[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Primarina is an excellent offensive threat thanks to its high Special Attack, enabling it to punch holes in opposing teams with its powerful STAB combination. It also possesses a nice defensive typing and special bulk, allowing it to check many special attackers and take on a role as a setup sweeper when using Calm Mind. Primarina can sometimes struggle to stay on the field due to its poor Speed and physical bulk, but it is still a dangerous offensive threat that must be carefully managed by your opponents.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Few Pokemon can stomach the combination of Choice Specs-boosted Moonblast or Hydro Pump, allowing Primarina to severely dent or outright OHKO many Pokemon. Flip Turn allows Primarina to generate momentum for its teammates, taking advantage of most unfavorable matchups it encounters.
**Setup sweeper**: Primarina's impressive special bulk and excellent defensive typing allow it many opportunities to set up a Calm Mind, preparing it to sweep. Draining Kiss allows Primarina to stay healthy, and Psychic Noise helps break down bulky Pokemon that attempt to check Primarina. Liquid Voice turns Psychic Noise into a Water-type move if the coverage is not useful in the matchup, allowing more room for utility alongside Calm Mind, such as Substitute.
**Defensive pivot**: With defensive investment, Primarina can pivot into many attacks thanks to its great defensive typing and safely pivot to a teammate with a slow Flip Turn. Rocky Helmet can punish anticipated U-turn or Flip Turn, Assault Vest can help sponge special attacks, and Heavy-Duty Boots are useful on pivot sets if you anticipate switching Primarina into entry hazards.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Moonblast, Hydro Pump, Sparkling Aria, Surf, Draining Kiss, Alluring Voice
**Setup moves**: Calm Mind
**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Substitute, Encore, Haze
**Coverage**: Psychic, Energy Ball, Psychic Noise, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Whirlpool + Perish Song**: The combination of Whirlpool and Perish Song can be used to trap and remove pivots or troublesome Pokemon that otherwise wall Primarina, such as Toxapex, Blissey, and other specially bulky Assault Vest users.
**Aqua Jet**: Due to the combination of Moonblast and Hydro Pump being resisted by few Pokemon, Primarina rarely needs to run coverage moves, leaving ample space for other utility options. Despite Primarina's low Attack, Aqua Jet can be used to pick off weakened Fire- and Ground-types.
**Endure**: Endure + Custap Berry can be used to launch a Torrent-boosted Water-type move or surprise a faster foe attempting to KO Primarina.
**Dual screens**: Primarina can set up dual screens and subsequently pivot to a teammate with Flip Turn to maximize their effect.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs boosts Primarina's Special Attack to absurd levels, allowing it to dish out incredibly powerful Moonblast and Hydro Pump.
**Leftovers*: Leftovers allows Primarina to keep its HP high, supplement the healing gained by Draining Kiss, and is an effective pick for setup variants.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Primarina's typing leaves it vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards, and Heavy-Duty Boots allows it to switch into the field uninhibited.
**Assault Vest**: Primarina's already high Special Defense is boosted by Assault Vest, allowing it to check dangerous special attackers and retaliate with its powerful STAB attacks or safely Flip Turn to another teammate to handle the threat.
Niche Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Primarina's poor physical bulk does not allow it to take many strong physical hits, but its typing grants it numerous opportunities to punish resisted pivot moves, such as U-turn and Flip Turn, and other various weaker attackers with Rocky Helmet.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Primarina to maintain offensive investment and surprise KO an opposing Pokemon expecting to knock out Primarina. Kebia Berry allows Primarina to sponge the common Poison Jab or Gunk Shot coverage it encounters from both Urshifu formes and Greninja and subsequently KO them. Wacan or Rindo Berry can be similarly useful.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf and a Timid nature allow Primarina to outpace up to base 114 speed Pokemon. This allows Primarina to surprise OHKO or 2HKO many naturally faster Pokemon such as Garchomp, Latios, and Chi-Yu.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay can be used when running dual screens to maximize their uptime.
Tera
========
Primarina has an excellent defensive typing that grants it many opportunities to switch in to attacks during most games, which limits the need for defensive Terastallization. Additionally, its STAB combination already offers great coverage offensively, limiting the need for a different Tera Blast type. However, Primarina can still make good use of Tera both offensively and defensively. On offensive sets, Tera Water or Tera Fairy can push the damage output from its STAB moves even higher, enabling it to score more KOs that it wouldn't normally. Defensively, Primarina can make good use of many different typings, such as Tera Steel, Poison, or Fairy, to sponge hits or give it additional time to set up Calm Mind.
Draft Strategy
========
Primarina is a great choice for teams that are looking for a relatively self-sufficient wallbreaker that is capable of making extremely effective trades, thanks to the combination of its bulk, defensive typing, and offensive output. It is typically capable of securing KOs by itself, but it shines when placed on an offensive team that can safely pivot it in and provide entry hazard support to amplify its wallbreaking power.
**Cleaning partners**: Primarina's wallbreaking capability enables many sweepers to take advantage of the holes it creates in opposing teams. Faster Pokemon like Iron Boulder, Roaring Moon, and Iron Moth are excellent at cleaning up teams weakened by Primarina.
**Entry hazard setters**: With hazards set on the opponent's side of the field, Primarina's offensive prowess shines even further. Primarina can turn many 2HKOs into outright OHKOs, and the hazards add additional chip to bulky Assault Vest users attempting to switch in to sponge its attacks. Gliscor and Sandy Shocks make great partners with their access to Stealth Rock and Spikes, and Primarina covers their weaknesses to Water- and Ice-type moves.
**Physically bulky partners**: Primarina's major weakness is its poor physical bulk, making it essential to have good partners to switch in to powerful physical attackers. Garchomp and Landorus-Therian make excellent partners for Primarina, thanks to their great physical bulk and abilities—Rough Skin and Intimidate—allowing them to check physical attackers .
Checks and Counters
========
**Special walls**: Dedicated special walls or some Assault Vest users are capable of checking Choice-locked Primarina and retaliating or pivoting to a teammate. Blissey and Toxapex, in particular, can shrug off Primarina's STAB moves and set up entry hazards or inflict status on Primarina. However, many special walls can be defeated by setup variants of Primarina, so they must be cautious when switching in.
**Phazing and Encore**: Calm Mind variants of Primarina are vulnerable to Encore and phazing moves due to Primarina's low Speed and lack of access to Taunt.
**Strong physical attackers**: Primarina's poor physical bulk leaves it liable to being quickly KOed by strong physical attackers. Many of the format's Dragon- or Fighting-types are often able to power through Primarina with their secondary STAB moves or coverage options before it can react.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diviniya.618293/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price range**: 11-12 points
**Overview**: Primarina is an excellent offensive threat thanks to its high Special Attack, enabling it to punch holes in opposing teams with its powerful STAB combination. It also possesses a nice defensive typing and special bulk, allowing it to check many special attackers and take on a role as a setup sweeper when using Calm Mind. Primarina can sometimes struggle to stay on the field due to its poor Speed and physical bulk, but it is still a dangerous offensive threat that must be carefully managed by your opponents.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: Few Pokemon can stomach the combination of Choice Specs-boosted Moonblast or Hydro Pump, allowing Primarina to severely dent or outright OHKO many Pokemon. Flip Turn allows Primarina to generate momentum for its teammates, taking advantage of most unfavorable matchups it encounters.
**Setup sweeper**: Primarina's impressive special bulk and excellent defensive typing allow it many opportunities to set up a Calm Mind, preparing it to sweep. Draining Kiss allows Primarina to stay healthy, and Psychic Noise helps break down bulky Pokemon that attempt to check Primarina. Liquid Voice turns Psychic Noise into a Water-type move if the coverage is not useful in the matchup, allowing more room for utility alongside Calm Mind, such as Substitute.
**Defensive pivot**: With defensive investment, Primarina can pivot into many attacks thanks to its great defensive typing and safely pivot to a teammate with a slow Flip Turn. Rocky Helmet can punish anticipated U-turn or Flip Turn, Assault Vest can help sponge special attacks, and Heavy-Duty Boots are useful on pivot sets if you anticipate switching Primarina into entry hazards.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Moonblast, Hydro Pump, Sparkling Aria, Surf, Draining Kiss, Alluring Voice
**Setup moves**: Calm Mind
**Utility moves**: Flip Turn, Substitute, Encore, Haze
**Coverage**: Psychic, Energy Ball, Psychic Noise, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Whirlpool + Perish Song**: The combination of Whirlpool and Perish Song can be used to trap and remove pivots or troublesome Pokemon that otherwise wall Primarina, such as Toxapex, Blissey, and other specially bulky Assault Vest users.
**Aqua Jet**: Due to the combination of Moonblast and Hydro Pump being resisted by few Pokemon, Primarina rarely needs to run coverage moves, leaving ample space for other utility options. Despite Primarina's low Attack, Aqua Jet can be used to pick off weakened Fire- and Ground-types.
**Endure**: Endure + Custap Berry can be used to launch a Torrent-boosted Water-type move or surprise a faster foe attempting to KO Primarina.
**Dual screens**: Primarina can set up dual screens and subsequently pivot to a teammate with Flip Turn to maximize their effect.
Common Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs boosts Primarina's Special Attack to absurd levels, allowing it to dish out incredibly powerful Moonblast and Hydro Pump.
**Leftovers*: Leftovers allows Primarina to keep its HP high, supplement the healing gained by Draining Kiss, and is an effective pick for setup variants.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Primarina's typing leaves it vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards, and Heavy-Duty Boots allows it to switch into the field uninhibited.
**Assault Vest**: Primarina's already high Special Defense is boosted by Assault Vest, allowing it to check dangerous special attackers and retaliate with its powerful STAB attacks or safely Flip Turn to another teammate to handle the threat.
Niche Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Primarina's poor physical bulk does not allow it to take many strong physical hits, but its typing grants it numerous opportunities to punish resisted pivot moves, such as U-turn and Flip Turn, and other various weaker attackers with Rocky Helmet.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries can allow Primarina to maintain offensive investment and surprise KO an opposing Pokemon expecting to knock out Primarina. Kebia Berry allows Primarina to sponge the common Poison Jab or Gunk Shot coverage it encounters from both Urshifu formes and Greninja and subsequently KO them. Wacan or Rindo Berry can be similarly useful.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf and a Timid nature allow Primarina to outpace up to base 114 speed Pokemon. This allows Primarina to surprise OHKO or 2HKO many naturally faster Pokemon such as Garchomp, Latios, and Chi-Yu.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay can be used when running dual screens to maximize their uptime.
Tera
========
Primarina has an excellent defensive typing that grants it many opportunities to switch in to attacks during most games, which limits the need for defensive Terastallization. Additionally, its STAB combination already offers great coverage offensively, limiting the need for a different Tera Blast type. However, Primarina can still make good use of Tera both offensively and defensively. On offensive sets, Tera Water or Tera Fairy can push the damage output from its STAB moves even higher, enabling it to score more KOs that it wouldn't normally. Defensively, Primarina can make good use of many different typings, such as Tera Steel, Poison, or Fairy, to sponge hits or give it additional time to set up Calm Mind.
Draft Strategy
========
Primarina is a great choice for teams that are looking for a relatively self-sufficient wallbreaker that is capable of making extremely effective trades, thanks to the combination of its bulk, defensive typing, and offensive output. It is typically capable of securing KOs by itself, but it shines when placed on an offensive team that can safely pivot it in and provide entry hazard support to amplify its wallbreaking power.
**Cleaning partners**: Primarina's wallbreaking capability enables many sweepers to take advantage of the holes it creates in opposing teams. Faster Pokemon like Iron Boulder, Roaring Moon, and Iron Moth are excellent at cleaning up teams weakened by Primarina.
**Entry hazard setters**: With hazards set on the opponent's side of the field, Primarina's offensive prowess shines even further. Primarina can turn many 2HKOs into outright OHKOs, and the hazards add additional chip to bulky Assault Vest users attempting to switch in to sponge its attacks. Gliscor and Sandy Shocks make great partners with their access to Stealth Rock and Spikes, and Primarina covers their weaknesses to Water- and Ice-type moves.
**Physically bulky partners**: Primarina's major weakness is its poor physical bulk, making it essential to have good partners to switch in to powerful physical attackers. Garchomp and Landorus-Therian make excellent partners for Primarina, thanks to their great physical bulk and abilities—Rough Skin and Intimidate—allowing them to check physical attackers .
Checks and Counters
========
**Special walls**: Dedicated special walls or some Assault Vest users are capable of checking Choice-locked Primarina and retaliating or pivoting to a teammate. Blissey and Toxapex, in particular, can shrug off Primarina's STAB moves and set up entry hazards or inflict status on Primarina. However, many special walls can be defeated by setup variants of Primarina, so they must be cautious when switching in.
**Phazing and Encore**: Calm Mind variants of Primarina are vulnerable to Encore and phazing moves due to Primarina's low Speed and lack of access to Taunt.
**Strong physical attackers**: Primarina's poor physical bulk leaves it liable to being quickly KOed by strong physical attackers. Many of the format's Dragon- or Fighting-types are often able to power through Primarina with their secondary STAB moves or coverage options before it can react.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/diviniya.618293/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hacker.387847/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
