CHECK
Utility Jirachi
![:Jirachi:](/forums/media/minisprites/jirachi.png.m.1716648629)
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Def / 224 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Body Slam
- Iron Head
- Wish
- U-turn
Mixed Salamence is very threatening and sticks around for a long time if it’s able to keep healthy with roost. Jirachi is arguably the most splashable steel type to keep Mence at bay that fits on the most amount of teams, but must be careful of Mence’s EQ. The goal with this set is to pivot in on Mence’s Draco or Hurricane instead by luring the attack with another teammate, or threatening mence out with Body Slam Paralysis if it clicks EQ predicting the switch to Jirachi, which it can live 2 of after rocks most of the time:
4 Atk Salamence Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 32 Def Jirachi: 180-214 (44.5 - 52.9%) -- 26.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Wish can be used to keep Jirachi healthy, especially if Jirachi can paralyze an incoming target with body slam, throw up a wish, and flinch the target on the turn wish is healing. Jirachi is not the sturdiest answer to mence, but it can force specific plays from the opponent like going into their electric or ghost type to block body slam para and letting Jirachi get back momentum with U-turn.
COUNTER
Calm Mind Cresselia
![:cresselia:](/forums/media/minisprites/cresselia.png.m.1716648629)
Cresselia (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 248 HP / 44 Def / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Moonblast
- Moonlight
Cresselia is able to take on special Mence as long as its Moonlight PP is available and sand or rain aren’t up. Cress comes in on any of Mence’s attacks and can either Moonlight to full health or choose to start setting up CMs if the opponents team has been weakened enough that they can’t stop her. Salamence’s strongest move to hit cress is Draco which it cannot click twice
252 SpA Salamence Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Cresselia: 162-192 (36.5 - 43.3%) -- 98.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Hurricane is doing even less, and Mence must rely on confusion and hurricane accuracy to have any chance at keeping Cress low. Cress is great for teams that don’t have the sturdiest steel type into Salamence like Cobalion or Bisharp as she can switch in on mence and prevent it from making progress. Even if Mence wants to Tera steel, it still risks being setup fodder if it stays in for too long. Mind you that Cress only needs HP investment to stop Mence, and so it can invest in physical bulk to make it even harder for Mence’s physical teammates that will need to hit it hard and fast once Cress begins to boost its Special Defense.