[SET]
Skill Swap (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 36 SpD / 56 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Stored Power / Psyshock
- Skill Swap / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers combined with Calm Mind allows Cresselia to defeat Icy Wind + Encore Primarina sets. Moonlight provides reliable recovery allowing Cresselia to defeat Choice Band Zeraora and non-Swords Dance Landorus-T. Stored Power allows Cresselia to break through opposing Calm Mind Pokemon such as Primarina; or power through resists such as non-Swords Dance Ferrothorn and some Celesteela. Psyshock can be used to still help break through opposing Calm Mind users as well as defeating Nihilego at the expense of being worse into Psychic-resistant foes. Skill Swap allows Cresselia to defeat Aroma Veil Aromatisse and be better against Regidrago as well as defeating some Unaware Pokemon if running Psyshock such as Clefable and Quagsire but notably not Pyukumuku. Substitute allows Cresselia to improve odds of not getting KOed by a critical hit while using Calm Mind as well as beating Goodra and improving the matchup against Yawn Sylveon.
EVs
=============
The Special Defense investments allows Cresselia to take a 252+ Primarina Moonblast into Torrent Hydro Cannon. The Speed EVs let its outspeed base-60 foes such as Primarina, Sylveon, and Magnezone. The rest is put into Defense to take hits from Pokemon such as Zeraora, Landorus-T, and Haxorus.
Usage Tips
=============
Most matchups are straightforward: use Calm Mind until Stored Power is strong enough such that using Calm Mind again has less of a return on investment. For example, if Stored Power can 3HKO at +3 and 2HKO at +4, and Cresselia does not need the Special Defense boost, it is preferable to start attacking earlier. That way, it gets more chances to critical hit, potentially turning Stored Power into a 2HKO. Otherwise, use Moonlight whenever Cresselia is low on HP, and be wary of Moonlight's measly eight PP. If possible, attempt to keep Cresselia's HP high enough such that even a critical hit will not KO Cresselia. Finally, Skill Swap is generally used for Aromatisse, taking Aromatisse's Aroma Veil so that Aromatisse can neither use Encore nor Disable on Cresselia. It can also be used versus some Regidrago sets where Cresselia should use Skill Swap on turn one. This reduces the damage of special attacks the same amount as Calm Mind would, with the added benefit of also weakening the damage of Regidrago's physical attacks. Against Unaware Pokemon such as Clefable and Quagsire, Cresselia will need to use Skill Swap if not running Stored Power while avoiding being Encored into Skill Swap so Cresselia can OHKO with a Calm Mind-boosted Psyshock. Cresselia should be unpredictable with using Skill Swap while using Calm Mind to boost and Moonlight to stay healthy. Be aware that Pyukumuku is generally favored as an Unaware user due to being able to use the combination of Taunt, Mirror Coat, and Recover to prevent Cresselia from boosting fast enough without being taken out by Mirror Coat. Finally, versus Landorus-T, Cresselia should use Moonlight on turn one and then use Skill Swap to improve the matchup against Choice Band Knock Off Landorus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rest can be run instead of Moonlight, but this is generally not recommended, as Cresselia oftentimes enjoys the immediate 50% recovery from Moonlight. However, Rest allows Cresselia to defeat Pokemon that use Toxic such as Pressure stall Entei. Reflect can be used instead of Skill Swap to deal with certain physical attackers, but this is more common on a Kee Berry set.
[SET]
Icy Wind (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 60 SpD / 68 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind
- Stored Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers paired with Calm Mind and Icy Wind gives Cresselia a good matchup against most sets of the Water / Fairy types: Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill. Moonlight allows Cresselia to set up safely in front of many Pokemon that do not outdamage Leftovers + Moonlight recovery such as Kyurem and Choice Specs Naganadel. Stored Power allows for Cresselia to defeat some opposing Calm Mind users, including the aforementioned Tapu Fini and Primarina as well as breaking through resistant foes such as Steelix and non-Metal Sound Magnezone. Icy Wind flips many matchups, most notably versus Taunt users such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Bulu as well as Swords Dance variants of Garchomp and Landorus-T.
EVs
=============
The Special Defense EVs are to take a maximum Special Attack Modest Choice Specs Volcanion Steam Eruption into +1 Steam Eruption, assuming burn. The Speed EVs are to outspeed Garchomp after an Icy Wind, while the rest of the EVs are put into Defense to have the best odds to take attacks from Garchomp, Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, and Tapu Bulu.
Usage Tips
=============
Cresselia should use Calm Mind versus Tapu Fini; Icy Wind should only be used if Tapu Fini Taunts Cresselia. Since Cresselia loses to Trick Tapu Fini regardless of the move used, using Calm Mind turn one is optimal. Icy Wind should be used turn one versus Garchomp and Landorus-T, as this allows Cresselia to use Moonlight in the face of potentially getting 2HKOed by Choice Band Outrage from Garchomp and provides Cresselia better rolls to 2HKO Swords Dance + Knock Off variants of Landorus-T. Cresselia generally outspeeds most Tapu Bulu variants, so using Calm Mind turn one is generally safe, and subsequently alternating between Icy Wind and Stored Power after getting Taunted to avoid potentially losing a turn to Disable. It is worth noting that Tapu Bulu can win if it uses Taunt on turn one but this risks losing to Trick Cresselia, thus turning the matchup into a fifty-fifty. Finally, Calm Mind should be used against Tapu Koko and, Icy Wind should only be used after getting Taunted.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock can be used instead of Stored Power, but this is generally not preferable, as it sacrifices reliability in the Tapu Fini matchup despite helping versus Acid Spray + Meteor Beam Nihilego, where using Calm Mind into Psyshock generally KOs Nihilego while avoiding a KO by Nihilego. Rest can also be used over Moonlight to help versus certain Toxic users like Pressure Entei and Chansey, but this sacrifices reliability in matchups versus Pokemon such as Choice Band Zeraora, so it is generally not advised.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mishlef.509647/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nunnbetter.501592/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Skill Swap (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 36 SpD / 56 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Stored Power / Psyshock
- Skill Swap / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers combined with Calm Mind allows Cresselia to defeat Icy Wind + Encore Primarina sets. Moonlight provides reliable recovery allowing Cresselia to defeat Choice Band Zeraora and non-Swords Dance Landorus-T. Stored Power allows Cresselia to break through opposing Calm Mind Pokemon such as Primarina; or power through resists such as non-Swords Dance Ferrothorn and some Celesteela. Psyshock can be used to still help break through opposing Calm Mind users as well as defeating Nihilego at the expense of being worse into Psychic-resistant foes. Skill Swap allows Cresselia to defeat Aroma Veil Aromatisse and be better against Regidrago as well as defeating some Unaware Pokemon if running Psyshock such as Clefable and Quagsire but notably not Pyukumuku. Substitute allows Cresselia to improve odds of not getting KOed by a critical hit while using Calm Mind as well as beating Goodra and improving the matchup against Yawn Sylveon.
EVs
=============
The Special Defense investments allows Cresselia to take a 252+ Primarina Moonblast into Torrent Hydro Cannon. The Speed EVs let its outspeed base-60 foes such as Primarina, Sylveon, and Magnezone. The rest is put into Defense to take hits from Pokemon such as Zeraora, Landorus-T, and Haxorus.
Usage Tips
=============
Most matchups are straightforward: use Calm Mind until Stored Power is strong enough such that using Calm Mind again has less of a return on investment. For example, if Stored Power can 3HKO at +3 and 2HKO at +4, and Cresselia does not need the Special Defense boost, it is preferable to start attacking earlier. That way, it gets more chances to critical hit, potentially turning Stored Power into a 2HKO. Otherwise, use Moonlight whenever Cresselia is low on HP, and be wary of Moonlight's measly eight PP. If possible, attempt to keep Cresselia's HP high enough such that even a critical hit will not KO Cresselia. Finally, Skill Swap is generally used for Aromatisse, taking Aromatisse's Aroma Veil so that Aromatisse can neither use Encore nor Disable on Cresselia. It can also be used versus some Regidrago sets where Cresselia should use Skill Swap on turn one. This reduces the damage of special attacks the same amount as Calm Mind would, with the added benefit of also weakening the damage of Regidrago's physical attacks. Against Unaware Pokemon such as Clefable and Quagsire, Cresselia will need to use Skill Swap if not running Stored Power while avoiding being Encored into Skill Swap so Cresselia can OHKO with a Calm Mind-boosted Psyshock. Cresselia should be unpredictable with using Skill Swap while using Calm Mind to boost and Moonlight to stay healthy. Be aware that Pyukumuku is generally favored as an Unaware user due to being able to use the combination of Taunt, Mirror Coat, and Recover to prevent Cresselia from boosting fast enough without being taken out by Mirror Coat. Finally, versus Landorus-T, Cresselia should use Moonlight on turn one and then use Skill Swap to improve the matchup against Choice Band Knock Off Landorus-T.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rest can be run instead of Moonlight, but this is generally not recommended, as Cresselia oftentimes enjoys the immediate 50% recovery from Moonlight. However, Rest allows Cresselia to defeat Pokemon that use Toxic such as Pressure stall Entei. Reflect can be used instead of Skill Swap to deal with certain physical attackers, but this is more common on a Kee Berry set.
[SET]
Icy Wind (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 60 SpD / 68 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind
- Stored Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers paired with Calm Mind and Icy Wind gives Cresselia a good matchup against most sets of the Water / Fairy types: Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill. Moonlight allows Cresselia to set up safely in front of many Pokemon that do not outdamage Leftovers + Moonlight recovery such as Kyurem and Choice Specs Naganadel. Stored Power allows for Cresselia to defeat some opposing Calm Mind users, including the aforementioned Tapu Fini and Primarina as well as breaking through resistant foes such as Steelix and non-Metal Sound Magnezone. Icy Wind flips many matchups, most notably versus Taunt users such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Bulu as well as Swords Dance variants of Garchomp and Landorus-T.
EVs
=============
The Special Defense EVs are to take a maximum Special Attack Modest Choice Specs Volcanion Steam Eruption into +1 Steam Eruption, assuming burn. The Speed EVs are to outspeed Garchomp after an Icy Wind, while the rest of the EVs are put into Defense to have the best odds to take attacks from Garchomp, Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, and Tapu Bulu.
Usage Tips
=============
Cresselia should use Calm Mind versus Tapu Fini; Icy Wind should only be used if Tapu Fini Taunts Cresselia. Since Cresselia loses to Trick Tapu Fini regardless of the move used, using Calm Mind turn one is optimal. Icy Wind should be used turn one versus Garchomp and Landorus-T, as this allows Cresselia to use Moonlight in the face of potentially getting 2HKOed by Choice Band Outrage from Garchomp and provides Cresselia better rolls to 2HKO Swords Dance + Knock Off variants of Landorus-T. Cresselia generally outspeeds most Tapu Bulu variants, so using Calm Mind turn one is generally safe, and subsequently alternating between Icy Wind and Stored Power after getting Taunted to avoid potentially losing a turn to Disable. It is worth noting that Tapu Bulu can win if it uses Taunt on turn one but this risks losing to Trick Cresselia, thus turning the matchup into a fifty-fifty. Finally, Calm Mind should be used against Tapu Koko and, Icy Wind should only be used after getting Taunted.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock can be used instead of Stored Power, but this is generally not preferable, as it sacrifices reliability in the Tapu Fini matchup despite helping versus Acid Spray + Meteor Beam Nihilego, where using Calm Mind into Psyshock generally KOs Nihilego while avoiding a KO by Nihilego. Rest can also be used over Moonlight to help versus certain Toxic users like Pressure Entei and Chansey, but this sacrifices reliability in matchups versus Pokemon such as Choice Band Zeraora, so it is generally not advised.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mishlef.509647/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nunnbetter.501592/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Last edited:
