Yanma
Overview
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+Outspeeds the entire unboosted tier with Speed Boost
+STAB moves hit many fast and frail Pokémon
-Frail defences
-Many weaknesses, including a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock
-Lack of boosting moves means Yanma cannot get past most bulky Pokemon
-Heavily reliant on OHKOing opponents before they can strike back
-Requires a lot of support to be effective
Life Orb
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name: Life Orb
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Protect
ability: Speed Boost
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest
Moves
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- Air Slash is a STAB move that hits Pokemon that don’t resist it for solid damage. Can cause flinching, but can't be relied on to do so.
- Bug Buzz is a STAB move that hits Pokemon that don’t resist it for solid damage. It can also hit through Substitutes in the event they attempt to set up through Yanma's Protect.
- Giga Drain offers coverage, hitting many Pokemon for good damage and some that would otherwise be capable of switching into Yanma’s STAB's and fire back with OHKO moves. It also increases Yanma's longevity by helping to deal with Life Orb recoil.
- Protect can be used to guarantee you outspeed the whole unboosted tier, and to scout moves during sweeps.
Set Details
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- A Modest natured 252 Special Attack EV Yanma takes advantage of a decent base 75 SpA, allowing it to dent the majority of the tier with powerful stabs in the form of Air Slash and Bug Buzz. Modest is important for Yanma's special attack power, as Speed Boost handles Yanma's speed allowing it to go first in the majority of cases.
- 252 EVs in speed allow Yanma to reach a speed of 289, outspeeding the majority of sweepers in the tier. After one Speed Boost this hits 433, outspeeding Accelgor and making it the second fastest Pokémon in the tier after Ninjask.
- The remaining 4 EVs go into defence rather than HP, because it would make Yanma's HP divisible by 2, only allowing 2 Stealth Rock switch-ins at most even without LO recoil.
- Life Orb is the item of choice for a Modest Yanma, as it requires a versatile moveset while still having boosted power moves.
- Speed Boost is Yanma's niche ability, and the sole reason for using Yanma in the first place.
Usage Tips
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- Only put Yanma in as a free switch in, as its frail defenses mean that it is unlikely to survive multiple blows.
- Stealth Rocks cripple Yanma meaning a rock-free field is necessary.
- Yanma is best used as a late game sweeper where it can pick off a weakened offensive team, assuming powerful priority users have been eliminated. It is also possible to use Yanma as an early game attacker, where it can heavily dent or even KO offensive sweepers, before you bring in a setup sweeper, or Late game sweeper.
Team Options
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- Yanma appreciates spinners that can keep the field clear of Rocks. These include Cryogonal and Sandslash, and even Kabutops. Cryogonal can come in on special ice and electric moves that would KO Yanma. Kabutops can come in on fire moves aimed at Yanma, and proceed to threaten Fire-Types with Aqua Jet. Sandslash can also take electric moves aimed at Yanma including the crippling Thunder Wave, giving it a free switch in.
- Defensive Xatu synergises well with Yanma, as if Yanma is up against a Stealth Rock user it can't OHKO, Xatu can switch in and bounce the rocks back as well as being able to U-turn out to maintain momentum. It also returns all status moves that Yanma lures, like Thunder Wave.
- Thick Fat users like Grumpig and Miltank can also come in on Fire and Ice moves that Yanma lures. They are both capable of using Heal Bell to remove crippling statuses, or absorb status moves themselves. Sandslash can take physical rock moves that Grumpig and Miltank’s defences would otherwise prefer not to.
- Yanma's main job is to threaten offensive sweepers, which Bulkier/Slower sweepers on your team would appreciate. Examples include Feraligatr, Golurk and Granbull.
- Works well with wallbreakers such as Magmortar which can switch into fire moves and hit back extremely hard.
Other Options
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- HP Ground has a honorable mention here for use against physically defensive Steelix, where it would have a 96.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery.
- Yanma's access to Substitute can allow it to shrug of incoming status moves from non-Prankster Pokemon and status back with a Toxic, without fear of being KOed. However, Substitute costs Yanma a significant amount of health that it often cannot afford to lose, and is very easily broken.
- Yanma has access to Tailwind which can be used as a final effort to help the team before Yanma faints. This tends to be a sacrificial move, as Yanma is extremely unlikely to pull it off without being KOed. It is useful for slower sweepers on your team that require some setup. There are better users of Tailwind, such as Prankster Murkrow, which guarantees it, even through priority moves, and other Pokemon such as bulky Altaria which can safely set it up and survive handily.
- Access to U-Turn can allow it to switch in counters, but is best left to other users of the move, as Yanma's physical attack is lackluster and will not be doing any significant damage.
- Hypnosis is a useful option for Yanma, either to shut down a switch in, or purely to outspeed a counter with Protect+Speed Boost and shut them down safely. It is also useful against Pokemon that normally wall Yanma's moves, allowing free turns to rack up extra damage or to get a KO that would normally be out of reach. This also allows you to safely switch in another Pokemon if desired.
Checks & Counters
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**Bulky Pokemon**: Anything that Yanma cannot 2HKO on the switch threatens it. Yanma is unable to beat most bulky Pokemon, and due to its frailty, these walls can even 2HKO or OHKO back.
**Priority Moves**: Priority users can check Yanma, though none in the tier is capable of OHKOing unboosted without prior damage dealt to Yanma. Best checks include Sucker Punch Pawniard and Kangaskhan as well as Quick Attack Toxic Boost Zangoose which can all tank a hit from relatively high health if not able to OHKO with priority. They are likely also able to force Yanma out entirely. Aqua Jet users like Feraligatr and Kabutops can check, but need to be careful of Giga Drain if they fail to KO.
**Stealth Rocks**: Stealth Rock is pretty much a hard counter as Yanma can only switch in once to it, and most probably will die from 50% health against unresisted attacks afterwards.
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarfers can potentially check Yanma, but Yanma's use of Protect in conjunction with Speed Boost makes them less than surefire checks, particularly if Yanma already has one speed boost up.
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