[SET]
Skill Swap (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 36 SpD / 56 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Stored Power / Psyshock
- Skill Swap / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers combined with Calm Mind allows Cresselia to defeat Icy Wind + Encore Primarina sets. Moonlight provides reliable recovery allowing Cresselia to defeat Choice Band Zeraora and non-SD Landorus-Therian. Stored Power allows Cresselia to break through opposing Calm Mind Pokemon such as Primarina; or power through resists such as non-SD Ferrothorn and some Celesteela. Psyshock can be used to still help break through opposing Calm Minders as well as defeating Nihilego at the expense of being worse into resists. Skill Swap allows Cresselia to defeat Aroma Veil Aromatisse and be better into Regidrago as well as defeating some Unaware Pokemon if running Psyshock such as Clefable and Quagsire but notably not Pyukumuku. Substitute allows Cresselia to improve odds of not getting KO'd by a Critical Hit while clicking Calm Mind as well as beating Goodra and improving the matchup against Yawn Sylveon.
EVs
=============
Special Defense to live 252+ Primarina Moonblast into Torrent Hydro Cannon and Speed for base 60s such as Primarina, Sylveon, and Magnezone. The rest is put in Defense to live hits from Pokemon such as Zeraora, Landorus-Therian, and Haxorus.
Usage Tips
=============
Most Cresselia matchups are straightforward: Calm Mind until Stored Power is strong enough such that continuing clicking Calm Mind has less of a return on investment. For example, if Stored Power can 3HKO at +3 or can 2HKO at +4 and Cresselia does not need the Special Defense boost it is preferable to start attacking earlier. That way you get more chances to Critical Hit potentially turning Stored Power into a 2HKO with a crit. Otherwise, use Moonlight whenever Cresselia is low on HP, be wary of Moonlight's measly 8 PP. If possible attempt to keep Cresselia's HP high enough such that even a Critical Hit will not KO Cresselia. Finally, Skill Swap is generally used for Aromatisse, taking Aromatisse's Aroma Veil so that Aromatisse cannot Encore nor Disable Cresselia. It can also be used versus some Regidrago sets where Skill Swap should be clicked T1. This reduces the damage of Special Attacks the same amount as Calm Mind would with the added benefit of also weakening the damage of Regidrago's physical attacks. Against Unaware pokemon such as Clefable and Quagsire if not running Stored Power, Cresselia will need to use Skill Swap while avoiding being Encored into Skill Swap so Cresselia can OHKO with a Calm Mind boosted Psyshock. Cresselia should be unpredictable with using Skill Swap while using Calm Mind to boost and Moonlight to stay healthy. Be aware that Pyukumuku is generally favored as a Unaware user due to being able to use the combination of Taunt, Mirror Coat, and Recover to prevent Cresselia from boosting fast enough without being taken out by Mirror Coat. Finally, versus Landorus-Therian Cresselia should Moonlight turn 1 then click Skill Swap to improve the matchup against Choice Band Knock Off Landorus-Therian.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rest can be run instead of Moonlight but this is generally not recommended as Cresselia oftentimes enjoys the immediate 50% recovery from Moonlight. Rest does however allow Cresselia to defeat Pokemon which use Toxic such as Pressure Stall Entei which it previously was unable to. Reflect can be used instead of Skill Swap to deal with certain physical attackers but this is more common on a Kee Berry set.
[SET]
Icy Wind (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 60 SpD / 68 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind
- Stored Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers paired with Calm Mind and Icy Wind gives Cresselia a good matchup against most sets of the Water Fairies: Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill. Moonlight provides consistent recovery allowing Cresselia to set up safely in front of many pokemon which do not outdamage Leftovers + Moonlight recovery such as Kyurem and Choice Specs Naganadel. Stored Power allows for Cresselia to defeat some opposing Calm Minders including the aforementioned Tapu Fini and Primarina as well as breaking through resists such as Steelix and non-Metal Sound Magnezone. Icy Wind flips many matchups most notably versus Taunt users such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Bulu as well as Swords Dance variants of Garchomp and Landorus-Therian.
EVs
=============
Special Defense to live max Special Attack Modest Specs Volcanion Steam Eruption into +1 Steam Eruption assuming burn and speed for Garchomp at -1. The rest is put into Defense to have the best odds to live attacks from Garchomp, Scarf Darmanitan-Galar, and Tapu Bulu.
Usage Tips
=============
Calm Mind should be clicked versus Tapu Fini and Icy Wind should only be used if Tapu Fini Taunts Cresselia. Since Cresselia loses to Trick Tapu Fini regardless of the move clicked being locked into Icy Wind is just as losing as being locked into any other move therefore clicking Calm Mind turn 1 is optimal. Icy Wind should be clicked Turn 1 versus Garchomp and Landorus-Therian as this allows Cresselia to Moonlight in the face of potentially getting 2HKOed by Band Outrage from Garchomp and providing better rolls to 2HKO as Cresselia against Swords Dance Knock Off variants of Landorus-Therian. Cresselia generally outspeeds most Tapu Bulu variants so clicking Calm Mind Turn 1 is generally safe and subsequently alternating between Icy Wind and Stored Power after getting Taunted to avoid potentially losing a turn to Disable. It is worth noting that Tapu Bulu can win if it clicks Taunt turn 1 but this risks losing to Trick Cresselia thus turning the matchup into a 50/50. Finally, Calm Mind should be clicked against Tapu Koko and Icy Wind should only be clicked after getting Taunted.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock can be used instead of Stored Power but this is generally not preferable as it sacrifices reliability in the Tapu Fini matchup although it does help versus Acid Spray + Meteor Beam Nihilego where clicking Calm Mind into Psyshock generally KOs Nihilego while avoiding a KO by Nihilego. Rest can also be used over Moonlight to help versus certain Toxic users like Pressure Entei and Chansey but this sacrifices reliability in matchups versus Pokemon such as Choice Band Zeraora so it is generally not advised.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mishlef.509647/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nunnbetter.501592/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Skill Swap (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 36 SpD / 56 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Stored Power / Psyshock
- Skill Swap / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers combined with Calm Mind allows Cresselia to defeat Icy Wind + Encore Primarina sets. Moonlight provides reliable recovery allowing Cresselia to defeat Choice Band Zeraora and non-SD Landorus-Therian. Stored Power allows Cresselia to break through opposing Calm Mind Pokemon such as Primarina; or power through resists such as non-SD Ferrothorn and some Celesteela. Psyshock can be used to still help break through opposing Calm Minders as well as defeating Nihilego at the expense of being worse into resists. Skill Swap allows Cresselia to defeat Aroma Veil Aromatisse and be better into Regidrago as well as defeating some Unaware Pokemon if running Psyshock such as Clefable and Quagsire but notably not Pyukumuku. Substitute allows Cresselia to improve odds of not getting KO'd by a Critical Hit while clicking Calm Mind as well as beating Goodra and improving the matchup against Yawn Sylveon.
EVs
=============
Special Defense to live 252+ Primarina Moonblast into Torrent Hydro Cannon and Speed for base 60s such as Primarina, Sylveon, and Magnezone. The rest is put in Defense to live hits from Pokemon such as Zeraora, Landorus-Therian, and Haxorus.
Usage Tips
=============
Most Cresselia matchups are straightforward: Calm Mind until Stored Power is strong enough such that continuing clicking Calm Mind has less of a return on investment. For example, if Stored Power can 3HKO at +3 or can 2HKO at +4 and Cresselia does not need the Special Defense boost it is preferable to start attacking earlier. That way you get more chances to Critical Hit potentially turning Stored Power into a 2HKO with a crit. Otherwise, use Moonlight whenever Cresselia is low on HP, be wary of Moonlight's measly 8 PP. If possible attempt to keep Cresselia's HP high enough such that even a Critical Hit will not KO Cresselia. Finally, Skill Swap is generally used for Aromatisse, taking Aromatisse's Aroma Veil so that Aromatisse cannot Encore nor Disable Cresselia. It can also be used versus some Regidrago sets where Skill Swap should be clicked T1. This reduces the damage of Special Attacks the same amount as Calm Mind would with the added benefit of also weakening the damage of Regidrago's physical attacks. Against Unaware pokemon such as Clefable and Quagsire if not running Stored Power, Cresselia will need to use Skill Swap while avoiding being Encored into Skill Swap so Cresselia can OHKO with a Calm Mind boosted Psyshock. Cresselia should be unpredictable with using Skill Swap while using Calm Mind to boost and Moonlight to stay healthy. Be aware that Pyukumuku is generally favored as a Unaware user due to being able to use the combination of Taunt, Mirror Coat, and Recover to prevent Cresselia from boosting fast enough without being taken out by Mirror Coat. Finally, versus Landorus-Therian Cresselia should Moonlight turn 1 then click Skill Swap to improve the matchup against Choice Band Knock Off Landorus-Therian.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rest can be run instead of Moonlight but this is generally not recommended as Cresselia oftentimes enjoys the immediate 50% recovery from Moonlight. Rest does however allow Cresselia to defeat Pokemon which use Toxic such as Pressure Stall Entei which it previously was unable to. Reflect can be used instead of Skill Swap to deal with certain physical attackers but this is more common on a Kee Berry set.
[SET]
Icy Wind (Cresselia) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 60 SpD / 68 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind
- Stored Power
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Leftovers paired with Calm Mind and Icy Wind gives Cresselia a good matchup against most sets of the Water Fairies: Primarina, Tapu Fini, and Azumarill. Moonlight provides consistent recovery allowing Cresselia to set up safely in front of many pokemon which do not outdamage Leftovers + Moonlight recovery such as Kyurem and Choice Specs Naganadel. Stored Power allows for Cresselia to defeat some opposing Calm Minders including the aforementioned Tapu Fini and Primarina as well as breaking through resists such as Steelix and non-Metal Sound Magnezone. Icy Wind flips many matchups most notably versus Taunt users such as Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Bulu as well as Swords Dance variants of Garchomp and Landorus-Therian.
EVs
=============
Special Defense to live max Special Attack Modest Specs Volcanion Steam Eruption into +1 Steam Eruption assuming burn and speed for Garchomp at -1. The rest is put into Defense to have the best odds to live attacks from Garchomp, Scarf Darmanitan-Galar, and Tapu Bulu.
Usage Tips
=============
Calm Mind should be clicked versus Tapu Fini and Icy Wind should only be used if Tapu Fini Taunts Cresselia. Since Cresselia loses to Trick Tapu Fini regardless of the move clicked being locked into Icy Wind is just as losing as being locked into any other move therefore clicking Calm Mind turn 1 is optimal. Icy Wind should be clicked Turn 1 versus Garchomp and Landorus-Therian as this allows Cresselia to Moonlight in the face of potentially getting 2HKOed by Band Outrage from Garchomp and providing better rolls to 2HKO as Cresselia against Swords Dance Knock Off variants of Landorus-Therian. Cresselia generally outspeeds most Tapu Bulu variants so clicking Calm Mind Turn 1 is generally safe and subsequently alternating between Icy Wind and Stored Power after getting Taunted to avoid potentially losing a turn to Disable. It is worth noting that Tapu Bulu can win if it clicks Taunt turn 1 but this risks losing to Trick Cresselia thus turning the matchup into a 50/50. Finally, Calm Mind should be clicked against Tapu Koko and Icy Wind should only be clicked after getting Taunted.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock can be used instead of Stored Power but this is generally not preferable as it sacrifices reliability in the Tapu Fini matchup although it does help versus Acid Spray + Meteor Beam Nihilego where clicking Calm Mind into Psyshock generally KOs Nihilego while avoiding a KO by Nihilego. Rest can also be used over Moonlight to help versus certain Toxic users like Pressure Entei and Chansey but this sacrifices reliability in matchups versus Pokemon such as Choice Band Zeraora so it is generally not advised.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mishlef.509647/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nunnbetter.501592/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]