[OVERVIEW]
Mega Alakazam is one of the premier special attackers within the tier, boasting an absurd Speed tier that allows it to outspeed virtually the entire unboosted metagame, a completely unrivalled Special Attack stat, and all the coverage options it would want to make use of it with. Examples include Focus Blast to cut through the likes of Ferrothorn and Heatran, Shadow Ball for Psychic-types like Jirachi and Mega Latias, and Energy Ball for Mega Swampert and Gastrodon. It has superb abilities both before and after Mega Evolving; Magic Guard allows it to shrug off any entry hazard or status damage, and Trace has a world of unique applications, such as copying Flash Fire from Heatran to switch into Magma Storm, Toxapex's Regenerator to stay healthy, and Mega Swampert's Swift Swim and Excadrill's Sand Rush to revenge kill them, to name a few. However, Mega Alakazam's pitiful bulk leaves it terrified of any physical attacker and limits the amount of Pokemon it can switch into safely. Additionally, it can be revenge killed by common Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Kartana, and specially defensive behemoths like Chansey and Jirachi are solid answers to it.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Shadow Ball / Calm Mind
move 4: Recover / Calm Mind / Energy Ball / Taunt / Knock Off
item: Alakazamite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Psychic is Mega Alakazam's most reliable Psychic-type STAB move, useful for targets like Mega Lopunny and Toxapex as well as slamming neutral targets like Tapu Fini switching in. Focus Blast is the ultimate complement to Psychic, giving Mega Alakazam a way to threaten various Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill, as well as Dark-types like Weavile and Mega Tyranitar, OHKOing the former and standard variants of the latter, and preventing a safe Pursuit trap. Shadow Ball gives Mega Alakazam a way to hit Psychic-types like Mega Latias, Jirachi, and Cresselia, which would otherwise completely wall it. Recover gives Mega Alakazam longevity to prevent it from succumbing to chip damage from non-lethal attacks like Chansey's Seismic Toss and Heatran's Earth Power or entry hazards. Calm Mind gives Mega Alakazam a useful power boost for cleaning late-game, lets it break through shaky checks like Mega Latias and Cresselia, and makes it fare better against special attacking Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Clefable. Energy Ball gives Mega Alakazam a consistent OHKO against Mega Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad, with the first being even more useful due to Mega Alakazam having Trace to copy Swift Swim. Taunt allows Mega Alakazam to shut down recovery attempts from the likes of Chansey, Gastrodon, and Jirachi, entry hazards from the likes of Heatran and Chansey, and Leech Seed from Celesteela and Ferrothorn. Knock Off has very little offensive threat attached to it, but it's incredibly irritating to switch-ins like Chansey, Assault Vest Magearna, and Celesteela, hindering either their bulk or their longevity.
Set Details
========
Mega Alakazam likes to run maximum Speed in order to Speed tie with itself, with the benefit of outspeeding +1 Gyarados included. Another option is a spread of 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe that outspeeds Mega Lopunny and maximizes bulk, notably surviving U-turn from Choice Scarf Landorus-T and being favored to survive Earthquake, too.
Usage Tips
========
Owing to its immense power, Mega Alakazam has usage both early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker and late-game as a cleaner. It's quite risky to switch Mega Alakazam directly into most Pokemon, but it finds entry against passive walls like Toxapex, which it proceeds to steal Regenerator from, and defensive Kommo-o, as well as specially defensive Heatran, which has its main attacking type made useless by Mega Alakazam copying Flash Fire. For the most part, Mega Alakazam relies on offensive pressure to create opportunities for it to use its utility options. In matchups where Mega Alakazam poses absolutely no threat, such as against a stall team with multiple counters like Mega Sableye and Chansey, it's always better to not Mega Evolve, allowing it to absorb status like Toxapex's Toxic. In terms of offensive abilities that Mega Alakazam can steal with Trace, some notable examples are Beast Boost from Ultra Beasts like Kartana and Celesteela and Soul Heart from Magearna, giving it boosts to its Speed and Special Attack, respectively, Protean from Greninja to give it STAB on all of its coverage moves, Swift Swim and Sand Rush from Mega Swampert and Excadrill, respectively, allowing it to revenge kill them, and Magnet Pull from Magnezone, letting Mega Alakazam countertrap it. On the other hand, Mega Alakazam can bolster its longevity with Regenerator from Toxapex, Tornadus-T, and Slowbro, Natural Cure from Chansey, Poison Heal from Gliscor, and Magic Guard from Clefable and Reuniclus. Additionally, it can steal immunity-based abilities like Storm Drain from Gastrodon, which boosts Mega Alakazam into being able to 2HKO Gastrodon if it switches into Scald, Flash Fire from Heatran, and Volt Absorb from Thundurus-T.
Team Options
========
Mega Alakazam is mostly seen on specific Psychic-type spam teams thanks to its amazing synergy with Tapu Lele, though it could also be used on certain balance teams due to its proficiency at revenge killing and cleaning. Tapu Lele is the most perfect partner for Mega Alakazam, as it can act as a wallbreaker early-game to put Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna out of commission as well as the benefits of Psychic Terrain blocking priority and boosting Psychic-type attacks. Other wallbreaking options that help clear a path for Mega Alakazam include Kyurem-B and Swords Dance Kartana. Due to its frailty, Mega Alakazam requires pivoting support from the likes of Landorus-T, Magearna, and Rotom-W to get in safely. Ash-Greninja also helps to overwhelm Assault Vest Magearna, and it can set Spikes to hinder the likes of Chansey, Jirachi, and the aforementioned Magearna; Skarmory and Ferrothorn are examples of defensive Spikes setters that can achieve the same effect on balance teams. Choice Scarf Kartana is a great late-game cleaning option that naturally benefits from Steel-types needing to bleed HP to deal with Mega Alakazam. Volcarona takes advantage of the Steel-types that Mega Alakazam hates and Mega Alakazam can do the same with Toxapex and specially defensive Heatran in return. On balance teams, Magnezone is an excellent enabler, as it removes the likes of Celesteela and Mega Scizor and can revenge kill and forcibly remove Mega Mawile and Choice Scarf Kartana. Heatran pressures many of Mega Alakazam's checks, like Magearna, Jirachi, Celesteela, and Cresselia, to name a few, and sets up Stealth Rock. Toxic Spikes from Toxapex pressure Gastrodon and Tapu Bulu and help put offensive Pokemon into range for Mega Alakazam to clean up.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Encore allows Mega Alakazam to beat Calm Mind sweepers like Mega Latias, Reuniclus, and Cresselia, as well as making the likes of Chansey and Gastrodon completely free to switch into via locking them into recovery moves. Substitute eases prediction and can foil revenge killing attempts by the likes of Choice Scarf Kartana and Fake Out Mega Lopunny if it manages to keep it up after getting a KO. Hidden Power Ice gives Mega Alakazam a clean OHKO against Landorus-T, utility Gliscor, and Garchomp, as well as OHKOing specially defensive Gliscor after Stealth Rock. Dazzling Gleam threatens Mega Sableye with a 2HKO and it's a high-accuracy option against Weavile, OHKOing it after one layer of Spikes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types like Magearna, Jirachi, and Celesteela can handle Mega Alakazam's Psychic and are aren't weak to Focus Blast, allowing them to defensively check it. Mega Scizor avoids the 2HKO from Focus Blast and can hit back with Bullet Punch or Pursuit trap Mega Alakazam.
**Other Defensive Answers**: Chansey takes very little from Mega Alakazam's attacks and can either chip it down with Seismic Toss or force it out with status, though it can be irritated by Taunt variants and can't threaten Alakazam with Toxic before it Mega Evolves. Mega Sableye makes use of its immunities to handle Mega Alakazam very well, and there's little Alakazam can do to it. Cresselia is so immensely bulky that it can actually switch into and set up on even Shadow Ball Mega Alakazam, barring bad luck with Special Defense drops. Alolan Muk is a niche dedicated answer to Mega Alakazam that takes very little from its attacks and can Pursuit trap it without much hassle. Other specially defensive sponges like Gastrodon, Calm Clefable, specially defensive Gliscor, and Tapu Bulu avoid the 2HKO from Psychic and can beat Mega Alakazam one-on-one when at high HP.
**Priority**: Priority attacks like Fake Out from Mega Medicham and Mega Lopunny, Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, and Aqua Jet from Crawdaunt can chip Mega Alakazam down and threaten it out at low health, with Mega Mawile's Sucker Punch OHKOing outright. Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham can even run Quick Attack and Bullet Punch, respectively, alongside Fake Out to be even better against Mega Alakazam. However, Mega Alakazam is often paired with Psychic Terrain to give it a temporary immunity to all of these attacks.
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T, Kartana, and Victini can chase out Mega Alakazam with ease should they get in safely, threatening to OHKO it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Mega Alakazam is one of the premier special attackers within the tier, boasting an absurd Speed tier that allows it to outspeed virtually the entire unboosted metagame, a completely unrivalled Special Attack stat, and all the coverage options it would want to make use of it with. Examples include Focus Blast to cut through the likes of Ferrothorn and Heatran, Shadow Ball for Psychic-types like Jirachi and Mega Latias, and Energy Ball for Mega Swampert and Gastrodon. It has superb abilities both before and after Mega Evolving; Magic Guard allows it to shrug off any entry hazard or status damage, and Trace has a world of unique applications, such as copying Flash Fire from Heatran to switch into Magma Storm, Toxapex's Regenerator to stay healthy, and Mega Swampert's Swift Swim and Excadrill's Sand Rush to revenge kill them, to name a few. However, Mega Alakazam's pitiful bulk leaves it terrified of any physical attacker and limits the amount of Pokemon it can switch into safely. Additionally, it can be revenge killed by common Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Kartana, and specially defensive behemoths like Chansey and Jirachi are solid answers to it.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Shadow Ball / Calm Mind
move 4: Recover / Calm Mind / Energy Ball / Taunt / Knock Off
item: Alakazamite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Psychic is Mega Alakazam's most reliable Psychic-type STAB move, useful for targets like Mega Lopunny and Toxapex as well as slamming neutral targets like Tapu Fini switching in. Focus Blast is the ultimate complement to Psychic, giving Mega Alakazam a way to threaten various Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill, as well as Dark-types like Weavile and Mega Tyranitar, OHKOing the former and standard variants of the latter, and preventing a safe Pursuit trap. Shadow Ball gives Mega Alakazam a way to hit Psychic-types like Mega Latias, Jirachi, and Cresselia, which would otherwise completely wall it. Recover gives Mega Alakazam longevity to prevent it from succumbing to chip damage from non-lethal attacks like Chansey's Seismic Toss and Heatran's Earth Power or entry hazards. Calm Mind gives Mega Alakazam a useful power boost for cleaning late-game, lets it break through shaky checks like Mega Latias and Cresselia, and makes it fare better against special attacking Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Clefable. Energy Ball gives Mega Alakazam a consistent OHKO against Mega Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad, with the first being even more useful due to Mega Alakazam having Trace to copy Swift Swim. Taunt allows Mega Alakazam to shut down recovery attempts from the likes of Chansey, Gastrodon, and Jirachi, entry hazards from the likes of Heatran and Chansey, and Leech Seed from Celesteela and Ferrothorn. Knock Off has very little offensive threat attached to it, but it's incredibly irritating to switch-ins like Chansey, Assault Vest Magearna, and Celesteela, hindering either their bulk or their longevity.
Set Details
========
Mega Alakazam likes to run maximum Speed in order to Speed tie with itself, with the benefit of outspeeding +1 Gyarados included. Another option is a spread of 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe that outspeeds Mega Lopunny and maximizes bulk, notably surviving U-turn from Choice Scarf Landorus-T and being favored to survive Earthquake, too.
Usage Tips
========
Owing to its immense power, Mega Alakazam has usage both early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker and late-game as a cleaner. It's quite risky to switch Mega Alakazam directly into most Pokemon, but it finds entry against passive walls like Toxapex, which it proceeds to steal Regenerator from, and defensive Kommo-o, as well as specially defensive Heatran, which has its main attacking type made useless by Mega Alakazam copying Flash Fire. For the most part, Mega Alakazam relies on offensive pressure to create opportunities for it to use its utility options. In matchups where Mega Alakazam poses absolutely no threat, such as against a stall team with multiple counters like Mega Sableye and Chansey, it's always better to not Mega Evolve, allowing it to absorb status like Toxapex's Toxic. In terms of offensive abilities that Mega Alakazam can steal with Trace, some notable examples are Beast Boost from Ultra Beasts like Kartana and Celesteela and Soul Heart from Magearna, giving it boosts to its Speed and Special Attack, respectively, Protean from Greninja to give it STAB on all of its coverage moves, Swift Swim and Sand Rush from Mega Swampert and Excadrill, respectively, allowing it to revenge kill them, and Magnet Pull from Magnezone, letting Mega Alakazam countertrap it. On the other hand, Mega Alakazam can bolster its longevity with Regenerator from Toxapex, Tornadus-T, and Slowbro, Natural Cure from Chansey, Poison Heal from Gliscor, and Magic Guard from Clefable and Reuniclus. Additionally, it can steal immunity-based abilities like Storm Drain from Gastrodon, which boosts Mega Alakazam into being able to 2HKO Gastrodon if it switches into Scald, Flash Fire from Heatran, and Volt Absorb from Thundurus-T.
Team Options
========
Mega Alakazam is mostly seen on specific Psychic-type spam teams thanks to its amazing synergy with Tapu Lele, though it could also be used on certain balance teams due to its proficiency at revenge killing and cleaning. Tapu Lele is the most perfect partner for Mega Alakazam, as it can act as a wallbreaker early-game to put Celesteela and Assault Vest Magearna out of commission as well as the benefits of Psychic Terrain blocking priority and boosting Psychic-type attacks. Other wallbreaking options that help clear a path for Mega Alakazam include Kyurem-B and Swords Dance Kartana. Due to its frailty, Mega Alakazam requires pivoting support from the likes of Landorus-T, Magearna, and Rotom-W to get in safely. Ash-Greninja also helps to overwhelm Assault Vest Magearna, and it can set Spikes to hinder the likes of Chansey, Jirachi, and the aforementioned Magearna; Skarmory and Ferrothorn are examples of defensive Spikes setters that can achieve the same effect on balance teams. Choice Scarf Kartana is a great late-game cleaning option that naturally benefits from Steel-types needing to bleed HP to deal with Mega Alakazam. Volcarona takes advantage of the Steel-types that Mega Alakazam hates and Mega Alakazam can do the same with Toxapex and specially defensive Heatran in return. On balance teams, Magnezone is an excellent enabler, as it removes the likes of Celesteela and Mega Scizor and can revenge kill and forcibly remove Mega Mawile and Choice Scarf Kartana. Heatran pressures many of Mega Alakazam's checks, like Magearna, Jirachi, Celesteela, and Cresselia, to name a few, and sets up Stealth Rock. Toxic Spikes from Toxapex pressure Gastrodon and Tapu Bulu and help put offensive Pokemon into range for Mega Alakazam to clean up.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Encore allows Mega Alakazam to beat Calm Mind sweepers like Mega Latias, Reuniclus, and Cresselia, as well as making the likes of Chansey and Gastrodon completely free to switch into via locking them into recovery moves. Substitute eases prediction and can foil revenge killing attempts by the likes of Choice Scarf Kartana and Fake Out Mega Lopunny if it manages to keep it up after getting a KO. Hidden Power Ice gives Mega Alakazam a clean OHKO against Landorus-T, utility Gliscor, and Garchomp, as well as OHKOing specially defensive Gliscor after Stealth Rock. Dazzling Gleam threatens Mega Sableye with a 2HKO and it's a high-accuracy option against Weavile, OHKOing it after one layer of Spikes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types like Magearna, Jirachi, and Celesteela can handle Mega Alakazam's Psychic and are aren't weak to Focus Blast, allowing them to defensively check it. Mega Scizor avoids the 2HKO from Focus Blast and can hit back with Bullet Punch or Pursuit trap Mega Alakazam.
**Other Defensive Answers**: Chansey takes very little from Mega Alakazam's attacks and can either chip it down with Seismic Toss or force it out with status, though it can be irritated by Taunt variants and can't threaten Alakazam with Toxic before it Mega Evolves. Mega Sableye makes use of its immunities to handle Mega Alakazam very well, and there's little Alakazam can do to it. Cresselia is so immensely bulky that it can actually switch into and set up on even Shadow Ball Mega Alakazam, barring bad luck with Special Defense drops. Alolan Muk is a niche dedicated answer to Mega Alakazam that takes very little from its attacks and can Pursuit trap it without much hassle. Other specially defensive sponges like Gastrodon, Calm Clefable, specially defensive Gliscor, and Tapu Bulu avoid the 2HKO from Psychic and can beat Mega Alakazam one-on-one when at high HP.
**Priority**: Priority attacks like Fake Out from Mega Medicham and Mega Lopunny, Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, and Aqua Jet from Crawdaunt can chip Mega Alakazam down and threaten it out at low health, with Mega Mawile's Sucker Punch OHKOing outright. Mega Lopunny and Mega Medicham can even run Quick Attack and Bullet Punch, respectively, alongside Fake Out to be even better against Mega Alakazam. However, Mega Alakazam is often paired with Psychic Terrain to give it a temporary immunity to all of these attacks.
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T, Kartana, and Victini can chase out Mega Alakazam with ease should they get in safely, threatening to OHKO it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diyusi.519886/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
