[OVERVIEW]
Mega Blastoise is a powerful special wallbreaker possessing great stats and a high Base Power STAB move, and it has the coverage and strength to deal with almost any switch-in. It has high defenses, making it hard to take down without sustaining significant damage in the process, and, while it is outsped by Pokemon that can take it on like Gyarados and Zapdos, its Speed is serviceable for a wallbreaker, and mitigated by Aqua Jet. Mega Blastoise faces some competition from Mega Gyarados, which is faster, bulkier, stronger, and possesses better defensive typing, but Mega Blastoise offers a considerably more dangerous special presence, threatening Melmetal more reliably and being more dangerous to the majority of teams, as well as not being weak to Stealth Rock prior to evolving. Aqua Jet also further sets Mega Blastoise apart from its competition, giving it the rare and amazing ability to pick off weakened Mega Aerodactyl without sustaining damage, as well as picking off switchins such as Zapdos after Stealth Rock and Hydro Pump.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Ice Beam / Hydro Pump
move 4: Dark Pulse
item: Blastoisinite
nature: Modest / Quiet
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
Surf is Mega Blastoise's preferred STAB move, offering a reliable 2HKO against Melmetal and most of the metagame, and can 2HKO Mew after Stealth Rock, reliably putting it into range of Dark Pulse. Hydro Pump's extra power is often unnecessary and its accuracy is poor, but it can provide the extra damage needed for an errant KO and puts Zapdos in range of Aqua Jet after Stealth Rock damage, as well as Pokémon like Eevee-S, Gengar, or Persian-A. Ice Beam provides coverage for Grass-types like Mega Venusaur and Alolan Exeggutor, as well as Flying-types like Dragonite and Zapdos. Dark Pulse 2HKOes Mew and prevents it from using Roost on Mega Blastoise, as well as being the best move to hit Starmie. Aqua Jet is able to pick off weakened Pokemon like Alolan Dugtrio, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Aerodactyl, and is crucial to finish off other Pokemon after a stronger attack, like Mega Alakazam and Zapdos. Quiet or Modest are greatly preferred over Timid to more reliably break through walls—however, a Timid nature lets it outspeed some threatening Pokemon like Mega Venusaur, Dragonite, Mega Gyarados, and opposing Mega Blastoise.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Blastoise's high defenses allow it to survive almost any single attack. To get the most value out of this, it is best to preserve health whenever possible. Use U-turn support from the likes of Mew and Zapdos to get Mega Blastoise in safety. Mega Blastoise will be primarily clicking Surf, which has great reliable damage against potential switch ins, or using Ice Beam to KO or severely damage Grass- and Flying-type switch-ins. With the amount of damage you do to Mew on the switch, you force it to use Roost or be 2HKOed, giving you the opportunity to click Dark Pulse. Mega Blastoise can start wallbreaking very early on in the game, as many players attempt to set up Stealth Rock with a Ground-type Pokemon that Mega Blastoise can force out, like Nidoqueen. This comes with the added benefit of preventing them from safety setting up Stealth Rock. Hydro Pump is usually not worth risking but it's important to be aware of when it's added damage is necessary to KO something slower than you, or put something faster into Aqua Jet range.
Team Options
========
Zapdos is a great partner for Mega Blastoise, as it can force in and pivot with U-turn on Ground-types to grant Mega Blastoise a safe switch-in to apply offensive pressure. Zapdos also effectively handles Water-types that Mega Blastoise struggles with, like Poliwrath, Mega Gyarados, and Starmie, and can help in wearing down Mega Venusaur. Alolan Dugtrio and Nidoqueen switch into Zapdos, which heavily threatens Mega Blastoise, and potentially deter it from using Thunderbolt against Mega Blastoise. These Pokémon also are great users of Stealth Rock, which is very important for helping Mega Blastoise break down the opposing team. When choosing Mega Blastoise over the Dark-type Mega Gyarados, you might be weaker to Pokémon like Mega Alakazam and Nasty Plot Mew. Alolan Muk supports the team in this way against them and is a great pivot out of special moves that hit Mega Blastoise harder. Because Mega Blastoise is great at breaking down defensive cores and teams with it lack fast Mega Evolutions like Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Alakazam, setup sweepers synergize very well with Mega Blastoise. Agility Dragonite and Shell Smash Cloyster fill this role well, with Cloyster notably sharing many common checks with Mega Blastoise and therefore benefiting greatly from its presence.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon Tail can be used on predicted switches to rack up damage on the opponent's checks to Mega Blastoise like Poliwrath or Mega Gyarados, especially with Stealth Rock up, but Mega Blastoise prefers to use it's STAB usually. Earthquake could also be used, as it 2HKOes Chansey and Alolan Muk, but it achieves little else. Scald is accurate and lets Mega Blastoise threaten Pokémon like Mega Gyarados and Poliwrath with a burn, but it is weak enough for Mega Blastoise to miss out on many crucial damage benchmarks, so it’s recommended to use it alongside Hydro Pump.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zapdos**: While Zapdos cannot comfortably switch into Mega Blastoise's Water attacks without taking a large amount of damage or even being KOed by a follow-up Aqua Jet, it immediately forces Mega Blastoise out, and Roost means it's able to check Mega Blastoise multiple times.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mega Gyarados and Poliwrath take very little damage from any of Mega Blastoise's moves and can 3HKO in return with their STAB attacks. Starmie is less bulky and fears Dark Pulse but can threaten back with Thunderbolt or status and heal off any damage Mega Blastoise does.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey can switch into any special move relatively freely, and while Mew takes more, it can outspeed Mega Blastoise and beat it with Roost if Mega Blastoise is satused. Muk-Alola dislikes switching in but is usually expendable vs Mega Blastoise teams and can deal a lot of damage to it 1v1.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur can switch into any move and win one-on-one with Mega Drain, and it can take advantage of Mega Blastoise switching out by putting a teammate to sleep. However it cannot switch into Timid Mega Blastoise unless it is Timid itself, or it can be outsped and 2HKOed by Ice Beam.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Collesque, 520031]]
- Quality checked by: [[Eve, 375272], [ [Juoean, 486979]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]
Mega Blastoise is a powerful special wallbreaker possessing great stats and a high Base Power STAB move, and it has the coverage and strength to deal with almost any switch-in. It has high defenses, making it hard to take down without sustaining significant damage in the process, and, while it is outsped by Pokemon that can take it on like Gyarados and Zapdos, its Speed is serviceable for a wallbreaker, and mitigated by Aqua Jet. Mega Blastoise faces some competition from Mega Gyarados, which is faster, bulkier, stronger, and possesses better defensive typing, but Mega Blastoise offers a considerably more dangerous special presence, threatening Melmetal more reliably and being more dangerous to the majority of teams, as well as not being weak to Stealth Rock prior to evolving. Aqua Jet also further sets Mega Blastoise apart from its competition, giving it the rare and amazing ability to pick off weakened Mega Aerodactyl without sustaining damage, as well as picking off switchins such as Zapdos after Stealth Rock and Hydro Pump.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Ice Beam / Hydro Pump
move 4: Dark Pulse
item: Blastoisinite
nature: Modest / Quiet
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Information
========
Surf is Mega Blastoise's preferred STAB move, offering a reliable 2HKO against Melmetal and most of the metagame, and can 2HKO Mew after Stealth Rock, reliably putting it into range of Dark Pulse. Hydro Pump's extra power is often unnecessary and its accuracy is poor, but it can provide the extra damage needed for an errant KO and puts Zapdos in range of Aqua Jet after Stealth Rock damage, as well as Pokémon like Eevee-S, Gengar, or Persian-A. Ice Beam provides coverage for Grass-types like Mega Venusaur and Alolan Exeggutor, as well as Flying-types like Dragonite and Zapdos. Dark Pulse 2HKOes Mew and prevents it from using Roost on Mega Blastoise, as well as being the best move to hit Starmie. Aqua Jet is able to pick off weakened Pokemon like Alolan Dugtrio, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Aerodactyl, and is crucial to finish off other Pokemon after a stronger attack, like Mega Alakazam and Zapdos. Quiet or Modest are greatly preferred over Timid to more reliably break through walls—however, a Timid nature lets it outspeed some threatening Pokemon like Mega Venusaur, Dragonite, Mega Gyarados, and opposing Mega Blastoise.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Blastoise's high defenses allow it to survive almost any single attack. To get the most value out of this, it is best to preserve health whenever possible. Use U-turn support from the likes of Mew and Zapdos to get Mega Blastoise in safety. Mega Blastoise will be primarily clicking Surf, which has great reliable damage against potential switch ins, or using Ice Beam to KO or severely damage Grass- and Flying-type switch-ins. With the amount of damage you do to Mew on the switch, you force it to use Roost or be 2HKOed, giving you the opportunity to click Dark Pulse. Mega Blastoise can start wallbreaking very early on in the game, as many players attempt to set up Stealth Rock with a Ground-type Pokemon that Mega Blastoise can force out, like Nidoqueen. This comes with the added benefit of preventing them from safety setting up Stealth Rock. Hydro Pump is usually not worth risking but it's important to be aware of when it's added damage is necessary to KO something slower than you, or put something faster into Aqua Jet range.
Team Options
========
Zapdos is a great partner for Mega Blastoise, as it can force in and pivot with U-turn on Ground-types to grant Mega Blastoise a safe switch-in to apply offensive pressure. Zapdos also effectively handles Water-types that Mega Blastoise struggles with, like Poliwrath, Mega Gyarados, and Starmie, and can help in wearing down Mega Venusaur. Alolan Dugtrio and Nidoqueen switch into Zapdos, which heavily threatens Mega Blastoise, and potentially deter it from using Thunderbolt against Mega Blastoise. These Pokémon also are great users of Stealth Rock, which is very important for helping Mega Blastoise break down the opposing team. When choosing Mega Blastoise over the Dark-type Mega Gyarados, you might be weaker to Pokémon like Mega Alakazam and Nasty Plot Mew. Alolan Muk supports the team in this way against them and is a great pivot out of special moves that hit Mega Blastoise harder. Because Mega Blastoise is great at breaking down defensive cores and teams with it lack fast Mega Evolutions like Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Alakazam, setup sweepers synergize very well with Mega Blastoise. Agility Dragonite and Shell Smash Cloyster fill this role well, with Cloyster notably sharing many common checks with Mega Blastoise and therefore benefiting greatly from its presence.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Dragon Tail can be used on predicted switches to rack up damage on the opponent's checks to Mega Blastoise like Poliwrath or Mega Gyarados, especially with Stealth Rock up, but Mega Blastoise prefers to use it's STAB usually. Earthquake could also be used, as it 2HKOes Chansey and Alolan Muk, but it achieves little else. Scald is accurate and lets Mega Blastoise threaten Pokémon like Mega Gyarados and Poliwrath with a burn, but it is weak enough for Mega Blastoise to miss out on many crucial damage benchmarks, so it’s recommended to use it alongside Hydro Pump.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Zapdos**: While Zapdos cannot comfortably switch into Mega Blastoise's Water attacks without taking a large amount of damage or even being KOed by a follow-up Aqua Jet, it immediately forces Mega Blastoise out, and Roost means it's able to check Mega Blastoise multiple times.
**Bulky Water-types**: Mega Gyarados and Poliwrath take very little damage from any of Mega Blastoise's moves and can 3HKO in return with their STAB attacks. Starmie is less bulky and fears Dark Pulse but can threaten back with Thunderbolt or status and heal off any damage Mega Blastoise does.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Chansey can switch into any special move relatively freely, and while Mew takes more, it can outspeed Mega Blastoise and beat it with Roost if Mega Blastoise is satused. Muk-Alola dislikes switching in but is usually expendable vs Mega Blastoise teams and can deal a lot of damage to it 1v1.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur can switch into any move and win one-on-one with Mega Drain, and it can take advantage of Mega Blastoise switching out by putting a teammate to sleep. However it cannot switch into Timid Mega Blastoise unless it is Timid itself, or it can be outsped and 2HKOed by Ice Beam.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Collesque, 520031]]
- Quality checked by: [[Eve, 375272], [ [Juoean, 486979]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [, ]]
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