[OVERVIEW]
Pyukumuku's fantastic defensive stats, great defensive typing, and access to Unaware carve it out a strong niche on stall teams as a stop to various stallbreakers, such as Nasty Plot Lucario, Calm Mind Reuniclus, Block Slowbro, and Superpower Nidoking. Furthermore, Pyukumuku's unique set of tools allows it to break opposing stall teams by trapping and removing key foes with either Toxic or Spite. However, Pyukumuku is held back by how passive it is, allowing Taunt users such as Hydreigon, Mew, and Krookodile to completely shut it down and often giving free momentum to Scizor, which cannot be punished with Toxic on the switch due to its Steel typing. Pyukumuku's passivity is especially noticeable when running Rest with Spite, as it has no way of dissuading Pokemon such as Taunt Hydreigon and Mega Manectric from coming in. Certain stallbreakers are also able to set up on and break through Pyukumuku with little issue, such as Heracross, Haxorus, and Leaf Storm Celebi, meaning that teams with Pyukumuku will need to cover these Pokemon with teammates such as Mega Altaria and Scizor.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Block
move 2: Toxic / Spite
move 3: Soak / Rest
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Block allows Pyukumuku to trap more passive Pokemon that cannot directly threaten it such as Mega Aggron and Sylveon in order to either PP stall or Toxic stall them. The move also allows Pyukumuku to trap threatening stallbreakers such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Lucario that Pyukumuku can beat due to Unaware. Toxic allows Pyukumuku to cripple Pokemon such as Taunt Hydreigon and Mega Manectric that would otherwise switch in freely. It also lets Pyukumuku stall out offensive Pokemon that it beats, such as Calm Mind Latias, Nasty Plot Togekiss, and Volcanion. Soak allows Pyukumuku to use Toxic against Steel- and Poison-types, which are otherwise immune to it. It also helps Pyukumuku against targets such as Cobalion and Lucario by removing the STAB bonus from their attacks. Spite allows Pyukumuku to PP stall stallbreakers such as Reuniclus and Substitute + Calm Mind Chandelure that are unable to be stalled out with Toxic. Rest in conjunction with Spite allows Pyukumuku to beat stallbreakers such as Block + Toxic Slowbro while also allowing it to break stall teams itself by trapping and PP stalling targets such as Blissey and Alomomola. Recover lets Pyukumuku check targets such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Lucario throughout the game without needing to use Rest.
Set Details
========
Unaware allows Pyukumuku to beat boosting special attackers such as Infernape, as well as some weaker boosting physical attackers such as Mimikyu.
Usage Tips
========
Pyukumuku should be brought in against threatening stallbreakers such as Nasty Plot Infernape and Lucario in order to wall and potentially trap and remove them, and its HP should be carefully conserved otherwise to take their Z-Moves reliably. However, Pyukumuku should be wary of physical sets from both these Pokemon, as they are capable of 2HKOing it. Pyukumuku should try to avoid Toxic users unless it needs to trap them, as removing the status with Rest allows Pokemon such as Psychium Z Nasty Plot Celebi and Substitute Chandelure to come in and 3HKO it. Be careful to conserve Block's PP, as opponents can easily stall out all uses of Block if they switch into a Ghost-type or a U-turn or Volt Switch user. When you predict one of these Pokemon to come in, it is better to either heal up with Recover or double switch instead of wasting Block's PP. If running Soak, Pyukumuku should use it to weaken opposing Pokemon such as Lucario and Cobalion by removing their STAB multipliers, allowing it to better take hits from them. This also allows Pyukumuku to wall Swords Dance Terrakion in a pinch, but only if Terrakion's Z-Move was already used. If running Spite, Pyukumuku should usually only use it against trapped foes in order to conserve its PP. It's often necessary to have a high number of PP for Spite in order to reliably take on Pokemon such as Celebi, Reuniclus, and Chandelure. Pyukumuku should avoid trying to PP stall foes such as Tentacruel and Mantine that have high-PP moves such as Rapid Spin and Haze, and Suicune should also be avoided due to Pressure unless PP stalling it is absolutely necessary. If running Rest and Spite, Pyukumuku should attempt to trap more passive entry hazard setters such as Mega Aggron, Empoleon, and Blissey, as it is not bothered by Toxic and can prevent them from setting entry hazards later in the match, although it should be wary of Roar from the former two. Spite Pyukumuku should also attempt to trap variants of Gligar that do not have U-turn, which is otherwise annoying due to Immunity. If Spite Pyukumuku does not have more important targets, it can be used to dismantle bulkier teams by eliminating Pokemon such as Alomomola, Slowbro, and defensive Moltres. Pyukumuku should be careful about using Rest against targets that aren't trapped, however, as this can offer free turns to the opposing team. Pyukumuku should be careful to scout the movesets and items of Pokemon such as Celebi and Togekiss, as Celebi can run Grassium Z on its Nasty Plot set to break through Pyukumuku, while Choice Scarf Togekiss can use Trick to cripple Pyukumuku and make it functionally useless.
Team Options
========
Pyukumuku fits on stall teams that appreciate its ability to beat many specially offensive stallbreakers such as Infernape and Lucario. Blissey is a fantastic partner for Pyukumuku, as it can set Stealth Rock to chip away at Pyukumuku's common switch-ins such as Scizor and use Heal Bell to cure Pyukumuku of status, which is especially helpful for Rest variants. Mega Altaria is a fantastic partner for Pyukumuku, capable of easily taking on physical attackers such as Crawdaunt, Tsareena, Haxorus, and Zeraora that force out Pyukumuku. It can also take Knock Off for Pyukumuku, act as a cleric with Heal Bell, remove entry hazards with Defog, and beat one of Pyukumuku's hardest checks in Taunt Hydreigon. Quagsire can form a double Unaware core with Pyukumuku, helping with physical setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Terrakion and Scizor that Pyukumuku can't deal with. It also provides an Electric immunity to help deal with non-Hidden Power Grass Mega Manectric trying to gain momentum on Pyukumuku. Quagsire can also help to punish U-turn spam with Counter, which also lets it deal with Mega Altaria and Bug Bite Scizor more reliably. Gligar can help deal with Terrakion while providing Defog support to Pyukumuku. In conjunction with Quagsire, it can also cover all variants of Mega Manectric, making Pyukumuku's team much less weak to Volt Switch spam. Nihilego can help Pyukumuku deal with Pokemon such as Leaf Storm Celebi while providing a stronger answer to Nasty Plot Togekiss that does not rely on not flinching. It can also set up Stealth Rock, allowing Blissey to run other moves such as Heal Bell and Wish, and absorb Toxic Spikes that would otherwise hinder Pyukumuku. Scizor can act as a strong answer to Leaf Storm Celebi while providing Defog support and helping deal with Swords Dance Haxorus, which is able to easily break through both Quagsire and Pyukumuku due to its ability Mold Breaker. In return, Pyukumuku can check the Fire-types such as Infernape and Chandelure that can use Scizor as setup fodder.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Counter can be used to punish U-turn users such as Scizor that would otherwise freely come in and gain momentum off of Pyukumuku and to possibly revenge kill unsuspecting physical attackers such as Terrakion. This move is generally hard to fit onto Pyukumuku's moveset, however. Protect can be run to improve Pyukumuku's matchup against Nasty Plot Togekiss by gaining extra HP between uses of Air Slash. It also allows Pyukumuku to scout for possible Z-Moves intended to surprise it and for Choice item users such as Primarina. This move is also hard to fit onto Pyukumuku's moveset, however, preventing Pyukumuku from either trapping targets or badly poisoning Steel-types if running Toxic, or making Pyukumuku more vulnerable to Toxic if running Spite. An alternative EV spread with maximum Defense investment can allow Pyukumuku to handle physical attackers such as Dragon Dance Mega Altaria and Swords Dance Terrakion, but other teammates such as Quagsire can also do this, and Pyukumuku loses out on its ability to check a large number of specially offensive stallbreakers.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users such as Hydreigon, Mew, and Krookodile are able to completely shut down Pyukumuku, forcing it to either use Struggle or switch out. Nidoking can also opt to run Taunt over Substitute to break past Pyukumuku.
**Pokemon That Can't Be Trapped**: Due to Pyukumuku's reliance on trapping Pokemon with Block in order to break them, Ghost-types and U-turn and Volt Switch users are an issue. U-turn users immune to Toxic such as Scizor and Mega Beedrill are particularly problematic, as they can switch in freely and gain free momentum against Pyukumuku's team. Ghost-types such as Doublade and Gengar also pose a problem, as they can switch in and waste Block's PP without having to worry about being badly poisoned due to their typings. Doublade can also cripple Pyukumuku with Toxic if it is not running Rest, while Gengar can waste Pyukumuku's PP and set up a Substitute on it if it is not running Spite.
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon such as Mega Manectric and Zeraora pose a huge threat to Pyukumuku. Zeraora can KO Pyukumuku with Plasma Fists, and both Pokemon can gain free momentum with Volt Switch while threatening common Ground-type partners that might attempt to block Volt Switch such as Quagsire and Gligar with their coverage moves, such as Hidden Power, Grass Knot, and Knock Off. Rotom-H is also problematic, as it is able to gain free momentum against Pyukumuku with Volt Switch, spread status with Toxic or Will-O-Wisp, and heal itself while wearing down targets such as Blissey with Pain Split. All of these Pokemon need to be wary of Toxic from Pyukumuku when switching in, however.
**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon such as Tsareena and Mega Sceptile can easily KO Pyukumuku, while Tsareena can gain momentum with U-turn and rid itself of Toxic once if running Lum Berry. Celebi can also be a threat if it is running a Leaf Storm + Nasty Plot set.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers such as Mega Altaria and Choice Band Terrakion are capable of easily beating Pyukumuku. Mega Altaria in particular is a very large threat, either shrugging off Toxic with Refresh or taking advantage of being poisoned with Facade, making it much more dangerous to switch into.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards can allow stallbreakers such as Nidoking and Infernape to potentially 2HKO Pyukumuku on the switch, and if Pyukumuku is badly poisoned, stallbreakers such as Celebi and Togekiss can set up on Pyukumuku and break through it. This can be further confounded by Pyukumuku being forced to pivot in a lot to deal with these stallbreakers, as the opponent can double switch to a Pokemon that can force Pyukumuku out again, meaning it will frequently take damage from entry hazards.
**Necrozma and Haxorus**: Due to Photon Geyser and Mold Breaker ignoring Unaware, Necrozma and Haxorus are able to break through Pyukumuku by boosting with Swords Dance, or potentially Calm Mind in Necrozma's case. However, both of these Pokemon must be wary of Toxic putting them on a timer.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Estarossa, 461329]]
- Quality checked by: [[hilomilo, 313384], [Twilight, 344575], [A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157]]
- Grammar checked by: [[A Cake Wearing A Hat, 388157], [Empress, 175616]]
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