[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Ancient Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Meganium functions as a surprisingly effective wallbreaker with Choice Specs, rattling bulky Pokemon like Leafeon, Arbok, and physically defensive Clefairy with high-powered Leaf Storms. Giga Drain gives extra longevity and does not drop Meganium's Special Attack, unlike Leaf Storm. However, it doesn't 2HKO the aforementioned Pokemon or OHKO the likes of Lairon and Pelipper. Hidden Power Fire lures and OHKOes Wormadam-S and Leafeon after Stealth Rock while also 2HKOing Ivysaur and Gloom. Hidden Power Ground 2HKOes Muk and Arbok while also OHKOing Simisear and Pawniard after Stealth Rock damage; however, the latter is hit by Hidden Power Fire as well, and Simisear is barely able to survive Meganium's STAB attacks even with its resistance. Ancient Power functions as Meganium's strongest option against Emolga and Vullaby. A Timid nature allows it to Speed tie with Grumpig and Arbok as well as outspeed threats it doesn't with Modest like Jolly Kingler and Pikachu. However, Modest packs as much power as possible, whereas Timid misses out on the aforementioned benchmarks.
Physical sweepers and attackers like Arbok and Kingler greatly appreciate Meganium breaking down walls like Wormadam-S and Frillish; in return, they can deal with Meganium's traditional checks, like Muk and Munchlax. Without defensive investment, Meganium requires more support to hit the field safely; VoltTurn pivots like Persian and Mienfoo can preserve its health to fire off attacks without risk. In return, Meganium can surprise Grass-types expecting its standard defensive set like Leafeon and Ivysaur and help facilitate the aforementioned physical attackers in sweeping mid- to late-game. Muk and Clefairy can make great partners, since they can take on special attackers that threaten Meganium like Simisear, Ivysaur, and Gastly. Wormadam-S and Solrock can help Meganium take care of threatening physical attackers that it has a hard time dealing with like Arbok, Muk, and Shelgon. When choosing between Hidden Power types, Meganium has to be aware that it becomes weaker to certain matchups. With Hidden Power Fire, it has a better matchup against Leafeon but struggles against Arbok, and vice versa with Hidden Power Ground. This is helpful when deciding on partners to help cover this weakness, like Vullaby to handle Leafeon and Hippopotas to deal with Arbok. Choice Specs Meganium is very reliable at dealing damage to Muk and forcing a healing turn on Clefairy; teammates that take advantage of these interactions like Mienfoo, Emolga, and your own Muk really appreciate this.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Ice on the Choice Specs set functions as a good midground option against Emolga, Ivysaur, and Wormadam-G, but Hidden Power Fire and Ground hit more relevant targets. Leech Seed is a solid option to help wear down switch-ins like Wormadam-S. Toxic does well as an option to handle opposing Grass-types like Leafeon and opposing Meganium. Meganium also has the ability to run dual screens for offensive teams because of its great bulk letting it set them up more than one time over the course of a game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Poison-types like Muk, Arbok, and Ivysaur can tank anything defensive Meganium can do and threaten it out with their STAB attacks, though the former two dislike switching into Ground-type coverage, and the latter hates switching into Hidden Power Fire from the Choice Specs set. Dragon Tail can help weaken them when they try to switch-in, while Swords Dance Meganium can turn the tables on them with super effective Earthquakes.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Simisear, Lampent, and Flareon resist Meganium's Grass-type coverage and can set up against or attack defensive variants, though they dislikes switching into Ground-type coverage. Lampent is notably problematic for defensive sets because Substitute variants can completely wall Meganium.
**Flying-types**: The likes of Emolga, Pelipper, and Vullaby can switch in and bother the majority of Meganium's sets, since they can threaten it with super effective moves or just sit on it entirely. However, they have to be wary of switching into a Choice Specs attack.
**Ice-types**: Glaceon can OHKO Meganium's specially defensive set after Stealth Rock damage, whereas Walrein can win the one-on-one if it comes in safely and can lock it into Synthesis with Encore. Both have trouble coming in on offensive Meganium.
**Walls**: Steel-types like Pawniard and Wormadam-S can freely use moves against specially defensive Meganium without fear of being punished back. However, they can all be threatened by offensive sets since they carry super effective coverage moves, aside from Wormadam-S, which can handle Swords Dance Meganium, but not Hidden Power Fire from its Choice Specs set. Specially defensive Clefairy and Muk both can sit on Meganium's specially sefensive and Choice Specs sets without issue; however, they don't do well at taking hits from its Sword Dance set unless Clefairy is its physically defensive set.
**Physical Wallbreakers and Revenge Killers**: Physical wallbreakers like Persian, Slaking, and Choice Band Exploud can strike at Meganium's lower physical bulk on offensive and specially defensive sets, the former two outspeeding even its offensive sets, especially when Meganium has been worn down. However, none of them enjoy switching in and aren't as problematic for its physically defensive sets.
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Leaf Storm
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ground
move 4: Ancient Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Overgrow
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Meganium functions as a surprisingly effective wallbreaker with Choice Specs, rattling bulky Pokemon like Leafeon, Arbok, and physically defensive Clefairy with high-powered Leaf Storms. Giga Drain gives extra longevity and does not drop Meganium's Special Attack, unlike Leaf Storm. However, it doesn't 2HKO the aforementioned Pokemon or OHKO the likes of Lairon and Pelipper. Hidden Power Fire lures and OHKOes Wormadam-S and Leafeon after Stealth Rock while also 2HKOing Ivysaur and Gloom. Hidden Power Ground 2HKOes Muk and Arbok while also OHKOing Simisear and Pawniard after Stealth Rock damage; however, the latter is hit by Hidden Power Fire as well, and Simisear is barely able to survive Meganium's STAB attacks even with its resistance. Ancient Power functions as Meganium's strongest option against Emolga and Vullaby. A Timid nature allows it to Speed tie with Grumpig and Arbok as well as outspeed threats it doesn't with Modest like Jolly Kingler and Pikachu. However, Modest packs as much power as possible, whereas Timid misses out on the aforementioned benchmarks.
Physical sweepers and attackers like Arbok and Kingler greatly appreciate Meganium breaking down walls like Wormadam-S and Frillish; in return, they can deal with Meganium's traditional checks, like Muk and Munchlax. Without defensive investment, Meganium requires more support to hit the field safely; VoltTurn pivots like Persian and Mienfoo can preserve its health to fire off attacks without risk. In return, Meganium can surprise Grass-types expecting its standard defensive set like Leafeon and Ivysaur and help facilitate the aforementioned physical attackers in sweeping mid- to late-game. Muk and Clefairy can make great partners, since they can take on special attackers that threaten Meganium like Simisear, Ivysaur, and Gastly. Wormadam-S and Solrock can help Meganium take care of threatening physical attackers that it has a hard time dealing with like Arbok, Muk, and Shelgon. When choosing between Hidden Power types, Meganium has to be aware that it becomes weaker to certain matchups. With Hidden Power Fire, it has a better matchup against Leafeon but struggles against Arbok, and vice versa with Hidden Power Ground. This is helpful when deciding on partners to help cover this weakness, like Vullaby to handle Leafeon and Hippopotas to deal with Arbok. Choice Specs Meganium is very reliable at dealing damage to Muk and forcing a healing turn on Clefairy; teammates that take advantage of these interactions like Mienfoo, Emolga, and your own Muk really appreciate this.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hidden Power Ice on the Choice Specs set functions as a good midground option against Emolga, Ivysaur, and Wormadam-G, but Hidden Power Fire and Ground hit more relevant targets. Leech Seed is a solid option to help wear down switch-ins like Wormadam-S. Toxic does well as an option to handle opposing Grass-types like Leafeon and opposing Meganium. Meganium also has the ability to run dual screens for offensive teams because of its great bulk letting it set them up more than one time over the course of a game.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Poison-types like Muk, Arbok, and Ivysaur can tank anything defensive Meganium can do and threaten it out with their STAB attacks, though the former two dislike switching into Ground-type coverage, and the latter hates switching into Hidden Power Fire from the Choice Specs set. Dragon Tail can help weaken them when they try to switch-in, while Swords Dance Meganium can turn the tables on them with super effective Earthquakes.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types like Simisear, Lampent, and Flareon resist Meganium's Grass-type coverage and can set up against or attack defensive variants, though they dislikes switching into Ground-type coverage. Lampent is notably problematic for defensive sets because Substitute variants can completely wall Meganium.
**Flying-types**: The likes of Emolga, Pelipper, and Vullaby can switch in and bother the majority of Meganium's sets, since they can threaten it with super effective moves or just sit on it entirely. However, they have to be wary of switching into a Choice Specs attack.
**Ice-types**: Glaceon can OHKO Meganium's specially defensive set after Stealth Rock damage, whereas Walrein can win the one-on-one if it comes in safely and can lock it into Synthesis with Encore. Both have trouble coming in on offensive Meganium.
**Walls**: Steel-types like Pawniard and Wormadam-S can freely use moves against specially defensive Meganium without fear of being punished back. However, they can all be threatened by offensive sets since they carry super effective coverage moves, aside from Wormadam-S, which can handle Swords Dance Meganium, but not Hidden Power Fire from its Choice Specs set. Specially defensive Clefairy and Muk both can sit on Meganium's specially sefensive and Choice Specs sets without issue; however, they don't do well at taking hits from its Sword Dance set unless Clefairy is its physically defensive set.
**Physical Wallbreakers and Revenge Killers**: Physical wallbreakers like Persian, Slaking, and Choice Band Exploud can strike at Meganium's lower physical bulk on offensive and specially defensive sets, the former two outspeeding even its offensive sets, especially when Meganium has been worn down. However, none of them enjoy switching in and aren't as problematic for its physically defensive sets.
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