
QC: PK Gaming / p2 / Colonel M
GP: P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
* Whimsicott's access to a vast supportive movepool, in tandem with its ability Prankster, allows it to function well on Baton Pass teams by disrupting the opponent while supporting its team.
* Its Grass / Fairy typing provides Whimsicott with six resistances (most notably to Water and Ground) along with an immunity to Dragon. However, this typing also makes Whimsicott vulnerable to common Steel-, Fire-, and Flying-types while suffering a 4x weakness to Poison.
* Whimsicott's base 116 Speed is useful for outspeeding Pokemon such as Mew, Tapu Fini, and Rotom-W if you opt for Infiltrator over Prankster.
* Whimsicott fits in a small niche as a Pokemon that can support Baton Pass teams well and not much else.
* Whimsicott sports mediocre natural bulk as well as no reliable recovery, which makes it harder for it to survive.
* The nerf to Prankster benefitting Dark-types such as Bisharp, Greninja, and Mega Gyarados along with the addition of Psychic Terrain makes it harder for Whimsicott to utilize its supportive moveset.
[SET]
name: Baton Pass Support
move 1: Memento
move 2: Tailwind
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Encore
item: Focus Sash / Darkinium Z
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Memento allows Whimsicott to safely bring in a Baton Pass or setup user while also providing them a safe way to boost up at the expense of Whimsicott.
* Tailwind provides an easier time for boosting Pokemon such as Scolipede and Mew. It can also be used to warm up the game by providing a Speed boost to Pokemon such as Kyurem-B and Mega Metagross.
* Taunt can be used to cripple defensive Pokemon such as Chansey and Toxapex while also protecting Whimsicott from opposing Taunt due to Prankster.
* Encore is used to lock down other boosting Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Quiver Dance Pheromosa, and Landorus-T as well as punishing entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory.
Set Details
========
* Full investment in Speed allows Whimsicott to quickly set up Tailwind, Taunt, or Encore before falling. It is also crucial for Infiltrator variants to have as much Speed as possible to outspeed Pokemon such as Tapu Fini and Mew.
* Full investment in HP maximizes Whimsicott's bulk, allowing it to take a few hits from neutral coverage or uninvested attacks.
* Prankster is the ability of choice due to its synergy with Whimsicott's supportive movepool.
* Since Whimsicott is naturally fast, Infiltrator can be used over Prankster to allow Whimsicott to bypass Psychic Terrain and Dark-types. However, Prankster is still superior in most cases because it guarantees Whimsicott will be able to use its moves due to the added priority.
* Focus Sash guarantees Whimsicott is at least able to set up Tailwind and cripple its foe with Memento.
* Darkinium Z can be used instead due to its synergy with Memento, allowing Whimsicott to fully restore an ally's health while crippling the foe.
Usage Tips
========
* Whimsicott is exclusively used as a support Pokemon on Baton Pass teams.
* If running a Focus Sash, Whimsicott can be used as a suicide lead to quickly setup Tailwind and then Memento on out to a set up or Baton Pass user. On the other hand, Darkinium Z variants are able to repeatedly disrupt the foe and then pivot out with Z-Memento when it's time.
* Switch Whimsicott into setup sweepers such as Landorus-T, Clefable, and Zygarde to lock them into their respective boosting moves.
* Whimsicott can also cripple the tier's multitude of defensive Pokemon such as Amoonguss, Toxapex, and Chansey with Encore or Taunt, allowing its team to use them as setup bait.
* Remember that Whimsicott will still be able to Taunt or Encore airborne Pokemon such as Skarmory and Gliscor under Psychic Terrain.
Team Options
========
* Scolipede and Mew are the tier's most prominent Baton Pass users that appreciate Whimsicott's support. Tailwind allows both of them to outspeed threats to provide them an easier time to set up, while Memento or Z-Memento helps bring them in to set up safely.
* If the initial Baton Pass strategy fails, Baton Pass boost recipients such as Necrozma, Mega Metagross, and Manaphy can still function well with Tailwind and Memento support from Whimsicott.
* Whimsicott can help safely bring in setup sweepers such as Mega Charizard X, Volcarona, and Mega Pinsir with Memento. They also appreciate Tailwind since it will also allow them to outspeed their threats to either recover up or boost up further.
* Midrange Speed Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, Hoopa-U, and Zygarde are able to outspeed faster threats such as Pheromosa, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and Dugtrio under Whimsicott's Tailwind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Whimsicott can opt for a utility pivot set that fully emphasizes Prankster. The moveset be Moonblast / U-Turn / Encore / Stun Spore with Leftovers alongside full investment in both HP and Defense.
* The combination of Substitute and Leech Seed takes advantage of Prankster, allowing Whimsicott to catch a switch-in with Leech Seed and proceed to stall its foe out with Substitute. However, this set causes Whimsicott to be vulnerable to Grass- and Dark-types, since it will be unable to do anything to them.
* Knock Off allows Whimsicott to catch an incoming switch-in to remove their item.
* Switcheroo + a Choice item or Lagging Tail can be used to cripple the tier's multitude of fast or item-reliant Pokemon such as Chansey, Alolan Marowak, Pheromosa, and Greninja.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Greninja, Mega Gyarados, and Hoopa-U can easily switch into Whimsicott's supportive moves or use it as setup bait due to their immunity to moves affected by Prankster. Bisharp does not mind the stat drops from Memento due to Defiant and can easily set up on Whimsicott. Meanwhile, Mandibuzz does not have to worry about Taunt while being able to Taunt Whimsicott itself.
**Psychic Terrain**: Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain nullifies the effects of Prankster for all grounded targets, which also allows them them to freely switch in to Whimsicott.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Celesteela, Magnezone, and Heatran are able to threaten Whimsicott out with their Steel-type STAB moves. However, Mega Scizor and Kartana must be wary of being locked into Swords Dance when Whimsicott is able to switch in freely while they set up.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as both formes of Mega Charizard, Alolan Marowak, and Volcanion threaten Whimsicott with a Fire-type STAB move. However, Mega Charizard X and Volcarona must be wary of being locked into their respective boosting moves.
**Fast Priority Attackers**: Fast attackers with access to priority such as Mega Scizor, Mega Pinsir, Mamoswine, and Weavile are capable of knocking out Whimsicott after some prior damage.
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