roman
Banned deucer.
qc: kevinelf / torkool / terrors
gp: marthaa / the dutch plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Normal
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Mega Lopunny's great offensive stats in conjunction with an unresisted dual STAB combination thanks to Scrappy allow it to act as one of Normal's most outstanding attackers. It also has a blazing fast Speed stat, allowing it to outpace and revenge kill metagame threats such as Tapu Koko and Greninja. Access to utility moves such as Encore allows it to switch in and stop threatening setup sweepers such as Mega Latias and Suicune in their tracks; this can be utilized in conjunction with Power-Up Punch to set up on passive walls such as Toxapex and limit defensive switch-ins such as Celesteela further. Mega Lopunny can also take out massive threats such as Mega Sableye and limit switch-ins thanks to Scrappy. Mega Lopunny’s ability to check massive nuisances to Normal such as Bisharp bolsters its already high viability on Normal teams. Unfortunately, Mega Lopunny’s low defensive stats leave it very vulnerable to Choice Scarf users such as Heracross; its typing prevents it from hard switching into most attacks. Mega Lopunny's weakness to common priority moves from the likes of Breloom and vulnerability to other strong priority attackers such as Mega Scizor and Azumarill after chip damage further hinders its viability. It also lacks the power to break through walls unless it can lock them into passive moves, almost completely limiting it to the role of a revenge killer. While Mega Lopunny is a fantastic Pokemon, it lacks the ability to break through types such as Bug and Grass as easily as Mega Pidgeot due to the latter's No Guard Heat Wave and Hurricane having few to no switch-ins. Mega Lopunny’s weakness to entry hazards and other chip damage such as Rocky Helmet recoil further limits its usefulness and hinders it throughout games.
[SET]
name: Power-Up Punch + Encore
move 1: Return
move 2: High Jump Kick
move 3: Power-Up Punch
move 4: Encore
item: Lopunnite
ability: Limber
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Return is Mega Lopunny's most reliable STAB move. High Jump Kick hits Rock- and Steel-types that resist Return for super effective damage. Power-Up Punch allows Mega Lopunny to set up on walls such as Toxapex. Encore locks slower walls into recovery or other passive moves to freely set up on them with Power-Up Punch.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack investment allows Mega Lopunny to hit as hard as possible, and maximum Speed investment in conjunction with a Jolly nature allows Mega Lopunny to outpace Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and +1 Mega Tyranitar. Limber allows Lopunny to set up on Thunder Wave users such as Cobalion before Mega Evolving and means it can also switch in on some Thunder Wave users such as Klefki and force them out with Encore. Scrappy allows Mega Lopunny to take out threatening Ghost-types such as Mega Sableye with High Jump Kick and Return. Lopunnite allows Lopunny to Mega Evolve and gives it Scrappy and much better stats.
Usage Tips
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Surprise Pokemon using passive moves such as Stealth Rock or any healing move by switching in as they use their passive move and locking them into it with Encore. Utilize Power-Up Punch on switch-ins such as Skarmory or after Mega Lopunny has locked something into a passive move with Encore. Make sure to take advantage of Mega Lopunny's unresisted dual STAB combination and ability to wallbreak by making double switches throughout a game. Capitalize on this especially against teams with massive threats to Normal that Mega Lopunny beats, such as Bisharp. You can also switch Mega Lopunny into Pokemon such as Substitute Zapdos and Suicune and lock them into passive moves, allowing it to freely set up. However, never hard switch Mega Lopunny into attacks unless you’re making a double switch, and bring it in through slow U-turn from users such as Staraptor or after a teammate has fainted. Play conservatively with Mega Lopunny against types that rely on stacking entry hazards, such as Steel, as Mega Lopunny has no reliable recovery and gets worn down very easily, and it should also be preserved against types such as Dark and Ghost where it has potential to get multiple KOs. Steer clear of status, mainly paralysis and burn, as the former prevents Mega Lopunny from successfully revenge killing fast offensive Pokemon such as Tapu Koko and the latter prevents it from breaking through walls. Make sure to play carefully against teams with Rocky Helmet or Rough Skin users such as Skarmory and Garchomp, as they chip Mega Lopunny down so faster revenge killers can safely KO it.
Team Options
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Chansey can spread Toxic poison to wear down Pokemon that stop Mega Lopunny, such as Hippowdon; it can also set Stealth Rock to help wear down offensive checks such as Victini. Porygon2 can take attacks from faster revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and slow them down with Thunder Wave for Mega Lopunny. It can also spread Toxic poison to wear down walls. Diggersby can power through Pokemon that beat Mega Lopunny, such as Skarmory, so that Mega Lopunny can be more useful later in the game. Ditto can revenge kill Pokemon such as Mega Altaria that can freely set up on Mega Lopunny. Staraptor switches into Pokemon that revenge kill Mega Lopunny, such as Choice Scarf Heracross, and can clear entry hazards with Defog, notably Sticky Web, that cripple Mega Lopunny. Porygon-Z can tear through types such as Psychic and Flying that Mega Lopunny tends to struggle with. Meloetta can also power through troublesome walls with a Choice Specs set but can be difficult to fit on teams and is easily forced out by faster offensive Pokemon. Smeargle can provide Sticky Web so Mega Lopunny can outpace faster Pokemon such as the aforementioned Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and other faster threatening Pokemon like Choice Scarf Terrakion; it can also provide entry hazard chip damage with Stealth Rock to wear down bulkier Pokemon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Normal
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Fake Out Mega Lopunny pressures offensive teams that utilize frail offensive attackers such as Choice Scarf Greninja much more easily but loses the ability to break through walls because it is forced to give up Encore or Power-Up Punch. Ice Punch allows Mega Lopunny to hit Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Garchomp. However, these Pokemon are walled by Porygon2, so the extra coverage isn't really worth it. Substitute allows Mega Lopunny to prevent being copied by opposing Ditto but stops it from busting past walls, as it has to drop Encore or Power-Up Punch.
Checks and Counters
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Normal
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**Faster Revenge Killers**: Fast revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Terrakion and Choice Scarf Victini are able to outpace and OHKO Mega Lopunny.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro and Clefable can easily switch in and cripple Mega Lopunny with Thunder Wave or KO it with Moonblast.
**Priority**: Priority users such as Mega Pinsir and Scizor can pick off Mega Lopunny after it has taken a bit of prior damage.
**Residual Damage**: Chip damage from entry hazards, Toxic poison, and Rocky Helmet wears down Mega Lopunny extremely quickly, preventing it from fulfilling its role as easily.
**Status**: Status, especially burn and paralysis, heavily cripples Mega Lopunny.
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