[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Ice Beam / Psychic
move 4: Scald / Flip Turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest
evs: 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs Primarina is a powerful wallbreaker due to its good Special Attack, great STAB combination only resisted by Amoonguss, Roserade, and Volcanion and high base power moves that heavily threatens common defensive Pokemon like Swampert, Scizor, and Rotom-W. However, Primarina is very slow, being forced to take damage most of the time to get off its attacks, reducing its opportunities to wallbreak. Moreover, pivots like Slowking and Assault Vest Tangrowth can scout Primarina's attacks and switch in to a suitable partner. Hydro Pump deals serious damage against Pokemon that do not resist it, notably 2HKOing Swampert, Celesteela, and even Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro after Stealth Rock damage. Moonblast hits Water- and Grass-types like Slowking, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Rotom-W. Ice Beam is used to hit Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth, but Psychic can be considered to hit Tentacruel as well. Scald is a great tool to burn and wear down common switch-ins like Amoonguss, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Slowking, being excellent to finish off a foe if missing a Hydro Pump could be risky, while Flip Turn allows it to pivot out of unfavorable matchups and bring another teammate like Moltres, Rotom-H, and Galarian Moltres against the aforementioned Pokemon. The given EV spread allows Primarina to outspeed Gligar.
Primarina fits best on bulky offense teams that appreciate a strong wallbreaker that can pressure common defensive cores with its high powered moves. Pivots are mandatory since they can bring in Primarina in safely with U-turn, so Pokemon like Scizor and Blaziken that can lure in Steel- and Ground-types like Skarmory, Swampert, and Hippowdon make for good options. Ground-types like Krookodile and Rhyperior can use Stealth Rock to wear down common checks to Primarina such as Assault Vest Galarian Slowbro and Assault Vest Tangrowth, putting them in range of Hydro Pump and Moonblast, respectively. Rhyperior can also check Electric-types that force out Primarina such as Mega Manectric and Zeraora. Pursuit support is valuable to trap common specially defensive walls like Slowking, so Pokemon like Choice Band Krookodile and Choice Band Bisharp are appreciated. Defoggers like Salamence and Scizor can remove entry hazards that annoy Primarina, with the latter also providing slow pivot with U-turn against Fire- and Steel-types like Moltres and Skarmory. Finally, Fire-types like Rotom-H and Moltres can beat common Grass-types that can check Primarina, while also providing pivot support to it.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Scald
move 4: Moonblast / Draining Kiss
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This Primarina set aims to pressure common passive checks like Amoonguss and Slowking through the combination of Substitute + Calm Mind, using common Pokemon that can't threaten it like Salamence, Moltres, and Skarmory as setup fodder, while also having good defensive utility by checking the aforementioned foes. Substitute lets it avoid status from Amoonguss and Swampert. At +1, Amoonguss can't break Primarina's Substitute with Giga Drain or with Sludge Bomb at +2. Scald is used to burn and wear down common switch-ins to Primarina such as Assault Vest Tangrowth and Rotom-W. Moonblast is a powerful secondary STAB that lets it threaten Water-resistant Pokemon like Rotom-W without relying on Calm Mind boosts, while Drainining Kiss can be used to recover HP and use Substitute more often. However, Draining Kiss is much weaker and relies on multiple Calm Mind boosts to do significant damage. Leftovers provide passive recovery and lets Primarina use Substitute more often throughout the game. The given EV spread lets Primarina outspeed uninvested Aegislash and avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Urshifu-R's Close Combat after Stealth Rock most of the time.
Calm Mind Primarina fits best on balance teams that appreciate its defensive utility and sweeping potential against more defensive teams, using Substitute against Pokemon that it forces out like Moltres, Hippowdon, and Skarmory, proceeding to set up with Calm Mind if its checks are too weakened to deal with it. Pokemon like Zeraora and Zarude can threaten Primarina, making Grass-types like Amoonguss and Tangrowth solid partners. In return, they appreciate Primarina's ability to consistenly deal with Moltres and Salamence. Moltres, Rotom-H, and Salamence can provide entry hazard control and reduce Primarina's tendence to be worn down by entry hazards. The former two also enjoy Primarina checking Urshifu-R and Keldeo for them. Pokemon that can pressure early-on Grass-types like Amoonguss and Tangrowth are good partners, good examples include Mamoswine and Salamence. Finally, Toxic Spikes support from Nihilego and Nidoqueen can aid Primarina's sweep by putting on a timer offensive checks such as Tapu Bulu and Choice Scarf Zarude.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Sparkling Aria can be used to bypass Substitute from Pokemon like Aegislash, but it's not worthy losing Scald since without it Primarina can't cripple its checks like Amoonguss and Tangrowth.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Tangrowth can reliably switch into Primarina's STAB moves and pressure it with super effective attacks or cripple it with Spore or Knock Off, respectively. Tangrowth can even opt to use Power Whip to bypass Primarina's Calm Mind boosts. However, they must watch out for Primarina's coverage, as Ice Beam easily 2HKOes Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth..
**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Rotom-W, Zeraora, and Mega Manectric can easily force Primarina out with their attacks and generate momentum with Volt Switch. However, they can often struggle to switch into Primarina's attacks, especially Moonblast.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Primarina's low Speed, faster Pokemon like Zarude, Nihilego, and Zeraora can outspeed Primarina and threaten to KO it with their STAB moves
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards limits Primarina's wallbreaking attempts and Toxic from Pokemon such as Moltres, Hippowdon, and Skarmory can put Primarina on a timer, making a sweep almost impossible.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Pubo, 535121]]
- Quality checked by: [[Arishem, 546157], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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