a loser
I'm a loser, baby, so why don't you kill me?
[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its blazing Speed and impressive Attack, Mega Beedrill is able to pressure two of the best offensive threats in the metagame, Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. STAB U-turn allows it to serve as one of the fastest offensive pivots in the game, which can help keep momentum away from the opposing team. Mega Beedrill's secondary Poison typing lets it resist Fairy-type attacks and absorb Toxic Spikes, setting it apart from other Bug-types like Pheromosa. However, Mega Beedrill faces competition as a speedy Bug-type pivot with Pheromosa, which is faster than Pokemon that outspeed Mega Beedrill like Mega Aerodactyl and Deoxys-A, and while Pheromosa is slightly weaker physically, its Fighting-type STAB helps it pressure Steel-types that normally wall Mega Beedrill. Nevertheless, its higher Attack stat gives Mega Beedrill better chances to net OHKOs on foes such as positive Defense-nature Zygarde-C and neutral-natured Arceus. Its Fairy-type resistance is useful, as it allows Mega Beedrill to revenge kill Pixilate Mega Diancie as long as Mega Beedrill has over roughly 50% of its health, and its ability Tough Claws lets it choose from a wide array of useful coverage moves, effectively letting it decide what walls it. Powerful coverage moves like V-create also allow Mega Beedrill to revenge kill threats like Mega Gengar. However, Mega Beedrill's typing also means it is worn down quickly by entry hazards due to its Stealth Rock weakness and Spikes vulnerability; this is important, since its role as a pivot means it will be switching in frequently. Mega Beedrill's primary STAB move, U-turn, is resisted by common defensive types in Ghost, Steel, and Fairy, which are found on prominent Pokemon like Giratina, Registeel, and Xerneas. While Mega Beedrill has a decent defensive typing, it has paper-thin defensive stats and struggles to take even resisted hits, which makes it very easy for it to be revenge killed by priority attacks, like Extreme Speed and Triage Oblivion Wing, or worn down by neutral hits from walls.
[SET]
name: Choice Band Pivot
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Poison Jab / Sunsteel Strike / Bolt Strike
move 3: Ice Hammer
move 4: V-create / Close Combat / Spectral Thief / Dragon Ascent
item: Choice Band
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
U-turn is Mega Beedrill's most spammable move and helps it to be an effective pivot, notably OHKOing Mega Mewtwo Y from full health. Poison Jab is secondary STAB coverage to nail Mega Audino and Xerneas and also has a chance to poison walls like Giratina and Zygarde-C. Sunsteel Strike is an alternative coverage move that allows Mega Beedrill to eliminate Sturdy Shedinja and Mega Diancie while still hitting other Fairy-types. Bolt Strike is a helpful coverage option for hitting defensive threats that 4x resist U-turn, such as Flash Fire Celesteela and Ho-Oh. Ice Hammer is Mega Beedrill's best option for hitting Dragon-types like Giratina and Zygarde-C, which would otherwise wall it. V-create hits non-Flash Fire Steel-types extremely hard and also OHKOes Eviolite Imposter Chansey. Close Combat is an alternative that allows Mega Beedrill to hit Flash Fire Steel-types as well as Normal-types like Arceus, Chansey, and Regigigas, while Spectral Thief OHKOes Mega Gengar and 2HKOes Giratina and Aegislash but leaves Mega Beedrill walled by Zygarde-C. Dragon Ascent is an option that guarantees OHKOs on Mega Mewtwo X and Choice Scarf Imposter users. Pursuit is a niche option that has a chance to OHKO Mega Mewtwo Y and always OHKOes Mega Gengar as they switch out. However, Pursuit introduces a risky mind game, as Mega Beedrill does not OHKO either Pokemon if they don't switch out and will either be OHKOed or lose momentum in return. High Horsepower is another niche option that allows Mega Beedrill to hit Flash Fire Steel-types that are immune or neutral to Close Combat, like Aegislash and Magearna.
Set Details
========
Choice Band maximizes Mega Beedrill's damage output and ensures that it OHKOes Mega Mewtwo Y from full health with Tough Claws-boosted U-turn. Tough Claws boosts Mega Beedrill's overall offensive prowess, since all of its moves make contact. A Jolly nature is used so that Mega Beedrill outspeeds Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Gengar, and Mega Mewtwo Y and Speed ties with Mega Sceptile.
Usage Tips
========
To keep Mega Beedrill healthy, it is best to send it out when entry hazards have been cleared. U-turn should be used as the primary move for Mega Beedrill to be most effective as an offensive pivot and to help it rack up useful chip damage. Even resisted hits can provide valuable chip damage on walls, making it easier for teammates to take them down later. Using U-turn also keeps momentum away from the opponent and ensures that Mega Beedrill is not locked into a move in unideal situations. Spamming U-turn gives you the opportunity to scout the opponent's switch-in to Mega Beedrill, whether it is Giratina, Zygarde-C, Registeel, or another defensive Pokemon, and scout for abilities that could potentially give Mega Beedrill trouble, such as Fur Coat by assessing how much damage was done or Flash Fire by pivoting into an Imposter teammate. Coverage moves should be used only once sufficient scouting has been performed so that Mega Beedrill's set is not revealed beforehand. Depending on the opponent's switch-in, coverage moves should only be used once the opposing Pokemon is in range of being KOed so as to avoid losing momentum against threats like Prankster + Strength Sap Giratina.
Team Options
========
Teammates that can keep entry hazards off the field, whether via Magic Bounce or Defog support, help to keep Mega Beedrill healthy. Potential Magic Bounce teammates include Giratina and Mega Audino, and depending on the coverage moves of choice, these teammates can help Imposter-proof Mega Beedrill. Due to Mega Beedrill's type weaknesses like Flying and Psychic and vulnerability to priority attacks, Steel-types pair nicely as teammates, especially if they have Flash Fire to remove their one shared weakness with Mega Beedrill. Potential Steel-type teammates include Flash Fire Registeel and Necrozma-DM to handle -ate users, as well as Prankster Registeel and Aegislash to deal with setup threats. Steel-types can also help Imposter-proof Mega Beedrill based on the coverage options that are used, and the aforementioned ones can also serve as slow pivots that give Mega Beedrill opportunities to come in safely. Offensive teammates that pressure Giratina and Steel-types are beneficial for maintaining momentum. Mega Gengar is a nice option, since it threatens Giratina, Shedinja, and Steel-types that give Mega Beedrill trouble. In return, Mega Beedrill threatens Mega Mewtwo Y, which frees up opportunities for Mega Gengar to sweep. Other examples of teammates include Pixilate Mega Diancie and various Mega Mewtwo X sets, like Tough Claws and Adaptability. Imposter users can help scout opposing sets to check for moves or abilities that could be used to threaten or wall Mega Beedrill such as Triage Oblivion Wing and Fur Coat. Entry hazard support from teammates such as Mega Diancie or Mega Mewtwo X can chip down common switch-ins like Giratina and Registeel and get them in range of being KOed.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mega Beedrill can bypass some Pokemon that resist its STAB combination by running Tinted Lens, either with a Choice Band set that uses similar coverage moves as Tough Claws or with a sweeper set that uses Swords Dance / Megahorn / Gunk Shot / Sunsteel Strike and Buginium Z. The Choice Band set doubles the damage from U-turn against common switch-ins like Giratina and Registeel, potentially making it easier for teammates to break through them. However, Tinted Lens no longer guarantees some of the OHKOs that Tough Claws picks up, like on Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Gengar, and so is ultimately not as effective. After a Swords Dance boost, the sweeper set can net OHKOs on Registeel and Giratina with Savage Spin-Out. However, this set's main attacks are fairly inaccurate, and the walls it aims to beat are commonly seen with Prankster Haze. The sweeper set offers more firepower than the Choice Band Tinted Lens pivot set at the cost of being a momentum drain if Mega Beedrill is forced out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pokemon that Resist Bug and Poison**: Mega Beedrill is walled and forced out by Ghost- and Steel-types, which resist or are immune to both of its STAB moves. Giratina is very common and has impressive physical bulk to help it wall Mega Beedrill, although Mega Beedrill can give Giratina trouble with the right coverage moves. Flash Fire Steel-types wall V-create sets but can be susceptible to other coverage options like Close Combat and Bolt Strike.
**Priority Attacks and Faster Threats**: Mega Beedrill has very poor defenses and can easily be revenge killed by priority from -ate users like Kyurem-B and Zekrom, Life Orb Triage Oblivion Wing users like Yveltal and Mega Charizard Y, and even Sucker Punch users like Mega Tyranitar. Faster threats like Mega Aerodactyl and Deoxys-A also outspeed and threaten to OHKO Mega Beedrill with super effective STAB moves.
**Entry Hazards and Rocky Helmet**: Mega Beedrill is weak to Stealth Rock and affected by Spikes; damage from these entry hazards can quickly wear down Mega Beedrill and keep it from performing its role. Since all of its moves make contact, Rocky Helmet also chips away at Mega Beedrill and limits how much it can come in as a pivot.
**Status**: Mega Beedrill is severely crippled by burns and paralysis. Moves like Prankster Will-O-Wisp, Beak Blast, and Nuzzle make it practically useless.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[a loser, 410702]]
- Quality checked by: [[GL Volkner, 330455], [Chessking345, 355040]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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