Cresselia - The Lunar Pokémon
X Flavor Text - "Shiny particles are released from its wings like a veil. It is said to represent the crescent moon."
Y Flavor Text - "Those who sleep holding Cresselia's feather are assured of joyful dreams. It is said to represent the crescent moon."
Pokédex Number - #488 (National) | #--- (Kalos)
Type -
Base Stats - 120 HP / 70 Atk / 120 Def / 75 SAtk / 130 SDef / 85 SpeAbilities:
Levitate: Levitate renders the user immune to Ground-type moves (except Sand Attack), Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Misty Terrain, Grassy Terrain, Electric Terrain, Arena Trap, and damage from Sky Drop. These immunities can be lost if the user is holding an Iron Ball, is under the effects of Smack Down, Gravity, or Ingrain or if the opponent has Mold Breaker, Teravolt, or Turboblaze.
Notable Moves (Bold indicates STAB):
Lunar Dance (Start, Lvl 84)
Psycho Shift (Start, Lvl 75)
Moonlight (Start, Lvl 57)
Psychic (Lvl 93, TM 29)
Moonblast (Lvl 99)
Calm Mind (TM 04)
Toxic (TM 06)
Hidden Power [Fire] (TM 10)
Light Screen (TM 16)
Reflect (TM 33)
Rest (TM 44)
Thunder Wave (TM 73)
Trick Room (TM 92)
Gravity (Transfer)
Magic Coat (Transfer)
Trick (Transfer)
General Analysis:
Cresselia is a very underrated Pokemon in X&Y OU. However, it is relatively easy to see why people don't use her that often; she is weak, and thus setup bait for some Pokemon and has a relatively mediocre defensive typing. However, somewhat ironically, her defensive typing and offensive moves allow her to fill a niche in OU: full stall's only wall to avoid getting 6-0'd by CM Landorus-I. She may not look like much, but her bulk is absurd, so absurd that with full investment it's only OHKOd by Adamant Mega Heracross' Pin Missile 6% of the time! I'll remind you that that's a 125 BP STAB move coming off of an Adamant base 185 Attack.
Movesets:
Cresselia (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonlight
- Psychic / Hidden Power [Fire]
- Ice Beam / Toxic
- Reflect
Set Description:
This is Cresselia's best set in OU. It has reliable recovery in the form of Moonlight, which is very useful for a wall. Psychic is a useful STAB move that hits Gengar, Keldeo, and Venusaur super effectively, prevents it from being 100% Taunt bait, and allows it to hit Medicham for some damage. It can however be switched for Hidden Power Fire, which, while incredibly weak, allows it to beat Scizor and Ferrothorn one-on-one. Ice Beam is a very important move for Cresselia, since it allows it to 2HKO Landorus-I. It however can use Toxic instead, since it still takes care of Landorus, while also handling Mega Charizard-Y and Mega Gardevoir. Cresselia resists or is immune to Earth Power, Psychic, and Focus Blast, takes nothing from Hidden Power Ice, can easily take a Knock Off or U-Turn, especially with Reflect, and doesn't care at all about Calm Mind or Rock Polish, so it is unarguably stall's best answer to Landorus. As mentioned earlier, Reflect is useful for allowing it to tank Physical attacks like Knock Off and U-turn easy, and it also allows it to handle Pursuit users. Use this set to wall everything without strong Bug, Dark, or Ghost attacks, and you're doing it right.
Cresselia can be used as a stop to Mega Charizard-Y; it's rarely 2HKOd by Modest variants and can abuse its sun to recover more from Moonlight. However, it is important to consider the following damage calculations.
It performs less reliably against Mega Charizard-Y than other Pokemon, so it's important to save Cress' health and remove hazards if you're facing a Char-Y team and only have Cress to serve as a counter.
Additionally, you can run a Bold nature + physical defense, since it's going to wall Landorus no matter the investment. However, this sacrifices walling Gardevoir + Charizard-Y. Additionally, with Reflect, Defense EVs aren't necessary. They do allow Mega Heracross to 3HKO with Pin Missile, which is hilarious, but not a situation you'd want to be in anyway.
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonlight
- Psychic / Hidden Power [Fire]
- Ice Beam / Toxic
- Reflect
Set Description:
This is Cresselia's best set in OU. It has reliable recovery in the form of Moonlight, which is very useful for a wall. Psychic is a useful STAB move that hits Gengar, Keldeo, and Venusaur super effectively, prevents it from being 100% Taunt bait, and allows it to hit Medicham for some damage. It can however be switched for Hidden Power Fire, which, while incredibly weak, allows it to beat Scizor and Ferrothorn one-on-one. Ice Beam is a very important move for Cresselia, since it allows it to 2HKO Landorus-I. It however can use Toxic instead, since it still takes care of Landorus, while also handling Mega Charizard-Y and Mega Gardevoir. Cresselia resists or is immune to Earth Power, Psychic, and Focus Blast, takes nothing from Hidden Power Ice, can easily take a Knock Off or U-Turn, especially with Reflect, and doesn't care at all about Calm Mind or Rock Polish, so it is unarguably stall's best answer to Landorus. As mentioned earlier, Reflect is useful for allowing it to tank Physical attacks like Knock Off and U-turn easy, and it also allows it to handle Pursuit users. Use this set to wall everything without strong Bug, Dark, or Ghost attacks, and you're doing it right.
Cresselia can be used as a stop to Mega Charizard-Y; it's rarely 2HKOd by Modest variants and can abuse its sun to recover more from Moonlight. However, it is important to consider the following damage calculations.
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 187-222 (42.1 - 50%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 187-222 (42.1 - 50%) -- 33.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 207-244 (46.6 - 54.9%) -- 11.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 207-244 (46.6 - 54.9%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 187-222 (42.1 - 50%) -- 33.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 207-244 (46.6 - 54.9%) -- 11.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cresselia in Sun: 207-244 (46.6 - 54.9%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Additionally, you can run a Bold nature + physical defense, since it's going to wall Landorus no matter the investment. However, this sacrifices walling Gardevoir + Charizard-Y. Additionally, with Reflect, Defense EVs aren't necessary. They do allow Mega Heracross to 3HKO with Pin Missile, which is hilarious, but not a situation you'd want to be in anyway.
Cresselia (F) @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Lunar Dance
- Thunder Wave
Cresselia is ridiculously bulky, and so makes a great dual screens user for all types of teams. Light Screen and Reflect are obvious choices, since this is a double screen set. Light Clay is used over Leftovers to extend the duration of the screens. Thunder Wave is used to put pressure on sweepers after/in the middle of the screens being set. It's useful to know that unlike Azelf, Cresselia is extremely bulky, and can set up screens more than once. However, once you determine that another Pokemon is needed healthier more than Cresselia, Cress can use its signature move, Lunar Dance, to restore its HP and PP.
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Lunar Dance
- Thunder Wave
Cresselia is ridiculously bulky, and so makes a great dual screens user for all types of teams. Light Screen and Reflect are obvious choices, since this is a double screen set. Light Clay is used over Leftovers to extend the duration of the screens. Thunder Wave is used to put pressure on sweepers after/in the middle of the screens being set. It's useful to know that unlike Azelf, Cresselia is extremely bulky, and can set up screens more than once. However, once you determine that another Pokemon is needed healthier more than Cresselia, Cress can use its signature move, Lunar Dance, to restore its HP and PP.
Cresselia (F) @ Light Clay / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Reflect / Light Screen
- Trick Room
- Lunar Dance
- Moonlight
Cresselia's final standard set is Trick Room. Trick Room allows slow Pokemon on its team, like Heracross, Bisharp, and Mawile to use their slow speed to their benefit. Trick Room has the potential to rip apart offensive teams, who rely on fast Pokemon, like Greninja, to OHKO slow Pokemon that can OHKO them. Cresselia is incredibly bulky, and thus is able to serve as one of a Trick Room team's setters. Before using Trick Room, Cresselia will usually want to use one of the screens. Reflect is generally the better option, since viable priority moves are exclusively physical and are generally the only way offense can hit TR teams first. Lunar Dance is incredibly useful on this set, since using Lunar Dance after Trick Room + a screen is scary for bulky slow Pokemon. The last slot is largely filler; almost anything can be viably used. However, Moonlight for recovery is generally the best option.
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 28 Def / 232 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Reflect / Light Screen
- Trick Room
- Lunar Dance
- Moonlight
Cresselia's final standard set is Trick Room. Trick Room allows slow Pokemon on its team, like Heracross, Bisharp, and Mawile to use their slow speed to their benefit. Trick Room has the potential to rip apart offensive teams, who rely on fast Pokemon, like Greninja, to OHKO slow Pokemon that can OHKO them. Cresselia is incredibly bulky, and thus is able to serve as one of a Trick Room team's setters. Before using Trick Room, Cresselia will usually want to use one of the screens. Reflect is generally the better option, since viable priority moves are exclusively physical and are generally the only way offense can hit TR teams first. Lunar Dance is incredibly useful on this set, since using Lunar Dance after Trick Room + a screen is scary for bulky slow Pokemon. The last slot is largely filler; almost anything can be viably used. However, Moonlight for recovery is generally the best option.
• CroCress is possibility. It's bulkier than Suicune, at the cost of much offensive presence, since its Special Attack is 15 lower and that it's forced to use a non STAB move as its mono attack.
• Thunder Wave can be used on the defensive set, but in exchange allow Pursuit users to handle Cress easier.
• Psycho Shift is a nice move that allows it to "bounce back" Toxic.
• It also could be used on a set with Flame Orb + Rest. See this post for more details.
• You could use a TrickScarf set, but that's generally done better by Pokemon with offensive presence.
• Thunder Wave can be used on the defensive set, but in exchange allow Pursuit users to handle Cress easier.
• Psycho Shift is a nice move that allows it to "bounce back" Toxic.
• It also could be used on a set with Flame Orb + Rest. See this post for more details.
• You could use a TrickScarf set, but that's generally done better by Pokemon with offensive presence.
Overall, Cresselia is a underrated Pokemon in OU. There's nothing quite like it; the way it takes neutral and super effective hits is unbelievable, and in combination with Moonlight, Ice Beam, Reflect, Light Screen, and Trick Room, allow it to be the perfect fit on multiple types of teams. Beating Landorus + Medicham on a stall team is huge, and potentially getting 3HKOd by Mega Heracross after Reflect is hilarious. Cresselia isn't a top tier threat, but it's a really cool Pokemon that you should consider while building a team.
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