Battle Stadium Singles blog #19 — Maranga Mimikyu Zapdos lure (Season 19; Series 9)

Zapdos continues to rule the roost, so what better time to fire up something that is intentionally free for Volt Switch, and ideally wants the opponent to pop Dynamax on it on turn 1 as a matter of course?

   This team is a riff on what mujukgb has been doing on his streams, that is to say, forging his way through the "win three 1v1s" route of team-design. To make things more interesting for me, I have put my own, debatably dubious, spin on things yet again.

   Indeed, the resultant two dozen or so games that make up the total sample size for the summary below were some of the more memorable — dare I say fun — ones in a fair bit.

Chef Mimi says: "Slugs can carry dangerous parasites, so take care to prepare them thoroughly".

Ninetales-A went up almost 15 places in usage during Season 19.

Rewarded for recognizing the rank #1 finishing team of last season when hitting it as a rental.

Even defensive Zapdos shows up for the free turn 1 Volt Switch (presumably).

Rental code: 0000 0004 90X8 KV

Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/e8756aca1f8f1d4c

1) Team overview

Tapu Fini

I am not the biggest fan of Choice Scarf users this generation, because they have very little revenge kill potential due to opposing Dynamax bulk. This means in order to get any meaningful use of it on Tapu Fini, you more or less need the surprise factor of being a fast offensive set on an otherwise relatively slow and defensive thing.

   This is done by leading Tapu Fini into things like Dragapult or Pheromosa, the outspeeding of whose +252 Spd stats of 213 and 223, respectively, are the main reason Tapu Fini is Timid (225) instead of Modest (205).

   Lead Choice Scarf Tapu Fini also has some interesting interactions whose importance may not be immediately evident. Because Misty Surge gives out a toast upon activation, and toasts happen in order of Speed when both pokemon have an ability that prompts one, the opponent's Pressure (Zapdos), Intimidate (Landorus), and terrain users (Rillaboom, Tapu Fini) will immediately be notified to Choice Scarf — and, by extension, to Tapu Fini's entire set — leading to game-deciding mindgames right from the start.

   To give a practical example: even if there's a Porygon2 in the back to check Zapdos and Dragonite, is it going to switch in to take an Ice Beam on behalf of Landorus and risk getting crippled by Trick?

   Now, what I am a fan of, however, is clicking Trick. That's mostly something people do with Rotom and Grimmsnarl, but Tapu Fini in various iterations is pretty good at it, too. Indeed, crippling something on defensive teams (or just something defensive in general) with Trick is the second major thing this set does.

  Defensively, Tapu Fini can also switch into a single Fishious Rend and take a hit from both Urshifu.

Zapdos

More or less standard defensive Zapdos, with some Speed creep to beat Cinderace after Max Airstreaming, as well as beating other defensive Zapdos sets to the punch with Eerie Impulse.

   On this team, Zapdos is the main defensive cushion for aggressive teams, being able to trade both with Dynamax Cinderace and Zapdos should the need arise.

   Having something that is not only a free switch into Urshifu-RS, but is also able to cripple it with Static, and Volt Switch or double switch out, is a necessity when leading Cinderace, Mimikyu, or being slightly greedy with bringing Urshifu. This also applies to Rillaboom when leading Tapu Fini.

   Although not something one would want to bring since bringing it means you will likely be needing a defensive mode, Zapdos nevertheless remands respect in the team preview screen,

Urshifu-Single-Strike

Choice Band Urshifu is such a major wallbreaker in the format, it has rehabilitated Tapu Bulu (with Dazzling Gleam, no less) as a defensive check on stall (Kebia Berry variant).

   In order to actually wallbreak, Adamant would be the better fit instead of what I have chosen to do here, virtually guaranteeing the 2HKO on Toxapex (96%+) in a 1v1 against Recover PP attrition, instead of relying on the sub-20% chance Jolly has in that scenario.

   But this leaves Urshifu outsped by things like Modest offensive Zapdos and offensive Mimikyu, not to not to mention other Urshifu, making it harder to bring to get a 1-for-1 outside very specific match ups, namely against stall and the occasional bulky offense set-up, without being extremely greedy.

   So as far as I am concerned, cutting that corner is made somewhat more justifiable here by the fact that this team has a few other options with which to try to surprise stall (Trick Tapu Fini and Lum Berry Thunder Punch Dragonite).

   Choice Band Sucker Punch is another choice that could understandably be interpreted as a dubious one, when Ice/Thunder Punch or even U-turn are on the table, and Sucker Punch is never something that gets clicked against defensive opponents in the first place. This, again, is an attempt to get more mileage out of Urshifu across more match ups.

Cinderace

Max Speed Cinderace's real Speed stat of 188 is the most important benchmark for Speed in the entire format. When you see a Cinderace doing something other than max Speed, you know you're into something off the beaten path, be it Adamant Choice Scarf, or what I have gone for here — a Focus Sash trader.

   The main curiosity here is the lack of GMax. And the downsides of dropping GMax-Fireball are indeed plentiful, with Mimikyu being the most obvious headache. Magnezone's Sturdy is also particularly notable in this regard because how good it is against this team overall, being able to trade into both Dynamax Dragonite and Dynamax Mimikyu.

   More on the positive side, though, it should be noted that Sturdy Skarmory's partners, outside of its use as a hyper offense lead (Weak Armor Focus Sash set), typically make non-Zen Headbutt Cinderace bench material anyway.

   So what gives? Well, first, I have to admit that going regular Dynamax over Gigantamax is a stylistic choice moreso than anything else. After concluding that Cinderace seldom even wants to click the big red button in the first place even as Gigantamax, I chose to go the route of protecting Cinderace's Focus Sash in certain situations against Hail and Sand from weather-setting abilities, and especially from Sash-breaking Max Moves (Hailstorm/Rockfall).

   The sun from clicking Max Flare is also a form of Attack-boost, so that clicking it into something like an incoming Kee Berry Zapdos will also allow Cinderace to get the KO on the next turn due to the sun boost, unless it Dynamaxes, of course.

   Counter is something you occasionally see on Focus Sash Cinderace (and Urshifu), but Gunk Shot makes Cinderace much more reliable as a lead against the Tapu Finis of the world, as well as meaningfully threatening things like Clefable. The 30% poison chance innate in Gunk Shot also makes it an impactful move to click into probable incoming defensive checks, with fishing for the poison proc being a potential out against things like Cresselia in rare cases.

Dragonite

One of the best ways to play around Stealth Rock as a team that has multiple weaknesses to Stealth Rock, as this one does, is to pressure the would-be Stealth Rock setter immediately.

   Dragonite accomplishes this against both Hippowdon and Swampert — both risk becoming set-up bait to Lum Berry Dragon Dance (+2 Max Hailstorm 1HKOs Hippowdon; +2 Max Airstream only 1HKOs fully defensive Swampert some 56 per cent of the time).

   In general, though, Dragonite provides the team with some swift sweeping prowess after clicking Dragon Dance under the protection of its Lum Berry, hitting a Speed stat of 192 at +1, enough to edge out Naganadel's native 190 as the next big benchmark after Cinderace's 188, the extra creep being geared towards outspeeding various defensive Zapdos sets.

   Indeed, aside from the mandatory Dual Wingbeat, the coverage I have gone for is geared towards breaking through Zapdos and any kind of Landorus Intimidate-cycle, as well as opposing Dragonite. Opposing Dragapult is always a difficult proposition due to the fact that Dragonite is still slower than it even at +1.

   Thunder Punch lets Dragonite contest Landorus-Tapu Fini and break through Toxapex on bulky offense teams where Urshifu may not be a reliable bring because of the Max Airstreaming going on.

Mimikyu

Maranga Berry Mimikyu is chiefly intended to punish Zapdos, being able to both Swords Dance on purely defensive variants, and revenge offensive variants.

   Wood Hammer is on the set to break through many of the main things that normally wall Dragonite and are just good switches into Cinderace in general — mainly Hippowdon and Swampert.

2) Usage notes

Dragapult is an annoying lead for this team, which likely means leading Tapu Fini whenever Urshifu is not worth the risk.

   Going Adamant with Cinderace makes it slower than Ninetales-A, which is unfortunate, but means that they will have one turn less of Aurora Veil, if they are Focus Sash and choose to open it.

   Shockingly, other fast offensive Electric-types occasionally exist besides Zapdos, namely Regieleki and Tapu Koko, which usually means Mimikyu in the back with something like a Cinderace lead.

"Hey, only two more days left in the season. Time to get laddering!"

Peak on the final day.

End of the season. Couldn't quite claw myself back up there with the time that I had after that 0-7 the day prior to the end of the season.             

2.1 Usual team compositions

Cinderace-Mimikyu-

Tapu Fini-Cinderace/Mimikyu-

2.2 VS Team Select Screen

Some more tidying up here; I haven't really seen Excadrill or Garchomp being played much, nor have I seen turn 1 Porygon2 all ins on hyper offense. I haven't really seen Baton Pass or any kind of dedicated Trick Room play this season to really warrant going into, either.

Bulky Offense or Balance

- Goodstuffs compositions of Porygon2, Toxapex/Hippowdon/Swampert, Urshifu, Cinderace, Zapdos, and Mimikyu.

- Anti-Dynamax checks: Swampert/Toxapex/Hippowdon, Porygon2, Tyranitar/Rhyperior, Ferrothorn, Mimikyu.

- Reactive Dynamax options, likely EV'd defensively to cushion specific hits in Dynamax duels: Porygon2, Zapdos, Landorus, Tapu Fini, Mimikyu.

- Likely offensive momentum options: Nihilego/Celesteela, Cinderace, Zapdos, Dragapult/Dragonite.

- Choice Scarf surprise on bulky offense: Tapu Fini, Urshifu-RS.

- Wallbreaking options: Choice Band Urshifu/Rillaboom, Dracovish/Darmanitan, Dragapult (45%+ usage Dragon Dance), Landorus (58%+ usage Swords Dance).

Cinderace-Mimikyu-

Tapu Fini-Mimikyu-Cinderace/Dragonite

Cinderace lead works best as a suicide lead against non-Hippowdon teams, where it can bail out at 1 HP and still have an impact in the endgame.

Hyper Offense

- Usually comes in the form of Focus Sash user + dedicated Dynamax sweeper + Mimikyu.

- Secondary mode likely has at least one slow pivot or bulky mon like Zapdos or Porygon2.

- Focus Sash users: Urshifu, Pheromosa, Garchomp, Landorus, Cinderace, Cloyster.

- Possible Stealth Rock/suicide leads: Swampert, Hippowdon, Garchomp, Landorus, even Excadrill.

- Conventional sweepers: Cinderace, Zapdos, Nihilego, various Max Airstream users.

- Sturdy Endure + Custap Berry (e.g. Magnezone) as a second, pseudo Focus Sash user.

- Alternate mode may include Trick Room in the form of Mimikyu + Glastrier.

Cinderace-Mimikyu-

Dragonite/Mimikyu-

Mimikyu is a good lead against telegraphed Stealth Rock plays, as is Dragonite; Cinderace can protect its Focus Sash by leading.

Screens Mode

- Curse Dragapult, Explosion Regieleki and Grimmsnarl as the three most common Light Clay screens setters outside Lapras screens, with Grimmsnarl being arguably the scariest because of Prankster and access to various crippling options (Scary Face, Trick Lagging Tail, Thunder Wave).

- Dragapult sets need to be inferred from the rest of the opposing line-up, usually not that difficult if it's Dragapult + sweepers, one of them likely being something slightly weird like a Shell Smasher or even Togekiss/Moltres-G.

- Common offensive pairings include set-up sweepers like Landorus, Dragon Dance and Swords Dance users.

- Baton Pass is also a possibility in a convoluted two-stage set-up, "dedicated Baton Pass".

Tapu Fini-Mimikyu-

It should usually be either Urshifu or Tapu Fini in the lead, with Zapdos and Mimikyu both usually doing a decent job of stalling out screens turns.

Hard Stall

- Toxapex, Chansey, Quagsire, Skarmory, Tyranitar, Clefable, Tapu Bulu, Porygon2, Reuniclus

- Offensive punch, if present, likely made up of either Dragonite, Urshifu, Cinderace/Zapdos.

Tapu Fini-Urshifu-Dragonite

Urshifu-Dragonite-Tapu Fini/Zapdos

Urshifu and Tapu Fini should be auto-includes against stall; it's just a matter of getting into position to land that decisive big hit on one of the key pieces of their defensive loop, after which things fall apart. This can mean sacrificing the Dragonite slot for Zapdos in order to have access to Volt Switch.

3) In Conclusion

Not my finest hour this, not by a long shot. But when you only manage to play less than a third of the games compared to the month before, it is what it is.

   I've got some extra time coming up this month, so maybe instead of spinning my wheels at a decent rating, I actually muster up a good run in the 1900+ range again.

   With that in mind, here is my starting point, Gengar-Charizard:

No promises this will end up in the write-up, though. In fact, it probably won't.

- Tox

SW-0021-9848-8999