QC: Darkmalice / Carbonific
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
* Thanks to Scrappy, Mega Lopunny boasts the almost unique ability to use Fake Out against Ghost-type Pokemon like Mega Gengar and Mimikyu, breaking the latter's Disguise for free, as well as granting it unresisted STAB coverage. Furthermore, aside from Ludicolo in rain and Alolan Raichu in Electric Terrain, Mega Lopunny has the fastest Fake Out in the format, making it an extremely reliable user of the move.
* It also has additional support capacity in Encore and Fake Tears, allowing it to lock opposing Pokemon into an undesirable move and lower an enemy's Special Defense for an ally.
* Mega Lopunny also boasts the ability to heavily damage Incineroar, OHKOing it if unaffected by Intimidate and taking a massive chunk of health even after Intimidate, giving it a niche as a Fake Out user that can pressure it.
* However, all things considered, Mega Lopunny has very few options for its moveset, making it very predictable.
* Additionally, it has mediocre bulk and relatively low damage output for a Mega Evolution, making it hard to justify the opportunity cost involved with using it as a team's Mega Evolution; if a team wishes to have it, that team must be able to capitalize on its ability to provide disruption support while simultaneously pressuring Pokemon like Incineroar, Snorlax, and Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Fake Out Support
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: High Jump Kick
move 4: Encore / After You / Fake Tears
item: Lopunnite
ability: Limber
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Fake Out is Mega Lopunny's essential support move, enabling it to assist its ally by stopping a foe from moving for the first turn it's out.
* Return is the attack that Mega Lopunny will be using under most circumstances, as it does solid damage risk-free.
* High Jump Kick, while risky due to causing a loss of half its health if it misses or lands into Protect, enables Mega Lopunny to handle Incineroar, Kartana, Snorlax, and Tyranitar, the former two of which do not mind the other Fighting-type coverage options Mega Lopunny has, such as Low Kick.
* Encore allows Mega Lopunny to lock a foe into moves like Protect and Substitute, punishing opponents for playing passively. Additionally, Encore allows Mega Lopunny to punish opponents for attempting to use Protect to avoid Fake Out or High Jump Kick.
* After You allows Mega Lopunny to take advantage of its high Speed stat to allow a slower ally like Tapu Fini or Celesteela to move sooner.
* Fake Tears drops a foe's Special Defense by two stages; although Mega Lopunny does not benefit directly from this, this allows it to support a teammate, for example by potentially turning Zapdos's Thunderbolt against Tapu Fini from a 2HKO into an OHKO.
* Mega Lopunny may use Ice Punch in order to secure more damage against Landorus-T and Mega Salamence, although this is extremely situational, as Mega Lopunny still loses one-on-one against both of them.
* Although base Lopunny's ability will not matter in most cases, Limber is the best one to pick; as it prevents Lopunny from being paralyzed, it may have some situational usefulness prior to Mega Evolving.
* A simple EV spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe will suffice for Mega Lopunny; its bulk is too mediocre for defensive investment to be likely to make a difference, and it needs all of the power and speed it can get its hands on.
* A Jolly nature is chosen because it allows Mega Lopunny to outspeed Tapu Koko, Mega Salamence, and +1 Mega Tyranitar.
* Mega Lopunny's disruption tactics with Fake Out and Encore make it easier for Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Volcarona to set up Calm Mind and Quiver Dance, respectively, and for Pokemon like Zapdos to set up Tailwind, making these Pokemon excellent teammates. Additionally, Tapu Fini and Zapdos match up well against Landorus-T and Mega Salamence, two Pokemon that Mega Lopunny hates facing.
* Should Mega Lopunny opt for After You, slow Pokemon that stand to benefit the most from it make for excellent partners; Snorlax and Celesteela are good examples.
* Strong special attackers like Tapu Koko, Volcarona, and Zapdos benefit from Mega Lopunny running Fake Tears, as this support allows them to more easily break through Pokemon like Calm Mind Tapu Fini and Misty or Psychic Seed Celesteela.
* Thanks to Mega Lopunny checking Pokemon like Kartana, Incineroar, and Tyranitar, Tapu Lele makes for a very solid partner, albeit counterintuitively given the fact that Psychic Terrain conflicts with Fake Out.
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