[OVERVIEW]
In conjunction with its Dark / Ghost typing, Mega Sableye's solid defensive stats allow it to act as one of the only switch-ins to Mega Medicham in the OU metagame. Mega Sableye's ability Magic Bounce further bolsters its defensive capabilities by reflecting troublesome entry hazards and status moves. Mega Sableye essentially invalidates any passive entry hazard setter aside from Clefable, making it very disruptive versus bulkier teams that rely on stacking entry hazards to do consistent damage. Moreover, Mega Sableye has access to instant recovery, greatly extending its longevity throughout a battle. Unfortunately, Mega Sableye is rather passive due to its atrocious offensive stats, so it is limited to being used on stall teams, where losing momentum is less detrimental. It also cannot take advantage of Prankster Will-O-Wisp or Recover and Mega Evolve on the same turn. Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Magearna, and Tapu Koko are all very threatening to Mega Sableye, as they can do huge damage with their STAB super effective Fairy-type attacks while also resisting Knock Off and not being greatly hindered by Will-O-Wisp.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Recover
move 4: Protect
item: Sablenite
ability: Prankster
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is useful for removing a foe's item and allows Mega Sableye to do direct damage. Foul Play can also be used in this slot in order to do more damage to physically offensive Pokemon, but Knock Off's utility is usually more important. Will-O-Wisp deters physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, and Mega Pinsir from switching into Mega Sableye, as well as preventing these Pokemon from using it as setup fodder. Recover allows Mega Sableye to consistently check Pokemon such as Mega Medicham and Mega Alakazam throughout a battle. Lastly, Protect ensures Mega Sableye can Mega Evolve safely at any point during a battle and is also useful when scouting for moves versus Choice-locked Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment with an Impish nature is used in order for Mega Sableye to check powerful physical attackers such as Mega Medicham. An alternate EV spread of 248 HP / 116 Def / 144 SpD with a Careful nature is also an option, allowing Mega Sableye to more easily combat special attackers such as Heatran, Gengar, and Mega Alakazam. Prankster allows Sableye to burn a threatening foe with priority Will-O-Wisp before Mega Evolving. Sablenite is necessary in order for Sableye to evolve into Mega Sableye.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Mega Sableye into entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Toxapex to reflect any entry hazards they attempt to set with Magic Bounce. Knock Off and Will-O-Wisp are very spammable moves and should be used frequently when Mega Sableye does not need to recover its HP. Although Mega Sableye has immense bulk and a reliable recovery move, its inability to passively recover HP with Leftovers means it can be whittled down quickly. It is important to Mega Evolve Sableye in the early stages of a battle so it can properly prevent the opponent from setting up hazards later on.
Team Options
========
Mega Sableye fits best on stall teams that can afford to lose momentum. Therefore, Pokemon such as Toxapex, Chansey, and Clefable make for solid teammates. Clefable is an excellent partner in particular, as with Unaware it can wall sweepers such as Swords Dance Garchomp and Volcarona that attempt to use Mega Sableye as setup fodder. Mega Sableye is a very reliable spinblocker, so Pokemon that greatly appreciate hazards being set up on the opponent's side of the field such as Zygarde, Gengar, and Ash-Greninja work well with Mega Sableye. Conversely, Mega Sableye can reliably prevent an opponent from setting up their own hazards, so Pokemon that despise them such as Volcarona, Dragonite, and Focus Sash Dugtrio are solid teammates. It should be noted, however, that any aforementioned offensive teammates are particularly hampered by Mega Sableye's tendency to lose momentum. Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela also have natural synergy with Mega Sableye, as they can combat the Fairy-types that threaten it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fake Out is an alternative option to Protect that is capable of doing damage; however, it is usually the inferior option, as Sableye cannot use it to safely Mega Evolve versus grounded foes while Psychic Terrain is up. Mega Sableye can also effectively run a Calm Mind set utilizing either of its STAB moves and Will-O-Wisp, but due to its awful Speed stat and the omnipresence of Fairy-type Pokemon this set is often outclassed by other Calm Mind sweepers such as Tapu Fini.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Mega Mawile, and Clefable can all do massive damage to Mega Sableye with their Fairy-type attacks. These Pokemon can all use Mega Sableye as setup fodder as well, making them particularly dangerous.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X and Heatran are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can either use Mega Sableye as setup fodder or do large amounts of damage to it with a powerful STAB attack.
**Setup Sweepers**: Although Will-O-Wisp can deter many setup sweepers from attempting to boost versus Mega Sableye, Pokemon such as Swords Dance Garchomp, Swords Dance Landorus-T, and Volcarona can circumvent this with Substitute or an outright immunity to the move in Volcarona's case.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Strong wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Keldeo, Choice Band Zygarde, Hoopa-U, and Mega Charizard Y are all very threatening to Mega Sableye, as they are powerful enough to 2HKO it with their respective STAB attacks.
In conjunction with its Dark / Ghost typing, Mega Sableye's solid defensive stats allow it to act as one of the only switch-ins to Mega Medicham in the OU metagame. Mega Sableye's ability Magic Bounce further bolsters its defensive capabilities by reflecting troublesome entry hazards and status moves. Mega Sableye essentially invalidates any passive entry hazard setter aside from Clefable, making it very disruptive versus bulkier teams that rely on stacking entry hazards to do consistent damage. Moreover, Mega Sableye has access to instant recovery, greatly extending its longevity throughout a battle. Unfortunately, Mega Sableye is rather passive due to its atrocious offensive stats, so it is limited to being used on stall teams, where losing momentum is less detrimental. It also cannot take advantage of Prankster Will-O-Wisp or Recover and Mega Evolve on the same turn. Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Magearna, and Tapu Koko are all very threatening to Mega Sableye, as they can do huge damage with their STAB super effective Fairy-type attacks while also resisting Knock Off and not being greatly hindered by Will-O-Wisp.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Recover
move 4: Protect
item: Sablenite
ability: Prankster
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is useful for removing a foe's item and allows Mega Sableye to do direct damage. Foul Play can also be used in this slot in order to do more damage to physically offensive Pokemon, but Knock Off's utility is usually more important. Will-O-Wisp deters physical attackers such as Landorus-T, Mega Mawile, and Mega Pinsir from switching into Mega Sableye, as well as preventing these Pokemon from using it as setup fodder. Recover allows Mega Sableye to consistently check Pokemon such as Mega Medicham and Mega Alakazam throughout a battle. Lastly, Protect ensures Mega Sableye can Mega Evolve safely at any point during a battle and is also useful when scouting for moves versus Choice-locked Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele.
Set Details
========
Maximum HP and Defense investment with an Impish nature is used in order for Mega Sableye to check powerful physical attackers such as Mega Medicham. An alternate EV spread of 248 HP / 116 Def / 144 SpD with a Careful nature is also an option, allowing Mega Sableye to more easily combat special attackers such as Heatran, Gengar, and Mega Alakazam. Prankster allows Sableye to burn a threatening foe with priority Will-O-Wisp before Mega Evolving. Sablenite is necessary in order for Sableye to evolve into Mega Sableye.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Mega Sableye into entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Toxapex to reflect any entry hazards they attempt to set with Magic Bounce. Knock Off and Will-O-Wisp are very spammable moves and should be used frequently when Mega Sableye does not need to recover its HP. Although Mega Sableye has immense bulk and a reliable recovery move, its inability to passively recover HP with Leftovers means it can be whittled down quickly. It is important to Mega Evolve Sableye in the early stages of a battle so it can properly prevent the opponent from setting up hazards later on.
Team Options
========
Mega Sableye fits best on stall teams that can afford to lose momentum. Therefore, Pokemon such as Toxapex, Chansey, and Clefable make for solid teammates. Clefable is an excellent partner in particular, as with Unaware it can wall sweepers such as Swords Dance Garchomp and Volcarona that attempt to use Mega Sableye as setup fodder. Mega Sableye is a very reliable spinblocker, so Pokemon that greatly appreciate hazards being set up on the opponent's side of the field such as Zygarde, Gengar, and Ash-Greninja work well with Mega Sableye. Conversely, Mega Sableye can reliably prevent an opponent from setting up their own hazards, so Pokemon that despise them such as Volcarona, Dragonite, and Focus Sash Dugtrio are solid teammates. It should be noted, however, that any aforementioned offensive teammates are particularly hampered by Mega Sableye's tendency to lose momentum. Steel-types such as Heatran and Celesteela also have natural synergy with Mega Sableye, as they can combat the Fairy-types that threaten it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fake Out is an alternative option to Protect that is capable of doing damage; however, it is usually the inferior option, as Sableye cannot use it to safely Mega Evolve versus grounded foes while Psychic Terrain is up. Mega Sableye can also effectively run a Calm Mind set utilizing either of its STAB moves and Will-O-Wisp, but due to its awful Speed stat and the omnipresence of Fairy-type Pokemon this set is often outclassed by other Calm Mind sweepers such as Tapu Fini.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Fairy-type Pokemon such as Tapu Fini, Mega Mawile, and Clefable can all do massive damage to Mega Sableye with their Fairy-type attacks. These Pokemon can all use Mega Sableye as setup fodder as well, making them particularly dangerous.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Fire-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X and Heatran are immune to Will-O-Wisp and can either use Mega Sableye as setup fodder or do large amounts of damage to it with a powerful STAB attack.
**Setup Sweepers**: Although Will-O-Wisp can deter many setup sweepers from attempting to boost versus Mega Sableye, Pokemon such as Swords Dance Garchomp, Swords Dance Landorus-T, and Volcarona can circumvent this with Substitute or an outright immunity to the move in Volcarona's case.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Strong wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Keldeo, Choice Band Zygarde, Hoopa-U, and Mega Charizard Y are all very threatening to Mega Sableye, as they are powerful enough to 2HKO it with their respective STAB attacks.
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