Named after that zany Ravenclaw, Luna has been the Jynx set of choice since the early stages of Advance play and is expected to maintain its standard status in the newest generation of the Pokémon series. The idea is to bring Luna into the match, set up with Substitute and Calm Mind and eventually sweep with Jynx’s good Speed and boosted Special Attack. Calm Mind and Substitute will make her generally impervious to special attacks after a few boosts and Lovely Kiss will put your opponent’s counter Pokémon out of commission for the few turns needed to execute the all-important set-up. Ice Beam is the obvious choice for the last slot because of STAB and coverage.
Choice Specs will give Jynx a very healthy Special Attack stat and allows you to use four attacking moves; which can be a benefit to as it improves coverage. Ice Beam and Psychic are chosen for STAB. The last two slots are filled by a Fighting and Ghost move which is unresisted by any Pokemon. Shadow Ball can put dents in other Psychic-types like Hypno and Grumpig, especially the latter since it usually has Thick Fat. The Fighting move is generally for Steel-types and Pokemon like Sharpedo that can take all your other attacks. Focus Blast obviously has the greater power and secondary effect, but due to its rather poor accuracy Hidden Power Fighting is an option. If you use this set, it’s advised that you play extremely carefully. Firing off Psychic randomly can put you in a world of trouble if a Dark-type with Pursuit switches in, such as Absol.
If Speed is what you desire, then the Choice Scarf Jynx might be more your taste. The extra speed will allow you to revenge kill potential threats to your team that might not be possible if using another set. (Such as fast Flying-types like Aerodactyl, Swellow or Jumpluff). Another benefit to Choice Scarf is access to a fast Sleep inducing move, and a rather accurate one at that in Lovely Kiss, when compared with most other Sleep inducing moves. The choice between Focus Blast and Hidden Power Fighting is again purely down to if you think the drop in accuracy is worth more power. Ice Beam is obviously Jynx’s best attack and should be on every set. The final move depends on whether you prefer the type coverage that Fighting and Ghost provides, or the STAB from Psychic. It should be noted that Hypno will most definitely wall this set if you choose Psychic, it even has a good chance of walling this set if you do run Shadow Ball. So it’s advised you try and integrate a Pursuit user into your team to deal with this.
The fabulous thing about this set is that everyone is so keen to switch Blissey into Luna that they do not even consider Jynx’s perish trapping talents—a fatal error for the eminent special wall. This set really is pretty simple in principle, though significantly less so in practice. Bring her into the match against a Pokémon that will be forced to switch out, use the appropriate moves to trap, incapacitate, and eventually enact Perish Song. Substitute is key to help Jynx wait out the requisite three turns of Perish Song and guard against Pursuit.
This set is only recommended for a starting Jynx. Against a faster physical opponent such as Weavile, Counter straight away for a free kill. Slower enemies may want to switch out to avoid Lovely Kiss, so to avoid tipping your hand right away you'll want either Ice Beam or Lovely Kiss. Protect works to scout what kind of Choice item that Heracross is wearing today as well as numerous other leads. If you want to use this later in the match, be sure to bring a weather changer (preferably Abomasnow) and a solid Rapid Spinner. The beauty of Jynx as a Counter/Focus Sash Pokemon over, for example, Gengar, is its immunity to Hail. The Sand Stream problem is still there, however. If you're using aforementioned Abomasnow to support this Jynx, you'll find that 100% accurate Blizzard more up your alley than Ice Beam.
Jynx's straight-out offensive options are often forgotten in spite of a safer set using Lovely Kiss. However, this set possesses both raw power and coverage. Calm Mind is often easy for Jynx to set up, as many Pokémon fear her Lovely Kiss. After a sole Calm Mind, Jynx will have a Special Attack stat of 493, which is further boosted by Life Orb. Psychic is a typical STAB move that allows for an easy OHKO on 252 HP / 0 SpD Hitmontop, and nabs an OHKO on Muk after a Calm Mind with Stealth Rock. After one Calm Mind, Jynx will also OHKO 252 HP / 0 SpD Clefable with Focus Blast (provided it doesn't miss), who may want to switch in to other Jynx sets whilst holding a Toxic Orb, thus rendering it safe from Lovely Kiss. Shadow Ball allows Jynx to 2HKO Hypno after a boost, as well as doing a sizable chunk of damage to Claydol, if you are using it over Ice Beam. Jynx will also beat many of the common special walls with this set. Standard Mantine can only manage a substandard amount of damage to Jynx once it has a Calm Mind under its belt, maxing at 26% with Surf. If Jynx manages to get a Calm Mind on the switch, it can Calm Mind again before Mantine Surfs, and thus take only 19% max. Once Jynx has two Calm Minds, it can deal 59% to Mantine, a definite 2HKO. If played correctly, Jynx ends up with at least 42% of its health under these circumstances, whilst Mantine will end up fainted. With the opponent's special wall down, Jynx can then attempt a sweep for the next five turns, with the opponent having no more than five Pokémon. Lanturn too is faced with similar dilemmas, presuming it switches into Jynx upon a Calm Mind. Jynx gets another, and then takes a maximum of 22% from Surf, allowing Jynx to get one more Calm Mind, in which Jynx takes up to 18%. At this point Jynx still has 60% health, and possesses +3 Special Attack, +3 Special Defense, with Life Orb and three moves at its disposal. Psychic then has a 58% chance to OHKO Lanturn. It should be noted that most Lanturn will carry Thunder Wave though, or possibly Toxic. Ice Beam however, may be used to hit Claydol harder, and extremely damage Altaria, and Grass-types, if they threaten your team in particular. Ice Beam also provides a slightly stronger STAB attack over Psychic. Expert Belt can be used, especially if you are extremely worried about Jynx's Stealth Rock weakness, but it loses a lot of power on foes which it cannot hit for super effective damage, such as Mantine. Other OptionsGrass Knot is really the only other offensive option Jynx has, but its only benefit is to damage Pokemon like Quagsire and Gastrodon more than your other attacks; though they’ll be lucky to survive boosted Ice Beams. Fake Tears could be used over Calm Mind to force more switches, but isn’t really recommended. Light Screen and Reflect are usable for general team support, but Jynx isn’t the most durable of Pokemon. Taunt can prevent phazers and status from ruining your fun, where as Wish is an option to restore health (whether it is Jynx’s or other team members). EVsViable spreads have been listed with each set. Note that the Choice Scarf version has the luxury of being Modest instead of Timid, but in most cases, Speed is Jynx’s primary concern. Also, one should always use Forewarn over Oblivious as it will allow you to scout your opponent Pokémon’s move of the highest base power. While this isn’t as great as many of us were hoping, one can discern quite a bit an opponent Pokémon by learning just one of the moves—think how valuable it would be to learn whether or not Salamence is packing Draco Meteor before it attacks. OpinionJynx took something of a hit in the transition from Advance. Stealth Rock, the ubiquity of Sandstorm, and the Special Defense boosts afforded to Rock-types like Tyranitar are all things that make it more difficult for Jynx to be effective. That said, she is very interesting as an alternative special sweeper. Access to Lovely Kiss, Perish Trapping abilities, and Forewarn differentiate her from the mainstream specialists like Azelf, Porygon-Z, Alakazam, and others. Jynx becomes quite a bit scarier with Dugtrio support, so one should seriously consider pairing the two on the same team. As with all “off the beaten path” Pokémon, there is that probability that your opponent did not consider it in their team building which may give you the opportunity to exploit an obscure weakness. CountersIn OU, Metagross, Jirachi, and Bronzong all wall Jynx completely and should be avoided. Tyranitar and Weavile are dangerous largely because they can sponge Jynx’s attacks and OHKO her back with Pursuit if she hasn’t got a Sub on the field. Suicune and Articuno can also block Jynx’s attacks, and Roar away your stat boosts. Heatran and Magnezone come in on almost all Jynx's attacks with ease, but watch out for Hidden Power Ground/Fighting or Focus Blast from the Choice Specs set. Obviously the standard special walls of Regice, Snorlax, and especially Blissey will give offensive Jynx a hard time, but will falter in the face of a Perish Trapper. All fast physical attackers that outspeed Jynx or those that carry Choice Scarf will end your fun prematurely as well. In UU, Clefable is a good choice in general, especially if immune to status by using a Toxic Orb. Lanturn has an Ice resistance and can wall Jynx's other attacks effectively. Grumpig has Thick Fat for Ice resistance, while Hypno has Insomnia to switch in on Lovely Kiss. Ninetales can switch in on Ice attacks, outspeed, and KO with STAB Fire moves. Mantine has high Special Defense and isn't weak to most of Jynx's attacks. The Luna set can be beaten by using the previously mentioned Toxic Orb Clefable. Walrein, Lapras, and Dewgong can stop versions with Ice Beam as the only attack due to their 4x Ice resistance or possibly more with Thick Fat. Jynx can often beat the previously mentioned counters with her wide movepool. However, Jynx has a limited number of resistances, a Stealth Rock weakness, and poor Defense, making her difficult to switch in. Jynx also dies to almost any Pursuit, even if she opts to stay in. Priority attacks do well, she has weaknesses to Sucker Punch, Shadow Sneak, and Bullet Punch. |
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