SteelEdges
Banned deucer.
[Overview]
In a tier with a myriad of Psychic-types, it may seem that Lunatone struggles to carve a niche. This assumption is incorrent: Lunatone's good Special Defense and intriguing Rock/Psychic-typing (a Ground-type immunity in its ability Levitate doesn't hurt) allow it to check powerful special attackers such as Charizard or Jynx. Furthermore, it boasts reliable recovery and a decent support movepool. Interestingly, it can also elect to run a Rock Polish sweeping set, though other offensive Psychic-types may perform this duty better. Lunatone's typing is sadly both a boon and a curse, as it leaves it open to common Grass-, Water-, and Dark-type attacks, and its subpar Defense does it no favors.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Toxic / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
The best of what Lunatone has to offer - typing, decent special bulk, and movepool - is combined in this set. Stealth Rock is invaluable to any NU team, punishing the opponent with every switch. Moonlight helps Lunatone recover damage it takes, and enables it to check specially offensive threats like Charizard. Hidden Power Rock is Lunatone's primary attacking move, due to its great neutral coverage and STAB; also, it dispatches of Jynx and Charizard. The final slot is up to the player's preference. Toxic allows Lunatone to damage bulky Pokemon that Hidden Power Rock grazes, but Psychic offers more offensive coverage and an additional STAB.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
In place of Toxic or Psychic, Earth Power can be used to provide coverage, but it's somewhat underwhelming. Lunatone gets interesting support moves that could fit in that slot, such as Hypnosis or Magic Coat, but Toxic is generally the superior choice. This set, as mentioned before, excels at removing Charizard and Jynx, so Pokemon that benefit from their absence make great partners.
[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Earth Power / Baton Pass
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 8 HP / 252 SpA / 248 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Lunatone's average Special Attack - not to mention its mediocre Speed - may seem unfitting for a sweeper. That said, a Modest nature and the Life Orb boost go a long way. After a Rock Polish with the given EV spread, Lunatone outspeeds Scarf Jynx, Scarf Haunter, and Scarf Primeape, which are promptly OHKO'd. Psychic and Hidden Power Rock again provide STAB and decent coverage. The final move is the player's preference; while Earth Power nails Steel-types that resist Lunatone's STABs, Baton Pass can support the team by aiding an additional sweeper. It also helps in avoiding the Pursuit from Skuntank.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Hypnosis is an option to help Lunatone set up, but it's quite difficult to fit on the set, and inaccurate, anyway. If you're using Baton Pass, something to remove Steel-types is recommended, as Lunatone will be walled by them otherwise.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Lunatone gets a wide variety of other support and offensive moves. It can support dedicated Trick Room teams by setting up and using Explosion to quickly get a sweeper in; the same principle applies to a dual screens user holding Light Clay. Calm Mind is an alternate boosting move, but it doesn't help with Lunatone's Speed. Psyshock is an alternative to Psychic if you would prefer to attack physically frailer Pokemon. Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Signal Beam, and Shadow Ball could all be used to target various Pokemon, but Lunatone greatly prefers to use its STABs. Pain Split is a lesser option to pseudo-heal Lunatone while hopefully damaging the opponent. Finally, Cosmic Power can boost both of Lunatone's defenses, but it's generally a waste of time.
[Checks and Counters]
Lunatone's weaknesses are quite exploitable. Skuntank, Ludicolo, Exeggutor, and Golurk can hurt it with their super-effetive STABs. The Rock Polish set is especially vulnerable to physical priority, such as Liepard's Sucker Punch or Samurott's Aqua Jet. Powerful physical attacks in general are a good response, as its Defense is lacking, especially for a Rock-type.
Whew! First write-up.
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Toxic / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Earth Power / Baton Pass
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 8 HP / 252 SpA / 248 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
[Other Options]
In a tier with a myriad of Psychic-types, it may seem that Lunatone struggles to carve a niche. This assumption is incorrent: Lunatone's good Special Defense and intriguing Rock/Psychic-typing (a Ground-type immunity in its ability Levitate doesn't hurt) allow it to check powerful special attackers such as Charizard or Jynx. Furthermore, it boasts reliable recovery and a decent support movepool. Interestingly, it can also elect to run a Rock Polish sweeping set, though other offensive Psychic-types may perform this duty better. Lunatone's typing is sadly both a boon and a curse, as it leaves it open to common Grass-, Water-, and Dark-type attacks, and its subpar Defense does it no favors.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Toxic / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
The best of what Lunatone has to offer - typing, decent special bulk, and movepool - is combined in this set. Stealth Rock is invaluable to any NU team, punishing the opponent with every switch. Moonlight helps Lunatone recover damage it takes, and enables it to check specially offensive threats like Charizard. Hidden Power Rock is Lunatone's primary attacking move, due to its great neutral coverage and STAB; also, it dispatches of Jynx and Charizard. The final slot is up to the player's preference. Toxic allows Lunatone to damage bulky Pokemon that Hidden Power Rock grazes, but Psychic offers more offensive coverage and an additional STAB.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
In place of Toxic or Psychic, Earth Power can be used to provide coverage, but it's somewhat underwhelming. Lunatone gets interesting support moves that could fit in that slot, such as Hypnosis or Magic Coat, but Toxic is generally the superior choice. This set, as mentioned before, excels at removing Charizard and Jynx, so Pokemon that benefit from their absence make great partners.
[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Earth Power / Baton Pass
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 8 HP / 252 SpA / 248 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Lunatone's average Special Attack - not to mention its mediocre Speed - may seem unfitting for a sweeper. That said, a Modest nature and the Life Orb boost go a long way. After a Rock Polish with the given EV spread, Lunatone outspeeds Scarf Jynx, Scarf Haunter, and Scarf Primeape, which are promptly OHKO'd. Psychic and Hidden Power Rock again provide STAB and decent coverage. The final move is the player's preference; while Earth Power nails Steel-types that resist Lunatone's STABs, Baton Pass can support the team by aiding an additional sweeper. It also helps in avoiding the Pursuit from Skuntank.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Hypnosis is an option to help Lunatone set up, but it's quite difficult to fit on the set, and inaccurate, anyway. If you're using Baton Pass, something to remove Steel-types is recommended, as Lunatone will be walled by them otherwise.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Lunatone gets a wide variety of other support and offensive moves. It can support dedicated Trick Room teams by setting up and using Explosion to quickly get a sweeper in; the same principle applies to a dual screens user holding Light Clay. Calm Mind is an alternate boosting move, but it doesn't help with Lunatone's Speed. Psyshock is an alternative to Psychic if you would prefer to attack physically frailer Pokemon. Ice Beam, Grass Knot, Signal Beam, and Shadow Ball could all be used to target various Pokemon, but Lunatone greatly prefers to use its STABs. Pain Split is a lesser option to pseudo-heal Lunatone while hopefully damaging the opponent. Finally, Cosmic Power can boost both of Lunatone's defenses, but it's generally a waste of time.
[Checks and Counters]
Lunatone's weaknesses are quite exploitable. Skuntank, Ludicolo, Exeggutor, and Golurk can hurt it with their super-effetive STABs. The Rock Polish set is especially vulnerable to physical priority, such as Liepard's Sucker Punch or Samurott's Aqua Jet. Powerful physical attacks in general are a good response, as its Defense is lacking, especially for a Rock-type.
Whew! First write-up.
- An interesting and nearly unique typing, to be sure
- Stellar ability in Levitate that negates its Ground-type weakness
- Surprisingly fast after a Rock Polish boost, and able to KO several Scarfers
- Very decent special movepool, but sadly has to rely on Hidden Power for Rock STAB
- An intriguing support movepool
- An unorthodox choice in NU with some interesting tools at its disposal
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Moonlight
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Toxic / Psychic
item: Leftovers
ability: Levitate
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
- With Stealth Rock, reliable recovery, and a cool support movepool, Lunatone makes a great utility mon
- Stealth Rock is obligatory for team support
- Moonlight provides reliable recovery
- HP Rock nails Charizard and Jynx
- Toxic can damage bulky Pokemon that resists HP Rock, while Psychic provides additional STAB
- Earth Power can be used for pseudo-EdgeQuake coverage
- Hypnosis is unreliable, but an option
- Magic Coat can reflect hazards and status
- This set is a very solid Charizard check, so Pokemon that benefit from its absence make great partners
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Hidden Power Rock
move 4: Earth Power / Baton Pass
item: Life Orb
ability: Levitate
nature: Modest
evs: 8 HP / 252 SpA / 248 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Switch into a Ground-type or resisted move and set up a Rock Polish
- 248 Speed EVs are required to outspeed Scarf Jynx, max Special Attack goes without saying, and 8 in HP for "bulk"
- While Lunatone might not seem powerful (or fast) enough, it is able to outspeed Scarf Jynx, Scarf Primeape, and Scarf Haunter post-boost and KO them
- Psychic and Hidden Power Rock are for STAB
- Earth Power nails the Steel-types that resist Lunatone's STABs and provides excellent coverage, though Baton Pass can support the team or another sweeper
- Hypnosis
- If using Baton Pass, a Fighting-type physical sweeper could be a great partner, as it can take down most NU special walls and Steel-types that would wall this set; in addition, much of these Pokemon would appreciate a +2 boost in Speed.
[Other Options]
- Trick Room
- Dual Screens
- Calm Mind
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Signal Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Pain Split
- Cosmic Power
- Very exploitable weaknesses - Grass, Water, Ghost, Dark - Pokemon such as Exeggutor, Ludicolo, Golurk, and Skuntank can shoot the moon, so to speak, with their STAB moves
- The Rock Polish set loses to special walls and Steel-types if not running Earth Power - in addition, it loses to super-effective priority attacks like Samurott's Aqua Jet or Liepard's Sucker Punch
- It's physically frail, especially for a Rock-type, so powerful neutral or super-effective physical moves will wear it down.] Skeleton
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