only when it is absolutely safe to do so.
**Faster Pokemon**: Most Pokemon with boosted Speed tiers thanks to either Choice Scarf or setup moves are usually, if not always, capable of OHKOing Mega Alakazam due to its poor bulk. Some major threats to Psychic teams that can safely outspeed maximum investment Timid Mega Alakazam include Pokemon such as Heracross, Mega Charizard X, Mega Sharpedo, Scolipede, and Volcarona. The only way to approach these Pokemon is to avoid letting the setup threats get any chances to get free boosts and to keep any checks to Choice Scarf users healthy throughout the match.
**Physical Attackers**: Most physically offensive Pokemon with strong moves or a good typing that can take a hit or two from Mega Alakazam are almost assured to get a KO against it. Having switch-ins for these threats ready to go is the only assured way to handle them. Although Alakazam is meant to check physical threats with Counter, this role disappears if it is not at full HP or Focus Sash is broken.
**Dark-types**: Carrying an immunity to Alakazam and Mega Alakazam's only STAB type of Psychic already gives Dark-types like Hydreigon and Mega Gyarados a decent footing in the matchup. Focus Blast is a good option for handling these threats, but sometimes it might not be worth the 30% chance to miss or the risk of the opposing Pokemon running a Choice Scarf. It's also important to note that in the case of Mega Gyarados, Timid Mega Alakazam requires prior chip damage for Focus Blast to be able to KO.
**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon that can't be taken out by Alakazam or Mega Alakazam easily, such as Dragonite and Magearna, should be dealt with by other, more appropriate Pokemon on the Psychic team. There is no point in trying to cripple these bulky threats if all it concludes with is Mega Alakazam fainting or Alakazam losing its Focus Sash.
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive Celesteela, Chansey, and Zapdos can prove to be a real pain to deal with for Alakazam because, barring Special Defense drops and hazards, it cannot 2HKO any of these Pokemon. The only way to deal with these is by dealing chip damage on their switch in and going into an appropriate teammate designated for breaking special walls.
**Ghost-types**: Focus Sash Alakazam can run into some trouble against Ghost teams, as its main purpose of utilizing a practically free Counter is rendered useless. Although it can put out super effective damage with Shadow Ball, the Ghost defensive core of Mega Sableye and Jellicent doesn't mind taking a hit or two while also forcing Alakazam out.
========
* With its massive Special Attack stat and Speed tier, Mega Alakazam is an absolutely incredible special sweeper in the monotype metagame.
* Thanks to its incredible base 150 Speed, which it shares with Mega Aerodactyl, it effectively outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame bar fully invested Deoxys-S. Its great Speed tier in tandem with Trace lets it curb some of the highest boosted Speed tiers in the metagame as well, providing Psychic teams with invaluable speed control.
* Mega Alakazam's ability, Trace, allows it to copy and utilize the abilities of opposing Pokemon. The most notable abilities include Beast Boost, Speed Boost, Shadow Tag, Arena Trap, those that boost damage, and even those that boost Speed in weather or Terrain.
* Alakazam can also function effectively without Mega Evolution, the Counter Focus Sash set can check sweepers and other setup Pokemon, especially physical attackers such as Bisharp and Mega Sharpedo.
* Counter Alakazam works exceedingly well on hyper offensive teams as a guaranteed check to setup sweepers thanks to Magic Guard protecting it from indirect damage and preserving its Focus Sash.
* With its diverse movepool, Alakazam is capable of hitting the entire metagame without being walled by common typings, ensuring that it's consistently putting out massive amounts of damage.
* Although Mega Alakazam is a potent offensive threat, it has no utility options that can provide much support for its team.
* Defensively, Mega Alakazam is plagued with poor physical bulk, leaving it vulnerable to strong physical attackers, especially those that utilize priority moves such as Dragonite and Mega Scizor.
* Even though Mega Alakazam has amazing base 175 Special Attack, its pure Psychic typing limits how many types it can hit for high amounts of damage.
* Because of its Psychic typing and low physical bulk, Mega Alakazam is also haunted by Pokemon capable of Pursuit trapping such as Alolan Muk, Scizor, and Tyranitar.
* If Alakazam is using the Focus Sash Counter set, it completely depends on preserving its Focus Sash to be effective in matches; otherwise, it most likely won't be able to use Counter and loses one of its roles.
* Counter Alakazam is also incredibly limited in its damage output, as it has no damage-boosting item or ability and only has a single STAB type.
[SET]
name: Focus Sash Counter
move 1: Counter
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Counter is the cornerstone of this set, as it gives Psychic teams a guaranteed check to sweepers such as Bisharp, Mega Gyarados, and Mega Sharpedo as well as countless others. Counter is also the best way to effectively check any physical threat the opposing team has and can do more damage and be more reliable than Alakazam's other moves.
* Psychic is Alakazam's main STAB move, maximizing its standard damage output.
* Focus Blast provides Alakazam with an option for hitting Pokemon that either resist or are immune to Psychic, such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Hydreigon.
* Shadow Ball allows Alakazam to hit Ghost-types such as Alolan Marowak super effectively. It also makes Alakazam into a potent threat against other Psychic teams thanks to Psychic's only viable Ghost-type check being Meloetta.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in Alakazam's Special Attack enables it to hit opposing Pokemon as hard as possible.
* Maximum investment in Speed with a Hasty nature lets Alakazam make use of its great Speed tier, outspeeding Pokemon such as Latios, Latias, Gengar, and Thundurus as well as base 60 Choice Scarf users such as Magnezone.
* 0 IVs in Defense and a Hasty Nature allow Alakazam to take as much physical damage as possible in order to make Counter even more powerful.
* Focus Sash lets Alakazam check sweepers that are major threats to Psychic teams like Scolipede and Choice Scarf Heracross. It also works in tandem with Counter to provide a guaranteed check to a multitude of physical threats such as Mega Gyarados, Mega Scizor, and Mega Sharpedo.
* Magic Guard prevents Alakazam from taking damage from entry hazards, status, and weather, which is key to preserving Focus Sash and ultimately preventing Alakazam from losing its role of a general check to sweepers.
Usage Tips
========
* Use Alakazam sparingly, as its overall damage output is fairly limited due to its single typing and lack of an offensive ability and item.
* In matchups where your team faces immense offensive pressure, preserve Alakazam for checking the most pressing threats, especially physical threats such as Bisharp, Mega Scizor, and Mega Sharpedo, as Counter will most likely be able to OHKO them.
* If Alakazam is needed for using Counter in a match, be sure to prevent Focus Sash from being broken, or else Alakazam and its ability to check sweepers and setup Pokemon, such as Bisharp and Double Dance Landorus-T, will be rendered useless.
* Thanks to its Focus Sash, this set allows Alakazam to take on the role of revenge killer, coming in after a teammate faints or through the use of U-turn.
* If there is a possibility that the opposing team could Pursuit trap Alakazam, avoid switching in Alakazam unless absolutely necessary. In the case that Alakazam does happen to be caught by a Pursuit trapper such as Alolan Muk and is at full health, simply use Counter and Alakazam will either OHKO the opposing threat or do enough damage that the opposing Pokemon will be able to be KOed by one of Alakazam's other moves.
* Do not directly switch Alakazam into any opposing Pokemon unless they do not carry attacking moves. Focus Sash Alakazam needs appropriate team support to get it onto the field safely, such as with defensive pivot Jirachi or by punishing a switch with U-turn Victini. If worse comes to worst, preserving a weakened Pokemon with the intention of allowing a free switch for Alakazam is a viable strategy.
* Be careful when facing Pokemon that commonly use Substitute such as Mega Gyarados and Buzzwole. These threats should be attacked with Focus Blast and Psychic, respectively, in order to avoid missing out on an OHKO by using Counter on their Substitute.
* Avoid confrontations with any specially defensive Pokemon such as Araquanid, Chansey, Gliscor, or Zapdos, as it can easily break Alakazam's Focus Sash.
Team Options
========
* Victini is an amazing teammate for Alakazam, as it has astounding physical wallbreaking potential thanks to V-create and Bolt Strike and can manage teams that Alakazam often struggles with such as Bug and Steel. Choice Scarf Victini also puts immense pressure on opposing teams and can force switches that it can take advantage of with U-turn to bring Alakazam in for free.
* Jirachi provides incredible utility support through setting Stealth Rock, spreading status, and returning Alakazam's health back to full with Healing Wish. It also has a beneficial slow U-turn that can get Alakazam onto the field without the risk of taking damage, ultimately keeping its Focus Sash intact.
* Mega Medicham is Psychic's best physical wallbreaker thanks to Pure Power, breaking down any walls that could hinder Alakazam's performance and appreciating the check to physical threats and setup sweepers. It can work exceedingly well as another option for Psychic's pivots to bring in as well in order to preserve Alakazam's Focus Sash.
* Slowbro and Mega Slowbro are both great physically defensive Pokemon that are the backbone of the Psychic defensive core and can mitigate damage that Alakazam would greatly prefer not to take. Both also serve as checks to physical attackers in their own right in case Alakazam's Focus Sash has been expended to manage a threat already.
* Mew's dynamic roles of stallbreaker and setup sweeper can give Alakazam solid support in their own rights. Stallbreaker Mew can cripple opposing threats with Will-O-Wisp and Knock Off, which can take off some of the pressure in needing to preserve Alakazam as a check to sweepers.
* Meloetta serves as Psychic's only viable switch-in to Ghost-type Pokemon. Alakazam can safely switch to Meloetta against Ghost-types, such as Chandelure, Jellicent, and Mimikyu, that it would otherwise struggle with. Meloetta can also serve as a special wallbreaker, alleviating some of the pressure to use Alakazam in more risky situations just for its special damage.
* Latios in an excellent special wallbreaker that pairs fairly well with Alakazam. Latios is able to spam Draco Meteor and has coverage for Pokemon that Alakazam may struggle with on its own such as Ferrothorn and Heatran. It can also use Defog, which would support the team in general more so than Alakazam.
* Gardevoir is a good Choice Scarf user that brings Fairy typing to the table, being able to hit Pokemon that Alakazam may struggle with, such as Dark-types like Mandibuzz and Mega Sableye as well as Dragon-types such as Garchomp or Kyurem-B.
* Gothitelle's tapping capabilities can work exceedingly well with Focus Sash Alakazam by taking some of the burden of dealing with opposing threats off for Alakazam. Gothitelle can also cripple opposing walls and utility Pokemon through Trick, making it easier for teammates to break down the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Substitute / Encore
item: Alakazite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Psychic is Mega Alakazam's go-to STAB attack, as it guarantees the maximum amount of damage output possible.
* Focus Blast offers a powerful coverage option for Mega Alakazam to handle threats like Greninja, Mega Sharpedo, and Tyranitar. It also has a high chance to 2HKO Mega Scizor after Stealth Rock damage, which can remove a huge burden on Psychic teams.
* Shadow Ball provides additional type coverage for hitting Ghost-types, another major challenge to Psychic teams, super effectively. It also turns Mega Alakazam into a powerful threat when facing other Psychic teams.
* Substitute's primary use is to check Sucker Punch by allowing Mega Alakazam the option of not attacking. As a secondary application, Substitute enables Mega Alakazam to scout for possible Pursuit from Pokemon such as Alolan Muk, Bisharp, and Tyranitar. Lastly, it provides Mega Alakazam with a way to avoid status as well as a way to extend its longevity while on the field.
* Encore is another plausible utility move for Mega Alakazam, as it works well in specific situations, mostly when facing opposing walls, utility Pokemon, and setup Pokemon, forcing Pokemon such as Chansey, Skarmory, and Mega Gyarados to switch.
Set Details
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* Maximum invest in Special Attack with a Timid nature allows Mega Alakazam to hit incredibly hard without needing to worry about being outsped by unboosted Pokemon.
* Maximum Speed investment ensures that Timid Mega Alakazam is still able to outspeed every unboosted Pokemon in the metagame bar Mega Aerodactyl and Deoxys-S. This spread allows Mega Alakazam to also outspeed up to base 80 Speed Pokemon with a 1.5x Speed boost such as Choice Scarf users like Chandelure, Togekiss, and Xurkitree as well as Dragon Dance Gyarados.
* On the other hand, maximum Speed investment with a Modest nature lets Mega Alakazam outspeed +1 Pokemon with a base 71 Speed, such as Tyrantrum and Choice Scarf Volcanion. The downside to gaining this boost in Special Attack is a rather substantial loss in Speed control, which can make Mega Alakazam get outsped by many notable aforementioned threats.
* Magic Guard is the best pre-Mega Evolution ability as it protects Alakazam from entry hazards as well as damage through burn or poison.
* Trace provides abilities for Mega Alakazam to take advantage of depending on the opponent's Pokemon. Trace thrives the most when taking abilities that naturally boost damage, such as Sheer Force and Adaptability, or Speed, such as Speed Boost, Swift Swim, and Surge Surfer.
Usage Tips
========
* Mega Alakazam works best when it is brought in safely, whether it's by a pivot move on the opponent's switch, when a teammate faints, or when it switches into a foe that is unable to deal substantial damage to Mega Alakazam or cripple it with a move like Thunder Wave, which is blocked by Substitute.
* It may have a fairly good Special Defense stat for a dedicated attacker, but it still has rather poor bulk, so making direct switches into Mega Alakazam would not be advisable.
* The time when Mega Alakazam works best in a match is late-game, when the opponent's Pokemon are weakened to the point that it can get assured KOs. Anything outside of this would be an extremely risky time for Mega Alakazam to stay in, so appropriate switch-ins should be ready to keep Mega Alakazam safe and healthy.
* Try to avoid confrontations with Pokemon known for using physical priority like Bisharp and Mega Scizor, Pokemon known for trapping such as Alolan Muk and Dugtrio, and Pokemon known for using Choice Scarf that can safely outspeed Mega Alakazam such as Victini and Heracross. Mega Alakazam can be an offensive monster for Psychic teams, but all of these noted threats can put an end to it very quickly.
* If any of the aforementioned threats are on the opposing team, wear them down and attempt to eliminate them before considering using Mega Alakazam. Only use Mega Alakazam to deal with these threats if absolutely necessary.
* Substitute can be used when against defensive Pokemon to avoid chip damage and status, but be sure that Mega Alakazam's substitute cannot be broken by the opposing Pokemon, or else it will be losing health for nothing.
* Knowing when and when not to Mega Evolve is crucial for any Mega Pokemon, and Mega Alakazam is no different. Mitigating damage from entry hazards and status through Magic Guard while also knowing when the boost in stats and gaining Trace is needed is vital for succeeding with Mega Alakazam.
* Don't be afraid to switch in Encore Mega Alakazam on a setup sweeper in order to outspeed and lock these threats into their setup moves, such as Mega Gyarados's Dragon Dance and Xurkitree's Z Hypnosis in Electric Terrain.
Team Options
========
* Victini is an incredible addition to any Psychic team. With base 100 stats across the board and a secondary Fire typing, it makes up for Mega Alakazam's lack of bulk and provides Psychic with a monstrous asset in the Bug matchup, especially in dealing with Volcarona, as well as the Grass, Poison, and Steel matchups. Choice Band Victini can prove to be even more beneficial, as it can wallbreak more effectively, making opposing Pokemon much easier for Mega Alakazam to KO later.
* Slowbro acts a physical tank for Psychic teams and can be a great option for getting Mega Alakazam out of danger thanks to its great bulk, recovery option in Slack Off, Speed control utility in Thunder Wave, and passive recovery in Regenerator. Slowbro can also help wear down opposing Pokemon through spreading status with Scald and in checking Dark-types with the common Colbur Berry set.
* Mew is the single best utility Pokemon that Psychic teams run; setting and removing entry hazards, spreading status, checking item-dependent Pokemon with Knock Off, and stalling foes make it a great defensive support option for Mega Alakazam. Mew is also an amazing setup sweeper for Psychic teams thanks to Mewnium Z and can help Mega Alakazam by outspeeding a ridiculous portion of the boosted metagame after a Rock Polish. Mew can also set Psychic Terrain with Genesis Supernova, protecting Mega Alakazam as well as other teammates from priority moves.
* Meloetta boasts an immunity to Ghost-type attacks as well as excellent special bulk and Special Attack. Mega Alakazam can safely switch to Meloetta against various Ghost-type threats, such as Doublade, Gengar, and Chandelure, that could easily take it out. Meloetta also brings a secondary special wallbreaker to the table and can take some of the burden off of Mega Alakazam.
* Offensive Jirachi can provide decent physical damage as well as a way to pivot into Mega Alakazam on favorable matchups through U-turn. It can also resotre Mega Alakazam with Healing Wish. On the other hand, defensive Jirachi can provide Stealth Rock, Toxic, or Thunder Wave, healing through Wish, and even a slow pivot option in U-turn, which can protect Mega Alakazam from taking unneeded damage, while also being a switch-in for strong special attacks.
* Latios can provide a secondary option for special wallbreaking with good coverage options and a great spammable move in Draco Meteor. Latios also brings some utility to the table with Defog, making it an excellent choice for managing entry hazards.
* Gardevoir can act as a good Choice Scarf user for Psychic and can handle some threats, namely Dark- and Dragon-types, which Mega Alakazam may struggle in dealing with. It also can provide some decent support through Trick, which catches walls and Eviolite cores off guard, and Healing Wish.
* Deoxys-S would push for a more hyper offensive team composition, but it can be a great lead as a hazard stacker, allowing Mega Alakazam to come in and sweep. It also has access to dual screens and Taunt, which can help for reducing the amount of pressure and damage that is put onto Mega Alakazam as well as its teammates.
* Gothitelle is a great teammate, as it can trap opposing walls, such as Chansey and Mantine, and Trick Choice items onto them, crippling them and possibly rendering them useless. This also gives Mega Alakazam an opportunity to set up a free Substitute by switching in immediately after Trick as long as the Tricked Pokemon is unable to damage Mega Alakazam effectively.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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* Psyshock is a replacement option for Psychic, as it allows Alakazam to target special walls such as with Chansey and Zapdos; however, Psychic is preferred for dealing as much damage as possible without worrying about specially defensive walls.
* Dazzling Gleam can a be good coverage move for getting super effective damage off on Dark-types like Mega Sableye and Dragon-types such as Garchomp, but this would involve giving up one of Alakazam's three most essential coverage moves or its check to priority and trapping. Plus, other team options such as Gardevoir, Latios, Latias, and Dazzling Gleam Meloetta could easily make up for this Fairy-type coverage.
* Energy Ball works as coverage on Mega Alakazam for Ground-, Rock-, and, most notably, Swift Swim Water-types in order to get assured KOs on Pokemon like Seismitoad; however, this move comes with the same problems that Dazzling Gleam has. This coverage is also easily made up for by other team options like Gardevoir, Latios, Latias, Celebi, and even Slowbro if it is running Grass Knot.
* Calm Mind could replace Substitute on Mega Alakazam as a way to check Sucker Punch and to gain a form of setup on defensive Pokemon; however, it doesn't provide the 'safety blanket' that Substitute can. Plus, in most scenarios, it would be unrealistic for the person using Mega Alakazam to be able to freely set up, and the extra damage isn't necessarily needed either.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority Attacks**: Because Alakazam and Mega Alakazam have rather poor physical bulk, priority moves like Bullet Punch, Extreme Speed, Shadow Sneak, and Sucker Punch are extremely dangerous and can take it out of matches instantly. Pokemon like Mega Scizor, Dragonite, Doublade, Mimikyu, and Bisharp are the most common of these priority users that can take out Mega Alakazam fairly easily, and Alakazam as well if it is not at full health.
**Pursuit Trapping**: Thanks to its single typing of Psychic paired with poor physical bulk, Alakazam and Mega Alakazam are the ideal Pokemon to be subjected to Pursuit traps. The only way to approach this issue is to avoid sending in Alakazam until the Pursuit trappers are either eliminated or put into KO range for either form to take them out. Alakazam and Mega Alakazam can be used as bait to get Pursuit trappers to switch in, but only when it is absolutely safe to do so.
**Faster Pokemon**: Most Pokemon with boosted Speed tiers thanks to either Choice Scarf or setup moves are usually, if not always, capable of OHKOing Mega Alakazam due to its poor bulk. Some major threats to Psychic teams that can safely outspeed maximum investment Timid Mega Alakazam include Pokemon such as Heracross, Mega Charizard X, Mega Sharpedo, Scolipede, and Volcarona. The only way to approach these Pokemon is to avoid letting the setup threats get any chances to get free boosts and to keep any checks to Choice Scarf users healthy throughout the match.
**Physical Attackers**: Most physically offensive Pokemon with strong moves or a good typing that can take a hit or two from Mega Alakazam are almost assured to get a KO against it. Having switch-ins for these threats ready to go is the only assured way to handle them. Although Alakazam is meant to check physical threats with Counter, this role disappears if it is not at full HP or Focus Sash is broken.
**Dark-types**: Carrying an immunity to Alakazam and Mega Alakazam's only STAB type of Psychic already gives Dark-types like Hydreigon and Mega Gyarados a decent footing in the matchup. Focus Blast is a good option for handling these threats, but sometimes it might not be worth the 30% chance to miss or the risk of the opposing Pokemon running a Choice Scarf. It's also important to note that in the case of Mega Gyarados, Timid Mega Alakazam requires prior chip damage for Focus Blast to be able to KO.
**Bulky Attackers**: Pokemon that can't be taken out by Alakazam or Mega Alakazam easily, such as Dragonite and Magearna, should be dealt with by other, more appropriate Pokemon on the Psychic team. There is no point in trying to cripple these bulky threats if all it concludes with is Mega Alakazam fainting or Alakazam losing its Focus Sash.
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive Celesteela, Chansey, and Zapdos can prove to be a real pain to deal with for Alakazam because, barring Special Defense drops and hazards, it cannot 2HKO any of these Pokemon. The only way to deal with these is by dealing chip damage on their switch in and going into an appropriate teammate designated for breaking special walls.
**Ghost-types**: Focus Sash Alakazam can run into some trouble against Ghost teams, as its main purpose of utilizing a practically free Counter is rendered useless. Although it can put out super effective damage with Shadow Ball, the Ghost defensive core of Mega Sableye and Jellicent doesn't mind taking a hit or two while also forcing Alakazam out.
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