[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Psychic)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: U-turn
item: Leftovers / Kasib Berry
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 160 SpD / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Jirachi is the preferred Stealth Rock setter for Psychic teams due to the huge utility from its typing, Thunder Wave, and its ability to generate momentum with U-turn. Iron Head with Serene Grace allows Jirachi to flinch down foes such as Shuckle, Porygon2, Piloswine, and Clefable. This strategy pairs well with Thunder Wave, which slows foes for Jirachi to flinch through and increases the chance they can't move, as well as punishing switch-ins such as Victini, Volcarona, and Celesteela. U-turn lets Jirachi escape threats like Landorus-T, Aegislash, and Magnezone, which take advantage of it, or Ferrothorn, Toxapex, and Heatran, which Jirachi can't win against. If not running Leftovers, Kasib Berry lets Jirachi take a hit from and paralyze Ghost-types such as Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Dragapult, which greatly threaten Psychic teams. There is no set Speed for Jirachi; 96 Speed EVs outspeed Adamant Mamoswine and Modest Togekiss, but 32 Speed EVs are still enough to outspeed and threaten Jolly Dragon Dance Tyranitar.
Slowbro is an excellent partner for Jirachi, as it checks Ground- and Fire-types such as Choice Scarf Excadrill and Cinderace and also pivots Jirachi in against Fairy- and Ice-types such as Tapu Bulu and Kyurem with Teleport. Also, if Jirachi utilizes a Kasib Berry, Slowbro is free to use a Colbur Berry, letting it check Dark-types such as Bisharp and Weavile too. Victini loves Jirachi luring in Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Magnezone, takes advantage of Jirachi chipping and slowing teams with Stealth Rock and Thunder Wave, and works with Jirachi to pressure types such as Ice and Fairy. Choice Specs Tapu Lele appreciates Jirachi spreading paralysis, which allows it to outspeed and steamroll types such as Water and Fairy. Alternatively, Choice Scarf Tapu Lele deals with Dragon- and Dark-types such as Dragpult, Hydreigon, and non-Choice Scarf Zarude, aside from setting Psychic Terrain to neutralize Sucker Punch users like Cinderace and Bisharp. Galarian Slowking shares Jirachi's duties in dealing with special attackers, with Galarian Slowking walling Kingdra, Heatran, and Volcanion and Jirachi dealing with Psychic-types such as Tapu Lele and Hatterene. Hatterene checks Dark- and Dragon-types such as Galarian Moltres and Hydreigon, and it utilizes Trick Room to threaten faster types such as Dark and Water.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Psychic)
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Trick
move 4: Healing Wish / Stealth Rock
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a Choice Scarf, Jirachi can revenge kill threats such as Weavile, Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, and Spectrier while also providing utility in the form of Healing Wish and Trick. While Tapu Lele is generally the better Choice Scarf user when it comes to late-game cleaning and revenge killing, Choice Scarf Jirachi is still a decent pick, as it notably eases matchups like Fairy and Ice while providing tremendous utility and pivoting. Iron Head with Serene Grace lets Jirachi potentially luck through threats such as Hydreigon and non-Choice Scarf Dragapult, and it deals with Ice- and Fairy-types such as Alolan Ninetales and Tapu Lele. U-turn lets it pivot against switch-ins such as Heatran, Slowbro, and Corviknight. Trick debilitates walls such as Toxapex, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela, which in turn creates setup opportunities for its teammates, especially in matchups like Poison and Steel. Healing Wish lets Jirachi support a teammate in case Jirachi has been chipped down too much or is unneeded in the matchup, such as against Steel, Water, and Fire. Alternatively, Stealth Rock lets Jirachi still perform its role as an entry hazard setter, taking advantage of slower, passive Pokemon such as Blissey, Galarian Weezing, and Clefable, which tend to switch out on it.
Due to Jirachi running Choice Scarf, teammates such as Tapu Lele and Latias are free to run other sets, or they can be done away entirely. Choice Specs Tapu Lele appreciates Jirachi's ability to lure in Toxapex, revenge kill Weavile and Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan, and flinch down Hydreigon. In return, it wears down opposing teams due to its near-unwallable coverage. Calm Mind Latios appreciates being brought in against passive defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro and Corviknight and loves Healing Wish, which gives it another chance to wallbreak. In return, Latios provides a Ground immunity, breaks down types such as Poison and Flying, and deals with troublesome foes such as Choice Band Urshifu-R, Toxapex, and Ferrothorn. Victini deals with all Steel-types that wall Jirachi except for Heatran, and it appreciates Healing Wish support to threaten Steel and Grass teams a second time. Slowbro can switch into strong physical attackers such as Barraskewda, Excadrill, and Garchomp, which threaten Jirachi. Hatterene may be considered over Tapu Lele, as Jirachi provides revenge killing and cleaning; Hatterene deals with fast Dark-type threats, such as Zarude and Galarian Moltres, while also pressuring types such as Electric and Water. Defensive setup sweepers such as Agility + Calm Mind Latias and Cosmic Power Mew are also great teammates, as they help in matchups such as Electric, Ground, and Flying, and they also appreciate Jirachi's Healing Wish support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
Ice Punch or Fire Punch may be considered over Trick or Healing Wish with Choice Scarf to threaten Landorus-T and Garchomp or Ferrothorn. However, this comes at the cost of reduced utility. Toxic may be considered on specially defensive sets over Thunder Wave, as it allows Jirachi to wear down answers such as Porygon2, Slowbro, and Mandibuzz more quickly, opening them up for teammates such as Victini. However, this should only be considered if Jirachi is using Leftovers, as Toxic + Iron Head will not check Ghost-types such as Dragapult and Blacephalon. Maximum Speed EVs with a Jolly nature may be considered on specially defensive sets to outspeed and threaten Mimikyu, Kyurem, and Choice Specs Tapu Lele at the cost of reduced bulk.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Neko, 542526]]
- Psychic analysis by: [[Neko, 542526]]
- Quality checked by: [[roxie, 481576], [sasha, 510532], [Mateeus, 321991]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Adeleine, 517429], [DC, 449990]]
Last edited:
