[SET]
Choice Specs (Primarina) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 208 HP / 184 Def / 100 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Ice Beam
- Sparkling Aria / Energy Ball
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Specs allows Primarina to pick up the OHKO versus bulky Garchomp that can threaten other Primarina sets, as well as Pokemon such as Azumarill and non-Assault Vest Tyranitar, which threaten Primarina's other sets. Primarina leverages its typing to defeat powerful Ground, Dragon, and Fire types like Landorus-T, Regidrago, Volcarona, as well as both Urshifu formes. Hydro Cannon and Moonblast are strong STAB moves essential to beat most of the aforementioned threats. Ice Beam defeats Assault Vest Landorus-T, as that set can use Knock Off against Primarina to survive Hydro Cannon, then KO it with Earthquake. Ice Beam also OHKOs physically defensive Whimsicott. Sparkling Aria defeats Pressure Stall Entei and Substitute Volcarona, and Energy Ball allows Primarina to beat Assault Vest Azumarill, as well as niche Water / Ground types like Swampert and Gastrodon. This move also helps in defeating prominent Water / Fairy types such as Tapu Fini and opposing Primarina, although this is set-dependent and should not be relied upon as a counter for these Pokemon.
EVs
=============
208 HP and 184 Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive an Earthquake from Adamant Choice Band Landorus-T, and a Hyper Beam from Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. 16 Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed and 2HKO Adamant Steelix. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack to allow Primarina to deal the most damage, which matters against bulky Pokemon like defensive Aromatisse.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Specs Primarina is often straightforward to pilot, as often the move that deals the most damage or the super effective move is used. However, against Choice Scarf Togekiss, Primarina should use Hydro Cannon for the best chance to win, as Ice Beam fails to OHKO . Be wary of Substitute + Disable Dragapult, as Choice Specs locks Primarina into Moonblast, forcing it to use Struggle. Energy Ball is required to defeat Assault Vest Azumarill, although caution versus Stall Azumarill should be exercised, as Sap Sipper negates its damage. Against Opposing Primarina, Choice Specs Primarina should use Moonblast to fish for Special Attack Drops, as the extra damage from Energy Ball does not matter in the mirror matchup.
[SET]
Wacan Berry (Primarina) @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 8 SpA / 60 SpD / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Substitute / Encore
- Icy Wind / Calm Mind / Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
The key selling point of Wacan Berry Primarina is its ability to flip its matchup against Electric-types like non-Assault Vest Zeraora and Regieleki. Substitute allows Primarina to cut its HP down to reliably activate its Torrent ability, boosting its Hydro Cannon to allow it to KO Pokemon like Zeraora and Zapdos. Encore helps Primarina defeat Pokemon like Choice Scarf Cresselia and Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, as well as also helping it in the Zeraora matchup. It also pairs well with Icy wind, helping Primarina defeat Pokemon like non-Taunt Spectrier, as well as a helping versus a few Tapu Fini and Corviknight sets. Icy Wind also lets Primarina defeat Magnezone. Calm Mind gives Primarina reliability in the Volcarona and Entei matchup.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Poison Jab from Jolly Choice Band Haxorus, and the HP, Special Defense and Speed EVs allow Primarina to survive any move from Regieleki. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack for the best chance to OHKO frail Garchomp. An alternate EV spread of 200 HP / 200 Def / 92 SpA / 16 Spe with a Modest nature can also be used, with moves Moonblast, Hydro Cannon, Substitute, and Encore. The combination of the HP and Defense EVs on the alternate EV spread allow Primarina to survive Plasma Fists from Jolly Choice Band Zeraora with more than 25% of its HP remaining, allowing it to use Substitute, then OHKO on Turn 2 with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon. This cuts down on the prediction required to win this matchup. This EV spread also allows Wacan Berry Primarina to have a clean matchup against pressure stall Entei, as the higher Special Attack allows Primarina to break Entei's Substitute. In addition, this spread can no longer survive Regieleki's Electro Ball or Thunder.
Usage Tips
=============
Versus Zeraora, Primarina should generally use Hydro Cannon turn one. However, this fails to reliably beat a Life Orb Zeraora that uses Knock Off followed by Plasma Fists. To win in such situations, Primarina should instead use Substitute or Encore on the first turn of battle. If using Encore, it can then beat Zeraora by using Moonblast followed by Hydro Cannon. If using Substitute, it wins by repeatedly using Substitute until its HP drops beneath 33%, at which point a Torrent-boosted Hydro Cannon KOs. When running the alternate EV spread, Primarina can always use Substitute on the first turn of battle to safely get into Torrent range. The exception is a Zeraora using Taunt, which is beaten by using Moonblast followed by Hydro Cannon.
When using the alternate EV spread, Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei. If Entei uses Protect Turn 1, use Encore again, then, through a series of Encore and Moonblast breaking Entei's Substitute, Entei reaches a low enough of an HP value that you can then KO it with Moonblast. If Entei uses Toxic or an attacking move Turn 1, Primarina should use Moonblast on turn 2, then Hydro Cannon on turn 3 to secure the KO on Assault Vest Entei.
Be careful against Life Orb Garchomp, as it can use a Swords Dance boosted move to OHKO Primarina, which fails to OHKO Garchomp Turn 1 with Moonblast.
Against Magnezone, Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1. Primarina should then use Magnezone's damage output to identify its item. Against a Choice Specs set, it should use Hydro Cannon on Turn 2. Otherwise, it faces a difficult choice between using Icy Wind again on a predicted Endure and using Hydro Cannon on a predicted attack.
Against Life Orb Zapdos, Wacan Berry Primarina should use Substitute Turn 1, then OHKO Zapdos with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon.
Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against an opponent using Trick, such as Choice Scarf Tapu Fini and Choice Scarf Cresselia.
[SET]
Pixie Plate (Primarina) @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 140 HP / 20 Def / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Icy Wind
- Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Primarina may also use Pixie Plate to secure the OHKO against bulky Garchomp while lacking Specs Primarina's weakness to Substitute + Disable Dragapult as well as Disable Spectrier. This set allows Primarina to have the best odds against opposing Primarina, as well as reliably defeating Physically Defensive Aromatisse, However, because of a lack of bulk, Pixie Plate Primarina now struggles to deal with Pokemon it previously threatened like Choice Band variants of Urshifu and Landorus-Therian. Icy Wind + Encore is a powerful combination which helps Primarina defeat Pokemon such as Spectrier, Tapu Fini, Corviknight, and non-Leftovers Cresselia.
EVs
=============
Primarina's HP EVs allow it to survive a Sheer Force-boosted Sludge Wave from Life Orb Landorus. The Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed Adamant Rhyperior, and the Special Attack EVs allow for the best odds against opposing Primarina. They also allow Primarina to 2HKO non-specially defensive Aromatisse. The remaining EVs are put in Defense for the best odds against Choice Band Steelix and Life Orb Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
=============
Pixie Plate Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1 against Landorus-T, as a non-Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon can fail to OHKO. Pixie Plate Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei, preventing pressure stall Entei it from using its Substitute + Protect + Toxic Strategy, KOing it with a combination of Encore and Moonblast. Primarina should use Moonblast Turn 1 against Dragapult. If Dragapult uses Substitute Turn 1, Primarina should then use Encore Turn 2, as a Disable from Dragapult is likely to follow. Icy Wind + Encore work in tandem to continuously lock opponents like Spectrier into unfavorable moves such as Spectrier's Calm Mind, whittling down opponents with its moves to eventually secure the KO.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/luser.545212/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/here-comes-team-charm.501918/
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Choice Specs (Primarina) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 208 HP / 184 Def / 100 SpA / 16 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Ice Beam
- Sparkling Aria / Energy Ball
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Choice Specs allows Primarina to pick up the OHKO versus bulky Garchomp that can threaten other Primarina sets, as well as Pokemon such as Azumarill and non-Assault Vest Tyranitar, which threaten Primarina's other sets. Primarina leverages its typing to defeat powerful Ground, Dragon, and Fire types like Landorus-T, Regidrago, Volcarona, as well as both Urshifu formes. Hydro Cannon and Moonblast are strong STAB moves essential to beat most of the aforementioned threats. Ice Beam defeats Assault Vest Landorus-T, as that set can use Knock Off against Primarina to survive Hydro Cannon, then KO it with Earthquake. Ice Beam also OHKOs physically defensive Whimsicott. Sparkling Aria defeats Pressure Stall Entei and Substitute Volcarona, and Energy Ball allows Primarina to beat Assault Vest Azumarill, as well as niche Water / Ground types like Swampert and Gastrodon. This move also helps in defeating prominent Water / Fairy types such as Tapu Fini and opposing Primarina, although this is set-dependent and should not be relied upon as a counter for these Pokemon.
EVs
=============
208 HP and 184 Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive an Earthquake from Adamant Choice Band Landorus-T, and a Hyper Beam from Timid Choice Scarf Porygon-Z. 16 Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed and 2HKO Adamant Steelix. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack to allow Primarina to deal the most damage, which matters against bulky Pokemon like defensive Aromatisse.
Usage Tips
=============
Choice Specs Primarina is often straightforward to pilot, as often the move that deals the most damage or the super effective move is used. However, against Choice Scarf Togekiss, Primarina should use Hydro Cannon for the best chance to win, as Ice Beam fails to OHKO . Be wary of Substitute + Disable Dragapult, as Choice Specs locks Primarina into Moonblast, forcing it to use Struggle. Energy Ball is required to defeat Assault Vest Azumarill, although caution versus Stall Azumarill should be exercised, as Sap Sipper negates its damage. Against Opposing Primarina, Choice Specs Primarina should use Moonblast to fish for Special Attack Drops, as the extra damage from Energy Ball does not matter in the mirror matchup.
[SET]
Wacan Berry (Primarina) @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 8 SpA / 60 SpD / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Substitute / Encore
- Icy Wind / Calm Mind / Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
The key selling point of Wacan Berry Primarina is its ability to flip its matchup against Electric-types like non-Assault Vest Zeraora and Regieleki. Substitute allows Primarina to cut its HP down to reliably activate its Torrent ability, boosting its Hydro Cannon to allow it to KO Pokemon like Zeraora and Zapdos. Encore helps Primarina defeat Pokemon like Choice Scarf Cresselia and Choice Scarf Tapu Fini, as well as also helping it in the Zeraora matchup. It also pairs well with Icy wind, helping Primarina defeat Pokemon like non-Taunt Spectrier, as well as a helping versus a few Tapu Fini and Corviknight sets. Icy Wind also lets Primarina defeat Magnezone. Calm Mind gives Primarina reliability in the Volcarona and Entei matchup.
EVs
=============
The HP and Defense EVs allow Primarina to survive Poison Jab from Jolly Choice Band Haxorus, and the HP, Special Defense and Speed EVs allow Primarina to survive any move from Regieleki. The remaining EVs are put in Special Attack for the best chance to OHKO frail Garchomp. An alternate EV spread of 200 HP / 200 Def / 92 SpA / 16 Spe with a Modest nature can also be used, with moves Moonblast, Hydro Cannon, Substitute, and Encore. The combination of the HP and Defense EVs on the alternate EV spread allow Primarina to survive Plasma Fists from Jolly Choice Band Zeraora with more than 25% of its HP remaining, allowing it to use Substitute, then OHKO on Turn 2 with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon. This cuts down on the prediction required to win this matchup. This EV spread also allows Wacan Berry Primarina to have a clean matchup against pressure stall Entei, as the higher Special Attack allows Primarina to break Entei's Substitute. In addition, this spread can no longer survive Regieleki's Electro Ball or Thunder.
Usage Tips
=============
Versus Zeraora, Primarina should generally use Hydro Cannon turn one. However, this fails to reliably beat a Life Orb Zeraora that uses Knock Off followed by Plasma Fists. To win in such situations, Primarina should instead use Substitute or Encore on the first turn of battle. If using Encore, it can then beat Zeraora by using Moonblast followed by Hydro Cannon. If using Substitute, it wins by repeatedly using Substitute until its HP drops beneath 33%, at which point a Torrent-boosted Hydro Cannon KOs. When running the alternate EV spread, Primarina can always use Substitute on the first turn of battle to safely get into Torrent range. The exception is a Zeraora using Taunt, which is beaten by using Moonblast followed by Hydro Cannon.
When using the alternate EV spread, Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei. If Entei uses Protect Turn 1, use Encore again, then, through a series of Encore and Moonblast breaking Entei's Substitute, Entei reaches a low enough of an HP value that you can then KO it with Moonblast. If Entei uses Toxic or an attacking move Turn 1, Primarina should use Moonblast on turn 2, then Hydro Cannon on turn 3 to secure the KO on Assault Vest Entei.
Be careful against Life Orb Garchomp, as it can use a Swords Dance boosted move to OHKO Primarina, which fails to OHKO Garchomp Turn 1 with Moonblast.
Against Magnezone, Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1. Primarina should then use Magnezone's damage output to identify its item. Against a Choice Specs set, it should use Hydro Cannon on Turn 2. Otherwise, it faces a difficult choice between using Icy Wind again on a predicted Endure and using Hydro Cannon on a predicted attack.
Against Life Orb Zapdos, Wacan Berry Primarina should use Substitute Turn 1, then OHKO Zapdos with a Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon.
Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against an opponent using Trick, such as Choice Scarf Tapu Fini and Choice Scarf Cresselia.
[SET]
Pixie Plate (Primarina) @ Pixie Plate
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 140 HP / 20 Def / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Cannon
- Moonblast
- Icy Wind
- Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Primarina may also use Pixie Plate to secure the OHKO against bulky Garchomp while lacking Specs Primarina's weakness to Substitute + Disable Dragapult as well as Disable Spectrier. This set allows Primarina to have the best odds against opposing Primarina, as well as reliably defeating Physically Defensive Aromatisse, However, because of a lack of bulk, Pixie Plate Primarina now struggles to deal with Pokemon it previously threatened like Choice Band variants of Urshifu and Landorus-Therian. Icy Wind + Encore is a powerful combination which helps Primarina defeat Pokemon such as Spectrier, Tapu Fini, Corviknight, and non-Leftovers Cresselia.
EVs
=============
Primarina's HP EVs allow it to survive a Sheer Force-boosted Sludge Wave from Life Orb Landorus. The Speed EVs allow Primarina to outspeed Adamant Rhyperior, and the Special Attack EVs allow for the best odds against opposing Primarina. They also allow Primarina to 2HKO non-specially defensive Aromatisse. The remaining EVs are put in Defense for the best odds against Choice Band Steelix and Life Orb Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
=============
Pixie Plate Primarina should use Icy Wind Turn 1 against Landorus-T, as a non-Torrent boosted Hydro Cannon can fail to OHKO. Pixie Plate Primarina should use Encore Turn 1 against Entei, preventing pressure stall Entei it from using its Substitute + Protect + Toxic Strategy, KOing it with a combination of Encore and Moonblast. Primarina should use Moonblast Turn 1 against Dragapult. If Dragapult uses Substitute Turn 1, Primarina should then use Encore Turn 2, as a Disable from Dragapult is likely to follow. Icy Wind + Encore work in tandem to continuously lock opponents like Spectrier into unfavorable moves such as Spectrier's Calm Mind, whittling down opponents with its moves to eventually secure the KO.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/glitched.579035/
Quality checked by:
[insert user link]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/luser.545212/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/here-comes-team-charm.501918/
Grammar checked by:
[insert user link]
Last edited:
