[Overview]
<p>With its destructive Special Attack, along with its decent Speed and excellent coverage, Yanmega is a deadly special sweeper that can sweep unprepared teams. Blessed with two of the best abilities in the game, Yanmega can choose to gain extra Speed every turn with Speed Boost or gain extra coverage using less moveslots using Tinted Lens.</p>
<p>However, this new generation has not been favorable to this oversized dragonfly. Venemoth and Volcarona now both outclass Yanmega as Bug-type special sweeper with Quiver Dance along with, in Venemoth's case, Tinted Lens, Sleep Powder and Baton Pass. With Sharpedo obtaining Speed Boost from Dream World and having much better coverage, Yanmega is also outclassed as a Speed Boost user. The new weather metagame has also not been favorable to Yanmega. With all the speed-doubling abilities, Yanmega finds itself needing two or even three boosts to outspeed those Chlorophyll and Sand Rush users. Stealth Rock is also still as prominent as ever, taking a whopping 50% of Yanmega's HP whenever it switches in. Yanmega also still has weaknesses to common attacking types such as Fire, Electric and Ice. With these setbacks, Yanmega is not as useful as it was in the last generation.</p>
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Protect / Hypnosis
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
ability: Speed Boost
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Yanmega can utilize Speed Boost to outspeed virtually every unboosted Pokémon and even some boosted to 1.5 times through stat boosts or through holding a Choice Scarf. This set is most effective in the leading position, as Yanmega wouldn't have to worry about needing to worry about having its Focus Sash broken, unless the opponent's lead is either a Tyranitar, Hippopotas or an Abomasnow.</p>
<p>Protect is used to ensure one Speed Boost boost to outspeed all non-boosted Pokemon in the metagame. Bug Buzz and Air Slash is a STAB combination that is resisted by few (the most notable ones being Skarmory, Excadrill and Heatran) and hit hard. Hidden Power [Ground] can hit Heatran and Excadrill for heavy damage, while Hidden Power [Fire] scores a super-effective hit on Skarmory, Scizor and Ferrothorn but leaves Yanmega helpless against Heatran.</p>
<p>Focus Sash is recommended if primarily using this set in the leading position, to ensure that Yanmega will survive enough turns to attack twice. If Yanmega is not primarily used in the leading position, Life Orb should be used.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>If not primarily used in the leading position, a Rapid Spinner is essential to ensure than Yanmega doesn't lose 50% of its HP every time it switches in. Having Stealth Rock on the field decreases Yanmega's survivability considerably, and prevents it from sweeping late-game effectively.</p>
<p>As with most special attackers, Yanmega is completely walled by Blissey and Chansey. Strong Fighting-types such as Conkeldurr and Lucario can help eliminate the two pink blobs, allowing Yanmega to sweep effectively without needing to worry about them.</p>
<p>Hypnosis could be used to help Yanmega get two boosts up (one as the opponent is sleeping, one as the opponent switches), though not as reliable as Protect and doesn't work as well against faster opponents.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
move 4: U-Turn / Giga Drain
ability: Tinted Lens / Speed Boost
item: Choice Specs
nature: Rash / Naive
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Yanmega can also utilize Tinted Lens along with Choice Specs to hit incredibly hard with flawless coverage, though it requires some prediction.</p>
<p>Bug Buzz alone gives Yanmega near-flawless coverage with Tinted Lens, while Air Slash can hit Skarmory, Heatran and Lucario for neutral effectiveness. Hidden Power [Ground] hits Heatran for 4x effectiveness, while Hidden Power [Fire] can hit Scizor, Forretress and Ferrothorn for 4x damage. However, as Bug Buzz hits all three for neutral damage with Tinted Lens, whereas Heatran has a 4x resist to Bug Buzz, Hidden Power [Ground] is recommended.</p>
<p>U-Turn helps Yanmega scout for counters, though it's not needed with the addition of Team Preview. Giga Drain can catch Rhyperior and OHKO it while healing Yanmega in the process. A Rash or Naive nature can be used if running U-Turn to allow it to deal more damage, but if using Giga Drain, a Modest or Timid nature is more helpful.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Instead of using either U-Turn or Giga Drain, Shadow Ball could be used in the slot to hit Ghost-types for super effective damage.</p>
<p>To keep Stealth Rock off the field, either a Rapid Spinner such as Starmie or a Magic Bounce user should be used. A fast Taunt lead could be used, but with the new Team Preview, setting up hazards mid-game has become easier since the last generation. In addition, hazards, especially Stealth Rock on the opponent's field aid in allowing Yanmega to net important KOs that wouldn't have been gotten without hazards.</p>
<p>Blissey and Chansey still counter the set, despite the boost from Choice Specs. A counter to the two is essential to Yanmega's success. Again, Conkeldurr and Lucario can do the job.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>A set utilizing Tinted Lens, Life Orb and Roost could be used for superb coverage and decent survivability. Alternatively, a Choice Scarf could be used over the Choice Specs on the Choice Specs set if you would prefer outspeeding more threats over increased power.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>No Pokemon actually walls Tinted Lens Yanmega outside of Blissey and Chansey, as everything is hit for at least neutral damage thanks to its ability. However, Speed Boost variants with Hidden Power [Ground] are checked by Thundurus, who resists both STABs and can threaten Yanmega with Thunderbolt or priority Thunder Wave. Specially defensive Jirachi is also a solid check thanks to its typing and bulk, but lacks the ability to switch in multiple times.</p
<p>Priority users can effectively ignore Yanmega's Speed Boost. Bullet Punch Scizor, Extremespeed Lucario and Ice Shard Mamoswine can do the job effectively, though they all have to watch out for Hidden Power [Fire]. In addition, Pokémon that can withstand one attack can also check Yanmega due to its frailty. Furthermore, if either Sunny Day or Sandstorm is active, Chlorophyll and Sand Rush users respectively can outspeed a +1 Yanmega.</p>
<p>However, despite all these listed Pokemon, the biggest counter to Yanmega is still Stealth Rock. Stealth Rock completely cripples Yanmega, as it is 4x weak to the field effect, and two or three switch-ins to it is enough to KO it.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Frisk, Yanmega's Dream World ability, is useless compared to the other two abilities Yanmega can have. Giga Drain is also fairly useless outside of hitting Rhyperior for 4x damage, as Bug Buzz and Air Slash together with Tinted Lens already give Yanmega perfect coverage.</p>
