[SET]
Magic Guard (Alakazam) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 28 Def / 228 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Recover / Shadow Ball / Encore
[SET COMMENTS]
Alakazam is a good setup sweeper that utilizes its high Speed, outspeeding foes like Cinderace, Iron Treads, and Serperior, high Special Attack, and ablilty Magic Guard negate Life Orb's downsides to quickly threaten opposing Pokemon. Psychic is the perferred STAB move of choice, being able to OHKO Buzzwole and Amoonguss, while Psyshock is an alternative that helps deal with walls like Blissey and Gastrodon. Focus Blast helps deal with Dark-types like Mega Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Hydreigon while also being able to threaten foes like Iron Treads, Excadrill, and Magnezone. Recover gives it more opportunities to set up on targets like defensive Tapu Fini and Slowking, Shadow Ball deals with Mega Latias, Ceruledge, and Mega Sableye, and Encore can force out other setup sweepers like Thundurus, Azumarill, and Iron Moth. This given EV spread allows Alakazam to survive Earthquake from Hippowdon. Entry hazard setters such as Ting-lu, Mega Tyranitar, and Skarmory can be great teammates for Alakazam, as they help it OHKO Mega Venusaur and Enamorus with hazard support. In return, Alakazam can keep hazards up against removal options like Tapu Fini and Thunder Wave Rotom-W. Alakazam's poor Defense can make it appreciate having good physically defensive teammates like Skarmory, Tapu Fini, and Rocky Helmet Tangrowth. Choice Scarf users and fast Pokemon like Mega Aerodactyl, Meowscarada, and Hydreigon can be problematic for Alakazam, as they can prevent it from setting up, so Pokemon that help against these foes like Celesteela, Mega Venusaur, and Clefable make good teammates. Pivot such as Meowscarada, Cinderace, and Sandy Shocks can help Alakazam find setup opportunities against targets like Skarmory; in return, Alakazam can pressure Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur for Sandy Shocks and Meowscarada and Tapu Fini for Cinderace.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/yoko.617542/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/arishem.546157/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sulo.528036/
Last edited: