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It also hadecent coverage options
It also hadecent coverage options
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Medicham
- Thread starter Heysup
- Start date
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GP 2/2
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[Overview]
<p>Medicham is known for its ability, Pure Power, which doubles its Attack stat. This makes its Adamant, Choice Band-boosted Hi Jump Kick the hardest hitting attack in UU. It's capable of OHKOing Pokemon such as Milotic and even those that resist it, such as offensive Zapdos. With such great power, Medicham can be very threatening with a Choice Scarf as well, increasing its Speed to far above the average. It also has decent coverage options at its disposal, including secondary STAB moves Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut, Ice Punch, and ThunderPunch. Medicham is unique in that it is one of only two fully evolved Psychic- and Fighting-type Pokemon, along with Gallade. Medicham hits harder than Gallade, but lacks its reliability in Close Combat, as well as its decent Special Bulk special bulk. In addition to being very frail, Hi Jump Kick is also very risky if the opponent carries a Ghost-type; Medicham almost always needs Pursuit support.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Trick / ThunderPunch
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The Choice Scarf and Choice Band sets function quite similarly but on different mediums. The Choice Scarf variant is Medicham's best chance at a sweep, due to its decent Speed and incredibly powerful Hi Jump Kick, while the Choice Band set is effective at breaking through walls of slower teams that cannot beat it to the punch. Hi Jump Kick is Medicham's Excalibur—the one move that makes it a threat, and the primary move to be used by either set when safe to do so. Psycho Cut or Zen Headbutt is used in the next slot to hit Poison- and Ghost-types for heavy damage. Ice Punch is mandatory, unlike ThunderPunch, to hit Celebi and Flygon, whereas ThunderPunch is used purely on the Choice Band set for Slowbro. Trick is a great tool on the Choice Scarf set to effectively destroy a stall-team member or would-be counter. It also screws up any Baton Pass Pokemon.</p>
<p>Adamant Medicham with a Choice Scarf reaches a Speed of 388, outpacing the likes of Alakazam, Sceptile, and Swellow. With a Jolly nature, Medicham reaches 426. This outpaces Adamant Choice Scarf Heracross as well as Rhyperior after a Rock Polish. On the Choice Band set, Adamant is recommended for maximum damage output.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The debate between Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut essentially comes down to personal preference. Psycho Cut is more reliable, while Zen Headbutt is more powerful and has an arguably better secondary effect—a chance to cause a flinch. On the Choice Band set, there is basically no reason to use Zen Headbutt, as Psycho Cut hits everything hard enough and you are likely not going to outpace much anyway. On the Choice Scarf set, Zen Headbutt is worth consideration for the flinch chance alone due to Medicham's increased Speed. The damage difference is more evident if you do not carry entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, but if Stealth Rock is used, it gets all of the necessary KOs on Ghost-types such as offensive Rotom and Mismagius, as well as the 2HKO on the standard bulky Froslass.</p>
<p>Medicham benefits greatly from Pursuit support, as having a Ghost-type switch into Hi Jump Kick is always a bad situation. Medicham is frail as it is, so taking unnecessary damage makes the situation that much worse. Pokemon such as Bisharp and Heracross work well for this tactic. Medicham also pairs well with another Fighting-type. The Choice Band set breaks walls for a faster Fighting-type, (comma) such as Choice Scarf Heracross, Gallade, or Hitmonlee, to come in and sweep the opponent, while the Choice Scarf set works well with a wall breaker wallbreaker set for one of those Pokemon. Choice Band Heracross works especially well with Choice Scarf Medicham because it has a strong Pursuit and has Megahorn to take out those pesky Psychic-types. Of course, Medicham greatly appreciates Spikes and Stealth Rock to ensure some KOes and increase its overall damage.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Medicham can effectively run a Substitute set to ease prediction. However, limiting oneself to three attacking moves when the goal is to break through walls is not especially effective, even if prediction is easier. Bulk Up is another set that can be used effectively, but will generally not be useful due to Medicham's underwhelming bulk and Speed.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>Deoxys-D, Wobbuffet, Slowbro, and Celebi can all take Hi Jump Kicks and beat Medicham back. They are especially bulky and are not easily disposed of by Pursuit either. Dusclops is immune to Hi Jump Kick and laughs off every single attack that Medicham can throw at it except for Trick. Medicham merely reaches a Speed stat of 388 or 426 with a Choice Scarf (Adamant and Jolly, respectively), which seems like a hefty amount,against amount; however, against faster Choice Scarf users such as Heracross, Medicham is easily outsped and revenge killed. Pursuit also works well when Medicham is locked into a Psychic-type attack, but Dark-types must be wary of Hi Jump Kick when switching in. If there are no Ghost-types left, then Medicham will almost certainly be using Hi Jump Kick, and Dark-types cannot switch in but safely.</p>
<p>Another interesting counter to Medicham's sweep is the move Protect. It makes Hi Jump Kick miss, and Medicham cannot take the recoil damage more than thrice at best.</p>
<p>Medicham is known for its ability, Pure Power, which doubles its Attack stat. This makes its Adamant, Choice Band-boosted Hi Jump Kick the hardest hitting attack in UU. It's capable of OHKOing Pokemon such as Milotic and even those that resist it, such as offensive Zapdos. With such great power, Medicham can be very threatening with a Choice Scarf as well, increasing its Speed to far above the average. It also has decent coverage options at its disposal, including secondary STAB moves Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut, Ice Punch, and ThunderPunch. Medicham is unique in that it is one of only two fully evolved Psychic- and Fighting-type Pokemon, along with Gallade. Medicham hits harder than Gallade, but lacks its reliability in Close Combat, as well as its decent Special Bulk special bulk. In addition to being very frail, Hi Jump Kick is also very risky if the opponent carries a Ghost-type; Medicham almost always needs Pursuit support.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
move 3: Ice Punch
move 4: Trick / ThunderPunch
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The Choice Scarf and Choice Band sets function quite similarly but on different mediums. The Choice Scarf variant is Medicham's best chance at a sweep, due to its decent Speed and incredibly powerful Hi Jump Kick, while the Choice Band set is effective at breaking through walls of slower teams that cannot beat it to the punch. Hi Jump Kick is Medicham's Excalibur—the one move that makes it a threat, and the primary move to be used by either set when safe to do so. Psycho Cut or Zen Headbutt is used in the next slot to hit Poison- and Ghost-types for heavy damage. Ice Punch is mandatory, unlike ThunderPunch, to hit Celebi and Flygon, whereas ThunderPunch is used purely on the Choice Band set for Slowbro. Trick is a great tool on the Choice Scarf set to effectively destroy a stall-team member or would-be counter. It also screws up any Baton Pass Pokemon.</p>
<p>Adamant Medicham with a Choice Scarf reaches a Speed of 388, outpacing the likes of Alakazam, Sceptile, and Swellow. With a Jolly nature, Medicham reaches 426. This outpaces Adamant Choice Scarf Heracross as well as Rhyperior after a Rock Polish. On the Choice Band set, Adamant is recommended for maximum damage output.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The debate between Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut essentially comes down to personal preference. Psycho Cut is more reliable, while Zen Headbutt is more powerful and has an arguably better secondary effect—a chance to cause a flinch. On the Choice Band set, there is basically no reason to use Zen Headbutt, as Psycho Cut hits everything hard enough and you are likely not going to outpace much anyway. On the Choice Scarf set, Zen Headbutt is worth consideration for the flinch chance alone due to Medicham's increased Speed. The damage difference is more evident if you do not carry entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, but if Stealth Rock is used, it gets all of the necessary KOs on Ghost-types such as offensive Rotom and Mismagius, as well as the 2HKO on the standard bulky Froslass.</p>
<p>Medicham benefits greatly from Pursuit support, as having a Ghost-type switch into Hi Jump Kick is always a bad situation. Medicham is frail as it is, so taking unnecessary damage makes the situation that much worse. Pokemon such as Bisharp and Heracross work well for this tactic. Medicham also pairs well with another Fighting-type. The Choice Band set breaks walls for a faster Fighting-type, (comma) such as Choice Scarf Heracross, Gallade, or Hitmonlee, to come in and sweep the opponent, while the Choice Scarf set works well with a wall breaker wallbreaker set for one of those Pokemon. Choice Band Heracross works especially well with Choice Scarf Medicham because it has a strong Pursuit and has Megahorn to take out those pesky Psychic-types. Of course, Medicham greatly appreciates Spikes and Stealth Rock to ensure some KOes and increase its overall damage.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Medicham can effectively run a Substitute set to ease prediction. However, limiting oneself to three attacking moves when the goal is to break through walls is not especially effective, even if prediction is easier. Bulk Up is another set that can be used effectively, but will generally not be useful due to Medicham's underwhelming bulk and Speed.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>Deoxys-D, Wobbuffet, Slowbro, and Celebi can all take Hi Jump Kicks and beat Medicham back. They are especially bulky and are not easily disposed of by Pursuit either. Dusclops is immune to Hi Jump Kick and laughs off every single attack that Medicham can throw at it except for Trick. Medicham merely reaches a Speed stat of 388 or 426 with a Choice Scarf (Adamant and Jolly, respectively), which seems like a hefty amount,against amount; however, against faster Choice Scarf users such as Heracross, Medicham is easily outsped and revenge killed. Pursuit also works well when Medicham is locked into a Psychic-type attack, but Dark-types must be wary of Hi Jump Kick when switching in. If there are no Ghost-types left, then Medicham will almost certainly be using Hi Jump Kick, and Dark-types cannot switch in but safely.</p>
<p>Another interesting counter to Medicham's sweep is the move Protect. It makes Hi Jump Kick miss, and Medicham cannot take the recoil damage more than thrice at best.</p>
GP 2/2
