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[OVERVIEW]
<p>Espeon's stats allow it to fulfill many roles on a team. Espeon is very unpredictable since it can run a lot of different sets such as a dual screen setter, an Offensive Calm Minder, a Baton Passer, and even a Choice set. Espeon has a great support movepool with access to moves such as Light Screen, Reflect, Wish, and Baton Pass. Espeon's ability, Magic Bounce, further adds to its support capabilities allowing it to reflect things like Taunt, Status, and entry hazards back at the opponent. Espeon's paper thin defenses are its downfall, though which makes it incapable of taking any super effective Dark or Bug-type attack such as Pursuit or Megahorn.</p>
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Fighting
item: Light Clay
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Espeon's most useful set in the Fifth Generation. Espeon can set up screens to allow other Pokemon on its team to set-up easier, and potentially sweep. With Espeon's high Speed, it can set up dual screens easily without taking an attack. Reflect halves the damage of physical attacks. Light Screen halves the damage of special attacks. If you are matched up against a physical attacker, use Reflect first so you don't take heavy damage. If you are paired up against a special attacker, you set of Light Screen first for the same reason. Psychic should be used in the third slot for a reliable STAB, which can hit Heracross for super effective damage, who would otherwise KO you with Megahorn. Hidden Power Fire should be used in the last slot to hit Steel-type Pokemon who resist Psychic. It can also be used to hit Celebi, since Celebi resists Psychic too. Hidden Power Fighting may also be used in the last slot to hit Dark-type Pokemon who are otherwise immune to Psychic and can hit Espeon for super effective damage with their STAB attacks.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread maximizes Espeon's Special Attack and Speed stats so Espeon can set-up screens faster, and pack-a-punch. Light Clay is the preferred option on this set so your screens will last 8 turns instead of 5 turns, which can be extremely useful. Focus Sash may be considered over Light Clay if you would rather reliably set-up atleast one screen for sure. A Timid nature is used so Espeon can reach 350 Speed which can almost outspeed the whole tier barring Jolteon, Weavile, and Aerodactyl. Magic Bounce is a very helpful ability for a Dual Screens set as it allows Taunt from faster Pokemon to be bounced back, so Espeon can still set up screens.</p>
<p>Dual screen support allows frail sweepers to set-up easier. The sweepers won't take a lot of damage from attacks thanks to screens so they're more likely to get an easy sweep. For example, Houndoom could get a free Nasty Plot up without taking a lot of damage, and potentially sweep. Belly Drum users such as Charizard can really benefit from dual screen support too as they will be less likely to die at 50% damage after they use Belly Drum.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Baton Pass
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set takes on a more offensive approach than the dual screen set does. Magic Bounce really gives Espeon an edge over other Pokemon with Calm Mind as it prevents Espeon from getting Taunt or a status move such as Thunder Wave or Toxic used on it. After one Calm Mind, Espeon reaches 538 Special Attack which can put a major dent in anything that doesn't resist it. After a Calm Mind Espeon also reaches 339 Special Defense which makes Espeon difficult to take down, even with its frail defenses. Psychic is Espeon's main STAB attack and is stronger than Psyshock is, but it leaves Espeon walled by Chansey, so Psyshock is a viable option over Psychic. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-type Pokemon who resist Psychic for super effective damage such as Celebi and opposing Espeon. Hidden Power Fire Hits Steel-type Pokemon who resist both Psychic and Shadow Ball such as Pawniard and Registeel. Baton Pass could be used over Hidden Power Fire if you want to use this set on a Baton Pass team.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV investment gives Espeon maximum Special Attack and Speed. With a Timid nature and 252 EVs in Speed, Espeon can nearly outrun the whole metagame, which can come in handy after a Calm Mind or two. Magic Bounce prevents Espeon from being Taunted or getting statused, allowing it to sweep without interruption. Life Orb gives the set a little extra kick, and it makes Espeon more threatening overall. Leftovers can be considered over Life Orb if you want to gain some HP back each turn, but losing the extra power is really a drawback.</p>
<p>A good teammate for this set is a Pokemon that can set up dual screens so Espeon can set up easier. Cresselia is an excellent dual screen setter, and can even paralyze threats that are faster than Espeon and might stop its sweep such as Weavile and Jolteon. With dual screens up Espeon won't have to worry about its frail defenses and can proceed to Calm Mind. Entry hazards are also beneficial to this set as it wares down opponents so Espeon has a much easier time sweeping. Scolipede is a good Pokemon that can set up Spikes, it can also set up Toxic Spikes. Hitmontop and Donphan are great users of Stealth Rock, and they can both Rapid Spin the opponents hazards away too.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Trick / Signal Beam
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Espeon's Special Attack and Speed stats make it a great user of Choice Specs and Choice Scarf. Psychic is Espeon's main STAB attack, but Psyshock could be considered over it if you want to get passed special walls easier such as Chansey. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-type Pokemon that resist Espeon's STAB, such as Celebi and Cresselia. Hidden Power Fire Hits Steel-type Pokemon like Pawniard and Registeel who otherwise resists Psychic and Shadow Ball. Trick is a great option for the last slot as it cripples Chansey who would otherwise wall you to no end. Signal Beam is a viable option over Trick as it allows you to hit Celebi for 4x super effective damage. Signal Beam should only be used if you're using Psyshock, since Chansey won't be able to wall you if you're using Psyshock.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The choice between Choice Scarf and Choice Specs is a tricky one. Both of the items serve a different purpose on certain teams. A Choice Scarf Espeon acts mainly as a revenge killer, coming in on weakened or frail threats, and KO'ing them. Choice Specs hits harder, and is capable of breaking through walls like Chansey, but the lack of Speed means it can get revenge killed by faster threats such as Weavile. The EV spread gives Espeon maximum Special Attack and Speed, which a necessity for both the Choice items. A Timid nature gives Espeon its max speed of 350. A Timid nature should always be used on the Choice Specs set, but a Modest Nature could be considered on the Choice Scarf set since you already have boosted Speed.</p>
<p>Since Espeon's STAB attack is Psychic, it needs partners who can deal with Dark-type Pokemon so Espeon doesn't get Pursuit trapped. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Heracross and Hitmontop are good teammates because they resist Dark-type moves, and can hit Dark-type Pokemon for super effective damage with their STAB attacks.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Espeon can effectively utilize a Baton Pass set, it is a staple on a lot of Baton Pass teams thanks to Magic Bounce making it immune to Taunt. Basically, you use the Calm Mind set with Stored Power over Psychicbecause Stored Power really packs-a-punch after a few boosts. You may also want to use a bulkier EV spread since you will most likely be passed a Speed Boost or two. A Fake Tears set could also be used since it forces a lot of switches, and can be very effective with the support of entry hazards.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>The best counters to Espeon are Pokemon that can Pursuit trap it. Pokemon like Spiritbomb and Escavalier are good pursuit trappers against Espeon because they both resist Psychic (Spiritbomb is immune) and can Pursuit trap it. Dugtrio can Arena Trap Espeon and either KO it with Sucker Punch or Night Slash. Chansey walls most of the sets easily if you aren't running Psyshock since Espeon can't really do anything to it.</p>
