[OVERVIEW]
Cresselia's obscene bulk and colorful movepool make it a versatile wall in the metagame. It can act as either a hard-to-kill setup sweeper with Calm Mind and Moonlight or a supporting teammate that can paralyze Pokemon that try to set up on it, like Gyarados. Cresselia's exclusive access to Lunar Dance lets it fully heal and even cure teammates such as Galarian Zapdos, Basculegion-F, and Bisharp of status so that they can continue to break walls. Additionally, Cresselia has solid coverage in Ice Beam and Moonblast, threatening slower Pokemon like Hippowdon and Crawdaunt. However, Cresselia's mono-Psychic typing is underwhelming defensively, leaving it weak to common attackers like Hisuian Zoroark and Krookodile while offering few notable resistances in return. This means that Cresselia is often forced to Terastallize in order to wall threats effectively. Additionally, its Special Attack is rather pitiful, forcing Calm Mind sets to accumulate several boosts in order to break through defensive Pokemon like Fezandipiti and Slowbro; as such, it is often crippled by disruption such as Trick or Encore from Jirachi as well as Taunt from the likes of Krookodile. Cresselia also faces stiff competition from the tier's many Psychic-types, namely Reuniclus and Jirachi, as a Calm Mind wall and utility Pokemon, respectively.
[SET]
name: Lunar Dance
move 1: Lunar Dance
move 2: Ice Beam / Moonblast
move 3: Trick / Moonlight
move 4: Thunder Wave / Moonlight
item: Choice Scarf / Rocky Helmet
ability: Levitate
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
tera type: Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Lunar Dance lets Cresselia bring back weakened teammates like Rhyperior and Galarian Zapdos from the brink, letting them continue to break walls and, in the latter's case, sweep teams. Unlike Healing Wish, Lunar Dance also has the unique effect of forcing Oricorio-E to KO itself due to its Dancer ability, letting Cresselia get rid of it in a pinch. Ice Beam targets Ground-types like Hippowdon and Gligar, while Moonblast can dent Dark-types, like Crawdaunt and Krookodile, that attempt to switch in well as Fighting-types like Slither Wing. Both options target Dragon-types that may try and take advantage of Cresselia like Salamence and Cyclizar. Trick should only be used alongside a Choice Scarf, as it can then allow Cresselia to cripple Pokemon that wall it, such as Registeel, as well as sweepers that try to set up on it, like Bisharp. Thunder Wave lets Cresselia act as speed control for its team, crippling fast threats like Galarian Zapdos and Barraskewda; it can also be used against Pokemon that Cresselia has given a Choice Scarf via Trick so that it can cripple them further and prevent them from reaping the benefits of the item. Moonlight acts as semi-reliable recovery, and it should always be used over Trick if Rocky Helmet is being held. However, it can be used on Trick sets over Thunder Wave. In addition to Choice Scarf being able to cripple setup sweepers and fellow walls, it lets Cresselia act as emergency speed control and reliably use Lunar Dance against even strong wallbreakers like Choice Specs Hisuian Zoroark and Basculegion-F. Rocky Helmet can be used instead to punish physical attackers like Maushold as well as a weak U-Turn from the likes of Fezandipiti and Talonflame. Additionally, Rocky Helmet can let Cresselia move some Speed EVs into its Defense, letting it take on physical attackers like Terrakion better. Tera Fairy grants Cresselia a resistance to Dark-type attacks and removes many of its weaknesses, letting it check the likes of Crawdaunt, Krookodile, and Hisuian Zoroark. Additionally, it also grants a power boost to Moonblast, guaranteeing a 2HKO on the aforementioned Krookodile.
Cresselia makes its home on bulky offense and balance structures that appreciate its ability to cripple a variety of Pokemon and revitalize an important teammate with Lunar Dance. Wallbreakers such as Galarian Zapdos and Basculegion-F benefit greatly from Cresselia's ability to bring them back from low health with Lunar Dance, giving them another chance to punch holes through teams. Slower attackers, like Bisharp and Mamoswine, appreciate Cresselia being able to heal them with Lunar Dance as well as crippling faster threats and physical walls with Thunder Wave and Trick, respectively. In return, they are able to dispatch Ghost- and Steel-types, respectively, with their STAB attacks. Fighting-types, such as Chesnaught and Slither Wing, can deal with the Dark-types that threaten Cresselia, most notably Krookodile; in exchange, they appreciate Cresselia's ability to check Galarian Zapdos as well as the speed control provided by its Thunder Wave. Cyclizar makes for a great partner with Cresselia, as it's able to check Ghost-types like Basculegion-F while keeping Stealth Rock off the field. In turn, Cyclizar appreciates Cresselia's ability to check opposing Dragon-types such as Noivern and Salamence as well as cripple defensive Fairy-types like Galarian Weezing with Trick. On the defensive side, Pokemon like Galarian Weezing, Umbreon, and Fezandipiti can safely switch into Dark-type attacks while appreciating Cresselia's ability to cripple setup sweepers that could otherwise exploit them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Shadow Ball has lower Base Power than Ice Beam or Moonblast but can be used to nail opposing Psychic-types, most notably Jirachi, while being solid neutral coverage overall. Thunderbolt is another coverage option, and it can nail bulky Water-types such as Empoleon. However, both coverage options leave Cresselia vulnerable to Dark-types. Colbur Berry can be used as a one-time shield against Bisharp's Sucker Punch or Knock Off from the likes of Krookodile, letting Cresselia either nail them with a boosted Moonblast or use Lunar Dance.
Checks and Counters
====
**Disruption**: Cresselia's passivity makes it vulnerable to being afflicted with Taunt by the likes of Cyclizar and Krookodile as well as Encore by Maushold or Jirachi. Calm Mind sets are also vulnerable to being given a Choice item by Trick users like Gardevoir or Hisuian Zoroark.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types like Basculegion-F, Hisuian Zoroark, and Gengar can take most of Cresselia's attacks before retaliating with Shadow Ball. However, all three hate being paralyzed by Thunder Wave.
**Dark-types**: Defensive Dark-types, such as Umbreon and Wo-Chien, can comfortably take even Moonblast from Cresselia before whittling it down with Toxic and Leech Seed, respectively. Krookodile and Crawdaunt also threaten it offensively; however, neither like switching in to a potential Moonblast.
**Steel-types**: As Cresselia lacks coverage against Steel-types like Hisuian Goodra, Empoleon, and Bisharp, these Pokemon can wall Cresselia handily. On top of that, the former two can easily whittle it down, while the latter threatens it with Throat Chop. However, all three must be careful not to get crippled by Trick. Jirachi can also handle Cresselia easily thanks to its defensive typing and access to a variety of disruption methods, namely Body Slam paralysis and its own Trick, though it must be wary of being paralyzed by Thunder Wave.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bice.236507/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rarelyme.513635/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
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