Holiday
on my best behavior
[OVERVIEW]
Mareep is one of the few Pokemon in Little Cup with access to both Light Screen and Reflect. This, coupled with only one weakness to Ground and solid bulk from Eviolite, gives Mareep a small niche as a dual screens setter. However, not only is Mareep one of the only Electric-types in Little Cup without access to Volt Switch, but it is shut down by basically any Taunt user, and lacks reliable recovery outside of Berry Juice.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Light Screen
move 2: Reflect
move 3: Thunder Wave / Heal Bell / Toxic
move 4: Thunderbolt / Discharge
item: Eviolite / Berry Juice
ability: Static
nature: Bold
evs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Light Screen and Reflect double your team's Special Defense and Defense, respectively, and allow teammates to set up relatively unscathed. Thunder Wave paralyzes other Pokemon, slowing down potential threats which can let other Pokemon sweep. Heal Bell allows Mareep to reliably cure teammates of status behind the extra bulk of Light Screen and Reflect. Toxic allows Mareep to whittle down bulky Pokemon that take little damage from or are immune to Mareep's Electric STAB move, such as Porygon and Hippopotas. For offensive options, Thunderbolt is a powerful STAB attack, while Discharge is slightly weaker but comes with a 30% chance to paralyze the foe. Both prevent Mareep from being total Taunt bait.
Set Details
========
Eviolite is the preferred item because it maximizes Mareep's bulk, while Berry Juice gives Mareep a solid option of recovery; however, this makes setting up on Knock Off users such as Pawniard and Mienfoo much harder. The EVs and nature maximize Mareep's overall bulk. Mareep, backed by an Eviolite, is quite bulky. This allows it to pivot in and out of neutral attacks to set up. Static can paralyze physical attackers, allowing Mareep to set up screens later in the game.
Usage Tips
========
Mareep should be used before you want a setup sweeper to come in. Use Reflect or Light Screen based on what attacker is in front of you to receive immediate benefits, and then set up the second screen. Mareep has trouble getting past common leads, such as Onix, Dwebble, and Drilbur, and shouldn't be used in the lead position. Mareep should instead be used to support a setup sweeper later in the game. Try to reserve Mareep to come in on Pokemon that cannot deal large damage to it, such as Fletchling and Foongus.
Team Options
========
Wish support from Spritzee can greatly improve Mareep's longevity, allowing it to set up screens multiple times in the battle. Setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Scraggy, Belly Drum Zigzagoon, Bulk Up Timburr, and Swords Dance Fletchling as well as Baton Pass recipients such as Munna and Natu appreciate the added defenses Mareep's screens supply. Slower Pokemon, such as Corphish, Karrablast, and bulky Pawniard, enjoy the paralysis chances that Mareep offers between Thunder Wave and Static.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Light Clay can be used to keep screens up longer; however, Mareep loses out on the bulk of Eviolite or the recovery of Berry Juice, keeping it from setting up multiple times. Light Clay is usable if you aren't using bulky setup sweepers, as then the three extra turns of increased defenses aren't needed. Cotton Guard boosts Mareep's Defense to solid levels, but Mareep struggles to set up to begin with and should spend its time on the field supporting its team. An all-out attacking set with Thunderbolt, Power Gem, Signal Beam, and a Hidden Power of choice can be used; however, this is done better by Elekid and Chinchou, which have higher Speed and better movepools.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Mareep cannot touch Ground-types, such as Drilbur, with any attack, and they can respond with a powerful STAB Earthquake.
**Chinchou**: Chinchou shuts down Mareep with Volt Absorb, and it can status a Pokemon Mareep switches out to with a Thunder Wave or a Scald burn.
**Taunt Users**: Pokemon with a fast Taunt, such as Onix, Cottonee, and Mienfoo, stop Mareep from setting up screens. Onix, in particular, can Taunt Mareep and hit it with a STAB Earthquake.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Spritzee, Porygon, and Munchlax can all stall out screens and heal themselves quite easily.
**Grass-types**: Mareep's STAB move doesn't bother Grass-types much, while they can pressure Mareep with status. Most of them, such Foongus, Pumpkaboo, and Chespin, don't mind being paralyzed.
**Defog**: Defog removes the screens that Mareep sets up for its team; however, most Defog users are hit super effectively by Mareep's STAB attack.
Mareep is one of the few Pokemon in Little Cup with access to both Light Screen and Reflect. This, coupled with only one weakness to Ground and solid bulk from Eviolite, gives Mareep a small niche as a dual screens setter. However, not only is Mareep one of the only Electric-types in Little Cup without access to Volt Switch, but it is shut down by basically any Taunt user, and lacks reliable recovery outside of Berry Juice.
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Light Screen
move 2: Reflect
move 3: Thunder Wave / Heal Bell / Toxic
move 4: Thunderbolt / Discharge
item: Eviolite / Berry Juice
ability: Static
nature: Bold
evs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Light Screen and Reflect double your team's Special Defense and Defense, respectively, and allow teammates to set up relatively unscathed. Thunder Wave paralyzes other Pokemon, slowing down potential threats which can let other Pokemon sweep. Heal Bell allows Mareep to reliably cure teammates of status behind the extra bulk of Light Screen and Reflect. Toxic allows Mareep to whittle down bulky Pokemon that take little damage from or are immune to Mareep's Electric STAB move, such as Porygon and Hippopotas. For offensive options, Thunderbolt is a powerful STAB attack, while Discharge is slightly weaker but comes with a 30% chance to paralyze the foe. Both prevent Mareep from being total Taunt bait.
Set Details
========
Eviolite is the preferred item because it maximizes Mareep's bulk, while Berry Juice gives Mareep a solid option of recovery; however, this makes setting up on Knock Off users such as Pawniard and Mienfoo much harder. The EVs and nature maximize Mareep's overall bulk. Mareep, backed by an Eviolite, is quite bulky. This allows it to pivot in and out of neutral attacks to set up. Static can paralyze physical attackers, allowing Mareep to set up screens later in the game.
Usage Tips
========
Mareep should be used before you want a setup sweeper to come in. Use Reflect or Light Screen based on what attacker is in front of you to receive immediate benefits, and then set up the second screen. Mareep has trouble getting past common leads, such as Onix, Dwebble, and Drilbur, and shouldn't be used in the lead position. Mareep should instead be used to support a setup sweeper later in the game. Try to reserve Mareep to come in on Pokemon that cannot deal large damage to it, such as Fletchling and Foongus.
Team Options
========
Wish support from Spritzee can greatly improve Mareep's longevity, allowing it to set up screens multiple times in the battle. Setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Scraggy, Belly Drum Zigzagoon, Bulk Up Timburr, and Swords Dance Fletchling as well as Baton Pass recipients such as Munna and Natu appreciate the added defenses Mareep's screens supply. Slower Pokemon, such as Corphish, Karrablast, and bulky Pawniard, enjoy the paralysis chances that Mareep offers between Thunder Wave and Static.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Light Clay can be used to keep screens up longer; however, Mareep loses out on the bulk of Eviolite or the recovery of Berry Juice, keeping it from setting up multiple times. Light Clay is usable if you aren't using bulky setup sweepers, as then the three extra turns of increased defenses aren't needed. Cotton Guard boosts Mareep's Defense to solid levels, but Mareep struggles to set up to begin with and should spend its time on the field supporting its team. An all-out attacking set with Thunderbolt, Power Gem, Signal Beam, and a Hidden Power of choice can be used; however, this is done better by Elekid and Chinchou, which have higher Speed and better movepools.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Mareep cannot touch Ground-types, such as Drilbur, with any attack, and they can respond with a powerful STAB Earthquake.
**Chinchou**: Chinchou shuts down Mareep with Volt Absorb, and it can status a Pokemon Mareep switches out to with a Thunder Wave or a Scald burn.
**Taunt Users**: Pokemon with a fast Taunt, such as Onix, Cottonee, and Mienfoo, stop Mareep from setting up screens. Onix, in particular, can Taunt Mareep and hit it with a STAB Earthquake.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Spritzee, Porygon, and Munchlax can all stall out screens and heal themselves quite easily.
**Grass-types**: Mareep's STAB move doesn't bother Grass-types much, while they can pressure Mareep with status. Most of them, such Foongus, Pumpkaboo, and Chespin, don't mind being paralyzed.
**Defog**: Defog removes the screens that Mareep sets up for its team; however, most Defog users are hit super effectively by Mareep's STAB attack.
Last edited: