[Overview]
<p>Traditionally, the Bug / Flying type has been a recipe for competitive disaster; not only was it given to some of the weakest Pokemon, it also curses the bearer with a crippling weakness to Stealth Rock. However, Yanmega proves that despite its poor typing, it can still comfortably hold its own in the fast-paced UU metagame, courtesy of its excellent stat distribution and access to two excellent abilities: Speed Boost and Tinted Lens. Unfortunately, Yanmega can do nothing about its terrible weakness to Stealth Rock, which severely limits its ability to switch repeatedly, while Yanmega's tissue-thin Special Defense renders it easily taken down by almost every special attack in the tier. Even with these flaws, if Yanmega is provided with the right support, there is almost no Pokemon that can take on the giant dragonfly without being completely crushed under its metaphorical weight.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Yanmega is the epitome of late-game sweeping, as it is able to clean up weakened teams without a single thought. Bug Buzz is its main STAB move and has excellent super effective coverage in the Psychic- and Grass-ridden tier. Air Slash, Yanmega's secondary STAB move, lets it slice through Fighting- and Bug-types while also taking down the omnipresent Roserade. These two moves leave Yanmega walled by Steel-types such as Cobalion, so Hidden Power Ground is used in the third slot to decimate them. Protect is almost obligatory as it gives Yanmega a free Speed boost every time it is used, and can help it scout for Choice-locked attackers. However, be careful of using Protect too recklessly, as setup sweepers and Substitute users can easily take advantage of that free turn to put the pressure back onto Yanmega.</p>
<p>Unlike most other sweepers, Yanmega rarely has to worry about revenge killers, as its ability makes them a non-issue after a couple of turns. However, Yanmega cannot boost its Special Attack, so most healthy opponents will be able to survive one of its attacks and retaliate with an often deadly blow. As such, Yanmega is best used in the late game and in conjunction with entry hazards.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Modest nature and maximum Special Attack EVs give Yanmega much-needed power to break through common foes. A Timid nature can be used instead to let Yanmega outrun Pokemon such as Adamant Darmanitan, but Yanmega will outrun them anyway after a few Speed Boosts, and the extra power lets it OHKO foes such as Roserade and Mew. Maximum Speed EVs enable Yanmega to outrun the majority of Choice Scarf holders after a single boost, and almost every Pokemon after two. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Yanmega's decent Defense stat, as putting them in HP will leave Yanmega unable to switch into Stealth Rock more than twice. A Life Orb is a must-have to boost Yanmega's Special Attack and aid it in its sweep. Aside from the moves already listed, there are some other options that Yanmega can make use of; Psychic, Giga Drain, and Shadow Ball all have their specific targets, but are otherwise of little use. Hidden Power Rock is a plausible option to take out Zapdos and Rotom-H—who otherwise resist Yanmega's whole moveset—but it isn't a OHKO on either.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is a must for Yanmega as it hates having to lose half its health every time it switches in. Blastoise and Hitmontop are both great spinners who also have Foresight to bypass any attempts to spinblock; Kabutops, on the other hand, has excellent synergy with Yanmega, taking Ice-type attacks directed at the dragonfly while Yanmega takes Fighting-, Ground-, and Grass-types attacks with ease. While one should take all care to remove entry hazards from Yanmega's side of the field, entry hazards on the opposing side also ease Yanmega's sweep. Roserade and Froslass are both great hazard setters to partner with Yanmega.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: U-Turn
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Choice Specs
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Yanmega can also elect to use its other ability and Choice Specs to become a lethal wallbreaker that laughs at the opponent's resistances. Bug Buzz is the move you should be using most of the time, as it bypasses any 2x resistances and is Yanmega's strongest move. With the power of Choice Specs, it can easily destroy most walls, especially as many bulky UU Pokemon are Psychic-types who take super effective damage from Bug-type attacks. Air Slash takes down Pokemon who 4x resist Bug Buzz, such as Moltres, and provides Yanmega with a handy flinch chance that can sometimes be the difference between a win and a loss. U-turn lets Yanmega scout for switch-ins and gain favorable match-ups for its teammates; Even with Yanmega's poor Attack stat, it can still do a fair amount of damage to frailer threats such as Sharpedo, thanks to STAB. Sleep Talk may be an unorthodox option on any Choice Pokemon, but it can be useful against Pokemon such as Roserade and can provide your team with a sleep absorber. Yanmega doesn't require any extra coverage, so Sleep Talk is the best filler move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Special Attack and Speed are once again maximized to provide Yanmega with the most damage output and Speed, letting it outrun the majority of the tier. Modest is the nature of choice as Choice Specs Yanmega is first and foremost a wallbreaker, and requires all the power it can get. A Timid nature can be used if you want Yanmega to outspeed Heracross and Adamant Darmanitan, but the loss in power is very noticeable. Tinted Lens is what distinguishes Yanmega from other Choice wallbreakers, as it eases prediction and lets Yanmega destroy defensive cores that rely on resistances to take hits. While Speed Boost can be used if you want Yanmega to be able to perform a sweep, you are better off using a Life Orb in those instances. Out of all the other moves that Yanmega can run on this set, only Giga Drain has any noteworthy presence; although it has redundant coverage, it could potentially allow Yanmega to regain some health and let it take an extra hit or, more importantly, switch into Stealth Rock again.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is even more important for this set as it should be switching out often to avoid being revenge killed. Blastoise, Hitmontop, and Kabutops are all excellent spinners to partner with Yanmega, and all of them appreciate Yanmega's ability to remove walls. Spikes and Stealth Rock on the opposing side greatly aid Yanmega in wall breaking, pushing Pokemon such as Empoleon into 2HKO range; Froslass, Deoxys-D, and Kabutops can all set up hazards that help Yanmega, while the latter can also remove hazards from your side of the field. As this set suffers against revenge killers that prey on its numerous weaknesses, bulky Pokemon such as Snorlax are appreciated to tank hits from the likes of Darmanitan and Raikou.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Unfortunately, Yanmega's movepool is quite shallow, and while Tinted Lens reduces the need for extra coverage moves, Yanmega does have some options that could catch its opponent off-guard. Hypnosis was once a staple move on Yanmega, but its poor accuracy means that Yanmega will often be sacrificing itself for no gain whatsoever, Roost and Leftovers can both be used to extend Yanmega's lifespan, but Yanmega is too frail to use either effectively. AncientPower and Silver Wind can be used to fish for boosts, but the chance of getting them is very low, and they are very weak even when super effective. Lastly, Substitute and Toxic can be used to give Yanmega a better chance of beating most walls, but a Choice Specs-boosted Bug Buzz is likely to do more damage in the long run.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Countering Yanmega is quite a hard task, but there is one thing that universally deters all Yanmega: Stealth Rock. Setting up these floating rocks should be the first step to countering Yanmega. An extremely bulky special wall such as Snorlax is the next best thing to take on Yanmega; however, it is still 3HKOed by a Choice Specs-boosted Bug Buzz after Stealth Rock. Keep in mind that Pokemon such as Zapdos, who appear to be excellent counters to Yanmega, can be easily taken down with the help of Tinted Lens. Raikou can either outrun non-Speed Boost Yanmega or survive a Life Orb Hidden Power Ground to finish Yanmega off with a STAB Thunderbolt, but after a few switches into Stealth Rock and maybe Spikes, revenge killers will also fall. Priority from the likes of Weavile and Honchkrow can take down a weakened Yanmega, but neither can switch into Yanmega's powerful attacks.</p
<p>Traditionally, the Bug / Flying type has been a recipe for competitive disaster; not only was it given to some of the weakest Pokemon, it also curses the bearer with a crippling weakness to Stealth Rock. However, Yanmega proves that despite its poor typing, it can still comfortably hold its own in the fast-paced UU metagame, courtesy of its excellent stat distribution and access to two excellent abilities: Speed Boost and Tinted Lens. Unfortunately, Yanmega can do nothing about its terrible weakness to Stealth Rock, which severely limits its ability to switch repeatedly, while Yanmega's tissue-thin Special Defense renders it easily taken down by almost every special attack in the tier. Even with these flaws, if Yanmega is provided with the right support, there is almost no Pokemon that can take on the giant dragonfly without being completely crushed under its metaphorical weight.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Yanmega is the epitome of late-game sweeping, as it is able to clean up weakened teams without a single thought. Bug Buzz is its main STAB move and has excellent super effective coverage in the Psychic- and Grass-ridden tier. Air Slash, Yanmega's secondary STAB move, lets it slice through Fighting- and Bug-types while also taking down the omnipresent Roserade. These two moves leave Yanmega walled by Steel-types such as Cobalion, so Hidden Power Ground is used in the third slot to decimate them. Protect is almost obligatory as it gives Yanmega a free Speed boost every time it is used, and can help it scout for Choice-locked attackers. However, be careful of using Protect too recklessly, as setup sweepers and Substitute users can easily take advantage of that free turn to put the pressure back onto Yanmega.</p>
<p>Unlike most other sweepers, Yanmega rarely has to worry about revenge killers, as its ability makes them a non-issue after a couple of turns. However, Yanmega cannot boost its Special Attack, so most healthy opponents will be able to survive one of its attacks and retaliate with an often deadly blow. As such, Yanmega is best used in the late game and in conjunction with entry hazards.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Modest nature and maximum Special Attack EVs give Yanmega much-needed power to break through common foes. A Timid nature can be used instead to let Yanmega outrun Pokemon such as Adamant Darmanitan, but Yanmega will outrun them anyway after a few Speed Boosts, and the extra power lets it OHKO foes such as Roserade and Mew. Maximum Speed EVs enable Yanmega to outrun the majority of Choice Scarf holders after a single boost, and almost every Pokemon after two. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Yanmega's decent Defense stat, as putting them in HP will leave Yanmega unable to switch into Stealth Rock more than twice. A Life Orb is a must-have to boost Yanmega's Special Attack and aid it in its sweep. Aside from the moves already listed, there are some other options that Yanmega can make use of; Psychic, Giga Drain, and Shadow Ball all have their specific targets, but are otherwise of little use. Hidden Power Rock is a plausible option to take out Zapdos and Rotom-H—who otherwise resist Yanmega's whole moveset—but it isn't a OHKO on either.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is a must for Yanmega as it hates having to lose half its health every time it switches in. Blastoise and Hitmontop are both great spinners who also have Foresight to bypass any attempts to spinblock; Kabutops, on the other hand, has excellent synergy with Yanmega, taking Ice-type attacks directed at the dragonfly while Yanmega takes Fighting-, Ground-, and Grass-types attacks with ease. While one should take all care to remove entry hazards from Yanmega's side of the field, entry hazards on the opposing side also ease Yanmega's sweep. Roserade and Froslass are both great hazard setters to partner with Yanmega.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: U-Turn
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Choice Specs
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Yanmega can also elect to use its other ability and Choice Specs to become a lethal wallbreaker that laughs at the opponent's resistances. Bug Buzz is the move you should be using most of the time, as it bypasses any 2x resistances and is Yanmega's strongest move. With the power of Choice Specs, it can easily destroy most walls, especially as many bulky UU Pokemon are Psychic-types who take super effective damage from Bug-type attacks. Air Slash takes down Pokemon who 4x resist Bug Buzz, such as Moltres, and provides Yanmega with a handy flinch chance that can sometimes be the difference between a win and a loss. U-turn lets Yanmega scout for switch-ins and gain favorable match-ups for its teammates; Even with Yanmega's poor Attack stat, it can still do a fair amount of damage to frailer threats such as Sharpedo, thanks to STAB. Sleep Talk may be an unorthodox option on any Choice Pokemon, but it can be useful against Pokemon such as Roserade and can provide your team with a sleep absorber. Yanmega doesn't require any extra coverage, so Sleep Talk is the best filler move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Special Attack and Speed are once again maximized to provide Yanmega with the most damage output and Speed, letting it outrun the majority of the tier. Modest is the nature of choice as Choice Specs Yanmega is first and foremost a wallbreaker, and requires all the power it can get. A Timid nature can be used if you want Yanmega to outspeed Heracross and Adamant Darmanitan, but the loss in power is very noticeable. Tinted Lens is what distinguishes Yanmega from other Choice wallbreakers, as it eases prediction and lets Yanmega destroy defensive cores that rely on resistances to take hits. While Speed Boost can be used if you want Yanmega to be able to perform a sweep, you are better off using a Life Orb in those instances. Out of all the other moves that Yanmega can run on this set, only Giga Drain has any noteworthy presence; although it has redundant coverage, it could potentially allow Yanmega to regain some health and let it take an extra hit or, more importantly, switch into Stealth Rock again.</p>
<p>Rapid Spin support is even more important for this set as it should be switching out often to avoid being revenge killed. Blastoise, Hitmontop, and Kabutops are all excellent spinners to partner with Yanmega, and all of them appreciate Yanmega's ability to remove walls. Spikes and Stealth Rock on the opposing side greatly aid Yanmega in wall breaking, pushing Pokemon such as Empoleon into 2HKO range; Froslass, Deoxys-D, and Kabutops can all set up hazards that help Yanmega, while the latter can also remove hazards from your side of the field. As this set suffers against revenge killers that prey on its numerous weaknesses, bulky Pokemon such as Snorlax are appreciated to tank hits from the likes of Darmanitan and Raikou.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Unfortunately, Yanmega's movepool is quite shallow, and while Tinted Lens reduces the need for extra coverage moves, Yanmega does have some options that could catch its opponent off-guard. Hypnosis was once a staple move on Yanmega, but its poor accuracy means that Yanmega will often be sacrificing itself for no gain whatsoever, Roost and Leftovers can both be used to extend Yanmega's lifespan, but Yanmega is too frail to use either effectively. AncientPower and Silver Wind can be used to fish for boosts, but the chance of getting them is very low, and they are very weak even when super effective. Lastly, Substitute and Toxic can be used to give Yanmega a better chance of beating most walls, but a Choice Specs-boosted Bug Buzz is likely to do more damage in the long run.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Countering Yanmega is quite a hard task, but there is one thing that universally deters all Yanmega: Stealth Rock. Setting up these floating rocks should be the first step to countering Yanmega. An extremely bulky special wall such as Snorlax is the next best thing to take on Yanmega; however, it is still 3HKOed by a Choice Specs-boosted Bug Buzz after Stealth Rock. Keep in mind that Pokemon such as Zapdos, who appear to be excellent counters to Yanmega, can be easily taken down with the help of Tinted Lens. Raikou can either outrun non-Speed Boost Yanmega or survive a Life Orb Hidden Power Ground to finish Yanmega off with a STAB Thunderbolt, but after a few switches into Stealth Rock and maybe Spikes, revenge killers will also fall. Priority from the likes of Weavile and Honchkrow can take down a weakened Yanmega, but neither can switch into Yanmega's powerful attacks.</p
