Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Fire Punch / Ice Punch
move 4: Healing Wish / Trick
ability: Serene Grace
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly
Moves
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Iron Head is Jirachi's best STAB move because of the 60% flinch chance it has when combined with Serene Grace. U-turn is useful for grabbing momentum, as Jirachi can U-turn out when one of its checks or counters comes in; however, this requires a bit of prediction. Fire Punch is useful for hitting bulkier Steel-types, such as Ferrothorn and Scizor, as they take negligible damage from any of Jirachi's other moves. On the other hand, Ice Punch is useful for hitting bulkier Ground-types such as Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Garchomp. Zen Headbutt can also be used instead of Ice Punch, but it does not achieve good neutral coverage with Iron Head, only allowing Jirachi to hit Fighting-types such as Keldeo for super effective damage. Healing Wish allows Jirachi to fully restore the HP of a weakened teammate, giving it more utility late-game. Trick can be used over Healing Wish to cripple bulky walls, such as Skarmory, Chansey, and Rotom-W, by preventing them from healing up, helping the team weaken a defensive core.
Set Details
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252 Attack EVs allow Jirachi to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow it to outpace Choice Scarf Pokemon, such as Kyurem-B and Landorus-T, while also Speed tying with Timid Mega Gardevoir after the loss of Choice Scarf due to Trick.
Usage Tips
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Choice Scarf Jirachi should act as a revenge killer, as it cannot recover any HP it loses, but it can still take a few hits thanks to its good bulk and typing. The Pokemon Jirachi can check include Latios and Mega Gardevoir, both of which Jirachi can switch into and then proceed to fire off one of its moves. It can also can switch in on the majority of defensive non-Fire- and Ground-type Pokemon, as it is only worried about Will-O-Wisp and Scald coming from Pokemon such as Rotom and Alomomola. U-turn allows Jirachi to act as a pivot, bringing in setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Keldeo, Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, and Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, the three of which also have great synergy with Jirachi. Pursuit users such as Bisharp and Tyranitar also like U-turn from Jirachi, as it allows them to come in and easily trap problematic threats, giving Jirachi an easier time later.
Team Options
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Most setup sweepers like Jirachi's presence, as it can fully restore their HP with Healing Wish. Swords Dance and Nasty Plot users such as Talonflame, Mega Gyarados, and Thundurus are all good options, as they can remove some of Jirachi's counters from play. Jirachi appreciates teammates that can remove bulky Steel- and Fire-type foes such as Heatran and Charizard, as it can only hope to cause them to flinch until they're KOed. Teammates such as Tyranitar, Landorus, and Keldeo can deal with those Pokemon, and Jirachi can bring them in for free with U-turn. Thunder Wave support is nice, as it slows down foes and allows Jirachi to ParaFlinch them with Iron Head, giving the foe a very small chance to attack, as well as preventing Jirachi from taking damage. Prankster users such as Thundurus and Klefki are the best way of going about this. Because Jirachi only has an average base Attack stat, Stealth Rock and Spikes support helps it, as they can bring foes into KO range. A good partner that can set up Stealth Rock is Landorus-T, which also forms a U-turn core with Jirachi and lets it break through bulky Fire-types such as Heatran. Rotom-W also forms a VoltTurn core with Jirachi and has no problem with tanking hits from the majority of Fire- and Ground-types such as Heatran, non-Mold Breaker Excadrill, and defensive Garchomp. Will-O-Wisp users also help by wearing down defensive Pokemon that can easily take Jirachi's attacks. Although Chesnaught is also weak to Fire-type moves, it is a good Spikes setter, as it helps Jirachi break through some of the bulky Steel- and Water-types that Jirachi has problems with, such as Suicune and Gyarados, and it also appreciates the ability to U-turn into a Pursuit user, as Jirachi can bring them in safely and let them freely use Pursuit. Tyranitar is one of the best Pursuit users, as it can also set up Stealth Rock while handling threats such as Heatran.
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