Pak
vortex
[OVERVIEW]
Upon Mega Evolution, Blastoise receives notable stat boosts in key areas such as Defense, Special Attack, and Special Defense to go along with a fantastic ability in Mega Launcher. Mega Launcher gifts moves such as Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, and Aura Sphere with STAB-like boosts, pairing nicely with Mega Blastoise's remarkable Special Attack stat. Its strong natural bulk, solid defensive typing in Water, and vast powerful coverage options make it an ideal bulky wallbreaker in the UU tier. To complement its offensive prowess, Mega Blastoise also has access to Rapid Spin, offering more utility to teams by clearing entry hazard. However, Mega Blastoise often finds itself worn down quickly due to its middling Speed tier and the numerous times it's forced to switch in and clear hazards, combined with its lack of recovery. Despite its high Special Attack and great coverage options, Mega Blastoise struggles to break past the tier's premier special walls in Blissey, Sylveon, and Alolan Muk. Other bulky Water-types like Calm Mind Suicune and Toxic Mantine also fear little from Mega Blastoise and can take advantage of it. While they cannot switch in directly, Volt Switch users such as Mega Manectric and Rotom-W threaten Mega Blastoise, either getting off huge damage or gaining offensive momentum.
[SET]
name: Offensive Spinner
move 1: Water Pulse / Hydro Pump
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Aura Sphere / Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Blastoisinite
ability: Rain Dish
nature: Modest
evs: 104 HP / 252 SpA / 152 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Water Pulse is Mega Blastoise's most consistent STAB move, possessing perfect accuracy and receiving a Mega Launcher boost. Hydro Pump is a more powerful STAB option, notably dealing more damage to Water-neutral targets like Scizor and Swampert, but it is less reliable due to its 80% accuracy, making Water Pulse superior in most cases. Mega Launcher-boosted Dark Pulse hits Psychic-types that resist Water such as Latias, Starmie, and Celebi for huge damage, and it also punishes Ghost-types like Doublade and Cofagrigus that may try to block Rapid Spin and pivot back out. Aura Sphere lets Mega Blastoise hit Dark- and Steel-types like Hydreigon and Empoleon super effectively, which also receives a boost from Mega Launcher. Alternatively, Ice Beam threatens Pokemon like Mega Altaria and Amoonguss that take relatively little from Mega Blastoise's other common moves. Rapid Spin clears all entry hazards on Mega Blastoise's side of the field, pairing nicely with its ability to force switches.
Set Details
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Maximum investment in Special Attack along with a Modest nature lets Mega Blastoise take advantage of its fantastic coverage options, allowing it to hit as hard as possible. 152 Speed EVs let Mega Blastoise outspeed maximum Speed Adamant Scizor, though this stat can be customized to outspeed certain threats such as defensive Rotom-W, Volcanion, and Magneton. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP, improving Mega Blastoise's overall bulk as much as possible, notably improving its chance to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Aerodactyl's Stone Edge among other moves. Blastoisinite is necessary for Blastoise to Mega Evolve and receive its various stat boosts. Rain Dish lets Blastoise gain back some health if rain is active and it has yet to Mega Evolve, though it is useless in most cases. Mega Blastoise's ability, Mega Launcher, provides moves like Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, and Aura Sphere with a remarkable 1.5x damage boost.
Usage Tips
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Mega Evolve Blastoise as soon as possible to take advantage of its numerous stat boosts and vastly superior ability in Mega Launcher. Due to its tremendous natural bulk and fantastic coverage options, Mega Blastoise can beat most of the tier's offensive threats one-on-one, and it should be used to do so if its health is not crucial for the rest of the match. Wear down or KO opposing special walls with either entry hazards or physically attacking partners before sending in Mega Blastoise to wallbreak, as Pokemon such as Blissey, Sylveon, and Alolan Muk stop it in its tracks while at full HP. Get rid of entry hazards with Mega Blastoise's Rapid Spin whenever possible, keeping itself and teammates from being worn down over time. It is preferable to bring Mega Blastoise in on free switches from U-turn and Volt Switch, as it is prone to being worn down quickly by repeated attacks and entry hazard damage. Aggressive predictions can help make the most of Mega Blastoise, especially in punishing faster switch-ins such as Latias and Hydreigon.
Team Options
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Mega Blastoise fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate the offensive presence it brings alongside Rapid Spin. Physical wallbreakers such as Flame Orb Heracross and offensive Swords Dance Scizor make for great partners, breaking through the special walls like Blissey and Alolan Muk that Mega Blastoise struggles against. Grass-types like Amoonguss and Celebi absorb Electric- and Grass-type moves aimed at Mega Blastoise and appreciate its ability to threaten Fire-types like Entei. Amoonguss also serves as a strong answer to Primarina, one of Mega Blastoise's most sturdy answers. Choice Scarf Latias can cripple special walls with Trick and eliminate all residual damage on Mega Blastoise with Healing Wish, additionally providing similar defensive synergy to Hydreigon. U-turn users such as Choice Scarf Hydreigon, Scizor, and Infernape can get Mega Blastoise into favorable situations on free switches, reducing the amount of chip damage it is forced to take. Klefki is a fantastic partner, offering great defensive synergy with Mega Blastoise while laying down Spikes to help pressure its few solid switch-ins. Sylveon shares similar type synergy with Mega Blastoise and can heal it up with Wish or alleviate it of status conditions with Heal Bell. Grounded Poison-types like Nihilego, Nidoking, and Alolan Muk remove Toxic Spikes upon entry, possibly preventing Mega Blastoise from poisoning itself in order to remove them. These Poison-types double down as great answers to Sylveon, one of Mega Blastoise's most effective countermeasures.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Roar lets Mega Blastoise phaze Calm Mind Suicune and force out Sylveon as it attempts to heal itself with Wish, opening wallbreaking opportunities later on, but it is generally not preferable to give up coverage moves. Scald is another STAB option with a decently high chance to burn foes, but its decrease in Base Power makes it suboptimal. Dragon Pulse provides good neutral coverage alongside Mega Blastoise's other moves, but it hits few Pokemon super effectively, making other coverage moves generally more effective. An all-out attacking set with Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, Aura Sphere, and Ice Beam is a decent option, letting Mega Blastoise hit even more Pokemon super effectively than it would normally, though it does not take advantage of Rapid Spin, one of its most valuable traits. Flash Cannon may seem like a decent option, as it hits Sylveon super effectively, but its damage output is similar to Mega Blastoise's neutral Water-type STAB moves and it possesses little other use.
Checks and Counters
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**Special Walls**: Pokemon like Blissey, Alolan Muk, and Sylveon fear little from Mega Blastoise while at full HP and can proceed to wear it down with attacking or status moves, but Sylveon must be wary of Roar phazing it after it uses Wish.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, and Raikou threaten Mega Blastoise with their powerful STAB moves, though they have a tough time switching into its powerful attacks.
**Grass-types**: Amoonguss, Leaf Storm Celebi, and Mega Sceptile can all beat Mega Blastoise one-on-one, threatening it with their super effective STAB moves, but they must be wary of its potential super effective coverage moves.
**Primarina**: Primarina possesses special bulk and resists all of Mega Blastoise's common attacking moves, forcing it out in one-on-one situations.
**Residual Damage**: Mega Blastoise is often worn down as a match progresses due to its vulnerability to all entry hazards and its middling Speed stat that forces it to commonly stomach powerful hits from faster threats.
**Bulky Water-types**: Toxic Mantine and Calm Mind Suicune take little damage from any of Mega Blastoise's attacks, letting them perform their roles in front of it.
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