
QC: Hootie / daddy's kisses / p2
GP: Calm Pokemaster
[OVERVIEW]
- Good STAB combination and high Special Attack make Primarina a powerful wallbreaker.
- Useful coverage options allow it to threaten its common checks.
- Solid special bulk combined with resistances to Dark, Water, Fire, and Fighting and an immunity to Dragon allow Primarina to check common OU threats such as Keldeo, Latios, and Heatran.
- Base 60 Speed leaves it outsped by a large part of the metagame.
- Mediocre physical bulk means it's 2HKOed by most physical attackers, but it can still check threats like Weavile and +1 Mega Charizard X due to its typing.
- Primarina faces competition from Azumarill as a Water / Fairy type bulky wallbreaker; it is slightly faster and can deal better with Grass- and Poison-types, while Azumarill is stronger and can also act as a sweeper with Belly Drum.
- It is checked by common Electric- and Grass-types, such as Tapu Koko and Mega Venusaur.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest
evs: 172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Hydro Pump is Primarina's most powerful move and deals great damage to most of the metagame, despite having shaky accuracy.
- Moonblast is another powerful STAB, OHKOing threats such as Latios, Mega Gyarados, and Keldeo.
- Psychic is used to target Poison-types that resist Primarina's STAB moves, 2HKOing Toxapex, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss.
- Hidden Power Fire is its only option to hit Ferrothorn, which otherwise walls Primarina completely.
- If hitting Ferrothorn isn't needed, Scald can be used in the last slot for a more reliable Water STAB with a good chance to cripple switch-ins with a burn.
Set Details
========
- 84 Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed base 70 Speed Pokemon with no investment, such as Skarmory and Mantine.
- Maximum Special Attack along with a Modest nature maximize its power.
- The rest of the EVs are placed in HP to improve Primarina's bulk, allowing it to better take hits from the likes of Keldeo and Hydreigon.
- Choice Specs is used to boost Primarina's wallbreaking potential.
- Torrent is Primarina's only available ability, powering up Hydro Pump when it's weakened.
- More Speed can be run to outpace certain threats, at the cost of some bulk. 212 EVs make Primarina faster than uninvested Rotom-W and most Mega Venusaur variants.
Usage Tips
=======
- Primarina should be used to punch holes in the opposing team in the early- and mid-game for a teammate to clean later.
- Use the appropriate coverage move if you predict a switch to a bulky Grass- or Poison-type, such as Ferrothorn or Toxapex; otherwise, Primarina should mostly just use its STAB moves.
- Be careful of giving setup opportunities by locking Primarina into the weaker coverage moves.
- It can be used as an offensive check to Fire-, Dragon-, Dark-, and Water-types, such as Heatran, Latios, Mega Gyarados, and Keldeo.
- Since it has no recovery, be careful of repeatedly switching Primarina in directly into attacks, as it's very easily worn down; bringing it in on a double switch or with VoltTurn support is preferred.
Team Options
=======
- Primarina fits well on bulky offense teams that appreciate its set of resistances and wallbreaking power.
- Pokemon that can threaten Grass- and Poison-types, such as Latios, Mega Alakazam and Mega Charizard X, are good partners for Primarina.
- Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Tangrowth can handle Electric-types while taking advantage of the removal of Heatran.
- Cleaners and setup sweepers such as Tapu Koko, Pheromosa, and Mega Charizard X appreciate having the opposing team weakened. Mega Charizard X also benefits from Primarina's ability to switch into and deal with Heatran, while the first two enjoy the removal of Alolan Marowak.
- Landorus-T and Jirachi can provide Stealth Rock support and get Primarina in safely with U-turn. Jirachi can also switch into Mega Venusaur and fully heal a weakened Primarina with Healing Wish.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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- Energy Ball can be used to hit Water-types such as Tapu Fini and Manaphy harder, but they are already 2HKOed by Moonblast.
- Ice Beam hits Assault Vest Tangrowth and Tornadus-T for super effective damage, but since it's only neutral against Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn, the other coverage options are usually better.
- Expert Belt is an option to enable Primarina to switch moves and potentially bluff Choice Specs, but the power drop makes it unappealing.
- Defensive sets suffer from lack of recovery other than Rest and are also outclassed by Tapu Fini.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass- and Poison-types**: Although they are threatened by its coverage moves, the likes of Toxapex, Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Mega Venusaur can easily take Primarina's STAB moves and force it out.
**Electric-types**: Tapu Koko, Thundurus, and Xurkitree can OHKO Primarina with ease, but they can't switch in directly.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Chansey can switch in on any of Primarina's moves taking almost no damage and can wear it down with Seismic Toss. Specially defensive Mew can stall out Hydro Pump while Knocking Off Choice Specs to weaken Primarina's attacks and slowly wearing it down with burns.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Due to its low physical bulk, Primarina cannot take strong neutral physical hits, such as Choice Band Tyranitar's Stone Edge or Mega Pinsir's Return.
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