Yanmega works well as a starter, due to its ability to scout out attacks and force other common starters to switch or die, not to mention the fact that Stealth Rock isn't in play on turn 1. Hippowdon, Swampert and Bronzong are all common leads who carry Stealth Rock, so you can send them to sleep with Hypnosis, preventing them setting up the entry hazard that plagues Yanmega. If you are not facing a slow, defensive enemy, Protect first turn, as it gives Yanmega a free Speed Boost. It also allows you to scout a Choice item user's attack and switch to the appropriate counter if necessary. Be careful, though—a smart opponent may try to outpredict you and stat-up instead. Although Protect and Hypnosis work really well together on a leading Yanmega, using both means it is easier to wall, so you can drop one of them in favor of Hidden Power. For this you have two viable options: Hidden Power Ice or Hidden Power Ground. Hidden Power Ice will easily OHKO any 4x Ice-weak Dragon that doesn't have a ridiculously defensive EV spread, and it also hits Zapdos, who resists both STAB moves. However, this leaves the set easily walled by certain Steel-types. This is where Hidden Power Ground comes in handy—it will deal massive damage to Magnezone and Heatran, and once again will OHKO if they do not have an unusually bulky EV spread. This assumes you have at least the Wise Glasses boost—with Expert Belt, it's a sure OHKO even if they do maximize HP. Focus Sash can be more useful tactically than a damage-boosting item, especially if you are leading with Yanmega, or don't have Protect. It works wonders with Hypnosis, if the accuracy lets you down. Wise Glasses gives Yanmega a little extra kick. If you choose to carry Hidden Power, then Expert Belt is a good option as it helps to guarantee a KO on the intended targets. Leftovers isn't quite as useful, but it will at least negate Sandstorm or Hail damage, or if damaging weather is not present it can offer some healing with Protect.
While the last set made great use of Speed Boost, this takes full advantage of Yanmega's other excellent ability in Tinted Lens. Switching anything but a special wall or 4x resist into this is a tough proposition. Thanks to Tinted Lens, Bug Buzz does plenty of damage to Magnezone, while Air Slash can badly mess up Heatran and Skarmory. A super-effective Hidden Power only has an extra 5 base power than a neutral Bug Buzz, but taking out both Heatran and Magnezone in one hit from HP Ground still makes it a useful option. The same can be said for Dragons, especially those of the Flying variety, and Hidden Power Ice. The last slot is mostly filler. U-turn is useful for scouting, or you can use Hypnosis when Yanmega first makes an appearance, so taking out its counter will be an easier prospect. You can use Speed Boost here, as catching a boost on the switch to an otherwise faster enemy may help score a 2HKO, whereas Tinted Lens would force Yanmega to switch. If you want to keep Tinted Lens and have some extra Speed, a Choice Scarf is also viable.
Bring this out late game when Blissey and friends are gone. If Stealth Rock is up, you only need one turn of set up, as Sub activates Petaya Berry after a single use. Now you can sweep with +1 Special Attack and Speed. It is likely you will only get one chance to use this effectively, so make it count. Other OptionsReversal can take out Blissey, Snorlax and the like, but it is a rather poor option, given that Yanmega doesn't get STAB on it, and has a rather average Attack stat. Hidden Power Electric will allow Yanmega to take out Gyarados at the expense of not being able to take on Salamence and Garchomp. It will also hurt Skarmory and Empoleon. Psychic and Shadow Ball cover Gengar, with the former also useful against random Poison-types, and the latter against other Ghosts. Outside of KOing Moltres, Charizard and Articuno, Ancientpower has little use. EVsThe EVs listed in the above sets assume that your Yanmega has a 31 HP IV. The reason the remaining 4 EVs are placed in Defense is because putting those same 4 EVs in HP gives Yanmega 314 HP, which is even-numbered. With an even-numbered HP, Yanmega dies on the second switch-in to Stealth Rock; with an odd-numbered HP, it survives with 1 HP left thanks to rounding, assuming Yanmega hasn't taken any other damage. OpinionThe benefits of using Yanmega as a lead have been mentioned, but it also has great appeal as a "Revenge Killer". Thanks to Protect and Speed Boost, it can easily end sweep attempts by the likes of Infernape, Azelf, Weavile (if it doesn't have Ice Shard), and even Garchomp. Stealth Rock really puts a damper on Yanmega though. Once those Rocks go up, Yanmega tends to go down pretty quick. But if you guard it well and limit how many times it goes into battle, it can save your ass from what might have been a devastating sweep for your team. Considering how many standard threats it can easily take out, it can do quite a bit of sweeping itself. If you use Yanmega, try to keep a Rapid Spinner around because Stealth Rock usually goes up early on. CountersBlissey is the biggest one, followed by Snorlax and Regice. The last two often carry Sleep Talk, so Hypnosis isn't a problem. All three of these can handle any Yanmega set barring the incredibly rare Reversal set. Steel-types are the next biggest counters. Heatran and Magnezone will destroy Yanmega with ease if it doesn't carry Hidden Power Ground. Empoleon and Registeel both have great Special Defense, so even Hidden Power Ground won't hurt them too much. Skarmory resists everything the standard Yanmega carries, but beware of lucky flinches with Air Slash (which does around 30%), as it will prevent Skarmory attacking or Roosting off the damage. The last three often carry Stealth Rock, so they not only wall Yanmega's attacks, but severely restrict his chances to switch in repeatedly. Zapdos makes a great counter if Yanmega is lacking HP Ice, and occasionally carries Sleep Talk to absorb Hypnosis too. Countering the Choice Specs/Tinted Lens variants is a bit tricky. The three special walls already mentioned are you best bets. Although Tinted Lens makes prediction a lot harder for Yanmega's opponents, sending in a 4x resist to either STAB move (Heatran or Skarmory if you expect Bug Buzz, Magnezone if you expect Air Slash) should do the trick. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
