[Overview]
<p>Sigilyph is a very interesting... flying... totem pole... thing, with a whole lot going for it. First, Sigilyph gets what is arguably one of the best abilities in the game, Magic Guard, which prevents residual damage of all kinds. Along with access to reliable recovery in the form of Roost and a way to boost its defenses in Cosmic Power, Sigilyph can be a pain to face in battle. It outruns most of the tier at an excellent base 97 Speed, and can set up and become a thorn in the opponent's side very quickly. What's more, this bird of wisdom also has access to Stored Power, which becomes stronger the more boosts Sigilyph has under its belt, making Sigilyph very threatening after a few boosts. It does have some flaws, however. It is somewhat frail before setting up and has weaknesses to the common Dark-, Ghost-, Ice-, Electric-, and Rock-type moves, which can make it challenging for the bird to set up. Still, if you play Sigilyph to its advantages, it will always frustrate your opponent.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Cosmic Power
move 2: Roost
move 3: Psycho Shift
move 4: Stored Power
item: Flame Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a combination of decent defenses, excellent Speed, access to the Magic Guard ability, and a way to boost both defenses at the same time, Sigilyph can be a monster to face in battle. Flame Orb might seems like a strange option for a defensive Pokemon at first, but in conjunction with Magic Guard and Psycho Shift, it allows Sigilyph to burn its opponents before they can attack it, while slowly sapping away the health of Dark-types, who would wall Sigilyph otherwise. Cosmic Power is the crux of this set, boosting both of Sigilyph's defenses to near-unbreakable levels, making it that much more difficult to take down. Roost provides reliable recovery to this wandering spirit, giving it the time to set up more Cosmic Powers, and also removes its Flying typing for a turn, allowing Sigilyph to take stray Electric-, Rock,- andIce-type attacks. Stored Power is what makes a fully set-up Sigilyph especially dangerous. The move's Base Power increases depending on how many boosts Sigilyph has under its belt, making for a massively powerful attack after Sigilyph has set up the maximum amount of Stored Powers, possibly allowingit to sweep.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The Speed EVs let Sigilyph outrun everything up to max Speed Drapion and burn it before it can use Crunch. Charge Beam is an option over Psycho Shift if Sigilyph uses Leftovers, but Sigilyph misses the ability to burn the opposing Pokemon. More options over Psycho Shift include Air Slash and Hidden Power Fighting for coverage against Dark-types. Calm Mind can be used over Cosmic Power to boost Sigilyph's Special Attack, allowing it to sweep more easily, but Sigilyph really misses the Defense boosts when facing opposing Choice Scarf Pokemon and users of priority. Whirlwind is yet another option over Psycho Shift to rack up residual damage and prevent other Pokemon from setting up on Sigilyph; a spinblocker is recommended if you decide to run Whirlwind. Pokemon that can beat Sigilyph's worst enemies, such as Calm Mind Spiritomb and Mandibuzz, are needed to pull off a sweep. Aggron makes an excellent partner as it can switch in on Spiritomb lacking Hidden Power Fighting and Mandibuzz, and provide an immediate threat to the opponent's team with a STAB Head Smash. Klinklang works the same way by setting up on Spiritomb and walling Mandibuzz, especially if they have been burned.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Life Orb
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Air Slash / Calm Mind
move 3: Roost
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting / Calm Mind
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This variant of Sigilyph is exceedingly powerful to begin with, and if packing Calm Mind,can become very dangerous very quickly. Thanks to Magic Guard, Sigilyph will take no Life Orb recoil whenever it attacks,and hence will not wear itself down during combat. The choice between Psyshock and Psychic is a tough one; while Psychic is overall more powerful and destroys most threats, Psyshock lets Sigilyph get past specially defensive threats, such as Munchlax and Cryogonal, more easily. Air Slash is Sigilyph's secondary STAB,which allows it to hit Grass-types and most importantly, Drapion and Spiritomb. These two would simply wall Sigilyph otherwise, as they are immune to Sigilyph's Psychic-type moves, take little damage from Hidden Power Fighting, and can trap poor Sigilyph with Pursuit. Hidden Power Fighting gives Sigilyph coverage against Steel-types, and most Dark-types. Roost gives Sigilyph reliable recovery, heals off any damage Sigilyph has taken, and allows it to possibly take some super hits. Calm Mind can be used over Hidden Power Fighting to boost Sigilyph's Special Attack to even higher levels, and allows Sigilyph to sweep that much more easily.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Despite having greater offensive presence than the Cosmic Power set, this variant of Sigilyph is extremely vulnerable to Pursuit users, such as Spiritomb and Drapion. Pokemon that can set up on Pursuit make excellent teammates. To name a couple, SubPunch Aggron and Klinklang turn most Pursuit users into setup fodder, setting up Substitute and Shift Gear, respectively, and proceeding to put pressure on the opponent's team. Sigilyph also appreciates hazard support from Pokemon such as Aerodactyl, Smeargle, and Crustle, to gain against OHKOs and 2HKOs on certain opponents. Stored Power is an option over Psychic, but Sigilyph will realistically only find time to boost once, making Stored Power an inferior option. Whirlwind can be used over Hidden Power Fighting to prevent opposing Pokemon such as Spiritomb and Cresselia from setting up on Sigilyph. Ice Beam can be used as a coverage move to knock Altaria and Torterra down to the ground, and is also Sigilyph's best move for breaking through Stunfisk, but has little use outside of these threats.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Sigilyph can utilize Thunder Wave to paralyze an opposing Pokemon and slow it down, but Sigilyphhas better things to be doing, namely spreading burn, boosting, and sweeping. Sigilyph can set up dual screens, but it is done better by Uxie and Cresselia, who have stronger defenses and access to Memento and Lunar Dance, respectively. Sigilyph also has access to Mirror Move, which is a gimmicky option for knocking Outrages back at Druddigon and Altaria, but has little use otherwise. Sigilyph also has access to Energy Ball to hit Quagsire, but this move has no other applications.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>As the Legendary Flying Totem Pole of Wisdom, Sigilyph's counters are few and far between. Calm Mind Spiritomb is perhaps the only thing that can fully stop the Cosmic Power set.Being immune to Stored Power,it can boost up with Sigilyph and Rest off any burns that Sigilyph inflicts. Rotom can come in on an unboosted Sigilyph and either Trick it a Choice item, or pressure it with repeated Thunderbolts. Mandibuzz also makesan excellent check, completely walling Sigilyph and Whirlwinding away any Cosmic Power boosts, but itwill likely get burned, crippling it for the rest of the match. Drapion can Taunt opposing Sigilyph, Crunch it, or simply Whirlwind it out, butwill also get burned in the process. Most powerful Dark-, Ghost-, Ice-, Electric-, and Rock-type moves will take down Sigilyph easily as long as it hasn't gained too many boosts. Specially defensive Slowking and Cresselia can both potentially stall out Sigilyph,as they are able to take several maximum power Stored Powers, making Sigilyph run out of PP. Houndour is immune to anything that Sigilyph can do to it outside of Air Slash, but who uses Houndour anyway?</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sigilyph's Hidden Ability is Tinted Lens; while it is an excellent ability, the loss of Magic Guard really hurts, especially because it has a Stealth Rock weakness.</p>
