#469 YANMEGA
[Overview]
<p>With its excellent Special Attack, decent Speed, and superb coverage Yanmega is a pokemon that can tear through teams that lack the ability to deal with the two main sets that Yanmega runs. Gifted with two of the best abilities in the game, Yanmega is either able to increase its speed each turn with Speed Boost, outspeeding the entire metagame after one or two boost or, have flawless coverage with one of its attacks with Tinted Lens. The effectiveness of both of Yanmega's main sets play entirely his abilities therefore making him a very predictable Pokemon that can be easily countered but if a team is not prepared for either set, Yanmega could easily rip through teams.</p>
<p>Yanmega's transition to 5th Generation has been quite unfavorable. He does not learn any new moves and Yanmega finds himself somewhat outclassed by the likes of Volcarona and Venomoth as a special attacking bug due to Quiver Dance. With Sharpedo getting Speed Boost from Dream World and having much better overall coverage, Yanmega can no longer boast being the best Speed Boost user. In addition the now prominent weather also has not been favorable to Yanmega. With all the abilities doubling speed Yanmega finds himself outspeed, requiring two turns of Speed Boosts to outrun threats such as Chlorphyll sweepers and Excadrill.</p>
[SET]
name: Attacking Lead
move 1: Protect
move 2: Bug Buzz
move 3: Air Slash
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ground
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Most effectively used as a lead before SR can get thrown up since it severely hinders Yanmega.
- Protect once to ensure you get the stage increase from Speed Boost and then you outspeed all non-boosted Pokemon in the metagame, including Scarf Abusers. (sans Garchomp)
- Focus Sash is there to allow Yanmega to stay alive and get the 2HKO. Life Orb if you don't feel like using Yanmega as a lead.
- Even at 1 HP Yanmega can be deadly.
- An alternative set sees Yanmega using 104 Def EVs allow Yanmega to survive a +2 Extreme Speed from Lucario and hit back with Hidden Power. It also gives Yanmega enough Def to survive LO Bullet Punches from Scizor, a common counter thought to be a 2HKO but instead Yanmega survives and is able to 2HKO with Air Slash.
- But Def EVs can be placed in Spe to allow Yanmega to outspeed random threats, especially with the weather speed boosters around.
- Can 2HKO Ninetales (HP Ground) and Politoed (Bug Buzz), allowing it to take down common weather leads allowing for control of weather. [ damage calcs to be added after QC checks ]
- Bug Buzz and Air Slash are mandatory STABS that hit hard and are only resisted by a small handful (Skarmory, Heatran). Note: This is only Modest Yanmega, Timid fails to 2HKO Politoed.
- HP Ground is good to hit all of the Fires that threaten Yanmega, especially Heatran who otherwise walls this set. However, HP Fire is a good alternative due to the overwhelming popularity of Ferrothorn (but its also 2HKOed by Bug Buzz).
- This set is also not as good as it was last Gen due to the fact that there are a ton more bulky pokemon in this metagame, compared to last and Yanmega can't reliably revenge kill mid-health sweepers since common sweepers are not as frail.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Having a Rapid Spinner is ESSENTIAL for Yanmega due to the fact that he is x4 weak to Stealth Rock and having those pointed rocks up really hinders his ability to late-game sweep since it breaks his Focus Sash, if using the Attacking Lead set, but losing 50% is bad anyway.
- Decent Synergy with Starmie (due to rapid spin) or fast fighting types since they can take down the things that wall Yanmega such as Blissey.
- Could run Timid over Modest but there is no need since you are constantly boosting Speed and the extra power that Modest packs is much more reliable in the long run.
- Hypnosis, but not as reliable as Protect. The idea of hoping you get the sleep to preserve Focus Sash.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Bug Buzz
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Ground / Fighting
move 4: Giga Drain / Shadow Ball / U-Turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Tinted Lens
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Not resisted by anyone, therefore there is no safe switch-in, a feat that no other choice user can claim.
- EV Spread is obvious.
- Bug Buzz/Air Slash mandatory STAB, similar to previous set just without Protect for obvious reason.
- Last spot can be used based on what your team needs.
- Giga Drain is the best option especially with the buff it got this gen, hitting bulky waters and ground types while regaining some lost health.
- Heatran 2HKO'd by HP Fighting since they carry Balloon most of the time but it is also 2HKO'd by Air Slash, so the decision on whether to run Ground or Fighting really is about what you'd rather hit. Plus Air Slash is safer since due to team preview, a Heatran switch can be seen and predicted.
- Shadow Ball has redundant coverage with Bug Buzz, but is the next strongest special attack
- U-Turn is good for scouting but lacks the power due to it being a Physical attack and therefore gets no Specs boost.
[Other Options]
- HP Fighting
- HP Rock
- Roost is an option since Yanmega's lead switch can force switches and allow for surprising recovery, especially if the opponent switches to a priority abuser to negate all Yanmega's speed boosts.
- Tailwind could be used to boost Yanmega's Speed on a Tinted Lens set. Hopefully scare the opponent out with the threat of Specs but go for unpredictability with Tailwind, boosting Yanmega's speed and allowing for a sweep for three turns. This should be paired with Life Orb if anything to get that extra boost on attacks.
- Scarf could be used over Specs if you would rather hit and run since Yanmega's base 95 Spe doesnt allow it to outspeed the threats it is meant to kill.
- Endure/Reveral is gimmicky but could do some damage.
[Checks and Counters]
- The deadly 4x weakness to SR
- Leads that resist his STAB attacks also give him trouble like Aerodactyl (can set up SR which makes it even worse)
- Trick Room sets can render useless since he gets slower each round instead of faster.
- Priority ruins Yanmega since it ignores all his Speed Boosts and can finish off that last point of HP if running a Focus Sash.
- Tyranitar
- Weather that wears the user down is also bad since it breaks Yanmega's Sash.
- Paralysis puts a damper on any sweep you might due, although in rare occasions, +6 Speed might still out speed some stuff
- Nothing truly walls Specs Yanmega aside from Blissey since he can hit all pokemon for at least neutral damage. </p>
[Dream World]
<p>Yanmega's Dream World ability is Frisk. This ability allows Yanmega to see their opponent's item when he enters battle. While Frisk does play well into the idea of Yanmega as a scout, it pales in comparison to Speed Boost and Tinted Lens.</p>