Almost Any Ability

Analysis written by darksylvion.
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Alakazam Mega Alakazam

Overview

Both Alakazam and its Mega Evolution possess a blazing Speed stat, allowing them to outspeed the majority of the unboosted metagame. Its Speed, combined with a high Special Attack and a good movepool, allows it to revenge kill easily and act as a late-game sweeper. Alakazam has an excellent pre-Mega ability in Psychic Surge, which allows it to avoid all kinds of priority and boosts its Psychic-type attacks, turning it into a wallbreaker; this is invaluable, since Alakazam's poor defenses generally don't allow it to survive priority attacks. Its post-Mega ability Trace enables Mega Alakazam to copy the foe's ability, allowing it to revenge kill weather sweepers. Moreover, Trace, especially in Almost Any Ability, allows it to copy powerful, common abilities like Adaptability and Sheer Force, as well as allowing it to scout the opposing Pokemon's ability. However, Alakazam possesses a mediocre defensive typing in Psychic and paper-thin defenses, leaving it vulnerable to any physical unresisted attacks, most special attacks, and, most importantly, Pursuit. After Mega Evolving, Alakazam loses Psychic Surge, and consequently Psychic Terrain, leaving it susceptible to being revenge killed by priority; its Psychic-type attacks also suffer a significant drop in power. Even though Alakazam possesses tremendous power, checks like Magearna and Alolan Muk are common in the metagame.

Psychic Terrain Attacker

Set Comments

Moves

Psyshock hits specially invested Pokemon and RegenVest users such as Chansey, Meloetta, and Magearna hard and allows Alakazam to hit both physically and specially. Psychic provides Alakazam with a powerful STAB move that is boosted by Psychic Terrain, allowing it to KO various metagame threats like Terrakion, Toxapex, and even physically defensive Zapdos after Stealth Rock. Signal Beam provides Alakazam a way to hit Bulletproof Dark-types such as Krookodile, since they are immune to Focus Blast. Shadow Ball provides Alakazam with a way to hit opposing Psychic- and Ghost-types super effectively. Focus Blast hits Dark- and Steel-types such as Tyranitar, Celesteela, and Ferrothorn, which can otherwise easily switch into Psychic. Calm Mind allows Alakazam to break through slower teams due to Alakazam's great coverage while taking advantage of Protect stall from Pokemon like Snorlax and Pokemon that can't damage it much such as Magearna. Encore is an excellent option that shuts down foes that attempt to set up, most notably Suicune and Snorlax; it also forces out Poison Heal users that rely on Protect to recover their health.

Set Details

EVs are set to maximize Speed and Special Attack. A Timid nature lets Alakazam outspeed much of the metagame, most notably Choice Scarf Tyranitar pre-Mega and Choice Scarf Xurkitree after Mega Evolving. Psychic Surge sets up Psychic Terrain, which considerably boosts Alakazam's power and negates one of the main ways to revenge kill it by virtue of blocking priority while also potentially supporting the team. Alakazite is the best possible item, as it allows Alakazam to Mega Evolve, gaining higher Speed and greater immediate offensive presence, though it comes at the cost of losing Psychic Surge as an ability.

Usage Tips

Alakazam can be used effectively as a revenge killer, though one should be careful about Pursuit trappers. It can also be used as a pseudo-wallbreaker during the turns Psychic Terrain is active, as it allow Alakazam to deal massive damage using STAB Psychic. Slow Volt Switches or U-turns should be used to get Alakazam in safely, as Alakazam's poor defenses prevent it from being able to switch into attacks. Entry hazards limit the foe's opportunities to switch in checks even further, allowing Mega Alakazam to achieve more KOs, including physically defensive Zapdos after Stealth Rock; this is especially helpful against RegenVest counters like Alolan Muk and Magearna. Mega Evolution should be delayed until Alakazam needs the increased Speed and Special Attack so as to allow it to set up Psychic Terrain multiple times in a match. Due to Psychic Surge, Alakazam can be utilized as a risky switch-in to predicted priority attacks on offensive teams. Lastly, Alakazam should only be sent out knowing it will be able to KO the foe, as it is unlikely that it will survive any attacks.

Team Options

Alakazam appreciates trapping support from Magnet Pull Pokemon like Heatran to eliminate common checks like Magearna. Additionally, strong Pursuit users like Adaptability Tyranitar are good partners, since they can trap counters like Mew and Meloetta. Slow Volt Switches or U-turns from Magearna or Zapdos can be utilized to get Alakazam in safely, allowing it get off a powerful Psychic-type attack. Strong physical attackers like Terrakion are ideal partners to get past specials walls like Chansey and Celesteela when Alakazam is using Psychic over Psyshock. Normalize Gengar with Mean Look and Skill Swap can trap and beat similar counters like Chansey and Meloetta; since Sheer Force Gengar has nearly identical counters as Alakazam, this makes Normalize Gengar a great lure. Hazard stacking from Pokemon like Skarmory is a great way to support Alakazam offensively, since it alleviates the issue of RegenVest Pokemon, which are some of Alakazam's main counters.

Strategy Comments

Other Options

A Focus Sash set can be used to work as an effective revenge killer, but Alakazam misses out on its Mega Evolution's great Speed tier. Substitute is a good option, since Alakazam forces a lot of switches, to fire off a powerful attack or at least evade Pursuit. A Sheer Force set using Life Orb gives Alakazam more power on its coverage moves but also forces it to give up Mega Evolution and the Speed boost that accompanies it; also, due to not having Psychic Surge, Alakazam becomes really vulnerable to priority attacks.

Checks and Counters

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