The mother of every single Battle Spot metagame makes her singles appearance!
[OVERVIEW]
Behold what may be the biggest threat in Battle Spot Singles! Parental Bond lets Mega Kangaskhan rise to stardom, allowing her to attack twice per turn, effectively giving her a free 50% boost to her Attack and other bonuses such as the ability to blast through Focus Sashes and Substitutes! Mega Kangaskhan also has a superb stat spread that gives her not only great offensive presence but also good Speed and defenses that make OHKOing Mega Kangaskhan a difficult task. Even with a mediocre Normal typing, Mega Kangaskhan makes full use of it with her powerful STAB moves and only has a sole weakness to Fighting. What truly takes Mega Kangaskhan to the next level is her amazing movepool. Mega Kangaskhan's offensive movepool is extremely varied, giving her a tactic around almost all of her checks!
Mega Kangaskhan's only major flaw is that she is such a huge threat that almost every team has a battle plan against her. Teams will use things such as Rocky Helmet, Will-O-Wisp, and even specific Pokemon such as Porygon2 and bulky Serperior for the purpose of checking Mega Kangaskhan. While Mega Kangaskhan is incredibly difficult to directly check, she can certainly be worn down by a whole team. With so many teams being well prepared against Mega Kangaskhan, you may end up benching her from battles more often than you'd expect. Even with a metagame that attempts to be as hostile to Mega Kangaskhan as possible, however, she is still one of the most defining Pokemon of Battle Spot Singles, because any team that fails to prepare for Mega Kangaskhan is doomed to fail!
[SET]
name: Sweeper
move 1: Power-Up Punch
move 2: Double-Edge / Return
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Earthquake / Rock Slide / Substitute / Secret Power
item: Kangaskhanite
ability: Scrappy
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Parental Bond, Power-Up Punch hits twice, letting Mega Kangaskhan double her Attack with just one use. Double-Edge is Mega Kangaskhan's hard-hitting STAB move, giving her great offensive presence before a boost and serious wallbreaking power after a boost. However, if you are worried about Mega Kangaskhan getting worn down by the recoil, you can opt to use Return at the cost of making Mega Kangaskhan more reliant on boosting. Sucker Punch gives Mega Kangaskhan a useful priority attack, allowing her to pick off weakened faster threats and even potentially sweep through battle-worn teams. Just note that Sucker Punch can result in mind games due to its failure against Pokemon using support moves.
Earthquake is the most reliable option for the last moveslot, allowing Mega Kangaskhan to slam Steel- and Rock-types and avoid recoil from Garchomp, Ferrothorn, and Rocky Helmet users. Rock Slide doesn't offer great coverage compared to Earthquake, but in exchange, it lets Mega Kangaskhan hit Gengar and Ground-immune Rocky Helmet users such as Zapdos and Cresselia. With the help of Parental Bond, Rock Slide also has a 51% chance to cause the foe to flinch! Finally, Substitute can be used with a bulkier EV spread to allow Mega Kangaskhan to muscle through some of her defensive checks. Even against offensive Pokemon, Substitute can make Mega Kangaskhan extremely difficult to check, as playing around Sucker Punch becomes more difficult. Secret Power offers no additional coverage and is rather weak, but its 51% chance of paralysis and ability to avoid Rocky Helmet damage can make it a good move to pair with Double-Edge.
Set Details
========
Jolly is the preferred nature for sweeping, (AC) as it allows Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed threats such as Landorus-T and Hydreigon as well as Lucario and Kangaskhan before they have Mega Evolved. However, Adamant allows Mega Kangaskhan to be a bigger threat early in the game, as she is thus less reliant on boosting. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs are preferred for maximum sweeping power, while the 4 Special Defense EVs ensure that Porygon2 will not get a Special Attack boost.
Scrappy is the preferred base ability for Kangaskhan. This allows her to hit Ghost-types before Mega Evolving. This is especially important against Gengar, which is a common switch-in to Mega Kangaskhan. Scrappy also allows Kangaskhan to use Power-Up Punch on Aegislash switch-ins, letting her OHKO Aegislash with a +1 Earthquake after Mega Evolving.
If using Substitute, consider a bulkier EV spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 116 Spe with an Adamant nature. This allows Mega Kagaskhan to survive some impressive attacks, such as Choice Specs Latios's Draco Meteor, +2 Aegislash's Flash Cannon, Landorus-T's Superpower, and Choice Band Garchomp's Outrage. The Speed EVs are designed to let Mega Kangaskhan outspeed Breloom. Thanks to the HP EVs, Mega Kangaskhan also takes less damage from Rocky Helmet, allowing her to take on Cresselia, Suicune, and defensive Rotom-W more easily.
Usage Tips
========
If using Mega Kangaskhan early-game, try to focus on attacking the foe instead of setting up. This is a particularly effective tactic against offensive teams, because even if Mega Kangaskhan goes down early, the amount of damage she will have dealt can open up holes for teammates to sweep. Setting up early may seem appealing, but most teams will have offensive checks that can cut Mega Kangaskhan's sweep short. If your strategy requires Mega Kangaskhan to last longer, focus on using non-contact moves such as Earthquake and Rock Slide early on, as one of the most common responses to Mega Kangaskhan is to switch in a defensive Rocky Helmet Pokemon. Common Rocky Helmet Pokemon to watch out for include Suicune, Cresselia, Zapdos, Talonflame, Gyarados, Hippowdon, Garchomp, Ferrothorn, and Serperior.
When planning to sweep with Mega Kangaskhan, focus on softening her defensive checks such as Cresselia, Suicune, and Porygon2. Doing this can allow Mega Kangaskhan to smash through them with a boosted Double-Edge or Return, leading to a potential sweep!
Usually, it is better to Mega Evolve Kangaskhan on the first turn, as the Speed boost allows her to outspeed important threats such as Hydreigon and positive-natured Lucario. However, if you are facing Gengar or Aegislash, holding off on Mega Evolution can actually be a good idea. Thanks to Scrappy, Kangaskhan can hit Gengar before she Mega Evolves with Return or Double-Edge, making it a less reliable check. As for Aegislash, using Power-Up Punch as it switches in can allow Kangaskhan to OHKO it with Earthquake after Mega Evolution!
During Team Preview, if you notice that your opponent's team is packed with defensive Mega Kangaskhan checks such as Porygon2, Cresselia, and Suicune or contains offensive checks such as Blaziken and Terrakion, don't be afraid to bench Kangaskhan if you feel like other Pokemon provide a better matchup. Mega Kangaskhan may be extremely dangerous, but even she can't bust through an entire team on her own.
Team Options
========
Rocky Helmet Pokemon such as Suicune, Cresselia, and Hippowdon are huge problems for Mega Kangaskhan, as their good bulk and the residual damage can stop her from sweeping. Knock Off can get rid of of their main source of residual damage, with good users including Blaziken, Conkeldurr, and Azumarill. Tricking Choice items onto them can also cripple them. Rotom-W and Rotom-H are the best Pokemon for this job, while Togekiss can Trick them a Choice Scarf as well. Finally, residual damage from sources such as Stealth Rock can weaken foes enough to put them into Mega Kangaskhan's KO range, which can help in avoiding further chip damage from Rocky Helmet. Garchomp, Hippowdon, and Swampert are particularly good users of Stealth Rock.
While using more than one Mega Evolution may seem like a waste of a teamslot, it can work well in Mega Kangaskhan's case provided that they cover Pokemon that give her issues. Mega Gengar is the perfect example of this, as it has Shadow Tag to trap many of Kangaskhan's defensive checks and counters. Mega Charizard X is also a good choice, as it can set up on Suicune and Ferrothorn.
Finally, one notable strategy is pairing Mega Kangaskhan with Lunar Dance Cresselia or Healing Wish Latias. These moves can bring Mega Kangaskhan back from the brink of being KOed, giving her another chance to sweep!
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Sucker Punch / Fake Out
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Fake Out / Rock Slide / Ice Punch / Facade
item: Kangaskhanite
ability: Scrappy
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Double-Edge's absurd power is well worth the recoil. Sucker Punch gives Mega Kangaskhan a valuable priority move to pick off weakened foes and lets Mega Kangaskhan clean through weakened, faster foes such as Garchomp and Mega Salamence. Earthquake gives Mega Kangaskhan coverage against common Steel- and Rock-types such as Aegislash and Tyranitar.
The last moveslot is an incredibly diverse toss-up. Fake Out is a great option that gives Kangaskhan a turn to Mega Evolve without worrying about its starting Speed and can wear down foes into revenge KO range. Rock Slide allows Mega Kangaskhan to dodge Rocky Helmet damage and has a 51% chance to cause the foe to flinch your foes. Ice Punch OHKOes Garchomp and does a huge amount of damage to Mega Salamence, while Fire Punch grabs a OHKO on Ferrothorn and a 2HKO on Skarmory. Facade may not offer any additional coverage, but it ruins teams that rely on Will-O-Wisp to defeat Mega Kangaskhan. While Crunch may seem inferior to Sucker Punch, being able to attack even if a foe uses a support move or switches makes it a valuable tool against Gengar. Finally, Secret Power, while weak, avoids Rocky Helmet damage and gives Mega Kangaskhan a 51% chance to paralyze her foes.
If you wish, you can get rid of Earthquake to free up another moveslot. However, this makes Substitute Aegislash a much more serious issue. You may also replace Sucker Punch with Fake Out. While getting rid of Sucker Punch reduces Mega Kangaskhan's cleaning potential, it does allow room for more reliable coverage moves.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed EVs are recommended to maximize Mega Kangaskhan's offensive presence, while 4 Special Defense EVs ensure that Porygon2 will not get a Special Attack boost from Download. Scrappy is the best ability for Kangaskhan, as it allows her to hit Ghost-types before Mega Evolving, which is especially important against Gengar switch-ins.
Choosing between an Adamant nature and a Jolly nature can be a difficult decision. Going with an Adamant nature maximizes Mega Kangaskhan's offensive power; it is especially recommended if using Fake Out, as the extra chip damage can be game winning. A Jolly nature, on the other hand, allows Mega Kangaskhan to outspeed Adamant Mega Kangaskhan, Landorus-T, and Lucario before it Mega Evolves.
Usage Tips
========
Usually, you'll want to Mega Evolve Kangaskhan as soon as possible for the extra Speed. This is especially true if your Mega Kangaskhan has Fake Out, as this move will grant her a free turn to Mega Evolve. The main exception to this rule is when facing Gengar. Hitting Gengar on the switch with Double-Edge before Mega Evolving can ruin its plans to cripple Mega Kangaskhan with Will-O-Wisp.
Mega Kangaskhan works in every stage of the game, but your strategy should change depending on what stage of the game you want to use her. If you plan on using Mega Kangaskhan early in the game, use her to try to weaken the foes for another teammate to sweep. This is usually a good tactic against offensive teams, where sacrificing Mega Kangaskhan may not be as big of a deal. If you want Mega Kangaskhan to last longer, avoid using contact moves such as Double-Edge. This lets you scout for Rocky Helmet switch-ins.
If you plan on using Mega Kangaskhan late-game, try to clean up the weakened team with Double-Edge and Sucker Punch. This is the tactic to use if you see a team with bulky Pokemon such as Porygon2, Cresselia, Hippowdon, and Suicune, as these Pokemon will check Mega Kangaskhan when they are healthy.
If your opponent has a team full of Mega Kangaskhan checks, it may be wise to bench Mega Kangaskhan. While Mega Kangaskhan is one of the most dangerous Pokemon in the game, even she won't be able to overcome a team designed to check her!
Team Options
========
By far the biggest issues are defensive Rocky Helmet Pokemon, which can take advantage of Parental Bond and force Mega Kangaskhan to lose significant portions of her health. Common Rocky Helmet users include Suicune, Cresselia, Gyarados, Hippowdon, Zapdos, Talonflame, and Serperior. Especially watch out for Rocky Helmet Garchomp and Ferrothorn, which take away over half of Mega Kangaskhan's health if she makes contact! Getting rid of Rocky Helmets can be a big help. Trick Rotom-W with Choice Scarf or Choice Specs can cripple most defensive Pokemon, while Blaziken and Conkeldurr can use Knock Off to get rid of Rocky Helmets, and they can also defeat Porygon2 with their Fighting-type STAB moves. Nasty Plot Thundurus also deserves a special mention for being able to get surprise sweeps on these defensive Pokemon.
Another big problem for Mega Kangaskhan is offensive Fighting-type Pokemon such as Blaziken, Choice Scarf Heracross, and Mega Lopunny, which outspeed and OHKO her. Pokemon that resist Fighting are an excellent answer to this problem. Cresselia and Latias are excellent choices, especially because they can use Lunar Dance or Healing Wish to heal up Mega Kangaskhan. Talonflame is a more offensive answer, smacking Fighting-types with priority Brave Bird. Landorus-T works well too, thanks to its great ability, Intimidate.
Mega Kangaskhan is great at dealing quick, small-risk damage thanks to Fake Out and punching holes through a team thanks to Double-Edge. This makes fast, powerful sweepers such as Talonflame, Blaziken, Greninja, and Thundurus good teammates. They can also take Will-O-Wisps that threaten to cripple Mega Kangaskhan.
Another good teammate for Mega Kangaskhan is Baton Pass Blaziken. Blaziken can use Speed Boost and Bulk Up or Swords Dance to pass on boosts to Mega Kangaskhan. With Speed and Attack boosts, Mega Kangaskhan can become almost unstoppable!
Most Battle Spot teams will have a game plan against Mega Kangaskhan, so running backup Mega Pokemon can be a good tactic against well-prepared teams. Mega Gengar is an excellent choice, being able to check Mega Kangaskhan's defensive checks thanks to Shadow Tag. Meanwhile, Mega Charizard X is able to use Mega Kangaskhan checks such as Suicune and Ferrothorn as setup fodder.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Kangaskhan may have a paltry base 65 Special Attack, but thanks to Parental Bond, a specially based set is viable. Shadow Ball 2HKOes unsuspecting Mega Gengar, Fire Blast roasts Ferrothorn, and Ice Beam and Blizzard can get around Garchomp's Rough Skin and Salamence's Intimidate.
Low Kick grabs an easy OHKO on Tyranitar and deals serious damage to Air Balloon Heatran, Ferrothorn, and opposing Mega Kangaskhan. Stomp, while weak, gives Mega Kangaskhan a 51% chance to induce flinches and punishes Chansey and Starmie for using Minimize. Hammer Arm gives Mega Kangaskhan extra coverage against Steel-types, but the Speed drop makes it only useful against Trick Room teams. Drain Punch can restore some of Mega Kangaskhan's health, but it's too weak to do much else. Disable, when paired with Substitute, can ruin an offensive Pokemon's chance at defeating Mega Kangaskhan. Inner Focus, while usually inferior to Scrappy, can be used to hit opposing Mega Kangaskhan through their Fake Out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Chip Damage**: Rocky Helmet users such as Suicune, Hippowdon, Cresselia, Zapdos, and Ferrothorn (which has Iron Barbs as well) will rapidly wear down Mega Kangaskhan due to Parental Bond and her high use of contact moves. Garchomp takes a huge amount of damage switching in, but Rough Skin itself will take a toll on Mega Kangaskhan, especially if Garchomp is wearing a Rocky Helmet.
**Fighting-types:**: Fighting-types such as Blaziken, Choice Scarf Heracross, Mega Lucario, and Mega Lopunny are unable to switch into Mega Kangaskhan, but they can revenge kill her with their STAB Fighting-type attacks.
**Defensive Porygon2**: Porygon2 takes a huge amount of damage from boosted attacks but can deal considerable damage with Foul Play, which also receives a Parental Bond boost thanks to Trace.
**Gengar**: Gengar can play mind games before Mega Evolving thanks to Levitate. With Will-O-Wisp and Levitate, Gengar is immune to entire Mega Kangaskhan sets and can easily cripple her with Will-O-Wisp. Mega Gengar gets hit by Earthquake, but it is still a big threat due to Will-O-Wisp and Shadow Tag.
**Mega Sableye**: Mega Sableye, in addition to being immune to Normal-type moves, has decent bulk and can burn Mega Kangaskhan.
**Will-O-Wisp**: Without Facade, Mega Kangaskhan becomes utterly crippled when burned. Common users of Will-O-Wisp include Rotom-W, Gengar, and Talonflame.
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