Mix and Mega

Analysis written by Quantum Tesseract.
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Kartana

Overview

Kartana's sky-high post-Mega Speed of 149 allows it to outspeed nearly every offensive Pokemon and function as an excellent sweeper and revenge killer, while its excellent base 191 Attack and Tough Claws ability allow it to hit extremely hard. Kartana's solid base 151 Defense allows it to live common physical attacks such as Extreme Speed and Precipice Blades, and it has a solid defensive typing that grants it resistances to Water-, Steel-, and Electric-type attacks. However, Kartana has mediocre HP and Special Defense stats, preventing it from surviving any non-resisted special attack and reducing setup opportunities. Kartana's offensive movepool lacks in high-powered options for STAB or coverage moves, which lowers its damage output and makes it extremely predictable at Team Preview.

Metagrossite Sweeper

Set Comments

Moves

Leaf Blade is Kartana's most powerful move, severely denting any Pokemon that does not resist it. Sacred Sword is the ideal coverage move to maximize Kartana's sweeping capabilities, as it hits the Steel-types that might otherwise wall Kartana such as Skarmory and opposing Kartana. Swords Dance allows Kartana to boost its Attack either versus physical attackers or on forced switches and allows it to deal with bulky Pokemon such as Zapdos that might otherwise wall it. Return rounds out Kartana's moveset by offering it neutral coverage versus foes such as Zapdos and Red Orb Raikou. Smart Strike is another, slightly more powerful option that lets Kartana deal with Xerneas more reliably but leaves it walled by the common Zapdos.

Set Details

Metagrossite is the preferred item on Kartana, as it boosts Kartana's Attack and Speed while giving it access to Tough Claws. 252 Attack EVs maximize Kartana's damage output, allowing it to function as a massively powerful wallbreaker and sweeper. 252 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature are used to ensure Kartana outspeeds threats such as Manaphy, Shaymin-S, and Absolite Tapu Lele. Beast Boost is Kartana's only natural ability and may be used to gain a boost when KOing weakened foes before Mega Evolving.

Usage Tips

Kartana is best used late in the game as a cleaner once all its checks are weakened, so preserve it for then when possible. However, it can still function as a revenge killer, and should it not be required for cleaning, it can act as an excellent wallbreaker. Be careful when setting up should the foe readily force Kartana out, however, as Swords Dance may simply be a free opportunity to switch in. Be exceedingly careful with switching Kartana in, as it has difficulties when setting up at less than full health. Whenever possible, get Kartana in on passive Pokemon such as Blissey or those that it forces out such as Manaphy, as it can use them to freely set up. Keep Stealth Rock on the field whenever possible, as they reduce the opportunities for foes such as Zapdos and Mandibuzz to switch in.

Team Options

Stealth Rock users such as Deoxys-S and Primal Groudon pair well with Kartana, as Kartana appreciates their aid in defeating annoying Flying-type Pokemon like Zapdos. In a similar vein, checks to Flying-types such as Arceus-Rock and Tapu Koko are handy to force them out and rack up entry hazard damage. Sticky Web support from Shuckle allows Kartana to outpace Tapu Koko and ensures that it doesn't lose Speed ties with other Kartana. Other wallbreakers such as Manaphy also pair well with Kartana, as they can take advantage of holes supplied by the other; in particular, other physical attackers such as Terrakion and Swords Dance Primal Groudon are handy to wear down shared checks and counters.

Strategy Comments

Other Options

Pinsirite gives Kartana a new and vastly superior STAB move in Return, but the Grass / Flying typing is considerably worse defensively, and Pinsirite supplies less of a Speed boost. Night Slash is a decent coverage option to hit Pokemon such as Aegislash and Giratina but is generally inferior to the above coverage. Mewtwonite X is an option for greater power, allowing Kartana to bypass Skarmory and Mandibuzz, but leaves Kartana slower than many common threats. Glalitite may be used to lure in and smack Pokemon such as Zygarde and Zapdos for teammates, but the reduced speed and power makes the increase in coverage suboptimal.

Checks and Counters

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