
qc: tahu / thunderboy / nineage
gp: fireflame / mr. uncompetitive
[OVERVIEW]
Munna finds itself outclassed in most things it tries to do. Abra is a faster and more offensive Psychic-type, while Slowpoke is a better tank. Even as a Trick Room user, Munna is outclassed by Solosis thanks to a far higher Special Attack. However, Munna has a small niche as a Baton Pass recipient thanks to its decent bulk and access to Stored Power. Complementing its bulk is its reliable recovery in Moonlight, making it hard to take down once it has a few defensive boosts. However, Munna's weakness to the extremely common Knock Off negates much of its defensive prowess, and its overall mediocre stats prevent it from working well without heavy support. Munna fails to perform any significant role outside of dedicated Baton Pass archetypes, and even this niche is unreliable at best.
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Stored Power
move 3: Dazzling Gleam / Calm Mind
move 4: Moonlight / Substitute
item: Eviolite
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold
evs: 156 Def / 60 SpA / 156 SpD / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Baton Pass allows Munna to function as not just a recipient of boosts but a passer of them as well. Stored Power is Munna's main spammable move, allowing it to sweep teams with enough boosts accumulated. Dazzling Gleam can be used to hit Dark-types like Pawniard and Vullaby, which are immune to Stored Power, but if your team already carries checks to these Pokemon, Calm Mind can be used instead, allowing Munna to gain boosts in case it doesn't already have enough to use Stored Power. Barrier is an option over Calm Mind as well, although the Special Attack boost from Calm Mind helps power up Stored Power more. Moonlight lets Munna stay healthy so it can continue to sweep, while Substitute gives Munna an easier time attacking and is simple to set up after a few defensive boosts.
Set Details
========
A Bold nature, Eviolite, and 156 Defense EVs give Munna usable bulk, allowing it to take on most physical threats like Pawniard when Munna's Defense is boosted. 156 Special Defense EVs allow it to set up on most variants of Staryu. 60 Special Attack EVs can help boost the strength of Stored Power if there aren't many boosts gained, as well as the power of Dazzling Gleam. Synchronize is highly situational but is overall Munna's most useful ability, crippling foes that try to status Munna. 84 Speed EVs let Munna reach 10 Speed, allowing Munna to outspeed Foongus before it can use Spore, as well as common Choice Scarf users like Mienfoo and Doduo when its Speed is boosted enough. An alternative EV spread of 68 HP / 236 Def / 156 SpD / 4 Spe is usable, giving Munna maximum physical bulk to take Pawniard's Knock Off without any boosts. However, the loss of Special Attack hinders Munna's ability to use Dazzling Gleam, and it doesn't like coming in on Pawniard without any boosts anyway.
Usage Tips
========
Munna is relatively simple to use: once enough boosts have been accumulated, Baton Pass to Munna and use Stored Power or Dazzling Gleam. Munna most appreciates Calm Mind, Defense, and Speed boosts, as the former two heighten Munna's offensive and defensive prowess, while the latter allows Munna to outspeed its foes before it can be attacked. Trying to use Munna on its own to boost is not recommended, as it is frail without Defense boosts and can be KOed before it has the chance to use Stored Power effectively.
Team Options
========
Any and all Baton Passers are helpful teammates, as Munna wants to get as many boosts as it can before sweeping. Torchic is an especially useful team member, as it has a unique combination of Speed Boost and Baton Pass. Pokemon like Mime Jr. and Shelmet can quickly raise their Defense and Baton Pass to Munna, giving it better longevity. Mienfoo is a good teammate that can deal with Pawniard, which Munna lures in, and has access to Baton Pass and Calm Mind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Munna can run a Trick Room set, but this strategy is widely considered unreliable thanks to a lack of powerful Pokemon that can utilize it and Munna's reliance on boosts. Lucky Chant safeguards Munna from untimely critical hits that could ruin a heavily boosted chain, but it is gimmicky and usually a waste of a moveslot. Hidden Power Fighting can hit Pawniard but doesn't hit anything else other than that. Shadow Ball can hit Psychic-types that resist Stored Power, but with enough boosts, the resistance rarely matters. Healing Wish can be used to heal up another teammate in a pinch, but Buneary is a better Healing Wish passer due to its greater Speed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt Users**: Mienfoo and Onix commonly carry Taunt, stopping Munna's sweep in its tracks if it hasn't finished boosting.
**Phazers**: Munna has no protection against phazing moves like Dragon Tail, Roar, and Whirlwind. Onix has access to the former two, and Hippopotas can utilize the latter.
**Dark-types**: Despite its access to Dazzling Gleam, Munna's offensive presence with no boosts is pitifully low. If it hasn't accumulated enough Calm Mind boosts, Dark-types such as Alolan Grimer and Pawniard can usually finish it off with Knock Off. Many of them get Pursuit as well, meaning Munna isn't even safe by switching out.
Last edited: