Currently, the suggested set for a Perish Trapping Mismagius is as follows.
name: Perish Trap
move 1: Mean Look
move 2: Perish Song
move 3: Protect
move 4: Taunt / Substitute / Pain Split
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 252hp/56def/200spdef
I think there could be something different, though. Very few threats in the game exist anymore that need to be taunted. What would you taunt? The only things to taunt would be things like Skarmory and status inflictions, especially sleep. The thing is, status weakness and whirlwind or roar weakness is a weakness that does not cripple the set. If the enemy team has a rare "phazer," take it out before attempting the set. Statuses in general are not going to completely cripple Mismagius.
Mismagius' main problem is that it dies to physical attacks. Anything that figures your set out will simply send out a physical attacker as you mean look and take you out in a heartbeat. With base stats of 60 in both HP and Defense, it dreads any incoming physical attacks, especially priority moves.
Essentially, we have two main things that cripple the set:
1) Roar and Whirlwind, Status Inflictions
2) Physical Attacks
In my humble opinion, I think that Option #1 is a lot rarer in the Diamond / Pearl Metagame. Besides, both of the possibilities in Option #1 conclude with an annoyance, something that hurts the set. Now, take a look at Option #2. Physical attacks. The predominant form of assault in the Diamond / Pearl Metagame. Something that does not just mean "annoyance." It means death.
To cure this problem, I think that Will-o-wisp is an absolute must on this set. The enemy will almost surely switch to a physical attacker as you Mean Look and / or Perish Song, most likely to a physical attacker. If you Will-o-wisp on the switch, you essentially beef yourself to a huge level of wall'age, with the natural ability to absorb a lot of special attacks as well as halving all physical damage against you. They essentially get two shots at you, and with a burn in place, it is much more difficult to take you down and destroy the mean look. Furthermore, even if you have to switch out and your initial plan fails, you at least did *something* to the other team -- you burned one of its main physical attackers. One of the major problems with the current set is that if it fails to faint you with Perish Song, it is a handicapped match. With Will-o-wisp, even if you are not able to survive or succeed, you at least perhaps crippled a potential physical sweeper. So, I would say that this set works the best when paired with a strong tank or wall with solid all-around defenses, like Cresselia or Swampert.
Another option is Thunder Wave. The whole point of the Perish Trap is that your enemy needs to switch immediately to a viable quick and powerful counter. Using Thunder Wave, while not necessarily helping you pull off your plan, can cripple fast hitting Pokemon like ScarfCross, who would otherwise enjoy the idea of a burn. Then again, Thunder Wave does nothing to some common threats like Garchomp.
Now, granted, Taunt has its uses, as does Substitute. I would shy away from Pain Split, myself, but it is certainly viable. If you do run Pain Split, though, I would suggest Lum Berry so that status inflictions do not hinder your performance.
Here is the set that I would run.
Mismagius @ Leftovers / Lum Berry
Calm, Levitate, 252 HP / 156 Sp.Def / 100 Defense
- Mean Look
- Perish Song
- Protect
- Will-o-wisp
Discuss!
name: Perish Trap
move 1: Mean Look
move 2: Perish Song
move 3: Protect
move 4: Taunt / Substitute / Pain Split
item: Leftovers
nature: Calm
evs: 252hp/56def/200spdef
I think there could be something different, though. Very few threats in the game exist anymore that need to be taunted. What would you taunt? The only things to taunt would be things like Skarmory and status inflictions, especially sleep. The thing is, status weakness and whirlwind or roar weakness is a weakness that does not cripple the set. If the enemy team has a rare "phazer," take it out before attempting the set. Statuses in general are not going to completely cripple Mismagius.
Mismagius' main problem is that it dies to physical attacks. Anything that figures your set out will simply send out a physical attacker as you mean look and take you out in a heartbeat. With base stats of 60 in both HP and Defense, it dreads any incoming physical attacks, especially priority moves.
Essentially, we have two main things that cripple the set:
1) Roar and Whirlwind, Status Inflictions
2) Physical Attacks
In my humble opinion, I think that Option #1 is a lot rarer in the Diamond / Pearl Metagame. Besides, both of the possibilities in Option #1 conclude with an annoyance, something that hurts the set. Now, take a look at Option #2. Physical attacks. The predominant form of assault in the Diamond / Pearl Metagame. Something that does not just mean "annoyance." It means death.
To cure this problem, I think that Will-o-wisp is an absolute must on this set. The enemy will almost surely switch to a physical attacker as you Mean Look and / or Perish Song, most likely to a physical attacker. If you Will-o-wisp on the switch, you essentially beef yourself to a huge level of wall'age, with the natural ability to absorb a lot of special attacks as well as halving all physical damage against you. They essentially get two shots at you, and with a burn in place, it is much more difficult to take you down and destroy the mean look. Furthermore, even if you have to switch out and your initial plan fails, you at least did *something* to the other team -- you burned one of its main physical attackers. One of the major problems with the current set is that if it fails to faint you with Perish Song, it is a handicapped match. With Will-o-wisp, even if you are not able to survive or succeed, you at least perhaps crippled a potential physical sweeper. So, I would say that this set works the best when paired with a strong tank or wall with solid all-around defenses, like Cresselia or Swampert.
Another option is Thunder Wave. The whole point of the Perish Trap is that your enemy needs to switch immediately to a viable quick and powerful counter. Using Thunder Wave, while not necessarily helping you pull off your plan, can cripple fast hitting Pokemon like ScarfCross, who would otherwise enjoy the idea of a burn. Then again, Thunder Wave does nothing to some common threats like Garchomp.
Now, granted, Taunt has its uses, as does Substitute. I would shy away from Pain Split, myself, but it is certainly viable. If you do run Pain Split, though, I would suggest Lum Berry so that status inflictions do not hinder your performance.
Here is the set that I would run.
Mismagius @ Leftovers / Lum Berry
Calm, Levitate, 252 HP / 156 Sp.Def / 100 Defense
- Mean Look
- Perish Song
- Protect
- Will-o-wisp
Discuss!
