[SET]
name: Wish
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: U-turn / Body Slam
item: Leftovers
ability: Serene Grace
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 196 SpD / 64 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Wish allows Jirachi to heal both itself and teammates, allowing it to check Pokemon like Tapu Lele, Magearna, Clefable, Tapu Bulu, and Kyurem-B repeatedly throughout the match while functioning as potent utility for the rest of its team. This move has good defensive synergy with Protect, which lets Jirachi stall for Leftovers recovery and heal itself safely with Wish. It is also helpful for playing mind games with Mega Medicham and Hawlucha, which risk crashing and taking 50% recoil if they attack into it with High Jump Kick. Iron Head sports a 60% flinch rate after the boost from Serene Grace and a solid Base Power after the STAB boost, allowing Jirachi to pose a threat to the aforementioned Pokemon that it checks and meaning Tyranitar isn't able to Pursuit trap it with a modicum of consistency. U-turn allows Jirachi to both escape Magnezone's attempts to trap it and grab momentum versus Pokemon that it force out, benefiting from Jirachi's minimally invested Speed stat to help teammates switch in safely when the opposing player opts to not switch out. This move works well alongside Wish to help heal up weakened partners like Heatran when they aren't healthy enough to switch in safely. Body Slam has excellent synergy with Iron Head, having a 60% paralysis rate due to Serene Grace, allowing Jirachi to cripple common switch-ins like Heatran, Kartana, and Landorus-T, pressuring Hawlucha, Volcarona, and Zygarde that try to set up on Jirachi, and reducing the action rate of anything that is slower after the Speed drop to 30% on the turns when Jirachi uses Iron Head. This has particular utility on more defensively inclined teams that aren’t as reliant on momentum as well as on teams that aim to take advantage of paralysis with Pokemon like Substitute Zygarde.
Set Details
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The listed EVs along with a Careful nature optimize Jirachi's special bulk, helping it check Pokemon like Kyurem-B, Magearna, and Tapu Lele as consistently as possible and allow Jirachi to move before Timid Magearna as well as +2 paralyzed Magearna, making best use of Iron Head in the matchup. Leftovers is the item of choice, helping Jirachi check a number of Pokemon more consistently by restoring a little HP every turn. Serene Grace increases the rates of Iron Head and Body Slam's secondary effects.
Usage Tips
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Use Wish regularly to ensure Jirachi is as healthy as is reasonably possible to ensure that it can repeatedly check Pokemon like Kyurem-B consistently throughout the match. If Jirachi carries Body Slam, it is usually better to use that early-game instead of Iron Head in order to cripple common switch-ins like Heatran and Landorus-T; this is because Iron Head's targets, such as Tapu Lele and Kyurem-B, typically switch out of Jirachi and attempt to take advantage of its passivity. The same applies if Jirachi carries U-turn, except that it is used more to grab momentum rather than to punish the opponent's attempt to create an unfavorable scenario for the Jirachi player. While it is usually advised to use Protect when healing Jirachi with its own Wish, be mindful that always using Protect when healing with Wish can be easily punished by your opponent, who can use it to set up entry hazards, boost their Pokemon's stats, or generate a free switch into a weakened Pokemon that can't otherwise get onto the field safely; thus, it is important to try and mix this up if you can by either attacking or doubling on an expected switch or by taking advantage of paraflinching to generate free turns. Speaking of Protect, don't be afraid to use it if it is unlikely that Jirachi will survive the next hit without recovery from Leftovers or Grassy Terrain, but once again make sure to always weigh up the risks of using it when you are in a poor position, as it can create free opportunities for a wary opponent just as much as it can save Jirachi's skin; don't forget that it has a wide range of utilities beyond Wish and turn-by-turn recovery, notably including stalling for poison damage and scouting for both coverage and Z-Moves.
Team Options
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Jirachi fits best onto balanced and stall teams, which need Pokemon like Tapu Lele and Kyurem-B kept in check. Reasonably bulky Pokemon that lack recovery or are otherwise easily worn down, such as Heatran, Kyurem-B, Zygarde, and Landorus-T, hugely appreciate Wish support on more balanced builds. Similarly, slow Pokemon that depend on being healthy to switch into something, take a second attack, and heal up, such as Chansey, Clefable, Quagsire, and Mega Sableye, make for excellent partners, as Jirachi can help take pressure off of them to recover off their own damage. Users of Magic Bounce or Defog are useful to reduce the pressure Spikes places onto Jirachi to use Wish repeatedly, making Mega Sableye, Zapdos, and Gliscor excellent partners. Pokemon that appreciate Pokemon like Heatran and Choice Scarf Landorus-T being lured out and paralyzed, including Calm Mind Clefable, Subsitute Zygarde, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Koko, and Protean Greninja, greatly appreciate the utility that Body Slam Jirachi brings to the table. Pokemon that can switch into Fire- or Ground-type moves, such as Toxapex, Alomomola, Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Tyranitar, help relieve the pressure that said attacks put onto Jirachi. Similarly, responses to Ash-Greninja, Gengar, and other Dark- or Ghost-types, such as Weavile, Chansey, Mega Gyarados, Mega Sableye, and the aforementioned Toxapex, are useful partners.
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