[OVERVIEW]
Mew distinguishes itself from other common Psychic-types like Slowbro and Cresselia by virtue of its incredibly deep movepool, which, when combined with its rounded statline, lets it run a variety of viable sets. Mew can take advantage of common utility and defensive Pokemon like Cyclizar, Hippowdon, and Gastrodon, making progress against them with its many utility moves or using them as setup fodder while preparing for a sweep. Mew's access to Draining Kiss also makes Nasty Plot sets deceptively hard to take down, letting it consistently punch holes through teams. However, Mew's "Master of None" statline and lackluster typing, the latter of which gives it weaknesses to common attacks like Knock Off and U-turn, mean that it can find itself outdone by more specialized Pokemon. Due to its lack of recovery outside of Draining Kiss, Gastrodon and Chesnaught give it stiff competition as a Spikes setter, while other special sweepers like Gengar and Raikou have better offensive typings and stats. RU also has no shortage of Psychic-types that compete with Mew for a teamslot. Slowbro and Reuniclus have better bulk and reliable recovery, Armarouge is better at punching holes through teams with its powerful Fire-type STAB moves, and Jirachi has an identical statline to Mew while also having a better defensive typing and ability. While Mew's Speed tier is fairly solid, it's prone to being revenge killed by dangerous Pokemon like Gengar, Galarian Zapdos, and Noivern.
[SET]
name: Spikes Setter
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Body Press
move 3: Psychic Noise / Knock Off / Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Volt Switch / Taunt
item: Rocky Helmet
ability: Synchronize
nature: Bold / Impish
evs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
tera type: Fighting / Ghost
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Mew sets itself apart from other Spikes users, namely Gastrodon and Chesnaught, thanks to its good Speed stat and incredible utility movepool. Body Press is a solid coverage move that lets Mew invest in bulk while also targeting Cyclizar, one of the tier's most common hazard removers. It also hits the Dark- and Steel-types that attempt to switch into Mew, such as Krookodile, Hisuian Goodra, and Bisharp. Mew's remaining moveslots are incredibly flexible and can be tweaked to suit the needs of its team. Psychic Noise can prevent bulky Pokemon, like Hippowdon and Empoleon, from taking advantage of Mew's passivity. Knock Off forces progress by removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the likes of Entei and Volcanion, letting Mew's Spikes accrue more chip damage. Toxic can be used to wear down bulky Pokemon like Slowbro and Gastrodon as well as to put attackers like Armarouge and Gardevoir on a timer. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical threats like Salamence, Galarian Zapdos, and Bisharp, preventing them from taking advantage of Mew. For the last slot, Volt Switch allows Mew to provide momentum and pivot out of unfavorable matchups, while Taunt can neuter defensive Pokemon like Umbreon and Cresselia. Rocky Helmet lets Mew wear down physical attackers like Galarian Zapdos and Jirachi, leaving them open to be picked off by Mew's teammates. 16 Speed EVs allow Mew to outrun maximum Speed Adamant Bisharp as well as Modest Volcanion. Tera Fighting bolsters the power of Body Press, letting Mew guarantee an OHKO on Cyclizar and Bisharp with it. It also gives Mew a resistance to Dark-type attacks, preventing the aforementioned Bisharp from KOing it with Sucker Punch as well as letting it take on Krookodile. Tera Ghost provides an immunity to Cyclizar's Rapid Spin, preventing it from removing entry hazards against Mew. Both Tera types also provide a valuable resistance to U-turn.
Mew gives offense and bulky offense an excellent Spikes setter and utility Pokemon, wearing down the opposing team with Spikes while providing pivoting and/or status spreading capabilities. Mew is vulnerable to opposing entry hazards, especially since opposing hazard setters can take advantage of its passivity to get their own hazards up against non-Taunt variants; faster hazard setters like Jirachi can especially pose a problem due to Mew being unable to Taunt them first. As such, Cyclizar makes for a great partner due to its ability to remove them with Rapid Spin while maintaining Spikes on the opposing side. Cyclizar is also able to check Gengar and Basculegion-F in addition to removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the opposing team with Knock Off, giving more opportunities for Mew to wear down the opposing team. Offensive Pokemon, including setup sweepers like Suicune, Salamence, and Bisharp as well as wallbreakers like Volcanion and Mamoswine, appreciate the chip damage provided by Mew's Spikes wearing down their defensive checks. They also appreciate Mew being able to cripple the opposing team with Psychic Noise, Taunt, and/or status, and its ability to create safe switch-in opportunities with Volt Switch, in addition to Knock Off variants being able to remove Leftovers from the likes of Registeel and Hisuian Goodra. Specially bulky Pokemon, like Hisuian Goodra, Umbreon, and Empoleon, make for great partners with Mew, helping check powerful special attackers like Basculegion and Armarouge. Umbreon in particular makes for a potent defensive combination with Mew thanks to Toxic; when combined with Mew's spikes, this lets the duo wear down the opposing team efficiently. Mew's vulnerability to Dark-types like Krookodile as well as its weakness to U-turn makes Fighting-types, like Galarian Zapdos, Mienshao, and Hisuian Lilligant, excellent partners for it. In return, Mew aids in their ability to break through the opposing team through the entry hazards it sets as well as its ability to disrupt common defensive Pokemon like Hippowdon and Slowbro, in addition to forming potent VoltTurn cores with the former two.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
U-turn can be run on support sets over Volt Switch to let Mew pivot out against Ground-types like Krookodile and Rhyperior, though its nature as a contact move can be exploited by Rocky Helmet users like Hippowdon as well as Talonflame thanks to Flame Body. Mew can act as a Stealth Rock setter on teams that can't afford to use any other hazard setters; however, it often finds itself outclassed by other dedicated Stealth Rock users, like Registeel, Hippowdon, Krookodile, and especially Jirachi. A dedicated lead set with Mental Herb and Taunt can be used to stop the opposing team from setting entry hazards while Mew sets up its own, though Terrakion and Lycanroc-D are usually better options for a dedicated lead due to their superior Speed stats. Mew can serve as a unique physical sweeper with Swords Dance or Dragon Dance combined with incredible coverage options like Flare Blitz, Close Combat, and Knock Off. However, Mew will often find itself worn down due to its lack of sustainability options, and other physical sweepers like Bisharp and Gyarados are much better at breaking through teams thanks to their STAB moves and types being stronger overall as well as their higher Attack stats. On Nasty Plot sets, Aura Sphere can be used to reliably OHKO Bisharp after minor chip damage, though its lacking power makes it inferior to Earth Power in most other situations, especially since it makes Mew unable to super effectively hit Jirachi or Armarouge. Mew can run a double dance set with Calm Mind, Iron Defense, Draining Kiss, and Stored Power, acting as a bulky setup sweeper that can prove difficult to take down, but it takes a while for Mew to get going, leaving it vulnerable to being disrupted or phazed.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: While they need to watch out for coverage moves like Draining Kiss or Body Press, Dark-types like Bisharp and Krookodile can offensively threaten Mew, forcing it out in the process. Wo-Chien can take even a boosted Draining Kiss while wearing down Mew with Knock Off, Ruination, and Leech Seed. Umbreon also takes just about anything Mew throws at it but must be careful of using Toxic due to Mew's Synchronize threatening to poison it as well.
**Ghost-types**: Gengar naturally outspeeds Mew and can threaten it with its powerful STAB moves, while Mimikyu can take a hit thanks to Disguise, threaten Mew with Shadow Claw, and pick it off with Shadow Sneak. Basculegion-F struggles to switch in to Nasty Plot sets, but can similarly threaten Mew with an Adaptability-boosted Shadow Ball.
**Revenge Killers and Priority**: Mew often finds itself outpaced and picked off by faster threats, like Terrakion and Noivern, while Choice Scarf users like Galarian Zapdos and Krookodile can threaten to revenge kill it. Similarly, strong priority, such as Entei's Extreme Speed and Lycanroc-D's Accelrock or Sucker Punch, can pick it off mid-sweep.
**Disruption**: Mew's lack of initial power means that it can be stopped by Taunt from faster Pokemon like Noivern and Talonflame, as well as Encore from the likes of Jirachi and Maushold. Additionally, Nasty Plot sets can be phazed by Dragon Tail from Hisuian Goodra or Cyclizar if Mew does not Tera Fairy, while Whirlwind Hippowdon can reliably phaze it regardless of Tera. Trick users like Gardevoir and Gengar can also stop Mew in its tracks by giving it a Choice Scarf, preventing it from performing its role.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bice.236507/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sir-tetris.655207/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Last edited:
