aye ze misdreavus
QC'd: Ice-eyes, NatGeo, Oglemi
GP'd: Shame That, Jellicent
[Overview]
<p>While Misdreavus may not have top-tier defensive stats, she has made a name for herself as the premier spinblocker in NU. The advent of Eviolite has been crucial to Misdreavus's success—when equipped with it, her longevity increases dramatically, making her nearly impossible to OHKO without a super effective attack. Misdreavus performs as an excellent defensive pivot, reliably dealing with many physical threats and assisting the team with various support moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Heal Bell. Levitate further supplements her defensive capabilities, granting her an immunity to Earthquake and the ability to avoid Spikes and Toxic Spikes. However, the best reason to use Misdreavus is not simply her defensive prowess; rather, Misdreavus should be used because she can single-handedly stop every Rapid Spin user in the tier. This alone makes Misdreavus a terrific choice for any type of team wishing to utilize Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Misdreavus is not without her faults, however. Barring Rest, her only form of recovery is the unreliable Pain Split. While splitting HP between Misdreavus and the opposing Pokemon may seem useful, it becomes difficult for Misdreavus to maintain high HP while she wears down the opponent. Misdreavus is also prone to powerful Fire-type attackers, such as Magmortar, who get a free switch-in on Will-O-Wisp and threaten to KO Misdreavus with their STAB moves. Regardless, Misdreavus is not to be overlooked when building a team—no other Ghost-type is comparable to her versatility, bulkiness, and reliability.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 3: Pain Split
move 4: Heal Bell / Taunt
item: Eviolite
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite the fact that Misdreavus has higher a Special Defense stat than Defense, a physically defensive set is by far the most advantageous for Misdreavus because of her superb typing, which grants her immunities to Normal-, Ground-, and Fighting-type moves. Although Shadow Ball is fairly weak without investment, it is Misdreavus's most reliable STAB attack and allows her to deal with opposing Taunt users. Pain Split is her only form of recovery, which is essential on a defensive Pokemon. The choice between Will-O-Wisp and Toxic is a difficult one; while Will-O-Wisp can make opposing physical attackers, such as Sawk and Armaldo, even easier to handle, Toxic is critical for Misdreavus to handle Cryogonal. Heal Bell is usually the superior option in the fourth moveslot because Misdreavus has the bulk to repeatedly cure status, but Taunt can also be used to prevent Pokemon such as Lickilicky from using Wish, turning Misdreavus into an effective stallbreaker.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs give Misdreavus maximum physical bulk, while maintaining 24 Speed EVs to allow Misdreavus to outpace and burn Adamant Torterra before it can attack. A specially defensive EV spread with a Calm nature is worth consideration, but even with significant Special Defense investment, Misdreavus still struggles with common special sweepers, such as Magmortar and Gorebyss. Thunder Wave is an option over either of the status moves, and Misdreavus makes an excellent paralysis spreader for offensive teams. However, it leaves Misdreavus unable to inflict damage outside of an uninvested Shadow Ball. If Misdreavus is used on a stall team, Perish Song is also a viable choice to try and force out dangerous threats such as Calm Mind Duosion.</p>
<p>Entry hazards are essentially required when using Misdreavus because her primary role on a team is to block Rapid Spin. Garbodor and Cacturne are two of the limited options for Spikes, whereas Regirock is a superb Stealth Rock user. Packing a teammate to help Misdreavus deal with powerful special attackers, such as Magmortar and Gorebyss, would be a brilliant idea. Lickilicky deserves a special mention, as it can fend off assaults from those Pokemon and has excellent typing synergy with Misdreavus. Lickilicky can also provide Wish support, giving Misdreavus the reliable recovery she could only dream of. Bulky Fighting-types are excellent partners, as they can deal with a rogue Absol who can hammer Misdreavus with Night Slash. Throh is particularly notable, as it can use Circle Throw to abuse the entry hazards that should always come with Misdreavus.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Taunt / Substitute
item: Eviolite
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Calm Mind Misdreavus is the perfect solution for a team looking for a spinblocker with both bulk and offensive presence. Misdreavus holds several advantages over her fellow Calm Mind users in NU: superb coverage in two moves, Taunt to prevent setup as well as status moves, remarkable bulk with Eviolite, and maintaining the ability to block Rapid Spin effectively. Calm Mind bolsters Misdreavus's solid Special Attack and Special Defense stats, allowing it to withstand an even greater degree of attacks. Shadow Ball is the strongest STAB move that Misdreavus can muster, and when coupled with Hidden Power Fighting, she attains perfect neutral coverage. Both Taunt and Substitute prevent status for Misdreavus, but each has their advantages; Taunt stops opposing Pokemon from setting up on her and prevents Roar and Whirlwind from phazing her boosts, whereas Substitute blocks Trick users more readily and eases prediction.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread gives Misdreavus maximum physical bulk, while still letting her outrun Adamant Torterra. There are very few reasons to deviate from this spread, as Misdreavus will be boosting her Special Attack and Special Defense with Calm Mind, and there aren't many other Pokemon important enough to outrun. Pain Split can be used over either Taunt or Substitute, but protection from status is far more important than recovery for Misdreavus. Incoming physical attackers, such as Absol, can be crippled with Will-O-Wisp, but it serves very little purpose otherwise. Entry hazards and Misdreavus synergize very well—not only does she prevent them from being removed via Rapid Spin, but after a few boosts and Spikes damage, Misdreavus can easily break through opposing walls.</p>
<p>Although the issue is lessened due to Calm Mind boosting her Special Defense, Misdreavus is still prone to many prominent special sweepers in the tier. Misdreavus must also avoid status at all costs, or else risk a sweep ending prematurely. Lickilicky makes for an excellent partner in this regard, handling special attacks with ease and curing status conditions with Heal Bell. Despite the investment in Defense, Absol can still shred Misdreavus apart with a boosted Night Slash. Therefore, bulky Fighting-types who can dismantle Absol, such as Throh and Gurdurr, pair nicely with Misdreavus. Both Throh and Gurdurr have the Guts ability as well, so they have no issues switching into a Toxic. On her own, Calm Mind Misdreavus is capable of breaking through most common special walls, so teammates such as Gorebyss or Magmortar will have their paths cleared for an endgame sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Misdreavus can attempt to use a set with the combination of Perish Song and Mean Look to trap and KO targets, but Prankster Murkrow arguably pulls off the set much better than Misdreavus. She has access to Memento to provide setup opportunities for teammates, but often it isn't very effective compared to other sets, as Misdreavus has outstanding longevity and would prefer to not waste it. Nasty Plot is an option, but purely offensive Misdreavus are outclassed by Haunter, who has higher Speed and Special Attack as well as a powerful secondary STAB move. Torment is a curious move; while it does force the opponent to choose different moves every turn, many of Misdreavus's common switch-ins, such as Magmortar, have several moves that can break Misdreavus's substitutes. She also has access to two priority moves in Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch, but they have minimal utility coming from a base 60 Attack stat.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Dark-types are the bane of Misdreavus's existence. Absol and Skuntank have no issue with whatever Misdreavus does sans Will-O-Wisp, and both can KO with their STAB moves. Pokemon that absorb status moves have little to worry about when dealing with Misdreavus—Swellow in particular fears nothing, as it is bolstered by status because of Guts and is immune to Shadow Ball. Strong special attackers, such as Magmortar, can switch in on a Will-O-Wisp and OHKO with Fire Blast. A faster Pokemon that can set up a Substitute will almost always have the upper hand against Misdreavus, as it can attack her without fear of Toxic or Will-O-Wisp. Substitute also blocks Pain Split, preventing any chances for Misdreavus to recover. Lastly, Trick and Knock Off both remove Eviolite from Misdreavus, drastically cutting both of her defenses and making her much easier to KO.</p>
QC'd: Ice-eyes, NatGeo, Oglemi
GP'd: Shame That, Jellicent
[Overview]
<p>While Misdreavus may not have top-tier defensive stats, she has made a name for herself as the premier spinblocker in NU. The advent of Eviolite has been crucial to Misdreavus's success—when equipped with it, her longevity increases dramatically, making her nearly impossible to OHKO without a super effective attack. Misdreavus performs as an excellent defensive pivot, reliably dealing with many physical threats and assisting the team with various support moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Heal Bell. Levitate further supplements her defensive capabilities, granting her an immunity to Earthquake and the ability to avoid Spikes and Toxic Spikes. However, the best reason to use Misdreavus is not simply her defensive prowess; rather, Misdreavus should be used because she can single-handedly stop every Rapid Spin user in the tier. This alone makes Misdreavus a terrific choice for any type of team wishing to utilize Spikes, Toxic Spikes, or Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Misdreavus is not without her faults, however. Barring Rest, her only form of recovery is the unreliable Pain Split. While splitting HP between Misdreavus and the opposing Pokemon may seem useful, it becomes difficult for Misdreavus to maintain high HP while she wears down the opponent. Misdreavus is also prone to powerful Fire-type attackers, such as Magmortar, who get a free switch-in on Will-O-Wisp and threaten to KO Misdreavus with their STAB moves. Regardless, Misdreavus is not to be overlooked when building a team—no other Ghost-type is comparable to her versatility, bulkiness, and reliability.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
move 3: Pain Split
move 4: Heal Bell / Taunt
item: Eviolite
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite the fact that Misdreavus has higher a Special Defense stat than Defense, a physically defensive set is by far the most advantageous for Misdreavus because of her superb typing, which grants her immunities to Normal-, Ground-, and Fighting-type moves. Although Shadow Ball is fairly weak without investment, it is Misdreavus's most reliable STAB attack and allows her to deal with opposing Taunt users. Pain Split is her only form of recovery, which is essential on a defensive Pokemon. The choice between Will-O-Wisp and Toxic is a difficult one; while Will-O-Wisp can make opposing physical attackers, such as Sawk and Armaldo, even easier to handle, Toxic is critical for Misdreavus to handle Cryogonal. Heal Bell is usually the superior option in the fourth moveslot because Misdreavus has the bulk to repeatedly cure status, but Taunt can also be used to prevent Pokemon such as Lickilicky from using Wish, turning Misdreavus into an effective stallbreaker.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs give Misdreavus maximum physical bulk, while maintaining 24 Speed EVs to allow Misdreavus to outpace and burn Adamant Torterra before it can attack. A specially defensive EV spread with a Calm nature is worth consideration, but even with significant Special Defense investment, Misdreavus still struggles with common special sweepers, such as Magmortar and Gorebyss. Thunder Wave is an option over either of the status moves, and Misdreavus makes an excellent paralysis spreader for offensive teams. However, it leaves Misdreavus unable to inflict damage outside of an uninvested Shadow Ball. If Misdreavus is used on a stall team, Perish Song is also a viable choice to try and force out dangerous threats such as Calm Mind Duosion.</p>
<p>Entry hazards are essentially required when using Misdreavus because her primary role on a team is to block Rapid Spin. Garbodor and Cacturne are two of the limited options for Spikes, whereas Regirock is a superb Stealth Rock user. Packing a teammate to help Misdreavus deal with powerful special attackers, such as Magmortar and Gorebyss, would be a brilliant idea. Lickilicky deserves a special mention, as it can fend off assaults from those Pokemon and has excellent typing synergy with Misdreavus. Lickilicky can also provide Wish support, giving Misdreavus the reliable recovery she could only dream of. Bulky Fighting-types are excellent partners, as they can deal with a rogue Absol who can hammer Misdreavus with Night Slash. Throh is particularly notable, as it can use Circle Throw to abuse the entry hazards that should always come with Misdreavus.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Taunt / Substitute
item: Eviolite
ability: Levitate
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Calm Mind Misdreavus is the perfect solution for a team looking for a spinblocker with both bulk and offensive presence. Misdreavus holds several advantages over her fellow Calm Mind users in NU: superb coverage in two moves, Taunt to prevent setup as well as status moves, remarkable bulk with Eviolite, and maintaining the ability to block Rapid Spin effectively. Calm Mind bolsters Misdreavus's solid Special Attack and Special Defense stats, allowing it to withstand an even greater degree of attacks. Shadow Ball is the strongest STAB move that Misdreavus can muster, and when coupled with Hidden Power Fighting, she attains perfect neutral coverage. Both Taunt and Substitute prevent status for Misdreavus, but each has their advantages; Taunt stops opposing Pokemon from setting up on her and prevents Roar and Whirlwind from phazing her boosts, whereas Substitute blocks Trick users more readily and eases prediction.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread gives Misdreavus maximum physical bulk, while still letting her outrun Adamant Torterra. There are very few reasons to deviate from this spread, as Misdreavus will be boosting her Special Attack and Special Defense with Calm Mind, and there aren't many other Pokemon important enough to outrun. Pain Split can be used over either Taunt or Substitute, but protection from status is far more important than recovery for Misdreavus. Incoming physical attackers, such as Absol, can be crippled with Will-O-Wisp, but it serves very little purpose otherwise. Entry hazards and Misdreavus synergize very well—not only does she prevent them from being removed via Rapid Spin, but after a few boosts and Spikes damage, Misdreavus can easily break through opposing walls.</p>
<p>Although the issue is lessened due to Calm Mind boosting her Special Defense, Misdreavus is still prone to many prominent special sweepers in the tier. Misdreavus must also avoid status at all costs, or else risk a sweep ending prematurely. Lickilicky makes for an excellent partner in this regard, handling special attacks with ease and curing status conditions with Heal Bell. Despite the investment in Defense, Absol can still shred Misdreavus apart with a boosted Night Slash. Therefore, bulky Fighting-types who can dismantle Absol, such as Throh and Gurdurr, pair nicely with Misdreavus. Both Throh and Gurdurr have the Guts ability as well, so they have no issues switching into a Toxic. On her own, Calm Mind Misdreavus is capable of breaking through most common special walls, so teammates such as Gorebyss or Magmortar will have their paths cleared for an endgame sweep.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Misdreavus can attempt to use a set with the combination of Perish Song and Mean Look to trap and KO targets, but Prankster Murkrow arguably pulls off the set much better than Misdreavus. She has access to Memento to provide setup opportunities for teammates, but often it isn't very effective compared to other sets, as Misdreavus has outstanding longevity and would prefer to not waste it. Nasty Plot is an option, but purely offensive Misdreavus are outclassed by Haunter, who has higher Speed and Special Attack as well as a powerful secondary STAB move. Torment is a curious move; while it does force the opponent to choose different moves every turn, many of Misdreavus's common switch-ins, such as Magmortar, have several moves that can break Misdreavus's substitutes. She also has access to two priority moves in Shadow Sneak and Sucker Punch, but they have minimal utility coming from a base 60 Attack stat.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Dark-types are the bane of Misdreavus's existence. Absol and Skuntank have no issue with whatever Misdreavus does sans Will-O-Wisp, and both can KO with their STAB moves. Pokemon that absorb status moves have little to worry about when dealing with Misdreavus—Swellow in particular fears nothing, as it is bolstered by status because of Guts and is immune to Shadow Ball. Strong special attackers, such as Magmortar, can switch in on a Will-O-Wisp and OHKO with Fire Blast. A faster Pokemon that can set up a Substitute will almost always have the upper hand against Misdreavus, as it can attack her without fear of Toxic or Will-O-Wisp. Substitute also blocks Pain Split, preventing any chances for Misdreavus to recover. Lastly, Trick and Knock Off both remove Eviolite from Misdreavus, drastically cutting both of her defenses and making her much easier to KO.</p>
