Grrrr Mew has so many options...
[QC: 3/3]
[GP: 2/2]
[Overview]
<p>While no longer cutting it as an Uber this generation, Mew returns as one mean new threat in UU, boasting an absolutely massive movepool containing every TM and HM move, including boosting moves such as Nasty Plot and Swords Dance, support moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, Baton Pass, and Thunder Wave, and an abundance of attacking moves, giving Mew great coverage. Combine this with great base 100 stats across the board and it is no surprise that Mew is a top-tier UU Pokemon. Mew is so deadly because of its versatility; it is very hard to guess what set is running because of all the viable options it has, and by the time you do figure out what set it is running, it could already be too late. There is not much of anything bad to say about Mew, it has everything a Pokemon could ask for.</p>
[Set]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Shadow Ball / Roost / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The purpose of this set is to boost Mew's above average Special Attack stat and prepare to sweep. Psyshock 2HKOes Bold Eviolite Chansey after a Nasty Plot, dealing 58.5%-69% with Life Orb or 44.9-53% with Leftovers, which is still a 2HKO with Stealth Rock damage. Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball provide Mew with great coverage. Aura Sphere hits Dark- and Steel-types that resist or are immune to Psyshock, such as Houndoom and Registeel, while Shadow Ball hits Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon who resist Mew's other moves. However, Roost can be used over Shadow Ball, allowing Mew to recover any of its ts lost HP. Fire Blast has a useful niche in being able to hit Registeel and Spiritomb much harder than Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball does respectively, possibly OHKOing both with Stealth Rock support, at +2, and equipped with a Life Orb. The most useful part of Fire Blast is that it allows Mew to OHKO Escavalier without any boots, which is the biggest threat to this set.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs and nature maximize Speed and Special Attack as per the traditional sweeper spread, allowing Mew to deal the damage it needs to and outspeed the majority of the tier. Substitute can be used over Shadow Ball or Aura Sphere for its ability to block crippling status such as Toxic or Thunder Wave from the likes of Chansey. Sets without Shadow Ball have trouble hitting Psychic-type Pokemon such as Celebi and Victini. Therefore, Dark-types such as Houndoom or Bisharp make great partners to Mew. Houndoom's ability Flash Fire makes it immune to Victini's V-Create, while it is resistant to both of Celebi's STAB attacks thanks to its typing. Houndoom can then hit both with a STAB super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. Mew has a plethora of auxiliary special attacking moves such as Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Grass Knot. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam can be used to give Mew the infamous BoltBeam combo, while Grass Knot throws off bulky Water- and Ground-types. Psyshock and Thunderbolt can be used alongside each other and give Mew good coverage while freeing up an extra moveslot for it.</p>
<p>This set is hard to counter because of its great coverage, bulk, and ability to hit specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey and Snorlax hard with Psyshock, 2HKOing both of them. The easiest way to beat this set is with faster Pokemon with a super effective attack. Pokemon such as Weavile and Choice Scarf Heracross are perfect examples. Weavile can hit Mew with a super effective Night Slash or Pursuit and is immune to Psychock and resists Shadow Ball. However, Weavile is OHKOed by Aura Sphere and must be careful not to switch into it. Heracross equipped with a Choice Scarf outspeeds and can OHKO Mew with a super effective STAB Megahorn. However, Heracross must be careful not to switch into Psyshock as he is OHKOed by it. Spiritomb's typing leaves it immune to both Psyshock and Aura Sphere and its great defenses allow him to survive Mew's other attacks (however, a +2 Life Orb Fire Blast can OHKO with Stealth Rock support) and can threaten Mew with a super effective Sucker Punch or Pursuit. Escavalier derserves mention as the best check to this set because its excellent defenses allow it to take a +2 Aura Sphere and can OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn. However, Escavlier must be careful not to switch into Mew and get torched by a super effective Fire Blast, OHKOing him.</p>
[Set]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Roost
move 4: Psychic
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 80 SpD / 176 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Mew makes an excellent stallbreaker because of its great bulk and Speed. Taunt stops the opponent's Pokemon from healing themselves, using status moves, setting up, or laying down entry hazards. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical sweepers and allows Mew to take physical hits much more easily. Roost is an excellent form of recovery, while Psychic is Mew's STAB of choice, allowing Mew to hit Fire-type Pokemon that are immune to Will-O-Wisp.</p>
<p>Stall teams have little hope of defeating this set, being unable to set up entry hazards or hit Mew with status. Their below-average stats don't allow them to do much damage to Mew either, while Mew can Roost when low on HP anyway, watching as its foe's HP is whittled down from burn damage. Not only is this set one of the most effective stops to stall teams, it stops slower setup Pokemon such as Snorlax, Kingdra, and Suicune in their tracks too. With Taunt stopping them from boosting their stats, they will also have trouble dealing much damage to Mew, while Mew can whittle their HP down and Roost when necessary.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs and nature of this set allow Mew to outspeed the majority of the tier, and more specifically base 90 Speed Pokemon. Since this set invests heavily into Speed, it allows Mew to Taunt or burn the opponent's Pokemon, or heal itself before most Pokemon can attack or move. 252 EVs go into HP and the remaining 80 go into Special Defense to give Mew as much bulk as possible. However, an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 172 SpD / 4 Spe and a Calm nature can be used instead. This gives Mew much more special bulk while the burns from Will-O-Wisp covers Mew's defensive side. Even with only 4 Speed EVs, Mew will still outspeed every common wall on a stall team. Instead of Psychic, Seismic Toss can be used for a more consistent move against bulkier Pokemon such as Doexys-D, Registeel, and Chansey, dealing a steady 100 damage per hit. Dragon Tail can also be used over Psychic, since it allows Mew to shuffle through the foe's team while still doing damage Additionally, Dragon Tail will enable Mew to force out faster Pokemon who can avoid being Taunted, such as Calm Mind Raikou and Nasty Plot Azelf. If Dragon Tail is chosen, a Jolly nature should be used.</p>
<p>This set fits nicely on practically any team because of its ability to greatly support the team and be an effective stallbreaker. However, Houndoom is a 100% stop to this set, as it won't mind being Taunted and is immune to Psychic and Will-O-Wisp because of its Dark typing and Flash Fire ability. Houndoom can then threaten Mew with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. Victini is another great switch in to this set as it is immune to Will-O-Wisp, resists Psychic, and can 2HKO Mew with V-Create. Choice Scarf Heracross outspeeds Mew and can OHKO it with Megahorn. Because of Guts, Heracross will not mind being burned; however, he will not enjoy taking a super effective Psychic, although it does not OHKO him. A bulky Water-type such as Suicune or Milotic make great partners to this set because of their ability to take hits from and check all three of these Pokemon that threaten Mew. They can also threaten Victini and Houndoom with a super effective Water-type attack.</p>
[Set]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Rock Polish / Substitute
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Mew is the most effective Baton Passer in the tier because of its ability to pass every stat boost possible and so be tailored to suit your team's needs to the dot. Mews incredible base 100 defenses also make it one of the bulkiest Baton Passers around. Taunt prevents Pokemon from Taunting Mew itself, which would prevent Mew from doing anything. Taunt also prevents the foe from using Whirlwind, Roar, or Haze, all of which would remove all stat boosts collected. Swords Dance boosts Mew's Attack, while Nasty Plot boosts Mew's Special Attack, the choice between the two depends on whether your team is using a physical or special sweeper. Rock Polish boosts Mew's Speed by two stages, allowing Mew to outspeed the whole tier and Taunt opposing Pokemon that would try and stop Mew or use Baton Pass before it can be stopped. However, Substitute can be used to block status moves and, most importantly, Dragon Tail.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Calm Mind or Bulk Up can be used over Nasty Plot or Swords Dance, respectively. This gives Mew more special or physical bulk with which to set up. Mew also has access to Amnesia and Barrier, boosting Mew's Special Defense and Defense by 2 stages, respectively. However, Amnesia and Barrier are generally outclassed by Calm Mind and Bulk Up. Finally, Mew has access to Hone Claws, which boosts Mew's Attack and Accuracy by 1 stage, which could be useful to a physical sweeper that usually runs inaccurate moves, such as Heracross with Megahorn and Stone Edge. Instead of Taunt, Magic Coat can be used. Magic Coat bounces moves such as Taunt, Encore, Whirlwind, and Roar back to the opponents. Magic Coat also has a priority of 4 which would allow Mew to bounce back Taunt from Pokemon faster than it.</p>
<p>Taunt stops this set dead in its tracks. However, one will often find it very hard to Taunt Mew; if it already has a Speed boost, it will most likely be faster and Taunt you first. If Mew opts for Magic Coat instead of Taunt, a foe attempting to Taunt will have it bounced back. Therefore, it is hard to stop Mew from doing its job of passing because of its access to Taunt, Substitute, and Magic Coat. However, there is one Pokemon with Taunt and Haze that has priority in the ability Prankster: Murkrow. Its ability will allow it to move first with either Haze or Taunt, removing any boosts or disallowing any to be gathered. One way of stopping Mew is to get in a Pokemon with a strong super effective attack such as Escavalier or Heracross with Megahorn, or Weavile with Night Slash. Using their STABs will allow Mew no time to set up a Substitute or gain any boosts without taking a super effective hit.</p>
[Set]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Swords Dance to boost Mew's above average Attack stat by 2 stages and prepare to sweep the foe's team. Zen Headbutt is Mew's STAB of choice, while Drain Punch and Sucker Punch give Mew complete neutral coverage. Drain Punch hits Steel-types and Dark-types that resist or are immune to Zen Headbutt super effectively, while giving Mew a way of recovering lost HP from damage or Life Orb recoil. Sucker Punch gives Mew a priority move and allows Mew to KO Pokemon that would outspeed and threaten Mew, such as Choice Scarf Flygon and Victini.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>There really is no other move options for this set, as the attacks listed are the most effective and give Mew complete coverage. Again, Substitute can be used to prevent Mew being crippled by status, but it must replace either Sucker Punch or Drain Punch. Sets without Drain Punch have trouble with Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon such as Registeel and Houndoom. Registeel can cripple Mew with Thunder Wave or Toxic, while Mew can do little back thanks to Registeel's high defenses. Houndoom is immune to Zen Headbutt and resists Sucker Punch and can hit Mew with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. However, sets without Sucker Punch won't be able to hit faster Pokemon in low health that could threaten Mew.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon such as Weavile and Choice Scarf Heracross are reliable checks to this set. They both outspeed Mew, resist Sucker Punch, and can threaten Mew with a super effective STAB attack. However, Weavile must be careful not to switch into Drain Punch, while Heracross can't switch into Zen Headbutt, as they are both OHKOed by the respective moves. Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon such as Dusclops and Cofagrigus give this set trouble because of their incredibly high Defense stats. Even at +2, Mew is unable to 2HKO Bold Eviolite Dusclops and Bold Cofagrigus with Zen Headbutt. Both can then cripple Mew with Will-O-Wisp stopping its sweep. Again, Escavalier's excellent defenses allow them to survive a +2 Drain Punch and can OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn. Spiritomb is the best counter to this set. Its typing gives it an immunity to both Zen Headbutt and Drain Punch while it can burn Mew with Will-O-Wisp and hit Mew hard with Pursuit as it switches out. Houndoom makes an excellent partner to this set because of his immunity to crippling Will-O-Wisp and his Dark typing allows him to switch into Ghost- and Dark-types with little harm and can threaten Ghost-types with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit.</p>
[Set]
name: Bulky Calm Mind
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlikes the offensive Nasty Plot set, this set plays on Mew's excellent defensive stats. Psychic is Mew's main STAB, while Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball provide Mew with coverage. Aura Sphere hits Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon, while Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types. The choice between the two carry the same dilemma as the Nasty Plot set, so choose which one would cover your team's threats more effectively. Calm Mind boosts Mew's Special Attack and Special Defense by 1 stage each, while the Defense EVs cover Mew's physical side. Roost is Mew's form of recovery and allows it to set up more.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Thunderbolt can be used alongside Psychic, hitting everything that resists Psychic for at least neutral damage. Instead of Psychic, Psyshock can be used to hit Chansey and Snorlax much harder. Substitute can be used over Roost to block Mew from crippling status such as Toxic from the likes of Chansey. The EVs of this set gives Mew 404 HP, which makes 101 HP Substitutes, which cannot be broken by Seismic Toss or Night Shade.</p>
<p>Like most sets, Weavile and Heracross deserve mention for being able to threaten Mew. However, because of the investment into Defense, Mew is not OHKOed by Choice Scarf Heracross's Megahorn or Choice Band Weavile's Night Slash, taking only 74.8%-88.1% from the former and 58.4%-68.8% from the latter, respectively. So unless Mew has lost some HP, it can survive and hit them both with a super effective attack. Escavalier is a perfect counter to this set; its high Special Defense stat allows it to survive even a +6 Aura Sphere and OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn. Sets without Psyshock have little chance against Chansey. Chansey can Toxic sets without Substitute and stall Mew out with its recovery move of choice. Although, Synchronize hits Chansey back with Toxic, its Natural Cure ability allows it to come out on top in the long run. Sets with Substitute and Psyshock are able to beat Chansey, since Seismic Toss does not break Mew's Substitute in one hit, giving Mew a free turn to boost its Special Attack with Calm Mind. Cobalion makes an excellent teammate to this set. With its 4x resistance to Megahorn, 4x resistance to Night Slash, Justified, and STAB Close Combat to threaten Chansey. Since Heracross and Weavile would be locked into resisted moves, Escavalier has no way of hitting Cobalion hard, and Chansey will most likely switch out; this gives Cobalion a free turn to set up itself, and possibly sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>With Mew's massive movepool, you would think there would be a ton of more options listed here; however, the most effective sets Mew can use have already been mentioned. There are a few other sets Mew can use effectively. Mew can be used as a lead because of its fantastic Speed and access to Stealth Rock and Taunt. An EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe, a Jolly nature, and a moveset of Zen Headbutt, U-Turn, Taunt, and Stealth Rock can be used. Mew's Speed allows it to outspeed the majority of leads such as Roserade, Donphan, and Deoxys, and stop them from setting up hazards of their own.</p>
<p>Mew can be an effective user of Light Screen and Reflect because of its Speed and bulk. An EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe, a Jolly nature, equipped with Light Clay, and a moveset of Light Screen, Reflect, Taunt, and U-turn should be used. Mew can also be an effective supporter for Trick Room teams with the same EV spread and nature, but equipped with Leftovers, and with a moveset of Trick Room, Taunt, Roost, and U-turn. You might find it odd that Mew would be investing into Speed on a Trick Room team; however, the reasoning behind this is once Mew has used Trick Room it will most likely be the "slower" Pokemon, allowing it to use U-turn last and bring in a Trick Room sweeper safely.</p>
<p>Lastly, Mew can use a Transform set, being one of the few Pokemon gaining access to this move; although it is quite gimmicky, it can be quite effective and annoying. Need a Rapid Spinner? Use Transform on the foe's Blastoise. Need a Wish user? Transform into the foe's Chansey. Need a bulky sweeper of your own? Transform into the foe's Suicune or Snorlax. Need a Pokemon with Spikes? Transform into the foe's Roserade. You can see where this set is going and how annoying to the foe it can be. An EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD, a Bold nature, and a moveset of Transform, Taunt, Roost, and Stealth Rock should be used. Taunt prevents Mew from being statused and Roost keeps Mew in good shape, while Stealth Rock support is always appreciated.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Mew is one of the few Pokemon who does not have a single definable counter. The reason behind this is its versatility. Every set has different checks and different ways of defeating Pokemon that would beat other Mew sets. Simply, Mew's enormous movepool allows it to hit or threaten every Pokemon threat to Mew. The best way to counter Mew is to first find out what moveset it is using; as already stated, every set has different checks and counters. One would think statusing Mew would be an effective way of stopping it; however, many Pokemon would not like their status move bounced back onto them through Synchronize.</p>
<p>The Nasty Plot set is difficult to counter because of the power and coverage behind Mew's attacks at +2. Therefore, fast, hard-hitting Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Heracross and Weavile are excellent at checking this set because they are capable of outspeeding and OHKOing Mew. The Swords Dance set has the same problems with Heracross and Weavile and has problems with Dusclops as well. Dusclops equipped with Eviolite isn't 2HKOed by Zen Headbutt at +2 and can cripple Mew with Will-O-Wisp. Spiritomb also deserves a mention as one of the best checks to both the Nasty Plot and Swords Dance sets. Its typing and defenses allow it to take hits from Mew and can threaten Mew back with a super effective Sucker Punch or Pursuit, or cripple the Swords Dance set with Will-O-Wisp. Like every other set, Escavalier lives anything Mew can throw at it (bar a Fire Blast from the Nasty Plot set) and can OHKO back with a super effective Megahorn.
<p>The stallbreaker set is 100% stopped by Houndoom because it is immune to Psychic and Will-O-Wisp and can threaten Mew with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. Victini is also another excellent switch in to the stallbreaker set. Its Fire / Psychic typing leaves it immune to Will-O-Wisp and resists Psychic and can hit Mew hard with its incredibly powerful V-Create.</p>
<p>The bulky Calm Mind set, like the Nasty Plot set, is troubled by Choice Scarf Heracross and Weavile. However, unlike the Nasty Plot set, it survives both of their STABs thanks to the investment into Defense and can hit back with a super effective attack. So, unless Mew is down on HP, it will not be OHKOed. Escavalier is the biggest threat to this set; it can take anything Mew has to throw at it and can OHKO with a STAB Megahorn.</p>
<p>Lastly, the Baton Pass set is the most difficult set to stop. The reason is because of Mew's access to Taunt and Magic Coat to prevent it from being Taunted or phazed. The most effective way to stop the Baton Pass set is to hammer it with attacks and prevent Mew from gathering any boosts to Baton Pass. Pokemon such as Victini and Escavlier are great examples. Murkrow's new ability, Prankster, gives priority to non damaging moves such as Taunt and Haze, both of which Murkrow has access to. So, no matter how many Speed boosts Mew has collected Murkow will be able to Taunt or Haze Mew first, stopping it from Baton Passing any boosts. However, Magic Coat has a priority of 4, which beats Prankster's priority of 1, therefore if Mew used Magic Coat while Murkrow uses Taunt, it will be bounced back to Murkow.</p>
<p>Of all the UU Pokemon there is three Pokemon that will give every set of Mew's trouble and they are all mentioned throughout this analysis: Choice Scarf Heracross, Weavile, and Escavalier. Weavile and Choice Scarf Heracross outspeed Mew and can threaten with a super effective STAB attack. However, both must be careful switching into Mew, as it can OHKO both of them with the appropriate move. Escavalier is probably the most effective stop to Mew. Its above average defenses allow it to survive anything Mew can throw at it even with boosts (unless Mew is packing Fire Blast, of course) and can OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn.</p>
[QC: 3/3]
[GP: 2/2]
[Overview]
<p>While no longer cutting it as an Uber this generation, Mew returns as one mean new threat in UU, boasting an absolutely massive movepool containing every TM and HM move, including boosting moves such as Nasty Plot and Swords Dance, support moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Taunt, Baton Pass, and Thunder Wave, and an abundance of attacking moves, giving Mew great coverage. Combine this with great base 100 stats across the board and it is no surprise that Mew is a top-tier UU Pokemon. Mew is so deadly because of its versatility; it is very hard to guess what set is running because of all the viable options it has, and by the time you do figure out what set it is running, it could already be too late. There is not much of anything bad to say about Mew, it has everything a Pokemon could ask for.</p>
[Set]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Aura Sphere
move 4: Shadow Ball / Roost / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The purpose of this set is to boost Mew's above average Special Attack stat and prepare to sweep. Psyshock 2HKOes Bold Eviolite Chansey after a Nasty Plot, dealing 58.5%-69% with Life Orb or 44.9-53% with Leftovers, which is still a 2HKO with Stealth Rock damage. Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball provide Mew with great coverage. Aura Sphere hits Dark- and Steel-types that resist or are immune to Psyshock, such as Houndoom and Registeel, while Shadow Ball hits Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon who resist Mew's other moves. However, Roost can be used over Shadow Ball, allowing Mew to recover any of its ts lost HP. Fire Blast has a useful niche in being able to hit Registeel and Spiritomb much harder than Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball does respectively, possibly OHKOing both with Stealth Rock support, at +2, and equipped with a Life Orb. The most useful part of Fire Blast is that it allows Mew to OHKO Escavalier without any boots, which is the biggest threat to this set.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs and nature maximize Speed and Special Attack as per the traditional sweeper spread, allowing Mew to deal the damage it needs to and outspeed the majority of the tier. Substitute can be used over Shadow Ball or Aura Sphere for its ability to block crippling status such as Toxic or Thunder Wave from the likes of Chansey. Sets without Shadow Ball have trouble hitting Psychic-type Pokemon such as Celebi and Victini. Therefore, Dark-types such as Houndoom or Bisharp make great partners to Mew. Houndoom's ability Flash Fire makes it immune to Victini's V-Create, while it is resistant to both of Celebi's STAB attacks thanks to its typing. Houndoom can then hit both with a STAB super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. Mew has a plethora of auxiliary special attacking moves such as Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Grass Knot. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam can be used to give Mew the infamous BoltBeam combo, while Grass Knot throws off bulky Water- and Ground-types. Psyshock and Thunderbolt can be used alongside each other and give Mew good coverage while freeing up an extra moveslot for it.</p>
<p>This set is hard to counter because of its great coverage, bulk, and ability to hit specially defensive Pokemon such as Chansey and Snorlax hard with Psyshock, 2HKOing both of them. The easiest way to beat this set is with faster Pokemon with a super effective attack. Pokemon such as Weavile and Choice Scarf Heracross are perfect examples. Weavile can hit Mew with a super effective Night Slash or Pursuit and is immune to Psychock and resists Shadow Ball. However, Weavile is OHKOed by Aura Sphere and must be careful not to switch into it. Heracross equipped with a Choice Scarf outspeeds and can OHKO Mew with a super effective STAB Megahorn. However, Heracross must be careful not to switch into Psyshock as he is OHKOed by it. Spiritomb's typing leaves it immune to both Psyshock and Aura Sphere and its great defenses allow him to survive Mew's other attacks (however, a +2 Life Orb Fire Blast can OHKO with Stealth Rock support) and can threaten Mew with a super effective Sucker Punch or Pursuit. Escavalier derserves mention as the best check to this set because its excellent defenses allow it to take a +2 Aura Sphere and can OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn. However, Escavlier must be careful not to switch into Mew and get torched by a super effective Fire Blast, OHKOing him.</p>
[Set]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Roost
move 4: Psychic
item: Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 80 SpD / 176 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Mew makes an excellent stallbreaker because of its great bulk and Speed. Taunt stops the opponent's Pokemon from healing themselves, using status moves, setting up, or laying down entry hazards. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical sweepers and allows Mew to take physical hits much more easily. Roost is an excellent form of recovery, while Psychic is Mew's STAB of choice, allowing Mew to hit Fire-type Pokemon that are immune to Will-O-Wisp.</p>
<p>Stall teams have little hope of defeating this set, being unable to set up entry hazards or hit Mew with status. Their below-average stats don't allow them to do much damage to Mew either, while Mew can Roost when low on HP anyway, watching as its foe's HP is whittled down from burn damage. Not only is this set one of the most effective stops to stall teams, it stops slower setup Pokemon such as Snorlax, Kingdra, and Suicune in their tracks too. With Taunt stopping them from boosting their stats, they will also have trouble dealing much damage to Mew, while Mew can whittle their HP down and Roost when necessary.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs and nature of this set allow Mew to outspeed the majority of the tier, and more specifically base 90 Speed Pokemon. Since this set invests heavily into Speed, it allows Mew to Taunt or burn the opponent's Pokemon, or heal itself before most Pokemon can attack or move. 252 EVs go into HP and the remaining 80 go into Special Defense to give Mew as much bulk as possible. However, an alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 172 SpD / 4 Spe and a Calm nature can be used instead. This gives Mew much more special bulk while the burns from Will-O-Wisp covers Mew's defensive side. Even with only 4 Speed EVs, Mew will still outspeed every common wall on a stall team. Instead of Psychic, Seismic Toss can be used for a more consistent move against bulkier Pokemon such as Doexys-D, Registeel, and Chansey, dealing a steady 100 damage per hit. Dragon Tail can also be used over Psychic, since it allows Mew to shuffle through the foe's team while still doing damage Additionally, Dragon Tail will enable Mew to force out faster Pokemon who can avoid being Taunted, such as Calm Mind Raikou and Nasty Plot Azelf. If Dragon Tail is chosen, a Jolly nature should be used.</p>
<p>This set fits nicely on practically any team because of its ability to greatly support the team and be an effective stallbreaker. However, Houndoom is a 100% stop to this set, as it won't mind being Taunted and is immune to Psychic and Will-O-Wisp because of its Dark typing and Flash Fire ability. Houndoom can then threaten Mew with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. Victini is another great switch in to this set as it is immune to Will-O-Wisp, resists Psychic, and can 2HKO Mew with V-Create. Choice Scarf Heracross outspeeds Mew and can OHKO it with Megahorn. Because of Guts, Heracross will not mind being burned; however, he will not enjoy taking a super effective Psychic, although it does not OHKO him. A bulky Water-type such as Suicune or Milotic make great partners to this set because of their ability to take hits from and check all three of these Pokemon that threaten Mew. They can also threaten Victini and Houndoom with a super effective Water-type attack.</p>
[Set]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Rock Polish / Substitute
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Mew is the most effective Baton Passer in the tier because of its ability to pass every stat boost possible and so be tailored to suit your team's needs to the dot. Mews incredible base 100 defenses also make it one of the bulkiest Baton Passers around. Taunt prevents Pokemon from Taunting Mew itself, which would prevent Mew from doing anything. Taunt also prevents the foe from using Whirlwind, Roar, or Haze, all of which would remove all stat boosts collected. Swords Dance boosts Mew's Attack, while Nasty Plot boosts Mew's Special Attack, the choice between the two depends on whether your team is using a physical or special sweeper. Rock Polish boosts Mew's Speed by two stages, allowing Mew to outspeed the whole tier and Taunt opposing Pokemon that would try and stop Mew or use Baton Pass before it can be stopped. However, Substitute can be used to block status moves and, most importantly, Dragon Tail.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Calm Mind or Bulk Up can be used over Nasty Plot or Swords Dance, respectively. This gives Mew more special or physical bulk with which to set up. Mew also has access to Amnesia and Barrier, boosting Mew's Special Defense and Defense by 2 stages, respectively. However, Amnesia and Barrier are generally outclassed by Calm Mind and Bulk Up. Finally, Mew has access to Hone Claws, which boosts Mew's Attack and Accuracy by 1 stage, which could be useful to a physical sweeper that usually runs inaccurate moves, such as Heracross with Megahorn and Stone Edge. Instead of Taunt, Magic Coat can be used. Magic Coat bounces moves such as Taunt, Encore, Whirlwind, and Roar back to the opponents. Magic Coat also has a priority of 4 which would allow Mew to bounce back Taunt from Pokemon faster than it.</p>
<p>Taunt stops this set dead in its tracks. However, one will often find it very hard to Taunt Mew; if it already has a Speed boost, it will most likely be faster and Taunt you first. If Mew opts for Magic Coat instead of Taunt, a foe attempting to Taunt will have it bounced back. Therefore, it is hard to stop Mew from doing its job of passing because of its access to Taunt, Substitute, and Magic Coat. However, there is one Pokemon with Taunt and Haze that has priority in the ability Prankster: Murkrow. Its ability will allow it to move first with either Haze or Taunt, removing any boosts or disallowing any to be gathered. One way of stopping Mew is to get in a Pokemon with a strong super effective attack such as Escavalier or Heracross with Megahorn, or Weavile with Night Slash. Using their STABs will allow Mew no time to set up a Substitute or gain any boosts without taking a super effective hit.</p>
[Set]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Zen Headbutt
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set uses Swords Dance to boost Mew's above average Attack stat by 2 stages and prepare to sweep the foe's team. Zen Headbutt is Mew's STAB of choice, while Drain Punch and Sucker Punch give Mew complete neutral coverage. Drain Punch hits Steel-types and Dark-types that resist or are immune to Zen Headbutt super effectively, while giving Mew a way of recovering lost HP from damage or Life Orb recoil. Sucker Punch gives Mew a priority move and allows Mew to KO Pokemon that would outspeed and threaten Mew, such as Choice Scarf Flygon and Victini.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>There really is no other move options for this set, as the attacks listed are the most effective and give Mew complete coverage. Again, Substitute can be used to prevent Mew being crippled by status, but it must replace either Sucker Punch or Drain Punch. Sets without Drain Punch have trouble with Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon such as Registeel and Houndoom. Registeel can cripple Mew with Thunder Wave or Toxic, while Mew can do little back thanks to Registeel's high defenses. Houndoom is immune to Zen Headbutt and resists Sucker Punch and can hit Mew with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. However, sets without Sucker Punch won't be able to hit faster Pokemon in low health that could threaten Mew.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon such as Weavile and Choice Scarf Heracross are reliable checks to this set. They both outspeed Mew, resist Sucker Punch, and can threaten Mew with a super effective STAB attack. However, Weavile must be careful not to switch into Drain Punch, while Heracross can't switch into Zen Headbutt, as they are both OHKOed by the respective moves. Bulky Ghost-type Pokemon such as Dusclops and Cofagrigus give this set trouble because of their incredibly high Defense stats. Even at +2, Mew is unable to 2HKO Bold Eviolite Dusclops and Bold Cofagrigus with Zen Headbutt. Both can then cripple Mew with Will-O-Wisp stopping its sweep. Again, Escavalier's excellent defenses allow them to survive a +2 Drain Punch and can OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn. Spiritomb is the best counter to this set. Its typing gives it an immunity to both Zen Headbutt and Drain Punch while it can burn Mew with Will-O-Wisp and hit Mew hard with Pursuit as it switches out. Houndoom makes an excellent partner to this set because of his immunity to crippling Will-O-Wisp and his Dark typing allows him to switch into Ghost- and Dark-types with little harm and can threaten Ghost-types with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit.</p>
[Set]
name: Bulky Calm Mind
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Roost
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlikes the offensive Nasty Plot set, this set plays on Mew's excellent defensive stats. Psychic is Mew's main STAB, while Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball provide Mew with coverage. Aura Sphere hits Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon, while Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types. The choice between the two carry the same dilemma as the Nasty Plot set, so choose which one would cover your team's threats more effectively. Calm Mind boosts Mew's Special Attack and Special Defense by 1 stage each, while the Defense EVs cover Mew's physical side. Roost is Mew's form of recovery and allows it to set up more.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Thunderbolt can be used alongside Psychic, hitting everything that resists Psychic for at least neutral damage. Instead of Psychic, Psyshock can be used to hit Chansey and Snorlax much harder. Substitute can be used over Roost to block Mew from crippling status such as Toxic from the likes of Chansey. The EVs of this set gives Mew 404 HP, which makes 101 HP Substitutes, which cannot be broken by Seismic Toss or Night Shade.</p>
<p>Like most sets, Weavile and Heracross deserve mention for being able to threaten Mew. However, because of the investment into Defense, Mew is not OHKOed by Choice Scarf Heracross's Megahorn or Choice Band Weavile's Night Slash, taking only 74.8%-88.1% from the former and 58.4%-68.8% from the latter, respectively. So unless Mew has lost some HP, it can survive and hit them both with a super effective attack. Escavalier is a perfect counter to this set; its high Special Defense stat allows it to survive even a +6 Aura Sphere and OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn. Sets without Psyshock have little chance against Chansey. Chansey can Toxic sets without Substitute and stall Mew out with its recovery move of choice. Although, Synchronize hits Chansey back with Toxic, its Natural Cure ability allows it to come out on top in the long run. Sets with Substitute and Psyshock are able to beat Chansey, since Seismic Toss does not break Mew's Substitute in one hit, giving Mew a free turn to boost its Special Attack with Calm Mind. Cobalion makes an excellent teammate to this set. With its 4x resistance to Megahorn, 4x resistance to Night Slash, Justified, and STAB Close Combat to threaten Chansey. Since Heracross and Weavile would be locked into resisted moves, Escavalier has no way of hitting Cobalion hard, and Chansey will most likely switch out; this gives Cobalion a free turn to set up itself, and possibly sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>With Mew's massive movepool, you would think there would be a ton of more options listed here; however, the most effective sets Mew can use have already been mentioned. There are a few other sets Mew can use effectively. Mew can be used as a lead because of its fantastic Speed and access to Stealth Rock and Taunt. An EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe, a Jolly nature, and a moveset of Zen Headbutt, U-Turn, Taunt, and Stealth Rock can be used. Mew's Speed allows it to outspeed the majority of leads such as Roserade, Donphan, and Deoxys, and stop them from setting up hazards of their own.</p>
<p>Mew can be an effective user of Light Screen and Reflect because of its Speed and bulk. An EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe, a Jolly nature, equipped with Light Clay, and a moveset of Light Screen, Reflect, Taunt, and U-turn should be used. Mew can also be an effective supporter for Trick Room teams with the same EV spread and nature, but equipped with Leftovers, and with a moveset of Trick Room, Taunt, Roost, and U-turn. You might find it odd that Mew would be investing into Speed on a Trick Room team; however, the reasoning behind this is once Mew has used Trick Room it will most likely be the "slower" Pokemon, allowing it to use U-turn last and bring in a Trick Room sweeper safely.</p>
<p>Lastly, Mew can use a Transform set, being one of the few Pokemon gaining access to this move; although it is quite gimmicky, it can be quite effective and annoying. Need a Rapid Spinner? Use Transform on the foe's Blastoise. Need a Wish user? Transform into the foe's Chansey. Need a bulky sweeper of your own? Transform into the foe's Suicune or Snorlax. Need a Pokemon with Spikes? Transform into the foe's Roserade. You can see where this set is going and how annoying to the foe it can be. An EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD, a Bold nature, and a moveset of Transform, Taunt, Roost, and Stealth Rock should be used. Taunt prevents Mew from being statused and Roost keeps Mew in good shape, while Stealth Rock support is always appreciated.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Mew is one of the few Pokemon who does not have a single definable counter. The reason behind this is its versatility. Every set has different checks and different ways of defeating Pokemon that would beat other Mew sets. Simply, Mew's enormous movepool allows it to hit or threaten every Pokemon threat to Mew. The best way to counter Mew is to first find out what moveset it is using; as already stated, every set has different checks and counters. One would think statusing Mew would be an effective way of stopping it; however, many Pokemon would not like their status move bounced back onto them through Synchronize.</p>
<p>The Nasty Plot set is difficult to counter because of the power and coverage behind Mew's attacks at +2. Therefore, fast, hard-hitting Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Heracross and Weavile are excellent at checking this set because they are capable of outspeeding and OHKOing Mew. The Swords Dance set has the same problems with Heracross and Weavile and has problems with Dusclops as well. Dusclops equipped with Eviolite isn't 2HKOed by Zen Headbutt at +2 and can cripple Mew with Will-O-Wisp. Spiritomb also deserves a mention as one of the best checks to both the Nasty Plot and Swords Dance sets. Its typing and defenses allow it to take hits from Mew and can threaten Mew back with a super effective Sucker Punch or Pursuit, or cripple the Swords Dance set with Will-O-Wisp. Like every other set, Escavalier lives anything Mew can throw at it (bar a Fire Blast from the Nasty Plot set) and can OHKO back with a super effective Megahorn.
<p>The stallbreaker set is 100% stopped by Houndoom because it is immune to Psychic and Will-O-Wisp and can threaten Mew with a super effective Dark Pulse or Pursuit. Victini is also another excellent switch in to the stallbreaker set. Its Fire / Psychic typing leaves it immune to Will-O-Wisp and resists Psychic and can hit Mew hard with its incredibly powerful V-Create.</p>
<p>The bulky Calm Mind set, like the Nasty Plot set, is troubled by Choice Scarf Heracross and Weavile. However, unlike the Nasty Plot set, it survives both of their STABs thanks to the investment into Defense and can hit back with a super effective attack. So, unless Mew is down on HP, it will not be OHKOed. Escavalier is the biggest threat to this set; it can take anything Mew has to throw at it and can OHKO with a STAB Megahorn.</p>
<p>Lastly, the Baton Pass set is the most difficult set to stop. The reason is because of Mew's access to Taunt and Magic Coat to prevent it from being Taunted or phazed. The most effective way to stop the Baton Pass set is to hammer it with attacks and prevent Mew from gathering any boosts to Baton Pass. Pokemon such as Victini and Escavlier are great examples. Murkrow's new ability, Prankster, gives priority to non damaging moves such as Taunt and Haze, both of which Murkrow has access to. So, no matter how many Speed boosts Mew has collected Murkow will be able to Taunt or Haze Mew first, stopping it from Baton Passing any boosts. However, Magic Coat has a priority of 4, which beats Prankster's priority of 1, therefore if Mew used Magic Coat while Murkrow uses Taunt, it will be bounced back to Murkow.</p>
<p>Of all the UU Pokemon there is three Pokemon that will give every set of Mew's trouble and they are all mentioned throughout this analysis: Choice Scarf Heracross, Weavile, and Escavalier. Weavile and Choice Scarf Heracross outspeed Mew and can threaten with a super effective STAB attack. However, both must be careful switching into Mew, as it can OHKO both of them with the appropriate move. Escavalier is probably the most effective stop to Mew. Its above average defenses allow it to survive anything Mew can throw at it even with boosts (unless Mew is packing Fire Blast, of course) and can OHKO Mew with a STAB Megahorn.</p>
