[OVERVIEW]
Clefairy's main niche lies in its stellar ability, Magic Guard, granting it an immunity to all forms of passive damage, making it stand out among other defensive Pokemon. Additionally, Clefairy sports great special bulk bolstered by Eviolite, which lets it soft check some of NU's most powerful special attackers such as Magmortar, Sceptile, and Life Orb Samurott. Though Clefairy does face stiff competition from Mega Audino, which sports better bulk and is immune to Knock Off's item-removal effect, Clefairy sets itself apart with its ability to only take one to turn to restore lost HP and only use up one moveslot in doing so, letting it use a wider array of support options. However, Clefairy relies on Eviolite in order to stomach hits from powerful attackers, making it vulnerable to Knock Off and therefore unable to switch into Dark- and Fighting-types as well as it would like to despite its resistances. Clefairy also suffers from being passive, as even with Calm Mind boosts its damage output is still disappointing, causing it to be a free switch in for quite a few Pokemon such as Steelix and Rhydon.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Soft-boiled
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Stealth Rock / Healing Wish
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Moonblast is Clefairy's most powerful and reliable STAB move that targets Fighting- and Dark-type Pokemon such as Hariyama, Sawk, and Shiftry and has a decent chance to lower the foe's Special Attack, letting it tank hits much more comfortably. Soft-boiled grants Clefairy reliable recovery, ensuring it stays healthy throughout the match. Thunder Wave cripples Pokemon that attempt to use Clefairy as setup bait and is also useful for slowing down speedy threats such as Sceptile and Swellow. Stealth Rock supports the entire team by racking up chip damage. If the team already has another Pokemon with Stealth Rock, Healing Wish is an alternative that gives a weakened Pokemon a second shot at sweeping. Fire Blast is also an option to primarily hit Steelix due to its immunity to Thunder Wave, but it also hits other Steel-types, such as Mawile and Klinklang, on the switch. Knock Off can be used to let Clefairy remove items, which is beneficial to weaken wallbreakers that use Life Orb or Choice items and hinder defensive Pokemon that rely on their item for longevity such as Steelix, Weezing, and Rhydon.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Calm nature maximize Clefairy's special bulk, enabling it to switch into powerful special attackers such as Sceptile, Magmortar, and Samurott. Eviolite increases Clefairy's defenses further, letting it take special hits more effectively and additionally letting it soft check some Fighting-types. Magic Guard is chosen to make it immune to status such as burn and poison and all entry hazards.
Usage Tips
========
Use Clefairy to pivot into powerful special attackers such as Magmortar and Samurott. Just be sure to scout for Samurott's set before switching into it, as Clefairy loses to its Swords Dance set. Clefairy can also be brought in on status moves such as Rotom's Will-O-Wisp, letting it act as a status sponge for the team. While Clefairy does sport a Fighting resistance, it shouldn't be brought recklessly into the likes of Sawk and Hariyama, as both can rid Clefairy of its Eviolite with Knock Off, hindering its ability to reliably take certain attacks. Once Clefairy is brought in, it's generally best to throw out Thunder Wave, crippling potential switch-ins. Try to keep Clefairy healthy with Soft-boiled and use it in situations where the foe cannot deal much damage in return. However, when at low HP and pinned up against a setup sweeper, do not use Soft-boiled, as this gives the opponent a free setup opportunity; instead, either use Thunder Wave or switch out to the appropriate teammate. When a free turn presents itself, use it as an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock if Clefairy has not already done so. Healing Wish should be used carefully; it may be tempting to bring back a weakened teammate to full health, but its use should generally be avoided if Clefairy is needed to check a specific threat.
Team Options
========
Bulky Water-types such as Pelipper and Poliwrath pair best with this set, as they are able to switch into Steelix, one of Clefairy's best and most common answers, and can check other Steel-types such as Klinklang and Mawile. Samurott functions in a similar manner, being able to threaten Steelix and Rhydon while also appreciating Clefairy's ability to give it a second shot at sweeping with Healing Wish or slow down faster foes with Thunder Wave. Weezing also switches into Steelix freely and can burn it with Will-O-Wisp; it also switches into Fighting-types reliably, while Clefairy is able to switch into powerful special attackers that take advantage of Weezing's mediocre Special Defense. Rotom switches into Steelix, Klinklang, and Scyther very well, burns all of them with Will-O-Wisp, and takes advantage of Clefairy's ability to spread Thunder Wave, not only slowing down faster threats for Rotom but also providing it with a full-powered Hex without the need for it to spread status of its own. Slower wallbreakers such as Magmortar and Sawk also pair well with Clefairy, as both appreciate its ability to slow down faster threats with Thunder Wave.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Soft-boiled
move 4: Thunder Wave / Fire Blast
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Calm Mind lets Clefairy simultaneously boost its Special Attack and Special Defense, making it difficult for the opposing team to manage after a couple boosts. Moonblast is a reliable STAB move that has good neutral coverage, notably hitting Dark- and Fighting-type Pokemon such as Shiftry, Hariyama, and Hitmonchan, as well as a nice chance the lower the foe's Special Attack. Soft-boiled is mandatory to ensure Clefairy is able to stay healthy so it can keep setting up Calm Mind. Thunder Wave lets Clefairy slow down its checks, such as Garbodor, Weezing, and Klinklang, while also potentially netting free turns. Fire Blast is an alternative that lets Clefairy hit Steel-types, which wall this set otherwise, and is used over Flamethrower to score the 2HKO on Steelix after a Calm Mind boost.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread plus Eviolite lets Clefairy avoid the 2HKO from Adamant Choice Band Sawk's Close Combat, Choice Specs Swellow's Boomburst, and non-Life Orb Magmortar's Fire Blast. Magic Guard is used to grant Clefairy an immunity to all forms of passive damage, ensuring that it can keep setting up even after inflicted with poison or burn.
Usage Tips
========
While Clefairy's checks and counters are still present, use Thunder Wave to catch them on the switch so it has a better shot at cleaning through teams. When matched up against Steelix, though, switch into teammates that are able to check it, as Clefairy has no means of dealing with it. If Fire Blast is used, however, use it to catch Steel-types on the switch to wear them down to the point where they cannot check Clefairy anymore. Once Clefairy's checks have been crippled or weakened, set up Calm Mind to initiate a sweep mid- to late-game. When setting up Calm Mind, try not to be greedy with the boosts, as the more turns it wastes, the more likely it is to be KOed with a critical hit. Use Soft-boiled to stay healthy throughout the game, and use it on turns that it is its safe to do so. In some situations where Clefairy has around half of its HP, the opponent might try to take advantage of Clefairy using Soft-boiled that turn to get a free switch in. Respond to this by using Thunder Wave or attacking. Try to avoid being hit by Knock Off, as without Eviolite, Clefairy is left vulnerable to more physical attackers and cannot set up Calm Mind as comfortably against special attackers.
Team Options
========
Weezing is a great partner, as it can burn foes with Will-O-Wisp, letting Clefairy set up Calm Mind against physical attackers much more comfortably, as well as switch into Steelix, one the biggest stops to this set without Fire Blast. Weezing's access to Toxic Spikes also aids Clefairy when setting up, letting it stall out foes it cannot beat otherwise such as Musharna. Rotom also works well at dismantling Steelix and supports Clefairy by spreading burns as well. Steelix can switch into a multitude of physical attackers that can heavily damage Clefairy such as Klinklang, Garbodor, Tauros, Kangaskhan, and Archeops. It also hard stops Musharna and Mega Audino, which can otherwise win a Calm Mind war versus Clefairy. Pelipper can switch into Steelix by virtue of its typing and switches into Fighting-types semi-reliably. Vileplume functions in a similar manner, except that it tends to invite Fire-types that Clefairy can use as setup bait. Fire-types such as Magmortar and Pyroar are useful for breaking past Steel-types that otherwise are a hard stop to this set. Magmortar in particular appreciates Thunder Wave support, letting it threaten faster threats.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Encore can be used to take advantage of setup sweepers that would otherwise use Clefairy as setup bait. Heal Bell can be used to provide cleric support, providing more utility for more defensively inclined teams, but generally, Mega Audino works better in this regard. Seismic Toss can be used for more reliable damage against all targets, most notably Pokemon that resist Moonblast such Steelix, Klinklang, and Weezing, at the cost of being able to hit Ghost-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steelix is one of the best answers to Clefairy, as it resists Moonblast and is immune to Thunder Wave, while in return, it 2HKOes with Heavy Slam. Other Steel-types such as Mawile and Klinklang threaten to OHKO Clefairy with their respective STAB moves, but both cannot reliably switch in due to Thunder Wave and Fire Blast. Ferroseed takes very little from Moonblast, doesn't mind being paralyzed by Thunder Wave, and it can use Clefairy to freely set up Spikes or Knock Off its Eviolite; however, Fire Blast 2HKOes and its Calm Mind set uses Ferroseed as setup bait.
**Poison-types**: Weezing hits Clefairy with Sludge Bomb and can Taunt it, preventing it from using Calm Mind or Thunder Wave, though it potentially loses to Calm Mind if it has been paralyzed on the switch. Skuntank switches into Clefairy's moves comfortably and can 2HKO with Poison Jab or render it helpless with Taunt. Standard Garbodor 2HKOes with Gunk Shot, and offensive variants have a chance to OHKO.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Mismagius and Pyroar work well at preventing Clefairy from spreading status or setting up, and both can take Moonblast very well with their high Special Defense and typing, respectively. However, both cannot stand being slowed down by Thunder Wave.
**Eviolite Removal**: While it does resist Knock Off, Clefairy relies heavily on its Eviolite in order to take on powerful special attackers and thus is left vulnerable against even Dark- and Fighting-types because most of them carry the move. Trick from the likes of Rotom, Rotom-S, and Jynx also heavily cripples Clefairy, as not only does it lose a lot bulk from the loss of Eviolite but it also despises being locked into a move by Choice items.
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