Jirachi (Update)

[OVERVIEW]
<p>Jirachi awakens from its thousand-year long hibernation in time for Generation IV, which brings Jirachi an expanded movepool, the new abusable Choice Scarf, and a variety of new Pokemon to face off and partner up with. With a widened physical movepool (which includes a STAB flinching move), Jirachi can now run a plethora of different sets, all with equal effectiveness. Its options include, but certainly aren't limited to, the time-tested Calm Mind sweeper from Advance, the Choice Scarf revenge killer and lead, the team supporter with Reflect/Light Screen and Wish, and the all-around player with Thunder Wave and a few a mixture of attacking options.</p>

<p>Its nicely rounded stats means that Jirachi has the capability to make 101 HP Substitutes, Speed tie with the likes of Zapdos and Flygon, and more. On top of this, its Steel/Psychic typing means that Jirachi is immune to Toxic Spikes and Sandstorm, resists Stealth Rock, and has numerous useful resistances. All of this makes Jirachi one of the most potentially fearsome Pokemon, and is capable of tearing through whole teams using with just one of its many sets.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: ThunderPunch / U-turn / Trick
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
item: Choice Scarf

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a Choice Scarf equipped, Jirachi becomes an effective check to some of the metagame's largest threats, such as Dragon Dance Dragonite and Swords Dance Lucario. The coverage is what makes this set work, as Jirachi is able to use Fire Punch to take down the Steel-types switching that like to switch into Iron Head, such as Scizor and Metagross; Ice Punch will let Jirachi take on pummel Gliscor and other Ground-types, as well as Dragonite locked into Outrage (and similarly Flygon, but Jirachi will Speed tie with Choice Scarf variants at the worst); and ThunderPunch will help Jirachi take down defeat Gyarados, although it won't KO any other Water-types, such as Suicune or Vaporeon. U-turn can scout for counters, which is especially helpful if you have entry hazards to weaken them with, while Trick can be effective against an effective way of dealing with stall, or stat-up sweepers like Calm Mind Suicune. Use it Trick with caution, however, since losing its Speed makes Jirachi a much less effective revenge killer.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Despite its wide coverage, Jirachi can only use is locked into one move at a time, and so you have to be careful about what can potentially switch into the potential switch-ins for each attack. Heatran, Swampert, and Rotom-A all resist Iron Head and aren't hit super-effectively by any of Jirachi's other attacks. Heatran can switch in on Fire Punch and gain a Flash Fire boost, allowing it to potentially sweep your whole team; Swampert is an effective teammate for Jirachi, since it resists Heatran's main STAB and can retaliate with its own STAB Earthquake, although it must be wary of Toxic or Hidden Power Grass. Opposing Swampert are dealt with by anything that can switch into Earthquake or Waterfall without being forced out again; Suicune is extremely effective ideal here since it can use Calm Mind up and proceed to throw boosted Surfs at Swampert, although it must be wary of getting phazed by Roar. Suicune also has the added benefit of being able to threaten Heatran as well, provided it watches out for Explosion or Toxic. Rotom-A is trickier to deal with since it can run a variety of sets, although generally, anything with a positive match-up against Shadow Ball and Thunderbolt can do well. Again, Swampert is a candidate since it can 2HKO with Hydro Pump and is generally unaffected by Will-O-Wisp, although Rotom-C does have Leaf Storm.</p>

<p>The list of Pokemon that can actually set up on Jirachi while it is locked into an attack is sadly quite long. Water-types like Dragon Dance Gyarados and Calm Mind Suicune, as well as hard hitters like Scizor or Lucario, can switch into Iron Head. Rotom-A can deal with most of these threats using its STAB Thunderbolt, although Lucario does carry Crunch on occasion. Heatran, as well as any Dragon-type, can set up Substitutes or Dragon Dances on Fire Punch. Fortunately, these are can be dealt with by using a bulky Water-type, who can also take care of the Steel-types setting up on Ice Punch and the Ground-types switching into ThunderPunch.</p>

[SET]
name: Wish + Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Wish
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Psychic / Flash Cannon
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
item: Leftovers

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>By utilizing Calm Mind and Wish, Jirachi can act as both a sweeper and cleric supporter all in one set. Because of its Steel typing, Jirachi does not have to worry about Toxic putting an expiration date on its sweep like most Calm Mind sweepers do, freeing up the ability giving it the freedom to use Wish over Substitute. This set can prove particularly difficult for stall teams to eliminate, as with the ability to heal itself and the immunity to Toxic, Jirachi cannot be taken out by normal stall means. Versus Against offensive teams, Jirachi provides its team with a useful Dragon-type resistance and Wish to keep its teammates healthy. After scouting and eliminating the few Pokemon who can actually stop this set, Jirachi can start using Calm Mind to set up a sweep, healing itself with Wish when necessary. It is best to set up Jirachi's sweep against another a Pokemon who primarily uses special attacks, as Calm Mind will reduce the damage that you take. However, setting up against a Pokemon who is locked into a resisted attack is also an effective strategy.</p>

<p>At first glance, this may look similar to the Calm Mind + Substitute Sweeper set, but there are a few distinct differences between the two. The first major difference is that this set allows Jirachi to heal itself and support the team with Wish, while also being able to set up a sweep with a few Calm Minds under its belt. Thunderbolt and Psychic provide Jirachi with respectable type coverage, only being resisted by Pokemon with unique type combinations, such as Magnezone and Celebi. Flash Cannon is another solid option, despite the lower Base Power in comparison to Psychic, as it provides Jirachi with an answer for Pokemon like Tyranitar and Celebi. The other major difference is the EV spread and nature. Because Jirachi does not have Substitute to help it absorb attacks, it is necessary to invest EVs into its Defense to give it physical bulk. This spread allows Jirachi to survive a +1 Adamant Life Orb Earthquake from Gyarados while it is when at full health, while providing you with enough Speed to outpace max Speed Tyranitar. Alternatively, 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe with a Bold nature allows you to outspeed any base 90 Pokemon with a neutral nature, most notably Lucario.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Although this set provides Jirachi with the ability to support its team with Wish, Jirachi it also becomes more vulnerable to being crippled with the loss of without Substitute. In addition, the lack of Substitute also means that Jirachi is prone to Pokemon with dangerously exposed to Trick. The most effective way to set up this particular Jirachi is to alternate between Wish and Calm Mind as it this combo provides a pseudo-safety net against critical hits. Finally, although Jirachi is immune to Toxic, it can still be paralyzed and burned, which can hinder its sweeping ability. Despite the aforementioned problems due to the lack of Substitute, Wish is still a valuable asset on any team, and it allows Jirachi to take on the role of a cleric team supporter. Jirachi also tends to attract Fire- and Ground-type attacks, which provide the perfect opportunity to bring in Pokemon who otherwise have trouble doing so due to Stealth Rock, such as Dragonite and Gyarados. If Jirachi pulls off a Wish, these huge threats can come in at full health and attempt a sweep of their own.</p>

<p>There are a few Pokemon who work particularly well with this Jirachi set that should be considered on for your team. First of all, a Choice Band or Scarf Tyranitar with Pursuit can assist in eliminating threats that attempt to Trick their Choice items onto Jirachi. Trick is predominantly used by Ghost- and Psychic-types, so Tyranitar can usually net some free KOs with Pursuit by switching in as your opponent uses Trick. This may clear the path for an eventual Jirachi sweep. Starmie is also a great teammate option, because she it can beat Heatran and Infernape, the two most common Pokemon who can offensively stop Jirachi's sweep. As a bonus, Starmie also resists Fire-type attacks, making her it another good Wish recipient to switch in on those pesky Fire-types. Finally, as mentioned earlier, Dragonite and Gyarados are effective offensive partners with for this particular Jirachi. If you can time your Wish properly to let them come in at full health, bypassing negating Stealth Rock damage, both of these Pokemon become very hard to stop. You should also take into consideration which move you choose for Jirachi Jirachi's moveset when selecting teammates. For example, if you use Thunderbolt and Psychic, it is recommended that you carry a check for Tyranitar who can wall you; Gliscor or Swampert can beat most Tyranitar. If you are using Flash Cannon over Psychic, you should consider packing someone that can beat Electric-type Pokemon such as Raikou or Electivire; Scarf Flygon does an excellent job at this, and also makes for a good Wish recipient, considering its typing and ability. Finally, adding a teammate who can burn opposing Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp can increase the effectiveness of this Jirachi, as dampening blows from physical attacks can allow it to set up with greater ease. With these bases covered, Wish + Calm Mind Jirachi should prove to be menacing an utter menace to your opponent.</p>

[SET]
name: TrickScarf Lead
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Trick / U-turn
move 4: Fire Punch / ThunderPunch / Ice Punch
nature: Jolly
evs: 4HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
item: Choice Scarf

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Fast leads such as Azelf and Aerodactyl will find themselves severely hampered by this set, since Iron Head not only scores a clean 2HKO, but has that a 60% flinch rate, meaning that there is a good chance that they won't get a move in at all. Slower leads like Swampert or Tyranitar will suddenly find themselves much less effective debilitated with a Choice Scarf, especially since most of the time they'll be locked into Stealth Rock, meaning you can bring in a Pokemon for free. However, U-turn can be used, since with a Choice Scarf, it makes Jirachi and an extremely effective scout, especially if the opponent switches in something like Magnezone. The elemental punches make an appearance in the last slot to provide late-game coverage in order to check other threats. Fire Punch can deal with Scizor, Lucario, or any other Steel-type; ThunderPunch KOes Gyarados and can dent other Water-types like Suicune; Ice Punch will hurt all Dragons except Kingdra, as well as most other Flying-types in general.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Being a lead, Jirachi doesn't need dedicated team support as much as any other sets, although when using Trick, it may find itself on the receiving end of Heatran's Fire Blast or Metagross's Earthquake instead of Stealth Rock. Having something that can set up on these Choice-locked threats is extremely useful. Pokemon like Gyarados and Dragonite can come in once Fire Blast or Earthquake has KOed Jirachi and set up a Dragon Dance as the opponent switches, and they can start from full health as well as a bonus, these Flying-types can switch in with full health, as because Jirachi will have prevented the foe from getting up Stealth Rock.</p>

[SET]
name: Substitute + Thunder Wave
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Thunder Wave / Body Slam
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Fire Punch
nature: Jolly
evs: 164 HP / 168 Atk / 176 Spe
item: Leftovers

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>By utilizing paralysis and Iron Head's boosted flinch rate thanks to Serene Grace, Jirachi can ensure that his its opponents will only ever have a 30% chance of successfully attacking with a 100% accurate move. This set takes full advantage of these odds by providing Jirachi with the ability to heal 6.25% of his its health for free with Leftovers every time his the opponent gets flinched or is fully paralyzed. Substitute allows Jirachi to safely attempt to flinch opponents who would otherwise OHKO him it. With Leftovers, Jirachi fully regains all his its health lost from Substitute after successfully preventing his the opponent from attacking four times. At this point, Jirachi has likely done significant damage, and is now back to full health.</p>

<p>Unlike most other sets, this set should be played with long-term planning in mind. In other words, it often takes two switch-ins from for this Jirachi to be as successful as possible. The first time Jirachi comes in, he it should paralyze his the opponent's counter, and then switch out. The next time Jirachi finds an opening to come in, he it should use Substitute while his the opponent switches back to the same paralyzed counter, and then begin to wreck wreak havoc. Of course, Jirachi could attempt to keep using Substitute the first time he it comes out until his the opponent is fully paralyzed, but that is not the most reliable strategy.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>176 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Jirachi to outpace all positive nature base 90 Speed Pokemon, most notably Lucario. 168 Attack EVs allow Jirachi to then OHKO Lucario after Life Orb recoil and a Defense drop. Even without max Attack, this spread still allows Jirachi to get the OHKOs and 2HKOs that he would get with 252 EVs. The rest are thrown into HP and give Jirachi a nice amount of bulk to round out the set; however, if you want even more bulk, a 252 HP / 220 Atk / 36 Spe spread works too. The 252 HP EVs give Jirachi 101 HP Substitutes that aren't broken by Seismic Toss. For that spread, a Careful, Impish, or Adamant nature will work, and really depends on what you need. Careful allows Jirachi to take attacks from Starmie and other special attackers more easily. Impish does the same, except for physical attackers like Machamp. Adamant will give Jirachi a nice boost in Attack. Since Jirachi should be paralyzing most switch-ins, max Speed is generally not needed, making this secondary spread just as viable as the original. If you want to maximize Jirachi's offensive power, you may also use 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe with a Jolly nature.</p>

<p>Although this set is incredibly difficult for people to play around, it does have some hard counters. Pokemon who are immune to Thunder Wave or resist Iron Head and Fire Punch usually fit the bill. Such Pokemon are include Hippowdon, Swampert, Gliscor, and Flygon. They each are immune to Thunder Wave, take little from Iron Head, and can hit back with powerful Ground-type attacks. Starmie is also a good counter because he it resists Jirachi's attacks, and even though Jirachi can paralyze him it, Starmie can easily switch out, ridding himself itself of paralysis thanks to Natural Cure. Suicune also resists Jirachi's attacks, can set up Calm Minds, and use Rest to rid itself of paralysis. Heatran is a decent counter as well; Jirachi is able to paralyze him, but he still takes very little from Jirachi's attacks, and can hit back hard with his STAB Fire-type attacks. Jolteon is also a good check because he is immune to Thunder Wave, resists Iron Head, and thanks to his high Speed and Special Attack, can break through Jirachi's Substitutes with STAB Thunderbolt without worrying about being flinched.</p>

<p>Because Jirachi should be behind a Substitute most of the time, the opponent will be eager to break it. That makes any Pokemon who resists Fire- and Ground-type attacks a solid partner for with Jirachi. Dragonite and Gyarados are both excellent choices. Mixed Dragonite can switch in on either of those attacks, and use moves like Draco Meteor to force out bulky Ground- and Water-types. Gyarados loves getting free switch-ins so he can set up with Dragon Dance. His STAB Water-type attacks can also scare off the Ground-types and Fire-types who hinder Jirachi. Jirachi will also appreciate a Heatran with Toxic on its his team. Heatran is a great lure for the same Pokemon who stop Jirachi, like Swampert and Vaporeon, who stop Jirachi. Toxic will make them essentially useless when facing Jirachi. Specially Defensive Skarmory walls Pokemon like Hippowdon and Vaporeon and appreciates the extra turns to set up Spikes. Any Pokemon who benefit from a paralyzed opponent, like Machamp and Dragonite, will work great with this set too.</p>

[SET]
name: SubCM
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Psychic / Flash Cannon
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
item: Leftovers

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is one of Jirachi's more effective sets, being able to set up on a large range of Pokémon in OU, and proceed to sweep the opponent's team after a few Calm Mind boosts. Although Jirachi is usually used as a physical attacker, so this set can be used to catch the opponent off guard. Normally, Jirachi has an easier time setting up when it is switched into a resisted attack, such as Scizor's Bullet Punch. From there, the main course of action should be to use Substitute, as it allows you to scout for your opponent's response to Jirachi. After that, you have two options: set up with Calm Mind if your opponent brings in a special attacker, or outright attack if your opponent brings in a Pokémon who resists Steel / Psychic poses an immediate threat.</p>

<p>Flash Cannon is the choice of STAB for this set, as it allows Jirachi to beat Tyranitar and Celebi one-on-one. Without Flash Cannon, Tyranitar can come in and wear down Jirachi with STAB Crunches or super effective Earthquakes, while Celebi can use Perish Song to force Jirachi to switch. Psychic can also be considered if you want Jirachi to handle Swampert, Rotom-A, and Infernape better. Thunderbolt is the best option for the second slot as it has excellent neutral coverage when paired with either Flash Cannon or Psychic. Thunderbolt's main use is in hitting bulky Water-types such as Suicune, and Skarmory, who could otherwise force you out with Whirlwind, for super effective damage. Thunderbolt also allows Jirachi to hit other counters, such as Heatran, for some decent damage. Hidden Power Ground can be used over Thunderbolt if immediately getting rid of Heatran and Magnezone is a priority, but it should be noted that it has poor coverage when paired with Flash Cannon and Psychic, leaving you helpless against common phazers like Skarmory.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Max Speed is used to maximise Jirachi's offensive capability, outpacing Adamant Flygon, Jolly Lucario and forces a Speed tie with non-Scarfed Flygon. This is to stop Jirachi from being potentially revenge killed with by Earthquakes or Close Combats when sufficiently weakened. 252 HP EVs (and a 31 HP IV if used in-game) is absolutely required on Substitute Jirachi in order to set up on Seismic Toss Blissey. Alternately Alternatively, one can drop Jirachi's Speed to 308, 280 or 244 and boost Defense instead, allowing Jirachi to set up on weaker physical attackers like Bronzong.</p>

<p>Jirachi's biggest weaknesses are against Ground- and Fire-type attacks, so Pokémon with a resistance/immunity to both are the best teammates to for Jirachi, type-wise. Bulky Gyarados is a good teammate for several reasons: it has the ability to set up on Heatran and Swampert, both common Calm Mind Jirachi counters, and Jirachi can, in turn, set up on the a majority of Gyarados's counters, such as Celebi and Vaporeon. Utilizing Taunt on Gyarados means that Jirachi gains a free switch-in on a (hopefully) resisted attack, while likely forcing a switch in return the opponent to switch out. Dragonite makes a good partner to Jirachi type-wise as well, but offers very little direct offensive support. This is because most of Jirachi's counters will not be lured in by Dragonite.</p>

<p>Pokémon with counters that can be beaten by Calm Mind Jirachi are also acceptable teammates. "CroCune" Suicune and Curse + RestTalk Swampert are good examples, as both share counters to in Pokémon like Celebi, who Jirachi beats one-on-one. Jirachi can switch into Celebi with its handy Steel-type resistance to Grass-type attacks, and proceed to set up Calm Minds. However, Jirachi will be required to run Flash Cannon over Psychic to convincingly beat the aforementioned Pokémon Celebi. In return, Suicune and Swampert both can set up on Jirachi's common switch-ins as mentioned in the previous paragraph. Essentially, one Pokémon aims to weaken the other's counters so the latter can sweep, and vice-versa.</p>

<p>Another support option to consider is Toxic Spikes, since they allow Jirachi to stall out Blissey, while also crippling weakening Swampert and Celebi, all of whom like to switch into Jirachi. By repeatedly using Substitute, Toxic Spikes will progressively decrease the opposing Pokemon's HP until it is in KO range for either of your attacks. In addition to Toxic Spikes support, Stealth Rock and Spikes are also recommended. Both forms of entry hazards prevent discourage counters immune to Toxic Spikes from repeatedly switching in. Stealth Rock is preferred for its ease of set-up as well for its ability to hit Flying-types and Levitating Pokémon immune to Spikes. Rotom-A is a good choice for a Rapid Spin blocker, thanks to its durability and limited weaknesses, while a set such as the Boosting Sweeper will have no trouble sweeping with its counters eliminated, namely Blissey and Tyranitar, thanks to Jirachi.</p>

[SET]
name: Superachi! (Calm Mind)
[Awaiting jumpluff]

[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Grass Knot / Thunderbolt
nature: Naive / Hasty
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
item: Expert Belt

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Jirachi is typically seen either running Calm Mind or carrying Choice Scarf, this set is an excellent alternative which acts as both a mid-game wallbreaker and a late-game sweeper. Be warned though - this is not a Pokémon who can be haphazardly thrown onto a team with the expectation of it functioning well: it serves a very specific role and should only be used if your team is capable of supporting it.</p>

<p>Jirachi's main purpose here is as a mid-game wallbreaker. Like most mixed wallbreakers, this Jirachi relies on excellent type coverage; however, unlike its companions Infernape and Dragonite, Jirachi relies not on large damage output, but on surprise value. Expert Belt along with physical attacks will often cause the opponent to assume that Jirachi is holding a Choice Scarf and send in something like Skarmory, Swampert, or Dragonite to take the opportunity to set up. Jirachi's oft overlooked 100 base Speed only makes it easier to create this illusion.</p>

<p>Even without bluffing Choice Scarf, however, the oddity of this set is often enough to work your opponent into a corner. If you manage to double-switch into something like Scizor, Swampert, or Dragonite, it is unlikely that your opponent will switch out, and you can go for an easy OHKO. Similarly, Jirachi is perfect for sending in after a double KO via Explosion or recoil damage. Besides being a powerful wallbreaker with its coverage, and a useful late game sweeper with a 60% flinch rate attack and 100 base Speed, this Jirachi also serves as a useful check against a number of common OU threats. Most notable among these is Lucario, who is outsped and takes a minimum of 78% damage from Fire Punch, a sure OHKO after a Defense drop from Close Combat (and a possible OHKO after Life Orb and Stealth Rock damage)</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>There are two Pokémon to look out for when using this Jirachi. The first is Heatran, who either 4x resists or is immune to every one of this set's attacks, and can easily OHKO Jirachi with Fire Blast. If your team demands it, Hidden Power Ground can be used over Grass Knot or Ice Punch in order to quickly deal with Heatran and Magnezone; however, this will open Jirachi up to even more threats who are more difficult to deal with than the generally predictable Heatran. The second Pokémon to look out for is Gyarados, who will not take much more than 30% from Grass Knot, and can easily set up with Dragon Dance. If you are more worried about Gyarados than Swampert, then you can exchange Grass Knot for Thunderbolt, though that will make Jirachi less effective against both Suicune and the bulky Ground-type Pokémon. In reality, any combination of these moves can be effective; the key is knowing exactly what your team needs Jirachi to eliminate.</p>

<p>As Heatran and Gyarados can switch into this set with ease, pairing Jirachi with a bulky Water-type is highly recommended. Vaporeon is a good choice, as its high Special Defense allows it to repeatedly switch into Heatran, and it can also wield Hidden Power Electric to take out Gyarados after Stealth Rock. Vaporeon also packs a resistance to Fire-type attacks aimed at Jirachi, who can in turn switch into Grass-type attacks aimed at Vaporeon. Apart from complimentary complementary typing, Vaporeon can also pass Wishes to Jirachi. If using Thunderbolt over Grass Knot, Ground-types will give this set the most trouble. Flying-types such as Gliscor work well against most Ground-types, as do most other Flying-types especially if the opposing Pokémon lacks a Rock- or Ice-type attack. Swampert, another common switch-in, can be dealt with by bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Gyarados.</p>

<p>Offensively, this set should be paired with Pokémon who can take advantage of the holes Jirachi leaves on the opponent's team. Dragon Dance Dragonite is often the best choice as a teammate for several reasons. First, Dragonite can easily switch into the Fire- and Ground-type attacks normally aimed at Jirachi, usually netting it a free turn of setup, while Jirachi can switch into the Dragon-, Rock-, and Ice-type attacks aimed at Dragonite. Secondly, this Jirachi takes can eliminate out Scizor and Swampert: two of Dragon Dance Dragonite's biggest checks, since neither will think of switching out against what is likely a standard Choice Scarf Jirachi set. If running Thunderbolt over Grass Knot, Swords Dance Lucario is a good offensive partner for this set - it will usually have no trouble sweeping once its three biggest counters, Gyarados, Dragonite, and Gliscor, have been taken out, while the dispatching of Scizor is also a nice bonus. Do watch out for the shared Fire- and Ground-type weaknesses that Lucario adds, however.</p>

[SET]
name: Wish Support
move 1: Wish
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Body Slam / Thunder Wave
move 4: Iron Head / Ice Punch
nature: Impish
evs: 240 HP / 160 Def / 76 SpD / 32 Spe
item: Leftovers

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Being a general supporting tank Jirachi, this set is tailored to use Jirachi's resistances and great defenses to pass Wishes around to other members of one's team. The general strategy is to Wish, then U-turn to scout out a threat (or take a hit from a faster one) while healing something else on the team. If the opponent is faster and will KO Jirachi, such as Mamoswine, one should opt to switch rather than use U-turn. Jirachi is best used to nurse Pokémon who resist Jirachi's Fire- and Ground-type weaknesses back to health, such as Dragonite and Gyarados.</p>

<p>The other moves on this set allow Jirachi to provide even more support while beating certain threats. Body Slam is an awesome move on Jirachi, dealing some damage with a 60% chance of paralyzing anything but Ghost-types. This is especially annoying if you manage to paralyze a Ground-type like Mamoswine or Flygon, who normally don't have to worry about losing their Speed. Thunder Wave is still available if you want to guarantee paralysis, but Body Slam is usually better. The fourth slot gives this Jirachi a little offensive power. Iron Head provides basic STAB, as well as allowing for an effective paraflinch combo after a successful paralysis from the third move. On the other hand, Ice Punch can deal massive damage to Dragonite. Jirachi always survives two Adamant +1 LO Outrages, even with Stealth Rock damage factored in, and Ice Punch can allow Jirachi to deal with Dragonite directly, without relying on Wish or paralysis.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>240 HP EVs hits 401, allowing Jirachi optimal Leftovers recovery as well as granting it the ability to take 5 consecutive Seismic Tosses. 32 Speed EVs beats Jolly Tyranitar and Timid Magnezone, allowing this Jirachi to escape Specs Magnezone's clutches unharmed. The rest of the EVs are split between the defenses, with enough put into Defense so Jirachi isn't 2HKOed by Adamant Dragonite's Life Orb Outrage after a Dragon Dance.</p>

<p>Jirachi is best used with Pokémon who have no form of recovery and carry a resistance to attacks likely to be aimed at Jirachi, specifically Ground- and Fire-type attacks. As such, Gyarados is a good partner for this set because it can come in on both of the noted attacks. Since Gyarados not only lacks recovery, but also has a Stealth Rock weakness, Wish will greatly increase its longevity. Additionally, Jirachi can come in on Rock-type attacks aimed at Gyarados, although it has trouble switching into direct Gyarados counters such as Rotom-A. Dragonite also benefits from Wish support due to similar problems as Gyarados, and can hit harder off the bat instead of having to set up, giving your opponent less of a chance to regain the momentum. Swampert is also a good partner because it can switch into all of the Pokémon who usually scare out force out Jirachi, such as Heatran and Rotom-A, and can scare force both out with Earthquake and Surf/Hydro Pump respectively. As a general note though, Jirachi has trouble fitting into full offensive teams because it will be very difficult to repeatedly pass Wishes around, so using this Jirachi on a more defensive team (one that can repeatedly switch into different attacks and not get too worn down) is highly recommended. If you're feeling gutsy, Thunder can be used over Thunder Wave and Body Slam to stave off Skarmory and Gyarados while spreading paralysis, but its 70% chance to hit of hitting makes a 42% chance of paralysis less than appealing.</p>

<p>Another interesting quality about this set is its ability to lure in certain Pokémon, only to paralyze them with Body Slam or Thunder Wave. Examples of such Pokémon include Gyarados, Gliscor, and Magnezone, all of whom run a specific Speed stat to outpace certain threats. Lucario is an excellent sweeper that takes advantage of the above scenario. After a Swords Dance, Lucario can opt to use the stronger 90 Base Power Close Combat (when resisted) over the 80 Base Power ExtremeSpeed to take down its counters, provided that they have been weakened sufficiently.</p>

[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Wish
move 4: U-turn
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SpD
items: Light Clay

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Jirachi is a fantastic user of the dual screen strategy. Bring in Jirachi during the middle of the game on something that it can force out, such as a Choice Band Tyranitar locked into Stone Edge. The process from there, depending on your team, is very linear. It is recommended that you Light Screen first, as most Pokémon who threaten Jirachi attack from the special side; use Reflect next, and U-turn to a Baton Passer such as Celebi or Gliscor, or a set up sweeper such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar. Thanks to Light Clay boosting the length of both Reflect and Light Screen to 8 turns instead of 5, your set-up, and your attempted sweep, should be much easier to accomplish. Jirachi differs from other dual screen users because of Wish and U-turn. When used with no Speed EVs, U-turn becomes a great method of insuring that your chosen target comes into the field taking as little damage as possible. Wish completes the set, as it is a great method brilliant way for Jirachi to support itself or the team.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>he The given EVs make Choice Scarf Heatran's Flamethrower a 3HKO after Light Screen is up, and also gives good physical bulk after a Reflect as well. No Speed EVs are recommended on this set in order to get the maximum benefit out of U-turn, and allow Jirachi to be as bulky as possible. While some may feel that more Speed EVs are necessary, remember that Jirachi will often be acting as one link in a chain, and that it is often better to get your Baton Passer or set-up sweeper in at full health than to have them take a hit that will reduce their chances at getting of pulling off a successful sweep.</p>

<p>This set aims to allow other teammates to set up safely behind dual screens. Two Pokémon who accomplish this task well are Gliscor and Kingdra. The former, having only weaknesses to Water- and Ice-type attacks, can set up both Rock Polish and Swords Dance with little difficulty and Baton Pass them to a worthy recipient such as Metagross. Additionally, Gliscor finds little difficulty switching into Ground-type attacks aimed at Jirachi, and Fire-type attacks will not be doing much damage either with the respective screens in place. Kingdra also benefits from dual screens because it only has a weakness to Dragon-type attacks (of which users the users of which will be unlikely to switch into Kingdra) and has perfectly balanced defenses to help it easily set up multiple Dragon Dances. Not only that, but Kingdra also has a 4x resistance to the Fire-type attacks that are typically aimed at Jirachi, and the combination of Water- and Dragon-type attacks goes unresisted in OU except for Empoleon. Really though, any Pokémon with a good set of resistances and defenses can benefit from this set</P>

[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Just like any other sweeper, Jirachi appreciates entry hazard support, most particularly especially Stealth Rock. Swampert is capable of laying down Stealth Rock with little difficulty, and it also pairs well with Jirachi type-wise, easily switching into the Fire-types aimed at making a beeline for the wish maker. Spikes is very helpful in weakening the common grounded switch-ins to Jirachi, such as Swampert, Hippowdon, and Scizor. Toxic Spikes is best used alongside the Substitute + Calm Mind set, because Jirachi's Substitutes, once boosted by Calm Mind, will take longer for the opponent to break, while they steadily lose HP their HP rapidly drains away. Skarmory is one of the best Spikers in OU, although it will add an additional Fire-type weakness on to the team. However, Toxic Spikes is best laid down by Roserade, but once again, take note of the added Fire-type weakness. Apart from entry hazards, dual screens can help the Substitute + Calm Mind set Jirachi set up easier, but dual screen support is not necessary it's not essential for the most part. Sandstorm support can also be helpful when paired with Toxic Spikes support.</p>

<p>Most of the time, Jirachi will have problems dealing with Steel- and Water-types, since they resist Iron Head and often have high physical bulk with which they can switch in multiple times with that allows them to switch in multiple times. Heatran can easily switch into most Steel-types and scorch them with Fire Blast; Heatran also gains a Flash Fire boost if it happens to switch into a Fire-type attack aimed at Jirachi. Rotom-A can easily switch into just about every Steel-type in OU and take them down with a STAB Thunderbolt (or Overheat if using Rotom-H). Rotom-A also provides has great defensive synergy with Jirachi with a because of its handy Ground-type immunity. Water-types are best handled by carrying Pokémon who can set up on their attacks, or simply hitting them back with STAB Grass- or Electric-type attacks. For example, Dragonite can set up Dragon Dance on Water-types without Ice Beam, while Gyarados can set up a Dragon Dances of its own on those without Hidden Power Electric or Thunderbolt. In addition to the noted Steel- and Water-types that give most of the sets trouble, each set has additional counters that require further team support to take down. Calm Mind sets have trouble against Blissey if not running Toxic Spikes support. Tyranitar can easily switch into Blissey, weaken wear it down with Crunch or Pursuit, and provide the team with Sandstorm. Physically-based Jirachi has trouble with defensive walls such as Hippowdon and Rotom-A. Gyarados can switch into most Hippowdon and set up on them, while Tyranitar fares quite well against Rotom-A, provided is it avoids getting burned by Will-O-Wisp.</p>

<p>Defensive support should aim to cover Jirachi's weaknesses to Ground- and Fire-type attacks. Dragonite, and Gyarados, and Flygon are all the best defensive partners to Jirachi, with each being able to switch into and set up on both of the aforementioned attacking types. All three of these Pokémon pack super effective moves to hit most Ground- and Fire-types with: Dragonite and Flygon have Earthquake, and Gyarados has Waterfall in its arsenal. Individually, Ground-type attacks are best handled by Grass- or Flying-types, or Pokémon with the Levitate ability. Other options to fill this role are Rotom-A and Gliscor. Rotom-A can burn Ground-typed physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp or hit them with STAB Shadow Ball, while Gliscor can easily outstall most of the same Pokémon these threats with a combination of Taunt, Roost, and Earthquake. Taunt also allows Jirachi an easier time to switch in without worrying about status.</p>

<p>Common teammates for Jirachi's usual counters, Swampert, Heatran, and Rotom-A, are Scizor and Dragonite. There are plenty of viable teammates that can handle Scizor, such as your own Rotom-A, Heatran, or Gyarados. Rotom-A can switch into most sets without risk and cripple Scizor with Will-O-Wisp or weaken it with Thunderbolt, Heatran can switch into anything bar Superpower and scorch Scizor with a STAB Flamethrower, Fire Blast, or Lava Plume Fire-type attack, while Gyarados can simply choose to set up on it with Dragon Dance. Dragonite is trickier to handle as its counters depend on what which set it is running. Swampert is a good teammate that can handle physical versions to an extent, while Scizor can bypass any Speed boosts with Bullet Punch. Starmie acts as a good check to the mixed variants, provided it comes in to revenge kill. Even Jirachi can check Dragonite if you're running the Physical Choice set.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Jirachi's movepool is extremely vast, and even all the sets listed do not cover everything every notable option. Doom Desire can be used on an odd mono-attacking set, but is rarely usable; Icy Wind can be used to hit, slow down, and 2HKO Dragon-types; Charge Beam combines with Serene Grace to provide a 100% chance of a Special Attack boost (90% after accuracy), but struggles to find its way onto a set due to access to Calm Mind and Thunderbolt; Drain Punch provides Fighting-type coverage as well as some small healing for Jirachi, but its low power is rather off-putting; Signal Beam can provide a powerful hit to cover maul both Celebi and Tyranitar at the same time, but provides little coverage outside of the two of them that.</p>

On the defensive/supportive side, Jirachi boasts some interesting possibilities. Cosmic Power boosts both Jirachi's Defense and Special Defense simultaneously, which combines with Jirachi's excellent defensive typing to create an opponent a formidable tank that can be incredibly difficult to break. Safeguard can be pseudo-passed along with Wish to provide coverage immunity against status for other Pokémon. Gravity is an interesting attack that can be used to set up for a sweeper with powerful Ground-type STAB, such as Rhyperior, Mamoswine, or Flygon, and allow them to easily beat Skarmory without depending on prediction. Rain Dance deserves a special mention, as it eliminates Jirachi's Fire-type weakness, provides Thunder with perfect accuracy as well as a 60% paralysis rate thanks to Serene Grace, and also boosts the damage on Water Pulse, which has a boosted confusion rate, also thanks to Serene Grace.</p>

<p>240 HP / 76 Def / 160 SpD / 32 Spe with Impish on the support set gives considerable defenses on both sides, as well as giving 244 Speed, which outpaces Timid Magnezone and Jolly Tyranitar. Alternatively, a 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe Jolly spread can be used to outspeed Jolly/Timid Lucario and paralyze it so something else can take care of it to render it ineffective for the rest of the battle.</p>

[COUNTERS]
<p>Jirachi's ridiculous versatility, as well as the effectiveness of each set, means that it is virtually impossible to hard counter instantly.</p>

<p>The Substitute + Calm Mind sets are arguably the most difficult to counter. Even the end-all, be-all counter to special offense, Blissey, is unable to stop Jirachi, given its possession of 101 HP Substitutes and Serene Grace for the possibility of Special Defense drops. Perish Song Celebi is undoubtedly the best counter to Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi, forcing Jirachi to switch out or die as Celebi Recovers in its face. Barring that, the most efficient counter depends on Jirachi's choice of moves. Psychic-based movesets are mainly countered by Tyranitar, who is immune to Psychic and resists its takes squat from the filler attack thanks to with its excellent boosted Special Defense in Sandstorm. Specs Magnezone can also easily trap and beat Psychic-based sets, though be aware that Scarf Magnezone simply doesn't boast enough power, and in fact becomes setup fodder for Jirachi. Skarmory can come in and Whirlwind it away. Likewise, Zapdos can come in and do likewise with Roar the same. Blissey also boasts a much better chance of beating Flash Cannon sets, though it still has the same problem of being unable to break Jirachi's Substitutes in a single turn.</p>

<p>The offensive Calm Mind set without Substitute has the potential to be more destructive, but also has its problems. Blissey easily beats this set with its seemingly infinite HP and gargantuan Special Defense. Likewise, Snorlax can come in and threaten Jirachi with either a powerful Fire Punch, or paralysis from Body Slam, as well as or a super effective Earthquake. Tyranitar fails to be OHKOed by any attack from Jirachi, even after a Calm Mind boost, and threatens with a powerful Earthquake. Sets without Thunderbolt can be Whirlwinded away by Skarmory. Without Hidden Power Ground or Fighting, Magnezone also comes in, resists the entire moveset, traps and then kills Jirachi. can switch in, resist the entire moveset, and then trap and kill Jirachi at its leisure.</p>

<p>Choiced sets have a few more notable counters. The Physical Choice set's biggest counter is Magnezone, who resists its entire moveset barring Fire Punch, traps it, and kills it. Bulky Water-types in general are very effective at beating physical Jirachi variants, but fear switching into ThunderPunch. Swampert takes it one step further by boasting an immunity to ThunderPunch, thus resisting the entire moveset with the exception of Zen Headbutt and U-turn. Hippowdon lacks the Fire- and Steel-type resists, but its gargantuan physical Defense and access to reliable healing lets it shrug off Jirachi's blows easily. Skarmory resists Iron Head, Zen Headbutt, and U-turn, and can easily heal off damage, though swapping switching into Banded Fire Punch and ThunderPunch can be hazardous. Tyranitar once again boasts excellent physical durability and immunity to Zen Headbutt, though it fears Iron Head and U-turn. Heatran resists everything Jirachi can throw at it besides a neutral ThunderPunch, and threatens with STAB Fire Blast. Metagross also boasts high physical durability, though it fears Fire Punch. Gyarados also resists Fire Punch, Iron Head, and U-turn, but fears ThunderPunch.</p>