[OVERVIEW]
Mega Swampert is one of the premier physical threats in the tier and a perfect addition to rain teams, boasting an incredible Attack stat to wield its lethal STAB combination of rain-boosted Waterfall and Earthquake with. Handling Mega Swampert defensively is a nightmare, with many believing the most brutal part of Mega Swampert are the secondary effects; Waterfall's flinch chance, coupling with critical hits and Ice Punch's freeze chance mean that answers like Skarmory and Mega Latias can regularly be overcome given how many attempts Mega Swampert has during a game. It's no slouch when it comes to defensive utility, either; its impressive bulk and wonderful typing allow it to switch in and trade blows against many Pokemon like Assault Vest Magearna and Tapu Koko. It can also overcome traditional answers to itself with Toxic, and remove the chance to switch around its attacks with Substitute. The most fatal blow to Swampert's viability is Rotom-W, a very common and splashable Pokemon that happens to handle both of its STAB moves and Ice Punch while threatening it back with Will-O-Wisp and rain-boosted Hydro Pump. Swampert's 4x weakness to Grass can be exploited by the likes of Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Alakazam, and it despises Toxic Spikes from Toxapex putting it on a timer.
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Toxic
move 4: Stealth Rock / Substitute / Superpower
item: Swampertite
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
...
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Adamant nature can be used to maximize the threat Mega Swampert poses, however, it makes Mega Swampert vulnerable to being outsped by Shift Gear Magearna, Choice Scarf Kartana, and Choice Scarf Victini.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Defensive Water-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, Pelipper, and the occasional Mantine can all check Mega Swampert incredibly well, as well as threaten it with burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald. None of these Pokemon appreciate being hit with Toxic, however. As rain will be usually be present when Mega Swampert is in use, it can also have trouble against offensive Water-types like Ash-Greninja and Crawdaunt using priority, Manaphy, and Gyarados.
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Bulky Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and the rare Tangrowth are excellent at switching into both of Mega Swampert, resisting both of its STAB moves; however, they must be careful about switching into Ice Punch when already chipped down, especially so if entry hazards are present. Other Grass-types like Ferrothorn, Kartana, and Serperior can also threaten Swampert, but don't want to switch into the Superpower in the case of the first two and Ice Punch in the case of Serperior. Mega Alakazam can slot on Energy Ball to revenge kill Mega Swampert, utilizing Trace to copy Swift Swim and outspeed it, and although rare, Tapu Koko and Magearna can punish Mega Swampert's sense of security to switch in with Grass Knot and Energy Ball, respectively. Mega Charizard Y is a severe example of a user of Grass-type coverage, ruining Mega Swampert's Swift Swim and OHKOing it with Solar Beam.
**Rain Interruption**: Sun from Mega Charizard Y and Torkoal, sand from Tyranitar and Hippowdon, and even the rare hail from Alolan Ninetales, can all mess with rain, hindering Mega Swampert's Speed, and stripping it of the power boost to Waterfall, and even weakening it in the case of sun.
**Status**: Rotom-W and the other aforementioned Water-types can threaten to burn Mega Swampert and various Toxic users and especially Toxic Spikes from Toxapex can put it on a timer. Mega Swampert should also be aware of contact abilities like Zapdos's Static and Volcarona's Flame Body, although the second case is generally only relevant when Volcarona is being sacrificed.
**Other Walls**: Buzzwole and Rocky Helmet Skarmory avoid the 2HKO from rain-boosted Waterfall and heal off damage, though Mega Swampert can beat them with flinches. Shedinja deserves a mention, as it completely walls multiple Mega Swampert sets, although it's instantly ruined by Toxic.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Mega Swampert is one of the premier physical threats in the tier and a perfect addition to rain teams, boasting an incredible Attack stat to wield its lethal STAB combination of rain-boosted Waterfall and Earthquake with. Handling Mega Swampert defensively is a nightmare, with many believing the most brutal part of Mega Swampert are the secondary effects; Waterfall's flinch chance, coupling with critical hits and Ice Punch's freeze chance mean that answers like Skarmory and Mega Latias can regularly be overcome given how many attempts Mega Swampert has during a game. It's no slouch when it comes to defensive utility, either; its impressive bulk and wonderful typing allow it to switch in and trade blows against many Pokemon like Assault Vest Magearna and Tapu Koko. It can also overcome traditional answers to itself with Toxic, and remove the chance to switch around its attacks with Substitute. The most fatal blow to Swampert's viability is Rotom-W, a very common and splashable Pokemon that happens to handle both of its STAB moves and Ice Punch while threatening it back with Will-O-Wisp and rain-boosted Hydro Pump. Swampert's 4x weakness to Grass can be exploited by the likes of Kartana, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Alakazam, and it despises Toxic Spikes from Toxapex putting it on a timer.
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Toxic
move 4: Stealth Rock / Substitute / Superpower
item: Swampertite
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
...
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Adamant nature can be used to maximize the threat Mega Swampert poses, however, it makes Mega Swampert vulnerable to being outsped by Shift Gear Magearna, Choice Scarf Kartana, and Choice Scarf Victini.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Defensive Water-types like Rotom-W, Slowbro, Pelipper, and the occasional Mantine can all check Mega Swampert incredibly well, as well as threaten it with burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald. None of these Pokemon appreciate being hit with Toxic, however. As rain will be usually be present when Mega Swampert is in use, it can also have trouble against offensive Water-types like Ash-Greninja and Crawdaunt using priority, Manaphy, and Gyarados.
**Grass-types and Grass-type Coverage**: Bulky Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and the rare Tangrowth are excellent at switching into both of Mega Swampert, resisting both of its STAB moves; however, they must be careful about switching into Ice Punch when already chipped down, especially so if entry hazards are present. Other Grass-types like Ferrothorn, Kartana, and Serperior can also threaten Swampert, but don't want to switch into the Superpower in the case of the first two and Ice Punch in the case of Serperior. Mega Alakazam can slot on Energy Ball to revenge kill Mega Swampert, utilizing Trace to copy Swift Swim and outspeed it, and although rare, Tapu Koko and Magearna can punish Mega Swampert's sense of security to switch in with Grass Knot and Energy Ball, respectively. Mega Charizard Y is a severe example of a user of Grass-type coverage, ruining Mega Swampert's Swift Swim and OHKOing it with Solar Beam.
**Rain Interruption**: Sun from Mega Charizard Y and Torkoal, sand from Tyranitar and Hippowdon, and even the rare hail from Alolan Ninetales, can all mess with rain, hindering Mega Swampert's Speed, and stripping it of the power boost to Waterfall, and even weakening it in the case of sun.
**Status**: Rotom-W and the other aforementioned Water-types can threaten to burn Mega Swampert and various Toxic users and especially Toxic Spikes from Toxapex can put it on a timer. Mega Swampert should also be aware of contact abilities like Zapdos's Static and Volcarona's Flame Body, although the second case is generally only relevant when Volcarona is being sacrificed.
**Other Walls**: Buzzwole and Rocky Helmet Skarmory avoid the 2HKO from rain-boosted Waterfall and heal off damage, though Mega Swampert can beat them with flinches. Shedinja deserves a mention, as it completely walls multiple Mega Swampert sets, although it's instantly ruined by Toxic.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zinnias.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Last edited:
