Primarina is a fearsome wallbreaker in the UU tier, possessing a high Special Attack stat that is complemented nicely by its fantastic offensive and defensive typing in Water / Fairy. Its typing along with its solid natural special bulk allows it to reliably handle Hydreigon as well as stomach hits from threats like Moltres, Chandelure, and Mega Pidgeot and KO in return. However, Primarina is ultimately held back by its lackluster Defense stat, worsening its one-on-one matchup against common Pokemon like Gliscor, Mega Aerodactyl, Scizor, and Dragon Dance Mega Altaria. Additionally, due to its low Speed stat, Primarina is often forced to take damage in order to get off attacks of its own, ultimately limiting its longevity in combination with its vulnerability to all entry hazards.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Sparkling Aria / Scald
move 4: Psychic
item: Choice Specs
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest
evs: 92 HP / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Hydro Pump is Primarina's most powerful viable Water-type STAB move, only held back by its unreliable accuracy. Moonblast offers Primarina a more spammable STAB move, possessing no drawbacks and few sturdy Pokemon that resist it. Sparkling Aria makes for a more reliable Water-type STAB move, also hitting Pokemon like Chandelure and Gliscor through Substitute. Scald is a slightly weaker option in this slot, but it makes up for it by threatening potential switch-ins such as Empoleon with a burn. Psychic provides great coverage alongside Primarina's STAB moves, nailing Pokemon like Tentacruel and Vileplume.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack investment, a Modest nature, and Choice Specs allow Primarina to hit as hard as possible at the cost of locking into a move. 164 Speed EVs let Primarina outspeed minimum Speed Mega Altaria along with other Pokemon like Klefki and Mantine, though this stat is easily customizable to fit the team. The rest of Primarina's EVs are dumped into HP, improving its ability to tank hits and do huge damage in return. Torrent allows Primarina to do even more damage with its Water-type STAB moves when its HP is low.
Usage Tips
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Primarina is best used early- to mid-game to punch holes for teammates, ideally being brought in on double switches and free switches from U-turn or Volt Switch to preserve its health to handle hits better later on in the match. Primarina does a terrific job of threatening common Stealth Rock users such as Rhyperior, Hippowdon, and Swampert, and it should be used aggressively to take advantage of them early-game. If expecting a hard Primarina counter like Blissey or Empoleon to come in, it is often better to double switch to a teammate that threatens them in order to maintain momentum. Be wary of locking into Psychic, as though it can nab Tentacruel and Vileplume on the switch, it is easily exploited by common threats like Scizor, Latias, and Gliscor. While Primarina's ability to often stomach a powerful hit and deal huge damage in return to foes is a valuable tool, determine when it is necessary to do so, as it often leaves Primarina too weak to perform its role defensively. Primarina is easily worn down and should be kept at a sufficient amount of HP to check Pokemon like Hydreigon and Infernape if necessary. Entry hazards play a major role in wearing down Primarina, and they should be cleared by teammates whenever needed.
Team Options
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Primarina's offensive and defensive capabilities allow it to fit nicely on a wide variety of teams, ranging from balance to offense. Fighting-types like Terrakion, Kommo-o, and Cobalion provide great ways of breaking through Primarina's best answers in Blissey and Empoleon. Choice Scarf users like Hydreigon and Krookodile make for solid partners, dealing with Mega Manectric and helping to cover for Primarina's low Speed stat. U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Scizor, Mega Manectric, and the aforementioned Hydreigon allow Primarina to switch in for free, letting it effectively perform its role as a wallbreaker while staying healthy over time. Dragon-types as a whole possess great type synergy alongside Primarina, resisting Grass- and Electric-type moves and appreciating its ability to tank opposing Dragon- and Ice-type moves in return. Grass-types offer similar defensive synergy, and Tsareena can double down as a physical wallbreaker to beat Primarina's sturdier answers. Bulky Steel-types such as Mega Aggron, Bronzong, and Doublade can absorb Poison-type moves aimed at Primarina while helping to combat many of the physical wallbreakers that threaten it. Entry hazard removers like Latias, Gliscor, and Serperior are also great options, helping to keep Primarina healthy throughout a match. Similarly, entry hazard setters such as Nihilego and the aforementioned Mega Aggron are essential in further pressuring Primarina's switch-ins, notably guaranteeing that Torrent-boosted Hydro Pump 2HKOes Blissey after Stealth Rock damage.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Primarina is capable of running a physically defensive set featuring RestTalk and two STAB moves to take advantage of its nice defensive typing and to further improve its matchup against threats like Kommo-o and Hydreigon, though it is generally less effective than its usual Choice Specs set. Energy Ball further improves Primarina's one-on-one matchup against bulky Water-types like Suicune, Slowbro, and Swampert, but it is usually inferior to Psychic. Ice Beam hits Grass-types super effectively, but Moonblast is usually sufficient in damaging them, and Psychic already nails Vileplume. Hidden Power Electric deals solid damage to Volcanion, Mantine, and Empoleon, but it, too, is hard to justify over Psychic.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Blissey and Empoleon often shrug off Primarina's moves and can perform their roles in front of it. Alolan Muk is a softer answer, as it is more easily worn down over time, but it threatens Primarina with its Poison-type STAB moves.
**Pokemon that Resist Primarina's STAB Moves**: Tentacruel, Vileplume, and Volcanion can all tank hits from Primarina and deal huge damage in return. However, the former two must watch out for Psychic.
**Electric-types**: Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Rotom-C threaten Primarina with their STAB moves and often force it out. Furthermore, Mega Manectric and Rotom-C can freely use Volt Switch to gain offensive momentum.
**Grass-types**: Celebi and Tsareena can heavily damage Primarina, while Serperior can take advantage of a weakened Primarina to start accumulating Special Attack boosts from Leaf Storm.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Powerful wallbreakers like Terrakion, Heracross, and Kommo-o all threaten Primarina with their respective coverage moves, taking advantage of its lackluster Defense stat.
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