Mimikyu @ Red Card
Ability: Disguise
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Claw
- Play Rough
- Thief
Replacing one move with another? How original.
HO has some item removal options, such as krook's Knock Off and garde's Trick (it isn't techincally item removal, but garde can pawn off scarf to cripple mons). Thief is an unique item removal method, allowing mmq to steal and use an item. This pairs well with spike stack HO, as mmq can remove boots to rack up hazard damage. Thief can also cripple mons offensively and defensely outside of boots. For example, Red Card can force mein to come out, so mmq can use scarf against it (alternatively, mmq can stomach mein's knock off from full and steal its scarf). Even if mmq is faster, sd allows it to still abuse Red Card.
Thief has its downsides, however. The aforementioned speed problem against slower mons means it can't utilize Thief immediately. In some cases, mmq can't do anything, since it doesn't have Shadow Sneak for chip. Being choice locked or having av means it cannot futher boost its attack. Specs in this case is the most crippling, since it has no revenge killing opportunities, no physical attack boost, nor better special bulk. Stealing Toxic Orb from loom puts it on a timer, even more useless if loom already procs Toxic Orb. Finally, Thief is a one-and-done move, meaning it cannot remove another item.
