[OVERVIEW]
Psychic
========
Celebi's wide movepool and decent base 100 stats across the board make it a versatile option for Psychic teams that can act as a setup sweeper or bring a wide range of utility options to the team. By using Nasty Plot to boost its otherwise unimpressive Special Attack, Celebi is able to counter Steel teams with a combination of Hidden Power Fire and Earth Power, turning the tables on a normally difficult matchup. It also has access to a great supportive movepool with Stealth Rock, U-turn, and Healing Wish, giving it both many ways to help its team and unpredictability. Celebi has great mixed bulk, recovery, and a typing that grants valuable resistances to Ground, Electric, and Water and lets it wall almost the entire standard Fairy team, another strong type that Psychic can struggle with at times. Celebi is also a great Pokemon for taking on Water- and Ground-types as a result of its STAB Giga Drain. However, that typing can come back to hurt Celebi, as it is weak to a large number of types that are common coverage, including Fire and Ice, and especially weak to Bug-type moves like U-turn. While Nasty Plot helps alleviate Celebi's damage problems, it has awful damage output without a boost due to its below average Special Attack and its moves' poor Base Power, so it can still find itself walled even after boosting once or twice. Celebi faces a lot of competition in the utility department, as Pokemon such as Mew and Jirachi either bring even more utility options or have a better defensive typing. Nevertheless, Celebi creates its own niche by combining options no other Psychic-type can bring together, such as breaking both Water and Steel or carrying Healing Wish along with its own recovery.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot (Psychic)
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Groundium Z
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Celebi's otherwise mediocre Special Attack to make it strong enough to break many walls, including even Celesteela. Giga Drain is Celebi's primary STAB attack and pressures Water and Ground teams. With the help of Nasty Plot, it can also provide significant recovery to Celebi. Earth Power takes out Steel- and Poison-types such as Heatran and Toxapex that try to wall Celebi and combines with Groundium Z to become a powerful Tectonic Rage that can even KO Alolan Muk with minor chip damage and only one Nasty Plot boost. Hidden Power Fire combines with Earth Power to let Celebi dismantle most Steel teams by taking on Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Celesteela.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs let Celebi do as much damage as possible. With 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature, Celebi at least Speed ties with other base 100s and outspeeds Mimikyu, enabling Celebi to break its Disguise or deal significant damage to it. As its only ability, Natural Cure lets Celebi heal status if it needs to switch out and set up later. Groundium Z allows Celebi to use Tectonic Rage to break many Pokemon that otherwise stop Celebi from sweeping. If a teammate is using the Z-Move, Life Orb can be used instead, but the loss of Tectonic Rage's damage output is significant.
Usage Tips
========
Because Celebi is not particularly strong even with a Nasty Plot under its belt, it should avoid setting up too early, preferring to wait until its checks have been worn down slightly to make sure it can sweep. For example, in the Steel matchup, it is necessary to pop Heatran's Air Balloon before Celebi attempts to sweep Steel teams, as Air Balloon Heatran can completely wall Celebi. Be careful with Celebi's only use of Tectonic Rage. For example, in the Poison matchup, while taking out Toxapex can be tempting, Earth Power can be difficult for it to handle, and saving Tectonic Rage for Alolan Muk is typically more important. Although Celebi has Natural Cure to remove status, it should still avoid being statused, as it can find it difficult to sweep when paralyzed or taking not insignificant amounts of damage every turn. Similarly, it should avoid taking too much damage before it sets up. While Giga Drain can provide Celebi with recovery after a Nasty Plot or two, Celebi should not rely on it and should try to only set up against Pokemon such as Ferrothorn that cannot threaten it much. Celebi should also take care to avoid revealing that it is using an offensive set before it's ready to set up, as the surprise can net it a free Nasty Plot.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock puts a lot of defensive Pokemon into range of being KOed by Celebi, so Pokemon such as Deoxys-S and Jirachi are great teammates depending on the team archetype. Deoxys-S can also provide dual screens support to make it even easier for Celebi to set up and sweep. U-turn users such as Victini and Jirachi can bring Celebi into play safely and give it more setup opportunities. Because Toxic Spikes can make it difficult or impossible for Celebi to sweep, Latias and Latios are both very useful for their Defog utility. They are also both resistant to Fire and can bring additional utility in Healing Wish and Memento for Celebi. As a stallbreaker, Mew can take on many of the walls that Celebi can struggle against, such as Chansey. Other wallbreakers and sweepers such as Mega Gallade, Mega Slowbro, Choice Band Victini, and Latios can find it easier to operate when Celebi has removed some of their checks.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Psychic)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recover
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: U-turn / Healing Wish
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 48 SpD / 80 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is invaluable utility that punishes Pokemon for switching in and is essential for helping Psychic teams take on Bug-types. Recover gives Celebi longevity and the ability to act as a wall by restoring HP that it loses when pivoting into attacks. Giga Drain is a STAB attack that heals Celebi and makes it difficult for Ground teams to handle. For the last slot, Celebi has a wide range of support moves that it can viably use. U-turn lets Celebi pivot to other teammates after it has set up Stealth Rock or if threatened by a switch-in. Healing Wish is a powerful utility move that can give a teammate such as Mega Gallade a second chance by sacrificing Celebi. If the other utility moves aren't needed, Thunder Wave cripples the Speed of offensive Pokemon such as Hydreigon, making them much less threatening.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and Calm nature give Celebi great mixed bulk, enabling it to take two Draco Meteors from Life Orb Latios and two Iron Heads from Choice Band Excadrill, and the Speed investment lets Celebi outspeed Adamant Diggersby. Leftovers gives Celebi additional passive recovery. A Colbur Berry can also be used with Thunder Wave to cripple Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Mega Sharpedo. Natural Cure lets Celebi sponge status freely, both protecting its teammates and giving it an advantage against most walls.
Usage Tips
========
Use Celebi's great mixed bulk and unique typing to switch it into Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Tapu Koko. However, it lacks the greater Defense and Special Defense needed to stand up against stronger wallbreakers, so make sure to avoid letting Celebi take super effective hits from wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Kingdra. Once in play, Celebi should aim to set Stealth Rock and keep it up. Against walls, thanks to Natural Cure, Celebi should happily take any status effect in order to set Stealth Rock. If it runs Thunder Wave, Celebi should also spread the status around by using the move liberally trying to catch switch-ins. Make sure to keep Celebi healthy with Recover so that it can continue to switch into attacks for the team. Celebi can act as an effective defensive pivot by coming into attacks and pivoting right out with U-turn after forcing out the foe, such as against Alolan Golem. When using Healing Wish, it is usually advised to try to make sure Stealth Rock cannot be removed easily, as Celebi will not be able to set it again. Healing Wish can also prevent a slower Defogger or spinner from being able to remove Stealth Rock as well if it becomes necessary.
Team Options
========
Due to Grass's many weaknesses, Celebi greatly appreciates having other defensive teammates like Slowbro and Mega Slowbro that can switch into the likes of Mamoswine, which force Celebi out. Jirachi, while often the user of Stealth Rock for Psychic teams, can be freed to use other utility such as Wish when paired with Celebi while also providing great defensive synergy for Celebi by resisting Ice and being neutral to Bug. All Latias and Latios are especially good partners with Celebi thanks to their typing and Celebi's ability to wall almost all Fairy-types. In addition to providing defensive utility, both can run Defog to keep entry hazards from weakening Celebi, and Mega Latios can take out Steel- and Poison-types for Celebi. Wallbreakers like Choice Band Victini or stallbreakers such as Mew take out walls that Celebi can't touch. Setup sweepers like Mega Latias, Mega Gallade, and Mewnium Z Mew are great teammates for Celebi with U-turn or Healing Wish, as Celebi can bring them in safely or give them another chance to sweep. Mega Gallade particularly appreciates Healing Wish, as it can freely take damage to break its checks and then heal back up to pull off the sweep. Alakazam can be used as a blanket check to physical attackers, helping Celebi with Pokemon like Mega Scizor and Heracross.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
The Nasty Plot set can try to run Psychic to more effectively take on Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, but all of the usual coverage moves are often much more important. Heal Bell is a utility move that defensive Celebi can choose to run, but Psychic teams don't tend to need it, and its other utility moves are often more generally useful. Due to Celebi's Natural Cure, Heal Bell also has less use than usual, as Celebi can simply switch out to remove any status effects. Toxic is another supportive option that lets defensive Celebi cripple walls such as Mantine, but Psychic teams have many other options for beating walls.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: All Celebi sets are eventually forced out by tough walls like Chansey, as Celebi doesn't have much power even with Nasty Plot boosts.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Strong attackers with super effective coverage such as Greninja and Heracross are able to muscle through Celebi's bulk and take it out.
**Fire-types**: Although they are afraid of Tectonic Rage, Fire-types like Victini are generally capable of switching into and forcing out Celebi, as an unboosted Earth Power doesn't do much damage. Mega Charizard Y is especially notable for being able to wall and OHKO Celebi.
**Wallbreakers**: Celebi's main draw is its mixed bulk, so wallbreakers that specialize in physical damage, such as Choice Band Diggersby, or special damage, such as Choice Specs Latios, can be strong enough to muscle through Celebi.
**Stallbreakers**: The defensive set is rather ineffective against stallbreakers like Gliscor, Mew, and Mega Sableye. Taunt users can also prevent the Nasty Plot set from setting up, keeping Celebi from boosting its average Special Attack.
**Setup Sweepers**: Some setup sweepers such as Mega Gallade, Mega Latias, Mimikyu, and Porygon-Z can use Celebi's lack of offensive presence to set up on it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Psychic analysis by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Quality checked by: [[Moosical, 215618], [Tyke, 243751], [Misaka Mikoto, 240969]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
Psychic
========
Celebi's wide movepool and decent base 100 stats across the board make it a versatile option for Psychic teams that can act as a setup sweeper or bring a wide range of utility options to the team. By using Nasty Plot to boost its otherwise unimpressive Special Attack, Celebi is able to counter Steel teams with a combination of Hidden Power Fire and Earth Power, turning the tables on a normally difficult matchup. It also has access to a great supportive movepool with Stealth Rock, U-turn, and Healing Wish, giving it both many ways to help its team and unpredictability. Celebi has great mixed bulk, recovery, and a typing that grants valuable resistances to Ground, Electric, and Water and lets it wall almost the entire standard Fairy team, another strong type that Psychic can struggle with at times. Celebi is also a great Pokemon for taking on Water- and Ground-types as a result of its STAB Giga Drain. However, that typing can come back to hurt Celebi, as it is weak to a large number of types that are common coverage, including Fire and Ice, and especially weak to Bug-type moves like U-turn. While Nasty Plot helps alleviate Celebi's damage problems, it has awful damage output without a boost due to its below average Special Attack and its moves' poor Base Power, so it can still find itself walled even after boosting once or twice. Celebi faces a lot of competition in the utility department, as Pokemon such as Mew and Jirachi either bring even more utility options or have a better defensive typing. Nevertheless, Celebi creates its own niche by combining options no other Psychic-type can bring together, such as breaking both Water and Steel or carrying Healing Wish along with its own recovery.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot (Psychic)
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Groundium Z
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Celebi's otherwise mediocre Special Attack to make it strong enough to break many walls, including even Celesteela. Giga Drain is Celebi's primary STAB attack and pressures Water and Ground teams. With the help of Nasty Plot, it can also provide significant recovery to Celebi. Earth Power takes out Steel- and Poison-types such as Heatran and Toxapex that try to wall Celebi and combines with Groundium Z to become a powerful Tectonic Rage that can even KO Alolan Muk with minor chip damage and only one Nasty Plot boost. Hidden Power Fire combines with Earth Power to let Celebi dismantle most Steel teams by taking on Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Celesteela.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs let Celebi do as much damage as possible. With 252 Speed EVs and a Timid nature, Celebi at least Speed ties with other base 100s and outspeeds Mimikyu, enabling Celebi to break its Disguise or deal significant damage to it. As its only ability, Natural Cure lets Celebi heal status if it needs to switch out and set up later. Groundium Z allows Celebi to use Tectonic Rage to break many Pokemon that otherwise stop Celebi from sweeping. If a teammate is using the Z-Move, Life Orb can be used instead, but the loss of Tectonic Rage's damage output is significant.
Usage Tips
========
Because Celebi is not particularly strong even with a Nasty Plot under its belt, it should avoid setting up too early, preferring to wait until its checks have been worn down slightly to make sure it can sweep. For example, in the Steel matchup, it is necessary to pop Heatran's Air Balloon before Celebi attempts to sweep Steel teams, as Air Balloon Heatran can completely wall Celebi. Be careful with Celebi's only use of Tectonic Rage. For example, in the Poison matchup, while taking out Toxapex can be tempting, Earth Power can be difficult for it to handle, and saving Tectonic Rage for Alolan Muk is typically more important. Although Celebi has Natural Cure to remove status, it should still avoid being statused, as it can find it difficult to sweep when paralyzed or taking not insignificant amounts of damage every turn. Similarly, it should avoid taking too much damage before it sets up. While Giga Drain can provide Celebi with recovery after a Nasty Plot or two, Celebi should not rely on it and should try to only set up against Pokemon such as Ferrothorn that cannot threaten it much. Celebi should also take care to avoid revealing that it is using an offensive set before it's ready to set up, as the surprise can net it a free Nasty Plot.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock puts a lot of defensive Pokemon into range of being KOed by Celebi, so Pokemon such as Deoxys-S and Jirachi are great teammates depending on the team archetype. Deoxys-S can also provide dual screens support to make it even easier for Celebi to set up and sweep. U-turn users such as Victini and Jirachi can bring Celebi into play safely and give it more setup opportunities. Because Toxic Spikes can make it difficult or impossible for Celebi to sweep, Latias and Latios are both very useful for their Defog utility. They are also both resistant to Fire and can bring additional utility in Healing Wish and Memento for Celebi. As a stallbreaker, Mew can take on many of the walls that Celebi can struggle against, such as Chansey. Other wallbreakers and sweepers such as Mega Gallade, Mega Slowbro, Choice Band Victini, and Latios can find it easier to operate when Celebi has removed some of their checks.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Psychic)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Recover
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: U-turn / Healing Wish
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 48 SpD / 80 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is invaluable utility that punishes Pokemon for switching in and is essential for helping Psychic teams take on Bug-types. Recover gives Celebi longevity and the ability to act as a wall by restoring HP that it loses when pivoting into attacks. Giga Drain is a STAB attack that heals Celebi and makes it difficult for Ground teams to handle. For the last slot, Celebi has a wide range of support moves that it can viably use. U-turn lets Celebi pivot to other teammates after it has set up Stealth Rock or if threatened by a switch-in. Healing Wish is a powerful utility move that can give a teammate such as Mega Gallade a second chance by sacrificing Celebi. If the other utility moves aren't needed, Thunder Wave cripples the Speed of offensive Pokemon such as Hydreigon, making them much less threatening.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and Calm nature give Celebi great mixed bulk, enabling it to take two Draco Meteors from Life Orb Latios and two Iron Heads from Choice Band Excadrill, and the Speed investment lets Celebi outspeed Adamant Diggersby. Leftovers gives Celebi additional passive recovery. A Colbur Berry can also be used with Thunder Wave to cripple Dark-types such as Hydreigon and Mega Sharpedo. Natural Cure lets Celebi sponge status freely, both protecting its teammates and giving it an advantage against most walls.
Usage Tips
========
Use Celebi's great mixed bulk and unique typing to switch it into Pokemon such as Mega Diancie and Tapu Koko. However, it lacks the greater Defense and Special Defense needed to stand up against stronger wallbreakers, so make sure to avoid letting Celebi take super effective hits from wallbreakers such as Choice Specs Kingdra. Once in play, Celebi should aim to set Stealth Rock and keep it up. Against walls, thanks to Natural Cure, Celebi should happily take any status effect in order to set Stealth Rock. If it runs Thunder Wave, Celebi should also spread the status around by using the move liberally trying to catch switch-ins. Make sure to keep Celebi healthy with Recover so that it can continue to switch into attacks for the team. Celebi can act as an effective defensive pivot by coming into attacks and pivoting right out with U-turn after forcing out the foe, such as against Alolan Golem. When using Healing Wish, it is usually advised to try to make sure Stealth Rock cannot be removed easily, as Celebi will not be able to set it again. Healing Wish can also prevent a slower Defogger or spinner from being able to remove Stealth Rock as well if it becomes necessary.
Team Options
========
Due to Grass's many weaknesses, Celebi greatly appreciates having other defensive teammates like Slowbro and Mega Slowbro that can switch into the likes of Mamoswine, which force Celebi out. Jirachi, while often the user of Stealth Rock for Psychic teams, can be freed to use other utility such as Wish when paired with Celebi while also providing great defensive synergy for Celebi by resisting Ice and being neutral to Bug. All Latias and Latios are especially good partners with Celebi thanks to their typing and Celebi's ability to wall almost all Fairy-types. In addition to providing defensive utility, both can run Defog to keep entry hazards from weakening Celebi, and Mega Latios can take out Steel- and Poison-types for Celebi. Wallbreakers like Choice Band Victini or stallbreakers such as Mew take out walls that Celebi can't touch. Setup sweepers like Mega Latias, Mega Gallade, and Mewnium Z Mew are great teammates for Celebi with U-turn or Healing Wish, as Celebi can bring them in safely or give them another chance to sweep. Mega Gallade particularly appreciates Healing Wish, as it can freely take damage to break its checks and then heal back up to pull off the sweep. Alakazam can be used as a blanket check to physical attackers, helping Celebi with Pokemon like Mega Scizor and Heracross.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
The Nasty Plot set can try to run Psychic to more effectively take on Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, but all of the usual coverage moves are often much more important. Heal Bell is a utility move that defensive Celebi can choose to run, but Psychic teams don't tend to need it, and its other utility moves are often more generally useful. Due to Celebi's Natural Cure, Heal Bell also has less use than usual, as Celebi can simply switch out to remove any status effects. Toxic is another supportive option that lets defensive Celebi cripple walls such as Mantine, but Psychic teams have many other options for beating walls.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: All Celebi sets are eventually forced out by tough walls like Chansey, as Celebi doesn't have much power even with Nasty Plot boosts.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Strong attackers with super effective coverage such as Greninja and Heracross are able to muscle through Celebi's bulk and take it out.
**Fire-types**: Although they are afraid of Tectonic Rage, Fire-types like Victini are generally capable of switching into and forcing out Celebi, as an unboosted Earth Power doesn't do much damage. Mega Charizard Y is especially notable for being able to wall and OHKO Celebi.
**Wallbreakers**: Celebi's main draw is its mixed bulk, so wallbreakers that specialize in physical damage, such as Choice Band Diggersby, or special damage, such as Choice Specs Latios, can be strong enough to muscle through Celebi.
**Stallbreakers**: The defensive set is rather ineffective against stallbreakers like Gliscor, Mew, and Mega Sableye. Taunt users can also prevent the Nasty Plot set from setting up, keeping Celebi from boosting its average Special Attack.
**Setup Sweepers**: Some setup sweepers such as Mega Gallade, Mega Latias, Mimikyu, and Porygon-Z can use Celebi's lack of offensive presence to set up on it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Psychic analysis by: [[Eien, 100418]]
- Quality checked by: [[Moosical, 215618], [Tyke, 243751], [Misaka Mikoto, 240969]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
Last edited:
