[OVERVIEW]
Mega Evolving Swampert bolsters its bulk and Attack to frightening levels and gives it access to Swift Swim, which makes Mega Swampert an excellent sweeper under rain. Under rain, Mega Swampert is extremely difficult to revenge kill due to its bulk, Speed, and resilience to priority. Even without rain, Mega Swampert is a great check to some of the tier's biggest threats to offensive teams like Mega Aerodactyl and Scizor, and it reliably sets Stealth Rock due to the difficulty in OHKOing Mega Swampert. However, a lack of reliable recovery makes Mega Swampert easy to wear down if it is switched into attacks, mitigating its ability to sweep. A 4x Grass weakness also allows some of its checks to power through Mega Swampert via Grass-type coverage.
[SET 1]
name: Rain Dance Sweeper
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Punch / Power-Up Punch
item: Swampertite
ability: Damp
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rain Dance is Mega Swampert's setup move that both doubles its Speed and gives Waterfall a 1.5x damage boost. Waterfall is a mandatory Water-type STAB move that also comes with a 20% flinch rate and never misses. Earthquake is a powerful secondary STAB move to hit Water-types hard and is its strongest move outside of rain. Ice Punch provides excellent coverage by attacking Dragon- and Grass-types, such as Latias, Hydreigon, and Celebi, and Togekiss outside rain for super effective damage. Power-Up Punch is an option, giving Mega Swampert a way to muscle past bulky Water-types that can heal off Earthquake's damage, such as Alomomola and Slowbro. However, using it leaves Mega Swampert helpless against Ice Punch's targets.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment is mandatory to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding the entire unboosted metagame under rain. A Jolly nature is used to outspeed +1 Jolly Mega Sharpedo and common Choice Scarf users under rain like Hydreigon and Infernape. In addition, Mega Swampert outspeeds wallbreakers like Timid Primarina, Modest Nidoqueen and Chandelure, and Adamant Mamoswine without rain. On the other hand, an Adamant nature sacrifices outspeeding the aforementioned Pokemon in exchange for more power. The increased Attack lets Mega Swampert have a chance to OHKO Rotom-C, Crawdaunt, and Primarina after Stealth Rock, and it can 2HKO Amoonguss with Earthquake or Ice Punch. Adamant can also be used with Power-Up Punch to help break through its bulky checks. In particular, it 2HKOes Slowbro, Alomomola, and Suicune at +1 with Earthquake. Damp lets Swampert snuff Explosion attempts prior to Mega Evolution from lead Azelf.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Swampert works excellently against offensive teams either mid-game to punch massive holes or late-game as a cleaner. Use Pokemon like opposing Cobalion, Mega Aerodactyl, and Nidoking as an opportunity to set up Rain Dance and proceed to attack. However, be wary of Grass-type coverage, such as Infernape and Empoleon's Grass Knot and Chandelure's Energy Ball. Try to avoid switching Mega Swampert directly into attacks, as this severely diminishes its ability to set up Rain Dance and leaves it prone to being revenge killed by weak priority. Against slower wallbreakers such as Primarina and Crawdaunt, it is better to simply attack instead of trying to set up Rain Dance and take heavy damage.
Mega Swampert struggles against more defensive teams without Power-Up Punch, as they often carry bulky Water-types in Mantine, Slowbro, and Alomomola to shrug off Earthquake. In this case, Mega Swampert is more useful as a pivot, switching into weak hits and then switching out as the opponent brings in their check.
Team Options
========
Pair Mega Swampert with Pokemon that pressure its Water- and Grass-type checks. Celebi is a great partner, since it can easily handle Scald and Toxic from Mantine and Alomomola while also setting up and beating Calm Mind Slowbro and Suicune with Nasty Plot. Steel-types like Scizor and Cobalion appreciate rain lessening their Fire-type weaknesses while also handling Grass-types. Crobat is another Pokemon that easily switches into Grass-type moves while also luring in Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl and Empoleon for Mega Swampert to set up on. Mega Swampert loves Healing Wish support to fully take advantage of its defensive utility; good partners for this are Choice Scarf Latias and Celebi, both of which can switch into the Grass-type attacks that KO Mega Swampert.
On rain teams, Mega Swampert appreciates other Rain Dance setters wielding Damp Rock to get more turns to exploit Swift Swim and avoid taking damage. Klefki and Tornadus are great in this aspect due to their access to Prankster, and the former can set up Spikes, while the latter can use Hurricane. Mega Swampert can aid other Swift Swim users with Rain Dance, such as Kingdra, Kabutops, and Ludicolo. Tentacruel provides Rapid Spin support and enjoys boosted Water-type STAB moves under rain while absorbing Toxic Spikes, which are otherwise a problem for rain teams.
[SET 2]
name: Offensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Ice Punch / Toxic
item: Swampertite
ability: Damp
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is mandatory on any team, and Mega Swampert can easily set them due to the difficulty in OHKOing it. Waterfall and Earthquake are Mega Swampert's two STAB moves, with the former also providing a 20% flinch chance. Ice Punch rounds out Mega Swampert's coverage, nailing Grass- and Dragon-types like Celebi and Latias, which resist its STAB moves. Toxic is a decent option to cripple defensive switch-ins such as Slowbro and Chesnaught, allowing a teammate to take advantage of the poisoned Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Without Rain Dance, there is less of a need to invest in maximum Speed EVs. Instead, this set uses 56 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Conkeldurr. 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature maximize Mega Swampert's power. The rest of the EVs are put into HP to let it tank both physical and special attacks and take advantage of Mega Swampert's great bulk and typing. Damp lets pre-Mega Evolved Swampert stop lead Azelf from using Explosion with impunity.
Usage Tips
========
This set fits well on balanced and bulky offensive teams that need a powerful Stealth Rock setter that also checks a variety of the tier's Fire-, Electric-, and Rock-types. Mega Swampert's resilience against even the tier's strongest neutral attacks and good matchup against common leads make it a decent lead to set up Stealth Rock as soon as possible. For example, it survives even a Choice Specs-boosted Draco Meteor from Kyurem. Switch Mega Swampert into weak neutral hits from the likes of Krookodile and Hippowdon or into resisted hits from offensive Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl. Use the free turn to either set up Stealth Rock or fire off a powerful attack. Be wary of Grass-type coverage from Pokemon Mega Swampert would normally check. For example, if Mega Swampert switches into Raikou, scout for Hidden Power Grass before attacking by pivoting out to another Pokemon. If Mega Swampert is the team's primary check to certain Pokemon, be careful of switching it in too frequently and wearing it down unnecessarily. The lack of Speed means it usually must be healthy enough to take two hits.
Team Options
========
This set appreciates Wish support due to the lack of any form of recovery. Sylveon or Florges can fulfill this role while also forming the other half of a potent defensive core, as Mega Swampert can take on the Fire- and Poison-type attacks that threaten them. Mega Swampert also appreciates Pokemon to take on Grass-types such as Scizor and Crobat while also providing U-turn support. If the user opts for Toxic, teammates like Terrakion, Infernape, and Mamoswine enjoy Mega Swampert's ability to lure in bulky Water-types that check these Pokemon. Xurkitree bypasses Mega Swampert's Electric immunity with its access to Grass Knot, so Dragon- and faster Grass-types such as Hydreigon, Kyurem, Latias, and Celebi are vital in checking Xurkitree.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially defensive set with Curse, Rest, Earthquake, and Ice Punch can be used on stall teams needing a solid counter to Calm Mind Chandelure, Calm Mind Raikou, Swords Dance Gliscor, and Calm Mind Reuniclus, but its inability to check Xurkitree and the free turns it generates while sleeping is difficult to make up for. A physically defensive set can also be run, either with Rest and Sleep Talk or as a defensive Stealth Rock setter, but such sets are generally outclassed by non-Mega Swampert and other bulky Water-types while not using a Mega slot. Stone Edge hits Mantine hard, which otherwise completely walls Mega Swampert. However, it fails to OHKO Mantine, even with an Adamant nature and factoring in Stealth Rock. Superpower is an option to hit Blissey as hard as possible while also covering Hydreigon and Kyurem, but it leaves Mega Swampert walled by Latias and Celebi.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon resist both Mega Swampert's STAB moves and usually can tank an Ice Punch without fainting. Celebi and Rotom-C can switch in, outspeed, and OHKO Mega Swampert with Leaf Storm or Giga Drain. Amoonguss and Chesnaught can comfortably take Ice Punch and heal off the damage. Mega Sceptile also outspeeds Mega Swampert but only without rain and is OHKOed by Ice Punch.
**Bulky Water-types**: Water-types resist rain-boosted Waterfalls and often have enough bulk to heal off Earthquake's damage. Alomomola and Slowbro are excellent in this regard, but they take significant damage from +1 Earthquakes if Mega Swampert is using Power-Up Punch. Mantine walls almost any set except niche options in Stone Edge and Toxic.
**Dragon-types*: Dragon-types like Latias, Hydreigon, and Mega Sceptile resist both of Mega Swampert's STAB moves and outspeed it without rain. However, they are all outsped in rain and take significant damage from Ice Punch, with the latter being OHKOed. Be wary of Choice Scarf Latias, though. It outspeeds Mega Swampert in rain and has access to Energy Ball and Grass Knot.
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