[OVERVIEW]
Few Pokemon resist Primarina's STAB combination of Water and Fairy, making it a massive threat capable of threatening defensive Pokemon such as Jirachi, Celesteela, and Kommo-o. Its typing also shines defensively, allowing it to face Pokemon such as Keldeo and Kommo-o. Psychic covers the only answers to its STAB combination in Amoonguss and Tentacruel, and Calm Mind allows it to more easily get past common checks such as Tangrowth, Amoonguss, and Slowking. Calm Mind also punishes the aforementioned checks when they try to switch in to scout for Choice Specs sets. Unfortunately, Primarina has very low Speed, often forcing it to take a hit from Pokemon it's supposed to answer, such as Keldeo, before KOing them back. Its similarly low Defense stat makes it 2HKOed by even resisted hits such as Choice Specs Keldeo's Secret Sword after Stealth Rock damage and Crawdaunt's Crabhammer, so it can't check them well despite having the type advantage. Primarina faces some competition from Azumarill as a Water- and Fairy-type wallbreaker, as Azumarill acts a physical wallbreaker, can pressure walls with Knock Off, and has priority in Aqua Jet to make up for the lack of Speed, letting it check Pokemon like Nihilego and Lycanroc-D a lot more comfortably.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Scald
item: Choice Specs
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Psychic does copious amounts of damage to would-be checks in Amoonguss and Tentacruel. After Stealth Rock, Amoonguss risks being OHKOed. Scald is used as a reliable Water-type move when risking Hydro Pump is unnecessary. It also has a 30% chance to burn switch-ins, making it so Primarina can take physical attacks a bit better and wear down Amoonguss, Tangrowth, and Tentacruel. A Modest nature lets Primarina 2HKO Pokemon like Celesteela and specially defensive Jirachi with Hydro Pump, but a Timid nature lets it outspeed Adamant Bisharp and Modest Volcanion.
This set aims to punch holes through the raw power of Primarina's Choice Specs-boosted moves. Tapu Bulu and Scizor appreciate Primarina's ability to power through their checks in Celesteela and Jirachi. In return, Swords Dance Tapu Bulu removes Amoonguss with +2 Zen Headbutt, while Knock Off Scizor removes Tentacruel's Black Sludge and Volcanion's Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off, making it so Primarina can pressure them more easily. Scizor also acts a check to Kyurem, one of the few Dragon-types that can actually threaten Primarina. Chandelure beats Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth,(AC) and some variants pressure Chansey for Primarina. Zeraora hits Water-types such as Tentacruel and Volcanion. Scizor can bring in Primarina safely with U-turn in front of Pokemon like Salamence and Celesteela, making up for its low Speed. Ground-types such as Rhyperior handle Electric-types like Zeraora and Thundurus-T. Rhyperior can also set Stealth Rock up to help Primarina wallbreak. Amoonguss and Tangrowth deal with Tapu Bulu for Primarina. Chansey walls Primarina effortlessly, so Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Kommo-o can be used to threaten it. Primarina can be easily worn down by entry hazards, so a Wish passer like Jirachi can help it stay in the match for longer. In the same vein, entry hazard removers like Salamence and Tentacruel extend Primarina's longevity. Hazard setters in Skarmory and Kommo-o wear down Primarina's checks like Amoonguss and Tangrowth through Spikes and Stealth Rock,(AC) respectively.
[SET]
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Scald
move 4: Psychic
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind is used to let Primarina get past checks like Assault Vest Tangrowth and Tentacruel. Scald is a reliable Water-type STAB move and can help wear down checks like Assault Vest Tangrowth and Amoonguss with its burn chance. Psychic easily 2HKOes Amoonguss and OHKO it at +1 after Stealth Rock damage, while Tentacruel gets easily worn down due to a lack of reliable recovery. It also helps Primarina against neutral targets such as Volcanion. If your team lacks consistent entry hazard removal, Heavy-Duty Boots can be run as a way to check threats like Keldeo and Salamence with more consistency. Leftovers can be used if your team can reliably remove hazards for Primarina. A Modest nature lets Primarina 2HKO Pokemon like Celesteela and specially defensive Jirachi with Hydro Pump, but a Timid nature lets it outspeed Modest Volcanion and Magnezone.
This set fits nicely on balance and bulky offense teams, since Primarina can utilize its good defensive typing and Special Defense to switch into Suicune and moves like Flamethrower from defensive Salamence and Kommo-o to then set up or hit them back. Nidoqueen, Nihilego, and Tentacruel are fine teammates for Primarina. The first two can set Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes to help Primarina break through the opposing team, while Tentacruel can remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin, which is especially helpful if Leftovers is chosen in place of Heavy-Duty Boots. If running Leftovers, Salamence makes a great teammate and Defogger, acting as a check to Pokemon like Scizor. Due to Primarina's bad Defense and Speed, it appreciates pivots like Scizor, Jirachi, and Zeraora. Jirachi and Zeraora bring Primarina in against Pokemon like Salamence and Kommo-o so it can attack or set up. Strong wallbreakers like Crawdaunt, Mamoswine, Swords Dance Scizor, and Swords Dance Tapu Bulu help Primarina by breaking through Chansey and Mantine, which easily wall it. Because Primarina's Defense is suboptimal, other checks to Fighting-types such as Tapu Bulu and Amoonguss are appreciated. These two can also deal with Zeraora. Ground- and Grass-types like Nidoqueen, Krookodile, and Amoonguss can pivot into Electric-type moves in place of Primarina.
[SET]
name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Draining Kiss / Moonblast
move 4: Scald
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 24 SpA / 16 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute lets Primarina avoid sleep- and poison-inducing moves, which would otherwise cripple it and prevent it from sweeping with Calm Mind. Common checks like Amoonguss and Slowking can't deal with Primarina if it uses Substitute as they come in, as Primarina is faster and can set up with Calm Mind. Substitute also eases prediction when forcing switches from Pokemon like Salamence and Kommo-o. Draining Kiss aids Primarina in recovering HP, allowing it to take more hits and use Substitute if needed. However, Draining Kiss is a very weak move and will only pose a threat to many Pokemon if Primarina has accumulated enough boosts. Moonblast, on the other hand, is very powerful from the start and lets Primarina not rely too much on Calm Mind boosts to threaten Water-resistant Pokemon like Tangrowth and Rotom-W. Moonblast especially helps Primarina against Rocky Helmet Tangrowth, which damages Draining Kiss Primarina. Scald is a reliable Water-type move, capable of burning physical attackers like Scizor and easing Primarina's matchup against them. It also helps to whittle down defensive Pokemon trying to check it, like Tentacruel, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Amoonguss. Leftovers compensates the 25% loss in HP from Substitute. With the given EV spread, a Calm nature, and Draining Kiss and Leftovers recovery, Primarina is able to beat Amoonguss one-on-one as long as it avoids Sludge Bomb poison. However, it has to play around Spore and hope to not get poisoned by Sludge Bomb before it gets a second Calm Mind boost, as after only one boost, Sludge Bomb will break the Substitute. The Speed EVs let Primarina outspeed Crawdaunt and Azumarill, and the rest are put in Special Attack to increase Primarina's wallbreaking power.
Substitute + Calm Mind Primarina fits best on bulky offense and balance teams, as its ability to come in on moves like Draco Meteor from Salamence is greatly appreciated by other teammates. By switching on these moves, Primarina can either get a Substitute up or set up with Calm Mind if its checks have been eliminated or weakened. Poison-types like Nihilego and Nidoqueen help Primarina by absorbing annoying Toxic Spikes and setting up their own or Stealth Rock. Tentacruel is especially helpful, as it can spin away other hazards that bother Primarina. Strong wallbreakers like Mamoswine, Nidoqueen, and Kyurem can get past bulky Grass-types such as Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Electric-types such as Zeraora and Thundurus force Primarina out of the field if it doesn't have a Substitute up, so Pokemon like Rhyperior take care of them. Rhyperior can also set Stealth Rock to aid Primarina in its sweep and get past Primarina's best counter in Chansey with Swords Dance. Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Quagsire can take on strong physical attackers such as Azumarill, Diggersby, and Mamoswine for Primarina. Tangrowth cripples them with Knock Off and Sleep Powder, (comma) while Skarmory and Kommo-o can set up Spikes or Stealth Rock. Chansey is extremely annoying, as it can take boosted hits with ease and threaten Primarina back with Toxic and Seismic Toss. Conkeldurr, Close Combat Zeraora, and Swords Dance Diggersby are powerful wallbreakers that can muscle through Chansey and remove it for Primarina.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A RestTalk set with Moonblast and either Scald or Calm Mind as the last move and a spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA gives Primarina more bulk to deal with physical attackers like Lycanroc-D, but it is generally worse because Primarina doesn't have a usable Defense stat to being with, and not having any Speed investment makes it slower than Pokemon such as Celesteela, Modest Magnezone, and Adamant Bisharp. Even with maximum Defense investment, Primarina is still 2HKOed by Pokemon like Mamoswine and Azumarill. Flip Turn is an option on Choice Specs Primarina, often easing predictions against its checks. However, Flip Turn is really only helpful against Chansey, as Primarina's other checks fear its coverage moves. Sparkling Aria is stronger than Scald and bypasses Substitute, but Scald's burn chance is a big help against checks like Amoonguss, Tentacruel, and Tapu Bulu. Substitute is also an uncommon move, so Primarina won't have many situations where Sparkling Aria would be more useful.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Chansey**: Primarina's best counter is Chansey, as it can stomach even a Choice Specs-boosted Hydro Pump with ease. Chansey also easily beats Substitute Primarina, as it can break the Substitute with Seismic Toss and scare Primarina away with Toxic. Primarina gives Chansey free turns to set up Stealth Rock, heal itself with Soft-Boiled, and bring in teammates with Teleport. Chansey does have to be wary of Torrent-boosted Hydro Pump, though, as it 2HKOes after Stealth Rock damage.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss and Assault Vest Tangrowth can cripple Primarina with Giga Drain, Sludge Bomb, and their sleep-inducing moves. Both can take on Primarina's STAB moves, but they have to scout for Choice Specs sets, as Psychic 2HKOes Amoonguss, while Moonblast 2HKOes Assault Vest Tangrowth after Stealth Rock damage. Tapu Bulu outspeeds Primarina and can OHKO it with Horn Leech, but it doesn't like switching directly into Moonblast or risking Scald burns.
**Water-types**: Rotom-W can pivot into Primarina's Water-type moves and threaten it with Volt Switch in order to bring in a teammate like Tangrowth, but it is scared of Moonblast. Tentacruel eats any hit Primarina throws at it except Psychic. It also outspeeds Primarina and can pressure it with Sludge Bomb and Knock Off. Slowking can take any hit from Primarina except multiple Moonblasts and use Teleport to switch to a teammate like Zeraora, use Future Sight, or fish for a Scald burn while healing itself with Slack Off. Volcanion is only bothered by Psychic and can 2HKO Primarina with Sludge Wave.
**Faster Pokemon and Physical Attackers**: Faster physical attackers such as Mamoswine, Zeraora, Lycanroc-D and Tapu Bulu threaten Primarina with their powerful STAB moves. Other faster Pokemon such as Nihilego, Thundurus-T, and Venusaur threaten Primarina with their strong STAB attacks despite its good Special Defense.
**Electric-types**: Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, and Zeraora outspeed Primarina, 2HKO or OHKO it with their attacks, and generate momentum with Volt Switch.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Bandkrook, 301217]]
- Quality checked by: [[Twilight, 344575], [Hilomilo, 313384], [Estarossa, 461329]]
- Grammar checked by: [[CryoGyro, 331519], [Milak, 262594]]
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