[OVERVIEW]
Meloetta's amazing Special Attack and solid special bulk let it feature in several roles as a special wallbreaker, offensive pivot, Calm Mind sweeper, revenge killer, and late-game cleaner. Thanks to Meloetta's range, it can be unpredictable on team preview and in the early-game. Meloetta's ability to use Tera Blast as a STAB move only adds to its flexibility, and it's a great offensive user of Terastallization to turn the tables on its checks or enhance its Calm Mind set. However, Meloetta's offensive STAB moves leave gaps against Steel-types like Klefki, Bronzong, and Copperajah, and it struggles to pack a coverage move and Tera type to hit all of them super effectively. This leaves Meloetta's Calm Mind sets especially vulnerable to these Steel-types, while it's Choice item sets are prediction-reliant and struggle with Focus Blast's inaccuracy and Shadow Ball's limited coverage. Meloetta’s Speed tier leaves it behind revenge killers like Paldean Tauros-W, Flygon, and Cinccino, while Scream Tail severely annoy Meloetta's setup sets with its fast Encore. Meloetta also competes with special attackers like Toxtricity, Munkidori, Porygon-Z, which can offer much more immediate power, Speed-boosting options, and pivoting opportunities between the three of them.
[SET]
name: Choice Item
move 1: Hyper Voice / Tera Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Shadow Ball / Focus Blast / U-turn
move 4: Trick / U-turn
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Fairy / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Meloetta's STAB moves are quite spammable against defensive staples like Amoonguss, Gastrodon, and Swampert. Hyper Voice's ability to go through Substitute is helpful against users like Raikou, Nasty Plot Uxie, and Goodra. Tera Blast makes Meloetta much more offensively threatening in conjunction with Terastallization. Psyshock is an alternative to Psychic allowing it to nail specially bulky Pokemon like Porygon2, Goodra, Gastrodon, and Sylveon as well as special sweepers like Oricorio and Raikou, but Psychic's better damage against Pokemon like Diancie and Paldean Tauros-W makes it preferred. Shadow Ball covers Bronzong and hits Scream Tail, Oricorio-P, and Basculegion super effectively. Focus Blast hits other Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash, Duraludon, and Copperajah super effectively, and it's useful coverage against Dark-types like Incineroar and Scrafty. In addition, Shadow Ball has a neat synergy with Serene Grace, improving Meloetta's odds to overwhelm Bronzong and Scream Tail. U-turn lets Meloetta keep up momentum for its team against switch-ins like Klefki, Copperajah, and Bronzong. Meloetta can use Trick to disrupt its defensive switch-ins, as a Choice item is especially devastating to walls like Copperajah and Porygon2. However, Meloetta can drop Trick for U-turn so it can fit a coverage move while still acting as an offensive pivot. Tera Fighting grants Meloetta key resistances to moves like Knock Off and Sucker Punch against foes like Alolan Muk and Toxicroak, and the coverage it provides in conjunction with Tera Blast enables Meloetta to break through Copperajah, Porygon2, and Alolan Sandslash. Tera Fairy shares Tera Fighting's nice resistances against Dark- and Bug-type moves, and it grants Meloetta better defensive matchups against Fighting-types like Scrafty and Heracross when it's in a pinch. Tera Fairy also enhances Tera Blast into super effective move against foes like Goodra and Altaria as well as a stronger option against Duraludon. Tera Ghost powers up Shadow Ball to nail Bronzong and Scream Tail, and the Fighting immunity it offers is helpful against Body Press users like the aforementioned Bronzong and Diancie.
Meloetta appreciates checks to troublesome Steel-types like Copperajah and Bronzong, so wallbreakers such as Paldean Tauros-W, Paldean Tauros-F, and Basculegion make good teammates. Fighting-types like Scrafty and Toxicroak compensate for Meloetta's difficult matchups against bulky Dark-types like Incineroar and Alolan Muk. Offensive pivots like Flygon, Flamigo, and Kilowattrel can get Meloetta into good positions by bringing it in against defensive Pokemon like Breloom, Amoonguss, and Galarian Slowbro, which is greatly appreciated by Choice Specs variants. Slow, defensive pivots like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Incineroar can go a step further by tanking hits for Meloetta as they switch it in. If Meloetta is running U-turn, then it can form pivot cores with these aforementioned pivots and fit on Voltturn teams. Entry hazard removers like Cinccino and Decidueye help keep Meloetta from being worn down as it pivots on and off the field. Meloetta itself appreciates hazards from setters like Copperajah, Diancie, and Gastrodon for helping it wearing down checks like Alolan Muk, Klefki, and opposing Diancie. Physically defensive Pokemon like Amoonguss, Galarian Slowbro, and Sylveon can switch into physically offensive revenge killers such as Flygon, Paldean Tauros-W, and Scyther to let Meloetta switch out.
[SET]
name: Sub Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Tera Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Substitute helps Meloetta set up against passive Pokemon it forces out, including Amoonguss and Gastrodon. Substitute's effect of blocking status comes in handy against Porygon2 and Galarian Slowbro, and Meloetta can depend on Substitute as protection from revenge killers like Paldean Tauros-W and Choice Scarf Basculegion. Meloetta can also use Substitute to play around Toxicroak's Sucker Punch. Psyshock is used over Psychic to win boosting wars against opposing special sweepers like Scream Tail, Sylveon, and Raikou. Psyshock's additional damage against specially defensive Pokemon like Goodra, Porygon2, and Gastrodon is another perk. Tera Blast is used instead of Hyper Voice to make Meloetta's STAB attack flexible coverage with Terastallization. Leftovers enables Meloetta to set up Substitute multiple times, turning passive Pokemon like Gastrodon and Porygon2 into setup fodder. Tera Fighting improves Meloetta's matchups against Dark-types like Alolan Muk and turns Tera Blast into a solid coverage move against targets like Copperajah, Incineroar, and Porygon2. Alternatively, Tera Fairy gives Meloetta a Dark-type resistance, while giving it a stronger coverage against Goodra and Scrafty, and an immunity to Dragon Tail.
Specially offensive pivots like Toxtricity, Kilowattrel, and Inteleon can draw in special walls like Porygon2 and Gastrodon for Meloetta to use as setup fodder. Defensive pivots like Incineroar, Vaporeon, and Gligar can get Meloetta onto the field safely. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil to facilitate Meloetta's ease of setting up, and it's also solid at wearing down Steel-types like Klefki and Bronzong for Meloetta to overwhelm later. Alolan Muk, Munkidori, and Diancie can also draw in and weaken Steel-types for Meloetta. Entry hazard setters like Klefki, the aforementioned Diancie, and Gligar serve to soften up foes like Alolan Muk and Porygon2, facilitating Meloetta's ability to break through them. Hazard removal support from Avalugg and Scyther helps Meloetta to not be worn down too quickly as it uses Substitute.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Alluring Voice goes through Substitute and provides Meloetta with Fairy-type coverage without requiring it to Terastallize, but common Dark-types like Incineroar and Alolan Muk are hit neutrally by it anyway. Knock Off provides similar utility to Trick against item-dependent Pokemon like Registeel and Porygon2 without forcing Meloetta to give up its Choice item, but a Choice item tends to be more devastating against these foes. Assault Vest Meloetta has great special bulk for tanking hits from wallbreakers like Toxtricity and Porygon-Z, but it lacks the standout Speed and power of its Choice sets.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: Klefki doesn't fear any of Meloetta's coverage moves, Bronzong deals with Meloetta variants that don't have Shadow Ball, and all Steel-types can tank Meloetta's STAB attacks and use it as an opportunity to set up entry hazards. However, Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Copperajah must be wary of Focus Blast.
**Physically Offensive Revenge Killers**: Flygon, Paldean Tauros-W, and Staraptor outpace Meloetta, and they can match its Choice Scarf sets with ones of their own. Scyther and Cinccino even have multi-hit moves to break past Substitute sets.
**Bulky Dark-types**: Alolan Muk does not struggle with Meloetta's coverage moves, though it can be worn down by repeated hits from Choice Specs sets. Incineroar and Scrafty must be wary of Focus Blast, but they have the bulk to tank one attack and retaliate against Meloetta with Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Grammar checked by:
Meloetta's amazing Special Attack and solid special bulk let it feature in several roles as a special wallbreaker, offensive pivot, Calm Mind sweeper, revenge killer, and late-game cleaner. Thanks to Meloetta's range, it can be unpredictable on team preview and in the early-game. Meloetta's ability to use Tera Blast as a STAB move only adds to its flexibility, and it's a great offensive user of Terastallization to turn the tables on its checks or enhance its Calm Mind set. However, Meloetta's offensive STAB moves leave gaps against Steel-types like Klefki, Bronzong, and Copperajah, and it struggles to pack a coverage move and Tera type to hit all of them super effectively. This leaves Meloetta's Calm Mind sets especially vulnerable to these Steel-types, while it's Choice item sets are prediction-reliant and struggle with Focus Blast's inaccuracy and Shadow Ball's limited coverage. Meloetta’s Speed tier leaves it behind revenge killers like Paldean Tauros-W, Flygon, and Cinccino, while Scream Tail severely annoy Meloetta's setup sets with its fast Encore. Meloetta also competes with special attackers like Toxtricity, Munkidori, Porygon-Z, which can offer much more immediate power, Speed-boosting options, and pivoting opportunities between the three of them.
[SET]
name: Choice Item
move 1: Hyper Voice / Tera Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Shadow Ball / Focus Blast / U-turn
move 4: Trick / U-turn
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Fairy / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Meloetta's STAB moves are quite spammable against defensive staples like Amoonguss, Gastrodon, and Swampert. Hyper Voice's ability to go through Substitute is helpful against users like Raikou, Nasty Plot Uxie, and Goodra. Tera Blast makes Meloetta much more offensively threatening in conjunction with Terastallization. Psyshock is an alternative to Psychic allowing it to nail specially bulky Pokemon like Porygon2, Goodra, Gastrodon, and Sylveon as well as special sweepers like Oricorio and Raikou, but Psychic's better damage against Pokemon like Diancie and Paldean Tauros-W makes it preferred. Shadow Ball covers Bronzong and hits Scream Tail, Oricorio-P, and Basculegion super effectively. Focus Blast hits other Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash, Duraludon, and Copperajah super effectively, and it's useful coverage against Dark-types like Incineroar and Scrafty. In addition, Shadow Ball has a neat synergy with Serene Grace, improving Meloetta's odds to overwhelm Bronzong and Scream Tail. U-turn lets Meloetta keep up momentum for its team against switch-ins like Klefki, Copperajah, and Bronzong. Meloetta can use Trick to disrupt its defensive switch-ins, as a Choice item is especially devastating to walls like Copperajah and Porygon2. However, Meloetta can drop Trick for U-turn so it can fit a coverage move while still acting as an offensive pivot. Tera Fighting grants Meloetta key resistances to moves like Knock Off and Sucker Punch against foes like Alolan Muk and Toxicroak, and the coverage it provides in conjunction with Tera Blast enables Meloetta to break through Copperajah, Porygon2, and Alolan Sandslash. Tera Fairy shares Tera Fighting's nice resistances against Dark- and Bug-type moves, and it grants Meloetta better defensive matchups against Fighting-types like Scrafty and Heracross when it's in a pinch. Tera Fairy also enhances Tera Blast into super effective move against foes like Goodra and Altaria as well as a stronger option against Duraludon. Tera Ghost powers up Shadow Ball to nail Bronzong and Scream Tail, and the Fighting immunity it offers is helpful against Body Press users like the aforementioned Bronzong and Diancie.
Meloetta appreciates checks to troublesome Steel-types like Copperajah and Bronzong, so wallbreakers such as Paldean Tauros-W, Paldean Tauros-F, and Basculegion make good teammates. Fighting-types like Scrafty and Toxicroak compensate for Meloetta's difficult matchups against bulky Dark-types like Incineroar and Alolan Muk. Offensive pivots like Flygon, Flamigo, and Kilowattrel can get Meloetta into good positions by bringing it in against defensive Pokemon like Breloom, Amoonguss, and Galarian Slowbro, which is greatly appreciated by Choice Specs variants. Slow, defensive pivots like Vaporeon, Swampert, and Incineroar can go a step further by tanking hits for Meloetta as they switch it in. If Meloetta is running U-turn, then it can form pivot cores with these aforementioned pivots and fit on Voltturn teams. Entry hazard removers like Cinccino and Decidueye help keep Meloetta from being worn down as it pivots on and off the field. Meloetta itself appreciates hazards from setters like Copperajah, Diancie, and Gastrodon for helping it wearing down checks like Alolan Muk, Klefki, and opposing Diancie. Physically defensive Pokemon like Amoonguss, Galarian Slowbro, and Sylveon can switch into physically offensive revenge killers such as Flygon, Paldean Tauros-W, and Scyther to let Meloetta switch out.
[SET]
name: Sub Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Tera Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Substitute helps Meloetta set up against passive Pokemon it forces out, including Amoonguss and Gastrodon. Substitute's effect of blocking status comes in handy against Porygon2 and Galarian Slowbro, and Meloetta can depend on Substitute as protection from revenge killers like Paldean Tauros-W and Choice Scarf Basculegion. Meloetta can also use Substitute to play around Toxicroak's Sucker Punch. Psyshock is used over Psychic to win boosting wars against opposing special sweepers like Scream Tail, Sylveon, and Raikou. Psyshock's additional damage against specially defensive Pokemon like Goodra, Porygon2, and Gastrodon is another perk. Tera Blast is used instead of Hyper Voice to make Meloetta's STAB attack flexible coverage with Terastallization. Leftovers enables Meloetta to set up Substitute multiple times, turning passive Pokemon like Gastrodon and Porygon2 into setup fodder. Tera Fighting improves Meloetta's matchups against Dark-types like Alolan Muk and turns Tera Blast into a solid coverage move against targets like Copperajah, Incineroar, and Porygon2. Alternatively, Tera Fairy gives Meloetta a Dark-type resistance, while giving it a stronger coverage against Goodra and Scrafty, and an immunity to Dragon Tail.
Specially offensive pivots like Toxtricity, Kilowattrel, and Inteleon can draw in special walls like Porygon2 and Gastrodon for Meloetta to use as setup fodder. Defensive pivots like Incineroar, Vaporeon, and Gligar can get Meloetta onto the field safely. Alolan Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil to facilitate Meloetta's ease of setting up, and it's also solid at wearing down Steel-types like Klefki and Bronzong for Meloetta to overwhelm later. Alolan Muk, Munkidori, and Diancie can also draw in and weaken Steel-types for Meloetta. Entry hazard setters like Klefki, the aforementioned Diancie, and Gligar serve to soften up foes like Alolan Muk and Porygon2, facilitating Meloetta's ability to break through them. Hazard removal support from Avalugg and Scyther helps Meloetta to not be worn down too quickly as it uses Substitute.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Alluring Voice goes through Substitute and provides Meloetta with Fairy-type coverage without requiring it to Terastallize, but common Dark-types like Incineroar and Alolan Muk are hit neutrally by it anyway. Knock Off provides similar utility to Trick against item-dependent Pokemon like Registeel and Porygon2 without forcing Meloetta to give up its Choice item, but a Choice item tends to be more devastating against these foes. Assault Vest Meloetta has great special bulk for tanking hits from wallbreakers like Toxtricity and Porygon-Z, but it lacks the standout Speed and power of its Choice sets.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: Klefki doesn't fear any of Meloetta's coverage moves, Bronzong deals with Meloetta variants that don't have Shadow Ball, and all Steel-types can tank Meloetta's STAB attacks and use it as an opportunity to set up entry hazards. However, Steel-types like Alolan Sandslash and Copperajah must be wary of Focus Blast.
**Physically Offensive Revenge Killers**: Flygon, Paldean Tauros-W, and Staraptor outpace Meloetta, and they can match its Choice Scarf sets with ones of their own. Scyther and Cinccino even have multi-hit moves to break past Substitute sets.
**Bulky Dark-types**: Alolan Muk does not struggle with Meloetta's coverage moves, though it can be worn down by repeated hits from Choice Specs sets. Incineroar and Scrafty must be wary of Focus Blast, but they have the bulk to tank one attack and retaliate against Meloetta with Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
