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[OVERVIEW]
**Normal:**
With impressive stats, an enormous movepool, great special bulk, and a solid typing, Meloetta can fulfill roles such as a wallbreaker and Calm Mind sweeper, making it a great asset to Normal-type teams. As a wallbreaker, Meloetta gives a much-needed offensive presence to the passive balanced Normal archetype of Eviolite Pokemon, Ditto, and bulky Staraptor. Meloetta's high Special Defense allows it to take several hits from special attackers such as Zapdos, Clefable, and Magnezone and provides further opportunities to set up Calm Mind more effectively. This is further benefited by Meloetta's decent base 90 Speed, which can allow it to outspeed defensive Pokemon such as Zapdos. Its unique Normal / Psychic typing grants it an immunity to Ghost-type moves and lets it check Fighting-types such as Keldeo, Terrakion, and Heracross. Meloetta is also a good replacement for Mega Pidgeot as a special wallbreaker, as it doesn't use the Mega Evolution slot.
However, Meloetta has trouble switching into physical attacks due to its mediocre Defense stat. While its Normal / Psychic typing is unique, it leaves Meloetta weak to Dark-types and Knock Off users. In addition, despite its base 90 Speed, Meloetta is still left outsped by threats such as Mega Medicham, Garchomp, and Landorus. It also faces a lot of competition from Mega Pidgeot, another popular special wallbreaker that is also much faster than Meloetta. Finally, due to its lack of reliable recovery, it is often vulnerable to status effects such as poison and burn, which hinders its longevity in battle.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs (Normal)
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Hyper Voice
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Shadow Ball / Energy Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic is Meloetta's primary STAB move, hitting Fighting- and Poison-types such as Terrakion and Mega Venusaur super effectively. Alternatively, Psyshock can be used instead of Psychic to target the foe's Defense stat, which makes it a great check to Chansey, Quiver Dance Volcarona, and Calm Mind users such as Sylveon and Clefable. Hyper Voice is necessary as a secondary STAB move to hit several types for neutral damage. It can also hit foes that tend to set up Substitute such as Gliscor, Gyarados, and Whimsicott. Focus Blast provides Meloetta with Fighting-type coverage to hit threats such as Tyranitar, Mamoswine, Porygon2, Heatran, and Skarmory. Shadow Ball allows Meloetta to hit Ghost-types such as Doublade, Chandelure, and Golurk and can 2HKO Mew. Alternatively, Energy Ball hits Ground- and Water-types such as Hippowdon, Seismitoad, Swampert, and Gastrodon super effectively. It also OHKOes Rotom-W and Azumarill.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EVs along with a Modest nature maximize Meloetta's damage output. Maximum Speed EVs are used to outspeed Jolly Breloom, Adamant Choice Band Diggersby, and Timid Heatran. Choice Specs is used to increase Meloetta's damage output even further. Choice Scarf with a Timid nature can be used instead of Choice Specs for Meloetta to be as fast as possible, outspeeding Pokemon such as specially defensive Tentacruel, physically defensive Staraptor, and Adamant Mamoswine. This also enables Meloetta to act as a revenge killer against Dark- and Fighting-types. However, Meloetta completely misses out on the extra damage potential and is unable to wallbreak. The Speed EVs can instead be be put into HP to increase Meloetta's bulk. A Timid nature can be used instead of a Modest nature to outspeed Jolly Gyarados, Mamoswine, and Timid Nidoking; however, Meloetta needs a Modest nature in order to wallbreak.
Usage Tips
========
This set allows Meloetta to function as a hard-hitting wallbreaker, but status effects such as poison, burn, and paralysis can cripple its effectiveness. It can be brought in early-game to dent the opposing team and break down physical walls. Meloetta can also come into weak special attacks, creating an opportunity for it to deal enormous damage, so it should be played aggressively. Keep Meloetta healthy if there is an opposing threat it needs to check such as Mew or Clefable.
Team Options
========
Mega Lopunny helps against Dark-type Pokemon with its Fighting-type STAB moves. It can provide chip damage with Fake Out and deal with Pokemon such as Chansey, which otherwise walls Meloetta. Mega Lopunny can also switch into a predicted Knock Off to sponge the attack. Porygon2 is a great switch-in for physical attackers due to Eviolite and can spread status with moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic, allowing Meloetta to wallbreak more effectively. Staraptor and Mega Pidgeot can help against Bug-types such as Volcarona, Mega Scizor, and Mega Pinsir. Diggersby is a great physical wallbreaker that complements Meloetta's special attacks. Ditto's ability Imposter allows it to threaten many setup sweepers that tend to set up on Choice-locked Meloetta. Chansey helps absorb status moves aimed at Meloetta with Natural Cure and also set up Stealth Rock to get chip damage on opposing Pokemon so that Meloetta can KO them more easily, especially Pokemon with a Focus Sash. Smeargle can set up entry hazards such as Sticky Web and Stealth Rock for Meloetta as well. Sticky Web is especially useful because it can help Meloetta outspeed the foe. Together, Meloetta and Mega Pidgeot grant Normal teams double the offensive pressure put on the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind (Normal)
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Shadow Ball / Focus Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Substitute keeps Meloetta from being affected by any status moves and allows it to safely set up Calm Mind. Calm Mind boosts Meloetta's Special Attack and Special Defense by one stage, making its attacks more powerful while also granting increased bulk against special attackers. Psyshock helps Meloetta break through special walls and hit Chansey. Shadow Ball hits Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Sableye, Chandelure, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Medicham super effectively. It also hits Steel-types, which resist Psyshock, such as Heatran, Skarmory, and Jirachi. However, Shadow Ball leaves Meloetta unable to threaten Dark-type Pokemon. Focus Blast can be used instead to provide coverage against Dark-, Ice-, Normal-, and Steel-types such as Bisharp, Avalugg, Chansey, and Ferrothorn at the cost of coverage for Ghost- and Psychic-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP EVs grant Meloetta more bulk. This also prevents Chansey from breaking Meloetta's Substitute with Seismic Toss, making it a great target to set up Calm Mind on. Maximum Speed EVs along with a Timid nature maximize Meloetta's Speed, letting it outspeed Jolly Gyarados, Excadrill, and Timid Heatran. The remaining EVs are invested into Special Attack to increase damage output. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, increasing its longevity and giving it more opportunities to set up Substitute. Serene Grace increases the chance to activate the secondary effects of Shadow Ball and Focus Blast.
Usage Tips
========
This set has Meloetta function as a Calm Mind sweeper. Depending on which coverage move Meloetta is using, make sure to eliminate threats that resist it. For example, if Meloetta has Shadow Ball instead of Focus Blast and battles against a Dark-type team, it needs to rely on its partners such as Mega Lopunny to clear the field of the opposing Pokemon. Meloetta should usually set up Substitute on predicted status-inflicting moves, as they can cripple its sweeping capabilities. Meloetta can also use Substitute to its advantage against specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey. A fallen teammate provides a good opportunity for switching in so that Meloetta doesn't take any damage upon doing so. Meloetta needs to avoid status moves as much as possible, as when inflicted, its sweeping capabilities will be ruined. It's not always recommended to use Meloetta early-game, as this set serves more as a late-game wincon, which means it should be kept healthy. Meloetta can, however, set up early-game if its checks have already fainted.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removers such as Staraptor keep Meloetta from taking damage when switching in. Meloetta will have trouble against Dark-types, which Mega Lopunny can handle. Similarly, Mega Pidgeot can eliminate pesky Bug-types for Meloetta such as Volcarona and Mega Scizor. Diggersby can help wallbreak against specially bulky Pokemon such as Zapdos and Chansey for Meloetta. Chansey and Porygon2 can help wear down walls with Toxic or by inflicting paralysis with moves such as Thunder Wave and Discharge, which assists Meloetta in setting up. Chansey can also set up Stealth Rock to rack up chip damage for Meloetta.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Normal:**
Dazzling Gleam gives Meloetta coverage to hit Dark-, Dragon-, and Fighting-types such as Mandibuzz, Dragonite, Latias, Latios, and Keldeo super effectively; however, Dazzling Gleam is redundant due to the other coverage moves Meloetta has, and many Dragon-types can take a lot of damage from Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Voice. Thunderbolt can target Flying- and Water-types such as Skarmory and Gyarados. Hidden Power Fire is mainly used against Steel-types, especially Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn. Assault Vest increases Meloetta's special bulk, making it an efficient tank for special attacks. However, Chansey already fills that role, so there are more effective items available. Life Orb is another item possibility that can be used with Calm Mind + 3 attacks, as Meloetta's Psychic-, Fighting-, and Ghost-type coverage moves hit the entire metagame for neutral damage, providing another option for those looking to do some extra damage at the cost of some health. Trick can be used as a way to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Mew, Chansey, Mandibuzz, and Ferrothorn.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Normal:**
**Dark-types**: Meloetta has a huge problem against Dark-types and has to rely on Focus Blast to KO them, which poses a significant risk due to Focus Blast's low accuracy. Meloetta can easily faint to a STAB Knock Off or be KOed by other attacks such as Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
**Status and Residual Damage**: Status effects, such as burn, poison, and paralysis, greatly hinder Meloetta's presence on the field. With no reliable recovery options, Meloetta's longevity gets cut short from burn and poison and it becomes outsped by most other Pokemon if paralyzed. Meloetta also can't afford to switch into entry hazards such as Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic Spikes either because it has no reliable recovery, which limits its opportunities to switch in.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey, Zapdos, Umbreon, and Cradily can tank several of Choice Specs Meloetta's special attacks. Chansey can inflict Meloetta with status conditions from either Thunder Wave or Toxic and proceed to KO it with Seismic Toss while recovering health with Soft-Boiled. Umbreon can stall out Meloetta with Wish + Toxic while KOing it with Foul Play. Cradily can also stall with Toxic + Recover, and Zapdos has access to Toxic + Roost. However, they need to be wary of Calm Mind Meloetta, as they're poor checks to that set. They also must watch out for Meloetta that carry Trick.
**Revenge Killers**: Because of Meloetta's base 90 Speed, it's easily outpaced by Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Kyurem-B, Diggersby, and Victini. Bisharp is able to easily OHKO Meloetta with Sucker Punch, as are Victini with a powerful STAB V-create, Kyurem-B with Outrage, and Choice Scarf Diggersby with Knock Off.
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