[OVERVIEW]
A combination of power and versatility makes Mega Diancie difficult to counter. Its great mixed offenses and Rock / Fairy typing give it a strong niche as a revenge killer and wallbreaker with Pixilate. Meanwhile, its Magic Guard set, which can 2HKO all Pokemon in the metagame depending on its chosen moves, can also sweep if it carries Shell Smash. Also worth noting is Mega Diancie's ability to set entry hazards even against teams carrying Magic Bounce thanks to its offensive pressure. Mega Diancie's typing is also fairly good defensively thanks to its resistances to common attacking types like Dragon, Bug, Dark, and Flying, allowing it to counter defensive Pokemon like Giratina thanks to its immunity to Core Enforcer and giving it many opportunities to switch in and break down walls. Additionally, its resistance to Mega Rayquaza's Aerilate Extreme Speed and Triage Oblivion Wing makes it harder to revenge kill. Mega Diancie can also take advantage of common Dark- and Dragon-types, most of which are OHKOed by its Pixilate Boomburst or Magic Guard Light of Ruin, to switch in and immediately pose a huge offensive threat. However, while Mega Diancie has good enough bulk to take relatively weak or resisted moves like Mega Rayquaza's Boomburst and Giratina's Spectral Thief, it can't switch in on strong moves like Mega Mewtwo Y's Psycho Boost and Choice Band Mega Mewtwo X's Close Combat. Also, it is worth noting that Mega Diancie's bulk is mostly in its 110/110 defenses. This gives it a poor matchup against Imposter Chansey, because while Mega Diancie is held back by its low base HP, Chansey has massive 250/110/110 defenses when Transformed into it. Furthermore, because Pixilate Mega Diancie is a common threat, Pokemon like Steel-types, Red Orb Groudon, and Ho-Oh are found on most teams, making it harder for Mega Diancie to break through opposing teams depending on the moves it carries.
[SET]
name: Pixilate Attacker
move 1: Extreme Speed
move 2: Boomburst
move 3: V-create / Precipice Blades
move 4: Fake Out / Stealth Rock / Sunsteel Strike
item: Pixie Plate / Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Pixilate
nature: Naive / Hasty
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
in-battle alt: Mega
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pixilate Extreme Speed allows Mega Diancie to pick off fast, frail foes including Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Rayquaza, and Shell Smash users like Mega Tyranitar. Boomburst is Mega Diancie's strongest move, 2HKOing defensive Pokemon like Mega Audino and Cresselia and OHKOing frail Pokemon or those hit super effectively like Yveltal and opposing Mega Diancie. V-create is used as coverage for the myriad of Steel-types in the metagame such as Registeel, Solgaleo, and Celesteela. Thanks to its extremely high Base Power, it can outright KO these Pokemon after minimal prior damage. However, it has poor offensive synergy with Boomburst outside of hitting Steel-types, and it fails to hit Flash Fire Steel-types as well as Fire-types like Ho-Oh and Red Orb Groudon. Precipice Blades hits Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types super effectively, giving it better coverage than V-create, but it comes with a notable power decrease. It also leaves Mega Diancie walled by Celesteela. Fake Out deals a decent amount of chip damage to offensive Pokemon like Mega Mewtwo Y and Mega Gengar, allowing Mega Diancie to easily wear them down into Extreme Speed range. Stealth Rock deals damage to opposing Pokemon as they switch in. It helps pressure defensive Pokemon that would otherwise wall Mega Diancie, such as Fur Coat Chansey and Ho-Oh lacking Magic Guard, and thanks to the threat of super effective STAB Boomburst it deters common Magic Bounce users like Giratina from switching in so Mega Diancie can reliably set up Stealth Rock in most matchups. Sunsteel Strike deals tons of damage to Imposter users on the switch and also lets Mega Diancie lure and OHKO Sturdy Shedinja. It provides no coverage against Pokemon that resist Boomburst, though. Other options like Rapid Spin, which cannot be blocked thanks to Pixilate, and Explosion, which enables Mega Diancie to overcome resistant Pokemon such as Steel-types at the cost of sacrificing itself, are viable, but Mega Diancie usually doesn't have the space to run them.
Set Details
========
A Naive nature is used to preserve Mega Diancie's valuable Speed tier without lowering the power of Extreme Speed or Boomburst or making Mega Diancie more susceptible to common physical attacks such as Knock Off, Spectral Thief, and U-turn. Hasty can be used instead to take less damage from Aerilate Mega Rayquaza's Boomburst and Triage Mega Rayquaza's Oblivion Wing, allowing Mega Diancie to serve as a more consistent check to these sets. Pixie Plate gives Mega Diancie's Fairy-type attacks a notable 1.2x boost. This helps Boomburst OHKO Giratina and opposing Naive Mega Diancie. Life Orb variants of Pixilate Mega Diancie are worn down very easily, but in return they have the most power, OHKOing some less bulky Steel-types like Magearna and RegenVest Celesteela with V-create. Leftovers increases Mega Diancie's longevity and gives it free recovery when brought in on a slow pivot move. It is notably weaker than other variants, though.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike other offensive Pokemon, Mega Diancie can be directly switched in on foes like Giratina. However, variants without Fake Out risk losing momentum if these Pokemon pivot out on the switch. Don't be afraid to make aggressive plays with Mega Diancie if needed, such as using Precipice Blades or Stealth Rock against an opposing Giratina predicting it to switch out. Even if you mispredict, Mega Diancie won't take much damage from any attack. At the same time, playing too recklessly against defensive teams can cause Mega Diancie to be lured and KOed by Pokemon like Soundproof Thousand Waves Zygarde-C and Flash Fire Anchor Shot Registeel. Don't be too hasty in using Mega Diancie's priority attacks against Pokemon like Mega Gengar and Mega Mewtwo X, because these Pokemon could carry Dazzling and set up on Mega Diancie. Make sure to use Extreme Speed against opposing Pokemon at low HP that might carry Prankster Destiny Bond. Extreme Speed outprioritizes the move, so Mega Diancie will not faint to Destiny Bond if it KOes the foe first.
Team Options
========
Imposter users like Choice Scarf Chansey can scout for sets that could give Mega Diancie trouble, like Soundproof and Flash Fire, and serve as a secondary revenge killer. Prankster Haze users like Registeel, Cresselia, and Giratina help Mega Diancie against setup Pokemon that utilize Dazzling or Queenly Majesty alongside a boosting move, like Shell Smash Mega Gengar. In return, Mega Diancie can revenge kill Contrary users like Mega Sceptile, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Mewtwo Y with Extreme Speed. Alternatively, Unaware users like Zygarde-C can handle most +2 Dazzling users, and RegenVest Primal Kyogre can take strong special attacks. Pokemon like Magic Bounce Celesteela, Moonlight Red Orb Groudon, and Fur Coat Chansey can Imposter-proof Mega Diancie depending on the moves chosen, preventing opposing Imposter users from breaking down the team should they happen to transform into Mega Diancie. Red Orb Groudon in particular forms a powerful offensive core with Mega Diancie, because it can take advantage of the Steel- and Fire-types Mega Diancie forces in. In return, Mega Diancie's Boomburst deals massive damage to Giratina and Zygarde-C, the main switch-ins to Red Orb Groudon. Entry hazard removers like Mega Audino and Giratina prevent Mega Diancie from being worn down from repeated switches. Entry hazard setters like Poison Heal Mega Mewtwo X can help wear down switch-ins to Mega Diancie and prevent Sturdy Shedinja from countering it.
[SET]
name: Magic Guard
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Light of Ruin
move 3: Flare Blitz / Mind Blown
move 4: Shell Smash / Spectral Thief / Defog / Sunsteel Strike
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Lonely / Mild
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
in-battle alt: Mega
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is Mega Diancie's strongest attack. It deals lots of damage to special walls like Primal Kyogre, Flash Fire Celesteela, and Chansey, and it OHKOes Ho-Oh. Light of Ruin is used to damage Dragon-types like Mega Rayquaza and Zygarde-C, and also hits Dark-types super effectively. Its high power and decent accuracy make it Magic Guard Mega Diancie's most reliable attack. Flare Blitz provides coverage against Steel-types. Unlike Mind Blown, it inflicts physical damage, so it allows Mega Diancie to OHKO Assault Vest users like Solgaleo and Registeel at +2. Mind Blown has a higher base power than Flare Blitz, so it pressures Pokemon like Prankster Registeel more effectively. Shell Smash boosts Mega Diancie's attacking stats and Speed by 2 stages in a single turn, allowing it to outspeed and OHKO almost every Pokemon. Focus Sash allows it to set up against faster foes that could otherwise OHKO it. Spectral Thief combined with Focus Sash allows Mega Diancie to act as an emergency check to almost any sweeper even with entry hazards up, thanks to Magic Guard protecting it from indirect damage. Defog variants of Mega Diancie can't sweep, but they can offensively pressure nearly every entry hazard setter. In a pinch, Mega Diancie can use its Focus Sash to reliably remove entry hazards, preserving its teammates' Focus Sashes and making it a good asset on hyper offense. Sunsteel Strike can be used on offensive teams to eliminate Imposter Chansey and Sturdy Shedinja.
Set Details
========
Lonely or Mild can be used depending on whether Flare Blitz or Mind Blown is chosen. The Defense drop allows Mega Diancie to deal more damage to Imposter users with Head Smash or Sunsteel Strike. Life Orb gives Mega Diancie a 30% power boost to all its attacks, and it has no drawbacks because Magic Guard prevents the recoil. Focus Sash is better on offensive support variants of Mega Diancie, because such sets value the ability to survive any one hit more than the 30% power boost from Life Orb. Magic Guard nullifies the recoil on Mega Diancie's attacks, allowing it to freely use high-powered moves without their normal drawbacks. It also protects it from residual damage caused by entry hazards or status.
Usage Tips
========
Unlike Pixilate variants, Shell Smash Magic Guard Mega Diancie must be played very carefully. Status like burn or paralysis can completely neutralize it by preventing it from breaking down or outspeeding foes, and it takes massive damage if the opposing Pokemon uses Spectral Thief as it sets up. Additionally, Mega Diancie fails to check faster Pokemon like Mega Sceptile if its Focus Sash is broken. That being said, it isn't that hard to find setup opportunities for Mega Diancie. Pokemon it forces out, like Yveltal and Giratina, are common. Additionally, it can bluff the much more common Pixilate set to force out foes like Mega Mewtwo X and then set up on the switch. Try to keep the opponent guessing as to what set Mega Diancie is, because if they believe it's a standard Pixilate variant, they will have no incentive to stay in, giving Mega Diancie the chance it needs to set up. Additionally, it can potentially lure in special walls like RegenVest Primal Kyogre and OHKO them with +2 Head Smash. Spectral Thief Mega Diancie should almost never be directly switched in against an offensive team; instead, its Focus Sash should be preserved until it is needed. If Mega Diancie's value as an emergency check or late-game sweeper is not needed, it can act as an early-game wallbreaker instead. Defog Mega Diancie can potentially be switched in against any defensive Pokemon that doesn't immediately threaten to KO it if need be. Against offensive teams, it shouldn't be needlessly switched in because it could potentially be 2HKOed through its Focus Sash on the switch; however, if needed it can remove entry hazards by bluffing Pixilate Extreme Speed.
Team Options
========
Flash Fire Steel-types like Topsy-Turvy Registeel can Imposter-proof Mega Diancie on balance teams. On offense teams, less consistent Pokemon including niche Unaware users and Prankster Destiny Bond users can prevent opposing Chansey from sweeping. Imposter users like Chansey and Pikachu can scout sets and serve as late-game sweepers once Mega Diancie has removed Imposter-proofers. Magic Bounce Mega Tyranitar can take on Normalize Mega Gengar and Poison Heal Regigigas, which are immune to Spectral Thief. Focus Sash Shell Smash users like Dazzling Mega Tyranitar can take advantage of the entry hazard removal provided by Defog Mega Diancie. Entry hazard setters like Magic Guard Mega Mewtwo Y, Red Orb Groudon, and suicide leads can deter Sturdy Shedinja.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb Sheer Force Mega Diancie with Diamond Storm, Moonblast, Earth Power, and Blue Flare is a decent wallbreaker, but it is somewhat outclassed by Sheer Force Mega Mewtwo Y and Magic Guard Mega Diancie. Poison Heal Mega Diancie can act as a decent sweeper with a set of Moonblast, Earth Power, Quiver Dance, and either Spore or Lovely Kiss. It's less passive than other Poison Heal users such as Xerneas, but its frailty and 4x weakness to Steel make it overreliant on sleep turns to beat Pokemon like Solgaleo. Choice Specs Pixilate Mega Diancie is effective at breaking defensive teams thanks to the added power that lets it overcome its usual switch-ins like Fur Coat Chansey, but it loses out on the utility of Extreme Speed. Pixilate Mega Diancie can use many niche but viable options like Recover, Thousand Arrows or Thousand Waves + Groundium Z, Lovely Kiss, Shell Smash, and Endeavor. These require it to forgo more viable options, though. A nature that boosts Attack or Special Attack, like Mild, can be used on Pixilate Mega Diancie; however, this causes it to be outsped by foes like Jolly Poison Heal Regigigas and Kartana. A Contrary set with Choice Scarf is a decent late-game sweeper due to its STAB Fleur Cannon, but its moves are relatively easy to switch into, and it's overreliant on Fire-type moves for coverage, meaning Flash Fire Steel-types can easily counter it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flash Fire Pokemon**: Most Mega Diancie sets rely on Fire-type coverage, so Pokemon that carry Flash Fire can counter them. Examples include Aegislash, Solgaleo, Ferrothorn, and Mega Venusaur.
**Dazzling Users**: Dazzling users like Mega Mewtwo Y can surprise Pixilate Mega Diancie with an immunity to its Extreme Speed and take advantage of the free turn to set up or KO it. Focus Sash Magic Guard variants can prevent them from setting up, though.
**Soundproof**: Soundproof users like Mega Audino are immune to Pixilate Mega Diancie's Boomburst, preventing it from 2HKOing them. However, Magic Guard sets are threatening to these Pokemon.
**Imposter Users**: Imposter Chansey can switch in on Mega Diancie without taking much damage and force it out, while Imposter Pikachu can't switch in but can threaten to OHKO Mega Diancie and 2HKO Pokemon used to Imposter-proof it.
**Sturdy Shedinja**: Mega Diancie rarely uses Sunsteel Strike, so Sturdy Shedinja can counter most sets. However, Stealth Rock can pressure Shedinja teams.
**Fire-types**: Pokemon like Red Orb Groudon and Magic Guard Ho-Oh make good Boomburst switch-ins. However, Groudon is weak to Ground-type coverage, and Ho-Oh is OHKOed by Magic Guard Head Smash.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Gurpreet Patel (Sent you a Friend Request), 233142]]
- Quality checked by: [[MAMP, 225453], [Funbot28, 255984], [ScarfWynaut, 221682]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Electrolyte, 148071], [The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216]]
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