Minior
*Many more core colors exist than just these two
No. 774—the Meteor Pokémon
Type: Rock/Flying
Meteor Form stats: 60 HP/60 Atk/100 Def/60 SpA/100 SpD/60 Spe (440 Total)
Core Form stats: 60 HP/100 Atk/60 Def/100 SpA/60 SpD/120 Spe (500 Total)
Ability: Shields Down—This Pokémon is in Meteor Form above 50% HP, and immune to status; when this Pokémon's HP drops below 50%, this Pokémon goes into Core Form.
Overview:
Minior is not your average Pokémon; for starters, it is a fragment of a celestial body that fell through the Earth's atmosphere, and its internal structure has emission lines of various wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Second of all, its ability makes it comparable to Aegislash, another Pokémon with two forms, each suited for either offense or defense. However, there are a few things differentiating the two that Minior an entirely new Pokémon. First, its current form is not based on what move it will use, but rather how much HP it has left, meaning once it gets below 50% HP, it will be even easier to knock it out. Second, Minior gets access to Shell Smash, an incredible move that is instrumental to unleashing the full power of its Core Form. And, in its defensive form, Minior is immune to status conditions, and so it is nigh on impossible to hinder Minior while it is setting up for a sweep. These factors combined make Minior a very effective Shell Smash sweeper and late-game cleaner.
Potential Sets:
Shell Smash
Minior @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
252 Atk / 148 SpA / 108 Spe
Naive / Jolly Nature
- Shell Smash
- Acrobatics
- Power Gem / Stone Edge
- Earthquake / Explosion / Substitute
This set aims to maximize the utility and power that Shell Smash brings. After one Shell Smash, Acrobatics and Power Gem provide enough mixed coverage to put a large dent in almost everything in the tier. For example, after one Shell Smash, Power Gem will 2HKO Skarmoty, and Acrobatics will 2HKO all Slowbro, even those with maximum investment in Defense and leftovers recovery. Earthquake is the main option in the last moveslot to provide the famed EdgeQuake coverage; however, Explosion is also an option if you want to go out with a bang. As a sample, while Acrobatics will 2HKO standard bulky Garchomp, Explosion is guaranteed to OHKO after Stealth Rock damage.
Substitute is also a safer option to get a Shell Smash boost, but you do lose out on coverage.
White Herb is the main item to use on such a set; it not only negates the defense drops of Shell Smash, but also allows Acrobatics to hit for its full 110 BP. 156 Speed EVs allow Minior to outspeed Pheromosa, and the rest of the EVs not invested in Attack go to HP to contribute to its durability. Alternatively, Minior can go a bulkier, physical route with maximum HP and Attack investment, an Adamant nature, and Stone Edge instead of Power Gem, but it does miss out on some notable special KOs it would have otherwise achieved.
For more Speed investments, GMars has been kind enough to do calculations as to what investments outspeed which threats. A Naughty nature is used in all of the calculations, so if you want to invest more in bulk, you can opt to use a Naive nature to save some EVs.
Suicide Lead
Minior @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shields Down
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Explosion
- U-turn
A less conventional option, this set aims to take advantage of Meteor Form's status immunity to reliably set up Stealth Rock. Acrobatics is not used because its base power depends upon whether the opponent can successfully break the Focus Sash or not; Stone Edge, although less accurate, is the preferred option due to consistent damage output. After the Rocks are set up and Minior has to leave the field, it can either use its final ounces of strength to deal some damage to the opponent in its faster, more powerful form, it can pitch a quick U-turn to a teammate, or it can go out with a powerful bang.
The EVs are optimized toward speed and Attack; as Minior has a Focus sash to survive hits, the EVs are tailored toward its Core Form's strengths. A Jolly nature is used to ensure Minior will outspeed as much as it can as it sets up Rocks or goes for its final strike.
My Thoughts/Comments:
Minior is one of, if not, my favorite Pokémon introduced in Generation VII. Aesthetically, this Pokémon is cute, merciless, and, to an extent, customizable. Competitively, this Pokémon has a very well-defined role, and a strong one at that. With the strength of its Shell Smash set and the utility its Meteor Form provides, I think Minior is well-suited for the OU metagame, but if not, I do not see this Pokémon dropping any further than UU.
One last thing to note: this Pokémon has little means to deal with priority attacks, as Flying-types are not affected by any Psychic terrain that may be in play. Therefore, suitable teammates should be able to dispatch of faster and/or priority attackers and get rid of otherwise problematic Pokémon so that Minior can come in and successfully execute an unhindered sweep.
PokeaimMD's video analysis of Minior:
*Many more core colors exist than just these two
No. 774—the Meteor Pokémon
Type: Rock/Flying
Meteor Form stats: 60 HP/60 Atk/100 Def/60 SpA/100 SpD/60 Spe (440 Total)
Core Form stats: 60 HP/100 Atk/60 Def/100 SpA/60 SpD/120 Spe (500 Total)
Ability: Shields Down—This Pokémon is in Meteor Form above 50% HP, and immune to status; when this Pokémon's HP drops below 50%, this Pokémon goes into Core Form.
Level Up:
Start: Tackle
L3: Defense Curl
L8: Rollout
L10: Confuse Ray
L15: Swift
L17: Ancient Power
L22: Self-Destruct
L24: Stealth Rock
L29: Take Down
L31: Autotomize
L36: Cosmic Power
L38: Power Gem
L43: Double-Edge
L45: Shell Smash
L50: Explosion
Technical Machine:
TM04: Calm Mind
TM06: Toxic
TM10: Hidden Power
TM15: Hyper Beam
TM16: Light Screen
TM17: Protect
TM20: Safeguard
TM21: Frustration
TM22: Solar Beam
TM26: Earthquake
TM27: Return
TM29: Psychic
TM32: Double Team
TM33: Reflect
TM37: Sandstorm
TM39: Rock Tomb
TM42: Facade
TM44: Rest
TM45: Attract
TM48: Round
TM57: Charge Beam
TM62: Acrobatics
TM64: Explosion
TM68: Giga Impact
TM69: Rock Polish
TM71: Stone Edge
TM74: Gyro Ball
TM77: Psych Up
TM78: Bulldoze
TM80: Rock Slide
TM87: Swagger
TM88: Sleep Talk
TM89: U-turn
TM90: Substitute
TM99: Dazzling Gleam
TM100: Confide
Highest Z-move Power and Category:
Breakneck Blitz: 200 Physical/200 Special
Supersonic Skystrike: 100 Physical
Tectonic Rage: 180 Physical
Continental Crush: 180 Physical/160 Special
Savage Spin-Out: 140 Physical
Corkscrew Crash: 160 Physical
Bloom Doom: 190 Special
Gigavolt Havoc: 100 Special
Shattered Psyche: 175 Special
Twinkle Tackle: 160 Special
Start: Tackle
L3: Defense Curl
L8: Rollout
L10: Confuse Ray
L15: Swift
L17: Ancient Power
L22: Self-Destruct
L24: Stealth Rock
L29: Take Down
L31: Autotomize
L36: Cosmic Power
L38: Power Gem
L43: Double-Edge
L45: Shell Smash
L50: Explosion
Technical Machine:
TM04: Calm Mind
TM06: Toxic
TM10: Hidden Power
TM15: Hyper Beam
TM16: Light Screen
TM17: Protect
TM20: Safeguard
TM21: Frustration
TM22: Solar Beam
TM26: Earthquake
TM27: Return
TM29: Psychic
TM32: Double Team
TM33: Reflect
TM37: Sandstorm
TM39: Rock Tomb
TM42: Facade
TM44: Rest
TM45: Attract
TM48: Round
TM57: Charge Beam
TM62: Acrobatics
TM64: Explosion
TM68: Giga Impact
TM69: Rock Polish
TM71: Stone Edge
TM74: Gyro Ball
TM77: Psych Up
TM78: Bulldoze
TM80: Rock Slide
TM87: Swagger
TM88: Sleep Talk
TM89: U-turn
TM90: Substitute
TM99: Dazzling Gleam
TM100: Confide
Highest Z-move Power and Category:
Breakneck Blitz: 200 Physical/200 Special
Supersonic Skystrike: 100 Physical
Tectonic Rage: 180 Physical
Continental Crush: 180 Physical/160 Special
Savage Spin-Out: 140 Physical
Corkscrew Crash: 160 Physical
Bloom Doom: 190 Special
Gigavolt Havoc: 100 Special
Shattered Psyche: 175 Special
Twinkle Tackle: 160 Special
Overview:
Minior is not your average Pokémon; for starters, it is a fragment of a celestial body that fell through the Earth's atmosphere, and its internal structure has emission lines of various wavelengths in the visible spectrum. Second of all, its ability makes it comparable to Aegislash, another Pokémon with two forms, each suited for either offense or defense. However, there are a few things differentiating the two that Minior an entirely new Pokémon. First, its current form is not based on what move it will use, but rather how much HP it has left, meaning once it gets below 50% HP, it will be even easier to knock it out. Second, Minior gets access to Shell Smash, an incredible move that is instrumental to unleashing the full power of its Core Form. And, in its defensive form, Minior is immune to status conditions, and so it is nigh on impossible to hinder Minior while it is setting up for a sweep. These factors combined make Minior a very effective Shell Smash sweeper and late-game cleaner.
Potential Sets:
Shell Smash
Minior @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
252 Atk / 148 SpA / 108 Spe
Naive / Jolly Nature
- Shell Smash
- Acrobatics
- Power Gem / Stone Edge
- Earthquake / Explosion / Substitute
This set aims to maximize the utility and power that Shell Smash brings. After one Shell Smash, Acrobatics and Power Gem provide enough mixed coverage to put a large dent in almost everything in the tier. For example, after one Shell Smash, Power Gem will 2HKO Skarmoty, and Acrobatics will 2HKO all Slowbro, even those with maximum investment in Defense and leftovers recovery. Earthquake is the main option in the last moveslot to provide the famed EdgeQuake coverage; however, Explosion is also an option if you want to go out with a bang. As a sample, while Acrobatics will 2HKO standard bulky Garchomp, Explosion is guaranteed to OHKO after Stealth Rock damage.
Substitute is also a safer option to get a Shell Smash boost, but you do lose out on coverage.
White Herb is the main item to use on such a set; it not only negates the defense drops of Shell Smash, but also allows Acrobatics to hit for its full 110 BP. 156 Speed EVs allow Minior to outspeed Pheromosa, and the rest of the EVs not invested in Attack go to HP to contribute to its durability. Alternatively, Minior can go a bulkier, physical route with maximum HP and Attack investment, an Adamant nature, and Stone Edge instead of Power Gem, but it does miss out on some notable special KOs it would have otherwise achieved.
For more Speed investments, GMars has been kind enough to do calculations as to what investments outspeed which threats. A Naughty nature is used in all of the calculations, so if you want to invest more in bulk, you can opt to use a Naive nature to save some EVs.
Suicide Lead
Minior @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shields Down
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Explosion
- U-turn
A less conventional option, this set aims to take advantage of Meteor Form's status immunity to reliably set up Stealth Rock. Acrobatics is not used because its base power depends upon whether the opponent can successfully break the Focus Sash or not; Stone Edge, although less accurate, is the preferred option due to consistent damage output. After the Rocks are set up and Minior has to leave the field, it can either use its final ounces of strength to deal some damage to the opponent in its faster, more powerful form, it can pitch a quick U-turn to a teammate, or it can go out with a powerful bang.
The EVs are optimized toward speed and Attack; as Minior has a Focus sash to survive hits, the EVs are tailored toward its Core Form's strengths. A Jolly nature is used to ensure Minior will outspeed as much as it can as it sets up Rocks or goes for its final strike.
My Thoughts/Comments:
Minior is one of, if not, my favorite Pokémon introduced in Generation VII. Aesthetically, this Pokémon is cute, merciless, and, to an extent, customizable. Competitively, this Pokémon has a very well-defined role, and a strong one at that. With the strength of its Shell Smash set and the utility its Meteor Form provides, I think Minior is well-suited for the OU metagame, but if not, I do not see this Pokémon dropping any further than UU.
One last thing to note: this Pokémon has little means to deal with priority attacks, as Flying-types are not affected by any Psychic terrain that may be in play. Therefore, suitable teammates should be able to dispatch of faster and/or priority attackers and get rid of otherwise problematic Pokémon so that Minior can come in and successfully execute an unhindered sweep.
PokeaimMD's video analysis of Minior:
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