[SET]
Choice Specs (Primarina) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 208 HP / 184 Def / 100 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Ice Beam
- Sparkling Aria / Energy Ball
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Specs Primarina crucially allows it to pick up the OHKO versus bulky Garchomp that can threaten other Primarina sets, as well as non-Assault Vest Metagross and stall Kyurem, which pose to threaten Primarina's other sets. Primarina leverages its typing to defeat powerful Ground, Dragon, and Fire types like Landorus-T, Regidrago, Volcarona, as well as both Urshifu formes. Hydro Cannon and Moonblast are strong STAB moves. Ice Beam defeats Assault Vest Landorus-T, as Landorus-T can use Knock Off against Primarina to survive Hydro Cannon, then KO it with Earthquake. Sparkling Aria defeats Pressure Stall Entei, and Energy Ball allows Primarina to beat Assault Vest Azumarill, as well as niche Water / Ground types like Swampert and Gastrodon. This also helps in defeating the ever so prominent Water / Fairy types such as Tapu Fini, Azumarill, and opposing Primarina, although this is set-dependent and should not be relied upon as a counter for these Pokemon.
EVs
=============
208 HP and 184 Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Earthquake from Adamant Choice Band Landorus-T, and Hyper Beam from Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. 16 Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed and 2HKO Adamant Steelix. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack to allow Primarina to deal the most damage.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Specs Primarina is often straightforward to pilot, however against Choice Scarf Togekiss, Primarina should use Hydro Cannon for the best chance to win, as Ice Beam fails to OHKO. Be wary of Substitute + Disable Dragapult, as Choice Specs locks Primarina into Moonblast, forcing it to use Struggle. Against some Custap Berry Pokemon like Custap Berry Porygon-Z, Choice Specs Primarina can opt to use Moonblast or Sparkling Aria instead of Hydro Cannon to avoid the drawback of the recharge turn of Hydro Cannon as the opposing Pokemon uses Endure. Against stall Azumarill, Choice Specs Primarina should use Moonblast to have a favorible chance to win the matchup, as stall Azumarill is immune to Energy Ball due to Sap Sipper. Against Opposing Primarina, Choice Specs Primarina should use Moonblast to fish for Special Attack Drops against opposing Choice Specs Primarina, as the extra damage from Energy Ball does not matter in the mirror matchup.
[SET]
Wacan Berry (Primarina) @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 8 SpA / 60 SpD / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Substitute / Icy Wind / Calm Mind
- Encore / Calm Mind
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
The key selling point of Wacan Berry Primarina is its ability to flip its matchup against Electric-types like non-Assault Vest Zeraora, Magnezone, and Regieleki. Beating Zeraora specifically allows many teams to guess Zeraora's set on team preview, splitting the counters to Zeraora's different sets between multiple Pokemon. An example of this can be Registeel + Wacan Berry Primarina, where Registeel defeats Assault vest Zeraora, and Primarina defeats the other Zeraora sets for the team. Substitute allows Primarina to cut its HP down to reliably activate its Torrent ability, boosting its Hydro Cannon to allow it to KO Pokemon like Zeraora and Zapdos.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Poison Jab from Jolly Choice Band Haxorus, and the HP, Special Defense and Speed EVs allow Primarina to survive any move from Regieleki. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack. An alternate EV spread of 200 HP / 200 Def / 92 SpA / 16 Spe with a Modest nature can also be used, with moves Moonblast, Hydro Cannon, Substitute, and Encore. The combination of the HP and Defense EVs on the alternate EV spread allow Primarina to survive Plasma Fists from Jolly Choice Band Zeraora, leaving it at 26% to allow it to use Substitute, then OHKO on Turn 2 with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon. This EV spread also allows Wacan Berry Primarina to have a clean matchup against pressure stall Entei, as the higher Special Attack allows Primarina to break Entei's Substitute. However, Primarina does not reliably defeat Assault Vest Landorus-T with the alternate EV spread, as Primarina is still unable to outspeed it after an Icy Wind.
Usage Tips
=============
The drawback of using the main EV spread is the additional layer of prediction against opposing Zeraora. Primarina, when using the main spread, must use Hydro Cannon Turn 1 against Plasma Fists Turn 1 from both Choice Band and Life Orb Zeraora. However, Since the alternate EV spread will survive Plasma Fists from Jolly Choice Band Zeraora with enough HP afterwards to allow it to use Substitute, Wacan Berry Primarina, when run with its alternate EV spread, should use Substitute Turn 1 on Life Orb Zeraora's potential Knock Off, removing Primarina's Wacan Berry, crucial to the matchup. Using Substitute Turn 1 allows Primarina to defeat Zeraora with the following sequences: If Zeraora uses an attacking move Turn 1, Primarina should continue to use Substitute until reaching the appropriate HP value for a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon, OHKOing Zeraora. However, if you predict that your opponent's Zeraora is Life Orb + Taunt, and that it will use Taunt Turn 1, Primarina should use Moonblast Turn 1, then Hydro Cannon Turn 2, to avoid losing to Taunt + Plasma Fists twice from Life Orb Zeraora. Unlike the alternate spread, the main spread does not survive Jolly Choice Band Zeraora's Plasma Fists with a high enough HP value to get up a Substitute, so additional prediction is needed against Zeraora.
When using the alternate EV spread, Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei. If Entei uses Protect Turn 1, use Encore again, then, through a series of Encore and Moonblast breaking Entei's Substitute, Entei reaches a low enough of an HP value that you can then KO it with Moonblast. If Entei uses Toxic or an attacking move Turn 1, Primarina should use Moonblast on turn 2, then Hydro Cannon on turn 3 to secure the KO on Assault Vest Entei.
Be careful against Life Orb Garchomp, as it can use a Swords Dance boosted move to OHKO Primarina, which fails to OHKO Garchomp Turn 1 with Moonblast.
When using the main EV spread gainst Magnezone, Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1, then, based on the revealed damage Magnezone does to Primarina belonging from Choice Specs Magnezone or Custap Berry Magnezone, use Icy Wind or Hydro Cannon predicting an Endure or an attacking move from Custap Berry Magnezone respectively. Otherwise, against Choice Specs Magnezone, use Hydro Cannon turn 2.
Against Life Orb Zapdos, Wacan Berry Primarina should use Substitute Turn 1, then OHKO Zapdos with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon.
[SET]
Pixie Plate (Primarina) @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 140 HP / 20 Def / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Icy Wind
- Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Primarina may also use Pixie Plate to secure the OHKO against bulky Garchomp while removing Specs Primarina's weakness to Substitute + Disable Dragapult as well as Disable Spectrier. This set allows Primarina to have the best odds against opposing Primarina, although trading its bulk for a high Special Attack stat to be able to do this. Because of this, Pixie Plate Primarina now struggles to deal with Pokemon it previously threatened like Choice Band variants of Urshifu and Landorus-Therian.
EVs
=============
Primarina's HP EVs allow it to survive a Sheer Force Boosted Sludge Wave from Life Orb Landorus. The Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed Adamant Rhyperior, and the Special Attack EVs allow for the best odds against opposing Primarina. This also allows Primarina to 2HKO non-specially defensive Aromatisse. The remaining EVs are put in Defense for the best odds against Choice Band Steelix and Life Orb Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
=============
Pixie Plate Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1 against Landorus-T, as a non-Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon can fail to OHKO. Pixie Plate Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei, disallowing it to setup pressure stall Entei's Substitute + Protect + Toxic Strategy. Primarina should use Moonblast Turn 1 against Dragapult. If Dragapult uses Substitute Turn 1, Primarina should then use Encore Turn 2, as a Disable from Dragapult is likely to follow.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/luser.545212/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/crow-crumbs.375405/
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Choice Specs (Primarina) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 208 HP / 184 Def / 100 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Ice Beam
- Sparkling Aria / Energy Ball
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Specs Primarina crucially allows it to pick up the OHKO versus bulky Garchomp that can threaten other Primarina sets, as well as non-Assault Vest Metagross and stall Kyurem, which pose to threaten Primarina's other sets. Primarina leverages its typing to defeat powerful Ground, Dragon, and Fire types like Landorus-T, Regidrago, Volcarona, as well as both Urshifu formes. Hydro Cannon and Moonblast are strong STAB moves. Ice Beam defeats Assault Vest Landorus-T, as Landorus-T can use Knock Off against Primarina to survive Hydro Cannon, then KO it with Earthquake. Sparkling Aria defeats Pressure Stall Entei, and Energy Ball allows Primarina to beat Assault Vest Azumarill, as well as niche Water / Ground types like Swampert and Gastrodon. This also helps in defeating the ever so prominent Water / Fairy types such as Tapu Fini, Azumarill, and opposing Primarina, although this is set-dependent and should not be relied upon as a counter for these Pokemon.
EVs
=============
208 HP and 184 Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Earthquake from Adamant Choice Band Landorus-T, and Hyper Beam from Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. 16 Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed and 2HKO Adamant Steelix. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack to allow Primarina to deal the most damage.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Specs Primarina is often straightforward to pilot, however against Choice Scarf Togekiss, Primarina should use Hydro Cannon for the best chance to win, as Ice Beam fails to OHKO. Be wary of Substitute + Disable Dragapult, as Choice Specs locks Primarina into Moonblast, forcing it to use Struggle. Against some Custap Berry Pokemon like Custap Berry Porygon-Z, Choice Specs Primarina can opt to use Moonblast or Sparkling Aria instead of Hydro Cannon to avoid the drawback of the recharge turn of Hydro Cannon as the opposing Pokemon uses Endure. Against stall Azumarill, Choice Specs Primarina should use Moonblast to have a favorible chance to win the matchup, as stall Azumarill is immune to Energy Ball due to Sap Sipper. Against Opposing Primarina, Choice Specs Primarina should use Moonblast to fish for Special Attack Drops against opposing Choice Specs Primarina, as the extra damage from Energy Ball does not matter in the mirror matchup.
[SET]
Wacan Berry (Primarina) @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 8 SpA / 60 SpD / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Substitute / Icy Wind / Calm Mind
- Encore / Calm Mind
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
The key selling point of Wacan Berry Primarina is its ability to flip its matchup against Electric-types like non-Assault Vest Zeraora, Magnezone, and Regieleki. Beating Zeraora specifically allows many teams to guess Zeraora's set on team preview, splitting the counters to Zeraora's different sets between multiple Pokemon. An example of this can be Registeel + Wacan Berry Primarina, where Registeel defeats Assault vest Zeraora, and Primarina defeats the other Zeraora sets for the team. Substitute allows Primarina to cut its HP down to reliably activate its Torrent ability, boosting its Hydro Cannon to allow it to KO Pokemon like Zeraora and Zapdos.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Poison Jab from Jolly Choice Band Haxorus, and the HP, Special Defense and Speed EVs allow Primarina to survive any move from Regieleki. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack. An alternate EV spread of 200 HP / 200 Def / 92 SpA / 16 Spe with a Modest nature can also be used, with moves Moonblast, Hydro Cannon, Substitute, and Encore. The combination of the HP and Defense EVs on the alternate EV spread allow Primarina to survive Plasma Fists from Jolly Choice Band Zeraora, leaving it at 26% to allow it to use Substitute, then OHKO on Turn 2 with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon. This EV spread also allows Wacan Berry Primarina to have a clean matchup against pressure stall Entei, as the higher Special Attack allows Primarina to break Entei's Substitute. However, Primarina does not reliably defeat Assault Vest Landorus-T with the alternate EV spread, as Primarina is still unable to outspeed it after an Icy Wind.
Usage Tips
=============
The drawback of using the main EV spread is the additional layer of prediction against opposing Zeraora. Primarina, when using the main spread, must use Hydro Cannon Turn 1 against Plasma Fists Turn 1 from both Choice Band and Life Orb Zeraora. However, Since the alternate EV spread will survive Plasma Fists from Jolly Choice Band Zeraora with enough HP afterwards to allow it to use Substitute, Wacan Berry Primarina, when run with its alternate EV spread, should use Substitute Turn 1 on Life Orb Zeraora's potential Knock Off, removing Primarina's Wacan Berry, crucial to the matchup. Using Substitute Turn 1 allows Primarina to defeat Zeraora with the following sequences: If Zeraora uses an attacking move Turn 1, Primarina should continue to use Substitute until reaching the appropriate HP value for a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon, OHKOing Zeraora. However, if you predict that your opponent's Zeraora is Life Orb + Taunt, and that it will use Taunt Turn 1, Primarina should use Moonblast Turn 1, then Hydro Cannon Turn 2, to avoid losing to Taunt + Plasma Fists twice from Life Orb Zeraora. Unlike the alternate spread, the main spread does not survive Jolly Choice Band Zeraora's Plasma Fists with a high enough HP value to get up a Substitute, so additional prediction is needed against Zeraora.
When using the alternate EV spread, Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei. If Entei uses Protect Turn 1, use Encore again, then, through a series of Encore and Moonblast breaking Entei's Substitute, Entei reaches a low enough of an HP value that you can then KO it with Moonblast. If Entei uses Toxic or an attacking move Turn 1, Primarina should use Moonblast on turn 2, then Hydro Cannon on turn 3 to secure the KO on Assault Vest Entei.
Be careful against Life Orb Garchomp, as it can use a Swords Dance boosted move to OHKO Primarina, which fails to OHKO Garchomp Turn 1 with Moonblast.
When using the main EV spread gainst Magnezone, Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1, then, based on the revealed damage Magnezone does to Primarina belonging from Choice Specs Magnezone or Custap Berry Magnezone, use Icy Wind or Hydro Cannon predicting an Endure or an attacking move from Custap Berry Magnezone respectively. Otherwise, against Choice Specs Magnezone, use Hydro Cannon turn 2.
Against Life Orb Zapdos, Wacan Berry Primarina should use Substitute Turn 1, then OHKO Zapdos with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon.
[SET]
Pixie Plate (Primarina) @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 140 HP / 20 Def / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Icy Wind
- Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Primarina may also use Pixie Plate to secure the OHKO against bulky Garchomp while removing Specs Primarina's weakness to Substitute + Disable Dragapult as well as Disable Spectrier. This set allows Primarina to have the best odds against opposing Primarina, although trading its bulk for a high Special Attack stat to be able to do this. Because of this, Pixie Plate Primarina now struggles to deal with Pokemon it previously threatened like Choice Band variants of Urshifu and Landorus-Therian.
EVs
=============
Primarina's HP EVs allow it to survive a Sheer Force Boosted Sludge Wave from Life Orb Landorus. The Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed Adamant Rhyperior, and the Special Attack EVs allow for the best odds against opposing Primarina. This also allows Primarina to 2HKO non-specially defensive Aromatisse. The remaining EVs are put in Defense for the best odds against Choice Band Steelix and Life Orb Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
=============
Pixie Plate Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1 against Landorus-T, as a non-Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon can fail to OHKO. Pixie Plate Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei, disallowing it to setup pressure stall Entei's Substitute + Protect + Toxic Strategy. Primarina should use Moonblast Turn 1 against Dragapult. If Dragapult uses Substitute Turn 1, Primarina should then use Encore Turn 2, as a Disable from Dragapult is likely to follow.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/luser.545212/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/crow-crumbs.375405/
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Last edited:
