[SET]
name: Defensive Spiker
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Ice Beam / Earthquake
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Taunt / Knock Off
move 4: Soft Boiled
item: Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots / Colbur Berry
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Mew's access to the somewhat rare Spikes lets it act as an entry hazard setter. It also has defensive utility, being able to check the likes of Mega Medicham, Hawlucha, and Gliscor. Due to its deep movepool it has immense adaptability, being able to run different coverage moves on a team-by-team basis. Ice Beam allows Mew to threaten various Ground-types, notably Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Mega Garchomp, while also letting it hit Rillaboom. Earthquake is another option, as it allows Mew to hit Heatran, which usually walls it otherwise. Will-O-Wisp lets Mew punish physical attackers like Tyranitar, Urshifu-R, Weavile, and Melmetal while also punishing Corviknight attempting to Defog on it. Taunt lets it prevent Defog attempts from Corviknight and Tapu Fini and block status-inflicting and recovery moves from the likes of Blissey, Toxapex, and Clefable. Knock Off lets Mew force progress by removing opposing held items, notably Heavy-Duty Boots, making its Spikes matter more in the long term, as well as Leftovers from the likes of Heatran and Tapu Fini. Rocky Helmet is the preferred item choice, as it allows Mew to punish Mega Medicham, Weavile, and Mega Swampert. Heavy-Duty Boots can be used to let Mew ignore opposing entry hazards. However, Leftovers's passive recovery aids Mew in staying healthy. Mew can also use a Colbur Berry to either absorb Knock Off from the likes of Kartana and Mega Mawile or safely switch out of Pursuit from foes like Mega Tyranitar and Weavile. Furthermore, a faster spread to outspeed Mega Garchomp can be used as well. However, this set needs Heavy-Duty Boots to check Mega Medicham if entry hazards are up. 136 Speed EVs allow Mew to outspeed Adamant Rillaboom.
Mew fits best on balance teams where its defensive utility can shine and where Pokemon that take advantage of Mew's Spikes, such as Hydreigon, Mega Mawile, Kartana, and Life Orb Clefable can be easily paired up alongside it. Teammates like Garchomp, Magnezone, and Mega Tyranitar that pressure Defoggers can help Mew's Spikes stay on the field while also taking advantage of its Spikes for their offensive utility. While Mew is able to soft check physical attackers such as Mega Garchomp, Excadrill, and Hawlucha, it's quite easily overwhelmed and appreciates having teammates to form a defensive backbone with it; Toxapex, Gliscor, and Corviknight are able to help relieve some pressure for Mew. Additionally, these cores appreciate Mew's ability to consistently handle Mega Medicham for them. Dark-types like Ash-Greninja, Mega Tyranitar, and Hydreigon can threaten Mew if it doesnt have a Colbur Berry, so having Dark-resistant Pokemon that can switch into Dark-type moves like Tapu Koko, Kommo-o, and Clefable as teammates helps Mew a lot. However, these Dark-types must be wary of Will-O-Wisp and the rare Body Press. Lastly, Knock Off users such as Tangrowth, Toxapex, Weavile, Mega Scizor, and Zeraora are able to remove foes' Heavy-Duty Boots, making Mew's Spikes matter a lot more in the longterm.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more offensively oriented variant taking advantage of Mew's amazing coverage in tandem with Nasty Plot can make for a terrifying sweeper on paper. However, it tends to falter against many common defensive Pokemon, such as Slowking, Corviknight, and Heatran, and is generally outclassed as a setup sweeper by the likes of Tapu Lele, Hydreigon, and Reuniclus. Meanwhile, Body Press gives Mew a way to pressure both Dark-types and Heatran in one slot. Furthermore, Toxic lets Mew wear down the likes of Zapdos, Hydreigon, and Mega Latias. However, these options tend to be less useful than the other options Mew has available.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Ash-Greninja, Hydreigon, Tyranitar, Weavile, and Mega Tyranitar are able to threaten Mew out with their STAB moves. The latter three are also able to Pursuit trap Mew, rendering it unable to check the likes of Tapu Lele and Mega Medicham. However, they all have to worry about a Will-O-Wisp burn and the occasional Body Press.
**Four-Moveslot Syndrome**: Mew's inability to run every move it wants to on one set hinders it in certain matchups; lacking Ice Beam against Gliscor, Taunt against Corviknight, or Earthquake against Heatran turns Mew into a free opportunity to set up, use Defog unpunished, or switch in, respectively.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pannuracotta, 517892]]
- Quality checked by: [[The Dragon Master, 521275], [adem, 529732]]
- Grammar checked by: [Kris, 241023]]
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