This Mesprit is a very effective counter for Gyarados as well as the versatile Infernape. As such, carrying it on your team allows greater freedom of choice regarding the other five Pokémon slots since it covers three potent threats by itself. The defensive spread allows it to come into both of them without much concern and force them to switch. U-turn is useful for scouting out Pursuit users, and preventing Mesprit from meeting an untimely end. Thunder Wave cripples other fast sweepers, like Azelf. The defensive EVs allow Mesprit to survive a +2 Flamethrower from Life Orb Infernape, a Waterfall from a +1 Life Orb Gyarados, and a Shadow Ball from Timid Life Orb Gengar. With 36 EVs, Mesprit reaches 255 Special Attack, enough to guarantee an OHKO against 4 HP / 0 SpD Gyarados with Thunderbolt after taking damage from Stealth Rock.
You lose coverage on Infernape and other Fighters, but this make greater use of Mesprit's decent support options. Mesprit is easy to switch in, and therefore has no trouble setting up Stealth Rock. Reflect helps out when Pursuit users switch in and try to wear Mesprit down. U-turn is always handy for scouting opponents, and Thunder Wave spreads paralysis around. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam are still recommended for the great coverage they provide, but the support options in the last two slots are interchangeable. For example, if you have another team member to set up Stealth Rock, you can replace it with one of the moves from the last slot. Using Thunder Wave and Reflect together can really hinder Pursuit users trying to kill off Mesprit.
It does not get any more obvious than this. The perennially popular permutation of Thunderbolt and Ice Beam has been, and will always be one of the most effective offensive combinations in the game. What sets Mesprit apart from other BoltBeamers is the fact that it has access to Calm Mind—a distinction it shares with very few others. Psychic is the clear choice to fill the fourth slot since it benefits from STAB and makes Heracross think twice about switching in. Mesprit's regrettably low Speed will prevent it from sweeping entire teams with this set, but its solid defenses allow it to stay in and take a hit where other sweepers would have to flee. The EVs put Mesprit at 270 Speed, enough to outrun Adamant Heracross, who is OHKOed by Psychic after a Calm Mind. The other EVs are placed in HP and Defense, so Mesprit can absorb hits more effectively. If you want more power, move some EVs from HP/Defense to Special Attack.
There are Pokémon that use Choice Specs better than Mesprit, but it is quite a bit sturdier than most of them and can afford to switch in more often. Hidden Power Fighting OHKOes Weavile and 2HKOs most Tyranitar. U-turn is great to lead off with and scout your counter, and Shadow Ball is there to hit enemy Psychics.
Even with Choice Scarf, Mesprit is not super fast. It does have enough to outrun many sweepers though, so like the first set it can provide good protection against a range of enemies. Hidden Power Fighting won't 2HKO Tyranitar anymore, but Weavile will still fall from a single hit. With these EVs, Mesprit will hit 384 Speed, enough to outrun max Speed Weavile. Other OptionsGrass Knot is on offer if you really need to kill off Swampert quickly. Trick Room is good if you wish to base your team around it. Light Screen is an alternative to Reflect, if you want some extra protection from special attackers. Healing Wish can help out a stricken team mate, if you are willing to sacrifice Mesprit. EVsThe EVs of Pokémon with stats as balanced as Mesprit change drastically based on the moveset you elect. Suggestions are listed for each set. Generally, the defensive sets should focus on HP and defenses, with around 36 EVs in Special Attack to OHKO most Gyarados. Attacking sets benefit from some Speed investment and plenty of Special Attack. OpinionExcessive balance can often lead to a Pokémon falling into disuse, in favor of more focused alternatives. However, in Mesprit's case those balanced stats allow it to be more versatile than the likes Cresselia and Azelf. One of Mesprit's great selling points is the potential to counter three of the biggest threats in OU, and thanks to moves like Stealth Rock, Thunder Wave, Reflect, and U-turn, it can provide some good support to a team. CountersBlissey walls Mesprit with no trouble at all, and will finish it off with Seismic Toss. Snorlax also does a good job and brings down Mesprit quicker than Blissey with Body Slam, Crunch and Pursuit. Cresselia will take hits from everything but a Specs Shadow Ball with ease. Like most Psychics, Mesprit must beware of Pursuit users. Tyranitar shrugs off everything but a boosted Grass Knot or HP Fighting. Weavile switches in quite easily, but will hate being paralyzed and HP Fighting can OHKO, even without a boost. Heracross is problem for the defensive sets, as they are slower and unable to finish it off with Psychic, before falling to Megahorn. Metagross and Scizor can handle most of Mesprit's attacks, and both have a very powerful Pursuit to cripple it with. Besides, Scizor and Metagross, most other Steel-types do well against Mesprit. Magnezone resists everything Mesprit has, barring Hidden Power Fighting. Heatran needs to beware of HP Fighting too, but otherwise it takes very little damage from most of Mesprit's attacks. Jirachi and Bronzong can defeat Mesprit, unless it has a couple of Calm Minds under its belt. |
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