[Overview]
<p>Meganium is a fairly balanced Pokemon, combining outstanding HP and defensive stats with acceptable offensive capabilities. Meganium's Attack and Special Attack are usable, meaning that it will never be dead weight on your team after it has carried out its supportive duties. Meganium's movepool, containing options as Reflect, Light Screen, Leech Seed, GrassWhistle, and Aromatherapy, sets it apart from other Grass-types. Meganium also has access to Synthesis to restore its health; just be careful that you don't use it in the rain. Finally, while Meganium is weak to the common Bug-, Fire-, Flying-, Poison-, and Ice-type moves, that shouldn't deter you from using this great defensive and supportive Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Leech Seed
move 2: Aromatherapy
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Toxic / Synthesis
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Thanks to its solid bulk, Meganium makes for a great defensive Pokemon. The idea is to switch into a bulky Water-type, such as Alomomola, and force them to switch out with Meganium's STAB moves. From there, Meganium can proceed to support its teammates with a combination of Leech Seed, Aromatherapy, and Toxic. Leech Seed helps restore Meganium's health and its teammates if Meganium switches out and the opponent doesn't. Aromatherapy cures any status it or its teammates may be afflicted with, and works great in conjunction with RestTalkers, such as Weezing. Giga Drain provides reliable STAB heals Maganium for half of the damage dealt to boot. In the last slot, Toxic can cripple bulkier opponents, such as Alomomola, Mantine, and Hypno, while Synthesis can be used to restore half of Meganium's health under normal circumstances.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are straightforward; maximum HP and Defense are used, as Meganium makes an excellent Earthquake absorber with its typing and the EV investments. Alternatively, you can invest some EVs into Special Defense to take on weak special attackers, but Meganium is weak to common Fire- and Ice-type moves, making it an inferior choice. For the final slot, Dragon Tail phazes opponents and racks up entry hazard damage, Grass Knot deals more damage to heavy Pokemon, Light Screen remedies Meganium's lack of Special Defense investment, and Hidden Power Fire hits other Grass-types super effectively.</p>
<p>As a defensive Pokemon, Meganium appreciates partners that can switch into its weaknesses. Gigalith can switch into Poison-, Flying-, and Fire-type moves, has an insane Defense stat, and can threaten the aforementioned types with its STAB Rock-type moves and Earthquake. Camerupt can switch into Fire- and Poison-type movesfor Maganium, while Meganium can switch into Water- and Ground-type moves aimed at Camerupt. Finally, Probopass can switch into Flying-, Ice-, Bug-, and Poison-types, has access to Thunder Wave to slow down threatening sweepers, and can benefit from Meganium's Leech Seed.</p>
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Aromatherapy / Leech Seed
move 4: Giga Drain
item: Light Clay
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The idea behind this set is to switch into a resisted attack, take advantage of Meganium's bulk to set up screens, and help a threatening sweeper set up. Leech Seed and Aromatherapy are used to keep Meganium and its teammates healthy, while restoring health lost to Life Orb recoil on your sweeper of choice. Giga Drain provides a STAB attack, and gives Meganium something to do if it's the last Pokemon on your team. In addition, Giga Drain restores 50% of the damage inflicted, increasing Meganium's survivability. Light Clay is the item of choice as it prolongs the time screens are active.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs aim to balance Meganium's defensive stats, which equalize them before and after it sets up screens. Synthesis can be used in the third slot to restore Meganium's health, while GrassWhistle, though unreliable, can put an opponent to sleep and give a sweeper more opportunities to switch in. As this set applies a more 'hit-and-run' strategy, Leaf Storm can be used to deal a lot of damage over a single turn if Maganium plans on switching out the next.</p>
<p>Pokemon that can switch into Meganium's weaknesses make good teammates. Alomomola can switch into Fire- and Ice-type moves, while Meganium can switch into Grass- and Electric-type moves in return. Additionally, Alomomola can provide Wish support for Meganium. Metang can switch into Ice-, Poison-, and Flying-type moves aimed at Meganium, while providing Stealth Rock and cripple an opponent with Trick. Thick Fat Miltank and Grumpig take reduced damage from Fire- and Ice-type moves, making them decent partners as well.</p>
<p>Sweepers that can set up behind screens are recommended partners. Swords Dance Ursaring, Rock Polish Rampardos, and Dragon Dance Fraxure are physically offensive options, while Nasty Plot Jynx and Calm Mind Gardevoir are special-based. Alternatively, Baton Pass users can take advantage of the screens to gain more stat boosts. Drifblim, Mr. Mime, and Girafarig are good choices.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>In addition to the sets listed above, Meganium has some more unorthodox options. Body Slam can be used with an Impish or Relaxed nature for its paralysis rate, taking advantage of Meganium's usable Attack stat. Counter requires good prediction, but when used correctly, it can surprise physical attackers that expect to KO Meganium. A physical set of Swords Dance, Seed Bomb, Earthquake, and Return is an option, but it's highly outclassed by Pokemon such as Cacturne; not only does Cacturne possess a higher Attack stat, it has access to Sucker Punch and Focus Punch, making prediction much more difficult for the opponent. Substitute can be used alongside Leech Seed to form the infamous 'SubSeed' combination, but Meganium isn't very fast without Speed investment. Sunny Day, SolarBeam, and Hidden Power Fire can form a 'SunnyBeamer' set, but more offensive Pokemon, such as Exeggutor, pull this off better. Rest can be used with Sleep Talk or a Chesto Berry to restore Meganium's health, but it's less reliable than Leech Seed or Synthesis. Finally, Meganium can run Choice Specs to raise its Special Attack, although it's much better as a defensive Pokemon.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>The majority of Grass-types can wall Meganium; they are immune to Leech Seed, and Meganium's STAB won't be doing much to them. Victreebel and Vileplume are great counters as they can strike Meganium with STAB Sludge Bomb. Heatmor, Fearow, Garbodor, Cryogonal, and Mothim can switch into any of Meganium's attacks and proceed to KO it with their own STAB moves. Pokemon with Sap Sipper completely wall Meganium unless it carries a coverage move, which makes Miltank an excellent check. Most specially defensive Pokemon can set up on Meganium, and they aren't afraid of Meganium's weak STAB either. Regice and Mantine can take on any set Meganium can run, while Cradily boasts an immunity to Leech Seed, and it has access to Recover. Surprisingly, Kecleon can wall Meganium if it switches into Giga Drain, turning it into a Grass-type which, in turn, grants it an immunity to Leech Seed. Furthermore, Kecleon has access to Recover and Trick, keeping it alive, and crippling Meganium, respectively. Finally, Meganium is shut down by Taunt, which makes Murkrow an excellent counter.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Meganium receives Leaf Guard from the Dream World. While it's better than Overgrow on a defensive Pokemon, Meganium needs support from Sunny Day, as there are no permanent sun inducers in NU. Furthermore, Meganium commonly carries Aromatherapy, which makes it largely pointless.</p>
