Amberr
Banned deucer.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Hex / Roar
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Lunala is a useful defensive Pokemon due to it's ability Shadow Shield, good bulk, and access to recovery in Roost. The combination of these allows it to check many common Pokemon, especially Zygarde, Zekrom, and Groudon. Ice Beam hits all of the aforementioned Pokemon for large amounts, forcing them to switch eventually due to their lack of recovery. Will-O-Wisp allows Lunala to even further check several common physical attackers in the tier while allowing it to cripple defensive Yveltal. Hex allows Lunala to take advantage of Pokemon that are inflicted with status effects, doing large amounts to damage to several common Pokemon, namely Necrozma-DM. Roar allows Lunala to phaze some setup sweepers, namely Xerneas and Zekrom with Substitute, while also allowing Lunala to make a Pokemon take additional Hazard damage. Heavy-Duty Boots allows Lunala to ignore hazard damage, allowing Shadow Shield to stay active without requiring Defog support from teammates.
Lunala fits on balance teams that appreciate its ability to check Pokemon like Zekrom, Zygarde-C, and Groudon and use status moves to wear down the opposing team. Yveltal is required as a partner for Lunala, as it can often switch in on opposing Yveltal and Ghost-Type Pokemon such as Calyrex-Shadow and Marshadow. Teammates that can help deal with Yveltal and Tyranitar are essential, such as Zacian-C, Xerneas, and Groudon. Eternatus or Ferrothorn are able to check Kyogre, allowing Lunala to not have to worry about yet another threat. Eternatus also assists against Yveltal and Marshadow with Toxic and it's powerful coverage. Zacian-C is great with Lunala due to Will-O-Wisp crippling Pokemon that could ordinarily check Zacian such as Groudon and Necrozma-DM. As well as that, Zacian-C is able to assist Lunala by offensively pressuring many of it's checks, namely Yveltal and Marshadow. Pokemon which spread status such as Ho-Oh and Eternatus pose a threat to Lunala due to the chip denying access to Shadow Shield, which opens availability for Pokemon who can use Aromatherapy such as Blissey, which also serves as an Offensive Yveltal, Xerneas, and Kyogre check. Ho-Oh is also another good teammate, as it can take attacks from Calyrex-S and threaten Zacian-C and Marshadow. Zekrom is able to pressure Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Kyogre while also being able to assist against Zacian and Calyrex-Shadow after a Dragon Dance.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Defog is an option Lunala has, being used over Hex / Roar, giving it significantly more utility options but it makes Lunala even more passive, although it allows balance teams to do better against Sticky Web Hyper offensive teams due to Lunala being able to remove hazards in front of very threatening Pokemon thanks to Shadow Shield. Toxic allows Lunala to punish Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Kyogre, which could otherwise switch into it with little consequence aside from some chip. Thunder Wave also punishes many things that switch in to Lunala somewhat freely like Toxic does, however Thunder Wave allows Lunala to also Punish Eternatus. An alternative EV spread that Lunala is able to use a spread that sacrifices HP evs for Speed evs and uses a Timid nature, and due to Lunala's moderately high base speed it is able to outspeed unboosted Jolly Zekrom and Groudon while still maximizing bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Offensive Ghost-types such as Calyrex-S and Marshadow are able to beat Lunala due to their powerful attacks KO'ing Lunala through Shadow Shield. On top of that, both Marshadow and Calyrex-S can set up due to the fact that they force Lunala out, becoming powerful threats.
**Yveltal**: Specially defensive Yveltal can force Lunala out with Knock Off or Foul Play and pivot into another teammate with U-turn if Lunala switches out, while offensive Yveltal can KO with Dark Pulse. However, offensive variants can potentially be 2HKOed by Ice Beam, restricting their ability to switch in.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar is one of the biggest threats to Lunala, being able to take any hit from it due to its amazing special bulk, while also ignoring Shadow Shield due to Sand Steam, crippling Lunala should it come back in without being able to use Roost. In addition, Tyranitar isn't crippled by Lunala's status thanks to Rest, allowing it to switch in with little consequence.
**Status**: Status, especially Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, prevents Lunala from getting Shadow Shield after Roost and therefore makes it unable to switch into Groudon or Zekrom on a setup turn, severely lowering its utility.
**Blissey**: Blissey can tank Lunala's Ice Beam and freely switch into Will-O-Wisp and Toxic from it due to Natural Cure, Blissey also threatens it out with Toxic for a free turn to use Teleport.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Amberr.483983]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
name: Defensive
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Hex / Roar
move 4: Roost
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Shadow Shield
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
Lunala is a useful defensive Pokemon due to it's ability Shadow Shield, good bulk, and access to recovery in Roost. The combination of these allows it to check many common Pokemon, especially Zygarde, Zekrom, and Groudon. Ice Beam hits all of the aforementioned Pokemon for large amounts, forcing them to switch eventually due to their lack of recovery. Will-O-Wisp allows Lunala to even further check several common physical attackers in the tier while allowing it to cripple defensive Yveltal. Hex allows Lunala to take advantage of Pokemon that are inflicted with status effects, doing large amounts to damage to several common Pokemon, namely Necrozma-DM. Roar allows Lunala to phaze some setup sweepers, namely Xerneas and Zekrom with Substitute, while also allowing Lunala to make a Pokemon take additional Hazard damage. Heavy-Duty Boots allows Lunala to ignore hazard damage, allowing Shadow Shield to stay active without requiring Defog support from teammates.
Lunala fits on balance teams that appreciate its ability to check Pokemon like Zekrom, Zygarde-C, and Groudon and use status moves to wear down the opposing team. Yveltal is required as a partner for Lunala, as it can often switch in on opposing Yveltal and Ghost-Type Pokemon such as Calyrex-Shadow and Marshadow. Teammates that can help deal with Yveltal and Tyranitar are essential, such as Zacian-C, Xerneas, and Groudon. Eternatus or Ferrothorn are able to check Kyogre, allowing Lunala to not have to worry about yet another threat. Eternatus also assists against Yveltal and Marshadow with Toxic and it's powerful coverage. Zacian-C is great with Lunala due to Will-O-Wisp crippling Pokemon that could ordinarily check Zacian such as Groudon and Necrozma-DM. As well as that, Zacian-C is able to assist Lunala by offensively pressuring many of it's checks, namely Yveltal and Marshadow. Pokemon which spread status such as Ho-Oh and Eternatus pose a threat to Lunala due to the chip denying access to Shadow Shield, which opens availability for Pokemon who can use Aromatherapy such as Blissey, which also serves as an Offensive Yveltal, Xerneas, and Kyogre check. Ho-Oh is also another good teammate, as it can take attacks from Calyrex-S and threaten Zacian-C and Marshadow. Zekrom is able to pressure Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Kyogre while also being able to assist against Zacian and Calyrex-Shadow after a Dragon Dance.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Defog is an option Lunala has, being used over Hex / Roar, giving it significantly more utility options but it makes Lunala even more passive, although it allows balance teams to do better against Sticky Web Hyper offensive teams due to Lunala being able to remove hazards in front of very threatening Pokemon thanks to Shadow Shield. Toxic allows Lunala to punish Ho-Oh, Yveltal, and Kyogre, which could otherwise switch into it with little consequence aside from some chip. Thunder Wave also punishes many things that switch in to Lunala somewhat freely like Toxic does, however Thunder Wave allows Lunala to also Punish Eternatus. An alternative EV spread that Lunala is able to use a spread that sacrifices HP evs for Speed evs and uses a Timid nature, and due to Lunala's moderately high base speed it is able to outspeed unboosted Jolly Zekrom and Groudon while still maximizing bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Offensive Ghost-types such as Calyrex-S and Marshadow are able to beat Lunala due to their powerful attacks KO'ing Lunala through Shadow Shield. On top of that, both Marshadow and Calyrex-S can set up due to the fact that they force Lunala out, becoming powerful threats.
**Yveltal**: Specially defensive Yveltal can force Lunala out with Knock Off or Foul Play and pivot into another teammate with U-turn if Lunala switches out, while offensive Yveltal can KO with Dark Pulse. However, offensive variants can potentially be 2HKOed by Ice Beam, restricting their ability to switch in.
**Tyranitar**: Tyranitar is one of the biggest threats to Lunala, being able to take any hit from it due to its amazing special bulk, while also ignoring Shadow Shield due to Sand Steam, crippling Lunala should it come back in without being able to use Roost. In addition, Tyranitar isn't crippled by Lunala's status thanks to Rest, allowing it to switch in with little consequence.
**Status**: Status, especially Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, prevents Lunala from getting Shadow Shield after Roost and therefore makes it unable to switch into Groudon or Zekrom on a setup turn, severely lowering its utility.
**Blissey**: Blissey can tank Lunala's Ice Beam and freely switch into Will-O-Wisp and Toxic from it due to Natural Cure, Blissey also threatens it out with Toxic for a free turn to use Teleport.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Amberr.483983]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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