Jirachi (Dual Screen Lead)

[cosmicexplorer]

OK, so with this input, I decided to change this to simple additional comments on the Dual Screen set already present.

http://smogon.com/dp/pokemon/jirachi

[SET]
name: Dual Screen
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Wish
item: Light Clay
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 100 Def / 156 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Jirachi is a fantastic user of the dual screen strategy. Bring in Jirachi during the middle of the game on something that it can force out, such as a Choice Band Tyranitar locked into Stone Edge. The process from there, depending on your team, is very linear. It is recommended you Light Screen first, as most Pokémon who threaten Jirachi attack from the special side. Use Reflect next, and U-turn to a Baton Passer such as Celebi or Gliscor, or a set up sweeper such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar. Thanks to Light Clay boosting the length of both Reflect and Light Screen to 8 turns instead of 5, your set up, and your attempted sweep, should be much easier to accomplish.</p>

<p>Jirachi differs from other dual screen users because of Wish and U-turn. When used with no Speed EVs, U-turn becomes a great method of insuring that your chosen target comes into the field taking as little damage as possible. Wish completes the set, as it is a great method for Jirachi to support itself or the team.</p>

<p>The given EVs make Choice Scarf Heatran's Flamethrower a 3HKO after Light Screen is up, and also gives good physical bulk after a Reflect as well. No Speed EVs are recommended on this set to get the maximum benefit out of U-turn, and allow Jirachi to be as bulky as possible. While some may feel that more Speed EVs are necessary, remember that Jirachi will often be one link in a chain, and that it is often better to get your Baton Passer or set up sweeper at full health than to have them take a hit that will reduce their chances at getting off a successful sweep.</p>

<p>This set aims to allow other teammates to set up safely behind dual screens. Two Pokémon who accomplish this task well are Gliscor and Kingdra. The former, having only weaknesses to Water- and Ice-type attacks, can set up both Rock Polish and Swords Dance with little difficulty and Baton Pass them to a recipient such as Metagross. Additionally, Gliscor finds little difficulty switching into Ground-type attacks aimed at Jirachi, and Fire-type attacks will not be doing much damage either with the respective screens in place. Kingdra also benefits from dual screens because it only has a weakness to Dragon-type attacks (of which users will unlikely switch into Kingdra) and has perfectly balanced defenses to easily set up multiple Dragon Dances. Not only that, but Kingdra also has a 4x resistance to Fire-type attacks aimed at Jirachi, and the combination of Water- and Dragon-type attacks goes unresisted in OU except for Empoleon. Really though, any Pokémon with a good set of resistances and defenses can benefit from this set.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set can also function as a lead. While Azelf or Uxie may outclass Jirachi as a screening lead, Jirachi has a few advantages over them. It's bulkier than Azelf, which means it can almost always setup both screens, and can come back midgame to refresh those screens. It also has an attacking move other than U-turn or Explosion, allowing it to hit many pokemon for good damage. It's faster and stronger than Uxie, it's not as predictable, and isn't completely useless when Taunted. Jirachi's Steel typing resists Explosion and Jirachi can also use Wish to heal its teammates. Azelf's higher speed and access to Taunt and Explosion allow it to more reliably setup screens without being Taunted, while Uxie's greater bulk and better typing let it put screens up without being seriously injured in the process, but Jirachi's useful resistances and access to Wish allow it to function as a lead and support your team throughout the match.</p>

 

[Towelie]

how does azelf not outclass this. azelf is faster, has taunt, and most importantly has explosion to get a sweeper in for free? you can say bulk, but a bulky screen set upper (bar uxie who has ridiculous bulk + u turn) should be used mid game imo. all in all, azelf and uxie both outclass this set.

 

[Seven Deadly Sins]

Outclassed fairly badly by Uxie, which is fast enough that the difference doesn't matter, as well as bulkier, and with a better typing for the lead position, since the only leading Pokemon likely to carry a super-effective attack is Machamp, while Jirachi is neutral to DynamicPunch, weak to Heatran, Swampert, Metagross EQ, Aerodactyl EQ, Roserade HP Fire, etc.

EDIT: Oh, some other things.

It doesn't matter if Azelf doesn't do much damage because it taunts you and then laughs. Metagross may not stop you per se, but it's solidly 3hkoing with EQ, and it does even less to Uxie (though explosion but whatever since it doesn't ko under a screen so yeah).

There's also the issue that Jirachi has about 8000 things better to be doing than being a mediocre Uxie as a lead. I'm not a fan of listing every damn thing that a Pokemon like Jirachi or Celebi is marginally capable of, especially when many of the sets are so similar.

If anything this gets a listing in the AC of the Dual Screen set already on-site, but as for a full set on the analysis, I'm going to say no.

 

[Thorns]

while i don't exactly think this set is the best, i think it has a shot

it's different from azelf because:
- bulk, which means it can usually always set up both screens, and can come back in during the game to refresh screens
- an attacking move other than u-turn/explosion, allowing it to hit shit that matters
- steel typing
- it has wish

it's different from uxie because:
- it's faster and stronger
- it isn't made redundant by taunt
- it's much less predictable
- steel typing
- it has wish

my suggestion for this set is to just very briefly summarise what i wrote above and put additional comments in the dual screen set already existing that it can function as a lead, not greatly, but it can

 

[Towelie]

lol? iron head is resisted by so much shit and without any investment at all it won't be doing much. explosion and u turn are ridiculously better moves on a screening in lead. getting to a sweeper safely is so much important than hitting with iron head which has one of the worst offensive typings in the game, as well as no attack investment. steel typing, as sds pointed out, is jirachis downside as it gets hit SE by so many commonly used leads. Your uxie point: The only common lead rachi outspeeds with base 100 is like... gliscor which hits you se or taunts you. yes it is made redundant by taunt. iron heads only use is against like... roserade which doesnt even 2hko so it can still get the sleep powder off. again, steel typing is its downfall. wish is good, but why not use it as a mid game screener as opposed to a lead? the only thing this really has is unpredictability.

 

[cosmicexplorer]

Towelie, you're right. I don't think this set really has any future; Azelf and Uxie do its job much better. I was just trying to find an alternative way to use Jirachi. If I believe that this thread should be deleted, should I just leave it alone or should I PM a mod?

 

[eric the espeon]

Could someone please add a paragraph to AC of the current dual screen set outlining the option of using it as a lead. Ask someone on #C&C to proofread for you, no need for a separate thread.