[OVERVIEW]
Mega Swampert is a very niche rain attacker. It's the only viable physical Swift Swim attacker, as well as the only one that can reliably beat Thundurus, Sylveon, and, depending on its coverage, Ferrothorn. Its immunity to paralysis due to its Ground typing means its Speed cannot be crippled like the others'. Also, as a rain sweeper with good natural bulk, it is less weak to priority moves than other rain sweepers, notably Talonflame's Brave Bird and Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch. However, being a physical attacker, Swampert is hindered by Intimidate and burns, and it is extremely weak to Grass-types, more so than other rain staples. Unlike other Swift Swimmers, it needs to Mega Evolve before it gains Swift Swim, usually giving your opponent a free turn. Finally, its secondary STAB move Earthquake is significantly weaker due to its spread reduction, and it also hits Mega Swampert's partner.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim Attacker
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Superpower
move 4: Protect
item: Swampertite
ability: Damp
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Waterfall is almost always Mega Swampert's best attack, as it is a reliable and strong physical attack that is boosted by rain. Earthquake is its strongest Ground-type STAB move and also gives Mega Swampert a spread option while providing super effective coverage against Volcanion and Steel-types such as Aegislash. For Mega Swampert's third move, Ice Punch hits Grass- and Dragon-types like Amoonguss and Latios for good damage, which Mega Swampert's STAB moves can't, while Superpower provides solid coverage versus Mega Kangaskhan, Kyurem-B, and Ferrothorn. Protect is necessary because Swampert must safely Mega Evolve before it gains Swift Swim. It also either allows Swampert to stay safe from a threat for a turn while its partner deals with said threat or allows you to safely scout for a threat.
Set Details
========
Running 252 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allows Mega Swampert to hit as hard as possible, while 252 Speed EVs let it outspeed all relevant threats while under rain, including Jolly Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Choice Scarf Genesect, and Deoxys-A. For pre-Mega abilities, Damp is superior to Torrent, as you won't ever use Torrent due to Swampert needing to Mega Evolve as soon as possible. Damp can also let Swampert prevent an Explosion while switching in on occasion.
Usage Tips
========
Swampert is only good once it has Mega Evolved and is in rain, because otherwise its damage output is relatively low and its Speed is pretty poor. Because of this, try to maximize its time in rain by bringing it into the drizzle as early possible. When Mega Evolving Swampert, make smart use of Protect so that it can gain the Swift Swim Speed boost without consequences. Mega Swampert is best used as a mid- to late-game sweeper, as it can easily clean up once its threats, such as Grass-types and Water-types, are removed. You can also remove said threats while Swampert is on the field by having another Pokemon that can remove them, like Kyurem-B, Latios, or Talonflame, do so before they threaten Swampert.
Team Options
========
First and foremost, you almost always need Politoed, as Drizzle automatically sets rain so that you don't need to waste a turn doing so. You should also have some answers to Grass-types, such as Kyurem-B and Talonflame, as they will almost always beat Mega Swampert. Swampert is really weak to sun due to it being OHKOed by common sun Pokemon, like Mega Charizard Y with Solar Beam and Venusaur, so bring a few good sun checks, such as Thundurus and Talonflame. If you aren't running Superpower, strong Fighting-types like Terrakion and Conkeldurr are also good to have in order to beat Ferrothorn and Kyurem-B, which are huge threats to rain. Finally, Ground-immune Pokemon like Latios and Talonflame should be on the team so that you can attack with them while Swampert uses Earthquake.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
You can run various Speed EVs other than 252 to have some EVs left over for bulk, such as 176 Speed EVs to outspeed Deoxys-A and 144 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T, both under rain. For Swampert's Water-type STAB move, Aqua Tail is slightly more powerful than Waterfall, but it lacks perfect accuracy and a chance to flinch the foe. Mega Swampert's coverage move can also be replaced by Stone Edge or Rock Slide to hit Mega Charizard Y outside of rain, but you are almost always better off with Ice Punch or Superpower. You can forgo a coverage move and run Substitute, as a smart Substitute can significantly boost Mega Swampert's field time. Swampert can run Rain Dance over a coverage move in order to reduce your need to rely on Politoed to set rain. While regular Swampert has a niche as a Wide Guard user, it's mostly outclassed by Conkeldurr or Aegislash and only really decent when you need its typing.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: Grass-types, namely Breloom, Amoonguss, Ludicolo, and Ferrothorn, resist or take very little damage from both of Mega Swampert's STAB attacks and can either OHKO or cripple it in return.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Bulkier Water-types like Gyarados and Rotom-W resist Mega Swampert's strongest STAB move, Waterfall, take its coverage options with ease, and can do moderate damage to it (especially in rain) and reduce its overall effectiveness.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Because Swampert is a physical sweeper, it is crippled by burns that can be spread by Sableye and Rotom-W, the latter of which can also reliably take Swampert's attacks. It's also hindered by Intimidate, which is best provided by Gyarados and Salamence, as they can usually take Swampert's attacks (Salamence only if Swampert isn't running Ice Punch); Scrafty also can utilize Fake Out to stall rain turns.
**Opposing Weather**: Swampert relies heavily on rain and is relatively weak to most sun and hail teams, so replacing its weather hinders its effectiveness tremendously. Mega Charizard Y can set sun and threaten to OHKO Mega Swampert with Solar Beam, while Abomasnow threatens it with a Grass-type STAB move while replacing rain with hail.
**Tailwind and Trick Room**: These moves take away Mega Swampert's speed advantage, crippling its ability to stay productive on the field. Cresselia, Porygon2, and Jellicent can reliably take anything Swampert has to offer and set Trick Room. Whimsicott can set Tailwind really easily in front of Mega Swampert by making use of Prankster and then potentially OHKO it with a Grass-type STAB move, while Suicune and Zapdos can reliably take Swampert's attacks and set Tailwind in front of it.
Mega Swampert is a very niche rain attacker. It's the only viable physical Swift Swim attacker, as well as the only one that can reliably beat Thundurus, Sylveon, and, depending on its coverage, Ferrothorn. Its immunity to paralysis due to its Ground typing means its Speed cannot be crippled like the others'. Also, as a rain sweeper with good natural bulk, it is less weak to priority moves than other rain sweepers, notably Talonflame's Brave Bird and Mega Kangaskhan's Sucker Punch. However, being a physical attacker, Swampert is hindered by Intimidate and burns, and it is extremely weak to Grass-types, more so than other rain staples. Unlike other Swift Swimmers, it needs to Mega Evolve before it gains Swift Swim, usually giving your opponent a free turn. Finally, its secondary STAB move Earthquake is significantly weaker due to its spread reduction, and it also hits Mega Swampert's partner.
[SET]
name: Swift Swim Attacker
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Ice Punch / Superpower
move 4: Protect
item: Swampertite
ability: Damp
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Waterfall is almost always Mega Swampert's best attack, as it is a reliable and strong physical attack that is boosted by rain. Earthquake is its strongest Ground-type STAB move and also gives Mega Swampert a spread option while providing super effective coverage against Volcanion and Steel-types such as Aegislash. For Mega Swampert's third move, Ice Punch hits Grass- and Dragon-types like Amoonguss and Latios for good damage, which Mega Swampert's STAB moves can't, while Superpower provides solid coverage versus Mega Kangaskhan, Kyurem-B, and Ferrothorn. Protect is necessary because Swampert must safely Mega Evolve before it gains Swift Swim. It also either allows Swampert to stay safe from a threat for a turn while its partner deals with said threat or allows you to safely scout for a threat.
Set Details
========
Running 252 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allows Mega Swampert to hit as hard as possible, while 252 Speed EVs let it outspeed all relevant threats while under rain, including Jolly Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Choice Scarf Genesect, and Deoxys-A. For pre-Mega abilities, Damp is superior to Torrent, as you won't ever use Torrent due to Swampert needing to Mega Evolve as soon as possible. Damp can also let Swampert prevent an Explosion while switching in on occasion.
Usage Tips
========
Swampert is only good once it has Mega Evolved and is in rain, because otherwise its damage output is relatively low and its Speed is pretty poor. Because of this, try to maximize its time in rain by bringing it into the drizzle as early possible. When Mega Evolving Swampert, make smart use of Protect so that it can gain the Swift Swim Speed boost without consequences. Mega Swampert is best used as a mid- to late-game sweeper, as it can easily clean up once its threats, such as Grass-types and Water-types, are removed. You can also remove said threats while Swampert is on the field by having another Pokemon that can remove them, like Kyurem-B, Latios, or Talonflame, do so before they threaten Swampert.
Team Options
========
First and foremost, you almost always need Politoed, as Drizzle automatically sets rain so that you don't need to waste a turn doing so. You should also have some answers to Grass-types, such as Kyurem-B and Talonflame, as they will almost always beat Mega Swampert. Swampert is really weak to sun due to it being OHKOed by common sun Pokemon, like Mega Charizard Y with Solar Beam and Venusaur, so bring a few good sun checks, such as Thundurus and Talonflame. If you aren't running Superpower, strong Fighting-types like Terrakion and Conkeldurr are also good to have in order to beat Ferrothorn and Kyurem-B, which are huge threats to rain. Finally, Ground-immune Pokemon like Latios and Talonflame should be on the team so that you can attack with them while Swampert uses Earthquake.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
You can run various Speed EVs other than 252 to have some EVs left over for bulk, such as 176 Speed EVs to outspeed Deoxys-A and 144 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Choice Scarf Landorus-T, both under rain. For Swampert's Water-type STAB move, Aqua Tail is slightly more powerful than Waterfall, but it lacks perfect accuracy and a chance to flinch the foe. Mega Swampert's coverage move can also be replaced by Stone Edge or Rock Slide to hit Mega Charizard Y outside of rain, but you are almost always better off with Ice Punch or Superpower. You can forgo a coverage move and run Substitute, as a smart Substitute can significantly boost Mega Swampert's field time. Swampert can run Rain Dance over a coverage move in order to reduce your need to rely on Politoed to set rain. While regular Swampert has a niche as a Wide Guard user, it's mostly outclassed by Conkeldurr or Aegislash and only really decent when you need its typing.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-type Pokemon**: Grass-types, namely Breloom, Amoonguss, Ludicolo, and Ferrothorn, resist or take very little damage from both of Mega Swampert's STAB attacks and can either OHKO or cripple it in return.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Bulkier Water-types like Gyarados and Rotom-W resist Mega Swampert's strongest STAB move, Waterfall, take its coverage options with ease, and can do moderate damage to it (especially in rain) and reduce its overall effectiveness.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Because Swampert is a physical sweeper, it is crippled by burns that can be spread by Sableye and Rotom-W, the latter of which can also reliably take Swampert's attacks. It's also hindered by Intimidate, which is best provided by Gyarados and Salamence, as they can usually take Swampert's attacks (Salamence only if Swampert isn't running Ice Punch); Scrafty also can utilize Fake Out to stall rain turns.
**Opposing Weather**: Swampert relies heavily on rain and is relatively weak to most sun and hail teams, so replacing its weather hinders its effectiveness tremendously. Mega Charizard Y can set sun and threaten to OHKO Mega Swampert with Solar Beam, while Abomasnow threatens it with a Grass-type STAB move while replacing rain with hail.
**Tailwind and Trick Room**: These moves take away Mega Swampert's speed advantage, crippling its ability to stay productive on the field. Cresselia, Porygon2, and Jellicent can reliably take anything Swampert has to offer and set Trick Room. Whimsicott can set Tailwind really easily in front of Mega Swampert by making use of Prankster and then potentially OHKO it with a Grass-type STAB move, while Suicune and Zapdos can reliably take Swampert's attacks and set Tailwind in front of it.
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