[OVERVIEW]
Mimikyu sets itself apart from the rest of the metagame with its signature ability, Disguise, which lets it avoid taking damage once. Due to the fact that role compression is difficult and defensive counterplay against rampaging threats like Mega Salamence, Mega Blaziken, Naganadel, and Mega Charizard X is insufficient, Disguise is invaluable due to it letting Mimikyu reliably revenge kill many sweepers in the metagame. On top of easily making Mimikyu the best revenge killer, Disguise also eases setup, allowing Mimikyu to boost its mediocre Attack with Swords Dance and effectively clean late-game as well. In addition, a relevant Pokemon in Battle Spot Singles that resists Mimikyu's STAB moves is nowhere to be found, and this leaves it as one of the most dreaded foes for offensive teams, as switching into Mimikyu it is difficult when taking into account its strong, exclusive Z-Move, Let's Snuggle Forever. Mimikyu is also capable of providing exceptional team support options. It can force a trade with Destiny Bond, be a reliable Trick Room setter thanks to Disguise and its ability to pressure Taunt users, and provide other utility options by using Destiny Bond, Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, and more. However, Mimikyu's reliance on Disguise comes with a few notable drawbacks. As Mimikyu is very vulnerable to getting revenge killed after its Disguise has been broken, it would attempt to preserve Disguise by any means necessary, and this limits Mimikyu's opportunity to switch into attacks despite having three immunities. Mold Breaker users like Mega Gyarados and Excadrill can easily KO Mimikyu through Disguise, although its matchup against the former can be alleviated by using a bulky EV spread. Lastly, the general prevalence of Fairy-types leaves many teams in Battle Spot Singles naturally prepared against Mimikyu to an extent. Mimikyu also suffers from the popularity of Steel-types like Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Heatran and bulky foes such as Landorus-T and Porygon2, which are all capable of beating it or hampering its ability to sweep.
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Play Rough
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Shadow Claw
item: Mimikium Z / Ghostium Z / Focus Sash
ability: Disguise
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance sharply increases Mimikyu's Attack, compensating for its rather lacking damage putout and immediately turning it into an offensive threat. Thanks to Disguise, Mimikyu can easily find an opportunity to set up Swords Dance. Play Rough is Mimikyu's strongest STAB move and hits Dragon-types super effectively, letting Mimikyu check threats like Mega Salamence and Garchomp. Shadow Sneak is indispensable, as it lets Mimikyu revenge kill weakened foes without risking the loss of Disguise. Shadow Sneak also aids Mimikyu's matchup against Focus Sash users and bulkier foes, which would otherwise proceed to KO Mimikyu after busting its Disguise and surviving a hit. Shadow Claw is a stronger Ghost-type STAB move that provides Mimikyu with a stronger way to damage Tapu Lele, Cresselia, and Steel-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature maximizes Mimikyu's damage output, and maximum Speed investment lets Mimikyu outspeed neutral-natured Tapu Lele and anything slower. Jolly nature might be an appealing option to outspeed Timid Tapu Lele, but Mimikyu desires as much power as possible, and the opportunity cost of forgoing Mimikyu's proficiency against bulky foes such as Porygon2 and the fact that Tapu Lele commonly runs Choice Scarf leaves this as an inferior option. Mimikium Z or Ghostium Z can be used, depending on which foe Mimikyu is aiming to defeat. Mimikium Z has better damage output and notably lets Mimikyu take out offensive Mega Salamence with a combination of Let's Snuggle Forever and Shadow Sneak most of the time, factoring inIntimidate. Ghostium Z allows Mimikyu to use Never-Ending Nightmare, which is weaker but has better coverage and gives Mimikyu a chance to defeat weakened Steel-types after a Swords Dance. Focus Sash trades Mimikyu's ability to swiftly take out offensive foes using a Z-Move for the ability to survive a hit from full health, essentially guarding it from two attacks as long as Mimikyu keeps its health and Disguise unharmed. Disguise allows Mimikyu to avoid taking a damage from the first hit it takes in the battle.
Usage Tips
========
This variant of Mimikyu should be saved until late-game in order to clean up weakened teams or revenge kill foes, as it is heavily reliant on Disguise to set up or take a hit. Although it would be hard to do so, it is the most ideal to set up on forced switches so that Mimikyu can boost its Attack while keeping its Disguise intact, making even harder to revenge kill. Against slower teams, Mimikyu with a Z-Crystal does not necessarily have to be preserved until late-game, as boosted Mimikyu's Z-Move is powerful in its own right and can heavily damage foes like Landorus-T and Porygon2 to the point where its team can pick them off. Ghostium Z variants can take advantage of Steel-types' tendency to switch into Mimikyu and heavily damage them early-game for its teammates to deal with them more easily late-game. Switching Mimikyu into any foe is usually discouraged due to how invaluable Disguise is to Mimikyu, but it can be switched in if Mimikyu's Disguise is no longer needed or if a switch-in for Normal-, Fighting-, and Dragon-type attack or a powerful Z-Move is desperately needed. Lastly, when Mimikyu is attempting to pick off a foe with Shadow Sneak, be wary of Psychic Terrain, as it prevents Mimikyu from effectively removing it while preserving Disguise.
Team Options
========
Thanks to Mimikyu's role compression as a reliable cleaner and blanket check to most setup sweepers, it can fit into essentially most offensive teams. Strong attackers like Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Mega Salamence are capable of causing serious damage to common defensive cores, and Mimikyu can benefit from their ability to weaken foes so that it won't be overly reliant on its Z-Move to sweep. Fire-types can threaten Steel-types that will have to be weakened or eliminated for Mimikyu to be successful. Teammates that can pivot are also useful, as they help Mimikyu reliably switch in while maintaining Disguise. Tapu Koko can threaten Celesteela while luring in and weakening Landorus-T thanks to Hidden Power Ice, while Landorus-T can provide Stealth Rock support and threaten Steel-types like Heatran. Tapu Fini checks Mega Gyarados and bulky foes like Mega Charizard X and Heatran, all of which Mimikyu does not have a favorable matchup against. Depending on the variant, it can weaken various walls like Porygon2 and Ferrothorn by utilizing either Nature's Madness or an offensive moveset employing Waterium Z and Hidden Power Fire.
[SET]
name: Bulky Utility
move 1: Swords Dance / Trick Room
move 2: Play Rough
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Curse / Shadow Claw
item: Mimikium Z
ability: Disguise
nature: Adamant
evs: 164 HP / 140 Atk / 196 Def / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance, Play Rough, and Shadow Sneak are all vital moves for variants of Mimikyu using offensively oriented sets, as Swords Dance allow Mimikyu to threaten bulky foes, Play Rough is needed to check Dragon-types, and Shadow Sneak is needed to pick off weakened foes without busting Disguise. Trick Room, however, can be used instead of Swords Dance if Mimikyu's team largely relies on Trick Room to effectively function. Curse can be used to wear down physically defensive foes like Landorus-T, Porygon2, Celesteela, and Ferrothorn, all of which Mimikyu tends to draw in often, and Curse also allows Mimikyu to preserve momentum after it has been weakened enough. Shadow Claw is a justifiable option that can be used to hit Steel- and Poison-types hard after Swords Dance boosts.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread ensures that Mimikyu will always survive Adamant Mega Blaziken's Flare Blitz and +1 Adamant Mega Gyarados's Waterfall and Crunch while almost always surviving Jolly Mega Salamence's Double-Edge. The EV spread also allows Mimikyu to take a Psyshock from Modest Tapu Lele and a Foul Play from Analytic Porygon2 when at +2. 16 EVs from Attack can be moved to HP or Defense so that Mimikyu is guaranteed to survive an unboosted attack from Jolly Mega Salamence while retaining an odd number of HP to use Curse effectively. An alternative EV spread of 228 HP / 252 Attack / 28 Defense an with Adamant nature is a viable option to maximize Mimikyu's damage output while retaining good matchup against Jolly Mega Gyarados. Even when running reduced Attack investment, Mimikyu is still strong enough to take out a good portion of offensive threats in the metagame with a combination of Let's Snuggle Forever and Shadow Sneak. This leaves Mimikium Z as the most ideal item.
Usage Tips
========
If using Swords Dance and three attacks, Mimikyu has to be kept in pristine condition so that it can effectively clean up or revenge kill setup sweepers. However, as this set is capable of surviving a number of strong attacks, Mimikyu can take more aggressive approaches to stop Mega Blaziken and even Mega Gyarados. Mimikyu can also take advantage of its increased bulk to weaken foes early-game with Curse or boosted Let's Snuggle Forever. Curse is especially useful for wearing down a foe and retaining momentum when Mimikyu has been weakened and is no longer needed. When using Trick Room, depending on the matchup, Mimikyu can be used aggressively early-game to weaken a foe and set Trick Room for its team, or it can still be preserved for revenge killing a foe that the rest of its team is not likely going to be able to keep in check.
Team Options
========
Offensive teammates like Mega Blaziken and Tapu Koko pair well with Mimikyu, as Mimikyu's ability to blanket check most offensive threats is always appreciated. Mimikyu can lure in and heavily damage physically defensive foes like Celesteela and Porygon2 for teammates like Mega Salamence to easily defeat them later. In general, most foes that attempt to combat Mimikyu, such as Landorus-T, will resort to taking a boosted Let's Snuggle Forever or getting afflicted by Curse, and many offensive teammates can take advantage of this and have easier time dealing with their weakened checks. When running Trick Room, Primarina serves as a good partner, as it is capable of dealing with problematic Pokemon like Heatran and Celesteela, both of which Mimikyu can't deal with reliably. Sparkling Aria and Encore also help the matchup against Substitute users like Aegislash and Heatran. Mega Heracross also enjoys Trick Room support and is capable of breaking down walls like Porygon2 and Ferrothorn and revenge killing Mega Gyarados. Mega Mawile serves as one of the best partners, as not only does it enjoy Trick Room support, but it also appreciates having bulky foes weakened by Curse or even receiving a free turn to set up Swords Dance while a foe afflicted by Curse is forced out.
[SET]
name: Curse + Pain Split
move 1: Curse
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Pain Split
move 4: Play Rough / Shadow Claw
item: Mimikium Z / Ghostium Z
ability: Disguise
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thanks to Disguise, Mimikyu is able to reliably afflict a foe with Curse and repeatedly use Substitute to inflict sizable damage. Pain Split lets Mimikyu take advantage of bulky foes and use Curse multiple times in a match. The last move is used for Mimikyu to retain its offensive presence. Play Rough in tandem with Mimikium Z, especially with offensive investment, is capable of OHKOing many offensive foes like Mega Blaziken and Tapu Koko. Shadow Claw, while weaker, has much better coverage than Play Rough and can be used in tandem with Ghostium Z.
Set Details
========
Offensive investment is the most effective so that Mimikyu will retain its usefulness against offensive foes as much as possible, and investing in HP makes Pain Split somewhat inefficient. An Adamant nature is generally preferred to maximize Mimikyu's damage output, but a Jolly nature is also an option to outspeed Timid Tapu Lele and set up Substitute against Heatran more reliably. Mimikium Z with Play Rough gives Mimikyu access to Let's Snuggle Forever, while Ghostium Z allows Mimikyu to use either Never-Ending Nightmare with Shadow Claw or Z-Curse to fully restore Mimikyu's health.
Usage Tips
========
This set aims to draw in physically defensive foes and wear them down so that Mimikyu's teammates can easily defeat them later. This set is also very effective as a lead to net heavy damage on problematic foes by utilizing Curse and Pain Split. By utilizing Mimikyu's ability to force out offensive foes and draw in bulky walls, Mimikyu can set up a Substitute on forced switches, afflict a switch-in with Curse, and proceed to stall it out by using Substitute and Pain Split. This especially proves to be a great annoyance to foes like Celesteela and Ferrothorn, which lack reliable forms of recovery. This may prove ineffective against defensive Landorus-T, however, as it can safely bring in a check with U-turn. Although this set lacks Swords Dance and a secondary attacking move, Mimikyu is still powerful in its own right against offensive foes when it has not consumed its Z-Move yet. Mimikyu's Z-Move can be preserved until late-game to swiftly take out a weakened foe to prevent the rest of its team from taking excessive damage, to revenge kill a foe, or to finish a foe if it has been sufficiently weakened by Curse.
Team Options
========
Any offensive partners that appreciate Mimikyu's ability to hinder bulky foes such as Celesteela, Hippowdon, and Porygon2 are appreciated. Setup sweepers like Mega Salamence, Mega Blaziken, Mega Gyarados, and Naganadel appreciate the heavy damage dealt on these foes and can even get a turn to freely set up if foes afflicted by Curse switch out. Offensive partners also appreciate Mimikyu's ability to greatly bother defensive teams, as they are often reliant on status to check Mimikyu, and this set can take advantage of this to reliably set up Substitute and wear down defensive foes with Curse and Pain Split.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mimikyu has various utility moves available. Will-O-Wisp can be used to punish foes like Landorus-T and Ferrothorn by crippling them on when they switch in, and it is also effective if used in tandem with Focus Sash or a bulky EV spread. Thunder Wave can be used to shut down foes like Mega Salamence and Naganadel by reducing their Speed, but it is usually better for Mimikyu to simply revenge kill them instead. Taunt can be used to shut down slower leads like Hippowdon when Mimikyu is using the Trick Room set, but it is generally hard to fit. Destiny Bond can be used to catch bulky foes like Porygon2 and Celesteela off guard. Coverage moves like Drain Punch and Wood Hammer can be used to surprise Steel-types and Swampert respectively, but they are too situational, and Mimikyu's boosted boosted STAB Z-Moves already inflict heavy damage to most defensive foes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Mega Mawile force Mimikyu to rely on Shadow Claw to effectively combat them and have enough bulk to easily take boosted attacks if healthy enough. The former two, on top of being able to OHKO Mimikyu with their Steel-type STAB attacks, can even avoid taking heavy damage from a boosted Never-Ending Nightmare with a well-timed use of Protect. Stakataka, although it is less common, can take advantage of the Trick Room that Mimikyu may attempt to set.
**Physically Defensive Foes**: Mimikyu tends to struggle at effectively dealing with physically defensive foes such as Landorus-T, Porygon2, Hippowdon, Toxapex, and Mega Venusaur due to their formidable physical bulk. However, the former three do not appreciate Curse or boosted Let's Snuggle Forever if they have taken sufficient prior damage.
**Mold Breaker Users**: Mimikyu is reliant on Disguise to revenge kill a foe, and thus it struggles to stop Mega Gyarados and Excadrill, both of which can hit Mimikyu through Disguise. However, Mega Gyarados requires a boost to OHKO Mimikyu, and even if it has set up beforehand, it can still be revenge killed by variants of Mimikyu using a Focus Sash or a bulky EV spread.
**Multi-hit Move Users**: Icicle Spear from Mamoswine and Cloyster and Bullet Seed from Breloom can bust Disguise with the first hit and do heavy damage to Mimikyu. However, none of them can effectively handle boosted Mimikyu, and Breloom cannot take on Mimikyu without its Focus Sash intact. Torrent Greninja, especially if it is behind a Substitute, can take out Mimikyu with Torrent-boosted Water Shuriken if lucky enough.
**Pivoting Moves**: Normally, offensive threats would avoid the matchup with Mimikyu due to them fearing Mimikyu taking a hit with Disguise and retaliating with a strong Z-Move. However, U-turn and Volt Switch users such as Landorus-T, Tapu Koko, and Greninja can simultaneously bust Mimikyu's Disguise and let them pivot out without fearing retaliation.
uise and let them pivot out without fearing retaliation.
Last edited:
2/2
