[SET]
name: Calm Mind (Defense)
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Morning Sun
move 3: Stored Power
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
item: Electric Seed
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Defense donation, Espeon turns into a potent bulky setup sweeper. The combination of Calm Mind and the Defense boost from Electric Seed makes it hard to revenge kill and simultaneously strengthens Stored Power, especially with Morning Sun recovery to give it more setup opportunities. Stored Power also allows Espeon to muscle past Unaware users like non-Haze Quagsire and Clefable, making it an excellent slot on hyper offense teams. Electric Seed's Defense boost lets Espeon withstand attacks from common offensive threats like Rillaboom, Zeraora, and Zamazenta-C, and with the item's consumption, take on Knock Off and Poltergeist users like Weavile, Yveltal, and Dhelmise more easily. Espeon's naturally high Speed tier means it can even outspeed foes like Blacephalon, Urshifu-R, and Rayquaza, preventing it from being revenge killed easily. Dazzling Gleam provides crucial coverage to hit Dark-types like Galarian Moltres, Yveltal, and Tyranitar. Magic Bounce prevents any attempts of stopping it with Taunt, Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Roar from Pokemon like Heatran, Ho-Oh, Rotom-W, and Giratina, respectively. This is especially useful, as even without any coverage to hit Steel-types super effectively, Espeon can safely set up on the likes of specially defensive Necrozma-DM, Heatran, and Ferrothorn due to their passive nature and Espeon's effective immunity to their status moves.
Calm Mind Espeon excels the most on hyper offense teams. Tapu Koko is a mandatory partner, as it provides dual screens for Espeon to set up more easily, brings it in safely with U-turn, and helps activate its Electric Seed with Electric Surge. Espeon pairs well with most gods used on hyper offense teams, but offensive gods that can donate a high Defense stat like Necrozma-DM and Groudon are notably great partners. In particular, Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM is also a potent setup sweeper itself that appreciates Espeon's ability to muscle past Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Skarmory. Offensive teammates like Volcarona and Double Dance Galarian Moltres can keep up the pressure against the opposing team for Espeon to sweep much more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe gives Espeon more bulk while still maintaining enough Speed investment for base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Victini; however, not being able to outspeed Kartana, Blacephalon, and Nihilego can make Espeon more prone to being revenge killed once screens expire.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Necrozma-DM**: Its exceptional bulk and typing mean it can withstand Espeon's boosted attacks easily. Unlike other specially defensive Steel-types, Necrozma-DM can make use of Swords Dance and Dragon Dance to beat Espeon before it accumulates enough boosts.
**Dark-types**: A Speed-donated Pangoro, Tyranitar, and Bisharp can outspeed and threaten Espeon with their dangerous STAB attacks. Tyranitar and Bisharp also possess the special bulk and defensive typing, respectively, to withstand Espeon's Dazzling Gleam if necessary, with the former also reducing Morning Sun's recovery with sand. However, none of the aforementioned Dark-types can OHKO Espeon from full without prior chip, especially if Reflect is up. Alolan Persian and Choice Band Weavile are naturally faster than Espeon and can OHKO it with Beat Up, with the former even able to do so through Reflect.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Even with a Defense donation and Electric Seed's boost, Espeon is still pressured by strong and fast wallbreakers like Choice Band Pheromosa. Choice Band Victini resists Espeon's attacks and can severely damage it afterward. Prior to boosting, strong attackers like Blacephalon, Yveltal, and Rayquaza can KO Espeon, especially as unboosted Stored Power and Dazzling Gleam do pitiful damage in return, although Rayquaza suffers from Dragon Ascent's Special Defense drop. They can't reliably deal with Espeon if Reflect and Light Screen are up, however.
**Haze and Clear Smog**: Clear Smog Gastrodon and Haze Quagsire can remove all of Espeon's boosts easily and thus stop it from sweeping. Moreover, Haze's high PP makes it harder to PP stall with Calm Mind.
**Trick**: Because Trick bypasses Magic Bounce, Espeon can be crippled with a Choice item by foes like Blacephalon, Tapu Fini, and Calyrex-I, preventing it from fully setting up.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[longhiep341, 500884], [Ducky, 525446]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
name: Calm Mind (Defense)
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Morning Sun
move 3: Stored Power
move 4: Dazzling Gleam
item: Electric Seed
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Defense donation, Espeon turns into a potent bulky setup sweeper. The combination of Calm Mind and the Defense boost from Electric Seed makes it hard to revenge kill and simultaneously strengthens Stored Power, especially with Morning Sun recovery to give it more setup opportunities. Stored Power also allows Espeon to muscle past Unaware users like non-Haze Quagsire and Clefable, making it an excellent slot on hyper offense teams. Electric Seed's Defense boost lets Espeon withstand attacks from common offensive threats like Rillaboom, Zeraora, and Zamazenta-C, and with the item's consumption, take on Knock Off and Poltergeist users like Weavile, Yveltal, and Dhelmise more easily. Espeon's naturally high Speed tier means it can even outspeed foes like Blacephalon, Urshifu-R, and Rayquaza, preventing it from being revenge killed easily. Dazzling Gleam provides crucial coverage to hit Dark-types like Galarian Moltres, Yveltal, and Tyranitar. Magic Bounce prevents any attempts of stopping it with Taunt, Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Roar from Pokemon like Heatran, Ho-Oh, Rotom-W, and Giratina, respectively. This is especially useful, as even without any coverage to hit Steel-types super effectively, Espeon can safely set up on the likes of specially defensive Necrozma-DM, Heatran, and Ferrothorn due to their passive nature and Espeon's effective immunity to their status moves.
Calm Mind Espeon excels the most on hyper offense teams. Tapu Koko is a mandatory partner, as it provides dual screens for Espeon to set up more easily, brings it in safely with U-turn, and helps activate its Electric Seed with Electric Surge. Espeon pairs well with most gods used on hyper offense teams, but offensive gods that can donate a high Defense stat like Necrozma-DM and Groudon are notably great partners. In particular, Dragon Dance Necrozma-DM is also a potent setup sweeper itself that appreciates Espeon's ability to muscle past Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Corviknight, and Skarmory. Offensive teammates like Volcarona and Double Dance Galarian Moltres can keep up the pressure against the opposing team for Espeon to sweep much more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe gives Espeon more bulk while still maintaining enough Speed investment for base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Victini; however, not being able to outspeed Kartana, Blacephalon, and Nihilego can make Espeon more prone to being revenge killed once screens expire.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Necrozma-DM**: Its exceptional bulk and typing mean it can withstand Espeon's boosted attacks easily. Unlike other specially defensive Steel-types, Necrozma-DM can make use of Swords Dance and Dragon Dance to beat Espeon before it accumulates enough boosts.
**Dark-types**: A Speed-donated Pangoro, Tyranitar, and Bisharp can outspeed and threaten Espeon with their dangerous STAB attacks. Tyranitar and Bisharp also possess the special bulk and defensive typing, respectively, to withstand Espeon's Dazzling Gleam if necessary, with the former also reducing Morning Sun's recovery with sand. However, none of the aforementioned Dark-types can OHKO Espeon from full without prior chip, especially if Reflect is up. Alolan Persian and Choice Band Weavile are naturally faster than Espeon and can OHKO it with Beat Up, with the former even able to do so through Reflect.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: Even with a Defense donation and Electric Seed's boost, Espeon is still pressured by strong and fast wallbreakers like Choice Band Pheromosa. Choice Band Victini resists Espeon's attacks and can severely damage it afterward. Prior to boosting, strong attackers like Blacephalon, Yveltal, and Rayquaza can KO Espeon, especially as unboosted Stored Power and Dazzling Gleam do pitiful damage in return, although Rayquaza suffers from Dragon Ascent's Special Defense drop. They can't reliably deal with Espeon if Reflect and Light Screen are up, however.
**Haze and Clear Smog**: Clear Smog Gastrodon and Haze Quagsire can remove all of Espeon's boosts easily and thus stop it from sweeping. Moreover, Haze's high PP makes it harder to PP stall with Calm Mind.
**Trick**: Because Trick bypasses Magic Bounce, Espeon can be crippled with a Choice item by foes like Blacephalon, Tapu Fini, and Calyrex-I, preventing it from fully setting up.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[royalfluxh, 493260]]
- Quality checked by: [[longhiep341, 500884], [Ducky, 525446]]
- Grammar checked by: [[dex, 277988]]
Last edited:
