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Banned deucer.
[OVERVIEW]
*Mega Lucario's high and good base attack, good ability in form of Adaptability and an excellent offensive typing make it a powerfull threat in the metagame, threatening Pokemon such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy and Gothitelle with ease.
*A good base speed in 121 makes it capable to outspeed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Xerneas and Yveltal. Though, Mega Lucario is still outplaced by fast Support Arceus formes, Marshadow, common Scarfers, such as Xerneas and Yveltal, and Marshadow.
* One of the reasons why Mega Lucario is chosen over Mega Salamence is because of its ability to revenge kill Geomancy Xerneas, and this is something that very few wallbreakers are capable of.
*Its typing also makes it immune to Poison, which helps a lot against Toxic users, such as Lugia, Giratina and much others.
*Lucario's access to Swords Dance helps it to increase its high base Attack, being able to OHKO most of the metagame after a boost.
*Mega Lucario performs its role much better against bulkier teams, since there is a lot of pokémon that easily becomes setup fodder from Lucario, such as Chansey and Blissey, so it's easier to found a setup opportunity.
*However, Mega Lucario's poor defensive stats makes it very vulnerable to faster common offensive threats, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma.
* Fraility keeps Lucario from safely setting up even against Pokemon it naturally threatens. Also it has hard time making good use of Justified, as it takes over 50% from any Dark-type moves from Yveltal, and this forces Lucario to have some team support despite its wallbreaking.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Meteor Mash
move 4: Bullet Punch
item: Lucarionite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Swords Dance boosts Lucario's Attack, and makes it able to OHKO most of the tier with its STABs.
*Close Combat is Lucario's main STAB, and KOes almost the entire unboosted tier after a boost.
*Meteor Mash is Lucario's Steel-type STAB, and it's most reliable than Iron Tail, and is enough to deal with Fairy-types, such as Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas. It also can hit stuff like Giratina-Origin that resist or are immune to Close Combat.
*Bullet Punch gives to Lucario a priority move that helps it to revenge kill some faster offensive threats, notably Deoxys-Attack, Xerneas, Mega-Gengar and Marshadow after some prior damage, allowing it to potentially sweep in late-game.
*Stone Edge is an option to hit Ho-Oh, which otherwise take any hit without Stealth Rock, and back OHKOing with Sacred Fire.
*Ice Punch can be used to surprise Mega Salamence, OHKOing it after a Swords Dance boost. It also can OHKO Zygarde or does a huge damage at +2.
* Earthquake is useful in events when you are against Toxapex, which otherwise could wall it for days. But +2 Close Combat KOes Toxapex after Stealth Rock and some prior damage.
Set Details
========
*Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is used to maximize Mega Lucario's damage output, while hitting as fast as possible.
*A Jolly Nature is more preferred, helping Lucario to outspeed pokémon such as Adamant Mega Salamence, Xerneas and Yveltal.
*However, Adamant can be used to guarantee the OHKO in Giratina-Origin with Meteor Mash after Stealth Rock damage, but overall it's just useful for this, and facilitates the revenge kill to Mega Lucario, so an Adamant Nature only should be used on a Sticky Web team, for example.
*Justified allows it to potentially switch in Dark-type moves before Mega-evolving and boosting its Attack.
*Lucarionite is required for mega evolving Mega Lucario.
Usage Tips
========
*Be sure that you have weakened Mega Lucario's checks before setup, and even more if they are faster than it and have enough bulk to take a Bullet Punch from +2 and OHKOing back.
*Keep in mind that Mega Lucario can be used as a revenge-killer to stuff like Deoxys-Attack and a weakened boosted Xerneas.
*Don't try to switch Mega Lucario directly into opposing's pokémon moves, as Mega Lucario has a poor bulk and may can fall to powerfull neutral moves, except if it's a Arceus-Dark or Tyranitar, then it's recommended that you switch into them in non-mega evolved form, to gain Justified's Attack boost.
*Mega Lucario must be used as a late game sweeper only against less offensive teams, as it doesn't have enough bulk to find a lot of setup opportunities, then use it as a strong wallbreaker, dealing the most damage it can to weaken the opponent's Pokemon to its teammates.
*Try to setup in Pokemon that doesn't deal a huge damage, and can't threaten Mega Lucario, such as Celesteela,
Team Options
========
*If you are lacking Stone Edge, Primal Groudon can be a good team partner for it, as it can check Ho-Oh if running Stone Edge, and can threaten Toxapex, which can prevent a potential sweep from Mega Lucario. Back, Mega Lucario can threaten Support Arceus formes for Primal Groudon, and can use they as a setup fodder.
*Sticky Web users, more notably Shuckle and Smeargle, can be good teammates for Mega Lucario, as it can outspeed a plethora of pokémon with Sticky Web, such as Ultra Necrozma, Marshadow and Mega Gengar, improving Mega Lucario's performance against offense teams.
*Dark-types, such as Yveltal and Tyranitar, that can threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types that can threaten Mega Lucario, are very appreciated, as if they are weakened or aren't in the opponent's field, Mega Lucario can easily spam its Fighting STAB with ease. Also, Mega Lucario can revenge kill a potential weakened Geomancy Xerneas, and these Dark-types enjoy the fact that Mega Lucario can pressure Fairy-types.
*Strong wallbreakers, such as Primal-Kyogre or Rayquaza, can weaken bulky Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Support Arceus formes for Mega Lucario, making the potential sweep in the late game easier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Nasty Plot in a special set can be used with Focus Blast/Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave and Flash Cannon, but it's tremendously worse than the Swords Dance set.
*Crunch can be used to pass through Ghost- and Psychic-types that resist to Close Combat, such as the rare Aegislash and Mega Slowbro. It also can OHKO Lunala after Stealth Rock damage and Necrozma-Dawn-Wings at +2.
*High Jump Kick is an alternative over Close Combat, hits harder, and OHKOes Zygarde and Primal-Groudon after a Swords Dance boost. However, it comes with the cost of losing 50% if misses, if it hits a Ghost-type or a Pokemon with Protect. Also, the lack of defense drops, means you won't progressively be vulnerable to priority moves as you click Close Combat multiple times.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon, more notably those which can take a Bullet Punch from +2, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma are all able to OHKO Mega Lucario in back, due to its poor defenses.
**Toxapex**: Toxapex resists to Lucario Mega's STABs and can take one hit at +2, and can reset its stats with Haze, but it can be 2HKOed if Stealth Rock are in the field, so it needs to be careful.
**Ground-types**: Faster Ground-types, such as Arceus-Ground can outspeed Mega Lucario, take a Bullet Punch with ease, and back OHKO with Judgment. If Jolly, a defensive Primal Groudon can take a +2 Close Combat from full and back OHKO with Precipice Blades or Lava Plume. Zygarde-Complete's high Defense and HP helps it to take one hit from Mega Lucario at +2, and phaze it with Dragon Tail or OHKO with Thousand Arrows after Close Combat's Special Defense drop or some chip damage.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh resists to both of Mega Lucario's STABs, and can take any hit without Stealth Rock, and back OHKOing with Sacred Fire. However, Ho-Oh needs to be careful with the uncommon Stone Edge, that will always OHKO at +2.
**Marshadow**: Marshadow can take a +2 Bullet Punch from full HP, outspeed Mega Lucario and OHKO back with Close Combat or steal its boosts with Spectral Thief.
**Ghost- and Psychic-types**: Ghost-types, such as Marshadow and Arceus-Ghost are naturally immune to Close Combat, being very threatening to it, as they have enough power to OHKO Lucario with one hit, forcing it to switch out , and Psychic-types, such as Mega Slowbro, resists to both of Mega Lucario's STABs and can beat it in 1v1 with Iron Defense + Slack Off.
*Mega Lucario's high and good base attack, good ability in form of Adaptability and an excellent offensive typing make it a powerfull threat in the metagame, threatening Pokemon such as Xerneas, Arceus-Fairy and Gothitelle with ease.
*A good base speed in 121 makes it capable to outspeed Pokemon such as Primal Groudon, Xerneas and Yveltal. Though, Mega Lucario is still outplaced by fast Support Arceus formes, Marshadow, common Scarfers, such as Xerneas and Yveltal, and Marshadow.
* One of the reasons why Mega Lucario is chosen over Mega Salamence is because of its ability to revenge kill Geomancy Xerneas, and this is something that very few wallbreakers are capable of.
*Its typing also makes it immune to Poison, which helps a lot against Toxic users, such as Lugia, Giratina and much others.
*Lucario's access to Swords Dance helps it to increase its high base Attack, being able to OHKO most of the metagame after a boost.
*Mega Lucario performs its role much better against bulkier teams, since there is a lot of pokémon that easily becomes setup fodder from Lucario, such as Chansey and Blissey, so it's easier to found a setup opportunity.
*However, Mega Lucario's poor defensive stats makes it very vulnerable to faster common offensive threats, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma.
* Fraility keeps Lucario from safely setting up even against Pokemon it naturally threatens. Also it has hard time making good use of Justified, as it takes over 50% from any Dark-type moves from Yveltal, and this forces Lucario to have some team support despite its wallbreaking.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Meteor Mash
move 4: Bullet Punch
item: Lucarionite
ability: Justified
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
*Swords Dance boosts Lucario's Attack, and makes it able to OHKO most of the tier with its STABs.
*Close Combat is Lucario's main STAB, and KOes almost the entire unboosted tier after a boost.
*Meteor Mash is Lucario's Steel-type STAB, and it's most reliable than Iron Tail, and is enough to deal with Fairy-types, such as Arceus-Fairy and Xerneas. It also can hit stuff like Giratina-Origin that resist or are immune to Close Combat.
*Bullet Punch gives to Lucario a priority move that helps it to revenge kill some faster offensive threats, notably Deoxys-Attack, Xerneas, Mega-Gengar and Marshadow after some prior damage, allowing it to potentially sweep in late-game.
*Stone Edge is an option to hit Ho-Oh, which otherwise take any hit without Stealth Rock, and back OHKOing with Sacred Fire.
*Ice Punch can be used to surprise Mega Salamence, OHKOing it after a Swords Dance boost. It also can OHKO Zygarde or does a huge damage at +2.
* Earthquake is useful in events when you are against Toxapex, which otherwise could wall it for days. But +2 Close Combat KOes Toxapex after Stealth Rock and some prior damage.
Set Details
========
*Maximum investment in Attack and Speed is used to maximize Mega Lucario's damage output, while hitting as fast as possible.
*A Jolly Nature is more preferred, helping Lucario to outspeed pokémon such as Adamant Mega Salamence, Xerneas and Yveltal.
*However, Adamant can be used to guarantee the OHKO in Giratina-Origin with Meteor Mash after Stealth Rock damage, but overall it's just useful for this, and facilitates the revenge kill to Mega Lucario, so an Adamant Nature only should be used on a Sticky Web team, for example.
*Justified allows it to potentially switch in Dark-type moves before Mega-evolving and boosting its Attack.
*Lucarionite is required for mega evolving Mega Lucario.
Usage Tips
========
*Be sure that you have weakened Mega Lucario's checks before setup, and even more if they are faster than it and have enough bulk to take a Bullet Punch from +2 and OHKOing back.
*Keep in mind that Mega Lucario can be used as a revenge-killer to stuff like Deoxys-Attack and a weakened boosted Xerneas.
*Don't try to switch Mega Lucario directly into opposing's pokémon moves, as Mega Lucario has a poor bulk and may can fall to powerfull neutral moves, except if it's a Arceus-Dark or Tyranitar, then it's recommended that you switch into them in non-mega evolved form, to gain Justified's Attack boost.
*Mega Lucario must be used as a late game sweeper only against less offensive teams, as it doesn't have enough bulk to find a lot of setup opportunities, then use it as a strong wallbreaker, dealing the most damage it can to weaken the opponent's Pokemon to its teammates.
*Try to setup in Pokemon that doesn't deal a huge damage, and can't threaten Mega Lucario, such as Celesteela,
Team Options
========
*If you are lacking Stone Edge, Primal Groudon can be a good team partner for it, as it can check Ho-Oh if running Stone Edge, and can threaten Toxapex, which can prevent a potential sweep from Mega Lucario. Back, Mega Lucario can threaten Support Arceus formes for Primal Groudon, and can use they as a setup fodder.
*Sticky Web users, more notably Shuckle and Smeargle, can be good teammates for Mega Lucario, as it can outspeed a plethora of pokémon with Sticky Web, such as Ultra Necrozma, Marshadow and Mega Gengar, improving Mega Lucario's performance against offense teams.
*Dark-types, such as Yveltal and Tyranitar, that can threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types that can threaten Mega Lucario, are very appreciated, as if they are weakened or aren't in the opponent's field, Mega Lucario can easily spam its Fighting STAB with ease. Also, Mega Lucario can revenge kill a potential weakened Geomancy Xerneas, and these Dark-types enjoy the fact that Mega Lucario can pressure Fairy-types.
*Strong wallbreakers, such as Primal-Kyogre or Rayquaza, can weaken bulky Pokemon like Primal Groudon and Support Arceus formes for Mega Lucario, making the potential sweep in the late game easier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
*Nasty Plot in a special set can be used with Focus Blast/Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave and Flash Cannon, but it's tremendously worse than the Swords Dance set.
*Crunch can be used to pass through Ghost- and Psychic-types that resist to Close Combat, such as the rare Aegislash and Mega Slowbro. It also can OHKO Lunala after Stealth Rock damage and Necrozma-Dawn-Wings at +2.
*High Jump Kick is an alternative over Close Combat, hits harder, and OHKOes Zygarde and Primal-Groudon after a Swords Dance boost. However, it comes with the cost of losing 50% if misses, if it hits a Ghost-type or a Pokemon with Protect. Also, the lack of defense drops, means you won't progressively be vulnerable to priority moves as you click Close Combat multiple times.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon, more notably those which can take a Bullet Punch from +2, such as Choice Scarf Yveltal, Marshadow and Ultra Necrozma are all able to OHKO Mega Lucario in back, due to its poor defenses.
**Toxapex**: Toxapex resists to Lucario Mega's STABs and can take one hit at +2, and can reset its stats with Haze, but it can be 2HKOed if Stealth Rock are in the field, so it needs to be careful.
**Ground-types**: Faster Ground-types, such as Arceus-Ground can outspeed Mega Lucario, take a Bullet Punch with ease, and back OHKO with Judgment. If Jolly, a defensive Primal Groudon can take a +2 Close Combat from full and back OHKO with Precipice Blades or Lava Plume. Zygarde-Complete's high Defense and HP helps it to take one hit from Mega Lucario at +2, and phaze it with Dragon Tail or OHKO with Thousand Arrows after Close Combat's Special Defense drop or some chip damage.
**Ho-Oh**: Ho-Oh resists to both of Mega Lucario's STABs, and can take any hit without Stealth Rock, and back OHKOing with Sacred Fire. However, Ho-Oh needs to be careful with the uncommon Stone Edge, that will always OHKO at +2.
**Marshadow**: Marshadow can take a +2 Bullet Punch from full HP, outspeed Mega Lucario and OHKO back with Close Combat or steal its boosts with Spectral Thief.
**Ghost- and Psychic-types**: Ghost-types, such as Marshadow and Arceus-Ghost are naturally immune to Close Combat, being very threatening to it, as they have enough power to OHKO Lucario with one hit, forcing it to switch out , and Psychic-types, such as Mega Slowbro, resists to both of Mega Lucario's STABs and can beat it in 1v1 with Iron Defense + Slack Off.
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