[OVERVIEW]
Tied for the highest base stat total of all non-mega Pokemon in the tier and unparalleled options in move utility, Mew is widely considered to be the singular best Pokemon in LGPE OU and a mandatory inclusion along with Melmetal on every serious team. Its mixed bulk, relatively neutral typing and access to recovery allows it to be just about the only Pokemon in the tier that's able to pull off any amount of defensive play against the majority of the field, most notably against Alolan Dugtrio and Zapdos. It cannot be OHKO’d by anything in the tier and the few Pokemon that 2HKO Mew almost never want to risk staying in. That said, while access to set up and almost every move you could possibly want to abuse is tempting, Mew most often sees itself as the premier Stealth Rocker in the tier due to the weaknesses that other Pokemon run into in trying to fill that role.
Mew’s weaknesses are primarily Pokemon that are faster than it and can hit for super-effective damage, such as Mega-Aerodactyl, Mega-Beedrill, Gengar and Jolteon can all make is so that a setup Mew has a very hard time taking off, and defensive Mew's eventually get worn down and put into range of a knock out. Status can also pose a massive issue for Mew, with Toxic either putting a timer on defensive sets or limiting sweeps on setup sets and Paralysis being exploited by slower Pokemon such as Melmetal, Vaporeon and Mega-Gyarados who all threaten Mew for massive damage. Finally, Mew just doesn't hit that hard, as base 100 Special Attack is below average even by Let's Go standards.
[SET]
name: Pivot Mew
move 1: Stealth Rocks
move 2: Roost
move 3: Psychic
move 4: U-Turn
nature: Bold/Calm
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
THE Lead Mew Set. Roost allows Mew to wall most Pokemon in the metagame, most notably other Mew, and even lets it beat some Pokemon such as Alolan Dugtrio in a 1v1. Psychic serves as the best universal STAB move, and also heavily threatens Venusaur. U-Turn ties this altogether, allowing you to scout switch-ins or get in chip damage while pivoting.
A Bold nature is used to survive physical attacks such as Mega-Aerodactyl's Crunch, Melmetal's Double Iron Bash and Mega-Beedrill's X-Scissor. Alternatively Calm can be used, which most notably allows Mew to weather Shadow Ball from both Jolteon and Vaporeon better and can give Mew somewhat decent odds to recover off of a Mega-Blastoise spamming Dark Pulse. It's important NOT to run a Speed-boosting nature on Mew, as getting a slower U-Turn on Pokemon such as Zapdos and other faster Mew can lead to you gaining momentum off of a slower U-Turn. A Speed-lowering nature, however, is too slow, as Pokemon such as Mega-Gyarados and Venusaur will now outspeed Mew.
Usage Tips
========
Getting Stealth Rocks up as soon as possible is key, as most Pokemon, Mew included, can’t do much without hazards providing necessary chip damage. From there it’s best to use Mew as a wall against Pokemon like Venusaur and Alolan Dugtrio, as neither will win one on one vs Mew. U-Turn on predicted switches and faster opposing Pokemon such as Zapdos also give you momentum that more offensive teammates can capitalize on.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that are otherwise hard to bring in, such as Mega-Beedrill and Gengar are fantastic partners, as the U-Turn support provided by Mew helps these Pokemon push their offense better. Alolan Dugtrio is also a great partner here in order to be a less risky option then Melmetal for absorbing Toxic and provide a backup check against Jolteon, both of which are heavy threats for Mew.
[SET]
name: Status Mew
move 1: Stealth Rocks
move 2: Roost
move 3: Toxic/Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Flamethrower/Psychic
nature: Bold/Calm
An exceedingly annoying set that lets Mew set Stealth Rocks while the combination of Toxic and Flamethrower threaten the entire tier, either by putting Pokemon on a timer or dealing significant damage directly to those that are immune it Toxic; as Gengar and Alolan Muk are the only Toxic-immune Pokemon that actually want to switch into this set. Alternatively the combination of Will-O-Wisp and Psychic retains a similar niche, with notable advantages being the ability to cripple Mega-Aerodactyl and Mega-Gyarados, however it lacks the ability to break through opposing Mew and Zapdos.
A Bold nature is used to survive physical attacks such as Mega-Aerodactyl's Crunch, Melmetal's Double Iron Bash and Mega-Beedrill's X-Scissor. Alternatively Calm can be used, which most notably allows Mew to weather Shadow Ball from both Jolteon and Vaporeon better and can give Mew somewhat decent odds to recover off of a Mega-Blastoise spamming Dark Pulse. Avoid running natures that boost Speed, as recovering with Roost on the turn that Zapdos or opposing Mew allows you pressure wherever it is that your opponent sends in more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Get Stealth Rocks up as soon as possible. Because nothing can OHKO Mew in the tier, it’s best to wait and try to always be at full HP whenever you are pressuring the foe with Toxic, since them trying to reposition with moves like U-Turn can invite Pokemon like Mega-Beedrill to OHKO Mew once chipped. Generally speaking once Mew’s been chipped and forced out by something like a Shadow Ball SpDef drop, it’s probably lost most of its value and will be unable to pressure a foe in the same way again. Due to this, and the lack of immediate damage, this Mew will often be the first sacrifice you take in any game, so don’t be afraid of immediately losing Mew unless something like Dugtrio is in the back that just gets walled.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate opposing Mew being put on a timer with Toxic such as Venusaur, Zapdos and Jolteon fit well because Flamethrower threatens Alolan Dugtrio more directly, which is the most common counter to the aforementioned Electric-types. Mega-Blastoise and Vaporeon also like having opposing Water-types being crippled by Toxic, as now they are able to be more flexible in checking a wider variety of foes.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot Mew
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Roost/Mega Drain
move 4: Thunderbolt/Flamethrower
nature: Timid
A set that goes all in on Mew's offensive traits. The choice between a Roost and Mega Drain comes down to whether you want to use Mew as a late-game sweeper or a mid-game wallbreaker. If you use Roost, the choice between Thunderbolt and Flamethrower comes down to whether you want to hit Vaporeon, Mega-Blastoise and Mega-Gyarados for super-effective damage or if you want to hit Melmetal and Alolan Dugtrio for weakness. Since Mega Drain already hits the Water-types for weakness, Flamethrower is used in the last slot. A Timid Nature is to Speed tie opposing Mew and Zapdos.
Usage Tips
========
Don’t always feel you need to keep this thing in reserve until the very end of the game; this Mew is equally, if not better, used as a wallbreaker. Roost sets are going to be better at closing out an endgame when the opponent is low on Pokemon that break through Mew, while Mega Drain variants are better at wallbreaking in the earlier game due to having better coverage overall. Opposing Mew, Dugtrio and Venusaur are the best Pokemon to set up on in the early-game, while Zapdos and opposing Mew are the best Pokemon to set up against in the late game. Try to also keep in mind damage ranges from Pokemon like Melmetal and Zapdos that can sneak in Thunder Wave or Toxic against Mew even when it's boosted.
Team Options
========
Alolan Dugtrio hides this set better at team preview and gets up Stealth Rocks, while also serving as a backup check to Jolteon, one of the biggest threats to getting off a Nasty Plot Sweep off. Mega Aerodactyl and Rhydon help check Mega Beedrill, who is often the greatest threat to this set. Pivoters such as U-Turn Zapdos can help Mew get in better to give it more opportunities to find the turn needed to set up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to the insane movepool that comes with access to every TM in the game, Mew has had several other sets that have come and gone throughout the years.
Scald can be used on the Pivot set to potentially spread burns while damaging Alolan Dugtrio, Rhydon, and Mega Aerodactyl, however it is extremely weak, resisted by key Pokemon such as Venusaur and Vaporeon and some Pokemon actually prefer getting burn so they cannot get put on a permanent timer, like Zapdos and opposing Mew. Similarly Dark Pulse can fit on either the Pivot or Status set in order to hit opposing Mew for super-effective damage and potentially flinch them, however like Scald this move is very weak and several Pokemon such as Vaporeon, Jolteon and Venusaur will pressure you more since you KO less quickly then you would with Psychic.
Taunt Mew can be a counter other Mew sets, removing them of their ability to both heal and Stealth Rocks however given that it's hard to take advantage of this anti-lead without Mew carrying Stealth Rocks of it's own, it's movepool is even more restrained than usual, and many Mew will just U-Turn out and find a way to get Stealth Rocks up eventually anyways. Dragon Tail can be used to compound this set, but is generally unreliable.
Bulk Up and Calm Mind make Mew harder to remove while still retaining the ability to sweep, but are generally unreliable and like Nasty Plot sets are telegraphed due to needing Stealth Rocks on another Pokemon, resulting in your opponent preserving a key Pokemon that stops the sweep. A set that combines the two to use Barrier and Calm Mind along with Rest serves to make Mew potentially immortal, however is still telegraphed and can't do much damage without several boosts, seeing as Mew only get’s one move for coverage, that usually being Dark Pulse since it's neutral into almost the entire meta.
Thunder Wave can be excellent support on teams where Melmetal or Gyarados appreciate the extra speed control, but generally only having one way to do damage makes accomplishing much with this Mew much harder, and also blocks the way for you to remove other defensive threats like opposing Mew much harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fast Mega Pokemon**
Mega Beedrill outspeeds and does immense damage to Mew with X-Scissor or U-Turn, the latter of which gives better momentum to the Beedrill user. Nasty Plot Mew especially has to be careful of trying to make progress while Mega Beedrill is in the back. Mega Aerodactyl can pose a similar threat as well, 2HKOing it with Crunch and defense drops make it nearly impossible for Mew to recover off the damage. Neither Pokemon, however, can switch in for fear of taking too much between Psychic and Stealth Rocks.
**Shadow Ball users**
Despite being nearly OHKO’d by Psychic, Gengar can do heavy damage with Shadow Ball that can either revenge kill Mew or drop it low to the point it usually can’t recover off the damage. Jolteon on the under hand, can take a Psychic, but cannot break through without a special defense drop, so there is a chance that Mew will be able to recover off the damage done by Jolteon and reposition. Vaporeon can do the same thing as Jolteon, but is worse at it because it is slower and gives Mew the option of using U-Turn in response to drops.
**Water-Type Mega Evolutions**
Mega-Blastoise can 2HKO with Dark Pulse, making it impossible to recover off the damage. Mega-Gyarados also deals heavy damage with Crunch, however it does have weakness to Stealth Rocks before Mega-Evolving, takes more from U-Turn, and can be crippled by Will-O-Wisp.
**Alolan Muk**
While uncommon, Alolan Muk doesn’t care about anything from Mew outside of Will-O-Wisp and can 2HKO in return with Crunch or put it on a timer with Crunch. Alolan Muk will also almost always completely stop any Nasty Plot set as well. Do note though that Muk’s inability to threaten much of the metagame means that Mew can usually just switch out and is content with the chip it gets for doing so.
**Toxic**
Toxic puts Mew on a timer and limits its ability to wall most Pokemon. Notable users are opposing Mew, Alolan Dugtrio, and Vaporeon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/samu77.525486/
Quality checked by:
(link to user's page)
(link to user's page)
Grammar checked by:
(link to user's page)
(link to user's page)
Tied for the highest base stat total of all non-mega Pokemon in the tier and unparalleled options in move utility, Mew is widely considered to be the singular best Pokemon in LGPE OU and a mandatory inclusion along with Melmetal on every serious team. Its mixed bulk, relatively neutral typing and access to recovery allows it to be just about the only Pokemon in the tier that's able to pull off any amount of defensive play against the majority of the field, most notably against Alolan Dugtrio and Zapdos. It cannot be OHKO’d by anything in the tier and the few Pokemon that 2HKO Mew almost never want to risk staying in. That said, while access to set up and almost every move you could possibly want to abuse is tempting, Mew most often sees itself as the premier Stealth Rocker in the tier due to the weaknesses that other Pokemon run into in trying to fill that role.
Mew’s weaknesses are primarily Pokemon that are faster than it and can hit for super-effective damage, such as Mega-Aerodactyl, Mega-Beedrill, Gengar and Jolteon can all make is so that a setup Mew has a very hard time taking off, and defensive Mew's eventually get worn down and put into range of a knock out. Status can also pose a massive issue for Mew, with Toxic either putting a timer on defensive sets or limiting sweeps on setup sets and Paralysis being exploited by slower Pokemon such as Melmetal, Vaporeon and Mega-Gyarados who all threaten Mew for massive damage. Finally, Mew just doesn't hit that hard, as base 100 Special Attack is below average even by Let's Go standards.
[SET]
name: Pivot Mew
move 1: Stealth Rocks
move 2: Roost
move 3: Psychic
move 4: U-Turn
nature: Bold/Calm
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
THE Lead Mew Set. Roost allows Mew to wall most Pokemon in the metagame, most notably other Mew, and even lets it beat some Pokemon such as Alolan Dugtrio in a 1v1. Psychic serves as the best universal STAB move, and also heavily threatens Venusaur. U-Turn ties this altogether, allowing you to scout switch-ins or get in chip damage while pivoting.
A Bold nature is used to survive physical attacks such as Mega-Aerodactyl's Crunch, Melmetal's Double Iron Bash and Mega-Beedrill's X-Scissor. Alternatively Calm can be used, which most notably allows Mew to weather Shadow Ball from both Jolteon and Vaporeon better and can give Mew somewhat decent odds to recover off of a Mega-Blastoise spamming Dark Pulse. It's important NOT to run a Speed-boosting nature on Mew, as getting a slower U-Turn on Pokemon such as Zapdos and other faster Mew can lead to you gaining momentum off of a slower U-Turn. A Speed-lowering nature, however, is too slow, as Pokemon such as Mega-Gyarados and Venusaur will now outspeed Mew.
Usage Tips
========
Getting Stealth Rocks up as soon as possible is key, as most Pokemon, Mew included, can’t do much without hazards providing necessary chip damage. From there it’s best to use Mew as a wall against Pokemon like Venusaur and Alolan Dugtrio, as neither will win one on one vs Mew. U-Turn on predicted switches and faster opposing Pokemon such as Zapdos also give you momentum that more offensive teammates can capitalize on.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that are otherwise hard to bring in, such as Mega-Beedrill and Gengar are fantastic partners, as the U-Turn support provided by Mew helps these Pokemon push their offense better. Alolan Dugtrio is also a great partner here in order to be a less risky option then Melmetal for absorbing Toxic and provide a backup check against Jolteon, both of which are heavy threats for Mew.
[SET]
name: Status Mew
move 1: Stealth Rocks
move 2: Roost
move 3: Toxic/Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Flamethrower/Psychic
nature: Bold/Calm
An exceedingly annoying set that lets Mew set Stealth Rocks while the combination of Toxic and Flamethrower threaten the entire tier, either by putting Pokemon on a timer or dealing significant damage directly to those that are immune it Toxic; as Gengar and Alolan Muk are the only Toxic-immune Pokemon that actually want to switch into this set. Alternatively the combination of Will-O-Wisp and Psychic retains a similar niche, with notable advantages being the ability to cripple Mega-Aerodactyl and Mega-Gyarados, however it lacks the ability to break through opposing Mew and Zapdos.
A Bold nature is used to survive physical attacks such as Mega-Aerodactyl's Crunch, Melmetal's Double Iron Bash and Mega-Beedrill's X-Scissor. Alternatively Calm can be used, which most notably allows Mew to weather Shadow Ball from both Jolteon and Vaporeon better and can give Mew somewhat decent odds to recover off of a Mega-Blastoise spamming Dark Pulse. Avoid running natures that boost Speed, as recovering with Roost on the turn that Zapdos or opposing Mew allows you pressure wherever it is that your opponent sends in more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Get Stealth Rocks up as soon as possible. Because nothing can OHKO Mew in the tier, it’s best to wait and try to always be at full HP whenever you are pressuring the foe with Toxic, since them trying to reposition with moves like U-Turn can invite Pokemon like Mega-Beedrill to OHKO Mew once chipped. Generally speaking once Mew’s been chipped and forced out by something like a Shadow Ball SpDef drop, it’s probably lost most of its value and will be unable to pressure a foe in the same way again. Due to this, and the lack of immediate damage, this Mew will often be the first sacrifice you take in any game, so don’t be afraid of immediately losing Mew unless something like Dugtrio is in the back that just gets walled.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that appreciate opposing Mew being put on a timer with Toxic such as Venusaur, Zapdos and Jolteon fit well because Flamethrower threatens Alolan Dugtrio more directly, which is the most common counter to the aforementioned Electric-types. Mega-Blastoise and Vaporeon also like having opposing Water-types being crippled by Toxic, as now they are able to be more flexible in checking a wider variety of foes.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot Mew
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Roost/Mega Drain
move 4: Thunderbolt/Flamethrower
nature: Timid
A set that goes all in on Mew's offensive traits. The choice between a Roost and Mega Drain comes down to whether you want to use Mew as a late-game sweeper or a mid-game wallbreaker. If you use Roost, the choice between Thunderbolt and Flamethrower comes down to whether you want to hit Vaporeon, Mega-Blastoise and Mega-Gyarados for super-effective damage or if you want to hit Melmetal and Alolan Dugtrio for weakness. Since Mega Drain already hits the Water-types for weakness, Flamethrower is used in the last slot. A Timid Nature is to Speed tie opposing Mew and Zapdos.
Usage Tips
========
Don’t always feel you need to keep this thing in reserve until the very end of the game; this Mew is equally, if not better, used as a wallbreaker. Roost sets are going to be better at closing out an endgame when the opponent is low on Pokemon that break through Mew, while Mega Drain variants are better at wallbreaking in the earlier game due to having better coverage overall. Opposing Mew, Dugtrio and Venusaur are the best Pokemon to set up on in the early-game, while Zapdos and opposing Mew are the best Pokemon to set up against in the late game. Try to also keep in mind damage ranges from Pokemon like Melmetal and Zapdos that can sneak in Thunder Wave or Toxic against Mew even when it's boosted.
Team Options
========
Alolan Dugtrio hides this set better at team preview and gets up Stealth Rocks, while also serving as a backup check to Jolteon, one of the biggest threats to getting off a Nasty Plot Sweep off. Mega Aerodactyl and Rhydon help check Mega Beedrill, who is often the greatest threat to this set. Pivoters such as U-Turn Zapdos can help Mew get in better to give it more opportunities to find the turn needed to set up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Due to the insane movepool that comes with access to every TM in the game, Mew has had several other sets that have come and gone throughout the years.
Scald can be used on the Pivot set to potentially spread burns while damaging Alolan Dugtrio, Rhydon, and Mega Aerodactyl, however it is extremely weak, resisted by key Pokemon such as Venusaur and Vaporeon and some Pokemon actually prefer getting burn so they cannot get put on a permanent timer, like Zapdos and opposing Mew. Similarly Dark Pulse can fit on either the Pivot or Status set in order to hit opposing Mew for super-effective damage and potentially flinch them, however like Scald this move is very weak and several Pokemon such as Vaporeon, Jolteon and Venusaur will pressure you more since you KO less quickly then you would with Psychic.
Taunt Mew can be a counter other Mew sets, removing them of their ability to both heal and Stealth Rocks however given that it's hard to take advantage of this anti-lead without Mew carrying Stealth Rocks of it's own, it's movepool is even more restrained than usual, and many Mew will just U-Turn out and find a way to get Stealth Rocks up eventually anyways. Dragon Tail can be used to compound this set, but is generally unreliable.
Bulk Up and Calm Mind make Mew harder to remove while still retaining the ability to sweep, but are generally unreliable and like Nasty Plot sets are telegraphed due to needing Stealth Rocks on another Pokemon, resulting in your opponent preserving a key Pokemon that stops the sweep. A set that combines the two to use Barrier and Calm Mind along with Rest serves to make Mew potentially immortal, however is still telegraphed and can't do much damage without several boosts, seeing as Mew only get’s one move for coverage, that usually being Dark Pulse since it's neutral into almost the entire meta.
Thunder Wave can be excellent support on teams where Melmetal or Gyarados appreciate the extra speed control, but generally only having one way to do damage makes accomplishing much with this Mew much harder, and also blocks the way for you to remove other defensive threats like opposing Mew much harder.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fast Mega Pokemon**
Mega Beedrill outspeeds and does immense damage to Mew with X-Scissor or U-Turn, the latter of which gives better momentum to the Beedrill user. Nasty Plot Mew especially has to be careful of trying to make progress while Mega Beedrill is in the back. Mega Aerodactyl can pose a similar threat as well, 2HKOing it with Crunch and defense drops make it nearly impossible for Mew to recover off the damage. Neither Pokemon, however, can switch in for fear of taking too much between Psychic and Stealth Rocks.
**Shadow Ball users**
Despite being nearly OHKO’d by Psychic, Gengar can do heavy damage with Shadow Ball that can either revenge kill Mew or drop it low to the point it usually can’t recover off the damage. Jolteon on the under hand, can take a Psychic, but cannot break through without a special defense drop, so there is a chance that Mew will be able to recover off the damage done by Jolteon and reposition. Vaporeon can do the same thing as Jolteon, but is worse at it because it is slower and gives Mew the option of using U-Turn in response to drops.
**Water-Type Mega Evolutions**
Mega-Blastoise can 2HKO with Dark Pulse, making it impossible to recover off the damage. Mega-Gyarados also deals heavy damage with Crunch, however it does have weakness to Stealth Rocks before Mega-Evolving, takes more from U-Turn, and can be crippled by Will-O-Wisp.
**Alolan Muk**
While uncommon, Alolan Muk doesn’t care about anything from Mew outside of Will-O-Wisp and can 2HKO in return with Crunch or put it on a timer with Crunch. Alolan Muk will also almost always completely stop any Nasty Plot set as well. Do note though that Muk’s inability to threaten much of the metagame means that Mew can usually just switch out and is content with the chip it gets for doing so.
**Toxic**
Toxic puts Mew on a timer and limits its ability to wall most Pokemon. Notable users are opposing Mew, Alolan Dugtrio, and Vaporeon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/samu77.525486/
Quality checked by:
(link to user's page)
(link to user's page)
Grammar checked by:
(link to user's page)
(link to user's page)
Last edited: