qc: p2 / Hootie / AM
gp: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Jirachi's solid defenses and typing allow it to check Fairy-, Dragon-, and Psychic-types, such as Mega Diancie, Kyurem-B, Latias, Latios, Clefable, and Mega Alakazam, and it notably is one of the best switch-ins to Mega Gardevoir for bulky teams. Its movepool is huge, allowing it to take advantage of its balanced stats to perform a wide variety of roles. Defensive sets have plenty of support options to make use of, such as Wish and Body Slam, while offensive sets pack just enough power to make use of its wide coverage. On top of all this, Jirachi's incredible ability, Serene Grace, allows it to turn games around in conjunction with many of its attacks, including the notorious Iron Head. Jirachi's issues stem from its mediocre offenses, especially when uninvested, as its STAB attacks' mediocre power offer many opportunities for dangerous Pokemon to switch in. It also struggles to deal with common Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Ferrothorn if it isn't carrying the right coverage move.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Punch / Heart Stamp
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head is the move Jirachi will be using most of the time, due to its power and flinch chance. U-turn gives Jirachi a way of retaining momentum on predicted switch-ins, allowing it to get off damage and switch into a counter. Fire Punch lets it break past Steel-types such as Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn. Heart Stamp gives Jirachi a way of beating Keldeo, Mega Charizard Y, and Raikou and deals more damage to Mega Venusaur, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Manectric. Healing Wish lets Jirachi heal its teammates to full health at the cost of its own life, which gives Jirachi something to do when it otherwise wouldn't be helpful. Trick allows Jirachi to punish some of its defensive switch-ins, locking them into a single move with a Choice Scarf and stealing their item.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed EVs, when paired with a Choice Scarf and a Jolly nature, allow Jirachi to outrun every unboosted Pokemon in the metagame, Speed tie with other base 100s at +1, and outrun slower Choice Scarf users such as Kyurem-B and Landorus-T. The Attack investment maximizes Jirachi's offensive potential.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Jirachi is used as a revenge killer, being able to outrun and take out Pokemon weak to its STAB attacks. Thanks to its typing and natural bulk, it's able to switch into Latios, Latias, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Diancie and eliminate them with Iron Head. Jirachi can use U-turn effectively in order to bait out its counters and allow its teammates to deal with them. Use U-turn or a coverage move when you predict your opponent to switch out, hitting the target with a coverage move when appropriate and pivoting out when not. If your opponent is using Rocky Helmet Garchomp to check Jirachi, it would be best to switch out directly rather than U-turn out, as the residual damage from Garchomp's Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin will wear down Jirachi very quickly. Healing Wish is generally more useful in situations where Jirachi is not helpful or where recovering another teammate is more useful than keeping Jirachi around, such as a wallbreaker in a match against a stall team.
Team Options
========
Healing Wish is a huge boon for most sweepers and wallbreakers, allowing them the possibility of a second attempt at their job if they get statused or heavily damaged early in a match. As a result, Jirachi pairs up nicely with a ton of offensive Pokemon. Pokemon that can deal with foes that resist Steel are extremely helpful, as their removal means that Jirachi can be much more threatening. Steel-types can be dealt with by a Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, or Garchomp; Water-types are vulnerable to Pokemon such as Serperior and Thundurus; Fire types can be removed by Keldeo or Gyarados. Ground-types are also a major issue for Jirachi, so teammates that can deal with them are a must. Azumarill, Keldeo, and Manaphy are great partners, as they also appreciate Jirachi's ability to switch into Latios and Latias. Jirachi is unable to break through defensive cores on its own, so partners that can weaken those cores are a necessity. Mega Gardevoir can put huge holes into defensive teams while crippling both its and Jirachi's checks with Will-O-Wisp. Manaphy is another option, as it can easily break through defensive cores with Tail Glow-boosted attacks. Other wallbreakers like Kyurem-B and Mega Pinsir make for good teammates as well, as they are both able to heavily pressure Ground- and Electric-types that Jirachi struggles with. Dark-types, such as Bisharp and Mega Gyarados, can prove threatening if Jirachi is locked into the wrong move. Having a teammate that can take them out, such as Breloom, can be extremely helpful. Entry hazard support helps Jirachi out a lot, making up for its average attacking power. Landorus-T can set up Stealth Rock and forms a U-turn core with Jirachi in order to help it break down its counters. Klefki is another option, being able to set up Spikes and paralyze Pokemon to allow Jirachi to immobilize them more effectively.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Toxic / Body Slam
move 3: Wish
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 224 SpD / 32 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head is Jirachi's primary form of damage output, taking advantage of the high Serene Grace-boosted flinch chance to stall out opposing Pokemon. Toxic gives Jirachi a way of damaging threats like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon over the course of a match. Alternatively, Body Slam can be used to spread paralysis and prevent Jirachi from being setup fodder for Steel-resistant Pokemon and Taunt users. Wish allows Jirachi to heal its teammates and itself. Protect provides Jirachi with a way of guaranteeing that its Wish will land on itself, even in the face of offensively threatening Pokemon. Alternatively, U-turn allows Jirachi to maintain momentum on predicted switches, safely bring in Pokemon to receive a Wish, and escape from Magnezone.
Set Details
========
32 Speed EVs allow Jirachi to outrun Jolly Tyranitar and neutral-natured base 70s, such as Bisharp and Breloom. The remaining EVs and the Careful nature serve to improve Jirachi's special bulk, aiding it in taking on special attackers such as Latios and Mega Gardevoir. Leftovers serves as a passive form of recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Jirachi's bulk and typing allow it to switch reliably into special attackers such as Mega Gardevoir, Latios, Mega Alakazam, and Clefable. From here, using a status move like Toxic or Body Slam allows Jirachi to wear down its switch-ins. Iron Head's flinch chance is very useful on a statused foe, either allowing Toxic damage to add up quickly or preventing the foe from attacking due to the combination of paralysis and flinches. Wish should generally be used on predicted switches and when Jirachi or a teammate is in need of healing.
Team Options
========
Jirachi is best paired with Dragon- and Fighting-type Pokemon, which struggle to deal with Fairy-types on their own. Pokemon such as Dragonite, Kyurem-B, Latios, and Mega Lopunny all appreciate Jirachi's support. Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Gliscor are able to manage Jirachi's weakness to Excadrill, opposing Landorus-T, and Garchomp. Similarly, Mega Charizard X and Heatran can deal with Steel-types such as Skarmory and Ferrothorn, which wall Jirachi. Keldeo, Starmie, Slowbro, and other Water-types can prove to be an issue as well, and teammates such as Mega Venusaur, Latios, and Latias are able to deal with them. Hippowdon is a great stop to Bisharp and Mega Charizard X, which are huge threats to Jirachi. Lastly, Jirachi is easily worn down when statused, so a cleric, such as Clefable or Chansey, can be useful.
[SET]
name: SubToxic
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Fire Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head is Jirachi's method of stalling out its foes, relying on the 60% chance to flinch as a way of denying them the chance to threaten Jirachi or heal up. Toxic takes advantage of this by incrementally damaging its victim, allowing Jirachi to slowly wear down its targets. Substitute gives Jirachi a buffer against attacks and status and another way to stall out opposing Pokemon. Fire Punch provides coverage on Steel-types such as Scizor and Ferrothorn, which are immune to Toxic and resist Iron Head, preventing Jirachi from wearing them down over time.
Set Details
========
The HP investment allows Jirachi to create 101 HP Substitutes, preventing them from being broken by Chansey's Seismic Toss. The Speed investment allows Jirachi to outrun positive-natured base 80s, such as Mamoswine and Mega Altaria. The remaining EVs are placed into Attack, allowing Jirachi to 2HKO defensive Mega Scizor and Excadrill with Fire Punch while also giving Iron Head a little bit more power behind it.
Usage Tips
========
Using Toxic early on allows Jirachi to status its switch-ins as soon as possible and wear them out. After Jirachi has poisoned its switch-in, you can set up a Substitute on a predicted switch and begin making the switch-in flinch. The damage from Iron Head and Toxic poison will add up quickly and will allow Jirachi to break down its check while protecting itself from damage with flinches and the Substitute.
Team Options
========
This set functions as a Fairy check, and as a result the likes of Dragonite, Kyurem-B, Latios, and Mega Lopunny will appreciate Jirachi's help. Landorus-T and Gliscor are able to switch into Excadrill and opposing Landorus-T. Of special note is Rocky Helmet Garchomp, as it is able to heavily damage Jirachi through Rough Skin's and Rocky Helmet's residual damage, meaning that it can KO Jirachi through its own Iron Heads. Faster Water-types, such as Keldeo and Starmie, as well as Slowbro and Rotom-W if they are able to break through Iron Head's flinch chance, are able to force Jirachi out. Mega Venusaur, Latios, and Latias are able to deal with all of them. Hippowdon is a great stop to Bisharp and Mega Charizard X, which are huge threats to Jirachi. Status is a major issue for this set, as a burn prevents Jirachi from healing with Leftovers and paralysis prevents it from making its targets flinch, so cleric support from Clefable or Chansey is a huge help.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Icy Wind
move 3: Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Expert Belt
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Mild
evs: 132 Atk / 160 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Iron Head is Jirachi's main STAB move, being able to deal ample damage to most targets. Icy Wind hits Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor. Hidden Power Ground provides coverage on Bisharp, Heatran, and Magnezone. Hidden Power Fire can be run to surprise Ferrothorn and Bisharp. Thunderbolt smashes Slowbro, Suicune, and Skarmory. Alternatively, Healing Wish allows Jirachi to heal up a teammate to full once it has outlived its usefulness, and Energy Ball can be run over Thunderbolt, hitting Rotom-W, Quagsire, Gastrodon, and Hippowdon harder than the rest of Jirachi's moves. Stealth Rock can be run in the last slot as well if the team is in need of a setter.
Set Details
========
The Attack investment ensures that Jirachi will be able to 2HKO Clefable with Iron Head while generally pumping up its offensive power. 216 Speed allows Jirachi to outrun neutral-natured Kyurem-B and everything slower. The remaining EVs and a Mild nature power up Jirachi's special moves, allowing it to hit its targets as hard as possible. Expert Belt helps boost the power of super effective hits without revealing Jirachi's item, allowing it to bluff another item, such as Choice Scarf. Alternatively, a Shuca Berry allows Jirachi to take Ground-type moves and land hits on faster Ground-types, such as offensive Garchomp and Choice Scarf Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
This set relies on Jirachi's coverage in order to tear apart defensive cores. Use the surprise factor in order to bait in typical switch-ins such as Garchomp and Ferrothorn. Pretending to be another set, such as the Choice Scarf set, can lead opponents into a false sense of security and open them up to a super effective hit.
Team Options
========
Jirachi's coverage heavily depends on its teammates and what Jirachi can lure for them. Mega Lopunny loves having Garchomp and Landorus-T removed with Icy Wind. Gyarados appreciates Ferrothorn and Skarmory being removed through Hidden Power Fire. Mega Charizard X wants Quagsire, Landorus-T, and Slowbro out of the way, and the combination of Icy Wind and Energy Ball can allow Jirachi to remove all of them. Clefable and Scizor like having Heatran removed, and running Hidden Power Ground can surprise and KO it. Jirachi is still able to switch in and deal with Dragon-, Fairy-, and Psychic-types as usual; however, this set runs less bulk than others and is thus much more prone to being worn down. As a result, pivots such as Rotom-W and Landorus-T that can bring Jirachi in safely are very helpful to prevent it from taking unnecessary damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Jirachi gets Calm Mind, which can allow it to break through slower teams through its coverage; however, in general it struggles to break through defensive cores due to a lack of power and the resulting lack of coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Heatran**: Heatran is Jirachi's hardest counter, resisting its STAB attacks and most of its common coverage moves. Outside of the rare Hidden Power Ground, the only thing Jirachi can do to Heatran is paralyze it with Body Slam or Thunder Wave.
**Fire-types**: Talonflame, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y generally have nothing to fear from Jirachi thanks to their typing, although they don't like being paralyzed by Body Slam.
**Ground-types**: Hippowdon, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Gliscor can typically switch into Jirachi and threaten heavy damage with Earthquake.
**Steel-types**: Scizor, Bisharp, and Magnezone have no trouble switching into Jirachi, though they must watch out for Fire Punch.
**Water-types**: Rotom-W, Slowbro, and Manaphy are generally safe switch-ins, as Jirachi typically does not carry coverage for them.
**Dark-types**: Although most don't resist Jirachi's attacks, Dark-types can prove extremely threatening. Bisharp is able to pick off Jirachi with Knock Off and Sucker Punch while also being able to stop it from switching out with Pursuit. Mega Gyarados isn't afraid of anything but Body Slam and can set up with Dragon Dance or knock out Jirachi with Crunch.
**Rocky Helmet, Iron Barbs, and Rough Skin**: Jirachi's main methods of dealing damage are all contact based, so it takes heavy damage from users of Iron Barbs, Rough Skin, and Rocky Helmet, most notably Ferrothorn, Garchomp, and Skarmory.
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