
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Dazzling Gleam
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Trick / Weather Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a fantastic Speed tier and high Special Attack, Choice Specs Espeon is a strong wallbreaker in the UU tier. It sets itself apart from other Psychic-types in the metagame, as it is able to check Cobalion and Roserade due to its high base Speed. However, it faces a lot of competition from other Psychic-types such as Gardevoir, which is able to break threats such as Umbreon, Incineroar, and Escavalier more easily. Psychic is able to hit hard and threaten Pokemon such as Roserade, Cobalion, and Machamp in addition to 2HKOing most neutral targets such as Rotom-W and Rhyperior. Dazzling Gleam allows Espeon to hit Dark-types such as Pangoro and Umbreon. Shadow Ball allows Espeon to heavily damage Doublade and Psychic-types like Bronzong, Celebi, and Reuniclus. Trick is able to cripple common switch-ins such as Sylveon, Umbreon, and Incineroar, limiting them for the rest of the match. An alternative option is Weather Ball, which can hit Incineroar for super effective damage when using Gigalith as a teammate. Magic Bounce is Espeon's most useful ability, allowing it to bounce back hazards and status moves; however, Espeon must be wary of switching into anything other than resisted moves or passive foes due to its poor bulk. Maximum Speed investment alongside a Timid nature allows Espeon to outpace threats such as Heliolisk, Cobalion, and Haxorus.
Due to its lackluster defenses, Espeon appreciates VoltTurn users such as Flygon, Darmanitan, and Rotom-W, as they allow it to enter the match safely. Flygon and Darmanitan are able to bring in Espeon safely on Pokemon such as Galarian Weezing and Rotom-W. In addition, Rotom-W is able to pressure Stealth Rock setters such as Gigalith and Rhyperior and proceed to threaten them out to bring in Espeon. Electric-types such as Heliolisk, Nasty Plot Rotom-W, and Toxtricity are able to threaten bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Mantine, as they are able to take Espeon's attacks. Gigalith is a great partner for Espeon, as it can switch into revenge killers such as Chandelure, Noivern, and Choice Scarf Darmanitan and provides Espeon with sand in order to utilize Weather Ball, in addition to setting up Stealth Rock for the team. Fire-types such as Darmanitan and Incineroar can check Steel-types such as Doublade and Escavalier for it. Swords Dance Incineroar is able to break through Pokemon Espeon struggles through to break, such as Gigalith, Escavalier, and Psychic-types like Reuniclus. Fighting-types such as Cobalion, Machamp, and Pangoro can take Knock Off and threaten Pokemon such as Umbreon and Gigalith, while the latter can even beat Psychic-types like Necrozma. Golisopod and Roserade are able to set up Spikes, which allows Espeon to break past switch-ins such as Escavalier and Gigalith.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Toxic
item: Light Clay
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a high base Speed stat coupled with a fantastic ability in Magic Bounce, Espeon is one of the premier dual screens setters for hyper offensive teams. Espeon, however, faces heavy competition from Xatu, as it has higher bulk, provides a Ground immunity, and has access to Teleport, which allows teammates to get in safely and set up more easily. Toxic punishes common switch-ins such as Incineroar, Gigalith, and Sylveon that would otherwise wall Espeon. Magic Bounce is Espeon's most useful ability, preventing opposing Defoggers from removing its dual screens, as well as bouncing back Taunt and entry hazards. Light Clay is able to extend the duration of both Reflect and Light Screen. Maximum Speed investment alongside a Timid nature allows Espeon to be as fast as possible, outpacing Pokemon such as Cobalion and Heliolisk. Maximum HP investment improves Espeon's bulk, further allowing it to take more hits and set up screens more often.
Dual screens Espeon is an excellent option on hyper offensive teams. Swords Dance Pangoro, Cobalion, and Incineroar can take Dark-type moves for Espeon, and they all appreciate screens being up to aid them in setting up to wallbreak. Cobalion is also able to set up Stealth Rock and provide utility support in Taunt and Thunder Wave. Setup sweepers such as Polteageist, Barbaracle, Linoone, and Toxtricity, all appreciate screens support to set up more easily. Polteageist also values Espeon as a teammate, as Magic Bounce reflects hazards, therefore keeping its Focus Sash intact, and Espeon can put its counters like Incineroar and Umbreon on a timer with Toxic. Dragon Dance Necrozma greatly appreciates screens, as it is able to set up multiple times with Dragon Dance in order to outspeed Choice Scarf Flygon and other fast revenge killers, and on top of its decent bulk and fantastic ability, it is able to take First Impression from Golisopod more easily. Haxorus is able to utilize dual screens as a way to set up more easily, and it can dissuade common Defoggers such as Rotom-W and Galarian Weezing from removing screens with the threat of Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Splash, 437289]]
- Quality checked by: [[Estarossa, 461329], [Twilight, 344575]]
- Grammar checked by: [[A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
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