Fairy-types in PU

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Introduction

Fairy-types, introduced in XY, have been quite notable regardless of the metagame. They're very potent both offensively and defensively, balancing out other offensive typings like Dragon and Fighting. In turn, their prominence buffed types like Steel and Poison with increased defensive value. Fairy-types in ORAS PU were incredibly dominant, with specially defensive Clefairy, defensive Mawile, and Choice Scarf Mr. Mime being staples, and Carbink as a niche Calm Mind user. SM PU had Clefairy as a relevant Pokémon, forming half of the durable "FerroClef" core, and Mr. Mime as a decent Choice Scarf user, while Mawile fell off with the power creep. Silvally-Fairy was introduced this generation, and each had a good amount of usage too as a Defogger. Carbink could also be a wincon with Calm Mind, and Silvally-Fairy was the most potent Fairy-type in the tier. Fairy-types have continued to hold influence into Sword and Shield. In SS PU, there are many Fairy-types used to combat the tier's many Fighting- , Dark- , and Dragon-types and provide various utility options. While some Fairy-types like Clefairy and Carbink have fallen off since SM PU, the type itself remains solid, as new Fairy-types have gained prominence in PU.

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Relevant Fairy-types

Ribombee

Ribombee is the best Fairy-type PU has to offer. Between its high natural Speed, which is only rivaled by the mediocore Accelgor and Jolteon, and general versatility, Ribombee stands strong at A+ on the viability rankings. It is primarily seen as a Quiver Dance sweeper that can outspeed the entire tier after a boost, most importantly common Choice Scarf users like Togedemaru and Mesprit. It is extremely flexible with its moveslots, given that only Moonblast and Roost are required. Ribombee can opt for coverage like Psychic for Weezing and Bug Buzz for Ferroseed and Tsareena. Roost allows Ribombee to answer Pokémon like Scrafty throughout the game, and Aromatherapy is extremely valuable in SS PU, where there are a lot of Pokémon relying on status to make progress such as Toxic Lanturn, Glare Sandaconda, and Toxic Charizard. Aromatherapy support is great for Pokémon like Gigalith, which can deal with Charizard consistently. Ribombee also has Stun Spore and Sticky Web to support its teammates in their own sweeps. Choice Specs gives Ribombee immediate power and can cripple common switch-ins such as Gigalith and Togedemaru in conjunction with Switcheroo. It is difficult to give up Heavy-Duty Boots, but the extra power can allow it to muscle past Pokémon like Quagsire and pressure foes such as Togedemaru much more quickly. Choice Specs Ribombee also can run Energy Ball to do significant damage to Gigalith and OHKO Quagsire.

Whimsicott

Whimsicott makes for a solid Fairy-type on many bulky offense and balance teams. While it does not hit too hard, it has the utility options and defensive typing to make a fair amount of progress. Whimsicott competes with Tsareena as an entry hazard remover, but its higher Speed can be especially useful against foes like Archeops and its Fairy typing provides teams with better counterplay to Dragon- and Fighting-types. Whimsicott is mostly run for its utility set and can be a nuisance to deal with between Knock Off, Encore, and even Leech Seed + Substitute. Defensive Whimsicott can even opt for Infiltrator to ensure it can use Defog against Tsareena. Offensive Whimsicott can run either Choice Specs or Pixie Plate to become difficult to switch into over time, as Togedemaru is the only Steel-type switch-in with reliable recovery. In general, Pokémon that are not Steel-type are hesitant to switch into Whimsicott due to it being able to run Knock Off, Psychic, or Switcheroo; these options are especially effective against those that are weak to Psychic or dependent on their items to check Whimsicott defensively, like Weezing and Charizard. Choice Specs Whimsicott can also fit Hurricane as a mid-ground attack against Pokémon like Centiskorch and Charizard, but it's hard to give up moves like Nature Power, which grants Whimsicott a unique priority move thanks to Prankster.

Silvally-Fairy

Silvally is one of the most dominant Pokémon in PU with its many different formes, largely in part to the Multi-Attack buff in Generation 8, which made certain formes too much for the tier prior to the Crown Tundra DLC. Silvally-Fairy is one of the best Silvally formes, with its potent Swords Dance and decent Defogger sets. Swords Dance Silvally-Fairy is a menace on offense teams. Flame Charge is able to do decent damage to the easy-to-wear-down Steel-types like Ferroseed at +2. The Speed boost prevents Pokémon like Archeops and Ribombee, as well as Choice Scarf users like Mesprit, from being able to revenge kill it. Rock Slide nails the most common Fairy-resistant foe untouched by Flame Charge—Charizard. It can also pick off weakened Weezing, the main roadblock for Silvally-Fairy pulling off a sweep. Defog Silvally-Fairy is generally useful to sponge Knock Off, deals with Fighting-types throughout the match easier, and brings in wallbreakers via Parting Shot or U-turn. Silvally-Fairy finds itself on many offense teams that need the defensive utility of a Fairy typing, typically as a Dark-resistant teammate and Pokémon not easily overwhelmed by Scrafty. Silvally-Fairy is simply the tier's premier offensive Fairy-type, since Ribombee needs significantly more help to soften its answers.

Aromatisse

• Aromatisse @ Leftovers
• Ability: Aroma Veil
• EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
• Bold Nature
• - Moonblast
• - Wish
• - Protect
• - Aromatherapy

Aromatisse is a decent cleric in PU, with Wish making it more sustainable than Silvally-Fairy or Whimsicott as a defensive Fairy-type. With no Stealth Rock weakness and good natural bulk, it is a better long-term answer to Bulk Up Scrafty than Ribombee. However, Aromatisse can be too passive, which makes it setup fodder for Pokémon like Calm Mind Mesprit, Swords Dance Silvally formes, and Charizard. It can also be rather predictable and cannot touch Steel-types. Aromatisse often finds itself as a support option on balance or stall teams, as it's too much of a momentum drain to function on offense builds. Aromatisse can occasionally run offensive variants like Nasty Plot with coverage for Weezing and Charizard, but those sets are very difficult to justify using over one of the other Fairy-types.

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Niche Fairy-types

Click on the sprites to reveal the set(s)!

With all the Fairy-type options in PU, not all of them will get to shine often. Clefairy has a nice amount of utility with Knock Off, Wish, and Stealth Rock. Unfortunately, it cannot run a functioning Teleport set due to that set relying on Moonlight, which is not feasible in a tier where Gigalith is so relevant. Clefairy also struggles to keep up with the power creep brought by the Crown Tundra DLC, as its bulk is unimpressive even with Eviolite. However, it can hold its own against one of the tier's main wallbreakers in Drampa and, unlike Aromatisse, outlast Toxic users thanks to Magic Guard. Alcremie has the bulk to remain relevant in the tier and has seen actual tournament usage in Smogon Champion's League. Alcremie's decent Speed and naturally high Special Attack allow for offensive sets too. Carbink's typing can still make it useful in PU. It stands out as a sturdy Drampa switch-in that can also provide Stealth Rock, but it remains rather team-specific. Just like Carbink, Mr. Mime assists teams with poor matchups to Drampa thanks to Soundproof. Mr. Mime is a unique revenge killer in that it can outpace other common Choice Scarf users like Mesprit. It forfeits U-turn and makes up for that through Healing Wish and diverse coverage options like Focus Blast and Mystical Fire. Shiinotic makes for a decent answer to the tier's many Fighting-types, occasionally crippling them with Effect Spore, and can be a nuisance for Silvally formes like Fairy and Ghost with Effect Spore + Strength Sap. Shiinotic does a good job at supporting Gigalith as a Fighting- and Water-resistant partner. Under sand, Shiinotic can OHKO Charizard with Weather Ball, and it can generally be a nuisance with Spore. Alternatively, Giga Drain hits Water-types and gives some extra recovery.

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Conclusion

During SS PU, various Fairy-types have had their highs and lows, being majorly affected by meta shifts and the release of new DLCs. With prominent Fighting- and Dragon-types like Scrafty and Drampa currently in PU, it's no surprise Fairy-types are incredibly useful to have on a team. Overall, there are plenty of Fairy-types with their own niches for one to utilize in PU.

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