[OVERVIEW]
Mega Alakazam possesses the highest Special Attack in the tier and incredible Speed, allowing it to function as a revenge killer and wallbreaker. Before Mega Evolving, Alakazam has the ability Magic Guard, allowing it to bypass entry hazards like Spikes and Stealth Rock while also avoiding damage from certain status moves like Toxic and Will-O-Wisp. After Mega Evolving, Mega Alakazam gains the ability Trace, allowing it to copy abilities like Flash Fire from Heatran, Sand Rush from Excadrill, Regenerator from Tornadus-T, and Levitate from Latios. However, Mega Alakazam is very reliant on its Speed, making it scared of being hit by Thunder Wave from Pokemon like Rotom-W, Latias, Slowbro, and Clefable or Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T, which can outspeed and threaten it. Mega Alakazam's poor defensive stats also make it unable to reliably switch into attacks, and priority moves like Sucker Punch from Bisharp and Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross can also prove to be problematic, as they can OHKO it or do a significant amount of damage to it.
[SET]
name: Mega Alakazam
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Calm Mind
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
STAB Psychic is used to hit physically defensive threats like Landorus-T and Fighting-types like Mega Lopunny. Shadow Ball targets other Psychic-types that would otherwise resist its attacks, such as Latios, Slowbro, and Mega Metagross. Focus Blast hits Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn while also hitting Dark-types like Weavile and Tyranitar. Hidden Power Ice can be used in the last slot to hit Ground-types like Gliscor for more damage. Alternatively, Calm Mind can be used to boost Mega Alakazam's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing it to break through defensive cores and sweep through teams. If Calm Mind is paired with Recover instead of Shadow Ball, Mega Alakazam is able to stallbreak. Mega Alakazam can also stallbreak more easily if running Psyshock over Psychic, allowing you to beat other Calm Mind users and break through special walls like Chansey. Encore and Substitute are also options, with the former locking foes into moves and the latter helping Mega Alakazam avoid status while also circumventing priority moves like Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs allow Mega Alakazam to be as strong and fast as possible. A Timid nature is necessary to outspeed Pokemon like Mega Lopunny. Magic Guard is the chosen ability before Mega Evolution to help Alakazam avoid damage from entry hazards. After Mega Evolving, Mega Alakazam's ability turns into Trace, allowing it to copy abilities like Sand Rush from Excadrill, Regenerator from Tangrowth and Tornadus-T, and Flash Fire from Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Alakazam cannot consistently switch into attacks due to how frail it is. It likes coming in freely after a teammate has fainted, via a pivot move like Volt Switch or U-turn, or a double switch. Take advantage of Mega Alakazam's great Speed and use it as a revenge killer or late-game cleaner. Use Trace to copy abilities like Flash Fire to switch into Heatran's Magma Storm and Sand Rush from Excadrill to outspeed it even under sand. Use Mega Alakazam as a late-game sweeper by putting its checks and counters in range of its attacks or eliminating them. Make sure Pokemon that are faster than Mega Alakazam have been eliminated or have their Speed crippled by getting rid of their Choice Scarf or using Thunder Wave on them. Also, be aware of priority moves, like Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross, Ice Shard from Weavile, and Fake Out from Mega Medicham. Stay out of range of priority moves or eliminate the Pokemon that have them.
Team Options
========
Mega Alakazam appreciates Spikes, as they can wear down its checks, making Pokemon like Skarmory and Ferrothorn good teammates. Ferrothorn is exceptionally good, as it can also offer Knock Off and Thunder Wave support. Heatran provides Stealth Rock while also checking things like Mega Scizor. Mega Scizor is one of the best answers to Mega Alakazam, making Magnezone a good partner to trap and eliminate it. Flying-types like Mega Pinsir and Talonflame have priority moves that can threaten Mega Alakazam, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T makes Mega Alakazam lose momentum. Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zapdos can soak up hits from the aforementioned Flying-types, while Serperior can lure them in and paralyze them with Glare. Gliscor and Clefable are also good partners, as they are good status absorbers. Clefable also has access to Knock Off, which can remove important items like Chansey's Eviolite. Serperior's access to Knock Off allows it to remove Tornadus-T's Assault Vest as well as Chansey's Eviolite. Choice Scarf Landorus-T not only is immune to Ground-type moves from faster Pokemon, like Sand Rush Excadrill and opposing Choice Scarf Landorus-T, but can also provide momentum through U-turn, giving Mega Alakazam a free switch-in. Garchomp can deal with physical attackers like Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Mega Scizor, which all threaten Mega Alakazam, while also providing Stealth Rock support.
Other Options
========
Hidden Power Fire can be used to lure in and remove Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn. Taunt can also be used to stop status moves, entry hazards, and, most importantly, recovery. Recover is an option to give Mega Alakazam a form of recovery. Knock Off can be considered, as it helps with removing important items like Eviolite from Chansey and Assault Vest from Tornadus-T.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority**: Because of Mega Alakazam's poor bulk, attacks like Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross, Fake Out from Mega Medicham, Aqua Jet from Crawdaunt, and Sucker Punch from Bisharp can do a lot of damage to or OHKO Mega Alakazam.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Weavile, Bisharp, Crawdaunt, and Tyranitar can all threaten to OHKO Mega Alakazam. It does have Focus Blast to OHKO all these threats, but be wary of its accuracy.
**Steel-types**: Mega Scizor is the best counter to Mega Alakazam, as it can always survive two hits from Mega Alakazam barring Hidden Power Fire. Mega Scizor is also hard to chip down thanks to Roost and can revenge kill Mega Alakazam with Bullet Punch or OHKO it with a Bug-type move like U-turn. Ferrothorn can take a Focus Blast and retaliate with Power Whip, but you can easily weaken it to where its in range of Focus Blast. Mega Metagross is able to take one Shadow Ball and revenge kill back, but it is easy to put in KO range.
**Chansey**: Chansey's special bulk makes it near impossible for Mega Alakazam to break through it. Chansey is also able to slowly wear down Mega Alakazam with Seismic Toss or cripple it with a status move like Thunder Wave or Toxic. However, Chansey can be defeated with the combination of Calm Mind and Recover to boost your Special Attack enough while also recovering off damage from Seismic Toss.
**Faster Pokemon and Thunder Wave**: Faster Pokemon, like Choice Scarf users and Sand Rush Excadrill can all outspeed and threaten Mega Alakazam due to how frail it is. There are ways to get around these fast threats, like removing their Choice Scarf with other teammates or copying Sand Rush from Excadrill. Thunder Wave cripples Mega Alakazam's Speed, making it less threatening and easy to KO.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ez, 233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[jonfilch, 472436], [Vulpix03, 306299]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Estronic, 240732]]
Mega Alakazam possesses the highest Special Attack in the tier and incredible Speed, allowing it to function as a revenge killer and wallbreaker. Before Mega Evolving, Alakazam has the ability Magic Guard, allowing it to bypass entry hazards like Spikes and Stealth Rock while also avoiding damage from certain status moves like Toxic and Will-O-Wisp. After Mega Evolving, Mega Alakazam gains the ability Trace, allowing it to copy abilities like Flash Fire from Heatran, Sand Rush from Excadrill, Regenerator from Tornadus-T, and Levitate from Latios. However, Mega Alakazam is very reliant on its Speed, making it scared of being hit by Thunder Wave from Pokemon like Rotom-W, Latias, Slowbro, and Clefable or Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T, which can outspeed and threaten it. Mega Alakazam's poor defensive stats also make it unable to reliably switch into attacks, and priority moves like Sucker Punch from Bisharp and Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross can also prove to be problematic, as they can OHKO it or do a significant amount of damage to it.
[SET]
name: Mega Alakazam
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Calm Mind
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
STAB Psychic is used to hit physically defensive threats like Landorus-T and Fighting-types like Mega Lopunny. Shadow Ball targets other Psychic-types that would otherwise resist its attacks, such as Latios, Slowbro, and Mega Metagross. Focus Blast hits Steel-types like Heatran and Ferrothorn while also hitting Dark-types like Weavile and Tyranitar. Hidden Power Ice can be used in the last slot to hit Ground-types like Gliscor for more damage. Alternatively, Calm Mind can be used to boost Mega Alakazam's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing it to break through defensive cores and sweep through teams. If Calm Mind is paired with Recover instead of Shadow Ball, Mega Alakazam is able to stallbreak. Mega Alakazam can also stallbreak more easily if running Psyshock over Psychic, allowing you to beat other Calm Mind users and break through special walls like Chansey. Encore and Substitute are also options, with the former locking foes into moves and the latter helping Mega Alakazam avoid status while also circumventing priority moves like Bisharp's Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed EVs allow Mega Alakazam to be as strong and fast as possible. A Timid nature is necessary to outspeed Pokemon like Mega Lopunny. Magic Guard is the chosen ability before Mega Evolution to help Alakazam avoid damage from entry hazards. After Mega Evolving, Mega Alakazam's ability turns into Trace, allowing it to copy abilities like Sand Rush from Excadrill, Regenerator from Tangrowth and Tornadus-T, and Flash Fire from Heatran.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Alakazam cannot consistently switch into attacks due to how frail it is. It likes coming in freely after a teammate has fainted, via a pivot move like Volt Switch or U-turn, or a double switch. Take advantage of Mega Alakazam's great Speed and use it as a revenge killer or late-game cleaner. Use Trace to copy abilities like Flash Fire to switch into Heatran's Magma Storm and Sand Rush from Excadrill to outspeed it even under sand. Use Mega Alakazam as a late-game sweeper by putting its checks and counters in range of its attacks or eliminating them. Make sure Pokemon that are faster than Mega Alakazam have been eliminated or have their Speed crippled by getting rid of their Choice Scarf or using Thunder Wave on them. Also, be aware of priority moves, like Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross, Ice Shard from Weavile, and Fake Out from Mega Medicham. Stay out of range of priority moves or eliminate the Pokemon that have them.
Team Options
========
Mega Alakazam appreciates Spikes, as they can wear down its checks, making Pokemon like Skarmory and Ferrothorn good teammates. Ferrothorn is exceptionally good, as it can also offer Knock Off and Thunder Wave support. Heatran provides Stealth Rock while also checking things like Mega Scizor. Mega Scizor is one of the best answers to Mega Alakazam, making Magnezone a good partner to trap and eliminate it. Flying-types like Mega Pinsir and Talonflame have priority moves that can threaten Mega Alakazam, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T makes Mega Alakazam lose momentum. Pokemon like Rotom-W and Zapdos can soak up hits from the aforementioned Flying-types, while Serperior can lure them in and paralyze them with Glare. Gliscor and Clefable are also good partners, as they are good status absorbers. Clefable also has access to Knock Off, which can remove important items like Chansey's Eviolite. Serperior's access to Knock Off allows it to remove Tornadus-T's Assault Vest as well as Chansey's Eviolite. Choice Scarf Landorus-T not only is immune to Ground-type moves from faster Pokemon, like Sand Rush Excadrill and opposing Choice Scarf Landorus-T, but can also provide momentum through U-turn, giving Mega Alakazam a free switch-in. Garchomp can deal with physical attackers like Bisharp, Tyranitar, and Mega Scizor, which all threaten Mega Alakazam, while also providing Stealth Rock support.
Other Options
========
Hidden Power Fire can be used to lure in and remove Steel-types like Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn. Taunt can also be used to stop status moves, entry hazards, and, most importantly, recovery. Recover is an option to give Mega Alakazam a form of recovery. Knock Off can be considered, as it helps with removing important items like Eviolite from Chansey and Assault Vest from Tornadus-T.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Priority**: Because of Mega Alakazam's poor bulk, attacks like Bullet Punch from Mega Scizor and Mega Metagross, Fake Out from Mega Medicham, Aqua Jet from Crawdaunt, and Sucker Punch from Bisharp can do a lot of damage to or OHKO Mega Alakazam.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types like Weavile, Bisharp, Crawdaunt, and Tyranitar can all threaten to OHKO Mega Alakazam. It does have Focus Blast to OHKO all these threats, but be wary of its accuracy.
**Steel-types**: Mega Scizor is the best counter to Mega Alakazam, as it can always survive two hits from Mega Alakazam barring Hidden Power Fire. Mega Scizor is also hard to chip down thanks to Roost and can revenge kill Mega Alakazam with Bullet Punch or OHKO it with a Bug-type move like U-turn. Ferrothorn can take a Focus Blast and retaliate with Power Whip, but you can easily weaken it to where its in range of Focus Blast. Mega Metagross is able to take one Shadow Ball and revenge kill back, but it is easy to put in KO range.
**Chansey**: Chansey's special bulk makes it near impossible for Mega Alakazam to break through it. Chansey is also able to slowly wear down Mega Alakazam with Seismic Toss or cripple it with a status move like Thunder Wave or Toxic. However, Chansey can be defeated with the combination of Calm Mind and Recover to boost your Special Attack enough while also recovering off damage from Seismic Toss.
**Faster Pokemon and Thunder Wave**: Faster Pokemon, like Choice Scarf users and Sand Rush Excadrill can all outspeed and threaten Mega Alakazam due to how frail it is. There are ways to get around these fast threats, like removing their Choice Scarf with other teammates or copying Sand Rush from Excadrill. Thunder Wave cripples Mega Alakazam's Speed, making it less threatening and easy to KO.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[ez, 233669]]
- Quality checked by: [[jonfilch, 472436], [Vulpix03, 306299]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Estronic, 240732]]
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