QC 1/3 (Gary, , )
[OVERVIEW]
*Mega Alakazam is one of the fastest Pokemon in the tier, only being outsped by some Choice Scarf users.
*Its high Special Attack allows for late-game sweeps, including against weather teams due it gaining Trace after Mega Evolution.
*The Focus Sash set utilizes Counter to prevent physical attackers from attacking or sweeping.
*With its Psychic-, Ghost-, and Fighting-type moves, it has excellent coverage while moves such as Taunt and Encore equip it with utility and the ability to deal with stall and setup sweepers.
*Due to its low physical bulk, it is prone to common priority from the likes of Zygarde, Mega Scizor and Mega Mawile.
*It struggles to break bulkier builds, since it can't really touch Celesteela and Magearna. It is also usually helpless against Pokemon common on Stall teams such as Mega Sableye and Chansey.
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Hidden Power Fire
item: Alakazite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Psychic is Mega Alakazam's main STAB move and hits very hard off of its base 175 Special Attack.
*Shadow Ball has great coverage, dealing super effective damage to opposing Ghost-types such as Alolan Marowak, as well as dangerous Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Mega Metagross.
*Focus Blast hits Dark- and Steel-types super effectively, which either resist or are immune to Psychic, for example Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Weavile for Dark-, and Celesteela, Magnezone, and Skarmory for Steel-types.
*Taunt prevents the foe from using status moves, such as Thunder Wave from Clefable, prevents recovery moves from defensive Pokemon like Chansey, setup moves, and is an option against stall.
*Hidden Power Fire punishes Steel-type switch-ins that take severe damage from Fire-type moves, such as Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn.
*Substitute both prevents status and eases predicting by absorbing attacks while evading Sucker Punch, e.g. from Mega Mawile and Bisharp.
*Calm Mind boosts its Special Attack and Special Defense and helps it muscle through bulkier teams, while threatening offensive teams late game.
*Dazzling Gleam is a safer coverage move to deal with Dark-types such as Weavile, both Greninja formes, Hoopa-U, weakened Tyranitar, and +1 Mega Gyarados and deals noticeable damage to Mega Sableye.
Set Details
========
*Maximum Special Attack investment is needed to let Mega Alakazam hit as hard as possible.
*Timid is the preferred nature, as it allows Mega Alakazam to outspeed the whole unboosted metagame, as well as slower Choice Scarf users such as Hoopa-U, and Gyarados at +1.
It also outspeeds Choice Scarf users and Pokemon with a +1 Speed boost with base 83 Speed or lower such as Hoopa-U and Mega Gyarados.
Usage Tips
========
*Mega Alakazam fits on balanced and offensive teams as a sweeper and a revenge killer.
*Due to its frailty, Mega Alakazam has to be played cautiously. Checks must be worn down either by the use of teammates or by Mega Alakazam itself to allow it to sweep late-game. Ideally it should only attack when its sure that it can revenge the foe.
*Make sure priority users and faster Pokemon, e.g. Choice Scarf users in Tapu Lele, Gengar, Dugtrio, Garchomp, and Keldeo are KOed before sending Mega Alakazam in, and keep Mega Alakazam at near-full health, since it struggles to take hits at all, this way it can take one unboosted Quick Attack from Mega Pinsir, Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, Shadow Sneak from Mimikyu, or Extreme Speed by Choice Band Zygarde.
*Only let Mega Alakazam take weaker special hits, such as Scald from Toxapex, or Volt Switch from Rotom-Wash.
*Only Mega Evolve when necassary, as Magic Guard prevents residual damage and can absorb status.
Team Options
========
*Means to deal with Steel types that like to switch into Alakazam are needed, so Steel-resistant teammates like Alolan Marowak, Heatran, and Electric-types such as Magnezone that can trap Steel types are great.
*Rocky Helmet Garchomp and Landorus-T punish physical attackers with priority moves and checks like Scizor, and they can set up Stealth Rock or pivot into Celesteela and Ferrothorn, which Alakazam can't KO without prior damage.
*Fighting-types like Keldeo deal with specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Blissey and check Dark-types such as physical Hoopa-U, Weavile, and Tyranitar, which either have priority moves or need to be hit with Focus Blast; Dugtrio can trap and eliminate weakened Dark-types and Chansey.
*In return, Dark-types that weaken or remove opposing bulky Psychic types such as Jirachi and Tapu Lele, e.g. Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Hoopa-U.
*Fairy-types help against Dark-types; Tapu Fini has good defensive capabilities, can take physical attacks for Alakazam and can dent Steel-types with Nature's Madness.
*Heavy-hitting wallbreakers such as Tapu Bulu, Choice Banded Zygarde, and Twisted Spoon Tapu Lele are appreciated to soften up the opposing team
*Together with Tapu Lele, it forms a Psychic-type spam core in Psychic Terrain, boosting the power of Psychic-type attacks while protecting it from priority moves.
*Spike support from the likes of Ferrothorn and Greninja siginificantly helps out Mega Alakazam clean late-game.
[SET]
name: Counter Sash
move 1: Counter
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Counter is the main selling point of this set, and allows it to revenge kill most physical attacker due to Alakazam's low defense.
*Psychic is Mega Alakazam's main STAB move with high Base Power.
*Shadow Ball is useful coverage for Psychic-types such as Mega Metagross, Tapu Lele, and Latios as well as dealing more damage to Alolan Marowak
*Hidden Power Fire punishes Steel-type switch-ins that take severe damage from Fire-type moves, such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
*Maximum Special Attack investment is needed to let Mega Alakazam hit as hard as possible.
*A Hasty nature with 0 IVs in Defense maximizes the damage taken from physical attacks, this way Counter will deal as much damage as possible.
*31 Attack IVs makes sure Foul Play users such as Mandibuzz hit Alakazam harder with Foul Play even when burned, that way Counter can deal more damage.
Usage Tips
========
*This set fits on all kids of teams as a safety break against physical attackers such as Mega Metagross, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Landorus, Zygarde, etc., due to Counter, and exceeds at taking out physical attackers on balanced and offensive teams.
*Due to its frailty, it will be brought down to its Focus Sash by most strong physical attacks, and Alakazam can proceed to use Counter to KO the opposing Pokemon, including its usual checks, e.g. Dark types which use Pursuit to deal with it or Pokemon that may try to U-turn on it.
*Magic Guard makes it take no damage from to entry hazards, residual damage, and damage from status, that way its Focus Sash will stay intact.
*If the use of Counter is not necessary, it can still utilize Focus Sash to revenge or weaken foes.
*It is extremely important to keep Alakazam's health at full, otherwise Counter and the ability to revenge can not be utilized fully.
Team Options
========
*This set lures or punishes physical attackers; Choice Scarf Tapu Lele benefits from Alakazam's ability to deal with Mega Metagross for example. Choice Scarf Keldeo, Gengar, and Garchomp are also fast Pokemon which can sweep after Alakazam paved the way for them.
*If you don't want to use your Sash early, Rocky Helmet Landorus-T and Garchomp punish physical attackers with priority moves and checks like Scizor, while also setting up Stealth Rock.
*Heavy-hitting wallbreakers such as Mega Mawile, Alolan Marowak, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Lele, and Mega Medicham are appreciated to soften up opposing teams.
*Fighting-types that can deal with Dark-types, such as Mega Medicham, Scarf Keldeo, Terrakion, and specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Blissey, pair well with this set
*In return, strong Dark-types, e.g. Choice Band Tyranitar, Hoopa-U, Bisharp, Weavile, beat opposing bulky Psychic types.
*Still, some Steel-types are problematic, and you don't want to waste your Sash KOing a Pokemon that is not a problem to your team, thus means to deal with Steel types that like to switch into Alakazam are needed. Steel-resistant teammates are Alolan Marowak, Heatran, and Magnezone, that can trap Steel types.
*It forms a Psychic-type spam core together with Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain, boosting the power of Psychic-type attacks while protecting it from priority moves.
*Entry hazard support pressures Pokemon that try to switch out fearing Counter, Greninja fits on more offensively oriented teams and get up Spikes. Ferrothorn can take a plethora of hits for Alakazam and can get up entry hazards too.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Psyshock pressures special walls such as Chansey while OHKOing Nihilego
*Encore locks Pokemon like Bisharp and Mega Mawile into Sucker Punch or Mega Gyarados and other setup sweepers into their setup move, while defensive Pokemon can be locked into their recovery move.
*Signal Beam OHKOes non-HP invested Hoopa-U after Stealth Rock and hits Dark-types such as both Greninja formes too, barring Mandibuzz and Sableye.
*Hidden Power Ice deals significant damage to Pokemon with a quadruple weakness to Ice-type, such as defensive Landorus-T and Garchomp.
*Non-Mega Alakazam can be used with a Life Orb and a similar moveset, but it gets outsped by checks like Weavile, Greninja, Tapu Koko, other Mega Alakazam, and Tornadus-T and has even lower defenses while not being significantly stronger. If used, a Knock Off set has great utility to cripple checks like Chansey; that way, Psyshock 2HKOes it.
Checks and Counters
===================
*Steel-types: Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross can switch into most of Mega Alakazam's moves and Pursuit trap it or gain momentum with U-turn. Mega Mawile threatens Alakazam with Sucker Punch. Assault Vest Magearna can capitalize on it multiple times, force a switch and gain momentum every time it switches in, while Jirachi can deal with Alakazam in a similar way, but can't take too many repeated hits. Specially defensive Celesteela can also take any attack from Alakazam and deal massive damage with Heavy Slam. Skarmory, and Klefki can switch into Psychic and Shadow Ball and proceed with setting up entry hazards, attacking with Gyro Ball, Iron Head, or using Thunder Wave.
*Dark-types: Bisharp can force Mega Alakazam into risky situations with Sucker Punch. Hoopa-U can take any hit bar Signal Beam after Stealth Rock, and Mandibuzz walls it and needs to be hit with Dazzling Gleam on the switch-in. Alolan Muk is not weak to any of Alakazam's attacks and can easily OHKO Mega Alakazam with Gunk Shot or trap it with Pursuit.
*Priority: Nearly all forms of common priority threaten Alakazam due to its poor defenses. Examples include Sucker Punch from Bisharp and Mawile, ExtremeSpeed from Zygarde, Water Shuriken from Ash Greninja, and Mega Medicham's Fake Out.
*Faster Pokemon: Choice Scarf users such as Gengar, Garchomp, and Terrakion outspeed and threaten to OHKO Alakazam.
*Chansey and Blissey: These two take any hits from Alakazam and can cripple it with Thunder Wave, as only Psyshock and Focus Blast do noticeable damage.
[OVERVIEW]
*Mega Alakazam is one of the fastest Pokemon in the tier, only being outsped by some Choice Scarf users.
*Its high Special Attack allows for late-game sweeps, including against weather teams due it gaining Trace after Mega Evolution.
*The Focus Sash set utilizes Counter to prevent physical attackers from attacking or sweeping.
*With its Psychic-, Ghost-, and Fighting-type moves, it has excellent coverage while moves such as Taunt and Encore equip it with utility and the ability to deal with stall and setup sweepers.
*Due to its low physical bulk, it is prone to common priority from the likes of Zygarde, Mega Scizor and Mega Mawile.
*It struggles to break bulkier builds, since it can't really touch Celesteela and Magearna. It is also usually helpless against Pokemon common on Stall teams such as Mega Sableye and Chansey.
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Taunt / Hidden Power Fire
item: Alakazite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Psychic is Mega Alakazam's main STAB move and hits very hard off of its base 175 Special Attack.
*Shadow Ball has great coverage, dealing super effective damage to opposing Ghost-types such as Alolan Marowak, as well as dangerous Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Mega Metagross.
*Focus Blast hits Dark- and Steel-types super effectively, which either resist or are immune to Psychic, for example Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Weavile for Dark-, and Celesteela, Magnezone, and Skarmory for Steel-types.
*Taunt prevents the foe from using status moves, such as Thunder Wave from Clefable, prevents recovery moves from defensive Pokemon like Chansey, setup moves, and is an option against stall.
*Hidden Power Fire punishes Steel-type switch-ins that take severe damage from Fire-type moves, such as Mega Scizor, and Ferrothorn.
*Substitute both prevents status and eases predicting by absorbing attacks while evading Sucker Punch, e.g. from Mega Mawile and Bisharp.
*Calm Mind boosts its Special Attack and Special Defense and helps it muscle through bulkier teams, while threatening offensive teams late game.
*Dazzling Gleam is a safer coverage move to deal with Dark-types such as Weavile, both Greninja formes, Hoopa-U, weakened Tyranitar, and +1 Mega Gyarados and deals noticeable damage to Mega Sableye.
Set Details
========
*Maximum Special Attack investment is needed to let Mega Alakazam hit as hard as possible.
*Timid is the preferred nature, as it allows Mega Alakazam to outspeed the whole unboosted metagame, as well as slower Choice Scarf users such as Hoopa-U, and Gyarados at +1.
It also outspeeds Choice Scarf users and Pokemon with a +1 Speed boost with base 83 Speed or lower such as Hoopa-U and Mega Gyarados.
Usage Tips
========
*Mega Alakazam fits on balanced and offensive teams as a sweeper and a revenge killer.
*Due to its frailty, Mega Alakazam has to be played cautiously. Checks must be worn down either by the use of teammates or by Mega Alakazam itself to allow it to sweep late-game. Ideally it should only attack when its sure that it can revenge the foe.
*Make sure priority users and faster Pokemon, e.g. Choice Scarf users in Tapu Lele, Gengar, Dugtrio, Garchomp, and Keldeo are KOed before sending Mega Alakazam in, and keep Mega Alakazam at near-full health, since it struggles to take hits at all, this way it can take one unboosted Quick Attack from Mega Pinsir, Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor, Shadow Sneak from Mimikyu, or Extreme Speed by Choice Band Zygarde.
*Only let Mega Alakazam take weaker special hits, such as Scald from Toxapex, or Volt Switch from Rotom-Wash.
*Only Mega Evolve when necassary, as Magic Guard prevents residual damage and can absorb status.
Team Options
========
*Means to deal with Steel types that like to switch into Alakazam are needed, so Steel-resistant teammates like Alolan Marowak, Heatran, and Electric-types such as Magnezone that can trap Steel types are great.
*Rocky Helmet Garchomp and Landorus-T punish physical attackers with priority moves and checks like Scizor, and they can set up Stealth Rock or pivot into Celesteela and Ferrothorn, which Alakazam can't KO without prior damage.
*Fighting-types like Keldeo deal with specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Blissey and check Dark-types such as physical Hoopa-U, Weavile, and Tyranitar, which either have priority moves or need to be hit with Focus Blast; Dugtrio can trap and eliminate weakened Dark-types and Chansey.
*In return, Dark-types that weaken or remove opposing bulky Psychic types such as Jirachi and Tapu Lele, e.g. Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Hoopa-U.
*Fairy-types help against Dark-types; Tapu Fini has good defensive capabilities, can take physical attacks for Alakazam and can dent Steel-types with Nature's Madness.
*Heavy-hitting wallbreakers such as Tapu Bulu, Choice Banded Zygarde, and Twisted Spoon Tapu Lele are appreciated to soften up the opposing team
*Together with Tapu Lele, it forms a Psychic-type spam core in Psychic Terrain, boosting the power of Psychic-type attacks while protecting it from priority moves.
*Spike support from the likes of Ferrothorn and Greninja siginificantly helps out Mega Alakazam clean late-game.
[SET]
name: Counter Sash
move 1: Counter
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 0 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Counter is the main selling point of this set, and allows it to revenge kill most physical attacker due to Alakazam's low defense.
*Psychic is Mega Alakazam's main STAB move with high Base Power.
*Shadow Ball is useful coverage for Psychic-types such as Mega Metagross, Tapu Lele, and Latios as well as dealing more damage to Alolan Marowak
*Hidden Power Fire punishes Steel-type switch-ins that take severe damage from Fire-type moves, such as Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
*Maximum Special Attack investment is needed to let Mega Alakazam hit as hard as possible.
*A Hasty nature with 0 IVs in Defense maximizes the damage taken from physical attacks, this way Counter will deal as much damage as possible.
*31 Attack IVs makes sure Foul Play users such as Mandibuzz hit Alakazam harder with Foul Play even when burned, that way Counter can deal more damage.
Usage Tips
========
*This set fits on all kids of teams as a safety break against physical attackers such as Mega Metagross, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Landorus, Zygarde, etc., due to Counter, and exceeds at taking out physical attackers on balanced and offensive teams.
*Due to its frailty, it will be brought down to its Focus Sash by most strong physical attacks, and Alakazam can proceed to use Counter to KO the opposing Pokemon, including its usual checks, e.g. Dark types which use Pursuit to deal with it or Pokemon that may try to U-turn on it.
*Magic Guard makes it take no damage from to entry hazards, residual damage, and damage from status, that way its Focus Sash will stay intact.
*If the use of Counter is not necessary, it can still utilize Focus Sash to revenge or weaken foes.
*It is extremely important to keep Alakazam's health at full, otherwise Counter and the ability to revenge can not be utilized fully.
Team Options
========
*This set lures or punishes physical attackers; Choice Scarf Tapu Lele benefits from Alakazam's ability to deal with Mega Metagross for example. Choice Scarf Keldeo, Gengar, and Garchomp are also fast Pokemon which can sweep after Alakazam paved the way for them.
*If you don't want to use your Sash early, Rocky Helmet Landorus-T and Garchomp punish physical attackers with priority moves and checks like Scizor, while also setting up Stealth Rock.
*Heavy-hitting wallbreakers such as Mega Mawile, Alolan Marowak, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Lele, and Mega Medicham are appreciated to soften up opposing teams.
*Fighting-types that can deal with Dark-types, such as Mega Medicham, Scarf Keldeo, Terrakion, and specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Blissey, pair well with this set
*In return, strong Dark-types, e.g. Choice Band Tyranitar, Hoopa-U, Bisharp, Weavile, beat opposing bulky Psychic types.
*Still, some Steel-types are problematic, and you don't want to waste your Sash KOing a Pokemon that is not a problem to your team, thus means to deal with Steel types that like to switch into Alakazam are needed. Steel-resistant teammates are Alolan Marowak, Heatran, and Magnezone, that can trap Steel types.
*It forms a Psychic-type spam core together with Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain, boosting the power of Psychic-type attacks while protecting it from priority moves.
*Entry hazard support pressures Pokemon that try to switch out fearing Counter, Greninja fits on more offensively oriented teams and get up Spikes. Ferrothorn can take a plethora of hits for Alakazam and can get up entry hazards too.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Psyshock pressures special walls such as Chansey while OHKOing Nihilego
*Encore locks Pokemon like Bisharp and Mega Mawile into Sucker Punch or Mega Gyarados and other setup sweepers into their setup move, while defensive Pokemon can be locked into their recovery move.
*Signal Beam OHKOes non-HP invested Hoopa-U after Stealth Rock and hits Dark-types such as both Greninja formes too, barring Mandibuzz and Sableye.
*Hidden Power Ice deals significant damage to Pokemon with a quadruple weakness to Ice-type, such as defensive Landorus-T and Garchomp.
*Non-Mega Alakazam can be used with a Life Orb and a similar moveset, but it gets outsped by checks like Weavile, Greninja, Tapu Koko, other Mega Alakazam, and Tornadus-T and has even lower defenses while not being significantly stronger. If used, a Knock Off set has great utility to cripple checks like Chansey; that way, Psyshock 2HKOes it.
Checks and Counters
===================
*Steel-types: Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross can switch into most of Mega Alakazam's moves and Pursuit trap it or gain momentum with U-turn. Mega Mawile threatens Alakazam with Sucker Punch. Assault Vest Magearna can capitalize on it multiple times, force a switch and gain momentum every time it switches in, while Jirachi can deal with Alakazam in a similar way, but can't take too many repeated hits. Specially defensive Celesteela can also take any attack from Alakazam and deal massive damage with Heavy Slam. Skarmory, and Klefki can switch into Psychic and Shadow Ball and proceed with setting up entry hazards, attacking with Gyro Ball, Iron Head, or using Thunder Wave.
*Dark-types: Bisharp can force Mega Alakazam into risky situations with Sucker Punch. Hoopa-U can take any hit bar Signal Beam after Stealth Rock, and Mandibuzz walls it and needs to be hit with Dazzling Gleam on the switch-in. Alolan Muk is not weak to any of Alakazam's attacks and can easily OHKO Mega Alakazam with Gunk Shot or trap it with Pursuit.
*Priority: Nearly all forms of common priority threaten Alakazam due to its poor defenses. Examples include Sucker Punch from Bisharp and Mawile, ExtremeSpeed from Zygarde, Water Shuriken from Ash Greninja, and Mega Medicham's Fake Out.
*Faster Pokemon: Choice Scarf users such as Gengar, Garchomp, and Terrakion outspeed and threaten to OHKO Alakazam.
*Chansey and Blissey: These two take any hits from Alakazam and can cripple it with Thunder Wave, as only Psyshock and Focus Blast do noticeable damage.
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